I'm still here kinda making it :)

Don't forget to check out my blog giveaways and enter to win: here and here!

Happy Tuesday!

I'm still full of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes from last week!  Who else?!

Here is an update to my goals as of now and let's just say last week was TOUGH:

11/01: DAY OFF; 353 calorie deficit
11/02: 90 min kayaking; -169 calories over
11/03: 0 exercise; 30 calorie def.
11/04: 79 min cardio mix; 938 calorie def.
11/05: 66 min cardio; 669 calorie def.
11/06: 73 min gym time; 655 calorie def.

11/07: 131 min hike; 652 calorie def.
11/08: DAY OFF; 325 calorie def.
11/09: 62 min circuit training; 424 cal def.
11/10: 0 exercise; 53 cal def.
11/11: 45 min elliptical; 527 cal def.
11/12: 60 min cardio + lower body weights; 982 cal def.
11/13: 120 min hike + upper body weights; 1025 cal def.

11/14: 125 min treadmill + lower body weights; 923 cal def.
11/15: DAY OFF; 218 cal def.
11/16: 0 exercise; 64 cal def.
11/17: 60 min circuit training; 261 cal def.
11/18: 70 min elliptical; 524 cal def.
11/19: 53 min walk;
11/20: 82 min elliptical;

11/21: 0 exercise;
11/22: 0 exercise;
11/23: 62 min circuit training;
11/24: DAY OFF; 207 cal def.
11/25: 0 exercise;+609 cal def.
11/26: 96 min walk;+90 cal def.
11/27: 95 min hike;231 cal def.
11/28: 85 min elliptical; 853 cal def.

11/29: DAY OFF; 245 cal def.
11/30:73 min circuit training;

TOTALS:
          1,527/4,000 exercise minutes
          9,291/31,500 calorie deficit

(Those blank calorie def. up there for the 19 - 23 is because I didn't track calories those days)

So as you can see I'm not even half-way to my goals and there is only half the time left in 2010! I realize I may not be able to reach my exercise minutes and calorie deficits BUT that's not gonna stop me from trying!  I have two weeks off in December so hoping I can use that time to do some major make-up work.

Blog Giveaway II: Fiber One + $25 Safeway GC!

Another blog giveaway in less than 24 hours!

As many of you know, I've been changing my lifestyle to a healthier one  for the past two years and yes, I've gained some weight back, but I haven't given up.  For me, it was all about making small changes and sticking to them.  Two of the easiest changes I've been able to keep: upping my water and fiber intake.

FIBER!  It's good for your system and keeps you feeling full longer.  And anything that keeps me full between meals is a plus! 

And this giveaway is all about the fiber. For a short time, Fiber One is have an amazing giveaway which includes coupons to try a box of their cereal, a box of their fiber bars, and a $25 Safeway gift card (which can also be used at Dominick's, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi's).

These are the two that I picked up with my coupons and I gotta say, I'm a big fan now:

To enter:
Leave a comment on this post with your favorite way to get in fiber and be sure to leave a contact email (email will only be used for this giveaway). This giveaway will be open until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 2. A winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day.

Want another entry? How about 4 more entries?!

1. Mention this giveaway on your blog and be sure to link back to this post then leave a comment saying you did so (with the link)
2. Follow my blog and leave a comment saying you did so. Already a follower? That's one more entry for you!
3. Post this giveaway on Facebook or twitter, linking back to this post and leave a comment saying you did so (with the link)
4. Email 2 other people about this giveaway and leave a comment saying you did so

Still not enough? Just visit Fiber One's website for coupons on a variety of their yogurts, cereals, and bars!

 Fine print: Open to US and Canada residents only. Fiber One provided me with the free products, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark.

Blog Giveaway: Progresso Soup Deal!

I don't know about where you live, but where I live it's been a little cold! It's a chilly low-60's here in Hawaii and that's cold for us (I can feel the eye's rolling from the rest of you)!

But whether your chilly in Hawaii or somewhere else, it's perfect weather for...

SOUP!

