Week #7 (tardy)

Hello, all!
This not having internet thing really kinda sucks, so just bear with me for now. I did weigh myself as usual on Monday, even though all your calendars say today is Thursday (unless you're really lazy). My new favorite thing at the gym is the elliptical. But oh...my...gosh is it freakin' hard! Half an hour on that thing burns twice as many calories as doing both half an hour on the treadmill and half an hour on the bike! I've gotten to the point, though, where I want so bad to stop, but I keep having to tell myself to keep going. I start out on the equipment and almost immediately want to quit. So I tell myself to at least do half the amount of time (aka 15 minutes). I get down to 15 minutes and figure, "What's 5 more minutes, and then I've done 20 minutes, which is better than 15." Well, I push myself to 10 minutes and think, "What the heck, I'm under the 10 minute mark now. Let's get down to 5 minutes. No one'll care if I stop 5 minutes early." At the 5 minute mark, I'm like, "Well, heck! I've made it this far, might as well go the whole way."
You may think it's a little funny, but I do this every time! I have to push myself every time I get on the thing! My diet hasn't changed much. I was worried moving away from mom's cooking that I would go back to my old routine of pasta all the time, but I haven't. I have made Rice Krispies treats (mainly for Mike), chicken salad with grapes and pecans (REEEEEEEALLY good!), and a sausage puff. Basically it's eggs, sausage, cheese, and Bisquick mixed together and you bake it. I just cut a little square and pop it in the microwave for 15 seconds before I head out the door in the mornings.
And my weight for this week is....stiiiiill 238. Yep, you read right. It hasn't budged. I'm not too bummed about it, I guess. We all hit plateaus. If you want to be technical, I've lost a couple tenths of a pound. But at least I haven't gained any, right?
And don't forget, next week is a picture week!

Week #6 (belated)

Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late posting this. Mike and I just got a new house (HALLELUJAH!!!!!!) and we don't have internet set up quite yet. I know some of my loyal followers probably won't get this (i.e. Eric and Anna), but since Danielle and Eric seem to be in sync with each other telepathically, anything Danielle says I'll just file away in my mind doubled! ;-) Love you guys!
Even though we don't have internet, one of the first things I got for the house was a scale, so I can still weigh myself in. Unfortunately, I was not able to get to the gym last week due to moving in and fixing up the house. I started back this week again, however, so all's well. Even though I feel like I'm rushing through this and not telling you guys anything going on in my life, really not much has happened this past week, other than moving in and getting settled. So, rather than bore you with details of deciding which paint colors I wanted and the placement of furniture, I will go on with...THE WEIGH-IN (cue dramatic music!).
I did weigh myself Monday, as always, and even though it's Thursday now, I will tell you Monday's weight. My weight as of Monday is...(pause for dramatic effect)...238! (Crowd cheering) Yes, yes...I had lost all the weight I had gained the weekend in Baltimore, plus some! I'm almost down to my high school weight of 235. I know, 235 sounds horrible for a high school weight, especially when you hear women who are in their 40s or so and have had multiple children and are wishing they could fit into their prom dresses again of size 2. But I'm happy! I really didn't think I'd be back down to even that! I'm hoping I'll get even lower. I've been following another blog of a woman through her journey of weight loss with Weight Watchers. She had set ultimate weight goals and milestones for herself. I haven't exactly gotten that far. For now I'm happy with every couple pounds I lose. I guess if I have to give myself an ultimate weight loss goal, it'd be about 175 (which would be my ideal body weight, what with my height and age and all), but for now at least 3-5 pounds a week is good for me!
So for now...tune in next week for more...or less, technically!

Week #5

I did a boo-boo. I was doing pretty good this past week, until I got to the weekend. I didn't work out on Friday, as I had off due to us closing on the house (yay!) and figured this weekend was going to be full of walking, so I didn't think there was a need to go to the gym. Jimmy, Katie, and I went up to Baltimore this weekend to see the Orioles play against the Toronto Jets. The Orioles lost, but it was still a good game, especially since it was my first one. Well, I threw all caution to the wind this weekend, figuring it was a "free" weekend. I ate late at night, I had snacks that were not entirely healthy (i.e. candy bars), and I just all around didn't make the best choices this weekend, pretty much all because I figured I was working it off by doing all the walking. You've read before my thought process when it comes to my diet!
Well, because of all of this, I'm paying for it. I gained back those four pounds I had lost last week. I'm back up to 246. And I'm not going to the gym today because Mike and I moved this past weekend and we're trying to unpack. I'm actually at mom and dad's right now typing this as we don't have internet yet and I also had to pick up some stuff. (*sigh*) Hopefully once we get all moved in and settled I'll get back on my A-game and get back on track.

