Please Ryan--Don't Do This!

Ryan has decided to prove how quickly food can add fat to your body even if you continue working out. He is going to be eating everything people crave when they text message it to him. So far people told him fried chili releno, margarita, chips & salsa, fudge, and a number of other things. I think it's horrible to have to prove the point this way. i don't think he should do it. Potato chips, pizza, greasy fries--it all sounds like the recipe for vomiting if you ask me. For a month?

I tried to beg him not to do it, but he's decided. I hope people aren't too abusive in their suggestions.

I got my measurements today--I've lost 14 inches and 2 pounds. I don't know why, but the pounds don't bother me so much right now. I think that the next measurements will be a less and the weight will decrease because I'm starting to get over my hump. I did pull ups today. I can't wait to see what happens in the next couple of weeks!

Measured Today, Results Monday

OK. I felt great today.

As a team, we were counting together and I was finally using a heart rate monitor to keep me in my target zone. Apparently, I've been pushing just a little too hard.

We were measured today and I'm waiting for my results until Monday. It's funny. There are so many people that are complaining at this point--hoping to see more immediate results. Our team is excited. Liesel just stepped on a scale this morning and found that for the first time in her adult life, she weighs under 150. You should have seen the look on her face. I think she could have cried--that was her goal.

I just want to lose sizes. I actually still haven't looked at a scale. We'll see what Ryan says Monday:)

Showing up is Half the Battle

I am officially the first and only person to throw up during a work out for The Thinnest Winner. Thank God they didn't get that on tape. Really only my team knows about it, but it was embarrassing.

I shouldn't have felt so bad about it (I didn't puke on the floor or anything, I made it to the toilet) but I keep wondering if there was anything I could have done to prevent it. Probably not except staying home. That wasn't going to happen because I love my workout now--I wouldn't miss it for anything!

Ryan was really nice about it--he said I could have chosen to stay home because I felt nauseous, but I didn't. He said that more people should be as committed as I am and he believed I was going to the top.

I think it's an important lesson. I used to let every excuse stop me from reaching goals. I'm sick, I have a kid, I was in a car accident, I don't have enough time--EXCUSES. You know what? I don't have time for excuses right now. I don't want to have time for them again EVER. They're a waste of life:)

Keep it Going

Week 4.

Here I am.

I can't believe that I've made it this far.

I always give up around week 2 of an exercise program or diet.

I keep asking myself what changed? Why can I do this now, but I couldn't before?

I always feel a difference--exercise makes me happier, but why don't I stick with programs?

I have a team this time. They need me. And I need them.

We had a new addition this week. Now our group consists of Lori, Lori K (no joke), LK (me), Shannon, and Liesel. We miss Fish, but screaming was definitely going on today. Lori was gone, but Lori K joined us and she needed a little encouragement. I was amazed because she's very thin for having had four children. She is completely out of shape. It makes me wonder about a lot of people. Being thin doesn't make you healthy. I admire her for joining us.

I found out that I can do sit-ups using only my ab muscles today. If you've known me a long time, I might have told you that in elementary school I used to cry or try to skip gym on the days we did fitness tests because I could not do a sit up. (Or a push up for that matter, but I can pull myself up to a bar now.) I did nearly fifty today.

Easter Eating, Fish, & How to Deal With Discouragement

I did a pretty good job avoiding bad foods on Easter. I don't crave them anymore. I had made cupcakes, but I didn't really want them. The salads were so amazing there was no need to look for something else. Dried cranberries in spinach leaves with vinaigrette--you should try it.

Large holiday meals are hard for many dieters because there is a feeling that we have to try and like everything so we have to take a lot of it. NOT TRUE. Take a little of each and when you've finished what's on your plate, allow yourself a second small helping of your two favorite dishes. There is no need to go crazy and feel like a bloated cow when you've finished eating. Eat slow and enjoy your food. Talk, eat, and enjoy the company. That's what I did--it was a wonderful Easter.

Fish is the nickname of one of the girls that was on our team for the Thinnest Winner. My team consists of the women I've been working out with. Today was really rough because Fish's husband had to declare bankruptcy and they moved over the weekend to Utah to live with family. I will miss her a lot--she was just starting to overcome her own self doubt.

The other members of my team (save one, Liesel) were all gone today. It was depressing. We had come up with the name "The Screamers" for our group and there wasn't a lot of screaming going on.

Many people give up by this point in a program because it's hard to continue eating right and exercising (even if you feel good) because we want instant, perfect results. Unfortunately, it doesn't take a person one month to get out of shape so living right for one month isn't going to magically change a body--you have to be in for the long haul.

Right now, I can run for 20 minutes and not be short of breath. That's something. I have been so unhealthy for so long, and now I can breathe and exercise without feeling like I'm dying. I haven't looked at a scale since I began this program. It's liberating.

Ryan gave me an electronic copy of his book about fitness, weight loss, food, and especially attitude. If you'd like a copy, let me know--I can share EVERYTHING. I have his permission:)

PANTS!

My news for today is that my size 16 pants are too big and my size 14 pants actually fit. YAY!

It may not seem like a big deal, but I've been stuck between the two (and mostly in the 16) since my pregnancy.

There weren't any measurements today--we are going to be doing them every two weeks. I can't wait to see what they are next Friday!

Just so that you know, measurements are a much better measure of success than the numbers on the scale. We obsess about weight, but we need to be obsessing about our health. Weighing 120 lbs is not healthy if you don't have muscle--it's just as bad to be out of shape no matter your weight!

What do you want?

Before you can reach a goal, you have to set a specific one. Don't commit to an unrealistic goal. Give the question "what do you want?" a lot of thought.