Six Week Challenge: Day 29

Workout(s):
6:45 AM: Walked Sophie 1.25 miles at the Greenway.

5:30 PM: 50-minute workout was a repeat of last Tues/Thurs. I had a really good workout tonight. My endurance and strength has definitely improved and I feel really great. I actually received three compliments tonight...

Compliment #1
Debbie (fellow challenger): "Have you lost weight? You look like you've lost weight."

Compliment #2
Chris & Jeff (co-workers/fellow challengers): "We were watching you tonight and you were a machine!"

Compliment #3
Tara & LaCinda (friends from Tuesday night Bible study): " You look great. Definitely not as tired as you did the first night you started the challenge."

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Scrambled Egg Whites on 2 pieces of Toast with one slice of Tomato, 1/4 a Bell Pepper and one slice of Turkey Bacon. 4 oz of Orange Juice and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Snack: Watermelon
Lunch: Leftover Homemade Veggie Pizza
2:30 Snack: String Cheese, 7 Multi-Grain Crackers and one Banana
4:00 Snack: Pita Chips - I had to have a second snack because I was starving
6:45 Post Workout Snack: Chocolate Milk
Dinner: Salmon with Peppers and Sugar Snap Peas steamed with Olive Oil, White Wine, Lemon Juice and Salt and Pepper
Total Water: 104 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1971

Six Week Challenge: Day 28

Workout(s):
50-minute workout was good, but boy was it hot. Here is my attempt to describe today's workout: All of the Workout 180's were set up in a circle around the perimeter of the room. Six 180s were lined up in the middle of the room. We started out with 6 people doing 15 repetitions of various exercises (plyometrics, resistance and core). Once you finished your 15 reps, you joined the outer circle and someone from the outer circle took your place. While in the outer circle you had to do cardio. It was a good workout. I definitely feel tired tonight.

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Berry Smoothie and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Snack: Oatmeal-Blueberry Muffin
Lunch: Apple, Cranberry, Turkey and Feta Salad with a side of Cucumber and reduced-fat Cottage Cheese
Snack: One Banana, Toasted Slice of Whole Wheat Bread with a Tbsp of Crunchy Peanut Butter
Post-Workout Snack: Chocolate Milk
Dinner: Heated Wrap consisting of Flat Bread with reduced-fat Cottage Cheese, Baked Skinless Chicken Breast,Feta, Salt and Pepper
Total Water: 104 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1501

Six Week Challenge: Day 27

Workout(s):
Sunday is my rest day, which is a good thing since the bee sting on my foot has swollen considerably and I am having trouble walking. Hope the swelling goes down by tomorrow. It has been nice to lay on the couch and watch movies and nap though.

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Bowl of Cereal with Milk and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Lunch: Turkey Bacon, Smoked Turkey, Tomato and Lettuce Wrap and Watermelon on the side
Snack: Berry Smoothie
Dinner: Homemade Supreme Veggie Pizza
Snack: Non-Fat, Sugar-Free Ice Cream Sandwich
Total Water: 32 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1452

Six Week Challenge: Day 26

Workout(s):

12:30 PM: We decided to head up to Linville Gorge to do a 5-mile hike to the Linville Falls. 

As we were loading the car and getting ready to leave, I stepped on a bee that got stuck between my sandle strap and my foot. Subsequently stinging the arch of my right foot. So instead of getting in the car, we came back inside where I immediately put ice on my foot and took a Benadryl. After some contemplating, I decided we should proceed with the trip.

Linville Gorge was beautiful. The temperature was perfect. The first part of the hike was pretty crowded - we went to three lookouts where we could view the Falls from above. Lots of people and lots of dog. Sophie still feels the need to "protect us" and she growls at all other dogs, regardless of their size.

The second half of the hike was down into the gorge. This part of the trail was less populated. At the bottom of the falls, we were able to wade in the water and even managed to get Sophie to swim for the first time - she didn't like it, but she did it. After a snack of an orange and half a Clif Bar, we headed back to the car.

The only negative of walking into a gorge is that you have to walk out. Which means the end of your hike is the more tiring.

