Updates, Challenges, and Changes

Hello strangers. I've been too busy to think straight lately. But I've still pushed myself not to slack on my gym time - which is an awesome accomplishment in itself!! I don't have any more weight loss lately - but I'm not that concerned about it. My mind set has been shifting from "results, results, results" to "I'm healthier today because I worked out like I should." This has also led me to not being as diligent with my logging of workouts and of this blog. Every now and then I find the time to catch up my logging, but it's not as it was before - where I was so excited to log each and every little thing I did. I'm thinking this is a good thing. Going from 'diet' mode to 'lifestyle' mode as my friend Melody would say. ;)
Random thought - I'm so excited for it to get warmer so I can switch up my workout routine with a little swimming. Plus get a good tan while I'm at it. ;) (not too dark - lots of sun is bad for you. :p)
I knew for this new challenge (the MLG one) I wanted to step it up a little, but wasn't sure how. I read an article today about how to keep moving throughout the day. It could burn as much as 350 extra calories! I was like, "hot dog! I can do that!" So my little mini-challenge to myself is to not be sedentary. To be constantly moving in one way or another. Right now I'm simply tapping my feet or swinging my legs. And it's not that hard at all. Once I get used to it it may not be that hard at all to remember. But I can feel my muscles getting slightly tired as if I were were working out, granted it takes longer. Imagine if we were capable of working out constantly all day! Oh the benefits, lol.
So I'm out - keep it up!

MLG Challenge

I'm getting started slowly on this new challenge. We've been so busy this week, on top of which I've been sick. I've worked out one day so far this week. :(
I have started a new challenge. It's 36 days and ends the day before MLG Nashville. I call it my MLG Challenge, lol. No specific goals, the same as before, just to stick with it, get more "fit."
I've started a small group Bible Study with Matt and our Sunday School class. It's focused on 'passing the baton' to the next generation and holding leadership roles with Godly intentions. Very interesting and I've learned so much in only the first class. Can't wait to go to more.
Not much to write about lately! Hopefully I'll have more news to share later on.

I DID IT! I WON!

My Challenge is Over! I WON!!

So this will be a post dedicated to my success and progress!

1. I beat my referee "challenger" 136 points to 130 points. (Facebook App)
2. I've lost 15 pounds (averaging in fluctuating water weight)
3. I've lost 2 inches in my waist.
4. I've lost 3 inches in my hips.
5. I've lost 2 inches in my thighs.
6. And most of all - I STUCK WITH IT FOR 28 DAYS!

My dad has told me he is proud of me. My brother beams when I talk about my progress. My mom is so happy for my results. And my husband is loving everything about this. Remember my first post? I wanted to surprise everyone and make my family proud of me? I think I did!! ^.^

My first post.

I am so glad I decided to keep a record of all this. It makes everything so much more fulfilling; to be able to look back and see my triumphs, my hard work. This makes it all sink in a little more.

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So I'll be hammering out the details of my next 28 day challenge. (you didn't think I was stopping here did you?) I'll start tomorrow. I'm still so excited!

So Busy!

I haven't had time lately to blog anything. Yesterday was my "peak" of busy-ness. So today should calm back down.
I've been working on stuff for DSO from sun-up till sun-down practically. Along with meetings, practices, etc. I don't even get to play for fun anymore! O.o
MLG Nashville is coming up next month and I want to go one way or another! But I'm so concerned about money. Hopefully Matt gets promoted this month (we hear at the end of Feb.) so we can have some extra cash. Won't be much more, but anything will help.
For some reason Matt's pay check was shorter than what it was supposed to be this month. I don't know if it was an accident or what. Lots of people's were. Seemingly innocent but guess what? NOW we can't spend hardly any money for Valentine's Day without possibly putting us in a bind. Whoop-a-dee-do. Thanks Bryan. 'Preciate it. Happy friggin' Valentine's Day to you.
My mom's birthday was yesterday too. I had to ask her stop by my house so I could give her her gift. I was too busy to go to her. [fail]
I had to skip out early from my Bible Study last night because of a DSO meeting. I felt so bad. I haven't seen everyone in forever. And the one time I do - I've got to leave.
And because of all that stuff I didn't get to workout yesterday. Sucks so bad. :(
AND to top it all off I'm getting sick. All this drama and stress is catching up to me and I'm sick... [sigh]

To end this on a happier note - I weighed myself two days ago and saw a number 20 pounds lighter. Haven't seen that number in ages. WOOHOO!

