Dynomite!!

Growing up I was a big fan of the sitcom "Good Times." I liked JJ, as most people. He was sooo funny with his quick wit and famous one liner-- Dynomite!

Today, I met a whole new generation of what I call JJ Walker's. This guy looked a lot like him in body structure but was entirely different beast. Let me explain.

We were sent out on an assignment to cover a burglary where a man broke into an apartment in the projects and crawled in bed with the woman sleeping there. The brother, who reminds me of JJ, tried to help his sister but was just a bit too, well, feminine to do much more than pull hair. Anyway, we didn't have an exact address and happen to see a group standing outside. We stopped and I asked if they knew the person. Bingo! It was the place where the attack happened. The victim talked on camera and so did her brother :)

I knew he was a character as soon as he opened his mouth. He had on a red do-rag, had long thick nails, a wife beater and shorts on and, here's the best part, a pair of pink hiking boots with a bling type buckle on the side. I felt like I needed a hepatitis shot just standing next to him. Anyway, he was hysterical with his snaps and quirks and girly type threats! I tried not to laugh at him during the interview because he could have scratched my baby blue eyes out with his cat like nails. Despite his confusing gender, he was nice to us and we were able to turn 2 good stories out of it.

JJ Walker is a thing of the past but I feel certain the guy I met today has a future in sitcom comedy! Thanks for the laugh!

Coming back to life...

I am feeling better from the crud I picked up. Antibiotics are great, but evil. I think they can make you feel worse than actual sickness.

Biggest Loser is going well. I am very proud of the progress I've made. Not so much in pounds lost but as in fat toned up :) I bought a new suit Monday and I was pumped when the 2 sizes I tried on that I've been wearing lately hung off me. I haven't wiggled my way into a smaller size in a long while. I was very happy with the flattering fit.

I've also discovered my love of the elliptical machine. You have to get into a certain mode to keep the momentum going but once you start, its hard to stop. And let me tell you there is nothing more motivating than sweating to death exercising and looking out at the pool and seeing people who should never wear a bathing suit in public. It really gives you a reason to keep moving!

Tonight, swimming. My favorite exercise. Try running in the pool and then turn around and try to run back the opposite direction. You talk about a work out. That will get your goat.

Green Team if you are reading this...hope you are keeping up the good work. Don't want another team pulling ahead of us. Keep exercising, eating right, and of course swigging down that water (ha/ha)

Under the weather...way under it.

I know I'm behind on posts but I have been ever so sick. I have walking pneumonia and man let me tell you that mess will make you feel BAD! I'm on a 10 day round of very strong antibiotics. I'm hoping that will clear it up. So far, I just feel yuck.

So you may wonder how that affects Biggest Loser. It doesn't really. I just can't over-do-it or work out in the heat. I can stay indoors and do Wii or medicine ball. I can swim too but only late in the evening. I will manage to get my points in for the week, its just not going to be as intense a work out as usual.

This week's challenge...write down everything we eat. I wonder if 2 Vanilla Wafers really counts as a breakfast?!?!

Walk This Way...

Today I bought a pedometer. This baby is like the Lexus of all walking calculators. It tells you each step you've taken, distance walked, calories burned. I bought it not only to see how far I walk in a day but to measure the distance around my apartment complex. The Greenway is starting to creep me out somewhat since I watched a drug exchange there a few nights ago. (more on that on a slow day).

Last night, I swam for 45 minutes. It was intense. Have you ever tried to run in the pool and then turn and go the opposite directions. Hello shin splints! You certainly get a good workout! The water was bubbly hot too. That made the swim even more exhausting. One thing about it, you sleep better afterwards.

This week's 2 point challenge is anything outdoors with a ball. I'm thinking about soccer. If I go to mom's (which is off limits during Biggest Loser I realize but didn't get to see my dad for Father's Day) I got 22 acres to kick that thing around all I want. If I don't and I stay here, I feel certain I will fall victim to the couch and my ceiling fan. Which, after laying there for a few hours, takes energy to get up. Is that considered exercise??

The fruits of my labor...

As you know I planted a garden this year. So far, so good.

