Week 32

Start weight: 247

Current weight: 193

Total loss: 54

A slow week, weightloss wise for me.

I've had a sinus issue since last Sunday.

Making it impossible for me to run.

I did however, go to the gym for 7 days in a row for the first time ever!

I also did all the reps in active with my handweights for the first time ever.

And I used 20lbs plus the bar for weights class today :)

My husband also made me feel amazing Saturday night, he just stared into my eyes and told me I looked really beautiful and I could tell he truly meant it. That makes me feel on top of the world!

Today I had a coconut cream pie larabar on the way to the gym for breakfast and by the time I was getting into my car to go home (2.5hrs later), my stomach was growling. My stomach ate the bar up and was hungry again!

I tried Panera & I liked it!

While driving today, I missed my turn for Chick-fil-a.

I saw a Panera sign and decided to eat there.

I quickly looked up the calories for the menu-but I didn't need to, they were already beside each menu item.

I ordered the Asian Sesame Chicken Salad.

I picked off the crispy wontons for a 310 calorie salad, very yummy!

Still feeling sick, but because it's only my nose I went to Zumba last night and to Active class tonight.

Feeling proud and strong :)

I love my gym!

At first, it was just that my friends went here. It is much smaller than my last gym and a lot of my high school classmates go here so I wasn't sure that I would love it.

I loved the classes after just one week, and I haven't been to a class that I don't love yet. The girls behind the counter know me by name.

I've met several people who have lost or are losing weight and we catch up with each other weekly at the gym.

The 10 times or more board is a pretty good motivator at the front door as well.

And the first thing you see before you even open the door is:

I've emailed the owner about my favorite instructor teaching more classes, and a few weeks later a new class of hers was added to the calendar!

Now there's the class/signature challenge, that they have extended through the end of March.
My first full card!

SO many reasons to love it here!

Here's my monthly email with my tally of visits for February.

22-24 times!

I knew it was possible, it was a LOT of work & dedication with no excuses!
I can feel a head cold coming on, but I went ahead to the gym to walk & bike tonight.

Week 31

Start weight: 247

Current weight: 193.5

Total loss: 53.5

Feeling on top of the world!

I'm feeling confident & prettier!

I got this.

The gym challenge is helping a lot.

As well as my health-minded friends!

Running during lunch!

My schedule at work has changed so that I am in the office on Mondays & Fridays.

I work about 15 minutes from my gym, so I decided to see if I could make it there, get a good workout in and back in an hour.

I started using my lunch hour as my C25K time and it works out well.
Tonight was my friend's birthday party and I knew there would be delicious cake.
I saw my Zumba teacher's Facebook status that they needed more people to come or the 5:30pm class was cancelled so I decided to go!

And then I enjoyed cake!

One small piece was just enough :)

Mini-vacay!

This past weekend we ventured to Birmingham for a couple days away. The night before we left I read this post, specifically about eating healthy on vacation. It got me to thinking about what we were going to do on our trip. Last time we were in Birmingham, we ate. A LOT. Basically our whole trip revolved around the next meal- because we were on vacation and our hotel didn't serve breakfast we ate every meal out. We visited the Peanut Depot to get peanuts, we went to our favorite barbecue place, as well as the restaurant attached to the hotel lobby. Basically it was a pig-out fest.

Dinner last time in Birmingham

Where we ate ribs & fries

I was determined to make this trip different. We started out with lunch before we left at Chipotle.

 We did eat in the restaurant attached to the hotel lobby again, but we ordered grilled fish & chicken instead of steak. We did get fries & bread but we went easy on both. After dinner we relaxed in the room while our food settled. Then, we got dressed for the hotel gym. I even had to borrow a rubberband for my hair- but I was determined to get a workout in. And that I did, I ran 2 miles in 27 minutes. We even researched breakfast places before bed, choosing a place that had a light menu that included egg beaters/egg whites and turkey sausage :)

Breakfast was a delicious egg beater omelette with mushrooms, goat cheese & turkey sausage with fresh fruit on the side, we got "famous" milkshakes for lunch, then light hibachi for dinner.

While my eating wasn't perfect- I stayed within my calories for the weekend and even got a workout in. 

Balance, I like it.
And you know I love me some dressing room pictures!

And I also can't help but compare:

 

On the left June 2010 and on the right February 2012

Week 30

Start weight: 247

Current weight: 196

Total loss: 51

51 Freakin' pounds!

Gone forever!!!!

This is my half-way point to my goal!
Now I only have 51 more pounds to lose :)