Category Archives: inspiration

Lifting and more bagels!

Seriously – thank you so much for the comments on my photo!  I actually took that to showcase my sweatiness, not my arms LOL!  I still have work to do, but I am definitely happy with my progress to this point.  I actually find it liberating to feel comfortable putting a photo like that online, sweat and all.  I remember way back not liking my photo taken.  I would try to turn to find my “skinny” angle.  Like turning a little to the side can hide 100 pounds 🙄  Who was I kidding???

Had a relaxed gym day today.  My own routine as Stage 7 of NROLW is next week.

  • Negative chin ups (yes, still trying!):  3 sets of 1
  • Step ups:  3 sets of 8 with 30 pound dumbbells
  • Incline dumbbell bench press:  3 sets of 8 with 25 pound dumbbells
  • Planks:  3 sets of 90 second holds
  • Seated lat row:  3 sets of 10 at 55 pounds

Then a walk on the treadmill.  I haven’t done planks in a while and forgot how hard they are!  Love them, though.  Guess I am a glutton for punishment.

First time this week to have these for breakfast:

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You know you want some ……..

My day off and it was the day my MIL went home.  We decided to hit Saratoga Springs and spend some time shopping and enjoying the day before taking her to the airport.  We went to Uncommon Grounds for lunch, where John and I split a cup of Sweet potato Chipotle bisque.  It was very light since it was vegan, which means no dairy, cream, or butter!

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And at my favorite place, I couldn’t resist one of these:

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Apple cinnamon!  I do have reduced fat cream cheese on there 😀

Walked around Congress Park and met some friends:

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They really were this close to me.  I think they have been fed bread or other people foods.

I also found the biggest maple leaf ever – it’s as big as my face!

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Sorry to see my MIL go home to Colorado.  We haven’t seen his family in almost 2 years, and this was a spur of the moment trip, since she was down in Washington this week and just popped up for a few days.  I love spontaneous visits!  She said the nicest thing to me as we said good-bye and that was that I inspired her.  I really and truly hope that I do inspire people, because change is possible for anyone.

Quiet dinner at home tonight.  Keeping the breakfast theme from each meal – I had a waffle sandwich with sauteed brussel sprouts.  The sammie had chicken, laughing cow, and apple butter.  Outstanding!

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We were supposed to have dinner at my folks house, but my mom has a cold 🙁   so we postponed.  We are supposed to go to a big craft show on Saturday, so I want her to rest up 😀

Inspiration and general musings

Over this past week (for whatever reason) I have received quite a few comments and emails about how I am an inspiration. That is very flattering and terrifying at the same time. More and more people view this blog every day, which I truly appreciate.

When I started this blog, it was more of an online journal for myself and my ramblings, so John didn’t have to hear them all LOL! I really never expected a lot of people to find it, let alone follow my journey. But then, I read other blogs myself to get motivation, so why wouldn’t mine do the same for others? It does add pressure, and I feel even more accountable to this blog to be honest with my weight loss progress and how I am feeling about it. Right now I just happen to be on a real roll with things, and maybe that is where the inspiration to others is stemming from.

Today I had a personal best with my jogging. Did 3 miles in 37:30 !! The intervals really help with that. I think I will do my next official 5K with intervals as well. Guess I don’t need to save them for training! FYI, I just signed up for another 5K in September. The goal I am shooting for for that one is a 12 minute mile. Not sure if I will get there, but I should be close.

Got my new bike tire today (obviously I haven’t biked all week). Took it into the shop and had them give me the new tube and put on a new pedal. My bike looks so beat up and dirty compared to the shiny new $500+ bikes in the shop. My poor bike that is my very favorite piece of equipment that I own! John said I should think about a new road bike, but I don’t want another one. Mine is so comfy and fits me perfectly. I might paint it, though. I was thinking gold.

As I promised earlier this week – here is one of my new strength workouts. These were all free weights. You can find videos of most of these at http://trainwithmeonline.com

Upper body:

dumbbell shoulder press: 3X10 18lb
dumbbell front raise: 3×10 11 pounds
hammer curl 3×10 13 pounds
triceps extension 3×10 13 pounds
dumbbell chest fly 3×10 13 pounds
dumbbell chest press 3×10 18 pounds

Oh, and food was pretty good today as well.