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 ><>

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?

Day 96

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 198 lbs

Weight lost this week: 1 lbs

Total weight lost: 39 lbs

Bust: 41" (1/4" lost since last week, 5 7/8" lost total)

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

Hips: 46 3/4" (0" lost since last week, 6 1/8" lost total)

Finally, a flicker of progress! Not the 2-5 lbs a week I was losing (ah, how I miss those days), but at least a sign that I'm not scheduling myself to death in vain. Amazing how tenacious a body can be when it thinks it's found equilibrium ...

I tried a Zumba class at the Y for the first time today, and let me just say DAMN. That's a hell of a workout! Remember, I haven't done Zumba since like the first week of HFFC, back before we figured out it might be doing me more harm than good. But it definitely felt good today. I even had a spot with a clear view to the mirror, and I wasn't totally appalled by myself like I was the first time I tried Zumba. I looked pretty damn good, actually! Kinda sweaty and red in the face, but otherwise good! They even played one of my favorite songs - Jai Ho, from Slumdog Millionaires (granted, it was the glittered-up Pussycat Dolls version, but still good). I left the Y with my shirt like two shades darker than it was when I arrived ... thank god I didn't wear one of the white shirts, or I would've gone transparent and started offending the Y patrons' good Christian sensibilities.

Cooking is still going well, although I'm finding myself only actually cooking like 3 or 4 nights a week. Most of what I make creates leftovers, and in the process of trying not to waste anything, I'm eating a lot of repeats. Not that I'm complaining - it's all come out pretty tasty so far (save for the chicken capri, which I forgot to rub with garlic powder prior to cooking and was tragically bland). I've been behaving myself pretty well with free meals, too ... driving down Lindsey the other day, it occurred to me that I cannot remember the last time I had fast food. No McDonalds, no Arby's, no Wendy's ... the closest thing I've had to "fast food" is the odd Subway sandwich. It's an oddly gratifying feeling; I mean, for a while there, the Arby's on Lindsey knew my usual. That's always a bad sign.

I'm still loving my GA work, I've even been out shopping for more professional clothing to wear while advising; I'm not required to dress up, but I feel like I should a bit if I really want to make an impression. Also, as of today, my novel mentor Mel got the rough draft of my SR novel back to me! Which is why it's almost 3:30 am as I write this post: I find myself having a hard time focusing on anything else tonight. It's not a ton of changes, just a few pronoun confusions and some rephrasing for clarity's sake. Turns out I write with a lot of semicolons; who knew?

I've made a promise to myself this week - no walks. I have no means of figuring out precisely how long my routes are (trying to find a good iPhone app to track it, if anyone can recommend me one), and I think I'm cheating myself out of some butt-busting workouts without meaning to. This week, it's all Y, all the time: kickstep, Zumba, and maybe even a cycling class ... y'know, if I decide I'm up for that kind of self-flagellation, haha (honestly? I kinda miss Carla's cycling class! The bane of my workout schedule, and I'm really missing it). Wish me luck this week, guys ... I've tentatively scooted off my plateau, it's time to drop some serious weight!

Day 89

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 199 lbs

Weight lost this week: 0 lbs

Total weight lost: 38 lbs

Bust: 41 1/4" (0" lost since last week, 5 5/8" lost total)

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

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

Ugh, I hate plateaus! Gets so frustrating to work and work and see no real change. Could be worse, I suppose. Could work and work and see myself backslide. Now THAT would be a downer.

I did a really good job of cooking for myself this week - did chili one night (although it wasn't totally right, I didn't remember to properly season the meat), garlic stir fry two nights, and a hamburger patty one night. The others were all leftovers, with one free meal (Service Station). I've even been packing lunch to campus to prevent myself from hitting Wendy's or Quizno's and breaking my diet.

