Almost 5 weeks in

Hello! I'm almost 5 weeks into my meal plan/calorie counting/schedule eating. I have lost 11 pounds in that time.

I knew I would quickly be successful at counting calories. I just needed to get back on routine.

If you are still out there, and you are reading my updates, find me over on Facebook. facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

It is a lot easier to update my FB page from my phone and I often think of funny things to say!

On the go lunch

Help me brainstorm more "on the go" lunch ideas over at facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

I have to head back to work for a new scho year, and I need some delicious lunch and snack ideas!

Thanks in advance!facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

Almost 1 week down!

So, I have been back on the meal plan for almost a week. I usually only weigh myself twice a month, but I weighed myself today. 4 pounds gone. So it really goes to show that what you eat counts just as much as how much you work out! I wish I could eat whatever I wanted, but I just can't. I have to be responsible! Counting calories is key.

I'm over on Facebook too. Facebook.com/notaneffingdiet

I'm so much better at updating my FB page!

I've been reading a lot of the blogs I used to follow! I'm glad to read that everyone is still being successful!

Long, rambling update.

The real update is that there is no update! I am in the same place I've been for the past few months. So, 133 pounds lost. I'm totally ok with this. I just want to maintain. 

Now, I do have a lot I want to ramble about. I'm going to try to be organized about it, but my brain gets out of control sometimes, and I can't keep my thoughts all in a line. 

1. I did start jogging again. I was going to do the same program I followed before, but then I got sick. I was shocked. I haven't been sick in a long time, but the weather has been crazy and my allergies have been out of control. So, while I was sick I read up on the real Couch to 5K thingy and decided to give it a try. 

How do I feel about it? I like it. It's different. It gives me something on paper to follow. I like having a plan when I get to the gym, and when I can complete that plan, I feel great. I'm in my third week. I'm adding the jogging in on top of my regular workouts. I'm trying to be more active. 

2. Speaking of active, I'm also trying this 100 push ups thing. You can find their website here. I'm also in the third week for this program. I was starting this the same time I was starting the jogging again, but I got sick and ended up moving it back a week. This site has a lot of cool little challenges. I think I will do more, depending on how the push up thing goes. I've pretty much managed to put myself on the middle track. Every so often I have to see how many push ups I can do at one time and that helps me to determine what workouts I will do. I like it. It gives me something else on paper to follow. I'm also doing this in addition to my regular workouts. 

3. So, I got sick. It really effed me up for a few weeks. I thought I was having allergies and a cold, but I really had bronchitis. I kept looking at my doctor like he was crazy. I have not had bronchitis in I don't know how long. I didn't even feel bad. I went to the doctor to get more allergy medicine and I figured since I was there I would ask him about this cough I could not get rid of. Turns out my cold was worse than I thought! Anyway, I've been on the meds for about a week now and I feel a lot better. 

4. The holidays have been in full swing around me. I feel myself being too tempted. I know I have not been the best eater lately. It's starting to weigh on my conscience too. I'm really needing to tighten the reigns here for the rest of the year.....and next year. I don't feel myself slipping backward, but I'm noticing little habits creeping back in. I'm trying to catch them and squash them before it gets bad, but I know I have not been the best eater lately. Working out has been no problem. I wish I had more time for the gym, then I could just pig out all day....yum. 

5. There is something that has been bothering me lately.....skin. I am so over this extra skin. I'm sure a lot of you can understand that feeling too. I just want it gone. It will not go away on it's own. I'm am very proud of the fact that I lost all this weight with no medical intervention. I worked my ass off, literally. It was a slow process and I will forever be so proud of what I did, but this extra skin is really giving me different body issues. I'm at the point that I don't even want my boyfriend to see me in pajamas.....and that is a really unrealistic request! I need to save money to get it removed, but there are so many other things I need before I do that. It's on my list though, and it will happen. I'm just so tired of all this skin. 

