Week In Review

Highest Weight: 263lbs

WW Starting Weight: 231.8lbs

Last Week's Weight: 227.0lbs

Today's Weight: 225.2lbs

Woohoo! 1.8lbs gone! I was very happy to see that number this morning when I stepped on the scale. I actually made myself a goal to be under 225lbs by my first day back at work, which is Tuesday, so we'll see if I get there. Even if I don't, I'm very happy with WW and how I am feeling lately. I am really working hard to realize that health and happiness is more than a number on a scale!

Anyway, on to the week in review:

Diet:

Food was great this week. I actually had a splurge night on Saturday when my hubs and I went out for a date night (only our 2nd night away from our son this year!). I had a very reasonable meal of shrimp and scallops, but then splurged on chocolate cake for dessert. It was definitely worth it! Even with my splurge meal, I only used about half of my weekly points since I worked out so much and use my activity points before my weeklies. Apart from that night, my eating was very clean and healthy. I've been doing better with eating fruit at night, and I think it helps fill me up better. I made some delicious meals this week (including teriyaki meatballs & butternut squash pasta) and all went well!

Exercise:

Once again, I worked out 6 of 7 days this week. As part of that, I started Jillian Michaels Body Revolution and am totally loving it! She works you so hard in such a short amount of time, which is perfect for this busy momma. I also am already feeling stronger, which is exciting. The only thing I changed up a bit from the program is that instead of doing the cardio DVD which was on schedule for yesterday, I ran outside instead. I figure it's fine to switch cardio for cardio, and the weather was too perfect not to run (mid-60s with a breeze). I had a fantastic run and could tell that BR is helping me get stronger, which in turn makes running easier. I think I need to find a fall 5k to run!

Mental Health:

If you couldn't tell already, I am feeling fantastic right now! Everything seems to be clicking into place and I just feel so alive. It's awesome. I love when my head gets in the zone like this. While I know the feeling won't last forever, I'm going to roll with it for as long as I can.

Friday Weigh-in

Highest Weight: 263lbs
WW Starting Weight: 231.8lbs
Last Week's Weight: 227.8lbs
Today's Weight: 227.0lbs

Not going to lie, I was a little disappointed with this morning's weigh-in. Mostly because two days ago I was in the 225's. And then I had two great days, so not really sure what happened (ah, the danger of daily weigh-ins!). The only thing I'm thinking is that my system is probably a little backed up since I had to take Immodium on Wednesday due to a dental procedure (the joys of IBS...). So that's probably why, but it still kind of sucks. At least the scale went down, though!

Some of my favorite blogs do a sort of weekly round-up on weigh in days, so I thought I would start. Here goes:

Diet:

I think I did great this week with my diet. If anything, I am a little lacking with fruit, so my goal for next week is a minimum of 2 fruits a day. I do great with veggies in my meals, but whenever I snack I tend to go more towards carbs (pretzels, granola bars, etc) rather than fruit, so I need to work on that. My meals, though, we're great. I tried 2 new recipes (honey-soy chicken and buffalo chicken pasta) and they both turned out awesome.

Exercise:

I definitely killed it this week with exercise. Like, some type of movement every single day. Actually, I did formal workouts 6 out of 7 days, and on the 7th day I painted for 3 hours, so it was like a workout. My husband and I have also been going for nightly 2 mile walks with our son after dinner, which I love. I feel like it really helps with digestion and I feel so relaxed after our walks. I definitely want to keep up this habit next week.

Mental Health:

Honestly, I've been struggling with anxiety and negative thoughts this week. I always have issues with anxiety, but this week some depression snuck in, too. Yesterday was really bad. As in, I really wanted to give up on this weight loss journey and binge. But I didn't, and to me that is a huge victory. When I wanted to eat/binge, I did zumba instead. I honestly didn't enjoy the workout, but it kept me out of the kitchen for a while, which was necessary. Sometimes I just get so frustrated. I feel like I am trapped in this body that doesn't feel like mine and I just want all of the excess fat gone immediately. Then I start feeling bad about myself, my self confidence tanks, and I want to eat away the pain. It's such a vicious cycle. This week, I want to focus on my thoughts and trying to say more positive things to myself, rather than all this negative self-talk.


