I'm so ashamed - by Jj

But not nearly as ashamed as a couple other certain BF's who haven't shown up on our blog in WEEKS should be (hint, hint). And before you think I'm being insensitive, I do understand how busy you both are so please don't take me seriously.

I swore I was going to do better this time around and not put off my blog post but, I did it again. My bad. Wednesday was a bit hectic because I had to drive home that night for the 24th (and eventually I'll post photos of that on my personal and photo blogs) so I thought, I'll do it tomorrow and then I thought it again etc etc etc. That's just how it happens when you don't really have much internet access. But now, I'm sitting in B&N using their new free wifi because the power is out at my house which makes it very HOT and boring. And honestly, I've done about everything else that I can do so I figure my next step is to do the last thing on my list. And that is why I'm ashamed. Why do I put if off?!? I think it's because I'm sick of my life and how it's been going. I'm bored with myself and everything around me, including the gym. But that's neither here nor there and I'm going to shut up and stop complaining and report on my last Aerial Dance class that was last Wednesday. (Again, I know that should technically be a part of the next weeks report, but I've got nothing else fun to talk about.)

I'm sure you've all seen this already as I've made it my FB profile pic, but here it is anyway:


Seriously, does it get any cooler than that?!? I think not. Actually, it does but by the end of the class I was pretty freaking worn out and too tired to do much more. But this still looks cool, right? Validate me, please.

This class was so much fun and a really nice change from the everyday workout. I'd LOVE to take the intermediate class in August, but it's pretty dang expensive. I thought about doing it anyway but then found that I was too late to register without another $10 late fee on top of the already high fee of $55. Sad, I know.

Anyway, next week look for my Snowbird and water skiing report. Although, I feel that maybe it should be called something more like "water crashing" or "skragging" as I was being dragged by the boat more than I was actually skiing. I'll work on that. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll come up with something creative that will make it sound much more exciting than it really was. That's just how I roll.

Eventually when I have some sort of an income that pays more than just my mortgage I'll be depositing $7 for this week. Being home and not having access to the gym really made me lazy as far as workouts go. Again, I feel so ashamed.

So slow . .

I think this summer has been a little crazy and we're all busy (well, you guys are, I'm just lazy) and we're all slacking off on our posts. We're almost done with our challenge, ladies! How are we doing on our goals? Sadly, due to my stupid sprained ankle I haven't yet run my 5k (or my 10k for that matter) but even if I don't do it before we finish the challenge, I will get there, dang it!

Anyway, last week was pretty dang good. My diet was great, my workouts were consistent everything. I was pretty freakin' excited. In the last two weeks I've lost 3 lbs which means that at the beginning the current week (which will be reported on Wednesday), I was only 2 lbs from my lowest weight back in March and I can start reporting my weight loss as milestones again. So stay tuned for that one! I had a dream last night that I stepped on the scale and I was 1 lb below what I was at 16 - or at least I think it was a dream. I'm pretty sure I would have thrown a party and told my whole family if it weren't. But I didn't so I'm going to go with dream.

LOVING my aerial dance class. I SO want to take the intermediate class in August but it's $50 and without a job, I just don't think I dare. Especially when I don't know if/when my house will sell and where I'll be living that I'll have to commute to get to a one hour class. But I've got to say - it's one crazy workout. You wouldn't think so but I never walk out of there without being covered in sweat and my biceps, triceps and abs burning. It's freakin' awesome.

Depositing max: $10

PS Sorry for the lack of some cool illustrative photo this week. I'm still stuck at my parents house because my car is in the shop AGAIN and they don't have wifi so I'm on my mom's PC and I don't know the first thing about trying to save a photo somewhere on here and then finding it again to get it on the blog. And honestly, I have no interest in figuring it out either. ;-)

How is it . . . by Jj

that I managed to make it through an hour long toning class, 3 miles on the treadmill, 2 hours of jewelry stuff, a mile and a half walk with Chuck the Wonder Dog (to get an ice cream cone at Arctic Circle) and an hour long aerial class without a problem but as I'm leaving the dance studio I jam my finger getting into my car?!? And not just any finger - the finger that I broke about four years ago while working on my car. I think TJ (the aforementioned car) has it out for that finger. And one of Jana's fingers now that I think about it. She too broke a finger when the door closed on it. Ouch. Bad TJ.

