Last week I got very busy with work and let my body challenge goals slide. :(  I did manage to get to yoga once and played raquetball once.  Not much better on my diet I’m afraid - this weekend I really went crazy with carbs.

This week I’ll get back to it and promise to exercise at least 4 days (this morning was one - yoga & strength training).  And I’ll get back to that diet journal, writing everything down seems to help.

P.S. Like the new colors of our blog?  Thanks to Andre for the header!

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Have lost another Kg this week - doesn’t that make you feel virtuous, just standing on the scale and see a new lower number? I still have a way to go but now my big clothes are starting to feel loose and my smaller ones are still too tight. I think trying them on is amuch better way to guage progress.

Have had to drop TIID for the moment as I am hving cashflow problemsl I didin’t want to leave and will join again later in the year I hope. Mainly that my husband saw my credit card bill!

Was doing JEnny Craig but after several months I go sick of the food. I bought diet software to keep track of intake and nutritional content, It works really well and it means I can eat normal food so long as it fits in my 1200 calorie a day plan. Am also using diet shakes plus fruit for 2 meals a day

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Several years ago I walked a marathon in Anchorage Alaska. Running or walking a marathon is a big challenge - and once you’ve done one you realize how big a challenge it is!

One thing about any kind of big event like a marathon, bike race, triathalon, etc. is that you have to start training months in advance. 4-6 months is minimum for a half marathon or marathon. But more training time is even better. Gordon Bryan has challenged himself to the London marathon and being that the race was recently held, the next event is one year away. Plenty of time to get ready right?

Since the Alaska marathon I’ve also done a half marathon and some 5K’s but have been a bit shy to sign up for the big 26.2 again. There are several races in the October - December time frame including White Rock in Dallas (which I walked the relay event in ‘03) and there’s Disney which may actually be in January. Okay so with this post all I’m saying is I’m thinking about it so don’t hold me to anything… yet.

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I am never one to refuse a good challenge - or dare! So when Andre mentioned his mini challenge I had to try it. Andre was able to burn over 300 calories in 20 minutes on the eliptical machine. Now I knew that would be an amazing feat for me, but I decided I see just how far I could go.

First I warmed up on the treadmill for 15 minutes, going from a 3MPH to a 4MPH pace. Then I hit the eliptical, determined and energized. The settings were on level 8 and I kept about a 5MPH pace the whole time. After about 2 minutes I could no longer focus enough to read the magazine that was on the stand. And at 15 minutes I was ready to quit but I didn’t. Finally after 20 minutes I had burned 207 calories!

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…or at least bring a leatherbelt, because I really need one.

Not for the reasons why Jason Cain wants to be spanked, but because my pants are getting slightly too big

It’s been quite a while since I used a belt, but over the past days I’ve noticed that my pants seem to be expanding - or maybe it’s just me getting slimmer

Not enough to warrant a new wardrobe, but enough that I’m heading for the attic tonight to dig out some of my old and slightly smaller jeans.

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Finally dropping weight again…

12 Week Goal: 75 KGs (165 lbs)
Need to Loose: 3.5 KGs (8.36 lbs)
Week 1 (Apr 7): 78.80 KGs (173.36 lbs)
Week 2 (Apr 14): no weigh-in
Week 2 (Apr 21): no weigh-in
Week 2 (Apr 28): 78.00 KGs (171.60 lbs)

Total Weight Loss To Date: 3.4 KGs (7.48 lbs)

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Out local gym has Life Fitness X9i Elliptical Trainers. It’s what I use most days.

Anyway…

I’ve been trying to achieve this particular mini-challenge for the past few months. Today I finally did it. Maybe it was the Boot Camp training last night that’s confused my poor body. LOL!

The Mini-Challenge

300 calories in 20 minutes

The Rules

There is none. Choose any program, any level, any speed… just try and burn 300 calories in 20 minutes.

The best I’ve done in the past is like 294… once 298 calories in 20 minutes… but today… I did 322 calories

I guess any elliptical trainer will do. See how well you can do…

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Finally my weight dropped below the magic 100 kg mark

I’m now at 99.8 kg (220 lbs)

It didn’t happen at the speed I planned for, and that sucks, but I know why, and I also know that I can make up for lost territory in the coming weeks.

I’ve been home sick for a week with my back and haven’t done anything physical at all.

But staying home alone all day made it all to easy to raid the kitchen for anything sweet - and it was just easter you know

Frankly I ate like a pig from I got up until I went to bed

Anyway, I’m back on my feet.

Spoke to my doctor about the back and getting a complete checkup.

We agreed to do the checkup after the back was back to normal (and I was off the medication), so I’m setting up a meeting next week with him.

I’m thinking of seeing a chiropractor (had two different ones recommended) because I think that there must be something misaligned or skewed in my back.

Will be my first time ever at a chiropractor - hope she doesn’t break something

And I noticed something neat at fitday.

On the “Weight Tab” there’s i little box with “Weight Goal Stats” that tells me how far I am from my goal, how long I have left to reach it, and how many kgs I need to loose per week to reach it.

Weight Goal Stats
Current Weight
Your weight is 99.8 kg as of 04/27/2006.

Weight Goal
Your goal is to weigh 90  kg by 06/24/2006

Goal Progress
You are currently 9.8  kg above the target weight.

The deadline for your goal is 58 days (8 weeks, 2 days) away.

To meet your goal you need to lose about 1.18 kg per week. 

Loosing 1.18 kg per week doesn’t scare me - I can do this; it’s NOT loosing 1.18 kg per week that’s scary.

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Around the U.S. and UK (and I guess other countries too) there are these military style fitness training sessions popping up… normally run by ex-military folks.

It’s for the general public… those that want a different scenery to what you find at the local gym.

These fitness sessions are normally held in public parks or community centers.

Well… the other week I found out that the place where I play squash once a week also do this crazy military style circuit training.

Anita and I attended last night…

WTF!

I’ve been going to gym 4 to 5 times per week for the past couple of months now… but I wasn’t ready for this!

It lasted 60 minutes… and let me tell ya, it was the hardest and longest 60 minutes of my life. I thought I was fit doing over 4 hours on cardio on the cross-trainer at gym per week… but nothing could prepare me form this stuff.

This morning I’m battling to bloody walk… let alone bend down to put shoes on. Arms, legs, head, fingers and toes — all freakin in pain and agony.

If you’re looking to spice up your weekly fitness sessions, go find a local crazy military style fitness group and try it out. You’ll love it… seriously!

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I had some bad and good news last week. Let’s start with the good one.
I’ve been working two, sometimes three jobs since I came to US. Now life gets better, so last week I quit my second job. First of all I can’t explain how excited I am!!! And what more important I can spend MUCH MORE time on internet marketing!
Now bad news. For the first time I had whole weekend off, so I went to San Diego to visit my friend, relax and have fun. As a result +2 pounds…. Plus using Sandra’s link I found out that my body fat is 21% ( which is 39 pounds of FAT. My scales shows 18% though…
Anyway, let’s keep going and think positive!
Alexander.

p.s. My fitness regimen, hmmm, I’m learning new words I’m going  jogging every morning for 15 minutes plus 15 minutes of Bodyflex, deep breath exercises. I read a book years ago back in Russia. My mom is a big fan of it ) And it IS really great thing. It gives you a big energy boost. Also 2 times a week weight training.

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