Oops.

I haven't counted calories since Monday. This is our confessions blog so it feels appropriate to tell somebody and "shame" myself into starting again. My excuse is that I was on vacation. Its a good one, right? Still...gotta get back on the wagon! No calorie counting AND no working out from Wednesday to Friday is no bueno.

Tomorrow. We begin anew tomorrow!

It is Resolved...

One of the aerobics instructors at my gym gave a little soap box the other morning about New Years Resolutions. The key one being that you shouldn't have a Resolution that involves a particular weight. I agree with that. She suggested something like, "I resolve to go to the gym 3 times a week" or something. I don't really have a problem hitting the gym regularly (though it wasn't always that way...) so I'm intending to focus my health resolution on counting calories.

My Resolution is to count calories 5 days a week. I'll use the MyPlate application on Livestrong.com, and not only count but set the goal to keep the calories consumed under the allowable amount (for my profile).

Here's to a Calorie Conscious 2011!

Post-baby 30 day shred

Lets be serious, I thought I'd be able to work out much sooner after having a baby. But balancing work and my high maintenance little lady has proven difficult. At 7 months she STILL isn't sleeping through the night and I've decided to stop waiting for that to happen and just make time to work out.

I've basically already lost my baby weight (which is something to celebrate) but I really had some weight to shed before that. I don't really have a goal #, more a goal size. A size 10 is my realistic goal--last time I was a 10 I was really happy there. That's where I was in high school. It's a good size for me. A size 8, for my body shape (very hippy) would be a dream. In pounds, for me, that means I need to lose about 35 pounds. Yikes. But doable. At 1 or 2 pounds a week I could be there by spring.

Anyway The Plan

We're really lucky to have a nice gym in our clubhouse here at the apartment complex -- good weights and machines and literally I can see the workout room from my apartment, it's so close it's ridiculous. And it has cable TV, TV is a major help for me when working out. So I plan on going over there and doing some running (on the eliptical at first and then outside when it warms up) and some weights too as part of my regular routine.

But I felt like I needed something to kickstart me. Something fast but effective (time is a premium here). Something I could do even if my baby's nap is short.

I've heard rave reviews from multiple friends about Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. So I bought it on Amazon. It was $8.99 and after buying I got a promotional $5 credit for a video on demand rental so in the end it only cost me $3.99. NICE!

I also got some small hand weights since I hear you need them for the video (and my RS triceps need them too..cough cough...).

I'm going to take my measurements in addition to charting my weight before starting and I plan on doing the challenge of 30 days straight (though taking off Sundays). I hear it's a real challenge but the fact it's short helps you stay motivated to just push through and do it. And online I see that it produces results--good toning. And that's what matters to me more than pounds dropped--inches matter more. Who cares what I weigh if my clothes feel good and I feel less flabby.

Anyway it should arrive later this week. I'm excited to get started.

Any tips? I'm thinking to take it easy--level 1, lots of pre/post stretching, and drinking plenty of water. Anything else? I'll be back to post my fitness confessions...update you on how it goes.

See you tonight at the Braintrust party, it should be fun.