Two Weeks to Go!

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Happy February everybody! I was hoping I'd wake up to the 130s today but it wasn't meant to be...140.6. It'll happen soon though. I know this because I am still pushing it like crazy.

Last night my boyfriend's parents came over to his place. They all got takeout from a "soul food" restaurant - mac 'n cheese, blackened chicken with BBQ sauce, corn bread, potato salad, fries.. and they all drank a few glasses of wine/beers. I had homemade (i.e. practically salt-less) minestrone soup, green tea, and a grapefruit for dessert. UGH. The sacrifices I make!!

I burned 1,000 calories on the elliptical today. :) Going to meet up with my mom for a bit now, and then later will pretend to watch the Superbowl with my man (I'm not into football; he played in high school.)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

EMILYLYN1 2/2/2009 12:44PM

haha, yes I watched the Super Bowl with my fiance and his friends and I read my book during the WHOLE game! it was great :) Report Inappropriate Comment

SKYFYRE 2/2/2009 12:27AM

Great burn! You must have been dizzy from all your elyptical pedal strokes! Woohoo! 1000 cals burned! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEHOLZ 2/1/2009 4:15PM

You are one determined woman and doing so great! Stay strong! I am so proud of you! Report Inappropriate Comment

MIMISCA 2/1/2009 2:49PM

wow i am really impressed that you avoided that temptation so well - good job planning it out! have fun watching the superbowl (commercials)! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 2/1/2009 2:07PM

WOW soul food is like a drug! COMFORT COMFORT COMFORT! We can not avoid these occasions so as long as we do it in moderation! Report Inappropriate Comment

One week down, 15 days to go!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

I'm one third of the way there...just like after Zumba on Saturday mornings when I still have Body Pump and Body Combat left. I can do this!!

I am afraid to announce how much weight I lost this week because I have a feeling someone's gonna call the Department of Weight Roller Coastering and have me locked up... but... here goes...I lost 13.6 pounds this week. I am not saying this to get congratulated either... because the only reason this was possible was because I had gained it that fast, too. It's horrible and probably less healthy than just STAYING fat, but it is now in the past and I can only work on not letting it happen again in the future.

Right now my batch-cooking for the upcoming week is heating up...very healthy...salmon and veggies cooked in olive oil with spices!

Heh, I just broke out the calculator...I lost 8.8 percent of my body weight this week. If I were a contestant on the Biggest Loser I'd be winning right now!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERRIANGEL 2/1/2009 11:04AM

Wow! Well, I have to congratulate you on that weight loss!! Wow! Bikini ready in NO time! I know it went on fast, but you still need to take the credit for working hard to get it back off fast. What goes on fast still has the tendency to stay on long-term if you don't do something about getting it off...which clearly you are doing. So, on all that hard work! I'm very impressed! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKYFYRE 2/1/2009 12:57AM

Your commitment is unreal! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 1/31/2009 10:07PM

Well we know you eliminated a lot of waste and your ankles myst be normal now too! I am glad you feel better! Report Inappropriate Comment

ASTARB1 1/31/2009 9:25PM

Wow! I agree that you were probably retaining water and lost water and some fat - all good! As long as you're feeling good and you don't lose that much weight *every* week - more power to you! Report Inappropriate Comment

16 days to go. This is hard. I'm glad it's temporary.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Of course a good healthy lifestyle/weight management plan needs to be something you can live with long term. "Never do anything to lose weight you're not willing to do for the rest of your life."

BUT, sometimes a TEMPORARY challenge is what is needed, and this is the case for me.
*Teacher appreciation breakfast...carbohydrate heaven...it's not that I'm never going to indulge again, but during this challenge, I can say no.
*Lots of boring work to do, the munchies hit, but I'm doing my challenge right now, so I will have gum or a cup of decaf (black).
*Gym tonight? Sure, but really push myself while I'm there? Yes - because of my challenge!!
*Everyone else is going to get takeout from a "soul food" restaurant tomorrow night, but I will have a nice healthy salad, because I'M GONNA BE IN A BIKINI SOON!!

