Happy Halloween!

Happy Howl-oween!

So this is not actually a Halloween costume - it was for a Relay for Life fundraiser.  And it was supposed to be a Hawaiian shirt but we didn't get the measurements quite right and every time he sat down, he popped open the velcro at the front.  Just showing off his "manly" chest.

I think I'm just going to have to acknowledge to myself that Monday mornings are not meant for working out in my world.  I did not sleep well so that 5 a.m. alarm was way too early.  Luckily, it was too early for LS too.

But today was a beautiful fall day in central Texas, so MM walked at the park with me and Gus.  We walked about a mile.  I think the exercise is good and the socializing is even better for both of us. 

After our walk, I headed to the gym for some more cardio and strength training.

20 minutes on the treadmill, with some jogging intervals

Chest Press

Seated Row

Fly

Seated Dip

20 minutes on the stationary bike

500+ calories burned! 

I was bad and stopped to get a Diet Coke on the way home.  I am still drinking far fewer diet drinks than before but I definitely still like my pop.  I made homemade pizza again - Canadian bacon, black olives, mushrooms.  Like I've probably said before, I get stuck on a food and eat it until I get tired of it.  This few weeks, it seems to be homemade pizza.

I put my last butterfly sticker on the calendar for the month.  Each sticker represents a workout.  You'll notice that I took off that week when Gus was sick, but I think I made up for it.

Weekend

Gus and I got up early (ok - it was 8 o'clock but that's early for a Saturday) and met LS & Chili and her husband & Rocco and her daughter at the track.  It was pretty chilly yesterday morning, but we did our walk the curves, jog the straights routine.  Good way to start the day!

After I got home, my neighbor came down to borrow a short leash to walk her boyfriend's new super cute German Shepherd "puppy" that she was dog-sitting.  She was super sweet and complimented me on my weight loss.  It was nice to hear, especially from a person that I see nearly every day. 

I watched the A&M versus Mizzou football game.  Tough loss for the Aggies in overtime. 

I went to the gym during the OU versus K-State game.  I was the only one there for most of my workout.  I did more intervals on the treadmill - like the C25K program - followed by a little strength training.

• Hip Adductor 4x10x55 + pulses
• Hip Abductor 4x10x70 + pulses
• Leg Press 4x10x130
• Calf Raises 3x10x70

Ended my gym time with 20 minutes on the stationary bike.

Exceeded all my GoWear Fit goals again!!  And got a new battery for the display so it stays synced with the armband much better now!

Last night, I got frozen yogurt from Gogo's!  One of the feature flavors right now is pumpkin - yum!  And I added Heath bar pieces and pecans.

Gus wanted some.

But I didn't share.

Today was a lazy day.  I didn't work out and Gus didn't make me take him for a walk despite the fact that it was a beautiful fall day in central Texas.

I had Chipotle for lunch while I did laundry.  I should have gotten the bowl but the burrito is so much better.  There is just something about the tortilla - probably all the carbs!

Like I said, it was a gorgeous fall day in central Texas so I opened up the windows.  Gus enjoys all the fresh air!

It's Almost Friday!

It's almost Friday!! 

Exceeded all of my GoWear Fit goals again today!  Yay me!

I did get to go back to sleep this morning rather than meeting my friend at the track; thank goodness, because I went to sleep way too late last night.

But I tried to make up for it this evening.  I walked about a mile in the brisk breeze with Gus and MM. 

I was headed to the gym after that when my neighbor and her daughter walked by.  The daughter was in her Halloween costume (Bat Girl) so I knew they were probably headed to the apartment complex Halloween gathering.  I have been saying for over a year that I need to go to the activities that the complex works so hard to coordinate a couple times a month.  So I tagged along with them and went to the party.  They actually had a really good turnout tonight and I met a few more people who live in the apartment complex!  And got to see several kids in their costumes.  It was fun!

