I'm back!!!

What's up blogworld!!!

Sorry I have been mia! When I tell you life has legs of it's own, I tell you it's the truth! I have been crazy busy, but that doesn't mean I have deterred from my weightloss journey. I can say that I am still in the 290's and going down! I went home for my brother's wedding for a week and my parents put me to work as soon as the plane hit the ground. I was runign errands like a mad woman for the family and the end result was a great wedding! Did I wear the red dress?? Hell yea!! Did I get mad compliments! Hell yea!! I will definitely post some pics from the wedding! And of course of me!

In other news I am 95% sure I will be accepting a job offer at another hospital. I am very excited b/c this will be a new opportunity for me to grow and really sharpen my clinical skills b/c it is at the biggest hospital in atlanta. Did I mention it is also about $12000 pay increase? ::Insert big cheesing smile here:: Unfortunately I won't be able to blog during the day, so blogging will turn into a night cap. But I'll still keep you up to date with everything!

I can't wait to catch up n everyone's blogs. So if I comment on your blog and you're like "Girl that was so yesterday!" Forgive me I'm just a little late, but I'm getting back on it! Miss ya!

Wedding season and weekend wrap up

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday people! How was your weekend?? I won't lie mine was pretty damn awesome! I went home to Houston for my brother's bestfriend's wedding. It was good seeing my family for the weekend and I'll be going back there in a week and a half for my brother Kene's wedding. Hell yea! Well let's talk about the weekend. Who has two thumbs, dreadlocks and worked out both days while in Houston?? Yep you guessed it! Me!! Yep went walking with my sister and then went to a body pump class on Saturday and then walked about 3 miles around my parent's neighboorhood lake. Was able to even lose weight. Now how about that?

Saturday was the 2nd time in life that I ever did a body pump class (1st time maybe 6-7 years ago). I am no stranger with weight training, I work out with my personal trainer twice a week and despite the morbidly obese status I am currently rocking I know my way around free weights pretty well. When I do weights on my own at the gym I kick ass. Haven't quite mastered the chest press with the barbell yet (not b/c I can't do it, but I'm afraid of mishandling the bar and smashing my trachea without a spotter, it really happens), but I'm working on it. So when I went to the class I get my weights and load up the bar, b/c I'm no rookie! "I got this!" I say to myself. I train 30-35 lb dumb bells on my own, I'm pressing 55-65 with the trainer, 25 lb barbells for chest presses and bicep curls ain't got shit on me! Not even 15 minutes into I was like, "What the f***" and couldn't wait for it to be over. I got through about 80-85% ok, but I definitely had to take breaks. So as I was telling my trainer about it yesterday she told me there was a difference between muscular strength and muscular endurance. Hmmm...Body builders = Muscular strength. Basketball players = Muscular Endurance. That's my simple way of breaking it down. While I pride myself on being able to lift heavy, I have a hard time doing various arm exercises with weights for a continuous amount of  time, like a 5 minute song. While other people are keeping form and doing the exercises, I was looking for a moment to not look like a weakling and take a break. I think what kept me going and able to keep up was that the instructor was my younger sister's really good friend, so she kept calling me out (on the mic, I might add) when I looked like I was about to wimpl out. It was a good class, but I don't know if I'm a body pump kind of girl. I definitely recommend it to people who really don't know much about weight lifting esp. free weights.

The wedding was nice. The reception dragged and dragged and dragged before anything really started happening. They served dinner which was wack, so I passed it to my brother, who eats mostly anything. My brother's a lawyer and a natural bodybuilder. He's getting married in almost 2 weeks and I love him like crazy. He is probably why I may have high standards for men, but I'll post on him another time. I knew Saturday I had planned to eat a little off plan, but I wasn't going to waste it on wack wedding food, so after what seemed like an eternity at the reception we went for Mexican. I got fajitas and didn't eat the tortillas or rice. Definitely a big step for me and trying to get better. In the morning I ignored the whispers to stay in bed and went jalking (jog/walking) outside. My parents have moved up like the Jeffersons and live in a very very nice house in a very nice neighborhood. They deserve it, they raised 5 kids in a very very small house, where they lived for 25 years. Anywho the backyard leads right to the man made lake and has a walking path, so I got it in with an hour and half to spare before having to leave for the airport. When I got back to Atlanta I went straight to the grocery store, came home, had some dinner and made my meals for the week. Yep I was definitely on one on Suday and the week has been good so far!

Sorry for the verbal diarrhea post! Anywho 1 wedding down, 3 more to go. I'll leave you with what I looked like at the wedding. Good night peeps!

Hump Day!

Hey peeps!! Sorry I've been touch and go, but man I have been busy at work and unfortunately when I'm busy at work I can't blog. :( Yep I procrasticinate at work blogging, but sometimes you need something to get you through the day. :) Last week was not so stellar, I think I ate out almost everyday, b/c I didn't prepare for the week. I get home anytime between 8 and 11p during the work week and that includes going to the gym. Usually I do my grocery shopping on Sundays and cook then as well, but I didn't do it and the week just went down hill from there. So while I didn't make the extreme fat girl mistakes I used to, I'm pretty sure some fried fish made it to my belly a time or two. So of course when I got on the scale, it laughed at me for days, taunting me "I told you, you are always going to be a 300 pound figure by the name ChiChi!"...but guess what??? I didn't succumb! I chopped and screwed my eating and workout plan and now the scale is no longer taunting me. Yep Yep...I'm on one!

The dress that I ordered for my brother's wedding happening in almost 3 weeks came in and I have conflicted feelings about it. My roommate says it's cute and I loves it, but my belly is noticable (with spanx) so I'm not so convinced. The dress is a curve hugging dress and unfortunately, I don't really have hips to hug, so it kind of hugs my belly instead. I honestly do like the dress, I just wish I had hips and less belly. So I have started a Red Dress Challenge (2 days into it) to make my figure a little more appealing in the dress. I will post pics either tomorrow or the beginning of next week so you can see what I'm working with. I'm not expecting to dramatically make changes, but hopefully in the next 3 weeks I can make some changes that will make the dress more flattering in my eyes. If not, I will def be buying another dress.

How have you guys been doing??

Pulse Check

OMG I can't believe it's been over a week since my last post. I have definitely missed you all. It's crazy the sort of co-dependence you develop with reading blogs. I will say I love catching up and reading all the blogs. Weight loss, introspection, rejuvenation on life, I love it all! As for me I got down to 298.4 on Monday and I haven't seen the number since. When I say that, it doesn't mean it has gone down either. I went grocery shopping on Sunday, but didn't cook any of my meals, so I have eaten out almost all week. Water intake also suffering. On high note I have been to the gym 4 times this week and plan on going tonight and tomorrow. I have learned to make better choices when eating out but I know sodium comes along with eating out. I know where my hiccup is I have to prepare on Sunday, Monday at the latest b/c between working out and going to the second job,  I don't have time to cook any other night.  So tomorrow we're grocery shopping and then I'm cooking up my meals tomorrow night or early Sunday. I have a goal for this month and I plan on making it. How do you guys stay on thrack for the week? Any big Easter plans?

