Week 3 Results

Not what I was hoping for, but at least I didn't gain!  I lost another 1.5 pounds which brings me to a total of 38.5 pounds lost since June (28.5 since late August).  Again, I lost inches from my waist and hips and I can get my wedding ring on my finger!  It is snug and leaves a mark, but I can get it on now ;)   Another 5-10 pounds and it will fit comfortably. 

Another 35 pounds and I will be the weight it says on my DL.  I think this should be my goal for the next 6 months!

Flirting with Forty

I feel like hitting the 40 pound loss will never happen.  I have been so close for so many weeks now, but I keep losing a pound and then last week I gained a pound.  Blasted Thanksgiving!

All was not lost though: even thought I gained a pound, I still lost 2.5 inches from my waist and 1.5 inches from my hips.  We won't talk about how much of my boobs I am losing because it only depresses me; I'll just say that the smaller bras I bought a month or so ago are already too big :( I am looking forward to my weigh-in and measure-in tomorrow to see if there are any new changes!

I really want to hit 40 because I was hoping to start the new year with a 50 pound loss.  That sounds so much better than 40 to me.  I still don't really see a difference and I want to be able to see the changes.  Some people have noticed but the only reason I know I have lost is the way my clothes fit.  I know the problem.  It definitely isn't workouts.  I have been following the calendar religiously--my evenings are spent with Chalene and the rest of the Turbo Fire crew.  I also eat really well during the week.  It is the weekends that kill me.

The Top 4 Ten Reasons I am Still Flirting with Forty:

1. Ass Meat* Taco Night:  In the past month, I have enjoyed too many ass meat tacos.  Great food with great friends, what more could you ask for?  Less ass meat taco nights, apparently.  Ass meat tacos lead to rice and beans and sour cream and cheese and alcohol.  I now officially know that I cannot trust myself around mexican food.  I will sit at the table all night, forgetting about the calories and the fact that I am full.    (*Ass meat tacos may sound gross but it is the best thing that I have ever tasted.  I have no idea what cut of meat it is and I don't really care to know.  All I do know is that it is a round slab of beef with a hole in the center.)
2. Poker Night Pizza:  I thought that by eating at home before poker night, I would not be tempted by all the yummy goodness that is always set out.  But then the homemade pizzas came out.  So, on poker night I had two dinners.  Boo for planning ahead!  Had I not planned ahead, I would have had one dinner instead of two.
3. Poker Night Popcorn: So my son and my cousin's son are both cub scouts.  That means that there is plenty of Boy Scout Popcorn around this time of the year.  I picked up my order and proceeded to munch on caramel popcorn as we played poker well into the night.  So, not only did I h ave two dinners, I had a half a bag of caramel popcorn!
4. Eating Out:  If we aren't having ass meat tacos or homemade pizzas, we are eating out:  sushi, pizza, brewery, etc., etc.  I definitely need to kick the habit of going out to eat every weekend.  It would be much better to stay home and sing and dance around the kitchen while we cook (what 80's film am I thinking of here?--the name escapes me).

In order to beat this--I would call it a plateau, but I don't think it is a plateau; it is more me not eating well--my goal for the whole week is to only eat food made at home. I am not expecting many changes tomorrow but check back for my Week 3 results!

I survived Week 1

and I feel great! The biggest thing I learned this week is that I can do more than I think I can.  This will sound very unlike me, the girl who sits on the couch and watches crappy TV, but I look forward to working out each day.  It makes me feel strong.  Empowered, even.  This is not to say that it is easy because it is not. Half of the time I flail around, trying to keep up with the choreography of the routines.  I blame my absolute lack of rhythm--those few of you who have seen me dance will understand.  I promised myself, however, that I wouldn't feel defeated, I would keep moving--jumping jacks, squats, jogging, whatever--and jump back into the routine when I found myself.  It worked and, slowly, I am catching on.  I actually made it through the whole routine last night.  Go me!!!

I lost 3 more pounds.  You'll notice there is no exclamation point after that one.  I have mixed feelings.  I expected more.  After all, this is the first week that I have consistently exercised.  Before this challenge, I lost the weight by making better food changes.  So, since I was adding exercise, I thought I would have a good loss the first week. On the other hand,  I want to make sure that I am losing in a healthy way because I don't want to just gain it all back.  In the end, I will be happy with my 3 pounds and hope that I can consistently lose 1 or 2 or 3 a week. I would like to lose 13 more pounds by the end of the year so I can start the year 50 pounds lighter.  Perhaps that goals is too ambitious but I will try!

