Bling bling

Well that was an exciting weekend! I came back from Boston with a little extra hardware...

Hakuna matata!

Which one would you rather be?

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 158
Current Weight: 158

Well at least it's not a gain. I would love to see the scale move like it used to but I guess this is what happens as you get closer to goal. Maybe I should have kept my original mini-goals...

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #42

A friend of mine on the NS discussion boards posted this and I loved it so much I wanted to share it. Lately my weight loss rate has slowed so much that it's almost non-existent. Granted I could be doing things a little better but I have to keep in mind that I can't control the pace, I can only control the direction.

I know that I'm not completely off the band wagon and I'm glad that the scale is not moving in the opposite direction. Each of our bodies move at their own pace and that's just something we have to deal with.

Hakuna matata!

Green with envy

Ok so I lied. I'm not envious. I'm excited. Because last week I finally got my 40# Nutribear. It's only about 6 weeks overdue...

I'm so close to getting my next Nutribear, but the scale has definitely not been cooperating lately. I'm hoping to be able to earn it before I leave on vacation, but at my current rate, it's not looking good. I just need to stay focused!

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 159
Current Weight: 158

Oops, I missed posting last week! It's been quite crazy around here and my lack of pound dropping is not helping any. I think I need to get a digital scale soon since it's so hard to tell .5 pound losses on the one I currently have.

Hakuna matata!

Do a little dance

This was totally me in the bathroom when I weighed myself this week:

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 160
Current Weight: 159

I'M NORMAL!!! Ok so maybe not in all aspects of my life, but at least my BMI is! I'm hoping that the scale will keep dropping over the next few weeks because I really didn't like seeing 160 so often. I think I was pretty close to picking it up and throwing it through a wall at one point...

Hakuna matata!

Beary upset today

Last night I finally received my latest NS box for this month. I had been looking forward to getting it for several weeks now since it was supposed to have my 40 pound Nutribear in it. Well, I open up the box and start to organize my food and then I realized that something wasn't right...

MY BEAR WAS MISSING!!!

Grrrrr... So annoyed. I know I just need to call customer service and they'll send it out to me but I am still disappointed that I don't get to bask in my glory just yet. Never fret Nutribears, your brother will be joining you soon.

P.S. I don't think I've explained this yet but Nutrisystem sends you a little teddy bear for every 10 pounds you lose. They're like the Beany Baby bears. So cute! My bears so far:



Hakuna matata!

Biggest Loser 19 challenge results

Sadly, my blue team kind of fizzled out towards the end of the challenge but we had a good go-around. The teams were a little unbalanced IMHO so maybe there's something we can change for BL21 in September. I'm still a captain for the next BL but since it's summer an a lot of people are on vacation, we're doing a more laid back approach, then gearing right back up at the beginning of the school year. Should be exciting!

Biggest Loser 19 5/14/2012 - 6/25/2012
Starting Weight: 169 ..... Goal Weight: 163 (-06) ..... Ending Weight: 160 (-09)

Total pounds lost: 9 pounds
Total percent lost: 5.325%
Total exercise minutes: 2810 minutes

Midway weight rank: 17
Midway exercise rank: 15
Final weight rank: 12
Final exercise rank: 7

(Wooo! Top 10 for exercise!!)

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 160
Current Weight: 160

See body, this is what happens when we skip a mini-goal. I will only accept this because last week was such a big drop and I was hoping to be here by this week anyways. But let's not repeat this again this week, ok? We can't make progress when we're at a stand still.

Hakuna matata!

New Mini-Goals!

Since my body decided to skip an entire mini-goal, I thought I'd take the opportunity to readjust my future mini-goals. This will hopefully push me to get to my goal weight at least a month earlier than originally anticipated. Hopefully the scale will continue to cooperate so I can get there this time!

Hakuna matata!

Expanding vocabulary

So this weekend I was out with various groups of friends and family and I have been hearing some new adjectives lately that are being used to describe me. Fit, skinny, curvy, hot... just to name a few. No one has ever used those words to describe me before. It's kind of nice.

One of the funnier moments was when I was at a friend's house yesterday afternoon. I had turned my head to talk to someone and I caught a quick glimpse of someone in a mirror. I turned back and realize it was me! I still surprised myself on how I look every once in a while. It made me and my friend laugh.

