Keep Trying, Don't Give Up, Never Give Up...

Stupid Yo Gabba Gabba song...it's stuck in my head.  Although, it holds a valuable lesson.  Ni Hao Kai Lan also has a few variations of songs about not giving up too...so when you need some motivation, just tune into Nick Jr.  What am I talking about, you wonder?  Why, the same thing every woman has on her mind at least 90% of her life, my weight.  11 months ago, my husband said goodbye to a 146 pound wife and headed to Afghanistan.  Fortunately for us all, he will not be coming home to that woman.  We've both been fighting a battle over this past year, mine a bit less dangerous but certainly no less trying.  My husband will return to a much smaller and happier version of his wife, at least 31 pounds smaller.  My goal 11 months ago was to hit 119 (a goal I never could seem to achieve, even in high school).  The deal was, if I could hit 119, he would quit smoking.  Several months ago I hit this goal.  But I wasn't as happy with my waist line as I thought I'd be.  So while I hit a plateau and have been bouncing between 119 and 117 for a couple of months, I've not given up...like the Yo Gabba Gabba gang keeps saying.  I started a 3rd round of Insanity back in July, but after a vacation during my recovery week, I sort of slacked off and skipped month two.  I had a hard time finding my motivation, but I forced myself to pick it back up a couple of weeks ago.  After 3 days (and 3 pounds up), I lost what little drive I had and fell off the wagon again.  Several days ago, my husband informed me of some amazing news, he would be home sooner than expected, about 2 weeks sooner! The great news threw me into hyper motivation mode.  I only have (x) days to finish my Insanity!  Well, it was the motivation I needed.  I really want to finish my third round of Insanity for many reasons...

1) I hate to not finish something once I've started
2) I want to earn my "I earned it" Insanity t-shirt (granted I've earned it twice, but I won't feel like I've earned it until I've finished this last round)
3) I want to tone up and look my best for my hubby when he comes home
4) I want to wear one of those sexy Halloween costumes for once in my life
5) I want to look good not just in clothes, but in a bikini
6) I want to feel good about myself
7) I want to be Insanity's fan of the week
8) I want people to think, "Ohmagosh, she's too skinny, eat a sandwich" HAHA...not really, but ya know
9) I want abs!
10) I want to wear a sexy tight dress to the Army ball
11) I want to set a New Years resolution for once in my life that doesn't involve my weight
12) I want to sit down and not see fat rolls
13) I set a goal, I want to achieve it!

Before you judge me for my many vain goals listed above, know that this is not for you or anyone else.  I've never ever been happy with my body.  Even as a child I had a pudgy tummy.  My weight loss will give me a confidence I've been struggling for my whole life.  For once, I'll hold my head higher knowing I look better and knowing that I set a seemingly impossible goal for myself and achieved this goal.  It's not magazines or shallow boyfriends that have convinced me that I need to lose weight, it's as simple as looking in the mirror and saying, "This isn't good enough".  I'm tired of looking at other girls and thinking, "I want what they have" when with some hard work and determination, I could have had what they had all along.  I will no longer cheat myself out of the body I have longed for.  If you want something, no one is going to give it to you, you have to earn it.  No one ever achieved a goal by giving up.

My scale yesterday morning!  It's moving in the right direction!

Here's a look at where I started from.

THINSANITY~GOAL WEIGHT ACHIEVED!!!!!!

8 years ago, when I worked at a weight loss center and played 3 sports in college, I would say I was in the best shape I had ever been in.  Yet, I still had my little belly pudge, and no matter how hard I tried I never weighed less than 120.  This past November when I made the decision to lose some serious weight, I decided to set my goal for 120, knowing I'd probably never see that 119.  My husband laughed and said, "It's just a pound"...ha, men just don't understand.  I explained to him that I could never be less than 120, it just wasn't in my genetics.  So he made a deal with me, since I believed being less than 120 was impossible and he felt quitting smoking was impossible, if I achieved the impossible and hit 119, he'd do the impossible and quit smoking.  Well, I sure hope the hubby is ready to quit because this morning I weighed in at 119 on the nose! (Of course by the time I ran to get the camera I put on 2 ounces LOL) But that's not the point, I'm 119! BOOM!!!!! I'm super excited and now I have the motivation and the confidence to continue towards a new goal.  I'd like to lose a few more pounds but it's no longer about my weight, it's mainly about my shape.  I still have that belly pudge (not as much as when I started, but it still lingers) and I would like to be in a size 3 pants.  Before you go judging that decision, you must know why.  I HAVE NO BUTT...none, zilch, nada, there's nothing back there.  The bigger my jeans are, the more they sag on my butt.  I figure a smaller jean size would balance that problem.

Thank goodness I hit my goal. Look at how desperate I am for a pedicure...reward time :D

UPDATE: Excuse my stupidity, I didn't gain 2 ounces.  I just realized my phone tacked on the extra 2 ounces.  HAHA So 119.0 is accurate :D

Insanity Round 3, Week 1: COMPLETE!