So that was my week. It wasn't perfect, but definitely a step in the right direction. This week, I am starting Body Revolution and am so freakin' excited! Also, my husband and I are going on a date-night tomorrow, which is sooo rare for us - as in, this is our 2nd time getting a babysitter this entire year - so that will be great.

Weight Watchers

So I mentioned in my last post that I am doing WW again. I wanted to explain my break in blogging and my reignited love for WW.

As you can see, there was a long gap between my last two posts. Honestly, things were going well, I was exercising a ton, eating a bit better (though my portions were still larger than they should have been) and then I went on vacation. For over 2 weeks. Yeah, everything basically fell apart. On vacation I ate a ton of fried food, so much sugar, and didn't workout at all. I got home feeling bloated and depressed. About 3 days after being home, I broke down while talking to my husband and told him how miserable I was. I felt sooo horrible physically. I had no energy, no stamina, and honestly didn't even feel like getting out of bed most mornings. I knew something had to change. I needed help.

Enter my old friend WW. Now, I am no stranger to WW. Honestly, I have started the program so many times I have lost track. But this time feels different. In the past, I have almost resented WW. Like, thinking it's not fair that I have to keep track of my food, figure out points, etc. This time, however, I just feel like I really need help and support, and WW can give me the guidance I need. So far I am a little over 2 weeks in and am loving it. I haven't lost a ton of weight yet (4lbs total) but I just feel soooo much better! I feel alive again. It's awesome.

Compared to the old WW, I love the new Points Plus. I think it is so great that fruits and veggies are free. It really does motivate me to eat more fruit (something I was definitely lacking before) and just makes me really think about 'balanced meals.'

So yeah, that's what I am up to. Counting points and working out 5 days a week (and of course taking care of my son and hanging with my awesome hubby). Work starts back up for me in a little over a week, so I'm hoping to feel really settled into the WW program when work starts so I can just keep going and working towards my goals.

In other news, I just bought and received Jillian Michael's Body Revolution and am going to officially start the 90-day program! I am so excited. I am going to take measurements and photos now so I can then compare in 90 days. I will be sure to share on this blog :-)

I Will Not Give Up

So last night I had a realization/determination/thought that totally rocked me. I was lamenting to my husband that the scale isn't moving quickly enough for my taste (yes, I weigh myself everyday - and yes, I know I should stop). I was getting really frustrated and feeling like maybe Weight Watchers isn't going to work for me (did I mention I started WW again early last week? More on this later!), when I had this thought, "Well, I'm not going to give up, so it has to work. I am going to lose this weight, and if I keep eating healthy, watching my portions, and exercising regularly then it is inevitable that I will reach a healthy weight." Now, maybe that doesn't sound dramatic to you, but it was kind of an 'ah-ha' moment for me. I realized, no matter what, no matter how difficult or long this journey ends up being, I will get to the finish line. I will reach a healthy weight and be happy and comfortable in my own skin. There is no failure - this is going to happen.

While I have lost weight in the past, I don't think I have ever felt this sure about the process. I feel so strong mentally right now, like there is no way I am not going to reach my goals. Failure is not an option. I am ready this time. Even if it takes me 2 years, I will get there. When I lost 60lbs a year and a half ago (I have now gained almost 40 of those back), I never felt confident or secure in the process. I kept telling my husband, "This feels too easy. I don't know what changed or why I am doing so well with my eating. And if I don't know what changed, how will I make sure it doesn't change back?" This time though, I feel so conscious and in control. I know exactly what is changing, because I am changing it. It doesn't feel 'easy,' but it feels worth it. 

