"Greetings!

The 11th annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon will welcome Ali Vincent, the first female winner of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," and her mother, as they walk the Flying Pig Half Marathon presented by PNC on Sunday, May 3.

Vincent is coming to Cincinnati as part of Prevention Magazine's "Team Prevention Walk It!," promoting walking as an exercise option for many Americans. The program has motivated thousands of walkers, and Ali is inviting walkers to join her during her 13.1 mile walk at the Flying Pig. For more information and to register, visit www.flyingpigmarathon.com. "

 

 

How's it going everyone. You can yell at me..I can take it. Things are still going....um...well they are going. I still havent lost anything since the holiday splurge (Thanksgiving/Christmas) but I'm still under 200....barely. I can honestly say though that even though you watch your eating most days of the week...those 2 days can kill you. Plus without exercising...nothing changes. So yeah...thats where I'm at...

 

BUT... it is about to change. I have committed to a monthly group of people for the next 12 months to improve 7 areas of my life. One of them is my health and the first step is to get into the 180's again by the end of March.

 

On a better note... Amber is doing great. She is now working for a Bariatrics practice in the same building as the Healthplex. How convenient is that? She had a speaking function for Life Success for a program they are having called The Greatest Loser. She did great she said and even enjoyed speaking and taking questions about our journey last year.

 

I am a little over half way done with my 2nd class at school. Well ahead of pace!!

 

Take care everyone!

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

So I've started posting alot on a new site for Biggest Loser fans. I really like this one. Has a lot of good tools and much simpler than the BLL. The moderator really knows what he's doing.

 

 

Come visit us. I know Sonja has joined from the MPM and Chris/Melissa (Under Construction).

 

 

Did ok this week....not great but not bad. Missed my workout this morning though but after Friday's workout...my legs were hurting! So I'm sorta glad I did miss it. hehe

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

Amber and I have come to the realization that our trainer Stephanie hates our core. Every day, every workout beats up our core. :)

 

Stephanie gave me a weekly training log now to follow. I get one day a week off from exercise now. Its ok though, I can take it.

 

Everything else is going great. Amber is on dayshift now...no more nightshifts taking a toll on her body. We really went by the wayside from Thurs-Sat on the food but its a new week and we started fresh at the grocery store Sunday. I cant wait for Season 7 to start on TBL. I dont know if I can take anymore of season 6. It is a totally different feel from the cast of season 5 to season 6. Yes there are ones I like but man....that Shakespearean one... :)

 

Take care everyone!

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

Well, after the intense Pilates session on Monday, I thought I would be hurting on Tuesday. That was not the case, in fact my core felt great!

My triceps are a little sore and I dont remember doing anything that concentrated on those.

 

I think I'll pick up the Thursday Pilates class that Steph runs. Amber started a new job that runs late on Thursdays so thats a perfect opportunity to get an extra class in while waiting on her to get off work.

 

Other than that...its another great day today. I meet with my advisor tonight to talk about taking Weekend courses at Xavier in Jan. I'm excited about that as well. 2008 has been a good year...no...a great year!

 

After celebrating my completion of the Life Success course (which went from from one night to 2 days of bad eating), I'm up a pound this morning.

 

I've got til Friday before I have to send in my numbers though. :)

 

 

Take care!

 

Marcus

 

 

This past week has been another amazing chapter in my life. I went on a 5 day retreat for Life Success (I mentioned my time with them in July). So this is yet another amazing thing I've done for myself. Words cant explain the changes one will make going through this.

 

The food choices werent the best. The did have fruit and salads to go along with the lasagna and sausage/eggs :) but overall...no change in weight.

 

So thats a good thing. I had Pilates tonight...first time in a week since I've worked out. I noticed it too! I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow.

 

I know Mike and Danielle are loving the weather change...but not me. I hate cold weather. I like snow but hate cold. Go figure.

 

Take care everyone!

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

 

 Ok, as everyone knows, I've been in this 'maintain' mode for several months...I'll gain 3-4 and then lose 3-4....always hovering between 183 and 187.

 

I eat what I THINK is good stuff throughout the week in the morning and lunch. Sometimes I'll have a bad night and weekend. So anyways...I was thinking about what I eat during the days. Fiber Ones bar, 2 Yogurts, Salads with FF Dressing, Ham, 99% Fat Free Raviolis from a can.

