I know I am a day early, starting this new 2008 thread on New Years Eve but I have decided that I want to end 2007 the way I hope to spend 2008 - moving.

I have also decided to re-start my 100 days of exercise challenge and I don’t know if it is because it is Monday, or if I just want to be different (aka awkward) but I have decided to start my new thread today.

Hubby is still on Christmas break but because he has decided to join the gym and get fit too we both got up early (well early for a non-work day) and went to the gym.  We had side-by-side treadmills and it was nice to be there together, although we both focused on our own workouts.  After using the treadmill hubby went to shower while I did some crunches.  After showering we sat in the lounge area and had a coffee together and chatted.  It was really, really nice actually spending time together.  He enjoyed it too so we are going together again tomorrow.

I am listening to the SMSM program again from the beginning.  I like to listen to KTV first thing in the morning to get my head in the right place as soon as I wake up.  Then I listened to CCC and DB whilst on the treadmill.  This means my work-out varies in length slightly from day-to-day.  I won’t hit the cooldown button until the DB has finished so if Scott is in the mood to talk then I will be walking for longer.

An amazing thing happened this morning when I started playing the SMSM podcasts, as soon as I heard the music I was like, “OK, let’s do this” My brain has connected that music to exercise.  How cool is that?!

I have decided to post my stats Judy-style;

Day 1

Treadmill
Duration:  29:31 minutes
In Zone:  24:41 minutes
Max Speed: 5.2
Incline:  0.0
Avg HR:  141 (74%)
Max HR:  152 (80%)
Calories:  280

Ab crunches 50

Good for you, getting a running start at the New Year!

hey I remember you!!!!! It is great that you are restarting your 100 days, hey, a New Year -it’s good to start out fresh!!!It is great that you got to incorporate your hubby into the gym routine, sounds like a nice time spent!!!!! Great job on day one!!!

Congrats on the new thread Joday!

Way to set up 2008, Joday!! And awesome that you got to workout with Hubby!

Bree

Thanks everybody. Wow, you guys are great. I have never been in such a supportive environment.

Day 2

Hubby and I were actually waiting outside the gym at 8.55am waiting for them to open. It was sooo quiet. In fact for our whole workout there was only us and two other people.

I spent quite a bit of time yesterday thinking about what I want. I want to be healthy and I want to be fit. I want to be able to live my life to the full. I have a picture in my mind of how I want to look (although I do accept that picture may change over time). Fortunately my gym isn’t one of those gyms that has the wall of mirrors facing the cardio equipment. As I was walking on the treadmill I started to imagine that I was in that new slim and toned body. And as I did I felt my head rising up, standing taller, feeling more confident and also having more energy. It definitely got me through the last 10 minutes of exercise.

Duration: 26:42
In Zone: 19:12
Max Speed: 5.2
Incline: 0.0
Avg HR: 135 (71%)
Max HR: 153 (80%)
Calories: 242

No resistance work so far today but did hold my stomach muscles in whilst on the treadmill and they are definitely a little sore now (good sore).

Good stuff Joday! I’m sure you will get there!

Go, Jo, go!!! 

That is so wonderful that your husband is enjoying the gym with you.  Now you can support each other on the way. 

Day 3

Hubby went back to work this morning so I went to the gym on my own. He went to the gym too, before work. I am so proud of him especially as he has a cold. He left the house at 6.30 but I couldn’t face it that early. Being a housewife I can go anytime. So I sat and had a cup of tea, sorted out the dogs and then got to the gym at a lazy 7.30 He was literally just coming out of the gym as I was going in.

I was a little sore yesterday so I made sure I stretched properly today before I got on the treadmill. I did the same visualisation thing today as yesterday - imaging my new body and imagining actually being in my new body. It really makes a difference to how I feel when working out. Also I was trying to make myself smile whilst walking so I could convince myself that exercise is something I enjoy. It’s a little weird doing that in a gym but I decided not to let my self-consciousness stop me. People may think I am a little weird now but when I have my new slim body they will all be BEGGING me to tell them how I did it! Then it won’t seem so nuts. (Well maybe...)

Duration: 26:26
Duration: 26:26
In Zone: 20:28
Max Speed: 5.2
Incline: 0.0
Avg HR: 138 (73%)
Max HR: 152 (80%)
Calories: 247

Crunches: 50

I had a little breakthrough with the food last night. I am not worrying about my diet at the moment. I can’t change it all at once so my focus is on the exercise (although my eating has become a lot healthier). We still have some Christmas-y food in the house including a cheesecake. After dinner hubby suggested we had some (some usually means half each). He went out and got his half and left mine in the fridge. As I got up a thought jumped in my head “Is this action going to take you to where you want to be?” As I walked to the kitchen I had an argument going on in my head.

- “Your not hungry”
- “But I want it”
- “But you don’t need it”
- “But I want it”

As I reached the fridge I knew I didn’t need it but I could also feel the sense of deprivation kick in. So I took the cheesecake out of the fridge and cut off the tiniest slither I could and put it on a plate. I sat down and eat it. It was only two mouthfuls but I made it last four. Then I just got on with my evening. I didn’t feel deprived anymore and to be honest it wasn’t even that nice (although normally that would not have stopped me eating the whole thing). I will have no problem throwing it out today.

