Loving this time of the month...

Yeah, RIGHT. I was crowing to a friend of mine yesterday about how proud I was that I had a kick a** workout, despite the nasty PMS attitude I was wearing around me like a comfy old sweater. She said, "Poor baby, a week of PMS and then a week of no sex. It's just not fair for us women." When she put it like that, it made me realize that it's probably way LESS fair for my poor husband who has to endure my nasty attitude (and not just nasty, but completely unpredictable and perhaps borderline psychotic, I vacillate so severely between bit**y and apologetic). And then he is the one who has to wait two weeks for lovin' (cause I ain't even in the mood when I'm PMSing and honestly, he's not particularly feeling my crazy a**, either).

Anyway, add to that the fact that I, like so many others, loosened the reins over Valentine's Day and there's at least a reason why I'm puffy and bloated and carrying around an extra 3-4 pounds than I was a couple weeks ago.

But I'm still here, and I'm still not only getting my workouts in, I'm KILLIN' at the gym. I'm drinking all my water and I'm eating clean. I'm also getting good work done and staying in a pretty positive, yet practical mindset about this slow season I'm in. January and February generally just SUCK in my line of work because no one really knows what they have as far as budget and even if they do, they don't want to spend it unless they have to. By May or June, when projects are really looking like they won't get done with internal resources, that's when they decide, okay, we have to. Bring in the cavalry. That's me. The cavalry. :)

Still plugging away getting ready for the show on the 27th. I love my band, and we're going to have SO much fun, no matter what may come of it and no matter who shows up. If you're in the Philly area that weekend, come on through! Fluid Nightclub, 616 S. 4th Street, from 6 to 9 pm. Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, they're calling for another foot of snow on Monday. I just had to steal this from Tea's blog.

Reach for the moon...

Because even if you fall short, you'll still be dancing among the stars. That is what I have always tried to do, despite friends and family often thinking I'm taking on too much, or spreading myself too thin or dreaming too big.

1. I started my own business two years ago this month, and it has not only been the source of a six-figure income since the very beginning, it has afforded me the flexibility to travel, to spend time with my kids and to work from home almost 100% of the time. Not too shabby.
2. I've embarked on a singing career. So, I'm not multi-platinum yet or nominated for any Grammy awards. I've recorded two songs, and am working on the third and fourth, all of which I hope to have on iTunes by the Spring and I have been getting recognition for my songwriting skills by folks all around Philadelphia. An even bigger bonus by product is that it has revealed that my husband and I are a great songwriting duo (the new Ashford & Simpson?) and has laid the foundation for him finally finding the career of HIS dreams.
3. Finally, my fitness path - okay, so I'm still hovering within the same five-pound range I've been in since January of last year. But how's that for a miracle? I didn't gain any weight at all last year! And I'm set to finally achieve my goals this year, closer than I've been in years. More than that, my skin is finally clear, my muscles are taking shape and I am happy with my body and only getting happier.
   

I did set up my star chart today. I really like it, too. I have set up rewards for getting to Friday with no misbehaving, rewards for getting through the weekend, and super rewards for getting through the entire month. Just like my daughter - and if it can work for her, it should be able to work for me, too! Here's what it looks like:



I'll keep you guys posted on how I do with it. Tony has been right there with me, calling me and texting me to make sure I'm on point. I feel grateful I have his support, and the support of my dear friend Jacquie, who also texts me all day and keeps me accountable. It's going to be a wonderful spring and summer. Thanks to all you guys for the votes of confidence! Oh, and if anyone wants a copy of my star reward chart for yourself to use, let me know!!

For now, off to make spaghetti for the girls and salmon and greens for me. Then have to wash their hair (bleah...) and then to BED, finally. I was in the studio until 11 pm last night, so I am WRECKED (i.e., beat).

Till tomorrow...

Lii

Down... but not out.

So, I have been down with a fever the past couple of days, but definitely not out! I'm down a few pounds already and I'm not even a full week past my TOM. I will definitely be under 160 in time for Thanksgiving. YAY!

The showcase went really well. It was so unbelievable to be singing songs that I wrote, and to have people come up to me between sets and say, "Where can I download that song? I could so relate to the lyrics! I want to play that in my car!" At the end of the night, I actually did a call and response, teaching them the song and everyone was singing it!!

(Sorry...my producer asked me to take the video down...check me out on Facebook...I'll be posting some there soon.)

Oh! And despite the fact that I didn't get to bed till way after midnight, I did get up on Sunday and ran my 10 miles as part of my half-marathon training! Maybe that's why I got sick...but whatever...Anyway, I'll be glad to be 100% so I can get back on my half-marathon and Tony training tomorrow!

Have a great day, all!

Three days and counting...

Dang - has it been three days already? How did so much time go by since I last posted?

Well, so let me tell you what's going on with me. I have written two new original songs in the last two weeks, so I'm really happy about that. I will be showcasing them on September 12 at a club here in Philly (if you want more information about that, hit me up on e-mail and I'll let you know where and when!). So, now it's just up to my band to learn the songs and add their own particular flair to it. Fingers crossed, these songs will be HOT!

In other news, I feel like I'm doing pretty well on the fitness front. I've been eating fairly clean and healthy for about a month and a half now, and am still hitting it hard in the gym. I had a really good tri workout yesterday and today was legs. No presses, but I have to admit I enjoy my squats, yo. Tomorrow is chest. I do like a good chest workout. Plus, I have plans to run a couple times this week, so I'm happy to report that I'll be getting in my extra cardio, too.

