The End of the End of Summer Challenge

Can you believe it's August 31st already? Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday we started this challenge and now it's over. I can't wait for the leaves to start changing colors and the cooler temperatures to kick in so I can shut the air conditioners off. I love this time of year and look forward to the change in seasons because it means the snow will start falling again soon. Ok, sorry, I know most of you don't want to even think about winter but I can't wait to get back on my snowmobile. Yes, it's over 90 degrees here in the northeast and I'm dreaming of snow.

So today is the final day of Tammy's Waisting Away in the Heat - End of Summer Challenge. I had my fingers crossed that I would be able to report a record breaking 10 pound loss for the month but it didn't happen. As usual, my weight is up a little bit from Friday and slightly over that 200 pound milestone again which is why the happy onederland dance post has been rescheduled once again. I knew this would happen because my weight has never been a steady downward trend but rather a roller coaster ride with a slight downward lean but I'm heading in the right direction so it's all good. Don't put away those dancing shoes just yet because I'm planning to get it together for this weekend. I'm getting too old to party on a school night anyway.

Here's my stats for the End of Summer Challenge:

August 1st: 207.2
August 6th: 202.2
August 13th: 201.3
August 20th: 200.2
August 27th: 198.9
August 31st: 200.2
Total Loss: 7.0 lbs.

Seven pounds in a month is a decent rate of loss for me, remember I'm a very quick gainer but a very slow loser. Congratulations to all my competitors who inspired me to keep my eye on the prize and motivated me to keep fighting the good fight. I also want to thank Tammy for hosting the challenge even though she had so much going on in her life between work, finding a new gym, spraining her ankle, etc., etc. I hope those dark clouds that have been following her around get pushed out to sea by the strong winds coming up the east coast.

Let's see if I can lose another 7 pounds in September and get farther and farther away from the the dreaded 200s. I'm ready to dance. Are you?

Congratulations to our challenge winner. Rock on!

Lawfully Wedded Wives

... and they lived happily ever after!

Dancin' Shoes and Challenges Update

I've got my dancin' shoes on and I'm ready to boogie down. I'm so excited to finally break through into the 100s.




As the summer days are winding down we're in the home stretch of these challenges.

101 Days of Summer Challenge and Summer Challenge 2010:

Primary Goal: Lose 20 pounds

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)
Week 10: 206.1 (-0.9)
Week 11: 202.2 (-3.9)
Week 12: 201.3 (-0.9)
Week 13: 200.2 (-1.1)
Week 14: 198.9 (-1.3)

I'm down 16.1 pounds since the start of these challenges and very close to reaching my primary challenge goal of losing 20 pounds. I need to check when the official end to these challenges are and see if I can step it up a notch to reach that 20 pound loss mark. Even if I don't hit that number, I'm happy with my progress.

I missed a couple of days at the gym this week because I've been without wheels since B needed to use my truck to go to work since his little bug got totalled. I live close enough to walk to the gym but we've had some crazy weather (torrential rain and high winds) and I used that as an excuse not to go out of the house on Monday. I did check out a new gym with a friend on Tuesday and got a Super Tuesday 100 minute cardio session in to make up for lazing around on Monday. I actually took a bus and a train in the pouring rain to get to the gym on Wednesday. How's that for dedication and determination?

I've been slacking on the weights and C25K training but I'm giving myself an A+ in the healthy eating, HFCS avoidance and water guzzling.

Waisting Away in the Heat - End of Summer Challenge

August 1st: 207.2
August 6th: 202.2
August 13th: 201.3
August 20th: 200.2
August 27th: 198.9
Total Loss: 8.3 lbs.

This challenge ends on Tuesday, August 31st so I'll be doing another weigh in then. Hopefully I can stay under the 200 pound mark 'til then.

So, how's my competition doing? Making progress, I hope.

I'm crazy busy this weekend with my sister's wedding so the Onederland dance and door prizes post will have to wait another day or two. We've waited this long, another couple of days won't matter too much.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Rock on, Challengers.

Knock Knock ....

"Knock, Knock"
"Who's there?"
"Alice"
"Alice Who?"
"ALICE IN ONEDERLAND!!!"

Yes, that's right, you can call me "ALICE" because I finally made it to Onederland!!!!!!

It's time to dust off those dancin' shoes I've been tripping over for weeks (months, years, decades).

I'll be back with all the details and challenge update after I hit the gym and get my gear together for my sister's rehearsal dinner tonight and wedding tomorrow.

I hope you'll be able make it to the dance to celebrate this BIG milestone with me. Come on, dancin' is the best way to have fun and burn calories at the same time. Oh, and there will be some door prizes too.

See you at the dance.

Love,
Alice (a/k/a MB)

Sweet Corn and Maple Peanut Butter

What a great weekend! Good friends, good food and lots of fun.

We went to the Great Vermont Maze in Danville, Vermont for our annual hike through the corn. We figured it out in just under an hour which was a record breaking time for us.

This year they were celebrating 100 years of the Long Trail which is my favorite trail to hike in Vermont, especially the section along the ridge of Mt. Mansfield where the views are spectacular. We're planning a hike out to the highest peak (the chin) sometime in the fall so we can check out the foliage with the rest of the leaf peepers.

