Going to the GYM

So like back at the very begining of the year, Bill told me we had a 30 free pass to a gym in Pecatonica. I resently reminded him of that. Well two weeks ago we started going. Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays. We did this for a week and a half. It's so nice to go together to the gym. I (Mom/Donna) had lost 2 lbs. But then I had a Dr. appointment, I make them when Bill can go with me. So we missed a day. Then I went to Utah to celebrate my Mom's 75 birthday....So that was 2 more days not at the gym....UGH. I need to stay home so we can continue to hit the gym and get into shape and lose weight. We had a biggest loser night at our house every Tuesday night. I've had up to 4 people from work come over and we have a healthy meal and watch the show. I too am very inspired by the show.

No time to waste!

My sister and I are signing up to do a water aerobics class together at the Rec center We are both really excited. I have decided to do this, because despite my best efforts, running is still killing my knees. So I decided to try something low impact. Plus I have never done it before, and I like change, and am excited to try something new! My mom did water aerobics after kid number 6, and lost like 30 pounds in a few months. I would die if I lost 30 pounds, but it has me interested to see that this experience will be like! It's time to take this contest really serious. It would be pathetic if, after like 6 months of this thing goin on, December ends up being a dissapointment because I took this time for granted, telling myself that "I can always start tomorrow..." We are running out of tomorrows! I know, from the experience of my mom, that if I don't get this twin baby weight off ASAP, I will sruggle for the rest of my life getting it off, especially if there are more babies in the future. So GOOD LUCK, and hope you are all doing well!

Is anyone there?

Man, it's been a while since anyone has written on here. I'm hoping mom and dad (Donna and Bill) write something soon since I know they've recently gotten started. I don't know how many of you actually watch the real biggest loser but my family and I are addicted. Last week was truly inspiring to me. I watch the show just to see where the person kicked off is now. Last week Jerry, one of the contestants who the doctors said was in the worse health of anyone ever on the show, got kicked off. Four months later he had lost a total of 70lbs and had seen some drastic health improvements. He had been on 5 heart medications and is down to 1. He had pulmonary problems and was restricted to 30 minutes of exercise a day. He could barely walk on the treadmill without needing O2. Now he runs 1.5 miles a day. His back and knee pain are tons better. What I thought was so cool is that the reason he got put on the show was because of his daughter, who is worried he won't be around for her wedding. We all have parents and want them to be around for as long as possible and to be in the best health for as long as possible.
As for me I'm not doing that great on gaining weight. My weight has remained at 135lbs since the start of the semester despite lifting almost every day. I did however, bench press 165lbs last week which is the most I've ever done.

All I need is time!

So, I weighed myself since the first time in a few months, and I found that I only have a pound to go until my goal weight! However, the thing is, I did that by only eating healthy. I haven't had time to work out! So Jeremy made sure I understood that good weight doesn't mean good health. I knew that, of course. But I wanted to post this because it was just amazing to me how much weight I dropped by simply trying to eat more healthy. Imagine what we can do if we eat halthy AND work out!
I thought this picture was perfect!

Finally getting there?!?

I feel like I'm finally getting there... I know this "competition" started in July, but I'll be honest, I didn't really do much until recently. I've been pretty good about going to the clubhouse where we live and working out on the treadmill. It's actually kind of fun because they have cable t.v. there and so I can go and watch my Disney Channel shows while I run! :)
I've also been trying to eat some more healthy foods. Here is what I had for lunch today: A veggie tray, water, and grapes. It was actually really good and really filling. I know the Ranch dressing in the middle kind of defeats the purpose, but it was only like 1 1/2 tablespoons. If anyone has a healthy dip idea I'd take it.

I talked to a sister I visit teach who is like a health nut (I honestly don't know if I'll ever get to that point) but she loaned me a DVD on 9 tips to having a healthy family diet. It was really informative and I hope that being a mom and control the food in the house, that i will be able to help my family eat healthy and cut out on the junk food. The only issue I am having is what to feed Jackson for snacks. He gets healthy foods at meal times, but I usually feed him crackers and dry cereal and things for snacks... any other healthy snacky ideas?!

Hope everyone else is doing good!

