Theres the password!!!!

Nothing like loosing the link to your own blog and forgetting the password!!!! Also being to lazy to really look for it!!! Oh well that's the past.. its time for an update!!!

Wow much time has passed since my last confessional.. errr... update.

I have continued to be dedicated and have accomplished quite a bit in the past few months... albeit it hasn't been much in the way of weight loss... but I am at about 90 pounds lost since August 2011. ILL TAKE THAT!!!!! I have set a new goal to lose another 40 pounds by the end of April.

I had a slow down in the work out department for about 5 weeks, but I didn't gain any weight. My slow down was attributed to work, a stomach virus and then I did something terrible to my back which had me down for nearly 3 weeks.

I came out of the back trouble right into a scheduled 1/2 marathon.. in which I did run in (my first!!) and did it in about 3 hours and 20 minutes (nothing fast!!) but i finished it!!!

Now I have 3 more 1/2 marathon's scheduled: St. Jude (Memphis, Dec 1), Little Rock (March 17), Murray KY (4-13). Ill be ready for them.

I have finally this week gotten back into the swing of working out and running more. I ran on Thursday night (4 miles) and I ran on Saturday (11 miles). I am hoping to get back out there on Saturday this week and run some more and maybe even start back my morning running again... (Its getting cold!!!)

... Here is a picture of my daughter and the sign she and my husband made for me! They showed up unexpectedly at my first 1/2 marathon to root me on :) Love them!!!!

Keep your focus and remember your goals.. no one will take you there... but yourself!!

Running training starts now!

I recently signed up for a women's running group...I'm hopeful that I will be able to improve my pace, speed and distance! I signed up for this program along with two of my bootcamp buddies, sue and tonya! It should be fun and challenging we are all three in different groups so we will all experience the program a little differently.
Tonight was the orientation meeting and expo.
On Monday night the three of us will be running in the Stars and Stripes 5k race in midtown Memphis (7pm).....
I am changing up my training into interval training....run 3 minutes walk 2 minutes. Throughout the 10 weeks the #s will change to 10 and 1. I think I'll be able to start out no problem with the 3/2... But as we continue it will become more difficult. I think I will continue running on my own and run a week ahead of schedule than the group.....after all I'm training for a 1/2 marathon!
Doing the rain dance for tomorrow night!

Diet was pretty good today.
Lean 25 shake this am
Cherry and blueberries snack
(cover your ears) chick-filet for dinner

No sugar added 2 tbsp icecream evening snack
No exercise today.....I had enough this weekend!

Back at it tomorrow

Wish me luck tomorrow night....here's hoping I don't need my road I'd! It's gonna be a scorcher!

Ketchup......not on my approved food list!

I guess I should "ketchup" my blog....cause I have not posted in almost a month!

I finished my busy travel schedule for work and all in all I'd say I did pretty good! I didn't gain any weight...and I lost I think 10 pounds in the last 30 days. Starting today I'm going to startwriting my weight down everyday! It is getting so hard to keep dates and losses in my head! I'm planning to hang a sheet of paper above my scale and just write it everyday!

So for the last 6-7 weeks I have been haunted by bad weekends! Every weekend I would gain 2 pds on sat morning and maybe a pound on Sunday then I'd loose it around Tuesday and show another positive pound or 2 by Friday. Those weekends were so annoying! I don't know what was causing it but my inactivity or reduced activity was probably a good cause.

I seemed to have beat that weekend curse as of about 2 weeks ago. I didn't really do anything differently on Fridays except really watch the calories and sugar I am consuming. But I'm now working out on Saturday or sunday or maybe both days! I have really gotten into running since the beginning of the year. I'm not a fast runner....or a long distance runner....but I am a beginner...and I'm trying to really learn how to be a good runner. I have a friend that I am running with on the weekends. She is training for a full marathon and I'm training just to train...but I do plan to run 2 half marathons at the end of the year this year. Wish me luck!!!!

Soooo my big update is that I have lost a total of 60 pounds!!!!! I'm so excited about it...it's totally driving me to continue and see what I can do this summer! I set a goal at the beginning of march to lose 40 pounds by sept. now I only have 30 pounds to lose..to hit that goal, but I want to lose 78 more pounds in total by April 2013.

A few weeks ago I cleaned out my closet....I mean I really cleaned out my closet. I pulled out like 45 pair of pants, probably double in shirts, 13 shorts, suits, dresses, jackets,etc. it took up 3 rooms in my house. I put an ad on Craigslist and sold all my cloths! That was a scary moment when someone walked out with my clothes leaving me 1 or 2 outfits! Yikes! Terrifying moment!!!!!!

Well I went shopping last weekend and ended up being able to shop In a store that I have never been able to shop in ( well in years) and buying sizes I haven't worn in over 10 years!!! Was an amazing feeling to pick something up....try it on and it fit!!!!!

Well this week I'm back to my regular Workout schedule and I have a 5k scheduled for this Saturday ....actually I'm registered for 4 more races through the end of may...but I'll actually probably do 5-7.

I'm turning 36 in a few weeks and I'm actually looking forward to what this year will bring! My life has been transformed in the past 8 months!