Not only did I have a blast running through the corn and figuring out the maze but I got to stock up on the most amazing maple peanut butter. The Curtis Vance Memorial Orchard always has a farm stand at the entrance to the maze where you can sample their jellies, jams, dilly beans, zany zucchini, maple peanut butter and other freshly made goodies.

I look forward to getting this maple peanut butter every year and every year they tell me they will ship it anywhere but that could be dangerous for me. I did make a point to buy it before we got lost in the maze because they sold out of it last year by the time we got out. I was so disappointed I didn't get my fix last year so I made up for it this year. We got three (small) jars and two of them have already disappeared. Damn, I'm not even a huge peanut butter fan but this stuff is amazing. I spent way too much money on peanut butter, blueberry jam, apple butter and salsa but not only is it all delicious, it was for a good cause.

The Vance family has a dream. Their dream is to find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and to help others celebrate life and to remember their loved ones - by visiting the orchard, basking in the scenic views and getting lost in solitude, while being surrounded by "the fruits of life." Many members of the Vance family have suffered with this disease and I couldn't help but think of my dear friend Lisa who lost her battle with ALS last December after suffering for over 6+ years so this fund raiser is close to my heart.

If you live in the area or plan to be in Vermont in the next month or two you should definitely take a trip and get lost in the Great Vermont Corn Maze. Don't forget to stock up on peanut butter. MMMmmmmm.....

After working up our appetites in the maze we stopped at Marty's 1st Stop for steaks that we cooked on the open fire along with sweet fresh picked corn and potatoes. This piece looked a little funky with another cob growing out of it but it tasted just as sweet as the normal looking ears.

Now who wants to try some maple peanut butter?

Quick Challenges Update

I am knocking on Onederland's door. The lights are on but nobody will answer the damn door. I am so close to crossing into the 100s it's making me a little crazy. It's just a number, just a measly .3 pounds to go but it seems significant in some way because it's been so long since I've been there. It will happen next week for sure so don't put away your dancing shoes just yet.

Here's my challenges check in:

101 Days of Summer Challenge and Summer Challenge 2010:

Primary Goal: Lose 20 pounds

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)
Week 10: 206.1 (-0.9)
Week 11: 202.2 (-3.9)
Week 12: 201.3 (-0.9)
Week 13: 200.2 (-1.1)

I'm happy with a 1.1 pound loss but it would have been even better if it were 1.4 pounds. Oh well. It's just a number, right?

I still need to get more time in the weight room and on the treadmill for the C25K program I've been slacking on but I just haven't been into it. This cardio queen needs to mix things up a bit. Next week I'm going to get on the dreadmill and go to the weight room before I hit the elliptical so there won't be any excuses.

I've been drinking nothing but water and eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I did indulge in way too many tortilla chips with the most amazing baja salsa that I won from Biz but it was totally worth it. This salsa tastes nothing like any store bought or restaurant salsa. It has the most amazing rich, smokey flavor and just enough heat although I could have handled a bit more. I didn't even need the milk I had waiting, just in case. It is YUMMY!!! (Thanks again Biz - I LOVE IT). I also had some too ripe bananas hanging around so I made some banana bread the other night and may have had one too many pieces but it's gone now and time to move on. I didn't make the healthiest choices this week but I wasn't in binge mode either so it's all good.

Waisting Away in the Heat - End of Summer Challenge

August 1st: 207.2
August 6th: 202.2
August 13th: 201.3
August 20th: 200.2
Total Loss: 7.0 lbs.

How's my competition doing? Making progress I hope.

I'm sorry to keep postponing the dance but I'm determined to get it rescheduled for sometime next week. I'm off to the mountains this weekend so I have to get packed and ready to go.

HAPPY FRIDAY! I hope you all have a great weekend. Try not to do anything you'll regret come Monday morning. ;)

Rock on, Challengers.

Three Years Ago Today ...

Three years ago today I started this blog hoping it would help me work through my issues with food. I needed to figure out why I stuffed myself until I felt sick and then ate some more while simultaneously thinking about how I needed to lose weight. I wanted to document my final journey down the scale because this was it. I wasn't messing around anymore. I was determined to do it right this time. I was sick and tired of stuffing food down my throat to prevent my emotions from bubbling up and out. I was sick and tired of the reflection I saw in the mirror, I was sick and tired of not fitting into any of my clothes. I was sick and tired of my boyfriend asking me when I was going to get on a serious program. I was sick and tired of it all.


Back then I was inspired watching PastaQueen and DietGirl transform themselves right before my eyes and I wanted to be just like them. I didn't expect a book deal but I desperately wanted those "after" pictures showing how I finally made it. I didn't even have as much to lose as they had but I couldn't seem to find that switch I needed to flick to make any lasting progress.


This was the place that was going to encourage and inspire me to lose the weight I'd been able to lose before but always managed to gain back. I had recently turned 40 and didn't want to waste another decade of my life being fat. I didn't have the nerve to record my weight at the time but I know I had gotten to a new high of 220 pounds.


I was stressed out and miserable at work and couldn't find any strength to make lasting changes. I was too tired to get up early and workout. After being abused all day at work I didn't have the energy to go to the gym, I just wanted to go home and unwind. I binged on bag after bag of chocolate covered pretzels regularly. I would get 3 or 4 bite size chocolates almost every day after lunch to give me strength to get through the afternoon, along with all the coffee and tea. I gave into the temptation of the free pastries, bagels, cookies and other crap that was regularly in the office and then indulged on the weekend because, dammit, I deserved it after the stressful week I had.


