Speechless...not really

Here it is the last day of 2012 and though I feel compelled to write a final blog post in 2012 on my blog, I'm feeling some kind of way.  I wouldn't call it speechless, though I'm struggling for words.  I'm not at a loss for words, I guess because of the emotions I feel right now I'm proceeding cautiously and choosing them carefully.  As much as I try to be an inspiration, a motivation, an example that if I can you definitely can, I have my moments.  Today is one of them.  As I hear people talk about what they plan for 2013 from not taking no stuff this year to it being their best year ever, I'm stuck.  I have no desire or need to decide what 2013 will be like for me. I'm thankful for everyday I get, it's a blessing to make a difference.  Honestly, most days I feel like, it's a chance to finally get it right.  This morning I felt that way and tomorrow morning I will as well, I can only pray that in 2013 that more of my days I get it right than I get it wrong.

Happy New Year and see you in 2013!

Feeling some kind of way,
Lynnell

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It's official...

It's official, the plateau has been broken!

Go figure, I go six weeks at the same weight and then drop nearly five pounds in two weeks.  Am I celebrating?  I already did for 5 seconds for the 5 pounds but I'm looking forward to what's next. I weighed in today for the challenge and that 5 pounds, well technically 4.5 pounds and 1.5 inches isn't impressive by my standards and I'm not waiting by the phone like I did last time for the news.  Now of course any progress in the down direction is great progress but I didn't enter the contest just to be in the contest, I entered to win and when the next one rolls around I will enter again.  I'm just as stubborn as my body, so as I continue to shock it back into downsizing, I'm going into 2013 NOT needing to make that popular new years resolution because I'm living mine now.  I go to best gym in town Waldorf Fitness and I'm being trained by one of their many elite trainers, CJ,  but they all embrace me.  Giving me encouragement when I take their classes or just see them around the gym.  Eventually my story will make it to the 2-Month Challenge wall for winning the last time, but my story has only just begun.

I'm not through by any means, it's my time and I'm going to get my blessing (in my Mary Mary vocals),

Lynnell

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Pushed it up by 24 hours

I was originally planning to weigh in on Saturday morning but decided to put myself out of my misery and get it done tomorrow morning, well at least that's what I planned to do.  We'll see what happens tomorrow and whether I chicken out and stay with my original Saturday weigh-in date.  CJ worked me out good this morning after I pushed myself a bit harder on the Stairmaster.  Next up this evening is my challenge for the week from CJ which is to take Yoga. Better get to it I don't think blogging will be an acceptable excuse to miss.

I'm not that flexible, this is going to be very interesting,

Lynnell

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Wondering if the inches will be enough...

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I'm three days away from my weigh in for my second 2-Month Challenge I entered in at the gym.  If you've read any of my last few post you know I've hit a plateau and not just any plateau because the last I checked I weighed the exact same as I did the day I weighed in to win the last 2-Month Challenge.  So though I could easily throw in the towel and assume I've lost this round, I choose not!  See I have still lost inches so I'm still hopefully that inches will be enough.  Now I know they do the contest by the numbers but one thing the numbers don't show is that I can now do 20 real pushups in a row.  That's right NOT on my knees, I did that today for the first time. The inner satisfaction I felt with that accomplishment, I guess I already feel like a winner.  I'm in this battle for the long haul and the saying above reminds me of just that.  As long as I have air in my lungs and life in my body, I have another day to fight to get closer and closer to attaining and remaining at the goal.

I'm looking beyond Saturday's weigh-in and the announced results.  My trainer, CJ and I have already discussed plans for what's next.  He is going to give me weekly challenges to do also to get me off this island called Plateau.  Per his advice I've switched machines for cardio and I've already started doing the stairmaster (please note I detest that machine) for up to 40 minutes at a time working my way to 60. We talked about working out at the pool and taking a running class too.

I'm not meant to be 200+ pounds. So somebody please send a memo to my body because it's not listening to me!

Lynnell

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Thousand Words or More Than Meets The Eye?

Some may say, "Pictures say a thousand words," while others may say, "There is more than meets the eye."  So in this post I'm sharing a picture collage and my thoughts and you decide what the answer to the question asked in the title of this post.

