Weight Loss Weekly

This week, I did fabulously on my diet, but the exercise fell by the wayside. Why is it always one thing or another, but not all of the pieces put together at once!?

My goal for last week had been to go on four 20 minute walks, do week 2 of the 200 sit-ups challenge and to do two sets of 10 push-ups on three days. I went on 2 20 minute walks last week and did not do sit-ups or push-ups at all! I had been struggling, struggling, struggling with the sit-ups and need to find something different to do. Coincidentally, my husband sent me this article from the NY times about how sit-ups can strain your back.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/core-myths/

I think my back (and my chiropractor) will thank me for switching to this method. I'll try it this week and let you know how it goes! Since I didn't reach my goal last week, I'm going to give it another go this week!

Bernie had a tough week as well and needs some encouragement. Pop on over to her blog and show her some blog love at Yo-yo No More.

Camping food - Grilled steaks and asparagus

I get asked questions all of the time about how to cook well while one is camping. It seems like most folks out there go the hot dog, potato chip and marshmallow route while camping. Don't get me wrong, we love those traditional camping foods too, but I just wanted to show how easy it is to go a little bit more upscale. With asparagus being in season now, it is easy to wash them, snap off the ends and place them in a plastic baggie with some olive oil and salt before you leave home. Seal up the baggie and place it in your cooler. Do the same for your meat by placing it in a plastic baggie with your favorite marinade. I double bag any meat products to ensure against leakage in my cooler, but it is super simple to do this marinating step at home for wonderful camping food. When you are ready to cook your food at your campsite, get your charcoal going ahead of time, then just take your food out of the baggies and put it right on the grill. Now doesn't this look better than hot dogs and potato chips?

Weight Loss Weekly

Weight Loss Weekly is a weekly collaboration between me and two other bloggers who are trying to lose weight. Join us weekly as we discuss tips and strategies as well as highs and lows on our weight loss journeys.

A few weeks ago, the girls and I decided to take weight loss weekly in a slightly different direction by setting long term goals for ourselves and then writing about how we are meeting them. For our first goal, we decided to focus on exercise. It's been about a month now, an although I do still struggle with the motivation factor, I am beginning to see results!

For instance, summer is here, and for me that means wearing cute dresses and tank tops. And do you know what tank tops show? My arms, which are getting more and more toned through push ups! My goals for the past month have mostly focused on walking at least four times a week and doing sit-ups with some modified push-ups thrown in. It's funny that the area that isn't really my primary goal is seeing the results the first, but it is motivation to keep up what I am doing!

I did struggle with motivation this week, and as I write this, have only walked three times this week and am feeling completely unmotivated to do the fourth. I have a few hours left though, so I am going to try to work up some motivation and get it done before week end.

This week, I am again going to walk four mornings, do Week 2 of the 200 sit-up challenge, and again focus on doing 2 sets of 10 push-ups on three mornings this week. This past week, I also moved from doing my modified push-ups against the bathroom counter, to doing modified push-ups on the floor (on my knees instead of on my toes). I am really proud of how far I have come! (Pat myself on the back!)

Let's see how Bernie and Sunny fared this week! Pop over to their sites and wish them well!

Bernie says:

"I look in the mirror and I don't see rock hard abs nor thighs of steel, but what I do see is someone who is trying and that makes me smile" Read more at yo-yonomore

Sunny says:

"I've been feeling a little bit lazy this week. I started out good, I actually stepped foot into a gym on Wednesday..." more at www.ThatExtra20Pounds.blogspot.com

Weight Loss Weekly

A breakthrough, Hooray!

Weight loss weekly is a weekly collaboration between me and two other bloggers who are also trying to lose weight.  Join us every Monday as we discuss tips and strategies and well as our highs and lows on our weight loss journeys.

A few weeks ago, the girls and I decided to take Weight Loss Weekly in a slightly different direction by setting weekly goals for ourselves as a way to hold ourselves more accountable.  We decided to focus for the first month or so on exercise.  For the first two weeks, I was STRUGGLING to meet my exercise goals (I did it, but it was solely because I knew I had to post my results.  There was lots and lots of grumbling each exercise day)  However, this week, I finally had a breakthrough.  Hooray!

My goal was to walk for 20 minutes, 4 times this week, do 10 modified push-ups on walking days and also to start the first week of the 200 sit-ups program.  Let me tell you, I was a little intimidated setting my goal last week.  Mainly I was afraid of the sit-ups and muscle soreness.  However, I persevered and not only met my goals, but exceeded them!

