Happy New Yeearrruuh!!!

LOL!!  I haven't been here since the start of the holiday season.  I fell off of 2 wagons, but I picked myself back up before 2012 ended and got back on my game.  I've been tracking points and tomorrow I will go and weigh - in (*wail, sigh and wail some more*).

I hope that everyone is having a great start to their new year.  I'm claiming victory in a lot of things in 2013...starting with the chub.  LOL

Happy New Year!!!

8 Weeks Until Turkey Day

On Thursday in my WW meeting, we discussed it being 8 Weeks until Thanksgiving and trying to make goals before the holidays kick in.  I thought I would write them here to keep myself accountable.  Sometimes we need to write down/blog/etc.  just to keep ourselves focused.

Here they are......

1.  I want to eat well.  There will be times where I will botch up, but my main focus is to eat lots of leafy greens, beans, lean proteins, etc.  
2. Track.  Tracking is the main thing with WW.  Tracking and staying within my points. Track, Track, Track.
3. Try and go to the gym 5 to 6 days a week.  If a couple of those days I go twice a day...BAM!  I really would like to even get in 4 days of Bikram. (I really love it!!) Plus there are some poses that I would really like to get a "grip" so to speak on...LOL!  Also....I'm using the yoga as weight training...why?  Cause i just resent weights.  I don't know why...I'm working on that issue.
4. My goal for the summer was to run a mile.  Okay, summer is officially over...I think...and I am still hunting/dying to get this mile in.  LOL  So, if I could get close to a mile I would love that.
5. I also plan to give away clothes that are too big.  Lately every time I put on a 2XL tshirt, I realize how many inches I've lost.  My clothes look like I'm swimming in them.
6. Buy a heart rate monitor.  Honestly I used the heart rate monitor money from last month on some Sugarpill Eyeshadow and a couple of palettes from BH Cosmetics.  *snicker*  The deal sealer was an episode of Extreme Makeover: Weightloss Edition.  I can't remember the name of the lady...antyway Chris and his wife showed this woman how much you can slack when you don't work up to the appropriate heart rate.
7. Drink more water.  You would think that I drink enough with Bikram, personally...I don't think I drink enough.  I would like a good 100oz. a day.
8. Get closer to a size 12.  Honestly, if was comfortably in the next size...I would do a jig of joy.
9. Maybe get closer to a plant life diet.
10. Not beat myself up if I don't conquer these goals.  LOL

Okay...this is done and I'm going to bed.  Many things to do!!!

....................peace and blessings...................................

My Namaste has been broken..

Bwaaaah!!  Seriously though..it has.  Today was my 3rd day this week of Bikram.  I missed out yesterday due to oversleeping.  My Tuesday was WRETCHED and busy.  I went to yoga, then a voice lesson, then to practice for another rehearsal...then my church gig rehearsal.  I was waaaaaasted, so Namastein' yesterday was out of the plan.  LOL

Antywho, I did Bikram this morning, weighed in (down 5.2 pounds...i shook the beans.) and I did some running around.  I was fine until I got another unwanted call from Sears Delivery service.  (That's for the end of this post.)  Besides that, lemme discuss Bikram.

I'm in love with Bikram.  Seriously in LOVE with Bikram.  I've been practicing at Bikram Yoga Harlem.  I love the studio, the teachers and the environment.  It has been a great experience.  It is a real nice change from my spinning and couch to 5k.  Every time I practice, I feel like I'm stretching my mind and my body to a new place.  Plus, it is helping me a lot with my singing...and that's always a bonus.

What about the heat?  That's been the question I keep getting.  Yes, it is really hot in the room.  It is really 100 degrees with humidity going on.  Gangsta...for the body. I hate to tell you how much I love heat. LOVE HEAT.  I'm a beach person and I can lay out in the sun for hours without dipping in the water.  The heat in class is not a problem.  I love it and I really have to try hard not to close my eyes in savasana....even between all of the poses.  If I lay flat and feel that heat come across my body...sleep calls.  LOL

So....if you are up for a new physical challenge, try it.  I was scared to death my first day, but I've been jumping in hard as my body will allow each class afterwards.

