iChan: Flourish in this 39th Best... Around... Round

This Past Week's Results The scale reads: 148 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. Reaching-for-the-Gold Goals I thought I was maintaining a cool 146 lbs. Nope, I gained some weight. On a different, brighter note, the fitness highlights of this past week were: Clocking in at least 10 minutes of physical activity on 3 days of the week Reaching 15k steps on a single day I'm slowly easing my way back to fitness gold. Habits After all the glory of fulfilling the PALA challenge, I did not keep up with the walking. I was hoping the challenge instilled the habit of walking at least 8k steps for 5 days out of the week to help me maintain weight. Nope, once the gold star system was out of sight and out of mind, the weight was out of bounds once again. Although I was successful in reaching my goal of completing the program, I can officially file PALA under the "(Mis)Adventure" category in the developing healthy habits aspect of the endeavor. Did you really make it a habit? I am gues...

Last Month's Results The scale reads: 145 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. I can't believe 8 weeks has passed already! Look what I have accomplished within that time: I've earned the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award ! See, I earned myself some golden stars! I could've technically had 7 shiny, golden badges of accomplishment, but I had forgotten to keep track of my steps while I was in Southern CA (The first week of the challenge). I think I actually did more walking during that trip compared to the last 7 weeks of this endeavor. I guess it was silly of me to initiate the challenge before going on the trip. Regardless, I'm content with the results because: I was able to reach my goal. I was dedicated to this endeavor and a positive result came of it. I got the award electronically . I wasn't going to dish out 6 buckos and some change to get the paper one with stickers and a badge. There were many stressful periods during the weeks, but I walked off most of t...

Results for Week of August 28 th The scale reads: 150 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. Miles this week: 32.72 mi. ADT Progress: 98.63 mi. Yikes! 3 weeks has gone by without logging my adventures. Outside of my virtual adventures, I've had grand in-person adventures with my closest friends back home in Southern California. It was quite a visit with the historic blackout that stretched internationally from Mexico, San Diego County, southern bits of Orange County, to even Arizona. This event turned into a bonding experience with my dear friends, Cynthia and Daniel. We traveled northeast to find a casino that served hot meals and dizzying chances at slot. I actually didn't touch any machines that evening. I just enjoyed catching up with Cynthia. Back to the virtual adventure: See Food Diet (Actually, It is Seafood) Image courtesy of The Maryland Store Good ol' ADT website exclaims, " At Grasonville and Stevensville you have entered Chesapeake Bay country where you h...

Results for Week of August 21 st The scale reads: 144.5 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. Miles this week: 33.04 mi. ADT Progress: 65.91 mi. Hurricane Irene wasn't the only Irene that started along the East Coast and made its way to Maryland. At least I wasn't destructive in any way or form along my virtual path. OK, maybe some mosquitos were slapped in the progress and I may not have realized there were some ants or other creepy crawlers that perished by "accident." Week 2 Results. Yay, the first 1up! I'm proud I reached 10k steps on 6 days out of the week. I'm surprised I conquered so many miles this week. There were more meetings this week that required me to be sedentary. My relatives are in town and that typically means more eating adventures. Where did I find the opportunities to sneak in these steps? Virtual Beer Tour Image courtesy of Great Brewers I should have taken a 7 mi. detour on the first stretch of my virtual walk to the Dogfish Brewery ...

Yesterday's Results The scale reads: 147 lbs. (Digital scale) Goal: 127 lbs. ADT Progress: 32.87 mi. Week 1 Results I virtually walked through an entire state! Mind you it's not a Texas-sized state, of course. On a side note, I don't know where I found the time and motivation to log in so many miles this week, but I am pleased. Growing up along the West Coast has made me ignorant of the East Coast. In my simpleton mind, Delaware appears to be swallowed up by neighboring states in physical and historical prominence. I had forgotten its historical importance of being the first state to ratify the Constitution (I guess I'm tipping my hat to the U.S. Mint for circulating commemorative coins of the 50 states in the order the state had penned their approval of this document so the general public can remember this bit of history?). Heck, I didn't know of its musical significance. Delaware's own native son, the astute entrepreneur Eldridge Reeves Johnson, ...

Today's Results The scale reads: 143 lbs. (Digital scale) Goal: 127 lbs. Image courtesy of Rick McCharles Webwalking USA . USA A-OK? A chance to traverse across America, the beautiful, without toughing out the elements and setting aside an $18,000 budget for the adventure? Where else but in America, or possibly Canada, could our family find such opportunity? That's why, whenever I see the Stars and Stripes, I will always be reminded of that wonderful word: flag! Ambulating across U.S. soil should instill greater appreciation/patriotism for the country, yes? OK, I'm rambling senselessly because I'm awfully excited. What is the new ambitious undertaking adding a sudden verve in my steps? It is conquering the challenge of (virtually) walking across the continental United States (from the Atlantic to Pacific) along the American Discovery Trail . That's 5,057 miles - one way - taking the southern route that goes through St. Louis. Image courtesy of about...

Yesterday's Results The scale reads: 146 lbs. (Digital scale - whoa oh, it's creeping back up. Darn you, Cici's Pizza Buffet ) Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 10731 steps (6047 aerobic steps for 69 minutes), 4.23 mi., 310 calories Susy made a good point about the horribly, palpable (because you can feel the midsection jiggle) possibility of slacking off on the daily activity level if I set my sights on a weekly goal. I'm banking on that magical gold star system I mentioned in a previous post to keep me in check. September will truly test my mettle with maintaining a weekly goal. There will be more grubbing sessions then and a wedding to top it off! Man, I'm reading around the interwebs to see if there's a healthy weekly walking-for-weight-loss goal; my 10k steps/day doesn't cut it for long-term weight loss. Why didn't I come across this article when I first started this walking endeavor? The line "If you are already loggin...