Have a great weekend!

Have you ever felt like this...



I def feel like my body needs to work out. I only took yesterday off, but I'm feeling like I need to get my heart rate up. It could be that I'm at work and I want to get off sooo bad, but I def know I need some cardio in my life. Hitting the gym after I leave the second job...I know second job, where they do that at??? lol...Hopefully I'll be able to slow down.

I hope everyone is having a good hump day! You know what would actually make it better? Actually humping! Some good ole fashion dry humping. Or you can just think about it...that's already making me feel better! ;)

Thanks for the feel goods for completing the 5k! Definitely will be doing more in the future! Anybody else have road races in the future? Want to make sure I send {{{racing vibes}}} your way!

Is it Monday already?!?

Happy Monday people!

I had a great weekend! Got my first 5k of the year under my belt. Official time was 49:02, better than last year's 50:00 time, and I am definitely going to to do better next time. There were a group of us who did it around 8 of us and I think the fastest of us was a 34:40 (my friend in the pic, Amani). It was Amani's first 5k and she is now addicted. We are signing up for the sprint4cancer 5k on April 21 and then we have the 10k May 5th. I personally haven't gotten that runners high yet (maybe b/c I'm not really running), but I hope to get it soon.  



So for people who do not believe that menstrual bloating ain't real let me tell you about my weigh in. So I am a reforming scale junkie. When I am doing right with my eating, I feel the need to weigh in everyday. I guess I want that number to tell me "Yes you only ate 1200 calories yesterday and I am going to reward you with a 2 lb loss." But usually it says, "Bitch you just started eating right, I don't know if you're going to stick with it, you weigh the same as yesterday dumbass." Anywho so I get on the scale on Friday 299.6. I have a small happy dance and then I go on with my day. Keep in mind I'm not on period but I knew the crimson tide was coming soon. So for some reason Saturday morning when I got up, I get on the scale...307. Get the f*** out of here! I have a mild freak out, go over what I had to eat on Friday and check to see if the tide has rolled in. Nope not here yet. I start getting ready for the race and then right before I walk out of the house, I decide to go to the bathroom one more time. Roll tide roll...my period is here. Thank heavens I went to the bathroom before I left my house or this post would have been titled the '5k Disaster.' Fortunately the scale went down the next day, but still not to 299.6, but 301.4. Goal is to be under 300 next weigh in.

After the 5k went to brunch had a crab benedict I think and went home, nursed my cramps and passed out. Went to a birthday dinner where I wore a dress that I bought in January and I must say I looked different wearing it this time around. Sunday started off lazy and then I made it to the gym for cardio and core work, then a little light shopping. Watched a martial arts movie with a friend and it was a wrap. Overall a good weekend. How was yours???

Salad dressing...The love/hate relationship

Happy Hump day peeps!!

Is it me or is the week moving fast?? It could be me. This will be the first weekend in 3 weeks that I have off and I can't wait! I have a 5k Saturday morning and then afterwards we are going to brunch. After that get my mani/pedi and then a birthday dinner. Honestly I might skip out on the dinner though...

Salad dressing, love it...hate it. I am one of those people who could eat a salad everyday whether it be a side or my whole meal b/c I make a kitchen sink salad. My salads have every veggie I have in my fridge...carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, red onions, mushrooms sometimes cucumbers, recently cut out the cheese and topped with slivered almonds or sunflower seeds. Well what tops my salad?? Glorious Blue Cheese. Forget ranch, thousand island, french, catalina, vinaigrette, pass me the damn blue cheese.  Until recently I liked salad with my blue cheese. My coworkers used to refer to my salads as a blue cheese bowl. It took me a while to realize the dressing was negating my healthy salads. I have been working on using the actual portion size, but when I make my big salads portion size doesn't work. Not enough salad dressing. What do you do about that? So in counting my calories, I have paying attention to calories in a serving size of salad dressing. Depending on which brand I use that day a serving size of blue cheese dressing can run from 100-160 calories.  Since I started counting calories it almost seems crazy to spend 160 calories on basically a condiment. I've tried vinaigrettes and I haven't been able to find one that I like. I even forced myself to eat vinaigrette dressing on my salad for a week but all it made me do was me not look forward to the meal where I had salad. So I need help...What salad dressing do you all use? I need to find something soon, so I don't bleed blue cheese dressing!

Happy Hump day!

Friend Making Monday

                                          

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: http://www.alltheweigh.com/2011/11/friend-makin-mondays-dating/www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Online Dating

1. Have you ever tried online dating? I think I'm on one right now
2. If you’ve done it, what did you like about it? What did you dislike?  I liked the fact that people were hitting me up and wanting to get to know me. I love getting the little emails saying that someone was interested. What I didn't like is the whole corresponding over email for long periods of time. If we haven't transitioned to phone calls or set up a meet within 2 weeks. I lose interest with prolonged conversations with people I don't know.
3. If you haven’t done it, would you? If you have done it, would you do it again? Why or why not?  Yea I would do it again...We spend most of our lives on the internet now a days, why not find my future husband while doing it!
4. What precautions would you take before going out with someone that you met online? We would have to talk on the phone first and I would give someone information about the date, so at least someone knows where I am.  
5. Do you have a favorite dating site?  If so, what is it?  No not really. I've been on match.com and blackpeoplemeet.com. They definitely both have their pros and cons.
6. What questions would you ask before agreeing to a date?  I’d ask about their career, hobbies, education, ambitions, their thoughts on kids, etc
7. How long would you correspond with someone online before meeting them?  If he lived in town, the longest I would do is 2 weeks, unless schedules are just crazy and we can't meet up sooner.
8.  In your opinion, what are the pros to meeting someone online? You can put your wants and expectations out there and they can take it or leave it. 
9. In your opinion, what are the cons of online dating? Anybody can be who you want them to be before you actually meet and then you meet and the vibe isn't there.
10. Share a funny or embarrassing online dating experience with us if you have one. Hmmm, kind of a long one...I remember I was chatting with someone and he was saying that he wanted to have drinks for our meet up. So in getting to know him he told me he had a roommate and that he had his own living room area, so I'm thinking he lives in a townhouse. Well in talking about meeting up, he said his cousin has his car and he couldn't drive...basically I would have to pick him up (first red flag). Ok so I decide to go pick him up. I get to his place and I was surprised it was a 1-story house, b/c I was thinking townhouse. Anywho I ring the door bell and he comes to the door. I look inside and I see family pictures on the wall. (2nd red flag) Hmmm kind of weird to have family pictures on your wall by the entry when you have a 'roommate.' Well I look past him and I see a lady in the chair. It was his mother. News flash...you can't be roommates with your mother! So then he proceeds to ask me what I like to drink. I tell him Crown and Coke. Well we get in my car and he gives me directions. We end up a liquor store. He goes in and comes back out to the car with a bag. He then gave me directions that took me back to his house. Do you know this fool bought a half liter of coke and small bottle of Crown and we were suppose to drink it at his house???? WTF?? So you already know mentally I had already checked out of the date, but I said let me finish out the night. So we go back to his room and I sit on the couch (the living area he said he had). Keep in mind his mother was still there. Then he said he had a movie that his friend had made while he was in Brazil. I said yea let's watch it...It was a fucking sex video. Are you fucking serious? I told him I didn't want to watch it and I was about to leave. At the door he said, "I don't think I'm going to hear from you again." I just smiled and walked off...You damn right you were never going to hear from me again! Can you believe it! These stories really do happen!

