Thursday, March 22, 2012

My Motivation

My Motivation
 

Well its Day 3 of the 8 week Extreme Brickover Challenge and I am doing great!!! Granted its only 3 days but I’m still gonna sangggg about it! :-)

Last night was a test! I went to work early but left late and those of you that have been around know I live in Maryland and work in DC and it is a hell of a commute. I was trying to employ the same mental tactic that I did on Tuesday morning! Well its more of a mantra but basically I keep saying get up and workout before your mind figures out what you are doing! So I was trying to drive fast to Chizel It and say get to the gym before your mind figures out what you are doing lol

I often talk about the mind…its tricky… it can be your greatest assets or your greatest liability. I often start my mornings out with positive quotes and some people think I am jumping up out of bed singing with the bird!

No ma’am! I am trying to pump myself up! Now I like the fact that when I do post something on Facebook or on twitter other people feel me but truth be told I do that for me!

The mind will tell you to sleep in when your pants are too tight to wear! The mind will say go have that double scoop of ice cream when you are busting out of a dress you just got a few months ago! The mind will tell you to skip the gym after you had Micky Ds and the very least you could do it burn off a few of those extra calories! That’s what the mind will do IF you don’t beat it into submission! Yeah I said it!

My WW leader often tells us stories about the little devil and the little angel that sits on her shoulder and will whisper in her ear. Same concept. She talked about that last week in fact; she was telling us about being up late on the computer and her husband came home with a bag of trail mix he bought by the dock in Baltimore (lol yeah I know!) She said it has nuts, (ok), raisins (alright), banana chip (welllll…ok I guess), then there’s M&Ms and peanut butter cups!! Ok so not the normal healthy trail mix one would think.

So Joann tells us she knew she didn’t have no business eating at 11pm at night and certainly not eating that but the little devil whispered in her ear “Psstt Joann…. You can have some of that…It has nuts!”
Then the angel came by and said “No no don’t you eat that!”
Lil Devil “Its healthy just eat around the chocolate!”  

Next thing she knew she ate the WHOLE bag and wasn’t even hungry! And had he husband looking at her sideways because she ate ALL of HIS snack! LOL

I been there! I still visit from time to time and that’s ok because I am not looking to be perfect! But I realized I need something more than that $100 to motivate me properly to stay on track for 8 weeks and it came to me!

When I was in Vegas I saw this and fell in loveeee! (see below) The picture doesn’t do it justice but trust me… Ok forget me trust Tiffany’s its beautiful! So if I win any of top 3 prizes its going in an account to buy this!!! The Return to Tiffany Diamond Heart Tag & Charm



Last night I took my tired butt to Chizel it and did Couch to 5 k, Zumba (a few minutes anyhow), the elliptical, and then lifted weight, AND THEN went back on the treadmill! I did 84 minutes on A HUMP DAY! YEAHHHHH BUDDY! Well they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend so I need my BFF!

Tonight-Couch to 5 K, Chizel It class, & some Sorors are doing Hot Yoga I plan to join them
Friday- Couch to 5 K
Saturday is a travel day I really don’t know if I can get anything in but I will be in a hotel maybe I can slip into the gym on lunch? We’ll see
Sunday- Spinning & Body Pump

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I'm tired!

Whew its only Tuesday and I am tired! To be fair its been a crazy busy time for me work wise, school/teaching wise, AKA, Junior League wise and oh yeah my ever busy life-wise as well lol oh and did I mention I started my own company? yeah well I did! I'll post more about that another time! :-)

Well last week I went to Vegas with my sister and some friends to celebrate her 30th Birthday! If you have ever been to Vegas I really don't need to go into details because well you know "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" LOL Needless to say it was a rip roaring adventure with a lot of likka and very little sleep! Not a good combination with my recent condition! Oh yes I been MIA so I have not updated you guys! Well....sadly... I am now anemic :-(  I have been borderline since forever and in all honestly I don't take my vitamins and when I was low last year I was told to start taking iron supplements and I did not. Not to get all into the girlie issues but T.O.M has been horrible too so while I had that checked out and I am fine, it was just the perfect storm coupled with a family history of it (in fact every woman in my family over 30 is anemic) so now I am too. So what can I do? Well I guess I could take my vitamins lol but I have not been too "compliant" as my Doctor would say and I am really feeling it now. I think its the anemia plus Vegas though but I am getting on the right track because the alternative is a iron infusion! :-/ Last week it was sounding like a good plan since I hate pills but when I did some research YOU CAN DIE! I HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO TO DIE! So I am popping pills and I found a liquid supplement my co-worker suggested.  While I tend to be very busy I never feel tired. I do have abnormally high levels of B12 but I aint feeling the normal energy lately so I am gonna do the right thing! And just so I am not a liar I will take a pill now!


Anyway do like I say not like I do stay on top of your vitamins!

Anyway what else is new!? All in all life is good. I am super busy coordinating a women's internship program, I had some AKA awards stuff, started my own company on Leap year Day to symbolize the leap of faith I am taking, then trip to Vegas, and in the midst of it all I LOST 1.4 pounds after VEGAS! I am elated!

