Day 22

Today was Jean Check-In #1 and I failed miserably.

I am so disappointed in myself and my results. I know that people lose weight from different areas, and after sitting pouty faced in the car and my husband pulling out a confession from me as to why I looked so miserable, he said I had definitely lost weight in my belly and shoulders. But I would really like my lower body to follow suit!

The jeans are just as tight and restrictive, no where close to getting up my hips.

I can't say I am blameless, though. I've been slipping diet wise, adding replacement meals that have no nutritional values simply for convenience. I can't blame it on Wawa, either. In the end, I made the choice to go inside and purchase the item.

Here's an example of my Friday and Saturday nutritionals (in reverse, because I'm dumb):

You can click to see it larger.

As you can see, the hoagie AND the oatmeal both in one day were probably not the best choices (to be fair though, in the plan, the breakfast did call for oatmeal and the lunch called for a wrap). I do realize that the sodium, sugar and carbs was way out of control, though, and won't be doing that again.  Shabbat dinner that night was also kind of all over the place. I did try to reign in my portions but, things add up quickly, and I forgot to add to that diary entry that I had a few bites of cake, which probably added 100 calories of nothingness. Shabbat dinner was the first place I knew I would have problems on this thing. It is HARD to not underestimate what I am putting into my mouth since I did not prepare it and my MIL has a HEAVY hand with condiments and salty things.

Saturday was truly awful. We went and saw Machete 2 (would not recommend) and gorged on Nerds rope, popcorn and pretzels. I really should have not finished off that day with eggs/sausage but was ravenous and figured it was better than a sandwich.

In good news though, I still committed to my workouts even with various wrenches thrown in my path. Husband again avoided the gym on Friday. No problem. After Shabbat dinner, I did a Strength #1 workout at home. I was sooo tired by the end (it was around 10 p.m. or so) so I did cut short on the lateral lunges and the overhead presses. I'll take 80% done after that longggg Friday.

Saturday I took a yoga class with my husband's cousin and it was VERY restorative. We would love to go again. This class was classified as "gentle" but both of us agreed that it did work our muscles. I am curious about vinyasa and hot yoga, but am still too much of a wuss to try more strenuous types of yoga. I would probably take a more rigorous one with our instructor, though. She was very helpful and peaceful....crunchy but cute LOL.

            

I wore my new Ebb to Street pants (wonderous) and an ebay score-the Pure Focus tank in lilac. Topped with a Voyage hoodie in cool breeze, Target Converse sneakers and scarf.

Sunday I woke up at the butt crack of dawn (7:30 a.m. my time hahahah) to take an 8:00 Reformer class with my favorite brusque instructor. I did not like this class so much. We started out on the mats, completing a series of challenging moves. The instructor told us that mat work brings out all of our faults and weaknesses, and this was completely true. A lot of the moves aggravated my back. Like the elevated shoulder bridges and swan dives.

We then spent the other half of class doing these same sets of moves on the Reformer, to show us how helpful the machine is in making up and helping our weaknesses. Absolutely correct in every way. For the shoulder bridges, we hung halfway off the carriage (our waists were the first meeting point) as our butts met the springs on the Reformer. We placed our feet on the foot rest and had to bridge from this position then lower and return the carriage inward. Then repeat in reverse. REALLY difficult. Certainly a strenuous class. I think I prefer the tower class with this instructor and maybe I'll continue to do another class on Sundays that is less vigorous on my back.

After class, I wanted to stop by T.J. Maxx to see if there were any steals to be had in athletic gear, since my new favorite pair of pants is by Kyodan and $25.00. The website claimed they opened at 10:00, but when I called, after waiting half an hour, it turns out they open at 11:00 on Sundays! BOOO!  I called Old Navy just down the block and they opened at 10:00, so I spent a good amount of time in there.

Old Navy actually has a great athletic line, although far less breathable because of the polyester content. I almost bought a spin-off version of a Lululemon No Limits tank but the whole thing was polyester through and through, and I sweat like a crazy person in 100% polyester, so I passed.

               

This one was very flattering and not quite as voluminous as the No Limits. The back was a little different with a vented detail. I might come back for this one. There were so many available though, so no rush. Maybe it will go on sale? Haha.

                  

I bought some slouchy sweaters to pair with leggings or skinnies (two on the left). $10 each is not bad and I won't feel so bad if they fall apart. The last picture is of a Cynthia Rowley top I almost purchased at T.J. Maxx. Cute detail but in the end, I didn't like the space dye effect. Would have loved it in solid gray though.