Happy Monday!!

The ITT strikes again..

Yes, I am referring to the dreaded Inner Thigh Trap!

I have a hellafied inner thigh trap along with my thunder thighs. I have always had both, but it's so funny b/c with working out I have noticed my thighs getting smaller and my ITT getting bigger or appears bigger anyways. Unless I am wearing leggings or jegging or something with a lot of give, my pants can't get pulled up all the way to my lady part. There is always space between my cooch and the crotch of my pants, even in my scrubs. When I sit down and don't adjust my pants it looks like a bad camel toe. Don't you love the visual...Anywho so of course I love giving out random TMI. So how does the ITT work for and against you?? Well a time or two or three or four (you get the drift) I have had a make out session where some heavy petting was involved and when he got to the goods, the ITT intervened. Poor fellas, they really thought they were touching on the good stuff but it was really the camel toe thighs. And of course me being the one who doesn't like to make things awkward, I let them think that, while I'm thinking 'I hope he doesn't realize that he is aggressively rubbing my thighs...' O_o...Maybe it's divine intervention to keep me a good girl, b/c I tell you there is nothing that turns you off more than knowing your soft ITT in jeans also feels like a vajajay. Does anybody else have the ITT???

Back to regularly scheduled programming...

I am tired as shit, I have been working a lot and working out. I don't know if I'm not eating enough carbs or protein, but by mid afternoon I am seriously dragging. That energy they say you get from working out...I'm beginning to think it is a lie. Maybe I need to get rid of more fat, but energy is missing me right now. As far as the meal plan has been going I have been doing great with water, but I think I have succumbed a little too much to my sweets craving. I have had something sweet everyday, which is not good. I'll have good meals and then get a brownie or have half a cookie. I know better and will do better. Other than that, I think I have been doing pretty well.

What do you all have planned for the weekend? Are you going to succumb to the green beer, making out with random people and then passing out in vomit b/c it's St. Patrick's Day?? Me neither...I just can't believe that this holiday has been sensationalized as pretty much a drunk holiday. Maybe if I was younger I would partake, but at the tender age of 31, I'm over it. I work Saturday and Sunday, no surprise, and then I plan to clean and do some grocery shopping. Maybe get some ITT action...


TGIF!!!!

Hump Day!

What's up peeps! I've missed you! I have been working like a mad woman lately! I have worked 2 weeks straight without a day off and don't get one until the 24th. No pity party for me though, I have a million trips to go on and I have to pay for them somehow. Anywho let's wrap up last week. I was only able to make it to the gym 3 times vs. my 5x/week goal, but I did lose 3 lbs. In real life it's a good thing, but in challenger life, not the best, especially when people are losing up to 12 lbs a week. Much props to them, but I will catch up! I can honestly say that my water intake definitely got less as the week progressed and I got busier at work. Working in a hospital, no food or drinks in patient care areas. My office happens to be a patient care area and I usually hide the bottle and drink between patients, but last week I did a lot of bedside care so no bringing water bottles in patients rooms. But why would I want to anyways, that's kind of grotty. As far as the weekend, I stayed on it with the exception to my visit to Chuy's Mexican restaurant where even with limited chips and a vegetarian meal, sodium intake got the best of me.

How has this week been different so far?? Definitely been good with the water intake, but I need to work on how late I eat dinner. I can't do the 7p cut off time b/c sometimes I'm still at work or at the gym. So meals have been around 9:30-10. Granted with eating healthier, I don't feel stuffed and am often hungry about an hour later, sometimes sooner. Hell sometimes my stomach is growling while I'm eating as to say,  "Really, this is what's for dinner??" I've been to the gym once, but I plan on getting my 5 days in.

How are you guys doing? It's the middle of the week. Are you still plugging away? I am hoping to put up some big numbers this week. Are you?

Let's talk about Sh$t!

No seriously let's talk about shit. Since I have been on my healthy quest this year I have definitely noticed a change in my shit. The consistency, the frequency all that good stuff. I used to be one of those people who could never take a dump in public places not even at work in our private bathrooms. I just couldn't do it. I was a 2 shit a day person, when I wake up and in the evening. I could be at work and around 2p think, "Hmmm I need to take a shit, I'll just wait until I get home." That time would be around 6p. I would wait 4 hours to get home and take a dump in the comfort of my own home. Not anymore...I usually have to do the doo about 3 times a day sometimes 4. So I have to go while I'm at work and b/c I usually go straight to the gym from work, I make sure I do the doo before I leave. It definitely makes a world of difference.
So here comes the tmi lol...I have noticed that when I clean up after myself after the deed is done, there is hardly anything on the toilet tissue, I mean literally sometimes there is nothing on there. Now when I wasn't eating healthy...I won't even describe the clean up. O_o There also isn't much of a smell. I think one of the reasons I didn't like taking a shit in public places was b/c I was afraid of people coming behind me and smelling the damage I just caused. Now, no smell or at least its so faint the bathroom deodorizer can eat up the smell. As far as what it looks like, if I have been eating a lot of salad it's usually green. It looks soft and comes out pretty easily. The funny thing is that sometimes I can sit on the toilet and it feels like hardly anything came out and then I look in the toilet and, 'Dayum!!!! When did all that come out???' Then there are times when I feel like something should have come out, but nothing really did. Overall I think my bowel movements have gotten a lot healthier.

Have you guys noticed a change in your bowel movements?

As for the regular shit...I have been counting my calories and getting my water in (160 oz) and I have been to the gym twice this week. I still need to do better getting my water in before it gets too late, so I'm not in the bathroom all night. I think I tweeked my back doing something so I may have to slow down tonight. All in all a pretty decent week.

TGIAF!!!

Super Tuesday...my version of it anyway!

Happy Tuesday peeps!! I hope everyone had a good weekend! It was a good Monday. Had happy hour with the co-workers, where I skipped out on the drinks and had some hummus and cucumber slices. Pretty boring happy hour on my end food wise b/c I had to meet up with my trainer after, but it's still always good to hang out with coworkers after work, let your hair down I guess. I've been getting the water in and to my relief, the urgency to go to the bathroom isn't as strong as it was last week. Don't get me wrong, I go often, but not like Thursday and Friday of last week.

