And the Training BEGINS!

Well, today was the first of our training rides for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Phil and I will be out on a ride each weekend from now until the event (excluding the 2 weekends we are away partying in the desert for Coachella, cuz that gonna be a whole other kind of workout, ya know what I'm saying?).

For our inaugural ride, we headed out for a 20km pedal around 4pm with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky - the weather was perfect - Sunny, dry and about 10 degrees - Excellent.

I had mapped out a pretty straight forward course of us from our door to UBC Campus, about 10 km each way. What I had not thought about was all the climbing that would be involved in Lap 1 - WOWZA, those small, unassuming hills make your hamstrings burn and your quads become lead.

We made it to UBC in just under 30 minutes and took a short break before heading back home, both of us grateful for the fact that all the climbing was a thing of the past and we could coast our way back home, well, most of the way.

The ride ended up being totally great. We both felt really good and acomplished since we were worried about our fitness levels, BUT it would appear that I am in WAY better shape that I ever thought and the ride was far less painful that I had anticipated.

We ended up home and locking up our bikes about 75 minutes after we had left. Not at all bad for our first time out.

Next week we'll try a different route and see if we can avoid some of those hills and make some better time ...

Week 1.V2: A Fresh start … with more of the same?

Well, here we are Week 1.V2

It has come and gone without any real monuments events.

I went to gym as scheduled (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

I ate a few too many of my super, ridiculously delish Devil’s food Cake Cupcakes (and by few I mean 3), which I prepared for Round Two of my baking fundraising for my Ride to Conquer Cancer event. (Made a cool $150 from exploiting my co-workers needs for mass amounts of sugar and chocolate).

Otherwise I was on track with the eating. Loads of veggies, lean proteins (salmon filets, turkey burgers, chicken breasts) and fibre filled foods (oatmeal, apples, stone ground whole wheat bread)

I’m feeling better about things, less pressures on me = more desire to keep it up.

I have a good feeling about this, and on that note, here are the weeks deets:

Bust: 34
Waist: 29
Hips: 39

Overall Inches Lost:
Bust: -4
Waist: -4
Hips: -3

Total Inches: -11

A New Outlook

I am in a rut.

I am bummed out and disappointed in my weight loss progress so far.

I have been so diligent about my workouts, tracking each and every one and never skipping a day without making up for it, but yet I don't see the results I had thought I would.

I have swayed with the food here and there and now realize that all my self destruction is part of my depression.

So I am taking a new outlook on the whole thing.

FIRST - I am redesigning my eating plan. Something about how I am eating now is not jiving and I clearly need to mix it up to get the results that I want. I don't want to be forever on a diet, its just not going to be possible. I want to be able to indulge now and then and not hate myself for it.

SECOND - I am no longer going to be a slave to the scale. I will not be posting my weekly weight numbers (as I am not going to be weighing myself as frequently as I have been), but will continue to post and track my measurements, as those are the real marks of achievement.

I will be relying on my clothes to measure my success. I have my GOAL JEANS that I will get into again.

THIRDLY - I am not putting a DATE on my goal. When it happens it will happen. The last time I lost a vast amount of weight it came off when it came off, there was no goal.

SO, now, without that self-inflicted pressure I hope to reach my new goals:

I want to be healthy and fit.

I want to able to lift my 41 lb mountain bike over my head when a trail calls for it.

I want to be able to conquer the Grouse Grind & my next 10Km race in less than 45 minutes.

Week 12 - Falling Off the Wagon ...

Beer, fries, hamburgers, chips, popcorn and a few too many of my own fundraising cookies (they were SO DAMN GOOD!) ...

I fell hard and with no excuse (no stress, depression, nothing but a lack of resolve and that is more pathetic than anything) ... and it hurts ... and its MOTIVATION to get back on track ....

Here are the Week 12 Weigh-In Numbers:

Weight: 129 lbs
Bust: 34
Waist: 29
Hips: 39

Week 12 Overall Weight & Inches Loss:

Weight: - 10 lbs
Bust: - 4
Waist: -4
Hips: - 3
Total Inches: -11

I gained a pound and added an inch to my waist ... nothing in long time has made me feel as defeated as seeing that inch come back.

WAKE UP ERIN!!!!! I have to take control, take responsibility and restart my healthy eating habits or I just will not reach my goal.

I am already well behind my projected timeline by almost 10 lbs and even though I am losing inches, I want to lose more body fat and working out alone is just not going to cut it.

I've said it before but now I have to really mean it if I want to see it - ITS GO TIME!

