New Adventures

I haven't blogged in over a month. The last month has been crazy. School started... need I say more? More recently, in the last 2 weeks I have made some decisions to get back on track and work more.

I became a vegetarian. You're thinking, "but Faith.. you need protein". Guess what? Protein can be found in other things besides meat! It can be found in dairy products, nuts, beans, legumes, etc. Honestly, I'm probably eating more protein now than I was before... and it's healthier proteins.

I also bought T25. That's a program by the same people who put out Insanity and P90X. You focus for 25 minutes a day, for 25 minutes a day on different areas of your body. I started on Monday... and while I'm not as sore as I thought I would be... I'm still sore.

I'm also still going to my trainer (and friend). She's amazing. Even though she has a bum knee right now, she still put my work out buddy and me through the ringer today. I think she was making us work out for her too... just kidding!

I stepped on the scale today at my trainers and guess what??? I'm at 201!!! That's back to my pre-vacation weight AND super close to one-derland! ^_^   I'm going to work super hard this week so that next week I'm there! It'll happen guys! It will!

Here's my stats for this week:

Starting weight: 208.4 lbs

Current weight: 201lbs

Goal weight: 150 lbs

Pounds to go: 51

Weeks until deadline: 23

Avg loss per week to reach goal: 2.22 lbs

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week [or two]

Yesterday as I stepped on the scale at my trainer's house, I knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant number that I would see. I had tried to make good choices while on vacation, I really did. But I failed... A LOT. I shouldn't have eaten at Steak 'n Shake.. or had that milkshake. I probably shouldn't have had those M&Ms.. or chips. I can't do anything about it now.

 Granted, this gain was from 2 weeks and not just one.. but it was still not going to be pleasant. I looked down and saw a number worse than I had imagined.

I gained nearly 8 pounds.

After texting one of my best friends and telling her that I suck and feeling completely defeated... she reminded me that I don't suck and I just had more to lose now. It's all about perspective.

Yesterday, I worked out with my trainer and work out buddy. Journaled every bite of food and drank all of my water.

Today, I was going to wake up and go for a run.. however, I bent over this morning to pick something up and almost got stuck. My back is in pain, but it's nothing that Aleve, IcyHot, and a little rest can't fix. I'm still journaling my food..

I can't let this gain get the best of me. I won't allow it. Time to get over it and move forward.. Now I just have more to lose this week.

Here's my stats for this week:

Starting weight: 208.4 lbs

Current weight: 208.8 lbs

Goal weight: 150 lbs

Pounds to go: 58.8

Weeks until deadline: 28

Avg loss per week to reach goal: 2.1 lbs

The Great Return

I know I said I would be back at it last week. But let's be real... I didn't. Now, I didn't do all that badly. I tried to eat well. I didn't do great at it.. but I tried. And.. confession: I ate french fries on Sunday. I hadn't had fried food in almost 2 months. Do you know what I learned? I'm not missing anything. It isn't even that good.

I just got back from a run 15 minutes ago. My first run in... at least 2 weeks. I expected it to be the worst run ever since it had been so long. However, I was pleasantly surprised when it took me 11:48 to run a mile. It's not my fastest time, but it's only 10 seconds away from it. But at the end of the first mile, I did something funny to my leg which caused me to walk the rest of the way home. I still went 2.75 miles.

This is real life. Things get tough. I'm not a superstar dieter with cameras all around me to show people that I'm working out and eating right. That would be the most nerve wrecking experience! It's hard enough for me to blog about it. But, I do it.. because it keeps me honest. I know my trainer stalks me on here.. and anywhere else I post fitness things. My workout buddies keep me exercising. My best friends ask me how I'm doing. My best friends' mom makes note of how "skinny" I am every time she sees me. It keeps me going. THANK YOU ALL. If it weren't my my gigantic support system, not even my determination would keep me going.

I don't have a weight for this week. I don't trust any scale but my trainers (especially since my doctors scale was 3 lbs off).. and things didn't work for me to go there this week. But I will have one next week!

As my favorite person from Biggest Loser (Season 14) says:

Crazy

Two weeks ago when I blogged it was right after I went to the doctor and it said I gained 3 lbs which through me for a loop. BUT I channeled all that rage into working out.. I went to my trainer the next day.. she weighed me and I had actually stayed the same. Which goes to show.. only trust one scale.

Also.. last week I went to 2 weddings, and a birthday party. I had a little bit of cake at each one. But I made healthy choices the rest of the day. Last week, I lost 3 lbs! I just didn't blog about it. My fault. I got lazy. I got so lazy in fact that I didn't work out last week.. much. I think I worked out twice. I didn't log my food like I'm supposed to. I tried to make good choices, which I was mostly good at. I did eat pizza at work the other night.

