Well, this is my first post to my weight loss Diary. Here is my story. I'm 33 years old and in the best shape of my life. For the past year I have been transforming my body and I've got 5 pounds til I'm at my goal weight. Of course, these last 5 pounds seem to be the toughest to lose. I am fairly muscular, but tend to carry excess weight in my thighs. They are finally slimming down, and I'm hoping to be where I want within the next 6 months. I weight lift 3 days a week and do cardio 6 times a week. I try to eat really clean - though sometimes it is difficult. I have a work out partner who is equally motivated - so that is my best asset. If she didn't show up everyday, who knows where I would be right now.


This is my pic from last August, I will post some new ones soon:



I also am happily married and have 2 gorgeous sons. They like to work out with me on the weekends - we do Tae Bo for kids - so much fun for all of us. My husband is also a work out fanatic, he is the person who first motivated me to start working out 13 years ago - when I was 30 pounds heavier than I am now. He's awesome.

Today we did an intense ab, buns, and thigh work out, along with 45 minutes of cardio on my Arc trainer. Looking forward to tomorrow's cardio session.

Welcome and we're here if you need us

Welcome to the boards - do you do strength training at all?

Well, this morning I did 45 minutes of a Cardio DVD, then went for a 2 mile run. I am not a runner - AT ALL - but I'm trying. I strength train 3 times a week. I will post a new picture soon, my arms look really weak in the above pic, I feel I'm a lot more muscular now then I was last August in the picture.

I'm also trying to lose a little more belly pudge. I'll get some new pics done this week, so I can compare and hopefully see some progress.

With that workout schedule if your diet is clean you should definitely see progress.

Todays workout was strength training Biceps/Triceps - then abs, glutes, quads and hamstrings circuit.

Also did 45 minutes on the Arc trainer. Later I took a walk on my property with my dogs for 30 minutes. It's finally spring like in Northern Minnesota - my favorite time of year.

Til tomorrow....

I have cousins that lived in Minnesota (southern) for a good portion of their lives - they've since moved back to PA but it's still amusing to hear them to ask for pop instead of soda.

Are you using machines for your resistance training? If so, perhaps consider giving free weights a try. They'll give you a freer range of motion which will require you to work the muscles around the muscle you're focusing on.

Yes, pop seems to be a common term used around here I grew up in Southern Iowa and it was common there as well.

I do use free weights for most things when I'm resistance training. When I do squats I use a machine, only because I have a hard time lifting the bar with weights over my head. My legs are very strong in comparison to my upper body. I basically have weenie arms lol.

Today we did an hour of cardio with a DVD. It's a dance workout.

Tomorrow will be a total body circuit with weights. We do lat pull downs, squats, squat jumps, overhead barbell press, tricep dips, decline push ups, deadlifts, upright rows, walking lunges, and jump rope. We do this circuit style - 3 times - 12 to 15 reps on each exercise - then with the walking lunges we do 40 steps and 100 jumps with the jump rope.