First week down, a lifetime to go

How did everyone's first week go? Mine has been hit and miss. This picture was taken on July 12. I was shocked at the number of steps I had that day! That has pretty much been the high point so far for me and most days I am hovering between 4,000-6,000 steps. Not too bad but not where I want to be.

I've talked to a few of you and you are really taking this challenge to heart. You should, its a good thing! If you haven't started yet (Tonya) just do it. You won't be sad.

I've realized two things since I've started wearing my pedometer - 1. Walking 10k steps in one day is totally doable and 2. slight changes to my day have a big impact. I've been taking walks around my neighborhood in the mornings and that helps get my day of to a good start. If I can log 3,000 steps before breakfast, I know its going to be a good day! It also takes the pressure of the rest of my day, especially if I am working.

Are you doing the contest with me? If so, please leave some comments and let me know how the first week has been treating you! Bruce and James have already surpassed the 10k step mark and I am so proud of them! They've already earned their membership into the 10k club, don't you want to join up too?

To our faithful readers, don't give up! Making big changes like this is hard to do but if we all work together, we will succeed!

10k Steps is here!

July 12 is finally here and that means its time to start our contest. Have you bought your pedometer yet? Seriously, I have fallen in love with mine (in a sisterly way of course). This morning I couldn't make it to the gym, I just had such a bad headache. So I took some pills, laid down for a bit and then went for a walk. It felt so good and I'm glad I did it. It also gave me a boost for my day and I'm almost half way to my 10k goal in the first day!

I will admit that I was a little intimidated by this 10k steps goal when I first started thinking about it. What if I couldn't do it? I'd talked so much about it trying to get everyone motivated to do it, but what if I couldn't get to that many steps on a consistent basis? That was before I got my pedometer and I can tell you that my fears were premature. I thought it was going to be a stretch to even get up to 3k steps but now I'm realizing that I could get to 10k steps today if I put my mind to it. Wow, really? YES!

Yes, it is going to take a lot to get to 10k every day, but its not going to be impossible like I thought. If there is anyone out there reading this blog (and I hope there is) and you're not sure about this challenge, let me give you some advice.

DON'T BE A COWARD AND 

LET FEAR RULE YOU! 

GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND DO IT!

Subtle enough for you? If I can do it, a fat girl with barely any will power, anyone can do it. Take the plunge and buy the pedometer. It's a small investment when you think about it - you can get a great one for less than $30. Test yourself, see what you're made of.

From today through the end of August, keep track of your steps. I'm curious to see how many days it takes you to get to 10k steps. I thought it might take me several weeks but now I'm not so sure. In fact, I might even make it there today if I put my mind to it. Kick ass.

I'm sweetening the pot too. I'm going to throw in a super special, top secret prize for the person who gets the most steps in one day. I don't care how you do it, if you run a marathon or decide to walk the state of Utah in one day. Anything over 10k in one day is freakin' amazing! So be sure to take a picture of your pedometer when you make it over the goal. Think anyone can make it to 15k steps in a day? Bruce is almost there with well over 12k.

Keep on track people and you will see results. I'm very proud of all of you that haven chosen to do this. You are all my heroes.

Big kiss, me love you all long time.

How many steps did I walk? Really?!?!

I got my pedometer late Tuesday night and I'm surprised at my first day total. Really, I really walked 4,721 steps my first day?! OK, I think this 10k step goal might be too easy! True, I did make more of an effort yesterday to move around, but isn't that truly the goal for this? 

If you haven't already bought a pedometer, this is really a great one. Not only does it count your steps, but it keeps track of your aerobic activity if you're doing consistent walking for 20 minutes or longer, counts the average calories you burned that day and how far you walked. It also allows you to adjust the length of your stride if you have short, fat legs like me versus someone with long skinny legs who has a longer stride. Plus it resets automatically at midnight and stores your last seven days of steps. Here is the link again to for the Omron HJ-112 Digital pedometer from Amazon.com. It's a beauty!

Keep up the good work people. Here are the people that have expressed interest in doing the program (basically the most awesome of awesome people):

James Fisher (hit 10,000 steps yesterday!)
Camille Ballou
Ami Frandsen
Patricia Arp
Bruce Greenhalgh (had over 12,000 steps the other day!)
Marci Hansen
Tonya and Brenda


We would love to add your name to this list so please leave a post, Facebook me, call, text or e-mail me and let us know you want to do it. Besides the prizes (and they are pretty great), its gives you the opportunity to try doing something that is good for you. My goal today is to get the aerobic counter to register the steps and move up to the 5,000 level for steps.


