Post 2 in the Resolution Report series

This weekly report is my accountability to the world as well as a way to help others stay motivated on their own journey to fitness or ahem, a bikini body. I’ll share what I am learning along the way in the tips, techniques, resources & trends section of the posts.

Before I give you some actionable ideas, let me just report that I have lost four pounds in three weeks. YAY! Now, the critic in me thinks I should have lost at least six but hey, I’ll take it!  I’m trying train my brain to get over weighing my success in POUNDS and instead focus on STRENGTH  and BODY FAT loss. Not as easy as it sounds. (I’m half tempted to chuck my scale to avoid the temptation.)

At this moment, my body fat is at 28.2% and my BMI is 24.5.  My goal is to hit 21-22% body fat. I have a way to go, as you can tell.

My upcoming week focus and action items: Hitting my daily water goal and taking those before pictures

TIPS, TECHNIQUES, RESOURCES & TRENDS:

PULL OUT THE CAMERA: You know, a couple of years ago when my husband and I were really focused and on a roll, we took pictures every week of ourselves in bathing suits so we could see the changes that we were making in our bodies. As mortifying (MORTIFYING!) as those pictures were in the beginning, boy did they motivate us to keep our focus. It was thrilling to see visible changes. I have to admit, I’ve been avoiding the camera since January 1. I know that it is time to take that dreaded “before” picture. Sigh. I encourage you to pull out the camera and document your journey. It will keep you motivated and accountable.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER: Finding someone to keep you accountable and in essence act as a “cheerleader” is a priceless resource. In this case, tough love can be a blessing.  My partner is Lori. I just emailed her all of my measurements. Talk about vulnerability! Couple that with the fact that she herself has lost over 100+ pounds (not to mention the fact that she is my running partner) and you can imagine how she will help keep me on the straight and narrow.

HIT THE HEAVY WEIGHTS: Obviously I am a cardio girl. I would rather run than do most any other kind of exercise. But there is no denying how rapidly I see results when I hit the weights. (No wimpy weights either. That is just wasting your time, ladies.) I’ll be reporting more on this in my journey but let me just leave you with this little factoid: for each pound of muscle you have, you burn 50 extra calories per day.

EXPERIMENT: Now, obviously I am not a trainer or dietitian so remember these are my own trial and error recommendations… Protein supplements and shakes are very helpful when  you embark on a fitness and weight loss program. I’m a big fan of Myoplex Light (20 g of protein) and Slim Fast High Protein ( 15 g of protein) shakes. I try to substitute a meal with a shake a couple of times a week. Taste wise, I must admit that I prefer the Slim Fast products. They make me feel like I am “cheating” a bit more. Plus, mmmm… chocolate.  And their snack bars really satisfy when I need a sweet fix.

Tags: Fitness, getting fit, Health, mom blogger, Protein, resolution report, weight loss

I spent my lunch hour today getting my hair dyed red, blonde and pink.

Yes, PINK.

The pink thing has been a joke for the past three years of my life. I’ve been threatening to do it forever. Why in the world would a 39 year old woman like myself dye her hair pink? Because, quite simply, she should have done it years ago.

She should have embraced her inner child, not denied her personality and gone out on a limb to do something that made her smile. She shouldn’t have listened to that voice inside that made her doubt and worry what others would think.

Because, in the end, it is just hair.

In the hours following my hair appointment I had no less than 12 people go out of their way to compliment me on the pink streak in my hair.

What in the world was I afraid of?

It is such a shame that people in this world (myself included) deny themselves a little fun. A little SPARK. Whatever spark that might be. For ME, it was doing something a little bold and yes, a little ridiculous. For others it might be something completely different like purchasing something they have been secretly coveting.

I feel liberated. And GIDDY.

I just wish I hadn’t waited so long.

Tags: beauty, Hair, I just wish I hadn't waited so long., liberated, mom blogger, Pink, pink hair

Ridiculous. For once I am on McDonald’s side.

Why in the world would I side with every mother’s culinary nemesis?

BECAUSE…

The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a class action lawsuit today, along with Monet Parham, a Sacramento mom of two, against McDonald’s, accusing them marketing their Happy Meal toys to children in order to lure them into the restaurants.
The group actually compared McDonald’s with a child molester in one of their statements… READ THE REST HERE.

Thoughts?

Tags: center for science in the public interest, class action lawsuit, mcdonalds, mom blogger, monet parham

This week’s run was much, MUCH better. (14.5 miles) We are getting stronger.

Last week’s run was so bad. We finished, but it was bad.  And actually, I was waiting for that run.  It always happens when I train. When you experience a really difficult run it shakes your confidence.  I left that day with one thought in my mind, “If I can’t do 14 miles, how in the heck will I be able to do 26?”

Which, of course, only made me buckle down and try harder.  Because I refuse to feel like that come marathon day.

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that you have to respect the mileage. You can’t just decide one day to haul ass.  Be it two miles, six miles or 20 miles, you need to prepare and respect the rigors you are about to put your body through. Or your body will revolt.

I kinda have experience with that.

This week I am thinking NUTRITION and HYDRATION.  I’m trying to view my food intake in an entirely different manner… as fuel.  So I have drastically altered my diet and have taken to writing everything down.  Which, for the record, I HATE TO DO.  Yes, it makes me accountable, but it also drives me nuts.  As for the hydration part, I am shooting for 80-90 oz of water a day.  Ahem. I have these humongous Weight Watchers mugs that can hold 30 ounces of water at a time. I drink one before I leave for work, one in the middle of the day and one at night.  My bladder loves me.

I also need the nutrition/hydration focus because I need to drop weight in a huge way.  I just can’t run 26.2 miles with this type of weight on me.  And OF COURSE, instead of dropping last week, I GAINED a pound and a half.  I ask you… how can one run 14.5 miles and GAIN weight?  I didn’t think it possible either.  Apparently, I have some sort of special talent.  You’re jealous, I know.

DON’T FORGET: I have 4 weeks to raise $2,000.  Please, please, please contribute to my cause HERE. Thank you so much!

Tags: mom blogger, NYC marathon, Running, training for a marathon, training for the 2010 NYC marathon

It is finally here.  The day I have been dreading.  The day where I officially become the “un-cool mom.”  The day where I admit to the world that I JUST DON’T GET IT!

What don’t I get, you ask?

AHEM - Silly Bandz

My kids are nuts for them.

My take:  If you collect Silly Bandz they can cost a trillion dollars, schools are banning them and they break when you look at them sideways.  Which, of course, hasn’t stopped them from being the ultimate cool thing.  Or me from buying them for the kids.

It is an amazing thing, these bandz.

I’ve learned that they are KID CURRENCY and a KID STATUS SYMBOL. Kids count them, trade them and try to get their hands on the silly bands that are the most RARE. (Fantasy pack!) And they cry in devastation when the bands break.  Cause you know, life is all about the the flimsy colored rubber stuff.  DUH, mom.

Most importantly, they are a great equalizer.  Doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you have, how many friends you do or don’t have… you can still trade the bandz and be included.  That, to me, is cool.

That being said, I still don’t entirely “get it.”  But I sure wish I had invented it!

BTW: Wanna know the mastermind who invented the phenomenon?  His name is Rob Croak and he is from Toledo Ohio.  Fascinating article and video about the company behind the craze by USA Today here.

Tags: humor, mom blogger, Mother, Parenting, rob croak, Rubber band, silly bandz, silly bandz craze, Toledo Ohio, USA Today