A Fresh Start: The Return

Today mark's day five of being back on top of weight loss. It's been almost a year since I diligently blogged and made videos and actually tried to lose weight. And truth be told, I have gained a lot of weight in these past months and it's time to get rid of it once and for all. There will be a full post on what exactly led to this realization and what exactly I've done (or not done, rather) since abandoning this project, but for now I'll leave you with this. It's day 5. In those past 5 days, I have completed 4 individual workouts ranging from the elliptical, cardio dance, and the 30 Day Shred. I have increased my water/fruit/vegetable intake to healthy proportions and even cut out buying food completely (as in fast food). It feels really good to be back. I just need to remember that I'm back because I need to be. And that this is me "coming back" for the last time!

Day Two - Ouch

Today I woke up with really really really sore quads. Ouch! Weirdly enough, though, that was the only part of me that was super sore. Everything else wasn't too bad.

I had the day off today and my boyfriend and I decided to sleep in (and by decided I mean kept shutting off the alarm). After pulling myself out of bed, I hung out around the apartment, watched the first episode of the Biggest Loser Season 9 and then decided to go to the gym.

I figured even though I worked out yesterday, if I'm in the mood I should definitely go! So today, I completed Day Two of the Couch25K program which is the same 31 minute workout as day 1. It was a little tough today. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I ran indoors. It's not as interesting as running outside with the breeze and a changing view. You know?

But the big point is that I did it! I completed day two (with only a small 30 second break in the middle) and I am so proud!

Also eating has been frigging awesome for the past two days. :)

c25K

That's right. Today I started the Couch to 5K program. I bought the iPhone app which times the workouts for you and contains the entire 9 week program.

My favorite thing about the app is that it tells you (in your headphones) when you're half way done, when to start running, and when to walk. It's really great.

Today's workout (day one) looked like this:

"Brisk 5 minute warm up walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Five minute cool down walk."

A total of 31 minutes. Whew. It was quite the work out but I feel really great. Now it's off to bed by 11:00 and another productive day tomorrow. I'll try to update this from week to week. Good night!

Day One

So I did it. I had/am still having the perfect day.

I went to bed relatively early last night (11:00pm) and woke up at 7:00am. I had my orange and coffee then... I went for a walk/run! Yup. I actually did it. I was only out for about 15 minutes but I still got my butt outside.

I continued to eat almost completely raw until dinner time, the exception being granola bars for snacks. I feel crazy amazing! I've even been "chipper" all day. Could I be turning into a morning person? :O

Right now I am about to head to the gym for another work out. 2010 is the year!

Fresh Start. Weigh In #1

Good Morning!!!!

Do you know what I was doing before 8:00am today??? Jogging. In the cold. It. Was. Awesome!!! Now it's 9:00 am and I feel so full of energy it's crazy! Had a great breakfast and made a super healthy (huge) salad for lunch! I'm planning on this starting day to be a perfect day. I feel like I can do it.

Now, for the bad news. Weigh in:

Starting Weight: 232.0 lbs.

Ahhhhh!!!! Scary. Since I've started I've come almost full circle. In a very bad way. It sucks, but what can I do know? Fix it. Start again and don't quit. That's the plan!

*Blows off dust* Hello old friend.

Oh, how have you been?

Good? Well that's great...

... How have I been? Oh you know...

Getting fat!

So where have I been, really? Busy? Yes. Avoiding making videos and blogging? Also yes. It's been forever since I have blogged consistently and I apologize.

The collab channel I'm apart of called the SevenFatVloggers is doing a Biggest Loser challenge the corresponds with the show. It started last week... and I missed the video. I feel so crappy about slacking like this.

So what to do? The truth is every time I've disappeared I've come back with some sort of "revelation" but really... weight loss just hasn't been a priority. Even when it should be. Well long story short. I'm starting over. Like, "day one" over. That day would be tomorrow.

Just to put it in writing, I've also decided to try running... in the morning... starting tomorrow!

Wish me luck.

Fresh Start

I'm unsure if I should go back and count the days it's been since I started or just go with day 2. Hah.

I have been totally on track this week and it feels amazing. I'm eating smaller portions, NOT BUYING FOOD (a major accomplishment), working out (if only a little).

Weigh-in tomorrow!

In essence, Day 1

So, seriously, I have been 'away' from weight loss for almost two months!

But I'm back now.

I KNOW I KNOW! I've said that three, or so, time now, but really. For the past three days I have been back on track with eating (smaller portions and more whole foods) and making a point to exercise and drink lots and lots of water! I feel so much better already!

Everything is getting better. I'm getting more done in my life like homework, house work, and organizing. I feel happy and excited to be back. I'm also starting to get back into YouTube. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll post a weigh-in on my personal channel (which I haven't done in over a month!) and I'm going to be joining a new challenge that will start on November 1, 2009.

I have yet to finish a challenge that I have started on You Tube and I'm really hoping to break that! This will be a really good challenge because it is a contest to lose the most body fat percentage. As of right now, my goal is still to be under 200 lbs. before 2010. Unofficially, I have 27 pounds to lose in a little less than 10 weeks. Yes, it is a huge challenge, but I think I'm finding the motivation. I cannot reveal that information right now, but trust me it's good!

