This morning I went to the memorial day parade in AH. I was brought to tears by the tribute flags held by men, women, children, and dogs bearing the names of fallen soldiers. I feel so much gratitude to all of our servicemen/women and a tremendous amount of American pride today. I'm not normally very patriotic but something was stirred within me today. Thank you to all the people who have given their lives for my freedom. Today, more than ever, I truly appreciate it.
Starting Weight:174
Current Weight: 157
Starting BMI: 28.1
Current BMI: 24.9
Another gain. On the surface this doesn't look that great, however, let's remember I'm supposed to focus on more than just the numbers....
Saturday I took a quick trip to Gap and The Limited (both were having Memorial Day sales that I really wanted to take advantage of). At the Gap I got this awesome dress (that I had gone out SPECIFICALLY to try on) that I can wear a few different ways. I got it in both Navy/Red (shown below) and Grey/White. I thought about getting the black one (because, who doesn't love black) but it didn't have a second color so I passed.
Starting Weight:174
Current Weight: 157
Starting BMI: 28.1
Current BMI: 24.9
Another gain. On the surface this doesn't look that great, however, let's remember I'm supposed to focus on more than just the numbers....
Saturday I took a quick trip to Gap and The Limited (both were having Memorial Day sales that I really wanted to take advantage of). At the Gap I got this awesome dress (that I had gone out SPECIFICALLY to try on) that I can wear a few different ways. I got it in both Navy/Red (shown below) and Grey/White. I thought about getting the black one (because, who doesn't love black) but it didn't have a second color so I passed.
I have decided today that I have single handedly raised Gap's sales (not really but it's funny to say), because yesterday I posted a link to this dress with these photos on my facebook, and today they are sold out online. Sooooo... If you want it I suggest trying your local store and soon.
The dresses were a great purchase, and it was fun to find out that if it were not for my chest size (which still has yet to drop at all) I could have bought a small. But the really exciting thing happened at The Limited. I grabbed some crop pants (because apparently now you cannot get capris, they are crop pants, get it right. Man I feel old) in size 8 and 6 (my normal sizes at the moment) a few shirts, and headed into the dressing room. I was SWIMMING in the 8s, and the 6s were also big. So I asked the dressing room lady for a size 4 "I can't believe that's coming out of my mouth" I said. When she brought them over, I slid them on, and then proceeded to ask "do these really fit me?" and "do they normally run large?" and "no really, shouldn't I get the next size up?".... I certainly was not expecting to drop a size this trip, considering I've been gaining for a solid month but drop I did. I even measured my waist when I got home to be sure. When I started this journey last year I was wearing a size 10 or 12 at The Limited (depending on my level of denial) and my waist was measuring between 33 and 35 (again depending on my level of denial). Now I'm at a size 4, and my waist is measuring at 28/28.5 (I never fully trust measuring myself).
This time last year I weighed about the same, and I was celebrating size 8 jeans. Now I'm not celebrating any weight losses, but I'm definitely celebrating some body changes. Looks like I picked the right year to make focusing on more than just the numbers a goal.
Speaking of goals, Wednesday I'm going to start on several of my goals simultaneously (because I think they will work well together).
7. Give up Caffeine for 30 days.
23. Get in 74 ounces of water a day for 30 days
30. Track my food intake for at least 30 days
If I'm going to get the water, I'll already need to track that, so I might as well track my food as well, and having to get that much water into my body should (in theory) make giving up caffeine easier. Although, full disclosure, I'm giving up caffeine for the sake of caffeine, caffeine in chocolate for instance is not off limits, should I get a migraine I WILL be taking Excedrin which has caffeine in it. I'm excited to knock out a bunch of goals at the same time.
AND... Speaking of knocking off goals, I've crossed quite a few things off my list this week.
4. Continue on my weight lose/healthy journey and blogging the details (focus on more than just the numbers). - I feel like this week I really made huge strides on this and I deserve to count it as a win.
14. Make bagged lunches a habit again. - This one was easy since I switched jobs and just made it part of the new routine.
20. Develop and honor a cleaning routine (rather than cleaning things when they start to look gross, THAT'S TOO LATE!). - Chris has been a big help in this. We clean up Sunday before heading to watch Game of Thrones and settle in for the night.
27. Revamp my wardrobe. - I haven't added too many peices, but I have changed up how I wear things. And I feel better about how I look.
29. Buy a new bike (go on some long rides with Chris). - Perhaps the most exciting! Chris and I bought our new bikes on Wednesday, they should get here in the next couple of days (then we go to get fitted)! Can't wait!