Great job on the cheesecake, Joday. I know how hard that kind of rationalization can be but you did super by just having a tiny bit and not depriving yourself even though your husband was eating all of his share. I could never have cheesecake in my house as I would not be able to stay away from it. It’s my favorite of all desserts and most difficult to resist. You are really off to a great start and I wish you the bestest of luck and success in 2008! Keep up the great job!

I saw a program last night saying that exercise actually increases the receptors in your brain that make you more inclined to stop eating when full...in turn making you eat less.  I nearly fell off my couch in excitement.  so hey, keep moving and your body will work for you!!!

zookie - 02 January 2008 08:56 PM

I saw a program last night saying that exercise actually increases the receptors in your brain that make you more inclined to stop eating when full...in turn making you eat less. I nearly fell off my couch in excitement. so hey, keep moving and your body will work for you!!!

Yay, yay, yay!!! That is officially the best news I have heard this year!

You are really off to a great start and I wish you the bestest of luck and success in 2008! Keep up the great job!

Thanks Emmi. The encouragement I get from this forum really makes a difference.

Day 4

It’s snowing! I can’t believe it. It hardly ever snows here in the Uk. I realise that for some of you in the US snow has probably lost it’s “aah” factor but for me it is still a beautiful, mystical thing. Of course it always causes havoc on the roads. Because we are not used to it a couple of centimetres of the stuff causes the whole country to grind to a halt. But right now, sitting looking out of my window, it’s pretty.

I did my lower body workout before heading off to the gym this morning. I don’t like doing the resistance work at the gym at the moment. I feel like everyone is watching me and criticising me (which of course, I know they are not. They are focusing on their own workouts) so for now I am doing it at home. But at least I am doing it.

Duration: 25:54
In Zone: 19:50
Max Speed: 5.2
Incline: 0.0
Avg HR: 136 (72%)
Max HR: 153 (80%)
Calories: 237

Food was good again yesterday. I had a similar battle in my head last night that I did with the cheesecake (which I had thrown out). This time it was my old friend chocolate. Same thing of wanting it but not being hungry. So I had one square. I actually allowed myself two but ended putting the second one back after eating the first one really slowly. Once again having a little bit took away the craving and ended the feeling of deprivation before it had chance to begin without really adding too many calories. Small consistent changes ........

You’re doing great Jo! Keep it up!

Good Job Jo, snow we got tones of that here there is a lovely snowbank outside my apartment thats about 1/2 meter high.

It’s good to read your reflections, Jo. It’s so hard to distinguish between needing to eat and wanting to eat.

It’s only January so I’m not sick of the snow yet. It is blocking our mailbox out by the road so my husband has some clearing to do tomorrow (he has the day off). This morning it was colder than I’d like-- minus 5 F with wind blowing. Now that I could do without.

I am so proud of you!  You are doing very well.  And the reality is that sometimes people do watch each other at the gym, for a lot of different reasons.  Sometimes you may be doing some thing that they have never done before and would like to try or are thinking about incorporating into their routines.  Don’t let what anyone thinks get to you.  After all, you are actually in there and working!!!  We are so proud!

Hi Jo and Happy New Year!

You’re doing so well!  Congratulations on a great start to a new year and a new life.  I’m so glad that you have found the way to enjoy food, satisfy cravings and stay within your target food intake.  Thanks for sharing your discoveries.

Thank you so much everybody

lajeep - 04 January 2008 01:32 AM

I am so proud of you!

Thanks Lisa. I must admit I am quite proud of me too! Ooh that was hard to say. I was brought up to be modest and was taught that I shouldn’t boast or brag. It was very much the attitude of “So you think you’re special, do you?” To which the answer was no. That has meant I have spent my whole life telling myself I am not special. But no more! I am special. We are all special. And I am doing something to improve my life and that is something to be proud of. Amen

Day 5

Did my cardio on the elliptical trainer instead of the treadmill today. I got a bit carried away and my heart rate shot way up. So I had to really slow it down to bring my heart rate back down to 75%. But I had fun and I felt fine, so no damage done.

Duration: 28:08
In Zone: 23:37
Avg HR: 135 (71 %)
Max HR: 157 (83% oops)
Calories: 254

Well I have worked out for 5 days in a row so Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be my rest days. But I actually think I am going to miss the exercise. Hmmm I never thought I would say that. Have a great weekend everyone.

I have a confession to make.  I went to the gym!

I couldn’t stay away.  I feel so much better after going and I wanted to feel better.  Hubby wanted to go too so we went together and had so much fun.  Now we are home and we are acting like we did when we first got married.  It’s fantastic.

No resistance work today, just cardio.

Day 6

Elliptical
Duration:  31:15
In Zone:  29:53
Avg HR:  142 (75%)
Max HR:  154 (81%)
Calories:  309

Way to go Jo!(A new battle cry?)

joday - 05 January 2008 08:26 AM

Now we are home and we are acting like we did when we first got married.  It’s fantastic.

Hmmmm.  Anniversary Cardio (as Bree calls it) perhaps? 

Jo and Mr. Jo sound like they’re really enjoying getting fit!