So here is my time to let you give you a little background on what I do and a PSA. :)

Speech pathologists work with individuals whose oral motor, swallowing, cognitive-linguistic, speech, or language skills have been affected by a neurological event/disease, head/neck cancer, or possibly debilitation related to an underlying medical disease process. 

If you happened to look at my mini profile I stated I am a Speech Pathologist. I work at two hospitals, 1 full time and the other prn (about 10-15 hours/week). I work a lot. Anyways, both of them are level 1 trauma hospitals and my full time hospital is a Stroke Center of Excellence and the other one just had had a state of the art Neuro ICU renovation. Both of my hospitals are the major hospitals here in Atlanta and both get a large indigent population. One more so than the other. All this to say I see a variety of patients from laryngectomees to head injuries from falls to STROKES.

This is a definition of strokes I got from Wilkipedia:

A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the rapid loss of brain function(s) due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage (leakage of blood).As a result, the affected area of the brain cannot function, which might result in an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech, or an inability to see one side of the visual field.
A stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage, complications, and death. It is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and Europe and the second leading cause of death worldwide.Risk factors for stroke include old age, hypertension (high blood pressure), previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking and atrial fibrillation. High blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor of stroke.

I underlined the last sentence of the definition for stroke from Wilkipedia. Do not get me wrong strokes can happen for a variety of reasons. I see strokes secondary to drugs (coke strokes) and blood clots as a result of birth control pills or broken bones, but by and large a lot of my stroke patients have a diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension is something that a lot of people can change. Hypertension is not designated to just overweight/obese people. Hypertension affects all types of people. Environmental and lifestyle factors can influence hypertension. (Genetics can also influence hypertension, but I am not knowledgeable on that.)  I am saying all of this b/c on a daily basis I see people who have had strokes and honestly I don't want to be one. I don't want it to happen to any of you. I have to get my shit together, like yesterday. I am fortunate that I don't have hypertension or any other overt medical risk factors, but with getting older and rocking a 300+ lb body, it's only a matter of time. So I'm grabbing hold of it now. Now if you are eating right, exercising and living a pretty healthy lifestyle, then I give you much props. But also remember that stress can also be a trigger for hypertension. Make sure to manage the stressors in your life!  

A stroke is an EMERGENCY! Every minute counts! ACT F.A.S.T (Face Arms Speech Time). Some telltale signs of stroke are when one side of the face begins to droop, one arm becomes weak or numb and speech becomes slurred or person becomes nonverbal. I've also heard from patients that they have a huge headache and then nausea and vomitting prior to the stroke. If you notice these symptoms on yourself or anyone get to to the hospital ASAP. Even if you have the symptoms (facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech) for a short peiod of time go to the hospital. You could have had a TIA (mini stroke) and want to make everything is ok.

*****Public Service Anouncement is over. Back to regularly scheduled programming! :)******

Disclaimer: I am NOT a doctor, I am a speech pathologist. If you are looking for more in depth information or you have had some of these symptoms happen to you, speak to your doctor.

Alright peeps it's the beginning of the week. Are you starting off strong?? If not, get it together! If you are, keep it up!

Who would've thought..

...counting calories actually works! I am a definitely a believer now! So with the challenge I'm in I had to send in my weigh in results and drum roll please...down 4.4 lbs since I started the challenge (on Thursday, I think) and 5.2 for the whole week and not even a whole week, b/c my weigh ins are on Tuesday. It's kind of empowering counting the calories you eat, no crazy or binge weekend, b/c I had to account for my calories. I'm still trying to work out the kinks, getting in more protein (gave up red meat for Lent) spacing out my snacks so I don't hit that lull at the end of the day, packing snacks, but overall a very good start. So far 121 lbs have been lost on the challenge and I'm pretty sure some people have posted some pretty big numbers. I just have to make sure I stay on it, b/c like I said the prize is sweet. Made it to the gym 5 times this week and since the theme for March is Beast Mode I made sure all of them counted. Yep I'm on my way to some big things this year.
How did I do with my weekend goals, you ask?? Well I'm 2 out 4 for now. I think I can say I safely avoided the binge over the weekend and I limited myself to just one shot with the girls last night, which is mos def a win for me! If you don't know I can sometimes be a weekend warrior with drinks. I don't need to have a glass of wine with dinner or to put me to sleep during the week, honestly I don't even care for wine, but come the weekend and I'm hanging out, I can get it in. I love to have drinks with my friends and maybe b/c of the extra sexiness I can drink my fair share and not get drunk b/c that's not cute at all. But this weekend, I had just one and a good time was had by all. So maybe I might keep it up b/c 1. I'd rather eat my calories than drink them 2. It'll help my wallet out a little.

So how's everyone's weekend been? I hope good!

Happy Friday!

And I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about weight loss March Madness style. Yesterday was my first official day of doing Allan's "Eat at your goal weight" challenge. Can I say I killed it. Granted it was only my first day, but I did good. I.counted.calories! If you didn't hear me I.Counted.Calories! This is a big deal for me b/c I have never counted calories. I always felt that I if I made better choices and worked out the weight will melt off. Now don't get me wrong, with that mindset I have lost weight but I haven't been able to keep it off. I mean how can I when I have never really looked at the calories I have taken in. Yea I may not be eating the burger from Five Guys, but are my homemade cheesy enchiladas that much better calorie wise? Hell I don't know, b/c I never figured the calories. Serving size and not knowing the calories I think have been my downfall. I never joined weight watchers b/c I didn't want to count points and I never figured the calories I should eat to lose weight. So here I am at 300+ lbs counting calories for the first time.  I won't lie one of the reasons I never figured out calories b/c I figured it would be so hard to figure out calories in prepared meals, but insert Sparkpeople.  You can go on their site put in the ingredients and the number of servings and bam you have the calories! So this weekend I will be looking up calories for the regular things like veggies and fruits b/c unfortunately I don't know them. Oh well we all have to start somewhere.

I got all my 160 oz of water in which isn't that bad when you have a 32 oz bottle and can refill it at work easily. So I have to drink 5 bottles. I was able to get 3 in by 1p and then I was drinking the last 2 up until 10p. So needless to say I was in the bathroom 3 times last night. My goal is to finish water by 9p.  I think I went to the bathroom about 8-10 times total. Definitely an increase. I used to try to drink 3 bottles a day prior to the challenge and I think I went about 5 times a day. Already done with 2 bottles!

I don't know if you all go to Yum Yucky's blog, but she is hilarious. Anywho her theme for March is Beast Mode! I figured hell, I need to go Beast Mode too! Yesterday I did my two workouts one with Kim my trainer at the studio and then I went to the gym to do cardio. Now I almost didn't do the cardio session b/c I sat in the gym parking lot for 50 minutes talking to my sister. When we got off the phone, I looked at the time and I was like, "Girl just go home, at least you did upper body today." Then I thought about Yum Yucky's theme, Beast Mode, and I got my ass out of the car. I did intervals on the elliptical and on the treadmill and went home. Beast Mode baby!

