Sunday, January 02, 2011

Eat. Live. Be. For a Better 2011 - week 1




My goals:
Lose 30 pounds.
Lower cholesterol.
Relieve stress.

My reasons:
Here's the truth. I'm one of the most low maintenance girls you will find. While I may not love my current weight, I still very much like the way I look and feel good about myself. Yes, I want to change my body.....otherwise, I wouldn't be participating in this challenge. But, I want to do it for reasons other than vanity and self-confidence alone.

My cholesterol is too high. As a mother, I feel that I have a responsibility to my husband and to my children to stay healthy. Hearing that my cholesterol levels were in the mid 200's at my recent doctor's appointment scared me. It needs to change. Besides the basic health benefits we all know about, I'm anxious to get outside more. I'm ready to hike, walk, and enjoy every part of what California has to offer.

My plan:
Here's where my challenge lies. And, I need your help. Blake travels often right now and his days away from home are almost always unpredictable. That leaves me as the 100% on-call parent, all the time. I have a few hours each day kid-free and the little ones go to bed at 6pm each night. So, I have the availability. I just need some suggestions.

I have walked our neighborhood many times since arriving here and it's a great work out because it's hilly. But, for rainy or cold days, I'd like a DVD to use inside. Any favorites? What will help me jump start my mission? I'm up for anything!


I will be keeping a daily log of activity and will share that with you, along with any weight lost (or gained, Lord help me) on the following Monday.

Link up to this post if you'd like. Each week will bring a new topic of discussion, which I'll likely transform into a Question of the Week so that you can help me with my goal and hopefully I can help you, too.

Thanks to all of you for visiting the Facebook page and for joining us in this challenge! If I can be of any help, in any way, let me know. Other bloggers participating include:

Sarah's Cucina Bella

Sweetnicks

In Good Taste

Mele Cotte

Blog Appetit

Dine and Dish

Three Boys and a Little Lady

Stop, Drop and Blog

Eats Well With Others

Friends, Family and Food

Triing to be Fit Mom

Cooking Is Medicine

Sweet Flours

NJ Epicurean

OK, bloggies. Here we go!

30 comments:

Shannon said...

Highly, highly recommend doing the Couch to 5K program. DVDs inside are BORING and best used when outside isn't an option. Outside does double-duty on your mind and body. C25K is such a slow build and only takes 30 minutes 3 times a week. If it can help me go from never running a mile to being able to train and run a half-marathon, you know it's good! I also had 30 pounds to lose when I started it and lost it all, along with Weight Watchers which I also can't speak highly enough of.

I'm in on this challenge! I'll be restarting my own routines this week in fact.

Lena said...

i just found you via clover lane.
you will be in my prayers for an increase in perseverance and a JOYfilled year.
i'm also starting a program for the year. my short term goal will end in mar but my long term goal, of glorifying God with my body, is ongoing. my daughter and i have started training for a 1/2 marathon. we will race in mar, God willing. ALL FOR!
pax Christi - lena

Clare said...

Do you have a Wii? Get a Wii fit if you don't have it. I'm not much of a video gamer, but it's so much fun and I"m addicted. Last week I did it everyday during nap time and I was super sore, so it really does give you a good workout.
I agree with Shannon about the couch to 5K program, I bet Carter could even do it with you. A little competition will help with you motivation! Good luck Casey!

Pam Bowers said...

Wow Casey. This is a great idea. I'm going to check out your new facebook page.

I'm using Medifast. The products are available online. They have tons of choices but I only like the protein bars. You get 5 a day plus a lean and green meal. It works for me and I don't have to make a lot of decisions throughout the day. I'm still not exercising so I'm no help there. I need to start. We have a treadmill at home though. How about the Biggest Loser workout videos?

Jodee said...

You go girl! I know you will do great and meet your goals too!

donatelli98 said...

Hey I joined on FB - or at least I think I did ... tell me what to do to join.

starnes family said...

Shannon - tried and failed C25K twice now. I don't think I'm a runner. I love to power walk, though!

Pam - I've been curious about MediFast. Thanks for the info.

BEGM - Nothing else to do.....just look at updates for inspiration and add your own ideas!

Dee Stephens said...

I'm with you Casey -- I'm not a runner either but instead a power walker.
On some of the Fit Channels there are yoga programs you can DVR. That's what Brad used to do believe it or not! Even he talked about what a workout it is/was! NAMASTE! :)
I need to find your FB page to. Tell me how to join!

Sarah Caron said...

Casey, do you have Netflix? That's my fav way to try out exercise videos. And if you are able to stream them from the internet to your TV, it's even better -- you can literally try a different one each time.

Impulsive Addict said...

We have the same goal. I need help too.

I have some amazing videos. I just like to do them with friends and now I'm in a town with no friends so I suck at doing them. I have Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. It's great! I also have the P90X dvd's. It's a little more pricy (but I got mine off ebay for about $80) but it's 13 DVD's so you don't get bored and I did these for several weeks and saw amazing results. My neighbor did them with me but she moved and I can't make myself do them now. Boo. I also have a gym membership that's going to waste. I'm such a loser....but not the LOSING WEIGHT kind of loser.

Jen_from_NJ said...

I really like the Netflix idea. I will have to give it a try! I will let you know what I find. Have a wonderful 2011!

SASS said...

