Weigh-In Wednesday: It's a Vlog, Yo!

Challenge Starting Weight: 149.2
Last Week's Weight: 149.2
This Week's Weight: 145.8
Loss This Week: -3.4
Loss for Challenge: -3.4
Total Pounds GONE: 20.0 !!!!!!!!!!!!

It's weigh-in day over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and here are my results:



We are also working on establishing some new, healthy habits.  They say it takes 21 days for a habit to form and we are 7 days into this challenge.  Now, how am I doing on those goals I set for myself?

• No late-night snacking: For me this meant no snacking after 9 pm.  I'm happy to say I met this one every day, except for Saturday, which you can read about here.
• Exercise at least 25 minutes every day:  I probably set myself up for failure thinking I'd get in actual exercise EVERY day, but I have been physically active in some way and I'm sure if you add the minutes up, they total 25 or more each day I'm totally reaching here.  Only a few of the days were actual workouts.  I'm actually resting my body for my 10k this weekend.  My right knee is a complete mess and it has me scared.  I'm really hoping to finish that race under my own power and not by transport from the medics!
• Keep running:  Aside from the wonky, squishy, hyperextending knee, the running is going just ducky.  I'm looking at the weather reports for Saturday and I am not happy thrilled at the thought of running in the rain, with temps in the high 30's and winds of 20 mph.  It's gonna be GREAT! (That's my attempt to pump myself up).  Speaking of running, did you know May is Runnng Month at the Sisterhood?  You do now!  So even if you don't think of yourself as a runner, you are hardcore McSpeedy, or you think you might want to give running a try, head on over to the Sisterhood and check it out.  They're even giving away a pair of running shoes!  Doesn't get much cooler than that.

To say I'm not happy with how this week has turned out weight-wise would be a huge understatement.  I don't think I'd be where I am today without the love and encouragement of my shrinking jeans, bloggy, and twitter sisters.  I love you ladies!

MWAH!

Bari

True Confession & a New Blog Layout!

I have to admit, I've been pretty good this week.  As for my 21 days project, I haven't snacked after 9 pm, except for Saturday night when I went out with some friends.  I haven't quite made the "exercise everyday for 25 minutes" pledge, but I have gotten some in, including a 3 mile run today and a 2 mile run in a downpour on Saturday.

As for my confession:  I had a lot to drink Saturday night.  We went to a new bar/restaurant that opened Saturday night.  The menu was primarily vegan and we had the most incredible, vegan "chicken" wings.  They were loaded with buffalo sauce (but no butter-vegan, remember) and I swear they tasted better than the wings from Hooters.  I ate a delicious burrito (black beans, rice and sweet potato-yum!).  Then there was the sangria.  OMG.  After we ate here, we walked around downtown and hit a couple more bars.  We then went to a very nice restaurant for dessert.  I had creme brulee and a Spanish coffee.  The server lit it on fire at the table.  Yeah.  Went over my calories a bit, but had a great time out with friends.  I'm not ashamed.

Here's a glimpse at what my Saturday debacles looked like.  My picture mosaic didn't quite turn out how I hoped, but if you click on the image, you should be able to view each individual picture.  I'm still working on this techie thing:



PS-did you see I have a button for my blog now!!!!!  Thanks to my wonderful friend, Mendie, for creating it for me.  Doesn't she just RAWK!  She's also helping me with my photo mosaics, but clearly I am a work in progress.  You should follow her here.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Bari

Monday Project Link-Up: Outside

After a week of abso-freakin-lutely beautiful weather in Michigan, my daughter and I decided today would be our workout-together day.  I did a short, 2 mile run, while she biked along with me.  The light drizzle that was happening when we started out turned into a downpour within minutes.  I had planned on 3 miles, but it was looking like possible lightening, so we turned around at the 1 mile point.  We are wusses. Safety first!