BREAKING NEWS:

I know a lot of people who's kid(s) suffer from sever peanut allergies and what they go through to ensure that they don't come in contact with peanuts/nuts is quite the task.

But now there is the possibility that that one day they wont have to worry:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists have the first evidence that life-threatening peanut allergies may be cured one day.

A few children now are allergy-free thanks to a scary treatment — tiny amounts of the very food that endangered them.

But over several years, the children's bodies learned to tolerate peanuts. Immune-system tests show no sign of remaining allergy in five youngsters, and others can withstand amounts that once would have left them wheezing or worse, scientists reported Sunday.

Read More: Study: Peanut allergy may be reversible

Week 11 - Getting There!

Wow - Has it really already been 11 weeks since 2009 and the New Me Program started?? Where is the time going? Its flying by at warp like speeds ...

This weight loss/fitness journey of mine has been moving along nicely so far in my opinion.

I have set achievable goals

I have already lost weight and more importantly INCHES!

I have developed a fitness regime that I like & am able to stick to

I have become more educated & aware of ways in which I can live a healthy & sustainable lifestyle

I have an overall greater feeling of well-being

I am becoming more comfortable in my own skin & actually like the way look these days

I'm so proud of my success and any one of them alone would have been a HUGE accomplishment in and of themselves.

And even though I am not at the weight loss numbers that I had thought I would have reached by this point, I am still more than happy with my overall achievements.

Here are the Week 11 Weigh-In Numbers:

Weight: 128 lbs
Bust: 34
Waist: 28
Hips: 39

Week 10 Overall Weight & Inches Loss:

Weight: - 10 lbs
Bust: - 4
Waist: -5
Hips: - 3
Total Inches: -12

Food for Thought

How much of your own food do you produce?

Where would you go to get food if all the stores were closed?

According to Mz. Michaels

Hey, ever heard of this show the Biggest Loser??

Who am I kidding. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've at least hear of the show, if not tuned in for a episode or season.

I myself am a fair-weather friend of the show, only getting into it fully a few season back, but if I see it in repeats I'll always stop to see what Bob and Jillian dishing out.

Recently, I stopped over at Mz. Michaels website and decided to take her up on her offer to provide me with a "Free Customized Weight Loss Plan" and here's what she had to say:

Based on your answers, here's my triple-threat plan for you. My online program makes weight-loss simple, with real solutions for people who want to lose weight and keep it off.

You're a Pear — but you can pare down!

Like all pears, you tend to store fat in your lower body, so you're probably carrying extra weight around your hips, buttocks, and thighs. Anyone can be a pear, but this shape is more common among women, and it actually evolved because fat stored in these areas aids in fertility and breast-feeding. It's an interesting fact — but I know as well as anyone that this type of fat is harder to lose.

Not to worry! I have exercises that will target your fat storage areas. My personalized program will help you alter your pear shape. But you got to get a grip — you can only win against genetics up to a certain point. Once you understand this, you can let go of unreachable goals and replace them with real ones.

Your Current Weight: 129 pounds

Your Current Activity Level: Medium

Your Reasonable Weight: 97-123 lbs

Your Target Weight: 110 pounds

Activity Level:Active

Here's Your Customized Weight Loss Plan:

Based on your answers, here's my plan for you. My online program makes weight-loss simple, with real solutions for people who want to lose weight and keep it off.

I'll create your personalized exercise program based on the days you prefer to work out, the goals you set for yourself, and the exercises you enjoy. After all, if you enjoy your workout, it's easier to stick to.

I'll encourage you to:

Use the elliptical trainer. This machine is great because it’s easy on your joints and it allows you to focus on different muscles. Maximize your session by using the movable handles.

Go for a swim. It’s kinder to your joints and easy for people who are less fit. Plus, by alternating strokes, you can target different muscles.

Play your favorite sports. It’s a whole lot more fun than sweating it out by yourself. And you will often be toning your whole body while burning calories.

De-stress with kickboxing! It’s more fun than regular aerobics, and it’s a great workout. I recommend doing it for at least 45 minutes.

You're a Fast Oxidizer

Because you crave salty foods, cheeses, and meats, you may be a fast oxidizer. This is the fancy term for your metabolic rate. It simply means that you burn through the nutrients in your food rapidly and that you therefore produce energy instantly. If the energy is not used immediately, it is stored as fat. Carbs only speed your oxidation and energy production further. So to best serve your metabolism and feel energized both physically and mentally, you require foods with higher percentages of proteins and fats. Make sure that there is protein in everything you eat, including snacks. Your ideal meals and snacks should break down to a ratio of 20% carbs, 50% protein, and 30% fat.

