Just Heather
4
Mamavation Monday: Kick in the Pants Edition
Aug 29, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

The girls went back to school last week, and I started out doing pretty well. I got the girls ready, took them to school, came home and promptly worked out & went for a run. The run? Did not go well. I was thinking there might be something wrong with my inhaler, and I was right. It’s broken, and I have no refills. Now I have to wait until I can get into my doctor, but that’s not even the reason for this week’s weight gain.

A few days after my first run, I went for a long walk instead—my lungs can handle walking. Then, our week was turned upside down when the hubby’s grandpa had open heart surgery. He seems to be doing well, but it was a long day at the hospital, munching on candy. In retrospect, I should have packed healthier snacks, but we went with comfort.

The next day, after thing were looking better, I went for a walk with Lorelai and picked up the weights for the first time in weeks. I’m guessing that was more responsible for my weight gain than a single week. I still have high hopes of getting into a better routine now that the girls are back in school. It just didn’t happen in the first week.

Okay, so it’s a little worse than that. I actually managed to get myself back into overweight range. In addition to my workout routine not getting reestablished, the meal planning really wasn’t there. We were a chaotic mess of school and hospital visits, and I was so busy focusing on shopping for their healthy lunchboxes that I didn’t do a very good job taking care of me.

That changes. Now. I had a great breakfast, and jumped into a short a workout before lunch. I still can’t run, but I’ll just walk farther, until I can get the inhaler issue fixed. I need a steadier workout routine—when I was into the 30 Day Shred, I was on. it. The steady program and the numbered days helped me stay consistent.

I was considering P90X, but I think I need something smaller first to get me back in the game. Gruntstyle‘s Mamavation workouts are looking pretty solid—I need a good challenge to get me back in the game, though. It feeds into my competitive nature and provides the accountability I need. Luckily, Drill Sergeant Alarik is more than willing to kick my butt.

He assigned Megan and me 250 situps & pushups for today, when he saw us discussing the idea. Then, he gave me 50 more for an off comment. Don’t mess with @Gruntstyle, folks! I’m hoping this is just the kick in the pants I needed to get me back on track.

How do you get a restart with your fitness goals?

{scale pic coming soon. Stupid, broken card reader.}
Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 174.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 3.5 pound gain (ugh!)
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 20.5 pounds
BMI: 24.97

Read the comments.
6
Mamavation Monday: Back to School Edition
Aug 22, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

Today, I dropped the girls off for their first day of school. While I’m sad to see our summer go, I am excited for all the free time. My youngest is in kindergarten this year and will now be in school 3 full days each week. That prospect makes a lot of moms sad, but this mom? Dove straight into a new exercise DVD, then went for a run.

I am thrilled to get back into an exercise routine. I have slacked off a lot over the last couple weeks! I’m venturing out on my own, for the first time since starting this journey. No official campaign prodding me along, no exercise assignments, no dated fitness program—just me and the scale! And, the Mamavation Sistahood. Thanks for your support in the last 6 months. It means more than you’ll ever know.

I’m in a tough place with my weight loss journey now, though. Officially, I am not overweight. I still want to get further into the normal BMI, but there’s less support out there when you aren’t overweight. For starters, I can’t apply to be the next Mamavation Mom (which is an awesome campaign this time because Bookie Boo’s looking for couples!).

I’m learning I really need the accountability of a specific program. Move It, Lose It, Knockout the Fat, 30 Day Shred—they were all clearly defined and finite, which made it manageable. Left to my own devices? I slack. I want to pick up another numbered fitness program, but I also know I need to learn to do this for myself. So, I’m kind of creating my own fitness program.

I’ll be working out with a DVD Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings—I have Bob Harper’s Yoga for Warriors to start—and continue the Couch to 5K throughout the week. On Thursday & Friday, I plan to work Lorelai into my routine so I need something active we can do together. Just Dance is always a good one! We’ll also take walks to playgrounds where she can run & slide, and I can do additional exercises.

I am pleased to say my menu plan has stayed pretty steady, though I did break one major streak. Remember my soda addiction? Between Mamavation applications, the MiLi challenge and the Knockout the Fat program, I was soda free for 23 weeks! Last week, when my contractual obligation was officially over, I ordered a Mountain Dew with my State Fair meal. It was not tasty!

So, of course, I decided Mountain Dew was a poor first choice. I waited the week, then bought Sunkist. As a former 6-pack a day Sunkist addict, I just knew that would be the stuff. And, I was armed with a plan to keep the addiction from creeping up again. First, no soda at home—that was my baby step that lost 6 pounds at the beginning of the year.

The big one, though, was my plan to go soda free every time the Mamavation applicants were required to—solidarity for the sistahood! Turns out? I don’t need a plan because not even Sunkist tastes the way I remembered it. I know now I don’t need that crap. I can’t claim I won’t order a Coke with my pizza or buy into a craving now & then, but I can officially say I’m not really a soda drinker.

I’m excited because I know that will make it easier to keep the weight off. I’m down another pound in the last 2 weeks, even with very little physical activity. Now that the girls are back to school, I’ll have more time for fitness again. And, I hope to have the last 15 pounds knocked out by the end of the year!

