feeling good, feeling great

I am feeling wonderful today. I took the whole weekend off from counting calories but I watched what I ate. I weighed myself this morning and I did not gain nor lose weight since Sunday. I tried on a pair of pants that I used to wear and I could get them up to just below my belly today. My waist is down another inch since the last time I measured. I think the difficult ab section in the long version of my workout video is really helping that. Now if I could just get in more cardio to burn that fat off. I am doing cardio during my workout but my favorite cardio activity is taking the kids for a walk. I decided to do more cardio. I thought about replaying the cardio sections in my workout video but I decided that I am just going to do my own version of it to some music. That way K can dance with me too.

tried out the new DVD

So this morning I tried the cardio burn DVD and quite frankly I hate it. I am going to try it again another day but today was not the day for it. I made it through 25 minutes. My knees were killing me and the arm movements are not in time with the leg movements so it was kinda difficult to follow so early in the morning. I don't know if that DVD will have to wait until I lose more weight or if I am just hurting from yesterday. Either way I was not impressed with it this morning. I did the mimi challenge from the weight loss board I below to and I am going to do the short workout from my old standby-the Cindy Crawford video. It doesn't help either that I was soooo hungry yesterday. I ate just over 1800 calories. My upper limit is 1800 but I was still hungry, actually hungry, so I ate. I am down 1.4 lbs so far since last Friday's check in I would like that to be 2 lbs but I will take what I can get.

I think after this month my monthly goals will be changed to weekly goals instead. I think that will help me stay on track better. This is all a learning process for me.

Anyway, off to finish up my 45 minutes of working out today and then a shower.

whew!

I worked out to the Cindy Crawford video again today after having done my new one for the last 2 days. WOW. The other one is definitely a breeze compared to the Cindy one.

It is not yet 8 am here and I have already started on my water intake for the day. That is good. I did have a diet cola when I woke up. K and I are cleaning the upstairs today so I will get a workout carrying the vacuum and the carpet shampooer upstairs.

I asked Hubby if we can buy a better carpet shampooer when we get our tax return. He said I could. I really don't need to ask his permission to buy things but because I want one that is almost $200, I felt I should discuss it with him first. I would also like to get a better vacuum cleaner as well but the shampooer is more important right now. Our current one only picks up about 1/2 the water it lays out. Not cool. I have to go over the carpets 2-3 times in order to get it partially dry.

I have been asked on a board I am a member of what my fitness program is. So here goes.

I work out a minimum of 6 days a week. Because I can't get outside for cardio and I do not want to pay for a gym, I am doing light strength training everday but doing a different video. I recently bought a cardio video so I am going to mix it up a bit. My plan is to do my Cindy video one day, my cardio the next, Then either the Cindy one or the Kathy one and so on. The light strength training also has bits of cardio in it. I know that once I can get outside with the kids, I will slack on the weight training so in the end it will work out ok. I will probably only strength train once or twice a week in the summer, not because I don't like to, just because I LOVE being outside and will spend a lot of my time taking the kids for a walk or playing in the yard with them.

I am eating between 1500-1800 calories a day, keeping my fat % below 30, but shooting for below 25. I try to eat 1600-1700 a day but wanted to give myself a range for those hungry days. I eat 4-5 times a day. Dinner is my biggest meal. I work out in the morning as much as I can and then finish up when the kids are napping. I am drinking a minimum of 8 cups of water a day. I don't eat withing 2 hours of bedtime. Nothing is off-limits in my diet. I can eat whatever. I just have to write it down and eat it in moderation. If I know we are having a dinner that I love, I eat a lighter lunch and smaller snacks.

my new exercise dvds

They came in the mail today. I watched the one that I really wanted, the Kathy Kaehler one. I did not do the workout but I watched it. I will do a review in a few days after I have done it a few times. I did not get a chance to check out the 2nd one but I will tommorrow probably.

a treat

I ordered myself 2 new work out DVDs. I would like to vary my routine a bit so I do not get bored with it. So I ordered
http://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Kaehler-Basics-Fitness-Workout/dp/B00067HP78
and
http://www.amazon.com/Cardio-Burn-Madeleine-Lewis/dp/B000BY9VRI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198901860&sr=1-1

The first one I bought because I really have no experience with exercise DVDs but this is the instructor from the first one I ever bought (http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Crawford-New-Dimension/dp/B0000X61V4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198902093&sr=1-1)
and I really liked her in this video. She is not a supermodel and seems more like a real person. Some of the reviews say that her body is manly looking but quite frankly, I don't see what they are seeing. I think she is built like I am, and I am not manly looking.

The second one I bought because it was from the same seller and looked like an ok way to add in a little more cardio than the other ones have. Plus it was cheap and only $2 to ship.

I am looking for a little more variety in my workouts. I know that once spring hits, I will not use the dvds much except for when we can't go outside but at least I will have them available.

Do I need a DVD to work out to? Not really but I find that if I do not vary my routine, I get bored with it and quit. I can do regular exercises that I already know how to do but it gets old doing the same thing time and again. This way I can spice it up a bit.

I have a hard time picking out a DVD routine because
A) I need something that is in short bursts so I can stop and start when I need to so I can take care of the kids or do whatever. I try to fit in my workout first thing in the morning but that does not always happen. I can do it during K's nap but that is my time to spend with O. I spend time with K in the morning while O is napping. I like giving each child their own little bit of time with me and only me. I am not going to give that up. I usually manage to get in at least 20 minutes everyday so the short sections are perfect for me. I do not have the time for a complete 45-60 minute workout in 1 stretch of time. Sure I can pause it and go back but the sections work better.

B) the choices are daunting. There are so many to choose from. It seems that every model and actress has a video out, not too mention their trainers, etc.

C) Cost. I do not want to spend $20 + on one video that I may or may not like. I tried looking at the used video and the thrift stores around here but the choices are very limited. I even checked out Walmart and found 3, only 3. WTH?!?!

So anyway after I use them for a couple weeks I will let you know how they are. I can tell you that the New Dimension by Cindy Crawford is fantastic. I (and Hubby) have noticed a difference in my "wings"(the flabby lower part of my arm), my butt, and my abs already.