Holiday Weekend

So, here's the scoop. I did pretty well with my eating through Halloween, and I even made it nicely through Thanksgiving Day, but I feel that I'm slowly but surely succumbing to the holiday eating mentality. Ick. The big problem was that I had a container of gravy in my refrigerator that just kept calling me all weekend. I was just looking for stuff to put gravy on. Well, that stops today. I finally just put the remainder of it down the drain today. Tomorrow's a new and better day...back to routine...until Wednesday. Then I'm in Chicago for the rest of the week for work, where I'm sure we'll be eating nicely. I really need to try to be good.

As far as exercise goes, I've been doing very nicely. I went for a 6 mile run outside on Friday, and then I took Saturday off as a rest day. Today, I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill for 3+ miles. Tomorrow is bootcamp, and I plan on going to the gym on Tuesday for some more running before my trip. Unfortunately, I'll miss bootcamp on Wednesday and Thursday, but I'm going to try to make up for it on the following weekend.

In other news, I've changed my blog layout just a bit. Google Reader added a feature where you can link your blogroll from Reader, so I'm going to see how that works. If you click "Read More", it will display all of the posts from that group in order of most recent.

I did have one problem...I couldn't add Geoff's blog to my Reader for some reason. Does anyone else use Google Reader? If so, have you experienced any issues adding certain subscriptions?

Ok. That's it for tonight. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Turkey Trot *Edited*

Today was absolutely fabulous. I still don't know my time yet, but I know I did well enough....very close to 30 minutes I think...hopefully under. I know that I didn't stop running the whole time, and that's good enough considering I haven't officially trained for a 5k. Next time will definitely be sub-30 I hope.

***Edit***

My time was 30:13. Good enough for this time. Can't wait for the next.

It was also so great to finally meet a couple other F.A.T. people (Rob & Jim). Melissa was there too, but we're already friends...although it was definitely great to see her, and I'm so glad we got to do this together...even though we didn't meet up until after.

Ok. I guess I'm still feeling very ADD this morning...partly because of all the stuff I have to do today and maybe I'm still kinda geeked about the race.

Overall, all the worries about what to wear and everything else were unnecessary. I ended up wearing a hat, gloves, earbags, and a sweatshirt (along with my clothes). This was pretty much perfect, although I probably could have removed the hat after about the 2nd mile.

Everything else went very well - except getting there. I was stuck in traffic for almost an hour and I thought I was going to be too late to run. This is also the area that the Thanksgiving Day parade takes place, and so many of the streets are blocked off. I ended up grabbing a surface lot, and of course I kinda forgot to take a glance at the cross-streets. Then Melissa was kind enough to drive me to my car. It was pretty much where I thought it was.

I'm sure Rob, Jim, or Melissa will have a better post about the race itself. I think Rob and Melissa will be posting some pics.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

K-Gurl is happy

I got my hair cut and colored tonight. This always makes me incredibly happy. I think I'm in love with it. We'll see how it looks when I do it myself though.

Today was a good eating day, but then I felt like snacking tonight. I ended up eating some carrots and then I put down an entire can of black olives...and I could have finished a second one if I'd allowed myself too. I LOVE black olives. I guess it's not as bad as it could have been. It's probably because I forgot to eat lunch today. I was so amped about tomorrow, and then I went to register for the 5k today and ran into Melissa, who is looking sooooo good.

I really need to get to bed now. I know this post is ALL over the place.

Nice comments received today and last night

I don't have much to report, so I'll just pass on some comments I've received. Last night, one of the trainers at the gym said: Hey, skinny. That's always nice - and I know she doesn't think I'm weak skinny. She was my first bootcamp instructor...when I couldn't even do one real pushup.

Today, my coworker that only works in our office about once or twice a month showed up and said that I was looking very nice. She asked if I'd lost weight, and I said not much...only 2 pounds...although I've lost BF. She said it looks like I've lost like 12 lbs.

My size 8 pants are now getting baggy on me. Time for new goal clothes.

I'm taking today and tomorrow off from the gym, so that my muscles will be rested for the big race on Thursday. Can anyone elaborate on race basics...like can I use my ipod, should I carry a bottle of water, what should I wear, etc...

I'm so clueless about this stuff...never even watched a race before. I don't want to show up and have people think I'm stupid...like...why is that girl not wearing gloves??? I'm more scared about that stuff than I am about running the 5k :)

Party at K-Gurl's!

Most of you know that Kevin and Beck are coming into town in a few weeks...I believe they'll be here the weekend of December 9th and 10th? There's been talk of going to a Piston's game. I don't know if this will happen, since someone will have to arrange it all and order all the tickets and nobody seems to want to volunteer...blah blah blah.

Anyways, even if the game does happen...I would love to host a party afterwards, but I just don't think that will work out. We probably wouldn't get back to Canton until after midnight. I don't really see the game happening anyways. So...I'm just putting it out there for everyone that we can have a party at my house on Friday or Saturday night. I want to have a full day for recovery :)

I'm posting this here, because I was hoping that some of the rest of you might want to come here and join us. I know it's short notice, but we've talked about this before, and I would soooo love to meet you guys in person (well, most of you...just kidding).

