YES!

I have been on this plateau for four weeks.  The scale wouldn't move.   I would work harder.  I would eat bad. The scale wouldn't move.  Work hard, slip up on the food.  Work hard, slip up on the food.  The scale remained the same.   I had seriously begun to doubt myself again and wonder how in the world I had managed to lose 72 pounds.  I began to fear failure more so than stairs, sea gulls, and random pyromaniac murderers.  I really started to panic about the situation.

Thank goodness for this Battle of the Sexes. Competition looming made me get my act together and eat exactly as I should. Marisa, who is as competitive as I am, stepped up our workouts and pushed us to new levels.   I've never worked out this hard in my life!

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd,.........I LOST 8 POUNDS THIS WEEK!   YES!  The grand total is now 77.  Just goes to prove to me that you can't get complacent or rest on your laurels.  You have to push hard every day. It pays off! 

My new goal is 10 pounds next week.  Not sure if I can do it, but I'm going to try hard.  Taking an idea from Jay on the Biggest Loser, I'm writing how much weight I want to lose this week on the inside of my wrist:

This Lizard

I'm not a sweet tooth - Doritos and salty snacks are my craving - but I must say that one thing I miss in the unhealthy food category is a Dairy Queen Blizzard.   Last night I saw a commercial for one and it made my mouth water.    When we were kids during summers at the lake, at night we'd take the boat over to Goldston's where there were rides, a huge arcade and a Dairy Queen.  The service was surly but a Butterfinger Blizzard on a hot summer night was a little piece of heaven.

A couple of years ago my husband and I were on our way back from South Carolina and pulled off of I-95 to get gas and lo and behold there was a Dairy Queen.  Of course the line at the counter was twelve deep but I was bound and determined that I was going to get my fix no matter how long I had to stand there. The line slowly crept forward until there was only one woman in front of me.   I had noticed that she was wearing one of those custom made family reunion t-shirts - I had stood behind her in line long enough to memorize her whole family tree - but little did I suspect what was about to happen.

When it was her turn in line she waved her arm rapidly towards a big chartered bus in the parking lot, and the whole busload of people came pouring out to give her their orders.   It is a testament to my love for the Blizzard - and my hard-headedness - that I still stood there in line as each family member placed their order....all with the exception of one woman.   She hemmed and hawed debating what to get while I seethed silently and shifted from foot to foot. 

"A hot dog?  Do you want a hamburger?   How about a Blizzard?" her relative asked patiently.

She shook her head and said, "This lizard don't want no Blizzard!"

I almost screamed, "Well this lizard does so would you order already!"

Eventually it was my turn and I was able to get my treat and get back on the road.    Man, the lengths I would go to for a Blizzard!   Something that would be consumed in minutes, but hang around my hips for the next three years.  I can control myself these days, but man sometimes this lizard really wants a Blizzard!

Signs You Have Had a Good Workout

In honor of Marisa's killer step class today, I offer the following list:

Signs You Have Had a Good Workout

• You stumble into the locker room with hair looking like Nick Nolte's mug shot.
• You have a sudden craving for protein so strong that find yourself saying, in a flat zombie voice, "Steeeeeaaaaak."
• You can literally wring your gym clothes out. 
• You suddenly find yourself dressed and realize you were so zoned out you don't remember. "How did I get in these clothes? 
• You find yourself hyper-aware of food smells.  Me to Florence as we got on the elevator to go back upstairs after Step, "Someone's had french fries on this elevator."
• You attack your lunch like a wolverine over fresh kill.
• Even after attacking your lunch like a wolverine, you are still hungry.
• You feel like you have been on a short trip to the Amazon.
• 2 hours after class your muscles stiffen up and suddenly you have the legs of Godzilla. 
• You feel like you could literally eat your desk...then you begin imagining the desk with A-1 sauce, maybe a little ranch.  You wonder how many calories are in a serving of desk.  Is desk considered a carb?  

2010 Jenn

Thank you so much to my family, friends and co-workers who have made my birthday special! I definitely feel the love and it is much appreciated!   Man, when I think about the person I was on this day last year, I am staggered.   2010 Jenn was a girl who was only living half of her life, at half of her potential.  She was unhealthy and encumbered with weight and fear.   She didn't know it at the time, but in just shy of four months, she was about to change her life forever.   She was sitting on the side lines of life although most people who knew her would never have guessed.  She put up a good front, but inside she was held back by many things.

Fast forward one year and it's a whole new life! For my birthday this year I am going to forgo the birthday cake and instead give myself a present: life, health and wellness.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the cards, the decorations at my desk, the gifts, phone calls, Facebook shout outs, and for the elevator serenade! And also thanks for coming on this journey with me!

Sunny Day

My favorite thing in the world to do is swim.  It always has been.    From babies we were taught how to swim out on the sandbar in the sound at Topsail Island and in the shallow waters of White Lake. In fact, up until recently swimming was my only athletic ability.  For my birthday (it's tomorrow)  my wonderful cousins Devon and Charlie arranged a cookout at their family pool, and it was the best birthday gift ever!  A few couples got together to grill and enjoy what turned out to be a wonderful sunny day. 

One thing I never let my weight hold me back from was swimming in a pool.  Yes, I always felt self conscious in a bathing suit, but I just loved swimming so much that it over-rode any embarrassment.   Not that I would really swim much....it mainly consisted of floating around and occasionally dipping my head under.

Yesterday I was swimming laps!  Wondering how my "new" muscles would respond to the water, I pushed off from the side of the pool and swam the width of the pool.  That felt so good that I did it again and again until I decided to swim the length of the pool a few times.  By this time, my little cousins had stopped what they were doing and decided to race me.  I was surprised when I could beat two eight year olds who are a lot younger and lighter than me. 

It was a great day and nothing beats that feeling of coming home tired (in a good way) and rosy from the sun.  Even better was taking a shower and putting on my comfy jammies.  Thanks Devon and Charlie for a wonderful day!

Before and Today

Lakshmi asked us to do some side by side comparisons of our weight loss so that she could see it and be inspired.  I'm calling it "Before and Today" because I'm a long way from "After".  Laks, this is for you:

Jenn, Before (November) and Today

 

Millie Before and Today

 

Tears and Sweat

Today we not only worked out our bodies, but our heart strings too.    Marisa had us write down traits we admire about each other while we took turns on the elliptical.  Sitting on the floor of the gym Indian-style with my team in our black and pink team outfits, I got emotional.  All of these people, even the boys who we are in competition with, mean so much to me.  And as for Jeff and Marisa, how do you begin to thank the people who saved your life?    It's been quite a ride so far, and it's not even close to being over.   Wow, to think that when I had my first workout with Jeff, all I could do was stand up and sit down over and over and over.   I bet I did it a thousand times. 

Somehow I managed to tell Millie, Mary, Marisa and Lakshmi a small portion of how I felt about them, although I bawled like a baby.  I wish the others had been able to be there too.   Here's what those wonderful women said about me:

  

I am so blessed.