The Great Exercise Challenge-Let's BOOGIE boys and girls!

Hey, what a great response! I am so PUMPED! Some of you are already diggin' in and many of us have been (past tense!) slackin' . . . but today is a new day, a new opportunity to succeed, WOO HOO! So here's the plan . . . we're going to exercise MINIMUM 4 times a week, right?! If you can do more, go for it! My personal plan is to go for variety to keep it interesting. I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a statement that I don't think will stir up much controversy: TREADMILLS ARE BORING!!! I had an "AHA!" moment last week that if I make it fun I won't avoid it like the plague. I joined my fitness center at work and took my first pilates class on Friday. What a blast! I could barely get out of bed on Saturday but it was a good pain if you know what I mean. Today at lunchtime I'm taking a class called "Latin, African, and Caribbean Dance!" Let's remember all the little ways we can get our rapidly shrinking bodies to MOVE MOVE MOVE and speed up that fat burning metabolism! If you stay home, drop the kids at the bus in the a.m. and go for an envigorating walk. If you work, bring sneaks and go for a walk at lunch. Park far away from the market instead of waiting for that coveted spot by the front door. Girls night out? Go bowling! Sign up for water aerobics. Buy an exercise video--Richard Simmons Dancin' to the Oldies is goofy but FUN! Try Pilates or Yoga. Grab your spouse and go for a walk after dinner, the dishes can wait. The weather is warming up slightly (wishful thinking?). Plan a bike ride with the kids, they will love their newly energetic mommy/daddy. DANCE! Check in when you can and share ideas. When you're feelin' like a slug and your motivation is lagging, check in and we will support you! Let's evaluate our efforts at the end of 4 weeks and see the changes, physical AND mental! On your mark, get set, GO! No one can hold us back. We are all butterflies emerging from our cocoons, TIME FOR US TO FLY! Love, Sandy 268/176/136

Thanks Sandy, This is just what I needed this morning. As I was getting dressed this morning I was thinking how am I going to get motivated to get more excerise in and here is my answer, I love a good challenge. I will check back in in 4 weeks, but if I should need a little support you can be sure I will be posting. Thanks for the wake up call. Love, Sonya 299/202/150

Hi Sandy! You are just so motivating today~ Thank you! I did go to the gym on friday and today, didn't go over the weekend. OK My work out tip to share today is... MP3 player. If there is any way you can get yourself an MP3 player, then it will help your workouts fly by. I end up zoning out like I am driving in my car with the radio blasting. I cover the timer with a towel and next thing I know, I'm done!! VERY cool, much less boring than before. And make sure you put some rockin' music on there, it really does make you move. I got mine at Costco for $160 and LOVE IT. Love, Sue 237/228/157.75/125??

Hey Sue - I may check out an MP3. Why is it better than a "discman." I'm somewhat technology challenged. How do you load the songs on there, and can you recommend some of that great rockin' music??? Hugs, Sandy

ok i am not very techy either, but i have techy hubby and kids so that helps me. The mp3 player is better than discman because I have over 100 songs on there so I don't get bored of the same stuff and i don't fuss with changing cd's. I have some of the music on my computer from our own cd's that we've burned, some that we've purchased for about 98 cents a song from musicmatch.com- As far as how to download, the thing came with instructions and to be honest, I'm not the one who did that part! I just chose what music I wanted on there. I have all kinds of music on there. I love all music but I chose stuff with a harder edge to work out to. Some artists I have on my mp3 player are 3 doors down, Linkin Park, Creedence, Van Halen, Journey, Metallica, Creed, Evanescence, Boston, Nickelback, Avril Lavigne, Hoobastank, etc etc. I think you can listen to samples of tracks on Musicmatch.com before you buy. If you can deal with the technical stuff, which I don't think is too bad, then it is really worth it. Love, Sue

Sue - OK, I thought I was a cool mom but I have never heard of alot of that music. I wrote it all down and I'm going to check it out this weekend, either an MP3 or Ipod mini. And I'll also check out musicmatch.com. My 8-year old daughter loves Avril Levigne so maybe we can share that CD, haha! I'll report back on Monday if I'm successful in my portable music challenge! Thanks for the help! Sandy

Another reason to get an MP3 player over a cd player is DISCS SKIP when you are moving. MP3 players are on a hard drive and there is no skipping. I have a MiniDisc player (that I loved) and I just won an iPod Mini last week. I have to tell you that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the iPod mini. It comes with speakers, belt clip it is tiny and I have over 800 songs on it in high quality. I have playlists so I can listen to a rock mix one day and an R & B mix the next, etc. I almost feel bad saying I like the iPod Mini better because... AHEM... I work for Sony and only had Sony stuff and swore by them. Sony does have some hard drive MP3 players out now but I hadn't bought one yet and don't see the point now that I WON (YEAH!!!) and iPod Mini. I listen to it at work while I am programming and I DO get called "traitor" by coworkers. Oh well. By the way... I tested the iPod Mini on the Elliptical Trainer tonight. No skipping for 20 minutes! (I couldn't go any longer this time... too tired). The elliptical trainer is fun when I am listening to Chaka Khan and old disco!

Laura - Thanks for the information, so the hard drive is the way to go? Whether I look at an MP3 or an Ipod Mini? I'm going to Costco and maybe Best Buy to look this weekend. Hugs, Sandy

OK, I did excellent last week. I exercised 5 days doing step aerobics for 35 minutes minimum. Walked a couple of days on top of that during breaks for 15 minutes each. On Saturday and Sunday, I walked for almost 4 hours. It was a great week. However, just like the past 3 weeks, I haven't lost anything. I'm not sure exactly why, but I have seriously hit my first plateu. How long do these things normally last? I feel that I am too close to goal to lose it now... For the past 3 weeks I have increased water and protein, decreased carbs and begun exercising 35+ minutes a day. I am averaging 800-1000 calories per day and am trying to stick to low-fat. What in the world is going on???? I just don't get it. How can someone's body expend more than consume yet remain the same weight? I'm not getting it...... Thank you for letting me vent, Trudi 266/171/147???