Weigh In #13 - One more week!

Weight: 122 pounds
Measurements: unchanged

Wow! I can't believe I'm almost done with the 14 week challenge. This morning in spin I was well...pedaling and thinking how much easier (less hard?) spin is. I also am able to drive by the golden arches without salivating and veering right into the drive way.

I have one more week of this initial challenge, losing 10% of my body weight. I think I might fall short at least 5 pounds, we'll see if I could push it this week.

Things that have really worked for me:

1) Committing to working out as if it were an appointment or meeting.
2) Paying to workout. If you pay $200 a month for a membership somewhere and go twice a month you are paying $100 to workout. If you go 5 times a week you are paying$10 to workout.
3) Planning meals and not planning meals. Confused? Let me clarify. Having staples in the kitchen is important but not over shopping because cravings come and go. For examples, I always have chicken, brown, rice and veggies BUT if I have a craving for scallops I go and get scallops.
4) Not weighing myself everyday and just waiting until Monday. Every day weighing can drive a girl mad.
5) Working out in the morning and the evening. It keeps me amp'd throughout the work day and then through the evening to get things done around the house.

Some Big 10 Challenge Fails:
1) The Master Cleanse. It felt great (aside from crapping myself) but I gained EVERY pound lost as soon as I got off it, despite the fact that I workout every day and ate healthy. It's water weight. Don't get too excited. I finally did lose the weight "for real" though not cutting corners.
2) "Working out at home". All the times I swore to do 10 minutes of abs at home or run from home did not happen. I'm lame. I need to actually go and workout to workout.
3) Vegetarian Tuesdays/Thursdays: Great idea that was going strong in the beginning but is hard to keep up when there are celebratory meals that have meat as its main course.
4) Keeping the readers going. I'm pretty sure most of the people that signed up fell off the wagon. I'm not fretting though. Whenever is right for you, you will do it. I know you will and can.

It's like quitting smoking, you will do it when you want to. I'm not want to force anything on anyone.

Here's to seven more days! This week Bikram is on pause until the weekend and spin/running will replace it. :)

Before Big 10 (July 28th, 2009) and after 13 weeks (October 24th, 2009)

weigh in #12

Those last 5 pounds...

So I'm at 122 pounds. I feel great. I might be slightly addicted to working out considering I workout twice a day at least. Last week I worked out for 18 hours and not a single minute was cardio. SO guess what my goal is? That's right AT LEAST 2 hours of cardio. I clearly don't like cardio. All my activities are barefoot and they feel natural. Cardio hurts me but I got to do it.

Every Friday before the weekend, I write out a workout schedule (which also includes making reservations for certain of them).

This week I run out of Bikram sessions on the 22nd which I will renew over the weekend but until then I'll plug in that cardio.

I think my problem area (lower stomach) and those last 5 pounds have to be "shocked" out of my body with stricter meals (I've kind of let go on Thursdays/Fridays) and by running (gasp!).

Hopefully this works!

My inspiration this week is my boyfriend, Tony. He has inspired me to be the best "me" I could be. It's really been a bonus to date someone that is healthy. In the past, I'd always felt guilty working out instead of hanging out. I love his support and well...his killer bod. I'm not going to include a shirtless picture because I think that would totally embarrass the heck out of him but I have the picture in my dome. I often think of him when I feel like I'm about to pass out and think to myself, "He deserves a healthy partner to play hard with him." So here's to you, Babe. Thanks for inspiring me.

Let me know how you are doing. I've decided to have a big "end of the challenge" giveaway instead of a midpoint. It's been quiet on your end...I have no problems double rewarding myself. :D

Weigh - in #11

Weigh-in #11

Weight: 124 lbs.

BMI: 22.7

Ewwww. 2 weekends up in San Francisco have paid their toll on me and my fitness regime.

Missing ballet two weekends in a row and eating probably 5 times more than I should’ve. I even did the McDonald’s drive thru after missing my flight on Friday night.

The good part? I caught up on sleep. The bad part...I feel really discouraged BUT it doesn’t take away from the fact that I still weigh 7-8 pounds lighter than I did and there are no more weekends like this in the upcoming future...so I have time to get back into it.

Bar Method is unlimited until November and I have Bikram until October 22. I think in mid November – mid December I’m going to do both unlimited as well.

My goal is going to be to remember to drink at least 4 of my 16 oz cups at work and also to take advantage of “vegetable hour” here.

My inspiration for this week is Jennifer Aniston. A former smoker & a naturally "thicker" body she has shared how discipline she has had to be to stay on track. I appreciate that and hope that when I'm in my late 30s/early 40s I'm as fit as she is.

Weigh - in #10

123 pounds

After a busy wedding weekend I feel absolutely sluggish and gross. I ate more than I have in a very long time. I drank excessively and I haven't worked out since Thursday morning.

Sooo...I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately and fortunately, I'll be headed BACK to San Francisco on a last minute trip because my mother wants me to do her a HUGE favor and perform a solo. Not too thrilled about it.

In the meantime I have a ridiculously rigorous workout schedule ahead of me for the next 2 weeks ranging from Bar Method/Cardio Barre, Spin, and Bikram.

MY GOAL: I plan on simplifying my eating and perhaps doing a raw food diet to help detox from this past weekend.

Most importantly, I need to get back on a better sleeping schedule. I am ridiculously exhausted.

My fitness inspiration is Kate Hudson. She looks like she works hard to keep fit but also seems like she still plays hard. So many times (and I predict this week will be hard), I want to just stay at home in bed or even stay at work and finish something up. One of the hardest parts about working out is going to actually go work out. This picture reminds me that in order to be where I want to be physically, it's not going to be easy and it isn't easy for anyone.