July 2017 – Sweat & Sparkle

Insanity Max 30 Challenge

I was struggling so much last week, with such huge disruptions in my schedule and routine, and temptation everywhere, that I finally said “Enough.” I decided to skip weigh-in on Saturday. I still worked out each day, but it let me take some pressure off myself and get ready for a new week.

Today I am going to start the Insanity Max 30 workouts. I printed the workout schedule and hung it up in our workout room. I am going to modify the schedule, because I refuse to give up my strength training workouts, so I will be using Insanity Max 30 for my cardio workouts but keeping weight training in the rotation as well.

I am going to take my photos and measurements this evening for the Day 1 stats, and I have to do them again at Day 30 and Day 60. Then I send everything in to get my t-shirt for completing the challenge!

I feel excited again and ready to put my all into this. If I work really hard and don’t lose focus, I should be at (or very, very near) my goal weight and goal size by the time this 60 day challenge ends. It was nice taking a few days off, but now I’m ready to get back at it and kick these pounds to the curb. Goal weight, I’m coming for you!

New Mini Goals

After struggling the last few days, I decided that obviously I need a clear goal to work toward, or else I cut myself so much slack that I lose my way. Before the wedding, every time I wanted to skip a workout or eat like it’s a competitive sport, I was able to think about the wedding dress, the pictures, how I wanted to look and feel, and it would kick me back into gear. Now that the wedding is over, my brain has decided it’s time for a smorgasbord, non-stop eating, cake for breakfast (hey, don’t judge), etc.

I refuse to gain back the weight I worked so hard to lose. Last night I sat down with a notebook and started scribbling out some ideas. I need a new goal, something new to focus on. Well, the kids start school soon, but that is only about two weeks away, too short to set any kind of goal. But their Open Houses will be the end of August. And conveniently enough, my company is holding a large event at the end of September, and I will need to dress up for that.

So, behold! My newest two mini-goals:

1. To lose 10 pounds (and be 147 or lower) by the kids’ school Open Houses at the end of August

2. To bust my butt and be at goal weight/goal size by the work event at the end of September

I don’t know what kind of damage I’ve done this week with two days of overeating, but I still have today, tomorrow, and Friday to salvage the week and hopefully have at least a 1-pound loss by Saturday’s weigh in. I feel better having something to aim for again, something to focus on and work toward.

I have a size 8 skirt that I love and haven’t been able to wear in a long, long time. I’d be thrilled to be able to wear that to the kids’ Open Houses. I feel like I have been a size 10 forever. Surely if I am able to lose 10 pounds by then, I will finally fit into the size 8 skirt! That’s my hope, anyway.

Wedding’s Over, Now What?

The luncheon for work on Friday went smoothly, and the wedding over the weekend was beautiful, simple, a very nice day. When the pastor started talking, my fiance (well, husband now) both turned to look at her, and she whispered, “Look at each other,” which made the kids giggle. I know it meant a lot to my husband for the kids to be there, and it was nice just all being together, enjoying the moment, enjoying the day.

After all the time and energy invested in hunting down my dress, dresses for the girls, and shirts and ties for the guys, all of us were dressed up just long enough for the ceremony and some pictures, then almost immediately started stripping to change back into jeans and t-shirts and get comfy. We went out to dinner, which was delicious, and I had enough left over for my lunch the next day.

Only problem? I really leaned on and relied on the upcoming wedding to stay focused and disciplined. Now that it’s over, I feel my focus slipping fast. I absolutely REFUSE to gain any of this weight back! But all I want to do is eat. Start over next week, I deserve a break, let’s celebrate…you name it, the excuse has passed through my head a million times.

I am not finished yet. I have about 15-20 pounds to go yet to my goal size. I can’t quit now. I can’t start backsliding now. I need to get focused and set a new goal to work toward. Well, the kids have school open houses near the end of August, which is about 5 weeks away. I think I will set a goal of being well into the 140’s by the time of the kids’ open houses. That is at least 7 pounds in 5 weeks, which is totally doable.

