Reebok Easy Tones

Yesterday, I went on a bus trip down to Grand Forks, North Dakota to go shopping. With our dollar being basically at par right now, it was a good time to go. There are merchandise in the USA that Canada doesn't have or if we do, the US prices them much better. My main purchase was a new pair of runners. I've been wanting to by a pair of those runners that help you tone your leg muscules while walking, such as the Sketchers Tone Ups of the Reebok Easy Tones. I did some research before I went and decides on the Reeboks. Now, I know everyone has an opinion of which ones they like better, and there are also many other brands coming out with similar products. My reasonings for this choice were:

• You don't have to "relearn" how to walk in them, unlike the rocker soles of the Sketchers
• I've heard better reviews about these ones
• They look better

I was also a little unsure if these shoes would even be good for me, as my feet pronate, which means that my feet naturally roll in as I walk.

I had previously found a backup shoe from the Runnuing Room, to get if the Easy Tones weren't a good investment - Nike Zoom Structure.

All-in-all, I wore my new Easy Tones most of yesterday and then again today. They are comfortable, but my legs did get sore after a lot of walking. I guess that means they were working my glutes, hamstrings, and calves harder! I can't wait to see what sesults I may get!

I feel like dancing

When I wrote the last post about exercising a few days ago, I mentioned ballroom & Latin dancing. I lament the fact that I stopped dancing, mainly because of money, but also I stopped when my depression was at it's worst and my weight soared. I found the combination of that made it very hard for my to have fun (and dancing is amazing fun!) and keep up physically (my feet and back where always sore and I was short on breath). As I wrote my last post, I looked though my computer at old dancing photos and vidoes. I'd like to share some of those with you now.

My very first spotlight dance. A smooth beginner's waltz to the song Flying Dreams by Paul Williams. This was less than 2 months after I started dancing.

Bronze 1 Salsa, song: La Vida Es Un Carnival by Celia Cruz, May 2007



Bronze 1 Samba, song: Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte, May 2007



Br 1/2 cha cha, June 2008, song: Sex Bomb by Tom Jones

Br 1/2 triple-time swing, June 2008, song: Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day



Br 1 Foxtrot & Lindy Hop routine (with some basic quickstep patterns), November, 2007. song: Powder Your Face with Sunshine by Evelyn Knight



rumba sept 2007, song: Boom Boom Ba by Metisse

Friday I got my hair done. I got it curly, just for fun, since my hair dresser is moving to Denmark and this was her last week working. I didn't have any plans for the evening, but I desperately wanted to go out and show off my hair - and have fun! I dolled myslef up and went out the a nightclub to go dancing. I endd up running into some people from the Arthur Murray dance studion here and danced the night away to a live band. I felt like my dancing was sloppy since I haven;t danced for so long, but more importantly I felt rejovenated and happy. I had a great time and can;t wait to "trip the light fantastic" again.

Exercise

I'm not a huge fan of structured exercise.  Using cardio and weight machines or doing an aerobics class is not my idea of fun.  My one exception is Curves http://www.curves.com/  The Curves circuit provides a complete cardio and strength training workout in just 30 minutes where you can burn up to 500 calories and work every major muscle group in your body.  It's a very efficient and effective workout that isn't boring and you're done in not time flat.  Yes, I do work there, but I'm not being biased.  I truly love Curves.  I've tried other gyms (Shapes, Goodlife Fitness, the YM/YWCa, etc) and didn't enjoy it enough to keep doing it.  My main problems are:

1. motivation to get there and actually do the work out
2. schedule the time to do a workout
3. Remembering how to use the machines - especially weight machines

At Curves I work out 3 times a week and feel great.  Because all the machines are places in a circuit, you never have to wait for a machine to be free, you never have to think "which machine will I use next?", and the circuit coach is always there to remind you of how to do a machine if you forget and to keep you motivated.

I have owned treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical in the past.  Each time I got one, I vowed "I have no excuses, I can work out while I watch TV."  But all-to-soon these machines became a conversation piece with a nice layer of dust on it.

Other things I do, that I call exercise, are things I either have to do or want to do. 

• Work - at Curves when I'm not teaching workouts, I'm always moving or dancing to the music.  At PetValu, I'm helping customers carry their purchases to their cars, stocking the shelves, or cleaning.
• Dog - everyday I take my boxer to the dog park for 45 minutes to 2 hours.  We walk the paths and play fetch.  I vary the paths we take so some days we do a lot of climbing up and down hills.  I also take Sophie out for leashed walks.  These tend to be shorter is duration, and nearly everyday.  I'm planning or switching some of these leashed walks to bike rides during the summer.  And finally, I'll be starting Sophie in agility classes.  Dog agility is a dog sport in which the handler directs the dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.  This is a very fast-paced sport, not just for the dog, but for the handler, as he/she must keep up to direct properly.

• Ballroom Dancing - this is something I've put onto the backburner but I was very involved for a while.  Learning all the different dances was fun and it was a very social and friendly environment and also a great work out.  I remember having sore abs form holding a proper tango stance and frame for a whole class!  My legs were getting toned from the rise and falls in the waltz, and I loved showing off my hip action doing the Cuban motion!  I training with an Arthur Murray studio in Ottawa, but there are many places to learn dance.  I may try taking one of those Zumba classes, which is a aerobics class based of Latin dances. 

(This is me and my old dance instructor, in 2007,  dancing a beginner's smooth waltz.)
• Trying new things - Recently a group from my local Curves went ziplining.  I went and afterwards had sore upper-abs for days from doing tricks while zipping!  Try golfing or hiking or wall-climbing.  All great activities that will get you using muscles you may not normally use.