Well, that's my rambling update for the day. I need to spend more time on my blog and reading other blogs, but I just get so busy. I'm thinking about scheduling a true "blog time" for myself a few days a week! That might help me get my act together and keep me more accountable to myself!

Let's keep running

I found one of those running programs, kinda like the Couch to 5K things. I wrote it all out and did it from August 6 to October 14. I ran 3 times a week at a 1.0 incline each time. By the time I was done I was going over 3.5 miles. I felt great at the end, but I didn't know what to do next. I've been trying to jog/run for the past few weeks, but I've only been doing it once, maybe twice a week.

I can't get motivated unless I have something on paper to follow. I looked around for some different programs to follow, but it's been difficult to find something. I want to keep jogging in addition to my regular working out. 

So, I decided the other day that I was just going to start over with the one I've already done. I'm not trying to be a real runner. I just want something else to supplement my regular workouts. 

In another post I listed each week and how long to run each time. I'm going to start again today. I'm going to drink a few cups of coffee, watch Dr. Phil, and get my butt in gear to get this started again. 

I think this will be good for me to do again. I don't have a lot of time to try to run far distances or for long periods of time. This time around I can try to beat my distances each week by setting the treadmill at a little faster of a pace. 

Overall, I'm gonna keep on doing what I have to do to keep this weight off. OK, let me clarify that a little more....I'm going to do what I have to do in a healthy way to keep this weight off and still have a life that I'm comfortable with. 

So, wish me luck! It can be a big challenge to eat the right thing and eat in moderation. I've got the working out thing down. I have no problem going to the gym. In fact, I love it. I feel so good after I work out. 

Update, Update, Update.

What? November already? 

Well, this update won't be too long! I'm still MAINTAINING my weight. So, I'm still at 133 pounds lost. I was worried that I was not going to be able to even do an update, because the scale at the gym has been broken. I only use that scale. I feel like it's better to use the same scale for each weigh in.

I finished the running/jogging program I was doing. It was 10 weeks long and I completed those 10 weeks from August 6 to October 14. By the end I was jogging for 34 minutes and I was going over 3 miles! I also jogged on a 1.0 incline. I heard somewhere that jogging on a slight incline makes it more like jogging outside. 

After I finished my 10 weeks, I decided to take a jog outside at the local Reserve/Dam. It was a really nice fall day, and it seemed like an excellent idea. Well, treadmill jogging and outside jogging are super, super different! I was jogging for 6 minutes and it seemed like an eternity. I was exhausted. Don't get me wrong, I KNEW I wasn't going to be able to go for 34 minutes and make it over 3 miles. I was just hoping I would be able to jog for about 7-10 minutes, walk for a few, and then repeat a few times. NOPE, I was spent after those first 6 minutes! I had to revamp my exercise plans for the day and think of some other workout to do outside! Oh well, it was still a beautiful day and I'm glad I was outside. 

My work schedule is changing a little and my workout time is getting all effed up! Actually, it's not. I just have to go to a different gym location, but I'm not liking that gym too much. I shouldn't really complain. I should feel lucky that I can go to any gym that is part of the gym group I belong to. I also only have to go to that location one day a week. 

Overall, things are pretty damn good. I'm getting pumped for the Holidays and I love to do all my winter baking! I already started some of my baking. My boyfriend is pretty excited about all the baking because I need someone to be a taster for all my stuff. 

I am trying to catch up and read as many blogs as possible. I read them, but I don't really leave myself time to comment, but I promise I'm trying to keep up on what everyone is up to! 

October?? I guess I need an update!

So, let's get right to the point. Overall, I stayed exactly the same this month. No change in weight. Ok, really, I gained two pounds (according to my bod pod), but I weighed myself yesterday and I'm down two pounds. I'm going to mark that as "no change in weight". I wish I was really down two pounds and not playing catch up for eating too much, but I have to roll with the punches at this point. I'm trying to figure out how to live and keep a healthy weight. 

