So This is the End ...

... of our five week journey. =(
The Christmas Crunch starts soon!
Well, I've learned the most the last 2 weeks. It's about the little changes and making them fit. I'm assuming eventually the big changes will be visible. =)
Totals:
Weight: this week I lost 1 pound which makes a total of -0.6 (because of the addition the week before)
Bust: no change, Chest: -0.25, Waist: -2.5!, Hips: -2!, Arms: no change, R Thigh: -1.25, L Thigh: -0.25 Total: 6.25 inches!
Since I started last October ...
Weight: -4.2, Bust: -4.25, Chest: -3.75, Waist: -9, Hips: -7.5, R Arm: -1.25, L Arm: -1.25, R Thigh: -2.25, L Thigh: -3.5
Very exciting! Can't wait to see where I'll be next October! I'll "see" you ladies soon when the Christmas Crunch starts again!

The last few weeks ...

... have been crazy. (of course!) We have been making it out to walk 3-4 nights a week. I wasn't paying attention to too much else fitness related. So I made a change - SlimFast. I started Monday breakfast was okay (they've changed it and the texture doesn't bother me like it used to) healthy snack, healthy lunch, healthy snack, I didn't get to dinner until 10, so a shake wasn't going to work. lol. obviously blew that meal. Tuesday was better we weren't home. Until the kids "needed" a treat for being so great during a 4 hour meeting - blew it and then forgot about the shake and ate dinner with the family. Wednesday shake for breakfast, healthy lunch, shake for dinner, but I wasn't feeling well at all today. Very headachy and miserable - like I was running a fever. Enough whining. =)
Measurements
Weight -+ 0.4, Bust - +0.25, Chest - 0, Waist -1.25, Hips -1.5, Arms no change, R thigh - 1, L thigh no change. =3.5 inch loss
Have a great week and keep up the great work!

sherry's FFF journal 3

Found out what my BMI is today. That is what I burn at rest. I was surprised at how high it is! That encourages me to try to burn more calories in exercise and eat less. Got a new game plan this week: eat half of what I want and try to burn at least 200 calories during exercise. Wish me luck!

Thanks Dani Joy - Anne´s FFF Journal 1

Thanks Dani Joy for inviting me to join this seminar. Looking forward to the October Christmas crunch. I just started back on Monday with exercising after a month of being gone half a week each week. Gen has been my walking partner and we are walking 30-50 minutes at a fast pace up and down the hills in the beautiful Hill Country north of San Antonio. I can only stand exercising before the sun comes up with this hot and humid weather. I am also doing other exercises as time and energy permit. I measured everything this morning and will post any losses in the coming weeks. Sorry, if I were where I wanted to be I would openly post my measurements.

First Week

Isn't it amazing how when you decide to change something in your life you end up pulling an all-niter, the weather changes, or the kids schedules go all crazy?!!!
When Dani emailed me the invitation to join this seminar I was so excited. It seems every time that I am ready to start eating right and making sure to exercise Dani starts another contest. =)
I started off great on Tuesday I got up on time, went to bed on time, drank enough water, didn't have second helpings and made sure that hubby and I got our walk. =)
Wednesday it was hot! It was over 100*, I definitely drank enough water, got up on time, and didn't have second helpings. I wanted to skip our walk (because it was so hot) but hubby wanted the time away from the children's ear to chat about his day at work (which was horrible), so we meandered. I started reading a book and ended up staying up way too late (a common problem for me). Just about the time I was headed to bed hubby woke up and wanted to chat about how to deal with the work issue the next day at work and we were up until 6:30 am (all niter).
Thursday, I did not get up on time. I had seconds on my favorite caffeine fix (Pepsi) ... alright I probably had more than 2. We skipped our walk and went out to dinner (it was too hot and I was too tired) instead.
Friday we cleaned for company... no walk, too much food.
Pretty much it went downhill from there. Sunday and Monday were spent in front of the computer finalizing school plans (because we started on Tuesday).
Homeschooling 4 with a preschooler has been a very big challenge (and a lot of stress) which means (you guessed it) comfort food. I am now once again ready to get started. I measured last week, but forgot this morning.
We'll see how Friday goes ...
(well, Dani, you said our stories encouraged you ...)
Have a great week everyone!

It´s Off to Work We Go!

"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it´s off to work we go"

You remember how it goes. Right?

But, WORK???

Oh, NO!!!

Isn´t WORK a four letter word! We can´t say that word!

