Friday, March 26, 2010

Before and After

I have been working my tail off through sweat and tears and triumph the past 4 months. I accomplished something I wasn't so sure I could ever do. I am very excited to have finished this plan and to maintain all of the hard work I've put into being as healthy as I am today.

Now, I don't claim to be thin or skinny, but I know that I am fit and healthy. I had my friend Shayla take the "after" photos for me last night and when I went home to check them out, I just couldn't believe what I saw. I couldn't wait to share my excitement! I promise this is the most scantily clad you will EVER see me:-)
(I really can't believe I'm actually posting these and I really am VERY modest - my belly has never seen the light of day!)

The before photos were taken December 4 - one week into my program. The after photos were taken March 25.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Riding a Bike

Do you remember learning to ride a bike?
I have recently accomplished a goal of mine where for four months I met weekly with someone who "held my hand" and now I am on my own - equipped with the knowledge I need to succeed.
The analogy was made, "You feel like your dad just took the training wheels off your bike, don't you?"
I thought about this some more and I realized I definitely feel this way, but I also realized I don't really remember learning to ride a bike!
I remember rolling down the street in front of my friend Audra's house at a very young age. Getting to the point where I was rolling? Yeah...don't remember that.
I remember trying to roller-blade for the first time and skidding down a hill on the asphalt on my butt (thanks, Sandy). Perhaps I saw her fall and chickened out and just sat down for the rest of my trip down the hill, but perhaps I am not really that silly. Or am I?
I remember learning how to jump on a pogo-stick. I worked for hours at Brittany Patrick's house. You might say I was working on tattooing my legs black and blue and purple with occasional red/bloody patches thrown in for some extra pizazz. Do you find it coincidental that the words pizza and pizazz are so similar? I think not!
I digress.
The point is that learning to ride a bike is a monumental event in a child's life. We relate other events to that one moment throughout our entire lives. How can I feel the full impact of this analogy if I can't even remember learning?
Do you remember learning to ride a bike?

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Big Apple

I recently returned from the trip of a lifetime. I organized a group of twenty, yes twenty, friends to venture to the Big Apple to get into as much trouble as possible:-)
I can't quite begin to compose a narrative about all of the amazing adventures unless I began a novel, so I'm just going to share with you a few photos. I'll write some of my favorite memories soon, but didn't want to delay this post any longer!


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Automatic Air Freshners

My work/gym restrooms have these amazing little automatic air fresheners that emit a poof of bad-scent relief every so often.
Does anyone else get really paranoid when the poof emits right as you enter the restroom? How does it know?!?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Upper

I feel like my blog has been a bit of a downer lately. No bueno!

So here is a list of seven lucky "upper's":

1. I will be in NYC soon!
2. I will be in NYC soon with 20 people I love (one in particular...)!
3. As of tomorrow, I will have officially reached my fitness goals set forth for me by my nutritionist!
4. Today was the first entirely successful run of one of my webinar events this year!
5. Boca Burgers and MorningStar Spicy Black Bean Burgers are God's gift to low-cal deliciousness! (in opposite regards - Easter candy is on the shelves!)
6. I can smell Spring in the air - it is almost here!
7. I get to live in my beautiful condo for another year!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Abuse

The thought has crept into my mind a few times the past couple of weeks: Why is it we tolerate being treated sub-par at work or in social settings in ways that would be considered abusive in a relationship?
As much as we build each other up and work as teams at work or elsewhere, there is an awful lot of battering that happens. People yell, throw swear words your direction, refer to each other as "stupid" or "incompetent," give the silent treatment, degrade one another to the point of feeling totally worthless, the list goes on.
Why do we tolerate this?
If someone in a romantic relationship treated you that way, it would definitely be considered verbal/emotional abuse. Do people stay in that type of situation because they are made to feel they are not valuable to that person/organization, let alone valuable to anyone else? What makes it ok with work? Is it because they pay us?
For the record, I am not currently experiencing this, but it has happened in the past.
Think about it though...how often do you let yourself be "abused" because it is your job? So not cool.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Karma is a .....



Karma came and kicked me in the tail end.
Friday after work I was at the gym, doing my warm-up on the treadmill when this person comes up uncomfortably close and I turned and jumped - it was him...the ex I'd blogged about! I just knew at that moment that he'd read it and was there to tell me I'm a mean person, among other things.
Nope, he hadn't. But I confessed it all and he just laughed at me. Best news yet? He's getting married on Saturday and he has this amazingly happy glow about him that I haven't seen in years.
So how did Karma kick me? Well, he's lost 33 of the 40 pounds he gained and hasn't lost any more hair. Dang it all. What are the odds that I see the guy once in more than a year and then I say mean things and see him the next day? Yeah, I'm definitely keeping my mouth (fingers?) shut from now on.


Oh - and before anyone wonders - I moved on from this young man quite some time ago. Anyone who has ever been burned (badly) will understand how it just feels nice to be glad you aren't with someone and have a reassurance it is right not to be, no matter how many years later. And, c'mon! It is just funny to write about this kinda stuff. What's life without a little drama? My current beau knows all of these stories and loves me regardless of my foolish ways:-) In fact, encountering the ex was a slap in the face about just how much I love the current and how right this relationship is for me.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Petty

Guess what everyone?! I am petty, superficial, and immature, and I think I am the best looking/greatest thing alive (I am the benchmark for beauty after all). I am FILLED with internal ugliness.

Ah, perhaps I shouldn't have blogged that fleeting thought - that indulgent moment that will most suredly send me to hell.

Would I have ever said any of that had I thought for a moment either of the two involved would read it or that I'd ever see either again? Nope - never. If they are reading my blog then I am totally excited at the prospect of my cyber-stalkers, but need to spend a lifetime making up for my meany mcmeanerface comments.

I would remove my blog entry - it is mean and nasty and totally against my very nature. All who know me know I struggle daily with the trivial-ness of beauty and my lack thereof, battling out my inner/outer fatty at the gym (despite a 1300 calorie intake and 1.5 daily hrs.), and a million other non-petty concepts. I know, hard to believe I can think about non-petty things.

But I shall leave it. Why? Because I think that if anyone out there for one moment says they have never thought something like I blogged, then they are, to quote, a "liar, liar pants-on-fire." I publicly announce that looks are important to me. You guys just weren't dumb enough to blog about it. Me = conceited dummy en route to a very hot place. Who wants to come?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Justice

My middle name is "Evil." Just for today.
You know how, when someone does you wrong, you want the universe to turn things around in your favor? Just something that makes you feel this sense of satisfaction that all is right in the world?
Well, I got mine. I've been feeling it for awhile, but it was re-emphasized today.
Long story, but I happened upon some photos of an ex. He's gained a lot of weight. He's lost a lot of hair. Sweet revenge. Good news - he's gained a fiancee (perhaps wife by now). Better news? He's happy with her and committing! Best news? Call me Satan, but I'd say the general population would refer to me as quite a bit more aesthetically pleasing.
And to top it all off? The man I have now is just so much better for me in so many ways and more pleasing to my eyes. I echo my sentiment - I really lucked out!
Ahhhh...*yes*....life is good!
:-)


*disclaimer - I totally respect these individuals and realize they are marvelous and I once loved the man and I apologize if anyone associated reads this, but you know it is true!