Can I just tell you how much I am LOVING the aerial classes at Adult Dance & Fitness in Ogden? Seriously, this weeks class was one of the best workouts I've gotten. Obviously, since there are only two silks and six students in a class your time on the silks is limited but I was SWEATING and my arms are so sore today (but in a good way). Hoping to scrape together the money I need for an intermediate class next month. Wish it wasn't so freaking expensive (actually, it's not that bad - I'm just broke). Sad.

Been doing pretty dang good on the workouts and stuff this week. Gotta say, I'm so totally glad it's summer again. Oh dear watermelon . . . how I've missed you.

This is BY FAR the best way to eat watermelon. Cut out the middle-man.

Depositing $10 this week. And, dang it! I'm going to have a milestone next week if I have to chop off my hair and a foot to get there.

Getting my Grove On . . by Jj

So a couple of weeks ago I was on the website for the Adult Dance Studio in Ogden checking out their classes and I noticed they were having a drawing for a month pass to for their beginner aerial dance class, and of course I entered. It was the last day of the drawing so I wasn't expecting much but (whoohoo), I won! I started my first aerial class tonight.


While it was very slow moving, it was really pretty cool. One day (like next week, cuz I'm just that amazing) I'll look just like the chick in that picture. I thought that with the rock climbing and my toning and stuff I'd be okay on the upper body strength . . but I was very wrong. Seriously, it was bad. I'm a wimp. I think on my last week I'll take my camera and get some real pics of all the girls showing off their amazing skills. I may have to go to some of their other classes now too. It looks like a pretty freaking awesome place.

Depositing $8 for this week.
Depositing $8 for last week, too (since somehow we all missed last weeks posts - crazy holidays).

Maria Week 35 - Ute

Rachel will be happy to know that I am a now a fellow Ute. Yes, it's true. I attended my first class yesterday. Oddly enough, I don't feel like I am betraying my Cougar loyalty by becoming a Ute. In fact, I have BYU Football season tickets and I think I could potentially cheer for both teams if necessary. (This is much easier said than done.) I save my real support, my real loyalty, and thousands and thousands of dollars for the school that grants me acceptance for graduate school so my true colors won't show for a few more years.


Well, that being said, this is about improving ourselves, right? And not just our physical appearances, right? I've worked pretty hard on and off, mostly on, with improving my physical appearance and now I get to work really hard with improving my mind. I'm very excited. We all know I'd be a professional student if that were possible. Anyone know if that's possible? I'll do it. Sign me up! I'm still not 100% sure what my undergrad major is going to be so I'm really on the right track to being a professional student. I mean, if I make a switch - it will be my 6th or 7th major since starting college ..... we won't get into exactly HOW many years ago that was. I have so many huge decisions to make and I feel such urgency to make them right now. I feel like I am standing on the edge of this enormous precipice! It's all exciting, nonetheless.

Well, workouts have not begun to suffer, yet. Depositing $10.

Ouch . . by Jj

So I've been determined to get back on track this week. I'm tired of feeling like a loser and gaining weight BACK. But this week has been pretty good and I've lost 2 lbs of the undisclosed number that I gained from Feb-May. However, I'm not going to count it as a milestone until I get back to were I was in February. Sad for me. But, since it's been a while since I've really pushed it like this, I'm quite sore. It feels good. Except for the sore part that is my ankle. That doesn't feel so good.

And on another note . . what's up with bald guys that still think it's cool to have a beard? Saw a couple of guys like that at the gym the other day. Seriously?!?

Depositing the max of $10 for exercise, fruits and veggies.

So sorry for the short and lame post. I'm lazy this morning and don't feel like getting into it.

Why?!?

Why I ask you?? Why are we all such slackers? I really, sincerely hope that our inability to post on a simple little blog doesn't reflect on our ability to work some exercise and veggies into our daily lives. Obviously, I'm right there on top of the list of "other things to do" even though, I really actually DON'T have anything else to do. It's a boring/lame life I lead but no worries, I still managed to get a little exercise in here and there.

