Chapter 2 page 545–What does victory look like?

I just HAD to share this HUGE victory with you (after a little background info). . .

Tonight, I went to the Big City and did 2 group fitness classes:  a circuit class and Turbokick.  I did this with my bloggy bestie Kimberly and had a great time with her, of course!  Here are a couple of quick photos of the evening (enjoy!):

Top Left:  Pre-work out photo featuring the bondi band saying “Operation Shrink a Bootie”.  Top Right:  Post circuit class photo with Kimberly and I and our teacher Katie in the middle. 

Top left:  Kimberly using the 30  minutes between our classes wisely with a little spinning (sadly, I sat on the ground in front of her bike and well, took her photo).  Top Right:  a post Turbokick photo with our teacher, Charity, who is a local television celebrity.  How COOL is that?!?!

Without further adieu – what does victory look like? 

At 8:30 p.m. while driving home 40 minutes from the gym, I had an internal fight about what I was going to eat for dinner.  I was going to stop at Subway for a turkey sandwich, but that wasn’t thrilling me.  I’ve had a lot of them lately.  Then I turned my thoughts (and taste buds) to saying “screw it, I’ve earned it” a double cheeseburger from McDonalds.  Lord, it sounded sooo good!  The devil/angel debate was vicious the entire drive home.  NOTHING seemed to light my spark like the idea of a double cheeseburger UNTIL BAM I had a genius idea.   I stopped at McDonalds and asked if I could just get a grilled chicken breast (no bun, no sandwich – just the meat) – YES!  Guess how many calories are in a grilled chicken breast . . . only 90 calories!  What was my plan with this chicken breast? 

See for yourself . . . (no drooling)

Delicious!  Tasty!  Healthy (whole wheat wrap & 1 cup of mixed greens)!  I had 2 (I was hungry what can I say) – total calories for both –= 460 WOOT WOOT!!!! YES – this is what victory looks like!  Using a little creativity and making a post work out late dinner!!!! 

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

What was a recent victory you had?

Chapter 2 page 544–Triple Tuesday

Tonight I did 3 group fitness classes . . . and had.a.blast!!!!!!

I left my house super psyched about the evening’s full on fitness fun!  Ohh, and that bondi band says “Sweat is my fat crying” – Buckets of tears were shed tonight!  Ha!

I even braided my pony tail into 3 sections (with matching bands) – yeah, I’m all crazy like that!

My first class – Zumba!  The regular teacher was sick so there was a sub, Katie.  Katie was my boot camp teacher back in December.  She’s just plain amazing.  She’s so motivating and an awesome athlete.  I grabbed a quick photo with her after class!

My second class was, of course, Body Pump!!!  Woo Hoo – I love me some ‘pump!!!!!!  Our teacher tonight was Corey – he’s a lot of fun.  I hadn’t done track 79 in awhile, but was so happy that for the first time since I started back at BP, I did 3/4 of the lunges and used weight!  Lunges have killed me and I’m not sure why – but . . . tonight I showed them who was boss!!!!  I also increased my weight for the chest track.  I struggled a little with the bicep track and felt kind of bummed I missed a few reps – but thankfully not too many.  “C” and her oldest daughter “K” were in class which always makes it a LOT of fun!!!!

So these next 2 photos – on the left is a picture of my sweat mark after we did the triceps track.  YES.I.WAS.SWEATY.   The photo on the right is “C” and I screwing around after class.  She said, “WOW, you’re sweaty!”.  UMMM – what????  You’re not????  NOPE, “C” wasn’t sweaty at all after ‘pump!  That’s incredible.  I had a sweat lake in front of my bench from where I dripped during push ups. 

I grabbed a quick photo with our teacher Corey after class.   His shirt says “Motivate-Dominate”!  I like that – might have to write that on my arm for the next half marathon!!!!

I’ve been going to this gym for Boot Camp, Circuit Training, Zumba, Body Pump, and Turbo Kick since December.  I’ve met a lot of fun people.  Tonight, Dana hung with me for ‘pump and my 2nd Zumba class.  She’s so nice!  Forgive my cheesy smile – doesn’t Dana look like she hasn’t done a darn thing?  Incredible!

Finally, I ended the night with a second Zumba class.  I hadn’t been sure I really wanted to do a 3rd class, but then I thought – why not?  So . .  I stuck it out.  The teacher was Nicole and she made me feel amazing.  At the start of the class I yelled, “I’m new to your class.”  She yelled  back, “I’m Nicole and I’m so happy you’re here!”  What a great thing to say to someone.  She smiled the entire time and just proved that fitness CAN be fun!  Doesn’t’ she just look super happy? 

