Feeling fat

My tummy is getting larger!

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON JUNE 28, 11:18PM    

My Wife

Here is a nice picture of my wife Robyn with her dog Paco.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 20, 8:58AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	rooney3 said... Peter! Good to see you back on the blogs again. Say hi to the wife for me.
	Lora Sue said... Hey dude, where you been hiding??? Get back in the game, glad to hear you are still around.

Popcorn and life

Note to self: People who want to live a healthy lifestyle and lose weight do not eat popcorn while spending 4 hours watching Peanut League baseball games!!!

I was planning on going to the gym after work for my cardio day today, but my kids were picked up by their uncle and taken to his house for the day to play with their cousin. They want me to pick up the kids when I get off work and I feel too guilty to take the extra 45 minutes for me. So I'll MAKE myself do Tae-bo at home instead. I guess if I am really serious about this stuff I'll make lemonade when life throws me lemons. Oh and as a side note, the uncle left my 7th grade babysitter sitting at my house with no way home. UH HELLO!!!!! Good lord the poor girl, it's bad enough she has to watch my two fighting kids everyday, now she gets left behind with no way home??? I'm thinking I'll need extra cardio after the day I'm having

Here's to doing cardio and avoiding popcorn at tonights baseball extravaganza!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JULY 06, 11:30AM    

1 COMMENT:

Jeanie said... You should not feel guilty about taking time for you. We moms get stuck into the cycle so easily. He picked them up and it sounds like without your foreknowledge. Just tell him you have plans and you'll be a little late. It may look like lemons to you but that 45 minutes is time for you and it is important. If you're anything like me, that's probably the only time there is time for you. From experience, giving up one workout makes it easier to give up the next one. Even now, I don't let anything (except a true crisis) get between me and my exercise, even if I only have 10 minutes planned. It's just too important and I need to do what I can to make sure I'm healthy (physically and mentally) or I won't be there for them. You sound stressed and that planned workout will help you feel better. You won't regret doing it. Please do not give up your planned workout too easily.

Monday, July 5th

That's what it feels like--MONDAY!!! UGGG.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JULY 05, 7:58AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	LizziTish said... My husband uttered the same comment upon hearing the alarm go off for work at 5:30 AM today after enjoying a 4 day weekend. Ugghhh. lol!

Words of wisdom

If you've never checked out Skwigg's website you should...seriously. Some very good articles and information and she's seriously funny. Here's what I have to share today: http://www.skwigg.com/id5.html

I'm starting a body-for-life style of training. My sessions with my trainer are done and for now I can't afford anymore, so I'm gunna do this other thing for now. I can always add some of my trainers stuff in there and believe me I plan to incorporate walking lunges on some of my cardio days. I love those lunges. And for all you lunge fanatics (you know who you are) here's what my sadistic trainer had me do last time you do walking lunges only you do 8 counts on each leg (basically you walk forward for eight counts not alternating legs but starting with the same leg...) then switch. At the end or between sets you're supposed to do some plyometric jumping lunges. Yeah, I didn't have any energy or stamina for that one!!! But try it out and see how you like (or dislike) it. Kind of a different spin on 'em.

Have a great week and a great 4th of July!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JULY 03, 1:26PM    

	1 COMMENT:
	wendi said... It's a great site- and she is very entertaining!

Standard Mode

I've been working in standard mode since I got back from my vacation. I adjusted my calories up a little bit this week so I have a little more food at the end of the day. I'm eating 1600 cal's a day with a 40/40/20 ratio. I must admit I am liking standard mode a lot better. No more worrying that I'll fail so I enter stuff I didn't eat just to get the score. I'm enjoying yogurt (fat free/sugar free and just 80 calories)with grapenuts again. I don't stress out so much trying to get my fats down so low. I'm not eating high-fat food either. I'll have some flax oil in my protein shake or flax meal. I'm trying to make better food choices and not be stuck with chicken and rice and shredded wheat (which I still eat daily). I've been eating more salads with my chicken for dinner and it's helping.

I'm also changing things up a bit based on reading BFFM and I think I'm going to start BFL style training.

The same thing doesn't work for everyone and I think we need to figure out what works best for us and then stick with a plan that we're comfortable with. Everyone is differnt and that is what makes the PFA (how bout it for all these acronyms..) such a wonderful tool.

Have a great week everyone!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JUNE 26, 9:25AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	got2bme said... I'm on standard mode too! And I agree less stress, I too was one of those who just put things in just to get a passing score. If I could only be more healthy on the weekends I'd be set.. Something to work on I guess.. Take care,Angela

back to it

I've been totally slacking lately @ the gym and when I do that my food choices suffer as well. I had 3 - 4 weeks of barely hitting the gym. I did manage to walk a couple days while I was on vacation but that did little to offset the lasagna and crappy food I ate at the various attractions we went to. What's worse than the food at these places is the price that you pay for crappy food. Unbelievable. Anywho, I went to the gym on monday for a lower body workout and needless to say my soreness proves how out of shape you can get in such a short period of time. I'm hurtin' for certain. Tonight it's arms and I'm gunna try, try, try to get up early tomorrow and do my cardio. Next week it's no more try, try, try to get up early, it's do, do, do get up early and do cardio. I will shoot for one day and then I'll shoot for two, etc. I'm working in standard mode and keeping my calories constant based on info I read in BFFM (my vacation reading...no Harry Potter this year!!!). I'm going to see how this week works and see how my body responds.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JUNE 21, 12:22PM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	got2bme said... Hey there girly!! I was wondering where you went? I'm right there with you on the lifting thing!! But I'm determined to do legs tonight!! I agree with you on the price of the crappy food! And why is all the healthy stuff in the grocery store so expensive?!! It's a plot I tell you to keep the fat fat!!! Well time to get refocused!! you take care, Angela

Healthy Fats

I figure I'll post this here too since I haven't gotten any response on the Yahoo board. What are healthy fats and how do you get them, supplement form? or from food? I'm confused. I'm working in standard mode now and for the rest of this week I'm going to rotate my calories just like fat burning. I'm on vacation next week and my goal is to not blow up while I'm there (San Antonio). I know food will be a challenge at Sea World and Schlitterbaum but I'll try to avoid all the sugary, fatty fare that they sell there. The rest of the time I'll be at my parents house and I'm sure I can eat pretty well. I plan on taking some protein powder and some bars with me to help with breakfasts and snacks. I've set a weekly goal to walk at least 3 times for exercise only. Where my parents live is Hill Country and their subdivision is hilly, so it will be good for me to get out and walk a few mornings or evenings. Anyway, I've upped my fat percentage and I would like to know more about these healthy fats I've been hearing so much about.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JUNE 06, 8:44AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	Jeanie said... The healthy fats I use are fish oil and flaxseed oil. For fats occurring in foods (I don't need them in fatburning though): salmon, avocados, peanuts and almonds.
	lsep said... All the ones Jeanie listed are good. I started adding some extra virgin olive oil to my salads, along with some lemon balsamic vinegar instead of salad dressing. I just got back from vacation also, and it is a little challenging if you are on the road, so Good Luck. Do what you can which is still better than nothing. Lisa

training session

Last night I went to my trainer again and he kicked my butt as usual. I can actually walk right now but don't know if the extreme soreness is still to come or what. I love the fact that he keeps changing things up on me. Last night we added a couple new exercises and did some different things too. I asked him at one point where he came up with all this new crap. I think he likes to torture me. At the beginning and at the end we always do some calesthenics at the end of the session I had to do these box step things for 3 minutes and then instead of jumping rope we played basketball. That was fun and he actually worked up a sweat. HAHAHAHA!!! Anyway, there was a girl there that you could tell was in terrific shape, so I asked him about her. He said she just got done doing a show. She had an amazing body, I wish I had that much dedication and will power. Maybe someday....

