Well hello again (Melissa)

Well I've been a little absent.  However, I have completed two more half marathons since the last time I posted.  Neither were PRs, but hell, I still did them!  The most recent one I did was super hilly and I did it with a friend so honestly, I wasn't concerned about my speed.  I didn't train as much for that one, so it definitely showed!  The best part was having my 4 year old daughter cross the finish line with me!  Since we finished so far at the end my kids were waiting for me and all ran with me, but Abby stayed with me and held my hand across the finish line!  Such a special moment!


Now that I've completed 3 half marathons, with 2 more scheduled (April and May), I have the itch to run a full marathon!!!  Both that and completing a triathlon are on my bucket list.  I might make 2014 the year of crossing both off!  I might go for the Tri in the spring and the full marathon in the fall!  What has gotten into me!!!???

How is my weight??  Well I'm hovering at 176.  I am doing Weight Watchers with some coworkers.  I was super motivated the first couple weeks and lost 8.4 lbs in those first 3 weeks.  However, Halloween derailed me a bit and last week I still sucked and was up... boo!  But, this week it's back on track and I'm focusing on eating clean and cutting out all the candy and processed carbs!

As for exercise, I am looking to focus on speed work with my friend the dreadmill in the coming months!  I'm also going to try and do one long run a week on the weekends throughout the winter.  I'm also going to cross train with boxing and hopefully get back to my barre classes.  I need to lose these last 30 pounds!  I'd love to be at my goal weight the end of this school year!  Most of all, I just want to be healthy and physically fit!

Here are some pics from my last two half marathons:

Goodbye 70! (Melissa)

So I started a new Whole 30 challenge for the month of April on Monday.  So far I am staying strong.  The second time is easier because I know what to expect, can anticipate tempting situations, and have continued to eat Paleo about 90% of the time since the end of January.  However, once I allowed myself to start snacking again, the scale stopped moving!

So I needed a new plan.  My husband and I signed up for the Run to Remember in Boston on May 26th.  In an effort to get in as best shape as possible I decided it was time to get focused and a Whole 30 Challenge was the best way to do that!

So the first week is in the books and I was down 2 lbs this week bringing me to this beautiful weight loss number:

I am super excited because that means I am just 30 away from my goal weight!!  And I am only one pound away from being just overweight (according to my BMI). 

I've been running like crazy (did 7 miles today), going to boxing, Zumba, and eating very healthy so I hope I am as successful this month as I was in January!!!   But I am trying to focus on my eating and exercising instead of just the number on the scale.  Wish me luck!

5k Victory!! (Melissa)

On Sunday I ran the Ras 5k.  I was extremely nervous about this race because I had not run outside since December and I really really really wanted to beat my time from last year.  I also knew that it was a hilly course (well not really hills but lots of slight inclines and a big one at the end).  That totally added to my anxiety over the race. As if I wasn't nervous enough already, I also had to deal with the lingering effects from the lovely stomach bug I had on Thursday and Friday! Did I forget to mention we got another 15 inches on snow dumped on us on Friday???

So the day of the race I am worried about my stomach, road conditions, the weather (it was 35 degrees out, but at least overcast and not snowing!), and how my body was going to handle everything.  Even though I was very nervous, I was also confident!  I lined up with the 10 minute milers (last year I was with the 12 min) and actually felt like a runner.  Maybe it was because I was wearing real running clothes or that I was 35lbs lighter this year??  I just felt good about myself and knew I would do better than last year.

The race starts and I felt good.  I actually kept up with two of our friends for the first half mile, which was a slight incline the entire time!  Then I slowed up a bit and just tried to fall into a groove.  I was annoyed with the amount of people around me, although they did provide lots of interesting scenery!  There were too many ups and downs during the race that I couldn't get my breathing into a good groove, I couldn't really hear my music over the loud chatter of people around me, and the road was a bit slippery.

I don't know about you, but when I run I try to pick someone out ahead of me and make it a goal to beat them.  Then once I get in front of that person I find someone else to go ahead, and so on.  Shortly into the race I saw this girl, who was about my size, wearing a green tutu and hat.  I wanted to beat her and she spent most of the race ahead of me. So as the race went on I kept my eye on her!

As we round the corner for the last 3/4 of a mile I see the dreaded hill.  Now, this is really a hill and I knew it was coming.  So I'm chugging along and determined to run the whole damn thing... I get to the top and OH NO, my body starts dry heaving... I was like oh no you don't! So I actually stopped and walked for about 15 seconds and then got right back to running.  Then while in the home stretch, I see her!!!  I head nodded to Adam and sped up, I got in front of her and just pushed myself as fast as I could.  When I crossed the line I checked my watch 33:49.... holy crap!!!