Unfortunately just starting this blog didn't make weight loss magic happen. I continued down the same path I had been on for years. I'd lose 2 or 3 pounds and then gain 5 back, get depressed, get stressed and eat more junk. It was a vicious cycle. Two years later I was still blogging but I hadn't made any progress in losing weight.


In January 2008 I worked up the nerve to divulge my weight, an even higher all time high of 226 pounds. I was so miserable and stressed out at my job and couldn't stop myself from binging and eating way more than any human needs to eat. By the time I got laid off in November 2009, I had binged and lazed my way all the way up to 242 pounds.


Losing my job after 11+ years was scary and depressing but it was the best thing that could have happened. It wasn't until I got laid off in November 2009 that I really started losing weight. I had time to go to the gym, go food shopping and cook healthy dinners regularly. I was waking up happy instead of sick to my stomach about having to go into the hell hole where I worked and getting abused every single day. I started to remember who I used to be before getting beat down by stress. I felt like I got my life back.


As of last Friday I've lost just over 40 pounds and I'm on the threshold of breaking through to the 100s any day now. That works out to an average of 13 1/2 pounds A YEAR which sounds a bit pathetic since I had anticipated being able to lose all the weight I needed to lose in one year, maybe a year and a half tops. Hell, I lost 60+ pounds at least twice before and each time it didn't take longer than six months. Why is it taking so long this time?


I feel like a completely different person than the one that started this blog. I feel blessed to have had this time off to get myself together and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to continue to keep up the pace when I have to go back to the daily grind. Will I be able to continue what I've been doing when I have to fit 40 hours of work into the equation? Will I be able to deal with the stress without using food to help me cope? I certainly hope so.


For now I'm just going to continue the Tippy Toe weight loss plan as I've been doing the last nine months or so. It's not sensational drastic Biggest Loser-type weight loss but it's working so I'm not messing with it. Maybe I needed to lose it slowly so I can learn how to keep it off permanently.

Three years later I'm not at my goal but I'm making progress and still fighting the good fight. I'll get to that ultimate goal someday and I hope you're all here to go to the big dance with me. In the meantime, there will be a small onederland dance very soon to tide you over 'til the big one. I was hoping it would happen today but I had some delicious fresh homemade salsa from Biz to test out and tortilla chips were the easiest and fastest way to polish off a jar.


I absolutely love and adore all the friends I've made here, the support I get when I'm down, the encouragement to keep trying, the advice on how to do it healthily, and especially the ass kickin' you've given me when I needed it these past three years. I truly appreciate each and every comment you've taken the time to write. It's nice to know I'm not in this alone in this battle.


Some of you have already come back from the front lines and have gone back into civilian fat-free life and some of you, like me, are still fighting the war one battle at a time. No matter where you are on this journey I think it's time we realized that we can't change the past and just need to learn from our mistakes and move on. I'm hoping to get to my goal by my 4th Blogiversary. Wish me luck.


Thank you for being a big part of my journey. You are the BEST!

Challenges Check In

No need to break out the dancin' shoes just yet. I'm a tiny bit closer to breaking through to the 100s but I'm not there yet. It may be a good thing we're not heading up north this weekend so I should be able to keep my eating in control and maybe get an extra workout at the gym. Let's see if I can hit that Onederland goal for my 3rd year blogiversary next Tuesday.

So here's the details on my progress this week.

Waisting Away in the Heat - End of Summer Challenge:

August 1st: 207.2
August 6th: 202.2
August 13th: 201.3
Total Loss: 5.9 lbs.

I spent most of the week working off the weekend weight gain but was still able to show a slight loss for the week. Only 1.4 measly little pounds to shed to get out of the 200s. I can't wait. I'll be doing that happy dance next week for sure.

101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010:

I'm still having some technical difficulties with my computer so I don't have a scale picture to show but here's the results for the week.

Goal: Lose 20 pounds

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)
Week 10: 206.1 (-0.9)
Week 11: 202.2 (-3.9)
Week 12: 201.3 (-0.9)

Not even a pound lost but those little tenths of pounds eventually add up to a big loss so I'm ok with it. I'm not going to win any prizes for shedding the weight fast but I'm down over 40 pounds and that's nothing to sneeze at, right?

I've been chugging the water, getting lots of fresh fruit and veggies and staying away from the processed stuff as much as possible. This is so much easier to do in the summer when all the farmers markets are open. I haven't done a Super Tuesday workout yet this month but I still have a couple weeks to get it in. Again, I only threw the weights around once this week but I'm still recovering from the accident so I'm letting my body tell me how far to push it. It only took me 40+ years to start listening to this ol' body of mine it's a wonder I even recognize that voice. I'm hoping to be able to push harder next week and really start throwing my weight around. How did you do this week? I can't wait to read about the progress you've all made.

Be sure to bring your dancin' shoes next week. I want you all here to do the happy dance in Onederland with me.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Rock on, Challengers.

All My Challenges ...

Finally, I have a timely update for the three challenges I'm in, so here's a quick recap.

Waisting Away in the Heat - End of Summer Challenge:

August 1st: 207.2
August 6th: 202.2
Total Loss: 5 POUNDS!

