YAY for me! Even though I didn't feel like it, I went to my last bootcamp to re-do all of my initial measurements and fitness testing (crunches, pushups, plank, etc.). In 6 wks I lost 3.5 inches (likely more if I weren't retaining water at the moment). My favorite part, though, was the 1.25 km run, whereby my starting time of 10.30 mins was reduced down to 7.55 min!! I find that very exciting. I did not have to stop at all, which was great!

So now I am going to start doing some Billy Blanks Bootcamp/TaeBo workouts on DVD. I have no idea how they will be; I hope they don't require too much coordination! I figure they will be good until the next bootcamp starts in Sept. I will also maintain my treadmill, juice jugs, and now yoga ball regimen, too.

Tomorrow I will go to WW even though I don't want to. I hate it when I am retaining water! But it is an encouragement to others when I attend, especially if they are just starting out and find out how far I have come. Besides, I never know what I just might learn at the meeting!

Cheers
ABBA

It's a shame that you have to wait so long before you can do another bootcamp. You certainly have notched up some great results from that last one. It is a good idea to continue as you were with the additional DVDs until the next session starts.

We all gain weight due to TOM. I am heavier at the minute myself.

I hope that the WW scale is kind to you. You may be surprised - your measurements were really good despite the water retention. Sometimes a small gain is good news when you know that you are carrying a lot of water. We can burn fat which is not revealed at the scales until the water weight goes.

Okay, I admit it - I played hooky from WW !! I did not feel up to hearing about my TOM gain. However, I continue my workouts (tried out the first Billy Blanks today - and nearly DIED!) and for the time being am swapping out one meal for my protein shake, seeing if it will make a difference in the weight. As it is summer, and we are a big-time fruit producing valley, I am thoroughly enjoying fruit every day - several times per day! Mainly grapes & berries, but we have lots of all kinds! YUMYUMYUM!

I took my girls to the beach today (we go several times per week) and came home with a nasty burn on my back from only about 15 mins in the water! I stayed in the shade the rest of the time, except for that measly 15 mins! My kids didn't burn. My MOTHER didn't burn - just me! *sigh* However, we all had loads of fun, which was the objective.

Today we let our landlords know that we plan on moving out just prior to their rental increase in 3 months, or sooner if it works out for us to sell my mom's condo and purchase our own home!!! We have been "okayed" by the mortgage broker and even found ourselves a realtor. Prices have finally stopped skyrocketing in our city and are even cooling off some (they are still RIDICULOUS), so we are hopeful. I feel slightly sick but mostly excited at the thought of packing, cleaning, culling, cleaning, sorting, cleaning, boxing, and finally...GULP...moving into our OWN home! We are almost 40 yrs old, for heaven's sake. It's time!

So that's what is up in my neck of the woods. Hope things are well with all of you!

Many blessings,
ABBA

Did my usual on the 'mill today. I am going to try doing the Billy blanks video 3 x per week. I seriously do not think my poor abs and shoulders could take it any more often! I only wish I were more coordinated, which would make following along both easier and more effective. However, I will continue trying and believe for good results.

I worked a 5 hr shift tonight and will likely do the same the next few nights. It means I don't see much of DH, which is sad, but it is vital that my days are spent with our daughters. Now I can also begin the LONG and painful process of culling and packing *sigh*

Ah well, it will all be worth it in the end!
Cheers
ABBA

Curse that Billy Blanks and his Basic Bootcamp!!! Yes, I did it again today. Yes, I hated it again today, having to stop many times. But omgosh, it has to be doing SOMETHING to me! The pain alone ... yeesh! And yes, I still did treadmill time afterwards, though only 45 mins.
I DESERVE TO BE VERY, VERY SKINNY AND CURVY AND BEAUTIFUL, dangnabit!

When I weighed myself this morning the results were pleasing. My TOM gain is leaving, thankfully.

Too tired now, just got off evening shift at work.
ABBA

Road my bike to work, roughly 20 min ride each way. Then got home and did the usual treadmill for an hour. On Saturday I am planning to go on a 2 hour + bike ride with my bootcamp instructor! The area is beautiful, natural, and very VERY hilly! *sigh*

Our summer weather is definitely here. We are fortunate this week to only get up into the low 30s, but the 40s (Celsius) are not far off! Our bedroom has A/C but the rest of the place totally bakes. Our girls sleep in the basement to keep cool. I love summertime! Our current location is pretty good, only about a 10 minute drive to the beach, or a 25 min. bike ride or so.

All for now
ABBA

Happy Friday! I went to WW and their scale showed me at 152. That's okay with me, it still means that I am shrinking. My own scale this a.m. showed me at 151. I am really hovering over that 150 mark, but don't feel a need to change my ticker. I plan on being at the TRUE 150 mark by next Friday, and what BLISS it will be to move into the 140s!!! I seem to have been trapped in the 150s for about the last decade, it feels like.

However, I am overall very pleased with how I look these days. It is so pleasant to catch my reflection in a window and actually like what I see! It inspires me to keep on track and to work even harder to reach my goals.

Tonight DH and I took our youngest to see the new movie Wall-e at the theatre. It was terrific! Much better than I had expected. It was cute and very clever at the same time. I recommend it as a grand family film! It is all CGI.

