Christy

Wow, another week has passed! Crazy. It’s been a week of mental and physical ups and downs for me, and honestly I’m exhausted today.

This week, I decided to Shred with the Sisterhood, but only a couple of days a week due to my 1/2 marathon training. I’ve done the Shred before, so I know how hard it is. It’s HARD. Definitely takes commitment and determination to endure the full 30 days. I have to admit that I went into it feeling a little cocky because I am in MUCH better shape than I was this time last year. I’m training for a 1/2 marathon for pete’s sake! On Sunday I had my long run of 5 miles, and on Monday, which should have been a rest day, I joined in the festivities and Shredded. Big Mistake. On Tuesday, I could hardly move. Every.single.part of my body ached. Even my eyebrows. I was the kind of sore that makes you want to cry and saw you legs off. All day long.

Needless to say, I’ve decided that Shredding and 1/2 marathon training do not mix for me, and I’m just not going to participate. It makes me sad, because I love me some Shredding with the Sisterhood Challenge, but I’ll just stand over on the sideline and cheer all of y’all on. Coach Joe (our VTNT coach) told us that it’s important to rest the day before and the day after our long runs, and now I’m a believer! I will follow instructions from now on.

So on to this week’s weigh in! I want to give a HUGE shout out to my amazing team – The A-Team.

• Tammi/Valley Girl
• Jen/BWJen
• KnitsalotJen
• Adrienne/SkinnyFighter
• JennyGirl

We pity the fools who tries to lose more than us. For reals. Yo. I may or may not be wearing my Mr. T starter kit right this very minute.

Even though I said I was going to count WW Points this week, I sorta kinda forgot. Okay, I was lazy and I didn’t do it. Thankfully I’ve been on this journey long enough that I can mentally add Points and pretty much know where I am. Not the recommended way to go about it, but it worked for me this week.

Last week: 139.6
This week: 137.8
Change: -1.8#

This week I need to get serious. I’ve been on a roller coaster the past couple of months and have done the lose 2 gain 1.5, lose 1 gain 1.5, so on and so forth. I’m still going down, but it’s really a pain to do it that way. One of the most important reasons I should be counting Points right now is to make sure I’m eating enough for my training. I’m starting to run mileages I’ve never run before, and I need to feed my body so it can handle it. I also need to make sure I’m feeding my body the right kind of foods, and Weight Watchers is nice enough to help me keep track of that.

Here are my goals for this week:

1. Stick with my Virtual Team in Training plan for the 1/2 marathon.
2. Count my points. Actually log them into WW online.
3. Get to know my team better and give them as much support and encouragement as I can!

Okay, first let me get my weigh-in out of the way, since I didn’t do it on Wednesday. Well, I weighed in, but wasn’t happy, so I didn’t share.

Last week: 137.2 (woooohoooooo)
This week: 139.6 (boooooooooo. hisssssssss)

Being out of town, and not really caring about how much I was eating did it to me. No excuses. I own it.

So back to the Monday Project….

Sad to say I didn’t get run over by a squirrel, or run in freezing cold rain and snow (although it did snow in Texas this week!), but I did add 14 miles to my bank this week. FOURTEEN MILES. That’s a lot of miles. Running miles. I also hit the 100 mile mark since I’ve been running in October of last year. That felt really good.

Each and every run I have adds to the bank, and seeing the miles add up adds to my confidence. I feel like, “wow, I’m actually going to run a 1/2 marathon in a little over 3 months and not suck at it! I might actually be prepared and feel good!” That is such a victory for me.

My son is so excited about the 1/2 marathon. We talk about it almost daily, and he peppers me with questions. He knows that it’s 13.1 miles, and he asked me last night when I was going to run a full marathon because “it’s 26.2 miles, and that would be so cool.” Kid loves math and pushing his mommy to do more. He also asked me if people ran more than 26.2 miles and I explained that there are ultra-runners, but that I didn’t think I really had an interest in that. We ended the conversation discussing the day when we would run a marathon together. The two of us, training and running and doing it together. I’m putting that in my bank, because all of my hard work isn’t just for me, it’s for them, too.

It’s weigh in Wednesday, and despite my many infractions over the past week, I’m thrilled to report a loss today! When I stepped on the scale this morning, I was completely shocked to see a brand new low for me! Seriously, I haven’t seen that number in at least 14 years. Wow!

Last week: 138.2
This week:  137.2
Loss: 1 POUND!!!!

When we started the Sisterhood back in November of ‘08, I weighed in at 157, so that puts me at a 20 pound loss since then! I’ll proudly be sporting that 20# button on my sidebar now! Thankyouverymuch.

What worked for me this week? My best guess is that training for the 1/2 marathon has kicked my metabolism up a notch or two, so even though I indulged more than once this week, I still registered a loss. Another thing that’s been brought to my attention several times is that my indulgences are not what they used to be. When I go off my plan and splurge, I still make somewhat healthy choices and I don’t gorge myself (usually). This is a victory for me, because I FINALLY feel like the lifestyle change is sticking! I’m not dieting anymore, I’m living a healthier life, and that’s what this whole journey is all about.