By the way, the jeans on the left are clearance Old Navy. My mom texted me that they were too funny looking, but they were a size 12 and they fit, which made me super happy :).

            

Finally, I went to DSW. I should stop doing that. I walked out with the black babies. They are just TOO hot for words. Too much. I did like the Rampage camel color booties. I am still assessing what I would wear with them. Besides my light colored leather jacket by Vince, I'm always in black and don't know if it would clash. Oh, and yes, I did wear my Ebb to Streets two days in a row LOL.

The rest of the day was spent with my mom and dad. We visited the cemetery to see some of my grandparents. We stopped by my grandma's and had lunch (and I had some NOT needed chocolate and sweets). They left me in the car while they popped into a Russian grocery store. Then we came home and my mom and I watched Homeland and The Blacklist while I gorged on two much guacamole and Cheeze-Its. Decided to skip dinner as a result.

I came home to my hubby watching football (a regular Sunday is ALL day football) and finally got around to making the flank steak. It was DELICIOUS and I'll be making a flank salad tonight with feta, baby spinach, some carmelized onions, balsamic and olive oil. Yummmm.

I finished out the weekend with the metabolic workout I was supposed to do on Saturday instead of yoga. Last time I talked about this workout, I was only supposed to do three rounds. At the time, I couldn't imagine three more rounds of it. But last night, I did six total rounds! I really had to push myself not to stop. It would have been so easy to say, "Next time I'll do six, this time I'll do four or five". But after all the food this weekend, I at least wanted to accomplish something difficult.

My heart was racing but I made it through. I'm pretty achy today but I feel great for doing it! I think I might add a three round interval session like this to my Tuesdays. This is an option in the book and I never considered doing it, but it's easy enough to do at home and definitely effective.

I'm going to go check out my Pilates schedule for this week. I'm beginning to think overloading my schedule is causing me to feel overwhelmed. 

Have a great day, everyone! 

Day 17

                                        

I completed my first home workout after a not-so-trustworthy husband of mine decided he was too tired to go to the gym before work, and too tired to go to the gym after work. Such is the life of someone who plays Grand Theft Auto until 3 a.m. in the morning. And yes, I could have gone by myself but decided I could do everything in Workout A in the comforts of my bedroom. And so it began!

We have a 15 pound weight gathering dust and so that was my kryptonite for the whole workout. Over all, it only made my high pull less difficult as I am supposed to use two weights for those. My lateral lunge was WAY harder and I was dripping sweat by the end of the workout. At various points, I was negotiating to get through that last, third set. I don't know why it was so much more difficult to do it at home, but it was. I finished out with speed squats and I paid attention to my form, REALLY sitting back. My glutes were crying for mercy.

Yesterday was relatively uneventful. Lunch called for chicken salad but I have been slipping in food prep and went with a Wawa chicken salad snack pack instead. The macros were pretty much spot on and I actually really liked the flavors (crackers helped lol). I knew I would be going to my grandma's for a girl's night later, so I tried to keep it light. Good thing, because I gorged on all the things. My sister and mom made a most excellent buffalo chicken dip (tortilla chips were in abundance) and there was also all kinds of candies and cakes. Sigh....it was fun though! Splurge meal, represent!

I forgot to mention that I received a few Lulu things in the mail (but also sold another pair of pants and a work it out top so...I'm getting better!)

Things I actually did recently: Had a angel blue Define delivered yesterday by USPS. Got the mail very late at night so no one (ahem, hubby) would notice. Have two packages waiting for me at home from lulu.com. Asked my sister to swing by my house (she lives three minutes away) so she can grab them off the porch. Having a pair of WUPs delivered to my mom's house. I'm acting like a criminal and the protagonist of the Confessions of a Shopaholic books. What is my life?

This was the status I posted in the Lulu Chat board and it was surprising to see how many ladies can relate. I don't feel so alone! LOL.

                                           

The Angel Blue Define is divineeeee. So in love with it. It's mighty soft!

                     

My outfit of the day on Tuesday (Urbanite Blazer) with American Eagle crops and my new Full Tilt in plum on the right. I love it. Like, a lot a lot.

                                

I also caved and bought a pair of Kyodan leggings ($25 bucks is....a great price lately!). Every lady in my family now owns a pair and these will be lounge pants most likely. 

