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October 08 Courtney ~ My first blog!Mean Jenn threatened me and told me she wouldn’t update our weights until I blog, so here I am!
First off I just want to say that I’m very glad Jenn asked me to join this weight loss journey with them….I’ve tried many diets and nothing seems to work…I think this is the kick in the butt that I needed! So thanks!
Well so far I’m down a total of 4.4 pounds….I was hoping for bigger numbers but I will take any weight loss I can get. I have come to realize that I need to be a full-time dieter and not a part-time one. In the past few weeks I have noticed that I do great Friday-Monday with eating right and exercising. Than after weigh in on tuesday mornings I tend to slack off and eat whatever I want. So my goal for this week is to not be the part-time dieter anymore and do it ALL the time and than maybe I will be seeing much bigger results on the scale! October 01 Jenn - I can't believe I let this happen to me.That was my facebook status from last night and it is just my frustration with being so overweight.
But on a serious note, I did start my Couch to 5K routine over this week. I went for my runs on Monday & last night. Thank heavens for cooler temps that make it easy to go outside for those runs! But, at the same time, my body just screams at me when I go for them. The muscles scream, the knees are sore from carrying extra weight and I won't get into the horrible feeling of chaffing that I have experienced for the first time in between my thighs.
The good news is that I hate feeling this way and will be doing what it takes to make the necessary changes. The first thing that I have done is get a set schedule at my part-time job. It doesn't seem like a big deal but makes a world of difference knowing which days I work and when I can plan my exercise! I think the dogs are also enjoying this new turn of workouts. Last night they were so much more calm on the run, like they knew what to expect! Plus, my evenings are spent with getting things down around the house and healthy dinners. No more just plopping on the couch and watching tv. Last night it was 8:30 before I sat down to relax with last nights episode of Biggest Loser.
I love that show. Although I do find disappointment that they have gone away from the people like me that weight is a constant struggle to the grossly overweight people. However, with that said, Tracy is outright crazy. I can't believe they have someone on the show that is more worried about game play the first two weeks they actually are on the show versus worrying about losing weight. Who cares about game play - if you lose weight they CAN'T vote you off. Like Julio said - you need to worry just about yourself.
So, with that said, I am only concerning myself with me and will watch these pounds melt away for next week. September 25 Michelle - 09/25/09 OK Time for me to chime in!!! First of all - Congratulations to the "Newbies" (Rachael and Courtney) for placing 1st and 2nd in Week 1. Actually Jenn and I hung back and let you guys win so you wouldn't be discouraged, right Jenn?? Second of all - I am happy to be a part of TEAM EAST who kicked butt in Week 1!  YEAH!!!!I'm feeling pretty good about Week 2. I've been good about my eating, controlling my evening snacks, and hit the gym a couple times. My workplace has an enormous fitness center which costs employees less than $10 per month to join. It is SO disappointing when I go for workouts and its so empty. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! Today there was only me and 3 other people in the whole place when it opened for "after work" session at 4:15. Although I admit - its kind of nice because I don't have to wait for any of the weight machines and there's a 100% chance that an elliptical will be open.  Anyway - today I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and then did my whole weight circuit on the machines. I bumped up the weight on the leg press to 95lbs today for the first time. WOOOOO FEEL THE BURN! I'm trying really hard to tone the muscles in my upper legs to try to help my floating kneecap thing that causes me so much grief. UGH!  Looking forward to hearing from Courtney and Rachael! (hint hint!) ummm and hearing from Jenn again!! (hint hint!) September 16 2nd ChancesThat is the theme for the Biggest Loser this season and after Michelle & I talking almost daily on how we are tired of being the weight we are, how we want to change, etc, we thought why not now? Why not start this with the start of Biggest Loser? Why not recruit some family & friends in joining us for a little friendly competition? So, here we are. The weights from week one have been posted and we all have goals. What is the incentive? Well, we decided to make it a friendly competition to go with the new, healthy lifestyle. So, the overall winner gets $25 gift card, 2nd place gets $15 and well the bottom 2, they are going to be buying the gift cards.