I'm still at 133 pounds gone, and it still blows my mind on a daily basis. Just the other day I was looking at a picture from my sister's wedding and I couldn't believe it was me. I was actually thinking, wow, I look really pretty. I really liked how I looked in the picture. It was kind of unbelievable, because I've spent so much time hating how I look in pictures. 

This is the picture I was looking at. 

Overall, I'm doing just fine. I'm working out 6 days a week, I'm running 3 days a week, and I'm not pigging out and stuffing my face! I'm beginning week 9 of the running program I'm following. If you don't remember, I think it's a lot like one of the Couch to 5K programs. It's been really good for me. If you are thinking about running, I suggest you find one of those programs to follow. It's not too time consuming, but you feel like you are accomplishing something!

I've been getting more compliments/advice at the gym too. It's like there's a new batch of people that want to talk to me about my weight loss of give me advice about losing weight. Most of the time I just smile and say thanks. I have to move on as quickly as possible because most of the advice is outrageous! 

One guy told me to lift less weight and spend more time in aerobics classes. I'm sure for some people that would work wonders, but I lost over 100 pounds by lifting weights, not going to aerobics classes. I'm not saying aerobics classes are bad and I have done some, but I just don't want that to be my regular workouts! 

I also, recently, had a little old man tell me to stop jumping around (doing plyos) and he told me that there was a mini trampoline for me to jump on over on the ladies side of the gym. He told me that all the equipment I needed was on the ladies side and that's why there is such a difference in the equipment on the ladies side and the co-ed side. I just stared at him! 

I've been on Pintrest a lot lately. I've been looking at recipes and there are so many on there! I've been revamping a lot of them to make them a little more calorie friendly. It's a great place to get new ideas. I've been really pumped about cooking and I'm doing better at planning meals and making dinners in advance. 

I'm hoping to make some good decisions in October and see it I can't lose a few pounds! 

Let's catch up

Well, I was on a roll there for about a week! I was able to post like 3 times! Crazy, I know.

Anyway, since then I've had a lot going on. 

1. I turned 30. Woo hoo! I had an awesome Mexican Fiesta Birthday party at my mom's house. Not the healthiest night, but I had fun and I'm glad I let loose on my birthday. Ok, I had some bomb-ass Mexican food (made by my mom) and 5 beers. I fell asleep on the couch at 11 PM and my friends were still hanging out in the back yard. What can I say, I'm not much of a drinker these days!

2. I had a bod pod. Not proud to admit it, but I gained about 2 pounds in the last 3 months. I have to rethink some things and figure out how to live my life the way I want to live and still not gain all this weight back. It's a very difficult thing. I want to feel like I'm getting to do and eat what I want, without going overboard, but still continue to lose a few more pounds and whatnot. I know there is a way to do it. I know there is a way to be happy and healthy. I just have to find it again. I used to be able to follow meal plans to a T and be happy and healthy. Now, I'm feeling unhappy when I'm following a meal plan. I feel like I have no freedom to live and make my own choices. I feel like I'm letting Zach and Janelle down if I don't follow a meal plan. I'm in an awkward spot in my weight loss. I need figure out what direction I want to go. 

3. I'm still running. I'm in week 8 of the plan I've been following. It's crazy to think that I've been following for this plan for 8 weeks. I'm jogging for about 30 minutes at a time. CRAZY! The entire time I'm on the treadmill I'm in total disbelief that I am even running. Some days I think it's just too good to be true! I mean, me.....running? I guess so! I'm able to go a little further each day and each week. I can go over 2.5 miles in my 29 minutes this week! I think that's pretty damn good!

4. I swear, I'm reading your blogs too! I just read them on the fly between my classes that I teach and on my breaks from other random jobs. It just gets hard to comment! So, keep reading and I'll keep reading yours!

Little late on the update!

I forgot to do an update for June! Whoops!

It was nothing too spectacular. I did lose 5 pounds from the beginning of June to the end of June. I'm pumped about that. My new weight loss total is 133 pounds. I'm very close to my goal. Around 20 pounds to go.

