Shakopee Valley News - Shakopee's Biggest Loser - Comments

My pants are falling down

Ruth Anne Maddox — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:21:55 -0500

My pants are falling down and it ticks me off.

Just when I thought it was safe to buy some new clothes I'm apparently blasting through that size 10 plateau that I hit. Maybe it's the change in the weather, maybe it's some stress, maybe my body just wants me to spend more money on it (I hate shopping and I hate spending money).

I don't know that I'm working out any more than I had been, but I do think that my workouts have felt very good lately -- especially on Wednesday mornings when I work out with Bob and Jillian while watching my Tuesday night "Biggest Loser" episode on the DVR.

This morning, I had to search through my closet to find a belt and the best I could come up with was a black leather one with a big ol' rhinestone buckle on it. That's when I realized that I have actually accomplished something. Even though the belt is dorky, I have always liked it; hence, the fact that it was still in my closet.

As yet, I still haven't gotten on the scale again (the final weigh-in is indefinitely postponed) but the fact is that this dorky belt would not go around my mid-section on even the loosest connection in January. Today, I slid it through my belt loops and under the gaudy buckle and cinched it all the way to the last (and tightest) connection. Success -- and comfort.

My hard work has apparently paid off and I didn't even know it. Now I wish I hadn't thrown away (actually I donated several boxes of "big" clothes to Courage Center) all my other dorky belts.

OK, so the weigh-in was

Ruth Anne Maddox — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:36:16 -0500

OK, so the weigh-in was postponed due to conflicts in schedules among the others in class and now I don't know when it will be -- which is good and bad.

It's good because it gives me an opportunity to continue to tone up and maybe lose a couple more pounds but it's bad because I can't afford to slack off in the least (which I guess, technically, is good).

While I've been waiting, I dug a box of "these are too small for me" clothes out of the garage and had a little reunion with them. Most of the items went straight from that box to a charity box because I'm not sure why I ever even owned them (like the purple suit that a judge once told me in court that I looked like Barney in!!!)

I did salvage two pairs of pants and a pair of shorts, all of which are classic styles and can be carried over from days gone by.

Most exciting is a pair of black trousers that I loved from the day I bought them and was very disappointed when I got too big for my britches. Today, they fit perfectly -- if not a little loosely -- and I am prancing about with a little more spring in my step with the self-pride that slid on with them.

It almost makes me want to go shopping (I say almost because I really hate to shop). I wonder what it's like to buy clothes that fit my body and this decade?

Believe it or not, it's been

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:05:01 -0500

Believe it or not, it's been six months since the Shakopee Biggest Loser classes ended and a week from today is the followup and final weigh-in.

An e-mail came today with a reminder of the time and date and a note from Cindy saying she hoped our summer was productive and healthy.

Well, as I sit here nibbling on raw baby carrots (even though I really want to raid my co-worker's M&M jar), I feel like I've made some positive changes in my life.

I work out almost daily and I am still maintaining portion control (although sometimes I indulge in just a little bit more of this or that because it tastes so good -- then I add time to the next work out). People continue to notice that something is different about me -- some were asking early on whether I got a haircut, when the difference was that my face was thinner because I was losing weight. Recently, I did get a haircut and several people have asked if I'm losing weight ;-)

Come next Tuesday, win or lose by what the scale tells us all, I see myself as a winner in a losing game -- and, despite all the whining (and there has been much), I have had fun and plan to keep on having fun.

P.S. I did eat at the State Fair but I capitalized on my calories, choosing among the items I really wanted to try and not just getting what my friends were getting. Then I shared most of the items I chose and I don't feel like I missed out on a thing.

OK, so here's the song I

Ruth Anne Maddox — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:03:06 -0500

OK, so here's the song I promised (it's to the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"):

In the hot box, the sweaty hot box, I swing my bell tonight

In the hot box, up on the third floor, I hate this class tonight.

My knees are wet
My knees are wet
My knees are wet
My knees are wet

I hate to sweat
I hate to sweat
I hate to sweat
I hate to sweat

In the bell class, the lady’s smiling, I hate this class tonight

“Good, you’re sweating, the lady’s saying, I’ll ring her bell tonight

My knees are wet
I hate to sweat
My back is wet
I hate to sweat

My face is wet
I hate to sweat
It’s in my eye
I want to cry…

For the record, last night was our final class and the instructor was trying to kill us. We didn't just swing one kettlebell -- we were swinging two. We also did rapid-fire squats bouncing our butts off a flex ball while holding the kettlebell(s). It was squat-squat-squat-squat-squat-squat, etc. for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest before we did it again -- and there were eight sets.

