The Official Day 1

What I did right....

I wrote everything down that I ate which actually made me think about my calories in and I was under my 1500 calories. I calculated as I went so I knew I what I had remaining for the rest of the day.
What I could improve on tomorrow...

Drink way more water! when I get busy at work I forget to drink so I'll have to make sure I make time for water as I work.

I had all intentions of going to Zumba or the track tonight... I was pumped. I didn't sleep well at all last night and I was up at 5:30. I was skyping with a friend and before I knew it, it was 7 pm and I hadn't had dinner yet. Am I hearing an excuse right now? Grrrrrr. This is life. I will be tired and I will have late dinners but I just have to put my workouts first and suck it up like the champ I know is inside me.

My friend Holly is on board and we are going to skype tomorrow and share ideas. I spoke with 2 friends today who are going to create their own inspiration boards which made me very happy.

Bedtime for me - early start tomorrow and lots to do.

I hope my fellow 30-Day Challenge friends had a great first day!

Challenge - Day 1

Well this is the start of my inspiration board!

30 DAY CHALLENGE - RUBY'S DAY 1 INSTRUCTIONS
* Get a notebook and record everything you eat, drink and all your workouts
* Drink lots of water 8-10 glasses- an extra glass for every 25 lbs overweight
* Find a plan that works for you and stick to it
* Turn that TV off
* Set a goal

Updates and Ruby's 30 Day Challenge

Once again it has been far too long since I’ve posted something. Well better late than never! So much has happened. I finally found a job I love working for a company I love and believe in and I feel like I mean something there. A while back when “The Secret – Laws of Attraction” was all the rage I had created an inspiration board. One of my inspirations was to work for a small – mid-size company where I made a good salary where I could move up and where I could make a difference and I found it.


I wouldn’t normally blog too much about work but I had to mention it because I am truly happy and I love my manager – Diane. You know those quirky, Britts you meet on vacation that you would just love to be friends with? That’s her… she works very hard but she also has such a fun side – not something I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in a work place environment in a very very long time.

I’ll give you the most recent example – I’ve wanted to do paddle-boarding for a few years now but its not something I’ve taken up because of my weight. A groupon came through on my phone for a 90 min lesson for $39… I showed her the groupon and said – THAT is why I need to lose weight… I want to spend my spare time enjoying activities like that!!! No sooner did I mention it I was promptly told in a British accent of course – BOOK IT! So its booked.. I am going paddle-boarding for the first time Aug 25!! I’m sure that experience will be for an interesting blog!

I know I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs that I wish I could one day in some way be part of the Biggest Loser – to experience those crazy workouts and see just exactly what I’m made of. Well one more thing booked – I head to the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu from September 2 – 9. That will truly be another dream come true.

I was thinking the other day about why and how could someone (me) spend their vacation time two years in a row travelling to fitness bootcamps to find that motivation that I need not be able to just lose the weight. Well I’m tired of excuses…I just don’t know why. Which is where I am now.

I don’t know why I am the way I am and why I haven’t been about to just figure this out but now is the time. I’ve decided to just become obsessed with health, fitness and a positive attitude. Not obsessed in a negative way but in a way where I only want to think about me and my needs for the next little while. This is the first time ever where I just want to have a love relationship with myself – as the saying goes – I want to let my light shine and in doing so I will help others let their light shine as well.

So back to Ruby… starting tomorrow – my friend Ruby has posted a 30 day challenge to all her FB friends and I’ve accepted. It could not have come at a better time because I would like to lose some weight and just get back to working out before I head to the Biggest Loser Ranch in September.

I’m going to take tonight to get organized and think of what type of goals do I want to set for myself over this next 30 days to begin this process.

My first goal is to write a short blog for every day of the challenge and post a picture or saying that kept me motivated during that day.

I finally have the fire and the desire back in my gut… I haven’t had this feeling in FOREVER…. It feels so good knowing success is around the corner!

MEETING RUBY...

