Days 10 - 14 (a blur)

Weigh In: 5:30 p.m.
BMI: 23.45
Weight: 137.4
Fit Age:30

I'm sick. I miraculously avoided the puke bug, but I caught a bad cold, which seems to be turning into bronchitis. I get bronchitis, a lot.

Needless to say, I have not been exercising. I've been doing a lot of sleeping. And coughing and sneezing and honking into tissue after tissue.

I reluctantly climbed on the Wii balance board today hoping that since I haven't been eating much, my weight would stay stable. Fat chance.

I gained 1.8 pounds since I last weighed in six days ago.

I did some yoga stretching and that's all I had in me. I'm out of a medication that regulates my heart and blood pressure. That combined with the inability to breathe out of my nose has me huffing and puffing like a six pack a day smoker.

I will get some exercise tonight. A new music club opens tonight and I feel it my music journalistic duty to be there. It's less than 10 minutes away and an all-ages show, so I don't expect to be out too late.

I'm fairly certain I caught this cold from the last show I attended, last Friday night. The lead singer told me he was sick. He sounded fine. I had a sore throat by Monday. Now I sound terrible. I'm unintelligible today it's so bad.

I'm losing money because I can't focus on work. I'm gaining weight because I have a very limited appetite, and I can't exercise. I'm all around grumpy.

I actually miss exercising.

Days 7, 8 & 9

Weigh In Time: 10 p.m.
BMI: 23.15
Weight: 135.4
Fit Age: 21!
Pounds to go: 9.9 (I've lost 1.1 pounds!)

I neglected Wii Fit Plus on Thursday and Friday. I did, however, get some exercise in my every day activities. When I stepped on the Wii balance board on Saturday night, the Wii lectured mii about doing my body test every day! Well, alrighty then!

To atone for my guilty, "didn't work out for two days" conscious, I worked out for an hour on Saturday.

I twisted my body into a "triangle" on yoga, in addition to the half moon and sun salutation. I twisted side to side and pushed hard on 10 jackknife reps in strength to firm my stomach, my biggest problem area.

I finally conquered the skateboarding game...on beginner. I used to skateboard, but it's a little different on the Wii, as you can imagine...and I was never that great of a skateboarder, but as a chick, all you really have to do is stay on the board and master the ollie and guys thinks you're pretty awesome.

I tip-toed across the tightrope on the "expert" level. I guess my time on the balance beam really paid off.

I "stepped" to the beat for two rounds.

I learned it *was* the remote! The game instructs mii to secure the nunchuck through the remote strap, which I never do. This time I did. And my left hits finally connected like they should on boxing. And my score jumped up to 301. And I felt proud, despite the boxing trainer bellowing, "You can do better than that!" I went two rounds in total.

I shook my hips on hoola hoops. And then tried my hand on the golf course.

The game told me I could rival the pros. I consistently got the ball within feet of the hole at the driving range on the game. Maybe I could take Tiger Woods' place now that the douche is in hiding.

I really liked golfing. In real life, I worry I wouldn't even connect the club to the ball, but I'd be willing to give it a shot. The only place I've actually golfed comes with go carts and Dance, Dance Revolution.

Now, I have to write for money. Later, I hope to buy yummy, healthy foods to make meals I found in a magazine. And when I say make, I mean, for my husband to make for me, of course.

Day 6

Weight In Time: 12:30 a.m.
Weight 136.2 (rough estimate. It doesn't show tick marks.)
BMI: 23.26
Fit Age: 25!

Warning: Feeling ranty today!

I have the worst stomach ache. Half due to spicy Del Taco for dinner and half due to my workout. Ow.

I warmed up with new yoga moves today: standing knee and "palm tree."

I did three rounds of a game that requires movement on the balance board, plus the right remote and left nunchuck: juggling in the circus. I did alright, occasionally juggling three balls while balancing on a ball, center ring.

I competed in the obstacle course, which is one of the best training games. It's designed like a platform video game; think Mario World. The first round you lightly run in place and avoid wrecking balls. It's a matter of speed, judgment and skill. Next round you run and jump over obstacles by bending and extending your knees...a lot. Finally you must combine all of your skills: timing jumps, avoiding wrecking balls from bumping you out into the sky, watching out for logs falling from the sky (shadows indicate an obstacle's path), jumping from platform to platform and over rolling logs. My legs were so tired at the end, but I beat it this time! Go mii!

I hit soccer balls, which I enjoy doing and am determined to win with a perfect score, one day. Each consecutive soccer ball you hit with your head increases points. First ball is +1 point, next is +2 points, and then +3 points and so on. Once you miss a soccer ball, your next hit is only worth +1 point. You also must dodge shoes (-1 point/hit) and panda bear balls (-3 points/hit), which look an awful lot like soccer balls. It's fun, but frustrating!

