Day 250

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 187 lbs

Weight lost this week: -1 lb

Total weight lost: 51 lbs

Bust: 38" (1/2" lost since last week, 6 7/8" lost total)

Waist: 32 1/4" (1/4" lost since last week, 7 3/4" lost total)

Hips: 44 1/2" (1/2" lost since last week, 8 3/8" lost total)

Well ... one pound's not bad, all things considered. I had a rough week, guys. A ROUGH week. Started out stressful, with some changed deadlines on papers and such that made the first few days a real sprint, and capped out midway with an unexpected break-up, made all the harder by the fact that I felt (feel?) so strongly for the guy. However, his mind was made up and I've got no choice but to soldier on, as I always do.

Don't worry over me, though - I'm nothing if not resilient. I'm already bouncing back, which does scare me a little bit that it's coming so easily when I was falling so hard for the guy ... I'm concerned that maybe I'm becoming hardened to the idea of love and getting a little too jaded. That's neither here nor there, though. I'll face that down as it comes at me. All that matters now is that I'll get by as I always have: through sheer, indomitable stubbornness.

The one good thing I realized this week is that I don't react to depression the way I once did. I mean, I still slept about 16 out of every 24 hours for a day or two, but I didn't turn to comfort food like I used to. Apparently instead of eating my feelings, I'm now feeling my feelings, and while they still kind of hurt it's definitely better for me in the long run.

Anyway. This week was really hard in a lot of ways, but I got through it - even remembered my blog post, which is saying something. I'm already a long way towards being back to normal, and hopefully by this time next week I'll be able to tell you guys that everything's okay again. Cross your fingers for me, yeah?

Day 243

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 188 lbs

Weight lost this (last several) weeks: -4 lb

Total weight lost: 50 lbs

Bust: 38 1/2" (3/4" lost since last week, 6 3/8" lost total)

Waist: 32 1/2" (3/4" lost since last week, 7 1/2" lost total)

Hips: 45" (1/4" lost since last week, 7 7/8" lost total)

So, I'm a lousy blogger and easily distractible. I took a seven week hiatus from posting. I even made it my New Year's Resolution to get back to updating this thing, but here it is the last day of January and I'm only just getting to it. I apologize, I'm a slacker.

I guess I haven't been updating because my Sundays have been kind of bipolar lately - either I'm doing something fantastic, like driving to Dallas or running around Edmond with my friends, or I'm stuck inside on my own and in a bummer sort of mood. I am going to do my damnedest to get back on track, though, for my own benefit and to ease the minds of my more dedicated readers *coughmomanddadcough*.

And pardon the campy picture ... I finally figured out how to get my laptop to take a picture on a timer, rather than as soon as I click the button, so I got a little silly posing and ended up really liking this one. Shows the change in my waistline, for sure. And the real beauty is that the shirt I'm wearing, my ski shirt, barely fit me last spring break, and now it's remarkably comfortable. I've been wearing it all weekend due to the snow and ice Norman's been inundated with.

So far as workouts and food, I don't have too much to report. It's been much of the same really, although my schedule definitely leaves my mornings free for me to do just about whatever suits me. I haven't quite adapted enough to it to really make the most of it. Kickstep is still the highlight of my workout routine, although I had to pick up a new suit since my old one was a few solid kicks away from falling to pieces. Food is still very much the same, although I've been alternating between busy and sick so much this month that it's been more about quick and efficient meals - lots of soup and sandwiches.

Thankfully it hasn't hindered me too much - I'm still trending downward, although not at a very viable rate. Hopefully I'll be able to reorient myself to this new schedule and really make some progress these next few months. I feel really good about where I am, but I know more progress will only make me feel better.

Thanks for bearing with me through my lengthy absence, guys; hopefully you'll hear from me next week!

