Two Down!

Yeah! Happiness on both fronts ... two down for the Bets, and almost two for the Lorey. Huge sense of accomplishment felt by both as this new weight loss transpired despite much temptation (and exhaustion) related to travel for both work and pleasure!

Grand total, the gals have now lost a combined total of 30 pounds!!!

Can fat people do Pilates?

I'm kind of intrigued ... I'd like to strengthen my core muscles but don't have a program at the moment to work on them. Instead, all of my energy (mostly mental at this point ...) is based on cardio. I just learned of a cool new website called Walkscore.com which rates places you live based on the number of basic services provided that you can walk to from your home. Not surprisingly, my home address was a 98. My parents on the other hand have a dismal score of 12. While perusing the results I learned that literally across the street there is a great Pilates studio ... which of course begets a the question, would it be possible for someone of my physical makeup to do pilates?

Not really performance anxiety, but rather embarassment over my largesse has kept me from ever trying it out. But I think I would enjoy it and it could help out my still sore arm.

On the good news front, despite having my interview postponed AGAIN, I did have a lovely day in Raleigh with my friend Miranda, her baby Sally and my parents. Here's a picture of the baby taking her very first steps at age 9 months!! I can't wait to be a good role model for this little one as she grows up ... let's keep her busy and active and as happy as she was today!

Sorry I have been MIA

Bets- Thanks for keeping the blog going. Sorry it has been so one-sided. I am on my home from Vegas and I feel like I may have accomplished a big goal.

Usually when I travel for work to these big trade shows and/or conferences I eat and drink way to much and don't get any exercise. This week I kept the food and drink under control and made sure I got all my exercise in. Well except for Monday when I felt like crap. I am really hoping that I lost at least 1-2lbs because I really burned the calories most days. We shall see. I might have still eaten more than I thought because I did not get a chance to log every calorie all week because I was so busy.

Still loving my body bugg! I have been averaging about 1.5lbs loss per week instead of the 2lbs I had hoped for but the good news is that I can keep this up. If I only lose 1.5lbs then so be it the scales are still going down!

Oops I have to board now. More from me tomorrow (I hope).

Lorey

Beautiful Horizon

So, today was a beautiful day ... received two phone calls that might have an impact on my future and I successfully tackled the challenges (or demons?) at work. And I did all that by perseverance ... got up early, nose to the grindstone, and pulled it off. Surprised myself actually because I'm the queen of procrastination. Anyway, almost as if to give me a pat on the back, tonight around 6:30 pm two glorious, brilliant rainbows surfaced over the DC skyline. Unfortunately by the time I went to my office to dig out my camera, the double rainbow had evaporated, leaving me to frame the awful downtown architechture with the gorgeous hues. Definitely put a spring in my step as I headed home (happy to have missed the rain!)

Miles

Miles ... bet I made you think of me trekking many steps, right? Not true ... Yesterday I spent forty-five minutes talking to my sister and we booked a flight for four people from south Florida to Myrtle Beach for less than $300 roundtrip! I did an analysis of the time in the car, the miles driven and cost of gasoline (not to mention the wear and tear on the car PLUS the presence of two teenage boys who've suffered through 12 hours each direction) and it was way cheaper to fly. This positive news led her to comment on the fact that her son, a rising college junior, has dropped close to twenty pounds since May 1 by reviewing the new Healthy Eating Pyramid developed by Harvard.

Of course, you know me well enough to predict my incredulous reaction! What! Let me go check it out! So I did ... here it is for you ... nothing new or surprising, just a very straightforward recommendation regarding intake and outtake. I was very disheartened until Lorey reminded me that teenage boys (and males in general) have a much higher metabolism and ability to lose weight quickly. Props to my nephew ... but I am still jealous.

After hearing Lorey's opinion, I remembered about the family dog. You see, my nephew is a huge dog lover and REALLY wanted one when he was a bit younger ... since he inherited some of the lovely Roach genes that place the pudge on quickly, and especially in adolescense, his Mom required that he run 100 miles first. This was a lofty target meant to show that he could commit to something (and hence, later the dog) ... but also to ensure that he was staying active now that he had dropped out of youth sports. Well, after encouragement (including being accompanied on runs around the neighborhood by family members on bikes) he succeeded ... the dog arrived, and what else could they name the dog, but Miles!

New week, new plan!

OK, here we go again ... progress has slowed although enthusiasm hasn't flagged. Unfortunately despite the heat and the seemingly endless walking done while in NYC last week, the only thing I seem to have lost is ... my bb digital monitor! So, I have been unable to keep track of steps taken and cardio burned throughout the day, which is throwing me off completely. I begrudgingly parted with some more money, though, and I should have the replacement this week while in NC vacationing.

My other new tactic is to ruthlessly plan my meals ... have a peek at today'!s!

Breakfast: Lowfat vanilla yogurt & granola bar
AM Snack: Banana and coffee
Lunch: Celery & peanut butter; power bar; freeze dried apple
PM Snack: Ritz 100 calorie snack pack & mozzarella cheese
Dinner: Bean Burrito, salsa & applesauce
Evening Snack: Pluot (my favorite fruit!!)

