Busy Week leads to Lazy Weekend

Wow, it has been a very busy week! After Tuesday's closet clean out, I ventured out to Ricki's for their huge extra 50% the lowest price sale. I hit the mall right after cardio kickboxing, looking a mess, but looking more for something to hang on my empty hangers!

I walked away with two tank tops, two t-shirts, a blouse, a sun dress and a necklace for $30. Not bad if I say so myself. Got to love buying in a smaller size, that's for sure!

Friday was another kickboxing mayhem. Our instructor really pushes us on Fridays. I figure he really expects us to let loose on the weekend afterall. I really needed that push since all week the scale was showing up to 3lbs gained. At work we had a couple of celebration cakes and I had bought some 1 Point chocolates to treat myself this week. Bad idea. Seems as though sugar is not going to be easy for me to take in while trying to lose weight.

I did end up losing 1.2lb this week with my official weigh in on Saturday morning. But I can't help but think what I could have accomplished sans sugar. Even though I was well within my Points, it proved to be a big thing :(

So a busy week led to a lazy weekend so far. Yesterday my husband brought me out for supper (say goodbye to most of my Flex Points, but so worth it) and we watched some rentals. Today we're going to a movie then over to my cousins for pizza and the hockey game. The week ahead is going to be another busy one with 20-30 cm of snow expected tomorrow. Bleh. I'm done with shovelling and snow.

On the upside, I did find a new breakfast fave at Superstore. It's a microwavable bowl of frozen steel-cut oats (with blueberries 2pts, with almonds and vanilla 4pts). I don't know the difference between steel-cut oats and my usual Quakers, but I do know it is delish and filling!



I normally have a bowl of Cheerios and a banana or a Weight Watchers breakfast quesadilla to get my mornings started. But these are definintely going into my rotation of breakfasts!

The Great Closet Caper

I have been putting this off for a while now. The closet. This morning it was a bulging mess of fabric that was just not me anymore. Mostly because the items in that closet ranged from items that I currently wore (about 20%) and things that were so oversized (yay!) that I was holding onto them for the wrong reasons. Sentimentality is not a reason to wear the clothes. And keeping a hold on to clothes that are two or three sizes more than what I am now.

So I purged my closet, less the items that were in the wash and/or drying. And here is that glorious mess:



Whew, that pile was nearly as tall as I am! After two hours of trying on tossing, I narrowed everything down to what fits now (though a couple of items won't last much longer, but a body has to be covered!) and ended up with this lovely pile:



One bag will go to good will, another to my mom to sort through and the rest will be sold online or at consignment. I feel so good about finally getting this done and more importantly making room for all new stuff!

Movin' Monday

My alarm is set for 5:45 am so that I can make my way to Curves in the morning before work. I had intentions of getting up, checking to see how much snow there was and shovelling or going to Curves.

Alarm goes off. I got up out of bed, changed the alarm time to 6:30 and went back to sleep. Productive? Not at all. Enjoyable? Completely! I did have a bit of snow to clear when I did get up. But I thoroughly enjoyed it since it was nice outside.

Yeah, it's hard to look happy and having fun when you're about to shovel, but I did my best so early in the morning.

I avoided most of the gossip circles today. Kind of proud of myself. Though venting did happen during kickboxing tonight. I love the class and adore my friends that work out with me. We all have the common goal of getting in shape, but having a ton of fun at the same time. I look forward to that hour of intense butt whooping three times a week.

I'm completely pooped out and ready for sleep. I met all my Points today, accumulated quite a bit of AP and am committing myself to a good workout tomorrow morning, no shovelling involved.

One of my indulgences is reading my daily horoscope. I enjoy finding something that I can relate to in them and take to better a day.

This year I am looking to better myself physically and emotionally. In my work place, 90% women, is like most others. There's talk. Lots and lots of talk. And I am far from one to say that I don't participate in this. It can be general concern for someone and many times it's to complain nastily about someon else.

I've been the target of this talk which has had a very damaging result and nearly ended a friendship due to a few who needed to spice things up. After that I decided to do my best to step away from that and I think I can say that I've done pretty good. Though when a girl has to vent, she has to vent.

In any case, I checked out my msn horoscope for tomorrow and thought it quite fitting for my goals:

The day may be temporarily plagued by scandal of some sort, Gemini. Some of your entourage, particularly women, may gather in conspiratorial gossip. Your curiosity will definitely be aroused, but don't be tempted to join them. There is more to the situation than meets the eye, and you'll want to know all the facts before jumping to conclusions. Concentrate on your own interests and worry about the scandal later.

Looks like I have my day cut ahead of me. Time for bed and off to the gym in the morning. Or possibly shovelling the driveway if this snow keeps up. Either way, I'll be working out!

An Inspired Start

I have been reading so many inspiring blogs over the past month which have been motivating me to be better, work better and stay on plan. I see how these women use this outlet to track their progress, share successes and losses, brighten a day and share their own learnings. I figured it was more than time that I get into this as well.

I started my weight loss at my heaviest, 270lbs, in February 2008. I started by doing the Biggest Loser Club and lost 30lbs before losing interest by August 2008. Maybe it was the summer months, maybe it was that my online support moved on to different plans. But really, I just let myself down with it.

I maintained that weight until February 2009 when I joined Weight Watchers Online. I was a WW drop out from several years back. I knew the plan worked and I lost 15lbs before I dropped interest again in the Fall. Thankfully some friends at work started up and I felt a boost. I started working out at Curves but was not doing a lot.

In January 2010 I was fed up with myself, my attitude about this and my lack of my own self worth/motivation in this. I joined a cardio kickboxing class and have become a tracking demon (most days). I've finally hit 55lbs gone since two years ago and I know this is just the beginning.

I have a wonderful and supporting husband who isn't afraid of reminding me when I stray off course. He married me when I was at my worst and has helped me become my best. Without his support I think I may never have been able to get my footing in the right direction.

So that's where I am, somewhere on the climb, still finding my footing, but determined to continue heading in the right direction.