Somehow I've gotten all this way into the post without mentioning the Marathon recovery. Maybe because I didn't feel too sore after Wednesday (Monday was fine, Tuesday I was sore, Wednesday was the last day of any lasting effects really). Perhaps because I still really don't feel it was that big of a deal since I walked so much of it. Or maybe because I just have other things to think about. I wrote the race coordinators about how disappointed I was with the finish. Regardless, I haven't yet gone out for a run post-marathon, but I did go on a 23 mile bike ride with Chris on Saturday. With the training done I have to look for a new fitness routine. I don't think I'm going to aim for another race just yet, and I'm going to incorporate biking into the schedule (which is going to be a lot of fun) but regardless I need to set up a schedule (although, something less strict than the marathon schedule, because I really have enjoyed this last week) because when left without SOME SORT of goal I tend to feel like my efforts aren't as worthy (hence the 30 goals for this year). I'll be sure to let you know what I settle on.
Hug your loved ones. Good luck to you this week!
30 Things To Do In My 30th Year Progress (COMPLETED):
1. Train for, and run a full marathon (05/18/14 YES!)
2. Run another half marathon.
3. Go to Disney world
4. Continue on my weight lose/healthy journey and blogging the details (focus on more than just the numbers).
5. Get a whole new hair cut/look.
6. Work with a personal trainer.
7. Give up Caffeine for 30 days.
8. Go on a vegetarian diet for 30 days (I've always wanted to try, I don't think I could be strict for long, I love bacon far too much, but 30 days, I can probably pull off).
9. Read 12 Books (you may begin suggesting books... NOW!).
10. Make homemade pasta at least 6 times this year (what?! it's a LOT of work!).
11. Learn to make perogies.
12. Learn to cook scallops at home (actually cook them).
13. Get a promotion, or a new job, do not settle for staying in the same role for yet another year.
14. Make bagged lunches a habit again.
15. Visit Sarah.
16. Hang out with Patrick on an occasion that isn't his Birthday or a holiday.
17. Make more time for my friends.
18. Hang the posters and art prints Chris and I have brought over the last YEAR.
19. Make window treatments and pillow covers for my living room.
20. Develop and honor a cleaning routine (rather than cleaning things when they start to look gross, THAT'S TOO LATE!).
21. Add strength training to my weekly routine (this kind of goes along with the personal trainer, but this is supposed to be a more permanent fixture in my life).
22. Eat breakfast every weekday for a month.
23. Get in 74 ounces of water a day for 30 days (they say 30 days is long enough to make something a habit, we'll see).
24. Plan out and shop for an entire week of meals at once. Give Chris a full week off from planning or cooking any meals.
25. Actually get together with my sister Lisa (how many times have we said we would??? This is the year!).
26. Make some actual progress on the Children's book I'd like to write/illustrate (yep, I have a whole concept, and rough design, but I need to finalize character designs and actually rough out the pages).
27. Revamp my wardrobe.
28. Make bread from scratch.
29. Buy a new bike (go on some long rides with Chris).
30. Track my food intake for at least 30 days (again, hoping to make it habit!)
The dresses were a great purchase, and it was fun to find out that if it were not for my chest size (which still has yet to drop at all) I could have bought a small. But the really exciting thing happened at The Limited. I grabbed some crop pants (because apparently now you cannot get capris, they are crop pants, get it right. Man I feel old) in size 8 and 6 (my normal sizes at the moment) a few shirts, and headed into the dressing room. I was SWIMMING in the 8s, and the 6s were also big. So I asked the dressing room lady for a size 4 "I can't believe that's coming out of my mouth" I said. When she brought them over, I slid them on, and then proceeded to ask "do these really fit me?" and "do they normally run large?" and "no really, shouldn't I get the next size up?".... I certainly was not expecting to drop a size this trip, considering I've been gaining for a solid month but drop I did. I even measured my waist when I got home to be sure. When I started this journey last year I was wearing a size 10 or 12 at The Limited (depending on my level of denial) and my waist was measuring between 33 and 35 (again depending on my level of denial). Now I'm at a size 4, and my waist is measuring at 28/28.5 (I never fully trust measuring myself).
This time last year I weighed about the same, and I was celebrating size 8 jeans. Now I'm not celebrating any weight losses, but I'm definitely celebrating some body changes. Looks like I picked the right year to make focusing on more than just the numbers a goal.
Speaking of goals, Wednesday I'm going to start on several of my goals simultaneously (because I think they will work well together).
