-Here's the story- We met on Sparkpeople.com in October of 2008. We have become eachother's healthy living support through countless email's, text messages, and gchat. Come to find out, we have a lot more in common than just the desire to lose weight and have had the opportunity to become great 'virtual' friends! We are both working towards the main goal of weight loss and overall health and happiness. This is where we document our up's and down's along the way! *If you are stopping by for the first time, please feel free to say hello in the comments section and leave us a link to your blog if you would like! We always enjoy finding new blogs to follow!*

Thursday, June 25, 2009

There is something to be said for having great friends

I am the type of person that doesn't have a million friends...I prefer to have a few that are tried and true.  This post is dedicated to Mal, co-founder of our blog, because she just rocks more than she gives herself credit for.  If anyone besides us looks at this blog....LOOK AT HER PROGRESS PICTURES SHE JUST ADDED!! She hasn't written a post about how amazing her progress is yet, and I gave her plenty of time to do it, but she is also one of the most humble people I have ever met.  So I made an executive decision...and she can write the follow up :) Let's be real here...after you view the pics...she looks amazing and has worked so damn hard.  

The inspiration for this blog entry just happened when I walked in the door tonight.  However, I better start with my day yesterday.  Yesterday morning during my presentation for class that I was absolutely nervous for we got news that a beloved coach from a school that is 25 miles from my home was shot to death in the weight room of his school.  Being a teacher myself it just tore me up, especially because there were 50 elementary kids in there when it happened, it was just a moment that can ruin a kids childhood.  Plus, this man was an icon and just a man among men.  He was an example of everything that is good in this world, he developed boys into the men that they would become.  I know he was just one man, but in the realm of small town Iowa football, he didn't just set the "bar"....he was the "bar".  and the teacher in me felt fear, knowing that that can happen in any school, under a million different circumstances, and we will never know the reason why, most of the time. 

Then I got a call that one of the kids I work with got in BIG trouble and was escorted home by a sheriff, and I was at a complete loss as to what to even say to him.  The trouble he got himself into may be out of my hands to help him fix.  His future is held in the balance of grace and justice.  Then twenty minutes later I received a call that his dad got into trouble and was in jail. It makes me so angry because every once in a while, despite all earthly reason, there is a good kid out there that doesn't deserve the hand that he has been dealt, this is that kid.  

So today I get home from going to see him with no answers to any of his questions and feeling really bad and there sits a package on the table from Mal.  Curiosity got the best of me and I opened it, to read the card that made me cry. (I don't even think that she knew that the colors on that card were my wedding colors) Then I got to see my goodies in there, they are so fun.  She constantly reminds me that I need to take care of me...which is usually the last priority on the list.  So I poured a hot bath, washed my hair with my new sexy soap, and put on my new lotion.  Thanks Mal...for all the things you do that you think go unnoticed like texting me before i'm about to make a horrible eating choice, for motivating me when I struggle to motivate myself, being my most honest critic, a cheerleader when i need it, for not getting pissed when i accidently text you after boxing (forgetting that its the ass crack of dawn where you are) and for being the best person to be on this journey with that I could ever ask for.   

Monday, June 22, 2009

Bring it on Baby!

Well here it is Monday, and I'm not blogging with the intention of "OMG I'm so glad last week is over, glad a new week is beginning, the weekend was a disaster... blah blah blah". Honest! This past weekend was pretty darn good, aside from being sick in the night on Friday night. Boo. But despite that, I did 90 minutes on the elliptical Saturday!! It was amazing and obviously the longest I've ever gone. I had rented "He's just not that into you" (John was out of town for the morning) and put it on, and just kept going and going and going. And once 60 minutes went by I just KNEW I had it in me to keep going, so I did! And after 80 minutes I thought I was going to die, but I really pushed myself and got a full hour and a half. It felt great and it's exciting to know that I can really push myself like that.

On another accomplishing note... drumroll please...yesterday I was 179.8! I did it! I have broken the barrier into the 170s and I am sooo excited. I'll be honest and say I was back up to 182.0 this morning, but I'm blaming that on the big Father's Day Rib Dinner we had last night, and I'm still way excited to sort of be in the 170's! Yesterday after Church I dared to try on a pair of capri pants that I haven't worn yet this year (hello muffin top!) and they fit like a glove! I was so excited and I just felt fit and fabulous all weekend long! I just got done posting Steph's new progress pictures and now I'm determined to find my camera tonight and get some new pics up. I feel like now that I'm a little smaller, I'll actually be able to start to see my progress more. I once heard (or read) a "paper towel theory" that explained it so well. I just googled it and this is what was written.