I beat the ski race where you must weave in and out of marked goals. I also beat my husband's high score by a point. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

But I can't capture my beginner's luck on boxing. I went two rounds today and was nowhere close to my personal best. Husband's high score is now nearly 100 points past mine. We're very competitive.

I like to blame the nunchuck for not working right when my left hits don't connect. That might be the case. But I also must admit that my left arm is uber weak. I'm a petite little girl. And I've never had much arm strength. I hated the bars and the vault for that very reason.

My husband's a really strong man. I don't just think this because I'm a weak little girl. He delivers furniture and he amazes people when he lifts up entire recliners and carries them down flights of stairs. So I never feel too bad about being weak because I know husband can mess with anyone who messes with me. He will, too.

So I don't actually expect to beat my husband's boxing score...but I'll keep trying!

I did 30 minutes on the Wii today.

It was my day off from work and so I ran some errands, including shopping, which I logged in as 30 minutes of low/mild exercise. I wandered around Target for what felt like forever trying to spend a $20 gift card. They didn't have what I wanted: a computer keyboard. So I splurged on 2 boxes of hair dye, a 2 pack of Burt's Bee chapstick, batteries for the thermostat (we've grown accustomed to this thing called heat) and a paper shredder...basket not included. I know, I'm so extravagant with my purchases! I'm wild! Oh, and husband bought some disgusting gum. Who buys gum in a purple package? Never eat the purple!

I figure that's at least an hour worth of exercise today. And now I am ready to crawl into bed with my book: The Time Traveler's Wife.

And hope the Mormons don't knock on the door tomorrow and wake me up early, again. I do believe they came by two different times and knocked a total of FIVE times. WHO DOES THAT? I wish husband would have just answered the door and told them to go away instead of hiding behind the peek hole as they knocked...waited...knocked...waited...knocked. UGH. That, combined with the kitten being his usual hyper self in the morning and husband blaring the Daily Show from the office...did not start my day off very well. Reading was my escape this morning and will be my escape tonight.

Until next time...

Days 4 & 5

Weight In Time: 11:40 p.m./10:40 p.m.
Weight: 136
BMI: 23.22
Wii Fit Age: 43/26

I almost didn't work out yesterday. I was tired and I had already done three days in a row. I said I would do five days a week. I don't want to get burnt out. I figured I deserved a break. Then my husband turned on the Wii, and I wanted to play too, dangit!

Every day I weigh in and start with the mind-body exercises. My fatigue showed and the Wii said my "fit" age was 43. That's not good.

I only worked out for 17 minutes, but more than half of that time was spent boxing. What a good way to get frustrations out and toughen up!

Today I am too tired to work out. I slept 13 hours last night and my brain has been in a fog all day. I did go for a brisk walk in the cold with my husband, though. The fresh air was wonderful and husband got to pick some grapefruits from the fruit trees in the park. He's obsessed with grapefruits. I think they're gross.

I weighed in today and my walking balance was terrible, but I got 24/25 correct on a memory game (elephant's memory) and my age was 26. Not bad.

Back to the Wii balance board tomorrow!

Day 3

Weight In Time: 9:30 p.m.
Weight: 136.5
BMI: 23.3
Wii Fit Age: 36, ouch!

Right, Left, Right, Block! Boxing is fun! And what a workout! My first attempt at throwing punches didn't go too well because I wasn't hitting hard enough, but once I added some power behind my punches, the hits connected and my score increased.

You've probably guessed, I've yet to catch the puke bug. I am extra tired, but with two diagnosed sleeping disorders, fatigue is just a part of my daily life.

Still, I managed to make it 35 minutes including a set of lunges in "strength" that got me a rating of 95 and labeled "bodybuilder." I wasn't lunging that far down, so I feel undeserving of my trainer's praise.

I enjoy doing yoga, but I find I hold my breath a lot. I saluted mother nature: sun salutations and half moon bends.

Now let me gloat with my boxing score:

I'm coming for you, hubby!

Day 2

Weigh In Time: 7 p.m.
Weight: 136.1 pounds
BMI: 23.26
Wii Fit Age: 22!

I wish my Wii Fit Plus trainer was more realistic. I'm wobbling all over the place on the yoga "tree" and she's still as a cement pole, never breaking a sweat.

I sweat a lot on the aerobics exercises. Granted, I'm pathetically out of shape, but my husband who is very fit, sweats buckets when he boxes the punching bag with the creepy arms. These games can get pretty intense.

Yesterday's Super Hoola Hoop about killed me, so today I tried regular Hoola Hoop, which is half as long and still left me out of breath.

I kicked things up a notch with two sets of both regular Step and Advanced Step. I'm fairly coordinated, but stepping sideways had me cursing the game and racking up "misses." Still, I really like Step.