This is the new me folks! Get used to it because she's staying permanently.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 163
Current Weight: 160

Oops, I guess my body wanted to skip a mini-goal. I may need to make some readjustments now. Oh well, you won't hear me complaining.

Hakuna matata!

Get your nerd on

So one of my close friends demanded last night that I take a new "current" picture. Apparently he thought I "look a lot better now than that picture" (meaning the one from the Brad Paisley concert)... I told him that it was taken only about a week and a half ago but he still doesn't believe that part.

So to appease his highness, I pulled out my camera equipment and took a couple pretty decent shots. This one is probably my favorite. Partly because of my purple Nerds shirt but also cause I think I look pretty good in it. (Which is saying something coming from me!)

Hakuna matata!

How low can you go?

So I just realized that I had not posted anything about this and personally I think this is newsworthy. Due to my ongoing weight loss success. I have officially lowered my goal weight by 10 pounds to 145 to reflect my ultimate goal weight. [End of public service announcement]

When I started Nutrisystem, I thought maybe I'd lose 10-15 pounds if I was lucky. I've never had much success losing weight and keeping it off. However, there is so much knowledge I have gained along this journey that I know I was equipped with the tools to keep this going and to keep it off.

Never in a million years would I think that NS would get me to where I am today. But as I am within 10 pounds of my original goal weight, I know that I don't have to stop here. I know I have the power to keep pushing forward to really being the healthiest version of me.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 165
Current Weight: 163

Getting close... oh wait, nevermind. I lowered my goal instead. I can do this! I know I can make it!!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #41

Water weight explained. Drink more water people!! I am not excluded from this public service announcement. Excuse me while I go refill my water bottle...

Hakuna matata!

National Running Day 2012

If only I had the time to go running on National Running Day. Maybe I'll do a late night run after I get home... ok maybe not. Well, my mind will be running all day so that's got to count for something, right?

Sidenote, check out today's RW Daily for super awesome video from the Runner's World crew. Gotta love those guys.

Hakuna matata!

The price for immortality = toe wedgies

I had to share today's XKCD comic. It made me laugh. That is all.

Hakuna matata!

Little moments like this

So this past weekend was this year's Brad Paisley concert here in Hartford. My BFF and I have been going for the past couple of years because we are big country music fans. I had her take a picture of me to compare it to last year's picture.

Brad Paisley concert June 4, 2011

Brad Paisley concert June 2, 2012

50 pounds difference right there. Not the best angle for the picture, but that's ok. I'll take it.

Now the only thing that would have made an amazing concert even better, was to have the seats we had last year. Oh well, that's ok. I still got Kimberly Perry's autograph on my ticket stub!

Hakuna matata!

I know where I've been

Today is June 4th. It has been exactly 5 months since I received my first Nutrisystem box. Has is been that long already? Or should I say has it only been that long? It's hard to tell which is appropriate as I think about how much I have gained (and lost!) so far this year.

First of all, I don't think I would even have been able to make it this far without the support of so many new friends I have made through the discussion boards. I'm always amazed at how open and inspiring these people are. I have grown close with so many of them that I feel like I've known them forever. They accept me for who I am and push me to work harder.

For the first time in a long while, I finally feel like me again. I don't feel overly embarrassed just walking into a room and most of the time I even like the way I look. I can actually enjoy a shopping trip, and I just might be able to fall in love with the beach again.

All that and 40 pounds lighter, in just 5 months. When I ordered NS, never in a million years did I think that I would be where I am today. Back then, this was only a wish, a dream. It was never even possible with the old me.

Now there's something they don't tell you that comes in that monthly brown box. Each month, a piece of a new and better you gets put into place. That's the real transformation. I always say that this journey is just as much mental as it is physical, and I believe that 100%.

That being said, there is no way I'm letting this Hot Tamale train slow down! I'm going to keep pushing and reach for the stars. Because now I know that it is actually possible.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 166
Current Weight: 165

Still not at 100% but the antibiotics have definitely kicked in. A new Nutribear should make things all better!! I need to decide soon whether to lower my goal weight or not. Hmm....

Hakuna matata!

Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I spent most of it being sick but I was still able to enjoy myself. We had family come down for various parts of the weekend and hung out around the pool.

