A year ago...
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Things to shoot for

So, its been a year now since I done popped out that baby :)  She's a beauty, if I do say so myself!  I've had a wonderful year, gone through a lot of growing pains finding myself in this new role of "mom," and I'm just now rediscovering my old passions and sense of self.

I've been back in the gym most days after work now, thanks to the wonderful support of my husband.  I get home an hour later than I should because I stop by and get my arms or legs done, and even a few cardio sessions.  Things are finally starting to feel tight again... although parts of me may never be the same.  I definitely think my legs and butt have seen better days, for instance, and my arms are way wobblier than before.  However, I am within 5 pounds of prepregnancy weight- 200- and will eventually get into the 190s, probably as I continue to wean her off breastmilk.

Salsa classes have started up again, although I haven't yet been out social dancing.  I don't feel ready yet... my skills are still way too rusty, and I'm not completely happy with how I look in my cuter dancing tops.  Its not about looking sexy, but I'd at least like to feel semi-attractive for my own sake!  I bought myself a cute pair of dance sneakers to help me get used to spinning again.  I was so wobbly the first class I took that I felt pretty bad about myself.

My minigoals for May:

1. Get down to 195 (need to be aggressive to meet this)
2. Go social dancing once (in Noho perhaps?)
3. Start blogging fitness more often
4. Redesign leg workout.  My current one is not challenging enough.

Here we go :) 

Still virtual shopping, and having fun...
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Things to shoot for

I swear, to all you anonymous people reading this... when I finally get my body to where I want it to be (not too far from now!), I will spare no expense on two main things.

Denim

and bathing suits

Hot!!!

 

Living Sensibly
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Things to shoot for

If I had my life to live over

I would dare to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been on this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments.
One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

- Nadine Stair, 85 years old

I'll probably never get sick of this....but YOU will!
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Things to shoot for
Remember when I posted this outfit? I was dying to wear this on my honeymoon, but part of me feared I'd never get into it EVER (since when I bought it, it was already a size too small- a size 10 "hip hugger" skirt from the Gap).


Miracle of miracles...look!



Now... this is what I need to work on to REALLY feel comfortable on the beach, as the belly is coming along just fine...

The weirdest outfit ever...
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Things to shoot for
This morning I posted on Tracker that I tried on a pair of shorts. If you know me, you know that I have a strong aversion to shorts. These particular shorts used to be an absolute staple of my wardrobe, and I almost never took them off. Um, 5 years ago!

This morning when I tried them on, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I MAY be able to wear these suckers! So, without further ado, my goal outfit, with the wacky pink crocheted halter....



Ta da!!!

I've been remiss...
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Things to shoot for

Well, after a slam bang C2 finish, I've slacked a bit- well, alot- this weekend.  I have a plan of action though for the next six weeks.  Six weeks of a mini BFL challenge (using half of my new BFL journal, which really keeps me on track), my wedding and honeymoon for two weeks, then back with a vengeance to finish the final 6 weeks.  So this challenge, number 3, will take me right up until September 30. 

 Don't laugh at me, but I love this shirt.  Its my Gay Pride/Skank shirt, and its so cute when it fits right.  Its so frightening when it doesn't.  But soon I'll be the hooch I was meant to be in it.

Right now its just a no-no...

Getting there...
Mood:  lucky
Topic: Things to shoot for
This is me at a total of 20 weeks of BFL...



15 pounds gone, and hopefully 15 more to go :)

The turtle is so appropriate
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Things to shoot for

Progress pics, dontcha love 'em?
Mood:  hungry
Topic: Things to shoot for

I'm still a girly girl...
Mood:  loud
Topic: Things to shoot for
I was just chatting with my sister about whom she would most like to resemble fitness-wise, and I came upon a few shots that are somewhat hysterical, yet somehow motivating...

Like this one of Trish Stratus. I wouldn't necessarily choose the bathing suit, or the pose, but you can't fault the figure.


Or check out Katie Uter, a muscular Barbie doll, looking aimlessly yet happily out in the distance as she curls a barbell...


But most ridiculous of all is Jen Hendershott, at least in my opinon, who tends to look somewhat crazed in most pictures, and passes for somewhat docile in this one.


Check this one:

DeShaun saw this and said, "I wouldn't want THAT lady to be my mom. She's scary!" That being said, you have to respect the amount of hard work it takes to get a body like this one. Countless sacrifices, like no chocolate in the Lindt store or pizza on Sundays. Ouch.

I think it was the lack of chocolate that may have driven Kelly Ryan and her husband, Craig Titus to murder their personal assistant. Yikes. Does this look like a killer to you?