Last Friday we were *ahem* supposed to post our Rethink Your Shrink wrap-ups. I think that’s what I’m doing now!

I am Rethinking My Shrink every single day. I make choices, sometimes bad, but mostly good, and each and every one of those choices impacts me physically and mentally. Since I’m not really into negative impacts, I truly strive to make good choices all the time, but when I don’t, I own it and move on. This is my life. This is not a diet, or a quick fix, or just something I’m doing to get to my goal weight. This is ME. Forever and ever. Amen.

Hello brand new week! I’m so happy to see you. Seriously. After last week’s Flex Points debacle, I’m ready for a clean slate and a fresh set of Points. I will never, ever act like that again! Promise!

So on to the good stuff!

Last week’s weight: 140
This week’s weight: 138
Change: -2 POUNDS <—--Did you see that? OMFG! I haven’t lost 2 pounds in a month, muchless ONE week, in I don’t even know how long!

THIS is why we sing the praises of Weight Watchers. This very reason. If you do it, and  you are honest with yourself in tracking your points, it works. Simple. Yes, it’s a little cumbersome when you first start out, but isn’t anything new? If you are on the fence about Weight Watchers, please get off and give it a try.

What did I learn this week? I learned that I need to plan a little better for my splurges. There is nothing wrong with splurging. As a matter of fact, I think you HAVE to splurge every now and then, or else you’ll go completely insane and the paddy wagon will pull up in your driveway.

I also learned that my indulgences are not what they used to be. One night this past week, I was starving to death (because I blew all my Flex Points) and wanted something, anything to eat. I grabbed the nearest thing and plunged it into Cool Whip. The nearest thing was a Z-bar, okay TWO Z-bars, and the Cool Whip was light. While I totally used Points I didn’t have, it could have been so much worse. The old me would have grabbed a 1/2 gallon of ice cream out of the freezer and polished most of it off. In one sitting. With chocolate sauce and probably nuts, too. Yeah, that was me.

So I am victorious this week, because I finally realized that I’ve been successful! I have changed my LIFESTYLE, and that is a huge win for me.

Also, if you haven’t joined us on Twitter for our Last Chance Tworkouts during the Biggest Loser, you totally should! You’re missing out Just check it out for  yourself.

You probably saw the title of my post and thought I’d lost like 5 pounds, right? WRONG. I am victorious because I maintained this week. I maintained after a glorious trip to LA with the other fabulous EA SPORTS Active for Life Challengers.

This past week has been an exciting one, to say the least. As an EA SPORTS Active for Life Challenger, I took part in the More Workouts 6-week challenge. I vlogged and blogged about my progress here and at the EA site. Our celebration was held this past weekend in sunny (and WARM) LA, and it was amazing. The hotel was so hip, the restaurants were trendy, the food was amazing, the drinks were delish, and the company, well, the company was so inspiring. Each and every one of the challengers has their own mountain to climb, and each and every one of us climbed out hearts out during the 6-week challenge and while we were in LA.

We hiked Runyon Canyon, on a clear and breezy day in LA. So perfect. After 4.5 miles of up and down, I burned 677 calories. WOW!

Wendy, Lisa, Gerard (@Active_Trainer), KP (@Active_Girl), and Monique – Fabulous EA SPORTS Active staff.

I am so happy EA SPORTS Active chose me to be an Active for Life Challenger. While it was a little scary stepping outside the comfort and support of the Sisterhood, I’m so glad I did. The challenge gave me new strength, physically (you should see my quads and biceps!) and mentally. I feel like a better person because of it, and I plan to continue using More Workouts as I train for my 1/2 marathon!

Last week: 141.2
This week: 141.2
WOOT!

This week is my first official weigh-in for the challenge! Last week I was out of town, and checked in with the previous week’s weight of 140.4.

This weeks weigh-in is pretty much what I expected! After being out of town for a week, and pretty much eating what I wanted (with all the guilty feelings. ugh), my weight is up this week.

Today: 141.2

I am happy with that weight. I feel like it could have been, and should have been much higher! Since returning home on Sunday, I’ve buckled down. I’m happy to say I’ve been meeting all of my goals!!

A little refresher:

1. GET ON WW ONLINE AND DO IT! No excuses. NONE.
2. EXERCISE! Strength training, running, cardio.
3. WATER! OMG, I have fallen off on my water intake, and that’s one thing I know helps me lose weight! WATER has got to be a priority!
4. FRESH! I need to start consuming fresh, fresh, fresh food.

I downloaded the new iPhone app from Weight Watchers and I LOVE it. SO MUCH. It’s totally free, too! I ran on Monday, did the EA SPORTS Active More Workouts on Tuesday, and will do it again tonight. I’ve been drowning myself with water, and I feel SO much better for it. And I’ve been eating lots and lots of fruits and veggies!

Tomorrow I’m escaping central Texas, and our frigid weather, and heading to sunny LA! Why, you ask? As a EA SPORTS Active 6-Week Challenger, one of the perks is a challenge end retreat! FUN! So I, along with the other 11 challengers will converge in sunny LA for a little fun this weekend. Part of the fun includes a LIVE web chat, that I encourage you pop in on! We’ll be taking questions, talking about our experiences with More Workouts, and EA SPORTS Active’s own fitness expert will be there as well. And don’t forget super-rad Kathryn (@Active_Girl)!

