Cayenne+Running= No Bueno

First of all, this week has gone by way too fast again. I can't believe Week 4 weigh in is just a couple days away.

Have you heard that cayenne can help boost your metabolism and aid in weight loss?

I have a bottle of cayenne fruit pills that I've used in the past when trying to lose weight and I can't honestly tell you if they helped or not considering I'm still trying to lose weight, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to start taking them again today. I can always use a metabolism boost.

I took one at breakfast and was reminded of the heart burn they give me.

I only get heartburn when A. I'm Pregnant or B. I take cayenne pills. Bleh.

Then I hit the treadmill..and was reminded how much they make me sweat.

Oh. My. Word.

I was sweating bullets buckets..and my chest burned.

It was not good.

I cut it off at a mile out of fear my profuse sweating might create an electrical shortage in the treadmill or something. Plus running with heartburn is not fun. I like a good sweat when I'm working out, but this was just gross..kind of like me telling you this is gross, but it's true. So...be warned...take cayenne pills and expect heartburn and sweat. Ick.

Happy Friday.

60 Minutes Baby!

I can't even tell you how many times I've started this DVD:

But, I can tell you how many times I've finished it...none! Never...until today!

I bought this dvd at Walmart months ago. I think it was $10. I normally try to do it during my daughter's nap, but she either wakes up half way through, or worse, I wimp out. I kept figuring if I do half of it, then that should be around 250 calories, right? And that's still good. I think the most I've done of this video was 45 minutes. It's been a goal since I got it to make it all the way through.

Today the Little Miss slept for just over an hour and I was able to do the entire video.

I hurt so good right now.

I am so happy she took a good nap today and I'm proud that I didn't declare that half way was good enough.

This is a good work out video, but if anyone decides to buy it, have some patience the first few times you do it. Especially if you are completely new to aerobics. Once I learned the moves and routine it got easier and now I love it.

Why I Can't Give Up Carbs...

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There are nights like last night  that I just don't feel like cooking and we end up eating cereal.

(I ate cereal, everyone else had pancakes)

It doesn't happen very often, but it's on nights like those that I'm especially grateful that I'm not doing a no carb diet. I love a bowl of cereal every now and then.

Special K Oats and Honey is one of my favs, it's up there with Kashi's honey and flax seed.

Topped with almond milk and bananas, mmmm....

Week 3 Weight Loss

So I told you I had boo hoo'd myself Sunday morning when I didn't lose how much I wanted, but how much did I lose?

2.6 lbs

Not quite the 3 lbs I had hoped for, but I'm happy with it. Saturday I did one of the most strenuous hikes in a long time, not the longest, but definitely a tough one. We hiked Stansbury Island in Utah.

Hi, that's me, cheesy smile and disney princess water bottle in hand.

I think I developed shin splints this weekend between walking/running two miles that morning and doing that hike. My legs were already hurting last week, but I think the hike did me in. See those rocks behind me? A good portion of the hike was climbing up over those.

Sunday night we walked as a family and tonight I went with a couple friends and did a little over 4 miles.

My shins are feeling better each day and I'm feeling better overall each day. I'm loving this challenge and loving the feel of being 12.2 lbs lighter in the last 3 weeks. I'm down 16.6 lbs since January. I've got about 35-40 lbs or so to go and I can't wait to get there.

Great job to all the other ladies this week!

Week 3

Woo hoo! Week 3 has come to an end. I have a confession... I was being a total butt to myself this morning. I had my own little pity party. Over four stinkin' ounces. I was so mad at my body, mad that I had worked out so hard and ate so well and didn't lose what I thought I deserved to lose this week.

Then I got dressed and was reminded that I bought a couple new shirts last night, both a size smaller than I have been in a long time...I can't remember the last time I've worn this size..it's two sizes smaller than what I got up to at the end of last year. I also tried on a dress last night 2 sizes smaller than my norm size...maybe the sizing on the dress was off, but hey, seeing that number on a dress that I could fit into without sucking it in felt great.

So I didn't lose what I wanted this week, but I'm losing and that's what matters. I exercised every day, ate within my calories and fat range and I'm getting smaller. Woo hoo :)

Slowly, but surely.

From now on, I'm not going to completely set my heart on seeing a certain number on the scale at the end of each week, I'll *wish* for it, but even with diet and exercise, you can't always control exactly how much you'll lose each week and drowning in my self pity over a few ounces was a silly thing to do. My goals will be things I can definitely control, like working out every day and eating well, or increasing reps or distance in my workouts.

To those celebrating Easter, Happy Easter! To everyone else, have a wonderful Sunday!

PS, I was happy to find out that one peep chick only has 28 calories. :)

Friday!

It's Friday! So far I've felt this week has gone well. I've worked out every day and I feel it...I'm talking just putting on mascara hurts.

This weekend makes me nervous though. I started it off today by taking my girls to their little friend's birthday party which meant cake, ice cream and pizza. I *think* I did OK there. I ate a little orange sherbet and one little taste of cake. I was happy to find out when I got home that 1/2 cup of orange sherbet only has around 100 calories and I didn't have my morning snack which is normally around 100-150 calories, so we're good there. I did eat a piece of cheeseless pizza and  part of a breadstick too, thanks to my daughter for picking off all the cheese and pepperoni, she took all the good stuff so I don't think that did much damage. I came home, put down my littlest for a nap, worked out and now I'm sneaking in a quick post. Oh, and we walked to the party around the block and back (I pulled them in the wagon) so that counts for a little extra exercise too :)

I've done good the last few days without soda. I have treated myself to a Sobe Lifewater here and there and it's helped with the soda cravings. Its zero calories, caffeine free, no artificial sweeteners and it's got lots of good vitamins like B12..yes for extra energy!

We are going to Easter events tomorrow and Sunday and its the unknown temptations waiting for me that scare me. Wish me luck and good luck to all the other contestants!

No More Soda...

Yesterday I drank my last diet soda...at least for the remainder of this challenge.

It's a little daunting to say I will never drink another diet soda...I am a sucker for diet sodas...diet mt. dew, diet dr. pepper, diet coke with lime/lemon, and diet a&w root beer...love them all.

I also recognize it's not good to be drinking them all. the. time.

I stopped drinking soda for several months once, and my energy levels were much more consistent, no ups and downs. I don't know why I started drinking it again..it's not the caffeine I crave, it's the flavor...especially when I'm eating pizza or burgers...ohh, yet another weakness of mine.

So here's to Day 1 of no more soda.

On a side note, amazingly, me and my 3 year old have gone through a whole bag of Dole lettuce in the last 24 hours between the two of us. I love salads now and I'm surprised that she has recently started loving them too. I remember the days when I would buy a bag and we'd be lucky to go through it before it spoiled.

One of my favorite salads is topped with chicken, slivered almonds, chopped apple, and pomegranate infused craisins with raspberry dressing. Yum!