#8

215.

UP FIVE FROM TWO WEEKS AGO?! WTF?!

-7 total

I'm pretty pissed. I know for a fact I didn't eat enough over the holiday to put on FIVE POUNDS. I've also been kicking my ass at the gym this week and not snacking. I snacked on a few handfuls of onion pretzels yesterday, but FIVE POUNDS?! REALLY?!

I have already decided to try to hit the gym as much as possible these next two weeks, even on the weekends, because then I'm home for almost a solid two weeks. This has given me even more reason to do it.. but, unfortunately, not good motivation.

Love letter to my body #1

I went to the gym last night in a bad mood.. rough day with kids, irritated at friends. I decided to kick it into high gear and I dug out the "death intervals" workout I found on the web awhile ago. The last time I did it, I couldn't go above 3.5 mph and did my runs at 5 mph. This time, I followed the regimen almost exactly as it was... 3.5 mph at 2% interval increases every 30 seconds, recovery, 5 mph sprint, recovery, 4.5 mph at 2% interval increases every 30 seconds. Then I had to do a 3.2 mph recovery instead of a 3.5, but I did the two 6 mph one-minute sprints! I couldn't do the 5 mph intervals, so I dropped back to 3.5 mph. My chest was tight and I was wheezing, but my god, I did it. I did 3/4 of the entire program!

After I wrapped up, I did 8 minutes at 15% incline, trying to build up my incline endurance. (Is that even a thing?) I'd like to do that for an hour sometime this weekend. I try to do that, then drop it down to a negative, down-hill incline, then back up to prepare myself for the hike next year.

I really am amazed at how my physical abilities are changing. That's more motivating than actually seeing the weight come off.

Aftermath.

I was home for Thanksgiving from Wednesday evening until Sunday night. I made some poor, poor decisions.. but I also had some successes.

The Ugly:
* Taco Bell for dinner Tuesday night.
* GORGED myself on dinner last night.
* Chocolate milkshake and fries on the way home last night.
* Didn't get as much activity in as I had planned.
* Ate too much fried food.. bleh.
* Too much regular Pepsi.

The Good:
* Only ate ONE plate at Thanksgiving dinner & left some scraps on that plate as well.
* Went for two three-mile walks with the fam.
* Shopped all day on Friday, so I was at least somewhat active.
* Went to the movies and did not get popcorn.

This week is a new week. I've already been to the gym today and I love how much happier my body feels when I'm getting some good, quality exercise in. I'm going to do my best to do the best that I can within these next three weeks!

#7

210

-12 total

GRRRRRRR*!($!

Positives:
I did SO much better this week.
I upped my vegetable and fruit intake.
I watched my portions.
I did not eat out during the week.
I did not drink during the week.
I went to the gym everyday.
I really busted my ass at the gym everyday.
I did elliptical workouts at 10+ resistance.
I can feel my fitness level increasing.
I'm not SO winded anymore.
I tried on a pair of knee-high boots at Target (not at a PLUS-size store) and they fit over my calves! They were snug, but they went up!

Negatives:
I kept snacking on the onion pretzels I made. (Loaded with butter.)
I went out to eat three times over the weekend.

I am very, VERY nervous about this next week with it being Thanksgiving and not being in York by my gym. I'm going to have to rely on will-power and motivation to get my ass out and moving and watch what I'm eating.
I drank half a bottle of wine on Sunday.
I didn't get any exercise in on the weekend except for walking Lucy.

My new love.

First off:

Dear Biggest Loser,

Thank you for making me cry for the last hour SOLID.

Love,
Heather

Second:

I discovered a new love of my life this week... PINEAPPLE. LOVE it.

Yesterday afternoon, two of my girlfriends and I went off to explore the city. I had just done laundry and one of my two "good" (read: fits without making my legs look like sausages) pairs of jeans was still a little wet from the dryer. I dug through my closet and pulled out a pair of Old Navy jeans that I don't think I've worn comfortably since I went back to school in 2007. I wore them to walk Lucy one day a few months ago and thought I might die on the way out because they were SO. TIGHT. I threw them on real quick, just to see, and lo and behold... THEY FIT! They're a tad bit tight in the knee, but other than that, they were super comfortable. Perfect around the waist, if not a little big, and butt.. thighs were good.. and they made me look THINNER because they weren't hanging off of my ass and sagging in the thighs. We even went out to eat at Hoss's and I wasn't uncomfortable in them after gorging myself on the salad bar.

I feel like all I've done this weekend is go out to eat. Friday afternoon, some of my co-workers and I went to a Mexican restaurant. I took half of my meal home with me. Friday night, I went to Cracker Barrel with some girlfriends. Once again, I took half of my meal home with me. Yesterday I ordered a dinner with my salad bar and I took the ENTIRE dinner home with me. I won't have to buy groceries at all this week! It's good to see that I'm leaning self-control. A few months ago, it wouldn't have been odd for me to eat three plates from the salad bar AND my dinner. It actaully disgusts me to think about that. It was so filling yesterday that I ate my salad bar around 2:30 and I wasn't hungry again until almost 11 last night.

#6

211.

-11