I totally forgot to have Janelle take my measurements, but they have not been changing over the past few months anyway. I'm not too concerned about it right now.

I'm still following my meal plans and I'm continuing to workout. My weight loss has slowed down, and I'm not too concerned about it either. I know I'm going to get there sooner than later.

On another note.....I've been jogging a lot lately. Janelle and I go with her dogs. We jog for about 3 to 5 minutes and then walk for a few. We just keep repeating that for about an hour. It works fine for me, because I've never wanted to run, ever!

Well, today at the gym I wanted to jog. I was going to do the same thing we do when we jog outside, but on the treadmill. I've never jogged on the treadmill and today was the day to try. Anyway, I ended up joggig for 15 minutes straight at 4.8. I was in shock that I ws able to jog for that long! I probably could hve jogged longer, but I needed to get home and get some things done.

I think I'm starting to enjoy jogging....shocking!

Ok, I've been bad about the blogging. Thank you all for continuing to read and comment. Sorry that I don't always get back to everyone. I do read other blogs, but it's hard to comment all the time. I read on the run! I'm thinking about starting a facebook page. I can update that a lot easier. Any thoughts?

Random emails

Ok, this blog was spurred from a Facebook status that basically said I reached a healthy body fat percentage and had lost 133 pounds. Over 65 people liked that status and I was overly thrilled to have so many people be so supportive of what I’ve been doing. I was even more thrilled when I received a Facebook email from an old friend about my progress. It said a lot of nice things about me and my progress, but it also had a lot of other insightful information in it.

I’ve decided to post her email, because there were so many good things in there. She really has some good insight into weight loss and healthy living, much of it coming from her own experiences. I just thought it would be nice to share on a larger scale. Obviously, I left her name out and any other personal details about her. So, read and enjoy.

Hey Sarah! Remember me? (I guess we wouldn't "know" each other on facebook if you didn't..)

So, I just read your blog. I know from facebook updates that you have been losing weight for the past while, but tonight I took the blog-reading plunge. In part it is spurred from the fact that I am living in a new city and have less to keep me busy than usual (I'm not a regular blog reader). But, whatever the reason, I feel so glad that I clicked the link and had a look. Of course, I first want to congratulate you on how amazing you look. I mean, really. It's astounding. I cannot believe you have done this on your own. (Imagine sounds of excited applause, giant smiles, etc. all in your honor beamed across the wide world from me to you.)

I felt compelled to write because I wanted to comment on the idea that "It's not a diet!" (Note: I am about to fall into an "about-me-and-how-I-share-a-similar-experience" monologue. But, I want to clarify that I in no way care to suggest that my changes are in any way as awesome as your **super stellar** achievement.) Okay, compulsion to share moving forward:

So about two years ago I was floundering about in a moderately shit-tastic time in my life (complete with icky depression, sleeping ~12-18 hours a day, you name it). On top of that I had gained a lot of weight. I was the heaviest I had ever been, I had notably lower self esteem than usual, and I felt HORRIBLE all the time. And I decided to make a change. You see, for me the changes were only in part about weight loss; more so they were about combating negative feelings, lack of motivation, and a stellar depression.

I began to try different tools to fight the battle that I was (or felt like I was), at that time, losing. First, I tried jogging. But in the beginning that was actually quite difficult, especially because I felt bad and very tired most of the time. When the depression began to get really bad and affected my work, I started seeing a therapist. It's crazy -- my whole life I had thought that was a bunch of rubbish. But in retrospect I think it helped a lot. I also got a book about "detoxing" and began being more diligent about eating healthy foods, juicing, etc. I tried yoga, acupuncture, eventually went back to jogging a bit, swimming, and biking. Admittedly, I even went on a mild antidepressant before things got better (but, got off of it as quickly as I could).

