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So today, I put all my arms and legs back in the wagon.  I say this because I have not completely fallen off of my weight-loss/exercise wagon, but I have definitely diverted away from it.  I have made my mind up that after this weekend (for the love of ice cream!) I was going to get back into my regime like I was 2 months ago. 

So today I went to Zumba, and plan on it wed and fri this week.  I am also going to work in some bike riding.  I am going to use those two activies to get me going for awhile.  While I was in Zumba today, I remembered why I loved it in the first place.  It’s so fun!   And plus, as usual, I am just down about how i look and feel.  I haven’t lost weight in 2+ months and it’s disheartening.  I know I can do, I did it!  Lost 8 pounds in a month not too long ago!  I just need focus, dicipline and things to keep my mind off of it.

But you know…I knew this was going to happen.  It always does, so kudos to those of you can 100% stay on your game, because unless it feels natural to you, you will stick your hands or feet of the wagon from time to time.  But I feel better, and I want to get in better shape.  So for those of you who are going through or went through the same feelings, it’s ok!  Just get back on! :-)  It’s a lot easier this time than it was for me before for some reason.  I just was like… “Wow, this spring was awesome… what happened?  I wanna feel like that again!  And I know I can do it!”  I wanted to kick my own butt for not stricking with it - in the past I made excuses and didn’t care…

Good luck buddies, you can do it!  Stick with it, and if you can’t/couldn’t, just focus your energies back on what you liked about exercising!

So, I made it through vacation with only one pound gained.  I really made an effort to stay active while I was there to balance out the drinking and food.  I was a little bummed about it, but really, it’s okay.

When we first arrived on Thursday night, I was trying to figure out my plan for the weekend.  I knew that I was not going to eat what I didn’t want to and I wasn’t going to indulge in stuff that I didn’t need to eat.  I discovered that Hopi, my sister in law had brought healthy things to snack on over the weekend.  (I knew she was a healthy eater, but I was thrilled that she brought it with her!)  She also told me that she planned on power walking each morning and that I was more than welcome to join her.  I almost jumped up and down!  I had been wondering what I was going to do for exercise, and this was a good solution.

Friday was not hard at all, just drank a bit.  We walked, and later that day I enjoyed the paddle boat.

Saturday, I started the day with a longer power walk and took a few rides on the paddle boat during the day.  I stayed away from all the deserts (yay me!) in the anticipation that we may go to the ice cream shop where Scott and Dave went when they were kids sometime during the weekend.  Barbeques are full of caloric and carb filled foods, so I tried my best to eat like I normally would.  :-)  I ate watermelon when the rice krispy treats came back around and around… I did drink quite a few gin and tonics on Saturday, but I was okay with that!

Sunday, no power walk because Hopi and I got up early to make breakfast, but we made up for it with a long ass paddle boat ride, where we would switch off who paddled to get more resistance.  Later in the afternoon, we played a game of family football, and man, we played rough and we got lots of exercise!  It was great

So all in all, I had a great time.  The tough part was eating in the airport during our layovers.  There weren’t a lot fo great choices, so we ate both our lunches Thursday and Monday at Chili’s Too.  I felt like if I could pinpoint that pound that came on, it would br from there.  I had a ranch chicken sandwich on Thursday and a turkey club on Monday, and I had some fries, too.   It was wonderful to be on vacation with other people who are conscious of what they eat and how active they stay. 

Back to the grind!  Hope you all had a great weekend!

I am so happy!!!  For the past two days, I have noticed that my bottoms have fit looser!  Yesterday I was wearing a skirt that I bought in the spring and it fit pretty well when I bought it.  Yesterday, I had to keep pulling it up at work :-)  I didn’t think much about it except that today…I was wearing a pair of denim capris that I had to buy a few summers ago…because I had gained weight…and they were falling down too!  It’s been a great week.  And I have needed some good things, because I have not felt great about my weight loss so far.  I still have a long way to go, but FINALLY I am seeing some small change…

I’ve had the urge to snack a bit today…I think it’s because I started my period yesterday.  (That would explain the pimples!)  I’ve held off for the most part…just had some Chex Mis Party Mix…going to have dinner soon

I attempted some of the ab machines tonight in the gym.  I did 10 on one and about 20 on another.  It was hard, I’ll admit.  Definitely something I need to start working in.  I just don’t like it because I have a hard time focussing my stregnth on my abs..you know what I mean?  Like, using my abs to do the work, instead of my neck and back muscles.  Does anyone know the secret?

Well, I am going away for the weekend to my mother in law’s house!  Lots of food and drinking!  My sister in law is a health nut, and I’m pretty sure my MIL stays pretty healthy, so I don’t think I have too much to worry about…just the drinking :-)  My husband tells me that they walk their dogs every night after dinner, so thankfully, I’ll have some sort of exercise too.  They also live on a lake, so he said that we could take a long walk around it if we wanted… and I am going to want too, I am at the point now that I can only go one day without feeling ugh.  When I get back I plan on going every weekday.

Have a wonderful week, buddies!  I know I will!

Happy Birthday to me!  I am very excited about today, lots of good things.  It started with a home made breakfast made by my husband, then I turned around and cooked him lunch!  I cooked tilapia and corn, YUM!  I am ready for a fun evening!  My best friend and I are going to our normal Zumba (Zumba on my birthday…geez :-)  I am dedicated!) and then dinner, drinks, shopping and dancing!  Woohoo!

I am getting closer to that piece of birthday cake… Maybe by Saturday I won’t want it?  Not likely

Today has made me think about how far I have come.  I’m not too old, and it makes me realize as the time races forward, that now was the right time to make the change.  I wouldn’t have wanted to wait any longer.  Weight loss is a challenge, but I want to feel amazing by my next birthday, and I know that will happen.