This is the first squash picked. Soooo tender and yummy! My watermelon and cantelope vines are out of control and I've got green tomatoes and a few little peppers.

Revamp...part 2

This morning, I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast. For lunch I had grilled salmon, a big salad with a little ranch dressing, and several glasses of unsweet tea with a lot of lemon. It was very tasty and healthy. Dinner is still up in the air.

I rearranged my exercise plan. I haven't done cardio in a while so I thought I would start back last night. I worked out for 45 minutes. I did everything from dance to passing basketballs to volleyball to running track. I can tell my running skills are getting much better since we started "Biggest Loser." I'm not out of breath as bad and I can run for a longer time. Tonight, I will swim for 30 minutes.

THe weight loss is slow and I have days where my motivation is wimpy but I am enjoying the results. Lane measures me every other week and I can see a BIG difference in my curves :)

Revamping...

I think I've hit my plateau. Now may be a good time to change things up. I've done well with losing inches and I'm certainly proud to be down one pants size but I'm still not satisified with my results. I exercise almost daily and I can tell I've picked up muscle mass. What is not changing so much are the numbers on the scale.

So this week I am tweaking my diet and changing up my workout plan. I am hoping that gets 5 pounds off by weigh day of next week. I love the way I feel and I'm seeing great results I would just like to see a bit more come off the scales.

So the challenge to myself is...5 pounds off by next Monday and different exercises for the week.

Rock on Green Team!

Home sweet home...

I'm back from a hard 2 day trip to the Gulf. We left at 5:00 Thursday morning for Bayou le Batre. We hit the jackpot on the first stop we made. Got great interviews and video about how the BP oil spill has impacted the fishing industry. So sad to see these people suffer. Really heart breaking.

When we finished up there we stopped in Fairhope to Skype a live shot back to Huntsville. We couldn't get a strong enough signal out plus it was lightning so we scraped it. Todd and I headed to Foley to check into our hotel. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. The hotel itself was really nice. The fact that the AC didn't work in my room and the second room they moved me into was total aggravation. Third time really was the charm. A room with AC spewing out cold air at 68 degrees. Ahhhhh felt wonderful.

I hit the gym at the hotel to make sure I got my exercise in. It helped stretch my tired body too. I walked/ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes and peddled my legs off on the stationary bike for 30. I met my 3 point challenge for the week and I got a good workout. After a hot shower I slept like a baby.

We got up the next morning, ate breakfast, checked out of our hotel and drove south to Orange Beach. The weather was hot, humid but beautiful. We got to the beach and both of us were amazed at how few people were there. We got our camera equipment out and walked out to the water. The stinch of oil hit us like a brick wall. The water was dirty and greasy. The coastline is stained from the oil. And the beach was basically empty. We shot a ton of video and 2 look lives. When we finished up there we drove to WPMI to feed our stories. That's a really nice television station. Quitest newsroom I've ever been in. They would never survive the loud voices filling the air where I work ha/ha

When we left WPMI we grabbed a late lunch/early dinner then headed north. We got home around 9:30. I was happy to be back. It was a great trip though and I'm glad I got the opportunity to go.

Today I'm feeling very lazy. After all that walking on the beach my legs re tender ha/ha Today I've got to walk or swim. Can't afford to lose any exercise points :)

Happy Saturday!

Chewing gum vs drinking water

If you know me, you know I'm not much of a thirsty turtle. In fact, my theory is this...chewing gum makes up for missed hydration. When I walk 4 miles at the Greenway, I do so with gum in my mouth. And by the time I'm finished, even though what little moisture in my body is pouring on the ground, I stick another piece of gum in my mouth. To me, that's like swigging down a bottle of Gatorade. Refreshing somehow.

My coach, which also doubles as my GM, believes that lack of water may be causing me to hold on to excess weight. So she has challenged me to 8 glasses of water a day....not a week. I drank a cup shortly after I left her office. 7 more to go and I should be well on my way to flushing out the fat :)

I love a good challenge!! And it motivates me when one is issued. Something about pushing yourself to the limit. Makes you feel better when you reach that goal.

And, just to make sure I am sticking to the water regiment I will be tracking my intake.

