October 11, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Weeks 7 through 9

So I'm a little behind on posting my progress from the last few weeks.  If I had kept up with it, here's what I would have posted.


Week 7 Progress (September 12 - September 18):
Only one more week until our Nags Head, VA vacation! I ran 3 miles this week and then laid on the couch for 4 days after having 2 of my wisdom teeth pulled. It was awful and wonderful at the same time.

Week 8 Progress (September 19 - September 25):
Sunday I was still on the couch; Monday I flew to Oakland to work up there for the day; Tuesday and Wednesday I was absolutely exhausted and started to get a cold; Thursday I did jack shit; Friday I finally forced myself to pack an hour before we left for the airport; Saturday we were in Nags Head, NC on vacation.

Week 9 Progress (September 26 - October 2):
After 3 or 4 nights of cold medicine not working and getting not much sleep, I finally realized it wasn't a cold but severe allergies. So I started taking benedryl every two hours around the clock. Which meant no alcohol for me, which I was okay with. Once I started feeling better it started raining so hard we couldn't go outside. For days. Needless to say my running clothes went untouched the entire 5 days in NC and 3 days in VA visiting my loverface's family.

BUT guess what...I didn't gain an ounce on this vacation!

Photos by ChuChulainn

September 15, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Weeks 5 & 6

Week 5 Progress (August 29 - September 4):

I LOST ONE POUND!!! I've got 2 more lbs to go to my ultimate goal weight and I can't believe I've come this far. I'm so so so excited. I also ran a little over 5 and a half miles this week.

Week 6 Progress (September 5 - September 11):

So this week I unexpectedly had to travel for work. I flew from the west coast to the east coast for 4 days in the DC area. It was absolutely exhausting, but besides working my ass off and getting up at 3am my Cali time, I was able to have some fun while there. 

Tuesday night I was able to meet boyfriend's new nephew (only 6 weeks old!) who is absolutely adorable. I call him "Bean" because he's about that big. We had dinner in DC, not far from the White House I'm told, at a place called Birch and Barley.  It was great to catch up with boyfriend's brother and his wife; they're on our Top Besties list for sure, and we started planning our vacation to Turkey next year.

The Bean

On Wednesday the future-in-laws had dance class, so my co-worker and I had a drink at the rooftop bar in the W Hotel, DC. It has views of the White House, the Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial all from one spot, which was seriously amazing. The pix didn't come out well since I was staring into the sun, but maybe you get the idea. These very drunk but very polite older men bought us our drinks as we chatted about lobbying in DC and health care reform. Very sexy. So we hurried with our drinks and popped over to Georgetown for dinner. Of course, before dinner, we had dessert at Georgetown Cupcakes (which is apparently famous and has tv show or something? I'm so under a rock).

Thursday night after work the future-in-laws, the Bean, and my girlfriend who lives in Georgetown all met up for a drink at Lima. I loved that she had "a baby in a bar" and couldn't resist the Sweet Home Alabama line. Then we had dinner reservations at Georgia Brown's down the street from Lima (and my hotel) which was super yummy, except for the part where my crawdad thingy still had its eyeballs in. Yuck! After dinner they took the Bean home and us girls went to play in Georgetown. It was so fun meeting all her "DC friends" at the college bar and watching the Saints/Vikings game. Love, love, love those girls; we definitely became fast friends and I can't wait to go back.

Saturday was back home with my loverface and off to celebrate the 7th wedding anniversary of our friends with a huge party on the bay. I also took a moment to pray for the families who lost someone on September 11th; my heart definitely hurts for the friends and family affected by that terrible day. 
 

August 31, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Week 4

Week 4 Progress (August 22 - August 28):

This week I traveled for work 3 days, which makes it quite difficult to stick to my food plan. There isn't a lot of fresh food available in downtown Oakland, but I tried my best.  For the most part I was actually able to keep to my calorie and water goals, and I even ran 2 miles in the hotel gym.

Part of the reason this trip was better for me was that we had dinner at this restaurant called Bocanova, in Jack London Square in Oakland. Pan-American Kitchen, great vibe and seriously professional staff. It's actually just now having it's one year anniversary and I would definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

http://bocanova.com/

Overall I ran just under 4 miles this week, so that's a little more than last week, but not quite up to my goal of 8 miles. I dropped some pounds by the end of the week, but my week's average is still the same as last week, so technically I didn't lose any this week.  Next week I'll be able to get back to my regular food ingredients and will run more than 4 miles.

photo from SFGate.com

August 29, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Week 3

I'm seriously slacking on my running goal, but I am keeping to my food and water goals, so that's something. I only ran 3 miles this week, out of my planned 8 miles, but work has been busy so I'm glad I at least got that in.