The Live Chat starts at 4 p.m. PST on Saturday and here’s the link! Stop by and check it out! You don’t have to do anything other than watch, although I’d love to get some questions and support from y’all!

Have a great, shrinking week!

It’s two days before Christmas! My son is home from school, and as I type this post, he is sitting on the couch talking to me. He’s been talking to me since he opened his eyes this morning. I’m amazed I’ve been able to get anything done with my little talker home all week! WOW!

So on to the weigh in. I’m very, very happy with my small gain this week. Happy because I honestly expected it to be so much more. This is such a tough time of year, and any loss should be celebrated with fireworks and marching bands, as far as I’m concerned!

My numbers:

Last week: 139.8
This week: 140.4
Change: +0.6

This week’s weight will be my starting week for next week’s BRAND NEW FABULOUS Challenge since I’ll be out of town next week, and while I am taking my Wii and More Workouts with me, I’m not taking my scale. I need to take a break from my OCD weighing! Since we’re going snow skiing (for the first time ever!) and I’ll have More Workouts with me, I’m hoping that my first challenge weigh-in after the first of the year will be FABULOUS!!!

Have a very merry Christmas. Enjoy yourselves, but keep you waistline in mind when you go for that 3rd cookie. There’s no sense throwing all of you hard work this year away, right?

Much love and many wishes for a Happy Holiday season and a Shrinking New Year for each and every one of you!

Challenge start: 142
Challenge end: 139.8
Change: -2.2 pounds

HELL TO THE YEAH! I have finally, finally, FINALLY broken into the 130s. WOOT!!

Okay, I don’t have much time to post, but I will say I’m so proud of myself! I’ve been logging tiny losses (and one tiny gain), but they’ve added up and I’ve finally gotten into the 130s and much closer to my final goal of 130!

I honestly don’t think I could have pulled this off without the EA SPORTS Active More Workouts 6-week challenge. Because the workouts are scheduled, I’ve kept up with them.

Over and out for now! I have Christmas baking to do and squash to play

WHOOOOOOOOOOO-WEEEEEEEE. What.a.week. Seriously. Thanksgiving is a tough, tough week. Especially when you are trying to shrink. I set out with big plans. BIG PLANS, y’all. I had my menu planned, and it was traditional. I cannot mess with old family recipes. There is no lightening them up. It was all going to be about self-control and being active.

On Thanksgiving morning, I got up, got dressed, and hit the road for a 5 mile run. I ran the entire thing, and it was amazing! I felt like my day and week were starting off great. I came home and cooked, we ate, I went for a walk, and I did my EA SPORTS Active workout. I was proud as pie.

The weekend was a blur of Christmas tree shopping, decorating, eating out, snacking, and leftovers. I didn’t have time to run, and Saturday and Sunday were my off days from EA SPORTS Active. When I stepped on the scales Sunday morning, I was devastated. I was up several pounds, and it was a huge slap in the face. I buckled down, started guzzling water and fired up More Workouts on my day off. I knew if I was going to undo the damage I’d have to be serious.

Flash forward to this morning. After a long and sleepless night (thanks to my son falling out of the bed, and my daughter removing her diaper and peeing all over her bed), I groggily stepped on the scale. Totally forgot to turn on the light, so I couldn’t see the number! Light on, scale read, and happy dance!

KA-POW (that’s me sucker punching the turkey)!!! I managed to LOSE weight over Thanksgiving week. I think this could be a historical moment for me. I should have prepared a speech.

Where would I be without the Sisterhood? Probably back in the 150s, out of shape, tired all the time, and unhappy. But now I’m just about to say BUH-BYE to the 140s forEVER.

Last week: 141.6
This week: 140.8
Change: -0.8 HOLLA!

Miles this week: 7
Total miles for the challenge: 31

Since the challenge started, I am down 1.2. My goal was to lose 5 pounds, so we’ll see if I can make it. Only 2 more weeks to go!

Be sure to check out my EA SPORTS Active for Life entries over here! Give me some love while you’re there, k?
You can also check out my Daily Mile page, where I keep track of my miles!!

This week I was SO looking forward to finally falling into the 130s, and it didn’t happen. I’ve been on this journey long enough to not let this get me down. I know I’m doing what I need to do, and this past week I may have overindulged in the salty & sweet foods just a little bit too much. Overindulgence wasn’t the only thing on the menu though, because I also exercised like a maniac! The exercise wasn’t quite enough for me to register a loss, though.

So I know where I went wrong: birthday cake, Italian food, apple pie, too much food at my son’s school t-day party, etc. etc.

And I also know where I went right: 6.8 miles logged (25.8 total for the challenge), 3 days of my EA SPORTS Active 6 Week Challenge

The results:
Last week: 141.2
This week: 141.6
Gain: 0.4

It’s really a minor gain, and I know I’ll get it off, I just hope that I don’t add to it over the next few days! I see lots of water, exercise, and portion control in my very near future!

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL of you! Hope it’s wonderful for you