Watch out Olympics! I'm a swimming goddess :)

This weekend I spent ALL day in Lane's swimming pool. I ran laps, swam laps, dove, pulled him around in the water, and got into a fight with a raft, which, embarassingly the raft won :)

Swimming is such a great way to burn calories but let me tell you it will wear you out! I got a good work out and a good tan in the process.

Here's a picture of me doing handstands on the bottom.

It was a great day!

Gourmet? Perhaps not. Delicious? Oh yea!!

When I was growing up, my genious brother came up with the most yummy after dinner treat. Chocolate ice cream with Funyun Rings. Yes I said it and I'm not ashamed. 2 favorites combined into one. Its something about the sweet cold of ice cream and the salty onion of Funyun rings that goes so well together. I'm not talking about sugar free. I'm talking about that gallon ice cream bucket you buy at the store. The kind that takes up an entire freezer shelf. Dang you Biggest Loser. Dang you! My cravings are severe and the only hope I have of curbing them is that one sugar free banana popcicle left in the freezer.

I will not indulge. I will not indulge. I will not indulge. I will...ok you get the hint. I refuse to fall off the wagon. The craving will pass and I will look back on this temptation as just that...my little evil side wanting something unhealthy.


So I will do one of the following things tonight...
walk 4 miles
OR do cardio Wii

I will not be beaten!

I will survive

"I Love A Rainy Night"

Is one of my favorite Eddie Rabbitt country songs. And as much as yes I love to hear the rain outside my window its really putting a hurt on my workout routine.

Last night my blood pressure was skyrocketing after sitting through the Huntsville City School Board meeting. I planned to blow off steam at the Greenway with an intense walk and let the sweat pour off me. On my way home to change clothes lightning bolts started exploding. The sky over Jeff Road was blazing with thunder clouds. I pull into the parking lot and the bottom falls out. It was so stormy I had to sit in my car and wait until the lightning calmed down enough to jump out. About 6:30 the power went off. Great! I was right in the middle of scrambling an egg. I had no flashlight so the only source of light I had was a dim Iphone screen. Needless to say, no power, no cardio on the Wii. Lightning=too dangerous to walk. I was bumed out! Looks like I'm going to have to change my routine and hit the trail in the morning before the tsunami hits in the afternoon.

This is week 5 of Biggest Loser and I am still having fun with it. Some days I don't have as much "go get em" as others but I guess that's to be expected. Kermit the Frog pegged it best when he said, "It ain't easy being Green." ha/ha

I'm very behind on working out. The only day I've really worked up a sweat was Tuesday. I got out in the garden and pulled weeds out of my walking rows. Then I hoed dirt around my tomatoes and stirred the cow manure around my other vegetables. I want to go swimming tonight...if the weather cooperates. We'll see.

So mother nature if you are reading this...how bout a break in the rain. I know my garden would thank you as well as my behind and thighs. They need a workout!

Hunger comes in many forms...

and today my craving is STRONG for some hot wings smothered in a spicy sauce with a side of hot salty french fries. Even as I type this I am resisting the urge to run out and place an order. Instead, I chmped down on a Subway sandwich...tuna on wheat, no cheese or mayo, with pickles, tomatoes and black pepper. Instead of french fries...baked chips and a small bag of apples with an unsweet tea. Gag me. It was really tasty and while I am glad it filled me up it wasn't what I wanted. I am on a mission to drop 4 pounds this week so if I am going to conquer my goal I can't let the visions of sauce all over my face and fingers get to me.

Speaking of hot wings, have you tried "Wings to Go" on North Parkway. Let me say that's some good stuff!




Good news...The Green Team has pulled ahead. We are now in 1st place in pounds lost!! Very exciting stuff.

This week's challenge is to walk/run 5 miles. I got that one. I will go to the Greenway tonight and knock out 4. I will go again Friday and Saturday and do 4 more each day. Last night I worked out with the medicine ball and hoed the weeds out of my garden. Today my stomach muscles are a little tender. Bring on the burn!

The 4 pound challenge...