I really need to get on top of the diet again. I don't go crazy and over the top with anything but I haven't been tracking it either and I think that helped me drop the first 20 lbs better than anything. And before our vacation I've got at least another 10 to go so that I can be seen in public in a swimsuit - this time without another whole outfit over top it. You know what I'm talking about. Don't deny it. I'll be depositing $9 this week.

And as soon as I run out of all of the caffeinated/carb/sugar filled soda in the house (don't want it to go to waste, ya know) I'll be cutting soda out of my diet (again). It's a good thing that I bought plenty to tie me over since it was on sale last week. Don't mind me. I'll get there eventually. It's just SO good. I'd totally switch to diet if only it didn't make me so queezy. It's the weirdest thing. And it's a bad kinda queezy. You don't want to be hanging around with me right about then. Trust me.

And just as a motivational push, I've attached the following picture. I'd like you all to save this photo to your computers and make it your wallpaper because it's so not cool that it's going to make you all want to "work harder". Name that movie and I'll give you a special "you watch too many LDS movies" high five next time I see you. Enjoy!

Maria Week 29 - The Blues

Looks like we did it again. We are a bunch of slackers. It is Thursday night and none of us have posted yet. I can't blame my ultra busy life - that would be a lie. I blame my lack of motivation.
Last Thursday I got laid off. That's right. You all know how much I loved my job, loved my co-workers, loved going to work. (It's sad, but I looked forward to Monday's and got a little sad on Fridays - how pathetic was I?)
Since then I've suffered from a serious lack of motivation. I've still hit the gym, but I get there and don't really feel like doing anything. I get back home and definitely don't feel like doing anything. Just want to take a nap - crawl into a hole and escape. In fact, if I didn't go to the gym first thing in the morning, I'm not sure I'd get out of bed at all. (And I can't explain why I get out of bed and to the gym first thing in the morning.) I don't think it's depression, just a little case of the blues. I'll snap out of it eventually, I'm sure.

(Maybe I'll feel better when I can run again, too.)

Depositing $6 for work outs

Seriousy?!?

Has it just been "one of those weeks" that it's now Friday and still not one of the four of us has posted? I'm unsure if that's good or bad. For me, it's bad. it means that I'm STILL working on my freakin lameo kitchen. And when I get that done I have a freakin HUGE jewelry shoot that I've got to get done on bright sunny days and in of all places . . my kitchen. Seriously, I hate my kitchen right now and if I could help it I'd never go in there again. I'd just stay in my room and live off the Eater candy that I've got stashed under my bed. Oh that would be the life. Until it got to the point that I was too big to get out of bed and had to use a bed pan and they had to take the sliding doors out of my room and lift me out via crane so they could put me on a truck scale. That part would not be so good.

Okay, done rambling on about nothing. I really haven't kept track of what I've been eating as I've been covered in paint EVERY dang day (notice the obsessive use of caps lock today) and I haven't been to the gym at all and yet I feel as though I haven't stopped moving. Poor, poor Chuck the Wonder Dog is still afraid to walk through the kitchen and he's only been walked twice in the last week. But, I know that most days, I've forgotten to eat. I know you're not surprised. Do send me emails about how bad it is not to eat - I know! I just forget. I always get this way when I'm home too long. Anyway, I'm just going to guesstimate this week and say $7. I haven't weighed myself and I haven't taken any measurements because honestly, I just don't want to see that. But I should be back to normal (as normal as I can be) in the next week. Wish me luck.

Now . . where are the rest of you hiding???

Easter Candy Will Be the Death of Me

Okay, can I just say how glad I am to see that I'm not the only one that missed yesterday's posting? I was feeling like such a slacker and logged in at 11:30+ something last night to post when I realized that no one else had written anything yet either so I just went to bed instead.

