What does 5 pounds of fat look like?

This is what 5 pounds of fat looks like, as well as 10 pounds, 15 pounds & 20 pounds. I don't remember WHO took this picture, but I do know WHERE I saw it. I saw this picture on a Facebook Weight Watchers group months ago.

 



Runnin4Rainbows Grand Opening Sale

 

 

Do you do fun runs like The Color Run, Color Me Rad, Run or Dye or The Graffitti Run? I know there are others out there that throw colored power at the runners but there are too many to list! If you do, you may want to check out my friends site Runnin4Rainbows! Right now she is having a grand opening sale that YOU can take advantage of !!!

 

 

 

Painting your own or team shirts can become a tedious & can be a real pain. I know as I've done it on a few occasions. Now...you don't have to put yourself through that if you want a custom shirt! 
Your custom shirt starts out being plain white & ends up colorful with your custom design emerging for all of the happy color covered runners to see! It happens as you progress through all of the different color stations.

She does shirts for adults & children! Go check out her page on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Runnin4Rainbows

As well as her Etsy page!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Runnin4Rainbows?ref=ss_profile

She also has a blog!
http://runnin4rainbows.blogspot.com/You'll have a colorful reminder of your happy, color covered day!

You must order BEFORE November 1st, 2013 to take advantage of her Grand Opening Sale!
 

A new circuit, a new age & renewed attitude

Monday was my birthday. I celebrated the start of my 44th year by meeting up with my trainer for our monthly consultation. My usual trainer wasn't at work so I met with a young pup who served in Afghanistan. He said many of the same things my usual trainer said to me. Things like "Your body gives out before your mind gives up. You have great control & I love training clients like you. I can show you once, you do it & I don't have to remind you to breathe!"  He loves my gym for many of same reasons I do. The friendly, supportive staff  & the people working out in the gym give encouragement as well.

As far as my circuit goes, I got to keep the Bosu Ball & the box steps with a modification. He has me getting on & off of the Plyo Box from the back instead of from the sides...holding a 4 pound medicine ball. The rest he changed. I'm doing the Dorsi Flex machine at 30 pounds. It seems light but I won't up the weight until I can do the front, side dumb bell lifts with ease. Now I'm struggling with 5 pound weights on the last set. Planks & bench push ups are new for me & both are very, very difficult. I can plank for 5-10 seconds, but I can do the push ups on my knees...with difficulty. The final new exercise is the leg press machine at 80 pounds. he wanted me to do 40 pounds but I told him it was too light. He doubled it to 80 & it felt pretty good. It's still not really a challenge, but I didn't want to overdo it in combination with my box steps. I did the circuit twice today before Zumba for old people started. I did the Zumba class, even though it's hard on my ankles...which is why I do Zumba for old people, or as the gym calls it "Zumba Gold". After the class I finished my 3rd round on the circuit, followed up by 30 minutes on the recumbent bike, weight loss cycle, level 4.

Each of those 30 minutes on the bike were a struggle, but I pushed through & finished them. After all, how am I supposed to regain my health if I don't push myself?!! 

The end result of my workout was that I was sweaty, sore & had noodle legs for the next 30 minutes.

As for my first set of measurements goes...here are the results. 
                             Start          goal        October (month 1)
 Bust                     44               43           43

Waist                    58               56           57

Hips                      55               54           55

Thigh                    25.5            25           26

R. Arm                  14.25         13.75       14.5

L. Arm                  14.25         13.75       13.5

BF%                      49.8           25.6         49.9

Weight                  240.2         TBD         245 

I was a little disappointed with my progress but when I take into consideration that I was out of the gym for 2 weeks due to the Achilles & Vegas, in addition to my feeling sorry myself eating binge...I can't complain.

Today I went to the gym with a renewed attitude...basically I was going to kick my work outs ASS! I felt like I did that!

Vegas Baby!

Before I start this post, if you don't agree with taking kids to Las Vegas then don't bother to read this post. Negative comments in relation to kids in Vegas will NOT be posted...period!

That being said...here we go.

The hubby & I went to Las Vegas in August for an adults only get away. I believe our marriage NEEDS that once per year so we do our best to make sure that happens. We ended up receiving 2 nights COMPED at Mandalay Bay so the Mr. surprised our family with 3 nights at Mandalay Bay over the kids Fall Break from school. We've been wanting to take the kiddos here to play in the wave pool & lazy river & our 2 comped nights made it feasible for us to do so. We also play MyVegas on Facebook & scored some goodies that way as well.

The first night we took it easy. Just checked into our room & walked up to the Luxor to redeem our 3 free buffets that we scored by playing the MyVegas game on Facebook. In the past I would have literally stuffed myself. This time I didn't. I started with a lettuce salad, moved on to ONE meat entrée with a side of sautéed veggies & spinach as well as a bowl of butternut squash soup. I DID have ONE desert but not until AFTER I ate a bowl of mixed fruit...watermelon, cantaloupe & honeydew.

Then we walked to M &M's World & back to our room.