FACE! (lol OK fans of the show The New Adventures of Old Christine get that inside joke!)

Anyhoo I was happy I went to Weight Watchers and went on the scale not expecting great news but a swift kick in the pants to get me back on track! I mean its Vegas but lo and behold! I lost and it ws a good loss!

Saturday I went to my second gym and as I walked in they were advertising this new competition called Extreme Brickover an 8 week Biggest Loser type competition! So I signed up! I was just talking to my personal trainer Charles about doing something because as the New Years people fall off those of us still striving need a Spring pick me up and he was going to work on something but it seemed like kismet when I walked into my gym so I signed up. It was only $39.00 and I got tshirt, journal, mug, and got all my measurements done and most of all I'll have some accountability for the next 8 weeks~! I am excited. And to be clear I WANT TO WIN! Each gym gets three top winners. In my head I have already spent the $100 for 1st place!

Workout wise I went swimming Saturday nice change of pace haven't been in a pool since Iron in 2010! Yikes! Sunday I decided to join a Soror on the workout board who is doing Couch to 5 K  which is a cool running plan that I have never been able to complete despite the fact that I have done a few 5ks, a half marathon, and even a triathlon! LOL So its more of a way to keep me motivated and getting 30 minutes of exercise daily. In fact I got up this morning at 5am and did it at home since today is terrible Tuesday where I work then teach till 9:30pm! I am tired but I did it!

On to today's title.... Saturday my Weight Watcher Leader Joann hit a cord with me because I was really looking back at Jan 2009 to June/July 2010 time frame  and reflecting on the good things like the Fitness Magazine feature and asking myself why can't I re-lose all of this weight. Now I am no skinny mini so its not like I went down to my "proper" height weight category and now I am struggling in new territory as a skinny girl but it dawned on me... I'm tired.

I was tired of counting points and calories, tired of packing gym bags, tired of drinking water, tired of exercising, tired of the journey basically. Another thing I realized is that life long goal of weight loss? Guess what I did it! FACE! LOL

And I have a habit, I wont call it a bad habit but to quote Walt Disney "I don't like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other things."

People always ask me about doing another half marathon or the Iron Girl triathlon and I always ask why? I did it already! Check! Like why would I go back to college for another Poli Sci degree or to law school for another JD? I guess people do but I don't see the point. I know most people have a competitive spirit or they want to increase their PR (Personal Record) well that's fair that's just not me.

My goal is always to finish..oh and not be the last person lol so once I've done that I am done!

SO it hit me is that why the weight loss or recycled weight loss is a challenge because my head isn't in the game anymore because I been there and done that? I mean seriously have to told myself... Self you did it got the tshirt and the international magazine article (and accolades) so we good!

So of course I am tired; my mind isn't in the game. I have said it all along this is mental just like any other goal. But my WW leader made the point that she gets tired too and she's been at this 36 years! Ok so I am 36 years old so like my whole life she has been doing this? Counting points, exericisng, making good choices, preplanned meals, going to meetings, etc., etc., etc.,!? Ok so do I dare complain?! LOL

She summed it up in saying I hate to hear used "It is what it is!" Set realistic goals and make a lifetime committment to better choices! Period. And she is right!

Now I am only human so while it did re-enegize me to think of this as just something I must do. So I can be waery but must not faint... I know me...

That same attitude of been there done that is impacting my ability to lose the weight again. And to be honest that is a personality thing so I am trying to wrap my mind around how to fool my ego into getting into this game. And by George I think I've go it! I think this competition is the way! Here's why! Its a NEW weight loss challenge and its got cash and bragging right attached to it! LOL

The journal
Yup I'm that easy! Money and fame what can I say!? the last winner lost.... 38.4 pounds... damn I just read that lol so I got work to do! LOL

But I am off to a good start!
Saturday I swam for 30 minutes
Sunday I did the elliptical and the Couch to 5k (1hr)
Monday I did 30 minutes of the Couch to 5K, 30 mins spinning, 1 hour at the Chizel It class with my trainer (2 hours)
Tuesday/Today I did the Couch to 5 k workout (30 minutes) and its midday and I feel good!

I did peek on the scale this morning and I was down a few pounds but I am waiting until Monday for the official weigh in at the club and I may have to go Friday to Weight Watchers since I am going away all day Saturday! But fingers crossed it stays the same or goes lower! My goal is still 37 by my 37th birthday and as of this morning I am at 31 of 37 down!

Food wise I am Eating Clean! Eating clean is like Pilates though it works because it is... HARD  a challenge! But planning is key and I did a good bit of shopping for fresh fruits and veggies and lean protein like fish, turkey bacon, chicken, etc. this weekend and I took 2 bags to work with me full of food so I have no excuses! I am also using Atkins protein shakes because I am not a big breakfast person and so far so good! I am tracking everything everywhere my journal, Weigth Watchers.com, and My Fitness Pal! No excuses!

I'll check in soon!  Cheer me on! I want that top prize!!!! :-)