Day 91 -- My Day So Far

I decided to shake up my workout routine (which normally consists of anywhere between a 4 and 8-mile run these days) and try one of the many classes offered at my gym.  When I signed up at Gold's, I was told that theTrek & Tone class would be a good fit for me and my goals (i.e. one half-marathon, coming up!).  But every time I've tried to make that class, I've either been unable to get out of work on time (it starts at 5:45 and I'm not dismissed for the day until 5:30) or there aren't any passes left by the time I get there.  But by some strange twist of fate, this evening, I made it there with time to spare and got myself a pass to the class!

Wow -- that was a little too much rhyming.  OK, back to normal speak.

Well, the class kicked my ass.  We power-walked, jogged, and sprinted at various speeds (from 3.4-6.2mph) and at various inclines (from 1 to 15!!!).  We'd alternate ten minutes on the treadmill with about five minutes off, doing weight/resistance band training.  My black Planet Fitness tee was drenched in sweat after just ten minutes.  And sixty minutes later, when we were cooling down and stretching, I thought my legs would crumble beneath me.  I'm not sure I'll be walking too smoothly tomorrow, but it was definitely worth it!  With the half-marathon just a little over a month away, I need to start training at inclines.  Well, tonight -- mission accomplished.

I'm glad I decided to take the plunge into group workouts.  But man have I been a chicken!  I was actually a little nervous and intimidated (which is saying a lot for someone who doesn't usually get intimidated) and didn't want to look like a complete fool in a class of skinnies.  But the instructor was super cool and the other girls in the class were really supportive.  It was nice to see everyone working out together, but at the same time, everyone was going at their own pace.  I was pretty happy with the class, overall, and I'll definitely be back for more of the hill torture!!!

Well, that's my accomplishment/small victory of the day.  How's everyone else out there doing?

Nicole's Daily Menu
Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios with 1% milk
Babybel Light Cheese Round
Snack
Chobani Pineapple Yogurt
Lunch
Salad of spinach, cashews (1 serving size=23 pieces), and Fat Free Italian Dressing
15 triscuits with hummus
1 Lindt Truffle :-\  (My sweet tooth got the best of me.)
Snack
Kashi Oats & Honey Granola Bar
Dinner
Ziti with grilled chicken and tomato sauce
Dessert
Niente

Days 85-90 -- Am I Skinny Yet???

I'm feeling pretty frustrated lately.  I've been maintaining my foods (ixnay on the crappay) and running my tail off at the gym, and until this evening, haven't been seeing many results.  Granted, I didn't hit the gym as many times as I'd hoped last week (thank you grad school homework, various appointments, and the like) and was faced with a few occasions of eating out this past weekend (a Friday night dinner with my mom and sister followed by a brunch date with my hubby). 

However, I did a mini mid-week weigh-in to see where I was and found myself pleasantly surprised.  244.4!!!  I haven't seen 244 in about a month.  And I know that's nowhere near where I need to be (where I should be three months in to this challenge), but I was happy nonetheless.  But that doesn't mean that I'm not frustrated with the time it's taking to lose this weight.  I really, really, really want to be skinny!  Like now.  Please???  I know this is a journey, but I keep wishing, hoping, that this is some bad dream and soon I'll wake up in my healthy, slimmer, and toned body.  But alas, no such luck yet.  And until I do wake up, I'll keep running, doing some weights, and making sure only good foods are going into my body.  Humph. 

There was, however, one other ego boost this week: I fit back into jeans I haven't even dreamed of wearing for at least two years!  In fact, that lovely pair of blues has been hanging in a closet at my parent's house since the day of my wedding.  But on Friday, I was driving straight from work (in a skirt) to my parents' to meet them for dinner, something that wasn't in my plans for Friday night.  I didn't have clothes to change into, but I knew those jeans were sitting there, waiting for me.  I figured the most I had to lose was realizing how close I was to fitting back into them.  Now, imagine my surprise when they fit!!!  Granted, they definitely fell under the "Standing Room Only" category of jeans, but I didn't care.

For years, I've held onto clothes that no longer fit, telling myself "Well, once I lose some weight, these will fit again."  It's safe to say I've got nearly a decade's worth of jeans stuffed in drawers, garbage bags, and boxes that I'm still waiting to fit into.  But unlike in years past, this time is different.  This time, I know I will fit into them, and someday soon.  And Friday night made me realize that.  For once in my life, I actually lost the weight and was so thankful I had decided to hold onto those jeans!  I can't wait for the day where I can pull out a dusty pair of high school jeans and zip them up, without doing my stretch/dance to get into them :-)  I hope that day is coming soon.

Well, the "no crappy food" challenge continues.  And it's getting a little easier.  I'm really hoping that by the end of this mini challenge, I'll be kissing the scale and seeing the 230s!  So.... here's to hoping and working it off this next week!