I mentioned that I don't remember ever sweating from the fronts of my knees before and I was laughed at by the instructor, Neighbor Girl and at least one other student. Seriously.

This morning, I was lucky, first, to get out of bed and, second, to both sit down on and get up from the toilet (just when I thought is was safe to use my leg muscles again...). I plan on holding it the rest of today -- and I raised my chair up so I don't have to lower myself as far because I cannot be sure I will get up again.

I did, however, find enough energy to make my way to the break room for cake today -- we celebrate all of the office birthdays for the month at once and today was birthday cake day. I don't always join in this event but I felt obligated since I not only have an August birthday but I am celebrating my big day today. Woo hoo! I made it another year!

Next up for classes? I'm thinking either karate or belly dancing. Any suggestions?

Even though I seemed to have

Ruth Anne Maddox — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:00:28 -0500

Even though I seemed to have taken time off from the Loser blog, I have not taken time off from my workouts.

I have been a crazy woman on the recumbent bike, pedaling and sweating while our temporary foster dog tries to eat the pedals. In an odd sort of way, this is helpful to my exercise regime: Several times when I only planned to do 20 minutes I've ended up doing 30 or more because I have to stop and corral the beast to make her sit -- which she will do if I hold the leash but not if I simply tell her to. And, when I stop pedaling, the program resets itself and I have to start over so I end up resetting the same program so I get the workout I wanted to begin with and it adds to my time on the bike.

I also have increased my amount of walking because the foster doesn't play well with others and I have to walk her separately from my two dogs (and I've done a little running to get ahead or away from other dogs we encounter so as to avoid any possible aggression issues).

Note to self: Do NOT run downhill with a 75-pound dog made of solid muscle that does not want to slow down or stop once you get to what you perceive as "the safe zone." Otherwise, plan to wear a helmet and elbow and knee pads in case you can't make it to the grass before you regain control over the leash.

Note to readers: I did get stopped before I fell, but I do not wish to know what I looked like in the flailing attempts to do so -- though I can see how windmills produce vast amounts of energy.

I also have not skipped a kettlebell class even though I tend to whine my way through them. I told the instructor last night that I hate the class -- which is actually a good thing because if I liked it I might not think it was doing anything to help me. But, since I started kettlebelling, I have noticed that my waist is starting to reappear.

There is a slight definition -- or indentation -- where I thought I last saw it so things are looking up. Again, there was a windmill involved -- or maybe it was the woodchopper? Anyway, it was some crossover movement that has me twisting my core and it must be doing what it's supposed to do. I have been composing a kettlebell song in my head which I may or may not reveal in a future posting (I'm not sure I could swing the bell while wearing the white coat they might bring from my crazy lyrics).

We'll see...

Currently, the class is in a

Ruth Anne Maddox — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:31:59 -0500

Currently, the class is in a maintenance mode with our final weigh-in set for September. Our class began in January and I'm guessing the next one will start about the same timeframe. It's through Shakopee Community Education, so watch the catalog or check out the Web site at www.shakopee.k12,mn.us.

It was very tough holding myself accountable in front of other people so I really thought about whether I wanted to eat certain things -- and I forced myself to get a workout in so I could have positive reports to make each week.

My hard work paid off, though, because I lost 14 pounds in 12 weeks (I haven't been on a scale since the class ended in March so I don't know where I'm at now) and dropped from a size 16 to 10s and 12s. Ultimately, I'd like to be in single-digit pants but size 10 in nothing to feel bad about either.

Okay, is it too late to sign

Kristine L. Robinson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:28:44 -0500

Okay, is it too late to sign up for this class?
I would love to be a part of a group that is working together "support" for exercise and losing weight!

Keep me abreast!

So last week I opted for a

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:58:56 -0500

So last week I opted for a pair of elastic-waisted shorts after nearly losing the too big button-and-zipper pair I wore the first week (I thought loose-fitting clothes would be more comfortable to move in -- until they started falling down and I had to keep doing the Michael Jackson "Thriller" move to keep them up).

These shorts are shorter than I usually like to wear in public but they did stay on, which was an improvement over the gang-banger look I sported on the walk home the previous week.

However, the shapeless grey T-shirt that topped the shorts made me look a bit like Jabba the Hutt when I caught sight of myself in the mirrors (even though I purposely left my glasses at home, I was still able to make out my blob-like form on the mat).

This is reason No. 459 why I don't like to work out in public. Yes, having others there forces you to keep trying but why is it they wear all the cute clothes and actually have a torso while my breast (yes, singular -- sports bras give me a uni-boob) appear to be jutting out from my stomach? And why is my face a blotchy red while they seem to have a nice pink glow?

