Week 5 pics

Sugar, We're Going Down

I am happy to report that I tried on a size 8 cargo pants yesterday... and they fit. It was the best day ever. It really encouraged me to keep going with this Challenge even though sometimes I feel like it isn't working. It is, and the results are taking time. Nothing changes overnight, healthy weight loss takes time. This was especially encouraging to me because I was a size 12 this summer. On a bad day, I might even have to try on a 14. I'm serious, I promise I'm not making it up. I was 180 pounds on a 5'4 frame. Gross!

Also, I bought some really cute shorts from Urban Outfitters a couple of months ago and they didn't fit. My goal was to fit in them by my birthday, and they did! Barely, but they did! I took a picture to send to my mom when we went out last night. By the way, The Clay Pit is fantastic.

alli

P.S. The title of the post, referring to the size of my pants dropping, I'm goofy.

ok seriously

Literally 20 minutes after I posted, Dylan and Tyler walked in with a cake and champagne. How could they? I only had 3 bites and half a fluke (???) of champagne. I also busted my butt today on the treadmill and we did extra back exercises so I feel like it's ok..

Silly boys. They do not understand!

Hufflepuff Know Whats Up

The title to this post has nothing to do with anything, but it's my birthday and I do what I want. Ask Lindsey and or Katie and or Sarah.

Kidding. It's because I watched this earlier Like Its Quidditch.

So today was my birthday and I worked out. On my birthday. On. My. Birthday. This is big. I used to make up excuses as to why I couldn't work out and the perfect excuse would be, a birthday. I did not even cheat on this day! I could have eaten anything I wanted, but I didn't I stuck to it.

This leads to some frustration. I haven't lost but 3 pounds. And hardly any inches. They say the results don't really start coming in until 8 or 9.

Well I friggen hope so or I have missed out on SO much Chick-Fil-A... That isn't a very good attitude to have. But, it's my birthday.

Thank you all for the birthday via Facebook and such. I hope you all have a great rest of the week! :D

Why BFL?

Some of you might be wondering why I would do this to myself. I don't have time to write it all down today so here is a preview of why:

Me at 148 lbs July 2009                              

at 180 lbs July 2010

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

Study Break

So, I'm at a coffee shop, Zera, and I'm cramming my brain full of information about Microbiology, Chemistry, and history. I think I might die. But the good news is, Monday starts Week 4 of BFL. That means we are 25% through. HALLELUJAH AND AMEN.

I won't lie people, I have some serious abs coming in.

The other day I was straightening my hair and Sarah pointed out the "blooming" muscles in my arm. I have never had that before... and it's only week 3!!! I am so excited. Especially because I have been so discouraged by the actual poundage lost. I stepped on the scale this morning, and it said 157.2. I have been hiding my scale in the closet to avoid the temptation to weigh again and again but, I just had to this morning.

Dylan and I went to the Melting Pot for dinner last night. Yumma. I didn't blow my free day, but I did enjoy the fondue. Plus, it is served with lots of fresh veggies and things so it can't be that bad right? Right. Okgood, I'm glad we all agree. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

alli

It's Been a While

Sorry I haven't blogged in so long. Things are crazy here! I have 3 tests on Monday and I had 2 quizzes this week, so I'm pretty much mental at all times. The good thing is, I haven't missed one single work out despite my hectic schedule. Tonight is cardio and I am actually looking forward to it. I look forward to pushing to that new high point in the run. With BFL there is a certain system and way of doing things. For cardio, it's twenty minutes with intervals. You start off at a Level 5 of intensity, whatever that may be for you. For me, that's walking at a fast pace. From minutes 1-5 on the treadmill you work your way up from Level 5- Level 9 intensity. You maintain for 1 minute, then go back down to 5. It is this system of intervals for 20 minutes and you are done. DONE. That is all the cardio required for BFL. Fits in quite perfectly with my student schedule and wifely duties.

I have been kind of discouraged lately at the amount of pounds lost so far: 2. I keep reminding myself that weight loss does not happen over night and healthy weight loss is gradual. The good news about this though is that I have been building muscle so that counts right? I have the book "Champions of Body for Life" and it breaks it down week by week. Alexa Adair said that she had only lost 3 pounds when she started week 3 and she ended up losing 20 pounds total, so there is hope!

Thanks again for reading this and encouraging me. I appreciate it so much!

Alli

Seamstress or Seamster?

