Dreadmill + Rage Against the Machine = 40 mins doable

Ah HA!  I found out the trick to staying on the damn thing - Some high energy angry music!  How sad is it that I just started listening to Rage this year...I was missing out in high school. 

I got home from work and put in 40 min intervals on the treadmill followed by a Bosu ab work out.
Thanks Rage - what a difference some kick ass music makes.

This weekend has been good - busy at work but I still got in a long ride on the single speed last night - Its wonderful to be in the woods alone in the dark - so peaceful!  

Food has been good,  I'm looking at a loss for the next Holiday Challenge weigh in on Wednesday morning.  

Yoga is on the menu for tomorrow morning and then a bike ride in the evening.  The weather here has been pretty perfect for MTB - no complaints.  

So here is a sample of some killer running tunes...

Rage - no shelter:
 

Living in the moment

At yoga, on Wednesday we focused on being in the moment and coming into our middle - the center of ourselves.

I think working this type of practice is key.  This week has been as shit show at work and the only way I was able to keep it all together was to go back to that place of calm and center of myself.  
Have I mentioned that I love yoga?

Slowing down is the #1 thing I have to work on and going to yoga 2x a week is key to retraining my brain.

For 30+ years I have had a loop of negative self talk running through my brain and have battled that voice with shoving food in.  Wednesday was a huge breakthrough - funny how at the time it seemed like nothing.  

For one hour (during yoga) I had a loop going through my head.... I AM GOOD.

That is all, over and over again.  And wouldn't you know its changing everything.

Coming back to the center of myself and knowing at the end of the day - I am good...no matter what I am good. 

I will slay that self hatred voice that does nothing for me - that voice can go away.  Because in this moment right now I am good.  The center of this moment is good and I am good.

Whats my plan today? - Run - protein protein protein water water water water water.

Happy Friday ~ be good to yourselves

Ten Things Thursday

1.  Joan Rivers and Fiddy Cent pushing a 5 hour energy drink type thing on a commercial -have you seen this?  I am speechless

2. Went to a going away party for our office manager last night - lots of hilarity - I may have drank a bit to much and not had enough food.... this morning I am not so cute - in fact I feel like a turd.

3. Today there is a free beginner TRX/Boot Camp class I'm taking - trying to get in all the fitness deals I possibly can.  Free is my favorite word.

4.  Got my hai (that's Long Island for hair) did yesterday.  Its VERY red.  and very Sharon Osborne.  Hoping it will tone down a bit over the next week.

5. Thanks for the sweet comments yesterday on my photos - I love before and afters - I used to spend hours online looking at videos and photos of peoples sucess stories and photos - pretty cool to have my own now.

6.  Yesterday was a bad day at work - no, I wasn't yelled at or made to do anything I didn't want to....but I lost at a bidding war.  :( .  I hate it when my customers don't get what they want.  I hate it even more when I realize that I could have had a very merry Christmas and new year with a nicely padded bank account.   C'est la vie.  One day I will be victorious.

7.  My bad day did not lead to eating - maybe too much booze but at least I didn't fall head first into a plate of mac n cheese.

8.  Christmas cookies - If I can shun them I will be fine.

9.  Not much to say today...


10. Make today count - according to the Mayans - there aren't many left..... :)     

Pin up girl ~ and weigh in for Z's Holiday Challenge!

I finally got to see my proofs from the photo shoot for my surgeon's calendar - not too shabby.....
 
 Oh and I figured out how to get my photos back up - I had to go into picasa and delete some old ones - I think it may have deleted them off the blog not sure

Here's to hoping to be Miss July..I should have worn my red white and blue bikini...

Before....day before surgery - 241

Drumroll....... 

 

Don't ask about the frame...that was some type of hokey thing they were trying.

And weigh in today......

 Last week was 162.4
This Week 159.6 - Hello 150s! 
Loss of 2.8
BRING IT! 


This week was a total win/crush it kind of week.  Exercise - on point, food....80/20 rule in full effect, and I attribute it to yoga, protein, water and my support system.

SUCK IT  Holiday weight gain!  