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 17, 10:13AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	Margrock2 said... I asked my trainer if they get together every few weeks and think of new ways to torture us. When he shows me something new I tell him to keep going - he's doing great;) But it's fun to be challenged in new ways. Enjoy the torture! I have mine at 7 a.m. tomorrow:) Peggy

Getting it done right

YEAH for me, I finally got my resume done. I've showed it to a couple people to look over and one person even took it to get his started. I can search for jobs and hopefully get off this sinking ship, QUICKLY. I hope something good happens for me and I'm able to find a decent job around my area in the next month or so. I'm worried about taking a cut in pay but I guess you do what you can so you can get to the next level. So YEAH for me. The kicker, I actually did most of my resume myself. I had given all the info to someone to do it for me and he kind of started it but I didn't like the formatting or the content. So I used some of what he had and redid it all in a better format and totally revised the data. YEAH FOR ME!!! This is a HUGE step and I can say I did it myself (well 99% of it anyway).

I haven't been doing so swell eating and I think the stress of everything is part of the reason although i am to blame. I planned out my day today and I will eat to plan if it's the last thing I do. I already planned out my workout too and there will be no excuses. My kids are going to have to live with being at the boys and girls club after school for a little while longer tonight. We have to go to Mass tonight for May Crowning which is my favorite Mass of the year but I still have time to work out for 1 1/2 hours and get my kids, cook supper and make it to church by 7:00. Life is good!!!

Keep your fingers crossed that I find a new and improved job soon!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 10, 8:7AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	LizziTish said... Yeah you! Congrats on getting that resume done. When things get crazy for me, I pick a few things to make the priority (instead of trying to do it all). Either my eating is right, or my exercise is on, or my kids are all in the right place at the right time...you get my drift. Do what you can, as well as you can. This too shall pass. Good luck with the job search!
	illuminate said... Good luck on the job hunt! Your resume sounds great!

clarification

I guess I should have said, I wish I could afford more sessions so that I can go see him more often. I have 3 sessions left and will probably buy 3 more and hope that he gives me the buy 3 get 3 free deal I got with my first go round. I'll keep going once a month even if that means pinching pennies here and there. I'm hooked on him even if he does make me do stuff I don't like, such as burpee's and running stairs and these crazy football things called up/downs. I told him at the end of the work out yesterday that I really didn't like him at that moment and he laughed at me! Oh Yeah, it's all good.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 04, 8:16PM    

	1 COMMENT:
	Riotgrrrl said... Ask him if he does group sessions, you may be able to afford those. - T

Wish I could afford more...

Training sessions that is with my trainer. I love working out with him and he pushes me harder every time. We do walking lunges with a 15 pound body bar across my shoulders. When I first started we would walk down to the end of the first hall and back, we did that 3 times. The next time we went down around and back twice. Lately he's been incorporating more leg work so we're not doing as many sets of walking lunges. Last night we did one Super Sized set, down the hall, take a left down that hall, take a right and then all the way down and around to the steppers. On the way back i had him count them and I did 70. That's 140 total +/- one or two. By the time we were 3/4 done on the way back my legs were cramping up and this was the first exercise we did. We ran stairs, or I should say I ran stairs to you know--warm up. Anyway, I love working out with him and he's given me new focus even though the work situation is falling apart and I'm feeling like bringing in a litre of Jack Daniels could probably be mis-interpreted as a bad Business practice but may be worth it (I AM TOTALLY KIDDING HERE!!!!). The stress level here sucks and it's hard get out of my funk but my super duper workout yesterday did it to me and proved that working out is the cure for the blues!!! Take care all!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 04, 10:53AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	illuminate said... Your trainer seriously sounds great! I would miss that too. Guess its a good thing that I haven't had one, that way I don't miss it when it ends.. LOL! Oh and I am way impressed with your lunges! Keep doing it!
	redboxingirl said... OMG I totally get it. I've been feeling very self indulgent by having a trainer. I started out planning on buying 20 sessions to get a quantity deal, and somehow kept on going. Can I afford it? Hummmmmm, it depends on how you look at it. Luxury or investment in my health and well being? Since my husband has never asked how much he costs (don't think he wants realy wants to know...) I put a little bit away here and there to somehow buy my next 20 sessions. He's on vacation now, so I'll see how well I manage on my own. Try to remember what you do when you are training with him, and hit it hard by yourself, or with a motivated training partner who can push you hard. Good Luck!

Inspiration

Here's my inspiration for getting strong, lean, sexy legs...That means lots of walking lunges, one legged squat, hack squats, reverse lunges, toe raises, glute exercises, inner and outer thighs and I might just throw in a couple days a week of Mari Windor's Bun and Thigh sculpting. If you've never done this series it hurts bad!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 01, 4:42PM    

	1 COMMENT:
	Jeanie said... Those Winsor DVDs are awesome aren't they? My favorite is still the abs sculpting one but the legs is the next best one.

Time to start kicking it...

Yep, I've thrown myself enough of a pity party. I need to start dealing with the things that I can control and not worry about the things I can't so much. I can't help it my daughter wants me to pick her up early from the after school program, but I can control the guilt that I get from doing something for myself (working out) and letting her stay there for an hour. I can't control the crappy work environment...I can control myself and lately I haven't been...so it's time to put down the chocolate easter eggs and peanut butter and get my lazy butt back to the gym. Thank god I go to my trainer this week, he'll punish me for a good 60 - 120 minutes. Here's to making up for bad eating and no working out, here's to taking back all the progress I made and then gave back cuz I felt sorry for myself. Here's to finding it in me to work out at home when I have laundry to do and dishes to wash and kids who want to have me do none of the above. Here's to cutting out the BS and getting back into it. Here's to getting my resume FINISHED and beating the pavement to get a better job also!!!! I'm ready to Rock On....

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MAY 01, 10:20AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	redboxingirl said... Good for you. As long as you can get back on plan, and not let slip ups get the best of you, you will succedd at this. I live by the motto, seek progress, not perfection! Jan
	redboxingirl said... I also live by the motto "If Mamma ain't happy- ain't nobody happy!" It's healthy for kids to see that their mother takes care of herself. How else will you have anything to give to them? Don't ever feel guilty about taking care of your health!
	Jeanie said... Don't feel guilty about taking time for you. If you spend all your time taking care of everyone else, it's just not mentally healthy. I swore I'd never take my toddler to daycare but on Mondays he goes so I can have a few hours to myself. It is so important - don't berate yourself for doing what you need to do!

Taking a break

I'm taking a break from working out...I'm tired, phsyically and more so emotionally. We found out that our jobs are being eliminated and we've been reassigned to different jobs which I guess is good for now. I'm having a major attitude problem knowing that what we do and how we've handled the customer for the past 10 years (2+ for me) just doesn't matter. I work on a computer support desk...I don't have a babysitter this week either and it's a pain relying on my ex husband for help. So, rather than frazzle myself even more trying to fit in my workout, I'm going to take the week off and not sweat it. I need to recharge my batteries and chill. I'll be ready to hit the gym again next week. Here's to hoping I come back stronger. I have 7 weeks till vacation and I really want to be able to fit in my shorts better.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON APRIL 26, 9:35AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	Riotgrrrl said... I have found that when I take a needed break for a week, I actually make better progress, not worse. I'm sure you will find the rest will give you a boost. - T
	RBinMS33 said... Sorry to hear about the work situation. I think you're doing the right thing in taking a break. Wearing yourself down even further will only hinder your progress in the future. Enjoy the break and good luck with work!
	got2bme said... I'm sorry to hear about your job situation. A break will do you good, sometimes we just need to refocus our energys. Hang in there I'll keep you in my thoughts!!Angela

Basmati Rice, working out and cookies...