Stay tuned – the next 2 nights are going to be filled with fitness as well.  Tomorrow, Kimberly and I are going to do a circuit class and also Turbo Kick.  On Thursday, “C” and I are going to do a short run and then do ‘pump!  Can’t wait!  Skinny jeans here I come!  Ha!

Are 3 classes too many to do in one night?  I live 40 minutes from the gym and with $4 gas prices, I feel like it’s important to do as much as I can (2 classes seems reasonable, 3 might be too many especially since I was gone from home for 5 hours)

If you could snap your finger and do whatever group fitness classes you wanted, what would you choose?  I would like to try TRX – we don’t have it within an hour’s drive of my home.  SAD!  I like anything to do with water.  I like swimming and water aerobics.  I’ve taught MANY water aerobics classes and would love to have a chance to do it again.  Alas, there are no indoor pools in my small town (except at the school – but it’s only for students).   I would also like a trampoline class.  I have been reading a lot about it and think it would just be fun!

Chapter 2 page 543–Super Saturday

First, THANK YOU for all of your comments in helping me to celebrate some recent victories.  13 comments –that’s the most I have ever had – woo.  You all are super sweet.  I hope that there will be many more posts about victories.

Today was a fantastic day!  I LOVE group fitness classes!  I LOVE hanging out with friends!  I absolutely LOVE combing friends and fitness!  Today, “C” and her daughter “K”, and my bestie bloggie friend Kimberly from HealthyStrides did Body Pump. 

Now, I’m still very much dealing with a horrible cough, but I decided that I didn’t care any more – I went to class anyway (sorry to everyoen around me who I’m sure thought they were being exposed to the Plague).  I did take a short break during Pump class to rest and catch my breath . . . and take a self photo (I mean why not?  Who doesn’t take a self photo during Pump class?).  CHEESE!

After Pump, Kimberly and I stayed for Zumba.  It was taught by our Pump teacher and MAN.WAS.IT.A.GREAT.CLASS!!!!!  There’s easily 80 people in the class.

Our teacher, Lauren, is amazing!  She’s excellent!  That’s her in the background (wearing orange) of my self photo above and her on the right in the photo below.  Um, yes, she actually changed clothes between Pump and Zumba – who does that?!

Of course there was a post class photo (so glad Kimberly humors me) – that’s not a peace sign, baby – that’s a 2 for TWO CLASSES – woo –go us!

After class, Kimberly, her most adorable son, and I went to McAllisters  Deli for a healthy and delicious lunch.  Afterward, we hit up Old Navy where Kimberly shared her awesome coupon so I got 2 free t-shirts!  (Thanks Kimberly – sooooo much fun!!!)

Kimberly scored BIG time.  She picked up 2 free tanks with her coupon, an adorable winter coat for under $10 (originally $90), and the.cutest.hat.ever for her son for under $3 (originally $10).  SCORE!

Such a fun day!!!!!  Kimberly wrote up a fantastic recap of the day’s events.  Click HERE to read all about it! 

Ohhh and on a side note . . . I think the 2 classes actually helped my cough (I don’t think I’ve coughed quite as hard or as much the rest of the day as I was before and during class – yay!). 

What was the best part of your weekend?

Chapter 2 page 542 –10 Recent Victories

Thanks to all of you who have been hanging with me on my journey to “healthify” my diet and loose weight.  I have SO far to go, but I feel I have made some progress worthy to celebrate.   I wanted to share some of the victories I’ve had  . . .

1.  23 days without a donut – you have no idea how gigantic that is! 

2.  52 days since I’ve had a double cheeseburger (440 calories) from McDonalds – I used to eat 2-3 of them  a week (with fries for another 380 calories).  Now I only order a naked grilled Classic Chicken sandwich (only 300 calories).

3.  52 days since I had a sausage & egg biscuit from McDonalds (510 calories)– I used to eat 2-3 of them a week (with hash brown for another 150 calories).

