BMI is bunk!

OK, so I'm not disclosing what my BMI is, but trust me, I'm overweight. I've often wondered how BMI works-- how it doesn't take into things like muscle weight, bone density, even things like small girls with big boobs-- how all weight is the same. NPR posted a great article on why BMI is bunk-- turns out it's not really scientific, but just a guy who wanted an easy way to do some statistics! No fair!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439&sc=fb&cc=fp

Michelle: I Quit the Gym (Sort Of)

I hate the gym. Not my gym specifically, which is actually a nice quiet pleasant gym (as far as gyms go). But I hate going. I hate working out on machines I'm not overly sure how to use. I end up just using the elliptical or treadmill and the recumbent bike, and I'm done. I'm also completely freaked out by other people at the gym. I have so little confidence in what I'm doing, I feel like everyone is staring at me and laughing. OK, I know they're not, but I feel like they are. And all those hot moms who have nothing else to do in the summer but hang out at my gym (which is also a tennis club) just intimidate me further.

Last year, I worked with a personal trainer for 6 months. She was supposed to teach me how to use the machines, but she didn't really. She was more into stretchy resistance bands and giant balance balls. Sigh.

About a month ago, I broke out the dusty Wii Fit. I keep hearing how people lose weight using it. I've got to tell you though - I never really worked up much of a sweat with the Fit, although I had a lot of fun. I'm a big fan of the game where my Mii is dressed up like a penguin, diving for fish.

In an effort to perhaps use this gaming system to my advantage, I picked up the Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing game. That's a lot of fun, but it's pretty much just boxing. I enjoy cardio boxing a lot, but I still needed more if I was going to do this every day.

So we went out the other day and purchased EA Sports Active Personal Trainer. It comes with a resistance band and a leg strap for your nunchuk. And it's fun.

I chose to do the 30-day fitness challenge. Every day it's a different series of exercises that work all my muscles. Trust me on that one. The squats and lunges are killing me. I never felt the burn at the gym the way I do with this video game. Did I mention it's fun? I look forward to doing it.

The 30-day Fitness Challenge takes me right down to the wire for Alaska. We leave June 30. I'm hoping that this game, combined with weekly ballroom dancing and occasional hiking, will have me in tiptop shape for both vacation and BlogHer.

So I suspended my gym membership for 3 months. That will give me time to decide what the hell I'm doing.

Amy: Week 40 Ugh

I mean nothing life threatening of course, maybe a tapeworm or something.

That about sums up the last month or so, how are you guys doing?

Amy: Week 34 - Enough is Enough

It was hard stepping on that scale today, knowing the number awaiting me would not be a pleasant one. I had been steadily gaining up until a few months ago when I just completely went off the wagon. That's putting it mildly, I fell off it, then slashed it's tires, then set it on fire. It now sits in my front yard, up on blocks covered with a tarp, a family of woodland creatures reside there now.

I wish I had some trauma to blame it on - you know like alien abduction or something equally cool, something other than busy schedules and laziness and general lack of motivation. But I don't.

For this to work, you have to want weight loss more than you want that cookie or cake or bag of chips or the couch. For the last few months I have not prioritized health over instant pleasure, I have opted for the temporary buzz over the long term happiness.

I'm mad at myself. I know it's a waste of emotion and it does little to get that number down. It does little to make it so I'm not gasping for breath after a flight of steps. It does little to give me the energy to want to do anything - play with my daughter, tend to the house, cook a meal - after a long day at the office.

Yes, I'm mad and sick of feeling this way. Sick of wishing I was thinner when a special occasion rolls around and I have nothing to wear. Sick of abusing this otherwise healthy body I've been blessed with. Sick.of.it.

It needs to stop. I gained ten pounds since mhy last weigh in, in early February. Ten pounds that I've worked hard to lose only to gain back again a dozen times. It stops here, it stops now.

It's time to get to work. Who's with me?

Michelle: Hiking out of my weight loss hole

I'm still here. And despite the fact that I've ignored the whole weight loss thing for a few months, I'm trying to get back on track.

In November, I had the opportunity to go hiking outside of San Jose, CA, with my friend Russ, the Winehiker. While the short hike pretty much kicked my ass, I noticed something. I overall felt better and my back, miraculously, didn't hurt. I resolved then and there to start hiking as soon as spring arrived in Cincinnati.

Spring's here! I bought hiking shoes. Actually, I've purchased two pairs of hiking shoes - a 7 1/2 and an 8. Apparently I need a 7 3/4. I'm walking around my house today with one on each foot, deciding which one fits better before I send the other pair back. Hmm ... what's better? My toe hitting the end of the 7 1/2 or my heel going up and down in the 8.

We're going hiking this weekend. Just on Saturday, and we're starting small and local. Big Bone Lick State Park, nearby, has 3.5 miles of trails and even a herd of buffalo. My goal is to hike the whole 3.5 miles.

Hopefully that won't kill me. I've been a terrible Loser. I've ignored the gym since November and I haven't ignored dessert. (Somehow, someway, I'm still a size 8, but that baffles me.) So I'm out of shape.

There's an 8-mile hike I want to do in Alaska this summer, and I hope I can be in shape for it. It's good to have a goal.

Wish me luck!

Laura: Nice Weather, More Effort

Spring's here. I guess I can come out of my cave and start working out again. 

I had great intentions during the cold months for getting moving and eating healthy. What did I do? I pouted on the couch and ate comfort food because I couldn't get outside that much (and enjoy it). I'm curious to see if I ever get the motivation to change that. 

Anyway, after my first taste of warmth this week, I'm already getting back to my warm weather routine. I'm out walking, getting my bike tuned up, and in a new twist, I'm heading back to pilates class. Went to class today and my body is thankful, and traumatized. Muscles that haven't gotten work in months are feeling it. 

I'm also experimenting with different vegetables and grains in my cooking as I continue to work on making my diet less meat filled. I purchased some rutabagas today and some bulgar. I even picked up some tempeh. We'll see how it goes. 

Here's hoping my spring enthusiasm lasts longer than my winter enthusiasm for healthy living did. 

Shannan: Back at it (Week Number 3,256 - OK, maybe I am exagerating)

I suck. It’s true. For months I have been saying that I was going to train for a 5k and for months I have been making excuses. It’s embarrassing really. I used to be a long distance runner for crimeny’s sake! I held the record for the 1500 M at my middle school for 13 years. Why do I keep avoiding it?

The answer: Who knows. Am I lazy? Am I afraid of doing something for myself? Am I afraid of FINALLY losing this last 15 lbs (you may recall it was the “last 10 lbs”…)? I don’t know. I wish I did. I have the time – in the mornings – and I have the support and encouragement of my husband.

Well this morning I took a step in the right direction. I got myself up extra early – 5:00 a.m. – and I met my friend Phyllis at the gym. Together we walked 3 miles (around 3.6 speed) on the treadmill and damn it, it felt AWESOME!

What is wrong with me? It was so easy. I was able to workout and get back home with the boys not even realizing I’d been anywhere. Maybe it was knowing that someone was going to be there waiting for me to arrive. That I couldn’t back out. Maybe I need not only to be held accountable online, but to have one of my girlfriends there to work out with me? Maybe that is what it will take until I get over my commitment issues?

Apparently I have a lot of things to figure out. One thing I do know, I have got to stick with it this time.

For those of you working out, and sticking to it, how do you do it?

Shannan