From Denise Austin

Lift Weights, Lose Fat

For years, the common knowledge has been that if you want to lose fat, you have to do aerobic exercise. But while it is in part true, that belief unfortunately led many women to think that they could skip strength training. A study changed that way of thinking.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics recently found that strength training — or weight lifting — plays a key role in controlling a woman's weight. They discovered that women who lifted weights just twice a week were able to avoid the slow, one to two pound weight gain per year that's so common in middle age. While that might not sound like a lot, over the years it can really add up. Another plus? Women who lifted weights had healthier hearts.

So how does lifting weights help keep you slim? It's simple — strength training builds muscle, and muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, 24 hours a day — even when you are asleep! So if you aren't already, make strength training a part of your fitness program. Your efforts will pay off for years to come!

Thursday weigh in - 189.6

Oh, I like this one much better. 189.6 - back in the 80's! YEAH! I woke up early when my husband left for work, then felt a migraine coming on, so I took some meds and went back to sleep. When I got up at a little after 11, I had the lower weight.

Wednesday weigh in

Well, my weight stubbornly refuses to go below 190 again. 190.0 was my weight yesterday. So that's down .2 from last week. Big whoop. Wasn't a great weekend for eating. Haven't missed any days of exercising other than taking the usual Sunday off.

A new goal line

Just found out my 30th reunion is in August this year. I'd really like to be at my goal weight, but at my usual 2 pounds lost a month, it isn't likely. Not sure what I should change to get there. I am NOT willing to starve myself and be miserable. I want to be FIT and HEALTHY and the number on the scale is just a number.

My overall goal is to definitely be at my goal weight by the time I hit my 50th birthday, which is in 2 years. I KNOW I can do that, even if I do just lose 2lbs a month.

Post Easter health

Hey all! Go to Tales from the Scales to learn how to win the Skinny Songs CD or a beautiful painting by Jan.

Wednesday weigh in - 190.6

Ugh, it's been a bad week of upswing in weight. At one point I was up to 195!!!! So I'm glad to be back down to 190.6 this morning. That's up 1.2 from last week. (And considering my birthday was over the weekend, I guess that's allowable?) ;-) Took measurements this morning, too and I've lost 3 1/2 inches since last measuring in late January. So progress is still happening.

Amendment: weight is 190.2 post BM, pre-breakfast. TMI, I know, but I'm going to claim it. LOL So that's up .8 from last week. I'll be back in the 80's next week.

Wednesday weigh in

I'm using Monday's weigh in again. :-) So that's up .4 since last week. That's not bad for that TOM. Started my exercise schedule again this week since my cough is finally going away.
(Make sure you scroll down to see my gala dress!) ;-)

Monday morning weigh in

Today's weight after a weekend of indulgence - 189.4! WOOHOO! Having started my period yesterday, I am totally happy with that! I'd been up a few pounds all week, so I figured after the awesome brunch we had yesterday, I'd be up more. Doin' the happy dance again!

Sweepstakes

Got this in my email:

MSN and NBC's "Million Pound Matchup" Sweepstakes

It's a weight loss sweepstakes from MSN and NBC! (January 1, 2008-April 15, 2008)

How to Enter: You must answer (3) of (3) MSN Health and Fitness trivia questions via multiple-choice answers on the entry form. A correct answer is not required for entry.

Trivia questions will be presented in video format, each approximately 30 seconds in length, and will direct you to articles where the answers can be found at the Health and Fitness section of MSN.com. Watching video clues is not required for entry. You can play every day to increase your chances of winning.

Prizes:

Grand Prize
(1): A luxury fitness trip for two people to a resort of the winner's choice from among a list of resort options provided by Sponsor at the time prize is awarded in either the U.S. or Mexico. $7,000 ARV

Daily Prizes
(106): A Zune 30GB digital media player is given away each day ($199 ARV each.)

Play until April 15, 2008 at http://biggestloser.msn.com/

This week's progress

Well, last week one night up until after 3am, the next night it was almost 5am when I got to bed, sewing, sewing, sewing. Got to bed by midnight Friday night, then had to get up for the Republican Party assembly Saturday morning. Woke up at 5 - waaay too early, but couldn't get back to sleep. Not good for the diet, plus I had rabid cravings again thanks to TOM coming on. Thankfully it waited to start until today, AFTER the gala and our fun night. I didn't eat much of the dinner last night; salad, a roll and only 1/2 of the vegetable wellington. Had too much wine, but a fun evening. :-)

This morning we went to the Antlers Hotel downtown for their Sunday brunch (at the recommendation of our friend Paul who owns the gun store.) Oh, it was HEAVENLY!!!! It was definitely my one meal of the week eating whatever I wanted. A yummy omelet, roasted potatoes, lots of fresh fruit, a heavenly cream cheese blintz with berry sauce,champagne, mimosa and a trip to the dessert bar to top it all off. As we were finishing, Paul and his family came in, so we sat and chatted with them for a while before heading home.

My cough is finally slowing down so I plan to get back on track with exercise starting tomorrow morning.

THE DRESS

It was an ugly, ugly week and this pattern kicked my butt. But I got it done and this is the result. You can't see the train in this one, but it's the best view of the front. I'll refrain from whining about the things that didn't make me happy about the dress. It's not perfect, but it's pretty gorgeous. And it's definitely MY color! And I got the ultimate compliment - from a gay guy who said he loved it.


Here's a view of the train, too. Had to get a photo of me with my gun for my mom. ;-) It's a thing we do. LOL

Should have left the pearl bracelet off. The beads around the sleeves were more than enough. Figured feathers would be too messy. The beads weren't much better! ;-)

More photos on the family blog.

Wednesday weigh in

Well, I got up and out early today so I'm sticking with the 189.0 for the official weigh in. :-) So that's down 1.8 from last week. My kitties are driving me crazy! I'm trying to get my dress made for the gala in 3 days and they are jumping on everything and I'm so afraid they are going to snag the fabric. Had a huge battle with pockets last night. urgh. I think I'm just going to sew them down and put buttons on the edges where I messed up. And since it's a Hollywood theme, I think I'm going to put feathers around the hem of the sleeves. LOL

Doin' the happy dance!

(But not for very long since dancing makes me cough more.) ;-)

Today's weight - 189.0!! HOORAY! I'm so happy. Just wish I felt better physically. My cough is not going away. And the big gala is this Saturday, so I really don't want to be sick for that. :-P Got my dress cut out yesterday and will start sewing today. But to start the jacket, I need more fusible interfacing. I can get the skirt done, though.

My laptop had to be sent off for TWO WEEKS! NOT a happy camper about that. On Friday I had taken photos of myself in underwear to show the "before" photos after I get to my ultimate goal. I put them in an obscure file, not My Pictures, but it still embarrasses me that they are on the computer when it's going off to be fixed. Yikes. But for today, I will enjoy finally crossing that elusive 180's benchmark!

Sooooo sick

I think the cough is even worse this time. Not sure the prednisone is doing anything. The doctor is supposed to call me tomorrow. Not sure if I should insist on a chest x-ray or maybe even see a doctor other than a senile octogenarian. :-P