Ok, I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when it's warm outside....

Bright New Day!

So last week sucked big, fat, old eggs. I hated last week. I only worked out 3 days last week. And they were horrible days. This week not so much. ;)
Yesterday I worked the treadmill for 40 minutes. I did a pre-set workout thing. The "Variety" Button. Oooo. I love that thing now. Now that I'm used to incline changes and such, I can let the machine take me on a magical adventure of calorie burning. It pushed me to limits I'd never attempted before - and I overcame! WOOT! And I also ended up burning twice as many calories as normal. "Sweeeeeet."
Note to self - had a banana smoothie (real banana) about 45 minutes before working out. DO THAT AGAIN!!
I'm seeing changes all over my body now... feel better too. And (again, counting on the fact no one reads this!) a better sex life too. Rawr. ;) Confidence does funny things, lol.
I'm on my last week, and it's been a good week so far. I'm having fond memories of when I first started - the pain, the inconvenience,.... the pain. Now it's second nature. I couldn't imagine life being different. I don't want it to be different. I like it. I love it.
I think I can safely say - this is the start of something big in my life.

Almost There!

So this week has definitely been the hardest. I've skipped two days this week! And Tuesday's workout was an EXTREMELY rough one - leaving me feeling horrible and fatigued for days. Today was my first day back since, and it wasn't bad. Though I didn't push very hard either.
I changed my music up today and decided it made a big difference. 2 weeks must be my playlist music limit. After that I need CHANGE. Today I cruised on the treadmill with the Barenaked Ladies. Most of their songs aren't very fast at all but the treadmill kept my pace steady so I didn't slack. With the slower music and a fast pace, I had the sensation of flying. LOL. I know it sounds funny, but that's what it felt like.
I weighed myself again today. I seem to be fluctuating around (well I'll just go ahead and say it O.O) 250. I started at 260, so I'm very happy with that number! 20 more pounds and I'm my wedding weight. 30 more pounds and I'm my beginning college weight. And another 20 pounds will be my high school weight. Wow, have I really put on that much! This is so embarrassing to admit, but I'm betting on the fact that only about 2 people actually read this. Me... and my husband. :p (might I add that I AM over 6 feet tall and my highest 'healthy' weight is around 185, so yeah. I'm not some petite girl the size of a bus. O.o)
PANTS - I am able to pull them down my legs without even unbuttoning them. COOL! I'm having the WORST time keeping them up without a belt. Results? Well I sure hope so! My mini-goal is the pair of khakis hanging up in my bedroom. They were too small for me when I ordered them online. I refuse to try them till the end of next week. I'm hoping for a nice fit! I also plan to get my hair done for Valentine's Day as my reward for my 28 day challenge. I can't believe I've stuck with it! One more week!

Jeans Jeans Jeans

I decorated my bedroom, finally. I'm still not finished; it's an on-going project. But it looks so much better, so much more relaxing. One of the things I did was clean out my closet of all the jeans I have (past and present). I have about 20 pairs of jeans that I can't wear. I've been saving them because I *knew* I would get into them again one day. And that day is coming soon! I took a few minutes and arranged them in size order. Not by the size on the tag (us girls know how they vary). But by actual size. I held each one up to the others and judged them that way. I stacked them neatly with the different sizes easy to see. I found an old quilt rack, set it up in the corner of my bedroom, and displayed the jeans on top. I took my closest sized pair and hung it up on the wall behind. So every morning and night I see my inspiration - all those jeans. Some have never been warn. There are Gap, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, random Walmart brands, Old Navy, you name it. A few even have tags. :p
Yesterday was the first day of week number 3. Every day I get more and more excited to go and work out. Now that I've gotten this far, I want to see how far I can go. I can feel it becoming routine, which is so good. And the little differences I see now, I know they'll grow to be big differences soon.
My motivations have come from the little changes I've seen, the jeans I've displayed in my room, and my little image in my head of every little fat cell popping and disappearing the longer I work out. Pop, pop... pop, pop, pop. Off and off they go. Buh Bye... don't come back.

Week three - welcome! Week four - get ready cause here I come!!