And so it should only be a matter of time !!

This week has been quite good nutrition wise.

A typical day would look something like this (or some variation):

Meal 1
Supplements, Linseed Meal, Sesame Seeds
Rice Bran Flakes & Organic Corn Flake Mix
Rice Milk with added Chickpea Protein

Meal 2
Refried beans
Organic Corn Chips
Snow Peas

Meal 3
Steamed Potato & 1/2 tsp Rice Butter
Marinated Tofu
Baby Asian Green Salad

Meal 4
Nuts of some description
Green beans or snow peas

Meal 5
Home Grown Eggs
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Zuchinni, Carrots, Green Beans

I have broken out the ProTrack program too but as yet haven't had the time to set it up properly - will get to that shortly.

I've never ridden a bucking bronco and I've never taken a ride in a clothes drier, but I'd imagine this is how I'd feel if I had spend an hour doing either one. My 1st scheduled workout is tomorrow, thankfully. I'm so sore today after yesterdays workout with my brother and nephew. Fortunately it's my muscles and not my joints so I'm grinning a big smile... with the occasional grimace. I'm excited about my legs feeling challenged along with the rest of me. Looking forward to tomorrow's body renovations.

So I worked on my nutrition 'education' today and did pretty well I think given that I hadnt gone shopping nor had anything prepared. Here's what I did today. Would love some feedback, Julie :-)
1. 630am omelet (1 whole egg/1 egg white)w/ 1 Jimmy Dean turkey sausage patty/chopped, & 1 slice of cheese, cooked in about 1 tsp butter. 1 slice multi grain toast with about 1 tsp butter (butter is approx, I was careful to use the smallest amount possible for both the eggs and toast)
2. 9:00am scrambled eggs w/ diced potatoes (pretty sure they were whole eggs as it was a catered breakfast). The potatoes were obviously fried tho.

So for some reason I'm having trouble focusing in general. I don't know what it is for sure. But I've been procrastinating. I start planning out my meals on Protrack, but then I always stop short.

For the past few months I've been noticing my hair shedding more then normal. I'm only 22 this is not supposed to happen!!! Its to the point now that I have a bald spot(s). I've clogged the bathtub at least twice because of all of my hair that falls out when I wash it. I have been to my doctor and he told me so far he couldn't find any cause of it and there wasn't much he could do but refer me to another doctor. Tomorrow I'm making appointment to see a dermatologist. Hopefully then he can help me some.

I got to work out with my little bro and his son today. I don't get this kind of attention often, so I lapped it up. My nephew suggested reducing my lower body weights and doing them really slow, something he was directed to do for his sports injured knee (yes, whacked knees run in the family). I was pleasantly surprised with the happy burn my leg muscles finally got and no knee pain. I'll be looking forward to working those leg again. Between my Nephew and my Bro's cheer leading and slow motion lifting sessions, I got one primo workout. I'm sure my muscles will be vibrating with excitement and warmth for the next few days.

So I got my email & 'welcome' workout from Julia this morning. Since all I have are dumbbells and an exercise ball to work with at home for my resistance training, it took awhile to modify the workout 'assigned' to me with the alternates she had suggested. I really need to have that structure of knowing what I need to do ahead of time, so having the workout on paper was important to me to get started. I was kinda bummed that I had to go thru all that work to 're-create' my workout. I guess I thought GHF was going to do that for me? I'm going to have to do that now for each week of my weight training, so am not super happy about having to put the extra time into that when my time is already so tight :-( I'm sure it will get easier as I adapt and learn, but right now, for some reason, that piece of it is a little discouraging.

