Maria Week 17

I have been trying to post - or at least start a post since Tuesday. Argh! So here it is ......
I love going to the gym. I get so motivated and inspired there. I am a serious regular and am starting to learn the names of and get to know the other regulars much better. I have my classmates from cycling and my other morning classes. They're a pretty tight group and I was accepted into their group some time ago. But I'm starting to get accepted into the night classes group now and that's an even harder group to get into because there aren't as many loyal groupies there. But the regulars I refered to above are the people who don't attend classes - the hardest group of all to get into because they really can't be defined as a "group" ... just a bunch of individuals working out alone together.
The other reason I love going to the gym .... people are starting to notice a difference in me. How can I not want to keep going when someone tells me that I'm starting to get "cut". Or that they have noticed a huge difference in me in just the past few months. Also had a lady comment on how strong I was - said that she was watching me in Powerflex and couldn't believe that I could lift that much. I told her to hang in there because 10 months ago I was ready to cry if I got to class and the 3 and 5 lb weights were all gone and I had to use the 8 and 10 pounders.
I hit approximately 6 miles running on Sunday. Nothing but sheer will power and determination. I know now that the first 3 miles are the hardest and if I can just get past them then I get into my stride and do ok for a while. But after 3.5 miles it wasn't getting any easier. At 4.5 it still wasn't easier. At 5.5 it was hard as #&!! but I kept going - determined to hit a new personal best - if only by .25 miles! And I did it. (Can't say I could repeat it any time soon, but I did it!)
Changing my milestones a bit - want to tailor them more towards my running goals so check them out please!
Also, will be contributing the max - $10

Shout out to VL

I want to give a shout out to VL who has lost 8 lbs in a little over a week and has been working out consistently and eating healthier. I am honored and flattered to know that I am inspiring and motivating others to lead healthier lives. And the greatest compliment I could ever get is that someone made better choices because of me.
Wa-hoo! VL - you are a rockstar! I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work and keep calling me to check in ;-) You are motivating and inspiring me to be better, too!

Maria Week 9

Lost a full pound from last week. I'm very excited about that because I now weigh less than the weight reported on my drivers license. I'd be willing to bet that there are very few people out there who can say that!
Also, I have reason to believe that I have inspired more than just my fellow Butterfly girls to get in shape.
I have gotten a few compliments at the gym from guys in my classes that I talk to, but not necessarily "friendly" with. They've been telling me that I look great and that I've lost a lot of weight or that they've really seen a change. Always nice to hear. Oh, and my favorite - one asked me what my goals were. Different sort of question than I usually get - specifically said goals. I liked that.
Depositing $10

Rippling Muscles

Not mine. I don't have any. Well ..... I don't have many. At least not yet.
Some day I'll have some. Some day I'll be covered in them. Just like my beautiful inspiration.


I began watching myself in the mirror while working out to ensure that I had good form; was doing the exercises properly. I continue to use the mirrors for that purpose as well. But now I also use the mirrors to watch some of my muscles bulge and ripple. Yep, some of them are starting to ripple!
I have never liked my calves. I have always thought they were too big. But they weren't fat so I didn't know WHAT to do about them. I still think they're too big, but I'm starting to like them - A LOT! They're getting a lot of definition and I love to watch them in the mirrors while I'm on the bicycle, treadmill, or elliptical - to watch my rippling muscles.

Working Lunches, Dinner Parties, and Football Games

I got killed this last week. With three working lunches, four dinner parties, and one football game I cheated nearly every day! And I have paid for it in many ways; stomach aches nearly everyday (you'd think I'd learn), gaining 4 lbs, and losing money.
On a positive note. I lost 2 of those 4 lbs before my weigh in. I literally ran a pound off last night. Also, it isn't one of my listed milestones, but it's a big deal to a girl who's never been able to run a mile without stopping before - I ran 2 1/2 miles last night and I didn't stop to rest once. I think I might have been able to go a little further, too, but it was getting really dark.
Another thing is that I'm seeing a lot of definition in my forearms and calves. I didn't have far to go with them, but I haven't concentrated on them at all. Usually I avoid exercises that work my calves because the last thing I want is for them to be any bigger and there wasn't much fat to lose from them. But nonetheless - they are looking very defined and I sort of like them!
I'm updating my milestones. I don't believe I'm getting enough sleep so I'm creating a milestone regarding that. I want to be in bed weeknights by 9 PM. In bed by 9:00 PM should mean I'm asleep by 9:03 PM. That will put me at 7 hours of sleep each night. I've also seriously slacked off on the food journal - primarily because I have no idea how to calculate a lot of the foods I've eaten. So I'm creating a new milestone regarding not eating out and keeping an ACCURATE food journal.
I'll be depositing $13. Lots of working out and a milestone seemed to have made up for my bad eating days.