Intuitive Eating

In the past, I have tried several different 'diet plans.' When I lost weight most recently, I started with intuitive eating and then switched over to counting calories on the Lose It app. While it worked great, I became really burned out and got sooo sick of counting everything I ate. I think that's one of the reasons I started to gain the weight back, because I just was so tired of always having to try so hard, if that makes sense. So this time around, I am trying to just eat intuitively. So far, I'd say it's been interesting.

Specifically, the last couple of weeks I have definitely been killing it on the workout front. While the first week I went from 234lb to 230lb, my weight has now pretty much been keeping steady at the 230lb range. I know some of that is to be expected, since I haven't really worked out in months so my muscles are probably shocked and retaining water like crazy; however, it does make me think maybe I need to reanalyze my eats. I think my biggest downfall lately has been the snacks I'm choosing after dinner. I am definitely not one of those people who can say "I won't eat anything after dinner." It's just not going to happen. With a 3 year old, we eat dinner around 5pm, so I would be so hungry by the time I went to be at 10 or 11pm. But the snacks I'm choosing are definitely carb heavy, like pretzels, granola bars, etc. And I'm realizing that I haven't been eating enough fruit. So tonight, I'm going to commit to eating a piece of fruit after dinner. I just got some watermelon and it is calling my name!

On a different note, last night I went out and got some goggles, so I think I'm going to go swimming today. I am so excited! I'm trying out a new-to-me pool that I am hoping is great. I'll let you know how it goes!

Running and Weekly Workout Plan

So as I mentioned earlier, I love to run. It's my favorite workout. No matter what other type of exercise I try, nothing seems to work me as hard or change my body as much as running does. Luckily, I enjoy it while it's happening, too! After a few months off from working out (welcome 34lb weight gain!) I have been back at running for the last 3 weeks. I'm really excited that the mileage has come back much faster than I expected it to. I was kind of worried I would have to completely restart the Couch-to-5K program that helped me break into running last year, but luckily my body must have built some good muscle memory because I am already up to running 27min at a time without stopping.

Now, I know you're probably thinking "27 min - that's kind of a random amount." But what I did was start with 20 min straight and  have added one extra minute of running with each progressive workout. While it started off super tough, today was the first day where I felt like I am actually getting back into the swing of things. No huffing and puffing, just running and enjoying the motion. Maybe it's because I put on some TV (I've been running on my treadmill since there is no way in hell I'm running outside in the 90 degree heat), so it was easier to distract myself while watching a show than just staring at a blank wall, which I know is shocking to everyone out there.

Anyway, I think I might start posting my weekly workouts every Sunday, since I usually think of my week from Monday - Sunday. But since I didn't post this Sunday, here's my plan for the week:

Monday - Treadmill Run Complete! Total of 52 min on the treadmill, including 29 min of running
Tuesday - Cathe's Low Impact Circuit Complete! Did 40 min of the tape.
Wednesday - Treadmill Run Complete! Total of 55 min on the treadmill, including 30 min of running
Thursday - Cathe's Low Max Step
Friday - Treadmill Run
Saturday - Rest
Sunday -   Bike and/or Exercise Video

I also really want to go swim some laps, since I'm planning on completing my first triathlon this fall and want to start getting in the swing of things (official training will start mid-July). First, though, I'll need to go buy some goggles and possibly a swim cap. Also, need to see when I can go that it won't conflict with my son's schedule (he's at a learning day camp and I have to pick him up every afternoon). Maybe Friday I'll switch out treadmill for swimming? We'll see!

29 Things I Love

As a way for you all to get to know me, I thought it'd be fun to make a list of things I love. And since I recently turned 29, it seemed like a great idea to list 29 things I love. So here you go, in no particular order:

1. My family. I am basically obsessed with my son and my husband. They are awesome in every way imaginable.

2. Running. Definitely my favorite workout activity. In fact, I love running so much, last year I completed a half-marathon and am proud to say I ran the whole way (i.e. no walk breaks). It was one of the hardest things I've done and I'm working to get back into the kind of shape I was in when I ran.

