Post-holiday Updates..

Wow! It's been over a month since I have updated my fitness blog???? INCONCEIVABLE! or rather UNACCEPTABLE! I'm so sorry for the people who have been checking in and finding nothing but old updates. So here's my life in a quick run-down before I lose the motivation to go and shower after my hour long workout with the one, the only Bob Harper (via DVD sadly.. or maybe not so sadly after watching Biggest Loser last night ha)

I currently weight 229 lbs which actually makes me ecstatic since like almost every human being I picked up some holiday poundage.. I went up to about 237ish.. When I went back to my regular dieting and exercising (thanks in part to my sister and my new iPhone which helps me to keep track of what I'm eating better thanks to my myfitnesspal app [shameless shoutouts]) I lost 2 lbs the first week and then 6 the next (Here's hoping for another big success this week *fingers crossed*). 

I have mostly been doing my workouts at home lately because they're easier to fit in that way, but I will be going back to the gym starting January 21st. I will also be dragging my mom along for the journey. Yay family workout! If only we could convince my dad that the gym after work is not completely awful... we'll see.

I found this picture on the Biggest Loser facebook page. This is one of my favorite quotes so far this season (given there have been a lot). This is my new fitness mantra. I am going to be working out at least once every weekday for 30 to 45 minutes of cardio at the gym. I am going to try to be under my calories allotted every day. Eventually, I would like to do a strength workout as well as cardio every weekday. Weekends I haven't quite figured out yet... (hey I'm a work in progress.. what're you gonna do?)

I am also going to be taking monthly progress pictures. Considering one of my new year's resolutions is to lose at least 60 lbs... they should be pretty drastic. Plus, I think it'd be cool to have 12 progress photos at the end of the year instead of the huge before and after. Hopefully, it'll also help with motivation. I tend to not notice how well I've done until I've seen myself in a picture.. Lately I looked at a picture of myself and said "Wow! I look skinny!" Then proceeded to make it every one of my profile pictures :). 

So, here you have it. January..(I apologize for my messy room.....wish I could say it was clean now..)

Until next time..

This is how I feel..

Fashionably Late - Sarah's Weight Loss Blog: Back in the saddle again.: Doubt. Confusion. Chaos.   Defeat. Unbalance. These are a few of my (least) favorite things. As you know, they have been some of the most...

..and this is what I must do.

getting back on track..

I know you are all waiting on my new blog about how I've been running and all that jazz.. well.. I haven't...

BUT I am down to 231.2!!!!!

Failtober

Well at least in the weight loss/working out respect.

Thankfully I have not gained any weight. I am hovering right around 235 or a little below. Today I actually weighed in at 233.8.

However, I have not been working out.. like at all.. SHAME ON ME! Especially when ya'll were so psyched about the couch to 5k. I promised and failed. Sorry.

In the other aspects of my life, I have been doing well. I got a full time job (which is a factor in the not-working-out thing). I joined Gold's Gym (doesn't open until November 1, but still).

SO.. what does this mean? Well, it means I need to find a way to get in the running even though I'm working every weekday from 7:30am - 4:30pm. Any suggestions? Now, PLEASE take into consideration that I am NOT a morning person.. like at all.. These early mornings are killing me.

Starting on Monday. I. will. work. out. promise. Or as I make my kids do at preschool, pinky promise.

Counting Calories

Today is my resting day as far as working out goes, so I thought I'd talk to you about counting calories.

I am currently using the website my fitness pal. It's a great resource for providing a community of people and support as well as a calorie tracker, workout tracker, and calorie tracker. They even have a free app for your smartphone! (If you're smart enough to have one of those.. I'm not yet.. haha) I also used to use Spark people and still keep up with their blogs because they have some great tips as well. If you're just wanting to count calories and not have a tracker, I would suggest calorie king.