For the most part, I was able to stay on plan. Monday got a little out of hand with the cookies, but not bad considering what I would have eaten that weekend if I didn't keep myself in check. One summer BBQ down, several to go I'm sure.

The shocking thing about this weekend was the fact that I wore a bikini. Granted it was not one of those tiny skimpy ones, but it was a two piece, non-tankini swimsuit. And no it was not yellow polka dotted.

I'm still not where I'd like to be to be able to wear it out in public, but the fact that I felt mostly comfortable wearing around my family just goes to show how far I've come.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #40

Keep going. Don't give up. Take it one day at a time.

Hakuna matata!

Skinny Memories for Memorial Day challenge results

Skinny Memories for Memorial Day 4/9/2012 - 5/28/2012
Starting Weight: 177 ..... Goal Weight: 168 (-09) ..... Ending Weight: 166 (-11)

Total pounds lost: 11 pounds
Total percent lost: 6.215%

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #39

Anything is better than nothing. Don't worry about making a certain time or going a certain distance. Do what you can, push yourself a little, and go a little harder/faster/longer tomorrow.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 168
Current Weight: 166

Still sick, but I'll take the losses where I can get them. Hopefully I will be back to 100% soon this week.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #38

Getting healthy is not just about getting as physically skinny as we can, it's about living a healthy lifestyle to promote good habits and live a long life.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #37

This weekend is going to be a hard one to get through for some people. BBQs, family gatherings, picnics... A lot of temptations. Remember your goal and how hard you've worked to get this far. Don't undo all that progress for something that will only last a day.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #36

Enough said. You can do it!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #35

Well, is it? If so, great! Keep going. If not, what do you need to change to make tomorrow one step closer to your goal?

Hakuna matata!

Streaking newbie

So I'm really excited for my next challenge. Runner's World is hosting their first ever Summer Running Streak. Basically all it is is a challenge to run at least one mile every day from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July.

Click here for the full article

I am determined to stick to it and make it to the end!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #34

This is my best friend's favorite quote (well one of them at least) and this morning I found it as part of a beautiful painting so I thought I'd share. Enjoy.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #33

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. --La Rochefoucauld

It's easy to eat whatever you want everyday. Too many of us already do that. However, it takes quite a bit of knowledge and creativity to be able to eat smart. Learn how to fuel your body instead of dumping garbage into it.

Hakuna matata!

(No longer) Missing in action

I'm here. I'm still alive (there were moments where this fact was questioned). It's been a crazy week. Spent a lot of time outside in the GORGEOUS sunshine. Back to rain today. Saturday was spent doing some major house cleaning and furniture rearranging. My bedroom will get clean eventually. At least the main floor of my house is mostly clean.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #32

It doesn't even have to be an hour. 20 minutes people! Make it count. Your life may depend on it.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #31

Once you start losing weight, don't let it find you again. Learn about how to feed your body properly so when you transition to maintenance you can actually stay in maintenance.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 169
Current Weight: 168

Slow and steady wins the race. Back to my 1 pound/week rate. Well, I guess it's better than no weight loss or even worse, weight gain! I'm falling behind on running and my daily water count so hopefully I can step that up again in the upcoming weeks.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #30

So I had to finish out Nike week with the most infamous of them all. This is arguably the simplest yet best piece of advice out there. No more excuses. Get out there and go.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #29

Victory is paid for in sweat, courage, and preparation. --Nike

Getting to goal is not impossible. But it does take work, a lot of strength, and a plan. Make sure you're ready with all three since you cannot stand on only two.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #28

Failure's not an option. It's a step. --Nike

Nobody's perfect. We all stumble along the way. It's part of the learning process. It's what motivates us to do better. Push harder. Go longer.

Hakuna matata!

Oh the sun'll come out tomorrow

Well the rain is finally dying down. Supposedly mostly cloudy this afternoon and then sunny and warm for the rest of the week. Yay! And then more rain on Tuesday. Bleh.

Luckily my plans for tonight got cancelled which means I can actually go for a decent run. My busy schedule and the weather have been making it especially difficult to get in more than just a couple of runs for the past week or two.

I'm still dilly dallying about actually signing up for a 5K this summer but I am determined to do it! I just have to figure out which one fits into my schedule. More to come on that I'm sure.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #27

Ran sounds better than run. --Nike

You can talk about it and think about it all you want, but it doesn't mean a thing until you actually do it.