So, how do we know each other? Michelle and Rachael are sisters from Maryland. Courtney and Jenn are cousins with Courtney in Nebraska and Jenn in Texas. We all have different reasons of how we got to this point, what we are going to do to change and what the hardiest things will be for us. So, join us on our journey of 2nd Chances. Jenn - Day 2Well my intent was to blog yesterday but I didn't make it. But on the positive side, I am off to a good start. Of course, it IS just day 2. But yesterday I came home, did a work out video and then took the dogs for a 2 mile walk. Today, the dogs got their two mile walk in early and then I headed out for a 45 min bike ride. Amazing how much your muscles forget in a short period of time. I have a feeling I will be feeling it tomorrow. The food will be and always has been my biggest challenge. But - it isn't going to go away which means I need to learn to deal with it. October 26 Bet You Thought we had GIVEN UP! - by MichelleHeck we didn't give up - we're still here and alive and kickin' - just haven't updated our page in a MILLION YEARS! Through the summer, I have been slowly chugging away and at last weeks Weight Watchers meeting, I hit 149.6 and received my award for officially losing 20lbs. !!! In celebration, I went shopping Friday and bought my first pair of size 10 jeans - size 10 for the first time since..... probably.... gosh I don't know. I can't remember! I will let Jenn update everyone on whats going on in her life if she is up to it. I don't know what she wants to share and what she doesn't- so I leave that up to her.  OK well I know this is short but hubby wants to hit the grocery store. Hopefully I'll come back later and add some new pix for you. I got my long hair chopped off yesterday too! Now that my face doesn't look like a big round pumpkin with 3 chins, I decided I didn't need to hide it anymore behind a mop of long hair. More later - I promise! April 18 Sleepy Friday - JennWhy is it than when we are super tired that we turn to food. Or at least I do. I mean seriously - what part of food is actually going to keep me awake?!?! I mean - I eat because I am tired - not because I am hungry.
I would have to say that I have learned a lot about myself in the past week and can only believe that it is going to continue to grow towards the positive! My girlfriend that is a therapist suggested I read the book Codependent no More. She actually believes that all women can learn something from it. I tell you - I have learned so much in just the first four chapters - it has been amazing. I have also been working through David Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Workbook. Of course - in it he makes a lot of references to people that are out of shape and using it as an easy comparison to people that are financially out of shape. It is enlightening. I am hoping that with my extra concentration on the inner me, the outer me will start to come along for the ride!!! Of course - I am PMSing this week so I know that does not help my situation.
Michelle & I discussed on Tuesday that we must of not one the Biggest Loser challenge here since we weren't sitting in the crowd. LOL. Of course she has done so fabulous - been so dedicated to the gym - to eating right and her results are a reflection of her effort. Of course a year ago - you would of never known that she hated the gym. I was the one yelling at her she needed to go. . . .
Which on that note - starting Monday - that alarm is going to go off at 5:00 am and I am going to start making the effort to go to the gym. If I don't do it before work - I have a million reasons when I get home about why I don't want to go. So - I am going in the morning. I am also turning in my cable box on Monday as well - just in an effort to save a little $$ for a few months. So - I won't be plopping my butt down in front of the tv or computer at night - I'll have to get moving! April 15 Yep We're Still Alive (by Michelle)Well gosh I hope people are still checking our web site even though the challenge is over!
We ARE still plugging along and doing fine. I'm super-swamped right now with finishing up final projects in my classes. I was religiously hitting the gym 3x week - but then last week my knees were bothering me a bit so I've had to take a little break. But I got my feet molded last week for custom orthotic inserts for my shoes... so hopefully that whole pronated ankles thing / bad knees thing won't be an issue much longer. I'm definitely going to the gym tomorrow - today at WW I lost half a pound! Heck NO thats not good enough!!! So between that and sitting here watching the VERY inspiring BL finale, I figured I would blog and get myself psyched up for a return to the gym tomorrow! Going to have to work through the knee thing and just DO IT. OK well its time for Kelly and Ali to weigh in on TV so I'm going to close out. I know Jenn will be updating our stats soon but I can't wait and I have to share-- I have officially crossed the 15lbs mark! 15lbs since January 1st!!! So THANK YOU MSN MPMU - even though you didn't pick us to win.  I'm not bitter. OK maybe a little.  ROTFLMAO JUST KIDDING!!!
