Weight Loss Fail.....

Ok, so the Biggest Loser competition at work has come and gone. Sadly, I did not win. My semester got the best of my schedule along with moving and just being genuinely stressed out. It started off so great, but trailed off over time. There is another round starting at work in January that will last until May. I signed up again. I am just hoping that I can keep my focus and motivation to succeed this time. My health depends on it :)

I am enjoying an early Christmas present though.....Wii!! I purchased Wii Fit Plus and The Biggest Loser challenge to go along with it. I am hoping for those times I just can't seem to get to a gym, that I can use those tools to help continue weight loss and strength training. Something is better than nothing, right?

At any rate, I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Biggest Loser

So very much has happened since my last post in May. After my last post about not being focused and not being able to get my booty into a gym, I continued on that path for a while. In late June, I had surgery that just put me more off track. Thankfully a co-worker of mine had the idea to start a "Biggest Loser" competition within our office. I signed right up! Apparently, the thought of putting my money where my mouth is, was just the motivation I have been needing. I'm hitting the gym just about every day now and eating a million times better. The competition started in the beginning of August and goes to December 13th. There was a $25 buy in, 13 people participating and who ever has the biggest total percent of weigh lost, wins all the money! Of course, I am doing a whole bunch of smack talk with the other participants, but in reality, I wish them all luck working towards a healthier future.

I am just glad to be focused again. I have a pretty intense fall semester ahead of me and I am going to need my workouts as an outlet for stress. Hopefully, I'll be better at updating this blog so I can give updates about the competition.

Completely off the wagon...

I had been doing so well....had being the key word. I was working out upwards of 5 to 6 days a week, eating healthy and losing weight. But the first week of April, my mom had surgery and I was staying with her. I hadn't been going to the gym that week because of how far she lives from my gym. I kept telling myself "it's ok that I'm not going this week....I'll go back next week when I am home". Yea, that never happened. I almost completely stopped going to the gym, starting eating really crappy because I was so stressed out from the end of my semester from Hell....and then I started gaining some of the weight back. I was down 20.5 lbs. I had gained back 8 lbs, but now I am starting to get focused again and started to lose a little bit of weight again. Currently, I am still down 17 lbs overall. I just need to gain control over it all again. I did make it to the gym once this last week, so there's a start. My motivation has just up and left, basically. But I'll find it again.

Stress eating in reverse?

Stress eating. I used to do a lot of it. I'd get upset, frustrated and angry, so I'd munch down on some not-so-good for me foods. But now, trying to focus on getting back to healthy, I am finding that I am having the opposite problem when I get stressed out....I stop eating. WTF? I was expecting to lose about 1 lb this week....I am down 3 lbs instead. It was an empty victory. I know it was because I had a terribly stressful week between work, school and some family stuff. I also had a lot of trouble dragging my butt to the gym at 4:30 in the morning. Which, I noticed, even after a few days of not going to the gym, I felt gross all over. I am hoping next week will be better. A lot of family worry/stress will be lifted once Monday is over and then just need to make it until the end of April and the semester from Hell will officially be over. I might actually be able to breath again and get back to a normal social life.

Overall, I am now down 14 lbs total. I am really starting to feel the difference on my body. Especially when I wear some of my work pants - I was called "droopy drawers" at work yesterday. Haha!

Week Five

I am officially down a total of 11 lbs now!!! It's a great feeling! It's nice to know, regardless of the stressful things that are going on in my life, there is something that I can actual take control of - my health and well being! With those taken care of, I am so much better at catching all of the curve balls life has been throwing my way lately. I think that if I was not in control of my health, like I was five weeks ago, I would have had a true break down. I sometimes wonder how I take on all that I do. I lay in bed at night, letting my mind run through the current day's events and laugh a little thinking "is this really my life?" But the next morning, while pushing myself on the bike, I clear my mind and don't allow myself any thoughts other than what I am doing right then. The feel of my muscles tightening in my thighs with each rotation of the pedals. The smells around me. The sound of music in my ears and the familiar feeling of sweat trickling down my face and neck. It's the perfect way to start each day with a clean slate, not a biased slate from the previous day.

Fourth Week

Holy crap! I can't believe I have been doing weight watchers and going to the gym for four weeks already!!! I had my weigh in this morning and am down another 2 lbs!!! Total of 9.5lbs!!! I am definitely noticing a difference in my overall size though....kind of wishing that I had measured myself in the beginning because I know I have lost in that aspect. Maybe this weekend I'll take measurements and just go from there.

I am so proud of myself! I have no idea how I am making all of this happen though! Working full time, going to school physically three nights a week and heading to the gym at 4:30AM......it's a mad house!!!

Three weeks down, only about eight million more to go!

At the end of my third week, I am down another 1.5 lbs! Making a total of 7.5 lbs off! I am working my ass off, literally. Eating right and working out daily, making the difference. I am sleeping better and am slightly less stressed, even though there is still work, school and family medical problems. At least when I am working out regularly, I feel like I can manage my stress with that type of outlet. We'll see how I feel in a few weeks, haha!I have been noticing lately though, I find myself wishing that I could skip forward about two months. That way, I would be down at least 20 lbs and be much more physically fit. It's really starting to frustrate me that I'm thinking this way. It's so not fair to myself. I need to snap myself back to reality and realize that I actually have to work towards that.

I am a work in progress. I just need to keep telling myself that over and over again because of my feelings of wanting instant gratification. Regardless of the thoughts I occasionally have, I am going to continue the way I am! Eating right, working out and staying positive - about everything.

Still trucking...

