I have nothing to talk about, but here I am.

Maybe that's only half true, because let's face it, I could talk circles around myself at any given time. *big fat sigh*
So I've been doing this Advocare Challenge and I'm on Day 5. I will admit, I feel different. BETTER.

It may be purely mental, who knows, but I feel great. My mood is a thousand times better than a week ago. Last week I was grumpy and ill and tired all the time.
And this week, I have energy.  Like, a lot.  And I'm happy. Maybe it's both the challenge and the fact that I'm back to being active after 4 months of being extremely stationary.  Talk about depressing, y'all. and did I mention that I've lost 4 pounds in 4 days?  because I have.
Let's see, what else is happening in my world... Ben and I worked out for two hours last night. TWO. That has never, ever happened in my entire life. Not even when I was working out with Gene The Personal Trainer.

Speaking of personal training, I talked to my trainer friend Brett at the gym last night about getting back into it, and after our conversation I realized it is going to be several months (like, maybe six or more...) before I will be cleared by my doctor to work out with a trainer.  Thank God I remember all the stuff Gene taught me.  I'm glad that Brett said that though.  I would never want to think that a trainer took my money (because trainer's are damn expensive) knowing I had a healing knee injury and let me go jump around and run and get crazy without my best interest at heart.  So I know when the time is right, my doctor will clear me and I will be able to actually afford a trainer.  When you don't work for two months and then work part time for two more months, there isn't a whole lot of money coming in.  So I'm putting all of my injury/health/fitness/recovery goals into perspective and just pushing forward.  What else would I do, anyway?
(the answer to that is lay in bed and watch endless episodes of Vanderpump Rules.  because it's my favorite piece of trash TV ever.)
I also tried to make a video this morning before work about everything happening in my world (see above, duh) and the fuh-reakin' batteries died on me AT THE VERY END OF THE VIDEO.  So I'm not going to post that.  Plus. I still don't know how to edit a video, sooo.... 
#hotmessexpress. love, love, love!
SW: 311 CW: 204 -107 GW: 150 54 to go

pudge.

Does anyone remember the movie Shag? It's from 1989, when I was 3, but when I was older I would watch it on VHS nonstop. I wanted to be Pudge so bad. I never thought she was fat, but everyone around her thought she was chubby. She was so insecure until she found the right guy to Shag with.
Man, I just loved that movie.

Now, I haven't seen that movie in a few years (which is a real shame, to be honest) but I still use the word "pudge" quite often. Today, when I was looking in the mirror, I found my pudge. My stomach from below my boobs to mid belly is flat, and then there's a damn pudge!
This has to go.  It just simply is not welcome here anymore.
I'm really looking forward to being back in the gym and working on my fitness.
Oh, also, does anyone watch Total Divas on the E! channel? I'm obsessed with that show. I never thought I'd like it because, let's be honest, I don't like the WWE. But this is more about the lives of these girls, and there is one girl in particular who I am using as my fitness goal. She's FREAKING gorgeous and I feel like we would be BFF's in real life. This girl, Eva Marie:

Okay, now am I ever going to look like that? Maybe not. But I'm damn sure going to try! I can't even help but say it:  that girl is just hot! I totally can appreciate another beautiful woman, and I even really like her fire red hair!
So I got Ben to take my picture, because I thought what better time for an updated progress picture?
Starting Advocare, getting back in the gym, and eating clean is making me feel great. So I'm going to keep tracking my progress as I go. And try to get rid of that freaking pudge...  *wink*

SW: 311 CW: 207.5 -103.5 GW: 150 57.5 to go

that time I tried out for a Britney Spears video

I'm a... slaaaaave for youuuu...

Okay, fine, you caught me:  I never tried out for a Britney Spears video.  Back in the day when she had the rocking body and the python around her shoulders, I was nowhere near old enough to be one of her dancers.  Throw in stage fright and a lack of rhythm and yeah, I just never.