But the bottom line is, you have to burn more calories than you take in. That's it.
And to really do this successfully, you have to eat the ideal diet for your body
and metabolism. Believe me — I've struggled with this myself. And I've done a
lot of research and work to figure out my ideal diet. And now I want to share my
findings with you. I have recipes and snacks that will help you eat better for
your body type. And I have secrets and tricks to make it easier. (I didn't say
"easy.")

My 7 steps to behavioral modification

Lots of so-called "experts" talk about willpower. Well, I say screw willpower — there's no such thing! Sure, we all have fleeting moments of bravado. But that virtue comes and goes. I'm going to teach you some basic techniques to change your habits and program yourself against failure!

You are going to have to do the work, though. I don't want to hear that you don't have the time. If that's your excuse, then get back to me when you're ready. I'll be here.

Ready? Okay, good. Let's make some changes together:

1. Avoid dangerous situations. STOP driving by the doughnut shop on your way to work. When you go out to dinner, ask the waiter not to bring bread to your table.

2. Get a hobby. Start taking your dog on longer walks. Fix up your attic. By focusing on positive activities, you'll find yourself becoming more relaxed, happier, and thinner!

3. Curb mindless eating. Don't eat while standing up, and don't skip meals. Brush your teeth after every meal and snack. Food never seems as appealing when you have that toothpaste taste in your mouth.

These life changes will help you lose weight and keep it off. To learn more about each one and to see the other four — sign up for my online program.

Overall, I have to agree with most of what she says (however I can't tell you when I last had a dougnut).

BUT what happened to the FREE part of this program?? I get 3 out of the "My 7 steps to behavioral modification" and then have to pay for the last 4??

Hummm, some "Free Customized Weight Loss Plan" that is. And it was all going along so well until then ....

Breaking the Cycle

Does this sound familiar to anyone:

You’re losing weight at a nice, steady pace, and things are going well...then all of a sudden, the scale doesn’t budge. For a week, maybe two or longer, you don’t see your weight change, even though you know you’re following your eating and exercise program. Are you stuck at that weight forever? Time to panic? Not at all. You’ve probably just reached a plateau, part of nearly everyone’s weight-loss odyssey.

I know that I have certainly fallen into the pit of depression when the scale ceases to budge. But thankfully there is slight upside to the dreaded plateau and some steps that you can take to get that scale moving again and get out of the weight-loss rut:

Generally, in the first few weeks of any reduced-calorie eating plan, you’re able to shed pounds more easily because you’re getting rid of excess water as your body breaks down fat. But once that extra water is gone, the weight loss can slow down, because you don’t have as much fat to lose. Consider it a sign of success: you’ve completed Phase I of your weight loss. Hold steady for a week or two, and you’ll probably be right back in the losing corner.

Keep Reading: 9 Strategies to Deal with Weight-Loss Plateaus

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

As I have discussed in previous posts, when you want to lose weight and feel great, its more then just a diet that you need to undertake, its a lifestyle change.

And the authors of The EatingWell Diet, Dr. Jean Harvey-Berino, Ph.D., R.D., and the Editors of EatingWell.com, agree:

A weight-loss diet, by definition, is temporary—something you’re meant to go on, then off. You’re told what to eat and when to eat it—often based on some complicated scientific rationale that involves, say, hormone fluctuations, metabolic manipulations or maybe the phases of the moon. In truth, there are many approaches to eating and just as many exercise plans that can help you lose weight. There is no one correct way to go about it, although there are plenty of wrong methods. You can easily find an array of new diets on the supermarket tabloid rack every week—and they all sound so fast and so, so easy. So what can we offer that you haven’t tried already?

Eventually, no matter what way you look at, it's about breaking out of your old habits and creating new ones. Not something that is as easy as it sounds, but something that is certainly achievable.

Keep reading: Getting Thin And Staying Thin Is Not An Impossible Dream

The Big Gulp

No, not the 7 eleven sugar drink ... I'm talking about portion sizes.

We all know that portion sizes are out of control these days, with super sized this and jumbo that. But do we always think about it when eating thing that we may not have considered to be potentially out of whack?