This week I lost 0 pounds but on the flip side of that coin, at least I didn't gain! My boss issed me a 4 pound challenge for the week. So its back to the grind with the Biggest Loser competition.

I've also been banished from my mother's house until after August 9th, when the competition ends. Apparently I ate like a race horse the 2 1/2 days I spent there. To my defense, let me say I exercised. I did everything from walking to fishing to paddle boat to plumbing. I tried to burn off all the excess calories I took in. My sweet mother is such a wonderful cook. I can't resist the meals she prepares, especially breakfast. Fried ham, sausage, biscuits, eggs, grits, and fruit. Sooo yummy!

I did cut the calories on Friday when we made 2 batches of homemade ice cream. Mom made Butterfinger. I made sugar-free strawberry. I could have stuck my head in the ice cream bucket and ate my way back out. Wait. I think I did. That strawberry was so good. Nice to know diabetics can have ice cream too...without the added sugar.

So...when I weigh again I am hoping 4 pounds will be sliced off the scales.

Green Team if you are reading this...good luck this week! Hope you are staying strong.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

It's growing-all thanks to a heavy fertilizing-with rich, dark cow manure. I noticed my garden was a bit lack luster a few weeks ago. My grandma, when she was able to plant crops, always put down a load of chicken manure on her plants. Her gardens would thrive.

The man at the co-op, even at my dirtest, recognized me from the news. When I asked for 3-50 pound bags of manure, he seemed quiet perplexed. I told him I wanted cow manure to work into my garden. Its gentler on plants than chicken fertilizer. He asked me if I knew much about manure and I told him where I come from its considered black gold :)

He loaded 3 heavy bags of the stuff in my car and I took off for the garden. I worked ALL DAY spreading cow crap in my vegetable garden. It was back breaking, knee grinding, sweaty work but in just a few short days my plants were exploding with green leaves and blooms.

I chose block style gardening. It makes it easier to hoe weeds plus everything has clean lines and looks neater. I've planted flowers, broccoli (which is bait for pests and worms at the moment), squash, cantelope, watermelon, peppers and tomatoes. I'm very proud to say things are looking great.

Here are a few pictures of my hopeful harvest. Note: I planted my garden a little later. I should have produce through late summer. :)

Reeling em in....

Friday morning I got up early to fish. It was overcast and rainy but apparently the fish were hungry. I snagged a 10 pound catfish. It stripped the line from the reel. It was so heavy I had to get my dad to help me pull it out.

The second cat of about the same weight I drug to the bank, and got the hook out of its mouth myself.

The third cat, again of about the same weight, broke the reel into. I had to stand on the line until my mom could get to the pond. She helped drag the fish up to the bank. Man was that fun. After breaking 2 of my dad's rods and reels I decided it was probably a good idea to quit while I was ahead :)

Here are pics of my catch so you don't think its just a fish story :)

Fantastic few days off!!

What a terrific few days off work! Just what I needed...time away from Huntsville.

I went to my parents Thursday, after an intense 4 mile walk at the Greenway off Pulaski. Mom is such a fabulous cook. We had egg salad/tuna salad sandwiches with baked chips for lunch. For dinner, she grilled shish kabob's with sausage, squash, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. Also had a fresh green salad and cantelope to go with it.

Friday, my brother and his family came down for an "early birthday" celebration. Chris turns, um, well older June 8th :) Mom grilled chicken, burgers, hot dogs, hot sausages. We had fruit and vegetables to go with it. We also made homemade ice cream. What's a party without cold ice cream on a scorching hot day? Mom made Butter Finger. I made sugar-free strawberry. Man o man was it good!!

We also went for a workout ride in the paddle boat. My niece Mary Beth, John and their dog Dixie had a good time while Cizzy and Chris did all the paddling :)

So despite being out of town... I still managed to get in good exercise and sweat!

Trying to stay motivated....

Is easier said than done. I love my new found exercise routine but I'm getting burned out in the food department. Now that I'm on the move constantly, walking 4 miles every other day, gardening non-stop, and sweating to Wii Cardio I am much hungrier. I want to eat every 2 hours. Problem is planning my meals ahead of time. This week I have skipped breakfast, which is bad, eaten a healthy lunch, but had something I probably shouldn't for dinner. I love fruits and veggies but I dont' always have time to prepare them. I wonder if any of my other Green Team members are running into the same problem.