The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around, that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area – just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area. While the outside sheet of a paper towel roll may only cover 1 layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you 4 times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same – your perception is just different! And you’ll never see the inside, if you aren't patient while the outside is coming off!


I love that! I know it's such a simple theory, but I think about it a lot! It makes perfect sense, and makes me want to try even harder to get to the point where I'll be able to notice the loss of just a couple lbs.
Oh another exciting thing is that I bought a new workout outfit from Victoria's Secret this weekend. They are clearancing out some of their workout stuff and I got the most comfortable workout Capri's and a matching sports bra. They fit soooo well and are so cute and comfortable that I'm already excited to go home and workout tonight! (AND only 8 days untill I'm off to Virginia!! I'm so excited!)

A Week of Pride

On track doesn't even begin to describe how awesome that last week has been for me. I worked out a total of 3,650 cals last week which blows away any current record that had been standing. Also, I stayed in my calorie range every singe day...EVEN the weekend which was a sheer act of god but I did it.

I'm on cloud nine right now, thinking about this next week to come and that this working out schedule I am on right now will be able to be maintained when I start my teaching job. Yahoo!! Here's to another successful week.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Following the leader

Well I figured I should stop by quickly for an update as well. It's only Tuesday, but this week is going well. I'ts been going really well since Friday, actually. I have become OBSESSED with bike riding. It's soooo much fun and such a great work out, and so great because I can do it with John and he really enjoys it too. Anyway, i've been on a bike ride for at least 50 minutes every day since Friday, so needless to say i've been getting a lot of exercise. My eating has not been great, but i'm working on that. I weighed in this morning at 183.0. Im still hoping to reach 175 (i'll settle for anything in the 170's!) by the time I go to Virginia. Im just thankful that my pms is over, and I can move on with my life!

Sitting in Class Blogging

This week has been great I have gotten back into all my healthy habits.  Yesterday was a super charging day because I woke up with a headache and didn't go to my normal morning kickboxing at 5:30 am, but I got my butt home from work and went to the 5:30 pm class.  It was excellent class too because I burned 740 cals in 1 hour.  Wow I am sore today too, but what a great work out.

I have just taken a few minutes to share that I am continuing doing well.  With that said I am stepping on the scale today to see if I have made any progress.


Monday, June 8, 2009

A Day On The Go...In Range

Well wow, I don't know where my motivation came back from, but it must have been dormant for a while.  However, this weekend I just had a moment of clarity.  Who am I doing this for? What am I waiting for? I was constantly waiting for someone to answer these questions for me and to tell me to collect $250 after I pass GO.  This journey is a battle for me AND against me.  The old me with habits clashing with the new me that desperately wants to come out.  The best way to illustrate this is that my anniversary is this weekend...and a year ago today I married the greatest guy I know...weighing in 30 POUNDS LIGHTER.

My day today consisted of getting up at 4:50 am and kickboxing, going to class, heading to a meeting, taking a boy on a visit with his dad, taking him back home, and then going to my godson's baseball game.  I ate breakfast in class of a cup of cereal, then i ran to subway and had one of those new tuscan chicken subs which was yummy, then i had a kashi bar while he was visiting with his dad, and then i made the yummy mexicana soup in the crock pot waiting for me when i got home.  It was an excellent day for my eating and exercise.  Here goes another week:)

Confession

I'm just going to throw it all out there. The past 4 days have been BAD. I haven't exercised since last Thursday, and my weekend eating was completely out of control. I am hormonal, and rather than trying to control myself and do the best I can, I didn't even try to reign myself in. And wow, I am really feeling the effects of that. Today I'm feeling fat, bloated, stomach ache, and just all around yucky. I guess that's what I deserve after treating my body the way I did all weekend.

Now with that all out there and off my chest, I'm over it. This is just what happens. I fall off the wagon (sometimes harder than others) and I get back on...