Can I honestly tell you something? I've got a HUGE stash of Easter candy hidden in random places around my room (for those of you that may be visiting and need a chocolate fix, most of it's under my bed). I've always been a candy collector. I blame my mother. She does it too. I RARELY eat it all. I often end up throwing away stale candy (except for the Peeps which are always better stale anyway) but yet, there it is. I think it's a comfort thing. I feel better just knowing it's there. If only I could save my money and not bother buying it in the first place. But no! No matter now much I try, I continue to buy it anyway. One day I'll find some kind of a rehab program. But, I can also honestly say that Easter is the only holiday that has multiple kinds of candy that I buy/crave so every year I keep telling myself that it will be over soon and then the sneaky candy companies throw me a curve ball and take my favorite Cadbury chocolate mini egg things and introduce them as a Christmas candy. Their new slogan should be, "Cadbury: Making Girls Fat One Holiday At A Time." Of course something similar could also be said of the new sweet potato fries at Arctic Circle which is less than a mile from my house. Damn you, sweet potatoes!


So due to the home remodeling/construction I haven't gotten many traditional workouts in this week - and that includes walking poor Chuck. Sad little guy has been "walked" more than once this week by running up and down the stairs in the living room multiple times. I believe his record was 27 times up and down. One day he'll learn that I'm not really going down the stairs when I act like I am. But hopefully not before I'm done with the house.

I'm depositing the max of $10. I'm counting 5-6 hours a day of cleaning/painting/climbing stairs/moving furniture/running to the trash/climbing ladders as workouts. Also, I've developed a new salad addiction which is great for the whole fruit/veggie thing. Especially when it consists of about 1/2 cup salad and a cup of pineapple/apple/avocado/raisins/sunflower seeds/craisins/carrots. I'm really into the /// this evening. Sorry about that. Oh, and I've also started buying Crystal Light in the little tub things instead of the individual pouches (WAY cheaper) and making a pitcher up in the morning and trying to drink the whole thing throughout the day. Don't get too excited, I've only finished the whole thing once. But I find myself going for that instead of the calorie filled milk with my meals quite often.

And just in case any of you are bored and want to help, I'm hoping to finish painting the kitchen and the upper cabinets tomorrow and then I'm going to be painting the counter tops and the lower cabinets on Saturday. And then I'll be listing my house, and shooting all of the jewelry for my freelance job, painting the bathroom in the basement, painting the half bath . . and then I may be out of projects so I'm really hoping to have a job before then and I lose my mind. Wish me luck.

PS I stole the Peeps image off someone else's blog but felt it was totally appropriate. So thank you Brian Groce, whoever you are. And while I stole the picture of the Mini Eggs too, I totally could have taken that as well since I've currently got two bags under my bed. That is one candy that I can always finish before it goes stale. I believe there may also be two bags in the freezer from last Easter. My bad.

Adventures in NOTHING by Jj

Seriously . . my life is so freaking lame right now. About 80% of the time I don't even bother getting ready for the day. I find it pointless. And when I do, I throw on a headband or a hat and grab whatever jeans are at the top of the pile. Other than going to church, I don't recall the last time I put on makeup. But hey, at least I shower every couple of days. Oh, and to top it off, this morning I realized that I'm about 8 weeks from the two year mark in my home which means that if it sells in the next 8 weeks, then I'll be charged capital gain taxes. So, I could wait another month before listing it but if I find a job and have to move then I'm still SOL because I actually have to LIVE in the house for two years to prevent the taxes. Now I'm totally lost and don't know what to do.

But, on a happier note, I've got a lot of time to go to the gym and I've been doing a lot of hard work around my house so I'm burning more. So I've lost the couple extra pounds that I put on in the last couple of weeks and I'm back to where I was (but I've gained a little in inches that aren't gone yet) - which is the same as I weighed at 16 so that deserves a little mini party.

Depositing $9 for this week.

PS This makes it sound like I'm really depressed, but I'm not. I'm just a little lost. I'll figure it all out eventually. Wish me luck.

Being home all day DOES NOT help my diet... by Jj

So since I got home from Vegas I've been trying to get to the gym more but I've been spending multiple hours online each day job hunting and haven't gotten in as much as I'd like. I've discovered that I've got to be much more careful about my diet and my food journal when I'm just sitting here all day. It's SO hard to remember to record things when it's just sitting there and I forget I even ate it. Ugh. I'm starting over again today and I AM going to do better. I gained a pound and a half and I just can't afford to go backwards right now. Of course, I did weigh myself at 11am instead of 8 like I normally do which I know could make a huge difference too. I'll weigh myself again tomorrow just to check it again. I'll be depositing $7.50 this week.

