I need to come up with more creative post titles....

Because some exciting things happened this week!

First, I had an interview for a job earlier this week.  Yay!!  I think it went really well and all of the people I interviewed with (there were 5) were really friendly.  The longer it went, the more relaxed I got.  I will know tomorrow, or the beginning of next week if I got it, fingers crossed!

Second, while I was getting ready for said interview, I put on my suit pants and zipped them up aaaaaand - THEY WERE TOO BIG!  Not a lot too big, but when I first got them, I could barely sit in them and now not only can I sit in them, but I can pull them out a good 2-3 inches from my abdomen while I'm standing!  Then I put on the blouse I bought about the same time, which I needed to safety pin closed in places.  It fit.  No safety pins needed!  WOO!!!

So this all happens before I weigh in, but I don't expect a loss this week because I haven't been tracking and I ate the rest of the marshmallows we had (only 6 P+, but still, BAD JENNY). My workout schedule has been all discombobulated too, various appointments and things have been forcing us to work out at night, which, as I emulated yesterday, the days are getting shorter.  And I've had various physical issues that get in the way of my running, so infuriating.  Yesterday I tried to go and do my 5K training run and not even half way through my chest started to hurt, like a band was constricting my lungs.  Not fun, even walking made it worse after the first 5 minute run section.  I felt better after laying flat on the couch for a while.  And eating dinner... mmmm... spaghetti....

Anyway, I go into the meeting today, preparing myself to see a maintained weight (stupid marshmallows), but WAIT! I step on the scale and watch the numbers do their dance. There's no two... Omigosh! It's that a seven?!  197.8!?  WOW! Then the receptionist asks if Amy (my meeting leader) can celebrate my 5 lb loss at the end of the meeting. I MADE MY 5 LBS?! Of course she can celebrate at the end of the meeting!

I am still going to jump back on the tracking train (choooochoooo!!! Hahahahahaha! Well, at least I make myself laugh.... and no, I'm not drunk) because I know tracking works, and I'm going to do my best to work through the physical limitations my body is throwing my way. I know I can do it, I've done it before.  I'd rather avoid a trip to the doctor, but if I have to go to be able to run the best 5K/ride the best century I can, then I will.

I hope to have more good news on the weight loss front next week too!

If you are on a weight loss journey, how was your week?  What will you change next week? If you've completed your journey and are maintaining, what did you do to get there and how did you do maintaining this week?  


Have a good week!

What is Strong? Century Training Day 1

As I mentioned previously, Adam and I want to ride a century.  Adam already rode one a few months before we got married, but he wants to do longer training this time, instead of the short training he did before.  He told me the other day that he was 80% spent by the time he made the halfway point and did not want to do that again.

So, we started training today.  What better day to start training than the first rest day of the Tour? It was rather short, only 6 miles at an easy pace, but there was an element of excitement in training this morning.  We awoke to a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and the storm front was bearing down on us quickly. We ate and dressed quickly and headed out.  With what it seems 90% of Lansing under construction we had to zig zag a bit to get to the River Trail, but we rode 3 miles out and 3 back.  We rolled in about 2 seconds before the storm hit, whew!  It was a great ride.  I felt so good after.

And since I had a brand spankin' new cycling computer from Meijer it was great fun to watch how fast we were going and our distance.  I also was able to watch my heart rate closely too, since Adam found my heart rate monitor yesterday in a box (we are still not unpacked!).  That was a kick too.  If only we were able to get a cycling computer like the pros have and I would only have to look at one thing instead of three!

This weekend I also tried the iMapMyRide that they've been pushing for the Aquaphor Challenge against Levi Leipheimer.  It's an interesting app.  There are some things I don't like about it.  For example, I can't get it to stop automatically posting my rides/walks to Facebook without revoking it's publishing rights, but if I do that I can't post the rides/walks myself when there are ones I want to post.  Kind of annoying.  And when I try and log in on the website, I can't because I never got a password, I only have a username and they didn't ask for a email when I signed up, so I can't have them send me a password.  ARGH!

Other than that though, it's a pretty app!

Great ride, fun stuff to play with and I can't wait for the actual century!

