I find myself actually enjoying exercise this time around. Before when I worked out it was to lose weight. This time around I’m working out for health. I want to get stronger. I want to get faster. I wast to rock. And you know what, I am! It’s only been a week, but I can already tell my cardiovascular health is improving. I started off walking and I’m almost up to jogging to keep my heart rate up. It’s so exciting!

And an awesome added benefit. I have SO much energy. I’m happier. I’m peppier. I wake up more easily. OK, that’s not true, it’s still hard to get out of bed, but my morning are better. It really is crazy to see the differences exercise makes.

But here’s a question. I know calorie counter on the machines at the gym are notoriously incorrect so I don’t use those to gauge how much work I’ve done and how many APs I should have. I actually went out and bought myself a heart monitor (which I LOVE!) so I would have an accurate reading of my heart rate and the number of calories I’ve burned. Anyways, now the question. I work out for 30 minutes at 70% to 80% of my max heart rate. According to the website working out in that range is considered high intensity. So with my weight and age, a 30 minute high intensity work out is worth 5 APs. But I’m only burning about 300 calories and I’ve heard one AP is equivalent to 100 calories burned. So, what is my work out worth? Any ideas? Any suggestions?

So as I mentioned in a earlier post I’ve been having some trouble with my scale. You know, it would fluctuate readings all the time. I mean it was never the same reading two times in a row. So I went out and bought me a new one. Just like the one I’ve seen on my favorite blogs.  It reads about two pounds higher than my old scale would read, on average.  But oh my is it consistent! If I hop on it, stand on one leg, gingerly step on it, just step on it regularly–same weight! So that’s good. I’m trying  not to weight in too often, just once a day. :) But needless to say, I’m enjoying it!

I’m embarking on a 21 days challenge. I actually started a few days and plan on completing the challenge by March 1st. While I was getting over the flu I found a lot of really inspirational blogs and they mentioned challenges. So I decided I’d have one too. My goal is to reach my 10% weight loss goal my March 1st. That might actually be a little ambitious, but I am so tired of this weight coming off so slowly! I think it’s because I’m not eating all my points. So for the rest of the month I vow to eat all my daily points, all my APs and most of my WPA. I’ve also started working out thanks to some wonderful inspiration I found over at Gettin’ Shrunk. So hopefully after 21 days of totally staying OP and staying positive I can see some positive results!

Hello world! It’s been a while! Turns out I wanted that breakfast burrito so badly because I was getting sick. You know, when you don’t feel well you want comfort foods and you really don’t want to be bothered with counting. Anyways, to make a long story short, I got sick and was sick for about a week and I was off plan the entire time. But, I still managed to lose. I guess that happens when you sick.

But I’m better now and so excited to be back on plan! I read a lot of blogs while I was sick and I did a lot of thinking. I have so much in my head, so many things I want to do and talk about! But I didn’t have any place to write it all down. I was having trouble with my last blog so my dear boyfriend finally set me up this one! So I don’t want to go overboard on this post with all the things I’ve been thinking about but I’ll give you a little list preview:

**Scale News**The Wendie Plan**Exercise**WW Meetings**Inspirational Blogs**My New Blog**Weekly Points**Plateaus

But I won’t bore you with all that tonight! But you can be there’ll be more later. I’m back and better than ever!

Roni asked a very simple, but very interesting question today: Why do you want to lose weight? And it really got me thinking.

I am more than happy with I look, especially now that I’ve lost the extra 20 pounds I’ve gained in the past year. I’ve always been a bit of a heavier girl but not by too much. And I’ve never, ever had any negative remarks about my weight or my body–not from family, friends, boyfriends–anyone.  I could never imagine being upset with my body. I have no major illness, I have all of my limbs–this body is pretty rockin! It gets me where I need go. I’m able to do all sorts of fun things: bowling, working, studing, loving…all sorts of things. Yeah, I totally love my body, even if it is a little plump.

I’m also fairly healthy. Good cholesterol levels, great blood pressure, no crazy illnesses. My cardiovascular health could be better and it wouldn’t hurt if I worked on my upper body strength, but over all, I’m pretty healthy.

So exactly why do I want to change my body? I think to prove that I can. To prove that I have the self discipline and drive to accomplish something important and amazing. I want people to ready this blog and go “Wow. That’s girl, well, she’s got it.”

And while I’m very happy with my body and love it tons! But….I wanna wear shorts and midriff shirts–while I’m young and can pull it off. I want that little ‘V’ on my stomach. Before I have kids I want to experience a body that is sleek and toned. Who knows, I might love that kind of body more than I love the kind I have right now. I wont know till I try. :)

Oh, and my mother joined WW and lost over 50 pounds. And I’m a little competitive. :) If she can do it, I can too!

So those are the reasons I want to lose weight. Nothing mind blowing here, but it works for me.