Slacker Fattie vs Skinny Bitch

I'm at a darn plateau again. Or maybe it's that I sat around and ate junk two weekends ago. I did manage to work off the three pounds I gained. Seeing the scale at 121 was great but ticked me off at the same time. Had I NOT cheated, I'd finally be under 120 for the first time in six years. Rrrrrrr!!!!

I went into these two weight loss competitions ready to blow everyone out of the water. I told my trainer, Douglas, that whatever I needed to do, I'd do it. That was a very stupid statement. I thought doing three cardios a day would be a piece of cake. That was a very stupid thought. I think, in the last two months, I've completed three in one day once, maybe twice. I try to do at least one but sometimes even that doesn't happen. Why? Life gets in the way. I have four kids to take care of, laundry to do, food to cook, and dishes to wash. Bullshit. I'm lazy. I have plenty of time to exercise, I just choose not to.

I realized this one day then stopped to scold myself. No, I don't often talk to myself like some certain members of my family, but on this day, I did. Slacker Fattie was whining about not wanting to exercise. Skinny Bitch yelled back, "You must not want to win the competitions and have a great body as bad as you thought you did, huh?" I really don't like Slacker Fattie. She's a bore. She's lazy, likes to eat junk food, and really not much fun to be around. I like Skinny Bitch. She follows the Sexy Meal Plan, works out, and likes to have fun. She wants to go to South Beach for her birthday and look smokin' hot. There's a constant battle between those two. And yes, I'm perfectly aware that I sound like I have a multiple personality disorder. Being a Gemini, however, I actually do. So ha!

So what to do? Today, with a splitting sinus headache, Slacker Fattie wanted to go back to bed after she ate her Fruit Loops (bad Fattie!). Skinny Bitch took a Sudafed, some Goody's, then did the looooong version of Core Rhythms which is 50 minutes. Oh, and she ate an apple, yay! Even better, she had grilled broccoli and brussel sprouts for lunch.

I'm hoping Skinny Bitch will continue to prevail today despite this headache. May 6th is going to be here entirely too fast. I don't want it to come down to having a week left and saying, "Oh, shit!" I know I should be further along than I am, but I have to be proud of how far I've come. Losing 19 pounds in eight weeks isn't bad. You know what? It's pretty damn good!

Losing weight isn't easy. It's a damn hard job which is why so many people struggle. We don't want to do what it takes to lose the weight and then keep it off. It's so much easier to eat junk food and sit around on our butts. Those of us who choose to get off our asses and make healthy food choices, lose the weight and become healthier. We are the winners. Those of us who choose to be lazy and stuff our faces with food become fat and develop all different kinds of medical problems. We are the losers.

Which one do you want to be?

Slacker Fattie Tip – Stop creating excuses to not exercise. In the past eight weeks, I've exercised when I had a horrible cold, had excruciating menstrual cramps (sorry guys, but it's a fact of life), had a severe sinus headache, when I was depressed, when I was tired, and when I really, really, really just didn't want to. Skinny Bitch is winning and soon, Slacker Fattie will be gone forever.

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – Eating breakfast is so important in losing weight. You need a healthy breakfast to jump start your metabolism and keep you energized for the rest of the day. Here's another great recipe from fitnessmagazine.com:

Vanilla Spice French Toast with Apple
Ingredients:
* 1 egg plus 2 egg whites
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Dash each of cinnamon and nutmeg
* 2 pieces whole-grain bread
* 1/2 medium apple, sliced

Make it: Whisk eggs, vanilla, and spices together. Dip bread into egg mixture. Spray skillet with cooking spray and saute bread on each side until brown (about 3 minutes). Top with apple slices.

I need a new sports bra

I need a new sports bra…

Yup, you read that correctly. I need a new sports bra. I don't know where I got the one I have. One? Yes, one. And I'm working out every day? Yes. Since I have 4 kids, I do at least 12 loads of laundry a day so washing the sports bra everyday is no chore.

Oh, why do I need a new one? Not because this one is ratty. I'm actually surprised it has held up so long considering I bought it post-three kids and pre-two kids. I don't even remember where I got it. I do know it was on my last I'm-Gonna-Get-Sexy kick. I bought a workout wardrobe. The sports bra and some tight black hoochie shorts are all that's left. The tight black hoochie shorts were so no one could see up my not tight hoochie shorts.

