Day 97

So today was a wonderful day, and it came just in time to make me feel like this fall semester is going to be an awesome semester!

Today was filled with worship, romance, relaxation, and exercise. The whole day has been filled with amazing conversation between my boyfriend and I. It's like we really re-connected again. I'm not saying that we have been having problems, but every relationship experiences the ebb of true intimacy. We talked about everything and it felt really amazing.

Because of the church BBQ (which we forgot about until the service) we decided to scrap our original dinner plans in exchange for sandwiches in the park a few miles away from our apartment. We've only been to this park once before and that was almost exactly one year ago when we first moved to Denton. It was beautiful. The weather was flawless and we ate our dinner in the shade overlooking a cute lake. It was definitely relaxing and the evening gave me that reassuring sense of security. The rest of this year is going to be really great!

I've been realizing the importance my open relationship plays in my ability to go full force with weight loss. I feel like because he knows that I am doing this, he will help keep me accountable and being healthier is something we can both do together! My boyfriend has no weight issues and he is a relatively healthy eater, but there are certainly things he could do to improve his health. Together, we have learned to make healthy decisions in recipes, grocery shopping, and activities. I cannot tell you how much my wonderful relationship has done for me over the past ninety-seven days! It has truly made all of the difference!

As far as exercise goes, I will give you an update. I have been really kicking butt this week. Today's workout consisted of 1 hour on the Elliptical (-610 calories), another exhaustion test for the 100 Push Up Challenge for week 3 (28 consecutive), and a "Push It" Run*. I feel amazing. Sweaty, yes, but amazing!!!

I can't wait for weigh in on Tuesday!

xo Megan

PS. *What I have come to call a "Push It" Run consists of walking 1/8 mile (one lap), running for as long as I can, and then walking again until I feel cooled down. This weeks "Push It" Run resulted in 5 laps and actually running about 2 1/4 of those laps. :)

Day 95!!

Holy Moly,

I cannot believe that it is day 95. Time is seriously flying by.

School just started and work is picking up, so I am busy all of the time. Lately I've been feeling like a "grown-up". LOL. I have a lot of responsibility now with my apartment and now school and a demanding job and a boyfriend. It's all becoming very 'real', if that makes any sense.

I have been totally killing it this week with weight loss. I haven't mentioned this yet, but on Wednesday (after lots of water and a trip to the gym) I weighed in way lower than 228.6 or whatever it was on Tuesday. So, yes, most of that was bloating and artificial gain. Undoubtedly, I did still gain weight.

Since Tuesday, I have gone to the gym everyday and really pushed it. I can now run two consecutive laps around the track (equaling together 1/4 mile), I have been sticking to the 100 push up challenge (today I did 83 with the program!!!!), and I also bought a pass to go to my gym's group exercise classes. Yesterday, I did a Zumba class and I love it! I can't wait to try more.

I feel super amazing lately and I think that this semester and the rest of this year is going to be full of hard work AND success!!!

xo Megan

Weigh In #13

Good Morning,

This past week was a dismal week.

I went home to visit my family and went crazy. I ate out at least once a day, didn't drink enough water, and ate late into the night. I feel completely gross but I know that I need to fess up to what happened and work really hard to fix it.

I take comfort in the fact that I am actually writing this blog and that I am going to make my weigh in video today. It shows that I have some level of accountability and that I don't just give up when I fail.

Here are the results (Beware!!!)

Last Week:
Weight: 223.0
BMI: 40.8

This Week:
Weight: 228.2
BMI: 41.7

Result: +5.2 lbs

OUCH! That stings a little doesn't it. But you know what? I'm ready to get past it and I'm ready to never have to type a plus sign on here for a long time!!!

See, today starts the official challenge for me. I won't be seeing my family until Thanksgiving. That is over three months and my goal is to change as much as physically possible in a healthy manner. I want my family to notice my weight loss and be surprised.

Also, this is the time to restart and commit to the "Hot 4 Halloween" Challenge! I really really want to complete that challenge! So today starts it all again!

xo Megan

Weigh In #12

Good Morning!!!

Here are the results:

Last Week:
Weight: 223.0
BMI: 40.8

This Week:
Weight: 223.0
BMI: 40.8

Result: -0.0

That's right, an exact maintain! Needless to say, I'd take this over a gain any day but that doesn't mean I'm particularly happy about it.

I did not have a good weekend in terms of food. There was eating out and lots of heavy food and no where near enough water.

On the exercise front, I did fairly awesome this week. I have officially started running outside now!!! It is a little hard, but I feel amazing while doing it. I also re-started the push up challenge and have been pretty consistent with getting that done. (My arms feel like jello!)

Tomorrow I'll be leaving to visit my family and I won't return until Monday. I'm a little worried as to how I'm going to approach my diet while I'm there, but I'm also excited because I always look at vacations as a way to really focus on weight loss and being healthy.

