Day 13: 44-Day Challenge

Thursday, April 30, 2009



I DID IT! I got up before the sun today and worked out! ;-)

Yesterday was a much better day, as I got in all of my fruit and veggies, all of my water and I worked out in the evening with Hunkahubby. I also got a lot of projects completed at work and then I got to eat dinner with my Daddy and SuperStepMommy, so it was a pretty good day.

Although I hate the idea of getting up before 6 a.m. every morning to sweat, I know it is going to make a difference in the way that I feel. I already feel a bit better.

Tonight - I have to retake my fitness challenge on My Fitness Coach to see if I have improved any over 10 workouts. I'll let you know how that goes.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives
by altering their attitudes of mind.
- William James

Day 12: 44-Day Challenge

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

CONFESSION TIME!!

Yesterday was a bad day. I haven't been feeling the greatest and I haven't had a lot of motivation.

I know I didn't get all my fruits and vegetables in.
I did not do any sort of workout.
I drank all of my water!
And the biggest thing I did to try and feel good was lay down. :-(

HOWEVER, I have a plan.

I have had a very hard time getting up on time thanks to a time change that I'm still not used to. So, to help with this AND my motivation, Hunkahubby and I are going to work together.

We will get up before the kids, fix their breakfast and get them started, then go do a 30 minute workout. Then he will go finish helping the kiddos and I'll get ready for work. That way, I'll be more awake and ready for the day.

We will also attempt to get in a short workout in the evening, as it is possible.

I'm hoping this will become a habit!! And I'm telling all of you about it so that you will hold me accountable!!

As for not feeling well, I made a doctor's appointment to try and get that straightened out.

What are you doing to get motivated today?

Day 11: 44-Day Challenge

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Yesterday was an okay day.

The workout calendar on My Fitness Coach allows me to pick which days I am working out and which day(s) I get to take off. I chose Monday as my day off because it is always a crazy day.

It was a usual Monday.

BUT - my hubby and daughter came to have a picnic with me at lunch yesterday and brought our beautiful puppy, Murphy.



He and I spent some time running around at the park. He loves to run. I also purposely walked up and down the stairs several times.

I had all my fruit and all of my veggies and all of my water.

For me? I had a picnic with my family, and I watched my favorite show CHUCK last night in hopes that they pick it up next season. I also updated blogs and got a lot of work done, which makes me feel pretty good.

I'm kind of lethargic this week, so I'm going to have to work twice as hard to get motivated to exercise.

Anybody have any great motivational ideas???

Day 10: 44-Day Challenge

Monday, April 27, 2009

Wow! 10 days! Only 34 more to go!!

Yesterday, we spent the day with my Dad. I managed to get all my veggies and fruit in (but probably had a little too much "other" stuff, my SuperStepMommy is an awesome cook). Dang it.

I drank all of my water and we got in a workout about 10:00 last night. (My Fitness Coach
- Maya is going to kill me . . .) I don't recommend working out this late, it makes it hard to sleep afterward.

It was a beautiful day with my family and I felt really good about the entire day.

Today, I'm just bummed that it is so beautiful and I'm stuck inside at work. At least I have a window to see outside.

How are you doing?

My Fitness Coach Review: Part 2

Sunday, April 26, 2009

This is Part 2 of the My Fitness Coach Review. (Part 1 is here.) I will be discussing an actual workout.

After you've completed your profile, you can start working out. One of the really cool things about My Fitness Coach is that if you and your spouse or you and a friend want to work out together, it is possible. If each of you create a profile, you can choose "Group Workout" and Maya will choose a workout that is suitable for both of you and give both of your profiles credit for the workout!

Once you decide you want to start a workout, you can choose what type of workout you want to focus on. Maya will always recommend something with a star, but you can choose whatever you want. You can choose a focus of Yoga, Cardio, Upper Body, Core Body, Lower Body, and Flexibility.


Another cool feature is getting credit for a workout you completed that is not part of the My Fitness Coach program. Did you walk for an hour today? You can choose "get credit" and choose what type of workout you completed and how long.


Now back to the workout . . . once you've chosen what type of workout you want to complete today, you tell Maya how long you want to work out. It is good if you stick with the goal time you set in the beginning, but it is also a good thing this program is flexible.

