Getting tough to get TRIM!

I wanted to comment on the picture at the top since I have been fielding questions. This was taken shortly after we were selected to participate in the challenge. Our cool photographer said, "Look tough!" So, there you go - our tough, "lets scare the competition" look. LOL! I am almost laughing in the picture, sorry. (BTW: I am the one in the middle) I could have done better!

Last night before we worked out with Benny, I got to the gym early, along with David and Rich. I did about 30 minutes of cardio and then stretched. For the cardio, I put the treadmill on the highest incline (15) and walked fast enough to keep my heart rate up. I believe the speed was 1.7. I was sweating after the first 5 minutes, but walking was not hard. I tried not to hold on to make it more of a workout; but occasionally, I did to "check my heart rate". I managed to keep it around 160.

At 6pm Benny was waiting for us. She is so positive and very motivating. She kept us moving and made us chant: "Yo quiero agua", if we wanted water. It really took my mind off of the pain! I am pleased to report that on my second "plank", I did it for the entire minute without taking a break. It felt good because on Wednesday I barely made it 20 seconds.

The team looked awesome! Everyone tried to keep their smile on even through the end of the workout. I am amazed at how fast the hour goes by. Benny also stretched us out at the end, after our hour workout. It was generous of her to spend more time with us. It just proves that the trainers at Rio Sport & Health are here to help us stay healthy so we can finish the competition and continue working out after the 12 weeks without injury!

I am not as sore as I was on Wednesday (shhh, don't tell her), but I can definitely feel it in my upper body today. We do not work out with our trainers until Monday, so I have to figure out what I am going to do. I got on the scale at the gym last night, and I have lost weight already. I will wait to report the actual weight loss until Tuesday for our official weigh-in at Holy Cross Hospital.

Before I go, I wanted to share some pictures from our first workout. Our lovely reporter, Karen took many pictures and they are posted on: http://spotted.gazette.net/. Look to the left under "Newest Galleries" and find "1st 2009 Blue Team Workout." They were just posted, so they are raw (not cropped). Some are more flattering than others; but I keep concentrating on what Benny told me at the orientation: "Be the weight you want to be, not the weight you are!" Now that's powerful!!!

Jen