It seems like a lot for one week but it's a little misleading as my weight is always high on Sunday/Monday after indulging on the weekends. I lost 3.9 pounds from last Thursday 'til today which seems more accurate. I'm excited about being so close to breaking through to the 100s.

101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010:

I've been having some technical difficulties with my computer for the past couple of days so I don't have a scale picture to show but here's the results for the week.

Goal: Lose 20 pounds

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)
Week 10: 206.1 (-0.9)
Week 11: 202.2 (-3.9)

I do realize the 101 Days challenge is in week 10 and Summer Challenge 2010 is in week 11 but I'm just keeping things consistent since they started around the same time, just go with the flow and don't pay attention to my crazy new math, k?

I was able to work up my intensity at the gym this week after being sidelined last week from the car accident. I'm still a little sore so I'm not going to push it too much. I'm hoping to get in a Super Tuesday workout next week if I'm feeling up to it but I'm trying to listen to what my body tells me so I don't hurt myself by pushing too hard too soon. As far as the rest of my challenge goals go, I'm making steady progress. I only hit the weights once this week but considering my weakened state I think I did ok.

It looks like the onederland party dance will have to wait until next week *please, please, please, knock wood, fingers crossed*. I know it's only a number but I'm SO CLOSE I just want to break past it and move on to my ultimate goal.

I'm rushing to pack for Vermont so I'm going to leave it at that. We're supposed to be going on an ATV ride up Mt. Washington this weekend so I have to get a move on. Sorry I didn't link to the challenges but you can click the banner on the sidebar to go directly to the host of the challenges blog. I'm running out of free space with blogger so I'm not going to add the banners to each post anymore. I've been thinking of starting a fresh new blog, maybe at WordPress, but I can't deal with that right now so we'll just wait and see what happens. I'll keep you posted. If I make a move you'll be the first to know.

I hope you all had a great week and can get out and enjoy the two days of freedom if you've been toiling away at the daily grind. Only a few weeks left 'til the unofficial end of summer so get out and enjoy the weekend!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Rock on, Challengers.

A New Challenge and Another Late Update

I've been having a hard time updating for the two challenges I'm already doing (Biz's 101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010) but I'm joining Tammy's Waisting Away in the Heat End of Summer Challenge anyway. Basically it's a challenge for the month of August to see how many pounds you can lose from August 1st to August 31st. You can check out this post for all the details.

My starting weight on August 1, 2010 was 207.2.

That's quite a roller coaster ride, huh? I'm usually at my lowest on Thursday or Friday and my highest on Monday. I'm still working on controlling my snacks and making good choices on the weekends. It's so hard to eat right and be social. Summertime is all about getting out with friends and family and having fun so I'm just going with the flow and doing the best I can.

I'm planning on breaking through to onederland during this challenge so stay tuned. Who knows, maybe I'll be there by the time I hit my 3rd blogiversary (August 16th) *fingers crossed*. I can't believe it's been almost three years and I just started seeing progress in the last 8 months. I guess I know what stress does to my body and soul.

I haven't seen the 100s in over 6+ years and even then it was only for 5 minutes. I'm going to lose my mind if anyone else derails my plans by dropping their cigarette, !#$%^&*!#$%! You can read my previous post if you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm trying not to think about it too much because it freaks me out. I keep seeing it happen and thinking how much worse it could have been and how lucky we were. I just got word today today that the VW love bug is a total loss ;(. Now I get to fight with the insurance company to get a fair price for it. UGH! That's never fun.

I'm still working on catching up with all my unread posts but you guys keep writing such good stuff. I'm glad I didn't "mark all as read" or I would have missed so much. Most exciting was Mary and Kepa's engagement story. Check it out and congratulate them if you haven't already. I'm so happy for them. They are so adorable together, don't you think?

Here's my late update for the 101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010.

Goal No. 1: Lose 20 pounds

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)
Week 10: 206.1 (-0.9)

I didn't get a chance to weigh in on Friday or take any pictures so I'm using what the scale said last Thursday. As you can see from the picture above, it was back up to 207.2 by Sunday but it's already come down from there so I'm still crawling my way out of obesity. I can't wait 'til my Wii stops saying "that's OBESE" every single time I weigh in. I know, I know, I'm working on it. Sheesh. Is there a way to shut that thing up?

Because of an interview and the crash I only got to the gym once last week (the day of the accident) but I've been back the past three days and slowly working my way up to speed. I even did a light round of the weight circuit today (Hi Cammy ;). I'm still a little sore so I'm not going to push it too much until my body feels healed from all the bumps and bruises.

Stay tuned ... I could be doing the onederland happy dance very soon.

Thanks for all the well wishes and support. You guys are the BEST!

Rock on, Challengers.

Distracted Drivers: Pay Attention!

WARNING: RANT AHEAD!

WTF! Why do people insist on multi-tasking when they are driving? I wish people would get it through their heads that when they get behind the wheel of a car they are operating a dangerous and potentially deadly weapon. Distracted driving can be deadly or in my case can result in my car being totalled and B and I getting battered and bruised and having to endure a four hour tour of the local hospital's emergency room.

B and I were driving home last Tuesday night when some idiot crossed the double yellow line about 100 feet in front of us, B pulled as close to the parked cars on our side of the road as he could and came to a complete stop and the idiot drove right into us head on. The jerk didn't even see us until the last second right before he smashed into us. There were skid marks from our vehicle being pushed backwards but the idiot never even hit his breaks.