....my daughter won 5th place at her very first dance competition!!! Her group got platinum in her category!!!!

....if you want to change your life....then make the decision...start small..and don't except excuses from yourself!

Been about 2 weeks since I have blogged and my life has been a F4!!!

I have an assignment at work that has required me to travel several days a week for 6 weeks....I'm half way through the assignment and I'm looking forward to it being over!!! It's hard to maintain a good workout schedule and make good food choices when your away from home. I could so easily go to bed early with some Bon bons and watch uninterrupted tv!

But I don't.....

Rewind to last weekend.....

I ran my first official 5k race!

It was fun and I did pretty good. I don't know that I'll ever say anything I did was great bc ...there's always something more I could have done. I did the race in 42 minutes....I think my placement was 111 out of 150 or 160 racers.

Today I am going to run another one. I'd love to reduce my time....at least 1 or 2 minutes. It's going to be raining today.....I don't know how much it will slow me down....but I bet it will reduce the # of runners.....which will hopefully not push me to the back of the times!!!!


I just don't want to be last!!!!!

Yesterday I ran almost a full mile without stopping! I'll keep working at it. I can't wai to see what I can do in a year. At the track I'm making quarter mile laps at about 3 minutes at a steady jog/ run pace.

My weight loss now is 45 pounds....for some reason it's slowed down....I'm sure work schedule is to blame....but a pound is a pound and I'll take it!

Dang Vegas was good to me!

Just a quick note to post my progress over the past few days. As you know I was in Vegas Tuesday -Thursday, and this morning when I woke up...I had lost 3.5 pounds in 3 days!!! Awesome!

So I have officially lost 41.5 pounds and 27.5 pounds since 1-1!!!!!

Here's hoping for the same luck next week!!!!

Work Outs Have Kept Me Busy

Forgive me.. for its been 2 weeks since my last blog post!

2 whole weeks of sweating and getting the hell beat out of me at boot camp! (Just Kidding) I love every minute of the torture!!!

Well at least it has been a productive 2 weeks! I have officially lost 36 pounds. So I've lost 6 more pounds in the last 2 weeks :) and that included 2 birthday parties this weekend and Superbowl Sunday!

Im excited because today I ordered a Body Bugg system and I can not WAIT TO GET IT!! I have been wanting one for years! I can't wait to blog and tell you how many calories I am buringing!!! I can already tell that little bug is gonna be ADDICTING!!!!

Im off to boot camp!

Ahhhhhh milestone!

Man! I never thought I would see that # pop up on the scale! This has been a great weight loss month. I lost 14 pounds in the first 2 weeks, then....nothing.....then last weekend we went out of town and somehow I gained 2 pounds.

I fought those 2 pounds all week last week. What made it even worse is that we had an annual meeting at work and you guessed it....catering, catering, catering and dinners!

Well I did pretty well....I lost the 2 pounds..that put me back at the 29'pound mark.

I wanted the 30 pounds so bad I could taste it!!!!!

This morning I woke up, and ahhhhhhh there it was a shiny 1 pound loss on the scale.

I was excited....it's only 1 pound but dang it took 5 months to lose that pound!!!!!

It's amazing how (fingers crossed) (knock on wood) how much faster and easier the weight is coming off now...all by eating better and working out....I guess my stubborn body just wanted to see if I was serious before letting the pounds go.

Ready for my pants to fall off!


Tonight's work out consisted of:

- 1-2-3-4-5-6 punches with weights across the gym for about 5 minutes or so
- sprinting for about 5 minutes or 3?
- 100 crunches
- 3 minute run
- 100 leg lifts
- 3 minute runn
- 100 mason twists with weight
- 3 minute run
- 100 toe ups ( I got through 56)

TIMES UP - thank goodness!!!!!!!!

My arms are already hurting and I bet my stomach will be sore tomorrow.

Want to get in shape? Are you starting tomorrow or Monday?
There's no time like today!

Junk food challenge

Ready to jump start your weight loss? I can tell you that this is definatly a way to radically change 1) what your eating and 2) how your body reacts to sugar!

I'm not advocating that you can't have any sugar....in fact you can have all the natural sugar you want that's found in unprocessed food such as fruit.

So this "naughty" list is primarily sugar and processed white flour.

Wheat flour is fine! Cheese, meats, wheat products, veggies, fruits, etc are all fine!!

Did you know a coke has like 50 grams of sugar in one can? tHAT is a lot!!! When your body takes in all that sugar and carbohydrates ( which later turn to sugar) you will eventually store unused sugar as fat. I don't know the scientific details of how it happens but basically whatever you eat you must utilize or it is stored as fat/weight gain!!!

I have been on this challenge since Jan 3, I have consciously slipped a few times....but everything I eat is a conscious decision and I'll tell you it's getting easier and easier.

So what are you waiting for? This doesn't even require tennis shoes!

But if you want to lace up some shoes and start a fantastic workout come on over to Work Of Art Boot Camp

Click here for the Junk Food list

located in the Old Byhalia High School Gym on 309 (between Old 78 and new 78) Mon -Thurs 5:30 - 6:30, this class is as close to personal training as you can get!

