Operation #165by26 Update & Non-Scale Victories

Operation #165by26 has certainly had its ups and downs and since I have been missing in action for an entire week I thought I should probably fill everybody in quickly.

Friday - Day 4

Saturday - Day 5

Sunday - Day 6

173.4 LBs is easily the lowest number I have seen on the scale in FOREVER. However, Days 1 - 6 had NOT been easy and I was beginning to get very tired and crabby. When my sister-in-law Lisa suggested we go to the local brunch buffet after church on Sunday I was all like Hell-to-the-Yes!

Monday's weight in was evidence of the waffle, ham and cheese omelet, and biscuit with sausage gravy I devoured the day before. Oh yes, let us not forget the pizza I had for supper too. I'm fairly certain a crazy women took over my body on Sunday!



Monday - Day 7

Sunday night we were hit by another mega snow storm and although I made it to work that morning I left at noon because it was blowing and drifting horribly.

What is a person to do with a toddler on a snow day? Make sugar cookies of course! I ate just a little cookie dough, shared half a warm cookie with Little Man, and had one after supper. In my head I was thinking they were probably 100-150 calories each. WRONG! When I sat down to watch The Biggest Loser I used MyFitnessPal's recipe calculator to figure it out the damage done and those suckers were 273 calories each!

Not proud to say I also made chili {not bad on its own} that night for supper and served it with sour cream, shredded cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.

SNOW DAY = Giant Diet Fail!



Tuesday - Day 8

Tuesday, I dusted myself off and have been back at it ever since.



Monday - Day 9

We did celebrate and order food out last night but I had worked out and tracked all my stuff. Hence, no loss no gain and I will take that all day long!



Today - Day 10

If you are following along on my journey you know that marks 2 SOLID LBs lost for Operation #165by26. I know I could have done better in the last 10 days but I also have to realize I could have done much worse.

 

So I don't get down on myself, let's take a look at some of my Non-Scale Victories: 

• I tracked absolutely every single thing I have eaten in the last 10 days on MyFitnessPal.
• I stayed between 1200-1400 calories 7/10 days.
• I did 30 Day Shred 8/10 days and am catching up on the 2 workouts I missed.
• I made it to ZUMBA last night and last Wednesday night.

My SPECIAL areas of focus for next 10 days: 

• Continue to track everything on MyFitnessPal.
• Stay between 1200-1400 calories 8/10 days {I have a Bachelorette Party to attend this Saturday & the 31st is Easter}.
• Catch up on the 2 days of 30 Day Shred missed and complete the next 10 days of the program.
• Do Couch to 5K at least 5 times.
• Do ZUMBA at home at least 3 time {My DVDs should arrive today or tomorrow} and make it to class next Wednesday.

Now, just so there is a photo of something besides my feet in this post:

 

Little Man & My Sweet Nieces
Aren't they the cutest?

 

Thursday Tale from the Scale - Winning!

Yesterday I had a horrible day! Like, the worst in a LONG time! When I left work I REALLY wanted to take the six $1 bills I had saved throughout the week to pay for Zumba class to the liquor store to buy a cheap bottle of wine (read Boones Farm or Arbor Mist, 'cus that's how I roll).

Let's face it, even if I bought the wine, Mr. You Betcha and Little Man wouldn't have let me drink it in peace. So I headed home with my $6 intact to change for Zumba. One of my girlfriends from our Biggest Loser Challenge said she was going to join me so I didn't want to let her down.

Once I got home, I quickly chowed down the baked chicken breast Mr. You Betcha made for me while I was gone at class and then jumped right into 30 Day Shred. When Jillian (I love that name) was done kicking my tush it was time to get Little Man ready for bed. Nothing warms my heart more then hearing, "Wuv you Mommy!" from his sweet little lips after I lay him in bed.

After bedtime was squared away, I walked into the living room to find Mr. You Betcha studying for the big volunteer fire fighter exam he has today, thought to myself, "He isn't going to be much fun tonight." and decided to head to the basement for some quality time with the treadmill. I just did some walking because I was getting tuckered out but figured I could watch Duck Dynasty from the couch or the treadmill and the treadmill was the better choice.

That is the most I have EVER done for my Wednesday Last Chance Workout and it payed off!

one hundred seventy four point eight
DOWN 2.6 lbs This Week
 DOWN 7.2 lbs TOTAL

Hopefully by next week I will be posting some 10 lbs lost pictures! THESE were taken a LONG time ago! I guess nobody said this journey was going to be easy.