Oh, so why do I need a new one? Not because it's ugly. It's actually a pretty color blue. Kind of like a light sky blue. I was in our Hootsy Tootsy mall recently (the one I have to dress up to go window shop in) and I passed by Bebe Sports store. Um, really? Women actually spend hundreds of dollars on one outfit that's just going to get stinky and sweaty? Oh, wait. This must be the store for the women who have tummy tucks and liposuction, then buy workout clothes to wear so other women (like me) think they've actually sweated to look like that. I think my workout clothes came from TJ Maxx or Marshall's. I bet once upon a time they were in Bebe but got rejected. S'okay. I don't mind paying $10 for what some Hootsy Tootsy paid $100 for. Plus, I actually sweat in mine. A lot!

Oh, so why do I need a new one? Because it's too damned tight! I don't know if it was always this tight and I just didn't realize it, or if it shrunk when Kelly borrowed it. And, no, it's not because I've gained weight. Even losing the 2 inches from my chest hasn't made it feel better. It's so tight that my ribs hurt after a while.

It was so uncomfortable earlier that I stuck my arms in my shirt to wrangle it off. Yes, I was too lazy to walk five steps to my room, take my shirt off, take the sports bra off, put my shirt back on and then walk the five steps back to the desk.

Carson, who's five, tried to lift up my shirt and asked, "Is there anything else in there?" I swat his hand away and told him no. He said, "I thought maybe there was something else in there" as he pats my boob. What is it with my kids whacking me in the boob? It's actually kind of funny because my friends who don’t have kids ask, "Isn't that annoying?" I ask, "What?" "Them hitting you in the boob." Hahaha! After all the kids I've had, I hardly even notice it anymore. It just comes with being a mom!

So, I'll let you know when I find a new sports bra. While I'm at it, I think I'll replace the rest of my bras as well. Maisie is 2 1/2 and I'm still wearing my nursing bras...and she quit nursing when she was three months old. I guess this means I need to work my ass off to win the Sexy by Summer contest so I can buy some non-nursing bras on my $500 Dillard's shopping spree! Yay!

As I just read this over (which I usually leave for my editor to do), I realized how much my ADD shows in my writing. I think I'll go back to letting my thoughts flow from my brain to my computer and send them off to be edited without re-reading them first. It irritates me to see my ADD in black and white (or blue and white as the case may be).

Slacker Fattie Tip –Try everything on before you buy it. Everything. Even undies (just make sure you have your own on!) As much as I hate trying things on, I hate getting home and finding that something doesn't fit even more. I hate returning things even more than that.

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – It's spring. Plant a garden, and then eat what you plant. I meant a vegetable garden, not flowers, though you can eat most of them if you wanted to. Hubby picked his first onion yesterday. Yay! No more buying onions! He also picked broccoli, brussel sprouts and collard greens. Get the steamer ready. Yum, yum!

This morning...I love my scale

I've been working harder the last several days because I have 3 big things coming up. It's the midway point for Waist Watchers (though I don't think they're going to ask us to come to the station, now), it's the one year anniversary for when I met my biological parents, and my girlfriends and I are having a sleepover (you're NEVER too old for one).

I've been getting in at least 2 and sometimes 3 cardios every day and sticking close to the Sexy Meal Plan (formerly the Dreaded Meal Plan). My hard work is finally paying off. Hubby said he's noticed a difference and a friend of ours said he could tell I had lost weight. Yesterday, Carson gave me a hug and did his usual squishy fat test...he said it was smaller!! AND! I got catcalls from the garbage men (which, at least my girlfriends said counted, Douglas just said "It's a start."). The best part is I FEEL thinner.

So, why do I love my scale? I'll tell you! I bought it not long after we moved, about two years ago. I chose it very carefully liking how I could program it to keep track of my weight. It also computes my BMI but since I've remained in the safe range, I don't pay much attention to that. My original weight was 123.8. That wonderful number popped up with an "up" arrow while my weight climbed. The past couple of months the arrow has been pointing down. This morning I got on the scale and held my breath.

Oh, wait, I need to tell you this first. You really shouldn't weigh yourself every day. At the most, every week, but it's best to weigh yourself once a month, in the morning and in your birthday suit. Weight will fluctuate and weighing yourself everyday can make you frustrated and more likely cause you to give up. I know, I should follow my own advice, but this is one of those "do as I say not as I do" moments. Don't worry; my kids have to deal with that all the time.

Oh, back to my scale. So I got on and held my breath. You know, actually, measuring yourself is better especially if you are weight training (haha, do you feel like you're watching American Idol?). Muscle weighs more than fat. I've noticed some moms in the Sexy by Summer contest who are weight training and are frustrated because they're not losing weight. I do both. And I measured this morning again after getting off the scale. Are you ready for the results now? Are you sure?