I was very surprised by my time!  I knew the first mile was 11 minutes, and the second mile 10:40, and then I just tried to chug along as fast as I could.  Last year I did the race in 38:30 (right around there), so my goal this time was 35 minutes.  I was so excited to be under 34 minutes!!  It is my fastest 5k ever and it wasn't the easiest course.

Now I look forward to signing up for some more 5Ks and moving forward with training for my half marathon.  My husband is going to run it with me so that will keep me motivated (eeek, only 11 weeks to go!!).  Here are pics from last year and this year!  35 lbs lighter!  I hope to be 35 lbs lighter by next year and be at my goal weight!!

Mind games (Melissa)

So I totally understand when people say after losing weight that they still see a fat girl in the mirror.  My mind is right there.  I still feel like I am huge.  I feel like my stomach and rolls are bulging out.  I feel like my thighs are huge.  When I look in the mirror, I see my imperfections and still see a fat girl.


This is what I look like now:                  This is what I think I still look like:

           

So I am going to keep going and fighting and hope that my brain starts to click.  I want to see the new me, not the old me!

Whole30 - Halfway done!! (Melissa)

So I'm about halfway through my Whole30 journey for the month of January.  How have I been doing??  Well, the first week was easy.  I planned ahead and cooked like crazy.  I stocked my kitchen with some new staples (almond butter, dried fruit, Larabars, and tons of fruits and veggies).  When telling people about my new journey they say "OMG, what can you actually eat?"  Then I rattle off the tons of things I can eat and they are shocked to realize how much I can eat!

I won't lie, it's been a lot of work.  The food is more expensive, but my husband and I have not eaten out once since New Year's Eve, so we are saving that money.  I've made trips to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

Here are some of my favorite items:

• Trader Joe's Creamy Almond Butter with Sea Salt
• Trader Joe's dried apricots
• Trader Joe's freeze dried fruit (bananas, raspberries, and pineapple)
• Tessemae's oil free Italian dressing (0 cals and super tasty!)
• Dry roasted almonds
• Mixed nuts without peanuts
• Larabars - pecan pie and cashew cookie are my favs

Besides snacks what have I been eating.  Well, for lunches I have been eating salads.  Generally I put mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, baby bella mushrooms, black olives, red onion, cucumbers, a hard boiled egg diced up, and avocados.  Then I either make my own dressing (1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, black pepper and basil) or use Tessemae''s Italian dressing.   I also bought an Annie's sugar free Italian dressing but I haven't used it yet.  Every day people comment on how good my salads look, and they taste just as good!  Then I top it off with Polar Raspberry Lime Seltzer and a mandarin orange.  Other lunches I have had are turkey wraps with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and mustard (I use iceberg lettuce as the wrap).  I also might saute some chicken breast with peppers and onions and toss that on a salad to make a "taco" salad.

Dinners have been where all the cooking is going on!  So far I have made stuffed peppers (stuffed with ground turkey, spinach, onions, and tomato paste), whole roaster chicken with carrots, kickin collard green soup, beef stew, oven broiled salmon with asparagus, chicken with zucchini and mushrooms, Trader Joe's chili lime chicken burgers with homemade guac, and my favorite so far was homemade meatballs with homemade tomato sauce!  I ate leftovers for several days!!

I've been living on Pinterest and found so many Paleo recipes.  I have honestly bee loving this journey. I love that I am eating healthy, clean, and pure foods.  I even tried making my own mayo and oy, that was a disaster!!!  I actually plan on continuing with my Paleo/Whole30 diet for as long as I can.  However, once the 30 days are over I will allow myself a treat every now and again.  But for the most part I will stay on track.

Being super strict with my eating has given me the power again.  I am in control of what I eat and actually feed off the self-control I have.  There is no cheating.  No sneaking a bite of something here and there because honestly, I'd only be cheating myself.  Oh yeah, did I mention that I have lost 9 lbs in the first two weeks???  But, I have also been exercising.  I do Zumba twice a week, barre classes twice a week, and then I actually went for a 3 mile run on Sunday!  And, last night I tried a boxing class at a local Title Boxing Club.  That was a crazy workout and I am hoping to convince my husband to let us join!!

