Let's Talk "Biggest Loser"

Alright.  No spoilers here so don't fret.

This show makes me feel great about myself in that motivational way that is they can do it, I can do it.  But it also makes me feel oh so very bad about myself.

I've been working so hard on improving my self image.  SO HARD.  And then I see these contestants.  Some of which have very similar weights as I currently do and I think "Oh my God.  Is that how I look?"  Once again, "Are people just being nice to me by not telling me what a blob I look?"  Here are the female contestants that are close-ish in weight to me.

 Only 13 pounds heavier than me.

Only 10 pounds heavier than me.

Only 20 pounds heavier than me.

Only 18 pounds heavier than me.

I just don't get it.  What is wrong in my head?  My body before I started losing weight was likely just as bad as the contestants but now I look at the group photo and think "I am WAY fitter and thinner than those guys."  But the damn numbers.  The numbers say that's not quite true.

Tag-Team Suicide

I've done it.

In the midst of school finals chaos (and it's totally chaos), I've managed to get back to an exercise routine.  I've been working out but let's face it; sometimes people get lazy and I'm definitely people.  I've rebounded in weight slightly but truth is I'm not worried about it.  I figure it's mostly bloat from the gluten-fest I enjoyed at the in-laws over Thanksgiving.  I paid for it afterwards, but I totally enjoyed.  Very few things beat a South Dakota farm wife's bread pudding for dessert.

But enough of that.  I'm lazy.  Fact.  I'm also fat and want to be thin.  Well, maybe not thin, but at least un-fat.  Therefore... back to the grind.

I'm visiting an old friend.

I kinda missed her.  The way she looks at me from the television screen with an expression that says "I dare ya to quit fatty," and then I tell her what I think about her.

So I'm killing myself doing the thirty days again.  Not nearly as badly as the first time I ever did it, but I'm still hurting.  BUT... I'm not alone this time!  My H, the "I only do manly workouts" guy, is doing it with me!  

We started tonight.  Right after work but before dinner so he could claim he was too full to participate.  It was hard!  It's amazing how much endurance you lose after taking time off.  I'm still in decent shape thankfully, but I did totally get winded a few times. 

We watched the video last night so my H could figure out the moves.  The man has never done anything remotely resembling aerobics in his life.  He thought it looked pretty easy.  The poor man changed his tune by eight minutes in.  Huffing and puffing, red in the face, and complaining of a hurt calf muscle. (He's fine.  I suspect it's less pain and more acceptable burn)  I'm so proud of him. Maybe doing 30 Day Shred will be like a gateway drug and he'll be open to more types of exercise.  Maybe ballroom dancing classes are in our future?  Probably not.  But a girl can dream can't she?

Testing Out the New Toy

I did my last day of level 2 of the 30 Day Shred.  Thank God!  I'm ready for level 3.

I hate:

• plank jack
• pendulum lunges w/ hammer curls (my knee hates)
• double crunches

Thanks to my handy-dandy new heart rate monitor, here are my results after doing my dvd workout:

Now.  What they mean?  I'm working on it.  ;)

The Fat Chick Cometh

I look like a fat-ass.

No, this isn't some insult to motivate ploy.  It is on purpose though.  I bought some Fila workout gear that is super soft, lightweight, comfy, and downright cute.  It is however, skin tight.  I can see every lump, bump, and handful of blubber that I want gone.  Thanks to the bright blue trim, all my body imperfections are perfectly highlighted.  Instead of buying my normal style of clothes, I decided to think outside the box.  I took a picture of myself wearing the outfit pre-workout (in fact I'm still pre-workout since I'm procrastinating by typing this because I'm kinda scared to start the 30 Day Shred program) so that I can compare pictures with future pictures and hopefully can really see the weight loss.

Will I share these pictures with you?  Yes.
Now?  Not a chance.  I can handle showing you a "before" pic.  Just not a "now" pic

It's kind of funny actually.  Refreshing too.  To be able to truly see what needs to be fixed.  I think taking a pic once a week is my plan.  Although, doing it every day and then making a video that shows me shrinking has a lot of appeal.  opinions?

As for this little piece of terror, It better work.  I'm watching my food like a hawk.  Starting pure today.  Completely clean eating.  Super simple foods.  Tonight will be grilled chicken breast with corn and a gripload of fresh pea pods.  Only water to drink.  I'm not even going to risk having tea.  Dang it Jillian Michaels. Your program claims I can "lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days!"  I'd be thrilled with half of that.  I'd be happy with 6 since that would put me at 20 pounds lost.  Heck, as long as I lose something I can deal.  I DO think I'm pretty darn determined though.  It there is a big loss waiting for me, I'm out to get it.  If the Shred fails, there is always Sweating to the Oldies right?  Right?


EDIT:  Oh my God.  I just finished my first day of the video and I've gotta tell you the following things:

1. I hate that chick.  Not like personally, more like "Stop telling me to keep going while you just stand there talking about those of us that are actually doing the exercises!" and "She lies!  She said we were done and THEN we had to do bicycle crunches which sucked at the end."
2. I had sweat pouring off my body at the end.
3. I consider myself a polite woman but I was swearing like a sailor during the workout.
4. Do not do the workout in the basement.  I almost didn't make it back up the stairs to the living room afterwards.
5. I'm starving.