Today I had Dylan cut a T-shirt for me. I want to be like the cool girls that know how to do the free weights and the bench press and stuff. He did an amazing job. I asked him why he wasn't in fashion and he gave me the look. Oopsie. :D So manly of my manly manliest man to cut a shirt for me. I have my own personal Seamster.

Today's workout has been the best so far. Sarah and I went to the UNT rec Center to do our upper body work out. We always take our BFL book and I always feel so insecure about it. But I felt like I could life 500 lb today! We bench pressed and even though it is hard to just lift the bar alone, I made progress and it felt amazing when I did my last six reps with the added weight. Sarah was a good encourager also. It makes it easier to do BFL when you have someone to do it with you and keep you accountable and yell at you like Jillian Michael's (except MUCH prettier and MUCH nicer) to keep going and that it really isn't that heavy.

I do have a big challenge coming. My parents are visiting this weekend. All we ever do is pig out. I always take them to all the good places in Denton to eat. I will still do that this time but I cannot give in to the temptation! Tomorrow is my off day and we are going to Anamia's to eat for my birthday dinner. I can't blow it on chips and salsa. Ooohhh but there guacamole is SO good. Go there, get some, and have a changed life.

-alli

Pre-Cardio

Week 2, Day 8! About to go do some Cardio with Sarah. :D I feel confident enough to wear this here Nike tank, even though my muffin top is hangin out.... but my muffin top is all that. Whole grain, low fat.

-Alli

I Survived Super Bowl XLV

I made it through the weekend. Free Day was hard. Free Day was rough. I did really terrible on Free Day. I went to CiCi's. I'll stop there, because we all know where that was headed. Also, I had a spin out on the ice Friday evening and I was upset and thought that I deserved to eat everything in sight. I didn't, but I did eat things that I should not have because I was emotional.

I'm an emotional eater. And also a bored eater.

I went to a Lingerie Exchange with my friend Teagan, and I turned down a cupcake. A CUPCAKE PEOPLE. That is huge for me. I didn't even realize it until Sarah said, "WHAT? You turned down a cupcake? Alli I'm so proud." It was hard. I did have some chocolate mousse. The nice girl just gave it to me and I didn't know her I didn't want to be rude. But I busted my butt after the party doing cardio so I think I will be alright.

 But today was a big test. I went to a Super Bowl party with my home group from church. I ate celery and guacamole. I also made a dip from my Eating for Life cook book.

Onto Day 8 tomorrow!

Freeeeeee Day!

After 4 days, we finally made it to Free Day. I do want Chick-fil-a for lunch but other than that, I am ok not doing this Free Day.

Last night we went to the movies to see 127 Hours, which is fantastic by the way, and I sat in the middle while a large bucket of popcorn was passed in front of me. It didn't bother me at all until we went to the apartment of the people who had bought it and it was sitting all alone on a table. I had a couple pieces. Probably not even a handful. Then, Jill made cookies. Oatmeal raisin cookies. From scratch. I had two. I feel so guilty. So so guilty. My justification was that my free day started at midnight, and it was 11:20 pm. Oh well. I will have to exercise better self control next time. I don't want to dwell on it more than I already have.

I am proud however, of the fact that we have been working out despite the snow. It would have been the perfect excuse to not get to the gym. But we did! I even fell yesterday and hit my elbow after leaving our apartment complex's gym. But we went! And that is a just a little victory. 4 days down, 80 to go.

Alli

Fill All Thy Bones with Aches

Oy. When did I become an old woman. Monday morning, day one of BFL, I woke up with aching knees. This happens every now and then so I just blew it off. Yesterday and today I have been full blown aching. My ankles, my elbows, even my fingers are aching. I am praying this won't put a damper in my work out routine, but Dylan had to grind the pepper for me this morning on my eggs because it hurt so bad. I will just have to push through it. Today is cardio. I will go light on the treadmill.   

I won't let this cold weather keep me in! The apartment gym is just a short walk away. I made some green chili soup from my Eating for Life cookbook last night, eating the leftovers now. Leftovers are better the next day anyways :D Hope you are all staying warm! 

Day 2

Today is Day 2 of my Body-For-Life (BFL) Challenge. So far, so good. My only temptation has been the Chick-Fil-A that is so inconveniently located in my school's Student Union. Great. But, I opted for a salad with kidney beans, and veggies instead. Yum.

I decided I will post my before pictures. So, here they are.

Hope you didn't lose your appetite! :D