Oh . . and for my funny story of the week. You should have seen this guy on the treadmill last night! He seriously looked like a young version of Muhammad Ali. He was dancing around on the treadmill like he thought he was at a club. It was so entertaining that I almost fell off the elliptical. Hilarious.

The Rain in Spain Stays Mainly on the Plane

But whenever I go on a trip, it stays where ever I am. Maybe I should take a plane to Spain and see what happens. hhmmm . . . Seriously?!? Why is it that EVERYTIME I go on a trip I get rained out? Don't get me wrong, I still had a good time but it made for a very cold weekend.

Sadly, because of the pouring and I really mean POURING (I'm using a lot of caps but that seems to be the only way to get my point across, but I'm open to suggestions) on Saturday. Well, really it was raining just about every day but we'll get to that later. So our hashing even was canceled. Actually, Aeon (Jana's BF) still went but we decided to go shopping instead. Much more useful in my opinion.

We went rock climbing on Sunday (don't judge - I was communing with nature). But it was so freezing cold that I only made it about 3/4 the way up the mountain before I had to come down because my hands were frozen and I couldn't grip the rock anymore. I think I was only about 5 feet from the sunshine and warm rock but I just couldn't handle it anymore. So I went hiking with some other people in our group to warm up instead. So either way, I got in some good exercise. I've got pictures but I haven't transferred them to my computer so I've attached some random photos from First Friday instead. I'll get you rock climbing pictures for next weeks post. (Ignore the guy trying to lick my cheek. That's Jana's BF.)




Unfortunately, the diet journal went out the window. I tried to keep track of some stuff on my iPod but when you're staying with someone else and random people are cooking you dinner you can't really go asking for the recipe so you can calculate the calories and digging for a measuring cup to make sure you only get one serving. Well, I guess you could but if you ever want to be invited back, I would advise otherwise.

Luckily, Jana and Aeon and friends are all pretty healthy eaters. I'm sure I probably went over on carbs more than once, but I think I did pretty good on calories. No milestones to report, but I didn't gain anything either. Maybe I should make that a milestone. I seem to be good at that one. And I know this isn't a milestone, but I'm excited about it so I'm going to report it anyway . . . I've gone down at least a full pant size. Before I was wearing a 10-12 but now I'm a pretty solid 8. I could stand to lose another 3 lbs to make them fit PERFECTLY and that will happen but I needed new jeans because the old ones kept falling off so I decided to just go with it. Whoohoo! Anyway, depositing the max of $10 this week.

And since I've got nothing but time on my hands for a while, I'm going to try to spend a lot more time in the gym for the next few weeks. If I don't find something to entertain me I may just totally lose my mind.

Dedicated to Men Who Attempt Yoga . . by Jj

I've got one word for you (and then a whole bunch more) . . OUCH! Monday night I took a pilates class which wasn't too bad. I could feel it in my thighs on Tuesday. Then Tuesday night I took a yoga class. (That may have been a mistake but I'll get over it when I fit into a smaller pair of jeans.) And now I'm really feeling it. I slept with a heating pad on my back. Stupid degenerative disc disease. Who's bright idea was it to use alliteration to make something so painful still sound cute?

But, even though I was in a bit of pain through most of the class, I had to fight with myself not to laugh my way out of all of my balance poses because of the group of college age guys that were in the back of the class. Bless their hearts, they were trying so hard. The poor teacher kept having to go back there and correct everything they were doing wrong. She probably got more of a cardio workout than anything else from having to run back and forth. But hopefully they'll see the benefit and keep coming.

Oh, another random note . . about six weeks ago I'd gone to the gym on a Tuesday night and done some cardio before my yoga class. When I went back to the locker room to get my mat there was a woman in there who asked me what class I was going to. She'd never tried yoga before so I convinced her that she should give it a shot. And she's been in the class every night since! Look at me go, influencing the already skinny to try yoga and make me look chubby. I'm a giver, that's for sure.

As for this week, I did pretty good on my workouts and F&V's. I'll be depositing the max of $10. And when it comes to measurements and milestones . . . I lost an inch around my waist and my sexy muffin top. I would like to make a joker here about how sad I am that I now have less to hold onto but I just can't think of anything clever so I'll leave it alone. So my grand total this week is $14 plus $0.50 from last week since I was just guessing. Pretty good guess, I think.