March 31 It's Been Awhile - JennYes - I am the long lost soul and iit is true what Michelle says in that I have been going through a hard time. Almost 3 weeks ago, my boyfriend and I parted ways. It was something sudden and it was NOT a good ending. Long story short - we have had zero communication with each other since that day. It has been hard as I am in a town that I absolutely love but still new enough that I don't have a lot of close friends to distract me. It truly feels like a death to me since we were so close, spending almost every day together, talking to each other constantly through out the day to go to ZERO contact.
 I know that it is for the best and I just wish my head & heart would get on the same page. On top of it all, I have been left with a lot of expenses because I can't trust him to pay for stuff in both of our names. Just imagine two car payments plus insurance. That is just the start.On the positive side - I am starting to make small steps to come out of the 3 week fog. I am working to sell one of the cars so that will be a big relief once that is sold. I actually spent time cleaning the apartment this weekend. No more dirty dishes scattered every where. No more clothes just thrown about the floor. No more 2 inch think dust on the tv.
 Plus, I have made the calls my mom has been after me to make for a few weeks now and will be starting to do group & individual couseling. (Yep - I am airing all and I apologize). As for the food & exercise - I have good days and bad days. Some days - pup & I go on walk after walk around the apartment complex. One full lap around is a mile. Then there are those days that I eat 4 ice cream sundae bars. Over all, my weight hasn't really changed - so that is good. I am going to make a concentrated effort the first part of this week to keep my food in check. As for the end of the week - it is hard to say - my mom and aunt will be in town. It was a planned visit and couldn't come at a better time!
I am sure we will be eating out - so will do my best to make healthy choices.I desperately want to get back on track and find some healthy alternatives to my life rather than food as comfort! Thanks everyone for letting me vent! March 29 Another Update from MichelleFinally 2 weeks after it settled in, I have finally kicked that nasty cold to the curb. Wednesday I was back in the gym - it was rough since it had been a while, it sure doesn't take your body long to "forget" LOL - but I felt GREAT after I had pushed through it. Friday I went again but it wasn't open. I stood around with a bunch of other people outside for 20 minutes, but nobody ever came to open it. GRRRRRR Thats the problem with a free gym at your workplace thats run by volunteers. Well you can bet I'll be back there on Monday. The trainer wants to meet with me to check my progress and take measurements. I posted a couple of updated photos so you can see how I look with almost 15 less pounds on me. I still have a long way to go, but its motivating to see such a change already. And I'm getting to the point now where co-workers are starting to notice and make comments - so thats VERY exciting!!! I have to admit its been depressing the last couple weeks not being able to exercise and being sick  - and therefore not losing any weight. I'm probably being too hard on myself but it just seemed that just as things were really taking off- I got grounded.  So Wednesday at the gym I was feeling so energized again - only to show up on Friday to a locked door. Grounded again. Its been a real challenge to stay excited but I am managing. Posting the pictures today helped a little. My new mini goal is to hit my Weight Watchers 10% Goal by the time I go to the beach on April 27th. Thats 10lbs in 4 weeks. Its probably a bit ambitious - but I'm GOING FOR IT.  