New Bike!!

My husband and I got mountain bikes for Christmas. Here is a picture of mine courtesy of Trek's Webpage. So far the bike has been a lot of fun and we've enjoyed biking around lake hodges (although most of it is charred black from the recent fires). Anyway, we are going biking again today and I hope to get some more pictures! Not to mention, it is great exercise and getting out into nature :)

Slacking

So long time no post I know! I have been terrible.... I went to sign up for the 24 hour fitness that is right near my new work, but they are just way too expensive. Anyway, so I haven't been able to make it to the gym much during the week, but Chris and I got mountain bikes and we have been biking around lake hodges and on Coronado. Anyway, with the new year and the new bikes, I'm back into action once again.

Back to the Grind

Well, after getting a new job and trying to figure out my schedule to include the gym, I think I am finally back on track. I started up with the gym again and it feels so good to be back. I've really been missing it. Anyway, I hope to push these next couple of months and get down to my original goal. I've stayed right around the same weight since last, but I just have to push to get further along. Watch me go!!

Fire Pictures Part 3

View from my balcony Wednesday at 12 pm



San Marcos Tuesday 5ish pm

Escondido Fire Part 2

More Pictures from Balcony





Pictures from San Marcos Monday Morning:

Fire Pictures in Escondido

Pictures from My Balcony in Escondido: Monday Morning

Seems Like Forever

Seems like forever since I posted last. I suppose that it has to do with the fact that I haven't gone to the gym in a couple of weeks due to job hunting. Well, I've held a constant weight because I've been eating good these couple of weeks I haven't been going, but I'm back at the gym starting today. I went in and did a light arm workout, and I felt like a little girl because I was stuck using the 10 pounds, but I don't want to hurt myself my first day back lol. Anyway, I'm back into and yes I did find another job and so I start that in 2 weeks. Can't wait :)

Running Dilemma

I'm having a running problem... I like lifting weights, and I know what it is one of the only ways to strengthen my legs so that I can run easier and quicker. The only problem is that when I do squats or lunges, I get thrown out of commission because my legs become noodles and they hurt too much to run which puts a damper on me trying to run for like a whole week. So I've decided for now that I'm going to work on strengthening my legs and if that means putting off the next 5k for a couple months I will be okay with that. I want to get to the point that I can do squats and lunges and be sore but not in pain where I can run, and that is going to take a little while to strengthen up. I've got to work on it now or I won't ever be strong and I will just continue to get frustrated when I can't run :(

Oceanside Run

Yesterday, my husband and I ran 3 miles on the Oceanside Beach. It was my first time every running in the sand, and it is a bit tough lol... My legs are definately feeling it today, but it was still a lot of fun with all the sites, sounds, people, and beach right there. Chris and I are going to try to go running together now on the weekends since the weekdays don't work so good for us in that regard. My next 5k is coming up at the end of September so I want to be in the best shape for it, and actually be prepared this time lol

Picture Progress

Okay so it's been forever since I posted a picture last. Here is one of me today at Oceanside. It came in a little blurry, but I think it's a good sign of where I am at now :)


And just to compare, here's me before working out (and I don't know why I have a towel on my head for this picture lol):

Life Stresses

So I've been a bit overwhelmed with work and school over the past 2 weeks, and I haven't made it into the gym much which is very sad :( I've been going running with Chris on the weekends to at least get going on that since there is another 5k I want to run at the end of September. We are actually going today down to the miramar lake again and go running. It's a nice break from always running on the treadmill and the run is beautiful. So needless to say, I've stalled again on the whole weight loss thing, but I am not gaining or losing. My body's metabolism has caught up with my new weight and has equalized. I need to get back into the gym everyday like I was and shock my body again. But as I've been learning in class, it's not about the weight loss, but it needs to be about living healthy and the weight loss will come from making healthy life changes which is what I have been doing.

5K Results

Well, I ran the first 1.5 miles no problem... I was actually doing quite well but then I felt terrible lol... I got through it in 37 minutes even which isn't very good, but I had to walk a bit after that 1.5/2 mile marker. So it was pretty bad, but I was thinking of the one I ran in December of last year, and I must have been going at snail speed because I didn't walk in that one and my time was close to today's where I walked a bit. So I guess I'm speeding up a little, but I just need to train more and not have weeks like I did last week. Oh well... another's coming up in September so more training...

5k tomorrow!

Sorry for not posting. I've got a lot on my plate these past couple of weeks with school, work, and personal stuff so I haven't had a chance to post. But anyway, just to keep you in the loop, I have my 5k tomorrow in downtown San Diego. I'm running the San Diego Blood Bank 5k run/walk tomorrow. I wasn't able to make it to the gym much last week and so I'm hoping that tomorrow's race isn't horrible lol... I guess we'll see. Chris is running it with me again :)

Underage & Overweight by Frances M. Berg

Everyone should read this Book "Underage & Overweight" by Frances M. Berg. This is the most powerful book I have read regarding obesity. I wish someone had told me about all this when I was a kid or had directed me somehow into the right thinking. Now at 25 years old, I am learning about all the misconceptions that I had and even still have to this day. I highly recommend that everyone read this book for those trying to lose weight. It is very well worth it!

