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Perfect 10: Week 9 & Weekend Warriors Challenge

- Walk 12 miles a week (done)
- Do front (2x60) and side (1x30/side) planks 3 days a week. (missed)
- Keep on our budget. (done)
- Hit and exceed my initial weight loss goal--and start a new one. (done)
- Read 4 books (1/2 way done with 4th...)
- Only use my horn for avoiding traffic collisions. (done)
- Cook dinner at home 4 times a week (done)
- Go on 3 hikes (going on one tomorrow...)

Interesting tidbit:
I started a company called Inspired Spices, and would love to get it off the ground, but I have NO idea how to go about moving forward with it. I make spice rubs, salts, barbecue sause, hot sauce, mustards...It's a lot of fun!

Weekend Warrior Challenge:
Brandon over at So Long, Fat Ass! Has created a weekend challenge, since the weekends are where so many of us find problems...Check out his post, but to sum it up, the rules are simple: make 2-3 health/fitness related goals each weekend and report the results on Monday. And here are my goals:

  1. Go on a hike.
  2. Run my 3rd monthly Unofficial, Unsponsored 5k; and do it in under 30 minutes!
  3. Limit myself to 2,500 Calories on Saturday & Sunday (I have a benefit dinner to go to on Saturday, and the memorial for my Uncle on Sunday, so there are some potential pitfalls ahead).

Friday:
10 minutes on stationary bike
30 situps
15 pushups
walked 6 miles
prayed
read the bible
fast

Totals:
40 minutes on elliptical
20 minutes on stair stepper
20 minutes on exercise bike
1- muscle building session
2 set of 2 60 second planks
4 sets of 300 second side planks
210 situps
105 push ups
walked 12 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna
fast

Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,165 Calories
Sunday: 2,195 Calories
Monday: 2,040 Calories
Tuesday: 2,325 Calories
Wednesday: 2,015 Calories
Thursday: 2,240 Calories
Friday: 995 Calories

Daily Average: 1,996 Calories.

Want to watch me twEAT? Check it out here.

100 answers for Jack

JackSh*t's blog post today was really great.  He asked 100 really thought-provoking questions.  A lot of which struck me.  I'd love for you all to go over there to read it.  I'd re-post his questions here, but thought it would be more fun to just post my answers, and have you go over to his blog for the questions...kinda like a weeight-loss Jeopardy!

1. Yes.
2. YES!
3. A lot.
4. No, a lot!
5. Yes, that's it.
6. Probably.
7. No, more.
8. Yes.
9. Indeed.

10. I'm almost there.
11. Yeah, I'm slowly understanding that.
12. Almost.
13.  I think so.
14.  I think I am?

15. That's what I'm afraid of right now.
16. Yep.
17. Nope, which is why I'm so scared.
18. Nope.
19. Yep.

20. Sometimes.  Ugh.
21. Yeah, sometimes.
22.  Yeah.
23. I care.
24. Yeah, that's totally true.
25. No good.

26. YES!
27. Yes, yes, YES!
28. Way harder.
29. I am worth it.

30. Not many.
31. Sometimes, but it's not a good excuse.
32. Sometimes, but it's not a good excuse.
33. Nope.
34. Yup, but that doesn't impact me.
35. You're right.

36. A little more each week.
37. A little more each week.
38. Yes.
39. Oh yes, haven't had fun doing that for a long time!

40. Yup.
41. Yessir!
42. I will.
43. I think so.
44. Yes, it is.
45. Yes.
46. Yes.
47. Yes.
48. YES!

49. No.  I should slow down.
50. Lol.  Almost.
51. I don't even think about it.
52. I'm learning that.

53. A lot.
54. More.
55. Yes.
56. No, a lot more.
57. Yes, you've got it now.
58. Not many.
59. Yeah.
60. Please say they count.  I need them to count.

