{30 thoughts} barre3 fall challenge starts today

Today marks the start of the barre3 fall challenge!!!

This is the good peer pressure {is there such a thing?} kind of challenge where there is a GIANT board of names with stickers to put on when you go to class! The goal is to go to 5 studio classes per week, for 4 weeks. For now we aren't putting our own stickers on {small hallway} but I'm hoping that changes soon! It's so rewarding to put that sticker on. Maybe I need to make one for my home! Heehee.

This challenge couldn't fall at a better time. It is October 14th - November 10th. We just got home from a 3 day week in Pullman and in 30 days we are going to Vegas {3 days after the challenge ends}! Now...if only my shoulder would cooperate!

I don't feel as prepared as I would like since we were out of town and my normal Sunday shopping & prepping didn't get done but Jason reminded me that all we have to do is eat whole foods and we will be okay. The world isn't going to end if we don't eat the exact recipies that are given to us. In fact, some we likely won't try. But some we will and that is okay. Even though it is a challenge we still have to make it work for us! The best part of this challenge is Jason has agreed to do the food portion with me. That makes it SO much easier and today he actually go me up and going and prepping for tomorrow nights dinner!

Tuesday's dinner getting ready on Monday!

 

It’s also worth a mention that you can download the new barre3 app for your phone FREE until tonight (10/15 until 11:59 p.m. ) After that the cost goes up to $4.99. It’s amazing and gives you access to tons of recipes, 10-minute workouts, an easy-to-organize grocery list and health tips of the day. {Line stolen from Katie who is a barre3 instructor in Columbus, OH}

 

Fingers crossed {we make it through the challenge}!!!

GOALS {version 2.0}...

It's been just over a year since I posted my S.M.A.R.T. goals. I figured it was time to check in on them and write some new ones!!!

July 19, 2012 SMART GOALS

{weight}
 My eventual weight goal is 160 ~ Well...I blew this one out of the water. As of today I weight 144.4 lbs.

{events}




Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk ~ This didn't go quite as planned. Jason and I got to the race about 20 minutes after it started. We ended up not walking or running it.

Spartan Race 3K Obstacle Course ~ This also didn't go as planned...thank you shoulder surgery :( The good thing is we were allowed to defer our entry one time so we are scheduled to participate on August 2nd, 2014!!

{etc}
Size 12 ~ Well, passed this one too! Whoop! I'm about a size 8 to 10 depending on the clothes. I even have one size 6.

Less Doctors ~ Again, shoulder surgery kind of got in the way with this one too! Leading up to the surgery I was doing well ~ only getting a massage once a month, acupuncture two times a month, and chiropractic two times a month. So...that's $125 in copays alone. That's not counting prescriptions, other doctors, and anything else. I'm not sure I really met this goal or that I ever will. I hope to get off more of my prescriptions.

August 5th, 2013 SMART Goals

{weight & inches}
Lose inches & not worry about the scale ~ I feel like I'm not going to lose much more weight but I've been saying that for a long time! I'm 5'4" and according to weight watchers a healthy range for women who are my height is 117 lbs - 146 lbs. While I am not overly concerned about the number, I most certainly want to continue to tighten up & lose some inches.

{events}
Climb Mt. St. Helens ~ Phew! It's scary to write that down. Jason and I have been talking about it for a few months now and we have decided we are going to do this in 2014. We tried back in 2008 but were unsuccessful because of many reasons. Mainly, we were out of shape but it certainly didn't help that we ran out of water 1/3 of the way up. It was the hottest day of the year the day we climbed! You have to buy your passes in February so we picked a random weekend and it was a roaster. We are in way WAY better shape now and are planning it out about a year in advance and we WILL do this!!

Spartan Sprint 2014 ~ Since we weren't able to participate this year we are signed up for next year! Here's to hoping surgery isn't in either of our future's!!

{etc}
Wear a 2 piece swimsuit in public ~ There. I said it. I want to wear a 2 piece. Not a little string bikini....probably something more along the lines of an Athleta suit. Regardless of I think by next year I'll have the confidence and body to pull this off. We shall see!!

Less doctors ~ Whatever that may mean ;-) I am most definitely someone who historically goes to doctors a lot. Though, I'm not sure if I should consider massage, chiro and acupuncture doctors in the traditional sense. Those three people have done more for me than almost any ever doctor, ever.

The future ~ I am not sure what path I want to go down. Do I stay? Do I change? Follow my heart? Follow my gut? Are they the same thing??

I am excited to see what my future holds.

Fingers crossed {it's good}...

minus 65...

...pounds that is!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this. Well, I kind of can because I slacked for much of the month of March!

Some interesting thoughts came out of losing this 65 pounds. When I first started my journey I did not believe that I could do this but I knew I had to try. And try I have. And lose I have. There's been a few things lately {namely when thinking about whole foods and no-dairy} where I've said out loud to others and to myself - "I can't do that". Well, I instantaneously switched my words up after I said the word can't...because I can. I can try to do anything!!

