Fun Fact - Stacy

No real big news to update. Still trying to get to 70lbs lost, have 4 to go. I did go through my closet this weekend and got rid of 5 big trash bags full of clothes. My closet is empty and I am sad but it def needed to be done. Fun fact though....I can fit in my 9th grade cheer uniform haha!! I really didn't think I was as small (small being relative to my former weight lol) as I was in high school. First I tried on my dress I wore to my high school graduation, yes I still have it, hence the need to clean out the closet, it was actually a little too big. Sadly the main place it was too big was the chest area. Of course the one area of my body I don't have enough of...my boobs are the first to go haha! But thats ok...as long as it keeps coming off everywhere else too. So anyway then I saw the cheer uniform, and it was from the 9th grade and I really thought there was no way it would fit but I thought what the heck, I'll see if I can get it past my thighs. Well I got it all the way and and zipped...shock and awe...now one thing I do know for sure, I am def taller than I was in high school...although the suit zipped it was way shorter than I remember haha! p.s. super horrible picture of a picture off my phone...it was all I had but I thought it was funny enough it needed to be shared!

Update - Amanda

So an update is in need - and a place for me to vent. So the half marathon was a success! I finished the 13.1 miles in 2 hours 36 minutes and 36 seconds. I ran it at an 11:58 min/mile. So not pro status, but I was very satsified with this accomplishment. I also managed to run the entire thing (other than walking through the water breaks so that I didn't break my arm trying to get the cup.) I did stop to walk around mile 10 but that made me legs feel so heavy that I started running again and didn't stop until the finish line. So this is a huge accomplishment for me. I'm already thinking about running another one before the year end.

But now for the angry part. I have not lost any weight in the past three weeks. In fact I have gained a few pounds. I am feeling completely hopeless and frustrated. I know that people are going to tell me that I'm doing great and I've come so far, and I know this, but I feel like I'm stuck in this hole that I can't get out of it. I managed to do so well thus far and then BAM! A wall that I can't seem to break, climb over, dig under - nada! I feel absolutely disgusted when I look in the mirror and the way I feel about myself. I've tried rearranging my thoughts - knowing that negative thoughts only fuel negative behavior, but it's not working. I have gotten so tired of counting every point that it's making me angry (and the fact that I had to cancel my account at the end of this month because of money issues doesn't help.) I feel more confident in knowing what I should and shouldn't be eating, and I know that I need to get back on track - but that's part of the problem. I'm not divulging in crap, but I can't seem to get it all back on track. I work out like crazy, and won't lose a pound, and I'm so frustrated! I can't even think straight or arrange my thoughts because of the disgust I feel about the whole situation! BLAH! (I am done venting now as I have nothing else to say.)

Update! {Erin}

So my weight loss blog friends..... Amanda, Lynne & Stacy your girls are rocking this weight loss train! I really wish I could report such great news! But unfortunately, the weight is not coming off. It could possibly be due to the fact that I sleep maybe 3-4 hours a night & I stay STRESSED OUT. The way I have always dealt with this lack of sleep & stress is to eat, shop & drink coffee. All three are very very bad habits. Hopefully I can kick a couple of these soon.

I have been making an effort to go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week which is a big change for me. I really enjoy going to the gym, my favorite time to go is in the middle of my favorite tv lineup, that way it is really easy for me to keep going! This week I was not able to go to the gym at all bc I have way to much to complete.

Well now that I have stated all of the negatives, I will leave you with a few positive things I have done. On the business side, I have made a budget & business plan so hopefully soon I will be down to one job! I also attended my first international wedding conference (wppi). And my business is booming more then ever! On the personal side I finished my first 2 5k's in the last 2 months which is something I have never tried but was inspired by all my friends that love to run! I also got two of my friends & roommates to join my gym with me, so they have helped a lot. (thanks girls).

I am thinking I will try a few new things this month... I am going to make my goal to be asleep no latter then 12:30am. Try to stick to and add points for Weight Watchers! Lastly, I am going to try & make at least 1 day this month all about ME!

Hopefully next time I will have amazing news to share! I love you all & thank you for all of your support! Oh and one more thing, I am so excited I have my first coed softball game on Sunday! I just love playing sports! Until next time! Wish me luck......

Weekly Weigh In - Amanda

It's time for a change!

This week I maintained my weight. - Not good, but not bad either. I did decent with my eating this week. I still had 20 of my weekly points left, and I did work out two days. It may not have helped that this week I am beyond tired every day and have been stressed out quite a bit. I also think my body is getting too accustomed to the schedule I have put it on, so it's time to shake things up a bit. I have a long run planned for tomorrow and then the half marathon is next Saturday. I think it's time to change things up a bit and reevaluate my goals and methods to reach them. I have learned, the closer your body gets to your goal weight, the harder it seems to get those remaining pounds off. Well I've had enough of this stuff.

I have been wanting a change in my life, and I think this is something that could definitely use a change, and resulting - the change that I needed to feel better about myself. (How many times can you use change in the same sentence?) I'm off to plan out these next two weeks of revenge. Hoping to update next week and the following week with good news! Here's to CHANGE!

