The Results are in!

I have finished. The 14-day challenge is over.

The results are in....

I've lost just over 3 lbs. Woohoo.

It's not much, BUT IT'S SOMETHING! Maybe I'm not a BIG Loser...more like a little loser!

I've been to the gym everyday but Fridays for the past 14 days.

I've met with my trainer twice.

I've gone to the doctor once (blood test results are in next week and a follow-up appointment will be on 7/7).

I'm doing my part. I'm seeing results. I have to keep going.

So what are the REAL results? This 14-day challenge will be extended. I will keep going. I will continue giving this EVERYTHING I have - in fact, I'm willing to donate 50 lbs for FREE!

Anways, I'm going to continue to eat lo-carb (with most of my carbs at breakfast). I will continue to eat protein at every meal. I havent' eaten a single french fry over these 14 days. I will continue to skip out on the fries. Wendy's gourment salads are an everyday staple for me. I will continue to eat those Chicken BLT and Cobb salads - yum! I've even gone days without drinking any diet soda. I haven't yet given those up - maybe, maybe not...

Keep cheering for me. Pray for me. I'm believing I'm being a good steward of the body that God has given me. I want to be as healthy as I can - for HIS purpose.

Alright, let's go for another 14-days. We'll go from there!

Keep going...

So today marks the 4th straight day of hitting the gym for those 45 minutes of cardio workouts. I found this machine in the back of cardio room #2. It's sort of like a gazelle - swing your legs back and forth - machine. After about 2 minutes, I was ready to jump ship, but I thought to myself, this is an opportunity to push myself. And indeed I did. I pushed myself for 20 minutes straight on that thing. Then I jumped over to the treadmill for the remainder. I had surely worked up a sweat.

How do I get through 45 minutes (you may be asking)? I watch the travel channel! It's so cool. I am learning all the quaint places to eat and buy watches in Switzerland. On Saturday, I watched and waited for an entire hour on the strange phenomenon that is known in Roswell, NM. You can't visit Site 51, but the show was cool. Now that kept me peddling for longer minutes than I anticipated.

I found that "I love Lucy" is on during the lunch hour. That may become a favorite too. Or "Fresh Prince" - that's just plain funny stuff.

Ok - so back to work I must go...until next time, "Keep going!"

I don't wanna...

OK. I'm being real here. I haven't been to the gym and I have not run a single footstep since Friday of last week. That's 3 days (4 if I don't do anything today).

I just don't wanna...

Just stating some fact here. Life is a little busy over these past few days - some late nights, family entertaining, catching up on some well-needed rest...I just have no motivation. No nothing.

But...I'm gonna...

I have to! That's just it. I have noticed a significant difference in my jawline and legs since I've been working out. I remind myself why I do what I'm doing. I don't wanna go back to my old life.

I don't wanna gain any of what I've lost (mind you - it's not much!). I wanna keep moving forward.

So, a paradigm shift is in order.

I'm going from: I don't wanna ... exercise, run or eat well
to: I don't wanna ... lose momentum, gain weight or lose strength!

Let's be real! Forward motion is not easy, but it's the best way to keep from going backwards!

I can't get no ... MOTIVATION!

I wish I could put some sound to this blog. Then I'd play some Mic Jaguar with a voiceover.

I can't get no...motivation!

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It has been a long week and I'm tired. That's no excuse. I'm too tired to go to the gym. But going to the gym will help me feel energy - it's that ol' Catch 22 thingy...

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It's raining, so I'm definitely not feeling that desire to go running. So, I just make myself go. That's it. I can't wait fo rthe motivation. So I go to the gym after work and just do some general weight training and ab work.

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There's a lot of really BUILT people there in the evening. Here I am doing my free weights (12/15 lbs each). But the guy next to me is curling dumbbells bigger than my car! I'm wiping a slight condensation from my forehead, he's got a beach towel wiping the dripping sweat - maybe I should move into the other room where the machines are. None of the big guys are in there. In fact, that room is kinda fun. You get into the big cushy seats and put your legs up on the posts - sort of like an exercise recliner. You have to push some weight and then lift some weight, but you get to set back and relax while you're doing it.

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Last stop - stretching room for abs and stretching. I actually love doing ab work. My stomach doesn't feel like all the muscles are ripping everytime I do them anymore. It actually is enjoyable (which leads me to believe they are not working, but I do them anyway). Then, stretch. Hammies, quads, gluts, arms...

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Ahhhh. I may not have any motivation, but I feel like this was time well spent.

Good for me!

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Going to the gym again this afternoon during lunch. I think I'll jump on the elliptical for 30 minutes or so and then do some more abs...Maybe I'll see you there!

9 SINGLE DAYS TO GO!

ONLY NINE MORE DAYS...

ONLY 9?????!!!!

What happend to all that time I had to get ready for this half marathon? It's all gone! The days of building up mileage and drinking power drinks and eating whatever I want (because I'm going to burn it all off when I run later) are almost over.

In the words of Charlie Brown:

"UUUUGGGGHHHH!"

I put in my 3-miles at the track yesterday. I know it's easier on your legs to run on the softer gravel track, but I think it takes more energy and work to keep it moving. I had everything I could do to kick it while I was running.

I haven't had any major issues with sore muscles or stiffness, but I have had an awful time with my heel. I stretch it, ice it and it is still killing me after I run. It hurts more when it's on the track. Guess I should consider not running on the track.

The only reason I ran the track is because my NIKE+ is attached to my IPod which is in my gym bag which is in my co-workers van which went to the service garage to get repaired. So, in order for me to know how far I was running, I had to use the track ... understand now? It shouldn't be this complicated!

!