With my new belt size, I decided to go try on new jeans. I just bought jeans a size smaller! I am thrilled! I even bought a sweater to go with them! Button down shirts have been my style for years and I am determined to change that!
Now... back to the gym! Gotta keep this downsizing momentum going!
P.S. I got up at 4:00 this morning and walked 14 miles with a friend! :)
P.S.S. The weather is definitely changing out there! Am I ready to start walking in the frosty fall temps? You betcha!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Read this on a blog today. So true...
When we’re skinny.
There’s always a question about what happens when we get to our goal. Will we all of a sudden be happy? Are we going to see the world in a different light simply because we’re skinny?
It’s all about the journey. We’re becoming better people. It’s not just our health. We are becoming happier, too. Every aspect of our life is enriching because we’re taking control of our lives and allowing ourselves to be happy. Strictly getting to our goals isn’t what is going to make us feel like life is better; we’re going to be happy because we’ve gone through the bad and fought our way to the good. That’s what it’s about.
(from BenDoesLife.com)
There’s always a question about what happens when we get to our goal. Will we all of a sudden be happy? Are we going to see the world in a different light simply because we’re skinny?
It’s all about the journey. We’re becoming better people. It’s not just our health. We are becoming happier, too. Every aspect of our life is enriching because we’re taking control of our lives and allowing ourselves to be happy. Strictly getting to our goals isn’t what is going to make us feel like life is better; we’re going to be happy because we’ve gone through the bad and fought our way to the good. That’s what it’s about.
(from BenDoesLife.com)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
What you put into it is what you get out of it!
Wow, I have certainly gone through some changes in the past couple of weeks - mentally, physically and with my diet. I always remember (although I obviously didn't pay attention) something I read long ago... "If what you are doing week after week isn't giving you the results you want, it clearly is not working for you! Change it!" Why we waste weeks, months and sometimes even years trying to stick with a single plan, without seeing the desired results, is beyond me! I, myself, am very guilty of doing that! Over the past year I have lost and regained... and lost and regained... and LOST and REGAINED the same ten pounds! Clearly it was not working for me. VERY CLEARLY. Luckily, when I finally became conscious and started to make some changes, I was on the "lost ten pounds" side of that relationship so now I have actually lost new pounds and have broken out of that same ten-pound bracket. Whew. And it wasn't even that hard.
My friend and walking buddy, Linda, worked with me and taught me things about weights and resistance bands. She emphasized how important it is to work on all parts of your body and not just do one thing - walk. With the amount of walking I do, if it was the magic solution to losing weight, I would be a sack of skin and bones. But I'm not. Not at all. Walking certainly helps but it isn't the whole package. Zeroing in on my diet and adding in weight training, I am finally making progress again after a year of sitting comfortably in one place. Thank you, Linda! (See... I do listen to you!)
Today I skipped out on the walking routine and opted for the "gym". I put that in quotes because my "gym" is in my home. In a very crowded space we have a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stationary bike and a Bowflex Home Gym. We also have scattered around the room some free weights, a seemingly very heavy 20-pound Kettlebell, a Red Chair, some resistance bands and an aerobic ball. Amazingly, I actually enjoyed the workout, using every machine in there for a minimum of 15 minutes each. I even JOGGED a full mile without stopping today - something I plan to do a lot more often! The Kettlebell nearly beat me down but I stood my ground and swung that beast like I was a participant on the Biggest Loser! Best of all (in my opinion), I was sweating like a Biggest Loser participant so I KNOW I accomplished what I set out to do today... I gave it absolutely everything I had! I feel fantastic!
Check this video out! If Ben Davis doesn't give you inspiration, I don't know who will! HE IS MY BIG TIME HERO!
My gym... (Husband really wants me to succeed!) ;)
My friend and walking buddy, Linda, worked with me and taught me things about weights and resistance bands. She emphasized how important it is to work on all parts of your body and not just do one thing - walk. With the amount of walking I do, if it was the magic solution to losing weight, I would be a sack of skin and bones. But I'm not. Not at all. Walking certainly helps but it isn't the whole package. Zeroing in on my diet and adding in weight training, I am finally making progress again after a year of sitting comfortably in one place. Thank you, Linda! (See... I do listen to you!)