Hakuna matata!

O Captain! my Captain!

And we're off! Biggest Loser 19 is officially underway. The teams are set and the numbers are racking up. Can the blue team defend their "Top Shaker" team title with their total exercise minutes? Or will the red team snatch it from under their feet? Who will win this battle of the pounds?

I am so excited to be a captain for the blue team. There has been so much activity on the discussion thread already and I hope we can keep the excitement going all the way to the end. I am determined to get my exercise numbers up this round as well as make my goal again. Bring it red team!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #26

Training is the opposite of hoping. --Nike

You can't expect to get to work by hoping to get into your car this morning. Getting fit is the same way. You can hope all you want but you have to actually do something to get somewhere.

Hakuna matata!

How low can you go?

Well it's official. I am back down to my previous "lowest weight". But I don't plan on stopping now! No way!! I'm going to keep on going and get to my goal weight, and who knows, maybe even lower. But from here on out, every pound is a new record.

Hakuna matata!

I like to move it, move it

Wow it's been an action packed weekend. I haven't had time to post much since it was GORGEOUS outside and I had to soak up every bit of sunshine I could. Good thing too, it's raining again today... and tomorrow. Yuck!

Saturday I got my roommate to do 30 Day Shred with me. She was sore and tired yesterday but I think she liked it enough to stick with it. At least that's what I get from her Facebook post.

I worked out tonight with my roommate and now I feel like crap. And now I'm asking myself, "Why did I do this?" Oh that's right, to see how much I could hurt afterwards. And I think that I'm crazy enough to do it again next week.

Luckily there were no death threats in there. She knows where I sleep so I'd have to keep an eye on her if that was the case. But she definitely agrees with my title of "Satan Jillian".

Saturday I also went hiking/trail running as well as took Charlie to the dog park. Mother's Day was not quite as active since I had church in the morning. But we still were able to catch a couple of hours at the dog park again and walk along the trails.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #25

If you went running when you first started thinking about it, you'd be back by now. --Nike

This is how you make time. You do something when you first think about it. Don't debate whether or not you should. By the time you actually figure out what you're going to do, you could already be on your way.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 170
Current Weight: 169

Woohoo! 160s baby!! So excited to break into a new decade. Hopefully I can say that again in a couple of months. Need to keep pushing!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #24

Someone who is busier than you is running right now. --Nike

I get it. You're busy. We're all busy. There are so many things that need to be done throughout the day that how are we supposed to find time to exercise? The answer: You don't. If you try to find time, you'll never will. There will always be "too many things to do". You have to make time.

Hakuna matata!

Introducing Nike week

So I was surfing the web for some ideas for Thinspiration this week and I came across a list of phrases that Nike has used in their print ads over the years. Can I just say how much I love them?! They're short, they're sweet, they're to the point, but most importantly, they're so true! So I decided that this week was going to be Nike week. Enjoy!

P.S. Can web surfing count as part of my exercise today??

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #23

Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it. --Oprah Winfrey

Life is what you make of it. Both on the pavement/trail and off. If you put work and dedication into anything, you will get great results from it.

Hakuna matata!

Why are you wearing a suit today?

Because it FITS!

Today is a great day. This morning, on a whim, I decided to try on my suit pants just to see if maybe they fit yet (as of last week they didn't). And to my huge surprise, they buttoned and zipped with ease. [Insert girly squeal here]

My dad had bought this suit for me my senior year of college as a birthday gift and I had worn it to all the job interviews I had that year. Well I'm pretty sure my first day of work (three years ago) was the last time I have been able to wear it.

Since then, it has been living in the back of my closet, begging for it to see the light of day again. Let me repeat, today is a great day.

P.S. And yes I did go running last night like I planned to...

Hakuna matata!

EDIT (5/11/12 11:52am): I have been getting a TON of compliments today from co-workers. Not just on how I look, but even my presence and my mood. That was unexpected and amazing to hear!

Thinspiration #22

Eating healthy is not meant to limit us. It's to make us feel better that we are fueling our body and not just throwing junk into it. It also helps with our mindsets. Saying yes we can. We CAN do this. I have the power to make a difference.

Hakuna matata!

Why do I keep doing this?!

I totally fell off the band wagon last night. I was scavenging my house for anything and everything sweet (though I managed to leave all my NS food intact). There's been a lot going on this week and I had a temporary moment of weakness in all the stress.

