Paula- I would LOVE to hear whatever you've got on that... I've never been a big fan of running, even when I was in sports years ago, but I think that maybe this time around I'd like to give it a go

LOL, what's up girl! You crack me up. I too love the frozen rice. I cooked some up in the microwave over the weekend for guests. Then I threw it in a pot with a lid, so it looked like I actually cooked it. Trader Joes brand is the shiz!

I tried something really tastey too. The yellow curry sauce at Trader Joes. take that and throw in some boiled potato, and some chicken, and throw it over the rice. It's so good!!

I was never one to cook, hence my ass is as fat as a drive through, but now that I am cooking, I am making some tasty stuff. I just hate the dishes.

Hey, good job on your loss so far. Last I read you were down 13 right? Go girl!!!

Dang girl, you were all the way on page 4... Can't have that! Here is the running program I told you about. It's supposed to prepare you for a race so it starts slow and gets progressively more difficult. By the end of it, you should be able to run like 6 miles non-stop. I'll be honest, I think the most I ever got through was week one lol... I can't stand running. Considering trying it again though. I only have 6 weeks to lose 20 pounds... and you have that wedding coming up! Let's make this week a REALLY GOOD ONE!
PS. I've attached it as well but wanted to type it out just in case you can't pull it up.

BEGINNING PHASE- WEEK #1
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To be able to jog one mile without stopping. Warm up adequately before each run. Jog at a pace that would allow you to comfortably converse with a running partner. When you begin to feel excessively tired, walk. Continue walking until you're ready to run again. After each run, spend a few minutes doing some "warm down" exercises. Your body will recover more quickly if you do. With each subsequent outing, try to run nonstop a little farther than you did the previous time. Don't panic if you miss a workout because of bad weather or an honest lack of time. Do your best to follow each week's training schedule, using the built-in rest days to squeeze in a regularly scheduled run you may have missed. Remember your goal for the week - a one-mile run nonstop. Go the distance!

Monday
One mile walk-and-or-jog
Tuesday
One mile walk-and-or-jog. You may feel some soreness from yesterday's effort, but don't let that discourage you. Take your time and enjoy a warm shower afterwards.
Wednesday
One mile walk-and-or-jog.
Thursday
Rest Day. After three straight days, you've earned a break.
Friday
One mile jog. Can you "go the distance" today without having to stop and walk?
Saturday
One mile jog. By now, a one-mile jog should be getting pretty routine. If so, great! It's time to move on to bigger and better things.
Sunday
Rest Day. Your first week of training is over, and you've logged a total of five miles on the road. Congratulations! You've earned a break. Watch TV today without feeling guilty.

BEGINNING PHASE- WEEK #2
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To increase your longest run to two miles. A secondary goal will be to run one mile at a brisk pace.

Monday
One mile nonstop jog, relaxed pace. The soreness you felt last week should be all but gone by now.
Tuesday
Twelve minute nonstop jog. This run should carry you a bit beyond the one-mile barrier and give you an opportunity to explore new running territory.
Wednesday
One mile nonstop run. If you feel up to it, try running a bit more briskly than you have in the past.
Thursday
Rest Day (or use as a make-up day, if you missed one of the above workouts.)
Friday
Two mile walk-and-or-jog. This is a ground-breaking run, but you may surprise yourself by going the distance without needing to walk at all. Just take it easy - we're not out to set any speed records!
Saturday
One mile nonstop jog, relaxed pace. Use this run to celebrate the arrival of the weekend.
Sunday
Rest Day (or make-up day). You've accumulated about 5-6 miles this week. Just think, two months from now you'll be covering that distance in about 45-50 minutes at the Road Race!

BEGINNING PHASE- WEEK #3
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To officially complete the beginning phase of our program by logging a three-mile run. You can do it!

