Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Weigh In Wednesday 9/28/11

Highest Weight:                   310.0
Last Week Weight:              241.0
This Week Weight:              240.6

Current Weight Lost:                 .4
Total Weight Lost:                 69.4

It's not the number I was hoping for, but considering that I'm moving today and have been super stressed about it, I'll take it. 

I haven't been able to work out as much as I have the past few weeks and I ate out a few more times than usual.  Today is my last day in my apartment though and I am staying the next week at a friend's apartment.  I'm hoping that I am able to lose a couple more pounds before I leave for Cleveland next Wednesday, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to.  If I can at least maintain, then I will feel like I've accomplished something.

Can't post anymore, I have to get ready for the movers.  They are scheduled to be here soon.

Ah!!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Weigh In Wednesday: 9/21/11

Highest Weight:               310.0
Last Week's Weight:       242.8
Current Weight:               241.0

Weight Lost this Week:       1.8
Total Weight Lost:             69.0

Yay!  I've recorded a loss two weeks in a row!  This hasn't happened in a while unfortunately.  I was actually hoping that I would hit at least a two pound loss this week, but I'll take the 1.8.

I'm feeling pretty confident that I'm going to continue posting losses for a while.  I feel my will power is back.  Like I mentioned in my last post, I'm wanting to exercise all the time!  I've been the gym the past three nights and I'm hoping to go again tonight.  I'm also noticing that my ability to say no to bad foods is back.  I walk through the aisles of the drug store and I'm able to look at the chocolate or salty goodness and say "No...That's not what you need."  That's getting even harder with the Halloween candy season rapidly approaching...

I'm going to miss working out with a trainer.  Tashon has been great and even though we had a bit of a spat last night (the first and only one we've had and it was because he kept describing a certain squat routine differently everytime.  Yes, you did too!) he really knows how to push me, to work around my injuries and motivate me!  I really do feel myself getting stronger.

I don't want to lose that while I'm out on the road.  My boss mentioned wanting to get a few training sessions for a bit of our time in Cleveland and asked me if I wanted to go in on it with him, which I'm stoked about.  I'm not going to be in most places long enough to get training sessions, but I really should try and do this for all the cities we are in for two weeks or more.

Anyway, back to working hard!  Have a great day everyone and do one thing today to make you sweat!



Monday, September 19, 2011

Venturing into the Unknown

This past weekend I finally had had enough of wearing t-shirts from Old Navy and decided to do something about it!  I grabbed my go-to shopping buddy, Katie, and we headed down to 34th Street (*shudder*) to Macy's.

I used to be deathly afraid of the Macy's on 34th because I would walk in and immediately get claustrophobic from all the insane crowds of people swarming and trying to take each other out over a sweater.  But Katie taught me about the Women's department up on the 7th floor and once I get up there I can breathe a lot easier.

This latest shopping trip was quite an eye opener.  I've shopped in the Women's department in stores since my senior year of high school.  This department has come a long way since then, let me tell you.  Back then all you could usually find was marm-ish type clothes that looked like they belonged on 75+ year old women.  Now, you have designer labels like Calvin Klein, DKNY, and Michael Kors all with plus size lines.  It's made dressing trendy for a "bigger" gal a whole lot easier.

Well, this shopping trip I discovered that I really don't belong shopping there anymore.  The smallest some lines come is a 1X and those are all just too big on me.  Sometimes a line will have a 0X (which is more like an XL or L in the Ladies department) and those will sometimes work on me, but finding 0X's up there was like finding a needle in a haystack.

So, I took a ton of clothes to the dressing room and probably ended up pissing off the people that work there because I certainly didn't walk away with as much as I think they were hoping (although I did spend quite a bit.)  Basically I was looking for some nice fall pieces that could transition into winter as well.  Since we aren't going to really have a horrible winter out on the road (with the exception of being in Michigan during February! BRRRRR!) I thought that some half length sleeves and some light sweaters or cardigans could fit the bill.  Anyway, after being disappointed that I didn't find much that fit me, it was also nice to realize that its because I've shrunken out of that department completely now.  I knew the day was coming, but I was still holding onto the familiar.  I was scared to let it go because I was literally afraid of the unknown and uncharted territory of the other floors.  But, there really isn't much of a point of me even going up there anymore.

On the way out, Katie and I decided to stop by the Ladies department to see if this particular Ralph Lauren dress was in that department (it was!) and I tried it on.  Everything about the XL dress looked better on me than the 1X dress that I had tried on upstairs.  It even made me feel better!

One of my new looks.
Today I wore one of the dresses (size 14!) to the office and I passed by a mirror.  My jaw actually dropped when I saw my waistline.  I've been hovering around the same size/weight for a while now and I think the work with the trainer is indeed paying off.  My stomach looks a little flatter, my arms are showing definition and my legs are looking more toned.  Again, this might be all in my head, or the changes might insignificant so that no one else notices them but me...  But I've discovered something else about my working out with the trainer is that I've become almost obsessed with working out now.  I went to the gym five days last week (the most I've been in a LONG time) and the only reason I didn't go on Friday was because my knee was acting up and needed a day of rest.  And that rest day?  All I wanted to do was at least take a walk, a jog, or something!  This is a great feeling to go into the tour with, I believe.