Now that I have seemed to get the incredibly large ball rolling I am becoming a scale addict. I crave lower numbers each week. I think this also has something to do with the Biggest Loser Challenge and DietBet I am participating in.

I now weight less than I did when I became pregnant with Little Man but didn't really think it was a big deal when I reached that number because I remember feeling heavy at that time. One of the first questions I asked my doctor when we found out I was pregnant was, "Should I be concerned about my weight?" When I was close to 35 weeks pregnant I had a frequent customer at work ask me if I was expecting. I was about to deliver and he just noticed? Did he think I had just gotten REALLY fat in the last 9 months!?!?

However, I am approaching what I weighed when we got married and although I would have liked to weigh less on the BIG DAY I remember feeling pretty and that was almost 5 years and one baby ago.



{Photo Courtesy of Jaime Salo Photography}
September 2008~About 170 lbs

 We will celebrate when I get there but not for long because this trains not stoppin'!

Thursday Tale from the Scale

one hundred seventy seven point four
DOWN 2.4 lbs This Week
 DOWN 4.6 lbs TOTAL
 

WooHoo! Back at it with a LOSS! Took off everything I gained in my BAD WEEK (the 1.8 LBs) plus a little extra (.6 LBs). I was talking to Mr. You Betcha and I don't think "Fake It 'Til You Make It" is going to cut it anymore. By that I mean, cheating a little on Friday and/or Saturday and making up for it Sunday-Wednesday before weight-in and still showing a loss. I can feel my body changing and I may be wrong but I think it's going to make me start working a little harder to show a loss.

____________________________________________________

I did Zumba for the first time on Wednesday and LOVED it. I am going back next week and dragging all my Biggest Loser Challenge Buddies with me!

Can anyone tell me if it's worth buying the DVDs to do Zumba at home or is it just as effective to use YouTube videos?

____________________________________________________

I joined Shelli's March Meltdown DietBet and I am determined to NOT lose my money! If you are interested in joining please ask her. I won't lose my money but I would be more then happy to take yours! I kid, I kid!

____________________________________________________

 

Lisa, Candis, Kadi, K and I are going to do The Color Run in Minneapolis-St.Paul on July 14th! We are team Color Me Running (chosen by process of elimination). Again, if you would like to join us PLEASE let me know!

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I was lucky enough to win the giveaway that Blonde Southern Lovin' and Chevron & Sweet Tea co-hosted last week. Along with a $25 Victoria's Secret gift card, I will have my new button on Nikki's Blog for two months and be featured in her group sponsor post next week.

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Now that I have brought you kids up to speed on my exciting life I am going to hit the hay. Probably going on an exciting date to the movies with my daddy tomorrow night. Best get my beauty rest.

Thursday Tale from the Scale & Love Day

Thursday Tale from The Scale

one hundred seventy nine point eight
UP 1.8 lbs This Week
DOWN 2.2 lbs TOTAL

I wish I had some good reason to explain this number. I wish I could even say I didn't know what happened because I worked hard and the scale just didn't move. But, neither of those if the case.

The truth is, this is the number I deserve. As I said before, we went out last weekend and I never regained my balls to the wall motivation. I was kind of frumpy and lazy all week. It is what is. Time to dust myself off and get back on the horse.

Watch out Biggest Loser Challenge Ladies! I'm a tornado and I'm coming after you!

Love Day

Valentines Day, some adore it and some seem to hate it. I realize it's commercial. I really don't care. I realize we shouldn't need a day to remind us to love each other. Again, I really don't care.

My Loves

Mr. You Betcha and I don't get crazy but we do acknowledge the day with cards and small gifts. Let's face it, it feels good to be loved whether Hallmark is telling you to buy the card or not.

For supper, we don't go out every year but we are tonight and I would be lying if I told you I wasn't excited for this:

I am swapping Faturday for Fat Thursday! I promise!

Gift wise there will be no flowers, jewelry, or chocolate (except the Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts Little Man got Daddy) for us. He picked out his gift lastnight and was too excited to keep mine a secret from me.

Mr. You Betcha got:

This is what he asked for.

 

I got:

 

I'm actually really excited about this!





Call me a Nerd, but I can't wait to try out my new fishing pole! I have always been stuck with other's fishing rod hand me downs and cast offs. This one is MINE and it's PINK and it's PRETTY!