Monday
Two mile jog, relaxed pace. Take it easy and try to go the distance.
Tuesday
Fifteen minute nonstop jog. Be adventurous and explore new routes. How far you run will depend on your pace, but you'll probably cover about a mile and a half. Again, slow and easy is the way to go.
Wednesday
Two-mile nonstop jog. If you feel up to it, try pushing the pace.
Thursday
Rest Day (or use as a make-up day, if you missed one of the above workouts).
Friday
Fifteen minute nonstop jog. Same ground rules as Monday's run.
Saturday
3-mile jog. Complete this run, and you've reached a new milestone. On top of that, you've logged about ten miles on the road this week! Write that in your logbook and circle it. Congratulations!
Sunday
Rest Day.

INTERMEDIATE PHASE- WEEK #4
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To run a fast two miles. How fast depends on your age, athletic ability, and running experience. For the average runner, this might mean 18 to 20 minutes (a 9 or 10 minute-per-mile pace). Good runners can cover two miles in 14 to 16 minutes (7 or 8 minute pace), while those human greyhounds who walk off with the prizes at local road races can breeze through two miles in 10 to 12 minutes (5 to 6 minute pace) or less!
Monday
Three mile jog. Run a relaxed pace, but if you're feeling a bit feisty (and you will, because you're getting tough!), run hard up a hill or two on the course, or throw in a few 15 to 20 second sprints on straight-aways.
Tuesday
Fifteen minute relaxed jog. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day, so take it easy today!
Wednesday
Two mile timed run. This is an important workout; treat this run as though it were a race. Concentrate on maintaining a steady pace from start to finish, and record your final time for future reference.
Thursday
Rest Day, or make-up day, if you missed one of the above workouts.
Friday
Ten minute "out and back" run. An "out and back" run is designed to improve your endurance for that critical second half of a race. Run for ten minutes at a brisk pace. As soon as ten minutes have passed, turn and retrace your path home. Can you arrive back faster than your original ten minutes? Besides improving late-stage endurance, an "out and back" run teaches you how to properly pace yourself during a race.
Saturday
Fifteen minute relaxed jog. Your mileage for the week (about 10) is similar to last week's, but includes more intense running.
Sunday
Rest Day.



INTERMEDIATE PHASE- WEEK #5
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To run four miles nonstop.

Sun.
Ten minute "out and back" run. Run for ten minutes at a brisk pace. As soon as ten minutes have passed, turn and retrace your path home. Can you arrive back faster then your original ten minutes?
Mon.
Two mile relaxed jog. Select the same two-mile course used for your time trial last week.
Tues.
Two mile timed run. It's time to fly! Can you improve on last week's effort?
Wed.
Rest Day, or make-up day, if you missed one of the above workouts.
Thurs.
Fifteen minutes relaxed jog.
Fri.
Four mile jog. This is a milestone run, but by now you should have developed the confidence to go the distance with little or no trouble. Get psyched and go for it! This run gives you a total of about twelve miles for the week.
Sat.
Rest Day.

INTERMEDIATE PHASE- WEEK #6
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: A five-mile nonstop run.

Sun.
Ten minute "out and back" run. Run for ten minutes at a brisk pace. As soon as ten minutes have passed, turn and retrace your path home. Try to arrive back faster than your original ten minutes (this should be easy, if someone's Doberman decides to follow you home).
Mon.
Celebrate Monday with a two mile relaxed jog
Tues.
Three mile timed run. Concentrate on running a brisk, steady pace. Record your final time in a logbook for future reference.
Wed.
Rest Day. This is the last day of winter, so it the weather is fine, take a long, brisk walk and bid farewell to winter!
Thurs.
Fifteen minute relaxed jog. It is the first day of spring, Enjoy!
Fri.
Five mile nonstop jog. Another milestone run- five miles! Did you ever think you could run this far when you began jogging five weeks ago? Your total mileage for this week comes to about 14 - nice going!
Sat.
Rest Day.

Six mile (or 6.2, if you want an official 10K) nonstop run. Pretend you're an Olympic runner out dueling the world's finest marathoners. You've logged about 15 miles ' this week - that marathon runner from Kenya should be a piece of cake".
Sat.
Rest Day!