I went to Sams Club the other night after my rocking 2 hour workout with my trainer to see if I could find some Jasmine rice which I know I've seen there before. Well of course, just like the low fat peanut butter they used to have, it's not there. So they have this huge 20 pound bag (yes, I really did say 20 pound bag) of Basmati Rice. The bag says it's aromatic, so I figure what the heck, I'll try it. Well I'm sure it's not the same as Jasmine rice but I love it. It smells pretty good cooking but it is the tasties rice I've ever had. It's fluffy and white and a weird shape compared to brown rice. It's awesome and all weekend I ate it plain by the bowlfull. This would not happen with brown rice, I had to mix hot sauce and beans in with that stuff just to get it in me. I love the Basmati rice with a little butter buds or even plain. YUMM!! I guess it's a good thing I like it, I have 20 pounds minus 2 1/2 cups to eat.

I was in a really, really crappy mood on Wednesday and I had to go to see my trainer when all I really wanted to do was crawl into bed with some chocolate and forget life for the evening. I had the most amazing workout with my dude though. I was all over that gym, pushing my legs to the exreme. I loved it and even did the stairmaster for 20 minutes afterwards. I felt great and can't wait till I go again. It's gunna be arms next time though. :( I so like the way I push my legs when I work out with him. When I got on the stairmaster thingy one of the guys who was on there said "take it easy on her, you've had her all over this gym today!!!" You gotta love it!

We made cookies this weekend and I ate way too much dough and way too many cookies and I all but voided out the above mentioned two hour workout. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. OK now time to learn from this mistake and move on. I'd rather have my hard work pay off instead of undoing the weekend damage. I know it, now I've just got to stick to plan. Have a great week all!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON APRIL 10, 6:41AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	illuminate said... Your trainer sounds great! LOL @ the Sams size bag of rice.. Whats funny is that I bet you will see that bag finished! I eat so much rice with this diet I go through lots of boxes. I've been doing boring brown for a while now, I may switch up too!
	RBinMS33 said... Sounds like you had an awesome workout! I too buy the large bags of rice. It may seem like a lot at the time, but you'll be surprised at how fast you blow through it.

Changing tastes

I've been dying for a steak for a while. Last night we had steak and turkey mignon. My daughter got most of the steak b/c she didn't want the turkey. I had the outter ring of the rib-eye and all I could think was eeewwwww. It tasted so fatty and that was with all the visible fat removed. I've gotten so used to eating Chicken 24/7 that beef just tastes fatty to me. I'm thinking next time I get steak I'll just get a sirloin or something that doesn't have the marbled fat or maybe a fillet would be nice since they seem leaner than a rib-eye. Today, it's back to the old standby baked chicken. It's getting warmer in Central IL so I'm looking forward to grilling out more often. That will be sweet, I can make bbq'd chicken if I can find a low sugar/sodium bbq sauce I can even put a little sauce on there. Life is good...

Working out is going OK. Looking forward to no sick kids this week and being able to lift hard M-W-F and do a little cardio in there too. I go to my Trainer on Wed so that's a 90 minute workout guaranteed. I'm still only at two Cardio a week so that's cool.

Sat morning I weighed in at the lowest weight I've been in quite some time, then I did some damage over the weekend and that coupled with PMS'ing I promptly gained 4 pounds back. I don't want to keep losing the same 2 pounds over and over and over so my goal for this week is to have one relaxed meal (NOT CHEAT MEAL) on Sunday and eat to plan every other day. Here's to losing that 4 pounds this week.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON APRIL 03, 11:41AM    

*** Teams Coming Tomorrow ***

Starting April 1st you'll be able to create or join a team of up to four players and compete against other teams.

The sledding picture is of my kids and the neighbor's kids. More details to follow...

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON MARCH 31, 6:24AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	RBinMS33 said... Kewl deal!

Help!! I can't find the gym...

That's about the truth of it. I drive past it or I work at it. The gym that is. I just haven't been working out lately. Last week my week was all upended with my daughter getting strep and my trainer putting me down on the wrong wednesday. So I did the best I could. This week is supposed to be my week where I can work out heavily. I usually only have to work at the gym on Mondays and figure I have every other day to work out. Well it's not working out so well for me so far. First of all my kids are on Spring Break and their fathers girlfriend is watching them, which is a first in almost 3 years. I don't have the time to fit in my whole workout cuz I feel like I need to hurry up and go get them after work. Second of all my daughter has named herself the "king of strep throat" as she has passed it to her little brother (not mine) and now to her older brother (mine). It's frustrating and I am praying that I don't end up with it. Tonight is my Monday Cardio (yep, a few days late) and then abs. Tomorrow is arms, Friday is Legs again and some more cardio if I havent' lost my two pounds for the week. I was able to work out on Sunday and get my legs in...I was just looking forward to hitting the gym really hard again this week after last week and it doesn't seem like I'll "get 'r done" Next Wednesday I go see my trainer and I'm looking forward to getting pushed to the limit with him. It will have to be a leg day.

All in all through fat burning I'm down a couple pounds and a couple inches but my body looks different. The fat is in a different shape I guess you could say. I've decided that my butt and upper thighs are where at least 60% of my body fat is...My thighs are getting rock hard and from my belly button up things aren't too bad either. I wish I could get rid of my love handles, that would make wearing clothes so much easier.

OK so enough babbling, I actually have a question. What is Jasmine rice? I've seen it mentioned in the blogs here and while shopping at sams one time they had a 10 - 15 pound bag of it for very little money. Just wondering what it is, what it tastes like, etc. Have a great Wednesday everyone! ~Kim

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 29, 6:12AM    

2 COMMENTS:

RBinMS33 said... You just need to get back into your routine. Once you do that, you'll find that gym again. I was actually considering taking this week off but I'm scared it'll be that much harder to get back into it and for the first time in years, I actually look forward to my afternoon weight sessions. If you haven't tried the jasmine rice, you really need to. I started off with the Mahatma brand and followed their stove top directions (turns out I had always added too much water to mine before) and turned out some awesome rice! Cindy's right, it does have a good aroma to it and I could actually eat it plain. I don't use the Mahatma anymore cause I was going through about 2 lbs a week. Rach actually picked up a bag at Walmart the size of a pillow last time she went....good stuff.

1/2 pound up, no exercise BLUES

I've had a pretty unfortunate week with regards to my strength training. I worked out Sunday-YEAH! Monday was my cardio day and I would have done some lifting too but my daughter had strep so I was at home with her. I did manage to do my tae-bo at home though. Wednesday I was supposed to have a training session with my PT but he wrote the date down wrong and made it for next Wed (which I can't do...). Instead of working out in this foreign gym by myself I went shopping for my son's 9th birthday presents. Tu/Th I worked at the gym so those are typically non-workout days for now at least. I'm going to the gym today after work and while this would normally be cardio day I'm putting that off till tomorrow. I need to lift and I won't be able to lift again until Sunday. I can do Tae-bo at home any old time so my goal tomorrow will be to get up when my kids wake up, get dressed and pop in Billy Blanks for some kicking and punching.