I hate being an emotional eater. I'm hoping it just wasn't so weak that I totally undid my progress for this week. Not only that but I was a lazy bum. I just kept making excuses for why I couldn't exercise yet. And then I felt sick from all the junk I ate which really made me not want to exercise.

Game plan for tonight. Get home from work, take out my dog Charlie, change into work out clothes, and go running (or do 30 Day Shred if the rain picks up again).

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #21

Prove yourself wrong. You can do anything you set your mind to. Part of being healthy is having a healthy mindset. Listening to that negative voice in your head is not helping you to achieve your fullest potential. You CAN do it!

Hakuna matata!

Our growing country

Going off of today's Thinspiration, I heard an interesting statistic on the radio this morning and had to check it out when I got into work. According to this LA Times article, 42% of American adults will be obese by 2030 (compared to the 36% today).

Holy cow! And to think I used to be part of that growing statistic. Ladies and gentlemen, this does NOT have to be our future. As they say in one of my favorite movies, "a man can change his stars". We can prevent this.

Maybe the future world in Wall-e is not so far in the future after all...

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #20

Fitness - If it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body. --Cher

Getting fit is not an easy task and if anything, it's getting harder these days. You have to work for it. It may take a while to get there but you WILL get there. It is not an impossible dream.

Hakuna matata!

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive

So Satan Jillian is not quite as evil these days. Finally started Day 1 of 30 Day Shred last night and I'm still alive. I'm not saying it wasn't hard, but I don't feel like I belong 6 feet under.

I definitely think it helps that my cardio is in a much better place than it was the last time I did this video. I wasn't doing any other cardio at the time and so I got exhausted pretty quickly.

It also probably helps that I'm not doing it at 5:00 in the morning. Oh how I despise those early morning workouts. I may have to start doing them on some days though. Just have too much to do sometimes.

Hakuna matata!

Biggest Loser 18 challenge results

After a long 6 weeks, BL18 finally ended on the Nutrisystem discussion boards. BL19 starts next week and I am super excited to be a team captain this next time around. (Go Blue Team!) The sign up list is filled up and the waiting list has begun so we are good to go come Monday.

Biggest Loser 18 3/26/2012 - 5/7/2012
Starting Weight: 179 ..... Goal Weight: 170 (-09) ..... Ending Weight: 170 (-09)

Total pounds lost: 9 pounds
Total percent lost: 5.028%
Total exercise minutes: 2405 minutes

Midway weight rank: 21
Midway exercise rank: 17
Final weight rank: 15
Final exercise rank: 13

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #19

Health is not simply the absence of sickness. --Hannah Green

Just because you're not sick does not mean you are necessarily healthy. Healthy means that your body is functioning efficiently. You cannot expect your body to perform its best when the fuel you provide it is overly processed junk. Fuel your body and move!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #18

If you're not already on your way to being a healthier you, then let today be your Day 1. Don't wait until you "find time". You have to make time. Go do 10 jumping jacks, get a salad for dinner tonight, or go to bed early. Better yet, do all three! You can do it!!

Hakuna matata!

The baby cows on my legs

I feel like my calves ripped themselves off my legs and ran away. They have been working double time these past few days.

Quick Weekend Recap
Friday - stair climbing
Saturday - hiking
Sunday - running

We went on a new trail on Saturday which I decided to name The Butcher Trail since it kills my calves (moo!) with its steep hills. Not that they weren't sore to begin with or anything...

Yesterday I was able to break a 10 minute mile. 10:15 and 9:42! That makes me really happy. Last time I was able to do that was in middle school. Now I just have to it for another mile...

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #17

Not every plan works for every person. We all have our own motivations, set backs, and mind sets. Just because we may have failed to follow our plan, does not mean we have failed to get to our goals. Make a new plan and try again. Tomorrow is a new day!