Here's the rest of it. My post was too long lol.

INTERMEDIATE PHASE WEEK #7
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: A 10K nonstop run! If you go the distance on this run (and we know you will), you've successfully completed our program's intermediate phase. As a secondary goal, you want to cover a half a 10K (about three miles) at a good clip. Make Tuesday's three-miler a good one!

Sun.
Fifteen minute "out and Back" run. Run for exactly fifteen minutes, maintaining a brisk pace. Then retrace you path home. Try to beat fifteen minutes on the return leg.
Mon.
Two mile relaxed jog. Take it easy; you ran hard yesterday, and you'll be running hard tomorrow.
Tues.
Three mile timed run. Can you improve on your performance last week? Concentrate on those stretches where you may have lapsed last time out.
Wed.
Rest Day, or make-up day, if you missed one of the above workouts.
Thurs.
Fifteen minute relaxed jog. Race Day is ONE MONTH away, and tomorrow you'll be running 10K for the first time.
Fri.
Six mile (or 6.2, if you want an official 10K) nonstop run. Pretend you're an Olympic runner out dueling the world's finest marathoners. You've logged about 15 miles ' this week - that marathon runner from Kenya should be a piece of cake".
Sat.
Rest Day!

FINAL PHASE- WEEK #8
GOAL FOR THE WEEK: To run five miles at a steady pace.
Sun.
5Mile run at a relaxed pace.
Mon.
Fifteen minute relaxed jog.
Tues.
Fifteen minute "out and back" run. Choose whatever streets or paths suit your fancy. Just remember, when fifteen minutes have passed, retrace your route and finish strong!
Wed.
Rest Day
Thurs.
Five mile relaxed jog. Choose the same course you plan to run for tomorrows timed five-miler. As you run, visualize success on any difficult stretches (hills for example).
Fri.
Five mile timed run - go for it! Here's great news. Your mileage for this week (about 20) surpasses the 20-mile barrier.
Sat.
Rest Day.

FINAL PHASE- WEEK #9
Sun.
5M at race pace. This is a major tune-up for the race day . You can use a course of your own, or run the "real McCoy". Whatever your choice, run close to the pace you'll be pushing on race day.
Mon.
20 Minute run at relaxed pace.
Tues.
Relaxed 5M run.
Wed.
20 Minute run at relaxed pace.
Thurs.
Rest day
Fri.
20 Minute run at relaxed pace.
Sat.
Rest day.

I just found this one too. Didn't even know I had this one...

THE COUCH TO 5K RUNNING PLAN
Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.
You should ease into your running program gradually. In fact, the beginners' program we outline here is less of a running regimen than a walking and jogging program. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in just two months.
It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready

A few minutes each week
Each session should take about 20 or 30 minutes, three times a week. That just happens to be the same amount of moderate exercise recommended by numerous studies for optimum fitness. This program will get you fit. (Runners who do more than this amount are doing it for more than fitness, and before long you might find yourself doing the same as well).
Be sure to space out these three days throughout the week to give yourself a chance to rest and recover between efforts. And don't worry about how fast you're going. Running faster can wait until your bones are stronger and your body is fitter. For now focus on gradually increasing the time or distance you run.

Run for time, or run for distance
There are two ways to follow this program, to measure your runs by time or by distance. Either one works just as well, choose the option that seems easiest for you to keep track of. If you go with the distance option, and you are not using a track to measure the distances, just estimate. It's not important to have the distances absolutely exact.

Before setting out, make sure to preceded each session with a five-miutes warmup walk or jog. Be sure to stretch both before and after.

WEEK ONE
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK TWO
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK THREE
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk. Then do two repetitions of the following:
Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
Walk 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK FOUR
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then:
Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 2 1/2 minutes)
Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK FIVE
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then:
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes
Day Two- Brisk five minute warmup walk then:
Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Jog 3/5 mile (or 8 minutes)
Day Three- Brisk 5 minute warmup walk then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.

