#Armday is my favorite

One of the places on my body that I am super self-conscious about is my arms.  I cannot remember the last time I wore a sleeveless shirt in public.  Here is why, I have a lot of fat on my arms and I have major jiggle (I'm so nice I say "hi" twice kind of jiggle).  See exhibits A & B below.

So in order to combat this issue I have come up with an weight routine for my arms and shoulders that will hopefully help. I do 2 sets of 15 reps for each exercise (I hope I said that right, still working on my fitness lingo).

Bicep curls - 10lb
Hammer curls - 10lb
Tricep kickbacks - 5lb (I think I am going to up this next time to 10lb)
One-arm tricep extension - 5lb
Shoulder press - 5lb
Deep swimmers press - 5lb
Lateral raise - 5lb
Upright row - 10lb
Rear deltoid row - 10lb
Shoulder shrugs - 10lb


What is your favorite muscle group to work on?

Weigh In Wednesday: Check In

This is going to be short and sweet today.

So I am a week and a half into my 90 day clean eating challenge and I am doing awesome!  I know it sounds like I am bragging but I am really proud of myself because there were a few moments where I could have slipped up.  Not this time.

Anyways, I have been doing really good and I peaked at my weight on Saturday and I was down a good bit.  But then my monthly gift came and I am all kinds of bloated so my weight this morning was 314.4.  I am trying not to stress because I know that once I get off the crimson wave it will adjust.  

How did you do on your weigh-in?

Weigh-In Wednesday: Couples Edition

I am a weigh-in Wednesday newbie but here it goes.

I technically wrote this post in my head over the weekend but am finally getting around to putting it on the blog. To back track a little bit, I recently celebrated my 9 year wedding anniversary and all I asked for was Brent to workout with me twice a week.  He hates working out but after I got all choked explaining how I wanted him to take care of himself so we can be old geezers together he agreed, even though he stated many times he would not enjoy it.  Due to crazy schedules and pure laziness we have not worked out together yet. {Don't worry, it will start this week}

Fast forward to last Thursday, I was in a bad place mentally and inside my head I was shouting "someone freaking just tell me what to eat because I am tired of trying to figure it out!"  So I Googled clean eating meal plans and found this plan HERE.  It seemed doable so I printed it out and brought it home.   I asked Brent if he would do this 90 day challenge with me and he agreed.  {Moment of truth, although I have all of you for support, I have been feeling really alone so I was a little emotional when he said yes.}

So I went and bought everything I needed to start this 90 day challenge on Sunday.  After following the plan for a couple of days we have figured out that we need to tweak it a bit, oh and neither of us can choke down plain non-fat Greek yogurt.  So I guess you would say we are using the meal plan as a guide to clean eating.  We have sworn to no cheats and will be there to hold each other accountable.

With all that said, back to the weigh-in Wednesday.  So we are doing initial weigh-in and measurements and will check-in at the 30, 60 and 90 day mark.  {fingers crossed I see results!}

Here are our current stats...

Weight: 347 lbs

Neck: 18 in

Chest: 55.5 in

Stomach: 61

R Arm: 17.75 in

L Arm: 17.5 in

R Thigh: 30 in

L Thigh: 30.5 in

Weight: 314.8 lbs

Bust: 53 in

Waist: 52.5 in

Midline: 54.5 in

Hips: 58.75 in

R Arm: 19 in

L Arm: 19.25 in

R Thigh: 28.5 in

L Thigh: 28 in

How did your weigh-in Wednesday go?

2014 Goals: 6 month Check In

Can you believe that 2014 is halfway gone already? When 2014 started I made some pretty big goals for myself and I am really determined to meet most of them.  Here are the goals I set for myself (read the original post HERE) and how I am doing:

Health/Fitness Goals

1. Meet my 100 pound weightloss goal
2. Complete three 5k races
3. Complete the BCS half marathon in December 2014.
4. Commit to working out a minimum of 3 days a week.
5. Meal prep on Sundays

UPDATE: I have completed one 5K, my workout schedule still needs some work but it is getting better, I decided I wasn't going to do the BCS half but am reconsidering doing a half in January 2015, I am still siting at 30 lbs lost, and meal prep hasn't really gone well.

Academic Goals

1. Manage my study time better.
2. Try to get at least one 'A' each semester.

UPDATE: My first semester in 2014 I got 3 A's, and I feel I have managed my course work slightly better.  This is going to be important to mater before Fall because I will be taking 15 hours in the Fall (apparently I like to punish myself,

Spiritual Goals

1. Get to know Jesus better by reading the Gospel.
2. Use my prayer journal everyday
3. Count my blessings more often
4. Go to mass faithfully every Sunday and actively seek the Holy Spirit in my heart.
5. Engage in random acts of love and kindness whenever possible.