I've literally scheduled out my whole week: dinners, classwork, grad work, and workouts. I popped up Microsoft Excel and mapped everything out. Should make it really, really easy to stay on track, and I can easily upgrade it every Sunday. The one bummer is that my grad schedule overlaps many of the exercise classes I'd take - sculpt, Zumba, yoga, etc. I'm pretty much confined to free cardio/weights, walking, and water aerobics. Sort of a pain, but I at least have the time I need to get a workout in every day without wrecking myself.

So biggest success this week: yesterday, my friend Nate and I went to lunch at Gaillardia to use up the food minimum we have to pay each quarter. Now Gaillardia is quite the classy place, which means jeans and such are frowned upon severely; I had to pretty up. I went through all my go-to nice tops ... and they all looked terrible! Baggy, shapeless, with patterns that made me look bigger than I am ... it was ridiculous! So, at wit's end and about to make us late, I grabbed a little black dress that I haven't been able to wear in over two years and put it on. And it looked DAMN GOOD. Like seriously; it didn't even look that nice when I first bought it. I was psyched! And, to top it off, I went to The Righs' concert last night wearing a flowy black skirt, black vest, and white t-shirt (my attempt at a celtic-punk look), and it all fit flawlessly! Hell, half my vests were so big that I could've smuggled stuff underneath them pretty easily. Guess I need to cycle a few more things outta my closet now, huh?

Tomorrow, I'm trying a new water aerobics class ... I'm not clear on what it is I'll be doing, since they all have vague names like Wave, HART, and Hydro H2O, but I'm trying it all the same. I'm really gonna bust my butt this week ... while I did get a workout in every day last week, some of them were just sorta going through the motions. I know it takes serious butt-busting workouts to make progress, not the wussy little pseudo-workouts I turned to once or twice in the last few days. I am DETERMINED to get off this damn plateau, I'm dying to see more progress! Wish me luck, all!

Day 82

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 199 lbs

Weight lost this week: 0 lbs

Total weight lost: 38 lbs

Bust: 41 1/4" (1/2" lost since last week, 5 5/8" lost total)

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

Hips: 47" (3/4" lost since last week, 5 7/8" lost total)

Finally got a proper tape measure, so we've got measurements again! Still can't figure out a good way to do a picture though; surely I can figure something out.

I'm bummed I didn't see any weight loss this week, but not too surprised. It's been a busy week; between TA training (which was far less fun than anticipated), Gaylord orientation, finishing my apartment, and having plans almost every night, I was seriously strapped for workout time - especially considering that the pool at the Y was closed for cleaning all week. I ended up going to my apartment complex's workout room five out of the seven days - super-monotonous - and managed a walk one day and a Y visit this afternoon. Not bad, but definitely not the level of exercise I'm accustomed to. I'm gonna have to seriously bust my butt this week, no question.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the fall semester (although not so much for me, since I don't have any classes on Monday or Friday), and the beginning of my GA-dom. I'm very excited - my schedule should allow me to get in a morning workout and leave time for me to cook dinner every night. The GA facilities even have a small kitchen, so I'll be able to take leftovers for lunch on occasion. I've already built this week's workouts into my schedule - I'm doing a few familiar classes, as well as some new ones I'm curious about. I'm determined to stay on track this week, back to school or no; with my apartment finally in the shape it needs to be and my schedule stabilizing, I've got nothing to hold me back!

Day 75

Sunday Rundown (belated!)

Weight: 199 lbs

Weight lost this week: +2 lbs, then -2 lbs

Total weight lost: 38 lbs

Bust: ?" (?" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

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

Hips: ?" (?" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

Mom took my tape measure, so I can't get you guys my measurement updates just yet. And I haven't figured out a way to set the camera properly to take a self-pic with my camera's timer. And to top it off, I'm a day late. I'm a terrible blogger! Why do yall follow me again?

Haha in all seriousness, I felt so guilty when I realized I hadn't gotten a post up yesterday! Mom and I spent most of the evening embroiled in the Battle of the Bookcase, wherein we attempted to assemble a particleboard bookcase and failed miserably. There was a moment where I thought Mom might start stabbing it with the screwdriver, and I wouldn't have blamed her. We grappled with it til late, and I crashed hardcore. It was a long day.