Weekend goals:

1. Count all calories and avoid the binge
2. No more than 2 shots of Vodka when dancing tomorrow night with my girls (calories to be counted)
3. Do my hair
4. Clean up some

What about you all? Do you count calories? What are your weekend plans

The post that never ends..

What's up blogword! Can I say that I have a lot of things going on now and in the near future that I must say that I am very excited about! So first things first, I am in my first official blog challenge. I am really excited about it. I have always wanted to participate in blog challenges but for some reason I always catch on late. Hell I even caught on late with this one, but Allan was nice enough to let me jump in. If you haven't checked out his blog, it is a must. He definitely keeps it 100% real! Very authentic and does not bite his tongue, which I love! He started out at ~500 lbs and has lost 250 lbs, talking the talk and walking the walk. His challenge in a nutshell is to eat at your goal weight.  My goal weight is to be at 180 lbs, so I have to eat the calories of what a female at 180 lbs would take in, which is 1900 calories, while drinking 160 ounces of water to maintain hydration. Yep I'm going to be peeing all day, but fortunately I do have a job where if I need to go I can go. There is a sweet prize for whoever wins the challenge which includes a trip for 2 to NYC. Sign me up please! I am going to win that mother and you guys are going to hear all about it.

I also have a Jamaica beach body challenge starting with my girlfriends that I am going to Jamaica with in July. That challenge starts March 5th and is a 12 week challenge where everyone initially puts $20 in. Every week we email our weight and for every pound you gain, you put in a dollar. If you don't gain you don't put in anything. We get 3 times to not record a weight. At the end of the 12 weeks whoever has lost the most weight gets the pot. I don't plan on putting anymore than the initial $20 and I plan on winning the pot.

So I'm trying to go 2/2 with my challenges. My competitive spirit is renewed and I am determined to make some serious headway with my weight loss goals. 

So non weight related, well not directly anyway, I have a lot of trips planned for this year. My brother is getting married next month and so is his bestfriend. That means I will be traveling to Houston twice in April. Bestfriend Pete's wedding I'll wear something nice, but for brother's wedding, I bought a really nice dress online, that I'm waiting for to come in. I am nervous b/c 1. I have never bought from them 2. The reviews said the dress does hug, which I'm ok with but I don't need it to hug the belly curve. So I am hoping with the challenges in place I'll be ready for the dress.

I am going to Jamaica not once but twice this year. As I mentioned before going with my girlfriends in July and then I'm going in October for my sister's wedding, where I will be the maid of honor! Woo hoo. A month before the wedding I plan on doing her bachelorette party/bridal shower weekend in Chicago and of coure I'll be going to to NYC for winning the challenge. ;)

So a lot of goings on peeps. I am excited and nervous and you all will mos def be along for the ride.

At 11:20 am I have had 64 oz of water and been to the bathroom 3 times. Hot dayum!

Trigger not so happy weekends

So this weekend was a fail. I'm not going to dwell on it too much b/c it seems like after every weekend I start the week with a post like this. I have the intentions to do so good over the weekend eating wise, but then I get something fried and then it's a wrap. So I think I'm finally learning from my weekend fails and I think I have figured out a way to combat them. So I figured that pretty much during the week I stay on point, even if I do off my plan, I get back on it the next day. I have a hard time recovering on weekends. If I eat a 'cheat' meal on Friday night or Saturday night, I don't have that work schedule to go back to, so then ultimitately for me a 'cheat' meal turns into a 'cheat' weekend. Here is my first change. 1. No more cheat meals on the weekend. If I am going to eat off plan it's going to have to be during the week, b/c I recover better. I have to change my mindset so I don't think weekends are a free for all with food. Second change 2. No more referring to the off plan meals as cheat meals. I think in referring to the meals I eat off plan as cheat meals, I am making them seem off limits so it makes it more enticing and more likely I will over indulge, which is what happens. Now here comes the hardest change...3. No more fried Mexican food.  It may sound easy, but I love Mexican food. I mean literally love Mexican food especially chimichangas. In finally listening to my body and learning from actions, I think Mexican is a trigger for me that hurls me into gluttonous binge. Every weekend that I have eaten off plan, Mexican food was involved. So until I can get a better hold onto it, I have to let it go. *sigh*

It's all good, I'm going to push through my weekends and I'm going to get results. Last week I worked out 4 days. This week I'm going for 5 days! I've already worked out this morning! Woo hoo!!

So how was everyone else's weekends??

What is it about weekends...

...that makes me think that I can through caution to the wind, think I don't have to drink that much water and eat totally different than during the week. I don't know if my mind turns into party mode and all rationality is lost or if it is because aunt flo is knocking and I give in whenever she comes around, I don't know I have to figure it out. I know that I can't keep acting a damn fool on weekends and then spend the next week fixing it. Now don't get me wrong I didn't go completely ham last weekend with my eating, but I sure as hell didn't stick to the plan I had laid out to conquer the weekend. This weekend will be better. I am seeing results and I've gotten a few comments here and there, but I just have to push through this initial part. The part where my mind still craves Mexican food, wants a margarita, wants to have a slice of cake with ice cream. Only if that part of my brain would turn off or maybe my tastebuds wouldn't make those taste so good, only if...But hell I guess that would be too easy. I will say that my culinary skills have been improving so that may help in not wanting so much junk, God only knows.

How do you all handle the weekends??

Friend Makin Monday!

                         

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: http://www.alltheweigh.com/ so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Travel

1. Where did your most recent trip take you?  My last was to Houston. That is my hometown!  
2. Is there a place that you’d like to visit that you haven’t yet?  If so, where?  There are so many places I’d like to visit!  I’d have to say that I would like to visit some places in the east like China and the Phillipines. There are also some Caribbean spots I would like to go to: Turks and Caicos and Barbados to name a few.
3. Do you travel lightly, or do you cram as much into your luggage as possible?  I don't even know how to pack light! I always over pack. It's better to be prepared right?? :)
4. Do your eating and exercise habits change when you travel? If so, how?  Exercise is pretty much non existent unless I'm on the third floor and there isn't an elevator. Eating can be pretty bad as well. I really need to do better when I go my vacations, so I don't spend the first week back home detoxing!
5. Tell us about a place you’ve been that you’d like to go back to.  London...I want to go back as the hot American! :)  
6. Do you prefer to travel at a certain time of year?  I love the summer, b/c I love hot weather.
7. If you had to choose, would you go to the beach or the mountains?  I could seriously be a beach bum. I love, love, love the beach!
8. Have you ever needed a passport to travel?  Yep…Europe, Nigeria, Jamaica, Dominican Republic.
9. Do you collect anything in your travels?  Just good times with my friends!
10. Where do you plan to go next?  I'm going home twice in April (but that doesn't count) and I'm going to Jamaica twice, in July and October. I can't wait!!!