(Here I am zip-lining!)

Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. Just find something(s) that you enjoy doing! Take risks and try new and different activities.

Photos - then & now

I figure a blog about weight loss is just all talk and kind of boring without any photos to back up what you say.  I've already posted my begining and current measurements and I can add that I am 5'6" tall.  Tonight I searched through my computer files for a photo depicting me at my heaviest (274lbs) and then one of a more current one (230lbs)

(That's me on the right at my July 2009 - I was around 260lbs here.  My mom is to my left, but out of respect for her privacy, I pixelated her face out)

This is the best photo of me I could find, taken at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in February.  I hope you can see that there has been significant weight loss between the 2 photos.  I will try to get a better photo soon.

working hard = great workout

I have 2 jobs: one at Curves, where I also do my tri-weekly stregnth and cardio workouts, and the other one is at PetValu, a pet supply store.  Since I don't do any structured workouts during the weekends, it's ideal that that is when I work at PetValu.  Normally just one day, but sometimes both Saturday and Sunday, I spend time helping customers and their pets find the best foods for them, great toys, yummy treats, or any other product they might be looking for.  I will also spend down time re-stocking shelves and cleaning.  This often involes carrying around up to 30-40lb bags of food, squating, lifting, etc.  When I'm home from a long day at PetValu, I feel like I've done a crazy workout.  So not only do I get a great (albeit, mostly leg) workout, I thoroughly enjoy my job, and I get to bring my dog Sophie to work with me! (to hear more about Sophie, check out my other blog http://misssophieloreen.blogspot.com/)

Year at-a-glance

Welcome to my brand new blog! You can find out a little about me in the “About Me” section to the right of the page.

I apologize that this first entry is a little long, but I felt I needed to get you up-to-speed on this past years weight loss.

My main goal here is to follow my progress of my weight loss. I am doing this in a healthy way, so it’s not the fastest method, but I am very happy with my results thus far.

Last year, around January or February 2009, I reached my all-time heaviest weight of approx. 274lbs!!! I was living alone in Ottawa and had took a medical leave of absence from work for depression. Sadly, I spent my days sleeping having no energy or will to get up, and all night watching TV and eating junk food. It was the lowest I’d ever felt and I suffered greatly – emotionally and physically. It was no surprise I had gained so much and felt like crap all the time.

My turning point was went I moved back to my hometown of Winnipeg. I started eating better, forced myself to get out and saw a therapist. I knew my life would come back, and back it did! I started working out again at Curves In March 2009, which eventually lead to a part-time job there. My measurements at that time were:

• Weight: 263.8lbs
• Body Fat %: 53.1%
• Bust: 50”
• Waist: 43”
• Abdomen (belly): 55”
• Hips: 53.5”
• Thigh (each): 33”
• Arm (each): 16”

Around April 2009, I was a plastic surgery to inquire about having a breast reduction. I have always been very large-chested, even as a young teen and it had been causing much back pain during the past few years. After years of contemplating the pros & cons, I finally decided to go for it. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the surgeon told me to get in touch with him when I hit 200lbs, and have the surgery when I’m around 190lbs. Discouraged, yet motivated at the same time, I set on eating decently and working out 3-4 times a week at Curves.

Nine months later, in December 2009, I knew I had made considerable progress. My measurements in the new year (Jan 2010) were:

• Weight: 240.6lbs
• Body Fat %: 50.1%
• Bust: 49”
• Waist: 41”
• Abdomen (belly): 53”
• Hips: 52.5”
• Thigh (each): 31.5”
• Arm (each): 15”

Total weight lost – 23.2lbs
Total % body fat lost – 3%
Total inches lost – 11”

Working at Curves has been a huge help for me. During the fall of 2009 I started facilitating our Curves Weight Management Classes. I started learning even better ways to eat health and maximize my calorie input and output. But I didn’t put myself on the plan. That changed with the New Year. In January, I decided to follow the Curves Weight Management Plan myself and have no regrets. I found it easy to follow, love the food choices, and most importantly, I began seeing results. Within the first month (the plan works on a 30 day cycle) my results were amazing!

Feb 8, 2010
• Weight: 230.4lbs (-10.2lbs)
• Body Fat %: 48.9% (-1.2%)
• Bust: 48” (-1”)
• Waist: 40”( -1”)
• Abdomen (belly): 52” (-1”)
• Hips: 51.5” (-1” )
• Thigh (each): 30” (-1.5”)
• Arm (each): 14.5” (-0.5”)

Total weight lost – 33.4lbs
Total % body fat lost – 4.2%
Total inches lost – 19”

Progress has been a little slower since that first amazing month, but I am still shrinking and melting. More shrinking than melting. The last few months my weight has stayed steady around 228lbs, but my inches are still coming off! I even lost 3.5” in my waist alone since January! I once again have an hour glass figure!!!

Here’s what my measurements have looked like since February.

	March 11/10	April 21/10	May 21/10
Weight	228.2lbs	228.0lbs	227.8lbs
Body Fat%	48.3%	48.7%	47.1%
Bust	48"	47.5"	47.5"
Waist	39"	38.75"	38.5"
Abdomen (belly)	51.5"	51"	50.75"
Hips	51"	50.75"	51.5"
Thigh (each)	29.5"	29.5"	29.5"
Arm (each)	14.4"	14"	14"

Total weight lost – 36lbs
Total % body fat lost – 6%
Total inches lost – 25.25"

Well that’s the Cole’s Notes version of my weight loss in the last year. I hope you enjoyed my (albeit very long) first blog!

I’m very optimistic to see less of me in the future!