I might also start a weight loss challenge on MyFitnessPal, where I used to log my food before I decided to test drive LoseIt. I have to brainstorm some ideas and see what seems to feel motivating to me.

In the meantime, the kids are still at home for the rest of the week. I’m still just so happy they were there for our wedding and able to share that with us. It meant a lot to their father, and it meant a lot to me.

Wedding Mini-Goal: Met!

Saturday’s weigh in was awesome! I was so excited to see 159.8 on the scale. Not only have I dipped into the 150’s and said good-bye to the 160’s, I hit my mini-goal of reaching 159 or lower before the wedding…one week early!

And it means that obviously last week’s one-pound loss was nothing to worry about, so I stressed about nothing. But it pushed me to work really hard with my workouts last week, so at least it served a good purpose.

My stepkids were home for the weekend, and as soon as my older stepdaughter saw me, she told me I look really good. I was wearing one of the sweaters that haven’t fit for a long, long time, and now that I’m not drowning under clothes that are two sizes too big, my weight loss is more obvious.

Well, the pants I am wearing to work today are too big, but I refuse to buy any new clothes until I reach my goal size. I’m too close to my goal to waste money on anything else right now. I have a list of things I need to buy when I reach my goal, and I guess I need to add black cropped dress pants to that list.

My goal is to fit into size 8. I have a pair of size 8 jeans that I can get into and zip up, but I wouldn’t classify them as fitting just yet. But close. I estimate that with the next 10 or 15 pounds lost, I will finally fit into the size 8’s in my closet. I really don’t know though. Switching from a goal weight to a goal size means I don’t have a specific number of pounds to count down. But it’s exciting to think that maybe by the end of August, or early September, I will reach my goal.

Moving onto the Insanity Max workouts seems like a good idea, so I will stick with those this week for my cardio, and alternate with weight training days. I haven’t gone running in a while, so I’d like to get a few miles in this week too. It’s going to be a very busy week, with a work event on Friday I am in charge of, and our wedding this weekend.

I still have a feeling that Psycho will do her best to interfere with our wedding, especially since her jealousy is ramped up even farther now by my weight loss. I don’t have any control over her nonsense, though, and no matter what she decides to spew this week, the wedding will go on as planned. She can’t stop that, no matter how much she wishes she could.

Weigh-In and Wonder Woman

For some reason, it’s been hard this week for me to let go of that one-pound weight loss last week. I was so disappointed, and then it left me worried that my body is going to plateau, hold onto every ounce, and I won’t be able to lose any weight from here on out. Why all the teeth-gnashing and drama? I’ve tried and failed so many times, for years and years, and now that I have made such good progress, I am terrified that something is going to halt my progress, and I will never get to the finish line.

Okay, even I know it’s not entirely rational. But the doubt and worry nibbled into my brain, and now I can’t get the buggers out. I made a few changes this week to shake things up, maybe surprise my body. I figured after nearly three months of Insanity workouts, it’s possible my body is getting used to them. So I switched to Insanity Max 30. Those workouts are shorter but more intense. I did step aerobics earlier this week, and this morning I did a Les Mills Combat workout, just to toss some different styles of workouts in there.

Last night I was hunting for something to wear to work for today, and I started trying on some sweaters and tops that I have had shoved on the top shelf of my closet forever, untouched, because they haven’t fit for a long, long time. I was surprised at how many fit now. Some of them are size medium, which I had no idea I fit into yet! Not all of the mediums, but most of them, fit me now. I divided them into a doesn’t-fit-yet pile and fits-now pile, and I was excited to wear one of the sweaters to work today.

I am both excited and nervous for tomorrow morning’s weigh-in. I really want a good loss to knock these doubts out of my mind.

Oh, some awesome news: in that pile of sweaters that has been collecting dust for lord knows how long, I discovered a long-lost Wonder Woman shirt I completely forgot I had! I had shoved it into that pile when I gained weight and it no longer fit. Well, it fits now, and I can’t wait to wear it this weekend!