I will ...

Run 10 miles this weekend between Saturday and Sunday.

I have been toying with the idea of running a half marathon. I'm not quite motivated enough yet to do it though, I'm afraid.

My general 3-4 times a week routine is a 3.5 mile run at the gym followed by weights and abs.

I'm challenging myself to make run of the runs this weekend a 7 mile. If I can do it, I really think I may be more motivated to actually buckle down and commit to a half marathon.

I hope everyone enjoys your weekend. Here are a few pics from good ole NYC.




At Yankee Stadium. Jay-Z is sitting behind home plate. No joke. Can't you see him ...

Central Park ... so gorgeous!!!

P.S. I just joined a network called Blogs to Lose. Check it out on the side of the page. --->

Ready … set … focus!!

Alright, I’m back! It’s been a busy week. I had an amazing trip to NYC visiting a few friends. I was back to work on Monday, but so unbelievably busy. It was crazy.

But now, I finally feel like I am back into my routine and can begin focusing again on my weight loss goals.

With that said, I’ve decided it is time to set myself an ultimate goal. If I give myself something to work towards, I will work towards it. I checked out a BMI calculator to find a healthy weight for my height. A healthy BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9. I decided I want to shoot somewhere between 19 and 20.

After a few quick calculations, I have chosen a final goal of *drum roll please* ….

115 pounds.

Now, the question is, how much more do I have to lose in order to get there. I weighed myself yesterday, and before I did it, I was really nervous. I thought the trip to New York would definitely have put a few pounds on me. I had my fair share of drinks and food when we were there. I definitely wasn’t eating as healthy as I usually do. I mean. it was a vacation after all.

Needless to say, I was prepared for the worst yesterday. But, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. I guess all the walking and sweating (It was unbearably hot the whole time) really helped keep the weight gain down.

I weighed in at 129.2. So, I only gained about a pound on the trip. Feeling pretty good about that.

This leaves 14.8 left to lose. And, I’m ready to get it off! So, here we go. The journey begins.

On another note, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s very important to set mini goals for yourself. It makes everything so much more attainable. I’m setting my first mini goal at 125 and hope to be there within the next three weeks.

I've also added a tracker in the left column of the screen. I'll continue to weigh myself weekly, but now we'll all be able to easily see the progression (or regression on a bad week).

Here goes nothing …

One year ago

This is what I looked like in this dress:
Definitely fabulous. Just slightly rounder :) Also, I'm not sure if it was a suubconscious thing or just a I'm-carrying-a-bouquet-and-don't-know-what-else-to-do-with-it thing, but I couldn't find a picture where you could see my midsection.

Today, this is what I look like in this dress:

The dress is now definitely too big. I love it. My favorite comparison is in the arms. That's probably my current favorite part of my body.




Sorry for the lame DIY shots, it was all I had. But, you get the picture.

Happy Anniversary, Cari and Ryan!!

Disclaimer: Yes, I know it's not til the 24th, but this girl is leaving for the Big Apple tomorrow and will be having too much fun til Monday!

See ya then.

It only took me 9 years

Yesterday at the gym, I did something I have never done before: I ran a 4K in under 20 minutes!!

I did it 19:14 to be exact.

See, I ran cross-country all through high school, and could never break that 20 minute mark. I came short by a few seconds a couple of times, but still couldn't hit it. Now, I now that is not particularly fast. But, I have never been a fast runner. I am more than happy with my ten-minute mile pace.

Now, I think there are a few reasons for this:

1. I was at least 10 pounds heavier all through high school. I'm sure the extra weight had to slow me down a bit.
2. Although I enjoyed cross-country, I mainly enjoyed the camaraderie and the organized activity part and was never much concerned in excelling in it. I just had fun doing it. So, you see, I was always too busy talking to run fast. (I know what you're thinking: You? A talker? No way! But, alas, it's true.)
   

So, yesterday at the gym, I decided to plan my run at a pace to finish the 4K in under 20. I figured if I really couldn't do it, I would just stop. But, that never happened because I did finish it!

And, I must say, not only do I feel pretty good today (I thought I would be kind of sore), but at the end of the run, I wasn't completely beat. So, next time, I'll up the pace a little more and see what happens.

