Week Twelve, days four and five....just plugging away....time go by FASTER!!

Day Four, Thursday....this morning I went to my weekly Pilates class at the gym, which was a great workout as usual :) Then I did my day three running stuff, and by the end of my workout was feeling pretty spent but pretty great!! I didn't have too much planned for the day, didn't have to work, so I took it easy and ran some errands (there is lots of little stuff to get done to prepare for this trip!! Like more than a normal vacation.) which included a stop by Eben's parents' house to pick up some little kid pics of him (way too adorable!) so I could scan them and send them off for a slideshow that one of the other recruits' sister is putting together for a meet and greet thing on Thursday night. So far I have gotten all the travel stuff I need, gotten all my misc. appointments/tasks done, gotten all of his clothes and stuff from his parents so I can pack his stuff in my suitcase and have his winter clothes here for our week in MN (he went out there with literally the clothes on his back, so I need to bring him some!!) as well as get all my own stuff together, clean the house for when we come back, make sure his xmas presents are all ready, make any appointments/arrangements for our week here, etc, etc, etc. Not to mention that practically NONE of my clothes fit and I don't really have the time or money to buy a new wardrobe before Wednesday. Yikes!! So there will have to be some strategic dressing going on! Anyway, enough with all this preparation...I'm just ready to GO already!! As of today he is officially a Marine and has successfully completed the Crucible....The pride, relief, joy, love I feel for him is just indescribable! So, from now till Thursday all we have to do is wait. My patience has officially run out.

Day Five, Friday......today I was scheduled to have the day off, but I decided to pick up a lunch shift for a little extra cash (and really I don't know what to do with myself and needed the distraction. Sad, huh? :) ANYTHING to make the time go by faster!!! Unfortunately it wasn't a very lucrative day, but it's more cash in my pocket than I had this morning, so that's a plus. When I got home I was feeling pretty tired for some reason, but wanted to do a good pilates and resistance workout. I did my pilates, but realized I hadn't eaten much yet and figured that's why I was feeling droopy....couldn't work out more on an empty tummy so I ate some dinner but still felt pretty wiped for the rest of the night. I decided to take a little rest and just hit it hard tomorrow...I am a little sore from extra hard workouts the last three days in a row, so it is nice to have a light day to break it up. Early to bed tonight!!

I also just found this website which is awesome for tracking what you eat in a day, and it's free!! You put in your age, height, weight, level of activity outside any fitness regimen, and how much weight you would like to lose in a week, and it calculates how many calories you should be eating in a day. Then you can go in and enter everything you eat and it has all the nutritional info right there and adds it into your total and shows you how much you have used for the day and how many calories you have left. It also lets you input your exercises, what you did and for how long, and estimates the number of calories you burned and subtracts it from you daily total. Pretty cool!! It is really helping me be extra conscious about what I eat and I've actually been much less prone to little "cheats" this week because I know I have to enter it in and it will show me exactly how it impacts my goal/total calories for the day!! On top of the workouts, it allows me to enter in my work hours for the day and see how many calories I've burned at work when I'm serving for 4 or 8 hours....and dang, it's a lot! On days I work 8+ hour shifts I'm burning over a thousand calories! With that on top of my eating and workouts, it's no wonder I'm losing weight!

Week TWELVE (!!), days one through three.....

Day One, Monday.....wow I can't believe it's the last week already!! So as discussed in the results post, my bloating had me feeling a little icky today. I worked a double, and it was SO BUSY because of MLK day and people having the day off, apparently they all came out to the mall and the movies and needed some Big Bowl to refuel! :) So it was good because I made a good chunk of money, especially considering it was only a Monday which I usually don't expect to make much. BONUS! Nice to make a little extra with my vacation just around the corner! But, it was not so nice in that I worked eleven hours straight with only a tiny half-hour break to shovel some dinner in :( Luckily I brought lots of snacks to keep me going throughout the day. So I was exhausted and drained at the end of the day, but really not feeling too ragged physically, considering. I know that getting into better shape has really strengthened my body to the point where these long shifts don't affect my feet/knees/legs as much as they used to! For a while the all the working out + work was really pushing me physically, but I think now I've reached the tipping point where I can handle it because I'm in much better condition. So cool!!

Day Two, Tuesday....today I worked lunch at the restaurant, and as expected after the madness of yesterday, it was SLOOOOW. Like my section didn't even fill up during the "rush" (if you could call it that) so I had three tables and was cut! Which was actually ok. I had packed my gym bag in the am and went straight there after work and did not only my day one running stuff but also did a good resistance workout as well with the machines and weights! I think I am going to start doubling up on workouts like this whenever possible, especially now that my endurance is up and I can handle all that on days where I work as well. Feeling good and strong! Also tonight I started to feel back-to-normal and more like 130 again :) I will "officially" weigh myself tomorrow morning to check in on the progress and make sure I'm not actually gaining!

