Tread the Med 2!!!

I am team captain for Tread the Med 2! This time, I will push my team towards the top. We will all walk at least 10,000 steps a day. We get to start entering steps on my birthday, April 30. Another big bonus is that we get to buy tickets for a baseball game in June at $10 each. The milestone prizes are really nice this year: cinch pack, bandana, baseball t-shirt and baseball hat. I'm excited and hope that this time I will definitely lose the weight and get back in shape.

Tread the Med Prize!

I am so very proud of Washington University School of Medicine's Tread the Med committee's decision to hand out the prized Tread the Med water bottles MADE IN USA!!!

Tread the Med: Be a Walk Star!

Beginning September 28, Washington University School of Medicine is starting it's Tread the Med Be a Walk Star Contest. The first two teams to average 1,000,000 steps during the 100 day campaign will be eligible to enter a raffle for two $300 Visa cash cards. I am the captain of "Techs in Motion." I walk around 1,000 steps a day, but on Wednesdays, I walk about 3,000 steps, and on Thursdays, I walk about 4,000 steps. Health guidelines recommend 10,000 steps daily. I will need to start walking more in the morning and afternoon.

Last Weigh-in

Congratulations to the biggest losers: Karen Simpson, Rhonda Wilton and Diane Gentile!

Luckily on my last weigh-in today, I did not gain weight. I will continue to be conscious about trying to keep my eating habits reasonable and to at least walk 30 mins. a day. I know this sounds easy to others, but just these two things are really hard for me to accomplish. Well, wish me luck!

Lost weight

I haven't gotten back to exercising, but I have been trying to eat less and make better food choices. I lost 2.2 lbs. this week. Now, I just have to get back to walking at least 30 mins. each day.

Already Lagging?

Started out with a bang earlier Friday when I completed three laps through the walking circuit and climbed five flights of stairs (also an extra set of stairs during the first lap.) Then I got home and I was too tired to get on the elliptical.

Hosted the Coffee Party Belleville meeting at the Oregon Trail Roasting Co. in downtown Belleville. Had three people attend in addition to my husband!!! People who are better informed than I came. Half of the people they talked about just went over my head. I definitely know less about how government works than the people who attended. The most interesting question is how can we galvanize Belleville?

I ate a Reuben, mac and cheese, and lemonade for lunch. Haven't exercised yet.

Biggest Loser?

For the next twelve weeks, I will be trying to lose weight to win the grand prize, half of the overall cash raised and a paid day off. It started yesterday, Wednesday, January 19, where I turned in a dollar to weigh in for the week. By the end of each week, the person who loses the most percentage of weight, wins half the weekly pot.

I've started out strong for someone who was a heartbeat away from a heart attack. I've walked during lunch and climbed five flights of stairs to my office. I even did 15 mins. on the elliptical machine at home which says I've lost around 80 fat calories. Today, I've walked the circuit twice at lunch, climbed the five flights combined (walking a flight each time I go up to my office and three flights at lunch), worked 20 mins. on the elliptical burning 115 fat calories! Also, I squeeze my thighs together and tighten my buttocks and abs to the slow count of 100 at least 3½ times while riding the train.

Now my past experiences in trying to get healthy, I start but was never able to stick to it. I am starting out strong this time because I felt I needed to do it boot camp style like my friend Carmanisha did last year after having her baby.

I know exercise is only half the equation, but I have tried to eat less than I usually do, which is still a lot. The diet part is the hardest part because I have a love affair with food. I really love food even when I'm not depressed nor anxious. I especially love free food, and there is always plenty of free food at work.

Wish me luck!