I thought the guy must have been drunk but apparently he dropped a cigarette and leaned over to pick it up, crossed the double yellow and ruined our night/week/month.... I was surprised the police didn't give him a field sobriety test but they did cite him for marked lanes violation and impeded operation.

Thankfully B and I weren't badly injured but it looks like our little love bug may be totalled. We're still waiting for the appraiser to make that determination. I wish we had been in my big truck instead of the little bug but I'm thankful the other guy wasn't in a truck because he would have driven right on top of us. We're both really achy on our left sides, have some back and neck pain, a few bruises and still feel sore all over almost a week later.

It's crazy how quickly things can change from a normal drive home to a trip to the ER. One minute we're driving down the same road we've driven down thousands of times when all of a sudden some idiot gets distracted and crosses the double yellow line and comes right at us head on. I just couldn't believe the guy could drive that far and swerve into our lane without looking up.

I've heard Oprah on her soapbox about getting everyone to sign a pledge to stop texting and driving but ANY distraction can be dangerous. When you are behind the wheel you shouldn't be talking on the phone, texting, putting on make-up, reading, eating, drinking, shaving, changing your clothes, turning around to yell at the kids, looking down to find a dropped cigarette or anything that takes your eyes off the road even for a second. Please be safe out there, wear your seat belt and do whatever you can to stay safe and out of harm's way.

Be safe out there.

Late Update

I'm so far behind in my blog reading and didn't even get around to update my challenge(s) status this weekend. I guess it's a good thing I'm not wasting the summer sitting in front of the computer screen but I hate falling so far behind. I have almost 600 unread posts in my reader so if anything earth shatteringly important is going on out there it may take me a while to catch up with it all. I was extremely tempted to "mark all as read" but just can't bring myself to do it in case I miss something big. I may not comment while plowing through all those posts but I'll get caught up soon and back to commenting regularly again.

I'm just going to give a brief summary update for the 101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010.

Goal No. 1: Lose 20 pounds (average 2 pounds per week)

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)
Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)
Week 9: 207.0 (+0.6)

I wish I could have used the numbers I saw on the scale on Thursday as I was down over a pound and a half but I'm sticking to my Friday weigh ins so a gain of 0.6 pounds is what it is. Let's hope I can show a decent loss next week so I can creep closer to that elusive onederland.

Things are pretty much status quo with the rest of my challenge goals. I'm happy to report I got my ass into the weight room TWICE last week with a little encouragement from Cammy. Sometimes all we need is a little push or a big fat kick in the ass to get us moving. Feel free to give me either one if you think I need it. Thanks Cammy!

I'm off to try to catch up on what's going on with all of you. I hope you're staying cool and enjoying the dog days of summer (or winter if you're down under).

Rock on, Challengers.

Summer Challenges Update

I know I'm late with my update but better late than never, right? I started writing my challenge update post on Friday but the day got away from me so I'm just getting back to it now. I don't know where my time goes. The days are just flying by and I'm trying to make the most of my last days of freedom because unless they decide to pass the vote for unemployment extensions I'm going to be forced to take whatever job I can get just to keep the lights on and my computer connection. I don't know where I would be on this journey without all the love and support you guys give me so I just can't live without internet access. As always, thank you!

Here's my update for the 101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010.

1. Lose 20 pounds (average 2 pounds per week)

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)
Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)

Week 8: 206.4 (-0.8)

Looks like a roller coaster ride, huh? I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I can break through to "Onederland" before the end of the month. It's so close I can almost taste it.

2. Hit the gym at least 4 days per week (not all cardio - weight training too)

- I made it to the gym every single day last week and managed to pump a little iron on two days. I can almost feel real muscles poking through on my arms. Imagine what I could see if I made more of an effort to get in the weight room more often. I still find it boring and have to force myself to get in there but I know the benefits will be worth every minute of boredom.

3. Push myself to get 99+ minutes of cardio at least once a month

- I got this done the first week of July but still want to get more super cardio days in. I don't think I reached 99+ minutes of all cardio any day last week but I spent over two hours in the gym on the two days I did weight training and have gotten at least 60 minutes on the elliptical every day. It's crazy how much I've changed in the past 7 months. Last week I laughed when I caught myself saying "I ONLY did 60 minutes on the elliptical." Who would have thought that would be a light workout?

4. Start C25K program

- This one is really tough for me. I know I should be on week 7 or 8 of the C25K program by now but I'm worried about injuring my creaky ol' knees so I haven't been pushing myself to get out of week 1 or 2 of the program. I'm still running more and walking/jogging less so I'm making progress.

5. Get moving on the weekends away

- We planned to go hiking this weekend but it never happened. I wasn't a total slug but I didn't meet this goal this week.

6. Manage nighttime munchies

- It's such a mental struggle of me wanting something sweet after dinner even if I'm not really hungry. I can't be hungry since I just ate but I WANT something sweet. I'm still working on this one.

7. Get more veggies, more fruit and more water

- I still got this one covered. It's been crazy hot here and fresh fruits, veggies and ice cold water are going down really easy. I even joined Kenz and Sean's "Positive Effect Water Challenge." I drink at least 64 oz. or more on the days I go to the gym but the water intake is lacking on the weekends. I'm making a conscience effort to stay hydrated and keep things moving.

