Well, I ended up GAINING 6 pounds this month. Very disappointing, but I do have an excuse. I was married in the middle of the month. We then went on an all-inclusive, 7 night honeymoon to Punta Cana. Let me tell you, it really was great, and truly ALL inclusive. I tried to work out while I was there, but some of that Dominican Food is great! I knew that I might gain a few pounds, and I am alright with that. It was my honeymoon.

 

Overall, I lost weight each month except the last, and was down about 15 pounds. I also lost about 8 inches all over my body, and my blood pressure dropped into the normal range after dropping 20 points. I feel much better and can wear the clothes that I want to.

 

The journey begins for me again on Monday, as I start P90X all over again....good luck to all of the participants! I could not make it today due to a golf tournament! Thanks to Laura for your help and support!

Well, another weigh in is fast approaching, and my body is stuck at a weight that it wants to be at. Ironically, I am wearing smaller clothes, but I feel I am gaining muscle, and losing fat, so I am actually changing my mass, and not losing weight. It is both frustrating and encouraging at the same time. I am interested to see what I weigh in at, but I feel better and look better....we will see....

It's been a week or so since blogging...had to tie up ends to the school year, and get summer started in the household on the right foot. P90X will be my friend again starting today. I believe there is a weigh-in upcoming soon. Working hard to show some results, and the wedding is fast approaching.....

I have decided to forgo P90X this week is honor of our family putting up our first pool. It is a normal sized 15-foot diameter, 4 foot deep pool. Little did I know the chemistry involved. The PH, bromine, chlorine, algae, and other things must be measured daily. Luckily, I teach science, so it is not all that hard, but it was a little intimidating reading all of the instructions. So far, I have crystal clear water...I have tried to some things while in the water, but not the same as Tony. Also, it is the last week of school, and that is crazy. Once I get through this week, Tony and I will continue on Monday. I have also broken through my plateau and have continued to lose. I won't win, but that's OK. It seems as if just continuing to lose is good enough!

Feeling about 100% after a bout with the stomach flu. It knocked me for a loop - ! lost 5 lbs., but put back on 2 for a net loss of 3. Tomorrow, I will start with the elliptical again at a 30 minute session and see how I feel both during and after. Today I put up a 15 X 48 pool after work - hot and a workout! We hope to enjoy it soon! Keep pushing play!

A stomach flu and infection has slowed me down this week, but I did manage to lose a pound....I'll be back to "pushing play" next week - provided I feel up to it...

 

I was given the prompt of "What has been the biggest change in me since I started the contest." This got me thinking about my journey up to this point. I have started losing weight before the actual N-H contest began, and I am at about 20 pounds. It has been a very hard journey for me, and the last 3-week weigh in was the hardest, as I only lost 0.6 pounds. Although this is a temporary setback, I find it to be new motivation to succeed to get close to my goal weight. I have about 30 pounds to go.

 

If I were to answer the prompt directly, I would say that my view of exercise and motivation has changed for the better. As a science teacher and high school coach, I know how to work out, and what exercises to do, but it is a long way from theory to practice. I found that getting in a routine each day is a trick for me that works. Tony Horton and P90X gives me the structure that I need to improve. As he says "just keep on pushing play" and "do you best, and forget the rest". These are both mantras that resonated with me, and made me successful.

 

I still have a way to go, but I am happy with how it is progressing. I am not going to win the contest, but I am becoming a healthier and more active person - and I appreciate and thank Laura and the News-Herald for that. It sure is hard work!