You can choose what type of music you want to listen to during your workout (and more music choices are unlocked as you progress through the program.) Hip-hop, Eighties, and Latin beats are available in the beginning, but you can eventually unlock Yoga, Dance, Techno, and House beats.

I think this next part is pretty cool. You can choose your workout "environment." (Although technically, Maya is the only one who actually gets to BE in the environment.) I like the Empress' Dojo - it reminds me of the Matrix. Or Kung Fu Panda, I'm not sure which. ;-)

Throughout the game, you get little fitness tips.

My only real complaint has to do with the beat. Before each new workout, Maya says, "hold on while I get the beat". Usually Maya does a good job of staying on the beat, but coming from a dance background, I get a little frustrated when she does something funky when switching between exercises. The good thing is, I just keep going and ignore her when she doesn't do it right (in my opinion).

Once Maya gets the beat, she starts a warm-up, goes through the workout, and does a cool down.

You tell her at the beginning of each workout what fitness equipment you have (or want to use) and she works it in, if it makes sense for that particular workout.

As you work out, a clock keeps track of how much longer you have to work out and the difficulty level of each move. Along the bottom, each exercise scrolls across the screen, so you always know what is coming up.

Throughout the workout, Maya will give you rest periods, and will ask you how you did in the previous segment. You can say, No Sweat, I Was Working Hard, or I Could Barely Keep Up.

If you say "No Sweat", BEWARE. Maya will up your workout the next time around. So only say this if you truly mean it!! If you say "I was working hard," she will keep you at the same level and if you say "I could barely keep up" she'll take it down a notch for you the next time.

According to the book, after every 10th workout, Maya will have you do the Fitness test again and it will update your progress graphs.

Over the next few weeks, I'll take more pictures (and maybe convince Hunkahubby to let me take pictures of him in action) and show you more about the workouts.

So far, I think it is a simple but very effective program and is a good choice to add to your workout regime!!



Have any of you tried My Fitness Coach? What are your thoughts?

Day 9: 44-Day Challenge

It was a good day. I think I had more fruit than vegetables, but I ate healthy and drank tons of water. I didn't do a specific workout, as I felt crappy at the end of the day. But in the morning, we rushed around cleaning the house and I know I burned quite a few calories.

I got to see several old friends and I filled my quota to the brim on doing things that made me feel good. :-)

Next up - Part 2 of the My Fitness Coach Review!

My Fitness Coach Review: Part 1

Saturday, April 25, 2009

This is my review of the Wii game My Fitness Coach.

First of all, I want to point out that you DO NOT need the Wii Fit to play this game. If you have the main Wii Console, you can play this "game".

Okay, the first screen you see when you start up My Fitness Coach is this:

You have to build your personal profile so "Maya" the personal trainer can learn everything she needs to know about you. (Yes, for those of us who are struggling, this part is a TAD painful.)

You choose New Profile and enter the following information:

Your name.

Choose which exercise equipment you have at home.
If you don't have any of these things, that's fine too! (I really need to get a heart monitor.)

Go weigh yourself and tell Maya how much you weigh.
(Doesn't she know it is rude to ask a person such things?)

You might need a partner to complete this next part.

Maya asks you for a bunch of body measurements.
So go grab a tape measure and a friend and give Maya your measurements for your:
  • biceps
  • chest
  • waist
  • hips
  • thighs.
Glad that is over with!!

Then you follow the directions to find your resting heart rate.
After you've entered that, you get to do a fun thing called
TOO MANY JUMPING JACKS FOR SOMEONE WHO IS OUT OF SHAPE!

You click to start the timer, do jumping jacks in time with the model for 2 minutes
(if you don't die first), and then take your pulse again.
You enter your accelerated heart rate.

After than, Maya asks you a few more questions,
but don't think you're anywhere near to being off the hook.


Tell Maya what your activity level has been over the last 6 months.
Be honest. Believe me.
Otherwise, she'll kill you.

Now comes the really fun part.

SQUATS.

You do squats in time with the model, as many as you complete using proper form (up to 50) and then enter the amount you were able to complete.

