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This morning I rode my bike to a nearby Lake. This is a great Sunday ride for me because there is a road that on other days is quite busy where on Sundays it’s no problem, so I like to take advantage of the early quiet Sunday morning. Of course when I get there, it is a beautiful ride around the Lake which is roughly 4 miles. The whole ride is about 16 miles and on the way back there’s a bit of a hill to climb.

I find myself playing this little game as I go up the hill where I pick a spot just ahead (maybe a driveway, tree or mailbox) and make that my goal.  Typically when I ride I have a goal to go for distance or speed and today I was thinking that when I’m on an incline, the goal is not necessarily the distance or the speed, but rather just not getting off the bike to walk it up the hill. 😉

The mantra in my head at this time is "Don’t Quit" – round the peddles go – "Don’t Quit" – a little further up the hill – "Don’t Quit". AND of course in just a bit of time and with legs burning, I’ve made it to the top AND it feels so awesome!

After clearing the top today and then coasting for a bit I was thinking how making it up this hill is such a metaphor for the weight loss challenge and our quest to lose weight. Every month and week so far this year, I’ve had goals that I’ve been trying really hard to attain, but because this journey is NOT fast and NOT necessarily easy (who said that it would be, right?) sometimes the goal of the DAY is just NOT to quit! Do you know what I’m saying here?

I don’t ALWAYS feel like exercising when I get up in the morning and I sometimes do want that pizza or sweet, BUT I know that I will not quit at this, so any concession I make does not lead to throwing in the towel. Sometimes we DO exercise when we don’t "feel" like it and we DO use restraint when we want to make an unhealthy food choice because like riding your bike to the top of the hill, it is the little choices that we make along the way that will get us to the top – to our goals – to health and freedom!

I predict the view’s gonna be great! Are you with me?! 🙂

Don’t quit! Keep going!

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The Biggest Loser Season 4 Premier aired last night.

I’ve been really excited for this show to start up again because it was such a big part of my own motivation to lose weight this year. I don’t know that it is completely realistic for the average person to lose as much weight as fast as they do on the show, but it is encouraging to watch. Of course they are going to lose much faster and bigger as they have really intense workouts and this is basically what they are doing for weeks on end. Meaning that they don’t have the distractions of "regular" life and can 100% focus on their weight loss, exercise and dieting.

For me, it has shown the value of focus and back in Dec. I had decided that weight loss/health goals would HAVE to be my #1 focus/goal for 2007…and so far it really has. I think sometimes you really do need this intense amount of focus on ONE big goal to get the momentum going.

I thought the show was great and I really look forward to this season. I love it that Alison Sweeney is the new host and I think she will be great! The show started with all of the contestants being dropped off in the middle of a desert. Yikes – what must they be thinking?!

Trainers, Bob Harper (Blue Team) and Kim Lyons (Red Team) then skydive to the ground to greet them. Pretty cool! The big twist this season is the make-up of a surprise Black Team – they were the ones not chosen by the original Blue and Red Team captains – who will be led by Jillian Michaels. They will secretly be training in the desert and meet up with the other teams a bit later in the show.

The season is off to a great start and I’m hoping that it will help with my own motivation as well as provide a source of good diet and exercise tips that I can follow from home as I continue with my own weight loss challenge.

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Ahhhhh…it’s only been a few short weeks since my first flat and would you believe that I just had another?! I guess these roads I’m riding on have a lot of junk!

Today, I was actually en route home from the same beach that I had the first flat. The road is called Greenville Loop and it would be unusual for me to not see another cyclist at some point in the morning. Knowing that I did have the equipment this time to fix the tire, I decided I would try to enlist the help of another cyclist as I was not overly confident that I would remember exactly how this was done. 😉

The first guy I saw coming from the opposite direction did turn around and come to my rescue. He had already done the majority of his ride and was more than happy to help me out AND he was also a great teacher – having me go through the steps along the way. All in all, a very good experience and I now do feel pretty confident that I could change the tire on my own next time.

I went immediately to the bike shop to purchase more tubes (I decided that I better keep 2 on me as the guy helping me did say that he’s had 2 flats in one ride before!) and some more containers of air. Goodness! The bike shop periodically runs a class on basic bike maintenance which I think would be a perfect idea for me.

Not letting it get me down…just need to be prepared! 😉

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The Biggest Loser TV show has been such an inspiration to me and played a large part in my motivation to create my own weight loss challenge beginning last January. I had gotten several of the Biggest Loser books and dvds for Christmas. (they were on my wish list – just in case you were wondering who would have the nerve to buy these items for someone for Christmas – ouch! ) 😉

The new season starts up again next week and I’m really looking forward to it! Last night there was a special that brought in past contestants to be weighed and talk about what has been happening in their lives. 

Big news on the show was that contestants Matt and Suzy were married and also have a new baby! How cool! Most contestants that were featured (of course!) had either kept their weight off or close to it. Another 2 contestants, Marty and Amy got engaged during the show! Goodness – that’s what I call life changing – go on a show, lose tons of weight AND fall in love. Hmmmmm….  😉

Other news about the upcoming season which starts next week – Allison Sweeney is the new host! Yeah! I actually watch one soap (Days of our Lives) and she is on it. Also, Jillian will be back and I love her! Talk about killer bod! I can’t wait until the new season starts!

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I’ve been seeing the doctor regularly to monitor for high blood pressure for 3-4 yrs now. Currently I’m taking 2 medications – Metoprolol and Diovan. My blood pressure was good today and I spoke with the doctor about really wanting to go off the medication. I’m convinced that my high blood pressure was largely due to my diet and lack of exercise and I’m hoping that I have turned this around. It could be that I will need the medications – I do have some history of high blood pressure in my family, but I’m really hoping that the positive changes I’ve made will cause my blood pressure to be normal.

The number one reason is, of course, my health in general. Another is that I’m needing to get health insurance and there is such a big difference in the price if you are being treated for high blood pressure.

I applied a few months ago and at my current weight (I think I was around 230 at the time) and having high blood pressure, the payment was $400 +/mo. whew! I did speak with someone at that time and he told me that yes, the blood pressure and weight could be having a big effect on that number. So I’ve had it in my head that I would reapply again when I was off the medication and under 200 lbs. I’m aiming to have this new insurance in place for January…good way to start out the new year.

So the doctor did take me off of the Metoprolol today and I am going to try to take my blood pressure weekly with the machine at Walmart until I see him again next month. At that point, if all looks good I believe he will take me off of the Diovan also.

Wish me luck! 😉