Stop talking about it and do it!

I have prattled on and on about wanting to create (write/paint/sew/make jewelry/concoct homemade scents, soaps, cleaners, etc.), yet I never do any of it!  I am determined to make a plan to nip my laziness in the bud!!!

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to write for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, without the distraction of the TV tempting me.  Today, I purchased a new office chair and it's a marked improvement, making it easier to sit at my desk and tap away on my keyboard.

This is something that has been annoying me, more so lately, and I had to put it out there.  Now that I have that off my chest, I'm off to bed; back to kickboxing tomorrow morning, office work to follow.

Good night, my friend!

FXB finale!

I'm going to just copy and paste from my Facebook post to avoid retyping this whole darn thing:

Alright folks! The results are in!!! My second five week numbers look like this:
-Lost 4 pounds
-Lost 6.5% body fat
-Lost 1/2" in my waist
-Lost 3.5" in my arm
-Lost 2" in my thigh
-Gained 19 push-ups, for a total of 70 in one minute
-Gained 1 sit-up (we had a brutal abs day in class BEFORE testing), for a total of 25
-Gained 1" in the sit & reach, for a total of 16"
-Shaved 11 seconds off my 1/2 mile power walk: 8min 30sec

Grand totals:
-lost 13.2 pounds
-lost 3/4" off my chest
-lost 6" off my waist
-lost 3.25" off my arm
-lost 1" off my thigh
-lost 3.5" off my hips

If I can do THIS in ten weeks, imagine what I can do in a year!

I think I did pretty well and am very proud of myself for sticking with it!  I have already paid for another year and am excited to continue.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the finale party because I had purchased VIP concert tickets for Jennifer Nettles months ago, but the concert was AWESOME, so I'm not sorry I went!  I would have loved to have seen everyone's transformation photos and had drinks with the people who have been kicking, punching and sweating their asses off along side me.

In closing, let me post a few pics from the concert.  We had second row center tickets and it was amazing!

FXB-end of week 9

End of week 9.  Today was our first FIT class (combination kickboxing AND bands).  It was fast-paced, organized chaos...and it was GREAT!

Nothing new to report; one more week left.

Later days!

bang!

FXB fit challenge

We newbies were allowed to enter our first FIT challenge last week.  Pay $40, lose 3% of your body weight and split the pot with others who met that goal at the end of the month.  YAY!

I talked to Dan this morning about my concerns regarding not losing pounds.  He expressed concern that maybe my thyroid is not working right, which causes you to gain weight, and encouraged me to have it checked.  While this may be a logical explanation, I have been unemployed and without insurance for months.  Instead, I talked to my friend, who is a nutrition sponge, and our conversation and some research led me to this conclusion:  I am going to increase my iodine consumption as well as start taking a couple of supplements, including a multi-vitamin (I do not take any supplements/vitamins currently.) and decrease my overall food consumption, but keep emphasis on protein more so than carbohydrates.  I plan to get most of my carbs from vegetables and fruits.  I need to make sure I get my good fats at every meal and add more exercise.

These tweaks should help me win the challenge as well as kick-start weight loss.  Wish me luck!

(not relevant, but VERY funny!)

FXB-end of week 8

I'm not sure what to say that hasn't already been said.  Only two more weeks to go until the end of the 10 week competition.  Dan and Shelby are challenging us and mixing it up everyday.  I feel inches disappearing, but the scale hasn't wavered much.  I know that what matters are inches lost because muscle is leaner, but DAMN IT, I want the freakin' scale to move, too!!!

Anyway, that's my update.  See you next week!

FXB-end of week 7...and then some!

We are three weeks out from the end of the competition.  I cannot believe how quickly it's gone!  And yes, I realize I've been saying this for the past few weeks.  The thought of working out puts some people off--I was one of them until I found FXB.  It's the only program I've loved and see myself continuing indefinitely.

That being said, I have to make a few adjustments in how I've been participating in this program.  Dan encourages a free day allowing us to eat whatever we want.  He says it tricks our metabolism and keeps it stoked.  I have been taking this a bit too far.  For instance, yesterday I made jalapeno and sausage mac 'n cheese as well as a dulce de leche banana cream pie.  Both are insanely good, but I certainly do not need that much temptation in my home.  I have resolved to make my free day a day that I treat myself to whatever I want as long as it's only one meal's worth.  No leftovers means no temptations during the week!

On Saturday, Dan handed out cash prizes to former 10-weekers that participated in a challenge.  Several people won $75, Karen won $220 and Stacy took home the grand prize of $500!  It was motivating to hear some of their numbers and to be able to witness the payoff.  We're going to be allowed to participate in the next challenge.  We put $40 in the pot and our goal is to lose 3% of our body weight in a month.  Those who succeed split the pot.

Eva and I got together for coffee last week and in our talks, she's decided to give me her bicycle.  In a nut shell, she's moving and I was talking about buying a bike and riding back and forth to FXB.  She was undecided about taking her bike, etc., etc., etc.

Hamilton and I were talking yesterday about going back to Estes Park for his birthday.  He decided he wanted to take a road trip to Santa Fe instead, so we're going and our friend, Bertha, is coming along!  It's going to be such a great trip!  I've already booked our hotel room, and now we just have to research some things we want to do while we're there.

Howard and I chatted via text yesterday.  He's doing well and is liking his new apartment.  He's on SSDI, so he is unable to work, but is receiving benefits.  He goes to the doctor this month regarding his pain and he said they may be talking surgery.  I had no idea it was this bad!

Grandma is doing great!  She sounds as spunky as ever when I call, and that reassures me that she's feeling well.

I guess that's all for now.  FXB week 8, here I come!!!