I highly suggest the Whole30 challenge to anyone who is unhappy with what they are eating.  The all or nothing mentality has really helped motivate me again.  I want to get to my goal weight by Labor Day.  Right now I am still working towards a BMI that will put me at overweight.  I'm so close and hope to get there by March 1!  So check back to see how the rest of the month goes!!

New Year, new beginning... (Melissa)

So it's just about 2013.  I have a lot to be proud of, but I am have been very frustrated for awhile.  I am proud that I have lost a lot of weight and have maintained for the past almost 6 months.  In the past, I always gained the weight back.  However, I am frustrated that I haven't been as motivated or had the self-control I used to have.  So I need a new plan.

After Thanksgiving I signed up for a 60 Day challenge with my Barre studio, which I knew was going to get me going again.  But almost a month in, and I actually weigh a couple pounds more than when I started, so being part of that challenge hasn't really motivated me.

Then, I was thinking about rejoining Weight Watchers because maybe I need that accountability of weighing-in in front of someone.  Maybe I need to try something different and track points instead of just calories... But then I thought about the $43 a month I would have to spend.

So, just the other day someone on my June message board mentioned The Whole30.  Now, I am not one for fad diets, but I need something at this point.  I need to regain the self control I once had.  I need to control what I eat and not let it control me.  I want to stop giving into temptation.  I want to lose the last 45lbs.  I want this.  So after reading up on the Whole30 and Paleo diets, I decided I am going to give it a go for 30 days.  I know I can last a month.

I told my wonderful husband of my plan and he gave me his not impressed face.  I could tell instantly he thinks I can't do it.  Hello, motivation to prove him wrong!  So today I indulged a bit and had a donut with my coffee and will have Chinese food for dinner.  Tomorrow is a new day, new year, and new beginning to finishing their weight loss.

So tonight when the ball drops I will give my husband a kiss and also kiss goodbye to grains, legumes, dairy, sugar, and alcohol for 30 days!!!  Wish me luck because I am gonna need it!!

A year later in pictures (Melissa)

So just when I was feeling frustrated with my lack of losing more weight, here comes Halloween and all it's candy!  Well I was excited for Halloween this year, as I always am, because I love to dress up.  Well my costume from last year had to be taken in, ALOT!  I was psyched and was even happier when I compared last year and this year.  I have the before picture posted in my classroom and I remember feeling DISGUSTED with myself when I looked at it.  Yet, it still took me another month last year to get my butt in gear.

A week later it was school picture day!  Oh joy!  I hated last years pic and thought I looked so gross.  The actual class picture is worse, but below you can see a comparison in just the face.  The lady taking my picture said I could use last year's pic if I didn't want a new one taken... HELLZ NO I quickly said!!

So overall, I am very pleased with where I am a year later.  Could I have lost even more weight?  Yes, of course, but I am 66 lbs less than I was a year ago.  I have gone from a tight size 20 to a 12/14 (depending on the brand) and large/medium shirts!

I'm not done with this journey and to make sure I continue to lose weight I signed up for another 60-day challenge with my Barre studio.  I just bought a Fitbit and plan to walk at least 10,000 steps a day from now until February!  I want to start the new year off right and hope that motivation will keep me going until I reach my goal weight of 145, for a total weight loss of 100lbs!!

Still here, chugging away... (Melissa)

Look at that beautiful number!  Out of the 180's!!  So quickly I've been running, but not as much.  My toe nails are black and running has become painful because of it.  I'm rethinking my half marathon plan.  Running is just not as enjoyable and I honestly haven't been training as much as I should so its making me doubt my ability to actually run 13.1 miles on November 4th.

But, even though I have not been running as much I have been exercising like crazy.  My new love is Zumba!  I go twice a week.  I love dancing and making a fool of myself.  Now I see why Amanda loves it too!!  I also have been going to my barre class once a week.  So even though I haven't been running I have still been moving and tracking my food.  I want to hit 174 by my birthday on 11/26.  I know I can do this, just need to stay motivated!!

Hello??? (Melissa)

Anyone there????  Boy it's been quiet around here!  Life has been crazy, it's back to work, my usual beginning of fall sinus infection, spending time with friends, and not being as focused!  No excuses because I just haven't been 100% on track.  For the past month I've pretty much maintained.  Which honestly, stinks!  I took a two week break from running due to my sinus infection and school being crazy.  Then I ran last week and my knees killed me the next couple days... big boo to that!