Makes me yearn for 80° days at the lake!

My fish!

 

His fish!

 

Don't worry we didn't forget our boy!

 

Little Man is getting:

 

Since we couldn't part with it after someone saw the puppy!
It was only $3 off the clearance rack.
 

Since Mommy wants her children to have a
HUGE Disney Movie collection.

Since the kid loves chocolate as much as Mommy!

 

We are also exchanging cards else that's all folks and I find it lovely!

 

P.S. I picked up some new chap stick in the checkout at Walmart last night and so far I really like it!

My lips will be extra kissable tonight!

 

Thursday Tale from the Scale & My First Giveaway

Thursday Tale from the Scale

one hundreds seventy eight point zero
DOWN 2.6 lbs This Week
DOWN 4 lbs TOTAL

This girl did a happy dance of epic proportions after she stepped on the scale this morning. I honestly think it was dumb luck. If we are friends on My Fitness Pal (MN_Kates) you know my calorie intakes were ALL over the place the past week and I only worked out a couple times (besides doing Fab Ab February).

Day 1 in the Books

NEW Running Shoes on Sale

Must have finally complained asked nicely enough because
Mr. You Betcha dug out the fan and aimed it at the treadmill.

Horrible Filter

My First Giveaway

Anyways, last week I promised that once I reached 10 followers I was going to give away a pair of SmartWool Women's PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks. I have a couple pairs and really like them because they are extremely comfortable, lightweight but durable, have subtle arch support, and are excellent at wicking away moisture. To celebrate my new found bloggy friends and followers I am giving away a pair to so some lucky lady to try out and let me know what she think.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for stopping by to check out my little blog space and good luck to everyone!

Thursday Tale from the Scale & Socks

one hundred eighty point six
DOWN 2.6 lbs Since Last Weigh In
DOWN 1.4 lbs TOTAL

These BIGGEST LOSER GIRLS are rockin my socks off! I really can't believe how enthusiastic I am about this thing. Who would have thought all I needed were some weight loss buddies and a little friendly competition to get my rear in gear.

Speaking of socks.....I know NOTHING about running. I mean zip, zero, zilch.

However, I do know one thing, I LOVE my SmartWool Women's PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks.

They are extremely comfortable, lightweight but durable, have subtle arch support, and are excellent at wicking away moisture. I never work out without them.

Eventually, I would really like to try the SmartWool PhD Running Graduated Compression Lights since I have notice if I do Couch to 5K several times in a week my calves are screaming.

Anyways, since I LOVE me some new buddies and LOVE me some SmartWool Socks, once I get to 10 followers I am going to give away a pair of SmartWool Women's PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks so some lucky lady can let me know what they think of them as well.

THE BIGGEST LOSER CHALLENGE

Confession: I was beginning to feel like I was the worst dieter ever!!!

<<<Rewind<<<

I posted my first blog weight in of 182.0 lbs on 10-18-12 and followed it up the next week with 180.4 lbs on 10-25-12. Not SO bad.

Then, I fell off the face of the earth for a couple months. Nice.

Faced the scale on 12-27-12 and 184.4 lbs looked back at me! WHOA NELLY! THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

OK OK, back at it 1-3-13 where I laid out some goals and weighed in at 182.8 lbs. I buckled down, stared the year strong, and weighed in at 181.2 lbs on 1-10-13. I had busted butt for those 1.6 lbs (honestly, in my head I know that's a great loss) but I wanted more and I was pissed. I have seen several people move the scale 5+ lbs their first week trying really hard.

So....I fell off the wagon for a couple more weeks while I pouted like a big baby.

<<<NOW>>>

The truth is I know how this weight loss thing works. I dropped 20 + pounds in college on Weight Watchers (yes, I gained it all back and some more). I know it doesn't happen over night, it is not easy, I can't compare now to then, and I can't compare myself to others. Blah, Blah, Blah...

I have just been LAZY, SELFISH, and UNACCOUNTABLE.

My Slap in the Face

On Monday, January 14th Mr. You Betcha was at a Fire Meeting and I was at home sitting on the couch watching The Biggest Loser (honestly, for the first time ever). I found myself really admiring and rooting for Danni & Pam because they were on their own and ROCKIN' IT. When they won the challenge with the fastest 5K time I broke down and cried.

