Week 37

Be back soon...sick this week...no Workouts :-(

Interview

Week 36

Feeling good maintaining my 133 goal weight

maintenance schedule

If I get this full time position I am planning on cutting back from exercising 5 days a week to exercising 3 days a week... at least at the start while I adjust to my new work life.  I just don't want to stop all together obviously, but I want to give myself some wiggle room while I adjust to a new routine and family schedule and the stress of changing jobs. We will see how it all pans out. I currently work part-time. I imagine myself prolly going back to morning workouts as well. Good news is the new job is very close to home... so a very short commute.

Interview

I scored an interview...woot!!!!

Now to ask for letters of recommendation

low

I got professional pics taken today along with my daughter and I do not like the way I look in them.... at all. I feel my face looks very full and my body huge along side my daughter.  I can't help but wonder... do I really look like that?


Oh well... one has these types of days I suppose. 

WEEK 35

am weight 132


going strong over here.. this really is a lifestyle at this stage of the game, can't remember ever being this dedicated for this long and it is something I am very, very proud of. I am selling my size 12 clothing on ebay... does not fit and It never will fit again. I need to re-size my wedding rings as they fall right off. I am officially a size 10 now, inching towards a size eight everyday. Today I broke my workout up into circuit training.... bursts of my Nordic track, then alternating old school plyos- jumping, jumping jacks, lunges.... rinse, wash, repeat for 30 min.


I sometimes feel frustrated that nobody outside of John and you nice people seem to actually notice any changes to my body.... really??? I am just longing for someone to say something. Silly I know... but it's the truth. For 35 weeks I have worked out for 5 days a week- non stop... only missing 2 workouts in 35 weeks, made huge dietary changes and lost 15 lbs, a dress size and 8 inches. I would think the ladies I work with everyday would say something? my family? John's family?



Oh well.. I just have to feel good enough about myself to make up for the lack of social support.

Lunch

Progresso light soup
Big salad
Light dressing
Saltines ( hubs ate All my wheat thins...what is with guys? Always eating whole boxes at a sitting?

Non-scale Victory

rocking the skinny jeans

week 34

today's weight 135


weight is up because my muscles are really sore.. I have heard that ones body retains water when healing.. who knows... it does not bother me much.



So I am not a morning exercise person in the winter.. and I am ok with that. I enjoyed getting it done early in the am and was motivated to do so in the warmer months... now I am enjoying my coffee & news in the morning and working out from 4-5pm.  It's ok and so long as I am still working out it is good with me... In fact I think I work a little harder in the PM... Because I am not rushed to get ready for work.


I really pushed myself this week with my workouts and I am feeling it. Now I need to rein in my snacking and concentrate on eating more fruits & nuts.  This is my year.

work it

There is a rare Advocate job opening that I have applied for and hoping to accept within a few weeks. It's with the City/Police, full time, benefits and in my field but a whole different position.This is exactly what I have been hoping/praying and asking the universe for. It would be challenging and perfect really... I'm scared.. but its a good scared. The scary question is do I really want to be changing jobs and starting over at 45???? yes, yes yes. Yes its scary & bittersweet leaving my comfort zone, but I know I can do this.

I want this so bad I can taste it.

The pros-

full medical benefits ( can I get a Amen for that?) 4 miles away from home round trip versus the 32 miles of my current job more money working for the city instead of a non- profit unsteady grant position salary & not hourly.

The Cons- being on call 24/7 dealing with more sensitive issues like Rape & Death notices. time away from Liv.

I had a talk with Liv today telling her about possibly switching from Part time to full time and how I would be coming home later like her friends Mommies. She is not crazy about the idea, but I know she will adjust. I think I am going to get this job... I really do. I have done all I can.. just waiting for a phone call confirming what my gut already knows. If it is meant to be, it will be.

My Ten Truths

1) I have committed to working out 5 days a week..when I begin working full time I may scale this back to three days a week...a maintenance schedule if you will. I will have to see how working 10 extra hours adds to my schedule. I always do something.. even if I am dead dog tired.. I just get going and commit to 30 min minimum.

2) I indulge so I never feel deprived.... a small slice of pie, a handful of fries or chips, a few fun size treats...no food is bad or good.. there is just food I eat more of and the stuff I eat sparingly.

3) I invest in workout clothes- clothing that makes me want to exercise. Clothing that hugs my body and shows my progress.

4) I reward myself once a month.... If I worked out 5 days a week for 4 weeks, I buy myself something I have been wanting. This keeps me working out when my motivation wanes. This was a very important step when I just started out and before exercise became a habit.

5) I count my calories on My Fitness Pal Monday through Friday. I am very honest in my counting and this helps keep me on track.

6) I take a break from exercise & calorie counting on weekends... I try to unplug from documenting and just enjoy my Family.

7) I document my journey weekly. I blog about my goals, my progress, my pictures and put it all out there. This helps keep me honest and you all reading help to keep me accountable.