                                  

These are the Lulu inspires pants and I am tentative about them. I don't know if I purchased the wrong size, but I don't find these compressive at all. I do ADORE Run Inspires and they would be a nice addition since I wear my black ones so much. I love the print and they are pretty neutral, but maybe the fit is off? I also noticed that these are a tiny bit sheer, but I usually wear longish tops at the gym, so maybe it's not a problem.  I don't know. My hoard mentality says keep them because they are sold out and I may want them later. The struggle! LOL.

Unfortunately, my mom tried these on and accidentally sent the tag flying off so now I can't return them online. I would have to sell them on one of the boards, which is not much a problem but kind of inconvenient since I told her to be careful! lol.

The worst news is that...I'm set to purchase an Off the Mat jacket. It truly is my #1 most wanted Lululemon item. I just wish I spaced out all my purchases. This is what makes me want to sell the pants (and return the Ebb to Streets even if they look amazing). Decisions, decisions. I will most likely return my recently acquired sexy booties from DSW, too. That makes me tear up a little, but where would I wear them anyway?

 

The collar just gives me LIFE!!!

I pretty much am agreeing to buy it for $30 dollars over retail. But...it's perfection. And now my mom (of course) wants one too.

Doing a Pilates class tonight instead of going to the gym, so I'll have to hit up the gym tomorrow and Friday. Or maybe I'll skip Friday, do Workout B on Saturday and the metabolic on Sunday? Pilates is making my scheduling at the gym a little tougher, but oh well.

Oh and I forgot my soy-sauce drenched bible in my sister's car so I'll have to pick that up tonight. I'm a mess and I feel naked without it! 

Day 15

Hey remember when I told you guys about my packed lunch chicken terayaki incident? Well, I totally forgot to tell you that the sauce got all over my Drop 2 sizes book. LOL. It totalllly smells like soy sauce right now. So. There's that!

This weekend was pretty successful!

Had a really great filet on Friday night. Like, top five status, off the grill no less! Outback, you better step up your game. It was so good, it earns a feature on this here blog. LOL.

Saturday, I completed my first countdown metabolic workout. In this workout, you go at a moderate pace, doing five sets of five exercises(squat thrust, body squat, prone hand touch, alternating reverse lunge, kettle bell clean). You start with 5 reps of exercises 1-5, then 4 reps of 1-5, than 3 reps and so on. You rest for 30 seconds between each exercise, and then each round of specific reps, you finish out with jump rope or sprinting (I ran in place and used a pretend jump rope) for twenty seconds.I'm beginning to realize I definitely need a Gymboss as looking down at my iPod gets very annoying. Then again, I have to countdown different things in this workout, not just interval time, so maybe I should save my $20 bucks.

More annoying: the stretching dude who spent 45 minutes sitting around, then somewhat stretching for my whole workout. Go away, dude. I don't like running around in place with the bewbs bouncing with YOU around.

I was dripping sweat by the end of this workout. The write-up was very deceiving!  I found the kettle bell cleans most difficult. In this move you place a kettle bell (or in my case, a dumbbell) between your legs. You keep your back neutral and don't round and pick up the weight with one arm, concentrating on using your legs ONLY to lift that weight. It's quite difficult! I actually realized near the end that I had to alternate my arms, so for the first set, I was supposed to do 10 total instead of just 5 reps. When I realized this, I spent about a minute doing as many of them correctly as possible, alternating arms. Can't skimp on those benefits!

Decided to indulge in Chipotle (splurge #2) and it was delicious (as all things with heaping portions of guacamole are).We headed to the mall afterward and hubby picked up Grand Theft Auto.

Oh, I tried on some camouflage trend stuff at Express and thought of you, Daily Express!

                            

                               

I just don't pull off camo, but I did love the jacket, although a little pricey at $300.00. 

We came home and my husband played GTA for six straight hours,  pausing only to eat dinner (sweet potato with onions and sour cream, yummm). I had my new favorite salad is coleslaw mix with a tablespoon of olive oil mayonnaise and lots of Lusty Monk honey mustard as a side. So glad I gave coleslaw a try. It's the bomb.

One thing I noticed is that my splurge did not lead me down the path of destruction. In fact, I tried not to eat much after that big meal. Sure, we contemplated watching Gravity with some candy from the new candy bar (!!!) in the mall. So many different colorful, sugared temptations at a super cheap per pound rate! But we (mostly I) decided to pass. When it was 9 p.m. and I was kind of hungry, I decided it was time to eat. I did feel sort of guilty eating any sort of carb after 6 p.m.. but it was on the D2S menu and sounded delicious. Plus, there were no carbs in my Chipotle salad earlier.  In the end, I need to get over all the rules in my head about eating.  Food is fuel.  FOOD IS FUEL!

