CHALLENGE TIME!!

OK friends and fellow enthusiasts- February is a short month, so who's in for a challenge? It's Fab Ab February!! Saw this posted online, and want to give it a go-who's with me?

Beware the curse of eating out!

So tonight we went to The Olive Garden, and as I looked over the menu I actually panicked! What in the heck am I going to eat? How many points is there in this...or that?!? I happened to be texting my partner in crime Kari about her weigh in (by the way--someone is not blogging!!) and she suggested the ravioli with portobello. I ended up asking for the nutritional guide, which they provide (also gives Gluten Free choices) to see what kind of trouble I was getting into.

Holy fat batman!!

Chicken Caesar Salad--40 g of fat! Portobello Alfredo with Fettucini-- 21 freaking points!!!!

1 delicious breadstick--4 points! Augh-- what am I going to do?

So I pondered, and I think drove our server crazy. I ended up having Cappellini Pomodoro (12) and Salad with dressing, no croutons (8) and one is the loneliest number breadstick (4). My dinner was a whopping--hold please for crappy mental math-- 24 points.

Frustrating. But-- we can't live our lives being fearful of the unexpected. Next time-- I will be prepared. Or, I could actually have remembered to put our dinner in the crockpot and saved myself this torment.

Either way, life goes on and so do I! Until next time...

~Laura

Falling off the Wagon

I think I am most successful when on a schedule, which weekends don't have compared to the work week. Sure we have things to do, like 3 basketball games on Saturday, but the routine is lost.

I still tracked my points yesterday, and realized that I was about 30 points higher than I should be, which scared the hell out of me. I think that part of this journey is to break bad habits that got me to this weight (boredom eating) and establish good habits that allow me to have control over my health.

I also did not exercise, and you know what? I think that made me feel worse than everything else!

I have often thought of my struggle with my weight comparable to someone who struggles with substance abuse. Except instead of alcohol or drugs, my addiction is food.

But tomorrow is a new day, and two days of non-focus will not deter me in being successful.

:) Laura

Epic Fail...or not

So I have been feeling really good this week, down about 8 lbs so far! I have noticed that I am not needing to eat so much, and really enjoying my workouts until....I tried ZUMBA again.

Fridays at 12:15 there is a Zumba class at the Y with an instructor with a fabulous reputation. I went during my lunch, thinking this will be awesome!! LOL! The class gets going and let me tell ya this lady really knows what she is doing! Enter Laura, who in her eyes must look like a Clydesdale trying to dance. I felt like the biggest clod, and was totally overwhelmed just trying to keep up. BUT after class the instructor told me I had rhythm (yes!) and the others in the class were so encouraging and telling me to come back! I ended up leaving on a high note and feeling do enthused for the rest of the day.

Thank you to all my friends and family for their support--I really feel like this is my time!! ~LAURA

The old me....where is she!?!?!?

To think who I use to be 10-11 years ago still floors me. I look at myself now and wonder what happened to that girl. I was a competitive gymnast for 12 years and also a 3 time all-American cheerleader in high school. I mean come on, look at the air in those jumps! (Don’t mind the misplaced arms- we are only looking at the flexibility and air remember haha). If I tried any of these maneuvers today we could only imagine what limb I would break. I know I will never be able to do what I use to be able too, but I need to focus on the fit aspect of who I use to be. I was always involved in sports (Yes cheerleading IS a sport), I was always active, had some major muscles, never got out of breath (even after I throw up in front of the whole area during a cheerleading competition)..... I am determined to get back close to this. I want to WANT to go to the gym, be active and have some muscle definition again. Although all this padding is good for falling on ski slopes or down the stairs-ultimately it’s not good for much anything else!  Dear inner 18 year old Kari- I am coming for you!

It is all about the TaTas!!

We said we would be open about this journey, so let me just tell ya-- the worst part about working out for me is finding an outfit and bra that won't make me injure myself on the elliptical!

If you don't have this problem, I envy you! I like the girls, really I do, but I find the ordeal of securing my front side to be a huge barrier to me getting from bed to the gym in under 15 minutes. Currently I wear the Enell Sports Bra, which has been featured in "The Biggest Loser" and costs around $60. There are literally at least twenty hook and eye clasps up the front, effectively squishing me as flat as possible. But I struggle with it at 5:30 am and feel sometimes like I am wearing a corset.

I just ordered a sports bra from Old Navy for $20 that got great reviews, so I will let you know how much bruising I have after that trial run! (I don't actually run yet, more try to look smooth on the elliptical while trying not to catch my earphone wire on something because I am secretly dancing and throwing myself off balance) :)

A site that took time to rate and review sports bras for those well endowed:
Bigbustsuport.com
Check it out!

