FUCK YEAH!

I would apologize for the title of my post, but to be honest, I'm not sorry. I think I deserve a MAJOR FUCK YEAH! If not from anyone else most definitely myself.

Let me bring you up to speed... (I promise, this will be short and sweet).

TOM is over (HOORAY!). I'm officially at 191.0!!!! I bought some new clothes (which my complaint about clothing is going to be another post for another day). I took some pictures. I know now officially owe you guys some progress pics. I haven't had a chance to take them yet (I wasn't alone in the house and wasn't comfortable asking someone else to take them or setting up my camera and doing it myself like I did before... they're coming. I promise!), but I did take some pictures of the OLD jeans I squeezed into and the new jacket I bought. I adore this jacket. Now, it was pointed out to me by my most trusted weight loss friends that the jacket is too short... which it is supposed to be. That's the style. But, I did have a longer, dark gray shirt underneath that was pulled down. I will be wearing a LIGHTER colored shirt under it from now on. :)

So here is the first picture. It's my favorite because I'm slightly cut off in the mirror and it makes me feel "skinny." Well not SKINNY, but it makes me feel better about how I look.



Here is the full on picture...



Okay, don't be scared by this guys. I still don't feel GREAT about this picture, but you know what? It's my body and I have to take ownership of it.... and hell, it HAS to look better than it did 15 lbs ago, RIGHT? Also, I am aware that I have a HUGE ass. I mean seriously... that thing is a badonka donk... and yes, ethnic men LOVE MY ASS!


I'm going to throw in this super cute pic just for shits and giggles because I really love it.


I can seriously tell my self esteem is getting back up there because I'm not hiding from the camera anymore. And I have some pretty cheesy grins going on there. Apparently I'm also on a yellow kick I just realized... yellow jacket, today I wore a yellow dress shirt and to work out I wore this gold/yellow shirt. They say yellow is a color of happiness. I'm gonna roll with it.


With the encouragement of a few lovely ladies (and accountability partners) over at 3FC and a little inspiration from my favorite Mrs. Fatass.... I started C25K today.

For those of you unfamiliar with the program it is an 8 week program that gets your ass off the couch and running 5k! Check out this website for more info. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml Also, for those of you fabulous IPhone users there is an app for it. It's only a few dollars and TOTALLY worth the money you will spend on it. The thing I love is that you can start your ipod, and then go into the C25K program and both will run at the same time. Yay technology.

I'm going to copy the post I made over on 3FC in regards to the C25K program...

HOORAYYYYY! I did it and I survived!!!!

Actually, it really wasn't as bad as I remembered it being. I think there are a few things that were important this go round and I'm going to share for those of you just starting.

I only STARTED this back in December and didn't make it very far into it. However, I remember feeling like I was going to DIE even after the first day. I made it through, but there were times where i really didn't think I could make it through the minute-minute and a half intervals and would stop short... Which was still good because I was pushing myself, but I was really struggling.

I run on a treadmill. I've never been a runner, quite honestly I'd be embarrassed even if it was just running around my neighborhood or the track up at the high school near my house. I find comfort in my treadmill in the garage. I'm also a nerd and I get prepared to go do this... and by prepared I mean I take my laptop out with me (I will put on a movie or some kind of internet streaming video) and my iphone (has the app and my ipod on it).

I don't really remember the speeds I was running at before. I don't think it was anything incredibly excessive... and I'm pretty sure my treadmill is a little faster than the one I used at the gym. Today I was walking at a pace of about 3.3-3.5 and "jogging" (I think the J is silent) at a pace of 4.0.

I have lost about 17 lbs since I last tried time. I would say that has helped tremendously. I can tell a major difference.

I think the BIGGEST difference this time was that I didn't push myself CRAZY amounts. I took it easy and I took it slow. Don't get me wrong... I was tired at the half way point. My heart rate was up, my legs were definitely burning and I was breathing heavy, but I wasn't DYING and grasping for straws to keep myself going.

So... TAKE it easy. This is TRAINING, it's not a race. If you need to slow down it's okay. We'll all get there eventually, in our own time.

Keep checking in here (Thanks Amy for starting this thread). Not only are we in this weight loss journey together, we're in this fitness journey together too.

Hang in there guys! <3 Thank you all for your encouragement today. There are days when I get frustrated and want to throw in the towel and I think of everyone here and I keep going.

So, to continue on with the theme here are my 2 post-C25K pics.
This one says WHEW.... cause I may have had my ass handed to me!



And this one says "I FEEL ACCOMPLISHED. YAY!" along with "I'm sweaty and my legs feel like jello right now!"



I'm feeling pretty damn good about life right now.