I'll bet they took the elevator up to the third-floor torture chamber while Neighbor Girl and I dragged ourselves up three flights of stairs.

Anyway, we're on again tonight. It's going to be a repeat on the shorts but I haven't yet decided whether I have a decent shirt to wear. I guess I could wear my sunglasses in class and hope they're dark enough to tune out the mirrors...

Big difference between

Ruth Anne Maddox — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:34:11 -0500

Big difference between sweating while working out and having a puddle under you like Frosty in the greenhouse.

It's good to sweat - it

Joanna Miller — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:21:28 -0500

It's good to sweat - it means you're actually working out. I get annoyed with the "pretty" work out people at the "Big-Box" gym who put on makeup to go to step class.

After last night's

Ruth Anne Maddox — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:06:01 -0500

After last night's kettlebell class, I fully expected to be writing this today using a pencil held between my teeth to poke the letters on my keyboard.

In an amazing twist of fate, I don't feel completely beaten up -- although having a 10-pound cannonball with a handle slap your forearm a few times should probably leave a bruise, I seem to be doing OK (I even gave the ol' recumbent bicycle a whirl this morning).

The class started out with a few instructions -- how to pick up the molten globe (by the horns with your knees bent -- no rounded backs!), the correct posture for performing the prescribed circus tricks (like you're hovering over a public toilet you don't want to sit on) and a tip to wipe your sweaty hands on your pants as often as necessary to avoid having said iron ball fly off your fingertips and shatter the mirror -- or a classmate's head (nobody's let one fly in the class yet ... yet).

There were other instructions and encouragements as we swung our bells -- things like, "You don't have to try to keep up with me or the music. Everyone is different and you can work at your own pace."

OK, so I find it difficult to NOT move to the music and even more difficult to tune it out and try to work out at a pace slower than the beat. Plus, I looked really dorky swinging up when everyone else was swinging down.

At one point, as I was thrusting the 10-pound kettlebell above my head, I thought there might be a leak in the ceiling because my arm was getting wet. Then I realized that it was me leaking (I think the sweat from my chin somehow dripped onto my wrist?!). The instructor pointed out that we were all sweating nicely, as it should be! Great.

For those of you unfamiliar with kettlebell, here's a video of me and Neighbor Girl doing our workout:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5uU7ku-Lo&feature=related

And then we woke up -- with our knees shaking as we descended the stairs from the third floor gym. We had the bright idea that we should walk to class. We didn't plan ahead for the need to also walk home. Downhill wasn't so bad on our tiptoes, though (thanks for the tip, Neighbor Girl). And here I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to wear heels today and, it turns out, heels are actually necessary to keep from hurting ;-)

Neighbor Girl and I were joined in the class by one of my co-workers (tee hee, another literary victim for me). I'll call her Boss Lady. OK, 'nough said. Now back to Neighbor Girl.

We got back to my house after class and Neighbor Girl felt the need to point out, "You were really sweating in class."

Um, no I wasn't, I was MELTING.

We did our workout facing a wall of mirrors but I couldn't really see myself because my glasses slid off my face in the waterfall of sweat pouring from my globe. The couple times I did glimpse myself, though, it looked like I was frightened -- Lord knows I scared myself with that reflection!

And, oooh, next week we're going to do some moving about with our bells. Can't wait...

All I know is I'm bringing a workout towel to mop myself off occasionally, a case of Gatorade to put some of the sweated-out fluids back into my body and a prayer for rain (cuz that means we'll drive to class).

Who wants to see

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:01:22 -0500

Who wants to see video?

Kettlebell class starts tonight and I'm thinking a mini movie is in order. I've got a feeling that me demonstrating any physical activity, though, will be akin to a "Perk at Play" segment (still haven't seen myself on Channel 15 with the other ladies in the Shakopee Biggest Loser class but I hear we were most excellent at showing how to work out with a flex ball!)

In the meantime, I also have purchased a recumbent exercise bicycle to use on those too hot, too cold or too wet days to walk or ride outside.

I'm sure I told my friend, Colleen, that it was a stationary bicycle -- but she must not have heard me because she told me to make sure I put a tall flag on it so people would see me on the road -- "and wear a helmet!" she cautioned.

I was laughing when I told her that those things probably wouldn't be necessary since I didn't plan to ride it outdoors -- as it is, in fact, a stationary bicycle.

But, then again, I did once have an accident on an upright exercise bicycle that left me with a goose egg on my shin that bruised an oh-so-pretty purple, so maybe a helmet is a good idea (although I'm pretty sure I won't need the flag).

Eat this. Don't eat that.

