22 points

22 points today and tomorrow is going to be a low day I think. Unless I find a way to eat healthy which I know is really hard for me to do when I go to Lyon.

We shall see.

26 points today

Tomorrow I'll go running with my little toy to check and control my heart beat. i love how I found out that I am able to lower or make it go faster on purpose. I can control my heart pretty well but not for too long. I wish I could let you play with this toy.

Belly fat

I wanted to share some exercises from an article from All You magazine here. The link's there < if you want to check it out in it's entirety. I just thought it might be easier to see it all laid out on one page here.

Belly fat is one of my bigger issues on my health journey. I have quite a bit of it, so I love coming across articles like this with exercises to target that area.

All you need is a flat surface and a broomstick. The article suggests doing these five exercise three times a week. I think I'm going to start doing this and then supplementing the other two days with a cardio/toning workout and maybe try to get a half hour walk in each day, or at least some other form of exercise.
I keep telling you guys I hate running, and I really do...but I wish I didn't. I'm always so impressed and amazed by runners. I just wish I had it in me to do it. Maybe if I had some really good running shoes and a REALLY good running bra, I'd give it a try....or not.

anywho, here are the exercises:

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1. BELLY BLASTER: Windshield wiper

1Lie on your back with your arms out to the side and knees bent. Keep your knees together, feet lifted and shoulders firmly on the floor while you rotate your knees to the right, then lower them toward the floor. Return knees to center and rotate them to the left. Return to center. Do 10 touches on each side, working your way up to 20.

2. BELLY BLASTER: The vacuum

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Take a deep breath that noticeably extends your belly. Exhale all the air out and pull your belly button in toward your spine―as if your stomach and lower back could meet. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Hold for 2 seconds, then relax your abdominal muscles and breathe normally. Repeat 10 times.

3. BELLY BLASTER: Broomstick lifts

Holding a broomstick, lie on the floor with your legs and arms extended, palms facing the ceiling. Lift the broom off the floor over your head, coming to a seated position, as you bend and lift your knees until your calves are parallel to the floor. Bring the broomstick to your knees (or as far as you can go). Hold for 2 seconds, then return to start. Repeat 10 times. Work your way up to 20.

4. BELLY BLASTER: The plank

Lie on your stomach and rest on your forearms. Lift your body off the ground so your weight is resting on your elbows and toes. Keep your abs tight and try to make a straight line from your head to heels. Hold for 15 seconds, rest and repeat three times. Over time, increase the hold in five-second increments until you've worked up to a full minute.

5. BELLY BLASTER: Torso twists

Sitting with your knees bent, feet on floor and hands on your hips, draw your abdominals in. Lean back slightly and soften your back, making a slight C-shape with your torso. (The farther you lean back, the more challenging the exercise.) Next, rotate your entire torso (not just your shoulders), starting at your hips, to your right side. Return to the center, then turn to the left. Return to center and repeat for 20 to 30 seconds.


I think I definitely need to plan more. My meals, my snacks, my exercise routine...everything. Without a plan, I'm just not getting it done.

I am not losing steam

I am just channeling it in an other direction.

I am trying hard not to get too carried away with this story. I think he and I are grown ups who have had their share of heart aches and trials and if we want this story to last OR to have a beautiful end we need to take time. I hope I am not being too much of a jerk to him. Anyway I think we are going to talk a lot on Saturday. I'll keep you up to date.

If this works I guess I will need you two cause I don't feel like talking about it to my close friends and relatives beside my sisters (one is on her mission in Italy and the other fortunately is living in the same city as I do).

Yes, he is not a member and I know some people will be all eyes and ears. I guess I want to talk about it to anyone who is not a member and living in France.

But we first need to talk a lot on Saturday.

Basically, if I don't write here on Saturday it will mean that I am too busy to spend time with you :P

Anyway I got 22 points yesterday.

Ooops

I totally forgot to write here yesterday.

I did bad anyway like 19 points for my Aïkido class that got me 9 points and eating my calories range. I did not eat enough veggies and fruit and I kind of ate here and there.

Blah

Hey ladies, Im still here, and still trying to lose weight. Im just in a funk right now. My scale is steadily increasing even when I *know* it should be going down. Im eating healthy, exercising plenty and doing the right things (even with the wrong ones thrown in there). Im sure some of it has to be muscle increasing. I can visibly see some of my fat (especially on my legs) disappearing but the number on the scale is making me depressed. I know its just a number, but that number is taking over my life. I know this is silly to say but I could really use some prayers right now.

oh, my abs are gonna' hurt tomorrow!

So much for my big start to the final week. I got 5 points yesterday. How is that even possible?

Not even trying.

Different story today though. I did a cardio/ab sculpt workout this morning. I think I'll be sorry tomorrow. I think my abs are already hurting.

Got my power smoothie down already. Added a big ol' handful of spinach to some juice and frozen fruit. It came out very green today. Usually my boys like to give my smoothies a try. Justin just turned his nose up at it today. That's alright--more for me that way. It was actually pretty yummy. (frozen pineapple made it super sweet).

Saw this list of metabolism boosting foods and thought I'd share.
A few of them surprised me though......

Well, one of them suprprised me. Cottage cheese boosts your metabolism? Who would have thought?

I'll have to find out about that one. Sometimes I like cottage cheese. Depends on the curd size I think.

I've got three super ripe bananas to use up, I'm going to research a healthy recipe for them today. I'm thinking banana chocolate chip muffins. I'll share the recipe if they come out good.

Have a great day--and week!!