As a society, we’re eating more calories than ever, and a leading culprit is how often we eat prepared foods away from home. And, whether they come from a restaurant, takeout or vending machine, the portions we’re being served are often larger than life. According to one study, most marketplace food portions can be two to eight times larger than standard portion sizes. While the USDA considers a “medium” bagel to be about 2 ounces, the behemoths you find at a bagel store today can weigh in at 5 ounces—equivalent to 5 slices of bread! A jumbo baked potato at a restaurant might equal 6 to 8 slices of bread. Pretty hefty for what most people consider a side dish.

With the advent of megasized meals, jumbo muffins and extra-big drink cups, many of us have lost touch with what proper portions look like. We’ve gotten so used to seeing these oversized helpings that we think they’re normal—and that anything else looks skimpy. The problem just deepens as restaurant portion sizes creep into the plate-filling habits of home cooks

Keep Reading: PORTION-CONTROL SAVVY

Week 10 - Hmmmm

Not overly stoked on the numbers this week. Sure I was indulgent over the weekend, but I was also super active...

But I guess the reality is that those two things cancelled each other out.

So in theory, I suppose I should be happy that there has been no change this week.

However, my goal date is getting closer and closer and I am not making the progress that I had hoped for.

Last night I amped up the workout and man did it feel good!

30 minutes on level 8 on the elliptical (burned 365 calories - Woohoo!) and then is was weights and crunches - See my whole workout HERE

Lets hope that this new routine helps get off those last 19 lbs!!

Here are this weeks numbers:

Weight: 129 lbs
Bust: 35
Waist: 29
Hips: 39

Week 10 Overall Weight & Inches Loss:

Weight: - 9 lbs
Bust: - 3
Waist: -4
Hips: - 3
Total Inches: -10

Low GI Diets Reafirmed!

I love it when I am right.

Sure, that may sound cocky, but in this case I feel I am.

As I stated in my opening blog, over the years I have managed to lose over 50 lbs by following the ways of the G.I. Diet principals. And those principals have just been given the Thumbs up by Fitness Magazine.

In her article, entitled The Slow-Carb Diet, Anna Roufos discusses the merited of following a low GI diet and how it can help you lose and maintain your weight.

In the simplest of terms, a low-glycemic diet is generally high in good carbohydrates (like vegetables and whole grains) and low in bad ones (like chocolate chip cookies). Lean proteins and healthy fats round out the rest

Now, while I don't follow the South Beach Diet, I do adhere to my Bible - The G.I Diet, by Rick Gallop, Past President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario

While there are many similarities between the approach taken in the South Beach diet and the GI Diet. There are a couple of significant variations.

FIRST: The South Beach diet starts with a "crash" diet. The GI Diet does not require or recommend a crash diet.

SECOND: The GI Diet is simpler and easier to use through its unique traffic light colour coding of foods. All the calculations have been done for you. Simply follow the colour coding:

RED FOODS WILL MAKE YOU FAT
YELLOW FOODS WILL HELP YOU MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT
GREEN FOODS WILL HELP YOU LOOSE WEIGHT

When its that simple, how can you not stick to it?

Ever wonder ....

What a dietitian eats? Since they doll out the advice, you would think that they eat pretty dang well right.?

Well, it would appear that Cristin Dillon-Jones is just like the rest of us: Working hard, raising a family and just trying to do her best in all aspects of her life.

REFRESHING!

Read: Eat Like Me

I need your HELP!! Support Me in the Ride to Conquer Cancer‏

Well HELLO THERE,

Lets get straight to the point ... I need your CASH!!!

Ya, ya, I know its hard times and everyone is tightening the purse strings, but frankly, I don't care.

And now that I've gotten your attention I'll tell you why:

On June 20 - 21, I'll be participating in a two-day major cycling event called The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting BC Cancer Foundation.

I'll be cycling from Vancouver to Seattle with thousands of other Riders. All the proceeds will go to BC Cancer Foundation to support cancer research, treatment, and services. BC Cancer Foundation is a leading comprehensive institution devoted to cancer research and care, and the work they're doing is cutting-edge.

I've agreed to raise at least $2,500, but I've set my personal goal to $3,000. So here's where you come in, because I need your help to do that. Could you please consider making a donation of $100? Use the link at the bottom of this email to go visit my webpage, and please take the time to support me. Please keep in mind the commitment I'm making to end this heartbreaking disease and the personal efforts I'll have to make to accomplish this.

