Found a possible routine

Found the following suggestion here:

Workout #1 (Day One) Exercises
Chest Press Machine: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Pull Ups (Can be performed on a pull-up station with assist or a traditional pull-up bar): Perform as many pull-ups as you can for 3 sets.
(Substitute Exercise: Cable or Lat Machine Pulldowns)
Seated Overhead Shoulder Press Machine: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Seated Leg Press Machine: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Seated Calf Raise Machine: 15 Reps for 3 Sets
Bicep Curl Machine: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Tricep Pressdown Machine: Perform as many dips as you can for 3 sets.*
Back Extensions (performed on 45 degree back extension bench): One Set of 15**
Swiss/Stability Ball Ab Crunches: 20-25***
Rest and Recover for at least 48 hours.

Workout #2 (Day Two) Exercises
Dips: Perform as many reps as possible for 3 sets*
Cable Rows: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
(Substitute Exercise: Seated Machine Rows)
Cable Front Shoulder Raises: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Smith Machine Squats: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Smith Machine Standing Calf Raises: 15 Reps for 3 Sets
Cable Bicep Curls: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Cable Tricep Pressdown:  8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Back Extensions (performed on 45 degree back extension bench): One Set of 15**
Hanging Leg Raises/Roman Chair (Abs): Perform as many as you can for 3 sets***
Rest and Recover for at least 48 hours.

Workout #3 (Day Three) Exercises
Pec Deck Machine: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Lat Cable Pulldown: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
(Substitute Exercise: Lat Pulldown Machine)
Cable Side Shoulder Raises: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Smith Machine Lunges: 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Seated Calf Press (Performed on Leg Press Machine): 15 Reps for 3 Sets
Reverse Bicep Curl Machine (Palms down): 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Cable Press Downs (performed with palms up on the bar) 8-10 Reps for 3 Sets
Back Extensions (performed on 45 degree back extension bench): One set of 15 **
V-Crunches/Jack-Knife Sit Up (Abs): Perform as many as you can for 3 sets.***


*  As it becomes easier to perform dips with your body weight, add additional resistance by holding a light dumbbell between your feet (in the case of parallel bar dips), or have someone place a light plate across your legs on bench dips.
** Increase resistance on back extensions by holding a light plate or dumbbell over your chest during the movement.
*** Increase resistance progressively during ab crunches by holding a plate or dumbbell across your chest. For hanging leg raises/Roman Chair leg raises or V Crunches, place a light dumbbell between your feet.

Making my (and your) tax dollars work

This morning I was up bright and early to give Violet her 6am diaper change and morning feeding and, for reasons I won't get into here, I couldn't go back to sleep. I used this early morning alertness to get a jump start on the day. Showered, found work out clothes and gathered the items needed for the trip to the base gym.

I was at the gym shortly after it opened so there were very few people milling around, much to my delight. I chose to do some cardio work first and eventually found the room with the elliptical machines. Since I was the only one there, I didn't feel at all foolish huffing and puffing and mouthing the words to the music pumping through my iPod.

I'm not completely certain how many calories I was able to burn because I got interrupted by a phone call 12 minutes in, but I do know that my average heart rate was 180 and I stayed on that machine for about 20 min total. Seems pretty good for my first chance on aerobic reentry.

I wanted to try out the weight machines and selected the ab rotation, the shoulder press, the leg press, and the ab cruncher. I'll have to really map out what to use and how many repetitions I should do, but I just wanted a small taste for today.

All in all, I think just under an hour's worth of work for my first time back is not so bad. I'm going back tomorrow morning and since the gym is open until 11pm on weekdays, I'm making a plan to go every day, except for Thursday because I have a banquet to go to with Scott. (We even have a babysitter for that night! First time... eek.) The daily visit will only be an experiment for a week since I'm planning a trip down to my parents' place for the beginning week of May.

Get real

One of the lessons I've learned (and something I keep reading in magazine articles) is to have realistic goals so that it is easier to achieve them. I am not looking to be a size 0 so that I can fit into the majority of what is sold in Forever 21, but what I am shooting for is to not look humongous in my wedding dress.

When I stepped on the scale the other day, I was happy to see that whatever little I've been doing over the last couple of weeks has resulted in losing a couple of pounds. Then, I started doing some calculations in my head.