Last week I worked out like a banshee, working hard on Sun, Tu, Wed, Fri & Sat. This week I feel like a slug and I don't feel stronger and certainly don't feel leaner. Next week I'll be back to my schedule with my kids that works better for lifting/exercising. I'm thinking about keeping my calories where they are for another week just because I know I could have done better this week. Another week of good hard lifting will do more for me than cutting calories and adding more cardio. I'm thinking in order to really start losing week after week I'm going to lower my calories eventually and add more cardio, I'd like to put that off for at least another week. I guess the saving grace is my weight is only up a pound and that's cool.

Have a good weekend everyone!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 24, 10:1AM    

Training part 3

I'm going to see my favorite workout dude, my personal trainer tonight! I look forward to being good and sore for the next 3 days. Bring it on, bring it on!

My food has been pretty good and pretty clean except Sunday was a total disaster. I was hungry and didn't really have it in me to eat the same food I've been eating all week. I know Sunday's are a little more lax (b's vs a's) but I didn't have chicken in me. Anyway, my weight didn't suffer for the bad decisions and I started the week where I pretty much ended up. I've always started the week a pound or so up, losing and gaining the same 2 pounds over and over and over...It's a good feeling to start a new week where you left off the previous week.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 22, 7:13AM    

1 COMMENT:

klbandit said... I know what you mean. I'm still trying to lose the 2# I regained after my weekend free for all. I had forgotten how much damage 1-2 days can be for my metabolism. I'll think twice and pass the next time I'm tempted to veer from my plan. It's just not worth the extra work. My weekend extravaganza jeopardizes my goal of losing 1# this week and hitting my other targets. What a waste.

hope it pays off

Here's to hoping ALL my HARD work pays off. I did cardio twice this week, worked my legs twice and my arms once and my abs twice (arm day is ab day but I threw abs in after cardio one day). Today I was able to add the bar back to my walking lunges. No hip flexor pain at all. YEAH!!! This next week will be a struggle cuz I'm scheduled all three days at the gym that I don't have my kids. I'm supposed to go see my trainer on Wed and as of now I don't have anyone to work for me :( I'm gunna have to reschedule for some other day if I can't beg one of the HS girls to work for me. I feel great and food is going good. I've realized that if I eat super, super clean and work out hard the weight inches down. I'm going to answer no on Monday since I lost the two pounds this week and I know this next week will be a struggle for me to work out as hard. Tomorrow is measurement day and I'm praying to the thunder thighs goddess that she's taken a little more off of there for me. After all I've been a good girl...

As kind of a side note, I did Pilates the other night. I've never been super flexible and as much as I have tried I can't get much better. I haven't been doing Pilates for quite some time now...what do I find out the other night? All this weight lifting is making me less flexible. I couldn't believe it. What gives? I need to add more Pilates back in just as extra to help lengthen out the muscle that I'm hopefully putting on.

One more thing, I was talking to the owner of the gym where I work last night and I was telling him that I saw the Champion Fitness sign down at the gym that I go to when I see my trainer. He has a CF Physical Therapy location in the same complex. The gyms aren't affiliated with each other in any way but he's got some connections there or something. He was telling me that he can get me a gym membership there. He said I'd still have to pay for my personal training sessions but he can get me a gym membership. They have all kinds of cool classes down there I could take too. He'd had a BUNCH of St. Patrick's day drinks but hopefully he'll remember. Can you say EXCELLENT!!! I'm all for free stuff.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 18, 1:48PM    

workout??

Why is it when I work out with my trainer I feel like I've accomplished so much more than when I do almost the exact same routine on my own? I pushed myself and I know I'll be feeling it tomorrow but I feel like I exert more energy when he's pushing me.

My fat pants have a little more space in them cuz there's less of me to fill them up. Also today I was able to wear one of my clingy sweaters that I haven't worn since late last spring. WOOOHOO. I hope my downward trend continues. (knock on wood...)

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 15, 6:52PM    

	1 COMMENT:
	got2bme said... Congrats on the sweater! Yet another way to measure our success!! I have a whole tub of clothes I can't wait to fit into!! Keep up the good work

Highest Score ever

Today I planned my food out and I wound up with a 102.3, I do believe that's the highest score I've ever got. The great thing I already have all of the food cooked except for my brown rice and I need to cook up a small batch of that to have on hand. Life is good.

Today is my cardio day cuz I couldn't drag my butt out of bed yesterday AM and only had 40 minutes in between jobs to get errands done. No double work again until Friday but I'll still be able to fit in my cardio on Friday since I'm taking 1/2 vacation day Friday afternoon anyway. I wish I was a morning person but the truth is I'm not and when I get deeper into fat burning and I have to do double cardio's or switch things up and do it first thing in the AM it's going to kill me.

The scale isn't moving too much but for some reason my clothes (OK they're still my fat clothes but getting out of these is the first step) are starting to fit better and I don't feel so darn large and in charge. It's great motivation to keep on keeping on even if the scale isn't reflecting what I feel.

It's cold but sunny here in Central IL today. The wind has been blowing like crazy for the past 2 days. Part of my roof blew off in the storms we've had the past couple days. At least it's sunny!!! If it were only warm...

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 14, 6:42AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	RBinMS33 said... I'm not a morning person either so I feel your pain. Having said that, I will admit that even when I feel tired getting on the treadmill, I always feel ready to take on the world when I get done. Gotta love that endorphin rush!!

1/2 inch less of the Thunder thighs

My thighs are .5" smaller than they were last September. WOOHOOO. I've been complaining about my thighs and my butt non stop. Finally they're moving in the right direction instead of up like they did in conditioning. Thank god for 1/2 inch miracles. I'm no where near ready to get into my way too tight jeans because of my fat butt but there's hope after all.

I'm going to the gym as soon as my kids go back to their dads. It's arm day. My legs are back in business after going to my trainer on Wed but the muscles are still tender. How weird is that. 4 days later and they're still not ready to be trained again. Maybe running on friday had some impact on them too??? I'm gunna try to fit in Tae-bo this afternoon too, maybe. I have a heck of a mess to clean in this house and I'm trying to clean out the spiderwebs in my basement too. I know priorities but here's the thing I'm getting up at 5:00 AM tomorrow to do my tae-bo. I'm gunna be tired as hell all day but I've got no other choice. I have to get my cardio in and that's the only time in my day tomorrow!!

It was awesome here in Central IL this weekend. I actually turned my heat off yesterday and had the windows open! WOOHOO, it'll be short lived as it's supposed to get in the 30's again later this week. :( March is crazy in IL, warm one day, freezing the next. My spring bulbs are pushing up their little green stems and I am ready for the cold weather to be a memory. Happy Sunday everyone!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 12, 11:43AM    

Hurt again

I went to workout with my trainer yesterday and I re-injured my hip flexor muscle again. It didn't pop this time but it did cramp up and then it felt extremely strained. Did finish my walking lunges but with no body bar and had to be extra careful when the right leg was extended. This was at the very beginning of my workout and managed to power through everything else. The trainer added some one legged squats and showed me some step backs or something that I couldn't do because of the lunging action but will for sure add when it heals up. I added cable crunches too. I worked harder than I have in forever and feel good today (except the hip flexor) starting to get sore now and imagine by the end of the day and in to tomorrow I'll be walking more gingerly. For anyone that is thinking about hiring a personal trainer I say at least check it out and give it a try. My trainer stresses form and he is there to push me to exhaustion. I love it!! Anyway, the gym I work at has a big Physical Therapy department and I'm going to ask one of the Therapists what I can do to get this thing healed and keep from injuring it over and over and over again. Another one of the perks of working at the gym.

