Sidelined

Ugh. A spring head cold has had me sidelined for the past two days. I despise being sick and the fact that I missed step class and group training just stinks. I would rather be in the gym sweating it out rather than on the couch napping and watching movies - what a trip! Well, I will rest up, get better, and be ready to get back at it that much harder. The upside: I can't taste anything so maybe I'll save a few calories!

Not Today!

We took measurements today and since beginning my journey I have lost 4 inches from my waist, 3 inches from each arm, and 2 inches from each leg! That's 14 inches gone, not to mention the other areas that we didn't measure! If that's not motivation, I don't know what is! It definitely spurred me on in my workout as Jeff had Lakshmi and I running in and out of orange cones, doing sprints, teaching me the proper way to run (I still think I look like a goober), doing planks, and other exercises. A creative trainer who always comes up with something new, an encouraging workout partner like Lakshmi, and the old school hip hop music playing at the gym (hip hop hooray, oh,ay,oh)equals the best part of my day! I love stepping up my game and seeing what new thing I'm capable of. Before I would never have been able to run - but not today! Before I had to modify my planks because I had a hard time getting on and off of the floor and was never able to hold my weight up - but not today! Before I would have avoided a work lunch outing at the historic Cotton Exchange because of all of the stairs involved - but not today! What "normal" people think nothing of used to terrify me and hold me back - but not today or any day moving forward!

Weekend Milestones

It's been a great weekend! Yesterday I gave my weight loss journey speech at a city wide Toastmasters event. My mom, husband, cousin, great friends and coworkers were there to cheer me on. I marveled at how far I've come since I first gave that speech in October when I was one month into my journey. It was hard to lay my soul bare like that but I feel like it is all part of the process. What is crazy is that before I started this weight loss effort, the LAST thing I wanted to talk about was my weight. I feared any comment that might be even slightly related to that subject...but now I talk about it all the time. I'm no longer embarrassed. I have put my struggles out there into the world and have been amazed at the love and support I've received in return. Today we attended a family reunion and I wasn't worried about the food challenges of all that good Southern cooking. I had a small taste of Aunt Lib's famous chicken and pastry, filled the rest of my plate with veggies, and avoided the dessert table. I wasn't even tempted to cheat. That has to mean something!  Attached is the video of the speech if you're interested.

65!

I hit 65 pounds gone today! What a change from last week. It just goes to show that if the scales aren't moving one week, don't panic. Just tighten up your game and the results will come. Before we weighed in Marisa, aka the Queen of the High Reps, put it on us with a killer workout. Yesterday Milly and I had gotten excited when seeing the new weighted bags that just arrived in the gym. Like the masochists that we are, we told Marisa we were looking forward to using them. Ha ha. We were eating our words once we had to carry the 75 pound one around and around the gym. At one point I almost threw up and cried. But its all good. You have to continue to step it up in order to get results. 6 months ago I could never imagine myself where I am today!

The Victory of a Cat

The great actress Elizabeth Taylor passed away today. Tonight her passing had me thinking about my favorite of her roles, Maggie "The Cat" in Tennessee Williams' "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof". Williams wrote that the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof was simply to stay on it. How true that is and how relevant to a weight loss journey. The elliptical is my hot tin roof, as is step class, eating healthy, and strength training. I have to stay on it when it becomes uncomfortable and I just want to quit and jump off. And - if the roof cools off and becomes too comfortable, I just have to heat it back up again...because being uncomfortable but still holding firm is the path to victory.

Yeah I Do

Tonight I was just finishing checking out at the grocery store when a guy stopped me and said, "Did you drop this?" In his hand was a coupon to Dick's Sporting Goods. "No, but I'll take it if you don't want it." Handing it over he said, "Does your husband need something from there?" I looked at him and said, "No, I need a new pair of heavy bag gloves." He looked confused for a minute and then said, "You box?" Okay now I realize that I am a girly girl. I am OCD about matching my accessories, I have a purse fetish, my Ipod is pink and so is my Blackberry - but I sized him up and thought about how he'd fare on the other side of me, Sylvia, or Laks and answered, "Yep." His eyes blinked and then he drawled, "Well you go girl!" Ha ha - yeah I do.

Marathon

Today Eric and I got up bright and early to go out to the Wrightsville Beach Marathon to cheer on Marisa and Mindy and the other runners. There was a festival feel in the air with music, vendors, and a lot of good vibes. If you've never been to a race, you should definitely go! It's inspiring to see the runners cross the finish line and to hear people cheer for and encourage complete strangers. And let's face it: exercise brings on endorphines and people who work out are just happier pure and simple! I know it elevates my mood! It was a great day with friends, family, gym family and coworkers and it gives me hope that one day soon I will run across a finish line of my own!