Today's food craving...a low country seafood boil. Yum!

Pizza! Pizza!

So tonight I was soooo hungry I scarfed down 3 pieces of pizza! I am hoping the 4 miles I walked this morning will counteract the calories. :) My legs are getting so tight I can't hardly move. I've learned that on days I skip exercising I feel gross. I really like the burn and sweat of hitting the track or doing cardio. I can tell it in the inches I've lost, not necessarily in the pounds.

Today was a sad day for our family as we buried Aunt Alta. She looked very pretty in her pink suit. Pink was her favorite color. Her nails were painted a light pastel shade and she was wearing her wedding band. She suffered so much with her illness that it was good to see her out of pain. She was such a dear sweet woman. Our family will miss her so much but know she is enjoying her home in Heaven.

Tonight I'm babysitting the "Parker Griffith for Congress" campaign. From the numbers coming in, looks like the incumbent has been defeated. I did not vote in today's primary. I didn't have time and wasn't sure who I wanted to vote for. Having the freedom to vote is a wonderful thing and I strong recommend exercising your right but sometimes its tough to choose the right person to hold office.

A landmark vote went down in my hometown of Haleyville. The wet/dry referendum passed, meaning alcohol will now be sold on store shelves. I did not want to see this vote take place. Haleyville is a wonderful town that does not need the evils associated with drinking. But the voters spoke and apparently that is what they wanted. I never thought I would live to see this happen.

Wednesday is hump day then I'm off 2 days. I've got plans to go home and enjoy some time with my family. I need a break from everything that's been going on lately.

Green Team...hope you are having a great week. Keep up the momentum. Let's show em what we are made of!

Passing of a great lady...

Early Sunday morning we lost my sweet Aunt Alta to congestive heart failure. She had been sick for some time. Even though we expected it, death is never easy on those left behind.

Her illness was terrible. She suffered so much before she left this Earth. I have no doubt she is out of pain now and happily reunited with the love of her life, Bill Roberts, who passed away last year. They were married 60+ years. I can just hear her bossing him around right now :) I am certain he's missed her dear voice.

My Aunt Alta was a very kind woman, yet stubborn, and perfectionisht. :) She was a faithful member of the Beltline Church of Christ, a dedicated student of God's word, and a believer in people. She helped "counsel" those who fell into troubled times. She opened her home to relatives and friends who needed a place to stay. She was a friend and a good influence to so many people. She would go out of her way to make a stranger feel welcome.

Her home was beautiful, spot on clean, and always ready for company. Friends and family could drop by unexpectedly and she would gladly welcome them in and offer a slice (or 2) of chocolate cake or some other sweet goody. Don't think you would eat a bite and leave. She could draw you in to her conversation and make even the worst day brighter with her laughter.

Aunt Alta could make you laugh, make you cry, and embarass you all at the same time. She loved to gossip and always told me that would be the one flaw on her record that would keep her out of the pearly gates. I think it was the one and only curse word I've ever heard her use on a regular basis. That word was sh*t. She was selective in its use and often kept it in the kitchen. She told me one day she had scaled back on using it because she didn't think it was very lady like ha/ha

Aunt Alta will be missed by so many, perhaps most by those who loved her so much. Who could forget her sense of style and her big heart. The stories she would tell of growing up, getting married young, and raising 2 children. I will remember most the church pew where she and Uncle Bill sat for so many years. It will always be special. So will, the black wrap she gave me for my birthday and the sweet card that now holds many sweet memories.

I am sad at her departing this life but joyful in her strong love for God and his church. I have no doubt she is in Heaven...where there are no tears, no pain, no saddness.

Her funeral is set for Tuesday afternoon. Our family will say goodbye...for now. We will see you again someday.

We love you and miss you....

A long, sweaty, stinky weekend

Saturday, I got up early and hit the walking trail off Pulaski Pike. I wanted to get a long walk in before the weather turned HOT! I strapped on my new Nike's and headed out. I walked 4 intense miles. I was drenched in sweat when I finished but my energy was pumping.

