The Fruits of My Labor

I've lost 10 lbs! I like a good even number like that. hehe I've been working my butt off these last two weeks, so I'll take it!

Tread & Shed was good last night.. I'm not going to the gym today or Saturday, but I hope to do a 3 mi. walk on Sunday. I need to get in shape for the Bridge Run 10k! I officially signed up! At first I was all excited about it but now I'm kinda freaked out! I don't want to be last! So I'm trying to just keep building up my endurance.. I have until March 27 to train. Eek! And according to Renee, it's dorky to wear your free t-shirt when you run, so now I have to figure out what to wear too. ;) http://www.bridgerun.com/

Speaking of which, I need to buy more workout clothes! I have like three pairs of pants and I'm constantly washing my clothes so I can get my gym bag ready for the next day. Not to mention, the sports bras I ordered online from Champion are on back order until possibly the beginning of March... So I DEFINITELY need to remedy that situation. Maggie and I might go to Dick's (Sporting Goods, that is) tonight to check out their selection. I've looked online, but since I'm so short, I'd like to try things on to make sure they fit. Just another excuse to shop!

And I'm not holding myself to anything... But I *hope* I lose another 10 lbs. by the time I go to NY next month?? The clock is ticking!

Is it the weekend yet?

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all

Emily Dickinson
~~~~~~~~~~~

I just thought that was pretty. And fitting! :)

Well, I'm happy to report that I'm still doing well. And I *think* I'm going to have a happy number tomorrow when I weigh in! But I don't want to spoil it, so I'll keep you in suspense. Muahahaha!

I'm doing well with my meals and exercise. I guess the only thing I'm getting slightly freaked out about is that I feel like ALL my extra time is going towards exercising. It's not that I even care (too much) that my dvr is overflowing. But I have errands and stuff that I don't have time for. Our lunch time was shortened, so I can't really do much with that time like I used to. I have to literally speed to the gym on Tues. & Thurs. after work to make it to Tread & Shed on time. And Mon. and Wed. I'm walking the bridge right after work. And I feel disgusting and sweaty in odd places after working out, so that's not the best time to go to the store. I pretty much go home, make my lunch for the next day, shower, and go to bed.

I know it's better that I'm going to bed earlier. I need the rest since I'm working out! I guess what I have to tell myself is that making time for the gym IS making time for myself. It's the same thing. I guess Fri. and Sat. need to be my days for relaxation and/or running errands. Haha Kind of an oxymoron, no? And I want to walk on Sundays on the trail and try to do 3 miles. Whew. Like I told Maggie.. If I could just find some way to not have to work, that would be fab. haha Any suggestions? I'm considering accepting applications for a sugar daddy!

Sorry to sound whiny! I just worry about everything. It's part of my nature. But I DO have more energy and I definitely feel better. And even though I probably don't LOOK that different yet, I do feel different.

Renee, I've already shared my shaving woes with you.. but for my other readers.. I should take a picture of it, but my shower is pretty small with a door. Probably about half the size if you use your tub with a shower curtain. So it makes shaving your legs a logistical problem. Since I have short, little legs - the best thing I can figure is to put my back against the wall and prop my foot up on the wall in front of me, near the faucet. It's a race against time. Can I finish the leg before my slippery foot slides down the wall, possibly resulting in a fatal Venus razor injury? Well, since I've been working out so much, my legs, hips, shins, etc. have been uber sore. Imagine hoisting the offending limb up to shave it now, when it was already difficult. Yeah, painful. And more than once, I've lost my footing and landed on the door, practically bursting out of the running shower. Ohhh, good times. Any tips in that area are welcome too.

Well, I guess that's about it. Going to Tread & Shed after work! I am attempting to go to the grocery store at lunch to buy bottled water and fruit.. So I can look forward to eating my lunch at my desk in between the phone ringing off the hook. Fun! I'll post my weight loss tomorrow! Toodles!

That reminds me of my "goodbye" ritual with Rachel...

Me: Bye, Doodle!
Rachel: Bye, Noodle!

She tried to make me Doodle at first and I wasn't having it. :)

Ginger Cadet High Five

I went straight after work to walk the bridge yesterday. I get tired before I even GET to the bridge.. Anyway, it's already windy up there but it was extremely windy yesterday. Leaves and stuff kept flying in my face. I had to keep my mouth shut for fear of a bug or something blowing in. So I'm trudging up the incline and a fast song comes on my ipod and I look up at the bridge and think.. Yeah, I got this!

