I'm Back!!!

So I had no idea anyone was reading my old posts. Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I am so sorry I dropped off the surface of the "earth". I was in the heat of graduate school and got swept away with life. On graduation day, I was down to 165lbs. This was stress induced weight loss (if there is a term as such). I was not leading a healthy lifestyle. I got a job shortly after graduation and packed on pounds. I have not gone back to 200plus lbs but I flirted with 180-183.

As of today, this very second...with 2 full weeks of intense exercise and sensible-ish eating, I am whittling down. I went from 182lbs to 176lbs. I have lost 3 lbs per week. This is from working out 1hr per day and cutting down on sweets. Some days I find myself working out for 2 hours. So how did I get into the 180s?? Well, when I returned to work this year, I became best friends with the vending machine that sits close to my office...it was always calling my name. Seducing me with treats to ease the stress. Boy do you pack on the pounds when you eat junk day in day out.

My "light bulb" moment came when I walked past my bedroom mirror and saw an unfamiliar body whizzing (wobbling) by. To be honest, I ignored that extra roll attached to my abs. I started wearing big tops to hide this. The last time my abs looked this way was when I was in the 200s. I knew I had to get it together or end the semester in a bad place.

I knew the drill, so I immediately got back to the gym one evening (truth be told I stuffed my face that afternoon with cake and so much junk as a bye bye to junk food). It felt good to be back at the gym, I pulled off a good hour without too much pain. Unfortunately, I continued the habit that I never broke...working out to compensate for those cookies, treats etc.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, my office started a Biggest Loser Contest. The Contest is a play on the TV show Biggest Loser but we pay a fine for every pound we gain. We work out 5-6 times a week. Each person has a nutrition chart that was put together by a nutritionist. I know myself, so I decided to modify my chart and ease myself into the program...so far, so good. I am weening myself from the dreaded vending machine and the sweets that chase me around.

My meals are sensible:

• I eat a good breakfast; could be 2 slices of bread, a boiled egg and fresh squeezed (squoze :-D) juice.
• Lunch, depending on day could be salad and protein, small serving of rice, bigger portion of veggies and protein or something else.
• Dinner after working out is protein and a sensible carbohydrate. I am chugging water like my life depends on it (well it does actually).

As for my workouts, I am having a blast. I have embraced intervals, some of my exercises are:

• Run, Jog or Jog, Walks on the treadmill (too hot to jog outside)
• Circuit training
• Extreme Kickboxing DVD
• Strength training-Cardio Combo
• Pavilion Stair Climbing for 30mins (your glutes, calves, quads and hamstrings will not be happy)

The difference this time is, I am not the spring chicken I was when I last blogged almost 3 years ago (sorry y'all). My health is so important to me and I need to take my fitness seriously. The beautiful thing is, I love to work out. I am working on getting my eating and fitness together. I walked into the supermarket today and picked a yogurt over a cereal snack pack (accompanied with tin condensed milk)...my go to evening "snack". I am making strides. That roll is slowly disappearing and my energy is coming back!

So, let's see if I can win this competition and finally get below 170lbs.