Summer haze ...

Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hectic week in NYC amidst 95 degree heat, 100% humidity ... and a lost BB digital display. So I wasn't able to keep track of my steps, calorie burn or any other targets throughout the day. Very frustrating, as I have come to rely on it to keep me motivated and on target. Someone else at the Javits Convention center surely found it and wondered, what the heck is this??

But, happy news ... for the past week, I have managed to surpass the 2800 calorie burn EVERY DAY, including twice by more than a 1000 calories. Steps were met every day as well- although my "activity" target was only met six of the seven days. Tomorrow is weigh in ... I'm desperate for progress.

On a side note ... I'm sad that Miss Lorey is going away which means not only will I not be able to have fun walks and swims, but I'll miss celebrating her birthday. Is it OK for me to eat cake and celebrate in her honor while she is three time zones away?

Does it count MORE?

OK, no weigh-ins this week because frankly the results were the same ... plateaus that aren't really plateaus. Nope, its just a lack of meeting the simple formula ... eat less, exercise more.

On Saturday I did the Susan G. Komen Breast cancer walk with Team Costa (pictured in action here!) and 50,000 of my closest friends. The day was so hazy and muggy that you couldn't even see the Washington Monument when morning arrived. I for a moment thought perhaps something was burning, which would explain the misty air. But no, it was just the haze ...

Yesterday early morning I arrived in that sweltering capitol of the north, NYC. With 50,000 of my nearest and dearest Puerto Ricans who were here celebrating in their annual parade. WOW. Heat rising from the sidewalks, thru the music and on the people. I walked south to escape and to search for the missing supplies for the upcoming Safari Breakfast (planned for close to 100 people on Tuesday AM). My question ... since the heat and humidity are close to 100%, do I effectively burn more calories? I'd love to believe they are just melting off of me ...

All in all, a great weekend. 22k + steps on Saturday- a new record!!

I love my Wii!!

OK, after my dejected posting from this AM, I had to commit to getting my calories burned today before bedtime. I worked until past 8 pm, had an awful dinner, and then brought out the Wii Fit. Turns out, it missed me!! Little obese Betsii greeted me with love and scorn for having abandoned her for five days ... good news though, per the wii scale, i've dropped 2.9 lbs and .4 BMI. Now that's enough encouragement to get it out every day!!

So, how did I spend my time? I went straight to cardio where I busted a move on the Super Hula ... 300 spins per side- I can only guess what my neighbors from across the way think (despite being on the 7th floor, our windows are dead on straight across from each other). Then, my star status came out whilst on the Advanced Step ... I am now a Calorie Torcher who can boogy with all the Mii's. I then tried out for the first time the run program ... pretty cool- and somehow it measures how much you are putting into it- I ran at 83% capacity in pace with the cute little guy who I was supposed to follow ... how did the Wii know that I'll only run after a man or a ball or a small child?? Now, if it was Dante from the Sex and the City movie, I might have sprinted ...

OUCH ... the truth hurts!

OK, here I am feeling pretty good at myself b/c I think I've been doing a good job at being faithful to the new regimen of monitoring calories in, calories burned, minimum steps and minimum cardio. You see, the AVERAGE calorie burn for the 30 day period was 2807. This means that I have met my target despite my not hitting my goals on a daily basis.

HOWEVER, my dismay at not losing more weight- or at least the two pounds a week I'm striving towards- is easily explained. First there was the two week period that I had bronchitis that just kind of ruined my whole schemata ... I maintained, which is better than gaining. But when I started to analyse the different tools that are measured, I realized I had been kidding myself. When I first started I was adamant about hitting each target, daily. Then I slacked off. You can see the ugly truth by looking at the graph here of the past 30 days and my cardio activity.

You see, I tend to extend myself on the weekends and burn lots of calories by doing multiple activities. On average, I accomplished 1 hour and seven minutes over the thirty day period. BUT, that's because on the weekends its 2-3 hours, and during the week there are significant drop offs.

So, I'm back to the beginning ... now that I understand the consequences ... and cause ... I'm going to commit to maxing out each and every target, every day. Wish me luck!

Brick

What is a BRICK? Yes, its what you build houses out of ... but its also a workout where you do back to back two distance exercises. Today I got my first mini-taste of this in a long time ... I biked three miles to my friend M's where we then went on a 4.5 mile walk before I biked three more miles home. Felt like a fabulous workout!!! We pushed along baby A in her new stroller ... Miss Lily needs to get one like it!!

Only down a pound this week, so a bit chagrined. BUT I fooled myself into thinking I had gotten better workouts in than I really did ... the week started out well with lots of activity on Saturday, Sunday and Monday ... but then tapered off as I went out for a bday dinner on Tuesday, Hamlet in the park on Wednesday, and jazz on Thursday. Chilling on Friday at home was a welcome respite!!