Another 2.4lbs Bite the Dust

"Another one bites the dust (da-da-da)
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust"...  Thank you Queen.

I was totally shocked this week, in a good way.  I should have been more prepared, but I was caught off guard when I weighed in yesterday and lost 2.4 pounds.  I thought I was past the big losses, but apparently they are still here!  I realized I was so caught off guard because I was just living life and not being laser focused on how much I weigh every other day and what I am eating.  I am basking in proudness, if that is even a word.  I was thinking I would have more time before my (30 pound loss milestone) mini makeup makeover, but I may need to get crack-a-lackin' on deciding which product line I would like to buy.   :-)~

I have mentioned before that I have a crazy dog.  This remains a true statement.  On Wednesday she apparently partially tore her crucite tendon/ligament in her right hind, and we really have no idea how.  If there is a way to do something crazy like tear off toenails or tear her crucite, apparently she will find a way.   I had the pleasure of spending Thursday morning at the vet, but luckily we are just on 2 week bed rest and not scheduling surgery right now.  I am hopeful that we can give it time to heal, and skip all of the messy details. 

This 2 week doggy bedrest means that she will miss her daily walks, which was apparently very traumatic for her today.  I met one of my wonderful neighbors for our normal early AM walk (sans dog) and Brant said that she was so upset that I left her she was sitting in the bed and howling like a hound dog.  I am not sure I have ever heard her howl or bay or whatever it's called...  I feel so sad because she loves her morning walks with Duke.   Hopefully we will be back in action in a week and a half and she can get back to her beloved walks.  Poor little pup pup.

I am starting to feel like poor little Rivanna when I miss my walks and other exercise now.  I don't howl, but my body sure does get cranky! 

One of the many great things about this journey that I am on is the empowerment.  It is empowering to realize that you have ownership over how much you move and what you shove in your face (yes, I know this should be obvious, but it isn't always).  I am proud to say that of the 13(ish) weeks that I have been a weight watchers member, all of my weigh ins have resulted in a loss.  That is awesome to think that I have only lost weight for the last 3+ months.   I really am happy with where I am and all of the work and will power that it took to get here. 

Kicking ass and taking names.

Peace out from the not so biggest girl on the still smallest legs.

XOXO

Mexican before weigh in?

I am apparently getting uppity with these weigh-ins since I feel it is acceptable to eat sodiumlicious Mexican dinner a mere 15 hours pre weigh in. Really? So much for a big loss this week! As long as I don't gain, I'll be a happy camper.

I finally honored my non food related reward for my 20lb loss... A salon visit. My hair was a hot mess, but I had somehow managed to wait more than 12 weeks. It felt great today to know how much I deserved those blonde highlights and the trim which was more like a 2 inch clean up. I didn't even mind staying there for like 5 hours. I think I'll do a full on hair makeover at 40lbs because 30lbs is a make-up makeover!!! Fun!!!

I have a confession....

No, I didn't buy those reese's eggs that I walked by 10 times today... Its much better than that... I have been looking in the mirror a lot lately. I used to avoid them like the black plague, but I kinda am starting to like them, and am actually seeking them out. Weird. Very weird. I can tell such a different in my body that I like to inspect what seems different or smaller. I'll take this time to thank baby jesus that my gut is going fast.

If you remember in one of my first ever posts I referred to my grown man beer gut.... Well, I am happy to report that it's rapidly going away. I may even get aggressive and say that the actual beer gut is almost gone. GONE. GOnE. gone. Hheeeeelllllll yeah!

Life seems better when you dont feel like a cow trying to fit into adequate clothing that is soooo 2 years ago.

If you want to lose weight, go get in the car and drive to your nearest weight watchers location. You will not regret it.

Peace out from the soon to be skinny chick.

XOXO

Cloud 9

I am on cloud 9. I feel fabulous!!!!  Pass the wine!

I woke up the other morning and when I stretched, and only when I stretched, I FELT A RIB BONE!!!! Yes, like a bone that's under your skin and fat! Clearly, the only conclusion that you can draw here is that I have less fat to buffer my bones. Sa-WEEET!  I didn't realize I had a skeletal structure under my fluffy body, who knew?

I am doing a great job with diet and I have been exercising as time allows - about 1 hour, 3-4 times a week give or take a few days. Dinner is pretty easy these days, and the funny thing is that when I go to the grocery store I don't even have internal battles with the bag of chips or some chocolaty little piece of heaven.  I now just walk right by and really don't even give it thought.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes I dream about Reese's eggs and wake up with drool all over my pillow.  Coincidence?  maybe....

OMG.  I have news.

