Tuesday, January 24, 2012

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). 

Monday, January 23, 2012

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!

Friday, January 6, 2012

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