Well there is less than a month until my half marathon, so I need to be 100% dedicated to my running in these last few weeks.  Tomorrow I have to run 7 miles (praying I have the strength to do so), and then run 5 mi two times during the week!  With only four weeks left I need to do 7, 8, 9, and 10 mile runs!!  I hope my knees don't fail me because I will be beyond disappointed if they do.

This past week I was back on track!!  I stayed focused all day.  Lately my problem has been after school until bedtime.  I eat really well all day until dinner, when its been hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.  I did have fun with some friends on Wednesday, but stayed really focused Thursday and Friday!

I weighed in at 185, so I am back down 60 lbs... and here is the proof:

So here is my plan for the week:

Sunday - Run 7 miles

Monday - Zumba

Tuesday - Run 3 - 5 miles (depending on how sore I am)

Wednesday - Barre class

Thursday - Run 3-5 miles

Friday - rest

Saturday -  run 8 miles

It's going to be a busy week, but I have to do this.  The half marathon is going to be here before I know it and I need to do this. I want to do this, so I have to!!  

Weigh in (All)

 Cheryl:

-7.4 lbs!!!! I love seeing this kind of progress! I know its the first week, big loss, but I will take it! I have had some really good workouts and have been using myfitnesspal to track my intake. I am aiming for somewhere between 1200-1400 calories a day, plus exercise!


Melissa: 

So I forgot to weigh in this morning as I thought it was Sunday since my husband was off from work on Friday.  But I had peeked at the scale and it was up earlier in the week.  So instead of taking all my hard work and just being upset with the scale I am going to focus on the positives I experienced this week.  I ran 6 miles on both Tuesday and Friday (shaved off 6 minutes on Friday!), went to my barre class 2x, and check out the beautiful number on the size pants I bought on Thursday:

Yes, I bought a size 12 pants!!!  I don't know how they fit as the other pants I bought were 14s, but heck, I am going to take it!!!  I also bought several shirts in L, and actually felt great when I went shopping!!  I went to NY&Co and I had not shopped there since high school and even then I feel like I barely fit into their clothes!  This was a great shopping experience.  I bought a total of 16 shirts and 6 pairs of pants!!  I bought many sleeveless shirts and feel good wearing them.  

So what's my plan for this week??  Well I am going to continue to focus my energy on running (this week my 3 runs are 6, 7, and 4 miles), going to my barre classes, and just eating as healthy as I can.  If the scale behaves, then great, if not, well then oh well because I know I am getting healthier and stronger, and I am not going to let a piece of metal define my success!

Teri:

I had a great loss this week, 2.1 pounds gone for a total of 32 lbs lost, woot! I was sort of surprised to see such a great loss (although I was stable at 162.3 last week) since I didn't really kick butt in workouts. I did a lot of heavy lifting and organizing for hours straight last weekend (we are finally organizing our garage and office, um 3 years later!) and I really worked it. I had decent workouts last Tuesday and Thursday, but have felt a bit sluggish, so hopefully I am not coming down with anything.

And the most exciting thing this week, going to Nordstrom's for a bra fitting, and getting a smaller band and cup size! I haven't had a 34 band size since early college maybe, so I was super pumped! The cup size, while smaller, is still not exactly where I would like it to be, but considering what size I was wearing last fall/winter, I am beyond stoked. Just wish they weren't so spendy!

As for eating, I did pretty well, staying around 1200 calories/day. We also tried a new recipe that was low in calorie, super tasty, and yielded a ton of leftovers so many days last week consisted of this meal:)

This week, I plan to consume the usual 1200 cals/day, and I am hoping that I can get in a few real workouts. I am still trying to shake this sluggish, blah feeling, and am hopeful that an early morning workout tomorrow will get my week started on the right foot!

Amanda:

I am/was totally disgusted with myself at weigh in. That is a 5 pound gain in two weeks.

So this week I am back to the basics, if it's not a fruit, veggie, or protein it isn't going in my mouth while at work, and after work there is a meal, no snacking! I'm also getting back into my workout routine. There is no excuse any more. I made them for two weeks and I got my result.

Snack Attack!! (Melissa)

So we've all experienced a case of the munchies, well what I do now is drastically different as compared to what I used to do!  Before, I basically devoured anything and everything in site al a Cookie Monster style.  I also would have the same thought as him:

Well now I stop and think about whether I am really hungry and what I want.  I examine calories as I look through the pantry.  I try and opt for fruits and/or veggies, but sometimes they don't cut it.  So what do I eat???  I get asked a lot from people who are curious about my success, so let me share some of my favorite snacks!