The mid grade couture that has shunned me for the last 28 years of my life is starting to warm up to me.  When I say it is starting warm up I mean that it is FITTING!!  My hubbs and I stopped in for some outlet shopping on our way home from NC and it was a good stop.  I used to look at all the racks and curse the cute clothes for being cute and too small for one of my boobs to fit in.  Well my friends, things are looking up.  I purchased 5 articles of clothing from Banana Republic and Ralph and all of them were in a size 12!!!!  Can you believe it?  That isn't even the biggest size that they sell!!!  Holy Shit!  Excuse my french mom.

I seriously fit into everything I tried (except for the experimental size 10 at Banana)...  I didn't have an expectation that I would fit into that one, but there was a part of me that would have burst through the dressing room doors and run around naked telling everyone that I just fit into a size 10.  Luckily for everyone in the store, the 10 didn't zip.

I used to purchase clothing based on 1 criteria - if it fit.  I honestly had to stop myself from buying everything I had with me in the dressing room because my god I have never had such a smorgasbord of clothing options that I liked and that fit. 

Well, my WW plan is on target. I am eating well, I have lost about 22 lbs, I have hit my 10% target, and although I have a long road ahead I must say that it feels fine. I don't mind that I am months away from my goal. If I can spend these next few months continuing to get into my new eating and exercise groove - just think about how much better the rest of my life will be.

I will be a skinny bitch.

Peace out from the (not so much anymore) biggest girl with the smallest legs.

XOXO

Almost 10% Baby!

I have never given 10% much attention.

10% of a dollar is only 10 cents, and 10% of 100 is only 10 dollars... 10% of a pizza is more pizza than I have had in months!! And seriously, if something is 10% off in the store, I don't look twice because it's almost like paying full price (I am a bargain diva).

So when is 10% important to me? WHEN IT'S ME!

I am knocking at the door of my 10% weight loss! OMG. KNOCKING HARD! I am hovering about .6 of a pound away from this milestone, and I am really working to hit it at my weigh in this week. Seriously, so exciting! This may be more weight then I have ever lost consecutively. Sad, I know... but better late then never! It's when you reach milestones like this that you realize you are really making a serious difference in your body and health.

From our very own, weightwatchers.com, losing just 10% can do the following:

• Give you a healthier heart
• Lower your risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• Give you more PEP in your step
• Give a mental edge
• Provide a reality check for remaining weight loss

I definitely feel the pep, less aches, and a mental sharpness. I am hoping that I have given the gift of health to my heart.

I gave myself a non food related reward for 10% and that was a good hair trim and highlight. I would normally do this every 6 weeks, but I made my poor hair suffer a long 9 weeks while I lost that 10%. I will surely enjoy my trip to the salon much more now. And I am sure that I will be charged double for the sad state of affairs that my hair is currently in.... I'm planning another big salon day at 20% (with an added bonus massage!).

Today I tell you that you can lose weight if you want. It doesn't matter if you are 40, 50, 60, 70, etc - years old or pounds overweight. You can do it. It is about AA (not alcoholics anonymous) - Awareness and Accountability. Be aware of what you are shoving down your throat and be accountable to someone or something.

Peace out from the (not so much anymore) biggest girl on the smallest legs.

XOXO

$1,250 a Pound.

Firstly, let me apologize for my lapse in blogging.  Work has been crazy and I feel like I haven’t had time to sit down and put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard.  Well, I’m back!  So don’t worry, I didn’t fall off the wagon – still very much on, minus the blogging.  

I had a revelation yesterday.  I have been going to a plastic surgeon for the past few months for a Pyogenic Granuloma (a.k.a - Bertha) that had to be removed from my right cheek, then I had to have a cyst removed from my leg (a.k.a. - Bubba).  So between Bertha and Bubba, I have been in to see my plastic surgeon quite a bit as of late.  Anyway, yesterday was my last appointment and all I had to do was get the stitches removed from my leg.  

After he removed the stitches, he asked if there was anything else that I wanted to talk about.  I jokingly told him that I would like for him to liposuction about 30 pounds off of me.  He turned a bit serious and told me that he would be happy to do liposuction, but the most that he could do in one sitting was about 8 lbs.  Without being prompted, he saw through my next question – cost.  He included that an 8 pound lipo would run one about $10,000.  

I could have fallen off that uncomfortable white faux alligator skin chair.  Who would pay $10,000 for 8 measly pounds??  Apparently, the answer is lots of people – WHO HAVE MORE MONEY THEN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH!!!!

Then it hit me.  I have already lost over 16 pounds.  I have lost over $20,000 in liposuctioned fat.  Sweet baby jesus.  That makes me feel fantastic!!!!  Plus, no recovery time!!!  That decision seems like a no brainer…  $30 a month for the gym with no recovery time, aside from heating pads and wine – OR $50,000 in lipo with weeks of recovery and a possibly side effect of death.  