So even though I know I have asked this before (I wasn't really ready to move on before and I am truly being forced to now) where should I shop?  I know about the classics like Macys, Old Navy, the Gap, blah, blah blah... But where else?  I'm sitting at an L/XL 14/16 now (pretty much a 14).  I am going to be purchasing new items off while out on the road as well, so chains are probably going to be preferable.  But, if you have a great place in your town that you think I should try while I'm there, let me know about those too!!

I'm really excited about this week's weigh-in.  I think it should be a successful one!!


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Weigh In Wednesday: 9/14/11

Highest Weight:      310.0
Last Weigh in:         244.4 (weighed but didn't blog about it)
Current Weight:      242.8

Current Loss:            1.6
Total Lost:             67.2

Sorry for being radio silent for basically two weeks!  It's been a bit crazy in my life!  I did weigh in last week and it was a gain, which I wasn't too happy about.  I've REALLY been struggling this summer to maintain a weight loss trend.  I've been kinda doing everything but not really committing to it.  Like I've been going to the gym, but could have done more and worked harder while I was there.  I was eating okay but made a lot more bad choices than I should have.  I was making excuses as to why I would allow myself something extra.  I need another reboot!  I've still managed to lose some weight, but it's really just the same five pounds that I keep losing and gaining back.  I tried on a pair size 14 jeans at the store the other day and I'm soclose to fitting into them.  Like, I would say 10-15 pounds.  If I fit into those jeans it would be the smallest I've been since at least 8th grade.  I want that.  And in order to get that, I NEED to get my head on straight.

To help with getting my head straight, I've enlisted the help of a trainer.  I mentioned him last time I believe and I've had a couple of sessions with him since then.  Tonight is my third official session.  I can already feel myself getting stronger and maybe some of this might be in my head, but I think I am already seeing a difference in a couple of places.  I bought a total of 8 sessions to use before I leave so I'm thinking I should be in pretty good shape by the time I depart.

I am still holding strong to my goal of reaching 235 before I leave.  I just need to push it until I don't think I can give anymore and then?  Give a little more...  I started incorporating some of the weights and strength training after my cardio routine and it felt good!  Shows I'm learning from what the trainer is doing, not just blindly following along.  Although I think I might ask him to kind of make me a little packet of exercises for before I leave so that I can change it up and not just do the same things over and over.

Alright, that's all I have for now.  Preparing for life on the road is insanity right now.  I'm hoping to accomplish a lot this weekend so that I can execute it all next week.  I have about 3 weeks left here in NYC.  I'm starting to get a bit nostalgic...  *sniff, sniff*

Friday, September 2, 2011

I Wanna Get Physical, Let's Get Into Physical!

So I had my "fitness test" at the gym with a personal trainer.  I liked him.  He was personable and professional, seemed like he knew what he was talking about, would push me but would also listen if I was pushed beyond my means (the one other time I had a few training sessions, this was not the case...).

We started off by me filling out the paperwork, listing my goals and him getting my stats.  I found out my body fat percentage (37.2%, higher than I wanted but wasn't too surprised.  Just glad I didn't know what it was when I was 70 pounds heavier!  YIKES!) and took my blood pressure.  Um, that was really high too and I was NONE too pleased about that!  I need to keep an eye on that...  Then we were off to the floor!

He started me off with some circuit training.  He wanted to get my heart rate up and see how fast I recovered.  We did a lot of abs, but he mixed it up with some great arm and leg exercises too.  Never once did I feel like I couldn't do something.  If he saw I was really struggling, he would modify.  He did seem impressed with a few of the leg exercises I did, so it just proved my theory that I've developed my muscles in my legs while unfortunately neglecting everything else.  I'm looking at you abs...

When we finished my arms were quivering and I could feel the burn in my thighs.  Needless to say, I wanted to sign up immediately!

When we sat down I told him my situation.  I said that I was getting ready to leave in October for a year and that I was looking to buy a chunk of training session before I left because I know that strength training is what I need to start incorporating into my routine.  Cardio I have a good handle on, but I really need to start focusing on strength.  I said I wanted someone to kick my butt but also teach me so that I could go out on my own and feel like I have a handle on things.

I think he was a little disappointed I wasn't looking to become a long term client, but was at least happy that I was going to sign up for a good chunk of sessions.  So, I signed up for 8 sessions to be completed before I leave on October 5th.  I'm REALLY looking forward to them and he seems excited by the challenge.

All in all, a very good night at the gym.

Also on the "physical" note, I scheduled a physical exam with my doctor for next week.  I want to get my blood work done and officially get my blood pressure reading.  (I don't know if I really trust that machine at the gym...)  Slowly but surely I'm getting stuff done!  Phew!


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Wembley has created his own blog everyone!  Perfect place to follow him on his journey!

wembleystravels.blogspot.com

It's going to have lots of pics and stories from life on the road!  But first, he will walk everyone through the adventure of preparing to leave NYC for a year!

Stay tuned for his posts!!