I'll keep you guys updated!!

xo Megan

Day Eighty Something or Other

Golly, I really don't have anything specific to blog about but I felt as though I should write something.

This weekend, I have really been off plan. I have eaten a lot of chocolate and bbq and lots of other stuff! And after doing it, I felt heavy and lethargic and gross. Why do I make these choices???

I think I subconsciously make them so I can remember how crappy it feels to stuff my body with food. I think I make these decisions so I can get the spark back that tends to fade after a while in losing weight.

For example, today's food consisted of chocolate chip pancakes, left over pasta, bbq, potato salad, and some banana pudding. Needless to say, all of that heavy food did not go over well with my body. Not to mention, for the past few days I have not been drinking as much water as I usually do. After logging onto YouTube a couple of hours ago, I decided that that was not good enough and went for a run!!! This was my first run outside and it felt really really great. I also did my push-ups for the 100 Push-up Challenge today.

I still feel a bit heavy, but I feel a million times better than I did pre-workout.

It is seriously time to stop making poor choices and focus on making significant improvements in all areas of my life style change!!!

xo Megan

Day 79 - Running

So, today I went on my third run! (And when I say run I mean mostly walking and the running until I'm about to pass out and then walking again!)

I cannot tell you how good it feels to be doing something I never thought I could do. And as much as I never thought I would say this, I just have to. Running is truly an escape. If I just focus on the track in front of me or even on my feet moving, I feel really good even though I end up gasping for breath.

I am really going to give my all to seeing how far I can push myself in the field of running. I want to do this mostly to prove to myself that I am a strong woman. I really can do this. In fact, I really am doing it.

Just a quick update.

xo Megan

Weigh In #11

Good Morning! Good Morning!

It's time for weigh-in and here are the results:

Last Week:
Weight 224.2
BMI: 41.0

This Week:
Weight: 223.0
BMI: 40.8

Result: -1.2

WHOOOOO!!!! Do you know what this means??? I have OFFICIALLY hit the 20 lbs. mark for 2009. This year I have lost 20 pounds, and the year isn't over!!! I am so excited!

I had a really amazing week and I cannot wait for week twelve!!! Here we go!

xo Megan

Things are truly getting crazy!!!

First of all, this will be my second blog of the day!!! :0

Second of all, I went for ANOTHER run today. It was completely hard but totally worth it. My legs are on fire but, in a really weird way, it feels good. I know that I am working hard and changing my body!!! I also know that if I keep being consistent and run on a regular basis, the run I did today will never be this hard again! Isn't that just cool to know? It will never be as hard as it was tonight, if I keep at it!

Weigh in tomorrow and I am super excited! I think I'll be seeing some good results!!! Be sure to check it out!

Now, to go shower and collapse in bed!
xo Megan

Day 77 - Motivation

Wow! I just feel like blogging lately!!!

So after my epic 'first run' yesterday, I am happy to report that I feel completely amazing!!! I really think that this Hot 4 Halloween challenge is going to get me closer to my goal in a shorter amount of time.

I find (as I'm sure everyone does), that my inspiration and motivation ebbs a lot on my 'weight loss journey'. Some days all I want to do is eat right and go to the gym and other days not so much. How is it possible that I have kept this up for 77 DAYS now??? I, myself, am in disbelief.

After much reflection on what I have been doing in the past few months I have discovered some key things that have kept me going.

1. I realize that I will quit if I get bored, so I find things to hold my interest. YouTube, blogging, and my new iPhone definitely keep me thinking that weight loss is fun. (If I have something to track, I'm usually having fun).
2. I set lots of goals that vary in length. I have a million goals I want to hit and I find that having so many means you can hit one fairly often. What is better motivation than past accomplishment?
3. I continuously work on positive self-talk. This is one of the most important contributing factors to weight loss. I try to always be conscious of how I talk to myself and how I approach dealing with these changes in my body and habits. This is one of the hardest things to do, in my opinion. A lot of people (including myself) don't realize how mean some of the things we say to ourselves are. That sounds kind of silly but it's true. It is extremely difficult for us to recognize the good in ourselves when all we see are the flaws.
4. Last but not least, I truly try to enjoy this journey I'm on. People always paint weight loss as this time of pure suffering; something that HAS to be done. Well, what if we looked at it as some sort of adventure, as a chance to take control and change our selves for the better. I take joy in the fact that I am becoming EXACTLY who I want to be and because I'm taking the time to do it right, it will be a permanent change!!

At day 77, I am now even more sure that I can and will do this!!! I can and will get to goal!!!

xo Megan

Day 76 - Milestone!

Today, at the gym, I walked/ran 1 mile!!!!

My gym has an 1/8 mile track and after my 25 minutes on the arc trainer I went up and did a combination of walking and running (walk/run/walk/run/walk/walk/run/walk).

It was really freaking hard but it feels amazing!!!