But... ONE MEAL DOES NOT MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT. Eating an excess of calories on a regular basis does.

I went to my work out with my trainer and my favorite work out buddy today.. I lost another 2.6 lbs!! I'm at 201.2 lbs!! Since I started my weight loss journey, from my highest weight, I've lost 44 lbs! I'm so close to ONE-DERLAND that I can smell it!

If I can do it... you can too!

I was that girl who hated working out. I was afraid of the gym. I hated running. I hid behind baggy jeans & huge t-shirts.
NOW: I LOVE working out. I like going to the gym. Running is my best friend. I wear skinny jeans, dresses, and cute shirts..

YOU CAN DO IT TOO! You're thinking, "Faith.. you're crazy." Yup, I am.. but I like myself this way.. and admit it.. you do too!

Here's my stats for this week:

Starting weight: 208.4 lbs

Current weight:201.2

Goal weight: 150 lbs

Pounds to go: 51.2

Weeks until deadline: 30 

Frustration

Today has been a very frustrating day for me. Actually.. This week has been rather frustrating.
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Sunday night I was craving pizza. So, I made some frozen pizza. I ate more than half the pizza by myself. Granted, Sunday is my cheat day, but I shouldn't be scarfing down pizza on my cheat day.

Monday- I had very little sleep.. so I don't even remember what I ate that day and I didn't log anything in my food journal either.

Yesterday, I honestly didn't even try.

Today, I went to the doctor. I stepped on the scale and it showed that I gained 3 lbs. Which, is probably water weight and due to the fact that I haven't been paying attention. But what really upset me was that my doctor told me that since my weight was so high that I needed to come back for blood tests to see if I had high cholesterol or diabetes. That felt like a slap in the face.. I got into my car and cried all the way to Walgreens to pick up a prescription (which was also frustrating).

I channeled all my frustration into eating well today, and going for a run. I prayed about it.. and I'm trying not to be upset about it.. but it's hard. Here I am, having lost 30 lbs since the last time I went to the doctor. I don't have any symptoms of anything (besides eczema).. and now she wants to test me for high cholesterol and diabetes?? It doesn't make sense to me.

I looked up what my BMI is.. and I'm in the obesity range. But what shocked me was by how much. For my height, to not be considered obese anymore.. and just overweight, I have to get to 185 lbs. That means losing 24 lbs. I know I can do it.. I've lost that much already. I know I need to get there. It's just insanely frustrating to be where I'm at now.. when I work so hard already.

Here's my stats for this week:

Starting weight: 208.4 lbs

Current weight: 209.6 lbs

Goal weight: 150 lbs

Pounds to go: 59.6 lbs

Weeks until deadline: 33 weeks

Pump it!

Hey all!

The last week has been super motivating!  Friday night my manager/friend brought some dresses for me to try on for a couple of weddings at the end of the month. There's a GORGEOUS purple dress that I adore. However it's tight... By tight I mean it won't zip up... At all. These weddings are in 10 & 11 days.. It would take a miracle for them to fit. But I'm working for that miracle. I've worked out every day since then. Every time I want to give up during a work out, I think, "purple dress... purple dress..." over and over again

I realize that it's a bit far-fetched to think that I could go from not being able to zip up this dress to being comfortable in iron this short of a time period. But it won't be from a lack of trying. 

I also had my trainer weigh me today. I gained .8 lbs, but with amping up my work outs, I'm not surprised it went up a little. I'm gaining muscle like crazy! But I feel smaller... because a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. :)

Starting weight: 208.4 lbs

Current weight: 206.8 lbs

Goal weight: 150 lbs

Pounds to go: 56.8 lbs

Weeks until deadline: 33 weeks

Between Happiness and Disappointment

Hey all,

I had my trainer weigh me today.  The first time I stepped on the scale it showed an insane amount of loss. I almost cried, but just to make sure it was right I stepped on the scale about five more times. Three of these times it read "error".. and the next two were not as insane of an amount. I did lose weight... I lost 2.4 lbs! Which is good.. it's closer to my goal [that's what I keep telling myself], but it's still about a pound and a half short of where I wanted to be after two weeks.

I know it's because I've been working out more.. and while my clothes are fitting better because I've lost fat, I've gained muscle. Which takes up less room... but I'm slightly disappointed, even though I know I shouldn't be. Perhaps, I'm too hard on myself. I just keep thinking "what if I didn't have that slice of pie on the 4th... and the next day?" and "I should've worked out more..." but that's only going to make things worse.

If I'm going to do this, I have to stay positive.

