The End!?

(We got our family pictures done....i don't think I have felt this good for family pictures for a while! :)

So sad this competition is already coming to a close! I really feel like I have accomplished a lot and have learned quite a few things.

** anything is possible... I can do hard things :)

** weekly weigh in's are not a good motivator to me....too many factors go into it. (tom,water weight, etc.) but they were still really god to help keep me on track.

** I love the camaraderie with the other ladies participa

ting. I love hearing successes, fails, and all of the in- betweens

** All of the giveaways and advice were awesome...it was fun to be a part of a blog

My mind is drawing a blank....It's late, I know there is sooo much more I wanted to say. But

before I go.. I wanted to post a before and after pic of where I was 27lbs ago when I first started working out. I may have not lost all of that during this competition, but it for sure has helped me to stay accountable and keep on going!

(these are kind of gross pics, so pay them no mind....just look at the change)

Gross....can't believe I'm posting this back shot!! But I LOVE seeing the difference : )

And with that... I guess this game is coming to an end! It's been good.

skinnnny jeans

Let me preface: When the skinny jean trend came out, I was completely against it! I told my self I would NEVER own a pair of them, they were just horrific. Plus, I feel like only certain people can pull off "the look" and rock them. Guys should NEVER be seen wearing skinny jeans. As the trend grew and they became more mainstream, I think I accepted them a little bit more, but still never wanted a pair of them. I just couldn't see my self wearing them.

Well I guess this is a never say never kind of lesson. As I was browsing online the other day, (I work reallly early mornings 4am, so I have a little bit of time first thing to look browse) I saw a coupon for 20% off American Eagle. I love that store- but just havent been able to fit into anything from there for a while... they cater to smaller sizes. So I was looking in their clearance ( which usually consist if size 00's and 1's because it's what they have left) But they actually had a size I was willing to give a try.

I did it. I ordered them. They were a good price, and I wanted to try them out. I think my husband may disown me...he still hasnt caught the skinny jean craze and he thought I was crazy. They came in the mail yesterday!! Of course I was out for the day, so colin texted me saying they had come. I couldn't WAIT to get home to try them out. Of course my expectations weren't too high. First of all, they were skinny jeans. Secondly they were in a size I probably wouldn't be able to fit into yet. I kind of ordered them blindly just hoping that I might be able to wear them someday.

Well guys- the moment of truth has come. I tried them on, they fit, i think I like them! They are tight. I think it will take a little bit of getting used to...and maybe a little while before I step out in public with them, but this is huge coming from a girl who vowed never to own skinny jeans. I asked my friends on FB opinion's about them and the general consensus was that most people LOVED them. Who knew!?

The best part? They are a size 12! I know that's not super skinny, but coming from a 16...that's a big deal. Not to mention I am tall so I will never be a size 4...I am happy! Before I got married and was in really good shape I was around a size 8-10. That's my good size. I am soo close I can feel it. It feels good. Since I have started this helathy eating/ working out thing in april I have lost a total of 27lbs. I am loving the way my body feels, the way I feel emotionally. I am about 20 lbs away from my goal weight, and I know I'll get there! I think at the end of this I will post my "before" from 27 lbs ago...and then now. I do love seeing the progress! And I am the proud owner of SKINNY JEANS! eek.

Back and up

So we made it back safely! It was SUCH a nice trip. So great to get away. Just what I needed, however just what my body did NOT need. Unfortunately, there was a lot of this....(eating out) that's the hard thing about vacations. And I didn't censor what I ate... which made the scale go up a few pounds. Am I bummed out? Way! but I made the choices....let's just say this weigh in won't be very pretty. On the flip side, a couple of hours after we got home I was back at the gym. I am hoping in the next two days I can work out hard and get the scale moving back down in the direction I want it to.

I feel dissapointed, but not defeated. I have been feeling kind of down... in all aspects of life. It makes me think it's just crazy girl hormones because it just came on suddenly last night. You know the kind that make you not feel like a good mom, or wife, or anything? It will pass quickly, but I don't like days like that! Those are the days you just want to sit and eat chocolate and watch a good chick flick and avoid all responsibilities! But I don't have the time to indulge right now...oh well. The sun will come out tomorrow.

Escape

We are leaving. Getting away. Going to a cooler climate. I am SO excited, and I just can't hide it.... I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!! (i know you were singing along:)

I just have to get through this looonnng day of work..4am-230pm, and colin has to get through a looong test....MCAT....kind of serious, determines our future....and then we'll be off to San Diego! Going from 115 degree weather to 75-80 degree weather with the beach...i think I'll take it!

Aside from camping over a short weekend, this will be our first real family vacation all together...with just my little family! I can't wait to just get away and not have to worry about anything. The only thing i will have to worry about is relaxing, maybe going for a jog along the beach.

Hooray Hooray Hooray!! Have a great weekend :) I'll be back Wednesday

Battle Scars & Victory

So My sister and I had this friendly competition going on. It was pretty intense! There were a bunch of rules that were involved. This started back in the end of june and was supposed to last until august first. This was a work out/ eat healthy competition. These were the rules:

*at least one 1000 calorie work out a week

* work out 5 days a week

*no sweets/ junk/ processed food etc

* we could allow our self one dessert per week

*no fast food

*only one sit down restaurant visit

If you didn't complete, or completely disregarded any of the rules, you lost. It was pretty intense, but because I had started changing my bad habits to good habits slowly and before the competition started...it wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. Notice how I said it was supposed to last until august? Well, it didn't.... I WON our little sisterly competition. I'm sure she didn't want me to really boast about it, so what do I do? put it on my blog...it's ok, she doesn't read it anyways. honestly. But I am sure one of my other 5 sisters will and let her know. (if you're reading this right now, and you are a sister...don't tell her!) She's the sister that is very focused and determined, so it made the victory extra sweet. What's the fun of winning if you can't share at least a little bit :)

So speaking of this sister, we sometimes go work out together. It's fun to work out with other people. I definitley hae a lot more fun... I think I like it so much because I don't get as bored. Well, I shared my love for Zumba with her, so today she invited me to come try out her love. Spin class. I was a little bit nervous and intimidated, but i figured it would be fun to try out. we got to the gym a little early to get a couple extra calorie burn in. Then the spin class started. It was good at first, then after about five min is when I really started to feel like i didn't like it very much. The bike was acting weird so i got off and switched bikes. I feel like i'll never get adjusted to that tiny little hard seat on my behind. Let me tell you I am already SORE! i will be walking awkward tomorrow for sure! not comfortable. The transitions felt a little bit awkward...going from sitting down to standing up, it just a bit tricky because you peddle faster when you sit and then when you stand it has to adjust. Well on one of these "adjustments" my foot slipped out of the foot strap and went over the pedal and it came back around and totally caught my calve under it and scraped it all up.
There's going to be a big bruise, and it looks worse in person. Anyways, luckily no one saw because I felt really clumsy. I don't feel like I want to go back to spin class again anytime soon, but I don't think I gave it a fair shot so I'm sure I will end up back in one sometime or another.

On a different note- I have had a pretty good week. Worked out every day so far, and have eaten pretty good. I started another challenge with the same sis who lost..(teehee)... with kind of the same guidelines. We'll see how this one goes...we're headed to San Diego this weekend! I am sooo excited to get away, but the traveling part and eating healthy just don't mix that good. What works for you when you travel?? I would love advice!!