And it turns out that sticking to my food goals is the most important, because I still LOST 2 POUNDS this week! Which actually means that I'm at the top of my goal weight variance. To be at the bottom of my goal weight variance, I just need to lose 3 more pounds. Pretty sure I can make that happen if I keep disciplined. It's hard, but totally worth it. 

Now to find the motivation to actually run 8 miles per week...

photo from Google images

August 25, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Week 2

Week 2 Progress (August 8 - August 14):

This week I am absolutely exhausted, but I think that's normal for week 2.

I'm still eating 1200 calories a day, but I was only able to run 5 miles this week. My actual goal is to run 8 miles per week, so I'm a little short, but I'm okay with that considering I ran 10 miles last week. And did I mention how tired I am? All I want is sleep.

The good news is that I LOST ONE POUND this week!

photo from Google images

August 23, 2010: Mission: FitBitch: Week 1

Week 1 Progress (July 27 - August 7):

In the new regime for the next 8 weeks there is no eating of the cheese (I'm addicted), no drinking of the wine or beer (I quit mixed cocktails already a couple years ago), and no eating out. I'm also monitoring my water intake to make sure I drink at least 8 cups of water per day. I should mention that I don't drink soda or juices either, I've always just stuck to water. 

Not only will these changes help with my fitness goals, it will also help prevent my chronic kidney stone episodes. There isn't a lot of research on what causes kidney stones and how to prevent them, but one recommendation is a fresh balanced diet, so I started making those changes a couple years ago and I've been stone free for at least a year! So I figure it can't hurt.

Each day my calorie intake goal is 1100-1200. This is based on my age, gender, current weight, height, and my desk job - with the intent to lose weight (I used a few calorie calculators online to make sure they each told me the same thing). Now since I plan to incorporate cardio into my routine, I can of course add an extra 100-200 calories a day depending on how much I run. Let's not kid ourselves here, I just wasn't made to starve myself.

So in my first week (plus 3 days from the previous week, since I started in the middle and want to track Sunday through Saturday) I LOST FIVE POUNDS!!!  I ate my 1200 calories a day and drank all my water.  I also ran 10 miles this week (which is insane considering how long its been!)

I feel amazing, I'm beyond motivated for next week. I know I won't be losing that much again next week since I'm not on the Biggest Loser show or anything, but I know I'm already making progress so I'm quite pleased.

from Google images

August 23, 2010: Skinny Little Bitch

I am by no means a "Skinny Little Bitch", but I love this song by Hole.

"Skinny Little Bitch
Starin' at the mirror
In your desperation to disappear...

Skinny Little Bitch
Prayin' to the lord
Praying for some salvation
Cause she's just so bored..."

Listening to these lyrics got me thinking...no matter our height, weight, gender, body shape, etc, we all have things about ourselves we'd like to improved, physically speaking.  Everyone's definition of improvement is different, depending on the individual. For me, I just want to be fit. Like, double take, super fit. Mostly because I know I can do it. I really know I can.

So here's my plan:
Month 1 & 2: Lose the extra weight I don't need by changing my diet and running
Month 3 & 4: Then begin to build muscle tone head to toe with yoga and pilates
Month 5 & after: Maintain my weight, cardio, and long lean muscles forever and ever amen

If I'm working my ass off in the beginning to obtain my goals, I don't want to ever have to work that hard again. So my plan is to only have this be a one time thing.

Cheers to Mission: FitBitch!

from Google images

I'ma be a SnowBunny!

This past Saturday I put together a girls trip to Big Bear Lake to go snowboarding. On the way we picked up our personal guide/instructor Jimmy (yes, he's a boy, but it wouldn't have been as good without him). Last season I finally learned how to board and only went 2 1/2 days.

So this is my 2nd season and I want more! My next challenge is to be able to go straight/vertical down the hill, whilst being in control, and then J curve (b/c I'm goofy foot) back out of it to a standing stop. Jimmy says once I can master that I'll be able to learn a C curve to ride toeside. YAY me I can't wait!! Here are some pix from the day:

Julie and I

Me and Jen - we forgot to wear our Charger jerseys :^( But we still wore blue haha

Me and Cara on the lift for Summit Run

Julie shreddin da gnar on her very first day to the snow!