{scale pic coming when the hubby gets home—my card reader is still broken}
Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 171 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: .5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 24 pounds
BMI: 24.49

Read the comments.
14
Mamavation Monday: Knockout the Fat Final Weigh-In Edition
Aug 08, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

The George Foreman Knockout the Fat Weight Loss Challenge has officially closed, and I’m unbelievably thrilled to end at a normal BMI! I’m also a little surprised, after 5 days in San Diego. I knew I’d gain weight, so keeping it to a single pound makes me happy. That had to be all about the exercise—I actually got up in the mornings and worked out before the conference!

On Thursday, I hit the hotel gym with my (amazingly awesome) roomie, Kristen. On Friday, I woke up at the butt crack of dawn and ran the BlogHer 5K. Running by the bay? Pretty freaking cool. By Saturday, I was exhausted and nursing my sore feet so I opted for sleep over sweat. I did, however, dance hard all night long so I’m totally sure that counts!

As for my meals, I did pretty well with making healthy choices. I had plenty of tasty salads all week—my favorite was the Mongolian Chicken Salad from the Hawaiian Fusion restaurant at the conference hotel. It reminded me a bit of the barbecue chicken salads we make here at home:

The salads helped keep me in check, while I was away from my George Foreman grill—veggies, grilled meats, no carbs! I packed in healthy breakfasts & snacks. I had gluten free cereal bars and apples, mostly. But, it was the sugary samples and, ahem, tasty evening beverages that did me in. I’m okay with it, though, because a weekend like this doesn’t come around all the time!

I mean, how many chances do I get to wear a size 10 little black dress and hear everyone tell me how amazing I look? That was totally my favorite part of BlogHer all weekend (well, aside from hanging out with Leah, Shelley, Angela and Lori)—listening to people I haven’t seen in a year talking about how awesome I look. The ego boost? Pretty freaking cool.

Which is why I decided to do my final George Foreman Knockout the Fat Weight Loss Challenge in my little black dress:

And, yes, it’s time for another round of swimsuit pictures! I also have updated measurements & weight loss totals. This is feeling kinda final, but it’s just because I’ve finally hit a normal BMI and have reached the end of organized weight loss programs.

And, in case you’ve forgotten what I looked like 90 days ago:

And, 2 months before that:

I will be keeping it up, but I’m redefining my goals a bit. In March, I thought I’d like to lose 40 pounds. Now? I just don’t care what the scale says. I’ve seen too much up & down as I build muscle, in addition to losing fat. So, my goal is just to continue doing what I’m doing, tone the flab a little more and feel good about how I look!

Updated Measurements

Bust: 33″ (-3.5″)
Waist: 29″ (-8″)
Hips: 38″ (-4″)
Thigh: 20.5″ (-3″ each)
Arm: 11.25″ (-1.25″ each)

Total Inches Lost: 21″

Knockout the Fat Final Weigh-InStarting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 173 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1 pound gain

Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 22 pounds
Total Knockout the Fat Weight Loss: 14.5 pounds

BMI: 24.78

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.
7
Mamavation Monday: It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity
Aug 01, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

Today starts the final week of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited to share the results of my weigh-in. I am now officially at a normal BMI—by 2.5 pounds! By sticking with my exercise programs, paying attention to my meal plan and curbing the extra snacking, I was able to lose 4 pounds this week.

The trick will be keeping it off, when I head to BlogHer later this week! I know my food will be fine. It’s the sugary drinks I’m a little concerned about. Of course, my philosophy has always been to ease up for special occasions, so I will be totally okay with a little weight gain next week.

I just hope I can keep it to under 2.5 pounds. I don’t ever want to be overweight again!

BlogHer is going to be amazing! Not only do I get to see good friends, party like a rock star with the Clever Girls and enjoy tasty cocktails (hello, 10 drink tickets!) but we’ll be in gorgeous San Diego. I haven’t been to California since I was 4 years old, so this is essentially my first time on the west coast.

Checking the weather reports tells me it will be absolutely perfect. I am so ready to escape this heat. It’s absolutely insane in Indiana right now. Over 100° heat factor every day (oh, the humidity!) and going on something like 20 90+ days in a row. Sunny and 70s looks like absolute bliss!

I have even signed up for the BlogHer 5K and Sweat Pink boot camp—anything for the chance to spend some time outdoors in the beautiful San Diego sun. It’s too hot here to even think about a 5K. Heck, I don’t even want to think about cooking. At least we’re beating the heat with my George Foreman grill.

When I return home to the melt-your-face heat, it will be time for my final George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge weigh-in and updated measurements & pictures. It will also be time to reestablish goals. I’m more concerned with how I look & feel than the numbers on the scale, so my focus will be more on specific things I can check off than how much I weigh.

Like, this week, I will finish the 30 Day Shred. I’m going to need a new program to replace it, since I’m finding that sort of accountability is working well for me. I was considering P90X, but I don’t know if I have the time to dedicate to it just yet. I also want to finish the Couch to 5K program, ending with running a full 5K in October.

I’m also considering adding a larger fitness goal to my 40×40 list. I need something to replace #38. You know, since there won’t actually be any more shuttle launches for me to attend. Emily suggests a half marathon—yikes! What do you think?

{scale pic coming when the hubby gets home—stupid, broken card reader}
Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 172 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 4 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 23 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 15.5 pounds
BMI: 24.65 (that’s normal!)

Sistahood Question: What are the next big goals you want to tackle?
This post is sponsored by Flatout Bread, and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.