I have a renewed outlook for the gym and how fabulous it really is.  The gym is cheap, fun (very loose interpretation), and cheap. 

Today I challenge you to take that gym membership that has been sitting dormant for a year, and go to the gym!  It’s much better then paying $1,250 per pound with recovery time.

Peace out from the biggest girl on the smallest legs.

XOXO

Feeling Off-Track

Do you know the feeling when you just aren’t exactly right?  I have that feeling this week.  I had a great weigh in on Monday, and have been on track with eating (have not exceeded daily points).  The only possibly explanation is exercise.  I normally am able to exercise much more, but this week is off.  In my defense, I had to get something removed from my leg and have 3 stitches (which sounds WEAK), but it is pretty uncomfortable.  You leg is an odd place to have skin removed because I have learned that as a general rule, leg skin is very tight. 

I think there is a great underlying message here.  I now like exercise.  I said it, it’s out in the universe and I can’t take it back.  I am excited that I have come to rely so much on exercise as a daily part of my life – BUT, the downside comes when I can’t get out there and do it.  I feel like a slug since I missed my spinning class this morning…  and I am going to miss my long run on Saturday with my ladies. L

I am going to take this feeling, and internalize it.  I don’t want to feel like this again.  I want to be able to keep up with my exercise for not only my physical health, but my mental health as well.  Who knew that a spinning class could bring so much sanity to one’s soul?  Before I started back with my regular classes, I probably would have argued that it was some kind of Chinese water torture.

Make sure you are feeding your body and soul what it needs so you can stay on track and hit your goals.

"Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going!" - Jillian Michaels

Peace out from the biggest girl on the smallest legs.

XOXO

Today is a GOOD DAY

Today is the start of week 4 with the Weight Watchers program.  I have now experienced 3 full weeks of healthier eating and good focus on daily activity.  I am here to tell you today that it does work, and I have lost 10.7 lbs!!!  WOOT!!!!

I actually am starting to feel like this is less of a ‘diet’ now because I really don’t have to restrict in ways that I have historically restricted.  In the past when I tried to lose weight I would totally remove dinners out, and stock my refrigerator with only things that were green in color.  I am here to tell you that you have to have variety to keep on track, and while my fridge has lots of green roughage in it now, it also has other delish morsels.  I lost 3 lbs this week and I even snuck in froyo, wine, Mexican, birthday cake, etc.  I just made smart choices, and smaller portions.

The beauty of this is that Brant and I still go out to dinner 1 or 2 times a week, and I still get yummy things but I tweak my order a bit.  A great substitution that I found was at our favorite Mexican spot.  Instead of getting the full blown chicken fajitas meal (comes with a guacamole salad and beans too…), I now order the chicken fajitas salad and am 100% satisfied.  It has a lot of good chicken, lots of veggies, some cheese and grilled onions.  All in all, allowing myself to eat out, have a few glasses of wine on the weekends, and balancing all of that with portion and exercise is a winning combination for me!

I am proud today.  Today is a good day.

Now that I have tooted my own horn, I can move on to something a little more interesting.  Actually, probably not more interesting – but I want to talk about it. J

If I have not mentioned this before, I am a member in a small running group of fab lady friends.  I have mentioned in past posts that I am not a runner.  This still holds true.  I can attest to the fact that joining a running group does not make you a better runner.  I had high hopes that some magic would happen, but no luck – I’m still slow and awkward.  This is beside the point though.

Our fab running group meets for our ‘long run’ day on Saturday.  This means that we are running independently during the week to prepare for our big day.  The running group cheerleader (I would also call her the Team Manager) has been kind enough to send us our schedules weekly, so we know exactly what we are supposed to do each day.  This is VERY HELPFUL! 

This week our ‘long run’ day just happened to be on a morning where sweet Mother Nature decided that the temperature should be 16 degrees without factoring in the wind chill.  I chose the picture attached to this post because I could have been wearing nothing more than a speedo and would have expected to be just as cold as I felt!!  As a side note - those are real men, or stupid men.  But kudos to them for letting logic lose in the decisions that led up to this picture.

Back to me. 

Within a minute of starting our run, both of my eyes were watering and my nose was running.  After 2 minutes, I am pretty sure my tears had frozen and my eyeballs were getting cold enough to reduce vision.  After 5 minutes it felt like my throat had completely iced over.  Thankfully I had my dog with me to continue to drag me in the right direction.

In lieu of giving you a parting request,  I would like to share some wisdom with you.  Do not run when it is 16 degrees before factoring in the wind chill.    

Peace out from the biggest girl on the smallest legs.

XOXO