Anyway, it's now almost two years later. My diet has changed permanently and in my mind it has made all the difference. I also love to jog, I enjoy yoga and even have a regular "at-home" practice, and I am motivated...I don't sit on the couch all the time and sleep, I don't go out and get trashed and feel like crap because of a wicked hangover (okay, it has happened once or twice..), and I don't eat an entire pizza by myself in one sitting. And, honestly, for the first time in my life I feel certain that I can have a healthy future and not just wonder how my body may/may not age as if I have no control over my physical (and emotional) well being. I've discovered that I actually do have a "say." And that it isn't just hypothetical people in a hypothetical world that are able to make permanent changes in their lives. Actual real people, like me (or like you) can do this too. It's beyond empowering.

Anyway, I hope it isn't rude of me to just jump in share. But I was inspired to. Your blog is awesome. And your personality is definitely in full force -- with a sense of sarcasm and humor just like I remember from high school. You rock, dude.

Giant congratulations and a **virtual** hug,

The second to last paragraph is really powerful. I like how she said we all have a “say” in our lifestyles and that real people are making positive changes on their own. Real people can do these things and that her and I are proof. I know a lot of people that are proof of healthy life choices and hard work.

Honestly, I just liked hearing from someone that I consider to be an average/normal person that healthy living is achievable for anyone as long as they take charge of their life.

Ok, that’s enough babbling from me. You can take from her letter whatever you want. I just thought it was too good not to share. 

Welp.....that was a good bod pod!

This will be a very fast post, but I need it to be longer! I have so much to say. I just don't have the time to do it right now! I currently have a classroom full of teenagers and about 5 minutes until class starts!


Ok, got a bod pod. I thought it was going to be awful, but I was sooooooo wrong!


I will just cut right to the chase now.....


Percent fat 27.7%


Percent lean 72.3%


At 27% fat, I am officially in the "moderately lean" catagory. That is where they suggest a female to be to be considered a healthy weight.

Here's part of my bod pod.
It's the first time I've ever
posted anything with my weight. 

Again, sorry I've been so scattered. I'm trying to read blogs when I can. I've just been insanely busy! My sister is getting married on Saturday and I've been picking up extra hours at one of  my other jobs! 

Nice compliments

At the gym the other day I had a nice encounter with this really tall, big muscly dude. I thought he was watching me because he was going to tell me that I was working out incorrectly. Then he walked over and started talking. As usual, I was wrong. The guy didn't want to tell me how to work out. He wanted to give me a compliment. I really need to stop being so skeptical of people at the gym.

Anyway, he just flat out asked me how much weight I've lost. I told him I've lost 127 pounds and he is like, "I've noticed. I'm really proud of you. Keep it up; you're doing great." Then he walked away. I almost didn't have time to say thank you. 

Having a nice compliment was a nice way to start my day!

Update....what happened to April?

Thanks for all the comments about my pull ups. I was very excited about it.... Also, I will get some more pictures posted. I don't know why I have been lacking in the photo posting.


Anyway, here are the totals for April. My measurements are not reliable anymore. I know that probably sounds like a cop out, but there is skin shifting and all kinds of crazy things. I had no change in inches this month. I'm still at 92.5 inches lost, forever, from my body. I mean, 92.5 inches is a lot! I'm not gonna complain about that!


As far as weight, I lost 2 more pounds over the month. A lot of my lack of weight loss is my own fault, but I'm on a new meal plan and I'm beginning to lose again. I'm now down 127 pounds from where I started. 


The other day someone left a comment wondering what I weigh and how tall I am. I've never said on this blog how much I weigh. For some reason, I'm not totally ready to admit out loud how much I used to weigh and how much I weigh now. I shouldn't feel embarrassed about it, but I do. I've been thinking a lot about it these days and I think I'm getting closer and closer to actually posting all that info. I will just force myself to take the plunge and post it, embarrassing or not. I mean, most of you that have blogs post how much you weigh. 


Oh, but I am 5'2".....yea, pretty short. 

Random thoughts while eating....

I was sitting at my table today, eating a ton of fresh fruit, and thinking about how delicious fresh fruit tastes. I was eating fruit that I would not ordinarily eat. I was eating blueberries and raspberries. I like things flavored with blueberry and raspberry, but I just don't typically eat them alone. Anyway, it got me to thinking. 


