Day 2

I look forward to the moment that this whole plan and effort becomes a habit.

Today I contemplated not going to the gym and staying home, but I changed my clothes and went anyway. I did 30 min. on the elliptical, but the more difficult one where you move your arms as well. (See image on the left.*) I then rode the stationary bike for 30 min. I think my total calories burned was 422. (A few less than yesterday, but I get an A for effort.) I don't thoroughly enjoy the gym because I feel like I'm the biggest one there. I know that's not true, but I see these 18 year old girls in these skimpy outfits as I wobble around the cardio machines. One thing I do enjoy is listening to my MP3 player and having a little dance to my step. Yesterday I was walking on the treadmill and I clapped out loud like a freak.

I know I should have a positive attitude. Like yesterday, I saw this girl that looked so fit and trim, you could tell that she worked really hard at it. She was muscular, but not like a linebacker or anything. I wanted to tell her that she is an inspiration, but she probably would have thought that I was either a big wierdo (which I am) or that I was hitting on her (no, thanks.)
I didn't eat so well today, but I'm skipping dinner. Tomorrow, I have yoga class. I should then really go grocery shopping and buy foods that are both tasty and nutritious. I need to drink more water, too.

*Disclaimer:That's not me in the picture. But this is what I did today, and I practiced my photoshop skills by placing my face on the model. Besides, the model looked too happy to be on the elliptical.

Before - Before

So, I may never be a size 4 again, but a 6 or 8 would be respectable, I think. I know I won't look like I did when I was 18. But I am posting these "Before-Before" pictures as a reminder that I do have a nice figure hiding underneath all this chunky goodness. Look at the collarbones in my first picture. The second one (in the dress) shows how small my waist was. The one of me in the suit was taken on my graduation day. I like the blue shirt because I like the way I look in the clothes I'm wearing. These are the kind of clothes I would look forward to wearing when I'm relaxing on the weekends, taking a road trip, or just going to the store. (I was a size 7 back then, weighing around 135)

Day 1 or Tuesday 2/21/06

Okay, so this is what I look like now. Not my best right? Since I don't have NBC knocking down my door to be a contestant on the Biggest Loser, I've decided to start a blog about my personal quest for fitness. Perhaps it will compel me to be consistent about my efforts to work out, eat right, and live a healthy lifestyle. I haven't always been this big, I started gaining weight about 5 years ago when I moved out on my own. (blech!) I've been yo-yo-ing this same weight give or take 5 or 10 lbs. Last year I lost 15, but I gained those back and then some. I am going to document some of my exercising, my progress (hopefully) and my frustrations. If you have any tips or comments, I would welcome them. Wish me luck on this journey.

Today is the third day in a row I've exercised. For the last two days, I've ridden bike. (Sunday - 15 miles and yesterday 14.) I went to the gym this evening and concentrated on cardio. First, a half hour on the elliptical, then a half hour on the tread mill and last but not least, 15 minutes on the stationary bike. I think I burned a total of 460 calories. Pretty good, huh? Luckily, the three days of working out and eating heathier has already started paying off. It took the edge off of the 5 pounds I gained recently.
My eating wasn't the greatest today. I had a big lunch, but I didn't eat all of it. I'm just going to eat something light for dinner, like a hard-boiled egg or something. (I love them!) I really do need to go grocery shopping. So there's my official "before" picture. The one on the right is of my friend and I taking a break from riding bicycle in the everglades. (I saw 101 alligators that day!)

I think this alligator could start a fitness plan too.