7/27/2012

Here it is:

My weekly weigh in.

BEGINNING WEEK: 217.4

LAST WEEK: 203.6

THIS WEEK: 205.0

RESULT THIS WEEK: GAIN 1.4

TOTAL REGAIN LOSS: -12.4

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

I want to stomp my feet, scream, throw something, yelling obscenities @#$#@#@#$,……but I kind of expected it. I came out of the gate with a 14 lbs loss. I knew there was water weight in there, I knew there was swelling from my vein surgeries….all kinds of mess I started with in my body. I am THANKFUL for the 14lb loss out of the gate….it put my head in the right mind-set, made me feel like it was worth showing up because I had results. This week I ate great and hit that gym….and gained. Was I hoping to hit 199 with a 4 lb loss….be below 200….you bet I did…..but I knew better. I have been puffy, cramps and bloated this week ( thank you mother nature— or this would have been a whole different blog post –) and I have played with some strength training. My body is adjusting right now….and I am FINE WITH THAT….why you ask? Because it FEELS better. I feel stronger and healthier. My cravings have died down to a dull roar. My body is enjoying the whole foods and eating clean— and craving the sweat and workouts. I am sleeping deeper. It is all good. I feel smaller and tighter, my clothes fit better—- it is ALL GOOD. While my overachiever self wants to react in a negative way, my brat evil side wants to say, ” screw this….bring on the chocolate and cupcakes”…..there is NO WAY that is an option. We are just going to set that treadmill climb a little higher and GET TO WORK.

I can’t believe another week has gone by! Last week held its challenges. My friend DJ was in from Detroit playing in Chi-town. First real restaurant outings since I started this program. We did Sushi on Friday night….followed by a nice walk in the city. Did some brazilian on Saturday night….and a great protein eggbake Sunday morning. Clean eating with Mr. D to the J!! Not hard to do when you have a hot trainer built like a MAC truck next to you. It was so great spending time with him, he is a true inspiration– a man on mission, that minces no words–and changes lives everyday. He is rough, tough and to the point….just the way it should be— if you are looking for cupcakes and sugar, not the trainer for you.

Then it was back into another week of Anniversary sale at work. Busy, busy…getting ready for our fall fragrance launches. So many new exciting things coming down the pipeline….Chanel has something delicious up their sleeve ( can’t talk about it yet ) Lady Gaga has a fragrance launching. Will be sure to keep you all updated on what is new.

Met with therapist Dr. S again this week. I am really enjoying our time and conversations. I have always been incredibly skeptical about therapy, I have always believed in it ….but thought finding a good one is like a needle in a haystack. When I looked for that needle— I searched high and low–and was really picky. I think I found a gem. Our conversations have been incredibly enlightening, and if nothing else has made me much more aware of my thoughts, reactions and most of all….ACTIONS. To have a complete stranger paraphrase and repeat back to you your life….so interesting. I always walk out of there with a ton of energy, drive and determination. I have already put so much into action from our conversations. Best 3 hours I have invested in years.

The workouts at the gym this week have been full of cross training on the free motion and Turbo Kick/Spin. This girl loves her cardio….but I know I have to start dating others more. I have to start a new relationship with Mr. Strength Training. I have to wrap these long legs and arms around him….and make it HAPPEN. There is something about the thump of the music and the drive of the cardio that I am addicted too….but I have to move on. I know I will get better results and longer calorie burn with strength training. Besides, who doesn’t want some toned arms, defined abs ( I know they are in there somewhere) and a strong core. I know part of my issues is the worry of perfection. Wanting to do every curl and pull right. Focusing on the right muscles to get the results. I am hyper aware of bad form— and trust me, you are surrounded by it at the club. That is why I love working out with a trainer that is watching and guiding you every step of the way. It is just not in the budget right now. So….it is time to put on the big girl panties ( no pun intended on that one ) and cross over to the dark side of the gym. The man club. I am going to commit right now to at least 3x next week. I am also checking out programs that I can do in the gym here in our building late at night in the 24 hour workout room by myself. I am a big Beachbody fan…right now I am trying to decide between P90x, Les Mills and Chalene Extreme for strength training. At the moment….Chalene is leading the pack. I can sneak down there later at night with my laptop…and use their great assortment of weight and get in a good 30-45 min routine. I am not really conditioned for P90x….at least that is the excuse I keep telling myself….but the whole point of P90 is to get conditioned….but to be honest? Tony Horton is just a little scary–scary in a good way though. I think I am going to tackle Chalene Extreme which is a 90 program, then P90x can be the next goal. Tony, I am coming for you…eventually…..don’t wait up