Anyway, I did pretty well these last two weeks, considering I was traveling so much! Gained a pound and change in NY, which was better than expected; all I can say is thank God New York restaurants are required by law to post the calorie count of each dish right in the menu. It saved my butt more than a few times. I mean, as tempting as some meals sound (like the garlic chicken alfredo whatever-it-was at California Pizza Kitchen that nearly did me in), they weren't worth the calories even as a free meal (the alfredo dish topped 1000 calories! For one meal! That's almost a day's worth!). I just carried CLIF bars everywhere and made the best choices I could.

The last week's been a bit muddled too; between traveling home, beginning my TA training, and trying to get my apartment in order, cooking time/space/gear has been slim to none. I've been able to keep to healthy quick-fixes (sandwiches, chili, tuna, etc) to save me from myself. I've also gotten some hardcore workouts in - Saturday morning Kickstep and Deepwater Weights nearly ended me. I also tried Aqualates (aquatic pilates? Eh? Eh?) and loved it; I was even able to do the advanced moves! Very gratifying.

I promise to add on the measurements, once I repossess my tape measure ... and I'll be sure to get next Sunday's post up on time! Also, I have three other blogs for your consideration, all friends of mine pursuing similarly healthy lifestyles: Wendi, Chris, and Tami. Wendi's working on cooking cheap and healthy food, Chris is working to improve his life all around via introspection and positive thinking, and Tami's doing a program very similar to my own; click their names to check it out! See yall next Sunday (with pictures, perhaps)!

Day 61

Sunday Rundown:

Weight: 199 lbs

Weight lost this week: 2 lbs

Total weight lost: 38 lbs

Bust: 41 3/4" (3/4" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

Waist: 35" (1 1/4" lost since last week, 5" lost total)

Hips: 47 3/4" (3/4" lost since last week, 5 1/8" lost total)

Thigh: 27 1/2" (3 5/8" lost total)

Bicep: 14 1/2" (2 7/8" lost total)

Wrist: 6 1/4" (1/4" lost total)

It's done, guys! Done! Over 8 weeks ago, I swore to do everything in my power to get myself below 200 pounds before the end of HFFC, and here, on Day 61, I have officially done it. For the first time in I-don't-know-HOW-long, I'm back below 200 pounds!! I'm ... floored! I'm ecstatic! I'm so glad, and so relieved - part of me was terrified I'd put in all the time and effort and bust my butt, only to shave off ten pounds or so. It's so gratifying to know it's been worth it, and that it'll continue to be worth it. It's like I always say about Mom and Dad ... they're fit because they put a lot of time and effort into staying fit, and the same potential's always been in me. Just took me this long to try and tap it.

So here's the plan for this blog, following the conclusion of HFFC. I'm no longer going to do a nightly post, since there's only so many times yall will enjoy reading the same routine over and over. Instead, I'm going to do a weekly post on Sunday nights. I'll post the rundown - weight and measurements, perhaps a pic - and talk about the challenges I've faced throughout the week: learning to cook for myself every meal, resisting temptation (both foodwise and getting-my-butt-out-of-bed-wise), and keeping myself going even on the sucky days. I feel like I'll need this continuation for some accountability, to you guys (and of course my parents, whom I know will be the first ones to call me up and inquire about any weight re-gained, haha) as well as to myself. I'll start these posts on August 16th - I'll be traveling all day next Sunday coming back from my celebratory NYC trip, so I'll have no chance to weigh and measure.

I am eternally grateful to everyone who has been a part of this. Everyone who's read this blog, cheered me on, offered me tips or asked for advice; everyone who's helped me celebrate the wins and commiserate the losses; everyone who's called me, IMed me, or messaged me just to check in and see how I'm feeling and how I'm doing; everyone who's had a hand in spurring me on to where I am now. Thanks especially to my brother, whose pre-HFFC phone call was so sweet and supportive it left me in tears, and to my parents, who have endured two months of doing hardcore workouts and eating even the nastiest diet recipes right along with me. I could not have gotten here without all of you guys backing me up.