I pushed myself extra hard today because I'm preparing to be puking all day long tomorrow. I hope I'm not. I have articles to crank out for the content mill, but as I type, my husband is puking his guts out into the toilet for the umpteenth time today.

Husband caught the bug from my mom and stepfather who caught it from my stepsister who caught it from my stepbrother. If I manage to escape spending tomorrow bent over the toilet all day, that'd be swell, but in case I don't post tomorrow, you will know why...at least I'll be losing weight.

In total, I worked out for over 40 minutes today. Other exercises I tried include: hitting soccer balls with my head on balance, twists on strength, the warrior yoga pose, and squats. Apparently I'm not strong enough for squats because the game didn't recognize any of my over 15 attempts. Maybe next time!

Day 1

Today was day one of my New Year’s resolution.

The game asks me date of birth and height. I’m 25 (going on 26) and for the Wii’s purposes, I am 5 feet 4 inches tall. In real life, I’m only 5 feet 3.5 inches tall, but shorties always round up.

Weigh in Time: 7 p.m.

Weight: 136.5 pounds.

BMI 23.34 (normal)

I do some balance exercises and the Wii calculates my “fit” age as 27 years old. I've always said I'm mature for my age.

I set a goal for myself: Lose 11 pounds in 3 months. Since I’m “surfing the crimson wave,” to quote the great Cher Horowitz, that first pound, or at least half a pound, should be gone as soon as Aunt Flow leaves town.

I don’t just need to lose weight. I need to shape up. I get winded easily and am a weakling. I can take the pushes and shoves in a mosh pit, but I can’t really give ‘em back. I grunt when I pick up Felicity, my overweight cat. She's fat, but she's not *that* fat!

I decide to set rules for myself. I need to exercise 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes a day. Each 30 minute set has to be well-rounded with all Wii Fit Plus has to offer: yoga, strength, cardio and balance. The Wii Fit "Plus" games are a bit of everything and they seriously kick regular ole Wii Fit's butt.

As I shape up, I'll increase my daily goals, but 30 minutes is a good starting point for someone whose daily regime is: crawl out of bed, eat, computer, eat, computer, TV, eat, computer, sleep.

I won’t push hard on the yoga because my doctor has recommended against it: I’m already hypermobile. I’m pretty rockin’ at balance. I was a gymnast for half my life and did stints in ballet and cheerleading, as well as various forms of dance. I’m also a klutz. Don’t ask me how good balance and being a klutz go together. I don’t know, either.

After warming up on my own and then with yoga, I breeze through the tightrope (champion) and move on to cardio. Super Hoola Hoops kicks my butt and sets off my sweat glands. I get 3/4 stars and get very, very winded. I catch my breath with a snowball fight, my favorite Wii Fit Plus game. I bust out my Kung Fu moves, hit some soccer balls, lead a marching parade, try some ski jumps, go two rounds of step class, and attempt the strength exercises.

After wobbling my way through the strength exercises, I cool down with the Zen test. What is the Zen test, you ask?

You sit on the board, cross your legs (as they called it “Indian style” when I was in school. I imagine they don’t call it that, anymore.) and you focus on a flame, sitting as still as possible. Noise and movement distractions appear on the screen. My first go round I only made it 30some odd seconds before the flame went out. My second attempt, I bumped it up to 80ish.

I think I'll end every session with the Zen test.

I spent 40 minutes on Wii Fit today and I'll likely play some of the "easy" games tonight. I must beat my husband's high score on snowball: 46 hits. I'm two hits short.

As I work my way through Wii Fit Plus, I'll give more detailed descriptions of the games and how they are whipping my big butt into shape.

Introduction

I used to be skinny. The kind of skinny that has doctors questioning “How are you eating? Tell me about your diet.”

I never had an eating disorder. I once took pills to help me gain weight. They worked pretty well except for the rashes and night sweats.

Thin just runs in my family. I was blessed. I stayed thin in college while my friends put on the freshman 10, or in some cases, 20. I gained a little weight when I got my own apartment and starting eating out of a box and buying whole milk. I was happy.

The birth control I started a few months before my wedding continued that weight gain.

I looked slim but healthy on my wedding day and in the days spent in nothing but a bikini on the beach during my honeymoon in June 2007.

Next, I finished my last semester of college. Hunted for a job. Found a job. Left job for medical reasons, all the while, gaining weight. Not getting fat. Just filling out more than ever.

I have spent the last year as a work-at-home, freelance writer. I’m making more money than I ever have (not that I’ve ever made a lot), all while staying in my polka dot pajamas with a cat slung across my lap. It’s excellent. Aside from the total lack of exercise, that is.

So in 2010, I resolve to shed pounds and shape up with Wii Fit Plus.

Welcome to my journey. First weigh in tonight.