Munchies Attack!

Had an attack of the munchies last night. I desperately wanted chocolate and found that sadly lacking in my house right now. The Frosted Mini Wheats and pretzels I settled for did NOT do the trick. I exercised restraint and didn't eat a whole lot of either even though I wanted to start on one end of my pantry and graze to the other end then start on the fridge.

Do you ever feel that way? It happens a few days out of the month, every month for me. It's annoying.

Even though Wednesday is supposed to be a day I can get out to the "gym" (because the husband is home early enough) that wasn't the case last night (he had a meeting that ran late). Lucky for me, I'd decided to do "Sweatin' to the Oldies 2" yesterday morning with the intentions of doing the C25K last night. So I still got my workout in for the day, maybe not as much as I wanted but enough to hit my goals for the day.

I find I really like doing an exercise video in the morning -- it really gives my energy levels a kick in the ass -- and I have more energy for longer. It's great. However, when I crash, I fall instantly asleep. It doesn't matter what I'm doing. I was playing a video game last night and fell asleep while playing.

I started playing the game to give me something to do with my hands so they wouldn't reach for food to shove in my mouth and not a half hour later I was passed out on the couch. Should've reached for the game instead of the Frosted Mini Wheats to begin with. Oh. Well.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - "Sweatin' to the Oldies 2"

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 72

Only Water - Day 67

Total Pounds Lost - 25.4

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of Special K Vanilla Almond and FiberOne Honey Clusters mixed and almond milk
Lunch - Homemade Chili and Cornbread
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich and some Pirate Popcorn
Dinner - Mango Chicken, Italian Herb Pasta, broccoli
Evening Snack - handful of Frosted Mini Wheats and some pretzels

Total Day Calories - approx. 1325

It's Amazing!

It's amazing how much difference a shoe makes!! I got my new Asics Gel-Soled Runners yesterday from my beautiful and awesome sister, Crystal, and when I jogged last night I didn't have any of the discomfort previously experienced with my crappy Wal-mart shoes. I guess you really do get what you pay for.

Normally my feet hurt, my shins are uncomfortable, and I get a new blister every time I jog in my old shoes. Last night none of these things happen. And even better my new AWESOME shoes didn't even hurt the existing blisters let alone make new ones. I'm in love (my husband should be wary) with my new shoes! They're the best thing since lost weight!!

So, I'm sure you've realized I completed Week 2 of the Couch to 5K program last night. I went even further, pushed myself even harder and went 2.17 miles. So I'm totally stoked about that.

I don't really have any other revelations or life changing epiphanies right now. I'm still lost in the shiny glow of new fabulous shoes that were like heaven on my feet while I ran last night.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Week 2 Day 3 of C25K -- burning approximately 455 calories. Drank 12 glasses of water -- day 41 of no soda.

Meals:
Breakfast - Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast, blended blueberries (for syrup), and sliced bananas
Lunch - pork chop, potatoes au gratin, and broccoli (leftovers)
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, pirate booty, granola bar
Dinner - Basil Penne Rigate pasta w/ sauteed spinach, broccoli, and garlic, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

total calories = approx. 1461
total days = 46
total pounds lost = 18.4

I'm Ba-ack!

…and for those of you who haven’t passed out from the shock, let me catch you up.

Well, I didn’t realize it’s been over two months since I last posted an update on my progress with the epiphany. I didn’t forget, I’ve just been so into it, and other things in my life, that I sort of let it slide.

But…I didn’t let the life changes slide. So, let’s do a fast catch up. Hang on to your seats.

I have officially been on my life changing epiphany since the middle of June which (counts on fingers, subtracts some toes, and does the hokey pokey) makes it about five months now. And in the past five months, I’ve lost…

Are you ready? (drum roll please)

… a total of 76 pounds, 3 - 4 pants sizes (depends on the pants), 3 shirt sizes, and 3 bra sizes (in circumference, not cups)!

Can you say halfway to my goal? *does a booty shake*

How am I doing it? I eat approximately 1200 calories a day. As promised, I lost the first 20 pounds on the strict food plan, then chose to eat whatever I wanted as long as I adhered to the calorie count. I eat four to five small meals a day and I drink at least a gallon of water.

But my biggest crowning glory is the fact that I exercise every day -- so far 162 of them to be exact (yes I’m crazy, I keep count). And something weird happened. I stopped wishing the exercise video was over before it even really began -- which, let me tell you, made the video seem to last forever -- and started just enjoying the workout. It’s over before I know it and I’m a little sad when I’m done. Freak, right? I actually look forward to and like working out.

I really can’t believe the difference the 76 pound loss makes. Gone is the double chin and I have a collar bone! I had no idea. I can run after my three-year old son, three-feet-of-fun, and not get winded. And I feel prettier, sexier, and a whole lot healthier.

Now that I’ve gotten caught up with my progress I’ll for sure blog on Sundays as they are still weigh in days. Talk to you all next week!

A Necessary Evil

Doomsday is drawing ever closer. *cue suspenseful music* Every time I walk past the closet, I hear the scale laugh tauntingly from its burial ground. I’ve been successfully waging war on my food intake and have been having consecutive daily victories for over a week. I feel ready to up the ante and tackle a new evil.

Exercise.

I shudder just thinking about the “E” word but I know there is no way I’m going to come even remotely close to achieving my goals if I don’t start moving and grooving. I also had a nightmare about drowning in acres of loose sagging skin and I don’t want to look like I’m melting for real, which now makes exercise a high priority on my list. Must avoid loose skin at all costs. All costs.

For me everything starts on paper. So, you got it, I made a list. I wrote down all the areas I wanted to target. After I’d listed them out, I realized it would’ve been easier to have simple written: all of me.

I made a chart with the days of the week and what exercises I will do on which days. Every day I have crunches, push ups, and stretches, alternating days between Pilates, aerobics, and weights. The sight of it on paper is daunting, I know, but I did mention the drowning in flesh dream, right? Enough said.

Every good chart needs a rewards system in place, so it goes without saying that I have one. For every week I honestly complete the chart, I will treat myself to a little something just for me like a pedicure, new scented lotion (it’s an addiction, I can’t control it), or a new book and a bubble bath. I figure with as much hard work as I’m going to be putting forth, I should have the opportunity for some pampering too.

And So It Goes

I’ve had an epiphany!

Before we get to that, I should probably introduce myself. I’m a thirty-something woman, an average Jane if you will. Just a work-at-home mom who realized I was turning into a work-at-home planet complete with my own gravitational pull.

Now, after five years of steadily getting bigger and the myriad of excuses I’ve used to justify my size and lack of ambition to change it, I’ve finally decided to do something about it. No more whining and excuses -- I’m firmly taking hold of my own destiny and attacking it with zest!

I’m committing to making a “lifestyle” change, which is my fancy way of saying I’m putting my big butt on a healthy diet and rigorous exercise routine. My goal: to lose an entire person’s worth of weight. One whole person. Roughly 150 pounds. Wow.

I have no idea what I weigh exactly at this moment, although I know it’s clearly over 300 pounds. The thought of getting on a scale wakes me up screaming at night. Oh, I have a scale but it’s where it belongs -- hidden in the closet behind the Christmas decorations. I just have to work up to unearthing it and actually standing on it. You know next week, when I’ve gotten used to the whole concept. Right now, I don’t think I could take the groans and it saying, “Get off, you’re killing me!”

So hop along for the ride, it ought to be a fun one with lots of ups and downs. Okay, maybe ‘fun’ isn’t the word, but I can promise it’ll never be boring -- even if it’s like watching a train wreck.

Fasten your seatbelts -- it’s going to be a bumpy ride!