After my walk I drove to the co-op for cow manure to spread on my garden. I got 3-50 pound bags and spread it on my vegetable plants and flowers. That should help fertilize it and give it a growing boost. All that bending over, squatting and digging sure left me sore. Good workout for me and my garden :)

Today I'm feeling the effects of overdoing it. I took it easy with my workout doing 30 minutes of stretching with the medicine ball. I also had to finish this week's challenge which is 200 pushups. I do those using the bathroom counter. Helps keep the impact low.

So the good news on this post is I've lost 2 inches from my hips and waist.

I am slowly working my way to becoming WAFF's Biggest Loser :)

Go Green Team!

Ooooey, goooey good

I am also craving a stuffed potato from Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur. I love the steamy hot potato loaded with smoked chicken, cheese, sour cream, and chives topped off with a good drizzle of white sauce. Ohhh so good!

Food craving you can't make me cheat! I will not give in to your luscious temptations. I will replace you with a sensible healthy meal. I will dream of you and think of you fondly though. I will not be defeated!!

DQ or bust

Since I've started Biggest Loser my food cravings have simmered down somewhat. Now and then I get hungry for a treat. Today is that day. On blazing hot summer days I love ice cream but with blood sugar problems diving into a DQ Blizzard isn't something I can freely do. Last year, DQ came out with a Girl Scout Thin Mint Blizzard TO DIE FOR!! I had one and only one and let me tell you it was lip smackin good! I've been trying to adopt a sugar free version to make over the Fourth of July. I will let you know how it turns out and possibly post a recipe if it is yummy.

Here's to you DQ for such an ingenious idea!

Room to wiggle...

Today I am wearing a suit jacket that weeks ago had to be unbuttoned on the bottom just so I could breath. Not today, I can sit comfortably. My jacket fits lose on me. I am very proud of the way my clothes are beginning to fit.

Last night I did 1 hour of cardio. I did about 30 minutes of fast dance and boxing!! To finish, I ran track and I did kick ups. Those are hard but you can feel the burn in your thigh muscles. This week's challenge has a military theme, I suppose in honor of Memorial Day. We have to do 200 push ups before Sunday and run. I've got to buy new tennis shoes before I hit the track. I will try to do that after work tomorrow.

On a sad note, my sweet Aunt Alta is dying. Hospice told the family if anyone wanted to see her they should do so today. She is such a beautiful, kind, christian woman. She and my Uncle Bill, who passed away last year, were married some 60 years. She is so talented. She keeps a beautiful, well decorated, clean home, she can cook like a trained chef and she loves to gossip ha/ha I love her very much and as hard as it is to see her so sick, you know there is a better place to call home than this one here on Earth.

Climb Every Mountain...

I'm no Julie Andrews but Saturday I felt the hills were very much alive...with anything but the sound of music! More like screams of fear and gasps of total exhaustion :)

We started our 6 mile hike at 8:00 Saturday morning. The weather was cool and foggy. It had rained the night before so everything was soaked--making the ground very muddy and slippery. At first, things went smoothly. A few jagged rocks and downed trees but nothing too bad. Then, things started to go down hill...literally. I was like a cat dodging rocking chairs. I was jumping from one slick rock to another, turning my ankle over a dozen times, falling into the mud, sitting on my rear end and scooting down wet rocks, grabbing trees, twigs anything along the way to hold my balance. At one point, I thought I might crack my head open or fall off the side of the cliff. I had HEMSI Search and Rescue programmed into speed dial just in case.

Then things started to flatten out. For about a mile or so I was convinced I was going to be ok. Then the terrain changed, and we started our climb. At this point, I was pouring sweat out of my body. My hair, my clothes, my shoes were soaked. I pressed on, trying to prepare myself for what was ahead. The last thing I remember was passing one of my team members to get a move on climbing that never ending mountain, I now lovingly refer to as "heart attack hill.". I was so out of breath, my heart was racing, my vision became blurred and I swear I was talking out of my head. I stopped for a moment and had to mentally bring myself back to life. I was like the little engine that could...only I couldn't. I finally collected myself enough to slowly push my way through the pain, sweat and tears.

