size 8 – Sweat & Sparkle

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.

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.