I also discovered this week that I am not a fan of yoga.  One of the Turbo Fire workouts is a 40 minute stretch with lots of yoga poses.  Blah.  Boring.  Maybe as I lose weight and my gut doesn't impede my folding in half and bending, I will enjoy it more :)  Here's to me losing my gut!!!  I hope I don't lose any more boobs, though!

Looking Forward

I made it through the first 2 days of workouts (only 88 more to go!) and since today is a rest day (from Turbo Fire, at least), I thought I'd revisit my reasons for "getting fit" and come up with some shorter term, more specific goals.  

My top three goals for the next three months (in order of importance):

1.  Be able to wear my wedding ring.
It has been few years since I have been able to fit my wedding ring on my short, sausage fingers.  I have, instead, been wearing L's ring since he doesn't wear it.  Most of the time, it slips off my finger and I end up wearing it on my middle finger.  I will be happy to get my ring back on my finger.  Every morning I try it on and it is slowing moving its way farther down my finger!  I think I will reach this goal in the next couple of weeks!!!!

2.  Lower my cholesterol.
Both my "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides have dropped quite a bit since Spring but I want it to go down a bit more.  I also need to raise my "good" cholesterol. This will make my doctor happy.  Maybe she'll even quit telling me I will have to take drugs to lower it.  Hell, maybe she'll even quit thinking of me as a walking time bomb :)

3.  Be the weight it says on my driver's license.
I would love to be the weight it says on my high school license (it is my goal weight, after all).  For now, I will be more realistic and hope for what it says on my current license.  I was a little more honest the last time I had to get a new picture and license:)

I am off to walk up & down the stairs of DH.  Don't look at me strange if you see me walk by a few times...

And the Challenge begins!

I stood on the scale.  I took my measurements.  I planned my meals.  I watched (and tried) a couple of the workouts.  I am ready.

Too many excuses for not getting anything done before:  I could go to the gym, but I won't (the closest gym is twenty minutes away and seems to be populated by local HS students).  I could get on my treadmill, but I haven't (it makes a great clothes rack).  I could go for walks, but it is too cold and gets dark so early (plus we don't have sidewalks out here in these parts).

But my doctor's words ring in my head:  You are a walking time bomb.  She later denied saying this to me, but she did.  Two years ago.  So, I can't wait anymore.  I have an awesome husband and the most wonderful son and I do not want to miss out on anything.  My greatest fear is not seeing N grow up or leaving L to do it all alone.

So, here I go....Tomorrow is Day 1 of my Turbo Fire challenge.  Turbo Fire is made by Beachbody.  Yeah, Beachbody.  It almost makes me laugh, too.  I mean sure, I would love to have a "beachbody," but that isn't my goal--well, maybe it is a little bit. BB also sells P90X.  Yeah, that P90X.  The informercial one.  But I will say that one of the healthiest people I know and trust has been doing P90 for years (and I didn't even know it until I was talking to him about my plans to do TF).  Maybe when I am done with TF, I'll try P90X.  Maybe. Talk to me in 12 weeks.  We'll wait to see how this intense cardio program works.  I hope I don't pull anything or hurt myself, even though I am kind of counting on it.  I don't say this because I am not committed to doing well; I say this because I am the girl who hobbled around for weeks after pulling a muscle bowling.


The next 12 weeks is definitely going to kick my 38%-body-fat ass!  Wish me luck :)

I'll spare you all my starting measurements and photos.  Maybe someday I will be brave enough to reveal all.  Maybe when I reach my goal.  Maybe when I reach the number I never thought I'd go over.  Maybe when I am no longer a walking time bomb.

Twice the Girl I Want to Be

There is a girl who is stuck inside, one who wants to do better and be better.  There is a girl who wants to be the best she can be.   

Since June 1, I have lost 33 pounds and I feel great. Sure, I have almost 80 more pounds to lose but I now think that my goal is reachable. Slow and steady, right?

I write this mostly for me because I want to keep track of my progress, but perhaps someone will see what I am doing and be inspired.  If I had not been inspired over the summer, I wouldn't where I am today and ready to make significant changes.  I want to be the success story that helps someone else decide that she (or he), too, wants to make a change!

Follow along as I make my way to a healthier me!  I plan on shedding that other girl and getting rid of all the doubts and baggage she surrounds me with.