Three minutes later I think.. No, I don't got this. My shins are on fire as I continue my ascent. Joggers pass me. Bikers pass me. I think a few school children even passed me. I can't be sure. I was concentrating on not passing out. Wobbly, I finally make it to the top and decide to keep going. I want to make myself go at least as far as I went with Renee the other day. Then I pass that point and decide to keep going.

Once you're past the point of exhaustion and you've moved on to delirium, it's actually quite pleasant up there. Windy, but pleasant with the ocean-y smells. I've gone a little over two miles and decide to head back.

I don't think I've mentioned that there are always cadets from the Citadel running on the bridge. There's no shortage of muscular thighs up there. (One of the reasons I continue to torture myself by walking the bridge..) Anyway, a particular cadet jogs past me and stops at the first arch to stretch. I keep plugging along and make my way to the landing and as I walk by, he sticks his hand out to high five me. It was like something out of a movie. So I high fived and just kept on walking. haha It was awesome. It's so funny. I was up there thinking.. I guess I HAVE to walk back to my car, don't I? And someone noticed I was working hard and wanted to let me know I was doing a good job. Oh, and I think it's worthy to note that this wasn't just any cadet... He was a GINGER cadet! (But a cute one.) I've moved on from Ginger Skullet at the Square Onion to my Ginger Cadet on the bridge! Te he he..

Here are a few definitions (compliments of urbandictionary.com) for people like my Mom who will ask me what "ginger" and "skullet" mean.


ginger
A human, characterized by pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. "Gingers" are generally considered to be inferior to their more melanin-rich brethren, and thus discriminated against. The condition, "gingervitis" is genetic and incurable.

Ron Howard is a ginger.


skullet
A person with a mullet that is going bald on top. This subspecies of mullet refuses to let go of its cherished plumage. Too many years of Pabst Blue Ribbon have made this mullet confused and nonsensical. What isn't on top, it more than makes up for in the back. It keeps its locks locked-up in a ponytail for good luck.

Man, that's a sweet skullet.


So I ended up walking about 4.5 miles yesterday. :) Oh and by the way.. I'm down another 2 lbs. already. Official weigh in on Friday!

P.S. Props to Sandra for loaning me her signature "Te he he".

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I was hoping to walk the bridge after work if the weather clears up. If not, I'll hit the gym. I have my clothes and I'm ready to go. :)

Well, I'm 72% sure Renee has inspired me to do the Bridge Run this year?? It's a 10k! For those of you who can't convert from the metric system in your head (Shame on you!), that's 6.2 miles. EEK! I know I'd be walking most of it.. But good grief. I don't know that I've ever walked that far before? Not on purpose. It seriously freaks me out. And while I want to say, "Not this year, maybe next year." I feel like I should do it this year just to prove to myself that I can. Plus, I'll get a free t-shirt! Bonus!

I'm trying to get Maggie to do it with me, but she's not all that thrilled about it. She thinks we'll come in last. But I think I would still do it even if I did it alone. I'd be happy just to finish at all.

So what do you all think? Yay or nay? Should I "train" for next year or just suck it up and do it? Keep the comments coming! You know I love it!

This is who wins every year....

Yay, me!

Drum roll, please.. Since Monday I've lost 6 lbs. I worked really hard for those 6 lbs. :)

I took Tread & Shed again yesterday. This instructor wasn't quite as psycho as the other lady. And I did ALL the sprints this time. Oh, it was kinda funny.. I was on the treadmill on the end by a big mirror. Well, about half way into the class I found out.. that was no regular mirror. I kept thinking I saw something out of the corner of my eye. And then I'd look in the mirror and get distracted and admire my butt. haha Upon further inspection, it was in fact a TWO WAY MIRROR. There was a cycle class in full swing behind the glass. After squinting a little, I noticed there were about 20 people on bikes that had been staring at me the whole time. Awesome! I can't help it that I'm Fergalicious. :)

Maggie can attest to this.. There was a bizarre bald man staring at me from across the gym THE ENTIRE CLASS. I was doing weights and I guess he was taking a break between reps.. But every time I looked up he was just ogling.. for an hour! Why don't you take a picture? Guess they just can't resist my junk in the trunk. :) My lovely lady lumps.. Okay, I'll stop.

And P.S. I don't think any men read my blog anyway.. But just a note to you guys out there. Please refrain from excessive cologne wearing at the gym! When you sweat, it smells about 10 times worse. Thanks.

As If I Needed Another Reason to Love Jillian

