We are almost done with the 100 day heart challenge. I feel I have just begun. My only regret is I didn't try harder from the start, but I feel great now and I feel I can continue to live a healthier lifestyle. I have learned so much from the nutrition classes and from my trainer Heidi Hatch. I still have a ways to go with the weight challenge but I know now that I can keep exercising and eat healthy the weight will in due time come off and stay off! My clothes fit much better...I can breathe and the circulation is no longer blocked at the waist line!

Week 6

Last week's group bike riding activity was great. I forgot how much fun it is to ride a bike. I had a great work out. I need to work on finding alternative exercises besides run or walk. I enjoy both but I do need to try other exercises.
I am doing better at exercising more days. My goal is 6 days a week and it was a good week last week.
Food on the other hand is a different subject...so complex to me. I'm still trying to figure it out. I guess I just need to embrace food and know that there are foods out there that are better for me and will help me become healthier and try to eat less of the empty foods. I am eating more vegetables and fruits. That is one major change I like about myself and what it has done for me...I feel better and healthier.

Catching Up Week/Week 5

The last few weeks have been difficult trying to find a good time to work out. I thought the evenings would work best after work, but not the case. Most weeks I only exercised 3 days a week. That needed to change. My weight stayed the same for three weeks. Traci advised I add another exercise day or two. My goal is to work out 5 to 6 days per week. So far I haved gone to the gym four days, tomorrow makes five! I have been going to the gym at 5:30 in the morning. I have more energy and I don't have to worry about making it to the gym after work. Now I just need to get into the habit of going every morning! Maybe my weight in day will be better next week!
I have logged my food 5 days the last couple of weeks. I still don't log on week-ends. I need to work on that.
Why do we feel bad if we don't eat the way we are suppose to? Or if we don't make it to the gym? I feel like I didn't accomplish what I was suppose to do and it can makes me feel unsuccessful or a failure? I need to work on positive thinking and not allow negative thoughts to go through my mind when I did not have a good day. Our dietician advises a good book "intuitive eating" I really need to buy that book.
I'm excited about the group bike ride tomorrow. I think it will be a great work out.
Heidi--You're an awesome trainer. I have learned so much from you, thanks!

Week 4 of 100 Day Heart Challenge

Week 4 was tough. I only logged my food three days and exercised 3 days! Visiting my father in Arizona was great but of course I ate what he wanted to eat. Eating together in my family was important for my mother. She always cooked everyones favorite dish and satisfied her husband and children. She was a great cook and everyone loved her bread. Our family time was at our table when I was growing up. If we were not at the table we were outside working or taking care of household chores. I guess over time it became important and special for our family to eat at the table. We talked and of course ate and ate! We made our mother happy by eating all we could. She believed being plump was healthy...
But as I got older I knew that I had to make some changes for my family but I needed some direction. I have been on some diets where I have immediately lost weight and later gained it back. I have kept most of it off. I quickly lost interest in diet plans and exercised inconsistently. With this heart challenge it has opened my eyes and there is a way to keep the weight off without starving myself. And it is a healthier approach. It feels great to be healthy and to exercise knowing I am doing something good for my body. This body has to be around a long time for my family!
Next week will be better. A new week and a new commitment!

Week 3 of 100 Day Heart Challenge

I am getting better at planning my meals. I bring my lunch to work so I have control of my portions. I am learning new things at our weekly nutrition class for example how to figure out the amount of servings of carbs, proteins and fat from a food label. I'm not as confused about the carb, protein and fat counting. Now I need to remember that calories count as well, so I need to be careful not to eat too many carbs in one meal. This is great. I am learning so many things I never knew about food. I just knew food is what we need to live and I ate well! My family has been supportive and they are eating what I cook at home. My husband has gone back to the gym with me and we are both eating healthy. The week-ends are challenging because we enjoy eating out. I will be traveling to Arizona for the week-end to visit family and I am definitely up for a challange, my family's social gathering involves a lot of delicious food!
My goal this week is to exercise 5 days. I have been logging my food this week. I find if I don't log my food, I eat more. Since I have increased my exercising I have more energy and I look forward to my work outs. It's a great feeling when you step off the treadmill, legs shaking, and knowing you put in a hard work out!

Week 2 of Heart Challenge

Last week I met with my trainers and received my work out program. It looked easy to do but the actual work was harder that I thought. Due to other commitments I did not work out as many days as I had planned. This is a new week so I am determined to schedule my work out days and stick to them.
It took awhile to get into the habit of recording what I eat daily. I noticed at times I sneaked a bite or two of my husband's candy. I try not to nibble as I cook. I need to plan my meals ahead of time and bring them to work rather than buying fast food when I get hungry. My goal is to watch my portions and replace caffeinated drinks with natural foods (fruits) to help give me the energy I need.