One of my favorite tips I read this summer (out of the mountain of diet books living on our kitchen table) was in the Biggest Loser 30-Day Jumpstart book; it said simply, "Choose your team wisely." Make sure the people around you will be enablers, helping you move forward no matter what. In starting this blog and making public my weight loss efforts, I managed to rally the most supportive people possible around me. You guys have been an amazing team; thank you for everything you've done, and everything you'll do as i continue to work towards total health. I've lost nearly 40 pounds, but I've got 50 still to go. This time next year, guys - 150 lbs! Let's make it happen!

Day 60

One day of HFFC left ... a lifetime of workouts ahead of me, true, but only one day of the bootcamp. After this, getting a workout or two in a day is gonna be an absolute breeze, haha.

The weather was incredibly dreary today, so I wound up with all indoor and freestyle workouts. Cardio, strength training, and yoga. Felt really good to stretch out, apparently my calves were kinda kinked up. Also meant I got everything in before noon again, so another afternoon off! Wh-hoo. =) Ended up chilling pretty seriously - read a book, watched some tv with the fam, and took a pretty hardcore nap. Very relaxing.

Food was straightforward too, although dinner was nice - my final free meal. We went to Chenal, and I got to indulge in some seriously spicy poblano pepper soup, a tuna sandwich, and a rare treat: french fries with sea salt. Mmm ... I ordered a rum and Diet Coke too, but it was like ALL rum. Ended up not drinking too much of it. Some nights, that drink goes down so smooth; others, not so much.

It seems that the closer I get to the end, the less I can come up with to blog about, haha. My first few weeks, it'd take me half an hour to compose a post at the end of the day; now, I'm knocking them out in five, ten minutes flat. I feel bad about it, but there's only so much to tell now before I begin repeating myself. Tomorrow should be a more promising post, though ... the final Sunday Rundown of HFFC, the final day of HFFC, all that good stuff. Not long to go now, guys!

Day 59

Two ... days ... left! *bum-bah!*

Today was a ridiculously fun day. I got on a serious roll this morning and knocked out all 4 workouts in 4 hours. From 8 am to noon, I was working out end-to-end. A walk, some weights, a cardio, and then yoga/stretch. Means I was able to come home and actually clean up and wear real clothes before dusk, and run errands all afternoon guilt-free!

We got a ton done - picked up a few more pairs of properly-fitted jeans, got my new furniture from Pier 1, and did a little extra retail therapy in between. I found an amazing scarf at a store called Rue 21, and spent like 5 minutes this evening kneeling in front of the webcam, trying to properly pose with it.

I know, kinda desert-sheik chic, but it was the best way I could figure to show off the colors at such close range. We also stopped back by a few furniture stores where we'd pre-shopped, and I did a fairly adult thing and purchased some fine art!

How cool is that?? It's the one I told you guys about in Tuesday's post, and I went back and bought it! As soon as I saw it, I was smitten - spirals are my favorite shape, and black and white is so simple and timeless that this piece can go with me when I move, even if my main decorating scheme changes. I'm so excited to have it; just gotta get it to Norman in one piece, now. I'm so paranoid it'll get broken, haha!

I also made one more retail-therapy purchase, right before this post. It was a silly sort of impulse, but it occurred to me that there was an easy way to get me excited about cooking: costumery. I've always loved getting to wear something unique, different, or costume-y (not to excess, of course, but when I get to go, I do go all out!). Having something special that I only wear when I cook is a total sell for a former drama geek like me. And I found the perfect thing: a sexy apron. 

