Life Lately

Things have been crazy around here ... I forgot to write my update for last week, but as I explain what has been going on I'm sure you'll forgive me. I'll feel better once I have this post up and running, written and ready to go. I don't want to get away from writing it again, especially at this crazy/busy/exciting time in my life.

Last time I weighed in was last Monday (March 10) and I was about here:

My fitness life is truly lacking right now. I've been feeling guilty about it. I've been feeling like this is something I need to address. I don't know how to do anything but move forward in this area of life, because THAT is what I've been doing the past two years. When I haven't been focusing on it (for little amounts of time) I have always been worried that I would slide backwards.
I have been doing a great job at maintaining however while the "crazy" is going on, which is good news. I have also been feeling that if I were doing better in this area of my life right now that it might help with some of the stress in other areas.


Insert one of my best friends .. she says that our "self" is made up of three things .. physical, emotional and spiritual. And depending on what's going on, one self may get or need more attention. She thinks my emotional and spiritual sides may need some more TLC right now.

She said this to me and such a peace came over me, I can't even explain it. This makes so much sense. This makes me feel so much better about not burrowing forward but just staying where I am for this short stretch of time when I have the wedding planning and waiting going on.

{if anyone is new, my fiance is a PFC in the USMC and we are waiting for his orders so that we can get married April 12th .. yes 2014 .. and no it's not going to be a small wedding .. we want our friends and family to be there. Yes, if you're counting that is less than 4 short weeks away which is very exciting but without his orders it is extremely stressful too.}

So ... I haven't been at the gym! Don't even look for me there unless its Monday night.. because I'd die before I missed my Monday zumba class ;)

What have I been doing?
Gurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrll what haven't I been doing is a shorter list. But this way is more fun.
I've been:

Picking out chair covers! [actually, Jeff picked]

Chose our invitations ... not pictured because it's a surprise!!!

Registering at Bed Bath and Beyond

(more on this later .. because their customer service is truly amazing)

Registering at Target .. not as much fun ..

(more on this later .. because it was a major let down .. and if you know me, I'm a Target LOVER!)

I'm in love with these lamps at Target though .. seriously!!! 

(yes their on our registry)

 

Choosing our bedding.. which was tougher than it sounds.

Went a little nuts with the scanner .. because how often do you get to do this?!!? 

ONCE! 

Fell in love with our couples shower invitation ...

And then again when I saw my bridal shower invitation!!!

 Labled invitations, response cards and return addresses

Made a million lists ... this one was actually for registering.

My mom and I went and registered for a bunch of stuff that Jeff wouldn't care about. 

Then he and I registered for things online together (stuff I knew he would have an opinion about)

I did NOT want to do it this way, but it really worked out well.

Then last weekend I got really sick ... :( Out of commission for two days almost.

Looked into unity candles .. didn't buy this one ... lol

Got my hair cut .. wooo hooo!! and made all my wedding hair appointments :) 

Went to JoAnn Fabrics with my cousin Katie to scope out their "wedding aisle" 

They have a lot more there than you would think ... check 'em out.

Put on almost every piece of clothing I own to make sure it fits .. Purple Heart was coming and apparently I'm moving across the country in a month!!! Time to get rid of all that stuff that didn't fit anymore!

Took Anthony to church ... umm yes ... I took this pic.

{mass hadn't started yet .. get off my back}

Had a bonfire with one of my favorite people

Went shower dress shopping (ALL DAY .. sorry mom .. didn't mean to wear you out!!)

Tried on like 50 dresses ... :/ 

But I got two for our showers (and under budget .. hollerrrrrr!!!)

I also:

• Bought my wedding dress, shoes and veil
• Had my alterations appointment
• Dog sat
• Picked out where we will have our rehearsal dinner
• Went to BB&B like 4 times to look at different stuff on my list
• Got my nails done
• Quit my job at preschool (OMG .. so hard..)
• Went to a friends wedding shower
• Had dinner with my future mother in law and future sister in law to show them wedding plans
• Bought our card box, cake set, table numbers and unity candle
• People started getting their shower invites and texting me
  that they are so excited!!! :) :) :) 

and probably a million other things I forgot.