Tune in tomorrow for the weekend update!

TGIF!!!!

Hey blogworld!! Temptation has been a bitch....and I have pimp slappin his ass down all week! ;) So since I started the fitness challenge I think I have had the opportunity to have something sweet all week long, but did I eat it? Hell naw! Instead I just kept my eyes on the prize, no donuts or homemade truffles at work, none of the girl scout cookies that I ordered and came in this week, not even the single portion pecan pie that I picked up at Walmart and then put back on the shelf. Nada. I have worked out 4 days this week and have been to the fitness class 3 times this week. I have been getting it in! I'm proud of myself for being on plan this entire week, but the weekend is here and that's when I have my mini meltdown with food. *sigh* But this weekend I plan to keep myself in check. So how do I plan to do that??? 1. Stay away from Chuy's!!! Right now I don't even know how to make a better choice, much less a good choice at that place. 2. Drink my water! I don't have a problem when I'm at work, but on the weekends sometimes I barely get 32 oz in. 3. Eat at home. I think I have eaten out every weekend since January and  I've got to cut that out. I'm making baked chicken parmesan tonight and roomie made black bean stew and salmon patties last night, so I'm pretty sure I'm set. This weekend I plan to win!

I don't know if anyone has an addiction to fat porn (weight loss shows except biggest loser) like I do, but I found another one last week that I put on my DVR.  It's called Fatchef, I think it comes on the food network. Basically the show is about chefs who work around food all day and are trying to lose 25% of their body fat in 16 weeks. Usually the goals are between 60-90 lbs. I kind of like the show b/c it shows the people in their regular lives, trying to lose weight, but at the same time the weight they lose in the amount of time they do it is uncommon for the common person. I guess for me it is motivating to see overweight people lose weight the 'natural' way. Losing weight is hard shit and if you have some support even in the form of a tv show, more power to you.

That's all for today folks! Have a great weekend!! No hospitals, no jails!

Love is in the air!

Love is definitely in the air and I'm not saying this b/c it's Valentine's Day. I'm saying it b/c it seems like everyone around me is either getting married or engaged in a long term relationship. Everyone except me though. I'm not ok with it. My brother gets married in 2 months, I am the maid of honor in my sister's wedding in October in Negril Jamaica and I have I figure that 2012 is big year for a lot of people around me and there is no way I'm not going to let it be a big year for me as well. So while maybe love may not be in the stars for me this year or it could be (too early to tell), I know weight loss definitely is.

It's so funny how people try to comfort you on Valentine's Day when you're single. This morning a coworker asked me what my valentine was doing for me today. I told her unless I meet him at the gym tonight, I will be eating dinner by myself. So she proceeds to tell me that I should take myself out to a good dinner and drinks. Now maybe 2011 Chi Chi did that or would do that, but 2012 Chi Chi is going to have to pass on the excuse to have a gluttonous day, esp since I started biggest loser at my job yesterday (more to come later on that). So instead of an excessive dinner,  my workout buddy is going to meet me at the gym so we can get.it.in!

So yesterday I started a biggest loser/fitness class at my job yesterday. One of the nurses here at my hopital is also a personal trainer and really loves physical fitness esp for women. Every year she runs a class about 3 times a week for 6 weeks that works on cardio, resistence and strength training. I've done her classes before and have seen results but when you're eating is wack it doesn't matter how much you exercise you do. Anywho this year she is doing the class different where the classes will be offered everyday for 4 weeks and the person who loses the most weight wins money. What?!?! Count me in! So yesterday we did our fit test and I did 1 mile in 15 minutes, 13 regular pushups in a minute and 24 situps in a minute. To ensure that I at least place in the top 3 spots that get money these are some of things I'm going to do to encourage weightloss over the next 4 weeks:

1. No baked sweets - That means you brownie from the cafe that is so.damn.good.
2. 150 ounces of water minimum 5 out of 7 days
3. No fast food - under any circumstances
4. No alcohol - Every once in awhile I can become a weekend warrior when it comes to drinking

So in conjuction with the other things I'm doing, I think that will really help the weight loss. I have a before picture that I took yesterday, but I won't post it until I finish the class. My goal is to lose 10+ pounds. I know I can do it. Wish me luck!

Today's weigh in: -4 lbs

 

No bueno!

So I got on the scale yesterday as Tuesday is my weigh day and I was up 4 lbs from my sneak peak of 314.2 on Friday. WTF?? Now I knew I might be up 1 lb, but dayumm! I wanted to pull my hair out! Scale you have failed me! I worked out everyday this weekend and Monday. I ate good on Monday, I drank my water, WTF?? So as I think on what I ate over the weekend: IHOP, Subway sandwich and Chuy's (and literally those were the only 3 meals over the weekend I ate). I think about all the sodium that may have been in all those meals I ate, and honestly I can't even be mad at the scale. I know at Chuy's I probably ate half my weight in chips, salsa and creamy jalapeno. Lesson learned: you can work out til you're blue in the face, but if you eat crazy sodium, the scale will let you know. Ughhh!!

With the scale situation of being up 4 lbs, I realized I could be am an emotional eater. After I got off the scale, I thought fuck it, I'm not making my lunch, I'll pick up Mickey D's on the way to work for breakfast and I'll probably have a chic-fil-a "salad" (translation: on the way down to Chic-fil-a I tell myself I'm going to get a salad, get to the register and my mouth says a "A number #1 with cheese and a coke) for lunch. Way to get over your scale woes ChiChi...ad more weight to it so you can really show it who's boss....Somehow my senses started kicking in and I decided to eat a bowl of cereal, but I'll have that "salad." I was pissed all the way to work and while at work, but right before lunch I told my coworker about my scale issue that morning and she convinced me to stay my course and I did. Went to the caf and got a veggie plate (squash, mashed potatoes and black eye peas). I was happy I won that battle: ChiChi: 1 Emotional Eating: 0.

So far this week has been good, have already gotten in 3 workouts and plan on 3 more. Eating has been good. I cooked Chicken Divan from my favorite website Skinny Taste. I'll post pics tomorrow!

Have a good night blogworld!

Friend Makin Monday!

Hey peeps! Happy Monday! Back on the weekly grind again! How was your weekend? Did you make it to the gym? Did you continue your good eating through the weekend? I can say for myself I did workout both Saturday and Sunday. As far as eating, I ate only 3 meals and not the good kind of meals. IHOP, a subway sandwich and Chuy's. The sub sandwich wasn't actually bad, but I ate too much at IHOP and Chuy's. I have this problem with wanting to clean my plate, so I eat everything and then feel gross later. Weekends are definitely my downfall. I'm working on it though.


I saw this over at MissHaneefa's blog and I decided to join in on the fun! Another way to learn about yours truly!