Today's Results The scale reads: 140 lbs. (Analog scale) Goal: 127 lbs. Reporting in: I'm still maintaining the weight even though mom's visiting and we grub a lot. Last week, I logged in a total of ~47,000 steps (~22 miles). Maybe I should set a weekly goal of steps/mileage instead of daily ones? What do you think? September's around the corner and I'm aching to start that calendar and getting even more physically active.

Today's Results The scale reads: 145 lbs. Ultimate Goal: 127 lbs. Mother dearest has been in town for about a week now and I've gained 2 pounds. Not too bad! We did the weigh in this past Monday and I weighed 143. That's a 12 pound difference from the end of last summer. I win! My wallet is feeling happy. It can now celebrate with a steak dinner <wink wink>. My mom and cousins are game to compete for another year. It's time to step it up and try something new to make sure I get closer to 127 next summer. The competition won't start until the end of my mother's visit. So... starting in September, I'm going to try and implement a gold star system (described by a blog I follow) to motivate myself to get in the 10k steps or doing some dance aerobic for 30 minutes+ a day (I didn't spend all that mulah amassing my fitness DVD/video collection for nuthin'!). Every day I accomplish this, I'll draw in a gold star on a calendar of sorts. S...

Today's Results The scale reads: 140 lbs. (Analog scale) Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 10005 steps (3434 aerobic steps for 29 minutes), 3.94 mi., 274 calories Other aerobic activities: Dance It Off and Tone It Up (10 minutes) Cheryl Burke's Disco Abs - Boogie Oogie Buns and Thighs (20 minutes) Leslie Sansone's "Cardio Slimdown" (20 minutes) Jane Fonda's Prime Time Walk Out (23 minutes?) Sleep and Food Mood Journal 4 Breakfast --Skipped-- Mood Before: -- Mood After: -- AM Snack Blueberry Light and Fit Pink Lady apple Mood Before: Tired and running on adrenaline. Mood After: Ready to go back to sleep. Lunch 2 chicken tenders (like the last couple of days) Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots Mood Before: Hungry. I need a more substantial meal. Mood After: Satisfied. PM Snack --Skipped-- Mood Before: -- Mood After: -- Dinner/Supper Chips and salsa Adobe Avocado (stuff avocado with chicken) Spanish rice Refried ...

Today's Results The scale reads: 141 lbs. (Analog scale - Yay! A new low on the analog scale) Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 15404 steps (6593 aerobic steps for 67 minutes), 6.07 mi., 451 calories Other aerobic activities: Jane Fonda's Complete Workout (35 minutes) Knockout Body (20 minutes) Sleep and Food Mood Journal 8 Breakfast Nature's Own™ Healthy Multi Grain with Peter Pan™ creamy peanut butter Raspberry Light 'n' Fit yogurt Mood Before: Forced against my will. Do I really have to eat breakfast? Mood After: Neutral. AM Snack Mango Mood Before: Pressured. Didn't want it to go to waste. Mood After: Shocked. It took me 21 bites to finish this "small" mango. Lunch 2 Lemon chicken tenders sans sugar and curry sauce Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with garlic and herbs Mood Before: Annoyed. Mood After: Satisfied. PM Snack --Skipped-- Mood Before: -- Mood After: -- Dinner/Supper 2 Lemon chicken tenders ...

Yesterday's Results The scale reads: 143 lbs. (Analog scale) Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 14821 steps (3796 aerobic steps for 39 minutes), 5.84 mi., 415 calories Other aerobic activities: Cheryl Burke's Disco Abs - That's the Way I Like It Abs (5 minutes) Paula Abdul's Cardio Dance (25 minutes) Sleep and Food Mood Journal 7 Breakfast Nutella™ on a slice of Nature's Own™ Healthy Multi Grain bread Mood Before: Reluctant. I have to force myself to eat? Just because it's breakfast? Mood After: Indifferent. AM Snack Blueberries Mood Before: Excited. Yay, antioxidants! Mood After: Skeptical. How long did I have this carton of blueberries? Lunch Yellow squash with garlic and herb Chicken fajita Mood Before: Rushed. The blueberries didn't hold me over. Mood After: Relieved. PM Snack --Skipped-- Mood Before: -- Mood After: -- Dinner/Supper Lemon chicken tenders sans sugar and curry sauce Cherry tomatoes Mango Mood B...

I've noticed through this logging of my hydration, sleep, and food that I'm a big-time Debbie Downer to myself. Whenever I'm getting all right sleep I subconsciously mess it up with inactivity or eating to combat some minuscule stress I'm experiencing (In my mind, I'm exaggerating how horrible my current dieting and exercise levels are). I will work on getting at least consistent hours of sleep, drinking more water (to keep me awake when it counts), and eating when I'm not an anxious wreck. I'm really a grumpy, anxious person as of late whenever I finish eating. I guess I am more of an emotional eater than I would admit. Yesterday's Results The scale reads: Didn't weigh myself today Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 11253 steps (6686 aerobic steps for 71 minutes), 4.44 mi., 319 calories Other aerobic activities: Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution (35 minutes) Sleep and Food Mood Journal 7½ Breakfast Kellogg's™ Fro...