My best friend Clinton is flying into Chicago today. I can’t wait!!! He lives in Lancaster PA currently, which makes it incredibly hard for us to connect. He is actually in WI on business this week so he is taking a little side trip down to Chicago to play with me and then fly back home on Sunday. Typically we plan every second of out time together…but this weekend we are going with the flow….and for you that know me, this is not easy. Part of my therapy challenge is to let loose of the reins a little bit, not try to control every minute of everything. So the only thing I know for sure is that he is meeting me at work tomorrow night at 5:00, and he is flying out on Sunday around 9am. So stay tuned on Facebook to see our adventures unfold. (Facebook page: Bariatric Regain Laura Preston)

Life is full of ups and downs….and today could be considered a down– or a set back…but I refuse to see it that way. It was a great week that I am proud of, that felt good….and the next week is going to even better. This is where we have to remember this is a lifestyle, it is not the way of life until you see the magic number.

We have work to do….lets get to it!

xoxo,

Laura

Desired Goal: 175—

30 lbs TO GO— I have the game face on!

HOW DID YOU DO? Are you holding yourself accountable? If no, why not? It is only a number. This number represents a physical fact you can change if you don’t like it….it is nothing permanent or to be afraid of— or most of all ashamed. Find your reality, share it with someone close who will support you. WRITE IT DOWN. Check in with it once a week. Keep it real and in the front of your mind.

Ok….on to week #4…..I’ve got this, this week is MINE. Is it going to be YOURS? Dig deep. commit for 7 DAYS! You can do anything for 7 days!!

Left for work in a hurry and left the dinner I packed in the frig:( perfect excuse to eat the food court? NO WAY!!! Took a quick walk to whole foods salad bar. Expensive… But staying on program is totally worth it!!

7/20/2012

Here it is:

My weekly weigh in.

BEGINNING WEEK: 217.4

LAST WEEK: 208.2

THIS WEEK: 203.6

RESULT THIS WEEK: -4.6

TOTAL REGAIN LOSS: -13.8

And there you go!

It has been busy week. Work has been crazy with the anniversary sale, been working hard at the gym, have watched a lot of informative nutritional movies…go,go,go. Busy is good, it keeps me occupied. Had another appointment with a therapist. Looking into taking some classes on nutrition. Working on a year plan full of personal goals, work goals, weight goals….more on that later. AND….I have a house guest coming for the weekend. A friend from Detroit and a personal trainer. Hoping to get some insight and tips on strength training….maybe a good circuit for the next couple of weeks to change-up the work out. BUSY!!!

The clock is ticking—- today is the first day of our big annual Anniversary Sale at work and I have to be there early…and Max still has to go out. So I will be back with more—- stay tuned!

Desired Goal: 175—- I am coming for you.

28.6 TO GO

HOW DID YOU DO? Are you holding yourself accountable? If no, why not? It is only a number. This number represents a physical fact you can change if you don’t like it….it is nothing permanent or to be afraid of—- or most of all ashamed. Find your reality, share it with someone close who will support you. WRITE IT DOWN. Check in with it once a week. Keep it real and in the front of your mind.

Ok….on to week #3…..Who is ready to make it happen?

books at a alarming rate. Seriously. I don’t think I am ever out in the city without a book in the bag. I usually have at least two books going at a time if not 3. Usually I am reading some kind of business book ( marketing, entrepreneur etc) usually something in the fitness/ nutrition genre, and then there is always just the true hard core guilty chick book. I use to buy them, consume them like I can consume chocolate….to much at a time. I would go into Barnes and Noble for a specific book, then come out with 3 ( and a running list of the other 6 I put back.) The piles of books in the house was ridiculous. I would send them home with friends and family….HERE! read this, take it with you! Then my old roommate bought me a NOOK for Christmas in CA. AWESOME! I think he was tired of the piles of books and it was a hint I loved the nook….still do. So easy to download the book and just take the tablet with me whereever I went….not to meantion cheaper for the book. WIN/WIN. ( except when I would really be into the book and the nook would die because I would forget to charge it )

Then when I moved to Chicago…..I re-discovered…..THE LIBRARY!!

My mom was constantly talking about what she was reading in her book club, and how she was putting it on hold at the library etc. I always thought, why don’t you just buy it? That way you don’t have to hassle with waiting etc. Until I tired it…….now I am obsessed!! I probably go to the library once a week. We are so lucky here in Chicago to have the biggest library in the country….the building is MASSIVE.