8. Avoid as much processed crap and HFCS as possible

- We never made it berry picking this weekend but I've stocked up on frozen fruits for my green monster smoothies. Checking for HFCS is making my shopping decisions easier. If it's in there, I don't buy it. It's harder than you would think because that sh*t is in almost EVERYTHING. Can you buy stock in HFCS?

How was your week? Did you meet your goals? Do you want me to do a little cheer for you or give you a good kick in the a$$? Whatever you need, I'm here for you, just let me know.

I hope you're staying cool. Rock on, Challengers.

Versatile Blogger Award

Thanks to Jo at Weight on Me at 50+ I am one of the recipients of the Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks Jo! It's an honor just to be nominated.

As with all blog awards, there are rules so here they are:

1. Thank the person giving the award (THANKS AGAIN JO!)
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 newly discovered blogs.
4. Let your nominees know about the award.

So, here are 7 things you may not know about me:

1. After 27+ years, I'm still with the guy I lost my virginity to and we're still not married and have no plans to tie the knot (if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it, right?).

2. I'd rather be wearing jeans and a t-shirt than a designer dress (I haven't worn a dress in over 5 years).

3. I went bungee jumping off a crane and want to do it again just for the rush and perma-grin for days but I'm more scared now since I know what to expect.

4. Like Jo, I'm a handbag hoarder.
5. I hate to cook. I once burned a bag of frozen corn (I fell asleep while it was cooking and didn't wake up until the smoke alarm went off).

6. I love snow and would rather be snowmobiling in the mountains instead of sitting on a beach any day.

7. I love to read and usually have at least 2 books going at the same time. I think it's going to get even worst now that I got a Kindle although I'm old school and would rather crack a spine and turn the pages of a real paper book than turn on an electronic gadget. I'm always looking for good reading material so let me know what your favorite book is so I can add it to my list of "must reads."

I don't think anyone has ever responded to my blog awards and I'm a rule breaker so I'm just going to list my top ten newly found blogs and a few great ones I've been reading for ages just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't found these great blogs:

1. Lindsay at Healthy Stride

2. Leslie at Something Brilliant is Brewing

3. Bobbie at Anonymous Fat Girl

4. Tricia at Endurance Isn't Only Physical

5. Lori at Finding Radiance

6. Hilly at the new and improved Snackie's World

7. Jen, Amanda and Lindsay who are all Prior Fat Girls

8. Rachel at Body by Pizza

9. Jennifer at Ex Hot Girl

10. YOU, yes YOU. I'm sorry, but I'm too lazy to do any more links but I want you to take this award and tell us 7 things about yourself that we may not already know.

Thanks again, Jo.

I'm off to the gym to get good and sweaty. Peace out.

Quick Fixes, Magic Pills and Excuses ....

It's too hot to think around here so if you've been sitting there at the computer looking, JUST LOOKING, for some sort of motivation, head over to Anonymous Fat Girl's site and read this post. That's right Bobbie, there are no quick fixes, magic pills or excuses.

I had been feeling a bit discouraged lately by my snail's pace weight loss, especially when people like Jewlia Goulia hit 100 pounds lost in under seven months (Congrats Jewlia ;), and then a little light went off when I read AFG's post and realize I'm still a work in progress, but I am doing this. I have lost 34.8 lbs. off of my body and sustained a healthy lifestyle for over eight months. No quick fixes and no excuses. Even Jewlia agrees that there are no magic pills, no fad diets, no reality shows, just simply eating well and moving!

It's not a competition to see how fast we can lose weight but how we learn to live and love a healthy lifestyle. You know, live and learn.

Challenges

We're into the dog days of summer now. It's time for another challenge update for the 101 Days of Summer Challenge and the Summer Challenge 2010. I'm making progress slowly but it's still progress. How about you?

1. Lose 20 pounds (average 2 pounds per week)

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)
Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)

Week 7: 207.2 (-2.0)

WOOOHOO! I finally broke into a new low. I don't have any scale pictures because I left my card reader in Vermont but I'll be sure to post a picture next week. I think it still may be possible to see "Onederland" before the end of the month so I'm going to do my best to stay strong this weekend and not have to waste time working off weekend weight regain. I'll be happy if I can maintain over the weekend.

2. Hit the gym at least 4 days per week (not all cardio - weight training too)

- I made it to the gym 4 days this week and even went on my birthday. Again I only made it to the weight room once. Next week I'm going to start out in the weight room and then do my cardio so I can get it out of the way.

3. Push myself to get 99+ minutes of cardio at least once a month (Super Tuesday)
- I got this done on the 2nd but I plan on doing another super cardio workout next week.

4. Start C25K program

- I'm working on it. More running and less walking/jogging so I'm making progress.

5. Get moving on the weekends away

- We didn't go away last weekend but I didn't get much activity in since it was so damn hot out. I did sweat a lot though.

6. Manage nighttime munchies

- I've been doing better controlling the nighttime snacks. I did have frozen yogurt the other night but I got the kiddie size and it was more than enough.

7. Get more veggies, more fruit and more water

- I got this one covered. It's so damn hot and fresh fruits, veggies and water are all I've been craving.