Weekly Weigh In - 6/3/11 (Holy Crap! It's June ALREADY?!)

Starting Weight: 199.4 lbs

Ending Weight: 200.4 lbs

Total Change: + 1.0 lbs

Damn it.

Exercise Week

Monday the Fitness Center in our complex is closed.  Adam and I went for a bike ride and I did an upper body circuit.  We also planted our garden and went for a late evening walk.  It was not hard to break a sweat today, it is HOT here. 90 freaking degrees. Whew.

Tuesday was Yoga day, yay!

Wednesday I did not work out today due to the massive amount I had going on with Courtney's Bachelorette Party stuff.  And Bridal Shower.  Also, side note: if you are in the Lansing area, do NOT go down to the Saginaw Highway.  There is a ton of construction.  It is a nightmare.  If you can avoid the area, do it.  If not, take 96 to Lansing Mall to minimize the construction disaster contact.

Thursday was yoga. I love yoga.  And in the two short weeks that I have been going to classes regularly I am seeing improvements in my postures and my practice.  I love it.

Friday I didn't work out really, I jumped rope for a bit, but I was rather melancholy from my weigh in.  So I took a day to do fun work out instead.

Eating Week

Friday I ate my exact daily points.  Got all of my healthy checks in as well.  I'm kind of running out of things to put here on a normal day....

Saturday I went over on points a little, but I still got in my healthy checks.  Even a short walk to give me a one point activity check!  And Adam made his slow cooked bacon for breakfast, yuuuuuuummmmm!  

Sunday was MY BIRTHDAY!!! YAY!  Olive Garden, all around!  Their breadsticks should be against the law, they are so good.  Not that they need to be any more unhealthy (3 points a piece, yikes!) but I think they need a wee bit more garlic butter and more parmesan cheese. Nom nom nom nom!  I had the cheese ravioli for lunch/dinner  I only ate half of what came, which allowed me to eat my exact daily allowance, despite eating out.  And we ate generally later in the day which allowed me to use a majority of my points at Olive Garden.   I also need to let you know here that today starts my week of eating vegetarian on a trial basis.  But even if I make the change permanent, I will be making a new category of vegetarian, Fish, Dairy and Bacon eating vegetarian.  Fortunately, I am making this move for health reasons, not really as a statement to meat vendors or anything which allows me to keep the meat I like.  Which is really just bacon.  And we only have it once a week, on Saturday mornings.  And according to my research on the interwebs, that classifies Adam and I as vegetarian sympathizers.  We eat meat less often than others, much less than we used to and with research into the meat we buy - tend to buy local.

Monday my parents and brothers came to town and we went out to Emil's over on Michigan to celebrate my birthday. Yum yum!  I had the Fettucini Alfredo for lunch/dinner, salad and one piece of bread.  This place is a local eatery, and a great place to go.  Cheesy Alfredo sauce....... mmmmmmm......  cheesy......

Tuesday I tracked everything, went over on points a little, but not bad!

Wednesday was Courtney's Bachelorette Party, baseball and bar hopping, fun times!  I still tracked everything though. :)  I also, without even thinking, broke my week of vegetarianism.  I didn't even realize it until a couple hours later.  :(  Nicole wanted to get a hot dog at the game and I was all, "That sounds yummy!" and I got one. Damn.  I will try again next week. I will, I will, I will.

Thursday I tracked well and had three points left for the day.  I'm not sure I calculated correctly, so I am going to leave those points there.

All in all the week felt like a success, but I gained, so not really.  Huff.

Weekly Weigh In - 5/27/11

Starting Weight: 200.6 lbs
Ending Weight: 199.4 lbs
Total Change: -1.2 lbs

Exercise Week


I haven't explicitly said this during these posts, but in the sense of full disclosure, I do not go to the gym on the weekend.  Any exercise I get is an outdoor activity with my family and/or my hubby.


Monday Adam and I went to the service center of our apartment complex to fill out paperwork to be allowed to use the gym facilities on the premises.  After a long debate which involves the fact that I have to get an MSU affiliate ID to be able to use the gym, I was allowed an exception, this time, to be able to use the gym without an MSU ID.  This place is really getting on my nerves and I will write about the continuing saga that is living here later.