You? Low maintenance? No way.
So proud of you- I totally agree on being healthy for the fam. The Italian has high cholesterol too- I've had to change some things I cook recently.
YOU CAN DO IT! Can't wait to hear about your progress!

Hattie said...

I was thinking about starting the weight loss thing and actually being serious about it!!! A great video is the Jillian Michaels shred video & it's only $10 at Wal-mart. The best part is the workout is just 20 mins. It's easy, but kicks your booty!!! Good Luck!

Becca Jane said...

I'm jealous....as much as I LOVE being pregnant, I have to admit that I MISS my workouts!! I was just getting to where I was seeing major results too....losing some lbs and seeing toned muscles appear!

Good luck!! You can do it!!

merrilee said...

Torrey Pines is the BEST place to walk outside. Beautiful views and a kick-ass(literally) hill that will give your tush a great workout. I have several friends who have tried and Loved the PX90 videos. I also like the Windsor Pilates dvd for core strength.

Coco said...

You know how much I loved C25K. Totally worked.

Shannon said...

I'm contemplating your statement that you aren't a runner. Is that possible or do you need to stick with it longer? I thought the possibilities of me running were like learning to fly and it worked even for severely asthmatic me. I can't imagine it not working for you.

Shannon said...

Oh, I also wanted to add that I can definitely see not running if there are knee problems or something like that. That CAN be really difficult and it's probably not a good idea to run in that case.

FireMom said...

My inside workout stuffs:

I downloaded Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred via iTunes. I love it, but I cuss at her. Quietly.

I downloaded some great yoga routines from @exercisetv via iTunes as well. Not your traditional yoga. My two favorites are Cardio Yoga and Yoga for Hips, Buns and Thighs. This is some HARDCORE, moving, sweating, get-you-going yoga. With the benefit of lovely stretching. Mmm.

And Just Dance 2 for the Wii is my new love. LOVE.

Best of luck on everything!

Joanne said...

Good luck with lowering your cholesterol! I'm definitely excited to be embarking on this journey with you! I think that Body by Bethenny is a good video and Jillian Michaels also has a few that I really like!

Unknown said...

I know how the high cholesterol thing feels...unfortunately, mine is familial, so I'm doing what I can now. Just get moving! Seriously, cleaning house is an exercise. I do like Jilian Michael's Boost Your Metabolism. Don't know if it actually does that but it's a great workout. It is about 50 minutes long, so you have to have time...and be willing to be sore the next day! But it's a good sore.

I'm with you...I really do love to run b/c it's so nice to be outside but my knee does NOT like it!

Allison said...

I love your sense of self confidence and the reasons behind your goals. Very inspiring! Best wishes on your goals and I look forward to following your journey!

Cate O'Malley said...

Awesome and totally doable goals! Psst ... will be having a giveaway of Bethenny's DVD on our facebook page, so stay tuned!

Teacher Man said...

I did Couch to 5K last year and ran in my first 5K in December, 2009. Then I quit running. :(

However, after getting my blood test back a couple weeks ago, I'm not liking how my cholesterol and blood sugar look.

So I started running again (which is good, because I have $100 running shoes!), last week. Actually, it's more like walking and running. Last week (when I started)I walked between 25 and 30 minutes four days. I think I got in about a mile to a mile and a half each day. This week,I'm walking four minutes, running one minute, and repeating. I'm trying to get in 25 minutes or 1.5 miles each day.

Now that I'm running four days a week, I'm trying to come up with some kind of exercise I can do two days a week, and then rest one day.

Also, just in the last few months, I had to get pants with a new waist size. This is the first time in years that I've had to do that.

So all of this stuff has encouraged me to exercise and begin watching my diet. I am determined to keep up the exercise and running this time. I've seen to many family members with adult onset diabetes and I don't want to join them.

Besides, exercise is supposed to help with depression.

We have Wii Fit and it's a blast.

I never thought I'd like diet drinks... :)

Good luck!

Tiffany said...

though every loathes jillian michaels (i'm pretty indifferent) i think her 30 Day Shred is pretty awesome. now, i don't do it every day, just days where time is tight or i can't get out or something because it's less than 30 minutes but totally kicks my fat arse.

Momma to the A's said...

Good Luck Casey!!

I also felt I needed to do something this fall when the scale hit an all time high. I kept putting on the pounds after I lost the baby in Aug. By the end of Sept. I knew I needed to do something!!

Besides workout (I joined the Y) the one thing that I did that really gave me results was tracking my daily calorie intake and trying to keep it at a certain number. I was amazed at how many calories I actually ate on a given day! It was hard at first, but once I did that I saw results! There is an app. on the iphone that makes it super easy if you have one.

Can't wait to see how your journey goes and where it takes you!

Monica said...

Do you have Wii? How about Wii Fit? I got the MJ dance game for Christmas and that is a FUN way for me to get my heart rate up. We are thinking about getting Wii Fit for those days we just don't make it out of bed in time to go to the gym.

Merry Mack said...

I want to join the challenge. I need join the challenge, but head injury recovery might keep this from happening. My favorite workout is the NYC Ballet workout dvd. Kicks your ass. Hard.

Nate, Abbey, Noah, Blaire and Tatum said...

Awesome and exciting! Can't wait to hear about it!

Chris said...

You're going to do great. Cholesterol..need to watch mine as well!

I look forward to following your success!