I am looking forward to my butt-kicking bike ride tomorrow morning, though with some trepidation. I am making myself do it because it is a stretch for me. The treadmill is so easy and does not take much coordination. My live bootcamp was a stretch, as it involved the possibility (okay, and the reality) of my making a fool of myself in front of other people. But I really did love/hate it! So going on the crazy bike ride should be ... interesting, to say the least. I will try my hardest not to fall off the dang bike! LOL

Here's to us! Keep your eyes on the prize, my friends.
ABBA

Happy Sunday!
Yesterday I did my 1.5 hr bike ride with boot camp instructor. It was beautiful and scary and hard - just as it should be! The hills were incredible, and I made sure to thank DH for getting me such a grand bike. The hard part was where the path was washed out and we had to push our bikes up a large "sand dune" type hill. We could barely get any traction and kept sliding backwards. I found it rather scary, but had confidence that we could make it. I only wished the trip was longer! You go, ABBA!

Then after I came home I still did 45 mins on the mill! Today, however, my only exercise was walking home from work, which is about a 25 min walk. I feel quite tired as I worked a full shift and am only used to working a 4 or 5 hr stretch.

Last night I had a GIRL'S NIGHT OUT with some of my pals from work. I organized it and only invited a handful of ladies, just the ones who make me smile and giggle. We had a smashing time eating appies and drinking...well, drinkies! Yes, I allowed myself some alcohol and even baked brie fondu! We shall see what the scale god says this week.

All for now
ABBA

Hi all
Well, we are getting ready for our big camping trip...in the rain! *sigh* Well, here's hoping we have a good time anyway.

Don't know how WL will go this week.

ABBA

Well, we survived our rainy camping trip! Our girls had a wonderful time, which is truly what we care about. It did only genuinely POUR rain for one night. The next day/night were simply overcast. We took the girls to the waterslides and they loved it. We did the campfire thing and roasted marshmallows, etc. All of the requisite camping duties! Then yesterday I took them to a neighboring town to float down the channel on our innertubes, followed by yet another bbq with friends at the beach. *PHEW* I honest doubt wheter I will have lost anything after this long weekend - waaay too much salty stuff.

The good news, though, is that I measured my waist this morning (haven't stepped on the scale in a good few days) and the tape measure showed 28.5 inches!!! Now that is a number I have not seen in many, many years. I continue with my workouts and for the most part eating very well, and I feel good about where I am at.

Taking the kids camping is a new experience for us, but I think it will be very good for our family to have this to look forward to every summer. I am trying to impress upon DH that I am no longer content to be a "sidelines" type person, but that I am now committed to being a full-on participant in this game of life. And it is very important to me that our girls also become active participants, refusing just to settle for tv and computer time! however, DH feels differently. He is depressed and prefers mainly to sleep his time away, as well as play his *&^%$#@@! Warcraft computer game. I wish that I could change this about him, or somehow inspire him to fulfill the greatness that lies within him - but I know better. He alone must learn his life lessons - and he will only do it when he is ready to learn them. It does make for an awkward marriage, however, when one partner is committed to learning, growing, and moving forward while the other is content to simply stagnate. Ahh, the joys of married life ...

All for now, time for the daily 'mill.
cheers
ABBA

Hi all!
Just got back from a lovely, spur-o-the-moment weekend in Vancouver with my best friend. It has been years since we've gone away together, and it was a treat to leave hubbies and kidlets behind! Fun, fun, fun. And LOTS of walking!

I went to WW on Friday and was pleased that they weighed me in at 151, showing me to be down 60 lbs officially. YAY ME!!! My own scale continues to register me at 150, down 61 lbs. And I am not done yet!

Cheers
ABBA

Thats great!!!

Thanks, Sweetie!
I continue to go between 150 and 152 on my scale, relating to TOM and sodium intake, etc. However, I can also see that I am still shrinking, so I can hadly complain. I am REALLY looking forward to that special day when the scale goes below 150...

Awkward moment while shopping for clothes with my 11.5 yr old yesterday. She is tall and big for her age, as I was. She is about 5'3 or so, just an inch or two shorter than myself. However, it would appear that we are now in about the same size of pants! This is wonderful for me, of course, as she looks about 16 yrs old and has the same body (approximately) as a gal that age. Naturally I do not let her know what size I am, and would NEVER wear her clothing, though she has started to ask if she can borrow mine.

I so don't want her to struggle with her weight, and with the self-esteem issues that come along with being larger than other girls her size. She is definitely not fat by any stretch, but she does have my pear booty shape *sigh*. She seemed to enjoy helping me choose a pair of jeans that compliment my new, trim shape, and I enjoyed shopping with her, too. She has had such a beautiful attitude adjustment over the summer, for which I am extremely thankful.

All for now
ABBA

Well tomorrow is my weigh in day. I don't expect to be below 150, but it sure would be nice to actually get weighed in at WW at 150!!! We shall see.

Hey, when I checked my waist this morning, the tape measure was at 28" ! Now that felt pretty good

I will check in with you after weigh in ...

ABBA

That is fab!!! 28" woo wooo