I just got back from my lovely 44 minute lunch time walk and I feel really good. I needed that, that's for sure. This weekend John bought me a biking top, and I bought some padded butt spandex biking shorts! I'm excited! (they don't look that bad, I promise!) And we are going to go for a nice long ride tonight after work. I love working out together. It makes the time go by much faster. Last week we rode our bikes to the tennis courts and played 50 minutes, then rode back home and that was so much fun! It helps me a lot to have John on the same page. His eating and exercise habits have greatly improved in the recent months.

So I'm really REALLY ready to get my weight loss moving once again. For some reason this particular thing happens to me every time. It's so hard for me to get into another 'decade' of numbers. For instance I hovered around 201-200 for a long time. Then I hovered at 191-192 for the longest time as well. Now I'm at 182 and can't seem to get my act together long enough to say goodbye to the 180's. I'm not sure what it is really. Probably a mental thing I imagine. But WOW I am so ready for the 170's! I know I keep saying that, but I really am :O)

I am officially, once again making a goal of tracking my food daily, and doing my lunch time walk every day this week. I can do it. I will report on Friday!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Tuesday

I'm so happy that we're getting a more positive energy going on this blog now! I'm excited for Steph and I both to have a successful week.

Yesterday was a GREAT day. I wasn't able to do my lunch time walk because I had to go register my car, but I got my bike back from the shop last night so John and I went for a 49 minute ride and I burned 402 calories! And to make that even better, before we went and I was sitting at home waiting for John, I hoped on the elliptical and did 20 minutes, burning 200 calories. So yesterdays total was 600. Not as great as I would love to have, but it was still great of course!

I'm so excited to finally have a bike. John is crazy about bike riding, so hopefully we will be doing a lot of that together this summer. This morning I even rode it to work! 9 minutes and 81 calories. But every minute and every little calorie adds up :O) I also just got back from my lunch time walk, my typical 44 minutes and 319 calories. I tracked my food yesterday (and stayed in my range perfectly!) and am tracking today as well. My weekly goal for this week is to track every day (even dinner, which is where I always bum out) and go for my walk every day. Those are 2 simple things, and I should be able to do them for sure! I'm also planning to go for a bike ride for my workout tonight. There are lots of hills around our house, and last time John rode up towards the mountains he said it was so hard he almost passed out! So it will be interesting!

Kickboxing just owned me

Well the most important thing to take from this blog entry is that i got off my butt and went to kickboxing, i suppose i don't need to over share how much wind i was sucking, my beet red face, and the fact that typing this blog entry right now feels like a lot of work.  I'm so glad that i went and that things in this journey are happening for me right now...plus a burn of 594 cals in 47 minutes is pretty sweet.

I can't dwell on this last month of fatal flaws, i am looking forward and ahead.  My basement is almost done which is a huge sigh of relief, my best friend in the world has just moved in for at least the summer and so she is in on this adventure now too.  I am proud to say that I stayed in my calorie range yesterday, and am tracking my food again too.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Is there such a thing as weight loss bipolar?

Because if there is, *I* have it. Seriously! I feel so back and forth. It's like one week I am doing amazing, then I slip up a little over the weekend, and it usually turns into a COMPLETE and utter disaster slip up, which over flows into a couple days, then often extends into a week... and before you know it I've gained 1 or 2 lbs and feel terrible because I haven't worked out in a week. *sigh* Story of my life. Will it ever change??? I know I have the complete ability to change my bad habits, it's just really hard! I'm one of those people who never ever ever EVER finishes what I start. It's a terrible habit I have, and it's embarrassing for me, but it's completely true. I start books that I don't finish, I start projects that I don't finish... I started college and didn't finish. It's not something I'm proud of but it's a definite character flaw that I need to overcome. I guess looking at a positive side, I am amazed at myself that I've lost 25 lbs and didn't quit. I still have 25+ to lose, but there is a little part of me that is worried that I'm going to give up. It's like this constant inner battle. And it makes me sad that I mostly only blog when I am doing really well. This is supposed to be a blog of our journey. Not just of our successes, which have been few and far between! Perhaps I'll make a goal of blogging at least 2 times a week. I need to 'check in' with myself, in a sense.

Anyway, that was just kind of a rant, but I guess that's normal for me! Today is going great so far, and I'm back on spark people tracking my calories and i'm going to become more active on the message boards. I've got 30 days until I head to Virginia for vacation, and I HAVE GOT to look/feel great!! Here's to a great week of eating healthy, and gettin our skinny on!!

Mallory's Weight Loss

Stephanie's Weight Loss