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Apr 7, 2009

I Won’t Leave You Hanging

April 7, 2009 By

I’m sure you probably weren’t waiting all weekend to find out how I did on my exam, but in case you were curious, I passed! And if I might brag (which I can, seeing how this is my blog), I passed by quite a bit. 95th percentile. That makes me feel a lot more relaxed about taking my license exam this summer, since the questions are very similar.

In fitness news, the whole Hot by BlogHer plan is still going strong for me. I’m down 8 pounds total for March, and while it doesn’t feel like much, thanks to the 30 Day Shred I know that I am getting stronger and smaller. Apparently I have a waist again. And my hips have shed a few inches.

(However, let’s all have a moment of silence for my C cup boobs. They had a pretty good run, mostly thanks to two pregnancies and children, but sensing their unemployment might be long-standing, they were forced to turn in their surplus for the greater good. B cup bra shopping, here I come.)

I’m still using the 30 Day Shred DVD and My Fitness Coach. I’ve moved to Level 2 of the shred, and while the first day left me on the floor with my feet elevated to bring some blood flow back to my lightheaded brain, I’ve managed to make it through Level 2 without dying.

However, my knees are getting progressively worse, so I’m limiting the shred to only once or twice a week now. I decided that it might be fun to try some of The Biggest Loser workouts, and lucky for me Time Warner has them on-demand right now.

My first new workout was Level 1 of Cardio Max with Bob. First impression: loved it! Bob is very different from Jillian. He’s goofy, he runs up to the camera and talks to it, and his workout has fewer jumping motions. My knees still hurt, but now I don’t feel the need to reach for the ibuprofen bottle right after the workout. In fact, after I finished my first Cardio Max workout, I felt great and wondered if maybe it was too easy?

The next morning, however, I felt the results of that workout. Who knew it was possible to overtrain your butt? My butt and the upper back of my thighs burned with every step. And yet the only thing I could think of was Hey, cool, my ass will be smaller!

So I’m going to keep up my mix of activities. Over at the Shredheads blog, participants have split into Team Bob and Team Jillian, but I’m holding firm with a foot in each camp. I can’t commit to one style – I appreciate Jillian’s disciplined approach, and I also love Bob’s more gentle, warm&fuzzy approach. The current plan:

– work out 5x a week
– lots of water
– Weight Watchers for diet

I’ll do another round of photos mid-month to document any further changes. While my first comparision photos were dramatic, I doubt the next ones will be quite as dramatic. But I’m still hoping to rock a sundress in July. With a push-up bra, of course.

Filed Under: daily life, me me me Tagged With:


Mar 20, 2009

Haiku Friday: Physical Challenge

March 20, 2009 By
Haiku Friday
I never thought I
would say this, but I think I’m
liking exercise

Years of groaning at
silly aerobics workouts
have now been replaced

The change? Finding a
group for motivation and
the right exercise

Running hurts my knees
And most videos have a
way too perky gal

Jillian Michaels
is my new hero – she can
kick my ass anytime

I’ve always hated exercise. The sweat, the ache, the huffing and puffing, and did I mention the sweat? Yuck. Add silly workout instructors to the mix, or boring machines where you walk or pedal to nowhere, and I’d rather exercise my fingers on my computer keyboard than even think about marching in place or Jazzercise.

But I finally think I’m getting the hang of this. Blond, perky fitness models do nothing to inspire me, and weight lifting is far more interesting to me than stepping up and down on a step bench to nowhere. I need a trainer who is no nonsense. I also must have other people to share the ordeal with.

Aaron has been working out with me this month, and while I thought it would be awkward, it’s actually very motivating to encourage each other to keep going. I’m also loving the support of the Shredheads group and my new Hot by BlogHer team.

In three weeks, I’ve lost weight, improved my cardio endurance, and I can see new muscle developing. And for once I feel that my body and I are working in unison. Here’s hoping this new habit sticks.

To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:

1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.

2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). DON’T sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.

3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top.

REMEMBER: Do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week! I will delete any links without haiku!

Filed Under: me me me Tagged With:


Mar 11, 2009

It’s All About The Results

March 11, 2009 By

The shred is working. Or, well, my entire combo of exercise is working.

I’m a shredhead, but I simply cannot keep up with doing the 30 day shred every day. The months leading up to this one were fairly sedentary, and as a result my endurance is lousy. So instead I’m doing that workout 2-3 times a week, and on alternate days I’m doing a 30 minute workout using My Fitness Coach.

Side note: I LOVE My Fitness Coach. After wishing for something a little more workout-like from my Wii Fit, I bought My Fitness Coach two weeks ago in the hopes it would provide a more solid exercise program. It has over 400 different combinations, so you’re never doing the same workout twice.

The game has you begin with a Physical Challenge to see how fit you already are. Based on those results, it customizes a program for you, constantly adjusting to make sure you’re working hard enough, but not too hard. (And no, I wasn’t asked to promote the game – I paid $29.99 like everyone else.)

The game also asks you to do another Physical Challenge after every 10 workouts. Today was my day, but after a weekend of celebrating our anniversary with large meals and desserts, I wasn’t expecting to see much in the way of results.

