-1.8lbs for week 3!

Total of 12 lbs!

Check out 12 lb Baxter here:

I did great this week despite the fact that I was BAD for my birthday! But honestly, I was happy to go back to good food, the bad food made me feel sick. I feel great!

Trying to get motivated to exercise this week, the wedding is sneaking up and so is that dress fitting. It's a little too late now for drastic results, but a least I can feel great :)

Woo woo!

-2.4 lbs for week 2!

The Jenny Craig is going great.

I can't help but think of how much we made fun of Jenny Craig when we were kids, but here I am, 24 years old (25 tomorrow) and doing Jenny Craig, and doing it well.

I have lost a total of 10.2 lbs in 2 weeks! This week is a little tougher because of my birthday (everyone celebrates with food) but I hope to drop some lbs this coming Tuesday too.

My two roommates (who are also friends and bridesmaids) threw me the most adorable surprise lingerie shower/birthday party tonight! I had no idea all my friends were such good liars! I was totally fooled, I was confused even when I saw them standing there as I walked in the door. It is good to be loved!

Also, I loved all the gifts :) I'll keep working on my figure so I will look my absolute best for their debut (don't think too hard on this)

Watching the Clemson/GT game, it's depressing me, so I'm going to cheer you up with this 10.2 lb cutie, Cathy. She looks about as sad as I do right now about my Clemson Tigers. Otherwise really happy about my surprise shower and my amazing friends!

A BRAND NEW BLOG

Wow. No post since July 15th. That is crazy. Well, not really. Let me tell you what happened. I'll keep it short and sweet.

I tried to do it on my own. I had high ambitions, but not as many results. Even my newest measurements at the gym were disappointing. It seemed like I was making no progress at all. So I did what you should never do, and that is that I gave up. I hit rock bottom. Discouraged. Disappointed. Lethargic. I had mentally worn myself out with all the working out and all the constant counting calories that I was stressed to the max. I was even having crazy stress dreams. (Like my fish jumped out of his bowl and I couldn't catch him to put him back in. The next night I almost drowned) so I said ENOUGH! Enough is enough.

All this being "healthy" wasn't healthy at all.

I stopped working out. Just for a couple of weeks, just until I didn't feel like a bad person for not working out. I had been working out more so that I wouldn't be mad at myself, instead of for all the good reasons you should work out. So I quit working out. And I stopped counting calories.

During this time of rest, I took a step back and evaluated my situation. 1. I was frustrated that no matter what I ate it seemed, good or bad, nothing significant happened. 2. I used to love exercise, and now I hated it, and was only doing it so I wouldn't hate myself.

All that being said, I have turned a new page. I joined Jenny Craig (despite all the kids making fun of Jenny Craig when I was a kid). I'm loving it. That was the right choice. And I am reintroducing myself to exercise, making sure I'm doing it for the right reasons.

I will update more often now that I am back in control.

p.s. I lost 7.8lbs my first week at Jenny! (*I understand it is unhealthy to lose that much weight EVERY week. That was just the first week, lots of water weight) The diet is very healthy, I feel great, and best of all: it's working.

And even though this is a brand new blog, figuratively speaking, I'm still keeping the dog thing.
Here is 7.8lb "Marty"

Week 3 of 20 weigh in! Did I make it?

No :(

but I ALMOST did! 1.6 lbs down

3 weeks in a row I have lost...albeit last week I did not lose much, but I did lose! I am going to really push it this week to lose the 2 lbs that I've committed to each week. Total I have lost 4.8 lbs, and I'm supposed to be at 6 lbs. Maybe I can even push it to make up for the 1.2 lbs I'm behind!

I lost 1.6 lbs this week, and I wasn't necessarily what I would call "good". Imagine how much I could lose if I didn't sneak a brownie or a cookie here and there! I'm going to be committed this week to ixnay on the weetsay. No more sweets.

Also, I'm pledging to go to the gym 4 times this week. I'm loving the morning workouts! Watching the sunrise over your bar bells is a lovely feeling. Honestly, when I work out in the morning I am more energized all day...and then I'm DONE for the day and can do whatever I want after work. Definitely loving the morning workout.

So, this week:

Attainable goal: 2 lbs
Lofty goal: 3.2 lbs (to catch up)
Days at the gym: Aiming for 4

So far, I have lost 4.8 lbs, which is as much as "Angel" here below:

Attention everyone!

I, for the first time in my adult life, have run a mile without stopping. I usually walk run/walk run, but on Friday morning at 6 AM, I took my first big step in training for a 5k! I am so proud of myself! To some it may be silly to celebrate 1 mile, but to me, it's something I've been working very hard for, and it is not that easy for me or my body. It is quite an achievement!