Or can we???

WORK! WORK! WORK! 

Yes, fitness, and health is work. Just like our spiritual Christian walk is work.

I received an article from Sherry B. yesterday taken from the paper The Messenger, written by the president of YMCA El Paso, Kevin Pearson. He writes that Peter in the Bible tells us to WORK.

2 Peter 1:5 states that we are to be diligent in adding to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance (self control! ouch), patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. You will notice that godliness doesn´t come until we have that SELF under control, and takes WORK!

Kevin Pearson continues to encourage us to just get started.

"Getting started is most certainly the hardest thing to do. Once we commit ourselves to something, it is easy to continue, but getting started... that is tough."

He states that there are many excuses out there. "Not enough time", "long day at work", "not in shape", "pain", but most of all, he states,

"The biggest barrier that we all face is the fear of failure. We can´t stick to the program. If we are not consistent, we´ll fall off the wagon. We won´t reach our goals. Fear of failure is an extremely powerful negative influence, but as they say, "it´s all in your head".

Start with a simple goal - "I am going to do something"... The goal should be to get started. ... Stay on focus with the task."

I totally agree! Many of you have started. Now we have to keep on. If you are struggling with starting and keeping on, that´s ok. It is normal. Keep starting new everyday.

"It is of the Lord´s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion (not food) saith my soul; therefore will I hope in HIM." Lamentations 3:22-24

Praying for our spiritual and physical health,
Dani Joy

Sherry B´s FFF Seminar Journal

Hi everyone,
I won't be in class again today, but I plan on doing 20 min on the eliptical when I get home. Hopefully I wont get too lazy during the 25 min drive home! Lots of bad decisions with food this weekend but today is another day to try and do better.

A Wonderful Protein Recipe

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Wednesday, September 01, 2010


An Easy Protein Fix

 We're rounding the corner toward summer's final stretch…isn't it crazy how fast the season flew by? This weekend, make it a priority to get outside and do something fun. Go for a hike or get out to the park. Need ideas for a quick and easy picnic lunch? These roast beef wraps, a delicious and healthy option, are full of lean protein. They're so simple to make, you can easily whip up one of these babies for an on-the-go workday meal.

Roast Beef Philly Wrap

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fat-free cream cheese, divided
• 4 8-inch low-carb whole-wheat tortillas
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 cup raw spinach leaves, washed
• 8 ounces lean roast beef, sliced

Preparation
For each wrap, spread a quarter of the cream cheese over the surface of the tortilla.
Layer tomato, spinach, and roast beef on top.
Fold opposite sides of the tortilla toward the center and roll up from the bottom.
Makes 4 servings.

This is my first blog ever. I guess its true that everyone can be "bought". For me its the 10 points for blogging! ha ha I am excited about this challange, another first for me. Here's to success for all of us!!

Faith, Fitness, and Fun 5 week Seminar

Hi Ladies,

How was your summer? How did you do keeping motivated on your fitness journey? Are we getting geared up for the new school year? Are you thinking of ways to keep fit and healthy? Are you looking for more support and accountability?

Here in El Paso, TX, I am excited to announce, that we will be holding a 5 week Faith, Fitness and Fun Seminar. It will include these topics:

Baby Steps on Your Fitness Journey for Life,

1. Get a Prayer!

2. Get a Plan!

3. Get Moving!

4. Get Measuring!

5. Get Accountable!

I will be posting our notes and progress on our private Faith, Fitness and Fun blog.

If you are not in El Paso, TX, but would like to join us by coorospondance, you may do so by posting on the blog or by e mail. I will add your progress to our charts if you would like. Let me know if you want to be included on our progress charts. All I will need are weekly measurements. If you just want to just give what you are losing and your exercise minutes, that is fine. You can find how to measure in the catagories section of this blog.  Please e mail me if you want to join in.

We are making this seminar a challenge as well. Here are the catagories for the 5 weeks inches lost, weight lost, exercise minutes and class participation/blogging.

1 point for each inch lost.


1 point for each pound lost


1 point for each 20 minutes of exercise


PLUS 10 points per class! (or for blogging on class days.)

We will be starting our Christmas Crunch Challenge the third week of October (Lord willing)  Please, let me know if you will be interested in this up coming challenge, as well. We all need the encoureagement and support.

If you have any questions, ideas, and/or helps, please feel free to e mail me.

Staying fit His Service,

Dani Joy