Today marks the completion of the first week of round 3 of Insanity.  I was nervous about my physical condition (considering it's been almost 5 months since I completed round 2), but it was like riding a bike.  After day 2, I was kicking Insanity behind.  My son is the best coach too.  He's yelling behind me, "C'mon mommy, faster! You can do it! GO GO!!" The best part is when I finish, he always runs up to me and yells, "YOU DID IT!" and gives me a high five.  I started round 3 at 122 lbs, my original goal when I started Insanity back in November was 119, but as I look in the mirror, I'm starting to think I'm going to have to aim a little lower...so my new goal is 115.  In my last 2 rounds of Insanity, I only checked my weight on the days when I had fit tests.  It was exciting to see the drastic drop in weight all at once.  However, with me being so close to the 119 goal, I can't help but check daily to see how close I am to it.  This morning I weighed in at 119!!! Of course by the time I ran to get the camera to document it, the scale decided to change it's mind and push me back to 120.  All well, it's better this way, I can't reward myself until we get paid on Friday anyhow ;)  But either way, I'm only a pound away and I owe it all to INSANITY :D  I can't wait to order my t-shirt (after I complete this final round).

Me and my little workout buddy after completing a workout.

Losing my Sanity...again

About 8 months ago I got sick of my tummy flab and started the Insanity Program.  It was a tough 9 weeks, but it made such a difference in my waist line and on the scale. I was thrilled so after I completed the program, I started it all over again.  Unfortunately, during round 2 I had to stop before month 2 began because my sister-in-law came to visit.  I tried to get her to do Insanity with me, but like I said it's a tough program and well, instead I joined the local Y.  Going to the gym didn't produce the same results as Insanity had, but I still lost weight and enjoyed some "me" time while the boy was in daycare.  Well at a certain point I  plateaued and I've been at the same weight for MONTHS!! I've gone up and down in weight, but mainly I'm stuck at 122, just 3 pounds off my initial goal weight.  So, I've popped Insanity back in the DVD player and am ready to shed the rest of this fat!!!  I'll keep an update of my weight loss on here as I go along.  For those of you whom haven't been keeping up, here's a quick and embarrassing reminder of rounds 1 and 2 of Insanity...

My fit test results from day 1

Switch Kicks: 110
Power Jacks: 50
Power Knees: 90
Power Jumps: 29
Globe Jumps: 8
Suicide Jumps: 14
Push-Up Jacks: 17
Low Plank: 50

My most recent fit test results

Switch Kicks: 130
Power Jacks: 72
Power Knees: 102
Power Jumps: 46
Globe Jumps: 9
Suicide Jumps: 16
Push-Up Jacks: 30
Low Plank:  90

Not only can you see the results in the mirror, on the scale, but also in my physical stamina.  As I started back 3 days ago (when I took this recent test) it's been probably a month since I've even been to the gym and I'm still in better shape than when I started the program in November.  I don't huff and puff just going up the stairs anymore.  That's a great feeling.  I've lost over 16 inches and 24 lbs (that's a small toddler people!!!)  Here's my stats...

	weight	waist	neck	hips	upper arm	calf	thigh	chest
week 1	146.4	36.5	12.5	36.5	11.5	14.8	21.5	36
week 2		35	12	36	11.5	14	21.5	35.5
week 3		34.5	12	35.5	11	14	21.5	35.5
week 4		34	12	35	11	14	21	35
week 5		33.5	12	34	11	14	21	34.5
week 6	137.6	33	12	34	11	14	21	34
week 7		33	11.75	34	11	14.5	20	34
week 8		32.75	11.5	34	11	14.25	20	34
week 9	131	34	12	34	10.5	14	18.5	34
week 10		32.5	12	34	11	13.5	20	33
week 11	129	32	12	34	11.5	13.75	20	33.5
week 12	127.4	31.5	12	34	10.5	14	19.5	33.5
week 13	122	31	12	34	10	13.5	19	33.5
									Total inches lost
Total Loss	24.4	5.5	0.5	2.5	1.5	1.3	2.5	2.5	16.3

I'm INSANE!

When my husband deployed 5 months ago, I knew I had put on a few pounds.  When I attended a basketball game a few weeks later, my friend Whitney took a photo of us and that's when I realized just how much weight I had packed on!  I was mortified. Later that night, I weighed myself and was horrified to see that I had put on more than 20 lbs since my husband and I were married.  I've never been in great shape, but this was the first time I was disgusted by what I was looking at in the mirror. I started the Insanity program the following day.  If you follow me on facebook, you already know that I'm addicted to the Insanity program.  For the past 3 months I've been listening to Shaun T yell "Boom" in my living room every morning/night.  My body has shrunk, my face only has 1 chin now, and the scale doesn't scream, "Get off me" anymore.  While I'm not keen on sticking embarrassing weight transformation photos all over the internet, I feel that my before and after photos have certainly been an inspiration to keep me motivated and I shouldn't be selfish.  I've lost 20 lbs and more than 14 inches in 12 weeks.  I've currently taken a break from the program and joined the YMCA, but I think I'm about to start Insanity again.  Honestly, I miss it.  It worked so well and I was so proud of my progress.  No amount of gym time could do for me what Insanity has done.  I am living proof that it works.  I highly recommend you go to the Beachbody Website and purchase Insanity. It's expensive, but it's worth every dime!
The goal is to lose 10 more pounds by the time my husband returns for R&R.

Now for the embarrassing reveal:

The photo that started it all...

3 months into Insanity...

Watch me shrink...