Habits

1. Are you proactive, or do you procrastinate?  If I do it today, I won't have anything tomorrow! Enough said! lol
2. Do you eat breakfast everyday? Yes I do. It's usually oatmeal or cereal with a banana. I think I'm going to change it up though to eggs and turkey bacon and fresh fruit.
3. How much time do you spend watching TV on an average day? Since I started my second job and have been working out, I really haven't been getting much TV in. If I can get an hour of tv in that would be good.
4. Do you talk on the phone, or do you prefer e-mail and/or text messages?  I think all correspondences have a time and place, but I would rather much be on the phone when I have time to catch up with people. I'm not a person who can hold a whole conversation on text and I can't really talk on the phone at work, so emailing is great during the day.
5. Do you exercise in the morning, afternoon or evening? I usually go to the gym right after work. I have been trying to get up early and do a morning workout, but I love to sleep.
6. Do you take time for yourself regularly? Outside of going to the gym, I really don't. This weekend was the exception, I didn't do anything and it was great!
7. How often do you make your bed? Only when I go out of town, so I can come back to a made up bed.
8. Do you plan meals? If so, how far in advance?  My roommate and I have been cooking all all of our meals on Sunday and portioning them out, so I usually will just pick one out from the fridge throughout the week.
9. Do you wake up at the same time everyday? No not really. It has been sort of slow at work so I range from getting there at 8 to sometimes 9. The latest I get up is 7:30 though.
10. How often do you brush your teeth? I brush every morning and sometimes in the evening.

Beasting.com

Happy Friday peeps!!!

I am so happy that the weekend is here and I don't have to work Saturday or Sunday!! :::happy dancing::: So let me tell you how I was beasting.com yesterday. I worked out 3 times at 3 different locations. I did kickboxing at X3, met up with my personal trainer for an hour and then met up with my girl and then did 30 minutes on the stairmaster and an extensive lower body workout. Yes, I was beasting.com! I had snacks in my lunch bag so I ate something between all of the workouts and honestly I wasn't all that tired. Now don't get me wrong, I was proud of what I did, but I doubt I will be doing those kind of days often, b/c when I woke up this morning my body was like dead weight!

So this weekend I have two possibly 3 things to attend. I have been coming up with plans of action so I don't succumb to junk food at the house party tonight and Super Bowl part Sunday night. I do plan on working out today through Sunday, but I think I'm going to pack snacks for my purse and honestly I  have to listen to my conscious brain. You know that voice that says "Girl, that's too much or You know you don't need that." When I tell you that it's hard to listen to that part of your brain esp when you're in the moment, it is. But I'm going to listen this weekend. I have been having an awesome week and I don't want to derail it by a massive salt intake. I just need to tell myself that weight loss this week is going to taste better than spicy garlic wings...o_O.

That's all for now folks!! Have a great Friday!

Making better choices, say what?!?!

Happy Tuesday Night!

I hope everyone had a good weekend! This weekend was pretty good and I think I've started the week off pretty good as well. I didn't make it to the gym on Saturday but I did make it on Sunday, Monday and today. When I went to the gym on Sunday I ran into one of my friends who is also on a weight loss journey and we finished our workout together and met up tonight. I can totally see how having a workout buddy can really be worthwile, this being said,I have a big problem with speaking before thinking. On Sunday after my friend and I worked out she asked me when we could workout together again and I told her Tuesday night (tonight), knowing my ass worked at both hospitals. "Oh yea girl, I can be there by 9." So as I get off of my second job at 8:20p I text her letting her know I just got off of work. I am tired as shit and my legs are sore as hell from my workout with my trainer yesterday and working out Sunday and she asks me if I was still up for working out. My mind is screaming hell to the no, but my fingers decided to text "Do you want to go the gym?" Her response "Sure let's do it! :)" Freak it! My ass is going to the gym. "I'll be there by 9:30." So I eat a tangerine on my way home get there, get dressed and walk right back out the door. So long story short we get a good hour long workout in. I'm glad I went to the gym and I know if it wasn't for my friend I wouldn't have went. So instead of going home, sitting on my couch and catching up on Once Upon a Time on my DVR I went to the gym! Better choice!

So in my last post I mentioned I was going to a surprise birthday dinner at one of my achilles' heels Mexican at No Mas. If you don't know I'm a sucker for Mexican food. I don't know if it's the Texas in me, but I.love.it. So the meal wasn't the big deal, I just got quesadillas, nothing major, but I did get all fancy. I had a new dress, fishnet tights and my 5 3/4 heels on. I thought I was the shit. Then I saw the pics of the night. Now don't get me wrong they weren't all bad, but there was one of them made me tell the person who took the picture, it wasn't good enough that he untag me, he had to take it down. I guess the picture reminded me how I have so much work to do. I mean the pic was bad. I looked like a bad built lump on a log. But instead of being defeated, I'm just letting it show me what I don't want to be anymore. Ughhh freaking cameras. Anywho and the beat goes on.

NSV: This weekend after work I was really on the run and I had to make a fast food stop b/c I was starving. I chose Chic fil a and guess what I ordered: a 6 piece grilled chicken nugget kids meal with fruit. Talking about making a better choice! Now the grilled chicken nuggets are new to the menu and hella nasty (IMO) but it was better than the Chic fila a sandwich with cheese with waffle fries that I would usually get. It was funny b/c as I was about to order my regular #1, I looked at the kids meal and that's what came out of mouth. No take backs, so I kept the order and it satisfied me.


Weigh in: 317. Down 1.8. I was expecting more, but a hey a loss is a loss!

“You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”

Who has two thumbs and goes to the gym on a Friday night?? That would be me! This day started off how I wanted it to, me getting off early, but then things changed after that. The plan was to get my nails done, go to the gym and curl my hair. Well only one of those things was done, the gym. I ended up seeing a friend and we hung out for what was supposd to be 30 minutes for 3 hours. So when I left there I went to Lane Bryant and bought a cute dress and going to the gym was no longer on the agenda. I left the store around 8p and I just knew I was going to go home and catch up on the DVR and then I got this email on my phone from a friend:   

Talk about something that came at the right time! So I took my ass to the gym at 9p. I was surprised that there was still a good amount of people at the gym, so I didn't feel like a complete lame ass. I also met a hot guy at the gym, who I couldn't tell if he was just making conversation or flirting but that was cool. Anywho, got a good hour in and came on home. So no hair or nails done today, but I did go to the gym and bought a cute dress, which I will be showing off here!



This weekend might be a little busy b/c tomorrow I have to work, get my nails done and then go to a birthday dinner. I am hoping I can fit in some gym time sometime in there as well. Sunday, grocery shopping, cleaning and cooking and try to make it to Stone Mountain to get some outdoor walking in.
Busy weekend, but I can do it! Hope you all have a good weekend too!!