I wanted to start running because this week end my gym will be closed for maintenance and the day it opens I will be headed home for almost a week! I am just worried that I will use 'not having a gym' as an excuse not to workout and things might get out of control. Now, I know in my mind that I can do something else!!! Who knows? I may end up liking running after all.... maybe!

Anyways, I have started the Hot 4 Halloween challenge officially and I am so totally excited. After today I think I can really kick ass and meet my goal!!!

If I haven't let you know already, my goal for this 12 week challenge is to lose 24 pounds. Now, that is a super high number, but I really think I can benefit from setting super challenging goals.

More updates later!!!

xo Megan

Day 74 - What the heck, Universe??

Do you ever feel like the universe is just screaming at you to do something?? Well right now, the universe is screaming at me to stop being a weenie and lose the freaking weight!!!!

I am not even kidding.

Today, I did not have a good day. I really over ate and what I was eating was all the wrong things. I was literally in bed feeling like my stomach was about to explode!!! And then what happens tonight??? Shanti and Greg post a challenge video announcing Hot 4 Halloween. Basically, it's just a challenge where you get as hot as possible before October 31st. In my case, this means losing pounds as opposed to focusing on toning.

So, of course I am in! Not only am I super excited because I’ll be competing with two of the most successful people in the youtube weight loss community, but I think I can really excel.

I am about to work on my goals and guidelines and as soon as I get them all figured out, I will definitely let ya’ll know!

Ya’ll do remember my goal for the rest of this year right? I’m going to get out of the 200’s and this challenge is going to help me get there!!!

xo Megan

Day 71 (?)

Hello Hello,

I just wanted to write a quick post because I have a new goal! Actually, it's a mini goal, but I want to make sure that I put it out 'there' (where ever that is) and really keep it in my mind.

I have decided that by January 1st 2010, I want to be OUT of the 200's.

By January 1st, I will be at least 199lbs if not lower. I just calculated it out and I would have to lose about 1.12 pounds per week to pull it off (there are 21 weeks until December 31st).

So far my weekly average is 1.32lbs. So, if I keep up my current average I will get there for sure, but I actually want to increase that average a little. Maybe up to 1.5?? Who knows!!!

All I know is that I have been totally kicking ASS lately. Doing everything I'm supposed to and I am completely psyched about it!

I am not giving up this time! I will get to goal!!!

xo Megan

Weigh In #10

Good Morning Everyone!

Here are the results:

Last Week:
Weight: 225.8
BMI: 41.2

This Week:
Weight 224.2
BMI: 41.0

Result: -1.2

Finally!!!! I have been waiting for a loss bigger than point something for the past two weeks! I know that a loss is a loss but it feels so amazing to see over a pound gone.

That said, I know now that my change in exercise and sudden shift into superb eating really helped me out this week.

So, here's to week 11 and being as perfect as possible!!!

xo Megan

ps. My 'Skinny Fund' (to go shopping with after goal) is growing. Why? Because I KNOW I'm going to get there!!!

Day 69 :O

So I totally didn't realize this, but I have been blogging here for over two months! Holy cow! That is totally amazing.

I just wanted to talk a little bit about how I'm feeling now. I have been changing things up in the past few days and I think it's really going to help boost my weight loss and my motivation to keep going.

Yesterday, I started working out on both the stair master and the arc trainer (?). Boy, they both totally kicked my ass, but it feels awesome. I really think that my body was so used to the Elliptical that I wasn't reaping as much benefit as possible.

I'm also becoming far more confident. I actually make the effort to dress cute and fix my hair. I don't care what people think of me because I am becoming exactly who I want to be, I'm getting healthy, and I'm happy. I have a boyfriend who loves and supports me, an awesome job, and so much opportunity around me. I am so blessed!!!

No matter what happens tomorrow (because I'm really not sure how it's going to go due to early week eating!!!), I have to remember that I am seeing changes in my self and my body, even if it's not the number on the scale!!!

Weigh-in tomorrow! See you in the morning.

xo Megan

Lazy Lazy Weekend.

Hello Everyone,

It is Sunday afternoon and I have had one of the most wonderful, lazy weekends ever. My boyfriend and I have spent a lot of time together and we have just been so happy and so close that I have a permanent smile on my face.

I have also been doing a lot of re-evaluating of my diet and my progress.

To be totally 100% honest and truthful, I have not been giving it everything and I think you can tell because of my number and my obvious absence from this blog. No, I haven't been horrible and eating everything in sight, but I don't feel as great, I have been eating crap, and I am seriously lacking that hard drive I had in the beginning. How do I get that back?

Earlier in this blog, I started writing under the title of "Things I want more than sweets". I think that I'm going to turn this into a series on my youtube channel. I really think that this will keep me inspired because the things I will talk about are things that I really really really want.

I'll let ya'll know when I start that up!!!

xo Megan