I'm Back!

Okay, first of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for your sweet comments and helpful words on this post. I was in a rut, a ditch, a valley and I couldn't see a way out.

However, due to your fabulous support, and a bit of "let me call the wahmbulance for you" from Jonathan, I am back on track! I lost 4 pounds last week and this week, I'm hoping to lose another 4. The week after that, I'm heading back to Vegas, and the last time I was there, I lost 4 pounds!

So, how did I do it? How did I banish my blues? Well, first of all, I stopped feeling sorry for myself. Yes, I did a great job losing 40 pounds, but what was I waiting for? A parade? I was being silly and waiting for everyone else to fawn over me and my accomplishments instead of being giddy about the fact that I am 4 sizes down, many inches smaller and a whole lot healthier. I try to notice, everyday, the changes, the new body I have. When I notice that my legs look skinnier at the gym, I take a moment to enjoy that. When I get dressed and realize that a lot of my clothes are too big now, I realize that is tangible proof of what is happening.

Next up, I signed up for tennis lessons. A lot of you recommended changing up my workout to get me out of my plateau, and it worked! Granted, as a beginner in tennis, it's a lot more standing and swinging than cardio workout, but every Saturday, Mike and I (he's taking the class with me) walk up and down the fifty billion hills between his house and the tennis courts and then we run around in the sun for an hour, only to walk back over those hills. The best part of tennis lessons though, has been the simple confidence I've gained. In my coordination, my athleticism, my body itself.

Lastly, I set new goals. When I started this journey, "Florida" was my goal. It seemed so far away! And when I went to Florida, I was a good 30 pounds down, and I had more confidence and more fun. But when I got back... I didn't have anything to work towards and I floundered. This is where Jonathan helped me; he basically said, "Man up. Stop complaining. Set a goal." And then I said, "Wah, wah, wah, I'm so sad, wah, wah, wah." The next day, though, I realized the value in his words.

So I set myself two new goals: to be able to wear (and look good in) a dress I bought a while ago (it might be a few sizes small right now) AND to run for 2 miles (without stopping). With these two goals, I can cover the vanity/body/image side of the coin and the health/endurance/fitness side of the coin. And as we all know, there are two sides to every coin! :) I know, I'm super cheesy. But seriously, goals are integral to success. As Lawrence J. Peter said, "If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else."

Something else that has been a huge help to me along this journey is Sara Rue's blog. If you're not aware, Sara Rue (from Popular, and most recently, The Witches of Eastwick), started Jenny Craig in January 2010 (when I did!) and in March had lost 30 pounds (go Sara!). The best part about her blog is that she reveals the same insecurities that we all have, the same problems, the same time crunches and lazy days where she doesn't want to gym. But she also revels in her accomplishments and her new body. Also, she's funny and she writes like you're talking to a girlfriend you're having coffee with.

{so that's me. a few days ago in this very office. i am blond, i am tan, and yes, now i can see, i am slightly less chipmunk-cheeky. but really, i am happy. i'm back on track. :)}