I have to admit, I kinda can't wait for this challenge to be over. I just want to look glorious in a bikini on the beach, and then go back to my normal calorie range!!

140.8 today - almost back to the 130s!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERRIANGEL 2/3/2009 9:27PM

OH, you're so there... bikini-hottie-Susan... Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 1/30/2009 10:06PM

OMG how funny me and the other person before me said the same thing! Makes it unanimous-- YOU ARE AMAZING! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 1/30/2009 10:04PM

You are awesome! Your progress is amazing! Report Inappropriate Comment

KJNE8O 1/30/2009 8:52PM

Wow! You're progress is amazing! Yes - LOL - it is just temporary. Report Inappropriate Comment

17 days to go and everything's fantastic!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

*I weighed 141.8 today...........yay! I'll be happy on vacation weighing 136 or less, and at this rate, it seems like I'm going to be able to achieve that!

*On my way to school this morning, on the radio they mentioned several schools were canceled/delayed due to icy roads. It hadn't even occured to me that this might happen - the roads seemed fine to me! But I turned on my cell and sure enough I had a voicemail saying there was a two hour delay! At first I was SO MAD that I hadn't taken the opportunity to sleep in, but then I decided to use the extra time go to the gym. I managed a great 45-minute sweaty stair climber workout before school!!

*Some of us teachers were at an inservice workshop where snacks and lunch were provided. Thankfully, we were able to sign up for what we wanted for lunch in advance so I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I was the only person who didn't order a sandwich except for the woman sitting next to me who brought her own extremely healthy-looking lunch...she explained she was in her third week of Weight Watchers and knew exactly how many Points were in her lunch. I barely used any dressing and was quite proud of myself. But by about 2 p.m. I broke down with the snacks. I had: 1.5 small pieces of whole-wheat brownie (made by a health-conscious colleague), 1 small cookie with nuts and cranberries in it, 1 small pretzel stick, and 1 Hershey's kiss. I plan to alter my nutrition tracker accordingly and I am sure I can still be within my calorie goal for today, despite the unplanned snacks. Lucky for me, the workshop ended shortly after I started indulging, otherwise I'm sure I would have had more.

*After school I went right back to the gym, where I still managed to have tons of energy! I warmed up on the stair master, then did a full-body strength training routine, some stretching, and then I read on the bike. In all, including both trips to the gym today, I was there THREE AND A HALF HOURS!! Holy cow!

*I can FINALLY do pushups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a long time I couldn't even manage a single one. More recently I could handle one or two max on a good day. Well today, ladies and gentlemen (OK, probably just ladies), I did three SETS! I did four real, eight knee, rest, repeat two more times!!!!!!!!! At least, I hope they were real. Thank you, Body Pump!

*I wore my glasses while workout out today and got really sick of looking at myself in all those gym mirrors. I mean I definitely look like I'm within the healthy weight range, but still pretty flabby. Plus I looked nerdy in those glasses. Oh well. I plan on being hot 17 days from now! Hahaha. :)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERRIANGEL 1/30/2009 12:17PM

that's so great! Congrats on making the good choices, and that LONG workout! Report Inappropriate Comment

MIMISCA 1/30/2009 10:54AM

wow what a workout! i have really been wanting to get in the habit of working out before AND after work, just to really jump start my progress. but unless i have a snow day, i think this is going to take a lot of planning! great job ordering the healthy lunch and keeping sane about the snacking. clearly you are gonna make your goals in time for your beach vacay! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIVENLOVELIFE 1/30/2009 9:54AM

Wow you are a machine! 3.5 hours at the gym?!? Woop Woop! I'm sure you will have no problem reaching your goal. You seem very determined and motivated and making a ton of good choices! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 1/30/2009 8:01AM