Wouldn't you think that would translate into a nice drop on the scale on Friday? Yeah, me too. I do have to start taking pics and measurements regularly, too, though - Tony asked me to - because this will give me a more well-rounded picture than just what that stupid scale says. (Oh, sorry, Scale. I didn't mean to call you stupid. Please be nice to me on Friday. Don't be mad, Scale...don't be mean...)

Anyhoo - I'll let you know how that goes. Three days and counting...

Up and Down

Yes, it's true. You're not seeing things. I'm up five pounds from last week. Combination of emotional eating and not getting to the gym since last Friday and I'm definitely not in a good place, at least as far as the number on the scale. I've had strep throat, for those of you who don't know, but that's no excuse for how I've been eating. In fact, most people would probably have lost weight in my situation because it has been so painful to eat. Leave it to someone with my addictive personality to find a way. My daughter actually said to me at one point, "Mommy, if it feels like you're swallowing knives, why are you eating?"

Good question.

The good news? I'm definitely still in the game. It takes a lot more than five pounds to take me out of it. I loved Tina's comment from the other day. I love the support and encouragement you guys give and I cannot WAIT to be the one giving that support and encouragement to someone else new (I'm still relatively new) who's struggling to break through a plateau. Not a weight plateau, but a mental plateau.

So, I have my food plan and workout printed and ready. I'm meeting my sister at the gym tomorrow, where we will get in really good long workouts and then back to her house for our MRP w/glutamine followed by massages. I'm looking forward to tomorrow for the first time in a long time.

It will be sunny, I will be sunny. I'm so grateful to be alive. I don't want to waste my time sabotaging my own happiness.

I'll report in more regularly, too, though it may not include weight updates as often. I'm going to try to go back to weighing once a week, rather than every day. (Whoa - I thought I just heard a cheer roar out from cyberspace.)

Leaping hurdles

Another day of hurdles...and I leapt over every one. Today, I took my daughter out to breakfast, and I made healthy choices - I opted for rye toast instead of oatmeal, but I got no butter and ignored the little nasty voice that was reminding me I could have a bagel with cream cheese or a short stack...no one would know.

Then, on to lunch. Devon ordered mini turkey burgers with cheddar cheese and fries. I felt like I was rocking it by ordering a single crabcake and the salad bar with light ranch dressing. (Tony told me later that the crab cake was not the best choice, but oh, well.) When you keep in mind the fact that my daughter was offering me a french fry every five minutes (and yes, they were the yummy Ruby Tuesday over-seasoned kind), I'm pretty proud of myself for what I ate.

I could go on and on about the things Devon offered me and the things that little nasty voice suggested I might eat when no one was paying attention. But the only thing that matter is this:

I didn't eat anything I wasn't supposed to eat today. Not one single bite.

So, will the scale finally move? Who knows? Who cares? I'm getting through day after day learning more about my ability to just face down the stupid temptations and the voices in my head that lure me toward them.

In other news, Tony has authorized a cheat for me this coming Sunday. He issues a dictum - cardio on both Saturday and Sunday in preparation for it - and he also said that next week, it's back to BOOT CAMP. He will be sending me a meal plan and said that I'm expected to follow it to the letter, weighing and measuring every single bite. Okay - I was going to complain about that, but he also told me long ago that I need to be positive about it. So, I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to ROCK the cheat meal in preparation. And I know his boot camp is going to skyrocket me solidly into the 150s, so that's worth it right there.

Oh, and one last thing? I went to Ann Taylor to try on some overpriced clothes and brought size 10 and size 12 pants into the dressing room. SIZE 10, EVERYONE! Officially size 10 in EVERYTHING - oh, except shirts...in which I am a solid size 8! WOO HOO!

That's it for me! More tomorrow (or soon)!

Down FIVE pounds already!!!

I can't believe it. I hopped on the scale this morning and was THRILLED to see 190.5!! I started this whole journey at 195.6, so that is a full FIVE POUNDS down the first week! I just have to stay the course.

Today was a difficult day, I'm not even going to lie. I woke up STARVING (and pretty much have stayed that way all day). I ate M1 at 6:30 am (egg whites w/veggies and oatmeal w/flax), then meal 2 at 10 am after a 3 mile run (whey protein w/glutamine – I added about five strawberries because I was really pooped and still had my workout to do), then worked out (an hour and a HALF – what up? I was DYING), then had the myoplex shake (M3) at about 12:45 pm. I was starving all day today! I ended up reheating the rest of the egg whites and veggies at about 2 pm (M4), but was hungry again an hour later. I just had a salad with grilled chicken and lite dressing (a little bit of shredded carrots and cabbage in the salad), and am nervous because by my count, that’s already meal 5 and it’s not even 4 pm!!!

The good news is that I'm still pushing myself, pushing myself, pushing myself. I ran three miles this morning (my girl that I run with was going close to a 6.0 mph pace - I had to walk twice), and then at the gym, I did a 3.5 mph warm up for 10 min, then did 2 sets of abs, then did 7 min on the elliptical at level 15, 115 strides/min, then a couple more sets of abs, then 5 min on the stepper at 35, then a couple more sets of abs, then did a full 20 min BFL cardio - 3.5, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, because Tony had me doing a final 20 min of treadmill to complete the workout. I got on the gym floor at 10:30 and it was 12 on the dot when I finished. And I was DRENCHED.

No wonder I'm losing weight at this pace. I can SEE it. I can see my body changing and I can see my perspective about my body and my own beauty changing. When I look in the mirror, I already like what I see. Imagine how much I'm going to like it in a couple months, when I'm actually in a size I'm happy with, when I can wear little shirts that hang perfectly over my flat abs.

LIFE IS GOOD. And I am feeling this, y'all!!!

I still don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this day with only one more meal, but oh, well...