Monday- Week 1

So today I actually started the whole work out thing- serious work out thing. I managed to get in a half our walk in the 92+ degree weather with high humidity. After dinner the fiance and I managed to do the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. It may be only 20 min, but for two people who haven't worked out for a while, it was very gratifying, sweat producing, heart pounding, and over all a good work out routine that I have now convinced the fiance we can do every morning before work. Now I just have to figure out the evening work out as well. If all goes according to plan I may be closer to 205 by the time the cruise happens- then after the cruise one more week of this kind work outs before moving onto our main challenge- P90X.

Speaking of dinner earlier - a very light meal that I do upon occasion, Thai Inspired Poached Chicken with Garlic Kale:

For the Kale:

Saute in a large skillet 1 tbsp of margarine and 1 tbsp of minced garlic.
When the garlic is nice and golden, add in 3 cups chopped Kale- this reduces down to about 2 cups total.
Saute until the Kale is slightly wilted and a nice bright green.
Season with salt and pepper to taste- I like adding Penzey's Fox Point seasoning instead. This dish takes all of 5 minutes once it starts, so watch it so it doesn't burn. Its best to make this after the chicken is done to keep it warm.

For the Chicken:

Marinade:

2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp thai herb and spice blend from gourmet garden
1/8 tsp honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic

Poaching liquid:

2 1/2 cups of chicken stock- low sodium
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp curry powder
1 tsp soy sauce
6 green onions roughly chopped

Mix all the marinade ingredients making sure that they are all well combined. Coat each chicken breast completely and marinade the chicken for at least one half hour- preferably all day.
In a large 2 quart saucepan, combine the ingredients of the poaching liquid together and bring up to a soft simmer. Add in the chicken with all of the marinade. Bring to a boil for at least 15 minutes or til the chicken is fully cooked.

Dicing the chicken will bring down the cook time.

Well, after a weekend of semi laziness - semi just for the fact we did get in quite a bit of walking, which does count, I've managed to be down two solid pounds. I'm quite proud of this accomplishment in such a short time, however I cannot allow myself to slip up too much this week. This is week one of temptation city- aka DC restaurant week. Hopefully tomorrow's meal will not be too too bad for me- I can be healthy with fondue and tapas right? This evening will be an intense-ish work out after a day of eating healthy (Kale and Poached Chicken Thai Inspired- I'll post the recipe later) and getting in a decent walk at lunch. Over all I'll be crossing my fingers that the downward trend in getting healthy works... now if only I can get the love of my life to help me instead of persuading me to sleep in instead of exercise....

Review of Day 1

So yesterday didn't quite go as planned. Due to the horrendous storms in the area and the occasionally flickering electricity needless to say I did not get in my work out DVDs. On a brighter note my lunch hours (provided no rain and no pestering clients) are now going to be spent walking around the area. With the high heat and humidity I'm hoping that more calories will be burned slightly. Growing up doing Summer League swimming, and training during high school and college in sweltering pool areas, it really doesn't effect me much to power walk out side right now- providing a) I have water and b) its not above 100. To compensate I was more focused on portion control yesterday and I think I did well making sure that I didn't over eat as I'm prone to do. I weighed myself in this morning and have lost 1 lb. That could be just water weight I know, however I am encouraged by the downward trend just by skipping the going out for lunch deal and eating a tuna lunch to go pack after the walk. 1 lb down, 9 to go til the end of the month.

My goal is to loose 5-10 lbs a month, about 1.5 lbs a week solid. I will have some very large food temptations along the way with restaurant week next week here in DC (my fiance and I have reservations at two of the area restaurants) and the cruise to the Bahamas in 29 days. At least with the cruise I will be active- days filled with walking along beaches, snorkeling, swimming, and just being active out in the sun. But the mini goals in weight loss I believe will help me along the way. Once I reach one I will go on towards another.

Hopefully tonight there will not be any storms- or none that will happen during the time I want to work out. Here goes yet another day!

And So It Begins... Again

So it begins again- the ever ending cycle of on again off again work outs. This time I swear I'm going to stick with it by writing this blog. You, my lovely readers, will get to read on what I've managed to do work out wise (or haven't manged to do) and diet wise as I start my quest to get back into a healthy BMI.

I'll admit I'm doing this one out of selfish reasons- but it might be the kick in the pants that I've needed for the past year. My ex roomie has managed to loose 20lbs and two dress sizes- something I've tried to do for the past year only to gain it all back and stopping the routine as I switch from unemployment to work to a different job and to yet another job. But this time I swear its going to work.

What kills me with the whole weight loss/diet and exercise thing that I have to do now is the fact I used to be an athlete. Granted I was overweight then- but I've gained 30lbs since I competed in swimming. I used to train daily or even twice daily with work out partners (which have been sadly lacking). Tomorrow morning will be the first day of the more intense work outs.

I've developed a plan you see. I have work out DVDs that range in 20 minutes of intense training to an hour and a half. The plan is to do the 20 minute training in the morning to start my metabolism, and then end the day with the longer exercise routine to get my fiance who won't wake up with me to do it. Yes I could go to a gym, but to be honest I'm cheap- I don't want to spend the money when in the past the tradition was to used the membership for 3-5 months and then stop, being stuck in a contract for the rest of the year. I believe that through writing out my frustrations and weight and measurements on here I might actually stick with this. Yes you do have permission to yell if I do not. So here we go people the pre-day one stats:

Age: 23
Sex: Female
Weight: 216
Height: 63 inches
Waist: 43 inches
Hips: 50 inches
Neck: 15 inches
Bust: 48 inches
Thighs: 29 inches
Arms: 14.5 inches

The weigh in will be every other day, the measurements once a week. I figure as long as one or the other goes down I'll be doing something right.

This will not just be an exercise blog and how much I really truly dislike anything on land- but also on my diet. I will not be dieting per say, but more of posting the meals that I've had during the day, and possibly recipes here and there. Please note I generally don't measure when I cook- nor do I use a recipe from any book. Most of these dishes will be based off of something I've seen or tasted and I've liked. I have no plans to give up everything under the sun like a lot of diets do. What I plan to do is eat the way I know how- healthy food in moderation, splurging once in a blue moon, but exercising those calories away with a harder work out the next day.

So 6am tomorrow starts day 1! Talk to you after the work out!