After 3 intense hours of pounding the ground, sucking down every once of water I could find in my back pack, the journey was over. Finally back to civilization. I can't believe I did it! I hiked 6+ miles and I didn't die!!! I quickly texted Lane and told him I made it. I called my parents to tell them I was alive. Nobody could believe that I had it in me...and neither did I!

As soon as I got to the car I felt instant pain....and relief to be sitting down. I got home, and just sat in my car wondering if I would have to crawl to my front door or muster the energy to walk. I took off my shoes, which at this point weighed about 40 pounds each. I drug myself to the shower and felt my muscles turn to Jello.

After some aches and pains over the weekend I will say the hurt was worth it. I LOST 4 POUNDS!

Green Team made a great showing Saturday.
Plans are to do a second hike in 2 weeks.
EG won't be attending. I've learned I have no skills and it was purely luck I didn't kill myslef :)

Take a hike, losers!

ok so I still that title from my boss. I thought it was catchy though!

I should be in the bed resting up before tomorrow morning's traumatic 6 mile hike across Monte Sano. Instead, I'm sitting at my computer trying to catch up on blogging. Our hike is part of the Biggest Loser program myself and several other co-workers are participating in. I've got my cold water, Gatorade, fruit and snack bar ready. I've also downloaded some fresh music to my MP3 player. I'll probably die doing this but I'm not going down without a fight...or at least an attempt at one :)

The Wii cardio is rocking fun! I've had the best time learning to do some of the exercises. The only ones I don't like are the squats and lunges. That's just because my hip injury from my car wreck won't let me flex the way I need to. I digress. The dance and boxing are my favorite. I could do that for hours.

Here's to the Green Team! Hoping for a great hike and no fatalities :)

Be a Pepper Drink Dr. Pepper (Diet that is)

So the one thing, among many, that I have done away with for Biggest Loser is carbonated beverages. Today, though, I needed a caffiene boost to help shake the blah's. You can only drink so much water a day. I snuck a Diet Dr. Pepper from the vending machine at work (which is off limits to Green Team). I've taken a couple of sips out of it and I already feel a little better. :)

Here's to you Diet Dr. Pepper for helping me get through the hump day blues. You've perked me up a little and for that I say thank you!

Today's meal plan...

Breakfast:

8 ounce Slim Fast

Lunch:

egg salad on whole grain tortilla

baked Cheetos

banana

1/2 cup of sugar free chocolate pudding

3 slices of watermelon

1/2 cup cottage cheese with blueberries

Dinner:

TBA

Go Green Team!

Feel the burn baby!

The Wii Cardio is kicking my behind...literally!! Last night was my second 30 minute work out and let me tell you I'm feeling the burn. I ran track, walked, did low leg kicks, high leg kicks, squats, arm work outs with the rubber band, lunges. Total I burned 146 calories in 24 minutes. By the end I didn't have a dry thread on me and my knees were weak. Before that I played about 20 minutes worth of tennis and baseball to warm up. I can already feel a little tightness in my shoulders. :) That is a good thing!

As for diet, keeping to a 20 point Weight Watcher diet. No major cravings and no desire to stray.

Press on Green Team!

Edible Arrangement...EG style

You've probably heard of the company "Edible Arrangements." They make "flowers" out of fruit. Let me say, they are expensive! The cheapest order starts around $60.00.

My nice, Mary Beth, wanted her Aunt Cizzy to buy her strawberries for her birthday. Its a tradition just between us gals. This year, I decided to put some creativity into it. I bought a flower pot, a piece of foam, some wooden skewers, chocolate, strawberries, and grapes. I filled the pot with fruit and that little girl LOVED it!! Plus, it didn't break the bank.

So if you don't want to work overtime to pay for hand dipped fruit, get creative and do it yourself! Its fun and the effort means much more than the gift!

