Round 2: Week One, I'm BACK

Well hello my lovelies. Long time no chat. I know, I know, I should do better. Well, I am going to do better... at least for the next 12 weeks anyway. Why 12 weeks you wonder? Because the challenge is back and blogging is yet again the best way to keep myself accountable. This time however, I am going to be doing it a little bit differently and only blog once or twice a week. I am making a lot of life changes at this current juncture, committing to once or twice a week is doable, so we will start with that.

The challenge is also set up a little bit differently this go round. We were all put into teams and have accountability through our captains who will handle our nutrition and such. I am signed up for training again, but now we are focusing on strength training instead of cardio based weight loss since Q did such good job last time of teaching me how to do that on my own.  So now I have two people to keep me in line! My team is owned by my favorite Q of course, and my new trainer is Stephanie.  Meet Stephanie, she is kind of a Crossfit goddess:

 

I was a little bit nervous at first to switch to a new system, given I was used to Q being my rock and I didn't know how being trained by someone I'd never met would work out for me... As it turns out, it works really well. Stephanie is a total badass and I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship (thanks for picking a good one Q). So far I have trained with her 3 times and she doesn't take it easy on me at all. She is kicking my ass in the nicest possible way. As you all know, I am a total goofball, and she puts up with me. I think she got jokes of her own though. The other day she told me to make sure when I got home not to just lay around OR I would be sore... well, I went home and stood up for a couple hours while I studied and still couldn't move over the next 3 days... What she should have said was "haha, just kidding, there is no hope for you. I just kicked your ass and your body is going to be jelly no matter what you do". But she didn't say that, she just smiled sweetly and I am still sore almost a week later. This is exactly what she inflicted on me to make me so sore:

 

I look amazing right? Ha, I'm just kidding, I look crazy... 55 pounds doesn't seem like a lot until you are made to pick it up 57 times. It was taking everything in me just to get the damn thing where it needed to go. I did it though. My burpee form severely suffered during the WOD, but I rallied and pushed through.

 

Since finishing the last challenge, the majority of my lifestyle changes and new habits have stuck around. I drink minimally, I try my best not to eat crap food and if I do, I eat in moderation. I split dishes with friends when we go out; and most importantly, I listen to my body. When it says it is full, I stop eating. That is something I was never able to do in the previous 28 years of living. When I weighed in last Thursday, I was lighter than I was when it ended. I have been sitting around 233 for months now.

 

I'm not going to lie though, the fact the scale is not moving is getting on my nerves... but it is my own fault. I did a lot of gallivanting this summer. I spent 2 weeks eating my way through Europe, 4 days in Canada shoveling Poutine in my face, and spent a lot of time down south where fried everything is life. The difference this time is I wasn't only sitting on my ass eating all the artery clogging deliciousness.  I was eating AND hiking, biking, climbing, running, and walking all over Gods creation. It still didn't help me loose any more weight, but it did prevent those Bojangles biscuits from sticking to my ass, so I will consider it a win. But play time is over and it is time to get back to business.

 

This time, the goal is to get below 200, drop my bodyfat by 5% and be able to do an unassisted pull-up. I think it is possible. Getting back on the healthy food only wagon is going to be the biggest hurdle, but with the help and support of my lovelies, I can do anything. Thanks in advance for being here for me ya'll, God knows I'll need it. Here is to a new leg of the journey. Talk to you soon.

 

Day 78-90: Winding Down

12 days until the end of the challenge. It almost feels surreal. I stopped posting daily because I would just run out of time by the end of the day, but I did keep notes.

Day 78, Tuesday, 3/31:

Ugh, I feel terrible, but the show must go on. I have Q @ 6 and tanning to follow. Have I mentioned how much I love my tanning salon? I don't think I am going to let myself go this long without tanning again. I feel like me again.

Day 79, Wednesday, 4/1:

I have Q @ 12 today, I cant believe I only have 5 training sessions left.... am I going to be able to keep going without her? Damn... 11 days left, I am so nervous! Thankfully I have work to keep me busy. Off to pack for tomorrows staging.

Day 80, Thursday, 4/2:

I do love that my job is not sedentary. Today I staged a home and was on my feet 6 hours strait. I am not complaining. I love what I do. It feels good to work with your hands. There is something strangely calming about it. Also, the immediate gratification is certainly addictive. 

After the staging I went to see Amy, my tattoo artist, to finish up the piece on my arm. I love it so much.

 

Day 81, Friday, 4/3:

It is becoming increasingly hard not to drink. I think I will go shoot guns. I have Q this morning, need food, must go to Costco... then Pew Pew Pew. Joey and I will have to hit up Elite Shooting Sports this evening. I am in need of some Guntry Club time.

 

Day 82, Saturday, 4/4:

Well I had Q this morning, so I didn't exactly feel bad about that Bloody Mary I had with brunch, damn it was good. Today is the International Pillow Fight Day and we are going to the National Mall to whack strangers with pillows, don't worry, it's organized. We met up with some friends for brunch prior to heading over to the fight. It would seem I am incapable of brunching without booze. Worth it, my Bloody Mary paired perfectly with my smoked salmon and fruit. Nom nom nom. The pillow fight was epic. Such a good time.