Day Three, Thursday....today I had my last session with my trainer!! So sad :( but I know that we will probably continue in some form or other after my vacation (and I will continue to take her pilates class). She worked me harder than ever which was great...and then at the end of the session she weighed me to see how much I have lost since our first session and weigh-in. Our first session was on Wednesday November 18, and I weighed in at 147 on their scale (which is a little different from the one I'm using obviously, and when I weigh in at home I don't have clothes on and do it first thing in the am so it really is my lowest possible weight, ha ha). So, nine weeks and nine training sessions later, their scale read 131! So in those nine weeks alone I lost 16 pounds! Sweet :) She was as excited as I was and congratulated me on a job well done, and commended me on my discipline and commitment to the plan.

After my training I did 15 minutes on the elliptical with high resistance and high speed, and then did the sideways running routine/fast sprint intervals for 15 minutes for a total of 30 minutes of high intensity cardio!

Oh, and I did weigh myself on my scale this morning, and it read 128.5 so I was correct, I am not gaining :) I'm going to try my best to be between 126-128 by next Wednesday when I leave for San Diego!! Totally within reach :) Going to work in a few extra workouts here and there, and try to be really extra good with my eating for the next seven days!

Week Eleven results!!!

So my goal for today was 128....I got on the scale and I was 131. Eek! But, I'm also still incredibly bloated so I know that it is throwing things off a little. I know I didn't really gain any weight last week, so I'm just going to keep weighing myself for the next couple days to make sure that was really what was going on!! Just bad timing for the weigh-in, I think. Gotta love being a girl. :( Stay tuned!! For week twelve (the last week!!!!) I'm going to really hit it hard and burn off as many of those remaining pesky pounds as I can! Because after that I'm going to be in San Diego, probably not working out, and then back home in MN with Eben for a week and we are going to be doing a LOT of eating, cuddling, and generally hedonistic activities. I would love to still get in a few workouts during that week, but I'm certainly not going to beat myself up if I don't!!! I only get to see him for ten days out of six months, so I'm going to take full advantage of it :)

Workout tally for week Eleven:

Cardio: 4

Weights: 2

Pilates/Yoga: 2

Week Eleven, days five, six and seven....

Day five, Friday.....today I was a bit sore from my massage, and felt a little droopy all around. She said that I might feel that way because of all the toxins released...so I'm just trying to drink a LOT of water to flush it all out. I decided to take a rest day (sort of) and not do my usual pilates and weights today since I didn't want to push it and have a long work weekend ahead of me, so I just did some yoga which was nice to stretch everything out. Then off to work!

Day six, Saturday....today it was back to the gym for my weight training and cardio. I did a similar workout to what I did with my trainer on Wednesday, and then did my day five running stuff (20 minute run, 5 "strides", 6 minute run). It was a great and strenuous workout, but I'm just glad I felt back to normal energy wise and wasn't so sore today! It was good that I took a little break yesterday :) Then off to work again for a busy Saturday night!!

Day seven, Sunday....today I woke up with awful cramps and feeling the most bloated I've EVER been. Yuck. But I guess it is good timing because Sunday is a rest day anyway. So I took some painkillers, went to church in the AM and then off to work!

Week Eleven, days three and four....

Day Three, Wednesday....today I went to train with my trainer in the morning, and realized that this is my second to last session! So only one more next Wednesday, and then I'll be off to San Diego and will have to re-evaluate the plan. I wasn't necessarily planning on doing the training long-term, but it is so beneficial that I might just do a longer session every other week or something. If I decide I can afford it, I would definitely still do it weekly :) Anyway, she worked me hard as usual, and after training I did a half-hour of cardio, 15 minutes on the elliptical (med-high resistance) and then did the sideways running/sprinting intervals on the treadmill for 15 minutes. Great workout!! Then I had the rest of the afternoon/evening off to do some appointments (I had my first checkup in 2 years! Yay health insurance! Now I just have to schedule that dentist appt....ick), get groceries, and hang out. Sooo nice.

Day Four, Thursday.....this morning I went to my Pilates class at the gym which was again greatly challenging and rigorously worked my core!! Eben said he would come with me to class when he is home on leave, so I am anxious to see how he takes to the Pilates...it can be very challenging at first even if you are in awesome shape! Then after that I did my day three running stuff which is 10 minute run/5 "strides", repeat three times. After my workout I went over to the massage place next to my gym and made an appt. for later in the day, something I have been meaning to do for a LONG time. It was AMAZING! And very reasonably priced too, with the discount I get for being a member at my gym. They have a monthly membership deal where you get a monthly massage for $42 and anything additional is $35. So I'm going to try to make that happen once a month. My masseuse also happened to be engaged to a Marine! What are the odds....so it was nice to talk to her about her experience a little...her fiancee is just at the end of his four year contract and is officially out in a few months! He was stationed in Hawaii for four years....yeah, I could probably deal with that!