Oh, by the way...we're talking about Michigan here.

Ok. That's that. The official party invite...pending the status of the Pistons game...and also pending what night Kevin and Beck can pull off.

Onto other business...

I had bootcamp tonight, and I was a little dismayed but a little happy when I saw that we'd be with Keith tonight. He normally only does our Thursdays, but Shelly called in or something. He really gave us a run for our money...great workout as always. After class, I was stretching with the newer girl that's been with us for about a month. She said something to the effect that I challenge her. I'm the one she watches and tries to keep up with. That's pretty cool. I always thought she just didn't like me much :)

I've decided to do the Turkey Trot with Rob, Jim, and Melissa on Thursday. Well, I think we're actually doing the Stuffing Strut...the 5k. I didn't realize it was right down the street from where I work. That helps with the first fear of being in unfamiliar surroundings. I know that I just need to do it. Period. It'll be a benchmark for the next one. Of course I'm hoping for sub-30 minutes. Unfortunately, I am a little sore in my right leg, so I think that I'll take it easy for the next two days, so that I'll be nice and ready for the run.

Ok. That's all for tonight. Be sure to let me know if you wanna party with me :)

Fitness

This post will more than likely come off as random ramblings today. I was sitting here reading up on training for a 5k, and then I started thinking about you guys. I know we talk about this a lot, but it is such a special group. I think many of us started out by wanting to watch what we eat and lose some weight. I know that's where I started. Fitness? ick. I'd rather be skinny. After a few short weeks of reading your blogs, I started to feel that itch to get out there and start doing something physical - still with the desire to just lose more weight though. Now, it's a completely different thing. I want to be strong and fit.

Anyways...this all got me thinking about all the people out there that try to lose weight through diet alone. I just feel that they are missing out on soooo much...physically and mentally. Sure, they can get thinner, but they will not see the same change in tone and body shape. They won't feel that sense of accomplishment of seeing progress in their strength and endurance.

I guess all this came about because I had a great run today at the gym. Once again, I feel like an athlete. It's kind of hitting me that I'm fit. FIT. I can hold my own at the gym. I'm taking their most advanced fitness course. I can really run. I can do real pushups. I can see my muscles. In fact, I can actually see my triceps through my clothes...depending on the material. How cool is that?

F.A.T. has everything to do with this though. Looking at some of the people that I personally introduced to F.A.T., I see the changes in their mindset, and I know that it's no coincidence that they are motivated to do more than just lose weight. They are setting fitness goals for themselves and doing what it takes to reach them. Then they inspire me to do more. I'm not going to name names, but there are a few of you here that have played a huge role in changing my life. You've pushed yourselves beyond what I ever thought possible for normal everyday people. I've tried to emulate you the best that I know how, and I'm finding that I can do it too. It's such a strange realization to know that I can do this and even more. I know that I haven't even started to tap my true potential yet.

Here's to a great finish to 2007...let's keep pushing forward!

Hello

I figured I'd post a quick blog before the weekend. My eating has been good...moderate still. Weekdays are so easy really (food-wise). We all know how weekends are much more challenging. I'm hoping for a weekend of moderation.

I weighed myself yesterday and today, and it appears that I'm back under 135. I haven't posted these numbers consistently since September, so it's exciting to see them again. I'm not obsessed with it though.

I consider this to be my daily blog here, but I do post updates every couple of months on my other blog (on one of my myspace profiles). Anyways, I was reading my last post on my myspace blog last night and saw that I'd already exceeded my last goals that I set for myself in September...the ones that I wanted to reach by the end of bootcamp. This is exciting, because I still have another month left. The only goal I haven't reached is the size 6 one. I really don't care about that one so much anymore though. It'll be nice, but I'm not stressing about it. I feel that I'll end up in a 6 someday, but there's no rush. I just wanna look firm in whatever size I am.

Judgement Day

Sooooo...all my hard work seems to have paid off! Here are the numbers:

(Oct 15th / Nov 12th)
5 minute HR test score: 36/43
12 minute run: 1.18 miles (avg 5.9 mph) / 1.34 miles (avg 6.7 mph)
Flexibility test: 15.9/16
Situps: 41/41
Pushups: 15 plank, 20 modified / 31 plank, 19 modified
Agility test: 28 seconds/28 seconds

One more stat...the BIG one...body fat percentage:

If you remember...at my last assessment, I was at 21.3% body fat. This time, I wanted to see something in the 20% range...and I thought that maybe just maybe I'd see under 20%. Well...today I came in at 18.5%!!! I went down just under 3%. How f'ing cool is that. No wonder I've been seeing all this new definition. I don't think I've mentioned the muscles that I'm starting to see on my back.

Needless to say, I'm blown away with my results. Seems that my strategy of eating in moderation and working hard at the gym has worked for me. 4 weeks. By the way, she measured me twice to make sure that the numbers were right. Oh yeah...I also lost 2 pounds since my last assessment. That obviously doesn't seem like a lot, but I wasn't working toward weight loss anyways.

So there...that's it. I have 5 more weeks of bootcamp left. It would be way cool to see something in the 17% bf range.