Hopefully we'll get an update from Jenn this weekend - JEEENNNNNN?!?!? Where are you??? oh - I think I heard my phone beep a bit ago with a new text message - that is probably her..... March 25 Marching On! by MichelleWELL well well - what a crappy time I've been having over here. That cold knocked me on my butt. I missed a couple days of work and got SO behind in my classes. And worse, it has kept me away from the gym for over a week now. I'm now suffering through Day 10 and finally it seems to be leaving. Thankfully, the fat gods took mercy and I didn't gain any weight - didn't lose either but - I'll take it. It is my GOAL to get back to the gym tomorrow. The trainer gave me amnesty last week and we are rescheduled for tomorrow. So I have got to get there. Maybe thats what I need to kick this crud from my system! The past couple of days I've been so stressed with trying to get caught up with my homework assignments. I have one more project to tackle this evening and then I'll be in good shape. Not proud of some of the stuff I threw together and handed in - but I had A's in both of my classes as of midterm (right before I got sick) so I don't think one stinkbomb assignment in each class will hurt me too much. Love and {{HUGS}} to Jenn - she is going through a rough time. So send her some props to cheer her up! OK - I'm off to get my camera gear together so I can go over to the school and shoot my portrait assignment. Just have to wait for my model to get home (my hubby). He's not happy about it but he's getting his picture taken whether he likes it or not.  Cheers!!! March 19 St. Patty's Week Update - JennWell - my weigh in was a direct reflection of my eating this week. Up two pounds. Needless to say - I am a long way away from finding other alternatives for comfort than food. I really need to work on that. Baby steps I suppose. In any event - it just gets to be so frustrating some times. This week I am going to work on paying attention to what I eat - stay within my WW points and get exercise in. I have decided to start working out at lunch on the days I have an hour lunch - get those strength routines done. My focus seems to be all over the place these days in trying to find ways to reduce my expenses with the departure of the boyfriend. It has been really hard because I not only lost my BF - but lost my best friend too. I understand it all happens for a reason and it REALLY IS in my best interest - but I wish my heart could get on the same page as my brain!!! But - on the positive there was a few times this past weekend in which I went to the park to walk with the dog rather than turning to food. I just need to do that more often now.
I also need to make mention of Michelle's successes. She promises she will be updating photos soon!! With her success and my desire to just get the weight off - we are going to continue this challenge until the end! So if you are out there and still reading this - keep coming back as I am sure that there will be more drama, a few ups and a lot of pounds returned to the fat gods! March 17 Happy St. Patty's Day! from Michelle Well, I had a great start at the gym last week. Unfortunately I had a lonnnng 4 day weekend - and not only did I NOT exercise a single minute, Saturday evening I started feeling like I had a cold coming on. And sure enough, yesterday and today I've been totally miserable with an awful cold. I had to call in sick to work today. So needless to say, didn't make it to the gym. I'm feeling a bit better and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to drag myself into the office - especially since its Weight Watchers day! Of course on Wednesday when I go back to the gym, I'm sure the trainer is not going to be impressed with my lack of performance since she last saw me. The good news is, I haven't eaten bad stuff. Something about not being able to smell or taste, really curbs your appetite. I had to force myself to eat my dinner even though I really didn't want it. Well its time for another dose of Sudafed and then back to bed. Hope everyone is doing well!! and Happy St. Patricks Day!!! March 10 Update - JennWOWzers - it has been awhile since I have been here. Of course - I probably can stay the same for the eating & the workouts. Why is it that I can do good during the week and then the weekend comes and it goes out the window?!?! I will say this much though, I am at least learning to listen to my body and eating when I am hungry. Yesterday, the BF and I went out for Mexican for lunch. Needless to say - we left stuffed & very, very full. When 6 rolled around it was time to eat supper, I wasn't that hungry and SO - I ate a little piece of meet and a banana and called it a day. I didn't wake up hungry this morning so that was good too.
I also am going to try and get back into the morning workout routine. I got caught up on a lot of sleep over the weekend - so I am hoping that I won't be so tired anymore and won't feel as if I am Dragging myself there in the morning. I really had a second thought about it this morning but I got up and went and was glad I did. Now I just need to make it two days in a row.