Now all I need is my groom ... We are so ready to close this 2,200 mile gap between us ...

 

We hope to get his final and official orders that say whether or not our 

April 12th date will happen .. within the next few days!!

Thanks for reading! :) 

One Pound At A Time

This morning I woke up and weighed in at a smidge above where I was last week. I'm 100% happy with it.

Weighing in .3 above last week at 140.8 means that I had a good week. I ate well, measured things and drank water. I think I told you that when I lost my 3 lbs last week it was because I was busy and hadnt been eating the amount that I should have (by accident .. I don't recommend it .. It wasn't something I was continuing)

(Sorry for the bad lighting)

So the fact that I ate this week fairly "normally/healthy" and didn't gain it all back says that I'm really at 140.8 legitimately.. Which is exiting.

My work schedule is going to be less and less so I can work more on wedding and moving things - so I'll be getting in at least one extra class this week. 

We have a lot picked out for the wedding .. I just need to get my grooms orders! This week I met with the church and Priest and our Deacon. Everything went really well and I'm feeling good about that. I met with a chair cover company and decided on them this week. I also had my alterations appointment and I pick it up on March 26th. I ordered the invitations last night (crossing fingers .. Logistically I have to order the invites first because of the timing ... I'm giving it to God and hoping that he makes April 12th happen)

Mom went with me to start our registry on Friday night. It was so much fun picking out things for Jeff and I's first home together. The word "exciting" doesn't do it justice. It was also sooo overwhelming to think that all our friends and family will be getting us these gifts.. In a good way, but still!! Hopefully that makes sense.

So this week .. I'm praying we get Jeff's orders .. And I'm hoping to be under 140 next week :)

I've Officially Have Lost 50 lbs!

Yea. You read that right! I've lost FIFTY pounds!!

- it was exciting to put on this white shirt and find it a little baggy in the belly area!

It's so hard to believe. 50 lbs sounds like both SO much and at the same time, just doesn't describe how much time and hard work went into it.

Anyways .. It was time for my Monday Morning weigh in again! Last week I had two work outs Monday (spin and Zumba) and Tuesday (zumba and the treadmill) I was off work and wanted to make sure I made the best of my time. 

Then ... Jeff called me and said there was a very real possibility, that he could come home soon. He said to look into things a bit more seriously for our wedding!

I didn't work out Wednesday or Thursday because I was SO busy with wedding plans. Friday and Sunday mornings I hit Zumba. So six work outs in seven days.. I have also been so busy that I've been very good about portion sizes. I probably haven't eaten enough for the past few days. A problem, I can honestly say I've never had before :)

Here's my update! 140.5 this morning !!!! 

I'm down 3 full pounds from last week.

I'm at 4.15% loss for my weightloss competition. 

50 lbs since I've started my weight loss journey. 

I'm also proud to say that I did my abs and arms every day, Monday through Sunday! 

In other news, by Friday I had the hall, church, photographer, DJ, photobooth, chair covers, centerpieces and florist all set and ready to pull the trigger on once Jeff gets his orders that say he can come home. Crazy right? My friends and family have also jumped right in planning wedding showers which is also SO exciting... Really making a girl feel special these days! :)

I also chose and purchased my wedding dress on Sunday night! I can't believe it. I've always known that we are blessed, but the way things are falling together is really incredible.

I also have told my family and a few friends about all this, but we haven't told everyone yet because we are waiting on Jeff's orders .. so if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten to tell you. It's just still a LITTLE early to claim the date as ours. 

143 - A Bigger Deal Than I Would Have Thought

First ... we will start with a fat pic vs. now pic, because those always make me feel happy. proud. motivated. encouraged. blessed.....

 

You would think that losing 1.4 lbs wouldn't be a big deal after losing 45 lbs.

IT IS. I finally moved the scale this week ... Yep, you read that right. I am no longer at 144.4 ... after ONE .. FULL .. MONTH ... stuck there. I've been complaining and frustrated but I've finally done it.

After people telling me .. "well then that probably means that's where you should just stay, you've lost enough."