Sunday I attended a Pilates class. We had a new instructor who was kind of leaning towards more stretching, which was kind of boring. I was in her first ever class and that class was WAY more difficult than this one. But I guess stretching is beneficial sometimes when doing a weight program and I have been feeling kind of tight lately (my last class prior to this one was on Thursday....).

 I AGAIN skipped out on my egg breakfast because I got up super late and had to rush to class. By the time I got home it was near lunch so I just proceeded with the lunch meal.  Lunch was DELICIOUS. A tortilla wrap (prescribed: Ezekiel, realized: Chi-Chi white flour tortilla). The nutritional stats are actually pretty similar between these two so I let it slide. Spread some hummus over that, popped some edamame out of their pods, topped with two ounces of leftover flank steak and coleslaw, with Mrs. Dash fiesta lime seasoning.

I must confess that Saturday evening, I gave into MORE temptation and purchased a pair of Wunder Under pants in pique/reversible stripe from a Facebook Lululemon selling group. I feel terrible about it, but they are super rare and go for A LOT on eBay. I hope they are flattering but if they aren't, will just resell :).

Wunder Unders in Textured Pique/Black Coal

It's hard to tell in these photos but they are actually reversible so...two pants in one is justifiable! I'm having them shipped to my mom's house. My habits are getting crazier and crazier....

I can't wait to wear these with boots or even to Pilates. They received great reviews and the girls on the boards seem to love them. Plus they are a better option for me than the Skinny Will.  

I then realized I have no boots to wear with them and felt cornered. Time to return things! Dropped by old navy and returned a silly little sweater with a dog face on it and a snake print button up similiar to the Express Portofino. Armed with more disposable income after this return, I headed to DSW. Wore my new Speed Tights, No Limits Tank and Define jacket (not pictured).

                               

My butt is poppin LOL. 

My return was worth $50 so my aim was to find a boot that costs that much. Am I crazy? Pretty much. There were no leather boots in that price range and I felt terrible spending a little over that budget for man-made materials. So, my budget went up LOLLLL. I wish I took better care of my shoes. My pair from last year by Audrey Brooke were so chic and I loved the buckle equestrian details. The pair I found are quite similar but are lacking some pop. Sighhhh.... New boots to wear with these. Me Too Dede:

                                    

So guilty was I after this most recent splurge that I decided to sell some of my things. Mainly, my Christian Louboutin Fetichas. I've considered selling them for awhile as they pinch my toes slightly and just are kind of torture to walk in. I put them out for $330 knowing that would be an eye catching price for a pair of Louboutins. They sold within five hours!

I must admit I am a little sad to see them go, but at least they are going to a new home. Good bye Feticha, you will be missed.

We finished out our weekend with a birthday party at a sushi restaurant. I tried to reel in my appetizer indulgences, having two slices of tuna pizza, mussels covered in some kind of dynamite sauce, a small portion of ahi tuna tartar crunch (so delicious) and one lobster dynamite roll (plus three pieces of spicy tuna roll). Had a few bites of mochi and cupcake and didn't feel too terrible, although the soda on the table was regular and I must have had at least 16 ounces of that. Oh well. They don't call it a splurge for nothing.

This morning, I was looking for more things to sell in my closet and came across a pair of True Religion leggings I don't even remember buying! These must have been purchased around the time I met my husband. They have a beautiful, dark blue color with fading and are stretchy and light.  I decided to see if they fit and, surprise surprise, THEY DO!

                                

I know I have been spending A LOT of money on Lululemon but since I have been losing weight, I am slowly fitting into my old clothes. I really do LOVE my old clothes so I will be saving a lot on jeans, dresses and tops this year! I'm so excited!

That really started the day off right for me. I'm fueled up with my Kashi Go Lean cereal, milk and banana. Going to get my water goal in today. Going to take all my vitamins. Going to kick ass this week and I'm going to see a difference in those jeans I tried on three weeks ago.

I want to finish out with a new addition to my Ultimate Lululemon Unicorn List: The Power Vinyasa crop (picture provided by My Superficial Endeavors).

It has this REALLY cool jacquard mesh on the backs of the legs, pretty much all the way up. That sounds SO breezy. LOVE!