7. Give up Caffeine for 30 days.
23. Get in 74 ounces of water a day for 30 days
30. Track my food intake for at least 30 days
If I'm going to get the water, I'll already need to track that, so I might as well track my food as well, and having to get that much water into my body should (in theory) make giving up caffeine easier. Although, full disclosure, I'm giving up caffeine for the sake of caffeine, caffeine in chocolate for instance is not off limits, should I get a migraine I WILL be taking Excedrin which has caffeine in it. I'm excited to knock out a bunch of goals at the same time.
AND... Speaking of knocking off goals, I've crossed quite a few things off my list this week.
4. Continue on my weight lose/healthy journey and blogging the details (focus on more than just the numbers). - I feel like this week I really made huge strides on this and I deserve to count it as a win.
14. Make bagged lunches a habit again. - This one was easy since I switched jobs and just made it part of the new routine.
20. Develop and honor a cleaning routine (rather than cleaning things when they start to look gross, THAT'S TOO LATE!). - Chris has been a big help in this. We clean up Sunday before heading to watch Game of Thrones and settle in for the night.
27. Revamp my wardrobe. - I haven't added too many peices, but I have changed up how I wear things. And I feel better about how I look.
29. Buy a new bike (go on some long rides with Chris). - Perhaps the most exciting! Chris and I bought our new bikes on Wednesday, they should get here in the next couple of days (then we go to get fitted)! Can't wait!
Somehow I've gotten all this way into the post without mentioning the Marathon recovery. Maybe because I didn't feel too sore after Wednesday (Monday was fine, Tuesday I was sore, Wednesday was the last day of any lasting effects really). Perhaps because I still really don't feel it was that big of a deal since I walked so much of it. Or maybe because I just have other things to think about. I wrote the race coordinators about how disappointed I was with the finish. Regardless, I haven't yet gone out for a run post-marathon, but I did go on a 23 mile bike ride with Chris on Saturday. With the training done I have to look for a new fitness routine. I don't think I'm going to aim for another race just yet, and I'm going to incorporate biking into the schedule (which is going to be a lot of fun) but regardless I need to set up a schedule (although, something less strict than the marathon schedule, because I really have enjoyed this last week) because when left without SOME SORT of goal I tend to feel like my efforts aren't as worthy (hence the 30 goals for this year). I'll be sure to let you know what I settle on.
Hug your loved ones. Good luck to you this week!
30 Things To Do In My 30th Year Progress (COMPLETED):
1. Train for, and run a full marathon (05/18/14 YES!)
2. Run another half marathon.
3. Go to Disney world
4. Continue on my weight lose/healthy journey and blogging the details (focus on more than just the numbers).
5. Get a whole new hair cut/look.
6. Work with a personal trainer.
7. Give up Caffeine for 30 days.
8. Go on a vegetarian diet for 30 days (I've always wanted to try, I don't think I could be strict for long, I love bacon far too much, but 30 days, I can probably pull off).
9. Read 12 Books (you may begin suggesting books... NOW!).
10. Make homemade pasta at least 6 times this year (what?! it's a LOT of work!).
11. Learn to make perogies.
12. Learn to cook scallops at home (actually cook them).
13. Get a promotion, or a new job, do not settle for staying in the same role for yet another year.
14. Make bagged lunches a habit again.
15. Visit Sarah.
16. Hang out with Patrick on an occasion that isn't his Birthday or a holiday.
17. Make more time for my friends.
18. Hang the posters and art prints Chris and I have brought over the last YEAR.
19. Make window treatments and pillow covers for my living room.
20. Develop and honor a cleaning routine (rather than cleaning things when they start to look gross, THAT'S TOO LATE!).
21. Add strength training to my weekly routine (this kind of goes along with the personal trainer, but this is supposed to be a more permanent fixture in my life).
22. Eat breakfast every weekday for a month.
23. Get in 74 ounces of water a day for 30 days (they say 30 days is long enough to make something a habit, we'll see).
24. Plan out and shop for an entire week of meals at once. Give Chris a full week off from planning or cooking any meals.
25. Actually get together with my sister Lisa (how many times have we said we would??? This is the year!).
26. Make some actual progress on the Children's book I'd like to write/illustrate (yep, I have a whole concept, and rough design, but I need to finalize character designs and actually rough out the pages).
27. Revamp my wardrobe.
28. Make bread from scratch.
29. Buy a new bike (go on some long rides with Chris).
30. Track my food intake for at least 30 days (again, hoping to make it habit!)