Stacy-Update

Ok so it's been awhile for me. I have been a little disappointed over the last month or so, I feel like I should be seeing bigger results on the scale, but it seems like every time I weigh I've only lost a pound or two and the next time I go in it's back up half a pound or so.  Today I met with my trainer and measured inches, body fat and weighed. Since January 29, I have lost 10lbs, 4in and a little over 2% of body fat. Making my totals since July: 65lbs, 29in and a little of 12% body fat! I didn't realize I had lost 10lbs till I saw it on paper. The fluctuating really threw me off. This past weekend I went shopping and bought clothes at Old Navy and Target NOT in the plus section!! That is a really big deal for me, I can't remember the last time I could try on jeans at Old Navy...or any place without a plus section. I needed these boosts to keep me going. I know why the losing has slowed down so much. It's all on me. I know part of it is that I'm to a point where I am shaping my body more, losing the inches even though weight loss has slowed, but I know that I to kick it back in high gear to really start seeing the changes again. I haven't been getting the cardio I need and have not been eating the way I should. So today I start again. I am going to make the right choices when it comes to food, no excuses! And I am going to get my butt back in the gym 5 days a week!  

Weekly Weigh-In - Amanda

I didn't feel like writing anything last week, but to catch you up to speed - I did have a 1 pound loss. This week I had a 2.2 pound lost, making me reach my 10% goal. I'm feeling really proud and motivated today, and hope that I continue on this journey with the same attitude.

This past weekend I ran an 8 mile race. It was an unexpected adventure, but a friend of my cousins, Daysha, asked me the night before to run with her, and it was amazing. Last year she lost over 40 pounds with a strict diet and training for a half-marathon - (she is now in bikini body shape) so she has been a sort of inspiration to me. I ran the whole race pretty much right by her side and we finished in 1 hr 31 minutes. Our pace was at a 11:26 min/mile. You could have blown me away when she told me that I had run the race at the pace. Wow! It was a really good experience for me and another day to prep for the half marathon. Daysha is also running the half marathon and told me to find her and I can at least start the race off pacing with her again. I'm feeling confident that I will at least finish the half marathon, although I'm getting a little scared thinking about how many miles I will be attempting to run straight through.

Another week down, many more to go. I am trying to be positive and to continue to think of the bright future ahead of me.

P.S. 2 more weeks until the half-marathon!

!!Where did all my other ladies go??

Weekly Weigh In - Amanda

So I am happy to report good things this week: a loss of 2.6 lbs. Considering my last two weeks, I'm feeling pretty good about this. I have lost a total of 14.6 for the year of 2009. This also puts me 10.4 pounds away from my inital goal and 15.4 pounds away from my ultimate goal. I know that the next few weeks will not be easy, but they are so close, that I am not going to give up until I reach it.

I am feeling in more control of my self and my eating was much more on track this week. I am also really pumped for my run tomorrow. Now that I feel like I am seeing real results, I'm feeling the motivation to continue. So in honor of my newfound encouragement, I wanted to share a few tips I have found that have helped. Some of these many of you may already be aware, but maybe you will learn something new.

1. Hungry-girl.com - awesome daily emails with good advice for watching what you eat, fabulous recipes (with the Weight Watchers points already calculated for you), great swaps (low fat milkshakes and desserts to die for.) If you haven't signed up already, this is a must have for anyone trying to lose weight (or anyone maintaining weight or anyone who just wants a healthier lifestyle). Who doesn't want free advice from people that have already done the research for you?

2. Sugarfree gum - A saving grace of mine. I usually leave the mint kind at my desk for those moments when I feel like I'm going to go for the sweets coworkers brought it. Nothing ever tastes that great when you have had mint and most of the time the gum will fight the temptation.

3. Frozen Grapes - a trick I learned from my old daycare provider. She used to buy grapes, divide them into snack size baggies, and throw them in the freezer. On days when the kids would go to the park, she would just grab a few baggies before their walk. I started doing this for mornings that I would run late, or on weekends (my weakness time.) I like them frozen, but it's also good, because sometimes when I don't eat them right away, they are still cool. It also helps that grapes are my daughter's favorite food as well, so we share. :)

4. 100 calorie packs - I'm sure everyone is aware of these. There are so many of them out there now - crackers, cookies, granola bars. And it's no secret: I like sweets. So these babies really do save me. Sometimes you just need a little chocolate in your life, and I can definitely handle a 2 point pack of cookies. My newest find is South Beach Diet Smores Bar. OMG! I'm in love with them. Only downside - there are only 5 bars in box and the box usually costs around $3.99 but with a taste that good, sometimes you just have to give in.

5. New Running Shoes - I finally bought a new pair of shoes. I know...running shoes are one the most important things to invest in when running long distances, and it did make a huge difference in my 8 mile run on Monday. Although I really didn't want to spend that much money, I definitely think it was money well spent.

6. Rewards - Taking a cue from Lynne, creating rewards for small achievements can make a big difference. I still have 5 pounds to lose until I get my pedicure, but that reward is helpful to have. I loved Lynne's idea so much and her parents willingness to assist her with her goals, that I offered the same thing to my sister (who is also trying to lose weight.) I wish I could do it for everyone in my life, but I knew she was the kind of person who would definitely benefit from knowing that she was getting some material object at the end. I know once she loses the weight, the feelings with it will make her continue but sometimes you need more motivation than that to get started.

Good luck to the rest of you on your journeys!


P.S. Only 4 more weeks until the half-marathon!