WEEK SIX
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then:
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Day Two- Brisk five minute warmup walk then:
Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
Day Three- Brisk five minutes warmup walk then jog 2 1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.

WEEK SEVEN
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes)
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK EIGHT
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes)
Day Two and Three- Repeat Day One

WEEK NINE
Day One- Brisk five minute warmup walk then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes)
Day Two- Repeat Day One
Day Three- Congratulations, your final workout! Brisk five minute walk then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

We don't have Trader Joes in MT, sad I've been trying new recipes here n there from some websites, and most are pretty decent, but I agree with you JB- dishes SUCK. I've got a few to do right now, and holy hunnies I am SOOO avoiding them!

Thanks for the running programs Paula- I'm gonna start tonight, see where it gets me. I agree with ya on the running thing- I hate it. Hated it in sports(was even in track years ago, how does that work??? lol) and don't understand how people run for "fun". Psh. Lame if ya ask me!

Anyways, I will probably be back on later, I've gotta do some of those damn dishes, throw my gym clothes in the wash real fast, and then get over there to try and run. We'll see how that goes

Well Paula- that second running program you put up is the one I did. It was rough- not gonna lie- but I did it! Five minutes of running in there, and then my friend Tiffany wanted to keep going to 2miles when I had finished the original 20, so I went an extra 14minutes on the treadmill to get the 2 mile mark also, and in that time did another 2minutes of running. Well, I guess ya can't call it a flat run, it more of a faster jog, but STILL. Thank you SOOOO much! It helped me to have an actual idea of what I should be doing. Now hopefully when I do it again I don't sputter out lol.



Tonight was my leg night, squats, extensions, and curls, I gotta tell ya- HATE squats. Despise them. WITH A PASSION. Did 100 crunches, the treadmill of course, and then did a minute and a half on the rower at level 10(ouch), then did 10 minutes on the rower at level 5(eh. not quite as painful lol). Thats one helluva workout, wow! I was a little surprised- the first thirty seconds or so on a rowing machine is really hard to get used to, and you really don't feel like you're accomplishing anything, but it was actually pretty intense. I'll hafta keep that going now to.

Alright, time for bed, but I'm hoping to have another great workout tomorrow

Holy crap girl! You're bustin' a**! Nice workout! I was just gonna ask you which workout you tried lol. Maybe I'll do the same one as you. You are my daily inspiration so KEEP IT UP! How close are you to your goal weight for the wedding?

Aww, thanks nice to be someones inspiration, lol. My total goal was to lose 30lbs, and I started this almost four weeks ago, in which I've only lost 13lbs, but I have actually lost a few inches on my waist and thighs, so I know its going somewhere! I just reallly wish I could see the numbers on the scale!! Grrr. So, even if I don't lose another 15-20lbs in the next four weeks, I'm still accomplishing something!

So, my store is converting to a new computer system tomorrow(after friggin 21 years of the same lame dos computer) so I get to be at the frickin mall at 815am...bleh. I don't usually even get outta bed till 830 lol. So considering I don't get much sleep to begin with, I have chosen to miss my workout tonight, I feel reallllly lazy for doing this, but I need to get to sleep or I'll die tomorrow! I'm just gonna hafta do more the next coupla days to make up for it. Tonights workout was suppose to be shoulders- I actually like all the workouts except for one of them, so it won't be a problem to make them up tomorrow and the next days for sure.

Have a great day everyone!

ONLY 13 pounds? Can't wait till I can say I've ONLY lost 13 pounds.

Not gonna lie- food was eh. Thats it, just eh. I didn't wake up early enuf to have breakfast, so at about noon I bought a protein bar and an Ostrim jerky(yummmmmy!!), but that was only 370cals in a ten hour span, BAD. So,when I got off work, I decided to have a blizzard a MEDIUM even. I had a lean cuisine before I could eat all the ice cream, and that was 270cals, and then later I had a salad with LOTS of grape tomatoes, and some of that salad spritzer stuff. So overall, my calories weren't TERRIBLY high, but the quality of what I ate wasn't that great...