61. Nope.
62. About not owning one?  Not really.

63. Probably too much.
64. Yeah, but also 'casue I'm lazy.
65. Nope, just lazy.
66. Yeah.

67. Not too bad.  Pie does, though!
68. Memories, maybe.
69. Mental for sure!
70. I can control it, but I don't always.

71. Really good, I think.
72. Making some headway.
73. Solid work.
74. Looking forward to it.

75. Because I was fat.
76. Yes.
77. Yes.
78. Not anymore, at first, though, yes.
79. Guess not...

80. Often
81. All the time.
82. Success is harder than failure.

83. It sure does.
84. Yup.
85. Yup!
86. Oh, for sure.  It's really surprising!
87. Yes.

88. I think so.
89. Yes.
90. Yes.
91. YES!
92. Nope, I can do it.
93. Nope.
94. Nope.
95. Nope.
96. Nope.

97. Not sure.
98. Yes.
99. Yes, I should.
100. Yes, I should!

And, I'm very late in mentioning this, but Josie over at Yum Yucky graciously included me in a post highlighting successes.  I'm very humbled to be even mentioned in the same group as these weight-loss masters!  Wow!

Thursday:
10 minutes on elliptical
30 minutes on stair stepper
30 situps
15 pushups
prayed
read the bible

Totals:
40 minutes on elliptical
20 minutes on stair stepper
10 minutes on exercise bike
1- muscle building session
2 set of 2 60 second planks
4 sets of 300 second side planks
180 situps
90 push ups
walked 6 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna

Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,165 Calories
Sunday: 2,195 Calories
Monday: 2,040 Calories
Tuesday: 2,325 Calories
Wednesday: 2,015 Calories
Thursday: 2,240 Calories
Friday:

Daily Average: 2,163 Calories.

Want to watch me twEAT? Check it out here.

No news

Sorry to say that I didn't get much time to workout today. I had about 3 hours of meetings, and I needed to work the rest of the hours I was there. I guess that means that I'll have to double up on my workout on Friday. I would tomorrow, but I'm donating blood, and I fear that doubling up on a workout would be not too good of an idea. My eating has been good today, and I'm thinking this might shape up to be a good week. But I guess I won't know until Saturday!

Wednesday:
1 set of 2 60 second planks
2 sets of 30 second side planks
30 situps
15 pushups
prayed
read the bible
date with Anna

Totals:
1- 10 minute session on elliptical
1- 10 minute session on stair stepper
1- 10 minute session on exercise bike
1- muscle building session
2 set of 2 60 second planks
4 sets of 300 second side planks
120 situps
60 push ups
walked 6 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna

Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,165 Calories
Sunday: 2,195 Calories
Monday: 2,040 Calories
Tuesday: 2,325 Calories
Wednesday: 2,015 Calories
Thursday:
Friday:

Daily Average: 2,148 Calories.

Want to watch me twEAT? Check it out here.

Foods I loved, love, and hate!

I really liked what Josie did on her blog today, and Mary did yesterday. So I thought I'd do it too! I'd also encourage everyone who wants to, to do this one, as well. Just post your link here (or tell us you did it on your blog). How fun! Without further ado:

FIVE FOODS I USED TO LOVE:

Jack in the Box Tacos: Man, I used to love these. Getting 4-6 of them at a time and chowing down on theur greasy deep-fried goodness. Oh yeah, they're 182 Calories. A piece. Glad I haven't had one in over 6 months.

Pasta: I used to love pasta, but now, really? Not worth it for me. Most of the time. :)

Tortillas: Everything would be wrapped in one. Even Spaghetti.  And when I was on my own and short on cash, I would actually have a bread burrito--yeah, you heard that right!--a bread burrito: a huge tortilla, two slices of bread torn up inside with a sprinkling of taco seasoning, cheese, and sour cream. WTF?? Another one of my tortilla treats? A huge tortilla with melted cheese, crushed up Ruffles, and Mae Ploy sauce. Ugh. Why did I weigh 368 pounds? I have no idea.

McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers: Or three of them. Or two Double Cheese Burgers (440 Calories EACH) and one or two McChicken's (360 Calories EACH). Wow. Disgusting.

DQ Blizzards: A regular Oreo Blizzard with double stuff. That's about 800 Calories of delicious sin. Ugh. Not worth it any more.

FIVE FOODS I LOVE:

Pizza: Yeah, I still love it. Deep dish, thin crust, meat lover's, veggie lover's, it doesn't matter. I love it all. But, I have been making much better choices with what I order and eat.

Sushi: This has always been a love of mine, but again, I'm making better choices: I don't get an extra dipping cup of the spicy mayo, I don't eat much mayo-based sushi either. But I do love salmon nigiri!

Brisling: Come one, what's not to love about tiny fish with edible bones packed in a tin with olive oil? Yeah, I know. But I really love them anyway!