Day 166

Weight: 192 lbs

Weight lost this week: 5 lb

Total weight lost: 46 lbs

Bust: 39 1/4" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 5/8" lost total)

Waist: 33 1/4" (1 1/4" lost since last week, 6 3/4" lost total)

Hips: 45 1/4" (1/2" lost since last week, 7 5/8" lost total)

Um, wow. WOW. Riddle me this, readers: I just went through two of the busiest weeks I've had in a long, long time. Between classwork, work, editing 140+ pages worth of case studies, driving all over central Oklahoma for various reasons, the girls coming in for a weekend of going out to dinner and drinking, and a myriad of other wonderful yet time-consuming things, I had next to no free time for good, hard, butt-busting workouts or to do much cooking ... and I somehow lost five pounds. In two weeks.

My weight-loss secret? Frickin' magic, guys. That's all I've got.

I actually feel sort of bad, though - for all my celebration, I cannot for the life of me begin to explain what I did! Some weight loss blog, huh? "I lose weight by sheer force of will. Emulate me. Fin." I'm still excited outta my mind though, I haven't been losing weight like this since I came back to Norman for the fall. I'm only hoping that whatever it is I'm doing right, I can keep on doing - I feel amazing, and it's only getting better.

As incredible as the last few weeks have been, I feel certain that the next few will easily rival them. Between the things I've got planned, the people I'm spending my time with, and (on a totally geeky note) the myriad game and movie releases coming up, good times are definitely ahead. Also broke times, perhaps. Why must gaming be such a pricy hobby? Agh. Ah well - a girl does what she must to be happy. 'Til next week, dear readers!

Day 152

Weight: 197 lbs

Weight lost this week: -1 lb

Total weight lost: 41 lbs

Bust: 39 1/4" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 5/8" lost total)

Waist: 34 1/2" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 1/2" lost total)

Hips: 45 3/4" (0" lost since last week, 7 1/8" lost total)

So I gained a pound, but lost an inch? Yay/boo? Sigh. I miss the days where inches and pounds both just fell away together.

I feel pretty good about this week though - my favorite kickstep instructor Leigh was watching me do push-ups on the pool wall during class, and was really impressed. You have two options in pool pushups - either lean at an angle on the wall and push back and forth, or brace your hands on the edge and push up and down (much harder!). I started with the former, but switched to the latter several weeks ago. Apparently, according to Leigh, you can really see a difference in tone already - remarkable, since outside of kickstep I'm getting minimal weight training in. Now I feel like a badass (albeit sore in the biceps).

Considering this was a holiday weekend (I do so love the Halloweekend), I was pretty responsible with my eating choices. I didn't have a proper free dinner all week, although I was busy enough I stuck mostly to soup and sandwiches. I am still making my beloved garlic chicken stir fry, though; I think I may be addicted a bit. However, while my eating choices were good, my drinking choices ran away with me a bit. I made rum punch for a party I threw Friday night (which we all called Drink Me because of the label I slapped on the pitcher). I made two gallons of deceptively sugary, totally-yet-subtly alcoholic punch, and it was gone in 3-4 hours. We were all RIDICULOUS ... totally smashed by like 11 pm, and yet by 1-2 am we were sober enough to watch a Thai horror flick and read the subtitles. It was like a party in reverse.

This was, awesomely enough, the first party of mine that has necessitated people to crash at my place; I feel so legit! Thank God I have the spare bedroom, though, as the two guys who had to crash spent a good hour (still mid-party, even) drunkenly lounging on my bed and insisting that there was room for all three of us to sleep there. And in the spirit of good decisions and resisting temptation and whatnot, I managed to (after much cajoling and some impositions on my personal space) persuade them to crash in the study and on the couch rather than in my bed where I intended to sleep. When did I get to be so well-behaved? I had two good-looking guys in my bed, and my first thought was, "Oh, hell NO you don't. That's my space!" Haha.

