Theres No Finish Line

As you may or may not know I joined Biz's summer challenge and it is helping to keep me motivated to work out when I don't "want" to! I think last week was successful I've gotten back into the 150's again thankfully and now I will keep it going down I hope.

I've been working out for the last 13 years pretty steadily. I joined a gym in March of 1997 and it took me about six months to get hooked on exercise but I did eventually get hooked so much so I decided to become a personal trainer.

What I have come to know is that there really is no end to the fitness journey even after you reach your weight loss goal number. You have to keep doing your exercises and you have to be mindful and careful of your eating. Originally, I lost 40 pounds and kept it off until my mom died in 2004 over the next year I let my weight creep up 10 pounds. I was so numb and disconnected for a while there. Then I got comfortable with the weight gain and saw that I wasn't going to regain the other thirty pounds I had lost so I accepted my new higher weight until last fall.

Once I made the decision to have the hysterectomy I knew I had to get the extra weight back off again and I am down to 159 as of today from 168.5 in October of last year. It was so much harder to start losing weight again this time being in my 40's and in menopause now but I am here to say it is doable hard but doable.

After I read Shelly's and Lori's blog today I wanted to put my two cents in about long term weight loss success since they were pondering whether they would regain all the weight they have lost. I don't think it is inevitable as long as you keep living the way you lived to lose the weight. That is not to say that you can't eat a tiny bit more calorie wise but you have to keep up with your exercise. For example: If I want to lose weight I have to do cardio about a hour a day 5 days a week maintenance for me is 45 minutes. Oh yeah, this time around I am weight lifting a couple of days a week as well. I have discovered I look better toned than wrinkly....LOL

Last Saturday I was out garage sailing and thrift store shopping and I lifted a bunch of boxes with china and books and now my right arm, shoulder, forearm hurt. I am hoping this is just sore muscles and not a re injury to a old shoulder injury of mine.

My workout week so far: Sunday 4 miles and Monday 3 miles, I have been meeting my goals of 3 veggies a day, 2 fruits, and water as well, as low fat balanced eating. I won't do weight lifting on my upper body until this soreness leaves hopefully in the next day or two I could go lightly...

Check out this blog if you haven't already www.betweengirl.com she has a "Real Food Boot Camp" going. This is very well done with shopping list, prep instructions and 3 recipes. Not many followers yet check her out and leave a comment we all need support. Its harder to be a blogger than one would think.

If your on Facebook and would like to "friend" me look up Susan Calderon you will see my profile pic from here there.

The summer challenge has challenged me to be a better blogger as well!
Till next time

Susan

I Give You Roses Enjoy!

My favorite rose bush to see in the mornings!

Above photo shows my pink, yellow, red rose bushes

My Star Red Rose Bush

What do roses and weight loss and fitness have to do with each other you might ask? They both take a lot of work and dedication and perseverance and sometimes when your strategy isn't working you have to change it.

This is the highlight in my rose garden right now I hope you enjoyed seeing some of what I see out my patio door....have a great weekend.

A New Decade Dawns

Well, I finally saw 159.5 this morning!!! It has been so long since I last saw this number that I don't remember the last time it was just that it has been years. Anyway, I'm very happy and excited to say the least its been a long time coming!

All else in my world is good as well. I'm happy to report and happy today.

Today is really short and sweet and I have pictures of my roses to post just not the time right this second but I will post them probably tomorrow...

This Week

I am feeling much better today since I finally slept the night through last night which is such a relief from being sleepless in the middle of the night hopefully this is a new positive trend.

Back to exercising at full steam. Sunday was a 8 lap around the park then home to do weight training and abs. Yesterday was 4 miles on my treadmill for about a hour total then today was 35 minutes on the treadmill. This afternoon I pulled weeds for a half and hour in my rose garden then went for a half hour bike ride through the neighborhood it was very breezy out there!

Tonight I am getting ready to tape The Biggest Loser this way I can watch it without all the annoying commercials and go through any annoying parts gotta love the fast forward button!

On Thursday of last week I dropped down to 161.5 which is down a half pound. Not much but better than a gain any day.

At the moment not much else is going on so I'll check back in later this week! Thanks for all your support and stoping by....

Taking It Easy

I'm taking it a little easier than usual this week still not at the top of my game with my workouts. Today it is cold and breezy here so I did a 33 minute workout inside on the treadmill(dreadmill) The other two days this week I walked in my favorite park in all the world for 8 laps both days.

My mileage is way down for now due to sniffles and trying to stay uninjured.

I finally got back down to 162.5 again it had bounced back up to 164 when I "celebrated" my anniversary with way to much food. I don't know why exactly but when I get to this weight I start to self sabotage some this time I am aware of the tendency and fighting it with all my might!

I guess that's my official mid week report for now stay warm and well where you are:)

Plateau Is Over At Long Last!

I thought I would be happier when I finally saw this number 162.5 yep that's right 2 hard fought pounds off but I wasn't maybe I was still asleep and also in shock....I lose weight slowly like glaciers that melt oh well.

