It Only Took A Photo

It took a picture on Facebook to kick me in the rear and get me back on track. Last night was spirit night for my Relay for Life team and our community manager (who loves taking pictures) came by one of our tables and asked if we would mind having our picture taken and if we didn't mind, would we mind having it on Facebook.

I am not the type of person who processes compliments on command. People always tell me that I am photogenic but the photos that they are taking and or seeing are normally from the chest up. It wasn't until last night that I saw, before my own two eyes, that when I sit down to take a picture and have my hands in my lap, I look like I am nine months pregnant!

I just looked at that picture and was in utter disbelief. I know cameras add 10 pounds but it seems that these new HD cameras add about 20 pounds! It's either that or that is truly what I look like sitting down.

Either way, that photo inspired me in my workout this evening. I am on my fourth week (I can't believe it) of The Biggest Loser's Cardio Max workout and during my 40 minute session, my goal has been to burn 400 calories. I came close to that one day last week when I burned 397 but it wasn't until today (and seeing that photo) that I burned 401 calories.

That has been the greatest workout achievement I have had since starting the Biggest Loser workout series and I pushed myself harder that I ever have today because of that photo. One day, I hope to use that photo as my before and take another one sitting down as my after (one where I don't look like I am pregnant and ready to go into labor at any moment).

Small things can lead to something bigger. That picture (something small) is going to lead to something bigger (more motivation and determination to change) and although it will take some time, I am eager to see what comes next.

Weigh In Day: Workout Calendar

Since I had another week of unexpected days off from working out, I knew I needed to take the time and make a workout schedule. I have postponed my actual stepping on the scale to next week because I wanted to highlight a non-scale victory I had last week (plus the fact that my workout schedule is now available under the 'workout schedule' tab).

For some reason, I have always worn my age in jeans. What does that mean? When I was 16, I was wearing a size 16. When I was 18, I was wearing a size 18 and so forth. The highest jean size I have ever been in is a size 20 (you guessed it, at the age of 20) but all of that changed recently (at least partially changed).

I tend to be a last minute dresser. What does that mean? I think of something I am going to wear, then when the day comes that I want to wear it I have either already worn it or it doesn't fit the way I want it to. That is exactly what happened to me last week.

I have a favorite pair of jeans. Ones that fit absolutely wonderful (I guess you could say that I have worn them out, but doesn't that make for a great pair of pants?). Unfortunately, this particular pair of pants has a rip in the back (while that may be the still for some, it wasn't for me). What makes it even more unfortunate is that I had somewhere to be where a rip in the back of my pants wouldn't have been appropriate. I tried on numerous pairs of pants and they didn't fit the way I wanted them to. My mom suggested I try another pair of pants I have from Old Navy and after I told her they wouldn't fit, I reluctantly tried them on.

The moment of true was fast approaching as I pulled them up and the fit!! Those jeans were a size 18 and I couldn't have been more happier to know that I could wear them. That is what inspired me to come home and continue with week two of the Biggest Loser workout (it was week two because I had already taken a week off, then this week makes the second week off which means I will be starting week three on Monday).

Non-scale victories have really pushed me on this journey, they have inspired me to keep going on this journey and that is one of the reasons why I created a workout calendar. Visually seeing what I have to do (yes have to, I am not giving myself too many options because when I have those I don't succeed as much as I would like to) lets me know that I am steadily working towards my goal. I think it's the fact that I am able to cross things off of the calendar that lets me know I am getting closer to what I have been working towards.

If you want to see what is on my workout schedule, head over to the workout schedule tab and click anywhere on the calendar to get a closer view. 

Weekly Goals

I don't have a long list of goals for this week and that is because I don't think I could handle a long list and added stress on my plate. This week, I am keeping it simple. I am not denying myself anything nor am I judging myself on what I do or do not achieve.

This week, my one and only goal is finding time to exercise. For the next 9 weeks, my schedule will be hectic but I know this is just another stepping stone on my journey, its a reason for me to give up and say that I don't have time. That is the main reason, I am making this my one and only goal.

That exercise can come in the form of The Biggest Loser's Cardio Max or Power Sculpt or it can come in the form of me going to the gym. At this point, I don't think the gym will fit into my schedule for the first two weeks, so I will be relying on at home workouts. I did pickup The Biggest Loser's Power Sculpt workout and I am still trying to figure out whether or not I want to start that in conjunction with Cardio Max, like it is recommended or if I want to finish the remaining 4 weeks of cardio max and then start 6 weeks of Power Sculpt. That decision is still up in the air.

Maybe focusing on one goal will be better for me. Maybe focusing on one goal won't benefit me at all. In the end, I am going to create a workout schedule for both workouts, put it somewhere for me to see and actually focus on completing those workouts, with built in rest days.

I have said all along on this journey that I was going to take time for myself and I am finally getting around to doing just that.

Biggest Loser Workout Update

As you may (or may not know) I have been doing the Biggest Loser workout for 2 weeks (I took last week off) and although I once told myself that I was going to start the workout over, I decided to keep going with it because in order to be successful, I can't stop and go, I have to stay consistent. 

A couple things that I have noticed that have improved since doing this workout are my push-ups and lunges.  I could never do a "correct" push up. By correct my coaches always told us to stay level and go down, instead, I would raise and lower my shoulders while my butt stayed in the air (I became known for my new push-up). Lunges have always been a problem for me because my knees have been through so much, especially my right knee. I have fallen on it (from 5 or 6 feet in the air), fell on it walking up steps (I know, how do you fall walking up steps), taken softballs to the knee, etc. At this point, any overexerting of my knee beyond the ordinary equals pain.  Therefore, I try to take it easy when it comes to lunges and this workout has helped me slowly get back into lunges. Today I was able to do about 5 on each leg, which is a big accomplishment for me. 

Although I have only been doing this particular workout for 2 weeks, I have begun to see some major improvements on what I can do physically. At the beginning of the workout it seems the 30 minutes (how long weeks 1-2 last) will never get here but once I do get started, it seems as if the 30 minutes flew by. I guess time really does fly when you are having fun. That plus the fact that I upgraded to the Polar FT7 recently (review coming up soon), reminds me that I can accomplish my weight loss goals because I am being motivated more and more each day.