Goal!

I finally hit my goal weight this week. It seemed to just melt off this week - fitting with the intensity of the heat outside. Maybe it baked off on my early evening walks!

Next goal - Shape up a bit more!

Motivation Is The Key

Motivation is the key to weight loss. At least for me, it is. So starting out again in a journey to re-lose 12 pounds that I picked up in pregnancy, it is time to reassess my key motivators for being a healthy weight. It is also a great time of the year to do this anyway.

MOTIVATORS
- I feel much more outgoing, perhaps because I spend less time being self-conscious about how I look and what I am wearing, and pay more attention to the people around me.

- I have more energy! It is somewhat contradictory to think that less calories can equal more energy, but for me it does. I know this has a positive impact in multiple areas of my life, including my relationships and my work.

- I want to be a good example to others. I have a Little One and people around me to whom I might be an example, and I want to be a good one.

What are your key motivators?

Top Foods to Buy Organic

One of my reasons for buying organic - pesticides are originally derived from nerve gas agents used in WWII. Why would I ingest remnants of nerve gas agents? That cannot be good for a body.

CNN.com has an article by CookingLight on How to buy the best organic foods. The article mentions a study that found organic foods may contain more nutrients than their non-organic peers. The most useful item from the article, was a link to a myrecipes.com article on the top 12 foods to buy organic (because of the high-levels of pesticides they absorb). The 12 foods are:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

10 Pounds, 10 Weeks

My mom is still kicking it. She has lost a total of 17 pounds this year. She is now setting a goal of losing 10 pounds in 10 weeks. She is also changing her focus to getting stronger by eating right and exercising. Weight loss will be a side benefit. Fantastic attitude, if you ask me.

She is pushing me to get a personal trainer, like her. I think I may stick with taking yoga classes. I finally started on a local project a week ago and will be working in town for the next three months. That means that I can take yoga lessons during the week! A luxury.

My mom is now up to walking/running an average of 3 miles. Great progress! This week her exercise included:

• Walking on Monday
• Core training Tuesday
• Walking after work Wednesday
• Thursday core training
• A long walk this weekend

Keeping up with Mom

Motherly update: My mom is keepin' on in her effort to lose weight. She lost 4.5 pounds in 5 weeks (through last week). This week, she didn't lose any weight, but did lose 1/2 an inch off of her thighs. I think she is convincing my sister to take her on in her next challenge. Go mom!

Daily Red Meat Consumption

A new study came out that indicates that daily red meat consumption increases a person's chance of death. The study also indicates that eating white meat (chicken, fish) has lower chances of death. Some of the articles on the same study suggest eating lentils or other legumes, which appear to the have the opposite affect, instead of meat.

Want to Live Longer? Cut Back on Red Meat

Mom Won the Bet!

In Summary:

Mom lost a whopping 11.5 pounds since we started the bet and increased the duration and consistency of her workouts each week. Go mom!

I lost a respectable 4 pounds total, but ... did not nearly reach my goal, so I will have to pony up the dough. The bet definitely made me be better about exercising when I travel and was fun. Would recommend it, even to those who lose.

My mom is now urging other members of the family to get healthy, too, and she is setting a great example! She is going to continue losing weight over the next few months, so I will keep track of her on my blog.

Shooting for the Stars

My mom is definitely ignoring the moon and is shooting for the stars. She hit 10 pounds of weight loss today! Congrats, mom! You rock! She has even kicked her exercise up another notch. Wow!

My mom has decided now to keep on going and to try to match me on losing 1 pound per week for the 5 weeks of March. I have 5 pounds left, having dropped a pound last week. I won't have a weigh-in for another two weeks or so, because I am traveling (even through the weekends) for the next week and a half.