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary and we will be going out to eat tonight. Why do special occasions have to fall when I finally lose weight? That was a rhetorical question don't answer that lol

Thanks you all for your support it means the world to me! I'm keeping this short and sweet for today.
Be well

February Ramblings

My February so far looks like this:
Feb 1st 3.19miles 48:20 minutes
Feb 2nd 3.14 miles 46:50 minutes for am workout plus weight training1 mile walk outdoors that afternoon
Feb 3rd 3.22 miles 49:04 minutes with afternoon bike ride of 3.2 miles
Feb 4th outside with 8 laps around my park roughly 2 miles plus abs

This week so far
Sun Feb 7th 3.32 miles 49:21 minutes
Mon Feb 8th 3.24 miles 48:01 minutes plus weights and abs
Tue Feb 9th 3.59 miles 55:19 minutes walked 10 minutes extra after my 3 miles
Wed Feb 10th 3.61 miles 54:21 minutes plus ab work

I'm working out as hard as I can and my fitness is improving. I can tell by my jog/run times improving this morning I completed two miles in 28 minutes and I got to the three mile at 41:59-42:00 minutes I was thrilled!

The cold weather is making my knees ache so I am sticking to the one workout a day for now but my time is edging closer to that hour mark which is where I get the weight loss results so we shall see.

Also, I am proud I have stayed out of my afternoon "soda" so far today which is MAJOR for me!

I have one more workout day this week depending on how my knees feel maybe tomorrow or maybe not...How's your February going so far? What are you most proud of ?

TIRED

I am feeling tired today!This week workout wise has been something else. On several days I have done two cardio sessions in hopes of helping my creaky metabolism along it has helped slightly I am down a tiny half a pound.

On brighter news the weather has been better with several days of sunshine so I got my bike out yesterday afternoon and rode 3+ miles through my neighborhood. Today I walked in my park a couple of miles. It really does help to have changing scenery I couldn't stomach a treadmill walk or run today so out I went outside.It was so great to feel the breeze, see the brown grass, watch the squirrels play, look at the blue sky and fluffy white clouds go by as I walked. I am much too tired to jog today. I'm not sure it was great "cardio" but it helped my spirit tremendously! Best of all I felt happy at least for a while.

I'm not sleeping great right now being woke up with hot flashes some nights and other nights just waking up two or three times a night and not being able to get back to sleep. I went yesterday for my annual female exam and my doc upped the dose of estrogen in the patch I wear this being in menopause sucks! The only good thing is no more periods or sore breasts every month all the rest is not fun.

Since I've gone 16 miles since Sunday and I am tired and sore I'm thinking I am done working out for the week of course this remains to be seen. I had my husband take some pictures of me when I was weight lifting this week will try to get them posted later today.

Finding Motivation Is Hard Sometimes!

This is what I see as I look out my slide n glass door by my treadmill each morning that I workout. Looking at these pretty yellow flowers never fails to cheer me up. I can't wait to be back outside doing my run/walk program in my favorite park which is behind my house. Lately its been to cool for me to be outside trying to run/walk I have asthma so I have to be careful working out outside in the winter. Any way I thought I would share a little sunshine with my readers.

Its been one of those weeks with my workouts where I have felt very unmotivated in fact I may just finish this week out with only 4 cardio workouts. I did my weight workout routine twice and worked on my abs (my least favorite area of my body) twice. After working out for 13 years now sometimes its still a struggle that never completely goes away.

I'm frustrated at how slow my body loses weight. Right now its going between 164- 164.5 depending on the day of the week ugh! I think its much harder to lose just a few pounds than a bunch of weight at least in the beginning. I start out each day keeping my food diary and then forget it after breakfast...sigh.....no such thing as perfect record keeping at least for me.

Got sad news today that one of my elderly neighbors died overnight not unexpected but still say you know?

Hopefully my next workout will be better than my last and next week will be a great one!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and welcome to my very first blog entry. My name is Susan and I live in Central Florida. Here I am doing my treadmill workout .I decided to start writing this blog as a way of sharing my keep fit journey and my struggles to lose another 20 pounds and to offer support and hope to others. I have been working out since the end of March 1997 when I weighed a whopping 197 pounds today I weigh 164 my height is 5'6. Originally back in 1997 I lost 40 pounds and I maintained this weight loss for a few years until my mom died back in Dec 2004. Since then in spite of my working out 5 days a week most weeks my weight has been between 168-172 was the highest.

Recently I was able to start slowly losing weight again and this time its for health reasons not vanity. I don't want to have high blood pressure or heart disease....recently I saw my doctor for heart burn issues and was put on Nexium. My doctor said that losing weight would help alleviate my digestive issues so that is even more incentive! I struggle with eating right not enough veggies and to many sweets and calories on a daily basis. My daily afternoon drink of non-diet soda is a major downfall, and yes I know its bad for me but I crave the sweetness.

Well, I think that is more than enough of a introduction post. I have been reading others blogs and been inspired to start blogging and to eat better as well as keep up the keeping fit. Till next time...

Susan