Jillian Michaels Debunks Your Top 8 Excuses for Not Being Fit
SELF.com

When it comes to getting fit, you know what you should do (hint: move more and eat less—or at least better). It's actually doing it that can be so difficult. Cold morning? I'm the first one to want to sleep in! My muscles will be too stiff to jog in the park, I tell myself. I know, I know—just get on the treadmill.

If only it were as easy to make it to the gym or order the salad as it is to concoct reasons not to, we'd all look like, well, Jillian Michaels. Which is why we went straight to the Biggest Loser trainer and SELF contributor—a woman who simply doesn't do excuses—to get her cures for wavering willpower. Keep Michaels' stick-with-it advice in mind when you're looking for a way out. Staying the course will come more easily, and so will getting a standout body!

Excuse: "I have zero time to exercise!"
Michaels says: "I feel your pain—my life is crazy, too. But good-for-you habits are the last thing that should go. If you don't take care of yourself, you'll have less energy to be that supportive person in your loved ones' lives. I tell working moms to ask for help. It used to take a village to raise kids; you can't do it on your own."

Identify your personality type for a willpower makeover.

Excuse: "I can’t afford a gym or fresh produce."
Michaels says: "Commit to a $100 investment in 10 fitness DVDs and you'll have enough variety for six months at least. You can do a whole workout—sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats—without any equipment. And imagine the cost of taking diabetes meds for the rest of your life—much more than the extra $50 a month you should spend on groceries and fish." Try this free, do-anywhere workout created by Michaels to get started.

Excuse: "The cookies in my cabinet are calling me!"
Michaels says: 'I don't keep junk in the house or let waiters bring bread to my table. I have no discipline, so I protect myself from temptation." Stock up on some of these 30 healthy snack options instead.

Excuse: "I can’t get up early to work out, and I’m tired at night."
Michaels says: "When the alarm goes off, ask yourself, 'Will going back to sleep help me reach my great goal?' If the workout isn't attached to a larger reason—like having the confidence to get back in the dating game—it won't stick." Got 10 minutes? Try this superfast workout you can do in your living room.

Excuse: "I've hit a plateau; I give up."
Michaels says: "Get selfish! Don't think you're asking too much of the world or of yourself. Push through by believing the new, improved you is your destiny. There's no reason you can't have it all."

Excuse: "I start off Monday with the best intentions, and then life takes over and I flake on my workouts."
Michaels says: "Set a daily or weekly target and reward yourself every time you meet it. I get my eyebrows done or download songs from iTunes."

Excuse: "I get so bored counting all those weight reps or running."
Michaels says: "As you exercise, think about what you're trying to achieve. Having intention behind your actions is extremely powerful. And nothing beats a good beat to keep energy high. I want to die when I don’t have my music! Any song by The Roots totally gets me psyched. Finally, you don’t have to kill yourself to get a workout. Running is one of the best ways to get smaller, but I hate it, so I do only one 10-minute mile."

Excuse: "But the couch is so comfy!"
Michaels says: "If you need a couple days off, take them. You don't want to get bitter or burn out."

For a workout so fast, fun and effective, you won’t need any excuses, try Michaels’s do-anywhere circuit-shape up at Self.com.

A Whole Lotta Treading & Shedding Goin' On

That class kicked my butt last night. But surprise.. I liked it! Let me start by saying that the instructor is definitely at least a little psycho. She walks around and belts out orders like a mini drill sergeant.

Did you even know there was a 12.0 incline on the treadmill? Oh, yeah. I wanted to tell her we're at Pivotal Fitness, not Mt. Everest. Seriously, I felt like I was scaling a building. Did you know that you can do insane things like push-ups and lunges on the treadmill? You can also walk backwards and sideways while crouching down. WHO does that?! I was huffing and puffing for the first 35 minutes. Then at minute 36 I started to feel nauseous and wanted it to be over.

I started to ask myself the following questions: If I just let go of the handles and take a dive off the back of the treadmill, do I still have to finish the class? Will I receive medical attention and/or sympathy? Are my legs still attached to my body?

This was the time to choose if I wanted to quit. And I've quit classes before that were "too hard". I was thinking to myself.. This is my Biggest Loser moment! Work through the pain! I just kept telling myself over and over.. I choose me. I choose to be happy. So I tried to ignore my stomach and kept on trucking. She bellowed for us to bump up the speed and I did. She said bump up the incline and I did. I never quit or tried to make it too easy. (And I never puked, thankfully.) I might not have been going as fast as some people, but I really did my best and kept up. And miracle of all miracles: I RAN on the treadmill! Me! For the first time ever!