I hate love running in the ran! I needed to do an early morning run to get ready for next Saturday's 10k and running in the rain made it that much more bankable.  It really wasn't so bad.  Granted, I only ran for a little over 20 minutes.  Talk to me again next week if the weather is the same and I've had to run in it for over an hour :)

I hope everyone else's outside activites were a bit drier than ours!

Bari

Weigh-In Wednesday and the 21 Day Challenge

Challenge Starting Weight: 149.2

Last Week's Weight: 149.2

This Week's Weight: 149.2

Loss This Week: 0.0

Loss for Challenge: N/A

Total Pounds GONE: 16.6

This week has been a bit of a let down for me. I ate like crap over the weekend and have not exercised as much as I should have. My 10k is in 1 1/2 weeks and I did a massive run on Monday, only to aggravate my knee and my shin. Crap. So, I'm taking it easy for the rest of the week. I was excited when I received my race confirmation in the mail and saw what my number was going to be. Maybe you'll hear about it in a vlog after the race. Wait, did I just type that out loud? Yes, I'm thinking about vlogging about my 10k. I said I would vlog when I hit the 20 pound weight loss mark, but that is just a bit elusive for me right now and I really want to share my race with all of you. The hitch is going to be getting Mr. Shrinking Chick to be my videographer, but I'm working on him. He was so cute on my last vlog-maybe he'll even make a voice-over appearance again.

Now onto the new challenge. I have to think of some type of behavior or habit to commit to for the next 21 days. I am going to shoot for 2:

1. No late night snacking. Nothing to eat after 9 pm. I chose 9 pm because there are some nights that we don't even eat dinner until close to 8:00, and I still need to be able to eat dinner ;)
2. Get some form of physical exercise every day for at least 25 minutes. This might be with Jillian's shred (hense the 25 min stipulation), Wii EA Active, take a walk, ride my bike, or do a run. Obviously, if I run I'll get in a lot more than 25 minutes, but this is just the minimum. I'm keeping it flexible to accommodate my tapering for the 10k and due to wanting to stay as un-injured as possible in the next 10 days.
3. Oops, just thought of a 3rd. I'm going to keep running after this 10k. I'm thinking about another one this summer and I'd like to keep improving my times. That means I don't take months off like the last time I did a race.

The last time we did this challenge back in August 2009, I vowed to take vitamins and do push-ups and sit-ups every day. I still take my vitamin at least 5/7 days every week. The push-ups and sit-ups? Not so much, unless you count the 30 day shred days. Let's hope I do better this time around.

Spring Fling Weigh-In #8: The Finale Edition

Challenge Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 149.6

This Week's Weight: 149.2

Loss This Week: .4

Loss for Challenge: 6.0

Total Pounds GONE: 16.6 !!!!!

This has been an excellent challenge for me. In the past 8 weeks, I've lost 6 pounds! I also completed the 30 day shred and saw some serious shrinkage. I'm in the home stretch of training for my 10K (freaking out a bit, but that's a topic for another post).

The team format was exactly what I needed, only I didn't realize how much when the challenge began. I have received such tremendous support from my H3 teammates (really the entire sisterhood)-both on the weight loss front and through the serious illness and loss of my step-dad. I don't know how I would have coped without their prayers, love, and support. You ladies are truely The Hottest Hookers in the Hood!

This sisterhood is about so much more than fitness and weight loss. It's about developing life-long friendships. I treasure these girls more than they can possibly know. I hope to one day give every one of you a real, live hug. But until then, please accept this giant hug through cyberspace. ((((HUG)))) I love all of you.

Spring Fling Weigh-In #7: Not A Weight Loss Post This Week

I'm not writing a weight-loss post this week. I'm writing a Thank You letter.



Dear Bob,

Thank you for the 15 wonderful years you gave my father and the rest of my family.

Thank you for your loving smile and your big hugs.

Thank you for helping Dad babysit the twins when they were only a few weeks old...and for changing all those diapers :)

Thank you for making the drive to watch their competitions and concerts. They always loved it when you would come cheer them on. It was so great to hear from your relatives how much you used to brag about them, like they were truly your own grandkids.

