Weekly Update - Breakthrough!

Well looky here!  This morning I showed a great number on the scale and I couldn't be more excited.  I am officially below 150!!!  I had a feeling I'd get some good news this morning because I've been doing some serious running and when I went thrift shopping with my ladies over the weekend (and purchased what the girls were calling a "trophy wife shirt) I was fitting into size 6 pretty consistently.  Remember, I'm only 5'6" so no, I'm not too skinny - I still have a badonk-a-donk booty, thankyouverymuch.  Not to toot my own horn here, but (toot! toot!) I look and feel great. 

People ask me if I'm doing this for my upcoming wedding... sure - I need to fit into my dress, of course, but this is about more than looking good in pictures for one day of my life.  When I hit 30, I will be in the best shape of my life.  That is a goal worth celebrating.

Weekly Update

In two weeks I've lost less than half a pound.  I'm 99.37% sure this has something to do with the massive quantities of cheese and margaritas I have consumed since the last time I checked in.  I know, I know.  I'm terrible.  I feel, though, that I've turned a corner and am on my way out of my diet/exercise regressions into a renewed sense of determination.  Maybe it's my milestone birthday looming, or maybe it's my quickly-approaching wedding date, but I feel a sense of urgency once again to make progress... and fast!

Yesterday I ran six and a half miles, and today I forced myself to tackle another four miles during my lunch break.  I was sore the entire way and TW was unaffected by my whining and begging to run more slowly - that was decidedly out of the question.  I love me my T-dub, but oh, the pain!  It's all in my glutes and hamstrings. Oy.  Tomorrow is definitely NOT a running day.  I'll find a different way to make myself sore.

Weekly Update

Oh hi there!  All of those numbers are shocking to me.  My diet was not on par over the weekend, though I did get quite a bit of exercise in, dance party of three (and sometimes one) not excluded.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say.... "BOO YOW!"  Only one more measly little pound and I'll be under 150 for the first time in over ten years.  Since my heaviest, this marks 33 pounds lost.  Feels awesome. 

One little nod to my trainer today for keeping me on track: I was jonesin' for sushi today and was on the hunt for a lunch buddy to go to Cherry Blossom with when Trainer Wade intercepted; he reminded me I should really be going for a run since the weather today is amazing and the lunch I brought is perfectly delicious and much lighter in calories than a sushi feast. Too true.  Those four miles did much more for me at lunch than a bunch of tekka maki would have.  Also provided during my workout were holistic living tips, such as the benefits of sunscreen.  Wade, you are so wise, and yes, I am so sunburned.  Thanks, T-W, for showing me the way. 

Weekly Update: Plateausville

I think I might be at a plateau.  I'm dying to break through the 150-lb mark and I have less than 2 lbs standing in my way.  I'm hoping that over the next month we're going to see the numbers go down as I regularly start running 8 miles (4 each direction of my commute to work) and cutting waaaaay down on sweets.

I feel good, but it's very frustrating to not see results.  Then again, I've never been a very patient person.

Weekly Update

This is gonna be a shorty because I don't have much to report.  I'm still hanging around 151 lbs, but I'm bloated so my everything is puffy.  This inflates my body fat percentage number.  I feel doughy, but I know it's temporary.  I'm trying to do some diet tweaking to help break through the 150s into the 140s, so we'll see.  Next week will be better.

Weekly Update - Silver Lining

Ok so I was about to be all, "waa waaaa" about having gained a pound and a half since last week (and I'll be honest, I did eat a lot), but then I started taking my measurements in order to report my body fat, and I actually lost inches and went down in fat.  For reals.  I don't usually report the measurements I have to take in order to get my number, because they're boring: neck, arm, chest, thigh... who cares?

Well, today I do care.  waist and hips are still the same, but I am down to 33 inches at my chest, and have lost an inch and a half off my thigh since last week.  So even though my BMI has gone up slightly, I think the more important numbers here are body fat and inches.  Looks like I'm smack in the middle of the fitness range:

I do feel like I need to step it up a little bit, though, because this next 15 lbs isn't going to lose itself.  Last night I left my car at the office and ran the 4 miles home.  Then I had no choice this morning but to suit up and run into the office.  It was cold, but at least it wasn't raining.  The sun came out at lunch today, so a co-worker and I grabbed the opportunity to run at lunch.  That was another 4 miles.  So I've done 8 miles total today.  Awesome.  Toot toot!  That would be the sound of me tooting my own horn; but hey - I think I'm allowed today.