And one last thing . . I found a body mass index calculator that I like better than the one we were using before. It's much simpler. Now might be a good time to recalculate where you are and what your weight loss goals may be so we can reassess and plan out our goals.

Being sick isn't all bad . . by Jj

So even though I haven't worked out nearly as much as I'd like in the past two weeks, I haven't been able to eat much either. So, whoohoo to that. I've managed to lose 2lbs and an inch around my hips. AAANNNDDD . . to make things even better, both yesterday and today, I've been able to wear jeans from my skinnier days to work! I was so throwing a party. Of course the real test is my other skinny jeans that don't have any stretch in them. Need to lose another inch or two around the thighs before that happens but I'm working on it.

So my new goal for the next (forever) few weeks is to get more strength training into my workouts. I've been doing well with my cardio but have been slacking on the strength because I don't like hanging around all of the smelly muscle men at the gym. They can be very intimidating. I guess I'm just going to have to get over it.

hhmmm . . just realizing that the skinny jeans I'm wearing today aren't nearly as comfortable as the ones I wore yesterday. I think I may need to lose another pound or two before I go back to these ones again. Sad.

Anyway, I'll be depositing $9 for workouts and diet and $4 for milestones so a grand total of $13.00 Almost makes up for last weeks disaster.

Maria Week 14

Work outs are never an issue for me. Because 1. I'm addicted; 2. I have this big scary race looming in the near future that I have to train for or I'll die; and 3. my friends at the gym are like family - I miss them if I don't go.

Food - that's my issue.

My little sister recently found out she's allergic to corn - she can't eat anything! Poor girl. Nearly everything has high fructose corn syrup or some other corn by-product in it.

I have been sick all week. :-( This is becoming the story of my life. I have been avoiding it, putting it off, whatever - but I have GOT to figure out what is setting me off like this. I am hoping it's not some sort of food allergy - no fun!

OH! Nearly forgot! I ran 4.5 miles straight on Saturday! That's a record for me! And then on Tuesday I ran another 3 miles straight. So, that's technically 2 5K's and that's 2 milestones.

Depositing $14

Holiday Rut . . . by Jj

Hey Ladies! I don't have much to report this week. I lost the weight that I gained over Thanksgiving but nothing more. However, it's a relief to see that gone (again). Hopefully, without any big family gatherings I won't be tempted to binge like that again over Christmas. Honestly, I was feeling pretty sick for a couple of days after the holiday because I hadn't been eating as good as I normally do. Anyway, I measured this morning like I do every Wednesday and I haven't lost any inches either. Sad, but I guess it's better than gaining. One day I'll figure out the miracle solution that will get rid of the rest of the weight . . I'm thinking cabbage soup diet. (For those of you that don't really know me, that was a joke. Cabbage is gross.)

So with my workouts, and F&V - and my sad lack of milestones - I'll be depositing $7.00 today.

Hope everyone else did better!

ugh . . by Jj

Thanksgiving is not my friend. While I did exactly what R was talking about and took my own food down to my parents house so that I'd have my normal healthier munchies available - it only lasted the first night I was there. After that, I just got lazy and ate whatever was easily accessable. Chuck the Wonder Dog got plenty of exercise though - and I'd love to say it's because I took him out multiple times for nice long jaunts around the Elsinore countryside but it's just not true. In all honesty, I only took him out on a real walk one time. The rest of the time I'd take my dad's Ranger and throw him in the back then head up to the flats and just let him go. He probably got a good 2 mile run in at top speed almost everyday while we were there.

However, when I got home and stepped on the scale Monday morning to assess the damage I almost cried. Of course, I'm also retaining more water than the Hoover Dam right about now so that could have a little to do with it too. So I took CWD for a run and then hit the gym and did 65 minutes on the elliptical and I really tried to push it hard. According to the machine I burned 762 calories. So between that, the run and the ab workout I did in the morning I burned almost 1,000 calories on Monday. I'm surprised I didn't pass out. I had grand plans for Tuesday too but they fell way short when I went home from work at 11 am and feel asleep before 1pm and didn't wake up until after 6pm. I probably could have gotten to the gym last night as all internal pains had subsided but I still didn't feel up to it. So here I sit feeling flubby and regreting my decision.