Sigh… it’s a slow go for my weigh loss.  I was super excited last week when there was a 3 pound difference, and today it was just one pound.  That’s still great, but I guess I was hoping for more.

On Sunday, I accomplished something that I am very proud of, and something that I obviously had to work towards.  I went on a 2+ mile hike up and down a mountain.  My husband and joined by some friends went to Fall Creek Falls, TN and made the trek to the bottom of the waterfall and back up again.  I can tell you, it was very challenging and it pushed me hard, but it was awesome and it felt so good to do it.  And…I would not have been able to do it a month ago the way I felt.  On the way back, I was thinking, “Man, that felt amazing!”  It was obvious to me that I am in better shape, and that the pounds and inches aren’t the only (though important) reason I am doing this - I am doing it to feel good, too, and to be able to do things that I couldn’t.

So after not seeing the scale move for a few weeks, I was happy this morning to see that it did!  I lost three pounds last week, down to 156!  I am on my way to 150, slowly but surely.  It’s funny, because for the past few years I have fluctuated between 150-165…  I usually get into this 155 area and teeter.  My goal is to keep dropping this time!   I have VERY confident about this month, much because of my new found love…Zumba.  (Plus my gym membership as whole).

We can do it, ladies.  We just have to push ourselves to the extra step.  It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s not going to happen in a month.  But it will happen if we want it to.  It seems like it never takes us long to gain it, but so long to lose it.  But it will happen!  I feel like a different person.  I feel great, and I’m actually excited to go to Zumba class.  Seriously… I’m looking forward to it today.  So I recommend finding something you like.  I tried Yoga and Zumba for the very first times this past week.  Its about finding something that works for you, and that you will want to wake up and do that day.  Think about what motivvates you.  I actually have been confused about what motivates me, because I thought I would have started my weight loss journey a long time ago because I was so unhappy with it, but I think that I am at the point now that I can honestly say, I want a different life.

And I am going to get it, and so are all of you!  Have a great day buddies!

So today I did yoga for the first time ever, and I really enjoyed it.  It seems pretty easy to do, you just feel it later.  But all in all, it was nice.  I would definitely incorporate it into my regime somewhere, but I am going to see what else I can get into because…

Tomorrow I am 99% sure I am going to sign up for a gym membership.  It’s very inexpensive, includes tanning and all classes!  Tomorrow my BFF and I are going to go up there and take a Zumba class.  Anyone ever done Zumba?  Leave my some feedback about what you thought about it and what to expect.   I heard from a lady who takes it where I am going to take it that she LOVES it, and she has lost 15 pounds doing it 2-3 times a week for a month!  (In combo with diet).  Plus, she said it is the most enjoyable exercise she has ever tried.

Have a great weekend buddies!

So, yeah, today was tough, as far as food cravings went.  But I didn’t cheat!  I did it!  While at Kroger today, I checked out Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream.  Its a load of difference for sure.  I still weary of it though… I wonder how it tastes…chocolate frozen yogurt?  I picked up a flavor called “Berry Smoothie”, which in my mind may taste better as yogurt?  Haven’t had any yet… maybe I’ll share a small bowl with Hubs tonight.

I felt really good about my exercise today, I doubled my eliptical time and did the intervals like Heather does.  It kicked my butt, but I felt good.   I was going to do weekly weigh ins, and tomorrow would be it, but I haven’t really lost anything.  1.5 pounds.  :-(  I think I am going to do them on Mondays.  Heather had a good point… it gives really good motivation not to cheat on the weekends.  I’m not gonna wanna blow it right before I see how much I lost during the week! Currently though, for the past few weekends, that’s when I induldge.  At my parents’ Derby party, I had a piece of cake, and on Mother’s Day, I had a bowl of vanilla ice cream with strawberries on top.  I don’t feel bad about it, but maybe the Monday weigh in will help!

This is my first blog, about Day 6 on Buddyslim, though I haven’t been on here much.

On April 24, I finally broke down.  I just couldn’t hold it in anymore.  How could I have possibly let myself get like this?  It happened pretty easily, I would say!  I had a million thoughts running through my head.  We had just pulled our new scale out of the box a few days ago.  I stepped on it and couldn’t believe my eyes.  Actually, it was very believable, I just didn’t want to admit it.  Way over my “redline” weight.  168.  I started bawling.  Weight isn’t everything, but it’s been a huge factor in my mood lately, because I am so down about myself.  I went from 108 on the day of my high school graduation 6 years ago, to 125 a year after that, and from there it has been escalating.  I even lost a few pounds around my wedding this past March, but that is all back now.

I walked into the kitchen and tore through the cupboards and freezer.  I threw away the remaing of the diminishing junk food.  I dumped everything that tempted me daily, including ice cream - those who know me, know that that is my true weakness.  It was a sad night.  I was home alone as usual, (husband works nights) so I just sat on the couch wallowing in that self pity that we all have for ourselves.

Since then, I have really cut back the amount of sugar intake I have.  I really think I have a sugar addiction, lol.  I have cravings and get shaky, but I know in the end it will all be okay.   I know that what I need is to exercise a whole lot more, that is defintely the weak link in my chain right now.  Its hard for me to stay motivated, as it always has been.  I will give myself a pat on the back though, because I have fought the temptation several times in the past two weeks.  I have substituted my usual ice cream, chocolate, cookies with garnolabars and popcorn.  It seems to be working for now…

It’s just so hard… This week has been pretty good.  I worked out with my best friend on Monday, did 10 mins on the eliptical and 25 on the bike.  Not horrible for someone who hasn’t worked out since mid March.  I have walked/jogged a few times, but that’s all.  I’m meeting her tomorrow to!  It’s easier doing it when someone else is.