Instead, I was shocked.

I’ve lost three pounds in a week and a half. My heart rate is still too high for cardio, but my upper body and core strength have increased. I also track measurements, and my chest, waist and hips have lost more than half an inch each so far.

Seeing that small-yet-not-insignificant progress is awesome motivation. My knees may hurt, and I may complain most days that I don’t want to exercise, but in less than two weeks I’m already seeing results.

And speaking of motivation, I’m happy to announce that Hot by Blogher is now officially up and running! Ready to join your fellow bloggers, banding together to look and feel your best before making that trip to Chicago in July?

You may still see some cosmetic changes to the site, but the welcome post, explaining how the site will work, is available for those who want to get started. (Just like this blog, if I had charged by the hour for my design services, it would be a very expensive design.)

Look for the first weekly challenge on Monday!

Filed Under: me me me Tagged With:


Mar 2, 2009

Pushing My Spanx to the Limit

March 2, 2009 By

I stepped on the scale for the first time in months, and the number made me wonder if gnomes were secretly feeding me lard while I slept. How did I gain ten pounds?

As you know, in January I tried the Jillian Michaels: 30-Day Shred DVD, and the first attempt left me so crumpled and sore that I couldn’t even roll over in bed without wincing for nearly a week. I seriously wondered if only insane people did this workout, because me? I’m no good at it.

It took over a week before I attempted the DVD again. But I did eventually dig out the disc from behind the TV (where I threw it while cursing Jillian Michaels’ name) and gave it another go. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel so bad afterward. I was sore the next day, but it wasn’t the same kind of crippling soreness I had before. Maybe I can do this after all?

Seeing the number on the scale now motivates me even more to jump back on that water- and vegetable-filled wagon. After all, I don’t want to pop a seam in my Spanx at BlogHer this year.

(Oh yeah, if you didn’t already know – I’m now registered for BlogHer 09!)

To aid in motivation, I’m bringing back Hot by BlogHer, but it’s going to be BIGGER! and BETTER! with group challenges and its own blog and maybe giveaways. Expect to see more info on it by next week, and start thinking of what you want to look like by July.

Also, since I’m already doing “the shred” once a week, it makes sense for me to join in with Kristen’s Shredheads group. They’re doing the 30 Day Shred for all of March. While I’m only going to be a part-timer, I’m still all about sharing in the support and motivation.

Here is the data that I need to provide to be a shredhead:

Code Name: Spanx Mama

Before pictures: I value my readers too much to post my before photos here. Springing that visual on you without proper warning would surely lead to mass unsubscribing. But if you really want to see, look here and here. (Remember, I warned you!)

Tag Line: Hot by Blogher, baby!

Weight: Here’s what the scale said last night.


Remember the camera adds a few pounds. In this case, it really does add two – I was holding the camera while weighing in.

Goal: Increase my endurance, have more muscle definition, lose weight, and look great in a cocktail dress at BlogHer.

Diet Plan: Less intake, better intake. I’m already eating between 1600-2000 calories a day, and trying to cut back on high fat and high sugar foods and substitute more veggies and lean proteins.

Personal Rules: No freaking out if I eat a big meal, no defeatest attitude, substitute more water in place of diet soda.

Shred Plan: I’m a part-timer, doing it once a week on Level 1 at the moment. I might bump it up to twice a week soon. I’m already doing a different 30 min. workout four times a week also.

You can join up at Kristen’s site, I’ll Stop the World and Shred With You. And if you’re interested in Hot by BlogHer, check back here next week!

Filed Under: clearly insane, me me me, pop culture Tagged With:


Jul 16, 2008

Hot By BlogHer: Less Than 24 Hours Left

July 16, 2008 By

I’ll be leaving the house at o’dark-thirty tomorrow morning for my flight to BlogHer. So I guess it’s too late to attempt to lose another 10 pounds quickly, isn’t it?

That’s OK, though. I’m ready. Did I lose weight over the past few months? Yes, I did – about 10 pounds. Did I gain some muscle, too? I think so. I’m eating better on a daily basis now, and thanks to Aaron being unemployed, I’m eating far less fast food, too! Exercise, while still not a daily event, is at least a 2-3 times a week activity. Those are all big changes for me. And the results are visible.

No magical transformation to see here, though. I’m still me, just lighter than I was at the last two BlogHers, and a little more confident. But there is a little more muscle tone, and my face is brighter. I’ve got a decent haircut now, thanks to the Aveda Institute, and today I had the chance to relax and de-stress through a facial. (Gift certificates are wonderful things.)

I’m glad I had this event to motivate me. I’m planning to keep up the efforts, even though it’ll no longer be Hot by BlogHer. Not unless I’m starting early for next year.

So if you’re going to BlogHer, look for me. I’ll brave enough to wear sleeveless tops, but best of all, I’m keeping to my word to wear a sundress. (I don’t care that the high is in the mid-60’s for San Francisco. That’s near-perfect for me.) I think I’m going to look pretty damn good in that dress, too. Here’s a hint of what to look for:


Let’s rock this party!

Filed Under: BlogHer08, me me me Tagged With: