Thanks for the Memories

Before I announce my decision regarding the post party, I would like to give a big blog to Jenny for not only getting this rolling, weekly encouragements but also all the time it took to keep this blog blogging! Thanks Jenny. Well I want to also thank all of you for encouraging me as well as being a fellow loser of poundage. I will follow through and will buy drinks and appetizers at the Met. How about April 6th at 5:00 PM??? If not then April 20th??? Get back to me with your thoughts. Keep in touch. By the way I will be posting a picture of myself after having lost the 23 pounds soon!!!

Bill

My Final (for now) Blog

12 weeks have gone by and Bill and I have a lot (less) to show for it. I just came back from a 2 1/2 mile run/walk with Reggie, where I averaged 13.12 minutes/mile. That's after exercising this morning for 45 minutes. Thank you Jenny; 12 weeks ago, I might have walked Reggie, but it wouldn't have been at that speed, and I doubt I would have been at the gym first thing the same morning.

12 weeks ago, I was wearing a few sizes bigger in clothes and was 13 1/2 lbs heavier. 12 weeks ago, I would have sat down and (I hate to admit this but it's true), would have thought nothing of consuming a lot of cheese and olives with red wine before dinner. The food is ok in moderation, but Bill and I were enjoying an appetizer before dinner darn near every night. 12 weeks ago, I wouldn't have found such healthy and really good meals to make.

All in all, this has been a great, motivating and fun experience. The first three weeks were pretty much hell, but after that, I found a rhythm and it's not been too hard to focus and commit to this plan.

Good luck to all losers going forward. Here's to touching base along the way.

- L

Still hanging in there at 12 weeks.....

It is Saturday morning and I'm still hanging in there to the bitter end. I have still exercised this week, watched my eating and doing fine. I still wish the total amount I've lost could have been a bit more, but I will weigh in on Monday morning and it will be what it will be. I'm planning to continue this program, that I have developed for myself, past Monday morning. I'm hoping in another 12 weeks I will see more results. I DO NOT want to throw away what I have accomplished, so I need to stay on top of this. It could be easy to back slide. Once again, Jenny, if you have not started "The Biggest Loser", I would not be where I am today!! Karen

A quick check-in

Welllllllllllll...It will surely be interesting to see if I can hit my 12-week goal this week given that the Prep auctions are on Thursday & Saturday...which means life is busy and booze is flowing! Perhaps doing my five miles hung over will help prevent me from feeling the total impact of the run...

Last week I actually ran four times for a total of 14 miles--this is HUGE as I've previously only been able to do about 10 miles per week. Yesterday was a four-mile run through some really pretty neighborhoods and I didn't even want to die when I finished! A success by all accounts.

After March is over and things settle down a bit, I'm going to get back into strength training mode in addition to my runs. For now, though, I feel good to be hitting my runs each week.

Congrats to everyone who met his/her goal--I hope to join you this week!

Jen

Losers are Winners!

Congrats to John and Bill for meeting their goal, and having some level of fun doing it! I look forward to seeing the other losers' blogs throughout the week. Have a great final week, everyone!

- L

I'm On Top of the World!

Fellow Loser People,
Goal Achieved! I made it to the top of the Columbia Tower today in about 20 minutes. 69 flights, 788 ft. of vertical elevation, 1,311 steps. And the best news, I didn't die in the process! It was actually fun. Next year I might even go for the timed "race" instead of the "climb". I missed my buddies who were supposed to go with me(Loree, my wife and Kathy T. were called to Sacramento)...but I could not deny them a chance to see those Cougs in The Big Dance.
What a view it is from the top! Losers Rule!

I Can't Believe I Ran The Whole Thing!!!

Well I returned from my run around Lake Union (and I mean run as I ran the entire distance) in 85 minutes. I wanted to take breaks by walking some, but I kept saying to myself, Do I really want to do this again?? So I've made my goal since I wanted to break my last week's 120 minutes around the lake by 15 minutes but instead chopped 35 minutes off the time. On Friday my family doctor stated my blood pressure is a little under normal and my cholesterol probably is within the normal range since I've lost 23 pounds and am taking fish oil pills. My podiatrist stated he didn't want me to run or walk anymore until my new orthotics arrived. He felt my flat feet and plantar's fascitis would be inflamed. I told him I made a committment and would only use the elliptical after our contest ended. So Lori and I are out to Oceanaire to celebrate our achievements. Hope everyone has a great last weight loss week.

Bill

Way to go Michelle!

Congrats on meeting your goal, Michelle. Feels great, doesn't it?

Bill is out right now running Lk Union (after also doing the elliptical for 6 miles this morning). Let's all think positive thoughts. That didn't work for our Cougs, Badgers or Zags.........but I'm sure it will for everyone trying to make their goal this week!

Yeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Major Goal MET!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, I completed 5 miles jogging. My time was not impressive and my lower back is sore today but I did it. I debated whether to do it outside or on the treadmill and decided that I could gage my progress easier on the treadmill. I started off slower than I normally would because I was afraid I would run out of steam, then stop. During the last mile I increased the speed because I wanted to finish under 75 minutes. Final time 74:09.

I rewarded myself with some new workout clothes because I feel like I'm just getting started.

Congrats to Lori and Karen who also completed their major goal ahead of schedule.
We Rock.
Michelle

Way to go Karen!

Congrats on hitting your goal, Karen. It does feel wonderful, doesn't it?

The best thing about this whole process has been creating new habits that now feel like, well, habits. Bill and I are exercising at least five days/week. That is five more days/week than 3 months ago....

We select interesting, healthy food whether at the grocery store or at a restaurant, and a bottle of wine lasts a bit longer than it used to. Having something more than a latte or coffee for breakfast is automatic now.

This has been such a great new year's project. Here's to the last week for all of us!

- L

I did it!!

Okay loosers, I've done it. My original goal was to do two miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes, with the treadmill at in incline. Part way into the twelve weeks I increased it to three miles, 45 minutes, with a bit more of an incline. I'm hear to say that I accomplished my goal!! How did it feel? Wonderful......I've never been much of an exerciser, I've never really challenged myself, so this feels quite good. It feels good to sweat, I'm going to keep this up. I went back to California for three days and did quite good on the eating, had no "spirits", I'm hoping for a good weigh in on Monday, but could be surprised. Last week wasn't so good,but we will see what the end of week 11 brings. Sugar is not even a problem for me. I've indulged a bit, but with moderation, so I'm feeling proud of that. After almost three months that crave has just about disappeared. I know it is easy to fall back into old habits, so I'm really watching it. Hang in there as we approach the finish line!! See ya there..... Karen

I'm there in Spirit......GO COUGS!

Have a great time in Sacramento, Loree! I will be living vicariously through you. As a 3rd generation Coug (with a 4th generation - not my son, the jerk - niece as an alum), I will be there in spirit. I'm pretty sure the last time we were competitive, was the year Bill and I got married - 1983. We had a date at the Coug/Husky b-ball game...which we, yes, sigh, lost. And then went on to lose, I'm fairly certain, in the first round. So, GO COUGS. And, GO BADGERS. And GO ZAGS (unless you happen to be playing against my Cougs).

As Bill and I were googling to find out the distance for Lake Union, we came upon this really cool website. Those of you who have been running for more than a taxi or a bus, probably know about the Running Routes map. But, we sure hadn’t seen it before, and it’s now labeled in our “favorites”. To find running/walking routes around your home, just select “find a route”, position your cursor, click and drag. Now that daylight savings time is here (I’m with you on that one, Jen!), this map may come in handy.

Have a great week - L

"COUGS" LOOK TO MAKE THE FINAL FOUR BIG CLIMB!

Fellow Losers,

I am happy to report that I finally lost some weight this week and got in some good exercise in spite of a crummy cold and some crazy weather. We have been at this for nine weeks (we started a week late) and I feel much better than I did at the beginning. Lost about ten pounds and it feels good to be in better shape! We have made a big effort to get our exercise time in and we have proven that we can do it…it just has to be a priority.

I am going to have to make a change to my big goal. I am flying down to Sacramento to watch the mighty Cougs play in the NCAA tourney. Assuming a victory I will be staying through the weekend and will miss the Big Climb. I am asking Jen if I can do a climb on the treadmill or maybe I should get a new goal real fast. Hate to miss the climb but we are talking about a team that is not exactly a sure thing for this tourney each year and I gotta be there to see them play!