 

Even though those sound and look healthy...I am thinking I am sabotaging myself cause they all have either 1) High Sodium or 2) High Fructose Corn Syrup. Are those things keeping me from losing? Dont get me wrong, I dont mind this weight but I want to tone my problem areas.

 

What alternatives can you offer up to me to get out of the 'fast morning' habit of popping in ham in the microwave, grabbing a fiber one bar as I head out the door, eating 2 yogurts for lunch along with the raviolis?

 

Other than that I had Spinning on Sunday, Pilates on Monday and Spinning on Tuesday. I am talking to Stephanie about taking Pilates on Thursdays.

So I'm getting the exercise I need. Maybe its not enough.../shrug

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

I am sooo proud of Amber today. She signed up for a breast cancer spin ride today called Spin For The Cure. It was a 4 hour Spin ride with a nationally known spin instructor. She initially signed up with another lady to each ride for 2 hours. There were extra bikes when it started so they both rode seperate bikes. After 2 hours, Amber felt ok and kept going...then at 3 hours she was tired but kept going. She ended up ridin gthe entire 4 hours! For those who have done spinning...you know what an accomplishment that is. That would be similar to me trying to run a marathon right now. I am so proud of what she did today.

 

Meanwhile, I had it easier...I did 3.5 miles on the treadmill last night and then another 3.5 miles this morning while she was spinning. My feet hurt but I'm not complaining after what Amber went through today.

 

 

The best part today was after the ride. We got to BUY the bike she rode. With proceeds going to the fundraiser. Now we have a certified Spin bike in our living room now. You better watch out now!

 

 

 

Take care all! Hope you have a great weekend.

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok...due to the never ending pressure of Terry :)....we had added a new photo album of a day at the gym/Pilates a few weeks ago.

 

Hope you enjoy it.

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

Ok..the loss from the water experiment wasnt what I hoped. 2 lbs lost after 2 days of heavy water intake.

 

Thats ok, I still look good so that's all that matters. If it comes off, it comes off...at least I know I'm staying on task. My body has just settled into a zone.

 

 

More later...

 

 

 

 

Water, Water and more Water.....

 

I'm going to weigh in tomorrow morning to see what 2 days of massive water intake does.

 

I didnt post my Presidential numbers in time...was busy last night and forgot to send them in. I did have my Pilates class on Monday night. It is getting easier so I have to bump up the springs next time. I worked extra hard Monday night after the class was nearly over because I didnt think

I was going to be able to Spin on Tuesday. So Tuesday afternoon my legs are a little sore and Amber calls me to tell me that plans changed and we ARE going spinning. Did I forget to say that the spin class was a special class....2 HOURS!! I was worn out when it was over...

 

Amber is doing a 4 hour spin next week for a Breast Cancer fundraiser. She is splitting it up with another person with each doing 2 hours. Thats about

all I would be able to take. I'm sure she feels the same way. Some people are doing all 4 hours by themselves...ugh.

 

After the fundraiser, they are selling the bikes. We are getting one for the living room. Our own Spin bike....that'll be HUGE.

 

Now I just need a set of free weights that are more than 12.5 lbs max and I'll be set!

 

 

 

The corn maze was incredible on Saturday. We must have walked the entire thing and then some. They gave us trivia questions and the answers were in the corn field randomly posted on signs. So you had to walk the entire thing to get all the answers. I did something to my right ankle that bothered me. I guess I shouldnt walk in a corn field in flipflops. :)

 

Ok, something else I need to mention for anyone who wonders why their weight changes up to 5 pounds per day. WATER!!! I didnt drink hardly any water yesterday and this morning I was up 4 pounds from the day before. The eating wasnt bad at all...in fact it was pretty good. But the fact that I didnt keep my system flushed resulted in me holding fluids this morning. I'll test this out again tomorrow when I weigh in after drinking tons of water today.