After making good choices and seeing NO results. I've moved the scale and I'm not talking about "down the hallway"

I am finally winning this war again.

THIS is the reason I'm a record player and say "just.keep.going." This is the feeling that keeps me going.

143 .. one forty three .. it's 1.4 lbs of music to my happy little ears.

Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 143.0 lbs

Pounds lost: 4
Weight loss percentage:  2.72%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 47.0 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:
Sunday - Zumba AM
Monday - Zumba PM
Tuesday - A quick 20 min run on the treadmill
Wednesday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. keeping my heart rate up .. weights)
Thursday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. dancing  .. weights) totally skipped spin in the AM.

Saturday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. bouncing around.. weights)


I decided that since I've been consistently doing
this arm work out with 5 lbs weights and
these work tummy/ab work outs with 5 lb weights
for three weeks (3-4 days a week) I would take some pictures and measurements.

Remember when I said, to take measurements? I've only lost 4lbs since the last time I took measurements and pictures.  I have lost 1 inch in my chest and 2 inches in my waist and .5 inch on one of my thighs (strange I know)

Upper arm left: 10.5 in (0 difference)
Upper arm right: 11.0 in (0 difference)
Chest: 35 in (-1 inch difference)
Waist: 28.5 in (-2 inch difference)
Hips: 38.5 in (0 difference)
Thigh left: 21.5 in (.5 inch difference)
Thigh right: 22 in

Look at the difference in these pictures. (please understand that I am not bragging about my progress. I am just SO excited to share that I'm actually getting somewhere .. especially since I didn't think I had been!)

January 7th to today .. February 17th

Don't see too much difference in my legs

Holy crap, could it be? A difference in my belly?!??

Less lumpy in that middle section!! No sucking in!

This week I'm off work for mid winter break. I'm hoping to get in a lot of extra work outs and classes.
Monday (today) - spin AND zumba
Tuesday - zumba AM AND treadmill PM
Wednesday - Spin PM (maybe)
Thursday - spin and maybe a night class of some sort
Friday - zumba AM
Saturday - nothing
Sunday - zumba AM

I'm also going to do my weights for my arms and belly every day this week. Yes you read that. I have extra time I'm going to make it work.

I'm really just writing this down so that I have it to look back on my plan for the week :)

Thanks for checking in!! Have you taken your pictures and measurements?

Hello February!

Monday Morning! Hello February - GOD am I glad to see you!!


Time to look back at my week. My messy mess of a week. I do crappy ... I'm 144.4 ... I do well ... I'm 144.4 but I REFUSE to believe this is the number I'll be stuck at forever. I won't do it.

So, third weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at:144.4 ... I know, you're surprised right?

This week pounds lost: Literally zero

Total weight loss percentage{for the competition}:  1.77% STILL

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.6 STILL

My work out schedule this week was:

Monday PM -  Zumba

Tuesday - 30 min run on the treadmill
Thursday - skipped spin because I was tired and mad that none of my hard work is working.

Sunday - Zumba AM

*Something extra I DID do this week though, was lift my weights at home. I did 4 days of weighted ab work and arms. THAT I am proud of. THAT is what I need to focus on.

I did this 10 minute arm video each day and honestly, I don't even know who Holly Perkins is. I just liked that it is a 10 min video and I can do it all with my 5 lb weights because its challenging but not "too much"..

I also have been doing these weighted ab work outs:

from this site ... I can feel it .. so it must be slowly but surely working!! So I plan on keeping at it.

Ive been keeping my food journal up to date really well and drinking all my water... until Friday. My body has been out of whack ... I have been doing what I need to do and emotionally, it got to me {the getting no where}. I begged my mom to make mini cheesecakes, because #cheesecakeiskryptonite (and she did, cuz she rocks - Hey Mom!) and they were awesome. I had a healthy day and a healthy dinner and then ate the baby cheesecake. I then decided that during the snow storm Saturday I would let Anthony bake cookies with me to take to church for Saturday Night Snacks in the hall. This way, I could get my baking in {because that's all I want to do when we're couped up in the house} and get the cookies out of the house. Perfect right? No. Before we took them to church I ate like 30 cookies. How many for real? I don't know, but it wasn't pretty.