Now....what broke my Namaste...Sears Delivery and Customer Service.  I purchased a new fridge and stove for an apartment that I'm working on in my house.  Well, when the delivery guys got there this past Monday, they "said" that it wouldn't fit through the hall.  Fine. Just Fine.  I spoke with 2 people to cancel the order and refund my money.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Today...I have received calls about a re-delivery and told them to cancel the delivery.  Um....do you not read your computer notes?  Obviously not.  So tonight as I'm sitting at my mom's counter chillin'....I get another call about the delivery.  I don't know what hit me...but I went straight gangster.  What really sent me over the EDGE...when I asked to speak to a supervisor and dude wouldn't connect me.  *sigh*  I will say that I was given his number every day that I called to cancel the delivery.  *side eye*  Needless to say, I will be writing a letter to the president...even though I have totally blasted Sears on twitter today. *double sigh*

Okay...I'm off to do some singing bidness...LOL

...................peace and blessings...and NAMASTE......

Uuuhrah.... :/

So...I haven't blogged in a minute.  Lessesee what happened was...LOL  I went out of town for over a week with the mom (drove to Chicago), learning 2 operas and just life.  LOL  I did fall off of the wagon for a bit, but got back on last week.  I've noticed how serious my determination this time...because my fall off time is not that long.

I skipped a couple of weeks....blah....and when I weighed in last week it said I had gained weight.  *shrug*  I'm not surprised.  I'm such a mid-western/southern girl trapped in this chubby NYC body.  LOL  I ate biscuits..tons of biscuits, home fries, fried chicken, tons of macaroni and cheese and then some.  ROFL!!  But I came back with a vengeance.

After last week's reality check, I got back on the wagon and this week at weigh-in I lost 6.6 pounds!!  Go me!!!  I'm very proud of myself because I'm over 20lbs. down.  I'm looking forward to the next 10lbs.

Now...I love these Monday Friend Making Monday's and...even though I'm a few days late, I'm still doing it.  Bwaahaaa!!

Monday, Schmonday.....

*sigh*   Last week was a hard week.  I probably needed to blog because I now feel like I was on a slippery slope down to bad habits.  Between the gummy bears and Chex Mix Cheddar, I've been out of control.  Well out of control in comparison to being in control for the past 9 weeks.  When you have been as focused as I have...what I've done this past week is out of control. *sigh*  It happens and now my mind is back in the game.

I also didn't weigh in last Thursday.  That's also bad.  It's okay, I got on the scale this morning and now my mind is back.  I've eaten breakfast and I'm here letting it digest while catching up on last night's Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.  The show inspires me to keep in the "game".

Last Friday I got a drift of how strong I've gotten.  For my couch to 5K for the first month I was using Skimble's Workout Trainer Beginners Running Program.  The other day I was talking to a friend and she said, "My couch to 5K program doesn't work like yours.  Are you sure you're doing what I'm doing?"  She sent me a link and I realized...no, I wasn't doing the same thing.  LOL

Well, I did the "official" Couch to 5K Day 1.  And you know what....I made it.  LOL  I made it through the 90 second walks and 60 second runs...8 runs.  *whew*  I also made it through the day without a nap and 2 hours of practicing.  *twirl*  Getting stronger makes me really happy....even when I bomb food wise.

The goal for this week is to track, track, track my food and my exercise.  Whoever lied and said this was easy....did just that L.I.E.D. *eye roll*

As with every Monday....Friend Making Monday: Inappropriate Questions...Lessgo!!!

In the Kitchen....

So the plan was to do better about blogging this week.  Didn't happen.  Grr!!!  There is a lot of stuff poppin' musically and I'm grateful, but I feel like I'm neglecting my blog. *sigh*

Last week was good weight wise.  I lost another 3.8 pounds.  YaY me!!  I feel more focused with each day.  I've even been very religiously working on the Couch to 5K program.  Additional weight loss has helped there as well.  And...my favorite accomplishment of last week is tackling the damn Cybex machine.  I don't know if I've blogged about my hate of that machine.  I've made it through a few episodes with it...and survived and a ton of sweat on da FLOOR.  *Amen*  LOL

Well as with every Monday...I have to do All the Weigh's Friend Making Monday Meme.  I just LOVE this thing weekly.

Well...LEEESSSGOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

....and so because umm....Friend Making Monday

Woozer....an unplanned hiatus for a week...oops.  Things have been whirly.  After last week, I decided that I would be more focused about couch to 5k and this time, I'm feeling more better about it.  For example, I did it this morning and my legs are stronger and I don't feel like I could kick someone when I'm done during the spurts.

Last week, I went to my weigh-in and I'm now officially 5% down.  Who is pumped??  Moi!!  I'm looking forward to the next 5%.  I feel good and I even feel better supported singing wise.  I can't see where I'll be by headshot time at the end of September.

Since I've had a really exhausting day from singing and gymming and just living and it is just 6 something pm...I'm going to do my weekly love...Friend Making Monday from All The Weigh....