When the class was over, it was impossible to miss myself in the wall of mirrors that surround the gym. My face was beet red and I looked like I took a shower with my clothes on. But I was really proud of myself and actually got teary eyed in the parking lot. Although, I was going on 4 hrs of sleep and somewhat delirious at that point, so that could have contributed to it. :) And as of this morning, I am 4 lbs. down from last week. After work today I'm walking the bridge with Renee! Things just keep getting better. :)

P.S. Thanks to Maggie who MADE me go to the class. Because otherwise, I never would have done it.

Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired

Hello, adoring fans. Well, as Maggie will tell you, I have been working out again for about a week now. But I was also majorly lacking motivation. Well, people, wait no more. I have found it. There are a few reasons, but I'll start at the beginning.

When Jenny came to visit, we did some shopping at Towne Centre in Mt. Pleasant. Now, if you don't know Jenny, she is wonderfully petite and adorable. She has lost a lot of weight and gives me hope that I can be "petite" one day too. (I am half way there, being 5'2". NO, I didn't round up to 5'3" as usual, so get off my back.)

Anyway, Jenny wanted to pop into Ann Taylor Loft to check out a sale. As soon as we entered the store, sure, I realized I couldn't get my left ankle into anything there. But I didn't mind perusing the racks with Jenny. So the sales lady comes up to Jenny and totally ignores me. My Pretty Woman moment in the dress shop! She will only speak to her and can't even look me in the eye. And then I see her giving me a snide look from afar as she slinks to the other side of the store.

You know what, Retail Harpy, I'm sorry I'm not middle aged, making minimum wage in my last season's Marc Jacobs knock-off flats. And for all YOU know, I could be buying a gift card or buying a must have accessory or two. Well, just you wait. When I'm skinny, see if you see my PETITE behind in Ann Taylor Loft! To quote the movie, "The War" - I can go on a diet and get skinny, but you'll always be uuuuuggg-lyyy. So there, you condescending shrew.

Moving on. Coupled with the Ann Taylor Loft incident of '10, I've had another revelation. I deserve to be happy. That might seem like a silly, simple concept to some of you. But for me, and for plenty of other overweight people (Just watch The Biggest Loser), it's a tough one. People can tell you all day long you're pretty, you're worth it, you have great hair (Okay, I don't mind that one).. but unless YOU believe it, none of it matters. I think it's the same for people who have eating disorders or drug addictions. You think you're not worthy of being happy, so you abuse your body... because WHO cares?

I'm not going to let other people hold me back anymore. And more importantly, I'm not going to hold myself back anymore. I am sweet, 'ol Liz who takes crap from everyone. I am just expected to do things for everyone because that's who I am. I am expected to not only take everything that is thrown at me, but do it with a smile. I don't make waves. I don't pout if I don't get my way. I don't put myself first.

Well, guess what... Lizzie just took her earrings off. It's on like Donkey Kong. I will go Bon Qui Qui on you faster than you can say King Burger. I am the same person underneath that I always was. I do things for people because I love them and because I don't mind taking care of others. But even I can only be pushed so far. I am going to hold my head high and put myself first for once. I am going to shed the self-loathing skin I've been living in. I am going to make time for the gym. I am going to put myself out there and be confident. (Because maybe one day I'd like to not have a barren womb.) And I am going to lose the weight because for the first time.. maybe ever.. I believe that I deserve it.

Sure, it's kinda scary thinking about being 26 and single. I want a lot of things for myself and my future. But I will never have those things if I'm not happy and secure with myself. And as a simple suggestion to my readers... Please join me in my ban against Ann Taylor Loft. I would rather hem every pair of pants I buy by hand than shop their petites section!

Last night, I took a 3 mile walk with Maggie on the trails. Today I walked the Mt. Pleasant Pier at lunch. After work I am going to gym to do the Tred & Shed class (eek!). And tomorrow I am walking (see: gasping for air on) the Bridge with Renee after work.

I know I will go out to eat. I know I will indulge in New York next month. But I also know that I feel free and relieved. And I think that will make all the difference. :) Thank you to my TRUE friends who inspire me every day.