Then you do the same thing with push-ups (up to 40).
(And yes, she lets us girls do the modified ones.)

Then you do crunches (up to 60).

Then, you do a flexibility test and match which picture
is most like how far you were able to reach.

Finally, you tell Maya what your primary goal is for using this program.
Maya recommends that I choose weight loss.
THANKS A LOT. Like I didn't know that! ;-)

You can then choose a goal weight that you want to strive for.

Maya recommends a workout schedule for you. You can click on each day and change the days you want to work out and the amount of time you want to work out each day.
(I changed mine around so I worked out on different days,
but kept the amount of time the same or added a little bit more.)


When you're done, you have a profile that Maya will update with each workout.

If you aren't used to working out - this first initial setup is quite a workout on its own.
So far, this is really like having a personal trainer
(except you can actually shut this one off!)

Tomorrow, I'll go through the steps of a workout with you!

Day 8: 44-Day Challenge

I had a very active day yesterday. I took the day off and spent the day with my husband and youngest daughter. She only has about 5 more weeks before her alone time with Mommy and Daddy will go away, as she starts kindergarten in the fall and school for this year is almost out.

We went to the zoo and to some other places in Indianapolis and we did a lot of purposeful walking. About 2 hours worth.



We had a great time.

I had all of my fruits and veggies, more than all of my water, and the great day I had with such beautiful weather was enough to make me feel good about myself times 4!

Stay tuned later today for part 1 of the My Fitness Coach review!!

Day 7: 44-Day Challenge

Friday, April 24, 2009

Woohoo! One whole week!!

Yesterday was a very good day.

My eating was good, I drank tons of water, and I worked out not once, but TWICE. I really like My Fitness Coach and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

My clothes are starting to fit a little better and I'm starting to like myself a little more.

While watching the Biggest Loser this week, I realized that I am often my own worst enemy when it comes to weight loss and health. I think deep down inside, I'm not sure I'm worth it, so I don't work as hard or stick with things like I should.

The thing is - I am worth it.

I need to type that again . . . I AM WORTH IT.

And so are you . . .

Let's make next week even better!!

Day 6: 44-Day Challenge

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wow! We've made it almost a week!!

Day 6 was a MUCH better day for me. I didn't quite hit all of my check boxes, but I overcompensated in others.

I walked around the neighborhood for about 30 minutes. Later on, hubby and I worked out using My Fitness Coach. So far, I really like it. (Review is coming this weekend.)

I had about 6 servings of veggies. (YAY!)

I had one serving of fruit. (waah).

I drank my water. (YAY!)

I exercised. (YAY!)

Hmmm. What did I do to make myself feel good?

Well, I walked and it was a nice day, so that was good.

I caught up on this week's Biggest Loser which always has great tips (like the new Ziploc brand Zip 'n Steam Microwave Cooking Bags). Although I am VERY disappointed in the outcome.

I watched American Idol (guilty pleasure).

I spent alone time with my hubby. (Yay!!)

All in all, it was a good day. I'm looking forward to today!!!

Day 5: 44-Day Challenge

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Okay. I admit it. Yesterday was not a good day.

It started out really well. I had a healthy breakfast and lunch and was drinking my water and preparing for my workout in the evening.

Then I went to the dentist.

I have not had dental insurance for quite some time, so I haven't been to the dentist in a while.

And my dentist appointment was a tad, well, how do I put this nicely?

IT FRICKIN HURT!!! A LOT!!! And I don't care if I'm being a baby. I had some work done I didn't know I was going to need, and by the time I was done, I thought I was going to die.




I left the dentist office, called my husband, and bawled like a baby. I popped Ibuprofen and Tylenol for the rest of the evening and went to bed at 9.

So my checklist for Day 5?! The heck with it! It didn't happen!!!

BUT - I am back on track today and plan on working out this evening.

I hope your day was better than mine!!

Day 4: 44-Day Challenge

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Mondays are the worst.


(image from Garfield.com)

A cool feature of the My Fitness Coach Wii Game is setting up a workout calendar. Your trainer suggests a schedule for you and then you can move it around to fit your schedule. I chose Monday as my day off from working out because I knew I would never have time on Mondays. I was so right, especially yesterday!