8) I plan ahead.. I pack healthy lunches/healthy snacks.

9) I choose healthy food choices 90% of the time.

10) I have bad days... months when the weight was not budging, when all my healthy choices seemingly made no difference. When I felt so sluggish and tired from my hypothyroid symptoms. I had days I felt sorry for myself and wondered if I would ever reach my goal? I wanted to give up, to stop, to quit. Those days still happen.. I take it one day at a time.. one positive choice at a time and here I am eight months later... still at it.

133 baby!

Awwww yeah

I did it, I did it, I did it..... finally!!!!!! Woot!!!!!!!!


I worked very hard for the past eight months to earn that number on the scale.. while it does not define me.. it sure does make me smile.

2013 fitness goals

I think the reason I am not seeing the results I want to see is because I have not changed things up. I have added weights but overall my basic workouts have remained the same. I need to challenge myself and I am trying by varying the incline, doing intervals, adding heavier weights.. I definitely need to push myself a little more. I am not sweating like I used to because my body has adapted. A fellow MFP buddy had this to offer


"There are basically 3 variables you can manipulate

Frequency: (how often you are working out) You could safely add a 6th day to your routine.

Intensity: How hard you are working. The interval training is a very good idea. Try adding this one day a week. You will need to shorten the duration of that session:Rowing machines, and stair steppers are great for interval workouts. You can also add incline, or speed up the tread mill. The trick here is that you want to go hard REALLY hard. You should only be able to sustain the pace for about 1 minute. You should feel like you physically have to stop at the end of the interval. Aside from interval training going outside and hiking hills or running are great ways to change up the intensity of your routine

Duration:
Try to increase the duration of one of your workouts every week. Make this your 'long day' increase the duration by 5-10% weekly. I think you would see the best bang for your buck by increasing the duration of both your cardio and strength sessions.
Try doing cardio 3-4 times per week targeting 60 minutes. Then do a full body strength routine 2-3 times per week, again around 60 minutes with stretching and warmup."


 My Fitness goals for 2013


1)Lose Fat/Lose the love handles- while I have definitely flattened my stomach by dropping the pounds.. I would love to whittle my waist and lose the love handles.I would like to really focus on getting as close to six pack abs as I can and I need to lose fat to do this.

2) My original goal weight was 133...so far I have made it to 134 but I don't want to limit myself with a certain number.It's motivating to have a goal weight to work towards, so 130 is my new goal. My jean size & overall fitness is more important than a number on the scale.So If I am a super buff 140 lbs... so be it. On one hand I am  trying not to be a slave to the scale and on the other hand the scale is a tool that keeps me on track. Balance is what I am striving for.

3) I was considering  hiring a personal trainer to come show me some new moves in my home/utilizing the vast array of equipment I own.  I am a pretty disciplined person obviously... but the truth is that I am not where I want to be yet doing this for nearly 8 months by myself.  Its pretty costly.. wondering if I don't want to do a boot-camp instead... 4 classes for $30 bucks just to learn some new ideas that I can bring home & do.

4) stop being hard on myself... so I am not feeling the morning workouts these days.. so what.. I am still doing it...it still counts. Its as if I feel I am less disciplined because I don't do it straight away. I am still getting it done and thats all that counts.


Nutrition Goals

My main meals are pretty balanced & healthy.... I still have a sugar thing that I need to work on and snacking thing. I def relaxed my eating over the holidays and indulged... so time to really rein it in.  I must remember to drink  my protein shakes on lifting days. I could stand to eat more fruit. Still working on just eating cleaner.


General Life Goals

Take more chances

Get out of the house more

get a full time advocacy job with a local PS/court.

live each day to the fullest

enjoy my daughter & Husband

Week 33 reward

a new winter coat by DKNY in a rich purple/burgundy color- the one I was really wanting that was on sale was gone.... no worries.. this one is much more functional

Prone jackknife

This workout really works your core & abs.....it takes a little practice & balance.. you will def feel this in the morning.

week nine/week 33 & week 18/week 33

am weight 134


33 weeks... yeah me. I have been working out consistently since May. I work out doing 30 min minimum of cardio 5 days a week, doing heavy weights 3 days a week. My average workout is 50 minutes long. Honestly I thought my visible physical results would be more " WOW" after 33 weeks of hard work. I am working really, really hard. There are numerous non-scale victory's- better heart health, improved digestion, muscle tone, better sleep. I don't get winded going up stairs, I can run 3 miles. I have been 1 stinking pound away from my goal weight of 133...... it's comical at this point.  I have lost 13 lbs so far and 8 inches total. I went from a being a snug size 12 to a loose size 10, even my wedding rings are too big... which is silly since I weighed 133 on my wedding day... I must have really conditioned my fingers. I am really going to ramp up my routine because I want to have more wow results on my 1 year fit-anniversary.





                                                            week 9 & week 33

week 19 & week 33