Day 87: 146 LBS

Today, I took a leap of faith and enlisted a trainer to help me along my way towards 125 lb bliss. At my local gym, Synergy on Long Island, I met with Lenny Pace today and wow, had I been working out wrong all this time!

My 'core' is SO WEAK. I was doing these exercises called 'the plank' and 'bird-dogs'. I kept collapsing! I couldn't squat to save my life. I kept wanting to put all my weight on my toes but I found out today, you're supposed to put your weight on your heels and keep your back nicely arched.

Because my hips kept collapsing, I did this exercise that looked like something out of a bondage film. I had bands wrapped around my ankles and was squatting and walking like a crab around the gym. It was pretty funny. I could feel muscles in my legs which I didn't know existed.

I'm really out of shape. I mean, really out of shape.

Stats:

Cardio: 40 min elliptical resistance 6
Strength: Active warm-up, lunges, squats, abs, wood-chop.
Weight: 146

Breakfast: Starbucks Coffee black
Lunch: mozzarella string cheese stick and soup
Dinner: Salmon and quinoa

Day 63: 153 LBS Breakthrough!

Today's stats:

Cardio: 60 min
Strength: Abs
Organic multivitamin
Popular Name Brand Weight Loss Supplement

I did it! I'm so happy. My size 12 jeans are almost becoming loose on me now. I don't have to pull to button them anymore and I feel much more energetic lately, maybe it's the new year.

Day 62: 156 LBS Thinspo

As I had previously mentioned, Thinspiration, exists widely on the net. This is a mixed bag. Like anything, these sites can be beneficial or harmful depending on your ability to handle a healthy perception of it's purpose.
For instance, a sick person would see these photos as a means to stop eating and become anorexic.
A healthy way in which websites like this can be viewed, would be the way in which a skinny friend would come into your life.

Everything in moderation.First and foremost, I strongly urge all readers to stay healthy! A BMI of 18 + is necessary for vitality and beauty! Being anorexic is NOT attractive and men like curves! For the most part, it's all in your head. How healthy or slim you want to be is a personal preference but remember, there is nothing attractive about sickness.
On the other hand, strength and definition is very sexy! Now, if I can only get the guts to start doing weights...

As personal inspiration, I can flip through these pictures and find before/after photos to be very motivating. It's like having a virtual skinny friend to guide you along your journey. A woman without vision is a woman without the power to succeed.

Day 61: Happy New Year

Everything in moderation, cupcakes sparingly ; ]
I made these cute cupcakes with a kit I found at Marshall's. Aren't they adorable? Over the holiday season, I got a new SLR camera which I can't wait to use. Hopefully I can take some really good after photos once I reach my goal of 125 lbs!

With a new year, means new goals and dreams. I know I CAN do it...but I've been thinking that it might be a good idea to enlist a personal trainer to help me with my workouts. Going on the elliptical everyday has become kind of monotonous and it's been difficult for me to break through this plateau of 156 lbs.

My skin keeps breaking out. I don't know why. At 26 yrs old, you'd think that acne would be a thing of the past. It's annoying. I went out to dinner the other night and some guy made a comment about a few pimples I had around my chin. What a nasty bitch!
It's true, we live in a vain world. I won't let that bother me. I'll keep plugging away at my little gym routine and continue working on my bachelors degree at school. There isn't enough time in this world to let jerks try to bring you down because of a few pimples or extra pounds.

Writing my goals of 2011 down in my Molskine journal, AGAIN I write: 125 lbs. The difference? I will be finally after all this time!

So what did I do with these yummy cupcakes? I had TWO and gave the rest away. The rest of my diet has been pretty good. Avoid eating out like the plague and if you do, try to eat half of what you are given.

Alcohol intake can kill a diet. I used to drink nearly a half bottle of my favorite Rioja beside my flat screen LCD every evening. I've gone down to a glass every few days and on the weekends, Kettle One and Soda with slices of lime.

TIPS

Trust me, YOU can do this. If I can lose 20 lbs in two months. You can too! I wasn't even super strict on my diet or anything. It's just slowly incorporating the 'crazy healthy diet' into your life as you go on.

Check it out, all you have to do is make a schedule of approved dinners that are easy to make and rotate around the week. That will help you at least lose your first 20 lbs, forming a routine. That's what you have to do... That is what got me here.

Lunches can be salads with chicken and a little cheese BASALMIC DRESSING - forget that blue cheese ever existed. It's poison. Learn to get used to oil and vinegar. It'll become a staple in your everyday.

Dinners:

A
Salmon & Asparagus
One one baking sheet, lay aluminum foil and asparagus, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt/black pepper
Preheat to 400 degrees, drizzle olive oil over a 1 lb piece of fresh (preferably wild) salmon and sprinkle sea salt/black pepper
Bake 20-25 minutes or until it appears well-done with brownish edges.

B
Stubbs Marinated Chicken
Buy fresh organic chicken breast halves, marinate them by placing the breasts in a biodegradable plastic gallon bag along with the marinate, allow to marinate at least a day.

C
Flank Steak Marinated with Soy Vey and unlimited salad/steamed broccoli
Broil 7 min each side.

Those are a few which you can do EASILY.