March 18, 2011 By Nancy
I should be starting off this post with an apology. I have been absent from this site far too often lately. My life has been hectic to say the least, but that is no excuse. So..I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.
I am loving this new challenge. Christy is my partner and we are Bacardi (me) and Diet Coke (Christy). We are doing pretty well. We have been in the top 10 for the past two weeks. We fell three places this week, so we have some work to do this week.
I lost one pound this week. I’m happy with that. It’s not as much as last week, but it’s still good. I have been exercising like a crazy person. Monday night I went to zumba at 6:00, walked at 7:00 and then on to boot camp at 8:00. I don’t recommend you do that. By the last circuit of boot camp, I was ready to cry. The good news is that I kept going and finished strong and exhausted.
I don’t think I could have a better bud than Christy. She has been my biggest supporter since I started this journey. She’s not afraid to kick my ass when I need it or to tell me when I’m doing well. I do the same for her. We’re a great combo. Thanks Christy!! You are the best!
That’s what’s going o with me. How about you? How are you doing with this challenge?
March 13, 2011 By Nancy
It’s been a rough couple of weeks over here. My husband was in an accident in Georgia on his way home from a golf trip in Florida. The accident was totally the other guys fault (the state police agreed), but my car was totalled. After driving 24 hours of a 36 hour trip with my brother-in-law to pick hubby up, I got hands on him and was reassured that he truly was okay. That in itself was a miracle. If you saw my car, you’d never believe it.
We came home and began the process of dealing with two insurance companies The guy that caused the accident wouldn’t answer is phone, mail or door for over a week and when he did, he said he didn’t do anything wrong. Lucky for us, with pictures, witnesses and the facts, he was proved wrong. We got a new car on Wednesday and we should get all of our travel expenses back next week and then we can put this nightmare behind us.
The one thing that I learned through this whole experience was how lucky we truly are. The outcome of this could have been so different. My husband called to tell me about the accident. He was bruised and shook up, but he was fine. It could have been a doctor, nurse or police calling to tell me he wasn’t okay. We are truly lucky and very blessed.
There are some people who are not as lucky as us. They have children who need our help. I am trying to help some of those children by walking in the March for Babies headed up by the March of Dimes.
I have the honor and pleasure of walking with Team James and Jake. Most of you know James and Jake’s mommy. It’s Beth (I Should be Folding Laundry) that used to write here at Shrinking Jeans. Their mommy lost them at 19 weeks gestation. We walk hoping that we can help that heartbreaking experience not happen to another mother and father.
I also had the heartbreak of losing a child to miscarriage many years ago. There is always that little hole left by that experience. You never forget it and you always have the “what ifs” in the back of your mind.
You probably know where this is going to go next. I need your help to raise money for Team James and Jake. Everything we raise goes to March of Dimes. My goal this year is $1000. and that’s the biggest goal I have ever set for myself. This is just so close to my heart. I hope you will see fit to help me in my quest. No donation is too small or too big. Here’s the link to my personal fundraising page. Thank you so much for considering helping me. You are the best!
February 23, 2011 By Nancy
I honestly don’t know that I have ever been this excited to write a weigh in post before. This has been my best challenge ever. There has been so much that has happened since the start of this challenge. It’s been awesome!
Seeing how this is a weigh in post, let’s start with the obvious…I lost .9 pounds this week. The great news is that I lost 11.3 pounds this challenge. Can I get a WOO HOO please?!?! I can hardly believe it.
Early on in the challenge, I was chosen as one of the new contributing writers for Shrinking Jeans. I was honored and humbled, but mostly I felt a new sense of responsibility. I felt like I really had to give this whole fitness/weight loss journey my all. If I was going to be writing on a fitness blog, I had to be a totally committed participant in my journey. I think I’ve done just that.
To start with, I joined Weight Watchers. I believe that is how I had the loss I did in this challenge. My first week on the program, I lost six pounds. I’m doing pretty well on the program. I have to still remind myself to log my food and figure the points, but it is still pretty new to me. It will all come together. I have no doubts.