For all the naysayers that are calling out the fact that everyone always runs faster on treadmills because there's never any incline, I would just like to point out that I beat it by 46 seconds and I think that's enough wiggle room to add the time I would have lost running outside. So there!

I took a vacation day from work tomorrow. So today is my Friday! Woo hoo!!! Matt and I will be joining his family for a weekend getaway to Chetek, WI for some action-packed days of swimming, water skiing, and relaxation. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm also pretty excited to unveil my newly transformed bikini body. The last time everyone saw me in a suit, I was 40 pounds heavier. I'll be sure to take some pics.

Also, we're saying good bye to Jax for the weekend and leaving him with my parents and brother. It's the longest I will be away from him since he came into my life. *Tear.* What ever shall I do? *Sniffle.* It will be a sad goodbye.

So, until Monday ...

P.S. Please send all the self-discipline energy you have my way. I'm going to need it to avoid all the horribly delicious food I will be around all weekend.

I just don’t understand

Why are some people reluctant to mention to someone when they notice a weight loss? Are they worried they might offend them? Is it insinuating that they used to think they were fat?

I don’t think so at all. Personally, it makes my day, no week, when someone asks me if I’ve lost weight and how I did it.

It honestly feels good that others notice the hard work. It’s amazing validation. And, let’s be real, I love the attention.

But, on the other hand, are there others out there that genuinely don’t like the attention? Does it really make some uncomfortable when their weight loss is pointed out?

For whatever reason, I don’t believe that. I think if someone is working hard to lose 10 or more pounds, they want people to notice.

So, I believe, if you think someone looks slimmer, tell them!

Now, you sure as heck don’t have to say something like: “Wow, your stomach sure jiggles a lot less these days” or “Your ass actually fits in those jeans now.”

Just a simple: “You look amazing! Have you done anything different lately?”

I feel like that approach will elicit a long conversation from those like me (AKA attention whores) or just a simple thanks from those who may be a bit shyer about the situation.

Either way, I promise it will boost their confidence and, even if it doesn’t happen immediately, it will make them smile.

Hearing those comments from people pushes me to continue on my diet and exercise plan because it shows that what I’m doing is working. Sure, seeing the numbers on the scale go down feels really good, but when other people notice, it really feels amazing and makes all the hard work worth it.

Now, go, get out there, and boost someone’s confidence.

Things that weigh 40 pounds:

• a 15-foot canoe
• a 3-year-old child
• an average human leg
• a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• five gallons of water

So, did a weigh-in yesterday, and was so ridiculously happy with the results!

I came in at 128.4!!!!

That means I have officially hit the 40-pound mark! 40 pounds! I cannot even believe it.

I lost a 15-foot canoe!

So, this previous weekend of healthy eating, going to the gym, and no drinking really paid off. I rewarded myself with a glass of wine last night.

The craziest thing to me is that when I started this weight-loss journey, I had no idea I even had 40 pounds to lose. I mean, I thought 20 or so and I would be good.

It just shows how your weight can get out of control without even realizing it. It shows that you should always be conscience about your weight and how you treat your body. However, it does not mean that your weight/what you eat should control your life. There needs to be a level of awareness between that extreme and the other: eating whatever you want with zero working out.

After all, your body is a temple, and you only get one that you’re stuck with for life.

This number also puts into perspective how much left I have to lose, which isn’t much. I definitely don’t want to go under that 120 mark.

On another note, after weighing myself, I excitedly asked Matt how much he thought I weighed.

Guess what his response was?

You won’t believe it.

I’ll give you a hint: it made me not want to tell him what the actual number was.

He guessed 105!!!

105!!!! MATT!! You’re crazy!

He responded by saying he’s really bad with numbers. So, I guess I forgive him.

And, let’s face it: I absolutely do not want to weigh 105 pounds. If there’s ever a point where I weigh 105 pounds, I’m going straight to Culvers.

At that point, I need custard and fried cheese curds. Lots of ‘em.

My blood type is custard

As you already know, one of my favorite things about summer has been the summery foods. Things like brats, burgers, beer, taco dip, custard. All the deliciously simple things that make me think of summer.

