Great Friday

This week wrapped up really well.  I was able to get all of my goals done, and now I'm relaxing on the couch with Anna watching TV.  Tomorrow and Sunday, we'll be babysitting my niece and nephew, so we're resting up for that! 

Friday:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
1- 3.5 mile walk
30 sit ups
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily

Total:
5- 20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
5- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
5- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
210 sit ups
3- 3.5 Mile Walks
4 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Went on a Date with Anna
Go on a 24-hour fast

Remaining:
NOTHING 

Goals for Next Week:
5- 20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
5- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
5- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
210 sit ups
Walk 12 miles
1 DVD Workout with Anna
4 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Date with Anna
Fast

If you notice, I've changed my goals a bit.  I've added back in the DVD workout since the kitchen is done and we can use our family room again.  I've also changed my walk goal to a total number of miles.  This is because I've actually been doing it that way for a little while.  If I'm really busy, I'll only walk 2 miles, but then the next day, I'll follow it up with a 5 mile walk to balance.  So, I said to myself why not just make that dang change?  And I did.  Also, the fasting.  I'm really glad I added this into my routine.  I've decided, though, that a 24-hour fast is too focused.  I don't want it to be about a specific time, but FOR a specific reason.  Of course, I won't be "fasting" for 2 hours.  But really, I'll keep the habit of fasting after dinner on night A until dinner of night B.  That way, it's more about my closeness to God than the 700 Calories I'd save on the food during the fast.

New Eating Plan?

I've been thinking about my eating plan, and how I've been losing weight at a good pace.  But I want that pace to continue, and I know I'll need to change somehting up.  (Warning, this might be a little bit of numbers.)  I thought about lowering my Caloric intake.  I mean, that's how you lose weight, right?  Well, I crunched some numbers, and it was a little surprising.

Based off an average of 9 different metabolic websites, I burn 2,650 Calories a day (as a sedintary person).  If you count my workouts (just the walking and aerobic exercise) for most weeks, I can add 6,450 Calories burned a week.  This gives me a total of 25,000 Calories a week that I can consume.  Yikes!  If I divide that by 7 days a week, I come up with just over 3,500 Calories a day.  In order to lose more than 3 pounds a week, I need to have a Caloric deficit of 10,500 a week, or 1,500 Calories a day.  So, that leaves me with 2,000 Calories a day I can eat.

A little while ago, I counted my Calories during the week day.  I came up with about 700.  Which would leave me with 1,300 for dinner!  I don't need tha much in one meal.  That's why I'll be adding a little into my work meals.  I think I'll add a can of tuna, and/or and some carrots, celery, or other fresh veggie...maybe some nuts (in extreme moderation).  I'm thinking that I can actually add a little bit of Calories, and maybe my weightloss will continue, and maybe increase.  What do you think?  Any thoughts?  How have you increased your weight loss in the past?

By the way, South Beach Steve just posted an interesting and informative Q&A entry on his blog.  I thought it was a great read. 

Thursday:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
1- 3.5 mile walk
30 sit ups
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Went on a Date with Anna

Total:
4- 20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
4- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
4- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
180 sit ups
1 set of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Went on a Date with Anna
Go on a 24-hour fast

Remaining:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
1- 3.5 mile walks
30 sit ups
1 set of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily

Hot 100 Update 6

• Consistently achieve my weekly goals (not bad...)
• Have a “Tigger Attitude” at work (I'm all caught up and now I'm trying to get to the place where I can help other team members)
• Increase intensity on one machine (treadmill, elliptical, or stair stepper) bi-weekly (increased on the treadmill this week again: 6.1 for "sprints" and 4.4 for walking!)
• Only drink one cup of coffee a day (this isn't even a challenge anymore...)
• No alcohol (no problem)
• No Fast Food (no issues here.)
• Read three books (Still early on the third, but I have time)
• Cook dinner three nights a week (We'll do this this week.)
• Stop eating at least 2 hours before bed (missed it a couple of nights this week)
• End the year under 275 pounds (still on track--hope to be there on Saturday!)
• Add fasting into my spiritual life (I think this will be a new addition to my life)
• Get plugged in at my church (we had car problems this week, so we missed church.  We'll do it next week.  I might want to start greeting)
• Get to know my neighbors (Nothing this week.)
• Develop a budget with Anna—and stick to it! (Now that the rremodel is done, we have no excuse, but still not yet)

A lot of red, but I know I'll get back on track this next week.

Wednesday:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
1- 3.5 mile walk
30 sit ups
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Go on a 24-hour fast

Total:
3- 20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
3- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
3- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
150 sit ups
2 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Go on a 24-hour fast

Remaining:
2-20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
2- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
2- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
2- 3.5 mile walks
60 sit ups
2 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Go on a date with Anna

Kitchen Pictures (Happy Steve?!)

So, I finally have pictures for everyone.  Sorry for the delay and the picture quality--I'd LOVE to be a photographer like Ish, but alas, I'm not.  And there are some cameos!  Both my dad (many times), and Anna (my beautiful wife).  In the pictures, I tried to take the shots from the same (or similar) positions.  As you can see (I hope), we raised the ceiling by about a foot, took out a couple of walls, and moved the refrigerator into a closet.  And we added an island.  What do you think of the changes?

Tuesday:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
30 sit ups
1 set of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily

Total:
2- 20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
2- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
2- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
120 sit ups
2 set of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily

Remaining:
3-20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
3- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
3- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
3- 3.5 mile walks
90 sit ups
2 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Go on a 24-hour fast
Go on a date with Anna

Kitchen's Done!

Okay, well not fully done.  But the living room, dining room, family room, and kitchen are clean.  The island is in.  I'd put up pictures, but there is still a sink full of dishes.  And I don't want to put pictures up with a dirty sink.  I know it's crazy, but that's me!  :)  So, probably tomorrow there'll be pictures.  I can't promise, because I don't trust myself to follow through! 

We had one of our first home-cooked meals in about 3 weeks, and it was great!  We tag-teamed it: I cooked some grilled pork with a tomato relish and Anna cooked some delicota squash. Delicious.  I'm glad we have our kitchen back.  And I'm looking forward to cooking some more dinners.  Tomorrow we'll have our dad over to enjoy the place.  

Through Monday:
1- 20 minute session on the Elliptical
1- 20 minute session on the Treadmill
1- 10 minute session on the Stairmaster
90 sit ups
1 set of 2- 60 second planks

Remaining:
4-20 minute sessions on the Elliptical
4- 20 minute sessions on the Treadmill
4- 10 minute sessions on the Stairmaster
3- 3.5 mile walks
120 sit ups
3 sets of 2- 60 second planks
Read the Bible Daily
Pray Daily
Go on a 24-hour fast
Go on a date with Anna