60!

I made it!!! FINALLY! After a year and a half, I've finally made it to 60 pounds.

Next milestone: lose the last 5 pounds so I can discard one number at the front of my weight and replace it with one I haven't seen in 4 years.

I. Can. Do. This!

New Toys!

Meet my new desk chair.

No, that's not me...God, I wish it was! Sadly, I will never have the bony ass I so covet...not even if I take up anorexia as a hobby.

Still, I have a newer and larger Yoga Ball and I'm so happy I bought it!

I had a smaller yoga ball for certain exercises, but I had read some time ago that if you sit on one at your desk or while watching tv, you're constantly contracting your core - as in your abs.

Well, I hate sit-ups. We've established this. And, while I do enough to say that I've done them...I don't really do enough to firm them as much as I should. Then, I started sitting on my old yoga ball. YEEEOW! Hello tighter upper and lower abs. Hiya, smoother lower back muscles. Dayum, my improved posture makes my boobs look perky.

So, last week I decided to up the ante and get a bigger and better yoga ball for my height - one to use when I'm sitting at my desk. I'll eventually get up to a few hours a day, but for now, one is about all I can stand.

I also finally sprang for a new yoga mat!

That's because I found a new workout on Netflix that I love as much as I hate - and I friggin loathe this woman by the end of it. It's called The Crunch Super SlimDown Pilates Yoga Blend.

Whether you have Netflix or not, if you're looking to tone your tuckus, arms and core, check this video out.

It's tough - but there are modifications to make it easier to start...and even then, I'm dripping sweat onto the mat.  It's awesome.

Clearly, my definition of awesome is high on endorphins right now.

My Uterus Moved The Goalpost (And Other Musings)

Not only was I on a roll and one pound away from a 60 pound weight loss, I was feeling damn good. Then, blammo! My monthly pal comes in and knocks my goal back 3 more pounds.

What a bitch!

Oh well. It is what it is and there's not a darn thing I can do about it. Plus, had it not shown up, I'd be gaining weight for a whole 'nother reason.

I'm also seriously considering adding another workout to my daily regimen. I feel like I can do it, but I'm going back and forth on whether or not I should. The fact of the matter is, I still have over 100 pounds to lose and I really loathe the idea of spending the next year doing it. As it stands right now, I run calorie deficits that should pull me down 2-4 pounds every week. Doubling the workouts could theoretically double the weight loss. (I say "theoretically" because the math is only part of the wacky equation.)

On the other hand, if I do too much too quickly, I'll probably wind up needing skin removal surgery! I'm lucky in that I really do carry my weight well and I'm still really young and take great care of my skin so it's pretty elastic. After the 60 pounds and crazy amount of inches I've already lost, nothing is just "hanging" around - it's sprung back just fine. The idea of wearing old and empty skin like an outfit you've since shrunk out of...kind of skeeves me right the hell out.

Of course, there's the other "what's the rush?" argument -- and that's the simple fact that what I'm doing now is what I will be doing for the rest of my life. Eating clean. Working out. Sleep. Repeat. My body will get to where it's going so long as I stay pointed in this direction.

Still, I just want to BE there already. Ask anyone that knows me well, and this impatience is anything but surprising.

I'll let you know what I decide. Would love insights and opinions!

When Do You Work Out?

For the past few days, I've been working out in the morning. Before that, I'd been working out in the mid-afternoon. Back in high school and college, I'd work out in the evenings...but, at least in college, I think that worked best because I needed the day to sleep off the hangover and saw the workouts as a way to make room for more beer.

I have to say that of the three day-parts, morning workouts seem to suit me best. To be fair, I think the reason that working out in the mornings is easier for me than just about everyone else on the planet is because I don't have kids and I'm self-employed. I don't get up before work. I just get up at the same time as I always have, exercise and show up for work afterwards.

Still, I see the point of working out in the am. It clears your head of cobwebs. You have less time to talk yourself out of it or, to do what I do, guilt yourself into it. Neither are fun and boy do they create a cloud that looms over your day.

Working out in the morning kind of breathes a whole air of productivity and accomplishment into your day. Instead of starting with a blank slate, you start with a check in the "win" column.

Regardless of the timing though, I find that consistency is key. It needs to be the same time of day, every day. Like so many of the bad habits I've worked so hard to break, this good habit has to be reinforced in order to stick.

I guess I've replaced my morning cigarette with a balanced breakfast and an hour of cardio.  Geez. Does that make me a grownup or what?

32.75 Inches - The Scale Only Tells Half Of The Story

I used to take my measurements every week. Lately, not so much. For some reason though, I decided that today was as good a day as any to see where I stand.

I'm so glad I did. Considering that the scale ticked slightly upwards in spite of more rigorous workouts - and has since (thankfully) turned back in the other direction again - it's an important bit of perspective.

What I'm doing IS working!! It's not just the way I feel when I wake up in the morning or the way I see myself in the mirror (which we all know can be quirky and downright deluded at times) - I'm tightening, toning and burning.

As of this morning. not only have I lost 55.5 pounds...


I've eliminated 32.75 inches from my body!

Here's how it all shakes out...er, off:

• 1/2 an inch of puffyness around my neck - GONE!
• 3 1/4 inches of upper arm flab - OBLITERATED!
• 2 inches of meat from my forearm - HASTA LA VISTA!
• 4 1/2 inches from my bust and chest - OUTTA HERE!
• 6 3/4 inches from my waist and belly - BURNED!
• 9 inches from my thigh - SENT PACKIN'
• 4 1/2 inches encasing my knee - MELTED AWAY!
• 1 1/4 inches from my calves - CRUSHED!

Clearly, I am a pear shaped gal. If I could have a lower half transplant, I'd seriously consider it. Still, it is very gratifying to see the progress itemized like this. It is taking me so much longer to achieve my goals than I hoped or expected it would, but I am really REALLY getting there.