Now that I know I CAN do it, I'm going to hold myself to it! Next up, 2 miles!

In other news, I weigh in on Wednesday, and I'm fearing the worst. I have been BAD this week. It was a rough week on me and I have fallen off the wagon. I'm getting myself back on track and getting serious! I just hope I don't gain this Wednesday. I'm already behind in my self challenge, I've got to step it up! I've just got to stay motivated and not give into temptation.

Off to bed, gym at 6 AM!

Week 2 of 20 weigh in! Did I make it?

No :(

But I did lose .6 lbs!

I was disappointed this morning when I stepped on the scale and saw that I only lost .6 lbs. Despite my 5 days working out and eating (for the most part) on course, I wish that my number were higher. But it's ok. Losing .6 is better than staying the same! That puts my total loss in 2 weeks at 3.2 lbs, which is as much as little "Tinkerbell" below weighs (disclaimer! These are not my dogs. I just find them on google and wish they were my dogs)


But I'm going to end on a positive note here, because although I am disappointed I lost less than my goal, I am excited that I did lose period. And I am very proud of myself for working out 5 times this week. And I'm proud at my progress during my workouts too. I am definitely seeing a change!

I've started going to the gym in the morning. Like 6 AM. I know, crazy! But I actually really love it. #1 I really like Bryan, the trainer. He is super positive and upbeat. #2, I've burned 800 calories by sunrise, it's awesome! And the very best part of it all is that I get to come home and do whatever, my evenings are not taken away by the gym any longer. I feel so free. So, I might switch to be a morning gym person ALL the time...I just have to convince Jenn to do the same...

I need to do a more educational post soon, I'm sure you're all bored of just reading of my mini goals. Just need to crack open JM's book again, and I've got plenty to talk about!

Week 1 of 20 weigh in! Did I make it?

YES!

2.6 lbs!

I lost as much this week as this little doggie weighs (apparently named Cameron Diaz) which is not a lot...but still commendable for one weeks time!


I hate little dogs, but I have to admit, that thing is pretty cute. OK! So, I am amazed at how well I did. Basically it came down to restarting my counting of the calories, not cheating (minus my mishap yesterday), and exercising. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you are actually aware of your #s and determined to meet a goal. Now, I just have to do this for another 19 weeks!!!

Thank you for all your encouragement everyone :)

I can walk when I walk down the isle...

Cheryl from the gym said this to me after I was tired and wanted to walk on the treadmill instead of run. She yelled "You get to walk when you walk down the isle!"

Cheryl is right.

I'm not going to be one of those brides that loses a ridiculous amount of weight, and then puts it right back on after the big day. I have been working for some time to take of weight and get fit, and now I have new motivation and a new goal! I have decided that I would ultimately like to lose 50 lbs before November 21, but my more realistic goal is 40 lbs. This means that I have to lose 2 lbs a week for 20 weeks. There is one week grace built in. Am I crazy?

No. I can do it. I did it before when I lost 90 lbs without barely going a week without dropping significant lbs. But it is more than working out. And it is more than eating good. It's working out and eating good, not cheating, even just a little, and staying motivated when it seems like you'll never make it.

But I can do this. 2 lbs a week is very attainable. I remember I used to lose 2-4 lbs a week when I was way in the zone. I'm ready to back in the zone. SO! I weigh in on Wednesdays, and I will post each week whether I met my goal. Holding myself accountable each week really allows me to stay focused and encouraged.

So I am eating healthy and working out like a fiend until the day of my wedding.

Here goes nothing...

I'm back...and training to run a 5k!

I've been gone. I'm sorry. But I promise I've still been working out and eating healthy, just not blogging about it.

My friend Sarah told me about a program called "Couch to 5k" which I have started, and I am determined to be able to run a 5k at the end of it. Basically, it is a 9 week program, and by the end of it you should be able to run a 5k, or run for 30 minutes. It starts you off walking and running, then slowly weens you from the walking. There are podcasts you can download for each week (some premixed) but I downloaded the podcast of just the computer dude telling you when to walk and run. I took the voice and mixed it in Garage Band on my Mac (yeah! Go Apple!). Garage band lets you mix music, so I have put songs behind the voice, and they change for the walking and running. The constant change in music keeps this ADD kid pretty happy.

The first week is 5 minutes fast paced walking warm up, 60 seconds run, 90 seconds walk for 30 minutes. The first time I did this I was thinking it was too easy, but about half way I was definitely tired witha stich in my side. I ran tonight with Bryan, and it was still hard, but easier than before. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can do next week!

If you want my mixed file with music, you can email me and I will send it to you. I'm going to try to figure out how to make a Podcast on iTunes, then you may be able to download it easily!

In other news, I got THE dress, so now I have endless amount of motivation. :D

Stop with the Diet Coke already!