A few years ago, you would have never caught me sitting at my table eating fresh fruit as part of my meal. I've always loved fruit, but I used to never think to eat it as part of a meal. I started thinking about my changes I've made because of meal plans, food choices I've made over the past few years, and how those choices have changed to more healthy options. 


My meal plans were and are designed so that I can eat what I want. I just have to make sure my food follows guidelines; such as calorie content, protein, and fat. As long as I'm in those bounds I can eat what I want. I've never been told that I have to eat certain foods for certain meals. If so, I would have quit this before it even started. 


When I started these meal plans almost two and half years ago I still ate some high fat foods; I just ate them in moderation. I ate certain proportions and I ate at certain times. As my plans have changed and different things have been added into my meal plans, I've made different choices. Basically, I've cut out some of the bad foods on my own and I have made better choices. No one told me that I had to eat fruit and vegetables to lose weight. I followed a calorie limit and I did the rest on my own. 


For example: I used to eat a lot of Lean Cuisine frozen pizzas because they were in my calorie, protein, and fat limits, but that was all I could have for an entire meal. Now, I like to eat meals, so I don't eat the frozen pizza. I make low cal, high protein options for my food. That way I can eat fruit, veggies, and maybe another side with all my meals. I love it so much better this way. 


I've met and spoken with people who try to lose weight and they cut out everything they love. They try to eat all fruit, veggies, low fat everything, and then they end up unhappy and quit. They go right back to their old ways. 


I try to let them know that in the beginning it's not so much what you eat, but how much you eat. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose you can just cut back on the serving size or how many servings you eat at one time. Don't eat the whole pizza! Eat 2 slices and save the rest for another 3 meals! That one pizza can go a long way! 


As you lose more and more weight you will naturally want to try different things and make better food choices. I believe that to be true, because it happened to me. I never thought I would enjoy eating grilled chicken, hummus, and fresh veggies more than I enjoy eating a big greasy, deep fried meal, but one day I realized it had happened. No one told me to even make the change. 


So, really my random thought led me to this overall thought: Make small changes. Don't make a huge, sweeping change at one time. Start small. Once you are comfortable with one change and you know you can handle and maintain it, make another change. Before you know it, you've lost 125+ pounds and you're craving fruit instead of greasy food. 


These days I blow off anyone who tells me that counting calories doesn't work. Those people are stupid in my book, because I've counted and counted calories. I've lost a ton of weight. I try to tell people that I'm proof that calorie counting works. I'm proof that working out works. I'm proof that people can make a change and stick to it. 

Thinking

Lately I've been not obsessed with losing weight. I am still doing my own thing with the meal plans and workouts and Zach and Janelle, and all that, but I had a strange thought the other day....


That thought was: I think I'm happy. I think I'm happy with my weight. I think I'm happy with how I look. I think I'm just happy. 


Now, that might be strange for some of you. I'm sure you're happy people. I've just spent so much of my life being unhappy with my appearance. I was never really vocal about it. I was more just in my head about it. I would have very negative thoughts about how I looked and how I felt, but I never had a damn clue how to fix it. 


I am very happy these days. I still want to get to my goal, but I think I've hit a level where I'm OK with where I'm at right now. If everything stopped right here, right now I would be ok and happy. 


I said the other week that I have 29 pounds till my goal and I still want to get there. It is important to me to meet a goal and I will meet that goal. I also want to have some skin removed, eventually. I used to obsess over that too, but in the past few weeks it has seemed less important. 


So, with all this happy talk aside, here's what makes me nervous: Now that I am "happy" will I lose my motivation? Am I going to start slacking off? I've been really busy the past few weeks and it has been a really big task to get my 5 or 6 workouts in each week. I've still managed to make it happen, but I've been having thoughts like, "Oh, I'll just go tomorrow or I'll get there later." I've pushed those thoughts aside and still done what needs to be done but what happens on the day that I believe my sabotage thoughts?