- Hard boiled eggs (yolks removed) with hot sauce (I cut the eggs in half, remove the yolks, and then put some hot sauce in the holes where the yolk was).. 34 calories for 2 eggs.

 - Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack - yup, sounds gross, right?  Well its a little crunchy, salty, and comes in a wasabi flavor for some spice!  And it's only 60 calories for the whole little package!

- Trader Joe's Sour Cream and Onion Corn Puffs - yummy, like popcorn, only 56 calories for 1 cup!

- Homemade salsa with homemade pita chips - chop up tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, with garlic powder, salt, pepper, a tsp of olive oil.... then take a Joseph's Oat Bran, Flax, and Wheat pita and split it open, cut into wedges and put in the toaster oven.  They get nice and crunchy and voila, pita chips for only 60 calories! Then the salsa is about 40 calories!

- Frozen Grapes - Love em!  Usually my dessert!  They take awhile to thaw so they are great to eat slowly! about 100 calories for a cup of them.

There is also the usual go to items: string cheese, hummus and veggies, banana and peanut butter, a good ol cup of skim milk, greek yogurt, and so on..  I am always looking for new snacks, so please if anyone has any other ideas please please please share them!!!

Frustration (Melissa)

So I feel like I have plateaued for the past month.  I am feeling frustrated and in the past I'd just be like, "oh forget it!" and pig out!  But now I know I gotta just stay focused and keep working hard!

Although I know I have lost inches and really have lost weight.  The weight loss has slowed down drastically and I have to just keep reminding myself that the scale isn't the only way to measure success on this journey.  I think about the fact that I've lost 9.25 inches, I'm fitting better into some of my slimmer size 14 pants and even some are getting loose, and that I can run 6 miles!  Those are huge accomplishments.

I have to remember this is a long journey and the challenges will always be there.  They don't go away, they just change!  I leave you with this picture as it sums up this entire journey and my new mindset!

Speaking of measuring success, updated pics!! (Melissa)

Okay so I just finished my first 60-Day Challenge at my local Barre class studio.  Basically I continued to track my food, run, and then take 2 Barre classes a week (although I took 3 a week for awhile).  I was measured on the first day, halfway through, and then today.  I am very pleased with my results.  Of course I would have loved to lose more weight, but the inches and differences are great!!

Now these pics are just 60 days apart.  For an even more eye opening comparison of my starting to now weight, feast your eyes on this beauty...

It's actually really hard finding pics of yourself when you are very overweight because you avoid the camera at all costs!!!  So I look forward to posting more progress pics in another 60 days!!  I'd love to see another 10 inches gone and hopefully more than 10lbs!!!

Measuring Success (Melissa)

So it's been a year since I started this journey.  Although, for me, I feel like the real journey, the one I am completely dedicated to started in December.  I look back to last summer and while I started this blog, I didn't really focus on eating healthy and exercising.  I remember trying to jump start my weight loss by drinking smoothies twice a day and just eating fruits and veggies.  What was I thinking???  Of course I totally floundered and finally got my act together after Thanksgiving.

So eating healthy and exercising has become my passion since then.  I still have a box of the Carnation Instant Breakfast in the pantry and totally laughed at what a silly idea that was!  There definitely is no quick fix and it's just taken hard work and patience to get where I am.

I've been running since December and today, I ran 6.17 miles.  Yes, holy moly, I cannot believe it!  I was almost in tears as I was finishing up my run.  I was thinking about how far I have come and how I could barely run for a minute when I started.  My whole mentality about this journey has changed.  I love running and going to my Barre classes.  I like having control over my eating habits and keep that little Devil sitting on my shoulder urging me to eat poorly at bay.  Most importantly I feel healthier and stronger!  And oh yeah, my cholesterol went from 188 to 165 at my last physical!  So yes, I am getting my body healthier!!

I have also gone from a snug size 20 to a size 14.  I also was able to squeeze myself into my size 14 American Eagle jeans from college.  Yes there was a bit of a muffin top, but I was so happy to just get them on!  I have a size 12 capris that I'd love to fit into by Labor Day, so that's my next goal.  I am also working toward weighing 174.  This would be huge for me because I would be considered overweight and no longer obese!!  I am also hoping to meet this goal by Labor Day!

I'm looking forward to continuing this journey and embarking on a new journey into the world of maintaing my weight loss.  I am sure that will be just as hard as losing the weight.  But it will always be a journey, there is no end point.  The challenges will just change and life will happen. So I leave you with this image that was posted from my Barre class instruction.  So true!