But, this summer has been different. I've been on this (seemingly never ending) journey of weight loss, and I have had to condition myself to enjoy different, and healthier kinds of summer foods. 

And, I must say, as long as no one says the word 'brat,' it's been working.

I often find myself craving corn on the cob (no butter, simply pepper and a little paprika, pretty delicious), all kinds of fruit, and pasta salad (I make this version that Matt even loves using whole wheat pasta, canola oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and lots of vegetables).

But, there is one delicious treat that I will never be able to forget about, and that is custard. Being a Milwaukee-native, custard has it's own section on our food pyramid, as do burgers, beer, and cheese.

So, even though I've been able to swap out most of the non-healthy summer foods with healthier versions, there is and never will be a substitute for custard.

Can I get an 'Amen'?

Oh, the heat!

It has been so ridiculously hot these past few days. Almost unbearably hot. The humidity is pretty awful, too.

I mean, you literally walk outside, and you’re sweating. It stinks.

Literally.

Not much going on in the weight-loss front this week. What can I say? It was a holiday weekend and there was lots of good stuff around all the time. It’s not that I really indulged in food this past weekend, just that I may have had that extra beer or two.

I’ll do a weigh-in next week and properly assess the damage (or rejoice in the achievement) then.

This weekend, I’m taking it easy. I have been just completely worn out this past week at work and it’s because I had such an action-packed holiday weekend. I feel like I should use this weekend just to relax and do nothing. I’ve also decided to stay away from the booze this weekend. It’s just empty calories I don’t need.

As of today, my only plans for the weekend are to actually get to the gym on both Saturday and Sunday, eat healthy, take Jax for lots of walks, and sleep.

I think I can handle that.

On a somewhat related note, Wisconsin bars are all officially smoke-free! My lungs are jumping with joy.

Lord knows I spend enough time in bars. I’m not a smoker, but I’m sure it affects me when I’m spending lots of time in smoke-filled rooms. So, I’m excited to breath in the fresh hair and not have my clothes/hair smell like smoke after every night out.

Steps in the wrong direction

Unfortunately, did a weigh in yesterday and was up to 131.4. Don't worry, it was expected. I had too much fun this past weekend.

But, as I've said before. I believe everyone who is trying to lose weight honestly needs a few days every few months to be like, 'Ya know what, fuh-get about it this weekend.' I've worked hard and deserved a little treat.

However, I may have been quite gluttonous over the weekend. Not gonna lie.

Here's a rough list of what I shouldn't have, but did eat this past weekend: ice cream, burgers, whiskey, steak, beer, Saz's combo platter from Summerfest (If you're not from Milwaukee and don't know what this heavenly plate of fried goodness includes, it has the best mozzerella sticks in the world, fried cheese curds, and their famous sour cream and chive fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.)

So, needless to say, I made some questionable decisions about what I ate this past weekend. And, I probably shouldn't have indulged so much.

But ya know what, I did. Now, I have to regain focus and get back on track. So, here goes.

On the brighter side. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Spent lots of time at Sumemrfest. It was a blast. If you're not familiar with Summerfest, it's the largest music festival in the world. We saw a band called Thievery Corporation. They are this hippy jam band and were just a blast to listen to.

I love hippies.


Here's a picture of the crowd. Summerfest is filled with quite a few of these outdoor stages that all feature different kinds of bands. And the best part, except for one main stage, you pay the price of one ticket and can walk around and see them all. It's so much fun and there are always all kinds of different people, making people watching one of the best things to do there. At this concert, there were people in the crowd dancing with hula hoops and this crazy sticks. It was super impressive.


Here are the lovely ladies I went down there with, from left to right: Lauren, Kendra, Brianna, and myself. On a positive not, dancing all night on picnic tables does a number on your thighs. I was super sore the next morning.

Note to self: Dance more on picnic tables.


My brother joined us, too.

We had a horrible time. No fun at all.

Also, this past weekend was my company picnic at the zoo. One of my favorite things at our zoo is feeding the goats. Matt was helping this little girl out and sharing some of the food we got for her. It was pretty much adorable.

So adorable.

Good weekend for fun. Bad weekend for weight loss.

Oh, well. There's always next weekend.