Props also need to go to Michelle with her gym membership. Of course - I am secretly mad that she gets a membership with a program set up for $50 a semester. Needless to say - she has upped the anti. She has already been kicking my butt with the pounds lost and now is upping the anti with the gym membership. So - today I signed up for an online fitness program. Hopefully I can start kicking butt and get myself ready for that bridesmaid dress in August. March 08 Michelle's First Day at the Gym
My first work-out yesterday was definitely memorable and I am feeling SOOOOOO pumped up about EVERYTHING. First, my trainer- Brenda- is AWESOME. I would say she has Jillian's attitude but uses Bob's tone of voice. LOL She doesn't want to hear my excuses and she pushes me- but she didn't scream at me. LOL As part of our first meeting, she did ask me some questions about my health and checked my joints and so forth. Bad news first - in addition to my crooked kneecaps (which I already knew about) I also have flat feet, overpronation (my ankles turn in), and hyperextended knees and elbows. My pulse has also got her VERY concerned - after 20 minutes on the treadmill, my pulse was 186 and she said that was scary - and directly attributed it to the fact I am still smoking. Good news - all of this is fix-able (except the hyperextended elbows). ;) So we talked at length about measures we need to take - IN ADDITION to getting my butt to the gym at least 3x/week. Down the road, I will need to look into orthotic inserts for my shoes to correct my ankles/flat feet. And she is 100% willing to help me kick the nicotine habit - in fact I got the impression that is what she is most alarmed about and wants to tackle first. As far as the actual workout last night, she was running a bit late and I had to leave by a certain time for another commitment, so we only got my upper body work-out planned and I went through it once. Chest presses, a couple of upper back and shoulder exercises, bicep curls, and tricep work. The plan is for me to go back on Monday - do 15-20 minutes on the treadmill at 3.0 mph (to keep my heart rate down for now until I get some nicotine out of my system- and to also prevent me from breaking out into hives- which I have done in the past a few times when I pushed myself entirely too hard), then do the upper body circuit. She is going to meet me at 5pm and do measurements on me, a BP check, and get my lower body workout planned. The only thing a little sore today is my shoulders and upper back between my shoulder blades- I am surprised. I thought I would be in a WORLD of pain today. I really am ready to kick the cigarettes to the curb. I mean I cough ALL the time, I wake up in the morning choking on all the crud in my throat and chest - I'm just SICK of it at this point. Not to mention now its affecting my ability to work out. But its SO SCARY. And I'm not sure yet how I want to proceed- if I just want to say "THATS IT" and start chewing Nicorette or if I should buy the cigarettes and cut them in half or just give myself an "allowance" and start slowly cutting back. Theres so many different ways I can go about it. And MY GOSH what if I gain back all the weight I've lost?!?? That would absolutely devastate me. Well, I'm going to do some research and let you know what I decide to do. OK where is Jenn? We need to hear from her too! JENNNNNNNNN!!!! March 04 Michelle's Newsflash Alright - so seeing how today is my Inspiration Day - I took it a step further. Its been years since I set foot in a gym- I was the typical person who joined with such good intentions; only to disappear a month later and flush the next 11 months membership dues down the toilet. Usually it was because I just felt so uncomfortable - thinking all the skinny witches were smirking at the fat girl. But ANYWAY - moving on to what happened today.... on my long walk back across campus from Weight Watchers today, I actually took the dreaded right turn I've never taken- into the front of the Physical Education building. I found myself following the signs toward the fitness center and peeking in the window. To make a long story short- before I knew it, I was signed up for an orientation on Friday to set up a work-out program with a trainer. I can't even wrap my mind around it - I joined a health club!!! AAAAAHHHHHH  Any excuse I could possibly have not to go is out the window. Theres no driving involved- its about a 3 minute walk from my job. And they open right after I get off work. sooo I am committed. Of course if my partner had HER way, I'd be there every waking hour that I'm not actually sitting at my desk. LOL Thats why I luv her!!!  OK - time to pack my lunch for tomorrow and get to bed. Good night and have a great week! LOOOOOOVED Biggest Loser tonight!!! Update from Michelle Too!OK like Jenn pointed out, somehow I also lost focus and have neglected this site a little bit. But its Tuesday - which means its Biggest Loser night and Weight Watchers day. So what better day than today to update!!!
