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 ><>

Day 117

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 200 lbs

Weight lost this week: +2 lbs

Total weight lost: 37 lbs

Bust: 40 1/2" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 3/8" lost total)

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

Hips: 46 1/2" (1/4" lost since last week, 6 3/8" lost total)

(The measurements are old; I can't find my tape measure, but I'll track it down tomorrow and get it updated.)

Bummer-post incoming. The last week has been hell. Most of you have probably heard the story by now: I was burglarized last week. Someone came into my apartment while I slept and stole $3000-$4000 worth of stuff. They left me alone, thank God, but I'm still really shaken by it. I've spent most of the week trying to get my life back in order (with my mother's help, fortunately, or else I'd still be totally screwed). The long and short of it is that my workout and eating schedules went to hell for a while; the burglary, coupled with my off-days from having flu symptoms the days prior to the burglary, means my weight jumped up alarmingly eagerly. It's scary how quickly the human body is willing to regress.

If nothing else, this week has made me REALLY mad. The workouts I got in today and yesterday helped, but I've still got a lot of anger to work out. Should help me rage my way back on track. Cross your fingers for me, guys; I need all the good juju you can send my way. Hopefully I'll have good news for everyone next Sunday.

Day 103

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 198 lbs

Weight lost this week: 0 lbs

Total weight lost: 39 lbs

Bust: 40 1/2" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 3/8" lost total)

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

Hips: 46 1/2" (1/4" lost since last week, 6 3/8" lost total)

Ugh, this was a rough week. The first half was great - found out my favorite water aerobics class has evening meets during the week as opposed to just the one crack-of-dawn Saturday class, and got some great cycing sessions in. Then, around Thursday, I started feeling lousy. Not terrible, not curl-up-on-the-couch-and-don't-move, per se, but enough that it impacted me. But - I didn't turn to comfort foods to make myself feel better, and I kept up with my workouts ... downside, though, is that whatever my funk is sapped my appetite. So no pounds lost this week. Well, technically, I lost like 3/4 of a pound, but if I start counting every decimal pound I lose, then I'm going to go mad. Until it's a nice round number, no post.

Cooking was pretty basic this week, nothing I haven't tried and succeeded at. I turned to garlic chicken stir fry more than once ... if it's possible to overdose on that, I could be in trouble down the road. I did turn to chicken noodle soup on my most pitiful sick night, but I sculled through it until I got a good chicken-to-noodle ratio. Meaning like all chicken, and only a few noodles. Not the usual sick-day soup I'm used to, but still good. Suppose all the good feeling's in the broth anyway.

All's still well in the GA realm ... came up with some fairly original activities for the week, and know all my students' names (thank you, Mel's Guide to Winning Ppl Over ...). And I'm still loving the advising office work. The atmosphere is so great there! I figured 4 hours of that a day would have me watching the clock like crazy, but I haven't been tapping my foot once. I love it there! And I'm getting a little more autonomy too, getting to feel out the advising process and all that it entails.

Been missing the girls a lot more this week, especially on nights out. Nate, Huck, and I had a ridiculous evening at Blu earlier this week, and about every other comment or silly toast made me think how much the girls would appreciate it. I don't feel like I'm any less social ... it's just a different kind of social, I suppose. Ladies! Come visit Norman so I can teach you the toast!

And now, I'm going to take some Nyquil, go to bed, and hopefully wake up with this weird funk behind me. I do not have time for illness; immune system, wake up and fix this so I can get back to business as usual. Yes?