Workout: I made up half of last nights shoulder stuff, and then todays workout was back, so this is how it looked:

*Shoulder press- 4sets, 20reps on 30lbs,15,12, and 10reps each on 20lbs. Doesn't seem very heavy your first few reps, but mannnnn. I pretty much feel like my shoulders are gonna fall off after a bit lol.

*1 arm cross cables- I HATE THESE!! 4sets, 20, 16, 15, 14 reps each on 20lbs.

*Standing calf raises- 20reps on 120lbs, 20r. on 105lbs, and 15 and 15r. on 90lbs.

*Closegrip pulldowns- 20, 16, and 15r. on 30lbs, and 14r. on 50lbs.

*120 crunches, and 10 of those crazy upside down hangy crunch things. I pretty much suck it up on those

Cardio: Did Paula's running program- 5min warmup, alt. 1min jogging with 1.5min walking for a total of 20minutes, then did an extra seven minutes cuz I had to finish a show that was on, lol. TOTAL: 27minutes on treadmill, 1.58miles.

Also did the rowing machine again- 10min 1898 meters. I had to do the math on that one- that many meters is almost 1.18miles, PLUS the thingy said 100cals burned, and even tho I know that the counters are never spot on, its frustrating to see more done with the rower than RUNNING FOR CRAP SAKE!! whatcha gonna do bout it tho, right?? hehe.
Anyways, I am BEAT. Waking up at 730am isn't early to most people, but to me, that realllly killed me today. Thank god its 830am tomorrow!

Ha ha good day! How did it feel to sleep in today?
I got up at 6am! Can you believe it? Woo Hoo!

Your workouts look tough girl! I need to come workout with you! You're gonna be rockin' at that wedding!

Where you at?

Hey Jess! Great job with the running. I really need to start running, it's one of the only ways to burn some mean calories.

How's your week going so far??

Didn't get on here yesterday- got done working out and PASSED OUT. But I did go to the gym- yesterdays workout:
*Incline chest press- sets of 20, 15, 12, and 10 on 30 lbs.
*Seated flyes- one set of 20 on 60lbs, sets of 15, 13, and 12 on 30lbs.
*Seated calf raises- sets of 20, 20, 15, and 15 on 150(ouch.)
*20 upside down crunch thingys
*cardio: rower for 12 minutes, 2200meters.
That was definately one of my lazier workouts...

Todays calories were right where I wanted them to be- 1600. AND I didn't eat annnnnnnyyyy blizzards, lol. In fact- NO ice cream was involved, woo!
Tonights workout was pretty good, I didn't do the running thing- I think I'm getting sick AGAIN! I just got over this crazy cold a week ago, and now my throat hurts a little. I'm pissed.
Anyway, heres tonights workout:
*Tricep pushdowns- sets of 20 and 16 on 30lbs, and sets of 14 & 12 on 20lbs.
*Dips- sets of 20 14 12 10 on 90lbs.
*2 hand cable curls- sets of 20 15 12 11 on 30lbs
*Chin and dip station, 3 sets of 10.
*100 crunches
*26min 1.33 miles treadmill(was gonna do a longer amount but I hit the stupid stop button on accident, and then I just got mad, lol.) Just walking.
*8min 1600 meters on rower.

My arms are looking better, tho not terrific, and thats so sad! I just gotta keep reminding myself that it took me a long time to get fat, so having dream arms isn't gonna happen in four weeks... On the upside, I have a customer who comes in once a month to buy protein for her son, and she came in today and said, "Are you losing weight? You look good!" Holy crap. I coulda cried. People who see me everyday don't notice a difference, so its nice to hear it from someone who hardly sees you. SOOO that pretty much made my day

Tomorrow is my night off, wooohooo! Don't know what I'll be doing, but nothing to sacrifice my hard work, thats for sure. Saturdays I usually take off also, but I'm gonna get some cardio in, a little extra never killed anyone right??

Have a great day everyone!!