Counting down

Down 6.1 since January 1st!! Have to admit that weekends are harder, as I am out of my routine. Attitude is changing, really starting to get what I need to do! Feel like that switch has finally been switched to on--Game on that is!!

Just a little thought to keep with you today and the next few weeks!

Walk Away From the Pizza

If you know me at all, you know the love affair I have with Aniello's Pizzeria.  It is at least a Friday night ritual in our household.  Our order tonight?  Large pizza, half pepperoni; 2 orders garlic knots; 1 chicken parm sub.  Delish-- all of it. 

I had half of the sub...and walked away!  There was a time I would have had maybe half the sub and two pieces of pizza, and then be upset with myself after.

But tonight-- I walked away from the pizza! 
1. It was a good choice.
2. We had Woodhouse for lunch
3. I didn't work out today

So I will track it, drink some water, and feel a little bit stronger because I think willpower and I are finally starting a relationship!!!

Weigh in #1

First weigh in since the start of the BLOG. Lost 1.8 which is a total of....... 8.4 lbs. Gotta keep truckin'! Some people are scared or feel like they don't want to go to the meetings but I am telling you, they really do help. Our leader is so motivating and everyone always has different ideas, foods, meals, exercises. It truly is beneficial. If you decide to ever try weight watchers I totally recommend the meetings :)

I need to keep focused. I need to remember the big picture. I am a person who wants things NOW. I am an only child who (yes I am admitting it) has been spoiled. When I want things I want them right then and there. If I don't get them, I normally lose interest. This is certainly something I need to work hard on changing especially within my weight loss journey. Last night I was thinking "I only last 1.8...that's good but I want more". Once I totaled how much I have lost altogether (8.4) I kept saying "its so close to 10- I need to hit 10". I need to remember small steps.

Janice, the leader, was reading a positive saying about how she has earned eating healthy and has earned the way her body looks today. The words she was speaking hit me in a different way. When she kept repeating "I have earned this body" I was thinking that I have earned my body. I am the one who made myself unhealthy, I am the only one to blame and I and only I can change this. I have earned this and it is time for me to earn a healthy body. Its now or never.

I have so many life changing moments that are going to be taking place this year, why not add this to it? I will be graduating with my Bachelor's degree and done with school in March, I will be turning 30 in April, one of my best friends is getting married in June andddddd I will be skinny and healthy! This totally fits! LOL

-Kari

Zumba

I really want to do Zumba, and move my hips with ease and look all sexy doing it. BUT...oh my gosh! If you could have seen this white tall Irish/Italian girl in class tonight, you would have gotten an ab workout from laughing! At least this class was better than the last one I went to taught by someone who didn't move much better than me.


Nevertheless, I will keep trying until I can merengue and mambo to my heart's content! Zumba!

I had someone take a pic of me during class...I know.. I look good!

SaSsY WaTeR

Drink! Drink! Drink! I feel like I am at some bad frat party with how much they want you to drink on a daily basis. Don't they know that after 3 kids my bladder isn't what it used to be? Alas, I am trying to be a good girl, so this week I am drinking "Sassy Water", originated in Prevention for a flat belly, which seems like just a dream at this point.

Recipe: 2 L water, one sliced lemon, one sliced cucumber, 1 tsp shredded fresh ginger. Make and let sit overnight.

Next, locate all restrooms in the vicinity and drink, drink, drink!!

Water

Some people just do not like water, I on the other hand do. So much that after drinking my 8 glasses a day I crave it. This is a product I love and helps me tremendously with getting my daily water in. Weight Watchers wants you to drink 6 glasses but this jug is actually 8. At night I fill it about 3/4 of the way, tilt it side ways and put it in the freezer. In the morning I fill it up w water. Taaaadaaaaa ice cold water all day! Plus I can track how much I have drank. When u take the last swig of water you feel great!!! You can buy these any where. This one in particular I got at Walmart!

Kari

Motivation

I love this saying. It's something I need to continually remember on this journey.

One Day at a Time

Take a look around, and it isn't hard to find someone who could be healthier. Difference between them and us? We are doing something about it! It isn't going to be easy, we will get discouraged, but each day is a new day. I have this little sign in my office that says "One Day at a Time". That is what our focus is now, just one day at a time! Today has been a good day!
*Laura*

New Year!

First day of the rest of my life?  Eh... maybe & here's to hoping.  More like first day in a long journey of getting healthy.  Excited?  Trying to be.  LOL. Anyways- Laura and I thought this  blog would be a good way of pouring out our hearts to the world about our fun, struggles, ideas, thoughts, and everything else along the way.  We have asked a few other women who are going through all of this with us to also contribute anytime they would like.  So cheers to 2012!!!!!  Here's to being skinny....I mean healthy!

Kari