I worked out for an hour, ran for 10 minutes, did every machine, every way possible (there aren't many) and did 3 sets of 10 (3x10) of everything.  I also did some core work and a lower body circuit from the previous work out plan I was following.  And stretching. Stretching is important.  I was jelly by the end, and I will probably be sore on Tuesday. Ouchie.  But Tuesday is YOGA DAY! YAY!!!

Tuesday was yoga day!  At the community center here in our complex, they offer some classes, including YOGA.  YES!  Yoga is offered in the evenings from 7:30-8:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  All summer.  For $20. Excellent.  It was amazing!  The teacher is of the same teaching background as the Ombodies Studio in Mount Pleasant.  I love it.  I am so glad I get to spend two hours a week doing this!!  And I fully plan to continue to do it beyond this summer too.  Love it.  When I am in yoga class, I am so focused, everything melts away.  I wish like crazy that I had sought out a class sooner instead of doing the DVDs at home.  Love. It.

Wednesday I went to the gym again in the morning.  I'm allowed to do that for the month of June so we have time to find our marriage license which, is in a hidden box somewhere.  Why would I need my marriage license to be allow to use the gym, you might ask? Because our wedding rings, the fact that I am listed on the application for our apartment as his spouse, and the fact that I HAVE HIS LAST NAME aren't enough.  Argh.

Anyway,  I worked out and the longer I went, the better I felt.  And I was wiped by the end of the work out.  Whew. If you want to read about how I structure my work outs go here.

Thursday: yoga day again!  As you can tell from my post last night, yoga was amazing.  I love it.  I am never going without it again, ever, if I can help it.  Wonderful.  Spectacular. Awesome. I love yoga.

Friday I hit the gym in the am again.  Full Body Circuit today along with cardio, all of the machines in the fitness center and abdominal exercises/stretching.  Good work out, tired and felt like jelly by the end!

I'm going to check out a belly dancing class tonight, I'm a little nervous, but excited.  I'll let you know how it goes and if I am going to keep doing it past this week.

Eating Week


Friday, Saturday and Sunday  did not track points.  We went home to celebrate my Dad's and my birthdays.  So points wise it was an expensive weekend.  Cake all around.  Ouch.  I don't want to think about it.  But I did practice moderation, even if I didn't count the points.

Monday I tracked very well.  I am still working on getting all my veggies in every day.  Also, Gomtang noodles: Delicious.

Tuesday I did excellent with the tracking!!  I tracked everything I put in my mouth.  I got my water in, still not all my veggies though.  We really need to go grocery shopping.  Really, really need to go shopping.

Wednesday I tracked right through to the end.  And again, I failed to get all my veggies/fruits in.  But Adam and I went grocery shopping tonight and got celery (and Schuler's cheese, YUM), watermelon and light veggie dip (for carrots that we already have).  They didn't have the Fat Free Marzetti's Ranch Veggie Dip.  I had 18 points left for dinner and we went out to dinner with my momma-in-law (who is in town this week for training) at Sophia's House of Pancakes in Grand Ledge.  Yummy.  I had Apple Cinnamon French Toast.  It was SO GOOD.  If you're ever in the area and want a local eatery to go to, go there. Delicious.

Thursday: I got all of my fruits and veggies in!! YAY!  Since that is all I had for lunch, I got them all in in one meal.  Yuuuuuuuummmmmmm....  I tracked everything I ate, got all of my water in. All food groups and healthy checks here and accounted for. Wondermous!  

