Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Meds Update

Well, I didn't weigh in last week because I didn't want to see the damage.  I wrote a bit ago about starting on some anti-anxiety medication which killed my appetite and was the reason for three solid weeks of 2+lb losses.  I loved it!  However, this medication also dropped my already low blood pressure level and I couldn't get out of bed without passing out.  A day of bed rest, lots of fluids, and stopping that medication ASAP was their cure.  Well, my appetite came raging back and I was also dealing with the emotional shift from the abrubt stopping of the medication.  It has not been pretty. 

They started me up on a new medication and I know that this is a terrible thing to say, but I was hoping I would have some appetite loss like I did with the other medication to get my weigh-ins back on track.  Can't believe I said that out loud, because that is totally not the reason I was taking the meds, but it was a fun side effect (until I stopped and it came right back so I KNOW it is not a good thing).  I'm working on getting in exercise and busying myself with projects around the house when I'm home from work so I don't stuff my face, and I'm hoping that this new medication will help with the anxiety without knocking me out again.

I don't really want to weigh in on Friday because I loved seeing those numbers go down but maybe it will motivate me.  It was SO nice to see a number in the 150s!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Third place!

In December I was up really late, catching up on my Reader and watching trashy TV because I couldn't sleep.  I ended up reading a just posted post on Charlotte's The Great Fitness Experiment about online personal training in January with Lindsey from Lean Bodies Health and Fitness.  The first 30 readers to send Lindsey an email would get one month of online personal training from Lindsey and I was one of them!  Things like this rarely happen when you live on the West Coast because I'm usually sawing logs while East Coasters are catching up on blogs with their coffee and breakfast.

In the end of December (but before the holidays, unfortunately for me) I submitted measurements, pictures, and info to Lindsey about my fitness goals.  She then created this awesome workout plan that included strength training, HIIT, and constant cardio.  We were to track our workouts and report back each week.  There was also a Biggest Loser component that everyone could participate in, based on percentage of weight loss weekly and overall for the month.

The beginning of January came and I had gained a few pounds through lots of emotional eating and did not feel great about it.  I updated my first weigh-in weight to reflect this and felt like crud admitting the pounds I gained over the holidays - hey, I hate being a cliche!  The first part of the month was a struggle as I dealt with job changes, taking classes part time online, and other general family/friend stress that always comes along.  I let Lindsey know that while I was committed to working out and eating healthy for my personal goals I could not commit to the time that the tracking and planning of the workouts was taking.  Some days all I could fit in was 30 min on the stationary bike in the garage, and I would stress because I didn't do the planned exercise I was supposed to.  Lindsey was so understanding, and let me know I could still be part of the Biggest Loser challenge.

By the end of January I was going full steam ahead with eating right and getting in exercise.  I was craving the good for me foods and was able to easily resist the not as good for me foods.  Finally, the scale started cooperating, once I stopped emotionally eating.

I submitted my final weigh in for the month and a few days later got the email with the winners of the Biggest Loser contest.  I won third place!!  I couldn't believe it, but apparently I lost 4.9%!  My prize arrived a few days ago:

A Bandzz!  While I haven't tried it out yet, and I'm still not 100% sure how it stays like that on your pants I think it is fun and the zebra pattern is funky.   Now if only wearing the Bandzz made my abs look like that...

 A Small World Beauty protein bar, in coconut coco cream!  I loooove coconut so I am excited to try this out!

The best part of the prize was winning another month of online training with Lindsey!  I'm not going to start that this month but once my schedule calms down a bit and I can give it 100% I'll start working with Lindsey again.  I can't wait!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

It's a team effort

A couple of great things have happened this week!

1.  I got new running shoes!  I was fitted and found these beauties which have made all the difference in the world:
 
I love them!  The day after I picked them up I ran two miles on the treadmill.  TWO MILES!!  I need to name them, I love them so much.  I never would have been able to imagine running one mile and now I'm up to two.   It's just incredible to me!

2.  I added my husband onto my gym membership and we went together last night.  It was really nice to have a gym buddy!  We did cardio separately and then did strength training together somewhat.  It is great that he's getting into fitness as well and that we can go together now.  I felt bad leaving to go to the gym instead of spending the evening with him the past few weeks.  

3.  The scale is going in the right direction, finally!