Making us look bad

So today was the Pocatello Marathon. I ran it in 4.15. Yeah, right. I walked from my car to the tent where the ISU student physical therapy association was giving post race massages for $15 which was maybe 1/2 mile. But get this, I did a massage on a lady who only 6 months ago gave birth and today ran her first marathon. On top of that there was a 10 year old boy from Utah ran/walked the marathon with his dad. I couldn't believe it.

Discouraged

So I was pretty excited to get back to school today and to a regular work out schedule knowing that I'd already gained about 5lbs. Well, after my workout I hopped on the scale and saw that I was back to where I started from. This is going to be tough because as long as the weather is nice I'm going to be riding my bike to school which is, I'm guessing, 6-7miles each direction. I'm really going to need to bring more food during the day to help keep my weight up. Especially now that I have some competition.

10 Miles

I found my motivation (at least to run). Haylee and I signed up for a 5K put on by Southern College of Optometry. We signed up at the beginning of the week and I ran a little over 3 miles at 3 separate times this week. It was pretty easy considering I haven't started school yet and we are basically just hanging out until it does. I have orientation this Thursday and Friday.

As for weight gain, I think I have put on about 5 pounds since this little competition started. I haven't done anything different though, so I'm not sure where it came from.

Good luck everyone!

Motivation

Finding an activity that you like to do will give you motivation. Some days I tell myself that if I can just work up a good sweat, then I can stop. Or, I will just give myself 30 minutes and I can stop. (I usually end up doing a full workout since I'm already truckin'.) Also, I rarely do the same exercise for 2 days in a row. I alternate my workouts to keep myself from tiring out or getting bored. If I run one day, the next I'll do a DVD at home or get on the bike at the gym. For those that may not have access to a gym, a jump rope is a great piece of workout equipment for less than $5. I did that after I had Gavin. Start in small increments and work up to bigger ones. The internet is full of great jump rope workouts.

My motivation for now is watching the Olympics. Isn't it amazing what the human body can do? I overheard some women at church commenting on the 41 yr. old U.S. female swimmer. They actually were being very critical stating how "that kind of training just can't be good for your body or your joints when your that age." Are you kidding me? If she were in that much pain, would she even be there? THAT's what motivates me. I will never be an Olympian or ever train like one. Nor will I ever have the abs or physique of a beach volleyball player. But, I can do everything that I can to be healthy with good muscle tone, good posture to PREVENT the body aches, pains, and even aging.

Disclaimer: I'm contributing tonight for my own motivation. I've been way to friendly with the brownies today. Love you all and hope that you find your motivation this week.

Tough times

This week I'm up in Rexburg working for my father-in-law. I don't get to exercise and don't get to eat very often so it will be interesting to see what my weight is when I weigh in again. I am lifting heavy metal all day but I'm pretty sure I'm just burning calories instead of building muscle. How's everyone else doing?

~Word of Wisdom Living~

I am reading a book, thanks for my dear friend Jaime Webb, called Lean and Free 2000 Plus written by an L.D.S. author. It talkes about how the pioneers worked so hard....they weren't on tread mills or stationary bikes they walked everywhere they pushed and pulled etc. They also didn't have all the artifical things we have today. Her theory is to use the 5 method. Cause we have 5 fingers as a reminder.....each meal should consist of water, protein, whole grain, fruit, vegetable. Now of course we don't eat veggies for breakfast. BUT snacks should consist of water, vegetables or fruit. She doesn't believe in "diet" they are fat storing stressors. Your body interprets calorie deprivation as starvation and reacts in a number of ways. Anyway I'm going with it. I'm going to keep reading and keep moving.

"...and I don't know what GIRTH means"

So I had Morgan take some measurements of me yestarday. It was fun because then Sadie wanted to be measured everywhere I was. So here they are my "girth" (for all of you Brian Reegan fans) measurements.
Waist - 77cm
Bust - 86cm (I've been talking to Uncle Reco about this one)
Upper arm - 29cm
Upper leg - 51cm
Butt - 90cm
Shoulders - 101cm
All of these will soon be much bigger.