Not like a nasty-tiny lingerie thing, but an actual functional apron that's just a flirty pattern and fabric so it looks cute, not clunky or spinsterly. I didn't expect to find one so easily, but I ran a Google search on "flirty aprons." First result? Flirtyaprons.com. Win! I can't get the site to load on my laptop so I can post a pic of the one I bought, but if you're so inclined you can see it on the site. I got the black-and-white one about halfway down the page. Can't wait til it gets here!

Tomorrow's workouts are currently in limbo, until such time as the weather determines itself. I'm crossing my fingers that the rain holds off so I can get one more walk in (Saturday night's gonna pour, so Sunday's right out). Guess I won't know until tomorrow morning ... ah well. Gonna watch some gratuitous violence (Planet Terror!) and call it a night. Later all!

Day 58

So I ended up having to do my backup plan for workouts this morning ... it seriously rained curtains most of the day. Had to do CCC cardio and weights instead of a good walk. Not the same, but still pretty good.

Food wasn't anything too different today; a peach smoothie for breakfast, tuna for lunch, and pork tenderloin at the Sterns' for dinner. Dinner was incredibly fun: 3 of the Sterns, 3 of the Healds, and 2 of the Rogalas made for a hell of a dinner group. I might've gotten an extra workout in from laughing so hard. It's kinda cool to be able to have that much fun with family, I know that sort of thing is rare.

Today, we decided I needed a new pair of jeans for New York. Y'know, something that isn't a few good shimmies away from falling right off me. The jeans I have here are 4s, by Lane Bryant's size system (not sure what that relates to in regular sizes, but I'm sure I'd be shocked). I went in planning to squeeze into a pair of 3s ... and walked out in a perfectly-fitted set of 2s. I've never been an LB 2! Also picked up a few cute, simple shirts at Old Navy - nice to have a few outfits that flaunt what I've got a little bit.

You know, everyone talks about how you can buy anything and wear anything when you're in shape, and you always go, "Yeah, yeah, I know." But the truth is, until you're fit enough to just grab any style or color off the rack in a flattering size, put it on, and make it look good ... you have NO idea how incredible that feels. I never would've guessed it'd feel quite this good. So for my equally fitness-minded friends, trust me - it's so worth the work to be able to slip into anything you want to.

It's another short post, I'm sorry ... but if I don't crash soon, I'm gonna regret it. (Also: 3 days of HFFC left! Still counting ^^)

Day 57

Getting my counting out of the way early ... four-days-left! (I can't stop. Accountants for parents. What can a girl do?)

Today was EXHAUSTING. At breakfast, Dad reminded me that today would be the last guaranteed non-rainy morning, and I needed to take advantage of it. So instead of two LRAC classes, I convinced (read: all but dragged) Mom out to Pinnacle to hit the base trail one last time. And I'm not gonna lie ... it kinda sucked today. Humid as all get-out ... and toward the end, I so nearly stepped on a snake. 

I'm not kidding - my right foot was in the air, about to come down, when I realized that the dark streak in front of me was not a shadow, but a two-foot-long black-and-white spotted snake. I kid you not guys, it was too close for comfort. If I'd still been out of shape, there would have been no way I could've checked myself in time. As it was, I had to use my whole core to reverse my step and nearly fell backward into Mom. I was FREAKED; the snake was not pleased either. It coiled up super-fast and started doing its tail like a rattler, even though it didn't have a rattle. We had to slip kind of off the path to get around the damn thing. Nothing gets your heart rate up like being half a footfall away from four puncture wounds in your calf. ><

And then, after my big, long, humid, stressful, snake-inhabited hike, I remembered it was Wednesday .... SPIN CLASS. After 3.5 miles in the heat - spin class! I came so close to bailing, but in the end I hauled my butt out there anyway. And it was actually kinda fun today, oddly. One of the songs they played was Sandstorm, one of my favorite techno songs and a guaranteed club hit. So my lower body was pedaling like mad to the beat, but my upper body was in a club. I was dancing as best I could, and I wasn't the only one. The last ten minutes still sucked (especially since I forgot the seat pad), but I made it. Squeezed in some weights and some yoga, then spent the whole afternoon in bed playing video games, napping, reading, and watching the rain pour down. Gotta love it.

