Push Yourself Beyond Your Limits!

I am truly inspired by other bloggers and people I encounter who are also trying to lose weight. Last night after making my post on avoiding weight loss surgery, I did a quick browse around on other weight loss blogs. Well, these people are VERY SERIOUS about losing their weight. They put my blogging to shame. It's cool, though, because I was started this blog solely to inspire other people - especially others like myself. I'm from the coach potato bunch, but I want to let you know that anything you are thinking about as far as losing weight is concerned - you can do it.

Today, I got back to my 5K grind. I did a 5K walk/run on the treadmill. It took me around 45 minutes. In the middle of exercising, I got an amazing pain on my side, but I kept thinking about those other bloggers, and how I much I would love to share an amazing story to motivate my audience (and gain myself some bragging rights LOL). The last 15-20 minutes of my workout was very painful to say the least, but I maintained, and pushed through. It's truly amazing how good you feel after you have pushed yourself to the brink during a workout.

Here's the pics to prove it (in true Big Girl E fashion):

So here's what I challenge you to do: push yourself beyond what you think are your limits (you don't know your true limits). If you never exercise, join a gym (many have free trial memberships available) and start today. If you usually workout for 15 minutes, try 25 minutes next time. If you can walk one mile on the treadmill, try 1.5.

For anyone who lives in the Metro East STL area, here are some ideas:

*** If you don't belong to a gym, Club Fitness in O'Fallon, IL (as well as other local Club Fitness locations) offers a free 14 day trial (click the link above to sign up). This is where I workout. After the trial period, their rates are the most reasonable in the area. Let them know Elise Connors sent you.
*** If you prefer outdoor activities, try Fairview Heights' Longacre Park's walking trail (approximately 1.5 miles) or if you want to REALLY challenge yourself, try O'Fallon Family Sports Park in O'Fallon, IL (trail is approx. 2.2 miles).
*** If you enjoy the support of a group, you may try a Weight Watchers meeting. Your first meeting is free and there is no obligation to join.

If you have any ideas or triumphs to share, please comment below...

This Weekend!

So, this weekend was amazing. I touched on so many areas of my own personal fitness. I don't have very much time to type, so I will keep it short and sweet.

#1 - I attended the FAA (Food Addicts Anonymous) phone meeting. It really was not my speed. Their focus is to cut all wheat and sugar out of your diet. Granted, this is an excellent focus and will likely lead to future weight loss and overall fitness. However, it's not the change for me. I would go crazy cutting off my sugar and breads cold turkey like that. Plus the call was pretty scattered and everyone seemed a bit rehearsed. That's just my opinion. They say you should try attending the meetings six times before you decide it's not right for you. Right now, I just don't see this being the route I want to take.

#2 - I joined Weight Watchers. Yes, I'm a part of the actual program. The reason I say "actual program" is because I have tried to do it on my own without the meetings and failed each time (I tried 2-3 times before). Now, I will not only have the support of my leaders, but I will also have more accountability to my finances (since there will be $40 coming out each month for the monthly pass). I'm too cheap to let money go down the drain like that. A big plus, though, is that my sister in law joined with me so we will try to attend the meetings together. I think it will be fun for us and let us have some "girl time".

#3 - I had the most vigorous walk in the park so far. My hubby really pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits, but it was a fierce workout, and I can't thank him enough. Sure I whined and complained along the way, but it was really worthwhile - so much so that I lost a pound right afterward. Now, of course he thinks he's the master trainer. He's pretty awesome, and I will give him credit because it's definitely due.

I stuck to my plan today and even sought out what Weight Watchers calls "Filling Foods" so that I have lower points, but I'm getting more full. Of course that results in fewer cravings, and a happier disposition about this lifestyle change I have made.

I know I said I would keep it short, but time flies when you're having fun. Gotta run, but I will keep you all updated. Keep tuning in! TTYL :-)

5K + New Calorie Burn Record!

Today, I did two things I had never done before.

(1) I completed a 5K (equal to 3.2 miles) in my workout on the treadclimber. Here's the proof:

     (A) Part I (2.36 miles, 388 calories):

     (B) Part II (0.93 miles, 148 calories):

(2) I burned 536 calories (see proof above)



This is probably one of the biggest milestones I've reached because it was me beating two records at once, and it has fueled me for my workouts for the rest of the week. So, all week the plan is to do the treadclimber and work out a 5K or better each time. Today it took me 50 minutes to do it (keep in mind this is the treadclimber - not the treadmill). I plan to do better on this time by the end of the week. My goal is to be able to do it in 40 minutes. I will keep you all posted on my progress toward that goal as each day goes on.

In other news, this was the holiday weekend - a scary time for any food addict. And in case you're wondering, yes I succumbed to the pressure to overeat. The food was too good to simply pass up. One day (not sure when) in the future, I plan to be strong enough to be able to fight those temptations, but for now, I can only take my food issues day by day. I refuse to let myself fail again by going cold turkey and cutting out all of the yummy foods I love so much. Hey -- I'm a work in progress here...

Low Key Day

So today has been pretty low-key. I haven't been to the gym and probably will not go, but I did hit yet another milestone in my weight loss journey and I just wanted to share.

This morning I put on my tester capris. Why do I call them tester capris, you ask? Well, it's really quite simple --- I use them to test whether I'm losing inches. Normally (before I started working out), they don't fit. Today though, I was able to put them on. Even though they were not very loose, they did fit. Like with most other things, that may not be a big deal, but to me, it is.

I just wanted to share...

A New Milestone: 450 Calories!

I want to keep this post pretty short and sweet...

Tonight the hubby didn't get off work until late, so we didn't keep our normal gym schedule. However, we still went, and boy did we go!

I burned 450 calories! And on the treadmill no less! This was not on the treadclimber like normal...this was a full workout. And to think I didn't even feel like going, but somehow managed to burned the most calories EVER today!

Here's proof:

That is all people! Thanks so much for reading and have a great night!