Weekly Update

This is a really great post for me to write.  I'm glowing about having made it past the halfway point and am further on my way toward my goal.  I'm also giddy at the possibility of getting under 150 lbs, something I haven't seen since I did weight loss the wrong way in high school.

Also awesome:  I went shopping with some ladyfriends over the weekend and just for fun tried on some pants at Ann Taylor Loft.  Heyo!  I was wearing a size six!  I think this was an isolated event, but it does mean that I am on the lower end of a size eight.  I also haven't seen this in over ten years.

What can I say?  I feel fantastic.

Weekly Update

So, I gained 0.4 pounds this week, which is a minor miracle, considering this was probably my unhealthiest week since the first of the year.  I partook in another chili cook-off where I ate too much and had about 5 beers, skipped 2 days of workouts, went out to a very rich happy hour, and went out to dinner last night where I had far more pasta saltimboca than I needed.

Luckily, nothing else on my body changed, except I really haven't been feeling up to par recently, but that's no surprise.  I'm back on track with minor damage done.  Still, it's not great.

I was talking to Trainer Wade about my projected progress today and he said he thinks I'm probably at the point now where if I want to see significant change in my weight I'm going to have to start making more significant lifestyle changes - decisions about bread and cocktails.  I haven't had a plateau problem just yet, so I'm going to stick a pin in that idea and come back to it later if I am hovering for too long at 153.

I ran six miles yesterday and another four today so I feel good about getting ten miles in the first half of the week.  Let's hope I can keep this momentum going.

Weekly Update - Halfway There!

Goodbye to two more pounds and an inch off my waist!  I am officially at the halfway mark to my ultimate goal of 30 pounds lost.  This feels great.  Even though my clothes are getting baggy bordering on frumpy, I'm working wonders with belts and safety pins so I don't have to go buy interim clothing.  Thank goodness jackets with asymmetrical button details are in right now.

Yesterday I wasn't able to get any cardio in, but I did have a great weight-lifting workout at lunch.  Today I'll do a 5-mile run on the treadmill.  Running has made all the difference

I'll admit, I haven't really wanted to work out for the past couple days and grudgingly made myself do it anyway, but seeing these numbers in my weight and size has reignited the spark in my workouts.  I can't wait to get to the gym today.  It's amazing what a little victory does to boost my excitement for working out.

Weekly Update - High Five!

Check me out!  I've lost 0.6 lbs since last week!  I think I'm finally starting to get a realistic body fat read from my calculations too.  24% seems to be a pretty realistic number of what I've got.  My fat-over-muscle layer is still hanging around, but it's diminishing.  I'm going from fuscular to just plain old muscular at a good pace.  I'm also firmly a size 8 now.  That means size 6 is only 10 lbs away!

Weekly Update

Nothing exciting to report except that I lost an inch off my hips since two weeks ago.  My weight and other measurements are exactly the same.  I was starting to feel bummed about this, until I ran across my stats from exactly one year ago:

Since a year ago, I am about 7 pounds lighter, and have lost an inch off of my waist and two off of my hips.  Not bad, eh?  All in all, I'm still ahead. 

Weekly Update

I am not happy to give today's update.  As you can see, I gained almost an entire pound and it all went straight to my ass.  I used to say I am lucky because I'm an all-over weight gainer without some unfortunate localized telltale area.  No, folks, I was wrong.  I apparently do have one and it's my ass.

I made some bad decisions over the weekend, drinking a lot of wine, eating sweets, and generally eating too much, resulting in feeling bloated and over-salted.  So despite my best efforts to get out and be active every day, my poor diet choices came back to bite me in the... well... ass.