I walked 6 mornings this week!  Three 20 minute walks, and three 30 minute walks.  I exceeded my push-up goal as well doing 2 sets of 10 modified push-ups on two of the walking days.  I also completed week 1 of the 200 sit-ups program.  I did indeed have muscle soreness in my abs, but by the end of the week, it didn't seem so bad!  I did it, and without too much morning grumbling.  A breakthrough!  Hooray!

This week, I plan on increasing my workout goals by walking for 30 minutes 4 days this week.  I also plan on doing 2 sets of 10 push-ups  three days this week.  As for my sit-ups, I plan on repeating Week 1 of the 200 sit-ups program as I don't feel comfortable moving on and I think I started on a level that was too high for me.  I can feel myself getting stronger, but I am not ready to increase the repetitions yet.  Are you up for joining me?  Just e-mail me at joiecancook(at)gmail(dot)com and we can walk virtually together!

Sunny is out of town this week (hopefully keeping up with her exercise goals!) so it is just Bernie and me.  Check out what Bernie has to say, then pop over to her site to give her some encouragement!

"This week was definitely harder, and it's got me wondering if every day exercise is too much?" read more at Yo-yo No More

Ham, Cheese and Salami Roll-ups

One of the parenting goals I have for my children is to mold them into at least proficient cooks by the time they leave the house.  We all knew those guys in college that had absolutely no housekeeping skills and could barely boil water to make pasta.  (Believe me guys, housekeeping skills and culinary skills are attractive to women, slovenliness, not so much.)  My five year old is getting to the point where he can handle actual cooking now, as opposed to just stirring, and so my quest this summer is to find some recipes that he can make himself.  I scored big for the mom team in finding this recipe.  It was easy enough that he could do all of the steps by himself while I stood close by to just give directions and put the pan into the oven.  He was so proud of himself and ate a double helping of his meal.  He even wanted to make dinner the next night!  Now I must find some more kid friendly recipes to harness this energy!

Ham, Cheese and Salami Roll-ups adapted from Taste of Home Simple and Delicious March/April 2009

Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

2 Tbls. olive oil

5-6 eight inch flour tortillas

1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

5-6 slices deli ham

5-6 slices provolone cheese

24 slices thinly sliced deli salami

1/2 c. roasted red sweet peppers, drained

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F.

1.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.  Lay out tortillas on baking sheet, brush lightly with olive oil.

3.  Sprinkle each tortilla with parmesan cheese

4.  Layer a ham slice on each tortilla, then in order, the provolone, the salami, the red peppers and the mozzarella.

5.  Roll up each tortilla and place a toothpick through them to secure.  Place them seam side down on the baking sheet.

6.  Brush with olive oil.

7.  Bake for 12-15 minutes until browned and cheese is melted through.

Weight Loss Weekly

Oh yes, we have been busy!

Weight Loss Weekly is a weekly collaboration between me and two other bloggers who are trying to lose weight.  Join us as we discuss tips and strategies, as well as our successes and failures on our weight loss journeys.

How is it a whole week has gone by without posting?  School is now out for my oldest which means full time mom duties are in full swing.  We also had a great time camping this weekend (of which I'll share the food adventures of later this week) so my summer has already begun and it has been busy!

Last week, I set a goal to walk for 20 minutes 4 times during the week and to do 10 sit ups, 10 reverse sit ups and 10 fakey push-ups on the days I walked.  I am happy to report that I did accomplish my walking goal and ALMOST accomplished my sit-up/push-up goal.  However, the last 20 minutes of walking I did yesterday at the campsite and I just plain forgot about the push-ups and sit ups.  I remember my father doing a couple chin-ups every time he would take us to the park.  I think that I need to get into that habit as well.  Especially with summer here, entertaining the boys is going to be my big excuse for not working out, so if I can eke out a few fakey push-ups at the park each time we go, my arms are going to be in great shape!

My goal for this week is primarily the same, four 20 minute walks with 10 fakey push-ups on the days I walk.  However, thanks to Bernie from Yo-yo No More, I found a site where you can work on increasing your core strength to do 200 push-ups in six weeks.  Since having kids my core is extremely weak so this week I am going to start on this program.  I'm not looking for a six-pack or anything, just increased strength to my core and protection for my back.  I am a little worried about muscle soreness, but I'll let you know next week how it goes.  

Let's see how the other ladies did on their goals!

Sunny says:  

The second week of my exercise plan! Ugh, and it was so much harder for me to stay motivated this week..." keep reading at www.ThatExtra20Pounds.blogspot.com

Bernie says:

Another week of daily exercise, can you believe it? I'm amazed. I even did push ups! Despite the crazy week, I managed to exercise every day yet again...." read more at Yoyonomore.