So, hopefully weigh-in tomorrow!!! xo Megan

PS. It feels good to blog! :)

Day 135 - Sorenesssssssss

So yesterday I did my first Yoga class ever and a 15 minute Abs & Back class and I am sore! I mean really really really sore.

It feels good, but ouch! Tomorrow is weigh-in and I'm doing another class. Zumba at 8:30. I love Zumba because I love to dance, and it is really a workout.

Now some Biggest Loser and then to bed!!! I really want to catch up on sleep. :)

Day 134

So I've been really busy lately but I'm finding new outlets and new solutions.

New things I've discovered that help me balance life/work/home/weight loss/boyfriend:

• the Imogen Heap radio station on Pandora! It totally rocks and is really chill
• the Biggest Loser, Season 8. I have been downloading it from itunes and it is such a huge inspiration!!! I have it with my on my iphone and I watch it when I'm feeling like going off track or need a boost of energy to go work out. That show is amazing!
• going to bed early. I know this is a little bit silly but it is so true! I usually have to wake up around 7:00 am to get to class or work on time. That is not too early but if I don't go to bed until 1:00 am, it is really hard to enjoy my day and accomplish all I want to. I have been making a huge effort to get to sleep at a reasonable hour.
• YOGA! Today I did my first ever yoga class with two girls I work with. It wasn't exactly what I'd call fun but it was nice. The instructor had that really soothing voice and there was calm music. I discovered that I had a clear mind pretty consistently throughout the class. I was trying to concentrate on the motion, my breathing, her voice, or the music. It was really nice to just get away from my own thoughts for an hour! I hope to make that class a habit!

So, what do you do to maintain balance in your life?

Day 132 - I'm Back!!!

Okay, so I have been seriously MIA for the whole month of September, and now it's October (I cannot believe that!) and I am really ready to come back.

I've been watching the new season of the Biggest Loser and it amazes me how inspirational that show is. Every episode makes me cry and then want to go to the gym! LOL.

Yesterday, Josh and I went to the gym for the first time in almost a month (!) and then I went again today to do a class called BOSU Blast. It was really really.... really hard! But it really felt amazing. I also went for a 30 minute walk earlier this afternoon.

I cannot tell you how wonderful I felt.

Once again, I have put goals up on the refrigerator. This week they are to drink six bottles of water every day and do three workouts. It feels nice to have goals again and also to have the drive to accomplish them.

So, yes I did not post a weigh in on Thursday but I didn't do a video either and I am back!

New start! I can do this!

Hello Old Friend!

Wow, it has been almost a month since I have blogged here. My sincerest apologies!!!

So, what has been going on in the past month?

I started school again. A full schedule plus more working. It has been crazy! I have really been struggling to keep up with homework, work, organization stuff, apartment upkeep, youtube, and a boyfriend. It has been overwhelming and exhausting.

I have still been doing my YouTube weigh ins but I have nothing new to report. I have been hovering around 225 for the whole month of September. Is that good? No. But it really isn't bad either. Even though I have worked out literally less than 5 times and have not been tracking my food, I have been maintaining! When I take a step back and look at that I am really impressed. A few months ago, I would have gained at least 7-10 pounds back.

So, now I'm devising a plan to get back on track. My previously stated goal was to get under 200 lbs. before January 1, 2010. That's about 25 pounds to lose in 13 weeks. Do the math, and you get 1.9 pounds per week.

I think my approach will be a 'one week at a time' thing, but I'm not sure yet. I'll definitely let ya'll know tomorrow when I actually post my weigh-in.

xo Megan

Weigh In #14 - Changed My Mind

Okidoki, I changed my mind about changing my weigh ins. Maybe later on I will change them to a different day if things get really really busy, but now it's okay...

Okay so here are this weeks results.

Last Week:
Weight: 228.2
BMI: 41.7

This Week:
Weight: 223.4
BMI: 40.9

Result: -4.8

It is quite a relief to get back to pre-vacation weight in one week. I did exercise like a crazy woman!!! Food was not too great. I did track the whole weeks calories which is something I haven't done in a while.

I have decided for the next 2-3 weeks that I will be significantly lowering my carbohydrate intake in order to re-kick start my weight loss and detox my system. In no way, do I want to be on the Atkins Diet or the Southbeach Diet (no offense to those of you who are succeeding with these methods!) but I do want to start lowering my carb intake because I feel like right now it is significantly too high.

After these few weeks pass I will hopefully be well into the 210's and I will start reintroducing breads and pastas (in moderation) back into my diet.

Here's to a great week!!!

xo Megan

Update

Hello Everyone,

I know that this is the time in which I would report my weigh in to you, but I have decided to change my Weigh-In's to Thursday's.

Since I blog my weigh in along with my YouTube Channel and I have to do my Seven Fat Vloggers video on Tuesdays I decided to change my days to spread out the amount of stuff that needs to be done on Tuesday. Since school started I have been insanely busy and my videos probably won't get up until later anyways and usually I don't feel like doing more than one per day anyways.

This, in no way, should be considered 'stalling' because of today's number on the scales (it's actually quite good) but it's just to keep my sanity throughout the rest of the year!

See you Thursday for Weigh-In!

xo Megan

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