I have joined a fitness center and have been going to classes four nights a week. Sometimes I even go on Saturday morning. They are starting a new zumba class on Sundays on March 6 and I’ll be going to that for sure. I really love zumba. I was worried about trying it and looking stupid, but I tried it and I loved it. I don’t even care that I look like a dorky klutz. It gets my heart going and I work up a good sweat. I also go to boot camp two days a week. This is awesome! Every time is different. You can’t get tired of it because it keeps changing. It’s hard and I love it. I’m still hitting the treadmill and doing the wii discs. I even did April’s challenge.
The only thing that I can honestly say I am having trouble with is the running. It hurts my knees and my bad ankle. I keep trying though. Maybe as I keep losing weight it will get easier. I really want to do a half marathon on June 4th that ends on the 50 yard line at Notre Dame football stadium. Anybody that knows me, knows that I love Notre Dame football and this would be so cool. I’m going to walk/run a 5k on March 12th. It’s the annual Runnin with the Irish fundraiser for the school that I work for. We’ll see how that goes.
So that’s my Power of One wrap up. I loved and enjoyed this challenge so much. I can’t wait for the new challenge to start next week. I think you are going to like it. Keep checking back for all the details.
February 16, 2011 By Nancy
Can you believe how fast this challenge is going? One more week and it is done. I have really loved this challenge. I have learned a lot and changed many things. I suppose I should leave all that for next week and the final weigh in post.
I had another good week. Not as good as last week, but I really wasn’t expecting to do that good. Six pounds in one week is something that I can’t do every week. I’m pretty sure most of that was water and starting Weight Watchers. It was a great shot in the arm though. I lost 1.2 pounds this week. Just .1 of a pound from a new decade. That will happen next week.
I’m looking forward to a big finish to the challenge next week. My husband is leaving on Friday for a trip to Florida to visit his dad. He’ll be gone about two weeks. Eating healthy is much easier when he’s not around. I can cook for me and not have to worry about what he likes. It’s a good time for him to be gone.
Like I said, I’m looking forward to a big finish. How about you? How are you going to finish?
February 12, 2011 By Nancy
Because I feel like I have totally been neglecting my original blog, I have posted about Zumbathon there. You will find it here….
http://bacardimama.blogspot.com/2011/02/zumbathon-2011.html
Just let me tell you that it was awesome and I loved every minute of it.
February 9, 2011 By Nancy
There are absolutely no sad songs here today. Let’s just do the best news of the week right now….
I LOST 6 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!
We had two snow days last week from school. As promised, I spent those days seriously thinking about Weight Watchers. I pulled the trigger and joined on Thursday morning and seven days later, I am six pounds lighter. To say that I am happy is a total understatement. I am elated, joyous and very surprised. Lots of people told that your first few weeks in Weight Watchers are big losses, but I had no idea. This was awesome and a real boost to want to do the same thing next week.
I know that all my exercise has contributed to this loss. I am still going to boot camp twice a week, zumba twice a week and yoga once a week. I have been doing April’s challenge as well. I’ve also had days of throwing some wii discs like the EA Sports Active 2 and zumba into the mix. I love both of those. I love that I wake up most mornings a little sore and some mornings I’m more than a little sore. I’m just plain old sore. I love it though. I truly believe that I have turned a major corner in this journey.
Friday night I am involved in a Zumbathon with all the proceeds going to the American Heart Association. It’s two hours long and it is going to be so much fun. A few months ago, I would have been dreading two hours of exercise, but not now. I’m really looking forward to it.
So that’s my story this week. I am excited to write the next chapter next week. I have a feeling it is going to be good. This book could end up a best seller!
February 2, 2011 By Nancy
Weigh in day. How’d you do? I lost 1.2 pounds. The problem is, I lost what I gained last week. That just takes me back to where I was two weeks ago. I’ve only lost 3.1 pounds so far this challenge and that kind of sucks.
I was expecting bigger things for this challenge. I thought I had it all figured out, but I guess I don’t. I definitley have the exercise part of this whole thing down. I’m doing really well with that. I’m exercising no less than five days a week and doing April’s challenge every day. I am putting real effort into the classes I’m taking. I’m digging deep. I’m sore and I hurt and that is a good thing.
So my friends, I’m thinking the problem has to lie in my eating. I do really well until about 8:00 at night for some reason. When I am on the computer at night talking on Twitter and Facebook, I find myself snacking for no good reason and that has got to stop.