Quinoa: I've only had it twice (too lazy to cook it every night), but I really love the taste, the texture, the protein, and everything.

Nut Butters: I love Steve's Super Walnut Butter, I love fresh Almond Butter. I still eat all-natural peanut butter but I just don't really love it as much as the other nut butters. But nut butter paired with fruit = delicious!

FIVE FOODS I HATE:  This is tough, since I really love food.

Soda: In one sense I'm really lucky that I never liked soda. But on the other hand, it has made my weight loss a little more difficult. If I could have immediately cut out 600-1,000 Calores in soda alone, that would have been helpful. But, really, everyone has something on this journey that is harder or easier than other people, so it doesn't make sense to dwell on things like that.

Maple Bars: I know most people love these. I can't stand them. I do still love donuts (though I haven't had one for a LONG time), but never liked maple bars.

Coffee Creamer: I really just drink my coffee and tea black. No cream. And no sugar. Especially NO artificial creamer, and definitely none of that powdered Non-Dairy Creamer crap. Yuck!

Minestrone Soup: I love soup, btu for some reason, it's just minnestrone that I can't stand. Not sure why. Just hate it.

Sugar-Dusted Candy: This contains many different candies, gummy peaches, orange wedges, sourpatch kids, and any candy with those dang sugar crystals. Ugh. Just thinking of it makes me cringe--I think it's the texture and the sound of the sugar on my teeth.

I also wanted to give a running update. I ran today instead of staying in the gym, and took the route all the people at my work take which is 4.12 miles, I did pretty well.  Almost made 9 minute miles!!!  Maybe Thursday (Or tomorrow, if I decide to run tomorrow, too..).  Gotta get ready for that race. 


Tuesday:
1 set of 2 60 second planks
2 sets of 300 second side planks
30 situps
15 pushups
ran 4 miles
prayed
read the bible

Totals:
1- 10 minute session on elliptical
1- 10 minute session on stair stepper
1- 10 minute session on exercise bike
1- muscle building session
1 set of 2 60 second planks
2 sets of 300 second side planks
90 situps
45 push ups
walked 2 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna

Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,165 Calories
Sunday: 2,195 Calories
Monday: 2,040 Calories
Tuesday: 2,325 Calories
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: 

Daily Average: 2,182 Calories. This isn't too bad. I'm looking to be around 2,100-2,200 Calories. But I'm not sure I've been having the best stuff. I'll be trying to add more fruits & veggies, but I think I'm doing a great job with the protein.
Want to watch me twWEAT? Check it out here.

Good Week Ahead

This weekend was a great weekend, and Anna and I had a lot of fun! We had a delicious breakfast at the Portage Bay Cafe on Saturday. Too much food, but it was delicious, and had some protein, fresh fruit, and sweet potatos (in the form of a yummy pancake!). And it got me through a lot of the day.


On Sunday, for dinner I "recreated" the spinach parmesan pizza we had in SF (the picture of the original should be here). I got a Cheese deLITE pizza from Papa Murphy's, baked it, and when it was done, spread fresh baby spinach on top, and sprinkled it with shaved parmesan. Pretty tasty, and only 200 Calories a slice...but I did have 4! But if you look below, my intake was actually pretty darned good all weekend. I'm feeling much better going in to this week.

Of course, I really need to start training, as Anna and I have the St. Patrick's Day Dash in less than 2 weeks! She's untimed, but I decided to test myself and do the slower of the timed versions. And the track is almost 4 miles. We'll see what I do. It's my first EVER timed "race". I really can't tell you how incredibly excited I am to take part in this. Sweet!  Anyone else doing it?

And we have a packed week with lots of fun activities in store: babysitting, dinner with friends, trying a delicious looking polenta pizza over at Alison's blog (Kimberley, I think you might actually be able to have this--no wheat!).

Totals:
1- 10 minute session on elliptical
1- 10 minute session on stair stepper
1- 10 minute session on exercise bike
1- muscle building session
90 situps
45 push ups
walked 2 miles
prayed daily
read the bible daily
date with Anna

Weekly Calorie Count:
Saturday: 2,165 Calories
Sunday: 2,195 Calories
Monday: 2,040 Calories
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Weekly Average: 2,133 Calories

Want to watch me twWEAT? Check it out here.