Hope you all have a great week and GO COUGS!

Loree

Woo-hoo Lori!!!!

Congrats to our first loser to meet her 12 GOAL!!!! That's amazing!

And I can't believe Bill walked 6 miles after the run--you guys are crazy! You both definitely deserved the celebratory meal.

Stephen & I are always up for food and wine--just name the date!

I just got back from a quick 3-mile run and I am looooooooooooving daylight savings time. It's 7:15 and still dusky out, which means I can now run (safely) outside after work--very exciting news.

I am still behind in my half-marathon training plan, but hope to catch up this week and weekend.

But more importantly: We have a number of biggest loser alma maters in the NCAA tourney. Go Zags, Cougs & Badgers!!!! After a discussion with dad, we both decided that abstaining from alcohol would not make a good weekly goal during March Madness. ;)

Correction - and Goal Attained!

Hello Losers. I had thought that the St. Paddy's Day Dash was a 3.1 mile run. We just had it confirmed in the Times that it is a 3.4 mile run. Which means - tah dah: I accomplished my goal of running 3 miles within 40 minutes. In fact, I almost achieved my initial goal, which was running 3 12 minute miles. Our actual results from yesterday: We ran 12.35 minute miles. Woo - Hoo!

I am fine today, and in fact just returned from a 2 1/2 mile walk with Reggie. Bill, after an extra 6 miles around Lake Union yesterday is just a wee bit sore in the legs. Nothing that a good red wine won't cure, we're sure. Speaking of red wine, we celebrated last night by going to Brasa, one of the "25 for $25" restaurants which has a prix fixe menu Sunday through Thursday through the month of March. After an amazing meal of mussels/clams and short ribs (Bill's) and vegetables roasted over coals (mine) and more short ribs (also mine), and sharing 3 glasses of wine between us, we went home and crashed.

So, who would like to get together for a mid-week 25 for $25? We're up for it this week or next. Let us know if you're interested.

All for now - have a great week. - L

(p.s. Jenny, I'm sorry to say, we have no pictures to prove that we actually were in the St. Paddy's Day Dash. However, I could take a snapshot of Bill's ankles to prove our participitation if it would help)

Busy week!

Hi everyone!

Once again, I picked a weekly challenge I felt sure to win, but because of a crazy week I was only able to blog once. Darn!

I am doing well, though have been finding it tough to work in time to exercise consistently. Poor Colleen has run solo on our first two half-marathon training runs, which means she'll doubtlessly kick my booty in June! I spent some time today working on this week's calendar of runs, and I am committing to doing all four plus a day of cross training. I will have this Friday off (woo-hoo!) so that should make things a bit easier.

Something I'm proud of: historically, when I've been busy/stressed I tend to bag exercise altogether. This week, even though I didn't do as much as I would have liked I still ran three times which I feel good about!

Congrats to all who ran/walked in today's St. Patty's Day Dash--we want pictures!!

J

Purple Ankles or is it Purple Haze or Purple Rain???

While my purple ankles and swollen arches are resting, I decided to blog about the day. As Lori stated we were in the yellow group but decided to run and swiftly walk the entire distance. I ran the entire way and then went off to the WAC for a much needed hot tub and sauna. Then to top it off after a brief respite at the movies, I ran/walked around Lake Union. That took 2 hours into and with a brisk wind in my face and at my back. Almost 10 miles total for the day. I told Lori let's go out and celebrate and then put this old man to bed!!! For my goal I think I can take 15 minutes off my Lake Union run/walk in a few weeks. That's 6 miles in 105 minutes. I'll see if I can do it. Well, I need to move as I can feel myself being cemented to the computer chair. Have a great weight loss week!! Go Badgers!!!

Bill

St. Paddy's Day 5K, Come Rain or Shine

We didn't see a lot of shine, and definitely felt the wind and the rain, but the good news is, we finished our run/walk in 42 minutes. That is 13.45 minute miles...I am about 40 seconds per mile away from my goal of going 3 miles in 40 minutes!

As part of the 3rd wave, we weren't timed, but I had my own timer on my watch to track us. We were in the final group, and it was rather frustrating to have to pass so many supposed "timed" runners in the 2nd group. If you're going to stroll, then join the final group. Next time we may have enough confidence to move up a group.