But last night, I did take a class called BodyJam.  Think about Zumba (if you've done it) times about 100.  We learned some intense dance moves and then put them all together, in a routine if you will, at the end of the hour long class.  I forgot my polar watch but there is no telling how many calories I burned.  It was a legitimately hard class, and I was super intimidated at first.  But damnit if it wasn't fun.  It was hot in the studio, I was moving constantly, and I was sweating more than I ever have.  I know I said that last Zumba class, but I sweated even more this time.  Like through my shirt.  That's never happened to me!

See?  Proof.  Just saying. I will never wear a loose tee shirt to that class again.   I was all tangled up and sweating right through it.  Just a hot mess, really.

Other than BodyJam, I have nothing interesting to report.  I'm still floating around 96-97 pounds gone and trying to eat better than ever.  Ben actually had a big milestone when he ordered some tee shirts in a Large instead of an XL and they looked so good on him!  I'm lucky to have such a dedicated partner who is in this journey with me.  I don't talk about Ben a lot on the blog in terms of weight loss, but since I've had surgery he's lost around 40 lbs!  So props to my wonderful, handsome fiance.

I swear (seriously.  I swear.) I am going to give y'all the Q&A vlog and the Six Flags post soon!  Life is busy, people.  I'm working on it!

Workout Moves in the Pool

The scale has gone up.  Not much, but still.  I'm not going to get discouraged, because I can't think of a single thing I've eaten that I wasn't supposed to.  I blame PMS.  Not to mention I've been in very snappy, terrible moods lately and having crazy cravings.  Definitely PMS.   (don't even ask me if I'm pregnant.  because just no.)

I did a killer workout in the pool the other night.  I felt pretty good about it.  I do realize the scale could be going up because muscle weighs more than fat, but I just need to see the scale going down down down.  I should also be taking my measurements, but I'm not.  I doubt we even have a measuring tape in the house.  (I act like they are hard to find at the store or something.)

So anyway, not sure how many of you workout in the pool, but I thought I'd list the moves I do for anyone interested.  I can definitely feel the burn in my arms, but I'm trying to find ways to feel the burn in my legs. 

meighan's pool workout

supplies you need:

 

water weights

I currently used the yellow because they are beginner.

You can really feel the resistance with them though.

 

pool noodle

any old pool noodle will do.

 

The gym I go to has a room chock full of all these materials.  If you are wanting to do a pool workout and the gym/pool doesn't provide them, the weights are about $30 on amazon and they have a million different kinds.  And we all know a pool noodle is like, a dollar.

 

Warm Up:  walk up and down the lane of the pool, circling or pushing arms through water for light resistance.  I do this 1-2 times.

 

Arm Raise:  with weights, hold your hands by your side.  for 45 seconds, raise arms up and down.  break for 15 seconds and repeat twice.

 

Knee Lifts:  while holding weights down, lift your knees one at a time. start slow and steadily increase your speed.

 

Jumping Jacks:  with weights, hold your hands by your side to begin.  start doing traditional jumping jack moves, but only bring your arms to right below the surface of the water for good resistance.  do this 45 seconds, rest 15, and repeat twice.

Running in Place:  with weights, run in place as hard as you can for 45 seconds.  rest 15, repeat twice.

 

Side Steps:  basically a slow jumping jack, take side steps down the lane of the pool, raising your arms with every step.

 

Leg Lifts:  put the noodle under one foot, raise knee and press foot back down to the bottom.  do for 45 seconds, rest 15, alternate legs, and repeat twice.

 

Leg Raise:  with the noodle still under your foot, let the noodle raise your leg to the side and then pull it back down to meet your other leg.  you should feel a good bit of resistance.

 

Push Ups:  hold the sides of the pool ladder and keep your body straight and tight.  pull in and push back, like you were doing a push up.  the resistance going both ways is great.

 



 

I'm a pisces and LOVE being in the water, so these are really great exercises for me to do!  I also have a knee injury, so these water workouts help tremendously.  I will be trying extra hard to get these PMS pounds off!



SW: 311

CW: 274.5

+6 since last update (boo!)

-36.5

 

 

 

 

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