I am really enjoying my classes so far this quarter. One of my favorites is Personal Nutrition. One of my first assignments was to check out this awesome website...

 http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

It is super informative! Its full of great information about nutrition and health. I am disappointed that I had never heard of this website before!

I am REALLY excited at the moment because after a year and three months of trying, I have finally convinced my family to join a gym! My dad gave me the okay tonight to sign them up this week! :)

Healthy Kirsty is back. The Arnold's really gave me a good kick in the ass. For an added punch, I am re-reading the book Skinny Bitch... I don't agree with everythinggg they claim but the book is definitely motivational. Here is a sample from the "no-nonsense, tough-love guide..."

"Junk food will never go away. It becomes more alluring by the minute with laboratory-developed aromas, artificial flavors, chemical food colors, toxic preservatives, and heart stopping hydrogenated oils. We know these are all impossible to resist, but no one ever got skinny on junk food. Use your head. Candy bars, potato chips, and ice cream taste like heaven, of course. But they will pitch a tent on your hips and camp out all year."

I'm in Columbus this weekend for the Arnold Classics... I SO needed this! I've been struggling to motivate myself to workout and eat healthy over the past month and I definitely needed some inspiration. For those that have never been to or heard of the Armolds before, its an annual convention of all things related to sports, fitness and nutrition. There are hundreds of booths set up featuring the latest in exercise equipment and supplements. The expo also hosts competitions like the Arnold Strongman Classic and prejudging for Ms. International. It's incredible to see how the human body can be transformed. Seeing all these beautiful women with amazing bodies makes me want to get to the gym ASAP!

Winter is killing me, I'm so over it. I need spring to be here like, now. I've been in hibernation mode; I'm tired all the time and I don't want to do anything but sleep. I haven't worked out in two whole weeks and I've been eating junk food. Lots of cereal and lots of ice cream and nowhere near enough fruits and veggies. Not good at all. I'm sure my lack of energy and blah mood has a lot to do with this... Although I am not at all excited for the workout I am about to have, I know it HAS to happen. No excuses... I'm sick of feeling like this and I know working out will make me feel better... I just don't want tooooo. ugh. Over the past year I've noticed a pattern; the first workout after you've taken a "break" is always the hardest (mentally at least), but once you've accomplished that first workout, something changes... Working out does not seem like such a daunting task, you have more energy, your endorphin's are flowing and you're proud of your accomplishment... I think its time for me to re-read my "list of motivations"......

On another note I have a couple exciting events coming up in the next couple of months. I agreed to run a 5k marathon in March and a 10k in May (this is another reason why my butt needs to start working out again! I need to start training!) Signing up for the marathons was a way for me to hold myself accountable for getting back into a workout routine. Also, in March I am going to the Arnold Classics in Columbus. It is a huge sports / fitness expo that thousands and thousands of people attend each year. I went a few years ago and remember it inspired me to workout for about two days... I'm hoping that by going this year I will be encouraged to get back to a strict working out and diet regime.

"The 2012 Arnold Fitness EXPO will again feature 700 booths of the latest in sports equipment, apparel and nutrition and a stage that hosts unique, non-stop competitions and entertainment"


http://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/expo/

unfortunately I just established that a treadmill on full tilt, cannot double as an incline bench... 

Pack, Pack, Pack!!!

One of the most important changes I have made in my lifestyle over the past year is what I eat and when I eat it. Avoid processed foods! Your body doesn't want or need all the extra added chemicals. Eat "clean". Pack your food! I've learned that if you pack, you are much less likely to end up stood in front of a vending machine or at a drive through window; both have very limited, nutrient rich, food options! Pack more snacks of smaller sizes (like above) and munch away whenever you get hungry. Your taste buds will adjust, don't worry. After your body rids its addiction to the crap they put in processed foods, you will actually start to prefer eating the healthier ones :)

The Not-Final Blog Post

For the first time since I started making New Year’s resolutions (which was the same every year; to lose weight), I can actually say that I finallllllllly did it. I lost a total of 26 pounds last year and have become a much healthier, happier person.  One year ago, I set off on a Journey that, unbeknownst to me at the time, would end up changing my entire life. I think back to the person I was a year ago; I was overweight (wearing a size 12-14 in jeans), I was unhealthy, super self-conscious, and unconfident in myself and most of what I did. My boyfriend of several years had just ended our relationship, (right before Christmas, during exam week I might add), and so basically I was just an unhappy, big mess. I am no longer that person. It is amazing to me what an effect weight loss has had on my life. My performance at work and school has improved thanks to an increase in energy and concentration and I sleep better at night. I could go on and on about how weight loss has changed my life, but basically what it comes down to is that I just feel “better”, I feeeel healthy. I am both happy and confident.  I’m not saying that you have to be skinny and have insane abs like Jersey Shores “The Situation” to be happy; what I am saying though, is that weight loss can have a profound impact on one’s life.

I've composed this “last” blog post in my head many times over the past few months; there are just so many things I want to say… and so I have decided that this is no longer going to be my last post. Last quarter at school was extremely tough for me; I basically lived in the library and working out slipped toward the bottom of my priority list (I was still working out, however not as frequently or to the same extent as before). I can happily say though, that I have gained absolutely none of the weight I had lost back, and in fact am down to 119 pounds!!! As my weight has come down my goals have slightly changed; my focus now is on building muscle and toning. I don’t want to lose any more weight, I just want to get my percent body fat down a bit more. I’ve got five months until bikini season and I am bound and determined to be looking sexy in a two piece. In order to do this I have realized that it is necessary for me to continue to keep blogging (and to start doing it more often!!!) The past few months have really proven to me the significance of blogging about my Journey. It provides motivation and aids me in reflection. Blogging frequently kept me on track. And so, I have decided to continue this journey into 2012 and to continue sharing with you, my accomplishments, my struggles, my workout routines…everything! Follow through with your weight loss resolution this year; take my word that the end result is so worth the investment of your time and effort.

PS. I didn’t wear spanx under my dress on New Year’s this year. Oh and the sex now… let’s just say, if for no other reason, you should lose weight for that alone. It’s practically like losing your virginity all over again; it’s a whole new experience (IT’S SO MUCH BETTER). 

Voila! Mission fill BOSU with air = complete.

For those of you that don't know what a BOSU is; im standing on one in this picture. Please excuse my attire (I do not work out in "boots with the fur")

Both Sides Up !

UPS delivered my BOSU today!!! YAAAAYYY. (I didn't realize until today that BOSU is actually an acronym for "both sides up" - if you know what a BOSU is, this makes sense... If you don't know what a BOSU is, you need to find one and start incorporating it into your workout routine pronto! - the Rec has like a million of them) I remember the very first time that Ashlee plopped this half swiss ball, dome looking thing in front of me and told me to not just stand on it, but to do squats on it too! I looked at her with a "yeah right, you've got to be kidding me" face. Of course, Ashlee didn't care what kind of a face I pulled or what words I muttered under my breath, she just stood there until I finally realized that I clearly wasn't getting out of this one. So, on I got, squats I attempted, along with crunches, push ups, lunges etc. etc. etc. (You can seriously do sooooo many amazing things with a BOSU). I hated every second of it. Somewhere along the line though, I developed a love with the BOSU. A love that grew so deep that I decided that I needed one of my own. And it arrived today! I am about to blow this thing up! I am so excited!

My awesome blog post is coming soon I promiseeee. I need like 10 extra hours in each of my days!!