 

 

 

Sunday Presidential Numbers :

 

40 Push Ups = 4 points

50 Crunches = .5 point

3+ Fruits = 1 point

3+ Vegetables = 1 point

Shoulder Exercise (10 reps) = 1 point

 

 

 

 

Ok...week in review so far for Presidential Challenge :

 

 

 

Wednesday :

 

20 Push Ups = 2 points

4+ Glasses Of Water = 1 point

 

 

 

 

Thursday :

 

10 Push Ups = 1 point

 

 

 

 

Friday :

 

1.5 Miles Treadmill = 1.5 points

Tricep Exercises (60 reps) = 6 points

Bench Press (30 reps) = 3 points

Curls (20 reps) = 2 points

Hamstring Curls (12 reps) = 1 point

Butt Lifts (12 reps) = 1 point

10 Push Ups = 1 point

4+ Glasses OF Water = 1 point

 

 

Saturday :

 

4 Miles Walking in Corn Maze = 4 points

20 Push Ups = 2 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presidential Numbers :

 

Havent been keeping track this week.

 

So I'm probably giving up a bunch of points but thats ok.

 

Its not like I'm not working out..I just havent wrote them down. Did a 1.5 hour workout with our trainer last night.

 

Gotta run... heading to the Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze!

 

 

Marcus

 

 

 

I still laugh at my log of who has visited my site and by what means. I'm sure everyone has clicked on the place where it says how many views you've gotten today. Well anyways...I checked it today and this was one of the google searches.

 

"biggest loser" "steroid testing"

 

 

Seriously? Why would anyone link Biggest Loser to steroids as an initial search? The funny thing is...this is what we had on our site that flagged the links for whomever it was :

 

"Biggest Loser Million Pound Match-up: ... If you want check out Danielle's guestbook-she was summoned to the judges table for steroid testing. ... "

 

From the Olympic games event. I was cracking up. Now someone out there in cyberspace thinks Danielle is on steroids. :)

 

 

 

 

le

 

Tuesday Presidential Numbers :

 

Spin Class - 3 points

4+ Glasses of Water - 1 point

3+ Vegetables - 1 point

 

 

Total = 5 points

 

 

 

Monday Presidential Challenge :

 

Pilates Class = 3 points

1 Mile Run = 1 point

30 Assisted Pull Ups = 3 points

20 Tricep Dips = 2 points

20 Chest Presses = 2 points

1 Minute Plank = 2 points

60 Jumping Jacks = 2 points

10 sets Lunges = 1 point

4+ Glasses of Water = 1 point

3+ Serving Vegetables = 1 point

30 Sec High Knees = 1 point

(2) 30 Sec Side Planks = 2 points (4 doesnt seem fair. Have to balance the sides out so I'm just giving 1 point per side)

 

Total : 21 points

 

 

Saturday Presidential Numbers :

 

4+ Glasses of Water = 1 point

4 Servings Vegetables = 1 point

 

 

Sunday Presidential Numbers :

 

4+ Glasses OF Water = 1 point

Spin Class = 3 points

 

 

Slow weekend.

 

 

 

 

Friday Presidential Numbers :

 

3.5 Miles Treadmill = 3.5 points

4+ Glasses Of Water = 1 point

20 Squats = 2 points

20 Pushups on Bosu Ball at Gym = 2 points

30 Bicep Curls = 3 points

20 Bench Presses = 2 points

50 Crunches = .5 points (I dont see how you people do 100...wow)

50 Tricep Exercises = 5 points (3 different varieties and machines)

10 Chest exercises = 1 point

15 Ab pull ups = 1.5 points (this one is neat...you hang from straps with a ball held between your knees and pull up your legs to meet Stephs hand)

Forearm exercise = 1 point (ok, i'll let the committee decide but this one is TERRIBLE. You hold a bar with a weight attached by a rope. You unwind the rope and re-roll up the weight. Do this 4 times and then hold your arms out and clinch your fist in and out for 20 seconds....by FAR the worst thing I do at the Healthplex)

 

Total : 22.5 points

 

 

 

Thursday Presidential Numbers :

 

60 Jumping Jacks - 2 points

10 Lunges each leg - 1 point

10 Pushups on the Bosu ball -  1 point

25 Lying Leg Raises - 1 point

30 Sec High Knees - 1 point

30 Sec Butt Kicks - 1 point

4+ Glasses of Water - 1 point

 

Total : 8 points