I would LOVE to go back to being 120-125 lbs as I was about 4 years ago. However, I would be happy if I reached 130-135 lbs. That would mean I have to loose anywhere between 35-50 lbs, and seeing those numbers gives me the encouragement I need to help me think I can actually reach this goal.

One of the other reasons why I'm trying so hard in loosing all my pregnancy weight is to fit into the clothes I already own. As of right now, I don't fit into 95% of what I have in my closet and I don't want to go shopping - it's too depressing yet.

One of the new things I'll be starting tomorrow morning is using the gym located on base. Yesterday I confirmed with Scott that spouses of military are allowed to use the facility and I'm looking at using the elliptical and the weight lifting equipment. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get myself there during the work week, but I'll be making big efforts into going on the weekend.

Wii --eeee Fit

As it turns out, my trip out east didn't destroy me as much as I thought it would. I still wasn't 'good' by any means, but I didn't come back 10 pounds heavier as I feared I might. There was some exercise had by helping my brother throw out some garbage and all of the walking I ended up doing, so I'm feeling pretty good about that.

And now that I'm back, it's time to get serious....er. In packing up some of my brother's things, I asked him if it would be alright to borrow his Wii Fit board and the corresponding disc and I will give it back to him at the end of May when I see him in Colorado. He gave me permission and Scott and I set up the game today. I think Scott enjoys his first try at the various games and I have a more solid idea of what my weight loss/BMI reduction goal will be for the next 6 months.

After breakfast we'll be taking Violet on a walk since it's 10 am and already 60 degrees out (yay, warm weather!!)

Another practice I'll be adding to my weight-loss goal will be to sign up for the Weight Watchers Points system. While visiting friends, I've heard very good personal testimonies from two different sources on the success they've had with the WW program. Since I don't have a 'healthy eating lifestyle', it's time to start one right.

I'll be opening this entry up to whomever reads my blog: What have you found to be successful? What has been a complete disappointment? I'd like to hear your opinions!

A little lightness

These commercials have been cracking me up since the first one aired. The latest one reminds me of the comic strip "Sally Forth" and the yearly battle for the ears.

The original commercial still make me giggle

Entering the danger zone... already

Today concludes week 1 of my get-my-big-butt-moving-initiative. I have kept up with exercising nearly every day and been diligent about logging in my calories into Calorie Count. After each day's recording of the foods consumed for the day, there is a 'Mark day complete'  button, and once pressed, the site will grade your nutrition intake for the day. I've mostly been graded a 'C', but today I got a 'B-', which is a good enough improvement for me.

Also, I just hopped on the scale and I'm down to 172.2, but I do have to add that I wasn't wearing the exact same clothes as the first weigh in AND it's at a different time of day. But I'll take the confidence boost.

Now comes the hard part. On Thursday I will be returning to NJ for a short visit to catch a Mets game and to help my brother pack up his apartment so that he can move to Colorado at the end of the month. I'm hoping all of the moving, cleaning and packing will count as my exercise and that will help take off all of the junk I will end up eating at the game. I COULD flex my will power and abstain from the stadium food, but c'mon get real, you know I'll be eating hot dogs and beer. You gotta at a game ;)

Once I return, Scott and I are going to do something stupid-crazy. We are going to attempt to do the P90X series of dvd's. For those who don't know what that is, Google it. All I hear from ANYONE who's done it, you basically want to die from the physical soreness and exhaustion after only ONE dvd. There are 11 in all.

But you got to do something daring every once and a while =)

Counting on .... calories

Along with the possible workout video suggestions, my sister also notified me of a calorie counting website. I've never, ever been health conscious enough to pay attention to such a thing, so I had to start from scratch of knowing what my intake should be. I knew basically what is healthy and what is really not, but other than that, I'm a complete noob. The site not only keeps track of the calories, but it has a huge database of nutritional facts for specific food items so it can also provide the Nutrient/Vitamin analysis of your meals for the day and tell you which parts you are good or bad in. So far, I'm fairly impressed.

She made me promise not to go too overboard-crazy in tracking my food, but since I've never done it, I'm going to try it out for a week straight and see what becomes of it.

Another website that I want to become more familiar with is something that my friend Marsha suggested. Bar Belles is something a friend of hers is responsible for starting but beyond that, I don't know much about it. I haven't had the time to bounce around the site yet. Little Violet has been hollering her head off most afternoons this week and I haven't figured out why... yet.