BFL 2006
Mood:  lucky
Topic: Things to shoot for
Three years after Walter and I discovered Body for Life, we'll be rediscovering it in an effort to get back down to our "fighting weights." Back in 2003, we were pretty diligent, and had gotten down to close to our goal weights. After our nephew, Vern, was born, we were totally enraptured with being with him, and put our exercise goals on the back burner. A few years and many excuses later, we are both at a much higher weight and really need to get our asses in gear. Here we are back in 2003, about midway through our first challenge...


And here we are now- the apple sack is hiding the belly a bit, huh?

Bridal Bootcamp- blah blah blah
Mood:  bright
Topic: Things to shoot for
Reality struck me yesterday on the scale. I have totally been out of control with the baking, snacking, cheating, laziness, and all the negative habits that have been the rule of the day for lately. And its finally become a truth for me because I stepped on the scale.

Now you can say the scale lies, but in this circumstance, it was as truthful as a priest. Wait, that's a bad metaphor. Hmmmm.... well, anyways, it was a shock.

So, along with Sarah, my faithful sister and diet/exercise sidekick, I am embarking on a bridal boot camp which started yesterday. And since I have not had any meaningful exercise to speak of in two months, I started slow.

20 minutes on the stepper at HR of 150-160
15 minutes assorted lower body exercises
10 minutes stretching

I am not even remotely sore today, but I thought it'd be better to ease into it a little, instead of doing a kick ass workout and then not being able to move or function for the next week.

Diet was okay-

multigrain hot cereal with raisins and pecans
vegetable soup and a chicken breast
apple with 1.5 T of peanut butter
salad with cottage cheese

Could've used a bit more food, but it was kind of a funky day...

So, I've started... and my goal is to lose 40 pounds by my wedding day. But I'd be happy with 25 at least.

The Meltaway Challenge!!!
Mood:  bright
Topic: Things to shoot for
Jess has dubbed this next challenge the Meltaway Challenge. She, Walt, and I are started yet again. We never get tired of this :)


Here are my changes for this Challenge:

1. Re-incorporating 2 Myoplex Lites per day back into my program for ease (one in the morning and one as last meal of the day- both with UDOs)

2. Two T of flax per day (as above)

3. Reverting back to baseline BFL workouts with extra workouts thrown in for "fun"-- I will do the occasional longer run, Pilates, yoga (obviously).

4. I will have two free meals or snacks- on Thursday after yoga and Saturday or Sunday, depending on what I am doing that day.

5. I will take pictures every 4 weeks and weigh in on Saturday morning with Jess and Walt

Goals:

1. Lose 15 pounds fat to take me down to 170-175 max.

2. Fit into my size 10 pants

3. Save all treats for free days- no unauthorized snacking (i.e. self-sabotage)

4. 25 pushups on my toes

5. Run 3 miles in 27 minutes

My Muscles...through the years... er, months...
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Things to shoot for
Okay, so I suppose since I'm winding up my BFL Challenge (number who the hell even knows anymore), I'll indulge myself by posting some of of muscle pics and y'all can see how I'm coming along...

Here is my first muscle shot taken with my digital camera back in November of 2003. I have others, but all with regular film. Sorry about the photo quality, my son took it and its a bit out of focus:

Here's a view of my back doing an assisted close-handed pull-up up on the sprinkler system :)


A little later on, I think in the spring of 2004, I met up with Jess, a fellow BFL Women's Club member, and we took a few biceps/triceps shots.

Pretty non-existent triceps, right? They were in there...just insulated!


And here I was last summer, posing yet again for another challenge...still hadn't "crossed the abyss," as you can see:



And here I am this past January, goofing around, at the start of this past challenge:



And here I am now, in all my glory of heavy weight-training three days a week, running, biking, and yoga all the other days and having way too much fun baking (and eating) cookies in between:





Aren't y'all impressed? I'm only just beginning :)

Neither up, nor down...and Goals 2005
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Things to shoot for
Okay, I have little to tell today other than I have regained .4 pounds since the 5.6 pound loss, and the scale is not moving this week. The reasons are these:

1. Less water consumption- kind of slacking this week
2. So-so exercise effort- exercised every day but not that hard
3. Sleeping later instead of exercising on an empty stomach.

Oh well, I am still on course to hopefully win The Biggest Family Loser- woo hoo! Walter has told me he lost just about 5 pounds last week too, so we are both on track.

I have been thinking in my mind about goals I want to achieve this year. So far, this is what I've come up with:

1. Run in a St. Patrick's day road race 3/19/05- which is a 5k, averaging a 10-minute mile.

2. Reduce my body fat to 20% by July 1st

3. Reduce my credit card debt by at least $5000

4. Get engaged (come on Walter!)

5. Take a beginning Spanish course at a local community college.

These are my 2005 goals, so I'm going to have to keep rechecking and re-evaluating often to make sure I'm going to reach them.

BTW, I think I need new running shoes :) So much for the credit card debt...