Wii came...Wii conquered...Wii about died

I guess you can tell from the title of this post I hooked up the Wii this weekend. Who would have thought a gaming device could cause so much pain, sweat and heart palpitations. Wheeew! You know you are out of shape when the gaming console realizes you are trying to cheat because you can't catch your breath. I am proud that I made it 21 minutes doing straight up cardio. I walked, I ran track, boxed, did squats, lunges and in-line skating, along with a few other sorted torture methods. To warm up I played a few rounds of boxing and even baseball. My shoulder feels like I should be a pitcher on the Brave's Baseball Team. I will admit I LOVE my Wii!!! Its a great way to get fit without leaving the comfort of an airconditioned room. I signed up for the Wii 30 day challenge. If I don't die first, I hope to see some major results.

Speaking of self-inflicted death, several co-workers, along with Green Team members are going for a hike on Saturday. Not just a little stroll through the woods mind you but a 6 mile trek up Monte Sano. My suggestion is to have an ambulance waiting so when I roll down the hill at the end, they can just scoop up my lifeless, limp, body, hook me to oxygen and start the reviving process. Been a LONG time since I've hiked up anything :)

Press onward...

Breaking up is hard to do...

So I finally did it. I threw away my favorite pair of high heeled shoes. I had a blow out at the courthouse this morning and the entire left side of my foot was hanging out. I managed to hide my emabarrasment in the most uncomfortable way. Grandmother says you should never let em see you sweat! As soon as we got back to the station, I threw away my beloved open toes. Thankfully I carry spares in the trunk of my car.

Goodbye heels. You've killed by feet for the last few weeks but I remember when you were young how much enjoyment I got from you.

"Let's Get Physical."

And that's just what I plan to do....as soon as I get my new Wii hooked up. I bought the gaming system on Amazon.com, free one-day shipping later, I just have to get it set up. Yes, its still sitting in the box in the middle of my floor but I digress. I also bought the new cardio workout to go with it.

Results and reviews coming soon.

It Ain't Easy Being Green....

I will admit dieting is not an easy thing. I wish I was one of those skinny girls you love to hate but alas I'm built like my sweet maw maw. You know...small up top with hips wide enough to accomodate 3. And even though I cannot be broken mentally to cheat on my Biggest Loser diet plan, that doesn't mean I don't have moments of total temptation. In fact, today is what I lovingly refer to as my "struggle" day. When I look at my ham sandwich, bag of baked chips and cup of applesauce all I can dream of is Dream Land ribs, sauce, white bread, a bubbly fountain Coke, and a bowl of macaroni and cheese that you could die trying to eat your way back out of. Still, the goal is worth keeping focused on. I am competitive as a race horse but for me its not just about winning its about seeing something through to the end. When I reach my goal weight, Lane said he would buy me a new pair of jeans. Not just any pair of jeans but a pair that FITS like they should. Not ones too big in the waist, or tiht through the hips and legs. I want a pair that says "now that is one smokin hot woman." My mom said she would buy me a new suit. Its all worth it...even when the battle gets to be more than you can take!

Go green team!

Ghost Busters!!!

So today I got to meet "king of the screen" Dan Aykroyd. He was signing autographs at a stop off Gate 8 at Redstone Arsenal. He was in town to give a $5,000 donation to the Wounded Warriors fund. He's a really cool guy, personable enough. Was very gracious to our military and seemed as though he enjoyed his time in Huntsville.

I got to interview him one-on-one and he shook my hand. Mr. Aykroyd, it was a pleasure meeting you. I loved you in Tommy Boy and Trading places!

I'm a Loser!

And it feels GREAT!

I've joined the Biggest Loser weight loss competition with co-workers at my station. Its a heated, dirty battle to see which team can lose the most weight. I've got an awesome team captain (and I'm not just saying that because she is my GM). She's very motivational and it doesn't hurt that she leaves little bags of snacks on your desk. She's banned all vending machines for "Team Green" which should help keep us on track. The competition started Monday and goes through August 9th. I will continue to blog my progress as I strive to lose some 40 pounds!

Go Green Team!!!

Coming back to life...

So the ole blog has been out of operation for quiet sometime. My brother reminded me that it needed some attention. Problem was I couldn't remember my username/password. So I had to try everyone of my old login's and finally...I'm back!!

So everyone...Welcome BACK to my World!