Food is going pretty good so far this week, but for some reason I am starving today. Have a super busy week so planning will be key for me. I have to work tonight at the gym and tomorrow night at the bar, that's in addition to working my "real" job. I have a refrigerator full of mashed potatoes, spicy mixed beans and chicken breasts. I also have Turkey Lunchmeat (please don't beat me up for this, I like to have sandwiches, I CANNOT eat chicken and beans and potatoes or rice 2x a day everyday!!!) I need to plan well and then just do it.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 09, 10:40AM    

1 COMMENT:

illuminate said... I was looking forward to your next session with the trainer! I'm glad he worked you out good, sorry to hear about the hip. It is so annoying to have those nagging pains all the time.. I'm sure its not the same but I am prone to shin splints and it takes FOREVER for that nagging pain to leave! Can you possibly post your spicy bean recepie? I need to do something different with mine and that sounds pretty good. :)

Round Two

I'm going back to my trainer tonight for my second meeting. I haven't been since my original consultation on Feb 4. I was supposed to go two weeks ago but got the flu and couldn't make it. I've been hampered by injuries and haven't been hitting the weights too hard lately. I popped my hip flexor last week which made walking painful. I also did something to my shoulder, or maybe it's the changing weather, I don't know but it's extremely sore. I'm hoping it's a leg night tonight and hopefully with A LOT of stretching I can avoid re-injuring the hip flexor. My lower body needs the most help!!! Also, my trainer wanted me to do some calesthenics after I work out each time. Like burbee's, running stairs, box jumps and jumping rope. Now I don't know if you did burbee's in gym in grade/high school but I hated those then, let alone add about a bazillion pounds and 25 years on to me. I haven't done them once, well I tried once and did 5. Our gym doesn't have a jump rope either, nor does it have stairs. I'm pretty much gunna get the wrath of "the trainer" on this one. I'm looking forward to him pushing me to the limit though tonight. The first time I worked out with him my entire body was sore for 3 days afterwards. Every muscle (we worked the whole body) in my body refused to work. I'm looking forward to not being able to go up and down the stairs again! Bring it on Big Mean Personal Trainer Dude!!!

I got my highest score so far today, a 96+. Still can't get to the 100 mark but I'm pleased with my food today and hopefully I can eat to the plan that I did yesterday. Also I did a custom entry on my shredded wheat...I think this has been messing me up calorie wise this entire time. The entry from the PFA doesn't have enough calories for the ratio's and I've kind of known that for some time...yesterday I did a custom entry and I'm hoping that this helps me with my left over calories I have every single day. I always have calories left yet my fats, carbs and protiens are maxed out--what gives? I can add a bud light in there and get a better score? I've known that fact since my last rotation and actually drank the beer then. Now I'm not going out (very often) and I don't have beer at home so I suffer with the deficit. I'm not one of those fanatical 103 score people which is good since I can't master a 100. I'm happy with my 96+! Yeah for me!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 08, 6:22AM    

1 COMMENT:

RBinMS33 said... The reason you have calories left over is there's a mismatch in one or more of your food items when it comes to total calories vs. total grams of P/C/F. Go to your menu and click Nutritional Info, then click on Fiber. Click on the highest food. Now crosscheck the calorie vs. grams by taking the Protein and Carb grams and multiplying by 4 and the Fat grams and multiplying by 9. That should equal the total calories. If not, you need to change the carb grams to match or do as I do and change the calories to match the P/C/F values. This will take care of your mismatch.

dumb, dumb mistake

OK, week before last I had the flu and got my first fail for fatburning. Determined last week to jump back into it despite not being able to eat any meat for two days and managed to do good. Well this weekend I had a total dumb moment and I forgot to get on the internet at all yesterday to enter food from saturday. I remembered this morning while getting ready for work. SO now I've failed two weeks in a row and I feel like a total dumb @$$. So now it's 2 strikes and one more strike and I'm back to conditioning. What on earth was I thinking?? Good Lord. I'm thinking I'm just going to enter my food for saturday on friday just so i don't get caught in this situation again. OH well, life goes on.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 06, 10:16AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	LizziTish said... Same here...in fat burning I tried to always be sure Saturday's food plan was in there...if I ended up changing things and didn't make it back in before Monday, at least I didn't fail the week.
	RBinMS33 said... I used to have the same problem. Now I plan ahead and enter my week in as early as possible. If I need to, I can change things up as I go along but I try to at least have a base to work from so I don't end up not being able to enter anything.

Flu weight loss, Popping Hip Flexor and lent...

I lost 6 pounds when i had the flu and my only goal is to not gain it back and so far I don't think I have. I haven't weighed myself since monday though.

I was finally able to work out again last night after a week + off with the flu and running around with my kids for 3 days. I decided to lift weights and make it a leg day. I felt good and really strong for not working out for so long. I was doing my walking lunges with a 15 lb short curvy barbell on my shoulders when I lunged and felt a pop in my hip flexor. I knew right away something was not right. It immediately started hurting. Now it's very tender and sore and I'm wondering how I can get this back to normall in one week. I go see my trainer again next wednesday night and I really want to make it a leg day with him since that's my biggest area in need of improvement. How did this happen and how can I fix it?

My other dillema for today and every friday from now until Easter, I can't eat meat and I'm not a big fish eater either. I usually give my kids cheese pizza for dinner but I can't fit that in during fat burning. Peanut butter sandwiches won't quite work either? I don't want to drink all my protien but whats a good Catholic girl to do?

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON MARCH 01, 11:7AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	DebC said... Maybe an egg beater(or egg whites)omelette filled with veggies. Can't think of anything else right now. debbie
	wendi said... Try a light fish like Tilapia or Sole and flake it in a salad with salsa- you won't even taste the fish.

This site now running on new hardware

Joe the IT genious and I (PFAPete) have just moved the PhysiqueTransformation site to a new server in a new hosting data center. The rocket at the right is my U.S.S. Atlantis that I built in 9th grade (1979) and just shot off about a week ago with my kids.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON FEBRUARY 25, 8:39PM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	thejrc said... I still love ya pete..... ........rocketman........

the flu

I've been sick with the flu for the past two days and even today am not even close to feeling 100%. My question is this, I'm in my second week of fatburning and don't really want to flunk already. What do I do obviously I'm not eating anywhere near what I"m supposed to eat...PLEASE HELP!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON FEBRUARY 23, 8:48AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	DebC said... Don't worry about FB if you are sick. As you feel better, start trying to eat the ratios/calories it tells you. Hopefully, you will be up to par by Monday. You will fail this week. But that is ok, you are still in the game. Rest and get better!!
	illuminate said... Kim~ Dont panic. I caught the flu during my fat burning as well my last rotation.. You will prob fail this week. You get 2 other fails so you should be just fine! Rest and relax.

Fat burning, Valentines Day & That's what friends are for

Yesterday was the beginning of fat burning and so far I'm not craving fat(i.e. peanut butter by the scoop full) like I was the first time I was in fat burning. Maybe those cravings will come back later or when I'm PMS'n. Forgot to weigh myself yest morning so I guess the weight today will be where the bar is set. I feel I'm doing pretty good foodwise although I have to cut out my clif bars after they're all gone (too much sugar...) BOOHOO! That's alright, I'm digging shredded wheat and cheerio's these days. My mood was really down today. I've decided that Valentines Day is a sucky time to be alone. Even though I just told my crappy ex-boyfriend that I was happier with my life now than I've been since I got divorced today still stunk. A girl friend of mine sent me some flowers to up my mood. That's what friends are for.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON FEBRUARY 14, 7:25PM    

Testimony of this program's effectiveness and education

This is pfapete. I took a little break from the PFA program because Ric is making me work 16 hours a day to finish Fitness Leagues Teams :) but I must say that my body is still showing the positive results from my adherance to the program's principals. I weighted in two days ago and I came in at 187, just 2 pounds above my all time low weight (down from 204 or so). Even though I'm not currently doing the program the education has continue to guide my eating habits.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON FEBRUARY 09, 12:7PM    

	1 COMMENT:
	wendi said... And when FL is done (not that that's really an excuse! ;-) you can get back on it and continue to improve your body, your health and your life. Keep up the great work!