Anyway, she said that with all the working out and training and the physical stress of my job, it would really help me to come in once a month. I agreed. And now that I am in the mindset of doing nice things for myself and my body, I think I can definitely make that happen. It was also just so nice, toward the end of this crazy phase in my life, to have someone take care of ME for a bit! I have just been missing that physical, caring contact a lot too I think. But, having to take my own care so seriously of late has also made me realize that I don't have to wait for someone else to take care of me, I have every right to say "I need a massage today" or "I need to get more sleep, thank you very much. I am tired." and to realize that other people have to respect those decisions. And to not feel self-indulgent or guilty for saying so. Because so often Eben would make me slow down, relax, comfort me when I was stressed out, give me massages, reassure me, etc...and now that he's gone I have learned to provide myself with that support, care and comfort...and to realize that that is not only OK but absolutely necessary :) Man I am just learning lessons all over the place. All good things....

Week Eleven, days one and two....

Wow, week ELEVEN!! I realized I really only have two more weigh-ins before I leave for San Diego! So my week thirteen is cut short by my vacation....I'm going to be 126 when I get on that plane!! Two weeks from today!

Day One, Monday....today I was back to working my Monday double, and because it's slowed down a LOT at the restaurant it wasn't really that bad. I was done with my morning shift around 2:00 and had three hours to enjoy lunch with my coworkers, do a little shopping/returning at the mall, and sit in Panera and read for an hour or so before I had to go back to work. So though I didn't make as much as I have been lately, it's kind of nice how relaxed it's been lately :) So no working out, as I was away all day!

Day Two, Tuesday...today I had to work lunch at the restaurant, and it was even slower than Monday!! I was done by 1:30 which was great because I planned on hitting the gym to get a cardio workout in on my way home. I had a date with my friend Tom to do dinner and get my hair cut (he has been my hair guru, and I don't use that word lightly or ironically, for the past...seven??...years now) so I wanted to get my workout in before that and still be able to leave for his house before rush hour since he lives about 45 minutes away, on the opposite side of the cities from me. I did the day one running plan but was starting to feel my stomach starting to eat itself which was sort of unpleasant :( It's hard when I work out at odd times of the day (especially after work it seems) because I just can't have the energy I need because I can't really eat at the right times. I tried to have a meal replacement bar about an hour before my workout, but it wasn't quite enough. I have heard that it takes about two hours for your body to really be able to start burning what you have eaten, so I guess what is in your stomach two hours before your workout has to be enough to get you through. Anyway, I was happy to be able to squeeze a workout in and then I had a fabulous evening (and even more fabulous haircut) with Tom!!

Week Ten results!!

It's the day of reckoning....SO CLOSE to my goal...
So I got on the scale this morning for my weekly weigh-in, and.....130!!!!!
I have officially reached my goal!!!! What a crazy feeling....after ten weeks of this, I have lost a total of twenty pounds and set into place a lot of good habits that I'm hoping will carry over into the future. I know I will stay active, but may scale down a little, and my eating may not be quite as strict (but let's be honest, I cheated in lots of small ways anyway and it didn't seem to matter all that much). But I think the two pound a week thing is a really easy, healthy goal and totally attainable for anyone.
So for the next 2 1/2 weeks until I leave for San Diego I'm going to keep at it, and see how much more I can lose and tone up. I would be really happy with an extra 2-4 pounds off. If I could be between 126-128 lbs, I think it would be a great place for me to begin my "maintenance" routine. It will be interesting to see how the loss sticks...I have complete confidence it will, unless I fall completely off the wagon eating wise, or completely stop going to the gym, which I don't see happening. Like I said before, I have definitely changed my habits, but haven't been a slave to the new plan, so I have been eating what I like here and there in smaller portions, enjoying a drink every so often, but for the most part being pretty good. I never have, in the whole ten weeks, felt like I was depriving myself food or craving something that was bad for me. Quite the opposite, a lot of the time I feel like I am forcing myself to eat MORE when I'm not all that hungry to keep my metabolism fueled.
I think that since it came off so gradually, and naturally, there is a high likelihood that I can maintain this current weight. I really really believe that anything that is worth achieving is going to take hard work...so I did this the old-school way, but I'm telling you, it works! Anyone looking for a quick fix with pills or starving themselves or whatever is not going to find it, it always comes back. So though 2 pounds a week sometimes seemed like a snail's pace (we all want gratification NOW, right? Especially when we are working so damn HARD at something!!) it was really good to take it slow and realize that the end progress would be so worth it :) Also, gradual, bit-by-bit changes in habits and routine over ten weeks is MUCH easier to incorporate into your life with hope that it will become your permanent habits...Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say, so waking up one day and saying that you are going to change your entire life around TODAY and hoping that it will stick forever is just futile.
So....here's to reaching my goal!! What am I going to do to celebrate? I feel like I must commemorate somehow. This is big :)
And, here's to keeping the momentum for another two 1/2 weeks! Or just hitting the gym enough that I keep busy and distracted because the time between me and Eben right now is just dragging by!