Today I made sure I got out and pounded the pavement for five miles at lunch.  I took a coworker with me and she had me sprint the last two blocks, which I hate doing but it feels awesome as soon as I stop.  Plus I don't want to look like a sissy.  Overall, it felt really good and I didn't feel sluggish, so maybe I'm on the mend.  Here's to a better update next week.

Progress Update

When I started this journey thirteen months ago, I thought I'd have accomplished my goal and moved on by now, but it has proven to be a longer process than I originally expected.  I went on vacations, I enjoyed the holidays, and even took a couple wine tasting classes.  My weight went up and down and I barely blinked.  In all honesty, fitness slipped from being my primary focus.

As I mentioned before, Hawaii was my turning point.  As I began on my new journey during that vacation, I had a conversation that really helped me solidify my renewed effort to work out and be healthier.  Andrew and I were lazing around in our room in the condo talking about work and life goals, and I asked him, "do you think I could lose thirty pounds?"  Without hesitating, he said, "yes."  It felt good to have someone support me immediately.  He didn't bring up obstacles or question whether or not my number was realistic, he just told me I could do it.  Other successful people whom I admire have referenced the constant support of a partner or spouse when they decided to take on new things throughout the course of their careers, and I feel lucky that I have that support in my own life. 

Even if I'm over-reaching, having a cheerleader who believes I can do it is a huge motivating factor.  I realized I don't need to set "safe" goals that I know I can accomplish.  Why not try for something I've never done before?  I decided to set loftier goals for myself, and make it a priority.  I can run more miles, I can set a lower goal weight, and I can have a six-pack.  I can do it.

Right now I'm the lowest weight I've been in a couple years and I'm determined to continue tipping that scale and increase my strength.  I can and I will.

Week Two: Sticking With It

I reported last week that I had indeed stuck to my ambitious work-out schedule.  I didn't see any change from last week to the next, weight-wise, but I felt great about staying on it, and making the early morning workouts consistent.

This past week, I was able to pull it off again!

Dance practice was more of a day off than an actual workout, but we were dancing around for three hours, so I can't just leave it off - that's some serious time I put in!

Here's the kicker - I stepped on the scale yesterday and it told me I actually gained a pound!  Booooooo!  I'm confused about this because I don't think I build muscle quite that fast, but I have been feeling leaner.  I'm going to take this in stride, and if I don't see positive results by next week, I'm going to have to take a good hard look at everything else in my life and see what's what.

Monday Update

I ate a lot and drank a lot this weekend.  I also played outside a lot.  I think it all evened out.  This morning I got up and ran 3.5 miles before work.  Tomorrow I'll be back at the gym for an early morning step 'n' sculpt class.  10-year reunion, here I come!

The Elephant in the Room

I know I am super late posting my update.  I have a million excuses, but this blog is about not hiding behind excuses, and so I dug a picture out of my recent adventures to tack onto my stats.  Here's the ugly truth:  I fluctuated in weight a lot this month.  I had many glasses of wine and late dinners.  I was putting off weighing in as long as possible.

This morning I stepped on the scale and got the exact weight I brought to you last month.  I did, however, lose an inch of my chest, waist, and hips.  This caused my body fat percentage to read higher than last time.  Curious.  I'm beginning to question the accuracy of those calculators.

May will be a better month.

March Monthly Check-In

I've finally got my March stats for you, complete with a picture.  I'm not throwing down huge numbers, nor do I really look different at all from last month, but I feel like a million bucks for getting back under 160.  It's not much under, but I'll take it.

I've got some big things coming up in the next six months, so I'm happy that I'm still making progress.  In addition to summer weddings I'll be attending and a pool in my complex that went tragically under-used last year, I've got a gaggle of former classmates to impress.  Nothing like a 10 year high school reunion to motivate me into getting into gear.  Looking good is part of it, but more importantly, I'm going to have something interesting to talk about. 

I've decided to enroll in a wine education program at one of our local CCs.  I'm tired of telling people that the only thing I've been up to is sewing and cooking.  There's a lot to be said for both of those, but it doesn't really take a conversation anywhere.  Believe me, I know.

Today's motivational gym song:
War - JJ Grey & Mofro  (shall I play it on repeat?)