I'm also worried that all this happiness will lead to bad food decisions! I've had a few beers and drinks here and there over the past few weeks. I've been responsible about it and counted my calories and what-not, but I'm worried that I'm going to relax too much!


So, I know everyone strives to be happy, but I feel like I need to stay in state of panic and paranoia so I can stay focused!

Update...

So, gonna keep this short and sweet....hopefully. 


As of March 31 I have officially lost 125 pounds. Awesome! I lost 3 pounds since the end of February and I can't really complain. I'm totally ok with how things are going. However, the trade off this month was a lot of inches lost; 6 total inches since the end of February. That is now a total of 92.5 inches gone from my body.....forever. 


It's hard for me to complain these days about my slow losses because I have to take into consideration how much I have lost and how many inches I've lost. I also have to remember that the less weight you have to lose the slower you lose it. I updated the other day that I have 29 pounds to go until my goal weight. 


April will be a good month too. I have a break from work this week and I'm going to do a few extra workouts on Tuesday and Thursday. The weather is getting nicer and I'm getting outside to take more walks and jogs. I have a ton of people that always want to take walks and do other active things. There is just a lot of good stuff going on all around. 

Going out for a girl's night. 

I have not posted pics in a while. I've been meaning to though. Here is a pic from the middle of February when Janelle, Ashley, and myself went out for a girls night. We set this shot up on purpose. I was going to post a picture of us in the same spot from 2009, but I can't get the pic to load! It is on my main page of my blog, but it won't load! I will have to find it and post it at another time. 

What? A phone call from Zach Vargo?

Last night the most amazing thing happened. Well, not the most amazing, but something that I've been wanting to happen. I think Zach Vargo was excited and was trying to tell me he was excited. Zach is not an overly emotional, excited guy. I mean he is, but he just keeps all that stuff to himself. Anyway, I'm telling the end before I tell the beginning. 


So, there I was in Kelly's kitchen and my phone rings. I see that is says Zach Vargo. (I have to first name, last name him. I don't know why, I just have to refer to him by all names.) My first thought was that something was wrong with Janelle. My second was that it was about my bodpod from the day before. I answered because I was sure it was about the first reason. Zach never calls me about my bodpods. He usually tells Janelle to set a time for me to go over and talk about body fat and meal plans. He also has never looked a bodpod so fast!


Well, it was about the bodpod and it was awesome. Basically, Zach told me that I have 29 pounds until I reach my goal weight and I will be at 20% body fat. Right now I'm just over 30%. 


For the sake of time and typing I'm going to put the rest in list form:


- My chances for disease have severely decreased because I'm no longer carrying around all this extra weight
- I have about 101,500 calories to burn before my goal weight. 
- When I started it was something like 5 million and some calories to burn before reaching my goal weight (Zach Vargo does everything in numbers and I'm telling you it works. Just looking at your weight and activity on paper as a math problem really hits home for some reason.)
- At 20% body fat I will be at the bottom of the "lean" category. Right now I'm moving into the "moderately lean" category. He said that Janelle is usually more than 20% body fat when she starts training for a show. 
- When I reach my goal weight I will be 135 pounds. 


I could tell from the way Zach was talking that he really was excited, even though the words "I'm really excited" never came out of his mouth. He also had one more thing for me....


He is now working with another woman who is pretty  much where I was 2 and 1/2 years ago. She is using a meal plan, but is struggling with the eating every three hours. She feels like she is eating way too much, even though she is consuming about 1/2 the calories that she used to. Zach thinks it would be a good idea for her and I to talk. I'm all about it. Hopefully we set something up and find a time to meet and talk about what we're both doing.  Zach pointed out that he can't really talk to her about the emotional side of things, but I definitely can. I'm all about it. I would love to help someone else while they are trying to adjust to a new way of looking at food and eating. 


Anyway, this was a longer blog than I've written in a while. I'm just really excited right now. I'm so close to my goal. Janelle was even texting me after Zach and I got off the phone. She was telling me that he could not stop talking about my bodpod and goal and whatnot. 