Starting Weight: 208.4 lbs
Current Weight: 206 lbs
Goal Weight: 150 lbs
Pounds to go: 56 lbs
Weeks until deadline: 34

In a Weeks Time

Hey all!

It's been a crazy week with work and 4th of July. However... In the last week:

I have done---
Bob Harper's Ab workout video (crazy intense.. but the man is a genius). I can't lie.. I didn't finish the whole video. I did half and I couldn't move anymore.

Zumba! Shout out to my Zumba friends! You're the best!

Cleaned my whole level of the house

Ab Pro workout app! (it's free!!)

Ran--
2.31 miles on Monday
2.89 miles today

My eating wasn't spot on yesterday because of the holiday. I didn't even track. But I tried to make good choices. As well as on Wednesday night when we celebrated my mom's birthday. But I'm back on track today.

I don't have a weight for you because I don't trust any scales except the one at my trainer's and she's out of town. But I will have one on Tuesday. Promise! I'm hoping that I'll have lost a significant amount, but with how much I've been working out, I'm not sure since I'm probably gaining muscle at a significant rate. But, we shall see...

Check ya all later! <3

Beast Mode

Guess what?! My trainer weighed me and I actually weigh 208.4 lbs. Which means instead of 60 pounds to lose, I have 58.4! I know that may not seem like much... but that's 1.6 lbs that I don't have to worry about. 

Anyways.... The last 2 days have been.... INTENSE!

Monday: I went for a run after posting the previous entry. 1.73 miles in 23:43. WOOT! Then I went to work... and it was crazy busy because the Blackhawks were playing... and they won! I should really get a pedometer so I know how far I walk at work.. I'm sure it's a ton! 

Tuesday (yesterday): I went to see my personal trainer with my work out buddy, and we did a interval/circuit thing. We did squat thrusts, squat presses, push ups, and sit ups in intervals of 3 (first set: 3 of each, second set: 6 of each, third set: 9 of each... you get the idea). I did the math and I figured out that we did 84 push ups and sit ups.. and 168 squats. CRAZY.  Then later in the day, I went to zumba class... so, needless to say I'm sore today.

Food related victories: 

Yesterday, I went to see World War Z with a friend, and she offered me some of her popcorn. I LOVE POPCORN... especially movie theater popcorn.. but I declined. That is huge for me. 

Last night I went out to Applebee's for one of my best friends birthdays. I got a chicken fajita wrap (totally delicious.. since I worked out so much yesterday I splurged a little on my food, but not to worry.. I was still in my calorie range). I asked for the vegetables instead of fries. The waitress brought me fries anyway. Which are fried.... obviously. I refused to touch them. I let my friends eat them instead.

Today, I didn't work out at all. Like I said earlier, I'm sore from yesterdays workout. I can barely move my arms and it hurts to laugh. But tomorrow I'll be back at it! I have a goal to reach and I'm not quitting this time! 

Long Time Coming

I'm aware that nobody really reads this blog. Mostly due to the fact that I don't advertise much that I have it.... nor do I update it. The last time I wrote on it was almost a year ago. FAIL on my part.

I weighed myself the other day on my Grandpa's 50 year old scale (so, who knows if it's right...) and I weighed 210 lbs. I'll find out a legitimate weight tomorrow when I go to see my physical trainer.

My goal weight is 150 lbs. In order to get there, I will have to lose 60 pounds. Which is the same amount as my best fraaan/weight loss buddy/partner in crime needs to lose to get to her goal weight (see Liz's blog here).

Here's the deal:
Deal #1: I'm going to update this blog at least twice a week. It keeps me honest.
Deal #2: I'm going to work out 5 times a week, at least 30 minutes each time.
Deal #3: Lose 2 lbs every week.
Deal #4: I will drink 10 cups of water every day.
Deal #5: No fried foods. None.
Deal #6: I will walk everywhere that can be walked. I can easily walk to the grocery store, Walgreens, church, post office, library, park, bank and my favorite coffee shop.

If I lose 2 lbs every single week I will get to my goal weight by January 21, 2014. However, I'm realistic.. and I know that sometimes losing 2 lbs every week isn't obtainable because I'm a girl... and my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all in that time period... so, I'll say by March 4, 2014 I will weigh 150 lbs or less. That's right before my very last spring break.. and 2 months before I FINALLY graduate from college.

I'm going to bust this goal. So, send your positive thoughts and prayers my way. I know I'm going to need them! The next 7 to 9 months are going to be hard ones. I'm going to want to give up. I'm going to want to eat that whole bag of cheetos, candy, or fried cauliflower. Don't let me. Remind me of what I'm working towards. Remind me that I've wanted this my whole life.. and while those things will feel good now, I won't feel good about them later. This has been a long time coming.. but it's here and it's not going away.

Let's do it!