The training session

OK, so if you've been reading my past blog entries you know I was hiring a trainer. Saturday was the day with "the trainer." First I must say the Gold's Gym is way, way bigger and nicer than my gym. Also a little bit more intimidating. I met my trainer around 9:50 on Sat and he had me go do some cardio to get my body warmed up. At ten I headed down to join my new buddy. He asked me some questions (what I do now, how many meals I eat, etc) and asked what I wanted to do. Basically I wanted to learn the whole body even though I alternate upper/lower body days. So we began, we had to find things that I could do in my gym with the limited amount of equipment that we have vs this huge warehouse of a gym. We got the lower body done (smith machine squats, walking lunges, leg press, glutes, inner/outer thighs and calves)...About midway through my upperbody I felt like i was gunna pass out and get sick. ICK! I've never felt like that working out. Well after releiving myself of my morning protein shake I was able to finish my upper body and abs but wasn't able to do the calisthenics afterward. It was a good hard workout and hiring a trainer was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I've got the tools necessary to continue working on my own until I go back to see him.
That's the nuts and the bolts of it all. So after I worked out I'm feeling good...Woke up Sunday morn a little sore, buy Sunday afternoon and on into Monday, I'm in full blown lactic acid overdose. Every muscle in my body hurt like hell. Doing laundry and tucking my son in bed involved steps which my legs did not want to navigate. I walked like i had a severe problem, it hurt to do anything. But honestly, I can't wait to go back and get a kick butt lower body workout in. Maybe he'll throw in some more lunges.
On another note i told him about this diet (had to disclose that in my ?'s) and he was going to check it out. The only thing he asked me about was the massive amounts of carbs I was ingesting? Didn't make sense to him to load up on carbs in conditioning to try to strip them away in fat burning. Can someone please explain this to me??
And lastly, this is my final week of conditioning and I'm so looking forward to fat burning. I can't wait to do cardio and try to slim my fat butt and thighs down. Didn't gain much in conditioning and I'm hoping that once I hit fatburning I can hit my stride early!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON FEBRUARY 07, 11:13AM    

thunder thighs and the countdown

OK. My thighs are the only measurement that refuses to go anywhere but up. More muscle--I think not. More fat. My fat pants are tight and all I can think is Oh thank god only two more weeks of conditioning and I can start fat burning and cardio. This diet is making me delirious. I don't like cardio, I happily skip by the cardio machines in the gym and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to do it and I"m looking forward to it. Good lord what's wrong with me. Oh now I remember what's wrong, I can't even fit into my fat clothes. Today I'm tugging my sweater down to cover my butt and it's not working. So I'm just hoping to make it through the next two weeks and then start melting fat in stage two. 4 days to go till I get to meet my new BFF, my personal trainer. Oh how I hope I don't have to explain this diet to him...Please lord let him be mortified with my thighs that that's all he'll want to fix!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 31, 1:38PM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	illuminate said... You will make it through the next two weeks! I have to admit that I am kinda having fun skipping the cardio too, but like you my fat pants are too tight and I am *almost* looking forward to a good cardio session.
	got2bme said... Here let me cheer you up.. I had on some pantyhoes the other day and figured I could manage eventhough they didn't quite fit right a bit low in the crotch area due to chunky thighs. While a t work everytime I sat down they ripped by the end of the day when I got home I discovered my whole butt was hanging out of them. LOL.. What could I do but laugh and like your self dream of the FB stage.. 3 more days to go!!!

Krispy Kremes--and the appointment

OK, We have too many people having birthdays this month. I don't know how many of y'all have ever eaten a Krispy Kreme donut but I believe it's the most perfect donut in the universe. We've had them at work twice this week. Damn birthdays anyway. So today I successfully avoided them for 3 hours. I figure it's rude not to celebrate someone's birthday. I did only have one though so that's a big improvement. I'll leave the seconds and thirds for someone else to pick up the slack. It'll work in my calories but my score won't be as high, and I'll move on. This morning when I came into work there was a voice message for me from Will, my new bestest friend/worst enemy--The Personal Trainer. So next Saturday at the bright and early hour of 10:00 AM (I have to work Friday night till 2:00 AM Saturday--so it's bright and early for me...) I'm off to have my very first appointment. I am excited, nervous and a little bit intimidated. He sounds nice enough. Remind me of that next Sunday when I'm unable to get out of bed and I'm cursing him for being mean and uncaring of my pain.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 27, 9:51AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	Ksue said... why don't you make a promise that if you eat a Krispy Kreme you will have to tell Will about it. Or ask him to make that one of the things he holds you accountable for...everytime you meet he could ask you if you've eaten one. The thought of having to tell him may be enough to keep you away?!? just a thought.
	got2bme said... That's awesome, about hiring a personal trainer. I work out at a gym, I'll not mention the name, and have thought about hiring a personal trainer but when I watched them train other people It seemed like they were way too concerned about who was watching them and being cool vs paying attention and motivating their client. From the sound of it the mean trainer sounds the way to go!! Good luck I'm interested in hearing how it goes.

The evil person trainer...I've been forewarned

I'm going to be hiring a personal trainer. The only problem is I have to go 35 minutes south to hire one at another gym. So today I called the Gold's Gym down there and spoke with the person who sets people up. She tells me the costs, etc and then she asks if I want to work with a male or female trainer. I told her I wanted the meanest, toughest male trainer they had. Without hesitation she says she'll have Will call me. She said he has the reputation for being evil. Excellent I told her. I guess it's going to be nobody's fault but my own when I'm complaining that I'm so sore I can hardly walk!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 26, 10:15AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	illuminate said... Thats wonderful! I would love a mean, tough personal trainer but I am not at all impressed with the ones at my gym. The other day I saw a trainer with a client letting him do horrible lunges. I took one look at my friend and we both said at the same time "give me $100 and I'll show you how to do that correctly!" I hope he's just as tough as his reputation!
	Ksue said... Good job! I have to drive 30 minutes to the gym every day also and it's so worth it. When I hired a trainer she said she would "kick my ass." I thought sure, I work landscaping 8 hours a day, you can't kick my ass. Man, was I wrong. But nothing creates changes quicker than accountability!
	RBinMS33 said... What is that old saying? Be careful what you wish for?....heheheheh Keep us updated on how it goes!!

Thin Thighs in 30 days...

I have 3 weeks left of conditioning and I never, ever thought I would say I'm looking forward to Fatburning and doing cardio again. I think I even have a game plan now. I'm going to be doing Tae-bo at home in the morning when I get my little red running man. I may have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn but I'll feel energized until at least lunch time, I am guessing. Anyway the real reason I'm looking forward to starting cardio again is my thighs have surpassed the thunder thighs stage. They're downright scary and they're getting bigger and bigger. I had my son take some before pictures (I hope he's not scarred for life) and they're just plain scary. I took my measurements on Sunday (my measurement day) and they're the only measurement that has only moved in the bigger direction. What gives? I'm sure I'm measuring in about the same place and they're growing! UCK!!!! I'm depressed about it. I guess I'll keep hitting the weights and hope that once I start fatburning that I see a downward trend in the measurements!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 23, 9:58AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	Ksue said... I know what you mean! I'm in my last week of conditioning and I feel Sooooooooooo bloated and pudgy! I'm having a hard time fitting into anything, but my gym clothes! Very ready for fat burning. Do you cut all cardio during conditioning or just cut down?