I’m thinking that I really have to give Weight Watchers another try. I have a snow day today, so this might just be the day to jump in and do it. I’d have plenty of time to figure out the new plan. I could plan my menu for the rest of the week. I could find some good snacks. What do you think? How many of you are doing WW? Do you like it? Do you recommend it?
I’m going to give this post a few hours and see if I get any feedback. If I don’t, I’ll just have decide on my own, but I am leaning toward Weight Watchers. Maybe then I’d have a good weigh in next week and for many weeks after that. Sounds good to me!!
January 30, 2011 By Nancy
The jury has finally come back with a verdict. I love zumba. I really really do. I was unsure after the first class, but three classes later, I love it.
I think my biggest fear in going to zumba was the chance that I would look stupid and people would think I was a klutz. Guess what? Almost everyone there looks just like me when they are trying to do it and we have fun laughing at each other and ourselves. Nobody but our instructor Irma and our boot camp drill sergeant Nicki know what the heck they are doing. All Irma asks is that you just keep moving.
I am liking this zumba class so much, I am considering doing the Zumbathon for the American Heart Association in a few weeks. What are the chances that I can last through two hours of zumba? Probably slim to none, but I would think you could take breaks if you need to. I’ll have to check into that before I commit.
I have been enjoying I use that term looselyboot camp and zumba so much, I decided to try a yoga class today. I was expecting to have to stretch, but boy did we have to STRETCH! I’m sore in some new places tonight. I think I’m going to try it again next week though.
So yes, I like zumba. I actually think I love zumba. One thing I know for sure, I love Irma. She is the most awesome instructor ever.
January 27, 2011 By Nancy
Angry does not even begin to tell you how I am feeling right now. I could string a whole slew of expletives together and they wouldn’t even touch how mad I feel. What is this leading up to you ask?
I GAINED 1.2 POUNDS THIS WEEK!!!!!
Would someone like to explain to me how that happened please? I have been so good this week. I have gone to boot camp and zumba classes. I have been doing April’s challenge on the treadmill. I’ve even done a couple things on the wii. I have watched what I ate and how much I ate. And this is the thanks I get! Go figure.
It is an hour till boot camp. My daughter and I are mulling over the idea of not going tonight. We are both very sore and very tired from all the other classes and maybe a night off is just what I need. A night to regroup and rethink it all out.
I have 40 minutes or so to decide if I want to get changed and head out. I can’t even tell you which way I’m leaning right now. I just don’t know.
To be continued……………
January 24, 2011 By Nancy
I started zumba this week. Who’s freakin idea was that???? not Christy You never stop moving. It’s just go and go and go.
There is this tiny little instructor named Irma. I do love Irma, but she’s kind of like a cheerleader. She keeps saying we look great and coming around and high fiving people. Does she not see that I am tripping all over my own feet and my tongue is hanging out of my mouth from lack of hydration? Even though I drank two bottles of water during the class!
There is quite a mix of people in the class. You have the few who are really good. I hate them! You have the few people who are really bad. I truly love them! Then you have my group. Every shape and size just trying to stay alive for that one hour. There is one poor schmuck who is there with his wife. The absolute funniest one is the owners wife who is also a preschool mom. I know she wouldn’t care if I told you what she said. She’s a good sport. Before the class started she said, “If it looks like I am having a seizure, don’t call 911, I’m just a klutz with no rhythm.”. I love her. We were twins!!
It is constant movement. It goes from one song to the next. Never a downtime moment. You shake and shimmy and step and dip. You are flying around your little spot like a frisbee. Irma is pretty good about keeping it moving but not crazy. My boot camp instructor is there too. She just got her zumba certification last week and she gets to do a few numbers. When she kicks it in, it is like we go into hyper drive. Way too fast and everyone is tripping on themselves and each other. Quite the sight to see.
Like I said in the title, the jury is still out. I’m going back Tuesday and Thursday. To be honest, I’ll probably keep going back. I don’t like to be a quiter and I don’t think it could actually kill me.
All I have to say is this. That studio floor had better start looking like that ad on tv at some point. You know the one where people keep finding body fat on the beach and other places because they have fallin off people. Yes, people better start finding pieces of my gut and butt and thighs lying on that studio floor!
Gross visual, but it would be so cool! Real proof that it is all working!!