February Goals

Before I get into February's goals, I want to quickly review January and give you guys some updates. I'm sure the first thing you noticed about visiting SITC today was the font. I posted a survey last week and one of the questions was "How did you like the cursive font?" - a 100% of you said you liked it but it was hard to read so I changed it and Im hoping everyone can enjoy the posts more! You also said you wanted me to share more goals, do a Week In Review, and to see vlogs. And recipes, more recipes - which is perfect because Im cooking all over the place these days! A big thank you to everyone who took the survey, if it wasn't for you reading then I wouldn't be writing.

 

 

 

I won Roni's DietBet and pretty much doubled my money! I lost a total of 12.4 lbs! I ended up really liking DietBet and will definitely participate in the future! Congrats to everyone who participated!

 

Let's review January's goals:

 

 

- started great, then bombed

- started great, ended kind of weak

- still in the program as its 8 weeks (oops!)

- did pretty well with this one!

- started great, then bombed

 

See a pattern? I do. I really have to get out of this "all or nothing" mentality. I start out great and then after a day or two of missing the goal I think its all messed up and instead of picking myself up and getting back on track I just let it go. This is no bueno but they say practice makes perfect so here goes February:

 

 

 

 

Exercise 3x week - Im doing well with my C25K program but it will soon be over and its time to really buckle down and incorporate strength training and toning. Its time to create a routine.

 

Take vitamins - Im going to get this one down damnit!

 

More water - goal is to consume 24oz daily and increase month after month.

 

Track food - I'm in a "I don't wanna" phase with this one right now. I may not wanna but Im gonna!

 

Socialize on Twitter - Over the 6 months or so I've really fallen off the Twitter wagon, I love giving and receiving encouragement and keeping contact with so many great people!

 

 

What are your goals for this month?

 

 

Happy Super Bowl! Go 49ers!!!

 

Friend Makin' Mondays: Getting To Know Each Other

This weekend has flown by! I spent so much time doing miscellaneous projects around here that I didn't get to everything on my list. Oh well, it gives me a chance to try to get my daily schedule a little more refined and productive. I'm also starting Week 5 on my Couch25K program tomorrow and was hoping for a bit warmer weather so I could try my first outside run - with the ice storm we got tonight I'm thinking that's not going to be very plausible.

Theres only 2 days left on my DietBet and am happy to report I only have 0.6 pounds to lose to win! Wish me luck - its doable for sure! I'll also be working on a few design changes to Sleeved In The City this week so be out on the lookout for that - nothing major just tweaking the font some so its easier for everyone to read!

Its that time again ladies and gents...if you've take part in FMM before then you know the routine. If youre new, simply take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at All The Weigh - encourage your readers to do the same and we can all connect! Here's this week's topic:

Getting To Know Each Other

1. What is your favorite color? Depends on what it is. In general; I love grey, yellow, purple and teal.

2. Share one or more of your talents.  Painting my nails, cooking, baking, organizing, and coupon clipping to name a few.

3. If you were spending the day getting to know someone new, where would you want to go?  Somewhere in the city; I'm a sucker for Navy Pier and Michigan Ave. Any of the museums.

4. What is your favorite meal?  Hmmm this ones a bit tricky since I can eat so little, think I'll have to go Chinese on this one.

5.  Do you prefer to text or talk?  For small chit-chat I'm good with texting, anything more and I'll want to talk - preferably in person as I don't like to talk on the phone.

6. Share something about yourself that might surprise someone that you’re getting to know. I'm very handy! I can change my own tire, oil and I even changed the brakes on my old Cutlass once. I also watch TV a total of 4 hours a month.

7. Do you color your hair? I colored it tonight actually, I mix my own product tho - hate boxed color and its so bad for your hair.

8. Do you wear glasses or contacts?  All about the goggles. Contacts are too expensive with my RX.

9. What is your favorite breakfast food?  French toast and bacon. Too bad I cant eat it. My go-to breakfast is an over-medium egg and chicken sausage link.

10. Would your friends say that you’re sarcastic?  I'm fluent in sarcasm as its my 2nd language.

11. Do you prefer salty or sweet?  Both. Sweet and salty. All of a sudden I want Chex Mix.

12. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?  Teeth and smile. Cant get down with a jacked up grill.

13. What is the last movie you watched?  The Possession. I liked it, I'm really into the whole horror, paranormal, exorcism thing lately.

14.  Are you religious?  I believe in God but I wouldn't call myself religious. Spiritual, maybe?

15. Are you a neat freak, a slob, or somewhere in between?
<---- OCD

16. Share something from your bucket list that you hope to do someday.  Skydiving or hang-gliding. I'll be doing one or the other this October on my vacay to Florida!

17. Are you a risk taker, or do you prefer to play it safe? Depends in what area. Either way, I always asses the risk and use my head.

18. Have you ever worn braces?  Nope, my parentals blessed me with perfect teefies.

19. Would you rather spend an evening at a theater or at a club?  Theater (said in a British accent, of course)

20. If you could have three wishes, what would one of them be?  Health, money, three more wishes.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to go back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday!

 

Couch25K and DietBet!