The Biggest Loser

Lisa and I have participated in one 5K (so far) and crossing that finish line was the BEST FEELING EVER! When Danni & Pam finished I couldn't help but feeling that same rush of emotions all over again.

About 2 minutes later I text Lisa to ask her if she remembered how slow fast our time was? 10 minutes spent searching the Facebook archives and she came up with 41 min 10 sec.

BACK THE TRUCK UP! The Biggest Loser girls just cut almost 5 minutes off my freakin' time weighing about 40+ lbs more then I did in September when we ran/jogged/walked/crawled it!

What do they have that I don't!?!

 

My Answer: SUPPORT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLE!!!

THE BIGGEST LOSER CHALLENGE

I instantly hit my Facebook friends with this message: Friends/family anyone interested in a local biggest loser (on a small scale) challenge & support group? Self organized and focused on achieving your goals.

By 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning I had 4 people who had contacted me that were interested in participating. Over the next couple days we hammered out the details of The Biggest Loser Challenge and each of us advertised it to our friends. A few more joined us so we have a total of 7 participating and our first weight in was on Thursday, January 24th.

My Biggest Loser Challenge Starting Weight
183.2 lbs - 1/24/13
*I will still be calling 182.0 lbs my
starting weight for blogging purposes.
SO...UP 2.0 lbs Since Last Weigh In
UP 1.2 lbs TOTAL

All of our weigh ins are going to be virtual by text message and to start with the pot is $140 ($20 each). There will be a penalty fee of $1 applied if someone's weight stays the same. There will be a penalty fee of $1 if someone misses weighing in. There will be a penalty fee of $1 added for each pound a person gains. (i.e. Gain 3 pounds, you owe $3) The winner will be the person who loses the largest percentage of body weight.

Nothing like putting a $$$ incentive on weight loss.

Honestly, the $$$ is a sweet incentive but it isn't anything compared to the levels of encouragement and support we have been providing each other. We have a private Facebook Group where we post photos for inspiration, recipe ideas, and jokes to keep it fun. On My Fitness Pal most of us are "Friends" and it is damn hard not to "complete your food and exercise diary under your calorie goal" when they are all doing it. Weight loss peer pressure baby! LOVE IT!

I AM FINALLY FINDING MY STRIDE!

Tomorrow will be our Week 1 Weigh In & Thursday Tale from the Scale and I PROMISE to post!

Thursday Tale from the Scale & Observations

Thursday Tale from the Scale



one hundred eighty one point two
DOWN 1.6 lbs Since Last Weigh In
DOWN 0.8 lbs TOTAL

Honestly, I wanted to see more progress in my first hard core week. I have seen other people lose 5 pounds + in their first week of really consciously trying and wanted to be one of them. Tough shit I guess.

I have noticed several things about myself and have been doing some research along with making some adjustments to correct them.

Observations

• I am trying to stick to only water but I need to drink more. NO pop whatsoever, No coffee whatsoever (this is HUGE for me), small glass of OJ from time to time, and occasionally a glass of milk with supper. I was checking out the Top 5 Nutrition Tips from Bikini Body Mommy and I should be consuming 90 + oz a day! I better buy more freakin' toilet paper because this lady is going to be going potty ALOT!

All day I'm guzzlin'!

• I started taking a multivitamin again and I have to take that evil horse pill with something to eat else I will instantly feel like junk.

One A Day Women's

• If I am going to do both, I have to do Couch to 5K before I do 30 Day Shred, if I do 30 Day Shred and then get on the dreadmill and try to run it makes me feel like I am going to die.

Becoming a Runner!

•  I HATE the texture of greek yogert and the only way I can stand to eat it is with crushed granola mixed in.

Dannon Oikos Fat Free Yogurt

• Seeing my son try to imitate me doing jumping jacks maked me feel REALLY good!

1/2 way through 30 Day Shred.

•  My fit kick is starting to wear off on Mr. You Betcha.

The Hubby testing out the dreadmill.

•  I HAVE to pack a snack for about 2:30 p.m. else I will eat ANYTHING I can get my hands on! Last Monday it was chocolate covered pretzels. I am trying to stick to string cheese and some type of fruit to carry through to supper.

KRAFT 2% String Cheese

• The craziness of the weekend can discombobulate my diet in 2.5 seconds, I did some weekend meal planning in hopes of staying on the straight and narrow. Going to be testing some recipes from my Healthy Eating Pinterest board. We'll see how it goes, I will do up a couple posts if they turn out well.