After the fight, we wandered over to dinner. I had a salad... and a vodka soda. Am I sabotaging myself at this point?! I mean, I have 8 days left. Fuck Nicole, what is up? After dinner, we headed to Federal Triangle to catch a Capital Steps show. I think we were the youngest in there by 30 years, but whatever, it was hilarious. You can't go wrong with musical political satire in this beautiful city of ours.

Day 83, Sunday, 4/5, Hoppy Easter:

I hit up the sauna this morning to sweat out the alcohol, I guess in my head that would keep me from drinking again today as we are converging on Top Golf this afternoon to celebrate Easter and basically just being awesome. Again, apparently I am incapable of not drinking during certain events... driving ranges seem to be one of them. Joey and I split a bucket of delicious Heinekens. NO REGRETS! But now I am certain I am trying to sabotage myself. Get it together Canole. 7 days left.

Day 84-90, 4/5 - 4/12:

7 days. No more notes. Only zoned in on the finish line. This time I am a competitor before I am a wife or friend. Thank God those who love me understand that. I have worked too damn hard to give up now. I am running twice a day, sitting in the sauna every night, wrapping my stomach and arms with "those crazy wrap things" and weight training in-between. Every calorie is counted, every movement is tracked, every drop of water is measured. I had 7 days and tomorrow is the day. Monday I weigh in.

Day 71-73: The World Ain't Ready

Day 71, Tuesday, 3/24: Today was one of the many days in my life that I proudly proclaim as the "Best Day Ever". It started out with Q at 9, followed by heading to my girl Yaya's house for the most fabulous pedicure ever, stopped by Massage Envy to schedule a massage for tomorrow, then ran to Potomac Mills for some retail therapy. Let's just take a second to discuss the psychological state of a fat girl who has now lost enough weight to fit back into her favorite brands.

First a little background. In my very first blog post, I mentioned "it continues to piss me off that I can’t fit into my fabulous cocktail dresses from my early 20’s and that I can’t shop at my favorite stores anymore." What I didn't get into, is exactly how much shopping meant to me and how much I identify with my wardrobe. To me, clothes aren't just something to cover your naked body, they are the vehicle to show the world who you are. Prior to my fat girl status, if I was not in uniform, I was in dresses, pearls, and flip flops 75% of the time (since I am a Southern Belle and all). If I wasn't in a dress, I was in shorts and a tank top. After the fatness took over I stuck to jeans, capris, maxi dresses, and chinos. Still cute, just not as fabulous. My favorite stores were Banana Republic, Gap, Ann Taylor, Limited, and White House Black Market. I shopped other places too, but these were my true loves. If you haven't figured it out by now, I was a bit of a preppy.

Even when I could only fit into plus size clothing (Layne Bryant, Torrid, Eloquii, Macy's Fat Girl Section, etc.), I would still torture myself by going to my favorite stores just to check out the latest trends; every once and a while buying a purse or shoes just to feel like I belong. More often than not, I wouldn't even be acknowledged as I roamed the racks. To me, it seemed as if the sales girls were saying "What is that big girl doing here, she can't wear our clothes".  I always left feeling sad and a bit disheartened. However, if there is one thing I am excellent at, it is compartmentalizing; so, I would never let it effect me long enough for me to do anything about it.

I didn't realize exactly how much I have been craving high quality silk and cashmere or even more the acknowledgement of the staff at my favorite stores, until today. As I pulled up to Potomac Mills, I made a B-Line to Banana Republic. Within minutes, I had an armful of clothes and a girl offering to start my dressing room. I wish I could accurately describe to you the sense of complete euphoria that washed over me as I put on the first outfit and realized I had to ask for a smaller size. It was as if every fiber of my being was screaming YAAASSSSS, YOU DID IT!!!! YOU ARE BACK AND THE WORLD AIN'T READY. I felt amazing and fierce. I felt in control of my life and my body. I took some pictures of course to commemorate the occasion:

 

Once I left Banana, I popped into J Crew, Limited, Coach, Kate Spade, H&M, and Off Broadway Shoes. I fell in love with these Betsey Johnson's. I think they may have magical properties, because I look pretty fabulous in this picture if I may say so:

I didn't want my day to end, but I had to get to the gym. I had Joey texting me keeping me in check. So, off I went to pick him up and get in a round of abs. Pretty good end to the best day ever.

Day 72, Wednesday, 3/25: A day of pampering. This morning I was busy just doing me. I had Q at 10, Caitlin (my hair stylist) at 11:30, and a much needed massage at 5:30. I am feeling pretty fierce lately, so we went with a rock star hairstyle. I also happen to be leaving for NYC Friday morning and am going with my cousin who is model material and I can't be looking like a bum beside him.

Day 73, Thursday, 3/26: Let the adventures begin. I have to get it in prior to my NYC adventure; so, I had Q at 12, tanning at 2, and my cousin Jacob got into town at 3. Once he got in, we hung out for a little bit, then headed off to Churchkey in DC for a few beers. Say bye bye diet. Hope I don't completely destroy you. I'll let you know how it goes.