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 171
Current Weight: 170

Hit my mini-goal a week early which is super awesome. Would have liked to break into the 160's but hey, I'll take it. Hoping to step up the exercise numbers this week. I've been too lazy lately.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #16

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. --Jim Rohn

Our body is a temple, not a garbage dump. Take care of it. It's the only one you get and it is most precious. Treat it with respect and it will take care of you.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #15

Fall seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese proverb

Life is a roller coaster. Sometimes you're up. Sometimes you're down. The thing to remember is that when you're down, don't stay down! Get right back up and try again. No one is perfect and we all stumble along the way. Don't let one little slip up be your down fall.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #14

I thought this was too funny to pass up. So maybe this saying shouldn't be taken quite so literally but that doesn't mean it's not (mostly) true. I know I can easily feel the difference between a day where I ate on plan and a day where I ate lots of fried foods and sugary snacks. Healthy is a lifestyle, not a temporary diet.

Hakuna matata!

Bring On the Bikini challenge - Before pictures

One of the requirements for my newest Nutrisystem challenge is to take a "before" picture in a swim suit so we can compare it to our "after" picture at the end of the challenge.

Well I decided to take it one step further and find an old picture of me in the same swim suit. I already plan on getting a new swim suit for this summer but I thought it would be neat to have the same one in all the pictures.

          

Summer 2007 I think... 215ish pounds, maybe??

5/3/12 171 pounds

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #13

Forget about getting skinny. Eat well and exercise... the weight will take care of itself. --Unknown

I wish I could say how much I love this quote. Sometimes we forget that the ultimate goal is not to get to a certain dress size or a certain number on the scale.

This journey is really about getting healthy. If we make healthy choices and have healthy habits, then the smaller weight/dress size will be a result of our successes.

Hakuna matata!

Bilbo Baggypants

I feel weird today. It's one of those Feel-Good-One-Moment-And-Then-Sucky-The-Next kind of days.

Today I'm wearing a pair of slacks that I couldn't even squeeze into a few months ago. You would think that would feel great, right? Well it does in a sense, knowing that clothing that was once too small is now almost falling off your hips.

However, they are so loose and baggy that I don't feel... what's the word I'm looking for... attractive? fashionable? Smokin' hot? I feel like one of those people on What Not to Wear with their clothes that obviously don't fit their body size/shape.

Thinspiration #12

You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. --Unknown

It takes more to get healthy than just wishing for it. So you've thought about being healthier. Good job. Step one complete. Now keep going. Commit to it and do something about it. It will take work, and it's not easy. But it is attainable.

Hakuna matata!

Hotties out of Hibernation challenge results

Yesterday was the final day of the Hotties out of Hibernation challenge on the Nutrisystem discussion boards. I thought I'd post the final results here as well

Hotties out of Hibernation 3/1/2012 - 4/30/2012
Starting Weight: 184 ..... Goal Weight: 173 (-11) ..... Ending Weight: 171 (-13)

Total pounds lost: 13 pounds
Total percent lost: 7.065%
Total work out days: 38 days
Total 100% on plan days: 19 days

Hakuna matata!

Rain rain go away

... Come again another day where I'm not supposed to go out running!

I am not liking the weather forecast this week. The three days I was planning on going for a run are the same three days it's supposed to rain. I've already been slacking as it is and I'm afraid that I'm just setting myself back even further.

I may have to start pulling out the early morning runs sooner than anticipated. I was hoping to hold those off until it got a little bit warmer in the mornings. Oh well.

On a happier note, it's MAY! Which means we are that much closer to summer. //happy dance//

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #11

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. --Beverly Sills

It is often said that weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. We didn't get to where we are overnight and we're most certainly not going to get where we're going any quicker. If anything it will be a long uphill battle. However, that being said, it will definitely be worth it! Stay strong my fellow "losers".

Hakuna matata!

The pilgrims are coming!

Get it? Pilgrims. May flowers. Tomorrow is May... Ok lame joke, I know. Sorry. Creative juices are lacking today. I couldn't come up with a good title for today's post. Moving on...

Yesterday I discovered my new favorite place to go walking. I had been taking my dog Charlie to the local dog park for the past couple of weeks and yesterday I decided to go walk along some of the trails. I never realized how huge the whole park was.

473 acres of fields, grass, trails, and dirt. Yesterday we stayed on a trail that circled a field since I didn't want to take Charlie into the woods. His curly white fur attracts enough dirt as it is thank you very much. I'll have to go explore more at a later time without him.