Ok, no more suspense..........(insert drum role here)..............123.4!!!! Yay! Go me! Go me! Go me! Ahhh… and the measurements? Since March 1st, I've lost a total of ..............(insert second drum roll here)................8 inches! Oh, yeah, that's right. Eight! Count 'em – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Eight. Since the beginning of Waist Watchers in February, I've lost 12.2 pounds. But, since the beginning of Sexy by Summer in January, I've lost 15.6 pounds! I'm really very proud of myself. I can't wait to strut my stuff into AnyTime Fitness for my next training session. Douglas hasn't seen me since I weighed 128 pounds. We'll see if he notices!

Slacker Fattie Tip – Slow and steady wins the race. I'm NOT a patient person. I wanted the weight off quickly. That doesn't happen. It takes hard work, dedication, and most of all TIME. Keep working and it will happen!

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – Grill and Mrs. Dash. These are now two things I can't live without. I grill veggies and meats on my little George Foreman grill and season them with Mrs. Dash which has no salt or MSG. I love chicken breast, tuna (yes, I grill it even though it's out of the can), hamburgers (4% fat), onions, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Yummy!

Technology, fitness, and me

I try to get to AnyTime Fitness at least 3 times a week but with my schedule of 3 cardios a day, that means I have to find other ways to exercise. If you have a treadmill, elliptical, etc at home that's great! I don't, so I have to get creative so my body doesn't get bored and plateau.

When I'm not strength training with Douglas, I use fitnessmagazine.com. I find TONS of different exercises to target all areas of my body. My favorite are any of the video exercises like "Get Tank Top Toned" or "Look Sexy in Shorts." These are much easier for me because I can see exactly what I'm supposed to do. For those of you who are not visual learners, you'll be able to use the written exercises as well. I usually wind up reading them five times, saying, "Huh?" and find a video instead.

In the playroom/dining (makes 1 giant playroom) alone, we have 3 tv's, 3 DVD players and one VCR. Can I use any of them? No. I was getting frustrated because I have several FitTV shows recorded on the DVR but Maisie and Carson are always watching their cartoons. This is why I brought out their little TV from their room. I was allowed to use it at first, but then Maisie took it over. If I try to put in an exercise DVD, all hell breaks loose even if she wasn't watching it! I tried their portable DVD player, but of course, it wouldn't read my DVD. The VCR is hooked to their big TV, so there goes my Billy Blanks Tae Bo video. I've been trying so hard, after my regrouping, to get in 3 cardios especially with the Waist Watchers 1/2 way point coming up. I got creative....for me. I took my Core Rhythms DVD (no more sit-ups for me!) and put it in the computer for my first workout of the day. It worked!! The best part? Both kids came over to watch it. With both of their TV's playing different cartoons. What the heck?

What about the 3rd TV, you ask? That's for the Wii. Poor Reyna lost her TV since Cartoon TV can't be used for the Wii. Wii TV will sit their all day, not being used UNTIL, I decide to play. Don't get me wrong, our Wii gets played every day. But many times, no one wants to play until I get on. As I've mentioned before, I don't play Wii like a lot of people do. We have Beach Sports, Winter Sports, Tiger Woods Golf, some Sponge Bob game and the game it came with. When I bowl, I do the whole lunge thing like I'm in a bowling alley. Great butt and thigh workout. When I play tennis, look out! I have to clear the dining room of all toys and small children. I'm all over the place and always set it to play best of 5 sets. Before each serve and in between sets, I jump like I'm jumping rope. When I play beach volleyball, it is pure entertainment for my kids. Last night I put on my ipod, turned on beach volleyball, chose 5 sets and prepared for my 3rd cardio of the day (second was jogging in place for 30 minutes which I need to stop doing as it kills my poor dancer-knees). Deep squats, high jumps followed by side kicks, and imaginary rope jumping in between each serve had me sweating and close to an exercise headache (which I get when I overdo it) 40 minutes later. This would make more sense if I could attach a video but technology and I don't mix well so do your best to imagine a 35 year old mom jumping and flopping every where while booty dancing and jumping with an imaginary rope.

Oh, and I can't forget about my "bookmarks." I discovered mini-workouts on youtube one day. I now have a folder for them so I can find them easily when I want short workouts. I love the Zumba, salsa dancing and thigh workouts. I still need to buy another hula-hoop to replace the one my wonderful children took and broke so I can become a master hula-hooper.

Slacker Fattie Tip – Workouts should be fun! Find something that interests you, then do it all out. Make a fool of yourself. Just get up and get moving!

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – Write down everything you eat for the first 30 days of your new change. It helps so much to see what you're eating and what exercises you're doing. I stopped after 30 days because I now have control over myself and what I allow myself to have. Write it down as long as you need to.