I was smiling the whole time I was on the phone with Zach, I was smiling while telling Kelly about the conversation, I was smiling while texting Janelle, and I'm smiling now while writing this blog. Hell yea. 

Pullups?

Way back when I started this blog I did a post about pull ups and I have done a few more from time to time. Specifically they are posts about my lack of ability to do pull ups on my own. I have to use some counterweight to help me lift my body for pull ups.

Over the past 2 years I have used less and less weight to help me do the pull ups. I'm lifting more and more of my body weight.

Now that I work out at Garage Gym (Zach's garage that he has converted to gym and it's awesome) I use resistance bands to do my pull ups. It is hard to explain how it works, but it does work and I'm totally lifting even more of my body weight and getting less support from the bands.

I'm feeling like in 10 more pounds I will be able to do a pull up on my own. That will be a super exciting day. Janelle has me try like once a week to do a pull up on my own. It is usually a very funny time in our workout. I try to hard to pull myself up, but I just struggle. I kick my feet and flail back and forth more than anything. I just feel like kicking my feet well propel me up the bar or something.

All I know is it must look funny because Janelle and Ashley can't stop laughing when I try. I'm getting excited for the day a real pull up happens. I might get so excited that I'll just let go of the bar and fall to the floor.

Ow! My legs are so sore!

It has been so nice here. The sun has been out and the days have been warm. I look forward to nice weather for two reasons: 1 - I can wear flip flops and 2 - I can workout outside.

On Saturday I worked out at the Reserve. I talk about the Reserve a lot in the Spring and Summer. I spend a lot of time there. I take my walk/jogs there and I also to a lot of hill workouts there. On Saturday I did a hill workout. I never thought I would say this about working out, being outside, and getting sweaty, but it was so amazing. It was so nice to be outside in the sunshine and moving around. I was feeling so cooped up in the gym.

My workout was awesome too. My legs were dead by the time I was done. I could hardly keep my legs functioning to walk back to my car and drive home.

When I woke up on Sunday my calves were soooooo sore. I forgot how sore they got from hopping and running up steps! So naturally, with all that soreness I went for a walk/jog with Janelle on Sunday evening! I was not at all concerned about the soreness in the legs. It was 65 degrees and the sun was shining. I was not going to let a little soreness get in the way of being outside. We managed to get in an hour at the Reserve.

I've missed all the outdoor activities. I'm getting antsy to go outside right now! It's supposed to be beautiful all week. I can't wait for more outdoor workouts. This weather has really put the motivation back into my life! I was feeling pretty touch and go about everything for the past few weeks, but now that I feel like I have a different way to mix up the workouts I'm unstoppable.

Update!

Well, I always forget the February is so short.

I totally did not even get my measurements for the month. I'm just going to say that they have not changed. Quite honestly, they haven't been changing much anyway. I'll get them next month.

I did, however, manage to lose another 5 pounds for the month. Which means I have lost a total of 122 pounds. Totally awesome. I can't believe I've lost as much as some adults weigh. In some cases, I've lost more that what some adults weigh.

I'm getting closer to my goal. and quite frankly, I don't even know what my goal is right now. When ever I get a bodpod it changes ever so slightly. My goal is based off my lean mass and the appropriate pounds of fat a person should have. I'm due for a bodpod and a new meal plan sometime in March. Next month I should know more.

I've still been maintaining my workout schedule. I still manage 5 or 6 workouts a week. I don't worry about falling off the workout wagon though. I enjoy my time at the gym. I even enjoy working out alone these days. It gives me time to think.

Everything is getting back to normal. I was a hot mess there for a second. I had, like, zero energy and I felt like I was really have to force myself to do everything that needed to be done. I think I'm back on auto pilot now. Everything seems easy again.

I've not had much time to read blogs lately. I'm trying to catch up when I can. If you're newish to this blog, leave a comment and let me know if you have blog. I like to check out as many as I can!