Not just your Diet Coke...your artificial sweetener in general.

As a former Diet Cokaholic (I quit cold turkey 2 weeks ago), I understand the love of things bubbly, I know the addiction to the caffeine, and I know enjoying the feeling of getting away with drinking soda calorie free. No calories, no guilt right?

Well, even though its calorie free, it turns out artificial sweeteners may actually destroy your metabolism more than high fructose corn syrup. Say wha? Well, think of the many of the Diet Cokaholics that you know, are they real slim and trim? Usually the answer is no. So why is artificial sweetener so bad?

1. Artificial sweetener causes you to actually crave more calories. Especially sweet things. Your body thinks it needs to consume more calories to satisfy the sweet tooth. Zero calorie sweetener is bad news folks.
2. You trick your body into thinking it doesn't have to work hard to burn off sweet things. (Your body recognizes "sweet", then when it doesn't come along with calories, it thinks "We don't have to work hard to burn this off". So when you actually eat a doughnut, or that birthday cake at the office, it thinks "oh, sweet! we don't have to work hard to burn this off either". Scary, right?
3. Can you pronounce what you're drinking, Diet Cokaholics? Drink things that you don't have to read a chemistry book to understand.

In my two weeks of kicking the artificial sweeteners, I have not craved something sweet after every meal. I honestly have not caught myself wishing I could indulge in something sweet. And that is amazing! After every meal, I want chocolate. Bad. Or I want ice cream, usually at night. But in these past two weeks, I have not really even wanted it. I have had sugar, REAL organic sugar in small doses (not high fructose corn syrup) (which was hard for me mentally to consume...ahh! eating REAL sugar!) but in eating that real sugar, I have tasted and had my fill and moved on. The yourning for something sweet has not lingered. This is a BREAKTHROUGH.

And, *BONUS*, in kicking the diet coke, I am kicking my caffeine habit (it can be done people), and I am drinking SO much more water. And guess what, my complexion looks so much better (I haven't had a pimple in 2 weeks!), and water just makes you feel GOOD! Not to mention it flushes your body of fat and other toxins.

Can't get over the bubbles? I know, I love carbinaton too. Try my favorite drink: Perrier. Squeeze a lime in it. It's delicioius, it's bubbly, and it's 100% WATER.

Oh, and to the reader who is thinking "oh, but I don't drink diet soda or use artificial sweetner". Your day will come. Soon I will be writing about the wiles of the evil high fructose corn syrup, almost equally as dangerous.

It's just color theory

In subtractive color, like in print, white is the result of no color, and black is the result of all colors.

In additive color, as on the computer or in any form of light, black is the absence of color, and white is a combination of all colors.

That's what I learned in school.

What they don't teach in school, but all girls know very well is that black is slimming, and white does exactly the opposite... So now I have a brand new reason to stay on track at the gym...

because Bryan proposed Thursday and I'm ENGAGED and my white wedding will be in November. AHHH! :D I must work hard to look good in that white dress (and out of it)!

A Capitalistic Garden

I'm currently reading Master your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels, the well known trainer from The Biggest Loser. The book IS about "mastering" your metabolism, but it seems your metabolism isn't quite what you thought it was.

When I think of metabolism, I imagine a furnace in my tummy, burning up my daily calories for energy. Well, that's part true, but really your metabolism is your biochemistry. It consists of all your hormones, and it is the hormones that are responsible for taking care of the calories you ingest.

As I quoted her earlier in my blog, the exciting news is that you're not just stuck with a "bad metabolism", your biochemistry is what is bad. And we are making it that way. But if its biochemistry, it can be changed. How can you change your biochemistry? Well, there are a few things that must be changed. 1. The types of food we eat in general (real, natural, God-made-it kind of food) and 2. The hormones, pesticides and antibiotics in all of our food is royally screwing us up and have got to go. Here's a quote from Jillian, can't you just hear her voice now:

"Take a power nutrient food, tomatoes. God created tomatoes and they have all the cancer-fighting health benefits mentioned above—the best form of medicine with no harmful side effects. Now let's take our little tomato and see what happens to it in the name of capitalism. The tomato is grown conventionally, and sprayed with up to seven kinds of pesticides. Then it is picked too early because it must make the long journey across the country—or across the world—from its original location to your supermarket. Yes, you are now polluting the environment with all the gas used to transport the tomato. But there's more. The tomato is still green because it was picked too early, so now it is sprayed with argon gas (also used to euthanize dogs) to make it turn red prematurely. WOW! We have just taken God's natural medicine and turned it into poison—for us and our environment." Jillian Michales, p.151 Master Your Metabolism

EEK!