Sunday I got back on track but I didn't know if I was even going to weigh in this morning because I figured that I gained my ONLY two pounds I've lost BACK... so ... "yea" is all I have to say to that. I suppose I should be grateful. My body is still really out of whack. I think it will be better in another week or two.

On a positive note, I got my phone call! I officially have my fiance "back" in the sense that he will have his phone from now on. He isn't coming home but he IS calling and texting and Facetiming and that is a blessing I didn't have last week. He graduates MCT tomorrow. Honestly, I feel so much more myself when I can talk to him. I'm hoping that helps with my recent struggles. Which is funny because when he was away at bootcamp for 13 weeks, it was what kept pushing me and this time it was different.

Yea that sweatshirt says MARINES .. duh!

Goals for the week: Drink more water, eat more proteins and less carbs (still), each day I'm going to do "no carbs until lunch", lift my free weights 4 or 5 times this week again and see 143 .... Yes I'm shooting lower, maybe that will help - maybe on the scale NEXT Monday.

#goodlord #emotionalweek #finallytalkedtomyman

Monday Again..

Good Morning Blog Readers!

Each Monday I'll be posting on my progress. I doubt you care (ha ha), but it's a way for me to stay accountable AND look back on my progress!

So, second weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 144.3 lbs

I didn't Even take a picture of the scale I was so mad. Only lost 0.1 lb this week.
This week pounds lost: 0.1

Total weight loss percentage:  1.87%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.7 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:

Monday AM - Spin

Monday PM -  Zumba
Tuesday - 30 min run on the treadmill
Thursday - Spin AM

Sunday - Zumba AM

This week I was off work for MLK Jr's birthday on Monday so I even got an EXTRA work out in.

I've been really good about keeping track of my points in my food journal. I also have been inputting them all into My Fitness Pal as well and I'm on track with my calories.
I've been drinking more water, just like I had hoped to this week.

To figure out how much water you should be drinking:

Take your weight (144lbs) and divide it in half : 72oz and that is how many ounces you should drink in a day. (Approximately 9 cups of water) 

I try to drink 3 of these:

It's funny because last week I said: "At this point in my journey, I've already figured out what does and doesn't work for my body 

... and it's time to just DO."

And then I have a super frustrating week like this.

Just keep going. Don't give up ..... And scream into a pillow if you have to.

Goals: Drink more water, eat more proteins and less carbs (always an ongoing struggle for me), lift my free weights at least once this week, make myself go to Wednesdays core class at the gym (I want to puke with anxiety just thinking that I wrote that down) and see 142 on the scale NEXT Monday. God willing.


How did you do this week? Is there anything you want me to talk about here?

Monday Morning Weigh In

Good Morning Blog Readers!

Each Monday I'll be posting on my progress. I doubt you care (ha ha), but it's a way for me to stay accountable AND look back on my progress!

So, first weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 144.4 lbs

**BACK TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!! YAY!

Pounds lost: 2.6
Weight loss percentage:  1.76%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.6 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:
Sunday - Zumba AM
Monday - Zumba PM
Tuesday - A quick 20 min run on the treadmill (225 calories burned what whattt!)
Thursday - Spin AM

4 work outs is great for me and my schedule .. even if one of them was only 20 mins. Just remember:

Found on Pinterest

• I counted my Weight Watchers points this week and went over one day. I'm okay with that though. It was only over by a few points and I wasn't stupid about eating complete junk all day. 

• I've also been consistently drinking 6-8 cups of water which is 48-64oz. of water per day. 

• To figure out how much water you should be drinking:
  Take your weight (144lbs) and divide it in half : 72oz and that is how many ounces you should drink in a day.
• I need to drink more water. My goal this week needs to be about 9 cups of water per day.

•  I was careful this weekend with what I ate and I'm proud to say that I don't think that the weekend messed me up.

At this point in my journey, I've already figured out what does and doesn't work for my body 

... and it's time to just DO. In the words of Nike:

Goals: Drink more water, run on the treadmill longer this Tuesday and see 142 on the scale next Monday.


How did you do this week? Is there anything you want me to talk about here?