Today I skipped out on the walking routine and opted for the "gym". I put that in quotes because my "gym" is in my home. In a very crowded space we have a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stationary bike and a Bowflex Home Gym. We also have scattered around the room some free weights, a seemingly very heavy 20-pound Kettlebell, a Red Chair, some resistance bands and an aerobic ball. Amazingly, I actually enjoyed the workout, using every machine in there for a minimum of 15 minutes each. I even JOGGED a full mile without stopping today - something I plan to do a lot more often! The Kettlebell nearly beat me down but I stood my ground and swung that beast like I was a participant on the Biggest Loser! Best of all (in my opinion), I was sweating like a Biggest Loser participant so I KNOW I accomplished what I set out to do today... I gave it absolutely everything I had! I feel fantastic!
Check this video out! If Ben Davis doesn't give you inspiration, I don't know who will! HE IS MY BIG TIME HERO!
My gym... (Husband really wants me to succeed!) ;)
Friday, August 12, 2011
Walking for Breast Cancer
Thank you to all of my supporters for your wonderful and generous donations to my walk in September!! Today I reached the minimum fundraising requirement of $2,300 for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure! I can now sit back and relax - at least mentally!
Raising $2,300 is no easy task! It weighs heavily on my mind until I have it completed. As September gets closer, I can not fully train with a relaxed mind until I reach the minimum required amount. Without it, I can not participate in the 60 mile walk and that would be very disappointing! The 3-Day event is the reason I train all year long. It is my favorite event and the one most meaningful to me. Like last year, before the event has even taken place, I have signed up to participate next year - that's how much I enjoy it and how much I believe in the cause! I will not start fundraising for 2012 until about February but the link is available at the top of this blog page to donate at any time.
If you want to view this year's event page, it is here: 2011 3-day Walk for the Cure
I look at the page continuously and appreciate every name and every dollar scrolling through the honor roll.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I could not have done it without your help! xoxo Jacqueline
Raising $2,300 is no easy task! It weighs heavily on my mind until I have it completed. As September gets closer, I can not fully train with a relaxed mind until I reach the minimum required amount. Without it, I can not participate in the 60 mile walk and that would be very disappointing! The 3-Day event is the reason I train all year long. It is my favorite event and the one most meaningful to me. Like last year, before the event has even taken place, I have signed up to participate next year - that's how much I enjoy it and how much I believe in the cause! I will not start fundraising for 2012 until about February but the link is available at the top of this blog page to donate at any time.
If you want to view this year's event page, it is here: 2011 3-day Walk for the Cure
I look at the page continuously and appreciate every name and every dollar scrolling through the honor roll.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I could not have done it without your help! xoxo Jacqueline
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Greater Portland Half - Cars, Cars and More Cars!
Yesterday I walked in the Greater Portland Half Marathon in Forest Grove, Oregon. The scenery was beautiful but the walk was far from nice. I have never had a complaint about the route but this one scared me. We were taken along a highway and then through two-lane country roads. It wasn’t much different from other walks, however, with this one, they did NOT have the roads blocked off in any way to protect us from the vehicles zooming by – and there were MANY - sometimes so close you had to quickly jump off the roadway. The roads were hilly so we moved to the opposite side (to go with the flow of traffic) when we couldn’t see over the top so a car wouldn’t come smashing into us. On the downhill side, we had to move back to facing traffic for the same reason. There were a couple of uphill curves where you couldn’t choose either side of the road as a safe side. There weren’t many markers nor volunteers (but the ones they had were wonderful) to keep you on the correct route. At one point a young lady was running towards us and was crying because she was lost and was only doing the 5k run, not the half marathon, which she obviously found herself running. She was exhausted and had no water. The usual police escorts would have helped out on the route but they only had one to get in and out of the parking lot! What the heck?! With all that said, I had a good walk! I felt strong and was able to keep a good pace. I walked with a friend, Sue, and she had some interesting stories to tell so my mind wasn’t really on the miles passing by under my feet. We finished 13.1 miles in 3 hours and 9 minutes, averaging 14:25 minute miles. I finished five minutes later than my fasted half but in that half, we jogged about a third of it and in this one we didn’t jog at all except to get in front of a walker on the busy roadway. It was a good day and I’m happy to have another half marathon notch on my belt. :)
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