 

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Bowl of Cereal with Milk, Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate and Watermelon
Lunch: We stopped at a Chik-fil-a in Morganton on the way to Linville Gorge. I opted for the Chicken-Strip Salad with no croutons, no cheese and minuscule amount of ranch dressing. Glass of water.
Snack: An Orange and half of a Pretzel Peanut Butter Clif Bar
Dinner: After our hike, we were too hungry to wait to get home to eat. Our initial choices of places to eat were Sonic, McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell. Since we don't have a Sonic near us, we opted for that. We consulted our book Eat This Not That and decided to compromise. We picked a Sonic Burger with Mustard, Ketchup and Pickles and a Bacon Cheddar Toaster Burger. We each ate half of both burgers. It was delicious.
Total Water: 48 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1463

Calories are low, even with the two fast food stops. Fat percentage was on the high side (38.6%), but it was worth it after our 5-mile hike.

Six Week Challenge: Day 25

Workout(s):
6:45 AM: We got up early Friday to walk Sophie at the Greenway. We got in the car, rolled down the windows so Soph could hang her head out, and started down the driveway. When the car started moving, there was a terrible noise, so Daniel stopped and got out to investigate. Turned out that we had a seriously flat tire on the front passenger side of the car. So we got back out of the car (which confused and probably disappointed Sophie) and I walk her in the neighborhood while Daniel changed the car tire. We walked about a mile. Afterward the three of us got in the hammock together and enjoyed the cool morning before the day got started.

5:30 PM: Last night's workout was the toughest yet. We rotated through 5 different 5-minute stations, twice. I started at the plyometrics station. We did a series of jumps on and off of the Workout 180 platform. Second station was cardio. This was an obstacle course that included doing the inch-worm the length of the room. For me, this did more to wear out my arms than it did to give me a cardio workout. Following this was core exercises. Then on to resistance and finally balance. I enjoyed the workout, but man it was tough.

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Bowl of Cereal with Milk and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Snack: Watermelon
Lunch: I had to run a work errand during lunch, so I grabbed a Chicken-Strip Salad from Chick-Fil-A while I was out. No croutons. No cheese. And maybe a teaspoon of ranch dressing. Glass of water.
Snack: Pita Chips, a Banana and String Cheese
Dinner: A couple of slices of pizza from Wolfman chased down with a couple of glasses of water.
Total Water: 96 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1639

So last week Anna challenged me to go 10 days eating cheat-free. Also eliminating as much fat from my diet as possible. I am all for doing this. Unfortunately, coming off of a trip with no time to plan meals or grocery shop made this week a poor week to start the challenge. Overall, I did pretty well. But starting today, for the next 10 days, I am going to take this challenge seriously and see what happens.

Six Week Challenge: Day 24

Workout(s):
5:30 PM: Tonight was a repeat of Tuesday's workout alternating 60 seconds of cardio with 60 second intervals of calisthenics. I enjoyed the work out and can definitely tell a difference in my energy level. The hardest part was being stiff from last night's resistance-only work out. When I got home tonight, I hopped in the tub and took a cold bath - hopefully this will relieve the soreness and stiffness that seems to exist from my waist to my knees. On a happy note, my knee pain has completely subsided.

I feel kind of bad... I have chosen sleep over getting up and walking Sophie with Daniel in the mornings. She doesn't need me to go, but it is nice to hang out with them before I go to work. Will have to try to get up in the morning.

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Non Fat Vanilla Yogurt with Granola and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Snack: Watermelon
Lunch: Leftover Salmon, Jasmine Rice and Mixed Vegetables from BoneFish Grill
Snack: Pita Chips, a Banana and String Cheese (I am not one to play with my food, but I really enjoy eating string cheese by pulling it apart and eat one string at a time...)
Post Workout Snack: Chocolate Milk
Dinner: Eggs Baked in Tomatoes and Red Peppers
Total Water: 96 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 1818

Six Week Challenge: Day 23

Workout(s):
5:30 PM: Tonight was 60 minutes of resistance training. It was a good workout and I am definitely feeling all of my muscles now that the work out is over. I hope I sleep off some of the muscle pain.

Meals For Today:
Breakfast: Non Fat Vanilla Yogurt with Granola and Iced Coffee with Fat-Free Vanilla CoffeeMate
Snack: Cherries
Lunch: Tuna on Whole Wheat Tortilla, Fruit Cup and a Luna Bar
Snack: Pita Chips and an Orange
Dinner: Celebrated that Daniel is now a professional engineer by eating at Bonefish Grill. I had Bread, Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce and Steamed Broccoli and Steamed Vegetables.
Total Water: 120 oz
Total Calories According to Calorie Count: 2376