4.  Tracked every BLN (bite, lick, nibble) using Myfitnesspal.com since 1/8/12

5.  In the last 30 days, I have lost some inches (not overly impressive, yet – but definitely heading in the right direction):  3/4” around my waist, 2” around my hips, 1/4” around thigh, 1/2” around upper arm,

6.  In the last 30 days, I dropped .8% of body fat (not great, but also heading in the right direction)

7.  I’ve lost 6 pounds in the past 30 days (again, not Biggest Loser numbers, but slow and steady and heading down). 

8.  I need a new SMALLER belt (oh yeah!).

9.  I’ve more than doubled the weights I use at Body Pump in the past 6 weeks.  And I can now do all of the push ups (girls push ups for now – stay tuned, I’ll get the men’s style done in the near future).

10.  Although I haven’t run (not very proud of this fact and one I hope to get back when the weather gets a bit warmer or work calms down or I stop being sick long enough), I have regained my love of fitness with my group exercise classes and am really really really really happy!!!!  I’m on the right track, baby!

Chapter 2 page 541–Weekly recap, sorta

So .  . . this isn’t going to be my normally scheduled recap.  Why not?  Great question – glad you asked!

For starters – I’ve been out.of.the.game for the past week with a respiratory infection that makes me sound like a Bull Moose with Bronchitis (according to my husband – I’m sure he meant it with love).  Kids – this is not just a little coughy cough – NOPE!  This is a C.O.U.G.H!  My husband has been awesome – he ran to the store to get more Nygil and cough drops and has let me pretty much sleep every minute I’ve not been at work.  So working out – yeah, that didn’t happen.  And yes, those are used tissues tucked under my chin (sooo pathetic, isn’t it).

Next, I did something different with my calorie counting.  I lowered my daily calorie allotment by 500.  I have very little intent to adhere to the new low, but it gives me a little wiggle room whereas before, I had to meet my daily allotment in order to loose 1 pound a week – NOW, anything less than my previous allotment is bonus and will result in more than a pound of weight loss.  Make sense?  Anyway I have amazing news to report . . . I lost 3 more pounds . . . so, I’m saying the new strategy is working.  Yay!

Finally, I’m going to be doing a post in the next few days (we’ll see how much longer this cough lasts . . . it’s putting me in a very bad mood – can you imagine me with a prolonged bad mood?) about some “victories” I’ve experienced in the past 6 weeks.  I’m really excited about it and well, I just know you’ll be eager to read that post too (okay, maybe not, but I’m excited to share it with you). 

How was your week?  Thumbs up or Thumbs down?

Have you been “stricken” with any seasonal illnesses this winter (or Summer as it happens to be Down Under)?

Chapter 2 page 540–Wordless Wednesday

Chapter 2 page 539 –Weekly Recap

Week of February 5th 2012

Sunday – I was 600 calories over my allotment BUT it was Super Bowl Sunday AND all of my game day snacks were made from Skinny Taste recipes.  I know it’s still too many calories, but I still consider this a huge success because I completely changed the way I approached my game day menu. 

Monday –  I was 80 calories under my goal – that’s heading in the right direction.

Tuesday –I was 240 calories under my daily goal – woo! 

Wednesday – I was 200 calories under my daily goal and 1,650 calories under my goal with my extra exercise calories; this was a total success workout day- I did a 45 minute boot camp class followed by an hour kickboxing class – high 5!

Thursday – Well, I completely flopped here (1,000 calories over my goal – but I had some wiggle room since I rocked it on Wednesday)

Friday – I was 186 calories under my goal – woo!

Saturday –  This day was an EPIC exercise day – it started with my normal double dose of group classes (Zumba & Body Pump) in the morning and the Fanny Freezer 5K in the afternoon.  I was 400 calories under my daily goal and 2,000 calories under my goal with the exercise credits.  Myfitnesspal said that if everyday were like today, I’d loose 35 pounds in 5 weeks – wouldn’t that be nice?!?!  But, alas, not everyday can be like today.  Today . .  was extreme!

How was your week:  thumbs up or thumbs down?

Chapter 2 page 538–Run For Sherry (TR 186)

Saturday was just an epically awesome day!  I had a BLAST!  Today just felt like a complete escape from my routine – it was just such a wonderful day.  Want to hear a little about it? 

Since it was Saturday morning, it means that it snowed overnight (I honestly mean that it doesn’t snow any other time during the week except Friday night – for 4 straight weeks now!).  I left my house 55 minutes early (usually takes me 40 minutes) and arrived in plenty of time for Body Pump.  It was a great track and I had an amazing time.