 

 



I kind of can't believe this was me one year ago {and then me last week}...

left: April 2012 ~ Kauai

right: April 2013 ~ Phoenix

 

But at the same time I can believe it is me! It's weird. Before I lost all this weight I sometimes would picture myself how I look now. And sometimes now, I picture myself as I used to me. Weight loss is a long, twisted, and mind-bending journey. I'm a size 8 in almost everything now. My top is a size Medium. That in and of itself is mind-bending. When I started this journey I was almost reading to buy a size 20W and size 1X shirts where too tight. It's weird to not shop at the stores I used to. It's weird to be able to walk in lululemon or Nordstroms or even Khols and find things that fit. It's going to take some more time to get used to that!

 

I buy myself rewards at the major weight loss milestones. In the past I haven't considered a -5 from a 10's weight loss {like -65} to be worthy of a reward but then I saw something I really wanted and wanted an excuse to buy it. Plus, when I hit the -60 pound mark I figured I'd plateau, but I didn't. I have kept on losing and couldn't be happier or more proud of myself! My very fashionable best friend told me this top was a good choice. She write a fashion blog...she should know! And just after I purchased this top {with the snazzy zipper in the back} she wore one on her blog ;-) See, now I'm starting fashion trends! Oh, and just to tip this adorable shirt over the edge - it's a size small. Yes, small.

 

reward top from LOFT

wearing my top in sunny Phoenix with my cousin!

 

All in all, losing 65 pounds has been amazing experience. How could it not be?? Can't wait to see where I go from here! I don't "think" I will lose a bunch more weight but I do believe I will become more and more toned. I told my best friend yesterday "Maybe next year I'll wear a 2 piece suit in public". And you know...I hope I will!!

Fingers crossed {that I'll be bikini ready next summer. Heehee}...

the next steps...

While 2012 will always be the year that started this journey for me...I'm hoping 2013 will be the year the pieces really begin come together! There's more to life than the list below but this is where I'll be focusing a portion of my energy.

Here's a few ways I'm planning on making this happen!

Naturopathy

I have my first appointment for the end of February. I'm actually kind of happy that it's that far out. It will allow me to go to my 1 year Endocrinology checkup January 22nd and process some of the information I recieve there. It's my plan to go off the Metformin sometime in the next year. It may be February, it may not, but I'm okay with either way. I know there are a few insulin-inhibitors out there, I just need to educate myself about them. My naturopath will also help me with this. I found a nathuropath who isn't totally opposed to "western medicine" so I am happy with that. More updates next year as I begin treatment with her! The above picture was actually from a handout she had in her office...pretty much sums me up! I'm excited to learn more about PCOS this year and what it means for my future.

Healthy Eating Choices/Routine {this is NOT a diet}

I plan on this being the year I start to understand food more. Part of this will be through the naturopath, part through the barre3 challenge I'm doing, part towards what I've read in the last year, and part in ways I cannot yet imagine. I have it on my "to do list" to watch/read Fat Sick and Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives. While both of these programs seems pretty extreme I know there are pieces I can take and put into my life. I need to start planning and implementing a menu/rotation and also setting aside a time one or two days a week to cut veggies and foods so I'm not doing it every.single.night because that can get tiring! I am ready to take the next step in food. It's been over half a year since we've had crackers or candy in the house. {I'm not counting the ONE candy cane Santa brought me}.

Exercise

This is actually becoming the easiest part of my routine. I am in love with barre3 - which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who reads this blog! And while I've always wanted to become a runner I just don't know if it is in the cards for me. I'd need a dozen rolls of duct tape (to tape my boobs down) and a few dozen inhalers (to keep my asthma in check). Oh, and a new lower back! Arthritis and running don't seem to go well together. Last year my goal was to workout 4 days per week. And while I don't think I hit that, I bet I came close! I bet I did 3 times a year. This year I KNOW I can do 3 times a week. I'm going to try to figure out a real & easy way for me to track all of this...you know how I like my data!

Personal Balance

This is a tough one for me. It's tough for me to deal with and tough for me to blog about, partly because I don't know who is reading this blog. I haven't made the blog private yet...because I want to inspire people, not hide from them. But because of that, there are just some things I won't talk about. I recently watched The Secret. I was very intrigued by it. I think I actually used to have the book but I never read it and it is no longer on the shelf so I must have dontaed it. It just wasn't the time for me to hear the message. I'm not even sure this is the time but when I was listening to it I knew I wanted to watch it again, with my husband. Maybe there is something to it...

Personal Relationships & Technology

I want to unplug and reconnect with those around me, especially my husband. We both definitely need time to unwind and veg in the evenings but it is getting old being on the computer or iPad's all evening. I know that my husband's job requires him to work 24/7 and while I don't like it, the fact that he has to do it isn't going to change. We've starting by sitting back at the dinner table instead of infront of the TV. And even though it is only 10 minutes or so...it's 10 minutes that I now look forward to after only 1 week of implementation.