It's all exercises you can do, everything can be modified till your ready, there are still a few things I modify. Members 40 a month, non Memphis 5 a class. Come try it out, especially if you are in Byhalia, Olive Branch, Holly Springs or Collierville.

I promise you won't regret it.....well after 30 days you won't!!!

Want to run the dash? Great place to get ready!!!!

That was 5 months?

So it's been about 6 months since I joined the Work of Art Boot Camp. I am having so much fun, have met some amazing people who I get encouragement from everyday! When I first started working out I made some small strides to change And improve my eating habits. I stopped drinking cokes, I looked for more low cal-fat free and sugar free options. That worked for about 2 months...then my busy life caught up and I started back sliding and allowing the fast food back in.

My weight loss was slow from sept - dec...I lost about 15 pounds. Which is not terribly bad. I just really wanted more considering how hard I was working out.

In comes the holidays. I held strong through Thanksgiving....and only gained 2 pds during Christmas. Not too bad.

In January I began a sugar free challenge (I'll post the challenge) and wow! I dropped 14 pounds in about a week and a half. Now....I'm still avoiding sugar, allowing natural sugars....but I feel like maybe I haven't been as strict on myself with this challenge lately as I could be.

Yes there have been times I've slipped....but I mostly am eating right....I think it's just becoming an easier process and one that doesn't require so much thought. But my weight loss has stalled.

It's been over a week and I have not lost any more weight to speak of.

I think I need to increase my Cardio and maybe I'm not eating enough.

Typically I'm eating:

Atkins meal replacement shake for breakfast or oatmeal
Fruit around 10
lean cuisine for lunch
Try to have fruit or whole wheat crackers around 3
Usually a salad, or chicken/fish dinner
Sugar free jello or no sugar added ice cream .5 cup) for snack


I work out Mon - Thur for an hour

I try and run a little on the weekend....I am going to run a 5k in april :)


BTW I did quit smoking in May!

In the begining

Where to begin? I guess I should start with telling you a little bit about myself and how I got to where I am. 

Hello. My name is FAT.

I could lie and say that I don't know how I became this way... but truthfully I got this way by ignoring my eating and exercise habits for my entire adult life. I was pretty "fit" throughout high school, played sports, etc. Then after having my first kid (I sometimes like to blame it on childbirth)... I just began to stack on the pounds.

I probably literally gained 100 pounds  in about 5 years.. which honestly is pretty easy to do.  Then I was in "maintain" mode. I stayed the same weight for probably 7 years, give or take the "yo-yo" dieting, where I would lose 40 or 60 pounds, only to gain it back in a few months.

In 2011 I decided was the year that I was going to take charge of my life and make a change for the better.  When I made the decision to "get healthy" I don't think I fully contemplated what that meant. I just knew that I didn't want to spend the rest of my, likely limited years, living the way I was. 

In addition to being probably 120 pounds over weight I was also a smoker....

I still haven't answered the question of how I got this way, besides the obvious fact of pure laziness.... I guess I will have to say that I never made time for myself.

I spent the last 16 years focusing on my career and my family.  It wasn't until 2011 that I realized that if I didn't make major changes, I wasn't going to be around for the "long haul" to enjoy the fruits of my labor.... and that's when I began dabbling with "getting fit".

I have a job that is very busy and 2009-2011 I spent nearly 50% of my time traveling. Traveling is NOT easy when you are trying to get healthy! Lots of long days, unhealthy meals, end of the day exhaustion and no one to help hold you accountable to working out at the end of each day.

I started out in 2011 decently. I "worked" out about 4 times in 6 months.  More so than I had done in 5 or 6 years. I take that back.. I had some inconsistent bouts with the gym....the gym always won and kicked my ass.. and I went home exhausted armed with plenty of excuses to never return....

In July I got a wild hair up my bum and decided to buy a groupon for a local Memphis boot camp club.
I had about a month to think about this and amp myself up.  This boot camp was being held OUTSIDE in the MEMPHIS heat, 4 days per week.  I survived, did more than I ever expected I could do... and became addicted.

I have no idea what my beginning weight was b/c I didn't weigh... but i really never changed my eating habits during my this 6 week boot camp.  I want to put my beginning weight on here.. but I can't bring my self to typing the three #'s.... EEEKKK...

Fast Forward to the fall of 2011 (September) and I joined another FANTASTICALLY awesome boot camp a LOT closer to home, with a FANTASTICALLY FABULOUS instructor.  I <3 this boot camp, I am more addicted than ever to working out. I still have a LONG way to go. But I am stronger and able to do SO-MUCH more than I could in September!

Here is a link to my boot camp class... and also the FACEBOOK page for where I take boot camp.
BOOTCAMP-BLOG
BOOTCAMP-FACEBOOK

Stay tuned to see how my journey has been since September!!!

HERE IS THE MOST HIDEOUS PICTURE I COULD FIND OF MYSELF!!! THIS IS THE WEEK BEFORE I STARTED WITH MY 2nd BOOT CAMP!!!!