All in all the week was a success!  Let's hope that I continue to be successful past this week and FINALLY get out of this damn plateau.  On Wednesday I will be saving a lot of points for later in the day, because it's Courtney's Bachelorette Party, woo!!!  I have several events this week that necessitate saving points, oh dear!  Sunday is my birthday and Adam and I will be celebrating by doing various things, including a trip to Olive Garden (I love the food there, so good...) and Monday my parents and brothers are coming down to celebrate and we're going to BD's Mongolian BBQ.  That place is so amazing......  Make your own stir fry............ ooooooooohhhhh yeeeeeeeeaaaaaahhhh.......  Oh, and before you just die of curiousity, I'll be turning 24 on Sunday, weee!!!  Next year I get a new license and picture!  Which will hopefully be a picture of a fabulous at weight me. :)

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Side Note: I changed how I explain my weeks.  Here is why: I track exercise Monday-Friday because I want to post this immediately after my workouts on Friday.  Convenience is the only reason I do it that way.  I track my eating habits on here from Friday to Thursday because my weigh in day is on Friday, so my points reset on Fridays and I like continuity.  So now you know. ('Cause it's Miiiiike's super short show!  .........Sorry, couldn't resist.)

My First Yoga Class Experience

For my first class of Beginner Vinyasa Yoga, I went to Ombodies Yoga Studio over on Main Street in Mount Pleasant.

I went to a solstice meditation with Adam and my momma-in-law in December at Joy Tree Yoga in Big Rapids, and that was very, very relaxing and a nice introduction into the group yoga sessions.  Prior, I had only ever done yoga at home with a DVD.  And the current work out plan I am following suggested I go to a Vinyasa Yoga class last Friday.  So I did.

I had a wonderful time!

I figured that I would enjoy it, but I had a little nagging voice in the back of my head.  I proved that voice wrong though!

We went through Warrior 1, 2 and 3 with Vinyasa flows in the midst.  I really enjoyed it.  My arms were shaking and my quads were a little weak by the end and I was sweating like crazy.  I LOVED it.  I fully plan to make it a part of my weekly workout routine.  At the very end when we were coming back into our breathing, etc, our yogi came around and put oil (at least, it felt like oil, it made my feet soft!) on the tops of our feet and the middle of the arch of our feet.  It startled me at first, being my first Vinyasa class, but it felt nice and even as I was feeling very tired from the work out, I was very relaxed and centered.

I would highly recommend yoga and my sister-in-law just raves about the Hot Yoga classes she goes to in Grand Rapids.

I asked my Yogi in Mount Pleasant to recommend a studio down in Lansing and she said that if I can get into the classes on campus to do that because they are great (that's a quote) and she recommended another studio that I am going to go to a class later this week.

I'd like to get a multi-class pass, but to do that I need to find a job first.  Another post, another time.

But, regardless of where you are in your fitness, check out yoga, any place you go should have beginners classes, and I am sure that they would be more than willing to talk to you and help you figure out what class, or classes, are for you.

Namaste.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), now being falsely advertised as Corn Sugar!

Whether you call it HFCS, or Corn Sugar there is no denying that it is in just about EVERYTHING.  It is in everything because it's cheap.  Why is it cheap? Because there are government subsidies that makes it very profitable for big farms and forces small farms out of the business.  The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

And they aren't subsidies for corn edible immediately off of the stalk either.  It's for corn that gets ripped off the cob, thrown in silos and in piles when the silos get full - and they do - then the kernels sit, sometimes for months, years.  Then they get chemically cleaned and processed into HFCS.

If we actually put subsidies into corn edible from the stalk without any processing, do you know how many people that could feed, healthily?  A lot.  I don't know an exact number, but I will look into it and get back to you.  And, do you know how much healthier our meat would be if cows and pigs were fed grass, instead of corn?  Right now, cattle farms are feeding cows feed corn, which is not a natural part of their diet, but they feed it to them because it fattens them fast.  This in turn gets them to slaughter sooner and turns a profit sooner.  

But what does this do to the cows?  It causes all kinds of health problems for them!  The cows need antibiotics, and they get so many illnesses, and if they live too long, they die horribly.  Although being slaughtered for beef doesn't sound like the way to go either.  Anyway, in addition to that, the meat is fattier and less healthy than when cows are grass fed and free range.  You know, back in the day, when working in a slaughterhouse was an acquired skill?  But that's a rant for another day.

Alright now that I have that off my chest, a summary of a scientific article of a study about why HFCS is bad for you, with a link to the original article, will follow.

huff, I feel better.  At least until I see another frigging corn sugar commercial.

I'll leave you with a link to an article in The Consumerist about how Big Sugar is suing Big Corn for false advertising.  Enjoy!