It was so nice to spend so much time outside in the sunshine. It was gorgeous yesterday. I can't wait for summer now.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #10

Which do you want more? You decide. Results or excuses. It's up to you.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 173
Current Weight: 171

I was hoping that I'd be able to make my mini-goal super early but I'll gladly take the 2 pounds. I've seen that how logging my food has helped me to stay on track and stick to the program. Hopefully I can keep this up. Every pound counts!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #9

Totally stole this from another person's blog. Sorry person. I don't know you. But I thought this was super awesome.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #8

It's a lot easier to get back on the horse when you've just fallen off. But it's a lot harder if you waited so long that the horse has now run off somewhere. Slip ups happen and it's ok to have planned indulgences. Just don't let that become the "new normal". It's a lot harder to recover from that.

Hakuna matata!

The Cool Cats Club

So I just got an email from the secretary of my bowling league. It said:

Congratulations – you have qualified for one of the leagues bowling awards for your achievements this past season.

Yes we've already established that here. It continues...

Because both of you have earned the Triple Crown (high average, game and series), I can merge everything into one gift card choice or one nicer award.

Say what?! I didn't even know there was such a thing! Rick and I are apparently super cool now. Awesome!... ok enough boasting. Back to work!

Hakuna matata!

Operation: Sodium Smackdown

I gave into my craving for Mexican last night. Oh how I was missing my enchiladas! Jon and I went out after our bowling league meeting. I probably shouldn't have done that...

I was good in the sense that I drank lots of water and less than half of my entree. But those chips are going to tip the scale for a couple of days until all that salt gets out of my body.

I am determined to either drown it out or sweat it out this weekend. Also I'm going to try to stick to low calorie add-ins in hopes I can keep my weekly totals reasonable. Life happens. Adjust accordingly.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #7

When walking, walk. When eating, eat. --Zen proverb

In other words, focus on the one thing that you're doing. If you want to sit on your couch and watch your favorite TV show, go for it. But don't do it with a recently opened bag of chips. By the end of the show you've eaten most (if not all) of the bag.

Sit at the table and enjoy the food you're eating. Savor it. Don't wolf it down so quickly you can't even taste it. Enjoy it. It will last longer and taste better! (And save yourself from a few hundred calories...)

Hakuna matata!

Dancing down memory lane

So I didn't end up running in the rain last night. It was miserable enough just to take out my dog. However, I did hold up my end of the deal and did double work out videos. I did 2 Dancing Off the Inches videos. I know I need to do them more often since my legs felt like lead while I was doing it. I need to get my agility back.

I've actually considered digging out my Dance Dance Revolution games/pads from my parents house. I used to love playing that in high school and I was pretty good at it (for a fat kid). I used to sweat buckets playing that game. I'll have to see if I can find it next time I visit. Oh the memories of my childhood.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #6

So I thought this was appropriate for today's Thinspiration due to my lack of self discipline last night.

Very few people actually love jumping out of bed at ridiculous hours of the morning to go exercise. Or sometimes you just have really long days and don't feel like going to the gym after work.

Whatever may be the case, YOU are the only person that can make you get out there and move. Find something that motivates and inspires you to want to go out regardless of what time it is, or how bad of a day you had, or the fact that the sun isn't up yet. No one is going to do it for you. Commit and do.

Hakuna matata!

Satan Jillian is BACK!

So I just ordered Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred from Amazon and I'm trying to figure out why I want to put myself through this again. My former roommate owned it and we did it for a short time when we lived together.

We nicknamed her "Satan Jillian" because we felt like we were going to die at the end of each workout. It was a hard video (especially at 5 a.m.) but I saw improvement in my strength even in the short time that we did it.

I know my cardio is better now then it was at the time so I'm hoping I will be able to get through it at least a little bit easier. Doubtful. This is JM after all. Thankfully I will not be doing this video at 5 a.m. again!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration Busters

Confirmed.

Clearly I was not thinking about Thinspiration #1 last night. I didn't go for my scheduled run because it was cold and windy (ok mostly because I was lazy...) and I'm kicking myself in the butt for it this morning. UGH! Why do I let myself do this?!

It's supposed to rain tonight so I don't know if I'll be able to go out after work. If not, then I am determined to do double workout videos later! I need to make up for my lack of self discipline.

Maybe I should run in the rain to make up for it. Everything seems so much more hard core when you do it in the rain... We'll see if my enthusiasm for that lasts through the work day...