I was still in my workout clothes, so I did still go to the gym.  It's a small, locally-owned gym - but it's open 24/7 and it's close to my apartment - so it couldn't get any more convenient.  I've never had to wait for a machine and I feel safe and comfortable there.  When I got there tonight, I was the only person there, which is odd for a Thursday night (not for Friday or Saturday).  A few more people came in while I was working out - lo and behold, 3 ladies who had been at the Halloween gathering were at my gym tonight working off those calories from the snacks at the party.  :)  I think it may have been the first time I talked to somebody (besides Lacey) at the gym beyond a simple "hi, how are you?" or a smile and nod. 

I may get some more workout buddies out of it!  All the support and accountability I can get!

On another note, it feels like fall in central Texas tonight!  It just reminds me that since I'm serious about training for this 5K in February, I'm going to have to get some weather-appropriate workout gear.  Gus should be fine.  He has a really pretty fur coat! 

Two A Days

Two exercise sessions today:

1. ~1 Mile Walk with Gus & MM this morning
2. ~1 Mile Walk with Gus & MM this evening + treadmill, leg weights, and stationary bike at the gym

Nearly 10,000 steps and 1.5 hours of activity.

This evening's workout was later than usual, so I went to Subway to get supper. 

Me: Since it's $5 any regular footlong, can I get one with chicken on one half and ham on the other half?
Subway dude:  No, it has to be the same kind of meat.
Me:  You can charge me for the more expensive one.
Subway dude (with a totally straight face): They're all $5.

Fine.  So I got chicken.  He was nice enough to wrap the two halves separately so I can save one for tomorrow.

Gus and I have to get up dark and early to meet LS at the track again tomorrow.

Sorry for the boring post.  It was just a regular old Wednesday!

Meeting Goals

When the alarms (yes, that's plural) went off this morning, it was so tempting to stay in bed and get an extra 2 hours of sleep.  But I climbed out of bed and got dressed.  It's good for me to have someone who is depending on me to show up!  And she happens to be this cheerful, talkative morning person.  So she talks while we walk and I wake up.  We jogged a little bit at the track this morning.  I think Gus enjoys getting to see Chili too. 

We got home with plenty of time before I had to start getting ready for work.  I thought, "oh, I'll try another workout on the On Demand channel." So I pulled up a hip hop dance workout.  Yeah, my hips just don't move like that.  I know it's just practice and repetition.  However, early this morning was not the time for me to be trying something new.  So I put Gus' reflective vest on him and we circled the apartment complex a couple times - both walking and jogging.

Please forgive the phone picture - I need to get some pics of him looking all official in his vest.  I figure if one of us is going to look like a dork while we walk, it's going to be him!  Safety first!

According to GoWear Fit, I burned nearly 600 calories and walked over 5000 steps before breakfast!

Melissa was not available to walk this evening so I opted to head to the gym and give Gus a break.  I haven't been to the gym in a few weeks because it has been so nice outside.  It was good to do some strength training in addition to some machine-based cardio. 

Goals met exceeded today:
Calories burned - 3293 (goal 3010)
Steps - 11627 (goal 8000)
Moderate Activity - 82 minutes (goal 30)
Vigorous Activity - 31 minutes (goal 15)

Today was the first day I ever met my Vigorous Activity Goal -- and not only did I meet it, but I more than doubled it! 

I'm watching the end of The Biggest Loser, then it's time for bed.  Gus and I have an appointment to walk with MM dark and early in the morning.

Happy Monday

Gus slept through the night!  Which means we did not get up early to exercise.

But we did go for a walk with MM again this evening.  Another 1-1/2 miles in the opposite direction on the trail - just a little change of scenery.  Gus & I jogged a little bit. 

So I discovered that I have Sports and Fitness On Demand through my cable package.  This evening, I tried about 2 minutes of a Bellydance Basics video.  I guess I just need to keep practicing it and doing the Basics version over and over again.  I'm not sure my hips will ever move like the instructor's hips do though.  After I decided Bellydancing wasn't for me today, I opted for The Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start, which is simply 10 minutes of cardio led by Tara from a few seasons ago.  I need to do it a few more times to get the moves down but I think I could enjoy it and progress to other classes.