UPDATE: I still need lots of work in this area.  I still struggle with putting Jesus at the forefront of my life.  I have become better at recognizing my blessings as well as trying to participate in random acts of kindness.

Financial Goals

1. Make and stick to our family budget.
2. Save more and spend less.
3. Start a savings/college fund for MJ.
4. Eliminate frivolous purchases.

UPDATE: I have gotten better about my spending.  Still trying to stick to a budget, it seems that we keep having a lot of unexpected expenses.  Madelynn goes to Kindergarten in the Fall, so I am hoping to take some of the money we have been paying in childcare and put it towards her college.  

Misc. Goals

1. Read 4 non-school books
2. Grow my hair out. {Get ready for some awkward stage hair photos on my instagram.  You can follow me @assignmentamanda.}

UPDATE: I have not read a non-school book yet but have some on the list.  As for growing my hair, other than a trim and reshape I haven't cut it yet even though I really want to most days.  It is now long enough to get in a decent pony tail so that helps.

How are you doing on your 2014 goals?

Wellness Exam

So my employer is now requiring that we get well checks unless we want to pay a higher monthly health insurance premium.  So like a good little minion, I went last week and got my well check.  During my visit, I think I had one of the most candid conversations with a doctor I have ever had about my weight.  (For once I wasn't scared to bring it up because I have acknowledged my problem and am doing something about it.)  We talked about how I have lost a decent amount so far and how I have kind of stalled for a while.  We also talked about ways that I could jump start my weight loss again (pills, liquid diet, calorie counting, appetite suppressant, and surgery).  Basically, I told him that I really want to do it the old fashioned way, a balanced diet and regular exercise.   He was very encouraging and felt that I could lose the weight I want to as long as there was not an underlying health issue.  So he ordered lab work.

He called me today and gave me the results, I am healthy, thank you Jesus!  I am not diabetic, my cholesterol is good, thyroid is good and blood count is good.  Thank goodness, I think I was really worried about being diabetic.  So we discussed my continued path and he suggested a doctor within the healthcare system that I could see that would help me along the way.  This other doctor is a family practitioner that specializes in this area.  I have been very vocal that I do not want to take a pill, go on a liquid diet, have surgery, etc and he assured me that this other doc could help me find a good balanced diet and exercise regimen and essentially help coach me through this journey.

I am seriously considering doing this (pending it is covered by my insurance) but I feel that in some way I am letting myself down and letting all of you down because I can't do it all on my own.  I know it sounds stupid but I have a crazy woman brain and that is how I roll.  Since I am conflicted, I made a resolution to myself that I will really try for the next month.  I will go back to using MFP faithfully everyday, no cheat meals, and get myself back into working out regularly.  At the end of that 30 days if I am still stuck I will make an appointment and see what he has to offer.  If I chose to go this route I will be transparent with what he suggests for me because that is what this blog is about.

Moment of truth, am I wrong for even entertaining the idea of seeing this doctor for weight loss help?

Always and Forever

Today is mine and Brent's anniversary.  We have been together for 13 years and have been married 9 years. It is strange to think that I have been with him for almost half of my life. Sometimes it gives me the weirds thinking about how we are so adult now (we were high school sweethearts) and we have a kid and a mortgage.  Our marriage isn't perfect but it is our own.  Sometimes we act like we are still two young kids in love and sometimes the burdens of being an adult get in the way and make it tough.  We have had some extremely low lows and there have been times that I wasn't sure we would make it. Relationships are hard but nothing worth having comes easy. At the end of the day he is it for me.

  

Honey, if you are reading this, I love you I love you I love you.  Cheers to our past, present, and future.

Positive Influence

Yesterday, I was way down in my feelings.  It was a combo of surfing the crimson wave, stress at work, not having exercised this week, you name it I was feeling it.  After hearing something about me that was untrue at work I was done for the day and it was only 9:30 a.m.  I was sitting at my desk fighting back tears and chatting on Google with Brent.  The conversation went like this...

I gained a few things from this exchange.

1. I am overly dramatic sometimes.

2. I have got to let go of what people say sometimes and not let it get to me.

3. I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband.

4. Positive influence during a weight loss journey is critical. 

He could have simply said blown off the fact that I was going to eat myself into oblivion and then wallow in self-hate later but he didn't.  He knew that in that moment I needed someone to knock some sense into me and he kept me on the right path.  

I went to lunch and slightly indulged in something less healthy (I had bacon and cheese on my grilled chicken). I didn't plow through my food and I ate like a civilized person.  I stopped when I was full and left without the guilt and the need to unbutton my pants.  

Whatever type of journey you are on surround yourself with people that will positively influence you to stay your course.  It really makes all the difference.  

Who are positive influences for you?