WOOT WOOT! YOu go girl! You are getting there! Report Inappropriate Comment

WITTYFLOWER 1/30/2009 5:46AM

You are seriously revving up your bod's metabolism here! Great job on the Pushups...they are hard, especially the drop down or I called it drop dead pushups where you start out with 16 pushups, rest for 10 seconds, then 14 pushups, rest for 10 for seconds, keep going until you get to 4 pushups at this point you have to go down to a 4 count pushups and then at 2 pushups down to 6 counts....by the time you are done!!You will be dropped dead!!! Comment edited on: 1/30/2009 5:46:25 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

SKYFYRE 1/30/2009 3:54AM

Susan, you are on fire!!! Congrats on the Energy! And major, MAjor Congrats on the push-ups!!! I remember last month feeling the same excitement!! So Cool!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KJNE8O 1/29/2009 11:08PM

Woo Hoo on the push-ups! That is awesome! I know what you mean about the glasses and looking geeky - I have the same issues! LOL Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEHOLZ 1/29/2009 9:19PM

3.5 hours! WOW-- that's quite a lot! I had a feeling it'd be a happy day for you,since I saw you changed your trackker! Great that you feel full of energy, motivated and going strong! Congrats on being able to do those push-ups! Great job! Report Inappropriate Comment

18 days to go and a snow day gift from mother nature :)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I love mid-late morning workouts! Today after I got the call at 5 a.m. that school was canceled I went back to sleep until about 7:30, drove my boyfriend to the train station, and then went straight to the gym. I was there from around 8:15 to 11:30! I did elliptical for 65 minutes, took a Zumba class, and then read on the recumbant bike for a half hour. I have so much more energy that time of day. Sigh. I'm usually teaching math and reading then. I do bring food and coffee with me when I go to the gym that time of day...I don't know if others find that strange, but there's no way I could work out so long without eating.

I'm back to 144 and starting to feel okay about how I look again....looking forward to removing the rest of this extra weight soon!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERRIANGEL 1/29/2009 1:43PM

I had a snow day too. Aren't they GREAT!!?? I ended up going to the gym at night with 2 friends to do a step class, and I RAN again to warm up. First time running since Thanksgiving day. Woo hoo!! :) :) It felt good. You are doing so famously with your dedication to this pre-holiday diet and exercise thing. Congrats, hon, and keep on keepin' on!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MIMISCA 1/29/2009 10:39AM

oh man i'm so jealous! i wish we had a snow day at work yesterday! sounds like a fantastic workout! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEHOLZ 1/29/2009 10:32AM

You are doing fabulous! I'm really proud of you and I hope you know you totally motivated me! How are you feeling? Report Inappropriate Comment

TMAC10 1/29/2009 10:22AM

sounds like this challenge was just what you needed! :) Report Inappropriate Comment

FRIZGIRL 1/29/2009 9:08AM

You are doing amazing! Your gym date sounds fantastic and inspiring!!! I think I am going to go for 2 hours today too! Then go get coffee (not the same as bringing it WITH me). Congrats on turning around from your month and a half spree. Hopefully this time around you'll learn the skills you need to maintain a healthy body weight! Can't wait to hear how your vacation goes, and 18days left!!!! Thank you for inspiring me! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 1/29/2009 4:32AM

We had about 3 inches then it rained... and washed it all away! I am so excited for you with your upcoming trip! YOu go! Report Inappropriate Comment

ASTARB1 1/28/2009 8:30PM

Wow, I thought I was a gym rat! ;-) Just kidding - that is awesome. How is Zumba? I've been wanting to try it. Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDSAYDELIGHT 1/28/2009 7:29PM

I don't think it's weird at all for you to bring food to the gym. It's actually probably better for you when your there that long. I've been known to rock a smoothie, apple, protein bar, and almonds at the gym! Report Inappropriate Comment

WWGAL23 1/28/2009 5:37PM

Awesome job with cardio today!! Yay for a snow day for you! It never snows here so I dont get that fun excuse to stay home! Keep up the great work! Report Inappropriate Comment

WITTYFLOWER 1/28/2009 3:06PM

Lucky you for today's off! Great job on cardio today. Report Inappropriate Comment