180 ...

woo hoo

lifted 180 pounds on the leg press today ... using JUST leg muscles - that was pretty cool.

Felt great. When I reflected I realized that was almost my own weight - craziness.

Also did 35 pound arm rows. ... all in all ...I felt like it was a highly successful day of working -outs :) yay!

That is all .. :) ... need to let out my celebrations!

3 days until weigh in .... I'm dying to see if I'm under the big 200!

I told my trainer today that I'm starting to notice other people using improper form ... it has taken me 20 months (that's how long I've been with Shawna) ... but I feel like I finally get how our body and muscles work and how to work-out safely.

Another thing I noticed was that I can do push-ups .. like real ones .. on my toes (not knees) and not on an incline bar or anything ... with my hands right on the ground... who knew? I discovered this the other day and was quite excited by it. I think I even mustered out 10! (doesn't mean I liked it though and it definitely wasn't easy .. but hey the proper form was there!).


New Goal by my birthday ... Jan 25th ..... 3 minute plank! I want to be able to do this before I turn 28! :) Will keep you posted!

so close ... yet so far ...

I like to try and keep these posts positive but wow it can be tricky sometimes when you think things are going so well and then you step on the scale and don't see the results you want.

I'm so damn close to being under 200 and it's driving me crazy. Since my last post I gained 2 pounds (from a bachelorette drinking evening -threw off the week) .. and then this week I lost 3 pounds .. which is really only like losing 1 pound from my overall goal .. alas I'm at 201 ... bah! The few months I've been working out like a dog, eating healthy and it's like a road block .. just comes off soooo slowly (we all get to that point I get it ... because your body gets adjusted to exercise and new eating routines etc. but the pace is frustrating!)

I think I have realized how difficult it really is to lose weight .. it's definitely a never ending battle. That being said I have a lot to celebrate ...

1) As much as I hate that it's going slowly I'm physically active and eating healthy.
2) Since the beginning of September I've been working out on average 5 days a week CONSISTENTLY which is very exciting. Being able to work out with my trainer 2x a week has been fabulous. There's nothing like working out when there's somebody there to push you to be all you can be.
3) At 201 I'm still going down and I'm at the lowest I have been in over 2 years. total loss - 57 pounds!
4) I feel like I have so much more strength and muscle which feels fantastic!

I still would LOVE to be under 200 by Jeff and Laura's wedding (in 2 weeks). It's doable but it is going to take some dedication.

This week has shown me how difficult it is to really get the weight off - losing every pound is like trying to finish the last page of a university essay - grueling, exhausting and never ending.

That being said they always say nothing in life worth doing is easy. I sure hope that's true - some days I wonder.

I leave you with this picture .. it's my motivational photo of the day and fits in nicely with what I feel that I need.


Happy Monday everybody!

fitness and teaching

Well first I should share the good news that I'm down 6 pounds and feeling great. Getting back to the routine of being at work I think really helped me out (both watching what I ate and exercising).

Now for what I really wanted to say ... I think I've determined in my life that the people I work out around or near MUST be motivating and encouraging. If I didn't need people to motivate me to get healthy I wouldn't be where I am today ...

I've also determined that some of the best fitness instructors in my classes also have a teaching background - seems that it just comes naturally.

I'm going to reflect on my spinning instructor today. He was incredible! He's a principal so obviously a former teacher and damn did he know how to work us hard. The other thing he did which I think is so important is he made a connection with everybody at his class. He did this by encouraging them during the class and making eye contact. Literally when I found myself slowing down I would look up and he would be looking at me and saying "Push.. push" .."keep going". He just kept encouraging all of us and it was amazing!

The other thing he does at the end of the class is he congratulates every single person by walking to their bike and "fist bumping" with every participant. Anybody who is new he asks them their name and announces to the class let's clap for __________ it was the first time he/she did this class today. In turn everybody cheers - what an incredible and supportive exercise community and what a damn good leader running the class.

I think these Wednesday spinning classes might have to become part of my routine - words can't say how much I loved it!

Although this picture doesn't necessarily have to do with spinning it really resonates with me because it talks about never quitting .. it shows that the person you need to compete against is just yourself and I definitely know the biggest challenge I ahd today in spinning was that voice in my head that wanted me to stop and wanted me to quit .. luckily I had a great instructor encouraging me otherwise!!

Until next time .. spin and bike and exercise your heart out. It feels incredible!

PS - did I mention I'm finally below where I was in May ... so officially the lightest I've weighed on my weight loss journey ... I'm at 202 ... so close to 200 I can taste it ...