Update: 2009 Goals in Review

I believe I was fairly successful in completing my personal goals in 2009. Just to be sure, let's take a look. Here they are with today's comments in red:

MUST Goals:

• Pay off all credit card debt by 05/31/2009 - Yes, I did actually pay it off early, but it didn't last long before I added more debt on, whoops.
• Lose 8 lbs by 05/31/2009 - This did not happen, I lost more like 6 by year end, but it was close.
• Have $5k in savings by 12/31/2009 - I did meet this one, and then promptly spent all my money on a home with boyfriend. But that was the plan for saving.

HOPE Goals:
• Lose an additional 5 lbs by 12/31/2009 - No I didn't make it to my goal weight even though I worked on it for a year. Or pseudo worked on it. Still have the last 5 lbs!
• Have a visible six pack (this one makes me giggle, but I AM serious!) - aHAahahah yeah, not so much
• Plan and have money allocated for a 2010 Europe trip by 12/31/2009 - this one is done! Dublin, Paris, and Prague LOOK OUT!
• Be kidney stone free this year - I do have a stone, and have had it for quite some time now, but technically this one is still met b/c I haven't passed any stones this year. Or I might have passed one actually. But still, I was close to none all year, one isn't bad.
• Have $20k liquid available for a house down payment - Umm $20k liquid didn't happen, but I did have enough money for a down payment, so that worked out well.

Overall I think I did okay. Love this pic from weheartit.com

Personal Goals for 2010

I still need to check how I did on my 2009 goals and make an update, but of course I've already started my list for 2010 and what I plan to accomplish. Here's what I've got so far:

• Make a blog post everyday in January
• Pass French 101 (starts 1/25)
• Lose these last 5 lbs and maintain
• Be kidney stone free for the year
• Book and Pay for our first trip to Europe (in July!)
• Be credit card debt free
• Have 3 months salary in savings

2 personal, 2 health-related, 3 financial. What are your goals/hopes/dreams/determinations?

French 101

I've been talking about finishing my Bachelors Degree for a few years now, but just recently my friend Julie lit a fire under my butt. I'm doing it! I'm applying for Fall 2010 admission to finish that darn thing, if it kills me. To gear up for starting school again I've signed up for a class at one of our junior colleges.

I'm going to learn French!!

This is something I've always wanted to do, since at least 4th grade, so I'm pretty excited, but also nervous at the same time. I'm decent at languages but if I suck it'll really bring down my GPA. Oh well, I've put my ankles in the cement, there's no going back now. I start January 25th. Fingers crossed. And wish me luck.

Ketchup

This week I'm going to:

• catch up on all my blog reading (I really miss those girls)
• catch up on my list of things to post
• catch up on some rest and time with boyfriend

All in preparation for my new 2010 goal, thanks to my friend ALu - to make a blog post EVERY single day starting January 1st! We're going to do it together and it'll probably end up in a challenge because one of us is bound to skip here and there. And by 'one of us' I mean that it'll most likely be me.

Miss you blogerettes.

10/3 = FOUR weeks until Halloween

I'm really focused on being fit for Halloween, exercising a lot and eating healthy, I even buy a personal trainer to help with meal plans and workouts. Sooo of course my body decides this is the perfect time to get a kidney stone, which means exercising is nixed until its gone. And its not gone yet. Really bummed about that, buuut we still have 4 weeks left (a whole month!) so I hope to be able to get back on track soon. Time to start shopping and planning!

Good thing is that I haven't really gone off track, weight wise. I'm still dropping lbs just by the diet change and water intake, so at least that's a positive. Still, looking forward to getting back on the treadmill. Had a phone chat with my girl E tonight, she's coming down to stay with me Halloween weekend, and I'm excited!! We decided we'd have a co-ed group costume this year and we're going to be a Swarm of Killer Bees. AHAha so Funnn.

Here is E's costume, I think its perfect for her.

 

Our friend Ritz got the costume below, which is so great b/c someday she can also be a ladybug :^)

I was going to buy mine online tonight, but after talking to E, I'm going to go shopping and try some on tomorrow. So far I like the 2 below the best for me.

 

 

Still need to find a bee costume for the boys (boyfriend & his friend from VA), then add all our blood and weapons to make the 'killer' part. I'm going with the vampire teeth and blood since this is the season of Twilight and TrueBlood.

Anyone else have their costumes planned this early? I LOVE dress-up!!!!