My weigh in this morning showed me up just slightly - 0.6lbs. I suspected this might happen eventually- my pathetic irregular "home" exercise routine isn't going to cut it anymore. Its time to step it up! In fact I already started to address that problem yesterday - checking the days/hours of operation at the health club here on the college campus where I work. I think today on the walk back from WW, I will stop by and check it out in person. I don't even have a clue what it looks like- don't know if its 1 treadmill, or a few machines, or a huge room full of stuff or several rooms of stuff. LOL For $50 per semester, it better be SOMETHING. LOL
Well anyway, I am at work and therefore need to work. I will blog some more this evening and let you know how the college health club is and whether or not I will be going there. ;)
February 29 Update - JennIt seems that I have fallen off my devotion to this. Out of sight, out of mind. I don't know. I know I have been bad about reading other blogs of BL losers and I think without that focus, I am also struggling at home. This week I have been really struggling with female problems. After talking to my doctor, they are putting me back on the pill in hopes of clearing up some of this issues. It shouldn't be a big deal but it is stressing me out. I haven't been on it in so long and I am just afraid of gaining weight with it. I am just starting to come off of one pill that can cause one weigh gain and adding another than can add weight gain. I guess this means no more excuses - I have to get to the gym.
Yesterday I got an email that the self challenge was starting up again. So, I signed up. I need to be accountable to myself before anyone else! The BF is doing a better job and respecting me and my desire to lose this weight. The other night - I went for the healthy chicken taco salad (at home) where he opted to make himself a plate of chicken nachos (nothing healthy about it). They smelled so good and he stuck to his guns and wouldn't allow me one chip!!! So - now that I have that support going - I am more hopefully the rest will fall into place!
I also need to give a hats off to my partner - down 11 pounds now! We are officially at the same weight. SIGH (on my part)! She is doing so well and I am dragging us down. Of course, we did discuss the odd thing of it all in that even though we are the same weight and I am slightly taller - our bodies are still so different. I carry my weight so differently - even though we are the same weight, we have learned we are so different in pants sizes. I have found that I can wear mostly 10s now and even squeeze into a few size 8's!
So - my challenge for the weekend is to be accountable to me and get back on the exercise trail. Hopefully with my partner keeping me accountable - I will be logging at least an hour of activity over the next 3 days! February 25 The Meltdown - JennFor some reason, I am finding this so hard to do!
 I am so off track that it isn't funny anymore! I didn't work out but once last week - feeling like a complete slug! I am still diagnosing myself as suffering from an allergy infection that the over the counter meds are not touching and my doctor is maintaining my allergies are acting up and I just need 3 more decongestants to take. Uggh. Needless to say - I have been eating comfort foods (ice cream - most notably) to help with the sore throat and of course just to make me feel better. Yesterday was the first day that I felt better and I went crazy on the food. I seriously went to bed feeling bloated and like my fingers were mini-sausages! Why, why, why can't I grasp this! Today I vowed to get back on track! I have armed myself with the pedometer and got up and ran/walked two miles before I came to work. The elevators were out this morning which meant a 6 flight hike up the stairs! The food has been much better. I just need to do this one choice at a time, one step at a time and I can find the end of the rainbow!  February 24 Another Week has Flown By - MichelleWhat a crazy week!!! Monday I stayed home from work because I somehow managed to scratch my eye and it was all red and nasty looking. Tues, Weds, Thurs were insane- I had WW (4lbs lost!) and 2 trainings out of the office. Then Friday we got a messy snow/ice storm so we were closed and I got another day off. So not much else to report - I'm just browsing the WW site for some recipes for the week and then we'll be off to the grocery store. Have a great LOSING week - I'll try to check in again later! |
I can't believe that I allowed myself to get to this point. Of course, thankfully I have my brother and a few guy friends that can provide entertainment and turned that into me having crabs, being full of drama, etc.
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