Ok, so I'm really excited and happy this morning. I got up and weighed myself and weigh 306. Two more pounds and I'll meet my goal for the whole month of May and it's only the first day of the month. That's two pounds less than I weighed Saturday.

This program is really working. I could just kiss Dr. Phil. LOL. I have been keeping my calories at under 1500 a day, which believe it or not has not been a hardship. I'm doing 45 minutes of aerobic work out every day (Walk Away the Pounds). I'm going to add twenty minutes aerobic in the morning to what I'm doing now. I discovered the secret. I know they say that you should do a work out in the morning, but I've been having to do mine at night after Maverick is in bed. This is about 8 o'clock which is after dinner has settled and after the time I'm allowed to eat. I'm also lifting free weights after this work out and then at bed am doing the tummy flattening exercises I told you about in bed. I think doing this is allowing me to burn off the calories I've consumed throughout the day. They say to exercise in the morning to jump start the metabolism, which I'm going to do, but doing this my way the last week is what has made the difference. I think, anyway. The truth is that I'm not overly motivated in the morning (so not a morning person at all). I get up, fix breakfast, and am not motivated to move for several hours. I'm going to buy one of those dance exercise videos for morning I think.

I tried out my yoga one.. LOL... good greif.. I had no idea I was so uncoordinated. I nearly fell on my head. It's a denise austin one called fat blasting yoga. I love yoga, don't get me wrong, but trying to do it in fluid of the poses to a ramped up tempo (rather than the relaxing way it's supposed to be done) requires more coordination than I have apparently. Not to mention that Denise Austin's voice absolutely grates my nerves. Jeez, does she have to sound so hoarse and excited about everything? Reminds me of a hard-drinking cheerleader or something. I know most of these exercise gurus do sound excited about everything, Leslie Sansone (Walk away the pounds) does, but with her I can turn the volume off.. LOL.. and I do... the yoga one you have to keep the volume on so you can hear how you are supposed to move and breath. Five minutes of Denise Austin and I'm ready to choke her.

You know what would be great? If someone with a voice and sense of humor that everyone loves would do an exercise video. Like Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Joy Bayhard, Rosie O'Donnel, oooohh I know.. Jeff Foxworthy. Now it's true that most of them aren't in very good shape (cept maybe eddie), but wouldn't it be great if they suddenly did? And they did a video? Hell, I'd buy one if Kirstie Alley put one out. Watched her on Oprah and she's doing this dance thing all over her house along with Jenny Craig. She's also very funny and doesn't pretend that exercise isn't a pain, sweaty, and the least fun one can have half the time.  I want a video by someone who isn't so fake. Who realizes that those of us who are doing these are horribly out of shape, hate exercise, and need someone who approaches it with a sense of humor.

The only reason why I'm doing exercise videos is because my schedule and money prevents me from being in a gym, but you know the home thing is growing on me. I can do them in my jammies and a tank top (which I do). I don't worry about looking too fat to be in what I'm wearing, there's no self contiousness, and I can do it when I have time (after kids are in bed). The only thing I'm missing from the gym is the weight training, which I really want to do. My free weights are great, but am going to have to go to something better eventually. Weight training helps you lose weight alot faster than aerobic exercise does. Aerobic helps you burn off calories, improve heart rate, and blood function. Weight training actually converts fat into muscle and burns more calories. You need both, really. I keep adding to my fitness collection every week with something new, but I kinda need some instruction in the weights part of it. A gym will give me that, if I can afford a few times with a personal trainer. We'll see how much money is left after we quit smoking.

Only have 11 more days till I quit and turn 30. My birthday is looming on the horizon. I'm kinda looking forward to it, though, which is unusual for me. Amanda has been planning me  a birthday party, which is the absolute sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. No one has ever planned me a birthday party before (not counting when I was a kid). I may end up crying. LOL. She's so sweet and I appreciate it so much. I can't drink, however, which doesn't bother me any. Am not a big drinker anyway. The reason why is because alcohol is majorly off limits on this program, it's nothing but refined sugar, etc. Am working too hard to back track in that way. So I hope everyone understands why I won't be drinking.

Anyway, that's all I have to report for now. Hope everyone else is having as good of luck with their diets and exercise programs. Seems like almost everyone I know is on some kind of diet, etc. LOL, next year at Ostara we'll all be looking like super models! Then we can put out that swim suit calendar to raise money for Samhain. We'll call it Earth Mother's Revealed. LOL.

Blessings,

Em