Okay, I'm done rambling. I'm depositing $3 for my minimal workouts and my crappy diet (less $1 for going WAY over on Friday too). Plus I'm subtracting another $1 for gaining back 2lbs - so much for my excitement over my milestone. I don't know if I'm blaming the water retention or Thanksgiving for that one. I'll let you know in a couple of days. However, I did manage to hit two milestones - I lost 1" around my thighs and 1" around the dreaded MT (go figure?!?). So that gives me a grand total of $5.00. Ugh. On a happier note, I put on a freshly washed (and thus slightly shrunk) pair of jeans this morning and they keep falling down. I've caught myself doing some sort of weird denim shimmy multiple times this morning to get them to sit where they're supposed to so I don't have that little "pocket" in my crotch. I know, pretty picture, huh??

Maria Week 5

I'm a bit late - sorry, this week has been hectic. Well, I'm at my lowest weight in about 5 years. (Although just barely). I'm down from last week by nearly 2 lbs. Which means I am 0.4 lbs from another milestone.
I haven't been able to workout as hard as usual. I was busy on Saturday and skipped the entire day. I was pretty upset with myself about it and I was really feeling the lost workout that day. I was just so antsy all day.
I am taking a new supplement with essential oils that is also supposed to help with energy and I am sure feeling it. I am hungry all the time. And it would seem I might be able to increase my caloric and carbohydrate intake and still lose weight. Wahoo! (Fingers crossed)
I didn't measure this week. But I can say that I am wearing the smaller of the three pair of jeans I bought about 2 months ago when nothing else fit anymore and I noticed today that they fit a bit big in the waist. YAY!
I am depositing $7.50 today.

My Wall

I have this wall - Maybe we all have our walls. I've hit my wall twice in my life. The first time was when I was 27 and I stepped on the scale one morning and saw ZZZ lbs. For my height and body type - ZZZ lbs is 5 lbs from clinically overweight. I made the decision right then and there to make some changes in my life. And for the first time EVER I seriously dieted and I lost 25 lbs. I worked out a little, but not really hard, my main focus was on my diet. The weight came off in about 6 months and once it was off - I went back to my same lifestyle. I was very fortunate in that I didn't put it all back on, at least not immediately. The second time I hit my wall was this past March. I had gone from a size X to a size Y and I needed to move up to size Z. I stepped on the scale one morning and I saw ZZZ lbs AGAIN! ZZZ lbs is evidently my wall. My do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to unhappy. I had two choices - go out a buy a new wardrobe or lose weight. I had two choices - given in and accept that this was me or get to work. I didn't want to spend money on a new wardrobe of even bigger clothes. But I also wasn't ready to just give in and be completely unhappy with myself, my health, and my body. The difference between this wall and the last one? I didn't want to simply lose weight – I wanted to get healthy, I wanted to get active. I’ve never been athletic and I asked myself why not? Because I never wanted to work for it. (My cross country experience being a perfect example of this.) Now I want to work for it. Now I’m willing to work for it. I didn’t want to just lose weight – I wanted to make a major transformation.
Not only am I down more than 15 lbs and 2 sizes, but just as important - I'm in the best shape of my life. And I'm not even finished yet.
Somewhere along the line I skipped a size. In my closet I had my "fat" clothes which were my clothes that fit me at ZZZ lbs. And then I had my clothes that fit me at YYY lbs. And my clothes that fit at XXX lbs. Well, in my weightloss journey I seem to have skipped over my YYY clothes. I find myself at a new crossroads. I'm up against a different wall. I don't really fit into my size X's anymore either. So do I go out a buy a new wardrobe of size W's? Clothes that will fit me at WWW lbs? Or do I take a break, lay off a bit so I can fit in my size X's. Well, what do you think?
I am so happy to have my Ya-Ya Sisters (can I say my Butterfly Girls?) making this transformation with me. I am excited that you guys have caught the fever with me and that we're all going to be much healthier and in much better shape soon. And maybe we'll all be buying new wardrobes soon. For our trip at the end of the year - maybe we'll NEED to go to a shopping hot spot!