This week was a little harder than last week was.  I went over my points 4 of the past 7 days… BUT I didn’t use up all of my Bonus Points, so I’m still in the target and doing well!  I wasn’t able to get to the gym as much this week either.   I did, however, manage to hit a goal that I was hoping for but hadn’t thought it would come this soon!

I ran– an entire mile– without STOPPING!  It was a 15 minute mile, which compared to certain friends of mine is very sad… but for ME it’s great!!

Can I say how much I appreciate a nice treadmill?  The Y has two of these really super NICE ones which I think were designed for distance training. The decks are cushioned with rubber. It makes running very nice, easier on the knees and ankles.  And of course I only got to use one once this week, because every other time I went they were in use. They do have many other treadmills, but just two of those. I did a mile without stopping!!  Pinch me or something because I still can’t believe it. That was last Thursday evening.  I managed to get another run in on Tuesday night this week, and I pushed myself and ran 1.5 miles! Still only at 4mph, but I did it. And I didn’t die.

The other machine that I didn’t think I would like, but I do, is this ab crunch machine they have. I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s a killer ab/oblique workout!  I was SO sore on Saturday at the Ladies Workout, from that machine on Thursday night! I also tried out a spinning bike twice this past week. Those are NICE.  So smooth, no major settings or anything, just gears like a regular bike.  I’ve found I do MUCH better on a stationary bike when there are foot straps on the pedals.  I really like those bikes.

My workout routine this past week looked something like this:

1. 15-20 min. treadmill
2. 20 crunches each- left obliques, abs, right obliques
3. 20-30 min. spinning (or other) stationary bike

So here’s my weekly stats:

• I went over my daily points a couple of times, but I didn’t eat all of my Bonus Points for the week, and they were reset today.
• I went to the YMCA and worked out 3 times in the past week.
• I went to the Ladies Workout at church on Saturday.  We did The Biggest Loser Cardio Workouts, Levels 1, 2, AND 3.  Level 2 was actually the hardest for me, and 3 was the easiest.  It makes me wonder how they set the levels.  It was a solid hour and I was drenched when we finished. Next Saturday I will remember to bring a towel!
• My size 14 jeans are getting baggy (read- too big) because I am beginning to tone up, and a belt is a must. My size 12′s are noticeably looser!
• I can feel every muscle in my legs and butt when I walk. Does that sound weird?! It feels weird too. They’re in there!
• I am not as winded when I exert myself. I’ve come to where I am enjoying working out, and don’t mind getting sweaty.   Did I just say that??
• I lost another 2.5lbs this week!  TOTAL: 5lbs!
  

To clarify, I didn’t just begin watching what I eat, or working out. I’ve actually been at the workouts for a month now, although I didn’t really start watching my food intake that carefully until two weeks ago. I hit my top weight about six weeks ago, and since then I’ve actually lost 7lbs.  I will just continue to count from where I have been, because I technically started with diet AND exercise, and that’s what I need to be doing.

A couple of other bloggy friends of mine are also doing similar things right now– Katey @ Crazy Homeschool Mama (and she’s going to run Bloomsday!!), and Amber @ Classic Housewife in a Modern World.  If I missed your recent posts about getting healthy, please leave me a comment or email me dawn (at) 5kidsandadog (dot) com and I’ll add you to this list!!

Dawn