I think it has like 10 floors. I takes up a whole city block. It is beyond overwhelming when you are looking for a specific book…..crazy hard to find until you get the hang of the layout. However, they have this wonderful hold deal…..I literally go online, look up a book on their website, click the little green hold button….and VOILA! I get an email when the book is there and ready to be picked up. Its like shopping online…but it NEVER COMES OUT OF THE CHECKBOOK!! You have to love it.

So, I literally keep a running list of books I want to read in my planner. I jot down titles all the time when I see a book in a store, or when someone suggests something. Then I just add it to the list. They allow you to hold up to 5 books at a time, so it is like a revolving door. I have saved so much money! I walk to the library which is like 7 blocks from the house—so its a little bit of exercise. LOVE IT!!

So let me tell you about my lastest read…..INCREDIBLE BOOK…to the point I sent it home with my mom to read. I am going to actually buy this book to add to my personal Wellness Library.

Once I started this book I could not put it down. Now I have been a huge fan of Tennie McCarty since I saw her on a old reality show called Starting Over. I watched her on Ruby, Oprah and the latest show on OWN showcasing her treatment center in TX called Shades of Hope. I was beyond excited when I stumbled across her book at the library. I did not know she even had one…and there it was. Throughout the entire book I kept thinking….this is me, I do that….WOW! I wish I could afford to spend the money and the time to unplug and check myself into Shades of Hope with her for a week. I think it would be an amazing inner-discovery, BUT since I can’t afford to do either….this is the next best step. There are a ton of exercises that you can do along with the reading of the book. Incredibly thought provoking and a true tell it like it is. I highly recommend it if you struggle with food addiction.

Who is going to read it?

What are you reading right now? I am always looking for more recommendations!!

If you are not a reader….try to pick it up again. I truly believe when you stop reading, you stop learning and growing. Taking a few minutes a day to lose yourself in a book is I wonderful treat to give yourself.

xoxo,

Laura

Last 6 min tonight. Pray.

Last 6 min tonight. Pray.

This machine is not my friend. We have a true hate relationship. We always have…. We bring out the ugly and worst if each other. I even have to have a special playlist of music to endure that torture— it is angry, aggressive music. It is a zone—- entirely of its own. Last night we got re-acquainted for 5 quick minutes at the very end of my workout. Tonight it will be 6 minutes. We are going to build this relationship minute by minute. Day by day… We will find a truce eventually.

Ode to Claire—- YUM!

7/13/2012

Here it is:

My weekly weigh in.

LAST WEEK: 217.4lb

THIS WEEK: 208.2

RESULT: -9.2!!

I WILL TAKE IT

It has been a long week full of struggle but more important, full of hope! I feel a million times better. I am sleeping better. My body feels lighter and cleaner. I am sore and achy from the gym….using muscles that have been dormant, but it is a good sore. The kind of sore you know you have earned. I will confess it has been HARD. I have had tearful moments of anger when I wanted the sugar…and it has been frustrating. I have found myself wanting to act out so many times by eating the wrong choices due to stress, anger and frustration. Each time I have had to physically stop and talk myself through it. A couple of times I have picked up the phone and literally admitted exactly what was going thru my mind and how I was going to cope with it ( go to the gym and take it out there) I talked until it passed. It always passes….I just have to fight through it. I have to be more important than the sugar.

This week is a great and exciting loss….HOWEVER…..we all know how I like to keep it real. That number is not all hard-core fat. That number is water weight and I will assume some swelling that has gone down with my legs and the vein surgery’s. While I feel I have earned every ounce of it….I also want to keep my head level with expectations. I could work equally hard this week and not lose a lb or even gain. This is not a quick fix. I need to be excited but also keep it real!

But this is my reality right now.

It is honest.

And…..it feels good to share it.

Desired Goal: 175—- I am coming for you.

33.2 TO GO

HOW DID YOU DO? Are you holding yourself accountable? If no, why not? It is only a number. This number represents a physical fact you can change if you don’t like it….it is nothing permanent or to be afraid of—- or most of all ashamed. Find your reality, share it with someone close who will support you. WRITE IT DOWN. Check in with it once a week. Keep it real and in the front of your mind.

Ok….on to week #2…..Are we ready?

Today is my day off. When I wake up to this face…. I just want to stay in bed —— smooch that face and pug snuggle all day! This is the simplest unconditional love in life.