Modified ZWOW 33

I broke out my trusty little Bodyrock/Zwow notebook and have done my 3rd workout this week since Natalie was born and I'm remembering why I love Zuzana's workouts. They are short and intense. I just did more in 14 minutes than I do in the total hour and a half time it takes for me to go to the Zumba classes. I like Zumba and it's fun, but I do get interrupted a lot by the little girls during it, and so I feel like I miss  most of the workout and so when I get back to the class I want to take it up a notch in intensity to catch up for what I just missed, but don't want to feel like a show off in front of the grandmas or other moms, so that part I don't like ~ I feel like it's got a low ROI. (Return on investment to use business terms). Sometimes I go into the hall and do a hand stand or something.

Anyway, the modified Zwow 33 just kicked me in the pants. I did it in Abi's room, she's home today with a fever so I missed Zumba. I did four rounds of the following:

• 10 normal burpees (as in with push up)
• 20 jump lunges
• 10 pulse squat jumps (10 pulse squats followed by 1 jump = 1 rep)
• 15 side plank leg lifts right side (side plank on hand, lift leg up and tap down on foot = 1 rep)
• 15 side plank leg lifts left side 

My time was 7:08 for the first 2 rounds, took a breather to check if Natalie was still sleeping, then finished 2 more rounds in 6:41, so about 14 minutes and I'm good for the day, love HIIT workouts! 

Zumba

I just started doing Zumba 3 weeks ago. I'd never done it before. It's kinda fun. I go to a free class that is held everyday of the week, but I just go on Mondays and Thursdays. Here is their facebook page: J&H Zumba. If you live nearby come and join us! 9:15 a.m. There are toys for kids to play with if you don't have a sitter, like myself. Natalie just sits in her carseat and Lily and Sophi run around and play with little friends. Good stuff.

Fist Bump

So, good news: This week on Sunday I was 150.2, almost almost there at finally breaking 150. I had been feeling a bit damned by my weight though, as in shut in and not progressing. Then on Monday morning - I finally was released from feelings of being stuck and got to 149.8 - woohoo! Then TODAY (get this!!) 148.4!!!! I'm excited! Wow, this appears to really work! "Eat when you're hungry" ~ who knew? I am glad that I'm in the zone and shall enjoy my ride here for as long as it lasts (and I hope it will be for a long time.) I could even reach my goal weight by our anniversary, knock on wood.

Today I did a little Bodyrock/Zuzka style workout for myself - I did the following circuit of exercises 2 times:

• 500 high knees
• 30 deadlifts
• 30 heels to heaven
• 500 calf raises
• 30 divebomberes
• 30 bicep curls
• 500 mountain climbers

My first round was 17:50 minutes, 2nd round was 15:46 ~ I pushed myself harder the second time around to try and beat my first score). 

The Hunger Scale

This is from page 109 of Bob Greene's book "The Best Life Diet" - In my perfect world I will always implement this tool before I go get something to eat. First, I'll pause and ask myself how I'm feeling...

10: Stuffed. You are so full you feel nauseous.
9: Very uncomfortably full. You need to loosen your clothes.
8: Uncomfortably full. You feel bloated.
7: Full. A little bit uncomfortable.
6: Perfectly comfortable. You feel satisfied.
5: Comfortable. You're more or less satisfied, but could eat a little more.
4: Slightly uncomfortable. You're just beginning to feel signs of hunger.
3: Uncomfortably hungry. Your stomach is rumbling.
2: Very uncomfortable. You feel irritable and unable to concentrate.
1: Weak and light-headed. Your stomach acid is churning.

The goal is to  eat only when you're feeling 1, 2, 3 or 4, but try to avoid 1 and 2 - best to stay in the 3 - 6 zone. But since I'm trying to lose weight, I'll stop at 5, the point at which I'm eating a little less than my body is burning.

Today I was a little stressed and could feel myself craving carbs. Note to self: whatever you crave when you're stressed is the very thing you should not give yourself. Also, pause and do some soul searching, cause when I'm stressed and craving cake or whatever, it would be better to walk away and attack what it really is that is bothering me rather than try to avoid it and find solace in calories. Hence, this morning, I swept up half a box of grape nuts cereal that Sophia poured out all over the floor rather than heading to the pantry. That's an upside down bowl full of cereal at the top of the photo there. Thanks Sophi

Still feeling a little frazzled right now from other messes made through out the day. I'll go have a drink of water and then go clean the house some more - I shall face my stresses with courage rather than hiding from them behind a bowl of ice cream!

Thrift Store Diet Books

Hi. So I haven't been logging my workouts here lately. I've kept consistent with them, just not logging them here, but I am recording things in my calendar book. I've been a bit frustrated with myself though because I have yet to get below the 150 mark. I had hoped to be past this point several weeks ago. So what's my deal? Like I said, I've been exercising, so I know it's cause of diet. I ate junk over Halloween and was hoping November would be nicer to me, and I did a little better, but not much. I'm still here.

So two weeks ago I picked up a few self help books at the thrift store and after perusing them I've had a few a-ha moments.

First one was with the book Think Yourself Thin. The idea that our battles of the bulge are really psychological battles with our stresses and issues rang true to me. But I put the Think Yourself Thin book down (might put it in the trash) after page 19 and getting more info than I would have liked about Mrs. Y's "vivid dream". I'll leave it at that. The author tanked in my trust after that cause I can't believe he put that in his book, especially near the front. I'm proud to be a prude (old French word meaning "honourable woman").

So, next book ~ Bob Greene's "Best Life Diet Book" - he shares the same things. Go get that book at the library and just read the intro or read the "emotional eating" part on page 106 and the Hunger Scale on 109. I loved the introduction by Oprah, totally range true. This book is a keeper. It's not about our love of food, it's our issues that we try to avoid by turning to food for comfort, it's us using/abusing food to hide our true feelings of stress and boredom that we've turned into eating habits. What a novel idea, to listen to our bodies and eat when we're hungry and stop when we're satisfied!!! I love it. I've eaten this way this past week and today I was at 150.2 - I'm almost there!!! Next week for sure I will be there if I listen to my body and don't turn to food for emotional comfort. I'm going to turn to exercise or cleaning to relieve stress instead of the fridge.