8. Avoid as much processed crap and HFCS as possible

- I'm really shocked by how much HFCS is in EVERYTHING. I'm planning on hitting the local farmstand this weekend and stocking up on all the fresh produce. If the weather cooperates we may even go berry picking. MMMMmmmm...fresh berries....mmmmmm.

How did you do on your challenges? Are you making progress or do you need a push?

It's time for me to pack up and get out of the city. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Stay cool!

I'm Growing Older But Not Up

I can't believe it's been 43 years since the Summer of Love.

I was tempted to have cake and cocktails for breakfast but I went to the gym instead.

I get a little older, I get a little wiser - it's a shitty trade-off.

I'm off to celebrate. Peace out!

Challenge(s) Update

It's July! Can you believe it? Happy Canada Day, Independence Day or weekend to you. It's crazy to think 2010 is already more than half over and my 39th++++ birthday is next week. Where does the time go? It feels like we just made those New Year's resolutions and then we started these challenges and now it's already time for weeks 5 and 6.

So, here's how I'm doing on the Summer Challenge 2010 and the 101 Days of Summer Challenge.

1. Lose 20 pounds (average 2 pounds per week)

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)
Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)

Week 6: 209.2 (+1.3)

#$%^&*, no loss again this week. You may not think it's possible but I once again managed to gain 6 pounds over last the weekend. That's right, two weekends in a row I gained over 6 pounds. That's just crazy. It was a three day weekend since B's company picnic was Monday. I indulged in BBQ at the ATV ride Saturday night, ice cream cake at my nephew's graduation party on Sunday and pasta and potato salad at the picnic on Monday so I'm not really surprised I didn't completely work off those extra 6 pounds (AGAIN) but I got close. I was hoping to give myself the gift of "Onederland" for my birthday but I don't think I'm going to make it in time. I may have to settle for getting there during my birthday month. I'm ok with that as long as I get there.

2. Hit the gym at least 4 days per week (not all cardio - weight training too)

- I only made it to the weight room once this week. I was too busy being a cardio maniac. I know I need to do more strength training but it's so slow and boring. I want to learn to love it so I'm going to force myself to slow down and just do it.

3. Push myself to get 99+ minutes of cardio at least once a month (Super Tuesday)
- Knocked this one out today, the 2nd of the month. I did 111 minutes of cardio on Tuesday and 112 minutes of cardio today (70 elliptical, 41/42 dreadmill). Imagine? I wouldn't have thought this was possible 6 months ago.

4. Start C25K program

- I'm running more on the dreadmill but I haven't moved past week 1 of the C25K schedule. I'm going faster with more running and less walking but I don't want to end up flying off the damn thing so I can't be bothered to keep checking the time every other minute. I'll get there.

5. Get moving on the weekends away

- We had to leave VT too early on Sunday so I never got a chance to walk down to the lake. We finished putting the deck on the new porch, got the ATVs running, went riding, and pushed the lawn mower around. I didn't "exercise" but I didn't sit on my ass all weekend either.

6. Manage nighttime munchies

- I haven't been out of control but I still wish I didn't crave something sweet every night. I have a mouthful of sweet teeth not just a single sweet tooth.

7. Get more veggies, more fruit and more water

- I've been doubling up on the veggies with dinner, drinking Green Monster Smoothies when I get home from the gym and constantly having to empty my pea-sized bladder. Who knew pee could be so clear?

8. Avoid as much processed crap and HFCS as possible

- This is really hard. What are all these chemicals, preservatives and colorings doing in all our food? We can see what they're doing to our bodies. I wonder what they're doing to our minds. These chemicals and preservatives are like drugs or cigarettes - addicting. Good thing it's summertime and the farmer's markets are in full swing with FRESH, LOCAL, ORGANIC, DELICIOUS, YUMMY fruits and veggies. It's berry picking time around here so I'm hoping to stock up next week. MMMMmmmm...blueberries....mmmmmm.

I still have the urge to drastically alter my eating so I can just lose it QUICK but I keep reminding myself that that never really worked before. I'm getting there, slow and steady ....

Life is Good

I want to thank the fabulous, beautiful, smart, funny, honest, thought-provoking, lovely Jill at The Sassy Pear for bestowing the Life is Good Award on me. I'm honored to receive such sweet bloggy love and apparently, I've fooled her into thinking I have great words of wisdom. She must read my comments after spending all day with her 5 year old and gets confused on who said what. ;)

Ninety percent of the t-shirts I own are from Life is Good whose slogan is "Do What You Like, Like What You Do." Words to live by, don't you think? Maybe I should see if I can get a job with that company.


Anyway, the rules of this award are that you have to answer a few questions that the Award-er makes up, so here are my answers to Jill's questions:

1.What do you do in the privacy of your own home that you would NEVER do in front of anyone?


Walk around naked. Back in the day when I was comfortable with my body I wouldn't hesitate to jump out of the shower and walk around without covering up but those days are gone. Now I can hardly look at myself in the mirror when I'm naked or maybe it's just because I'm older and less of an exhibitionist.

2.If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be?


This is a tough one and the sole reason why it's taken me so long to write this post. My first thought was someone like Diane Sawyer (fame, brains and beauty), then I thought of Jennifer Aniston (fame, fortune and a smokin' hot body), then I thought Oprah (power and riches), then I was thinking Annie Leibovitz (my dream job) but none of those really felt right. I think I'd rather be someone like Gabrielle Reese or Lindsey Vonn, woman who are healthy and fit and live their lives doing what they love to do. After thinking long and hard about this question, ultimately, it would be fun to have fame and fortune and a smokin' hot body but I really just want to be the best version of me I can be.

