Where you at?

This message is two-fold:

1. I am wondering where my fellow challenger is at? Poor Kari has been sick--which tends to throw us off. Come on Kari, let's see how dangerous you can be!!

2. Some friends and I are doing a photo journal of what we eat this week. It is another idea that My friend Mel read about to keep yourself accountable. Here is what I have had so far today:

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!