Weigh In (All)

Teri


No scale picture this week since I maintained and weighed in at 164 this week. Honestly, I am impressed that I didn't gain at all.


I have definitely been less strict with myself, allowing myself a more indulgences than normal. I am certainly not getting wild and crazy, going back to old ways but I am also not completely focused with my weight loss journey and the scale showed that. 


I am hoping to regain some focus this week, its all a mental game. I need to skip the extra indulgent foods, add in some extra gym time, and amp up the water intake (yes, I know the story of my life!)


I also need my girls to be on me about accountability! So, come on girls:)


Melissa


Well this was a good week!  I weighed in at 188 at my doctors on Wednesday (that was fully clothed), but today my scale read 184.5!!  So that puts me at 60.5 lbs gone!!  Whoohooo!  So glad to finally hit the 60 lbs mark because I had been maintaining the last month.  I ran 4.5 miles last night and I am hoping as my mileage increases so will the weight loss.  I also made sure I ate more protein by making smoothies and using chicken breast more.  My next goal is 174, which will place me in the overweight category according to my BMI, so it will be great to no longer be considered obese!!  I'd like to see this number on Labor Day.  Thats about 10 lbs in 5 weeks..  I'm going to work hard and hope I meet my goal!  If not I will still be happy that I've increased my running and endurance.


My plan for the week... eat more protein, Barre class 2x, and then run 12 miles this week (5 miles tomorrow, then 3 on Tuesday, and 4 miles on Thursday).  As always I will drink lots of water!!


Amanda

Ummm ... can't explain the picture, just consider it art.


Weighed in this week in the same pound as last week. Maintenance is definitely half of the battle. I have been enjoying meals and beers with my family, but at least have been able to keep myself in check; knowing when to stop, and when I need to work out.


Looking to do the same this week, all though I still would love to see 169 by the time I go to the beach in September. Need to regain a little bit of focus like Teri mentioned above. Must find the motivation I had the last year and continue it on for at least another!

Weigh-In (All)

Heather:

183.0.....woot! Though I know it was not done in the healthiest manner, I'm still happy with the number.  I have had WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many carbs this week.  MFP is not happy with me and it letting me know. My goal for this coming week is to drink enough water.  I've come to realize that some days I only drink 1 or 2 glasses. 


Amanda:

Oh, how good it feels to break the 175 barrier. Despite having eaten a few too many calories the night before weigh-in (it was my birthday, get off my back) I still managed to do it. Hopefully I can stay under from here on out. I know what my problem is - it's not not working out, it's not not knowing what to eat, it's getting in lazy slumps. I let one bad meal drag me down and influence more bad meals to follow. Gotta stop that! Say no to Chick Fil-a!

I skipped a few gym days this week but I've been painting some extra walls in my house and I feel like that's a good workout. As long as I keep my mind off food, I don't crave food. "Must stay busy!" is my new mantra.

I've also rediscovered Plato's Closet. I'm not too proud to shop thrift, and it is a great way to stock the closet when clothes don't last very long on your body for cheap! See above. :)

Melissa: 
No weigh in from me.  I am waiting to step on the scale until I weigh in at my Barre skinny jean challenge.  I am hoping it will be done tonight or Wednesday.  Otherwise my next weigh in will be after my yearly physical on July 25th!  I want to focus on my half marathon training and not the number on the scale.  I just finished the first week.  I'm a little bummed because I was supposed to run 4 miles yesterday but it was so darn hot I barely did 3.25.  So this week I have to do 2, 3, and 5 miles.  Tomorrow I am going to try 4 miles to make up for not doing it yesterday.  The rest of the week will be a challenge since Abby and I are headed to NJ to watch my little cousins for the weekend!  I am really hoping I can squeeze in a run Thursday night and then Sunday night.  Wish me luck!!!

Lauren:
Things are not going so well here.  I have managed to gain back up to almost where I was over a month ago.  I am having a really hard time mentally getting myself jump started.  SOOOO... I sent out an email and started a biggest loser at my office.  We have official weigh ins on Monday mornings and today was our first.  I am excited to have people at work to commiserate with!  So wish me luck--- the next 12 weeks I hope to really get my booty in gear.