The book should not have been called "Master Your Metabolism". It should have been called "This is all the scary information I've compiled for the past 10 years, but don't worry, there's a very doable and affordable solution", by Jillian Michaels. Everyone read it. Buy one for your mom, your dad, have them read it. Regardless of whether you struggle with your weight or not, this book discusses lots of cancer prevention, along with how to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure naturally, deal with menopause and PMS, and much much more. And it's not just for girls. Everyone read it. It is a scary book, but she doesn't send you off in a storm of doom and gloom. She opens your eyes, then gives you very doable ways to change your life for good. And I'm telling you right now, I'm not going back.


and p.s. not trying to advertise for them, but it's half price at amazon.com :)

Running in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again...

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Last night, for the first time in my life, I enjoyed running. Enjoyed, was filled with joy because of, took joy in.....running? I hate running. It's easy to hate running when you're on the verge of your lungs collapsing, you've got an aching stitch in your side, and your 195 heart rate has caused you to see spots, not to mention everything is jiggling and bouncing (sorry for the illusion). Trust me, I've hated running.

Last night, I had to jump rope until I reached 500 calories to complete a "challenge" at the gym. When I first joined the gym, I would jump the rope maybe 25 times and have to stop because my heart rate had skyrocketed. Last night I would jump for a minute straight and look down to see my heart rate had only reached 170 or 175. I'm VERY happy that I have conditioned myself and am actually more "fit" now, but it did take me a little bit longer than it would have originally to reach 500 calories!

That being said, after my jumping rope, Jenn and I went out to run, but it was pouring down rain. Instead of yogging (jogging) we picked up the pace because we wanted to avoid being drenched and I had an absolute blast. I felt like a child again, like a little kid playing with friends. It seemed effortless, refreshing, and amazing. For the first time in my life, I had a glimpse into why people even like to run in the first place. Big step for me. Maybe one day I'll run?

Conclusion: I should go run everytime it rains.

A shareable blog

I have a fitness blog elsewhere, but I'm not willing to share with the world (lots of numbers only a handful of people know). That being said, I DID want to have a blog about weightloss and fitness that I could share with everyone, in an effort to encourage and be encouraged.

I've struggled with my weight since I was about 6 years old, I was the chunky kid for pretty much all my life. In college I gained a whole bunch of weight, sadly, but from Summer 2007 to Summer 2008 I was able to lose 90 lbs total. Not shockingly, since then, I have put on about 35 of it back. EWW.

In February I reached a low point and decided it HAD TO GO, once and for all. I joined 4 Balance Fitness, a local gym of the boot camp variety, and have already seen results. Since the end of February, I have lost 6% body fat and considerable inches.

So I am on a quest to not be "thin" or "skinny" but be HEALTHY and FIT. I will use this blog for a variety of things, I hope it won't be too boring. Below I have copied and pasted some of my postable resent entries from my other blog. Everyone loves comments, so comments are welcome :)

May 4, 2009 • This weeks Food Log Link
May 4 - May 10

p.s. that Jillian Michaels book is scaring the crap out of me. Will update soon if I am not destroyed by neurotoxins and xetrogens before.

x

May 2, 2009 • New Book
I can't put down Jillian Michael's "Mastering your Metabolism"...so good, so much information on our biochemistry and why its such a struggle for me to keep the pounds off.

After a decade of treating my body like I'm a lab rat, I have hope in hearing Jillian say "if metabolism is your biochemistry, then it is dynamic, not static, and can be changed". I can't blame mom and dad and grandma and papa anymore. I can help change it.

I may post a summary of the book for those that don't want to read all 277 pages of it.

That is all. Also, I bought Bride Wars on DVD...another constant reminder that I better get my act together before I have to appear in front of everyone I know in a strapless white dress. Makes me want to do push ups. Right now.

<3

Food log: May 1-3

May 1, 2009 • If You Were Ever Curious About What I am Eating...
Food log: May 1-3

My gym monitors my food intake (which is an awesome bonus!) They are constantly making suggestions and trying to improve my eating habits. They sent a new excel document for us to use this morning, it was ugly as sin. I've revamped it with girl colors. This is a live google document, so feel free to click and see what I'm eating daily, it updates every 5 minutes (See link above). If you want a copy of the excel file to use yourself, send me a PM with your email address and I can send it to you.

In other news, my new obsession is:

THE GEORGE FOREMAN WITH REMOVABLE PLATES

I already have a George Foreman grill, but I HATE it because it is so hard to clean. When I found this on sale at Target, I had to buy. I have been cooking on it every night. It is SO easy to clean. Seriously. You could almost just run it under water. It grills meat and vegetables effortlessly, and they are delicious! (And it's amazing how much fat rolls off of it!) I've pretty much been eating grilled asparagus every night. Mmmm. I'm already ready for dinner!