We were cold and wet, but we finished. And man, does that feel good!

Have a great week - L

And I was doing so well......

There I was, being the role model for disciplined eating habits at a wedding shower today. I sampled everything, but ate only small portions, and only had a few bites of the raspberry trifle for dessert. But, my downfall came when I got into the car with the NINE boxes of Girl Scout cookies we had ordered from my cousin's daughters. I thought about those damn cookies the whole way home. When I got here, I opened one box, intending to have one small cookie. SIX cookies later.....I thought I had better come blog to slow down my desire to eat the whole box.

Other than the last six minutes of devouring six cookies, I have had a good week, making smart food choices and working out four times so far. I didn't meet my goal of completing my exercise video three times this week, but that's ok. One step at a time.

Hope to see a bunch of you there tomorrow!

- L

Blogging Away

After staying up way past our bedtimes Lori and I diligently arose and exercised at 6:00 AM today. She has a family shower and I will brave the showers as I walk and run around Lake Union this afternoon. After completing the trek I'll have a good idea of a goal to reach for my final run/walk in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow we run/walk in the St. Patrick's Day Dash. Outside of the e-mail confirmation, were we to receive something in the mail? Hope to see your faces there in the crowd of over 14,000. Have a great week-end.


Bill

Another Blog

Here's my 2nd blog this week. I probably don't have much to say but I need just a few more lines to make this count in this week's challenge. I agree with Lori that we should continue to blog every few months to spur each other on. On the eating side of things Lori made a trout dish which was excellent. What she didn't inform you was that we found it lying on the dock in front of our house. Well, I think this is about 7 lines which qualifies as a blog! By the way I have some pictures to place on the blog, but I am not able to figure how to add them on my post. Any assistance? Have a great rest of the week.

Bill

We are committed

Michelle - you are not alone in your goal to keep up a healthy lifestyle. Bill and I are committed to continuing beyond March. By now we're pretty used to the routine of morning exercise. For the next few months, we have things to motivate us to continue our focus: our upcoming trip to Cabo, two family weddings and our son's graduation from college all in the next three months. I figure the longer we keep up the routine, the more we'll be used to it. John T recommended that we all re-connect in six months. I'd like to change that to quarterly. Peer pressure can be a beautiful thing. In the meantime, Bill and I will keep exercising and eating good food. The shrimp chalupas are going into the frying pan....gotta go.

- L

I May Still Be Fat.......

....but I'm happily enjoying my workouts. I am finally getting some solid running in 3x per week. In the beginning I was so worried about shin splints that any time I felt any twinge I backed off. Now I am up to 4 slow miles (52 minutes) but I can do it without stopping which was my biggest hurdle. I do my running on the treadmill, and for those of you who know, it gets really boring. Even though I have a TV and iPod I continued to struggle with mentally going the distance, never mind the time. I kept telling myself that if I could only run faster I would be done sooner. But that never worked. Anyway my challenge this week is to run 60 minutes without stopping. I think I going to get out on the road this weekend to see if it will be more interesting than running indoors.

My final challenge is to complete 5 miles and I think I am on track (no pun intended) to complete my goal. Do I have to wait until the end of the month to get my 25 points when I reach my goal or can I have them now so it puts me higher in the competition?

My future plan it to keep running, even after the end of March just to see how far I can take this. I wonder if any of you out there are willing to jump over our proverbial finish line and KEEP GOING. Don't let all your hard work go to waste.

see ya on the road
-M-

Recipe Success

The stuffed trout was outstanding, if I do say so myself (Bill concurs). If you decide to give that recipe a try, remember to ask the seafood guy to "dress and book the trout", which means to basically to clean it, gill it, de-fin it and butterfly it. The stuffing is a combo of bread crumbs, onions, mushrooms and 1 1/2 pieces of bacon. Now that I know how to de-bone a trout (because I only asked for it to be dressed, not booked), I can give you all lessons...trust me, it wasn't easy. But the end result was a very late dinner - we ate after 8, but worth every bite. One more cook's tip: if you use the bacon, cut down on salting the fish.