Precision Carbs

OK, I kept reading about the Precision Carbs so I figure what the heck, I'll order some and give them a little try. Well they arrived yesterday and after I finally got the scoops to dissolve I was pleasantly surprised. One glass of water now has 54g of carbs. I can quit worrying about how I"m gunna get in all my carbs. It's great!!! I totally recommend it to all the people who are tired of stuffing themselves with brown rice or shredded wheat when their calories are high. They make this program sooooo much easier!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 18, 10:36AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	rooney3 said... Told ya! ;)

Friday's fat clothes

I had a moment today when I was rushing to try go to work today. I have a closet full of clothes in some stage of not fitting. I like to think there’s three stages now. Stage One-- I can get them on but they're tight which a lot of them are now. Stage Two—This is the I can pull them up but can't get them buttoned stage which is clothes I probably wore sometime last year or the year before. Stage Three—This is the these pants are dusty stage where they haven't seen the light of day in years and years and years. Why do I still have them? I don't know I guess I just always figured one day I would get into them. Is that my goal now to get into the Stage Three clothes? I don’t know, I want to be healthy and lean and if I fit into them super, if not well the first two stages of clothes will fit good. Anyway, today I picked something out that fit but they're a little tight and low and behold one of the users that we support from a different plant was up. I've always thought he was cute and he gets to see me in my fat pants. :( Why didn’t I wear something black today??? Anyway, I've gotten to the place where I’m extremely uncomfortable in my own skin and I'm trying to figure out how I got so bad in such a short amount of time? Could it have been that I barely hit the gym in 4 or 5 months? Could it have been that I was working and running all the time that I made extremely poor food choices? (Fast Food is called that for a reason right) Could it have been that my self-esteem was so low after a really bad break up that I really didn't care and probably used both of the former excuses as a way to insulate myself from being in that situation again? Well the Pity party has ended and I'm going to kick my fat butt into gear and make smarter food choices. I'm going to change one thing a week during this journey to make lasting habits through out my program so I'm not constantly starting over with a bigger hill to climb.I know that it’s going to be harder this time and I know that it’s going to take a lot more time to undo the damage. I’m finally to the place where I realize that I’m the obstacle in the course. If I can control myself enough and push myself enough I can succeed. Maybe one day in this rotation or the next or the next I can finally get the dust off of some of those pants in my closet after all.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 13, 10:40AM    

	2 COMMENTS:
	illuminate said... I could have written this myself.... "I’m extremely uncomfortable in my own skin and I'm trying to figure out how I got so bad in such a short amount of time" I am right there with you! I also have several pants from various points of my weight fluctuations. Its hard, but I am resolved to get better. Heres to our futures in stage 2 or 3 pants!!
	Ksue said... Just imagine what kind of impression you will give in your stage 3 clothes. Not only will you look "fierce" but you will radiate a the power and Self respect of a woman who knows and trusts herself. I can see you now!

Blogging & How is this possible

I read a couple interesting articles in the past couple weeks and one was on blogging for weight loss. They said that blogging helps keep you accountable. There are people who have documented their weight loss journeys for all to read on the internet. I found it interesting. Another thing I read was concerning weight training and holding your last rep...I started doing this on all my different types of crunches that I do and it killed my abs. I'm digging it. Food's going good for me although I've been so very busy with kids and working and working and working that I haven't done well with preplanning my lunch and I've been forced to eat out. I know NOT clean eating and the sodium is killing my score, but Subway is an improvement over McDonald's so I'll take my low A's with Subway for lunch. I am thinking this weekend I will be able to cook my lunches for the next week so that should help me out next week. I'm thinking about trying to see if a recipe that I have for white chicken chilli will work for me in conditioning. I hope so. Lastly, I am up about 6 pounds since the first time I started the PFA, but my clothes don't fit. I tried on a pair of jeans that I used to wear and there's no way. My butt has blown UP. How can 6 pounds make that much of a difference? I know muscle takes up less room than fat, so that's my motivation for hitting the weights a lot harder. Got to get rid of this fat butt!!!!!

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 11, 9:28AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	RBinMS33 said... I like the whole blog thing. It's my way of having a journal throughout the process. Plus, I'd much rather type than write stuff down...heheheh. Don't knock Subway, I used to work in a 6" Red Wine Vinagrette and a bag of Cheetos during Conditioning. It can be done!!

Conditioning

OK. So here I am in week one of 6 of conditioning and I know from my past mistakes how important getting high scores are. But I'll be darned if I can't get my score up there. I just don't think I can eat all the carbs I'm scheduled for. Oh well. I shall try to finish out today above and F and strive for a good grade tomorrow.

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON JANUARY 03, 12:15PM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	ylrebmik33 said... I'm in my second week of conditioning as well and eating so much food seems overwhelming. I have found eating a meal replacement does assist in the endeavor and eating pistachios lol But with all that said - it seems I am constantly feeding and stuffing myself. For the past few days I have been taking brown rice to work and eating it constantly and I don't care what others think anymore lol Keep going - your not alone.
	traceydesroches said... I'm with you! I'm in week 1 of 4 weeks of Conditioning. I'm having a tough time getting all the carbs and calories in. But.. I truly believe that this will work, I am totally committed to eat as much as possible :-) Hang in there, you can do it!

Last Day of Analysis and what I know now

OK, this is my second real attempt at doing this program. I FAILED the first rotation, but all was not lost (or gained in my present state...) I learned a lot and I believe those lessons will help me SUCCEED in this rotation and in all the rotations to come. I know that conditioning is important and high scores in conditioning are important. I know what it takes to get those high scores and I know what I can eat in conditioning and fat burning to get them. I know how to plan my days meals and it won't take me a month of struggling for hours in front of my computer to figure out how to get my score above a C-. I know that hitting the weights HARD is more important than you'll ever know. I also know that you can't go by what the scale says but how you feel and how your clothes are fitting. Most importantly I know that I didn't get this way overnight and it's going to take a whole lot longer than it took to get this way to undo the damage. I know that this is an extremely supportive group to be in and help is only a question away. I know that you have to trust what the vets say but find your own way to get there. I know that I'll enjoy my peanut butter as often as possible in Conditioning and in FatBurning I'll make sure that I don't have any peanut butter in the house. (I know it screams my name when I'm in fatburning) That's about all I have right now. I do know that last night at work (at the gym no less) there were two big plates of cookies and candies and stuff and they weren't screaming my name. A couple weeks ago I would have had one of everything and two of what I liked and last night I had one peanut butter blossom and one oreo cookie ball thingy. Oh and also I have some dark chocolate in my desk right now at work and it's not screaming my name either. Or maybe I've tuned out the name calling, can't really tell. Anyway, thanks to everyone for making this group what it is and helping me learn everything I have so far...

POSTED BY MEMBER TRAINKG ON DECEMBER 29, 7:10AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	rooney3 said... I've said many times that it often takes two or three running starts at this program before it finally 'clicks', but once it does, you're never the same. Well done.
	awwzz said... Wow! Great Post! Doris
	urvashi said... Good luck with the fat burning! You sound totally psyched and ready for this one. Good for you.

In a car accident

On the way to taking my daughter to a birthday party Saturday--after hours of continuous snowfall--I hit a patch of ice when turning into the parking lot of the venue and went straight into a curb at 20 MPH.

Well, the meeting of cement and car frame was enough to trigger the automatic safety systems of the Mazda.