Keep up the good work!

I almost have hit my two week goal . . .

Because I am down almost 4 lbs! Remember last week when I made a goal to lose 5 lbs in 2 weeks? Well I am 1 lb away from hitting my goal! Yeah! I am telling you working on the treadmill on an incline really works! Yesterday I was walking for 10 minutes on an incline of 5, 10 minutes on a 10 incline and another 10 on a 15 incline. Yeah that was WAY hard! But it seems to be working so Yeah ME! I am going to go to the body sculpting class tonight and I am really excited!!! Maybe I can double my weight loss goal to 10 lbs by the 8th!

xoxo
Tonya

Can 10k steps banish the chub?

Image courtesy http://reginanuzzo.com/?tag=walking

I just went online to Amazon.com and bought a pedometer for James and I. I've been thinking about an idea I heard about a long time ago which says that you should try to get 10,000 steps in each day. According to The Walking Site, the average person gets only 1,000-3,000 a day in. Yikes!

It is estimated that 10,000 steps is roughly 5 miles per day. That's a lot of walking! Let's face it, to go from 1,000 or so to 10,000 is a bit of a stretch. But, going from 1,000 to 3,000 in a week and increasing it by 1,000 each week to build up to 10,000 is totally doable. So who's with me?

First, if you don't have a pedometer yet, get one. Here is an article about how to buy pedometers and some of the best out there. The one I bought is the Omron HJ-112 Pedometer and I got it for $30 each with free shipping from Amazon.com. I ordered mine today and hopefully it will be here so I can get started next week. 

I am throwing down a challenge here on the Chubby Girls Diary. Do you think you can get to 10k steps? How much weight do you think you'd lose doing it? Want to win a free prize for getting healthy? Here are the details:

10k steps to banish the chub will begin on July 12 - two weeks from today. If you'd like to get in on the challenge, leave a comment along with your e-mail address on the blog between now and then. The criteria for the contest is simple - if you make it to 10k steps (and take a picture of your pedometer to prove it) before the end of August, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to Amazon.com. 

We will also be tracking your weight loss percentage, so the more weight you lose, the better chance you have to win. The winner of the weight loss challenge will win the new cookbook "Weight Watchers In 20 Minutes". Even if you're not doing Weight Watchers, they have excellent recipes that are really good!

Tonya and I will posting updates about the contest but we'd love to hear your stories so be sure to leave comments. Once you sign up for the program, I will e-mail you the specifics along with a form to e-mail back that will list your current weight. If you're feeling brave, I highly recommend putting your weight on the blog. It's embarrassing I know, believe me. But there's something cathartic about admitting it to everyone. It's tough to do but take responsibility is a great place to start changing your lifestyle. 

We will publish a list of the competitors with some basic stats (weight if you're feeling especially brave). We also want a picture of you to put on the post so we can see the progress.

Are you ready to see if you can make it to 10k steps in a single day? At the end of the day there are no losers in this contest if you can get up to 10k steps in one day. You will be healthier, happier and will have accomplished something that most people don't do on a daily basis. 

Tell your friends about the contest, the more the merrier! It's completely free and its going to be a blast!

10 years ago . . .

I weighed 100 lbs less. Yes, you read that right. I have gained at last 100 lbs since I graduated. Sad, but disgustingly true. Alex brought this picture back from our shed as an inspiration for my weight loss, and I think it is doing the trick. Damn I was one hot skinny bitch!


So here is to the next 10 years. Let's hope it does not bring another 100 lbs but it will take it away!

Skinny Summer Refreshment

Summertime and fruity drinks go together like a dessert bar and a fat girl. James and I found the most delicious drink at Coldstone of all places and no, it doesn't have ice cream in it. Its a dreamy blend of orange juice, pineapple, lemon juice, sugar and ice. Blended together its the perfect way to relax by the pool with a good book. It's healthy and oh-so good.

Here is the nitty gritty on the nutrition:

Calories – 122.3; Total fat – 0; Sodium – 7.3 mg; Potassium – 289.9 mg; Carbohydrates – 31.6 g; Fiber – 1.2 g; Sugar – 25.6 g; Vitamin C – 99.8%

Citrus Dream Smoothie

Makes 3 servings

1 cup calcium enriched orange juice

1 cup canned pineapple chunks

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 cups ice

Combine the orange juice and the pineapple in the blender and mix until the pineapple is smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.