Ruth Anne Maddox — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:09:00 -0500

Eat this. Don't eat that. This is better for you. You're not going to eat THAT, are you?!?!

I've still been watching the amounts of what I'm eating, although I have indulged in a couple of food choices that might not seem acceptable for someone watching what they eat -- like a root beer float. But, I probably haven't had one of those in two years and likely won't again for that long.

It was simply something that was offered to me, sounded good and I went for it. But, I'm pretty sure it's not going to blow my "diet" (I'm not actually dieting, just watching what I choose to eat and getting a little more exercise than I used to).

Today, though, I wasn't in the mood for my usual plain yogurt with fresh berries and muesli or granola. I wanted a breakfast bar with my coffee so I stopped at the store on the way to work. I saw an article recently that breakfast bars aren't horrible, so long as you choose wisely and opt for one with fiber and no more than 5 grams of sugar.

I ended up with a couple varieties of Kashi bars, which have 8 grams of sugars, but there are no artificial ingredients (such as high fructose corn syrup). The 1.2-ounce bars have 120 calories, of which 20 are from fat. Not bad. But then I decided that I wanted some yogurt, too (funny how I ended up with yogurt and granola -- in a bar -- for breakfast).

Normally, I buy a big tub of fat-free plain yogurt and dole out a serving in a plastic container but I didn't want a big ol' tub at work so I was looking at some of the small containers. I must have looked unsure of what I wanted because a woman loading a couple six packs of Yoplait's Fiber One yogurt cups into her cart said, "If you haven't tried these, they're really good ... it's like eating ice cream."

"But what about the sugars?" I found myself saying as I picked up a six pack from the cooler and looked around to see who said that.

"Oooh, it's got high fructose corn syrup in it," I scowled. I actually said that out loud. Who am I and why do I care about a little high fructose corn syrup?

I don't remember how many grams of sugars were in it (I'm thinking it was about 15) but I put it back and picked up some Dannon Light & Fit.

"Hmmm. Only 2 grams of sugars and no high fructose corn syrup," I mused (not out loud this time).

And with just 60 calories, I had a total of 180 calories for breakfast and combined with my coffee that was enough to keep me from being hungry for lunch till after 2 p.m. (which is a good thing because we had a storm-related power outage and I couldn't use the microwave to heat my lunch till then anyway).

Maybe this whole change in lifestyle thing really does start to grow on you...

Ooh, ooh. This just in. I'm

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:00:47 -0500

Ooh, ooh. This just in. I'm going to sign up for another Community Ed class that starts in July: Kettlebell.

I don't know how it works or whether I'll be good at it. I’ve asked Neighbor Girl to join me but, even if she’s not up to the challenge, I may not need her for comic relief.

I can so see myself giggling as I think about shouting: “We need more cowbell, errrr, kettlebell!”

My laziness on the exercise

Ruth Anne Maddox — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:30:27 -0500

My laziness on the exercise front is equal to that of my lack of attention to new blog entries (it's been 11 days!, but there is always so much else to do!).

However, I received a kick in pants for both exercising and blogging today from Older Sister. In response to my query about how to make time for exercise, she said:

"TAKE THE NIKE APPROACH AND JUST DO IT! YOU DO NOT WORK 24/7. INSTEAD OF A FOOD JOURNAL KEEP A TIME JOURNAL AND SEE WHERE IT WORKS."

That said, I must report that I have been incorporating my dog park outings to include a couple miles of heart-rate increasing walking.

While my husband takes one or both dogs to the area we call "The Meadow" to play ball, I hit the trail around the perimeter of the park, which I'm told is about 1 mile. A couple trips around and I'm ready to lap from the bowl of dog water we bring for the dogs.

I think part of my problem with doing anything besides walking is that it's too nice outside to watch TV and I don't know a lot of other options. I want to do outdoor exercises and I can't picture myself riding my Hoppity Hop-like flex ball out in the driveway or on the patio -- and that is one routine I had been doing while a show or two played on the tube.

I still haven't gotten my bicycle road-ready yet so maybe I should spend a little more time "doing it" than looking for the time to do it. Time to put away the hat full of excuses...

Shakopee's Biggest Loser

Ruth Anne Maddox — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:55:31 -0600

NOTE: TO VIEW THE LATEST POSTS FOR THIS BLOG, SCROLL TO THE END OF THE THREAD AND JUMP TO THE LAST PAGE. THEN, SCROLL TO THE END OF THAT PAGE.

Shakopee Community Education is teaching this 12-week class for the third consecutive year and I have signed on for this season.

Last night was the first session and, after talking about goals, etc., we had a weigh-in and had our body mass index (BMI) measured. (Not telling; let's just say I need to tone up more than a bit).