As if in a dream, in my mind's eye, I can still replay the clip of the airbag expanding towards my face as if in a strange slow-motion cinematic effect. The punch made my face bruised and bloody.

I regained my composure--still in disbelief of what had just happened--listening to buzzers buzzing, alarms blinking, the terrible smell of pyrotechnics, my daughter coughing in a full cloud of smoke and plumes still rising out of the dashboard, and gazing out of a massively cracked windshield.

So, now our only "good" car is just about totalled--I could barely drive it home--unsure if the front axle is bent or not.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON DECEMBER 05, 11:3AM    

	4 COMMENTS:
	wendi said... I'm wondering if the real story has something to do with Ric and wanting to get Fitness Leagues completed? ;-) Glad everyone's okay, Pete!

Fitness Groups **Update**

Today I'm going to polish Fitness Groups with Ric. I can already see the need for lots of improvements. If you have any suggestions please mail to to temp1@awebabove.com.

Hopefully tomorrow I will start Fitness Leagues Phase IV ("Teams").

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON NOVEMBER 07, 10:38AM    

My New Art

How do you like my art? Really, please by honest.

It's uniquely me. I believe the presentation is original.

I'm considering making of these types of pictures and selling them. I could imagine them being hung in swamk New York apartments.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON NOVEMBER 07, 7:43AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	lorap said... I have to say from an artist of oil painting that your presentation is very intriguing. It certainly makes you want to look at it for a while, which art is suppose to do. I am not sure about invoking a feeling. The waviness is soothing, but the color is stimulating. Possibly one balances the other. What is your medium? What are you going for?

Fitness Groups & My Beautiful Wife

I've enabled and tested half of the new Fitness Groups features. Throughout the day you'll see more and more.

Here is a picture of my beautiful wife taken in our front "yard" (more like a forest) in Colorado.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON NOVEMBER 05, 7:28AM    

Beautifully Decorated Eggs

Every summer Santa Barbara hosts "Fiesta" -- a week long celebration in the streets.

Street vendors sell these beautiful eggs shells that have been stuffed with confetti... you buy a bunch then pop them down on your friends' heads!

I couldn't help but take this picture of one lady's stash.

I wonder how they get the confetti in there???

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 27, 7:12AM    

Film Cameras are "Oh So 20th Century"

For a few years ago, digital cameras started outselling film cameras. The reasons are obvious: instant visual feedback, cheaper cost and less resources and pollution of the earth because you only print the pictures you want, and the ability to edit using a program to improve the prints, etc.

I purchased this Canon EOS camera from my dad 7 years ago for $600. I just sold it for around 80 bucks. I never used it even though the optical quality was breathtaking. In the 21st century, the value of most film cameras is plummeting. As soon as I realized this--a bit late, unfortunately--I dumped it as soon as I could.

Film cameras seem to be going the way of the 8-track and LP.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 25, 6:23AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	Goddessrenee2 said... OMG Pete, I have that camera and have to agree the quality of picture is incredible.I also have a $700 zoom lense for mine, but have not had the heart to part ways with it yet.

Daughter Turned Five Years Old!

On Saturday my youngest daughter turned five years old. She is 2nd from the left in the photo. She and her friends had a good time and Chuck E. Cheese's.

One bad thing about digital cameras is that it's hard to control depth of field--almost everything is in focus, even if you don't want it to. So, in this case, in post-production I cheated by using Photoshop to blur the background region behind the girls.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 24, 6:35AM    

Artwork from my Late Mother

My mother passed seven years ago and I still miss her greatly. She was an artist and this still life relief was her last significant contribution before she died.

Virginia Alvin
1998
Plaster of Paris.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 21, 8:39AM    

Sun on Leaves During Fall Rainstorm

I was struck by the brilliant color of the dusk sun peeking though rain clouds after a fall rainstorm yesterday so I had to take a picture and this is beginning to sound like a run-on sentence though I don't think it is.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 20, 7:58AM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	Goddessrenee2 said... Absolutely gorgeous Pete! This season of colors changing came and went so fast in Alaska I barely remember it. Thanks for sharing!
	BoSoxGirl said... Beautiful foliage! I can appreciate that. I am from S New England and we are still green! Come on, its the end of October already!

Lion Ready To Eat My Daughter

This picture was taken at the Denver Zoo some time ago. Look out The Chronicles of Narnia!

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 18, 5:56AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	rooney3 said... LOL!!! That's too funny! It looked real for a sec!

Autumn Has Arrived In Colorado

I took this picture of a leaf today.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 16, 11:18PM    

PT is PodCasting

Matt said that our podcasts are now appearing in iTunes (Apple's site). I've spent practically the entire week working on RSS feeds so that the content on PT.com is syndicated to the world!

The attached picture is of my two kids and the kids up the street.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 13, 7:51PM    

Doesn anyone know what this spider is?

I found it in the house about a week ago. It looks kinda scary.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 10, 9:1PM    

	3 COMMENTS:
	awwzz said... Of course! One of the only spiders even I can identify!! It's the very venomous Black Widow Spider. We here in Arizona have quite a few of them. Where do you live Pete? Doris

Happy Sunday

Just saying hi, everyone.

The picture is my daughter with her best friend.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON OCTOBER 09, 5:36AM    

Santa Barbara Mission

Has anyone visited the Santa Barbara Mission? It's beautiful. I took this shot on a vacation in 2002.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1:46AM    

Changes to Memberships/Profiles

I'm programming some changes to memberships where you'll soon be able to invite (via email) a person to join your membership. Membership owners will be able to type in an email address and the system will send an email to them inviting them to create a profile. Your friends will create their own private profiles with their own passwords.

The picture is of my youngest daughter at a JCPenny photo shoot.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 4:46AM    

Why Site Down & Snake

The site was down this morning because a "data collection" box failed in the data center.

The picture is of my daugter and I at the circus. Hey, where did that snake come from?

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 28, 8:20AM    

Fitness Leagues Groups

I'm working on a new feature for Fitness Leagues (Phase III) that will enable you to create your own groups of competitors, for example, "40 Year Old Moms from Milwaukee," that can compete against other groups to see who can lose more weight, etc.

The picture uploaded is from the Denver Street Painting festival, La Piazza dell' Arte.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 6:12AM    

Fitness Leagues Phase III

Today I'm starting the development of Fitness Leagues Phase III which has these features:

1. Add group pick-list to individuals scoreboard of all groups you are member of
2. If a membership specificies group keyword, then all profiles inherit that group
3. Create virtual group w/option pin#
4. Owner can delete viritual group
5. Search for virtual group
6. Join public virtual group
7. Join private virtual group
8. Small aggregate report per membership, date range

BTW, the picture at the right is my kids and I kayaking in Ocracoke Harbor at The Outer Banks, NC.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 26, 5:48AM    

Sending Fitness Leagues Messages

You can now send other PFA users a "Fitness League" message by using the form on their profile webpage. They can then reply to your message for a two-way private conversation. In both cases, the email address of both parties is kept confidential by the system because the website acts like an email coordinator and never reveals a user's true email address to anyone.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 12:8AM    

Colorado Springs Balloon Classic

My favorite picture that I took from the annual Balloon Classic over Labor Day in Colorado Springs. The weather was perfect--the wind pushed the balloons in the direction of Prospect Lake and the balloonists took the opportunity to skim the water.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 14, 12:19AM    

	1 COMMENT:
	rooney3 said... Cool picture Pete!

Had breakfast with Ric

Ric and I had a great breakfast meeting this morning and discussed the third and forth phases of Fitness Leagues.

POSTED BY MEMBER PFAPETE ON SEPTEMBER 13, 10:26PM