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #5

You may not feel it right away but you will feel it! It takes a lot of work for our bodies to carry around all that unnatural extra weight. No wonder we feel so tired and worn out all the time!

Hakuna matata!

Miss Skinny Pants

I love days like today. It was not even 8am and I had already received a compliment for my recent (and ongoing!) weight loss. And it wasn't just any compliment. No, it involved the S-word.

"Hey you're gettin' skinny!"

Could it be because I was able to get into my old skinny college pants again this morning? Maybe. One of my friends from college once called these my J-Lo pants since I have such a larger um... backside, but they curved around it in such a way that it still made me look good. Today's post deserves a picture!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #4

A goal without a plan is just a wish. --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

If you were driving from Los Angeles to New York, would you just start driving without a map and hope you get there in a reasonable time? I sure hope not!

Getting healthier is the same way. You can't expect to get to a certain goal without a way to get there. Make a plan. Print it out. Hang it on the fridge. And most importantly, stick to it!

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #3

Make SMART goals. Be realistic and don't set a goal that is so unattainable that you're setting yourself up for disaster and disappointment. Though you may have a long term end goal, set up some smaller mini-goals along the way to keep you on track.

Hakuna matata!

Weekly Progress Report

Last Weigh In: 175
Current Weight: 173

WOOO! 2 more pounds gone!! I realized how many extra calories I was eating with all my higher calorie add-ins (snacks). I'm trying to switch it up a bit so that it's still ok if I have one but I have a lower calorie one as well. Hopefully I can continue to have 2 pound drops for a few more weeks.

Hakuna matata!

Thinspiration #2

There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results. -- Ken Blanchard

Wow! Great mantra to live by. Pick something today. Anything you need to do better at. Something small. Like one less snack, or 5 more minutes of walking. Having something in mind? Ok now commit to it. Whatever it is, do it for 3 weeks. No excuses.

I guarantee you that by the end of those three weeks, you'll feel great that you were able to accomplish something. Then pick another thing and do it again! You are now one step closer than you were 3 weeks ago.

Hakuna matata!

Hiking Heublein

Just came back from hiking up to Heublein Tower this morning. Always a lot of fun. Here's a picture of me at the top. Maybe next time we'll take the long way up.

Hakuna matata!

Better than last year. . . mostly

Last night was the last week of competitive bowling for the league that I'm in. The lanes were as slick as an eel so there was not a lot of movement out there.

For you non-bowlers that means that the lanes were very oily and our balls couldn't grip the lane and curve the way they are supposed to. No movement = flat pin action. I was lucky to make average 2 games.

But the final standings for the year are as follows...

Thinspiration #1

You rarely regret the runs you do. You almost always regret the runs you skip --Unknown

Even if it's just for 5 minutes, get out there and run! I've been sore for 3 days after an unplanned 6.5 mile run this week, but I still don't regret one minute I spent out there on the pavement. You'd be surprised about how far you'll actually be able to go.

Hakuna matata!

Go the distance! Well how far is that?

Ok now I'm done with some blogosphere housekeeping, I can actually get on with more important things.

Lately I have been trying to get out and do more running (mainly because I am too cheap to pay for a gym membership at the moment). I started out with the C25K program and I have come miles in progress since then, no pun intended. Ok yes it was...

Seriously though, 6 weeks ago I could hardly run a quarter mile. Just this past Tuesday, I ran 6.5 miles (no that wasn't part of the plan). Why? Because I could. Physically I actually could.

I went out for my usual short run and I felt so good I thought "why stop?" so I didn't... for a long time... The funny part about it was that I knew I had to stop at some point, but when? I knew I had one of three options:

Highs and lows of a yo-yo dieter

This is by far not my first time trying to lose weight. As I said earlier I am a professional yo-yo dieter. You name it, I've probably tried it. But obviously, nothing before now has stuck. Part of that has to do with my lack of self discipline, and the other part of that has to do with my emotional ties to comfort food.

I've been overweight my entire life, literally. Never got rid of the baby fat and it just got worse from there. You would never be able to find a picture of me under any synonym of 'skinny'. My weight and size has gone up and down more times than I can count over the past 10 years.

You only get one first post

I decided to follow in the footsteps of one of my good friends and create a blog as well. I have created blogs in the past for various reasons and none of them seem to stick so I'm hoping to make this one last.

Brief intro...