Teri:

Down 1.6 lbs this week, woot! Just 2.8 pounds away from 30 pounds lost total, and getting closer to my goal weight! I kept my cravings under control and worked out 4 days last week. In fact, I was so dedicated to my workout schedule, I even walked 2 miles on Thursday even, an hour after breaking a finger. I also spent 45 minutes with a hard core cardio workout on Saturday, despite the broken finger and a tumble down the stairs on Friday, bruising myself pretty badly. Dedicated, yes! Accident-prone, apparently! Graceful, not a chance! Anyhow, goals this week include back on track with eating (I indulged this weekend a bit more than I would have liked), and exercise! Hoping to see a loss this week but if I maintain I will be happy to!

Cheryl:
No picture this week. I was disgusted with the scale. I am up 2 lbs this week. Hopefully its just because AF is in town! 

Tiffany:
According to the scale at my ILs, I'm still ranging between 229.0 and 231.0. Depends on the day! I'm not doing anything special except eating smaller portions, drinking more water, and not eating too late at night. I know I need to kick it back into gear but it's hard when I don't have my own kitchen, my own groceries, etc. So for now, I'm happy to be maintaining and I plan to move that number down very soon. 

Nikki:



Erin:

Weigh-In (All)

Another week down... what happened, ladies? 


Tiffany

Hi there, 220's... so nice to see you.
230's- I'd like to not see you ever again, thanks. :)
I'm about 6.something pounds away from 20 pounds lost. I'm hoping to see that by the end of the month.

Melissa: 

Well down another pound this week for a total of 57 gone!  Whoohoo!  I'd love to lose 3 more pounds by June 30th when I have to get weighed in for my barre class challenge.  But, like Amanda, I'd like to step away from being so dependent on the scale to dictate my success.  I am for ditching the scale for a month and focusing on fitness and exercise as my goals.  Like, I ran 5 miles on Friday and was sooo stinkin proud of myself!  But then was bummed that the scale was only down 1 lb.  So I am going to focus on increasing my miles each week and continue eating as clean as possible!


Teri:

Woot, 25 lbs gone, it is a beautiful thing!  Of course, this mama would like to lose a bit more but much like Amanda and Melissa, I am tired of being a slave to the scale. In the last few weeks, I have become obsessed with the number on the scale, checking daily to see what number I am at, whether I am fluctuating, etc. While it is helpful to get me to a lower weight on Friday morning, it is not a healthy frame of mind, and I would like to just focus on doing what I have been doing - tracking my food, continuing to eat healthy, working out, and getting stronger.  We will see if I am strong enough to resist, but I would like to give it a shot!

Amanda:

I got on the scale Friday, but didn't get a picture. I was at 177.4 - not my finest. This is it for me, I'll check in with you all weekly, but I am off the scale until my ONE YEAR mark. I am going to make these next 3-4 weeks about hard work and how I feel, not about what I weigh.

Lauren:

Another loss this week.  I was so busy party planning that I figured it would be a loss.  Next week is going to be very rough though.  Ugh.  We are traveling to an indoor waterpark with the kids and it turns out I am going to be on my own with them for most of the first day.  

Erin:


Welp, still no camera, but I weighed in at exactly 210 on Sunday morning. Not a huge loss, but I wasn't expecting it to be. I messed up my toe good Wednesday by stubbing it which made it bleed and jacked up my toenail. It got infected and sore, so I haven't been able to work out because it hurt to even walk on it a certain way. It is getting better, so I hope I can run in the next couple of days with my new to me jogging stroller. I especially want to be able to run this weekend to support Teri, Amanda, and Melissa who will be running their 5k :)

 Cheryl:

 

After being gone 2 weekends in a row, hosting a baby shower and attending a retirement party, I finally am in control! I started the day with a healthy 4.6 mile walk!  I am down 3 lbs since my last weigh in here, down 1 lb since last week. 

Summer Vacation is here! (Melissa)

So today is my first day of summer vacation!  I don't go back until August 27th, so thats about 11 weeks off!  That's 11 more weigh ins and the chance to WOW everyone when I go back in the fall!  I'd love to lose another 20 lbs this summer, but I am figuring maybe more about 15.  I want to be realistic so I don't set myself up for disappointment.

So now that summer is upon me, I think about my plan for the summer.  Working was easy in regards to planning and tracking my food since I brought my own lunch and snacks every day.  While home during the summer I don't eat as regularly and sorta just snack more throughout the day.  I will make sure I have healthy foods in the house and not bring any junk into the house.  I actually worry about getting in all my calories since I won't be eating snack at 10am with my students and then lunch at noon.  So this is going to be a challenge!