Band Tawk Tuesday

I'll Jump on Cats Bandwagon and do a bit of band talk ...

Banded 1.5 years out - whats life like?

I've currently got about 8.5 cc's in a 10cc band.  I like it tight.  
Whats different....

Then ~ I would spend 95% of my day obsessing about food and what I was going to eat.  I would consume huge portions of food and binge seceretly in my car on candy only to have piles of wrappers as shameful evidence.  Then I would beat myself up in my head and swear I would start over in the morning.  This went on for years.

Now ~ I am in control.  I know that my band has performance anxiety - when I am out to dinner or have to eat in front of others it will slam shut I will get stuck on anything bread realted or noodle or sometimes even soup.  I eat very very slow in public and will often bring my food home and have after dinner or save it for lunch the next day.

Alcohol makes my band loosen up...yep 

I know that when I am stressed and out in public if I start to get stuck I don't bother sliming or trying to get it down - I will go right to the bathroom and bring it up - instantly improving my situation!

As we all know - chips, ice cream, cookies and candy are no match for the band....I try like hell to stay as far away as possible from these evil foods.

Protein Shakes are a girls best friend.

The #1 thing I have learned is that the band is a big safety net.  In the past I would have started a "diet or health kick" lost a bit of wieght and then grown tired of the work and gained back everything when I went back to consuming large amounts of food.  No one can be perfect all the time and there have been times over the past year when I left the path of good habits and just "did me".  Because of the band the damage was minimal  - instead of gaining back 30 pounds...it ended up being around 7-10.  So when I was ready to renew my healthy ways it was doable, not an overwhelming challenge.

I guess what I'm saying is that - I will always be on this journey and there will be times when I am not perfect ...in fact times when the old me comes back - but those times are rare now and I have confidence in my ability to continue to lose the weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. In fact I no longer have nightmares that I wake up at 241.  I know with 100% certainty that I am never going back.

 
   

Just say No!

Gosh ~ I have underestimated how challenging this time of year can be ...food wise.  

Saturday's dinner at Grandma's - no wine but I did have a bite or two of fourless chocolate cake - turns out I don't even like the stuff...who knew...funny what you find out when you slow down and taste your food.

Last night dinner at a friends house - I was supposed to be designated driver again...but that didn't happen - so I may have had a bit of wine...DOH!

Yesterday I went for a long solo MTB - 13 miles of trail bliss.  
And as I was patting myself on the back for being saintly and awesome with food one of my clients tried to torture me.  Yep - holiday gift season...... a big box of Godiva truffles...luckily Miss Lorie talked me off the ledge and I immediately gave the box to our admin for the office to snack on.

This was a big victory - I really wanted to sneak that box to my office and munch away until I was sick - but as I reluctantly gave the box away something happend....I got stronger.  Eventhough I believe that when one gives away food or turns down candy when offered, a band should play, a parade should appear, fireworks should spell out "You Are Awesome" in the sky and one's clothing should instantly become two sizes too big! 
But I guess I'll see victory on the scale on Wednesday  ~ my first challenge weigh in!  

Its Monday - so off to yoga I go and then a mountain bike ride tonight ~ whoop whoop!

 

Saturday Weigh in

Last Week ~ 162.4
This Week ~ 161.8
============
Loss - .6 
I'll take it - Its not the 2 pounds I was hoping for - but I know if I want the big losses I have to knock it off with the food and salt.

This morning - Ran 5K in cold damp weather - I didn't want to do it but felt great after - a wise woman once said - you will never regret a work out or run or any exercise.  That's the truth - it set me up for a good day.

I have a family dinner tonight at Grandma's house - I know I won't be drinking because I have to drive.  Food wise...I'll just say no to crackers and cheese and puff pastry apps...and the rest will take care of itself.

I'm going to make Wednesday my official weigh in as I have joined the Holiday Challenge ~ so hopefully I can get a pound more off by then.    

I have to say once again how much I love having all my favorite bloggers back (cat!) and fired up to lose over the holiday - except Ronnie...where did that girl go off too?  Honey Badger must be busy these days....You all are a huge part of my success! 

Have a great rest of the weekend ladies!