Have you ever read an article, a blog or happen to see someone on tv where you think to yourself I would love to meet that person one day. After these past few weeks I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

To make a long story short I have been travelling a lot this year - Chicago, California, England and most recently I took a road trip to Myrtle Beach South Carolina where I met Ruby.

Everything really does happen for a reason and some dreams no matter how small really will come true but the key is when great opportunities present themselves you have to seize the opportunity before it passes you by.

I was supposed to go to California in September to meet someone I had spend months getting to know online and talking to regularly. I know it sounds crazy but I was really developing feelings for this person and naturally the next step was to meet. So I booked my flight, car, hotel and was quite excited until out of the blue it ended and there was to be no meeting.

I had to decide if I was still going to go to California knowing full well that I would be thinking of him and thinking about everything I had said and did that might have made him change his mind. I decided that just wasn't an option so I cancelled my trip.

Shortly after this I came across one of Ruby's Facebook pages (which I have been following for a few years now) and I noticed she was doing a bootcamp in Myrtle Beach during the exact days I had booked off work - not even giving it a second thought my condo was booked and bootcamp was paid for.

That bootcamp was life changing for me! I feel I have a different type of motivation and strength inside me now. Not only did I meet Ruby someone who truly inspires me to continue with my weight loss journey but I also had the blessing of meeting Holly a new friend and I know they will both be in my life forever. Having that kind of support plus all of the things I learned during the bootcamp was exactly what I needed to go full steam ahead with my weight loss and health goals.

I only hope I can somehow inspire others to seize those opportunities when they present themselves just as Ruby has inspired me to keep fighting, fight to the finish to reach my goal.

I love you Ruby.

Sunday Snowshoeing

So I finally did it, I went snowshoeing this morning and I had a blast! I know this years focus is to lose weight but I plan on having a lot of fun along the way and this was a great start.

Last week was a killer after my first session (as I couldn't walk properly for 4 days because my legs were in such pain) but I explained my concerns to my trainer and she switched things up a little.

My second session was a really great workout but to top it off I also had many ladies encourage me to join the bootcamp class at the gym. I think I might just try it out tomorrow and post a little something out on how I did.

There was something I kept thinking about this morning while the sun was shining down as I was snowshoeing - I just can't hold back from doing the things I want to do because of my weight. I just have to put myself out there and try. In turn, the more things I try the better I will get and the more weight I will lose which will increase my confidence to keep going and do more.

Today was a great day.

Let the Training begin!

So I had my first training session tonight and although I was so happy to be there I completely broke down and cried at one point. I was so frustrated with myself as to how did I let myself go like that? I mean I've always been a bigger girl but I used to work out 5 - 6 days a week and I felt like a million bucks doing it and tonight I could barely do anything.

Not sure if I really click with my trainer but I am going to stick it out and give it a chance. The one key point she mentioned several times was that she was there to focus on the things I'm not good at so that I become better at them instead of working on things I am already good at.

My one success - she asked me to do jump ups (jumping with both feet on to a raised platform) something I've been terrified of doing - she was very patient and even though I wasn't the best I did it!.. I did it and I am going to practice it to get better and better at it.

So one session down and 11 more to go! (for now!)

Thank God the weekend is here because I don't think I'm going to be walking properly tomorrow LOL a good first session indeed!

Nighty night.

Better Late then Never - right?

Well the bad news is it has been forever since I've blogged but the good news is 1) I finally secured a full time job after several months as a casual position and a year and a half being laid off.

I committed to not giving up so until recently I worked two part time jobs and still managed to lose about 35 lbs in 2010. I know 35 lbs is good but I had hoped for much more and that is what 2011 is all about.

So, this year I am committed to keeping stress under control (which is a huge weight factor for me) and giving up my second job to make losing weight a priority now that I have my finances in order.

I've joined a weight loss challenge at my gym and I plan on winning one of the 3 cash prizes. I've purchased training sessions to ensure that I keep motivated and on track.

So, hello 2011 this is going to be a great year I can just feel it!

Blog-ya later!