So I just signed up yesterday and wondering what's to come. Seems like I've been filling out tons of stuff already, like I do for my son each year when school starts! :-) As I look thru the website at all the resources I think "When will I have time to read all this stuff!" That's just how my mind works, but I'm sure I'll be spending many hours diving in deep to all of it. I'm totally addicted to finding out MORE about healthy living all the time, just wish I had more time to devote to it is all. My house is dusty, but I sure know alot about the enteric nervous system and how important it is your immune system! ha ha! Was never big on dusting anyways :-)

Most recent workout day
Incline Flys 15x30, 12x40, 12x40
Decline Bench Press 12x45, 12x65
Shoulder Press 12x30, 12x40, 10x50
Upright Row 15x40, 12x50
Bent over lateral raise 12x10
Shrugs 80x20, 80x15, 80x15
Kickbacks 15x15, 15x20
Triceps Rope Pushdown 15x40, 12x50
Oblique Crunches 40, 40
Cable Crunches 20x40, 15x50
eliptical xtrainer 25 min, L11, 3.6km, 440cal (Knees feel good)
stretches calves, quads, hips, spine, abs, shoulders, Shoulder and knees feels good
Finished with a 15 minute sauna and feeling pretty good

I'm back. I screwed up my blog account and Chad was nice enough to straighten it out. Thanks Chad! That will teach me not to edit my blog after a night shift. Next time I'll do it after I get some rest.
I had a couple of intense work outs with my younger brother this past week. In comparison, my brother is an athlete and working out with him means no cheating. I enjoy his company and admire his encouragement and confidence in me. He can always squeeze another couple of reps out of me often making me me squirt out a few tears... of joy and accomplishment, yeah, that's it.
I've started week five of my program and feel good about my cardio improvements and can feel and see the strength improvements. I don't have a scale, so I don't know what my weight is doing, but I'm finally down one notch on my belt. My only program modification is to reduce my cardio from 30-40 min. to 15-20 min. on days I'm doing mostly lower body exercises. I find it easier on my knees.

Hi guys,

Just checking in again as it has been a few days - sorry, but it's probably going to be a long one. So much has been going on, but I have been quite good I think - please let me know your thoughts - it helps me a great deal.

Anyway, I went away to Grafton (about 3 hours drive) this last weekend with my family and I was soooo good - I was very careful with what I ate (even managing the meal at McDonals very well I thought - more on that later) and I was as active as possible too.

So, when everyone was eating pizza or BBQ for dinner I happily munched away on my marinated tofu, tomato, cucumber & almonds.

Well, I made my big batch of salsa the other day and I had my tomato shortage dilema leaving it too "oniony" tasting, even after I let it sit overnight. It wasn't hot enough either. Today, I went to the grocery store to buy one tomato to dilute the salsa. Any my brother, our "head gardener" said that I didn't need to buy any peppers because there we plenty at home of all sorts. Earlier today, there was just a big jalapeno in it. I wanted a hotter pepper, like serrano or something. I'd only heard about the hotness of the habanero pepper. So, I thought I'd try it. It's a cute little orange thing. It looks far too precious to be hot. I'll post a pic, so you can see. Well, anyway, I was adding the tomato, added another jalepno and some other pepper that wasn't hot, then I added the petite habanero pepper. I like to use the tip of my tongue to determine the hotness of the pepper, they all seemed fine. Well, I washed my hands and now came time to taste the masterpiece and it tasted AWESOME. Then, I licked my lips. Bad choice. When the habanero peppers juice hit my lips, they swelled up. Turned a bright coral color. It felt like I had a second degree burn on my lips. It's crazy because my tongue was fine. Well, then I rubbed my eye. An even WORSE mistake. My eye then swelled up a bit, nothing crazy, it just felt thick. It was red and tearing very badly. My other eye itched and I chose not to rub it with my fingers, so I rubbed it with my wrist...I guess the hotness traveled from my fingers to my wrist. Now, just imagine this picture. A helpless gal with both eyes clampped shut with tears pooring out and bright swollen lips, walking around trying not to touch anything. hahaa. Oh gosh. After the interior burn went away, my lids just felt like . I washed my hands again and again, but even when I itch my nose, I can feel a burn. CRAZY! I should have used gloves! But, lil' ol' me loves learning the hard way.

Again, I'm feeling pooped. Not in a bad way, though.
Just sleepy again.
I'm going to make this one short and sweet as well.

