Fitness Update

It's been a little over two months since I shared what I was doing to get fit and healthy in this post, so I thought I'd give an update. 

Top / Shorts / Shoes / Sports Bra

The biggest lesson I've learned in the three months that I've been working out regularly (4-6 days/week) is that it's not about the number on the scale. Okay, so I probably shouldn't say it's a lesson that I've learned....it's a lesson I'm TRYING to learn. I've  lost about five pounds, but the past few weeks I have kind of been at a standstill with my weight, which is frustrating. I'm okay with my current weight, but then I think about what I weighed when I got married.....I'd like to get closer to that number (see, I said I want to get CLOSER, not reach it. I'm being realistic....there isn't any way that I'm going to get back to my weight as a 23 year old, right?). I wish that I would have taken measurements prior to beginning the regimen because then I wouldn't be so focused on the number on my scale, which I'm still loving, the scale, not necessarily the number (buy it HERE or HERE).  When I look in the mirror I can definitely see a difference in my body, in a good way. My stomach and my upper thighs are my biggest concerns, and I have noticed a big difference in the way they look. This is where taking measurements would have come in handy - the number on the scale may not be changing as dramatically as I'd like, but if I'd taken measurements I'd have confirmation that a change was happening (because, you know, looking in the mirror isn't good enough).

Anyhow...with Michael traveling, soccer practices, etc it's been hard to stick to the meal plan I created, at least when it comes to dinners, so while I was still trying to make smarter choices when it came to what I ate, I wasn't necessarily paying attention to my daily calorie count. A few weeks ago I started using the Lose It app. I had originally planned on joining Weight Watchers, but it's $20 a month and Lose It is free (unless you select their premium plan, but even then it's only $39.99 for an entire year), so I decided to stick with Lose It. It's really easy to use - you simply create a profile with your current weight and your goal weight (and how quickly you want to reach your goal) and it tells you how many calories you can eat each day. Once you've created your profile you log your meals, snacks, and any exercise by scanning the item, searching by product, or manually entering the product information. You can even create recipes to calculate the complete calorie count on different foods (eg Linguine in Clam Sauce - 361 calories per serving, Dilly Dip - 96 calories per serving, Dump Cake - 201 calories per serving). When you log exercise, it subtracts the calories burned from your daily total. I still try to stay at or below my daily calories without deducting the exercise, but it's nice to have a buffer.

While the elliptical is good for cardio, I decided to add in some additional exercises. I've started doing the 30 Day Butt Lift Challenge as well as the 30 Day Plank Fat Burning Challenge, and have also started including crunches and weights into my daily workouts. I'm hoping that by adding in these exercises I'll begin to see a bigger difference.

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We are going to Hawaii in June for our 15th anniversary, so that was my motivation to start working out, but I've gotten to the point where I feel guilty when I don't work out (even though I still don't enjoy it, like AT ALL), so hopefully I'll keep it up. What are you doing to get fit and stay healthy?

XOXO,

Fitbit Charge HR

I have a confession to make. I haven't really worked out since my post in May about working out. I did really well for about a week and then with all of the craziness of packing up my room and summer vacations I got out of the habit (not really sure I can call it a habit since it was only a week of working out, but you know what I mean).

Michael decided that he wanted a fitness type watch for running, etc, so after doing some research he decided on an Apple Watch Sport. I thought I wanted something too, but didn't necessarily want to replace my watch, so I considered getting a Fitbit then, but in the end I decided that I didn't need to spend the money on it. And then June and July came and went and I never got back on the elliptical. Our trip to Travaasa in early July was probably the closest I've gotten to physical activity, and as soon as we got home the walks/hikes stopped. 

A friend of mine, who also happens to be a Figure competitor, posted on Facebook that she was in a Fitbit challenge with her brother and some friends, and that got me interested. I like to win (who doesn't?), and if getting a Fitbit meant that I could participate in challenges with my friends, maybe that would also mean that I'd start exercising to increase my steps!

I decided to get the Fitbit Charge HR since Michael is a little concerned about my heart rate (still need to make an appointment to see a cardiologist). It's been interesting to see how even the littlest movement can increase my heart rate.

I've only had it three days, but in those three days I've worked out on the elliptical each day, and yesterday when I got a phone notification that one of my friends had just pulled ahead of me I got off the couch and started moving again so I could WIN! I pulled ahead of her and earned two more "badges" - 10,000 steps in a day and 10 floors! 

There are other feature like sleep tracking (I don't sleep well...must mean I need a new bed), a food log (haven't used this yet), and a water log. Incidentally, it's also a watch (for some reason I though the Surge was the only one that's a watch), but I still stack it with my Fossil watch when going out. The water log is really easy to use, and I've hit my water goal every day, so that's good.

So far I'm really happy with my purchase. It has some great features, but honestly the biggest thing for me is the accountability to both myself and my friends that are participating, or will be participating, in the challenge. I'm hoping that the novelty doesn't wear off and I will soon fit back into all of my favorite jeans comfortably! ;)

XOXO,

Heidi

Exercise

I have never been the type of person who enjoys exercise. I wish I was! I would much rather cuddle up on the couch with a good book than be outside getting active. 

Up until the past few years my lack of activity wasn't really an issue. I was really lucky in that I didn't seem to put on much weight. And then I did. Don't get me wrong, I am still within the "healthy range for my height," according to my doctor, but I'm not necessarily in the range where my clothes aren't either too tight or really uncomfortable. It doesn't help that a sweet second grader at my school asked me if I was pregnant (totally the dress I was wearing and not the little pooch I've been sporting, right?). I have gotten to the point where I get winded when I walk upstairs with my kids. Not good. So now is the time to get out there and get active.

Luckily we have an elliptical sitting upstairs gathering dust, so a few weeks ago I decided it was time to get upstairs and get healthy! I'm not setting a specific goal for number of times a week I'll do it, I'm just going to try my best to stop making excuses. I have already worked out twice this week for 30 minutes each. Yea me! :)

XOXO,
Heidi