3.What’s the bravest/scariest thing you’ve ever done?


Three, two, one .... BUNGEE!!!! Bungee jumping was the scariest thing I've ever done (at least until I work up the nerve to go skydiving. ;)

Now I need to pass on this Life is Good award with questions of my own. I'm sending this award to:

Lori at Finding Radiance
Lindsay at Healthy Stride
Jan at Thufferin Thuccotash
Biz at Biggest Diabetic Loser
Melodee at The Diet Naked Blog
Shauna at The Amazing Adventures of DietGirl
Tammy at From Fat to Fab
Diane at Fit to the Finish
Nilsa at SoMi Speaks
Jennifer at Prior Fat Girl
Leslie at Something Brilliant is Brewing
Cammy at The Tippy Toe Diet
Tricia at Endurance Isn't Only Physical
Debbi at Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
and you, and you and oh, I didn't forget you.

Why does it take so damn long to link to everyone? There's probably an easy way to do it but I don't know how. I'd love to specifically name each and every one of you but I need to get my ass to the gym now so please, if you're reading this, take the Life is Good award and answer these questions and link to them in the comments so I can see your response:

1. What was the happiest day of your life?
2. What is your dream job?
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you be?
4. If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?
5. What is one thing that always makes you smile?
6. What's the bravest/scariest thing you've ever done?
7. What is your favorite book?

Remember, LIFE IS GOOD! Get out and enjoy it!

Challenges

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a good week. It's time for my update on the Summer Challenge 2010 and the 101 Days of Summer Challenge.

As you know, I've been having a little pity party for myself today because I'm getting cut off from unemployment and I'm scared of going back to work, not having time to go to the gym, getting totally stressed out, and falling right back into my bad habits of stress eating and collapsing on the couch after a long day at the office. The good news is I haven't started stuffing chocolate down my throat to make me feel better because, you know, it never actually makes me feel better, just fatter and I don't need that.

So, here are my combined goals for both challenges and my progress update for this week:

1. Lose an additional 20 pounds by the end of summer/continue to lose an average of 2 pounds per week (13 weeks x 2 lbs. per week = 26 pounds)

Challenge Starting Weight: 215
Week 1: 212.3 (-2.7)
Week 2: 211.6 (-0.7)
Week 3: 211.6 (-0.0)
Week 4: 207.9 (-3.7)

Week 5: 207.9 (-0.0)

I spent the entire week working off the 6 pounds (actually 6.6 pounds) I managed to gain last weekend as you can see from my Wii graph above. I'm not really sure how I managed to gain over 6 pounds in only two days but apparently gaining weight quickly is just one of my many talents. I didn't make any progress on the scale since last week but I'm determined to get closer to "onederland" next week. I'm going to be extra careful not to snack and overindulge this weekend. We have a BBQ with the ATV club on Saturday and my nephew's graduation party on Sunday so it will be a challenge but I'm all for the challenges these days.

2. Continue to hit the gym HARD every day I'm in the city and not in VT/continue to hit the gym at least 4 days per week (60 minutes cardio and weight training)/get off the elliptical once in a while and start hitting the weights at least 2x per week

- I went to the gym every day this week and worked out for a minimum of 60 minutes. I made it into the weight room twice too so I'm doing better with that. I even walked to the gym one day because B took my truck to work since his car was in the shop. It's only about 3 miles but it was a good walk and better than having to get on the dreadmill at the gym.

3. Increase cardio to 99+ minutes at least once a month (Tuesday challenge)

- I did 110 minutes on the elliptical and 22 minutes on the dreadmill Monday for a 132 minute cardio session (and it wasn't even a Tuesday). I couldn't wait 'til Tuesday after seeing the 6.6 pound gain on the scale Monday.

4. Start the C25K program already

- I'm still working on Week 1 of the C25K but hope to move to week 2 of the program next week. I don't want to move up until I can do the running parts without feeling like my lungs are going to explode or my legs are going to give out. I'm making progress.

5. Get some sort of physical activity on the weekends while away at camp/hike, bike, walk or jog at least one day each weekend

- I didn't get much activity in last weekend other than a little swimming Sunday afternoon but I plan on going for a hike or taking a walk down to the lake (3 miles) at some point this weekend.

6. Limit my nighttime snacking ritual

- I wish I didn't crave something sweet after dinner and throughout the night but I'm getting good at limiting the amount of snacking and eating healthier stuff.

7. consume more veggies, more fruit and more water

- Still loving my Green Monster Smoothies when I get home from the gym. I've been filling my dinner plate up with extra veggies this week so I think I've got the fruit and veggies covered. Some days are better than others with the water consumption.

8. eat less processed crap and avoid anything with HFCS

- I'm happy to report that I haven't had any junk food this week. I'm still working diligently to avoid the nasty HFCS that seems to be in EVERYTHING. I'm doing my best to avoid it if at all possible.

This week wasn't a complete success but given the news about my unemployment being cut off I'm just happy I haven't fallen face first into a batch of brownies or a pint of Ben & Jerry's.

I hope you all had a good week. What's up for the weekend? Anything exciting? Stay cool and enjoy the weekend!