Suppose that says something about the shape I've gotten into, though? That I'm having to chase not one but two men out of my bed? Hmm ... let's just say it does. Go team me. ^^

Day 145

Weight: 196 lbs

Weight lost this week: 1 lb

Total weight lost: 41 lbs

Bust: 39 3/4" (0" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

Waist: 35" (0" lost since last week, 5" lost total)

Hips: 45 3/4" (1/4" lost since last week, 7 1/8" lost total)

So, apparently having a brutal cough counts as an ab workout? Because I'm looking pretty good for having been pitiful and on the couch all week. I'm definitely relieved I didn't gain anything during my recuperation, but equally looking forward to getting my schedule back. Apparently I'm pretty reliant on kickstep as stress relief, and missing 3 classes in a row has me pretty twisted.

But it was the flu that had me laid out, it seems, and I was reluctant to take Tamiflu without having anyone around to keep tabs on me - its side effects may include hallucination and odd behavior, and I didn't like the idea of hallucinating and acting weird alone. It's supposed to be pretty good for your system to overcome the flu on its own, though, so go me.

This week's gonna be busier than usual - a few major projects due, hosting a horror movie marathon on Friday, and Halloween Saturday, plus getting myself back into routine after my unscheduled week off. Workouts will take some scheduling, but they've gotta get done - I'm seriously tired of down-time. Til next week, all!

Day 138

Weight: 197 lbs

Weight lost this week: 0 lbs

Total weight lost: 40 lbs

Bust: 39 3/4" (1/4" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

Waist: 35" (0" lost since last week, 5" lost total)

Hips: 46" (1/2" lost since last week, 6 7/8" lost total)

So not too bad this week; nothing fantastic, but not too bad. I'm down about half a pound, but again - only logging full pounds lost on the official count. Considering that I've had several rather celebratory nights this week in which drinks were consumed, I'm definitely grateful to see noticeable loss.

I'm already a bit worried about the rest of the week though, seeing as I've gone from feeling fine this afternoon to feeling like a big puddle of ache now. Throat, muscles, head ... yeah. Hurting. Not sure if it's flu or just another weird round of symptoms, but I'm gonna try to go to Goddard tomorrow and get diagnosed. Got way too much to get done this week to be sick.

I'm still keeping strong with the workouts, although my recipes are still pretty well-confined to the familiar much moreso than new recipes. I'd really like to get time to try out new stuff, but my schedule keeps me running enough that it's pretty much go for the guaranteed good meal. Maybe sometime within the next week or so I'll get a chance to try at least one new thing; that'll be a pretty easy goal to hit, yeah?

Suppose that's all for tonight ... see yall next week!

Day 131

Sunday Rundown

Weight: 197 lbs

Weight lost this week: 3 lbs

Total weight lost: 40 lbs

Bust: 40" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 7/8" lost total)

Waist: 35" (0" lost since last week, 5" lost total)

Hips: 46 1/2" (0" lost since last week, 6 3/8" lost total)

Sorry for the missed post last week, guys ... it was a rough couple of days. We had an unexpected death in the family, my cousin Chelsea; I spent much of last weekend helping with memorial service preparations, and things like workouts and blog posts slipped away for a few days. It was a very surreal time, and it's had an odd impact on me. Between the burglary and Chelsea's death, I've had a lot of reminders of my mortality in recent weeks. A month ago, I would've told you I was bulletproof; now, not so much.

I was starting to worry considerably, though, as my weight was steadily creeping up throughout the stress of the last few weeks. When I weighed in on Tuesday, I was toeing the line between 201 and 202. Not happy. But! When I weighed in today, 197! I have NO IDEA what I did; in fact, I wasn't on my best culinary behavior all week, and I definitely drank more than usual - my Grandad turned 90, so we had a Big Heald Party to celebrate. And yet somehow, five pounds just sort of ... drifted away. Maybe God gave me a mulligan?

In any event, I am throwing myself back on track, outside stresses be damned. I've only got one or two more major projects looming over me this semester, so barring any more unexpected events, life should be much more manageable in the coming days. Let's hope so ... stress gives me weird dreams. Haven't been loving it ><>