Corinne's Update

Corinne's Update--

So, here’s what I’ve been doing…

Before Christmas I didn’t eat after 7pm for 6 weeks - I didn’t lose any weight, but I was proud of myself and felt like I had a lot more energy. So I started doing that again this month and I’ve been working out consistently about 2 days a week doing circuit training with a workout program on the Wii called EA Sports Active. I started out doing 20 minutes and am now at 40 minutes each time. It uses workout bands for weights and it includes TONS of squats and lots of fun simulations including kick boxing, in line skating, dancing, tennis, and other things – it’s very fun and makes me VERY sweaty! I want to workout more often per week, but I’m working up to it.

I then decided to count calories this week – 1500 each day. It’s really hard for me to count calories, but not eating after 7pm last month made it a lot easier.

Result-- So far I’ve lost 5 pounds and 2% body fat.

I think that the intense workouts and the counting calories finally got me through my 194 lb. plateau that I've been at since last February. Yay!

Mike's Update--

So I checked out those menus from Dad and used some online calculators to figure out how many calories I should be consuming each day. I came up with about 1,950 calories to lose 1lb per week, so I'm looking at taking in about 2000-2,200 per day due to increase in activity and since I'm not that concerned with losing weight as I am gaining muscle. Other calculators say I need to take in 2,800 calories per day based on moderate activity level 3-5 days per week--yikes! I haven't yet taken to start any formal diet, though I am eating a bit healthier, generally, and have more healthy snacks.

I started playing racquetball again, and played with Gene Munger last Tuesday (he beat me in 3 games!). I also signed up for a 4-mile race in 2 weeks, so I've been jogging 2-3 miles a couple times a week, and will be picking this up in prep for the race over the next 2 weeks. I hope to jog 4 miles in 40 minutes. Slow, but it's a good pace for me, and is motivating to achieve. I even jogged 4 miles this morning around a lake across the street, unsuccessfully--due to a fence half-way around. Next time, I'll jog in my galoshes and wade across that part ;)

I've been keeping up with weight lifting 4 days per week, and just wrapped up my 3rd week straight! I do all major muscle groups 2x per week (M-upper, T-lower, Th-upper, F-lower). I've been able to increase weight significantly across almost all exercises, using mostly machines, which I've been tracking each day and finding motivating. I started with 2 sets each, but went to just 1 set after reading that it didn't matter much to do more than 1 set, since it took less time, and since I read that starting out it was good to do just 1 set anyway for the first month or so of lifting.

Result? Slightly increasing % body fat (or basically about the same) and lost a couple pounds. I feel better and can see progress, so we'll see how that % goes over the coming months...

How about you? Post an update!!

Quote-- "Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year." — Franklin P. Adams

If this is you - you are not alone....

SO....

This month is coming to a close - be sure and email me your stats at the beginning of February so I can post them!

Don't Give Up Yet!!

The Starting Line Up

Body Fat Percentage
	*Starting* January
Name	%	Weight
Mike	17	153.6
Erin	28.5	138.6
Corinne	44.2	194
Brandon	26.5	261
Tom	26.2	190
Julie	38.1	152.2
Jenny	28.7	140
Tyson	32.3	232.5
Laura	X	X

I don't know how YOU feel about your starting stats but...


Anyway - good luck with your goals!

Starting Percentages--not posted yet...

So, I want to post the starting percentages, but I don't have everyone's yet.....ahem...


But here is a chart to see what healthy body fat percentages are:

Description	Women	Men
Essential fat	10–12%	2-4%
Athletes	14–20%	6–13%
Fitness	21–24%	14–17%
Acceptable	25–31%	18–26%
Overweight	32-41%	27-37%
Obese	42%+	38%+

Here is the link if you are interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage

SO! I hope you have got your game plans together - have made some goals - and have gotten started!! If not - Monday looks good!

You Can Do It!

Our Challenge....

The New Year Has Begun! Yay! Along with new goals.
Our goal is to get in shape this year.

The Challenge:

Who can decrease their body fat percentage
the most by December 2010?

The Award:

$400 Grand Prize

The Participants:

Corinne Cunningham
Brandon Cunningham
Tom Seymour
Julie Seymour
Laura Horrocks
Tyson Horrocks
Michael Seymour
Erin Seymour
Jenny Seymour
Robert Seymour

The entrance fee is $20 each - with Dad matching the total.

We will have monthly weigh-ins with the last right before we all meet at the cabin at the end of the year. Each monthly winner will be featured on the blog.

So... to decrease your body fat percentage you can do two different things. You can decrease the amount of fat you have and/or you can increase the amount of muscle you have.

Please send your beginning body fat percentage and entrance fee to Corinne. I will post them all in a chart on the blog each month.

Good Luck!