I've got two big motivators this month to help keep me on the straight and narrow; money and a mentor. Im super determined to succeed at both, scratch that, I KNOW I am going to succeed at both!

 

First I joined Roni's New Year's DietBet , this is my first time participating in any kind of an lose-weight-online-for-money game but I do like the concept. It's easy enough, simply pay whatever the fee is (my investment was $20) and lose 4% of your body weight and you get to split the pot with anyone else who did as well. Right now our game has 650 players and the pot is worth $12,860. Cool, huh? They have rules in place and monitor the weigh-ins VERY carefully to make sure no one is cheating or trying to do this for a living;  and if you lose too much weight they will disqualify you.  

Here's my weigh-in picture:

I don't even recognize this person - she's so little!
 

And for the first time ever, here is my weight:

Based on my current weight I need to lose 10.6 lbs. As of today I'm down 2.4 leaving me 24 days to lose 8.2 lbs. I feel like I'm a bit behind but I'll make it up.

 

So not only am I following my eating plan closely, high protein and very low carb, I'm also increasing my water intake to help shed some of this water weight I'm carrying around. Plus now that I'm feeling better I am getting back to the gym - and this time I have support & help!

 

 

I was so graciously chosen as one of the mentees for The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans inaugural C25K program. I was assigned a mentor who is a pro at this running thing and am able to reach out to her anytime with questions or concerns. I just like knowing there is someone in my corner cheering me on, someone who knows what it was like to start out and really have the passion for running ignited. I never thought I would be able to run (back surgery, obesity). I never thought I would LIKE to run. Every time I get on the treadmill I am more and more amazed at what my body can do - then guilt sets in because I've treated it so horribly - I've got to make up for lost time!

 

I will be doing weekly check-ins for C25K and will also post my final results on the DietBet so keep checking back and lets cheer each other on together!

 

Do you like to run? What is something you always wanted to do but never thought you could?

 

 

Happy exercising!

January Goals

So we're a week into 2013 and I've barely had time to breathe - let alone blog - so please excuse the tardiness of this post. I started a new position at work and while it's been great, its also been exhausting. I know it doesn't help that I was sick with the plague/sinus/allergies almost the entire month of December and my body took a beating trying to recoup while still trying to function. Let's recap December goals to see how I did:

 

-Didn't do well on the workouts due to the plague.

-I got my fluids in but they weren't all clear.

-Budget is done & coming in a later post.

-I averaged 2 blogs a week - so close enough.

 

All in all not too shabby but I need to tighten the reins now that I'm feeling better! So this is what January's goal look like:

 

 

Track food daily - this one is pretty easy for me as long as I'm prepared with my meals and not winging it. Im on MyFitnessPal as ShoeVixen - feel free to add me!

 

More water - I think this will be my biggest struggle (again). I rearranged my fridge so where only liquids are on the top shelf (most easily accessible) and I've prefilled several to-go water bottles that I can just grab and drink. Im thinking for me that will be key - I found myself reaching for water yesterday and drank a whole bottle.

 

Finish C25K - This I'm confident I will do, I'll speak more on this in a later post but I've teamed up with Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans for a C25K program.

 

No coffee after 7 - I need to clarify  - no caffeinated coffee after 7p. The goal here is getting to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier.

 

Vitamins - I'm horrible about taking vitamins; even though they're right by the fridge I always forget so I took several large index cards and wrote TAKE YOUR DAMN VITAMINS in permanent marker and placed all over the house lol

 

 

 

What tips and tricks do you use? What do you feel is your biggest hurdle for staying on track?

 

 

 

Have a great week!

Post Op: 4 Month Check-In

On Thursday I was officially 4 months post-op, I would have posted this then but the world was ending the next day so I had to finish Game of Thrones Season One. Priorities people!

Image courtesy of Google

Seriously though, I couldn't be more thrilled with the changes. I'm 66 pounds down and should be able to hit 70 pounds gone by the New Year with no problem. I was asked to wear the same outfit in my updated pictures, I tried to recreate the entire look, even with my hair. Maybe it's just me but I feel like I'm a bobble head - now my head looks really, really big to me LOL

I see the biggest difference in my stomach and face. I've always had a big butt so that won't be going anywhere anytime soon. I'm still losing inches but the scale itself is starting to slow down because I'm toning and gaining muscle.

A few posts back I talked about having possible issues with my gallbladder. Luckily that didn't seem to be the case, garlic is the culprit! My exercise restriction was lifted and I began the Couch25k program, I'm on Week 1 and so far I'm pleased to see my endurance and ability exceeds that of a "beginner" - I can already run a mile! A whole freaking mile! Non-stop!

My "I just ran a mile for the first time" face!

The program is 3 days a week, so I'll be incorporating some (much needed) toning exercises in the mix. We got our first snow yesterday and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't use the snow as an excuse so I picked this Gaiam DVD up at Marshall's for $3.99 and the weights were on clearance for $4 a set! This way I have no excuses and 3 different workouts if I find myself snowed in or just too warm to leave my casa.

So Im pleased with my progress but will be raising the bar now that I've reminded myself  that I really am as awesome as I think I am. My birthday is in 3 months and I'm looking forward to being the best me yet! Yay for healthy!