Morgan's list of healthy eating helps

I thought of some things that I have changed in my diet and cooking habits that I feel has made a big change, that I thought I would share:
I buy a lot of fruit and make a salad and then snack off off that during the day when I get the munchies.
Chewing sugar-free low calorie gum helps to fight cravings, and I just decided that I am going to do that so I can fight hunger better.
I use wheat in all of my cooking, and I buy bulk wheat noodles and rice. (We don't really know the full reasons that wheat is better than white, but we know it is. :)
I just bought my first container of pure olive oil, which is a little more pricey, but a lot better for you than vegetable oil.
My new goal is that I will have one day a week where I will allow myself treats. Other days, I will not make treats. If I do make them for somebody else, I will save them for the treat eating day!
Protein rich, filling meal bars (along with lots of fruit and water) have become my best friend for lunch.


Okay, theres a few thigns I am doing. Share your ideas too so that we can all help each other out!

Motivation...

I realize that if give into the cookie or piece of cake or ice cream or whatever....that it will be days and maybe weeks until I burn it off cuz I am still busy trying to burn off calories from the junk I ate like 2 weeks ago! So trying to realize that the something I eat doesnt get burned for days helps me to not eat it.

Posting

Mom, instead of making comments just add a post. That way everyone can just look on the site and see how you're doing. Way to go for last week. As for me, I've gained 3 pounds this week!!!! Justin, Jeff, Jordan how are you all doing?

Motivation

My motivation is what I know my body can look like. Call me vane (which I'm sure my family would agree with) but I think a smokin body is my motivation. It is hard though. These two a day work outs are so tough. My buns are killin me. Maybe it's time we decided what the winner of this competition wins. Any ideas?

Motivation?!

I'm wondering where my motivation is? I know I have about 10 pounds to lose, but I'm having a hard time finding the motivation. Especially living with my family, they have snacks galore! It is hard to keep away from them and to get out and exercise. What is everyone else's motivation??

What?

Okay Jeremy, so your fellow classmates call you pewney? Jerks...it's a good thing that I didn't know that or else...gain weight babe and then pound 'em in the face with your massive biceps! And then flash 'em your six pack and then we'll see whose pewney...
Anyway, I have been struggling getting the motivation to start actively lose weight cuz I am so flippin tired. Yes people, having a two year old and twins is tiring...so thats why I don't excercise every day. I have been trying to do good with my eating, and I eat a ton of fruit and veggies. I have been active since I have been here in Rexburg with my family, and it feels good to do stuff. But I don't have a way to really do that when I am with the kids at my own house. Anyway, I don't know my weight exactly. I think I have like 7 or so pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight, which puts me to about 136 or 138. Ugh...

Biggest gainer idea

I was thinking that for those participating in the biggest gainer it would be good to get some measurements to make sure we're just not gaining around the mid section. So, I'm going to get measurements around my waist at the bellybutton, around the rear at the widest part of the butt, around my upper leg at the widest part, around the chest at the widest part, the upper arm at the widest part. This might be good for the biggest loser too. Just a thought.

So the main reason I want to be the biggest gainer is because I'm tired of everyone giving me a bad time about being little. My nickname in PT school is pewny and last week the peope I'm doing my internship started telling me I need to eat more. It's true I'm always careful about how much I eat. It seems whenever I try eating a lot more I just see it in my stomach. So hopefully with a lot of heavy lifting and eating the right foods I'll put on muscle instead of fat. I'm working one last week at the athletic club where I did my affiliation and because of my schedule I'll have time to lift twice a day. We'll see how that goes. Oh, starting weight is 134lbs.

Email Addresses

I invited those who were on the list of emails that Jeremy sent out. If you didn't get an invite and want to be a contributor, please leave a comment with your email address and I will get it on there. Or if there is just someone who is missing and you know their email, let me know. Husbands and wives can use the same account if they want. Hope this works out!!

The beginnings

You were all invited to join in our family biggest loser contest. If you notice, I also said that we have pounds to gain (cough-cough the young Johnson boys). This is going to be a riot.

You do not have to feel obligated to put up your weight or a beginning picture (but if you want to feel free). This blog is to help encourage each other and to post your progress, your successes, and even your struggles. You can also add links of helpful websites or whatever else you think is a good resource. We are all in it together!!


Good luck! Lets get this family FIT!!