I am also going to start training for a half marathon, so my real focus this summer is going to be on exercise!  I am planning to go on my long runs on Tuesdays since all my girls will be in daycare that day.  Tomorrow I am going for a 4 mile run and then next week will attempt 5 miles!  I am going to slowly increase my distance while continuing to attend my Barre classes 2-3 days a week.

I have a size 12 pair of capris I bought years ago on sale at Old Navy for $5... they still have the tag on them and I have never worn size 12, so wearing those capris when I go back to school in the fall is also part of my goal!!  Wish me luck as I begin my new summer challenge!

Weigh In (All)

Another week down, hopefully some pounds went with it...


Melissa:


Down 2 lbs this week for a total of 56!!  And um, hello 180s!!!  The last time I was here was probably in college in 2002.  So excited to see the scale going down.  I am more happier about the real changes I have made in my life!  I was alone and annoyed on Friday night but I did not turn to food to help me!!  I just drank plenty of water and then read for a couple hours!  Before I would have totally had some chocolate, or anything else I could find in the house.  Even on my indulge day today I didn't even feel like going crazy and eating poorly.  I know this new mind frame will stay with me as I continue this journey!


My goal for the week, attend my usual 3 Barre classes and then run 3x.  It's my last week of school and then I am off for the summer!  So I will begin to adjust my new lifestyle to my change in schedule for the summer!  I am also going to start training for a half marathon and moving towards longer runs once a week.  I am very excited about the summer and making myself healthier!

Teri:

Down 2.8 lbs this week, just shy of 25 lbs lost. I was so excited!  This week, I only worked out 3x but I one day I actually ran to the gym and back, and did my 30 minute circuit training.  I need to get some cardio in anyhow, so what better way than to run to and from the gym. I NEVER would have attempted to do this in the past, so I was quite proud of myself.  I also shaved 2 minutes off of my 5K time, which I hope pays off at our CTC 5K run in 2 weeks.

As for eating, I really bumped up my protein intake, and I think that makes a difference for me. I noticed that when I tend to eat more protein each day, my body responds better. So, I plan to keep that up!  This week, I will be hitting the gym at least 2x with another day or two devoted to a run.  My husband is out of town all week, so I may also do some Zumba on the PS3 so I don't need to figure out childcare on those evenings.  I am also finding that its easier to make better choices when eating out for celebrations, my motivation is wearing the size 10 J Crew shorts and a pair of Gap jeans that I bought before I found out I was pregnant three years ago, some with tags on them still, that now zip up comfortably, without spanx! Score!!

Erin:

Still no camera around these parts, I am going to have to remember to borrow Jeremy's phone this week for weigh-in. But, I am down to 210.2! Not a big loss, but I will take 1.2 lbs. I am really kicking it into high gear this week with the running and Jillian Michaels workout DVDs. I am also going to start eating 6 small meals a day, upping my water intake, and trying to cut out all white carbs/sugars and processed foods. Can't wait to see what this week's weigh in brings. 

Tiffany:
I'm on my phone bc I don't have any time to myself to actually get on the computer but I figured a non-formatted quick post is better than Melissa kicking me out for not posting. :-P

Anyway I weighed in Sat at 230.8 which is a loss of 2.4 pounds. I attribute it fully to drinking at least 120 ounces of water every day. I sure as heck didn't eat well- birthday celebrations and anniversary celebrations. Hopefully this week I can keep up the water intake AND eat healthy.

Lauren:

Still losing.  Not my fastest- but I'll take it.  I hope to get more exercise in this week, last week was tough!

Nikki:

I'm late checking in, but I wanted to quick post that I weighed in this week at 185.8, the same weight as last week.  I wish it were a loss, but at least it's not a gain.  I ate well last week, except the night before weigh-in, we went to the Olive Garden and I ate lots of cheesy goodness.  Things are really hectic right now, we're madly cleaning out our house and getting ready for a big move so it's been a challenge to eat healthy when it's not always the most convenient.  But, I really want to lose the weight so I'll keep chugging along.

Fit back into the dress! (Melissa)

So I have lost almost 55 lbs and haven't posted any new pics since 20 lbs.  I had my husband take some pics, but he really sucks at taking pics and they keep coming out blurry.  So anyway, we went to a wedding this weekend and I fit back into a dress that I wore the summer we got married.  Its a size 14 and it actually fit better this time then it did the summer when I wore it.  So yay, for fitting into a dress I have not worn in 4 years!!  Don't mind my crazy eyes but I couldn't get rid of the red eye!