Tomorrow's gonna take some exercise-finagling to deal with all the weather, but I've got a backup plan. Y'know, in case the first one breaks down. Later all!

Day 56

Day 56, guys. Eight weeks in Little Rock busting my butt. Eight weeks down, 5 days to go (yes, I'm still counting ><).

I had a theraputic sort of walk today - it was overcast enough to shut down the golf course, so I took Rafferty for a looping walk around the path. It was very relaxing, although she's an old enough dog that I needed to drop her back at home about 1/3 of the way through. And I kid you not, the minute I stepped onto the path without that dog, it started sprinkling. Little pinprick drops, nothing huge ... but by the time I got home, I was DRENCHED. Changed into pajama pants and did some yoga right afterward, and that helped take some of the chill out.

It's weird - ever since I've started losing weight, I've been so temperature-sensitive! Used to be cold didn't bother me; I keep my apartment super-cold, if only to make my bed feel that much warmer when I curl up to read or sleep. But today, we went to Juanita's for a sort-of-free lunch, and I was freezing my butt off! Mom and Dad said it was a little cool, but I was straight-up shaking! Guess the weight I've lost so far was all insulation.

I did a little more shopping today - bought a super-sexy corset-styled top at Forever 21 that does awesome things to my bustline, and did a little preliminary furniture shopping around town. I found this amazing art piece I want to buy at one store: it's a cream-colored canvas divided into 20 or so squares, and each square has a black spiral squiggled into it. I've always loved spirals, and it looks so much like me that it killed me to leave the store without it. I may have to go back ... it's pricy, for wall art, but I may have to suck it up and shell out. I want it so bad!

I'm torn as to tomorrow's workouts ... it's gonna be the last sunny day for awhile, and I've gotta choose between water aerobics and hiking the base trail. I really want to spend some time in the water, but I can't do the base trail after Sunday - not totally safe for a young woman to go hiking off alone. I guess I'll see what I'm feeling tomorrow ... goodnight all!

Day 55

Day 55, only 6 days left ... ugh, not counting down is hard!

Anyway, today's the first day of the last week. Woke up feeling pretty good, due to all the encouraging messages I got from people who saw the Sunday Rundown. Then I remembered I had to do spin class. God, spin class ...

Workouts were straightforward classes, most of the day. Sculpt, water aerobics (in which my octogenarian fan club was super-excited to see me back), and the dreaded spin class. It's odd - I think I'd like spin class more if I got to pick the music. This instructor's tastes flip-flop between techno and (ugh) Nickelback. Very odd combo. Then I rounded out the day with a little free yoga, and was done by like 2 pm. Pretty nice, to have the afternoon off. I got a little online shopping done, although online retail therapy is not as satisfying as real-world retail therapy. It's all the money spent, and none of the stuff shows up for days. I did buy some good stuff, though - a poster for my apartment, a bolster pillow for yoga, and a birthday gift for a good friend of mine. Dented my bank account a bit, but worth it.

Food was super-simple today; I didn't even cook dinner, since Mom had some new recipe she was dying to try. It wasn't even for me - it was herbed chicken, but with a mango-watermelon salsa that was so not on my diet. Instead, she converted my recipe to herbed chicken parmesean ... and it was pretty damn good! I even got to have some whole-wheat rotini with parmesean cheese, which I have so missed.

So tonight, a big raincloud has parked itself over Arkansas and is gonna dump rain on us for a week or so. Means my plan to double-loop the base trail tomorrow (a seven-mile trip) may be called on account of rain; I'm okay with just hitting CCC if need be, but I'd so rather go for a hike. It wouldn't be safe with the downpour that's coming in, though ... the rocks would be slick as hell and the little creeks the path drops into will be roaring. Definitely a recipe for Meg-washed-into-the-Arkansas-River ... ah well. We'll see!