When I say "heartbreaking," here's what I mean: according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, over 153,100 new cases of cancer and 70,400 deaths from cancer were estimated to occur in 2006. Men outnumber women for new cases by 5% and mortality by 11%. That's why I'm riding. To do something BIG about cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2009?px=1799722&pg=personal&fr_id=1281&fl=en_US&et=hDLcnoBUEKG4eAl_3A1aOQ..&s_tafId=148671

Click here to view the team page for Cushman Cancer Crushers
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2009?team_id=14450&pg=team&fr_id=1281&fl=en_US&et=h0nXSNdHt_prUelrAR4dBA..&s_tafId=148671 ?

Whatever You Do, Do it for Life

Its official: The Obvious is true and common sense is prevailing!!

The largest-ever controlled study of weight loss methods has come to a conclusion after two years, and the results speak for themselves: For people who are trying to lose weight, it does not matter if they are counting carbohydrates, protein or fat. All that matters is that they are counting something.

According to The New York Times, the New England Journal of Medicine study assigned 800 overweight adults one of four diets that cut 750 calories from their typical intake through different combinations of fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Participants consumed at least 1,200 calories a day and after two years, the majority had lost and regained the same amount of weight. The results suggest it's not the diet you choose, but rather your ability to remain committed to it. The study's lead author commented, "It really does cut through the hype. It gives people lots of flexibility to pick a diet that they can stick with."

The lesson, researchers say, is that people lose weight if they lower calories, but it does not matter how.

Keep reading: Study Zeroes In on Calories, Not Diet, for Loss

Er!n’s Breakfast Burrito

• 1 teaspoon EVOO
• 2 stalks Asparagus, chopped
• ¼ Red Pepper, chopped
• ¼ Yellow Pepper, chopped
• ¼ cup Broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup liquid Egg Whites
• 1 large Whole Wheat Tortilla
• ¼ cup Soy Mozzarella Cheese, grated
• ¼ cup Medium Salsa

1. Over medium heat, sauté asparagus, red & yellow peppers and broccoli until tender crisp

2. Pour in egg whites, stiring until scramble cooked

3. Fill tortilla with egg/veggie mixture

4. Top with salsa and cheese

5. Wrap up and ENJOY!

Eat Your Water??

Now thats a new one to me, at least phrased that way. But it make sense and if you are like me and have a hard time getting in all the water you're suppose to, this may be a better way to reach the required the H2o:

If your active appetite makes you feel like a bottomless pit, try adding more water-based foods into your diet that will make you feel fuller faster. These fruits and vegetables have tons of flavor and fiber, and their high water content also causes them to act as bloat-reducing diuretics. There's a long list of produce that fits the water bill, but here are eight of my favorite ways to eat water, so to speak.

1. Add celery to your tuna salad.
2. Toss zucchini into your pot of soup.
3. Include kale in a simple pasta dish with garlic and olive oil.
4. Steam asparagus for a side dish.
5. Create a salad featuring green beans.
6. Layer tomatoes and cucumbers on a sandwich.
7. Bake eggplant parmesan for dinner.
8. Snack on peaches, melons, or citrus fruits

Source: 8 Ways to Eat Your Water

Week 9 - A Bit Late

Better late than never.

This week's weigh-in was on time, just getting it posted was a bit harder. It was a whirlwind last few days and access to the interweb was the last of my worries.

So here they are now:

Weight: 129 lbs
Bust: 35
Waist: 29
Hips: 39

Week 9 Overall Weight & Inches Loss:

Weight: - 9 lbs
Bust: - 3
Waist: -4
Hips: - 3
Total Inches: -10

I have spent the last 4 days travelling & skiing, two of my favourite things.

I started off hitting the Seak-to-Sky on Thursday afternoon, heading up to Whistler for a overnight stay at the Creekside Village and a jam packed Friday of ripping it up under the bluebird skies of Whistler Blackcomb. Sheer heaven.

Then with no time to spare, it was back to Vancouver to meet the Man and WOOSH! off to the Okanagan to spend the weekend at Mt. Baldy, a fabu little mountain where there is constant powder, you never have to share a run or wait in line for a lift. Bliss.

However, this weekend of bluebird skies and white gold was also accompanied with a few not so great things, namely: Alcohol & Beer, Cheese, Seafood (tuna and lobster tails - oh so divine), Steak, Eggs, Bread ... all the most wonderful things in the world, none of them being all that wonderful for my waistline.

But, WHATEVER! I have NO guilt - I earned every bite. 4 hrs skiing Friday = 1,493 calories burned & 3 hrs again on Saturday = 762 calories burned. That's a whopping 2,255 calories burned in 48 hours.

But the real truth will be seen on this weeks coming weigh-in. So until then, its back to the gym ...