Weekend Wrap up

Happy Tuesday! This weekend I did pretty good. Went out to eat twice and only ate something bad during one of those meals. I swear Chuy's Mexican is the best, so needless to say that is not where I ate within reason. Considering that was the only meal I ate off plan this week, I'm not trippin. I worked out both Saturday and Sunday and I might add I worked all day on Saturday! So last week I got in 4 days of working out. Not bad, but ultimately my goal is to get to 5-6 days. Since I worked out on Sunday, I'm pretty sure I'll get that in this week. TOM also reared her ugly head this weekend, so  I'm a little bloated. I don't feel bloated, but when you drink over 100 oz of water and only have to go to the bathroom 3 times, I'm pretty sure that my body is holding on to some of it.

Sunday I cooked two meals and roomy did as well. They are all portioned out and ready to go for the week. I am really trying to stay on a schedule with working out and work so having meals already made, comes in very handy.

No gym tonight, worked both jobs tonight and I'm a little tired, but tomorrow I'm fitting in 2 workouts! Let you know how that goes. Goodnight!

I did it!

 I signed up for my first 10k, the Code Pink 5k/10k in Norcross Ga on May 5th. I've always thought that I have a runner or (at a minimum) a speed walker spirit, I just have to harness it. So instead of talking about it, I'm going to be about it. I chose this one b/c it will give me 3 months to train and the weather won't be so bad. I don't think I'm going to set a time goal, b/c I just want to be able to finish it. My roommate may also do it with me, so that'll be cool. Even though we'll be at two different paces (she's a progressing runner) the support will be good. My ultimate goal is to do the Atlanta Half Marathon in October. So hopefully I can fit in a few races between May and October. The sign up for the half marathon just started and there is a discounted price right now. Roommate convinced me to think about it some more before I actually committed. The thought of doing a half marathon at my current weight makes me feel I can't do it, but I figure in October I should be a little smaller, so it should be doable. OMG, I'm doing a 10k! :)

This week has been pretty good on the working out and eating front. My roommate (she is the best) made 3 meals on Sunday and I made 1. We portioned them out and we have food for all of this week. Bam! From my new favorite food website Skinny Taste I made the Chicken Rollitini with Spinach alla Parmigiana, with wheat penne. That recipe is off the effing chain! Roomy doesn't like ricotta cheese, so I subbed it with cottage cheese but you wouldn't know the difference. Definitely adding it to my food rotation. Going to make the Curry Chicken with Coconut Milk this weekend and can't wait!

Working out, I have done 2 days so far and plan on going tonight.

I hope everyone has been having a good week!!! T.G.I.A.F!!!

Weekend Wrap up...The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Happy Tuesday!!!

Aren't we so glad we get to start another week! Ok, so I'm being a little facetious. If you're like me, you had to work on MLK day. I know and I live in Atlanta!! The city should shut down, let me tell it...ok maybe not, but as you can tell I wouldn't have minded being off! The weekend was a pretty laid back one, somewhat productive.

The Weekend Wrap up:

The Good: Well this isn't part of the weekend, but I did work out 5 days last week. The Bad: I didn't work out at all this weekend. The Good: I got to catch up and hang out with one of my girlfriend's who's moving to my home state. The Bad: We decided to meet up at her favorite Mexican restaurant, Tiajuana Garage (it's so-so to me) and watch football, where I had a fajitas. I will say that usually I always ask for more tortillas and I didn't this time, just ate the amount given The Ugly: Three maragaritas and a brownie a la mode! Damn Gina!!! The Good: Cooked my meals for the week on Sunday and also went to see The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo at the movies. The Bad: I ate the leftover brownie I couldn't finish the night before.
With the exception of Saturday night, I was pretty on point with my eating. Yesterday I worked at both of my hospitals, so needless to say it was a long day. Didn't work out yesterday, but I will mos def be kickboxing tonight.

I have a question: How do you make it through the weekend without completely messing up?

Weight loss total last week: 3.4 lbs!

On the good foot

I have started the week off pretty good, I can honestly say. I won't say things have been perfect, but I'm on track. This week I've been to the gym 3 days, woo hoo, and 2 of those days were in the morning, double kudos! I made my reappearance at X3 and that felt good. I had been avoiding that place like the plague. I guess it's b/c that place is pretty hardcore and I didn't know if I was ready for the workout, but after a long conversation with myself, I went. I'll most likely go tomorrow and Saturday. So going to the gym...check!

I've had some interesting conversations this week. One conversation was with my patients wife. My patient, who was 450 lbs, was admitted for a TIA (mini stroke) and while I was talking with him and his wife, he started giving tips on how to lose weight. So keep in mind I'm looking at this 450 lb and thinking, "Really, really?" Well his wife chimes in and she is a full figured lady and she states how she has lost 110 lbs over the last 3 yrs and now I'm thinking "Wow that's awesome!" So she's telling me how she had to love herself the way she was before she could even begin to do right on changing her eating. She still has a goal of 50 more lbs and after talking with her I know she'll get there. Speaking with her was very inspirational. Hearing this 50+ year old woman speak of her weight loss and then also know that she takes care of her 450 lb husband with scoliosis, is very commendable. And the way they interacted with each other, you could see the love. So my 31 yr old ass who only has to take care of a cat should be able to do that too!

Now the second conversation was with my brother. My brother is a lawyer and a natural body builder, so health and fitness are very big to him. Well my brother has always been in my corner when it comes to weight loss and has been my cheerleader and still is but the conversation was different last night. He asked me about how my working out was and I told him that I had just gotten back on the wagon with eating and working out. Well he starts going in on me a little, saying things like " I'm going to be on you this year and this is going to be your year of change." Now usually when we have these little conversations, my brother is pretty upbeat and like I said a cheerleader, but last night when he said it, I felt like I was being scolded. Like my weight was a burden for him. Now I know he has been working a lot of overtime to pay for his wedding, so he really sounds tired and I know I may be a little sensitive, but after the conversation I felt some kind of way. I felt like I should try to defend myself or explain why I had gained my weight back and I don't like feeling that way. I know my brother means well, but I guess I wasn't ready for that conversation or the delivery of it rather.

Like I said interesting conversations. Anywho, it's Thursday, I'm going to the gym tonight and I'm going to keep going. This is my year for big changes and I just have to stay on the good foot!

Yep..This time is the charm

So, I have been officially M.I.A for about 3 months now. The motivation that I had at the beginning of 2011, eluded me the last 4 months of the year. As I watched the scale creep up and up, my mind was saying I needed to get a hold of things, but my actions were not on the same page. So what took me 6 months to lose I gained back in 4 months. Frustrating, but I can only be mad at myself. So I'm not going to give excuses about why/how I got back to my starting weight of last year, b/c the bottom line is I ate too damn much of the wrong things and I didn't work out.

So here I am yet again, starting anew. My motivation is there and my actions are as well. Went back to the gym and really worked out yesterday and did good with my eating. So I'm claiming that this is the last time I will be starting over again!

Today I am sore. I went to the gym twice yesterday and am sore as hell today! I'm trying not to do too much, so I don't burn out, but I am trying to structure my workouts so they are efficient. Consistency is my goal!

I'm glad to be back!