Luckily, I saw this post yesterday about N.E.P.A. (Non-Exercise Physical Activity).


The challenge states that you must do some sort of physical activity every day - so I worked it in the best I could without a formal workout.


Parking clear out in Siberia at Walmart? Check. Caught in a torrential rainstorm on my way back to the car with groceries? Check.



(image from Garfield.com)

BUT . . . I survived another Monday and I'm thankful it's Tuesday!!

On to the checklist:

Fruit? Check.

Veggies? Check (maybe a 1/2 cup short, but close.)

Water? Check. (Most of my N.E.P.A. is coming from running to the bathroom every 10 minutes!)

Exercise? I added in as much N.E.P.A. as I could throughout the day.

Me time? I updated my blog. Check. I played Bejeweled Blitz on FaceBook (it's an addiction). Check. I finished up some things I had been procrastinating on. CHECK CHECK (that counts as two, it was a lot.)

So far, so good! I'm so glad I'm finally motivated again!

How about you?

Day 3: 44-Day Challenge

Monday, April 20, 2009

Yesterday was another good day!

I am really hoping that sticking to this for 44 days will create a HABIT!!

I worked out for the first time using the Wii My Fitness Coach, and I already hate my virtual personal trainer - but I'm sore this morning, so it must have worked!

I've taken lots of pictures of the 'game' and I hope to post a full review sometime this week.

On to the checklist:

Fruits? Yep!
Veggies? Yep!
Water? Yep!
ME? 2 blogs, I got a massage, and I worked out which made me feel good about myself AND made me hurt. But I guess that's good.

Today is my first day of the challenge at WORK. So far, so good. Hunkahubby packed me food to bring with me. (Isn't he wonderful?)

Keep going!! We can do it!!!

Day 2: 44-Day Challenge

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Yesterday was a good day!

4 servings of fruit? CHECK.
4 servings of vegetables? CHECK.
Exercise? CHECK (OUCH) CHECK
44 ounces of water? CHECK (48)!

4 things that made me feel good about myself?

I updated my blogs. CHECK CHECK (that counts as two!)
I spent time with my family. CHECK
I got artistic with Hunkahubby and created a mixed media drawing. I am not an artist, but it was really fun! CHECK

How are you doing?

My Fitness Coach Review - coming soon!!

44-Day Challenge: DAY 1

Saturday, April 18, 2009

It's Day 1 of the 44-day Challenge and I'm off to a great start!

I woke up this morning, feeling like I've flipped that "switch" in my mind that makes me WANT to be healthy. I love it when the switch is on! Now I just have to KEEP IT THERE!

I had my favorite Special K cereal this morning with skim milk and a bowl of fruit.

I finally opened up the new Wii game I bought (My Fitness Coach) which I will be reviewing soon. I did the beginning fitness test and set up my profile. (Believe me, the fitness test was QUITE a workout - but Hunkahubby and I will be doing an ACTUAL workout this evening.)




I'm working on my water - need to DRINK UP and move on to the next bottle.

AND - I'm updating both of my blogs! Woohoo! I'm pumped about this!

I will try and update each day, and if you're doing this with me - let me know how you're doing!

Amy's 44-day Challenge

Friday, April 17, 2009

An old friend and Colleague, Amy just posted a challenge that I am up for - and I think you should be too!

The challenge is simple.

For the next 44 days (that's until June 1st) do the following:

  • get some type of exercise EVERY DAY.
  • get at least 44oz. of water (that's about three 16 oz bottles or about six 8 oz. cups of water)
  • Eat 4 servings of fruit (1/2 c.) and 4 servings of veggies (1 cup)
  • Do 4 things each day that make you feel good about yourself!!!

I got really excited about this. And I think it is because I NEEDED someone to challenge me to get off my butt and get back in gear. Summer's coming - and so is the rest of my life! I need to get to it!

I think the first 3 will actually be easier for me than the last one.

But I have learned that one of the things that makes me feel good about myself is writing and BLOGGING. So now I have a reason and a challenge to get back into it!

Who wants to do Amy's challenge with me?

Start Walking!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009





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