It makes me miss my free step aerobics classes in Virginia.  There is an awesome Coalition for Health & Wellness where I used to live that offered free aerobics classes most nights of the week in various places in the county.  When I lost weight the first time, I was going to 2 nights of step aerobics with my friend Angie every week. 

I ate the increased veggies, decreased canadian bacon and cheese version of the homemade pizza tonight. 263 calories.

Planning to meet LS at the track dark and early in the morning!

Back At It

So Gus and I have not exercised in about a week - he has a good excuse (UTI/acute cystitis that required 2 antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory); I do not.  It has been a stressful week with Gus being sick and having to go out every couple hours - we did not get much sleep.  Last night, Gus slept 6 solid hours so hopefully things are getting back to normal.

We walked at the park with our friend MM this evening.  There is a nice path that is marked every 1/4 mile.  There are horses in the pasture adjacent to the path and this evening, we had old carrots and apples to feed them.  Fun times.  Gus got nose-to-nose with one of the horses.  I think he misses his horse friends in Virginia.  We walked about 1-1/2 miles and jogged a little bit.  Here's what Gus is doing now.

Then home to make homemade pizza using a 100% whole wheat thin & crispy crust.  I opted for canadian bacon, mushrooms, and black olives!  Yum.  MM came over to eat and to catch up on last week's Survivor and Big Bang Theory.

Half of this pizza was 201 calories!  I knew I was sharing it, so next time I would cut back on the cheese and the canadian bacon and up the veggies to be able to eat the whole personal-sized pizza.
So my sister and I challenged each other this month.  My goal is to lose 12 pounds by November 1st and hers is to lose 10.  The reward is a $20 amazon gift card (for downloading new music for our workout playlists).  Let's just say I have to kick it into high gear for the next 8 days if there is even the slightest chance I'll make it to my October challenge goal.

Re-Inspired

I've been reading lots of blogs lately and am re-inspired to do better at blogging about my weight loss journey, with some tidbits about my life. 

My last post was about the 5K that my sister and I did in July.  The dog and I were signed up for a 5K in September in College Station.  Then I found out there was a 3K option.  We (meaning I) opted for the 3K option because we had a long day following the Paws To The Pavement Beat the Hell Outta Cancer walk at the A&M vet school. 

So we arrived in College Station early that morning and got out of the car to re-discover the humidity in College Station.  (My boss has been warning me that CS is far more humid than here despite the fact that it is only 90 miles away - I have to admit he might be right.)  Lots and lots of dogs of all shapes and sizes.  The official stats were about 300 humans and 200 dogs participating - I hope those numbers were enough for them to do it again next year!  The 3K/5K started with the cannon used during football games - let's just say it started off with a bang!  I'm glad Gus is not a scaredy-cat!  Reveille VII and Reveille VIII were in attendance and barked to encourage their four-legged friends in the walk/run. 

At the halfway point of the 3K, the vet students had set up a kiddie pool for the dogs to get a drink.  What does my dog do?  Jumps on in and rolls around!  Crazy dog.  I finally managed to drag my 100+ pound dog out of the pool without putting a hole in it.  He was definitely "cool" for the rest of the walk.  We finished in under 30 minutes.  Then, we attended the official opening of the Texas A&M Vet School Diagnostic Imaging and Cancer Treatment Center.

After lunch at my favorite College Station spot (Blue Baker - yum), Gus and I spent the rest of the day on campus as it was gameday!  The Texas A&M Aggies were playing Idaho that evening, so we wandered around campus and visited my college friends' tailgate! 

We walked 13503 steps and burned 3988 calories (according to my GoWear Fit) that Saturday!  Gus and I were both exhausted by the time we headed home!

The next time I know Gus can participate with me is February 18, 2012, again in College Station.   Now that it's finally cooler, we have been walking and jogging more.  We try to jog a little more each time, with the ultimate goal of running that 5K in February!