I am about to start week three of my new lifestyle. Things are still going really well! I am down another 3 pounds this week, making a total of 6lbs! I am still truckin it to the gym just about everyday and still loving that! Things are moving along. It's quite amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it! But, ultimately, I think it came down to the fact that I didn't feel healthy, body and mind. To ensure that I will continue to live as long as I possibly can, I knew that I needed to have an intervention with myself. My gym schedule has been off the last few days. Ended up spending almost the entire night at the hospital Thursday night because a family member was there. And now, with it being Sunday, I haven't been back since Thursday morning. My sleep was completely knocked off track. It's a strange feeling. My body was actually getting used to working out, I was getting up before my alarm would sound at 4:30AM...and now, I feel gross not working out. Even after three days. Which, I guess that is a good sign, right?

But today, for some reason, I feel like I am can't get enough to eat. Every time I turn around, I am heading back to the fridge. It would probably be in my best interest to just pop in a movie and lay down. Get my mind focused on something else so I stop eating and end up going over the limit!! So we'll see how it goes!

I can see clearly now....

Hahaha....or actually I can already see results. I am into my second week on my new plan and things are fantastic!! I am fully dedicated to the gym. I have been going every morning before work at about 4:30AM and it's awesome!!! I can already feel the difference in my pants and some of my shirts, although, just a tiny difference only noticeable to me, but a difference nonetheless.

I have been struggling a little with my hunger, especially when I am stressed out. When I have a stressful moment I want to just run to the pantry and grab a tub of peanut butter and chow down. But, I try to resort to other alternatives. Even though, this past weekend, I did have a stressful melt down and steered off course, but got myself aligned the very next day.

I am also attempting to cook new foods. Normally, I have to cook for the entire week on Sundays because of my busy schedule. Usually I cook something that has a ton of servings and eat that for lunches and dinners all week....BORING!!! So I am cooking lots of smaller meals that will get me through the week but keep me from eating the same thing all week. This week I made Chicken Parmigiana and a Texas-Style Casserole. I also have the stuff to make a healthier, lighter version of fish and chips, just haven't made it yet. I am also keeping myself stocked up with plenty of good snacking choices....so as at least if I feel a snack attack coming on, I have something at hand and I don't wind up in the car making my way to Burger King.

Some how, I have crazy motivation and I truly hope that it keeps going.

First week in...

My first week has been great!!! I ate really well all week long and have been going to the gym. My hard work has paid off to, I'm down 3lbs this week! It feels good. I am a little bummed out though right now because I got up at 4:30AM to go hit the gym, but unfortunately they are closed today because of a power outage. By the time the power is back on, I would be needing to get ready for work. If the gym isn't too busy later this evening, I might run up there and sneak a workout in. If not, I'll be back tomorrow morning before my hair appointment. My new gym is awesome though! It's huge and brightly colored and clean and the equipment is great!! I am so happy I made the switch!!

Day 1

Wow! Today has been challenging!! It was the first day of all of my new lifestyle changes and all I really wanted to do was lie down and take a nap! Unfortunately, there has been a minor set back. My new gym was supposed to open today, but now they aren't opening up until Wednesday at 5AM....and I am aiming to be there at that time. Since work and school generally eat up most of my days, the only time I really can make it to the gym during the week is at the butt crack of dawn. I know that if I push myself hard and stay motivated, it will end up just being better for me in the long run.

I am definitely interested to see how I am going to handle all of the changes in my life this time in round 2. The first time I lost all of the weight and when I was going to the gym almost six days a week, I wasn't attending school several nights a week. So now in round 2, I need to adjust things, like my sleeping schedule so that I can be up early enough to work out before going to work.

The gym is what I am looking forward to the most on this journey....and so are my thighs!!! Probably the most irritating thing about gaining weight back is the fact that I had chucked all of my "fat" clothes and bought all new, much smaller and cuter clothes. Those much smaller and cuter clothes have now stopped fitting and I had to go buy more, larger and uglier clothes. But, at least when I gained the weight back, I didn't toss all of the smaller and cuter clothes. Those are patiently waiting in my closet for me.

At least I have survived day 1...now just to survive every single day for the rest of my life :)

Danielle, girl on a mission!

Just recently, I woke up and discovered that I am fat…again. How on earth could I let this happen? I was down 76 pounds, 20 pounds from my goal weight. I had tossed all of my fat clothes and purchased a brand new wardrobe. Unfortunately, I ended up gaining 67 pounds back. It's funny to think how stress and food are my ultimate downfall. I now know that I need to find different outlets for the stress in my life instead of shoving delicious, yet terrible for you food, into my mouth.

I am starting my journey in round two of weight loss very soon. I am conjuring up ways to help me along my path. Last time, I had a large support group of friends and family that were traveling the same road at the same time as me and it made the trip much easier. This time around, I am traveling solo, which is why I am starting this blog. I want a place that I can get my thoughts out of my head and use it as a way to personally track my progress, including the bad days. I learned the last time around, that when I was having a bad day and just wanted to give it up all up and eat however I felt, it really helped to be able to say those things to my friends that were right there with me.

I am not necessarily starting this blog to catch the attention of others, but if along the way, people begin to read it and follow it, then great! I am primarily starting this blog as one resource to help me overcome an addiction in my life.

This time around, I am going to make my plan to lose weight a well organized and thought out plan. I am starting the week of February 15, 2010. The membership at my new gym begins that week and I am excited to start back. I miss the gym. It used to feel so good to get in there and sweat out any stress and frustration I might have had. That week is also the week that Lent begins. This year I have a lot of fasting that I am partaking in. One thing I am fasting from during Lent is poor eating habits. So, why not begin this journey to a healthier me during that week?

I am Danielle, a girl on a mission.