Thank you for sharing your love of Lake Michigan and boating with my dad. Some of my fondest memories are of spending time out on the boat with you two.



Thank you for sharing your love of music. I know you and Dad usually disagreed on what station the XM should be tuned to, but I also know he shared your love of old time gospel and would tolerate your 70's and 80's rock. I loved the music you would download for me.

Thank you for always giving me a kiss and telling me to "Be Careful" whenever we would leave to go home. My response was always, "No, it's drive fast and take chances" which always got a laugh out of you.

As the sun sets on your life on earth, know that we cherished every moment with you. Thank you for giving my kids the joy of an extra Grandpa, and for being the best step-dad a girl could ask for. We will definitely miss our Bobby, but we know that you are now in the comforting arms of our Heavenly Father, free from pain and the cancer that took you so quickly from us. We will see you again some day.

Love always,
Bari

For those of you who are not connected with me on Facebook, here is the post my Dad wrote just hours after Bob passed peacefully away on April 12, 2010:

Goodbye my friend, my companion, my lifetime partner. You will be missed dearly by me and your daughter Jennifer as well as the rest of our families. We had some great times together. But may you now rest in peace, free of the pain and suffering from the cancer that took your life in such a short amount of time. I told you 15 years ago that I would never leave you and would always take care of you and never let you go. I kept all those promises right up to the very end, but now I have to break that last promise- I am letting you go to be with your Heavenly Father and to join your mother and father who preceded you in death. Rest assured that the ring you wore on your necklace will be right next to mine now, side by side. So you see, I'm not really letting you go. You will always be with me. Goodbye my sweetie pie.

Thank you to all my friends for the support and love you have given me during Bob's brief illness. Your thoughts and prayers were felt by all of us. I love you all. Thank you.

Spring Fling Weigh-In #6: A New Decade

Challenge Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 150.8

This Week's Weight: 148.8 (I'm in a new decade!!!)

Loss This Week: 2.0

Loss for Challenge: 6.4

Total Pounds GONE: 17.0 !!!!!

I honestly have no idea how I pulled this off this week. The past 5 or 6 days have been an emotional and physical roller coaster. I have eaten CRAPOLA for nearly every meal since last Thursday, including McD's, Wendy's, Chinese, hospital food, Subway (ok, that one is actually pretty good), Dairy Queen, and the best pizza in all of St. Joe at my Dad's last night. I did manage to get 2 good runs in during that time, totalling almost 11 miles, but I haven't shredded a darn bit. I seriously thought about not getting on the scale this morning and using my weight from Monday before I went down to my Dad's, but I figured that wasn't really being honest with myself or my team, so I stepped on the scale this morning.

The scale said 148.8.

I am officially in a new decade.

I few more pounds and I have to vlog again (oh sh*t).

Tomorrow is my 15th Anniversary. The hubs and I are going to Chicago for a couple nights of brewery crawls, big dinner, and sushi. At least I'm going to be walking my arse off up an down Michigan Avenue in the process and I get to start the week with a nice loss :) Yesterday he was giving me a hug and said, "You feel so skinny. Your ribs are sticking out." Funny guy.

I am also glad to report that my Step-Dad is currently camped out in his favorite chair in front of his big-ass TV. He was released from U of M Hospital Tuesday afternoon and transported by ambulance back home. It was a very rough 2 1/2 hour drive and getting him up the stairs required a special chair, the 2 EMTs and my hubby (Bob weighs over 300 lbs and could not walk the 16 stairs). I'm so glad Mike was there to help because I don't know how they would have gotten him in otherwise. It was so nice to sit there with him, my Dad, Mike and his daughter last night watching Biggest Loser. I didn't Tworkout. I enjoyed the moment. Hospice was there last night and they were planning to come by again this morning. I need to call Dad and see how the night went, but I wanted to get this blog written so I could update all of you who have been so supportive over the past month. I love you all.

Bari