Two Points...For real??

i was reading through this week's weekly weight watchers book and in the middle they have an article called "the active life".  now on the second page of this article there is a fancy bubble with the exercise rx....  The first sentence says....

To stay healthy and lower your risk of chronic disease, we encourage you to set a goal of 14 activity PointsPlus a week - an average of just 2 a day.

For those who aren't WW-ites...points are how we work.  It's easy for me and not for others.  I like to cook and eat my own food and I can do that.  Points are even judged for our exercise. It just depends on how intense you workout.

So...I was flipping through the book during yesterday's meeting and I chuckled out loud.  My leader asked what made me laugh and I replied "Fourteen points a week for exercise?"  She looked at me and with her fabulous southern drawl said..."Honey, YOU ignore this."

LOL  Normally on a good week I earn about 104+ points in exercise. Seriously and i try to challenge myself to break the previous weeks number.  I'm competitive with myself.  I make it my goal to get at least 40-55 minutes of cardio done....5 to 6 days a week.  Some days I even double up my duty.  Like Tuesday and Fridays I do Zumba in the evening and Monday and Friday mornings I do Spinning....in addition to the elliptical and the treadmill.  This is not even including my weight training and other types of fumbling/exercising that happens. So...14 points?  LOL

Other than this funny...life has been rather normal.  I did weigh-in...gained 2 lbs. (Haaa...2 the magic number this week.)  I'm not mad.  I had an awful week...the ups and downs of wheat and the lack of exercise (only 41 points. bwaaah!).  I feel good and I'm looking forward to an interesting week coming up.  Looking towards lots of singing, exercising and living a fun life.


......peace and blessings........

Back on the grind...

Hey...*waving*  I can't remember when I last wrote...right now, i don't care.  Just know...I'm back.


Last week after some mental back and forth, I decided that's it.  Seriously.  That's it.  This weight has GOT to go.  It would be helpful career wise and clothing wise...since I LOVE vintage fashion, but honestly, I want it gone for health reasons.  The excess baggage gotta go.  My major goal is to have 40 lbs. gone by March 2013.


So, last Thursday, I walked back into Weight.Watchers and dragged my mom with me. (She has weight to lose. The doctor told her to get on the grind as well.)  Besides my mom, my 2 dear gay friends are the only ones who know...well, and whomever reads this blog. 


How did my first week back go?  Actually it went well.  When you refocus and approach things with a different mindset, you don't see the negative.  You see the final outcome.  I know you're wondering how I did my first week... I lost 9.2lbs.  Seriously.  I was like gagging.  LOL  Did I share at the end of the meeting during celebrations?  No.


Why didn't I share?  I'm at the place now...see my product.  I'm not talking about it much, just see my hard work.  What did I do differently than any other time?  I tracked.  Every day.  I tracked.  I cooked and tracked.  Tracked and I cooked.  LOL  I didn't cook that differently...just my portion sizes.  I had tootsie rolls, cookies, cakes, fried chicken and all the rest of crap i like.  No matter what, I tracked.


On top of tracking...I exercised.  And starting this past Monday, I've been doing a 2 day grind.  I'm calling them Round 1 and Round 2.  Round 1...it is whatever I want to do...like elliptical, yoga, zumba, kickboxing, riding my bike on the green way, etc.  That's my round 1.  Round 2...well, that's my new thing...treadmill fluctuating incline, but my speed is increasing.  I want to run.  Bottom line...straight up.  That's the plan with round 2.


Well this is a mouthful and I plan to keep blogging.  Not going to say it will be daily, but it will be at least weekly.  I'm gonna leave you with this message from my WW leader today.

Peace and Blessings.....

So...it is what it is...

I went to weigh-in today.  I've lost 0.6.

So if you round it off that is closer to 1 pound.  LOL  I'll take it.  Oh yea, I'm doing Weight Watchers.  I'm not finding it a struggle.  I am actually finding it easier than I have the 4, 5, or wait...6 times I've tried it.  LOL  I'm even incorporating more fruit into my diet.  I can't begin to tell you how great I feel.  In total since July 15th, I've lost almost 10 lbs. (YaY me!!)

My mom said today...yes, she is doing it with me...that she was proud of me.  I've gone 14 days...no bread or rice and 45+ minutes of exercise a day.  I'll take my 0.6 loss.  It takes a lot of determination and constantly talking myself off of a "sugar/rice/bread" bridge. 

I press on knowing that I'm going in the right direction and even without scale numbers...I have lost back fat.  Hey...a woman can't win them all, but she will take what she can get!!

Peace out!!