And this giveaway is all about the soup. For a short time, Progresso is have an amazing giveaway which includes a sampling of their low-sodium soups, a 'souper' cute soup mug, and an inflatable exercise ball (including pump and carry bag)!

To enter:
Leave a comment on this post with your favorite soup - any brand or homemade! - and be sure to leave a contact email (email will only be used for this giveaway). This giveaway will be open until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 1. A winner will be choosen at random and announced the next day.

Want another entry? How about 4 more entries?!

1. Mention this giveaway on your blog and be sure to link back to this post then leave a comment saying you did so (with the link)
2. Follow my blog and leave a comment saying you did so. Already a follower? That's one more entry for you!
3. Post this giveaway on Facebook or twitter, linking back to this post and leave a comment saying you did so (with the link)
4. Email 2 other people about this giveaway and leave a comment saying you did so

Still not enough? Just visit Progresso's website for coupons on a variety of their soups!Fine print: Open to US and Canada residents only. Progresso provided me with the free products, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark.

Should I get a car?

Happy Monday!

Had an amazing weekend with lots of activity time! Here is an update to my goals as of now:

11/01: 0 exercise; 353 calorie deficit
11/02: 90 min kayaking; -169 calories over
11/03: 0 exercise; 30 calorie def.
11/04: 79 min cardio mix; 938 calorie def.
11/05: 66 min cardio; 669 calorie def.
11/06: 73 min gym time; 655 calorie def.
11/07: 131 min hike; 652 calorie def

TOTALS:
          439/4,000 exercise minutes
          3,123/31,500 calorie deficit

What really helped was having a car available to me when the boyfriend was working. Long story short, we got a stick-shift car earlier this year and I still haven't taken the time to learn to drive it so...  I have no car when the boyfriend works at nights and on the weekends.  As much as I love our Infiniti, I want my freedom back, too!

(source)

But this past week my parents were out of town so I used their car. I got to the gym Saturday night and did a nice treadmill-elliptical-stairmaster cycle and Sunday I went on a hike by myself which was really nice!

So now I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to get my own car.  Not just for the gym factor, but think it's just time for me to get my own.  We've shared a car for a while since I work days and he works nights but before we had a manual car, I would use the car a lot to go gym at night before I pick up my boyfriend from work.  Right now I calculated that our $30 monthly gym membership costs us $5 each gym session since we only make it about 6 times a month! So NOT worth it! It's something I'm thinking about so we'll see... 

New month! New goals!

So the weekend challenge was a flop BUT I'm gonna keep on keeping on!

New month! New goals! New motivation!

Some of my goals for the remainder of the year:

0/4000 minutes of exercise
0/31,500 calorie deficit

This breaks down to 66 minutes of exercise and having a 517 calorie deficit everyday for the rest of the year! Even with the holidays coming up I know I can do this.

I also want to start refocusing on what I eat, not just how much I eat because for the last three or four weeks I've been back in this game: eating and exercise.  But I have yet to see the scale move.  And I know we're not suppose to focus on the scale, but when your considered "obese" and no where near a healthy weight for your height, something isn't right.

A majority of people underestimate their calories but I've been at this game for a while now and know "guesstimating" doesn't always work when you're trying to lose weight.  I'm a strict measuring cup/spoon user so I know my calorie counts are pretty accurate.  I've been eating mostly prepacked/processed food to keep it simple but I think that is what's hurting my weight.  When I first lost the weight I focused on absolutely NO processed foods and the weight came off easily.

So another goal for the last two months of 2010 will be to start reincorporating REAL foods.  Hoping that will get the scale moving again...

Failing!!

Okay the whole point of having these Weekend Challenges is to keep me accountable but it's not working!! I have two days to try and make up for bad choices the past several days but pretty sure my calorie deficit goal is down the drain already.

F: 222 cal deficit / 77 min elliptical
Sa: -362 cal deficit / 116 min hike + upper body
Su: -233 cal deficit / 0 min exercise

-373/2500 calorie deficit
193/350 exercise minutes

P.S.
Several people have emailed me about the "holiday" I had mentioned earlier.  Tomorrow is a holiday for some State of Hawaii workers and I'm included in that bunch!