Here is a link that talks a little bit about the book, but you can get it anywhere... http://hatherleighpress.stores.yahoo.net/unov.html

Diets do not work...

Dieting does not work. We all have gone on a diet, and we might lose a few pounds here and there, but as soon as we are off the diet, we gain the weight right back and even more weight than when we started.

You have to get past the diet part, and move on to a new perspective. You have to make the choice to make exercise and eating healthy a life change. You need to change your thinking that you can "quick fix" your weight through just dieting. You have to accept the fact that to live life to the fullness and healthiest, you need to be into this for life. Only then can you be successful in your weight loss goals. This is what I've had to learn the hard way, but now, I work hard for my gains, and you owe it to yourself to do the same.

Arm Workout

My friend put this amazing arm workout together for me that I did this past Friday. If you ever want to shake up your workout, this is a perfect one to do. I can curl 20's pretty good, and I'm actually starting to try the 25's, but by the end of this workout, I was failing with 5 pounds haha!
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Bi’s

1^st – Seated D-bell curls superset with, Concentration curls (3 sets…very heavy on the d-bell curls, 1x8,1x6,1x4 but on the concentration curls do 3x 12-20 reps

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2^nd – Standing Barbell Curls (power) superset with, Standing or seated Hammer curls (3 sets…very heavy on the barbell curls, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the Hammer curls do 3x 12-20 reps

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3^rd – Preacher Curls (power) superset with, 1 arm at a time d-bell preacher curls (3 sets…very heavy on the Preacher Curls, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the 1 arm d-bell preachers do 3x 12-20 reps

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4th - grab a light barbell and do a set of 21's and that's it for bi's

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Tri’s

1^st – French Presses (Skull Crushers) superset with, Close grip bench press (3 sets…very heavy on the Crushers, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the close grip presses do 3x 12-20 reps

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2nd - 1 arm seated d-bell extensions (heavy) superset with, either kickbacks or laying extensions d-bell... (3 sets.. very heavy with the seated extensions, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the kickbacks or... 2x 12-20 reps)

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3rd - Cable pushdowns (heavy) superset with, 1 arm cable extensions... (3 sets very heavy with the cable pushdowns... 3x12-20 reps with the other)

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4th – seated machine pushdowns (1 set…pyramid down stack) start at a heavy weight and do 4 reps and keep dropping weight while increasing your reps till you can’t do anymore!

Weight vs Overall Body Composition

So as I've previously mentioned, my goal is to lose 100 pounds which I am slowly making my way towards. Now, I've been holding the same weight for a couple of months now of about 188 pounds, but I am down a size in clothing. My overall weight is holding, but I am building muscle and burning fat at the same time. Which is a bit frustrating when you are trying to lose weight, but I realized that a few months ago there would have been no way I could fit into the size I am in now at the same weight so I know I am building muscle and I am getting much stronger. I still have fat to burn as I am not slim yet, but I don't think that I will be able to get tiny. I was watching the sports channel at the gym while I was running, and they showed a clip of Serena Williams. After looking at her physique and built, I think I am much more inclined to be built like her. So my new goal is to continue to lift and gain muscle, lose weight, but also to get a physique like hers...

Pictures

So I was flipping through some old pictures, and I found these two similiar style pictures taken from before I started eating right and going to the gym (~ 1.5 years ago) and a picture about 1 year into working out... I'm still on my way to losing about 40 more pounds but here's some idea of where I was...

Before Gym

About 1 Year into the Gym

Best way to lose Weight

So, I've been learning so much about our bodies and what we need and how we absorb nutrients. So after studying this and talking to the my professor (who is also a doctor), the best way to start losing weight is to do moderate to intense longer duration workouts such as Brisk walking for 30 to 60 minutes each day, or swimming for the same amount of time (of course this is for people just starting). The reason for wanting to do longer periods of moderate cardio is because your body uses its fat to fuel your exercising. As your increase your exercise to say sprinting your body begins using carbohydrates as it's fuel and when you deplete your carbohydrates in your body you will start to fatigue. Therefore, when you do moderate/intense workouts your body's primary fuel is fat rather than carbohydrates and your body therefore burns fat which is the ultimate goal. As increase your endurance, you will be able to do longer workouts at higher intensity but still using fat rather than carbs as your body adjusts...

This stuff is just so fascinating and I keep learning all these wonderful tidbits. I wish that someone had told me or shown me this growing up because I missed out quite about on how to eat a balanced diet. I hope to share with you the things that I learn so that if you are in the same boat I am can also learn from it.

MyPyramid

A lot of people ask me about how I've managed to lose weight, and my answer to them is "eat healthy and exercise." Now, I've figured out what has worked for me in the things that I eat, but I know that what I eat doesn't work for everyone. In my nutrition class, it was mentioned that there is a webpage you can log into that gives good and helpful advice about your physical activity and eating habits. I think it's pretty good, and if anything, it's a great place to start for those needing more advice than I can give. Anyway, check it out: http://www.mypyramid.gov/