1 - Wasn't hungry AT ALL, don't know why.
2 - Turkey Sandwich & Cottage Cheese
WORKOUT
3 - 3oz Chicken & half Pb Sandwich with Carrots (Weird, I know)
4 - Apple & Caramel dip (I've been having a BIG sweet tooth! And I know I should have had protein with that snack)
5 - Tuna & Green Beans
6 - Carrots and Cottage Cheese (Meal 5 was at 6:30, I'm tired, so I may not eat "6" but in case I do, I'll add it in anyway.)

Cal= 1309
Fat= 29g
Sat Fat= 7g
Carbs= 150g
Fiber= 20g

High Carb, Yayyyy.
Boy, I'm tired!
I'll make this short and sweet.

1 - LF Cottage Cheese & Banana and Strawberries
2 - Yogurt, Granola & Stawberries, side of LF Cottage Cheese.
3 - Apples and Caramel Dip, mmm.... (forgot protein!)
4 - Chicken, Potatoes with lil yogurt & Broccoli & Bell Peppers
5 - Celery & Peanut Butter (100%)
6 - 3 little Strawberries (Stayed up late and I had a sweet tooth!)

Cal, 1395
Fat, 35g
Carbs, 188g
Fiber, 23g
Protein, 105g

G'night! :D

...I was a little tired to post my nutrition.

You like my new pic? Haha. It's not me, but I took it the other day. I'll have to post some of my work, I think some of you might like it. I used to be a photographer, so you're not confused. Anyway...

So, here it is. And just so you know, I meant to eat more. I didn't finish my usual meals; I felt full. I had class from 5pm to 7:30pm, so I prepared some cottage cheese and carrots for the road. I FORGOT them in my fridge, darnit. Where was my mind, I don't know? At least my "dinner" was prepared when I stepped in the door. :) It's okay, I drank about 3 bottles of water to help with hunger pains that I felt at around 6:30pm, haha.... and also had about three trips to the ladies room. :D

Today I'm pushing for tighter "control" on my diet. In blogging our daily meals, what's the desired format?

Hi, I've been a member for 5 days now. I haven't posted anything or even started my workout because I was sick from the first day. I had a flu a few days back and tried so hard to get better, so I can begin this program.

I know it's a bad start, and unexpected too. I hate taking medicines, but I did this time because I wanted shift recovery. I feel so much better today, I know I can begin my cardio tomorrow.

I may have lost a week's time, but I have yet to lost my determination to succeed. I know if I'm going to get anywhere, I have to put a lot of effort into it. And I know I can, because I want to, because I have to, because I need to.

After just wanting to say forget it and come up with some lame excuse for quitting, I told myself one more time and then we'll see. Wednesday I did my usual workouts and then needed to get on the treadmill for 20 minutes, I kept finding other things to do to put that off, but finally told myself just do it. Got on and felt good, was able to walk a mile in less than 15 minutes and did 5 more to cool down, was hot and sweaty but felt good and just glad I gave myself that extra push. Yesterday was my day to let my muscles rest so just some simple work around the house and played bridge in the afternoon, gets me out of the house and was fun coming in 2nd place being that I'm the beginner in this group of life master bridge players. Today, back to the workouts and treadmill but feel ok right now and will get them done.

Kind of...

I have not been inputting my eats into ProTrack! Therefore, I haven't been keeping good enough track of my calorie intake. And I've been kind of eating "whenever" instead of 2 to 3 hours... I really don't think I've gone over 1500 Calories, but still, I don't like being confused about it. ProTrack is one of the most awesome things and I find it so extremely helpful. Sometimes, I just get "lazy". I don't know why. I was doing so well. What I do notice (and am really glad) is that before GHF, when I'd lose track of my diets or workouts, it would take forever to get back into the rythm of things...ya know...to get back on track? But, now-a-days, I find that I get right back on track so quickly and pick up right where I left off -- it almost doesn't affect me. As part of being human, we all have our days that we don't do so well. The last couple were mine. It's to be expected. What can you really do about it but fix it, I won't get down about it. I'll just do better within these next couple weeks I have left and work a little harder to make up for it.