I doubled up and stayed for Zumba – such.a.great.decision!  The BP teacher was also the Zumba teacher and it was THE BEST ZUMBA CLASS I have ever taken!!!  I’ve probably done 50 or more Zumba classes – hands down – the most fun!!!!!!  She was just subbing so I’m not sure there will be too many chances to take her class again (sigh). 

I ate lunch (alone, kind of sad).  I went to McAllisters Deli and made very healthy decisions.  I was so proud of the choices I made for my lunch – a mere 2 months ago I would have headed to Penn Station for something crazy high calorie.
I went to Target and got some household items – I do love me a good trip to Target (so sad that it’s 45 minutes away). 
I met up with about 20 friends and we ran the Fanny Freezer 5K.  We used it as our Run for Sherry – many of us wore her bib and thought of her during the run (prayers for peace to her family). 


Afterward, the large group headed to Chili’s for a little post-run cheer!  What a truly wonderful time of fellowship and fun!  I might honestly say that I’ve never had so much fun!  Our server, Marion, was stellar!!!!

Chapter 2 page 537 –11 Random things part 2

Alright, you all know the drill by now.  For this post, I was tagged by Kim at (Just) Trying is for Little Girls. 

1. Do you have a favorite reality TV show?  Why?  I’m not much of a reality TV watcher. 

2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, which one is it? Chocolate frosted cream filled donuts. 

3. What is the last Groupon you purchased?  If you don't Groupon, what is the last "great deal" you purchased?  I purchased 3 discount car washes at a Big City automatic car wash place . . . booo, I never used them! 

4.  What was the first run/walk race you finished?  Parlor City Trot 10K in September 2009.

5.  You just won a round trip ticket to anywhere on Southwest airlines.  Where do you fly to and why?  Well, I don’t exactly know where Southwest flies to since they aren’t anywhere near where I live, but I would like to go to somewhere beautiful, tropical, and sunny. 

6.  What were your wedding colors?  Or what do you want them to be?  I didn’t have a color theme because we were married by the mayor at city hall, but it sort of unofficially became seafoam and silver for accents at our family/close friends dinner party.

7.  Do you eat breakfast?  Yes, most days.  I prefer to eat a whole grain bagel, egg, and Sargento low cal colby jack cheese block.  I used to eat donuts for breakfast OFTEN! 

8.  Salty or sweet?  What is your favorite? 100% of the time – SWEET!  Chocolate is my fav.  I could care less about salty snacks which I guess is a good thing. 

9.  iPad or laptop?  Laptop.  My husband has an ipad that I’ve used once and thought it was AWESOME! 

10.  To bed early or sleep in late? Sleep in as often as possible!!!! 

11.  Go grab your iPod.  What is the first song that pops up or is on your first playlist?  I Gotta Feeling by the Blackeyed Peas!

Thanks Kim for tagging me.  Molly at I’m a Sleeper Baker said she tagged me, but I couldn’t find her questions (sorry Molly!). 

Chapter 2 page 536–11 Random things part 1

Alright, you all know the drill by now.  For this post, I was tagged by Sammy at Happy Family, Healthy Family.

Here are 11 Random Things about Me:

1.  I was fluent in American Sign Language (I still can sign, but it’s been quite awhile since I had an adult sign language conversation so I’m rusty).  I spent a year teaching at the Indiana School for the Deaf and spent 4 years helping with the elementary school after-school activities at the school.

2.  I taught middle school sex education for 7 years in an inner city school system in Virginia.

3.  I have not ridden a bike (except for a 10 minute intro to spin class) in 18 years (HEY – that could be one of my N2U Cross Training activities).

4.  I was a lifeguard and swim coach for 17 years.  I had one swimmer make it to the Olympic trials. 

5.  When I was in the army, I could run a 6:10 m/m (for 2 miles) and I could do 95 sit ups (no crunches allowed) in 2 minutes and 62 push ups (military style) in 2 minutes.  I was BUFF – man do I miss that body.

6.  I’ve been a victim of a serious identify theft and a new name was created for the depth of the crime “Total Identity Take Over.”  I was interviewed on the ABC Nightly News with Peter Jennings (via satelite) and Oprah (via satelite). 

7.  I am an only child.  My dad is also an only child and my mom only has one sister who only had 2 sons.  We’re a very small family!

8.  I was the drum major my senior year in high school.  One time at band camp . . .  (yeah, I played the flute and piccolo). 