9/26 = FIVE weeks until Halloween

We now officially have five weeks left until Halloween. If any of you are doing your own Hot for Halloween (H4H) challenge, this means we still have time to lose 5 more pounds in a healthy way. Simply crunching the numbers, 1 pound = 3500 calories. So if you reduce your caloric intake by just 500 calories each day, for 7 days, that is 1 pound lost in 1 week. Sounds easier than actually done, I know, but if you're serious about getting fit I think its important to lay out how to reach your goals. At least for me it is, I need to see my plan in writing.

Still on hyper intense mode of eating healthy and working out. And so far its working for me, yaaaay I lost 1 pound this week!!!

Another thing I did for myself is to get a personal trainer on Fit Orbit. They give you meal plans and exercises every day, based on your fitness goals. Mine started Fri 9/25 and so far I like it, but I'm still getting used to logging everything in their website. I signed up for a 6 month package and I hope it helps me stay focused. I think it will.

Goals are:

• Deficit of 500-700 calories each day
• NO alcohol, cheese or fastfood! (1 glass of wine is ok)
  
• Stick to raw, fresh vegetables as much as possible
  
• Workout 5-7 days a week, 30 minutes minimum each day (Mon & Wed are the days I can skip)
  
• Increase water intake (I learned drinking more water helps you lose more weight)
• Also, NO sugars

DRINK YOUR WATER!!!! This is my buddy Contigo, I take her wherever I go.

Is anyone else challenging themselves? How's it going?

9/19 = SIX weeks until Halloween

I just realized that it is exactly 6 weeks until Halloween, which for me means super crunch time on getting fit. I was surfing around on the blogs and YouTube, looking for fitness peeps to follow for motivation and I came across kelanjo19 video on joining the Hot for Halloween (H4H) fitness challenge. Her video explains where it came from (the siegster) and so Ive decided to semi jump on the bandwagon. I wont be making any videos but these people have inspired me to make sure I'm fit by Halloween 10/31/09. 

I want to be able to wear this bee costume. I'm not sure that I would actually wear something this small out in public, but I want to at least have the body to decide for myself! I'm tired of choosing the clothes I wear based on how best to cover my fat (yes, I just admitted that).

The next few weeks will be hyper intense mode on eating healthy and working out. I plan to post my progress every Saturday.

Goals are:

• Deficit of 500-700 calories each day
• NO alcohol, cheese or fastfood! (1 glass of wine is ok)
  
• Stick to raw, fresh vegetables as much as possible
  
• Workout 5-7 days a week, 30 minutes minimum each day (Mon & Wed are the days I can skip)
  
• Increase water intake

I'm Quitting

I gave up cocktails a while ago, and so now Ive only been drinking beer and/or wine at the suggestion of my doctor. But after the way I felt last Tuesday, after drinking beers while floating on the bay Monday, I will now add beer to the ‘things I don’t eat or drink’ list. I just can’t do it anymore. It makes me feel terrible, I get bloated, and I eat things I normally never would (like Del Taco). Thats also when I tend to yell louder. And I just don't like any of it.

So I'm sure I'll have a refreshing sip of ale here and there, but for now, I've consolidated to wine only. My heart and my tummy will thank me for it.

Goals for 2009

I'm definitely not one for New Years resolutions, but this year boyfriend and I actually did write down our goals for 2009 in the hopes of sticking to them. I'm going way out of my comfort zone here by posting this, but I'm doing so in the hopes of keeping myself accountable. This way, when/if I slack off, I'll be embarrassed into motivation. And considering that summer is almost over...maybe this will kick me into gear.

MUST Goals:

• Pay off all credit card debt by 05/31/2009 - This was done on target, early actually, but then I've added some more since then so I'm starting from scratch for year end.
• Lose 8 lbs by 05/31/2009 - This did not happen :^( But I have lost 3 lbs, so its a start. Only 10 lbs total to go by year end.
  
• Have $5k in savings by 12/31/2009 - Long, bad story b/c I screwed this up on my part. But basically starting from scratch on this one.
  

HOPE Goals:

• Lose an additional 5 lbs by 12/31/2009
• Have a visible six pack (this one makes me giggle, but I AM serious!)
• Plan and have money allocated for a 2010 Europe trip by 12/31/2009
• Be kidney stone free this year - I do have a stone, and have had it for quite some time now, but technically this one is still met b/c I haven't passed any stones this year.
  
• Have $20k liquid available for a house down payment