Nicole's Daily Menu
Breakfast
Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thin with peanut butter
Snack
Chobani Pineapple Yogurt
Lunch
Salad made of baby spinach, 2 slices of ham, and fat free Italian dressing
Diced Peaches
15 Triscuits with hummus
Snack
Kashi Oats & Honey Granola Bar
Dinner
2 tacos made with ground turkey, lettuce, fat free sour cream, salsa, and cheese
Dessert
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich

Days 78-84 -- Grad School Is Killing Me

And I mean that in more ways than one. 

I know over the past week I've been a bit distant.  But if you only knew the week I had.  My grad school classes (my intense cohort program which meets only for one weekend a month, Fridays 5-10 and Saturdays and Sundays from 8-5) started this past weekend and left me feeling a little flustered.  On top of it all, I had to work late every night last week -- which made getting to the gym (and blogging) uber difficult. :-\

But... alas, I'm back!  And while I can't promise a post every day of the week (tons of homework!), I will be slightly more in touch with you all. 

So... my three weeks of no crap food was going fabulously!  Notice, I said "was." 

And then last weekend happened.  :-\  5:00 a.m alarm clocks, 8:00 a.m. class an hour from my house, and a wedding to boot really did not work so well with my little mini-challenge.  I didn't do awful, but I surely could have done better. 

The intensity of the course, and a seriously busy weekend besides class, left me unable to prepare much food-wise.  Not to mention, I ran out of packable lunch materials by the end of last week and had no time to go grocery shopping.  That said, there were two stops at Dunkin (Saturday and Sunday morning), but have no fear... I took Kali's last suggestion and ordered an eggwhite and cheese on an English muffin both mornings.  Saturday's lunch consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich on a wheat bun with pesto and a cup of minestrone soup.  That evening, I didn't eat much at all.  Ted and I attended my college roommate's wedding, and I made sure to steer clear of most of the passed hors d'ouvres (spelling???).  I had ordered the beef - which appeared in front of me still bleeding.  I like my meat medium-well.  This caused a problem.  Another problem?  Well, they served carrots.  I don't eat carrots.

I went to bed a bit hungry, only to get up and head back to class on Sunday.  Sunday's lunch consisted of tuna in a pocket from D'Angelos.  And for dinner -- well, a wheat Boboli pizza. Sunday was not the food highlight of my weekend.  The good news?  Well, getting home so late meant that no ice cream!  And in fact, I've only had ice cream once since last Wednesday.  Pretty good in my book :-)

One thing that's happened in the past week that I'm pretty proud of???  Well, for this wedding, I needed a dress.  So, I ventured off to Lane Bryant on lunch one day and picked myself up slinky little, clingy, black dress... in a SIZE 14/16!!!!  For the past few months, clothes have still been too tight for me to get a 14/16, and I've been forced to buy the 16/18 sizes.  Blech.  Well, not anymore!  And I felt good in the dress!  I mean, I was a little self-conscious, because I'm not used to wearing something quite so fitted -- but I got tons of compliments and even a few "Wow, you're looking really good!"  I found my new feel-good dress!

That little victory was all I needed to get myself re-focused.  Granted, this weekend did not go as planned.  And my meal choices definitely left room for improvement.  But, I'm going to continue this little mini challenge of "no crappy foods" for another two weeks.  I feel like this weekend could have done more damage than I intended it to, and I want to see what two consistent weeks can do.  So we'll see what happens two weeks from now.

Also, lovely Mother Nature paid a visit this week, so working out has been tough.  Nothing like running with major cramps!  I'm feeling pretty bloated, lethargic, and all over just icky.  And although I'm not going to be running tonight, I will be working out.  I plan to do some free weights while watching TV with the hubby this evening.  I figure it's got to be better than just sitting there, right? 

In addition, I'm still taking in no more than 5 carbs per day (less if I can swing it).  And I'm adjusting to that pretty well.  I think I might try and cut carbs out altogether for a week.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves -- I know.  Maybe I'll try gradually cutting back to four, three, two, etc.  Either way -- more running, weights, and healthy eating to come this week!  I'm feeling pretty energized (despite the physical handicap this week), and can't wait to get a good run in! 

OH -- and for all those out there who doubted my love of veggies:  I LOVE baby spinach!!!  I'm really enjoying this addition to my lunch salads :-)

Keep fighting the good fight, everyone!  Hope you're all having fantastic weeks!

Nicole's Daily Menu
Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios with 1% milk
Babybel Light Cheese Round
Snack
Chobani Strawberry Yogurt
Lunch
Baby spinach & romaine lettuce salad with shaved turkey and fat free Italian dressing
Banana
Snack
1 plain rice cake with Babybel French Onion spreadable cheese
Dinner
Grilled barbeque chicken
Broccoli