Week #4

Another week has gone by. I feel I'm doing pretty well, now. I find I'm not as hungry in between meals. Drinking water has helped A LOT.

As you read in my previous blog, mom made a GREAT Easter dinner (as if she could make any other kind!). I did really well, surprising myself even by taking only correct sizes. It helped that there was a lot of food, so in order to fit it all on my plate I had to use smaller sizes anyway. I'm one of those people that don't like my food overlapping. I've been pushing myself at the gym as well. Mainly on the bike. I don't turn the resistence down part way through like I used to. My thighs have been letting me know it, too! I still do only an hour after work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, though today I only did half an hour as I got out of work really late and had had a hard day. I didn't even get a lunch break!

I guess not much else is going on. So, since this is the fourth week into this, roughly about a month, I will present you with a picture. I'll warn you now that it's not the greatest. I had just gotten home from the gym and gotten a shower and I hurt all over from lifting big dogs all day (and no...stupid me did not lift with my legs so my back is screaming at me...). So I'm in my comfy clothes, but I tried to find a somewhat tight-fitting shirt so you can see my frame easier. And now...(*drumroll*)...

I am down to 242...in other words, I have lost 21 pounds thus far! Holy macaral! I've NEVER lost this much before. I wasn't kidding earlier when I said I'd lose five pounds and give up. 21 pounds is NUTS!!!!
(and, yes, I know...my pictures look like mugshots. Mike always catches me a little off-guard!)

SABOTAGE!!!!

Mike and I have to move out soon. I think mom's out to get me. Today's Easter (as if you didn't know), and so mom's making Easter dinner. If anyone knows our family, especially our mother, we have big meals for holidays. Mom makes great food anyway, but today she's making A LOT of great food! And there's only three of us here to eat it! It's not exactly what one would call low-fat, either. Well, Paula Deen might think it's low-fat. ;-) What's on the menu, you ask? Here it is:

Rotisserie-style lamb
Miss Alice's potato casserole (hash browns...sour cream...cheese...loads of calories...the works!)
Steamed asparagus (I don't know if I'm brave enough to try it yet)
Green beans
Devilled eggs (I never understood why they were called that)
Dinner rolls
Fruit salad for dessert

Not to mention there's plenty of homemade coconut- and peanut butter-filled chocolate candy strategically placed around the house for your nibbling pleasure. What is this woman trying to do to me?!?!?!
Happy Easter, everyone!

Like, OMG!

Okay, so I'm, like, SOOOOOO freakin' excited! (and apparently, like, sooo freakin' "valley girl") I spent the day hanging out with my friend, Heather, and her daughter, Chloe. Yes, that's cause for excitement enough, but there's something else. Poor Heather forgot her purse at home, and she really kinda needed it if she wanted to buy things at PetSmart. She just got a new dog...a really cute Eskimo Spitz. So she decided to run back to her house to retrieve said purse. While I waited for her to get back, I went to Target, initially intending just to look around. I found a book that I had wanted..."Big Girl" by Danielle Steele. I also grabbed the new season of Sex and the City. But the most exciting thing of all, and obviously the reason I am writing on this blog about it instead of my other one, is a dress. For Steve's wedding I had wanted a dress, but all the one's that I liked I either couldn't even fit in or they didn't hang right on me.
I had been looking in the ads that come with the Sunday paper my parents get, and I had seen in the Target ad a shirt dress and a wrap dress, both of which I had wanted for who knows how long. I didn't really pay them much attention because, due to Steve's wedding, I had given up on dresses for a while. Well, while I was in Target, I happened to see a wrap shirt dress that I had seen in the ad. I took a little while to decide, looking at it, holding it up to me, holding it out in front of me, putting it back on the rack. I had turned my back on it, then thought "What the hay...I'll try it. It's not like I have to buy it." So into the dressing room I went. When I put it on, I looked up in the mirror and was amazed to see how good it looked. And the best thing of all...IT FIT!!!! I was so happy! It wasn't clingy or anything! It fit and I looked pretty good in it! Then I thought about the shirt I was wearing today. I haven't worn it since last summer. It's kinda stretchy, and so fit me kinda snug. It's actually a little loose. And my jeans are feeling baggier. I've noticed at work that I'm almost to the next notch on my belt I use. IT'S WORKING!!!!! THE DIET IS WORKING!!!!!!!

(and P.S. I bought the dress!)