 

I also have some friendships I need to continue to workout. Some that I need to not work as hard at. And a few I'd like to try to progress from the "a few times a year friend" to something more. I want to try to find new ways to connect with my friends. Birthday cards? FaceTime? Writing a letter? If anyone has any other ideas...feel free to leave them as a comment!

 

 

 

Fingers crossed {that this is the best year ever}...

-40 pounds....

...and a bit of looking back and forwards.

My exact words {out loud & alone in the bathroom} were F*** YES when I saw this on the scale...

I've been fighting this last 5 pounds for about 7 weeks. I know, it is good to lose 5 pounds in 7 weeks, but it was a struggle and I am happy to be there.

Why I struggled: Right after school got out I spent 5 days sitting in front of my computer working on my state ProCert, then I went to Spokane/Pullman for a long weekend to visit friends. I did okay when I came back from that and I've worked out also every single day but I was definitely snacking a bit more. Though not on too much bad stuff because I refuse to buy it! It was probably all the wine and cheese I bought while in Pullman ;-) Last week we were in MN for 9 days visiting family {ie. eating out}. But I think I did pretty good. I only had fries once and macaroni once. I skipped dessert multiple times. And I got fruit with my cheeseburger!!!

How I am going to MOVE FORWARD:

~ I need to focus on the food I am putting in my body. I want to go to a Dietitian. Not to be put on a "diet" but to really start to understand food. My PCOS specialist said I should watch the documentary called Knives Over Forks. He cautioned me to really thinking about trying to cut milk & cheese. That I am not mentally ready to do right now but I am ready to cut it back.

~ Working out. Our local Barre3 had a deal for teachers that we could pay ($99) for a one month unlimited for classes {normally $150}. My goal is to go to Barre3 3 - 4 times per week, depending on my back. I am going to still continue to train with my trainer but might start doing every other week. It is very expansive but it has been very helpful!!

~ Focus on a goal. My next weight loss goal is 170 pounds. My reward for that goal is going to be a Nike Fuel Band or a FitBit. I need to do more research about which one I want - more on that to come! They both are devices that help you monitor your calories and steps and all that good stuff. I figure when I get to the -50 pound mark I'm going to need something to keep me going.

On a positive note...I went to try on a bridesmaids dress for my cousin's wedding and I was a size 14...

almost exactly one year ago I was buying another BM dress in a size 18W and it was TIGHT.

WOW. I haven't compared these two pics before. It's harder to see because it isn't full body but man oh man I can tell {ps I"m wearing the same gurtle bra in both these pics}. My cousin's wedding this fall will be 1 day less than a year apart from when I was in my brother's wedding (purple dress). I can't wait to see those comparison pics!!!

GOALS...

Up until now I really didn't want to set goals and I'm kind of still not sure I want to...but I'm going to try it. The toughest part for me will be the T {time-bound} in the SMART goals montra. Not setting goals means I don't have to possibly eventually face failure. But, I think things have been going pretty good around here SO maybe it is time. One of my good friends/co-worker Shelley has started writing her goals down and it inspired me to do the same, somewhat. She and I are very different but are on a journey towards weight loss, which we have both struggled with our whole lives.

{weight}

Before these last months I never had put a weight goal into number form. My "weight watchers" ideal weight is somewhere in the 140's but I'm not sure that is obtainable...When I started this journey I thought that 180 lbs would be a good goal but I'm there now...

My eventual weight goal is 160. It took me 8 months to lose 40 pounds and I'm kind of at a plateu so I'm thinking I could lose the next 20 in the next 8 months {hopefully sooner}. Phew. Kind of feels weird to write that down!

{events}

Sunday, December 2nd ~ Jingle Bell Arthritis Walk/Run 5K in Portland, OR
~This is not only a goal for me to be able to run a 5K by this point but I live with osteoarthritis on a daily basis. I hope that many of my family and friends will join and support me in this cause.

Saturday, August 3rd, 2012 ~ SPARTAN RACE 3K Obsatacle Course in Washougal, WA
~This really is why I started setting goals. My good friend Danielle particiapted in the race this year and SOMEHOW convinced a few of us to tag along next year. Thankfully we have a L O N G time to get ready for the race. 380 days from today, as a matter of fact.

{etc.}

Size 12. I'm currently in between a 14 & 16 depending on what brand the pants are. I don't own any size 12's so this will be a big deal because I"ll have to go out and buy new pants!! I hope this will happen in the 2012-2013 school year.


No more doctors. Well, not all, but most. My goal is by my 30th birthday {3/16/13} to only need to go to my massage therapist :) and my chiropractor during any given month. I know I will always being going to doctors, it's kind of my "thing", but I am getting SO sick of paying around $200 per month in co-pays. I'll need to see the OB and the Endo and the PCOS specialist once a year but I want to be done with physical therapy and labs and blood draws. I don't know how realistic this goal is since many of my 'things' that I have are life long it is my hope that with this new life style change I've got going on I won't need as many doctors.


Are my goals...

Specific ~ yes.
Measureable ~ yes.
Attainable ~ yes.
Relevant ~ yes.
Time-bound ~ yes-ish.

Fingers crossed.