Oh, one last thing. 18.5% bf puts me in the EXCELLENT category for my age. There was a time where I didn't think it would ever be possible for me to be in any kind of decent shape ever again in my life. I'm so beyond serious when I say that if I can turn myself around like this, anybody can. Go get em, FAT!

*edit*

I forgot to mention that I went to the gym twice today. I ran 4 miles this morning. Unfortunately, it seems that I developed a couple of blisters on my feet when I went bowling yesterday. So, I went to the store and got a couple of blister bandages today, and I was able to run pain-free tonight.

Houseguests

Hi, guys. I'm still doing ok, but I do have guests in for the weekend. This led to a midnight run to the grocery store and then frozen pizza last night. I also had a few pieces of halloween candy today. boooo. The good news is that I only had a few pieces, and then I felt ick...so I stopped.

Today is going about the same...less than stellar choices, but I haven't been binging...which is a good thing.

We'll see how tomorrow goes. 2 more days till assessment. Hopefully I'll get to the gym tomorrow or Monday morning even. It might be a little difficult with company here though.

I Survived

So...last bootcamp session before assessment time. Tonight was with Keith the Trainer, and I honestly think I've adjusted to his workouts. They still really hurt, but I'm better at them. Yay!

In the past four weeks, I've only missed one bootcamp session, and I've gone in 1 extra day a week. Even if my results aren't what I'd like to see, I'm still proud that I was pretty faithful to my goals.

My eating has been moderate. I'm not trying to diet per se, but I haven't really had any out of control days that I can remember. Not bad for a four week period.

Update on my size 8 pants. I know last week they were looking much better, but today they were actually on the loose side. Not sloppy loose...just looser...lots of give in the legs. This is pretty consistent with what I've been seeing in my other clothes too. I should measure them tomorrow morning.

The weekend is almost here, and I just need to hold tight 4 more days until my assessment. Assessments are good.

Good week so far

Nothing much to report lately, but I'm still doing well. Eating has been very good, and I attended bootcamp Monday...although it was a bit lame in my opinion (substitute instructor). Oh well...it was still a workout.

I went clothes shopping this weekend. I really just needed an overcoat. I haven't bought one at all since I've lost any of this weight. I just refuse to wear my XL coats. They look sloppy anyways. Well, this time I bought medium size. This is nice, AND I didn't have to try on like 15 coats before I found one that "didn't make me look fat". I bought the first one I tried on, and it's cute.

I was also browsing through the juniors' section, and found a great pair of stretchy cords that look really great on me (except they are a bit long). Oh, size 9 - and they were loose after I wore them for a little bit.

hmmm...ok...I thought this was going to be short, but I just remembered some compliments that I've received in the past week. First, at the Halloween party this past weekend. Everyone kept saying how tiny I was and they were adamant that I shouldn't lose any more weight. While this is cool to hear, I know it's not accurate. I do need to lose about 5 - 10 pounds of fat, but you guys know I care more about toning up at this point anyways. The other cool compliment came yesterday. I was talking to my friend on the phone, and she said something like...so, you're in what...6's now? and I said...no no...8's...not even close to 6's yet. Then she said...well, you look it. You're really tiny.

I know we talk about this all the time, but I don't feel tiny AT ALL. I feel average at best and sometimes I even feel huge. I wish I could see what everyone else is supposedly seeing.

This week is particularly bad, because it's TTOM (even though I don't actually have that anymore). I still have the hormones behind it though. It's amazing how fat it can make you. I swear everything just looks flabby for a few days. It really sucks when eating right and exercising is so tied to the emotions for most of us. I just feel fat, so I don't want to eat right? That's just stupid, but it seems to work that way. Luckily, I'm pushing past those bad urges for now. It really helps to know that I'll be getting assessed in 6 days now.

I do have to apologize to everyone. I swear I haven't read any blogs since last week. This is unlike me, but I've been a little preoccupied lately. I'll be back on it soon.

Final Halloween Weekend

I was pretty good overall this past weekend. I didn't eat too poorly, and I went to the gym once.

I really have to buckle down this week though...Monday is my next assessment.

Goals for this week: Eat well, 4 days at the gym, more sleep. What's new...

Good Day

I ate well today. I also woke up to a lower weight this am. That always makes for a good day.

Bootcamp tomorrow morning...rescheduled from Wednesday since it was Halloween. One more week till assessment time.

Vanishing Blogs

Is anyone else having trouble with their blogs vanishing? Just kidding...some of you noticed that a couple of mine are gone. It's really no big deal. I know they went to the feeds and all, but I took them down for different reasons. The first was my skin pic, and I just plain chickened out on it. As far as the second one goes, I was afraid that a certain person might have been kinda hurt or offended had they read it, because I think they were included in the group of people I was referring to. So...it's gone, but that should be the last time.

Anyways...back to business. I missed bootcamp tonight. boooo. Sometimes kids' school projects have to take precedence. So far, I've eaten a small bag of doritos and 1 peanut butter cup from the Halloween stash. That's really not too bad yet. We have a HUGE thing of candy though.

Seriously...I just have very little to say today. Hope everyone else is doing well.