I have been on a tear exercise-wise, getting in eight 30+minutes of cardio in the last five days. The only casualty is blisters on my feet - nothing that a few bandaids won't cure. I'm taking tonight off, both in exercise and cooking. Tomorrow night - shrimp chalupas with mango salsa (also from Cooking Light).

Have a great evening - L

a good week for karen

As I type my blog, I'm at Indian Wells, right across the street from the international tennis thing going on. The weather is fantastic....I've been looking for you Allie, cuz I think you are here!! I had a good week and feeling good, however I only exercised 4 days last week and so far none this week. WE go home tonight, so I'm hoping, tomorrow after work, which will be Wednesday I will be back at it. I'm proud of myself as 3 out of 5 days I have done quite well, the other two have not been bad, but still decent. As I look at all of the "vacation" food, I reminded myself how hard I have worked to have lost 8-9 pounds and it has helped me control my urges. I weighed in on a "foreign" scale on Monday, but it was a brand new homedics scale, so I'm thinking it was accurate. I did report 1/2 pound less than it said, just to be on the safe side. I'm thinking real soon, I need to start some weights.....even though I'm losing some lbs, my body is still hanging south, yes you youngins', getting old is not fun!! You might shed some weight, but your body says something else. I'm pretty close to my goal of 3 miles in 45 minutes at an incline on the tredmill. I'll blog in a few days and let you know how I am doing "post vacation". Karen

Slowing Down

Well I remained the same weight this week even though I sweat more than I ever have - must be the meth withdrawal ! Colleen, who's your supplier? I need a new one now that Lori is almost over her shingles and her black market pharmacist was indicted in the Internet steroids scandal. Last week, I contacted a trainer and Lori and I will be splitting the 10 sessions. Next week is my health check-up as I have a cholesterol test, annual physical exam, annual plantar's fascitis exam (new orthotics needed with all this exercise), those calorie and fat burning tests and another pedicure. I should receive better news than last year when I needed a colonoscopy and an angioplasty. You young'uns have such fun to look forward to. Tonight I scoped out my Lake Union route with Lori and Reggie. I hope to run/walk it this week -end and then again within the next few weeks. Have a great weight loss week and I will blog more this week as it uses up calories in the joints.

Bill

A good week

No weight loss this week, but I'm proud of the amount of exercise I accomplished. I made it 6 out of 7 days, and have increased my weekend workouts to 50 minutes. Yesterday, in addition to my morning cardio, I took Reggie for a 3 mile walk/run. I had my new nano, and I have the shoes and gizmo that goes inside the shoe, which tracks miles, calories, time, etc. It was incredibly motivating to hear the narrator track my progress. I completed 3 miles in under 45 minutes. Yes, I know, my goal is 3 miles in 40 minutes. I think without the pup I would have gotten really close. For some reason, every 5 minutes or so, she would just stop in her tracks and sit down for a breather.

While we didn't lose weight this week, we indulged a bit, and didn't gain. We enjoyed a meal at Marazul, a new restaurant in the Whole Foods complex on Westlake. Along with some small plates, we feasted on macadamia-crusted salmon and beef tenderloin. We even munched on the chips (sweet potato, plantain, etc).

Tonight, stuffed trout, courtesy of the latest issue of Cooking Light. I'll let you know how it turns out.

While all this cardio is really good for me, I need to commit to the pilates and someday soon, I need to get serious about weight training. This week - I'm committing myself to three days of pilates. I went on record last week saying four days....and didn't do any...

I look forward to seeing a lot more blogs this week!

- L

Oh, so you have to TRAIN for a half marathon...

Sunday evening I decided I would run a half marathon in June (the Northern Olympic Half...the fact that the race title refers to a mountain range makes me a little nervous...) with Col.

I downloaded my novice runner's training program, taped it to the fridge, and scheduled in my runs for this week (two 3-mile runs and one 4-mile run plus cross training and strength work). Since that evening I have worked out...zero times. It's an interesting phenomenon; it's as though I assume my body will just GET IN SHAPE on its own for the race without me having to, you know, run or something. Kind of like paying for a gym membership--it makes you feel healthy even if you aren't using it.

I have a semi-excuse in that I tweaked a back muscle last week and have been dealing with some spasms. That said, I doubt jogging would hurt it, so this is really more about laziness. SO--today I will run. I promise. Unless someone offers me a glass of wine.