December 15, 2012

I've not put updated pictures of myself on my blog because I've not reached my goal or won any contest lately, but this weekend I did wear my favorite kind of dress, a RED one, as you can see.  What I see in these pictures is a person that is pleased with her progress BUT (yes I am saying but) I've not lost a pound in six weeks and that frustrates me beyond words. I will admit I was remeasured by my trainer and inches are still melting but I feel stuck with the scale not moving.  Now before you send me advice about getting off the plateau, I've gotten plenty so far and I'm doing all the heeded advice but the scale seems to be as stubborn about not moving as I am about it moving.  So this past week, I continued to work out but I had a moment, I will admit, I threw my hands up and enjoyed potato chips, french fries and a few sugary treats.  Now of course the scale laughed at me but thankfully I stopped the "why can't I eat what I want?" train at the weigh-in station by Friday, then Saturday it was time to find something to wear.  As I cursed the two rubber maid bins full of size 14 clothes I can't wear yet, I still found other clothes that don't fit because they are too big hanging in my closet.  So here I am in limbo between hand me downs I can't fit yet and clothes that are becoming loser each week.  But then enters the red dress, when I wore it a couple years ago I barely got in it, it was $10 bucks on clearance and I wore a girdle to get it zipped.  But this time the fit was comfortable and no girdle or spanks needed. It was a reminder that I'm still moving and to leave the junk food pity train behind and the next time I go to put that red dress on it will be too big and find it's fate in the give away bag.

All aboard the I can't stay this weight forever train, next stop is continued healthy weight loss,

Lynnell

"If it doesn't challenge you. It doesn't change you" - Fred Devito

Sometimes you gotta blow that S*** out...

I love Jamie Foxx and I remember seeing his stand up DVD a long time ago and he would say this line, "Sometimes you gotta blow that s**** out!"  I often repeat that phrase in my head when I can tell I'm on the edge.  You know that edge that stress pushes you to and you find yourself fighting for balance so you can push back.  It makes me tense and uptight so I need to remind myself that "Sometimes you have gotta blow that s*** out!"

See this weight plateau has me stressing, I'm working out like crazy and only to find the scale isn't moving.  I'm walking away from holiday treats left and right only to find the scale isn't moving. My trainer weighed me last week and took measurements and though the measurements are still going down that scale not moving is blowing my mood and now my weight loss journey is becoming more mental than physical. My trainer, CJ, told me I was too hard on myself, I agreed and then responded, "there is nothing you can say to convince me I'm supposed to weigh 208lbs for six weeks straight" and he admittedly agreed and then we talked about things to do to get off the plateau.  I'm still hard on myself, that's what works for me. I'm pushing me to get to where I need to go, then I will coast and enjoy the mountain top and curse all the pitfalls and slippery slopes that tried to derail me.

I know the scale will eventually move or I will be the smallest 208 pound person you've ever seen (then maybe I can apply to the Genius Book of World Records, lol). Thank God for Jamie Foxx because today his voice creeped into my thoughts and I was reminded of my favorite line, "Sometimes you gotta blow that s*** out" so I'm going to do my best to relax, keep working and wait for the results to show up on the scale again.

Blowing that s*** out,

Lynnell

"If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it."
- Herodotus (484 BC - 430 BC)

If I inspire you, know that I need you as much as you need me!

I have had an overwhelming response from people who have expressed to me that I inspire them.  Frankly, I need each of them as much as they need me.  It's a love exchange, it keeps me motivated and lovingly accountable.  The more I share, the more love I receive and the more I am able to keep moving forward.  The support of the ones who call me an inspiration is in fact critical to my success.  I mentioned yesterday how my plateau was messing with my psyche and though today was a better day than yesterday an iHop craving made it's way into my head (no I didn't go to iHop)

I'm NO superwoman, I want to share what I do to get past cravings hoping to encourage those who have given me the honor of saying I inspire them.  So to conquer the cravings monster, I do one to all of the following:

1. I send a text such as "I want a Quarter Pounder" to someone like my sister or my best friend and their response always strengthens me.
2. I find a vegan alternative, like for dinner to tonight I had a Dairy Free frozen lasagna meal by Amy's Kitchen.  So during my next Mom's Organic Market trip I will look for a pancake alternative to put my iHop craving from today to rest.
3. I allow myself a little latitude on food choices.  I have tried to stay away from potatoes especially potato chips because I can't eat just one but I've eaten a small bag of Baked Lay's when that salt craving won't be satisfied with Bean Chips. 
4. I think it is not worth undoing the hard work from the gym. 
5. I say to myself, "it's been so long since I ate that it will probably make me sick."  This belief keeps me away from fast food burgers, friend chicken and even my favorite, BACON!  
6. I remind myself of the emotional defeat I have felt in the past when I've binged on comfort foods that then led to more allowances until my progress was digress.
7. (most importantly) I pray for strength!

Pressing forward with you as my spring board and I can't thank you enough,

Lynnell

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly."  - Thomas Jefferson

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."  - Oscar Wilde

"Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim."  - William Feather