9.  I have traveled to 7 European countries, Japan, and Korea.  I’m hoping to visit Sammy in Australia in 2-3 years!

10.  I love to organize things.  I thought it would be awesome to have my own organizing business, but then I saw the TV show Hoarders (you’ve all seen that show, haven’t you?).  That’s just way too much for me.  I’ll stick with keeping my own little collection of things organized.

11.  I’m really genuinely a happy and fun person.  I hope it comes through on my blog.  I like people – I like to talk – I like to socialize – I just like to help others be the best them they can be!  Hope you don’t mind my comments on your blogs – just trying to share some love.

Now to answer Sammy’s questions:

1. Favourite vege out activity? Sleeping!  I love to sleep.  If that doesn’t count, then I love to watch TV in my pjs.
2. Fav food? Anything with frosting and/or cream filling (sigh – cakes or donuts).
3. Place you would most like to visit? Australia.  I would like to go to a beautiful warm tropical islands!
4. Person you would most like to meet? I’m not sure!  I can’t think of anyone I would like to meet.  Sorry – I’ll keep thinking about it. 
5. Worst job? I was a lifeguard at a gross little lake one summer – I’m a chlorine water swimmer only and that was just nasty.  I also had nightmares every night that I missed someone drowning behind the raft and the next day I would find a body washed up on the beach.  LONGEST.SUMMER.EVER!
6. Favourite group class? Right now it’s Body Pump. 
7. Rich and lonely or poor and loved? Poor and loved!
8. Secret Crush? I don’t really have one. 
9. Scruncher or a folder ... (With loo paper) Scruncher (getting mighty personal now aren’t ya?)
10. Measure of a good workout  - Calories or Miles Miles (or rather the time spent doing the activity)
11. Addiction? Chocolate, Frosting/Cream Filling

Thanks Sammy for picking me!  Stay tuned for part 2 (and I think there was a 3rd tag too).

Chapter 2 page 535–N2U CT Challenge February edition

Surely by now you’ve heard about (Just) Trying is for Little Girls’ New 2 You Cross Training Challenge?  No?  Click HERE and get signed up – it’s fun, it’s easy (okay so that’s up to you), and it’s free.

Last month was Body Pump (which I’m still doing 1-2 times per week – LOVE IT!) – this month, I thought I would take a drop-in class called TurboKick.  This is how the gym’s website describes the class:

A Cardio Kickboxing format that has people dropping pounds with a smile! Created in 1997 by Chalene Johnson, Turbo Kick® is the hottest kickboxing class around that produces astounding results! This format will have you kicking, punching and grooving away hundreds of calories in an action-packed, super fun, safe and effective cardiovascular workout.

The class was held at the same gym where I do Body Pump so it’s a 40 minute drive and was from 7:30-8:30 p.m.  I arrived at the gym 90 minutes ahead of time so that I could do a boot camp type class – kicked.my.butt!  And yes, that bondiband says “Fit Happens” – perfect, right?!?!

During boot camp, I learned the regular Turbokick teacher was sick and there would be a sub (whom I’ve had for Body Pump) and she wasn’t certified in Turbo Kick so it would be LIKE Turbokick without calling it that – make sense?  Here’s a bad picture – but the teacher is the short tan buff gal in black – this was during a water break when she was explaining the next set of moves.  There were probably about 20-25 people in the class. 

I took Kickboxing at a gym 15 years ago – LOVED IT!  Yeah, I was 15 years younger.  I forgot how much of a ninny I look like while I’m pathetically punching my own FAT image in the mirror.  Our teacher was svelt and awesome and looked awesome doing it – me?  I looked like an some extra that didn’t make the cut to be in the Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies video.  P.a.t.h.e.t.i.c! 

I didn’t love it – not sure why – maybe I was tired from the Boot Camp class?  Maybe I was tired in general because the class was so late?  Maybe I just am so much bigger than 15 years ago and felt self-conscious?  Who knows, but it was an excellent workout – dang my shoulders are going to scream at me tomorrow for sure (probably my legs too). 

One awesome thing was my co-worker and good friend, surprised me and joined me – Woo – that was great!!!!!

This class would be a great way to “de-stress” (mentally beating up someone while punching and kicking could do wonders to bust stress I guess) and it’s definitely a GREAT full body workout – woo!  I would go to it once a week if it were closer and earlier.  Probably won’t be dropping into this class too often, but thankful for the New 2 You Cross Training Challenge so that I had the courage and motivation to try it out. 

Ever tried a new aerobics class and not fallen in love?