 

Red SAID he'd do anything for love in the commercial....LIAR!

 The following morning we headed to the wave pool & spent nearly FIVE hours there. We played in the waves, floated on the lazy river. I actually RAN in the lazy river for a few laps playing with kids by chasing them on their tubes. The Mr & kids got floating down the river before I did, so I chased them.  We had lunch at the poolside Beach Bar & Grill...splitting our entrees. It's a good thing we did because they were pretty good size portions! 


I took these pics from one of the bridges spanning the lazy river.



The last time I'll wear this suit





As far as not wearing this suit again it's not because of the way I think it looks or makes me feel. I think it looks great & it makes me feel the same way. it's because it's getting too big through the legs & bust area. It bums me out because I've come to LOVE this suit, but it becoming too big is problem I'm HAPPY to have!



After our poolside adventures we used the rest of our $100 food & beverage credit at the Bayside (?) Buffet at Mandalay Bay & then we walked down to the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign & back. Since I hadn't done any real walking since the shopping cart incendent, this was a good test for my Achilles. We went after dark...obviously, but we went about 7 pm. Surprisingly, the walk was fairly well lit the entire way on both sides of the street. I wouldn't recommend walking it at night after about 10 though, nor would I walk it alone. It's just my humble opinion. With the kids, it took us about 20 minutes in each direction to walk it.

 

             Yes, THIS iconic sign!

The following day it was overcast & drizzling so that nixed the pool. Instead we drove down to South Pointe with the intention of bowling, but they had leagues that weren't on the website & a 45 minute wait for the few available open bowling lanes. Instead we went to eat at Steak n' Shake. Then headed to The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay..specifically The Las Vegas Sock Market. After that we used our free tickets to Shark Reef that we scored playing MyVegas. Then it was off to begin walking the strip. We took our time stopping to take pictures with two Incredible Me Minions in front of Ballys, stopping at The Sugar Factory..Paris & not buying candy. Instead we bought Shwings!


Shwing-tastic!

 

 

We watched the Volcano eruption at The Mirage from across the street at The Venetian. Eventually we made it all the way up to The Wynn where we crossed the pedestrian walkway & began heading back to The Excalibur. We took in the end of the Sirens of TI show...we've seen it before. We cruised past the Mirage volcano & into America at New York New York for a very late dinner.



Pedestrian Bridge at The Wynn





 

By the time we returned to our room, we had logged 5 miles on our walk on the LV strip. Surprisingly, I wasn't sore the way I had feared the day after. The Mr & kids were in good shape as well.

I had thoughts about giving up in the week prior to this trip. I think it's normal to have those thoughts from time to time. This trip only proved to me that my work at the gym before the shopping cart incident has helped. When we went for the Fourth of July, I had rolled my ankle the day before we left. I walked part of the strip with the family but not nearly as far & I was walking with an ankle wrapped. In August with the Mr, the hubby & I walked a bit further but I was in agony. it was also BEFORE I joined the gym. This time I had a little pain, but nothing that required a wrap or even an ankle support. Also the bathing suit in the picture fit pretty well in July but now I'm retiring it for good. Again, it's due to my work at the gym.



A week of ups & downs

I called my trainer & talked to her after re-scheduling my appointment with her. I told her what happened & she said " The Achilles takes a long time to heal...even a bruised one. Stay off of it for at least a week. Don't come to the gym if you'll be tempted to do legwork because just walking could make it take longer to heal".

 

Ugh! Just what I DIDN'T want to hear. I've been on my butt as much as I could tolerate. I put off making cupcakes for my kids classroom parties for as long as I could because I knew I'd be standing for hours on end making them.

 

A few of the mini Smores cupcakes I made.

 

I was correct. 120 mini Smores cupcakes & 8 hours later, they were finished completely. I managed to only eat 2 to taste test them. They were a big hit with the kids, teachers & the parents. I also had volunteered BEFORE the shopping cart incident. So I went in with the kids & got an additional 3.5 hours of time in toward my yearly requirement of 14 hours. I'm only 2 hours short now of fulfilling that requirement. It always feels good to get it out of the way early.

 

 

As far as my leg goes, it's still sore but nothing like it has been. My friend recommended a natural product called Arnicare. I picked some up at Walgreen's & I do believe it's helped a bit. I've also been sleeping with my leg elevated & for the first 72 hours I was icing it as well. My ankle & top of my foot became a little discolored & swollen but didn't hurt at all. Surprisingly, my leg isn't very sore after standing on it all day Thursday & half of the day Friday. It's a little tender to the touch & my ankle hurts a bit, but it's much better than it was earlier in the week.

 

 

Arnicare, sweet Arnicare.

I was eating crap food more often than not this week. I've been comforting myself self with crap food & it must stop. It's that whole battle I've had for many years now with food. I've admitted it. I've come clean & now it's time to change it again.

Cheerios & Almond Milk

 It's time to return to better choices like Multigrain Cheerios with Almond Milk. It was actually pretty darn tasty!