3. Cathe Friedrich. I love Cathe. I mean, I'm probably not on par with a true "Cathlete" (yep, that's a thing - look it up) but she is my favorite aerobics instructor. My top three Cathe videos are: "Low Max Step", "Low Impact Circuit", and "Kick, Punch, Crunch"

4. Chocolate. Yep, I'm definitely a self-professed chocoholic. Semi-embarrassing admission: there are way too many pictures of me where I have tiny speckles of chocolate stuck in the corners of my mouth. Is that weird? No, I didn't think so either.

5. Enell bras. I am definitely blessed up-top, and the only bra I've found that keeps the ladies in place when I run are Enell's, and believe me, I've tried a lot of sports bras! I wasn't even paid to write that either!

6. Lists. There is something about lists I love. I make them at work all the time. Sometimes I'll write down things I've already done just so I can cross them off.

7. Nail Polish. My nails are almost never bare, mostly because they are now stained so bad from all the nail polish that they don't look so hot on their own. Right now, they are purple and sparkly.

8. Parentheses.You've probably already started to notice that I use them - a lot. Deal with it. I also use hyphens a lot. You've been warned.

9. Smiley Faces. Yes, I know some/many people hate them, but I love them. I laugh and smile a lot in real life, and my writing follows suit. They make me happy :-)

10. The Ocean. I love, love, LOVE the ocean. Definitely my favorite place to be. Right now, we're about 2-1/2 hours away from the nearest beach, but our long-term goal is to own a small oceanfront condo. That would be amazing!

11. Animals. We have one cat and one dog and they are so much fun.

12. My Mom. She's basically my best friend. We talk everyday on the phone. She lives about 10 hours away from me and that makes me sad :-(

13. Cooking. It's one of my favorite hobbies. I am always trying new recipes (from cookbooks and blogs - I don't make them up myself). My favorite cuisines are Thai, Chinese, and Indian. Yum!

14. Blogs. I love reading weight loss blogs. I find them so inspiring. If you know of any good ones, let me know!

15. Curly Hair. My hair is curly and I love it. As a kid, I of course hated it, but I now realize how great it is that I can take a shower, throw in some mousse, and be on my way.

16. Pesto. I have a small garden which is basically 30 basil plants. I make A LOT of pesto.

17. My Job. I work for a local school system and love it. Kids rock.

18. Large Bath Towels. There is nothing better than wrapping up in a big towel after a nice, relaxing bath. Similarly, there is nothing worse than only having tiny towels around that don't even fit around your waist.

19. Reading. Love it. You must, too, if you have made it this far down my list!

20. Celebrity Gossip. I try hard not to buy the magazines, but I do check people.com more times a day than I'd like to admit.

21. Shellfish. Shrimp, scallops, crab = yum! But not lobster - it always looked too much like a big roach to me.

22. Purple. It's my favorite color. Am I too old to have a favorite color? Nah.

23. TV. I watch more TV than I'd like to admit. Mostly comedies. Like I said before, I love to laugh.

24. Dancing. Not doing it so much, as watching it. Have you seen the documentary 'First Position"? It was so good! And I love 'So You Think You Can Dance.' There's something about watching the dancers do things with their bodies that I didn't even know were possible that motivates me to be stronger.

25. Vacation. I am on summer break right now from my job and I love it. Definitely the #1 perk to working in the public school system.

26. Facebook. I wish I didn't enjoy it as much as I do. I spend way too many hours reading about people I'm not even close with in 'real life.' I think I need a Facebook intervention.

27. My Garmin. I guess this links back to running, but I can't imagine running without it.

28. Watches. I have a thing for big, chunky Fossil watches. I stalk TJ Maxx a lot since they have them cheap.

29. Romantic Comedies. Doesn't matter if they are books or movies, I love them. 'You've Got Mail' is one of my favorite movies - I was obsessed with Meg Ryan and wanted her haircut so badly.

Well, thanks for stopping by and getting to know me a bit better!