Today could have been better as far as calories went, BUT I did really really well. I just adjusted my calorie count down by about 200 calories, so I wasn't sure how well I would do with that. However, today I hit my new calorie goal EXACTLY. I was so proud. Especially since I ate Long John Silver's popcorn shrimp for lunch.. with fries.. and hushpuppies..

BUT I ate two big helpings of meatless taco salad for dinner. Lettuce, homemade guacomole, tomatoes, and black beans with a little green salsa on the top.. SCRUMPTIOUS! That kept me on track for my calorie goal today. I'm very proud of myself.

I promise it looked better in person.. dumb camera phone..

It's also a good thing knowing that my mom knows that I'm trying to eat healthier. When I shake my head at bacon-wrapped hot dogs (no lie, she suggested this.. she was on pinterest), she understands it's not that I'm saying no to her suggestion because I'm being picky. I'm just being healthy! Especially due to my slight lack of control at lunch today.

In other news, I have at least a couple people who are interested in doing the Couch to 5k with me starting in October. I would totally be up for having an accountability group either here or on facebook. It would be wonderful for me considering my sister the runner (mentioned previously) is not home to force encourage me to go on runs. So, what do you think? Who's up for it? Let  me know in the comments! Feel free to make suggestions about whether or not we should make a facebook page or whatnot. Love ya'll. It's bedtime. Stay healthy!

Healthy Choices Aren't Easy

Trust me. I know. That's why this weight has been on me for so long. When I was in high school.. and if I'm being honest probably most of my life.. I ate whatever tasted good: cheeseburgers, fries, pizza.. if it's unhealthy and tasted good, I probably ate it. Not to say I didn't eat good foods. I loved fruit and some vegetables growing up. I just didn't connect the fact that I was fat to what I was eating.

I probably weighed my most in high school. I never actually weighed myself, but I was pretty big. Tomorrow I will hunt down some old photos that I can share with you. My first semester of college I lost 15 lbs.. just because I walked to my classes and around campus. Pitiful, but it was weight loss. I returned home and everyone noticed. That's when I realized I needed to do something. My second semester I was required to go to the gym for one of my classes. I lost more weight. I don't know the exact amount, but I was probably somewhere around 240 or 245.. which is where I basically stayed [or varied up and down from] for a while.

Now.. This morning, I weighed in at 231.8. I call that a victory. I know I may have weighed less at some point during my journey in life, but as long as the number is going in the downward direction.. I'm happy.

Today, my healthy choice was not eating the fried cheese melt at Denny's. Instead, I ordered a veggie burger with lots of delicious veggie toppings and the only condiment I used on it was mustard. I'm proud of myself.

Also, as someone who was called fat a lot.. I'm going to put this on my scale when I buy my own. Love J.K. Rowling.

I know what you're thinking..

"She hasn't posted in a while. She must be completely off her goals. That's the only time she doesn't post."

Well, I'm proud to say that you.. would be wrong.

I have consistently [mostly] been working out every morning to my Bob Harper dvd. I actually quite enjoy it.. not the workout, but how it makes me feel afterwards.

I feel:

• accomplished
• energized
• alive
• powerful
• amazing

and many other words that you can come up with on your own.

This doesn't mean I am going to stop posting. I just hadn't had anything entertaining to post.. and sometimes it feels as if I have no readers..  it's just the way it feels when you blog and there's no comments.. no comments = no readers..

I am going to continue doing this for myself. To keep myself accountable.. plus I just like blogging. It's fun! 

This month's goal has been to make working out a consistent habit of mine. I am going to be starting a new job soon, so it will be interesting to see how I can continue to make exercise a priority when I actually have more of a schedule than what my parents have me do around the house.

Being about 11 days out from October, I think I can share my October goal with you. My goal for October [and November..and possibly December.. it's a 9 week (approximately) goal] is to complete the Couch to 5k program. I want to be able to run a 5k by Christmas.. without stopping. Preferably sooner. My sister is a big runner and I'd love to go running with her for real.. and keep up. Rather than her slowing to my pace. *fingers crossed*

I hope we can run and talk like this :)