Fashion Motivation

OK. So I suck at blogging about losing weight just about as much as I suck at actually losing weight. My weight hasn't changed.

I was so motivated in my last post. What happened, you ask? I got sick, again. I was sick for about seven or eight days, and then I just found it so hard to get back in the swing of things, especially with all my spare time devoted to Halloween preparations, which unfortunately, came with a lot of candy-eating.

Today I started another project to help motivate me. I cleaned out my closet. My closet was jam-packed with shirts I haven't worn in years. I've very sentimental about my clothing.

I tried on over 50 shirts, and that's not counting the shirts I regularly wear and already knew were keepers. I separated the shirts into three main categories:

1. Fits well-enough, back in the closet.

2. Snug, but will fit if I lose weight (16 shirts). Stored in the guest bedroom dresser. (The back two piles in the picture.)

3. Too small or I've had for way too many years and need to let go (16 shirts). Placed in a box to sell or donate. (Some of the shirts were at least 10 years old. I still love Rainbow Brite, but after 10 years, her face looked cracked and dull. Poor Rainbow Brite.)

A couple skirts and shorts also found their way into a pile.

I love some of my "too tight" shirts too much to let them go. I will lose this weight and wear them again, dangit! I'm not too sad that some of my shirts don't fit because they aren't even adult or juniors sizes. I was so tiny once-upon-a-time, that I could shop in the children's section. I don't expect to be (or need to be) that tiny again.

I also cleaned out way too many undershirts from my dresser drawers. Some went under the sink for rags and some that are like new, just tiny, went to the donate box.

Then I danced on Just Dance for 20 minutes and did 20 jack knifes on Wii Fit Plus.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this ...

Princess Peach will be thin next Halloween! It still bothers me to see my face so round and full. It's just...not me.

My Dress Deserves a Debut

Hello, fitness blog. We meet again.

It's been a month since my last goal, and I yet again failed to lose just 5 pounds. I don't like being a failure. I'm used to excelling at almost everything, without even trying.

I can give many reasons why I failed my goal, and considering my health problems, they wouldn't all be excuses. But above all else, I failed because I didn't dedicate myself to the goal. I didn't take it seriously. I let other things get in the way.

That ends now.

I, Laura Ivy, dedicate myself to losing 5 pounds in a month. I want to lose at least 10 pounds, maybe 15, but I'll start with 5. I can do this.

I exercised for 30 minutes today, including 20 grueling minutes of step while watching the hilarious "Modern Family."

Yesterday I got some serious aerobic in, but I was mad at my husband. Anger and frustration are good motivators. We resolved our issue, but as long as I just rehash any conversation, ever, with AT&T in my head, I'll have plenty of motivation to keep punching that virtual bag and keep chasing after that darn virtual cat.

P.S. If you're wondering what's motivating me this time, it's this: I currently weigh more than I did when I started this blog in January. And that new dress I bought for my birthday in March and have never worn? It's so tight on me now, I won't wear it in public. That dress is too cute to stay hidden in my closest.

Back to Blogging

Just as many children are returning to school this month, I'm returning to my blog. Despite my (lackluster) efforts, I haven't lost weight. I'm remedying that by keeping myself accountable on this blog. I will lose 10 pounds and I will document it here.

Now, I just have to wake myself up for the day and somehow muster enough energy to move out of this computer chair and onto the Wii Fit Plus balance board for that painful first weigh-in.

Days 28-31

1-28-10
Weigh In: 7:00 p.m.
BMI:22.96
Weight: 134.5 lbs.
Wii Fit Age: 31

1-31-10
Weight In: 12:00 a.m.
BMI: 22.92
Weight: 134.2
Wii Fit Age: 22!!

Oh, New Year's resolution, I have not given up on you. I was sick for a very long time. So sick at times I could barely talk because what I would say would just come out in a cough or barely come out at all because I was losing my voice.

This whole being sick business screwed up my exercise goal and my new work goal. I was getting very dismayed, but I finally started feeling better and stepped back onto the Wii balance board on Thursday. I expected to have gained weight, but I hoped with all my healthy eating lately, there could be a slight chance that I maintained my weight from last time, two whole weeks ago.

Imagine my surprise when I realized I had lost 2.9 pounds since last weigh-in! Hooray! I pushed through a 30 minute workout and expected to be back at it the next day.

Well, the next day came and went and so did the day after that, but I made myself exercise today for 40 minutes. Forty minutes of hardcore boxing, stepping, obstacle course and two rounds of jack knives, among various yoga and balance games. Then I sat up straight and still and concentrated on that flickering flame for 153 seconds, demolishing my previous record. Go me!

Unfortunately I only exercised 10 out of 31 days in January. I've lost about 2.5 pounds (at one point I gained). But February will be different. I will lose this weight and look smokin' hot in a bikini once again!

I am proud of my eating habits lately. I've been snacking on salads of spinach, artichoke hearts, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, quinoa and sometimes artificial crab or avocado.

I've been eating less of the "main dish" at meals and instead filling up on fruits and vegetables. I've had way too much pizza lately. Fist my husband and I splurged. But then we were invited out to pizza to celebrate a birthday and I limited myself to two pieces. Just two! Then another day at another house they had pizza. I ate one piece. One! Tonight, again, pizza was offered, and I ate one very small piece of a homemade pizza.

The thing, when healthy food is available, I will generally eat it. Problem is, healthy food is expensive. It's much cheaper to buy boxed and canned food than fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats. Pasta Roni with tuna is a normal meal my husband and I can split. And it costs less than $2. We eat cheap, very cheap. Adjusting to eating healthy is hard on the wallet, but we're trying. Subway has been getting a lot of our business. A lot.

February will be better!

Days 10 - 14 (a blur)

Weigh In: 5:30 p.m.
BMI: 23.45
Weight: 137.4
Fit Age:30

I'm sick. I miraculously avoided the puke bug, but I caught a bad cold, which seems to be turning into bronchitis. I get bronchitis, a lot.

Needless to say, I have not been exercising. I've been doing a lot of sleeping. And coughing and sneezing and honking into tissue after tissue.

I reluctantly climbed on the Wii balance board today hoping that since I haven't been eating much, my weight would stay stable. Fat chance.

I gained 1.8 pounds since I last weighed in six days ago.

I did some yoga stretching and that's all I had in me. I'm out of a medication that regulates my heart and blood pressure. That combined with the inability to breathe out of my nose has me huffing and puffing like a six pack a day smoker.

I will get some exercise tonight. A new music club opens tonight and I feel it my music journalistic duty to be there. It's less than 10 minutes away and an all-ages show, so I don't expect to be out too late.

I'm fairly certain I caught this cold from the last show I attended, last Friday night. The lead singer told me he was sick. He sounded fine. I had a sore throat by Monday. Now I sound terrible. I'm unintelligible today it's so bad.

I'm losing money because I can't focus on work. I'm gaining weight because I have a very limited appetite, and I can't exercise. I'm all around grumpy.

I actually miss exercising.

Days 7, 8 & 9

Weigh In Time: 10 p.m.
BMI: 23.15
Weight: 135.4
Fit Age: 21!
Pounds to go: 9.9 (I've lost 1.1 pounds!)

I neglected Wii Fit Plus on Thursday and Friday. I did, however, get some exercise in my every day activities. When I stepped on the Wii balance board on Saturday night, the Wii lectured mii about doing my body test every day! Well, alrighty then!

To atone for my guilty, "didn't work out for two days" conscious, I worked out for an hour on Saturday.

I twisted my body into a "triangle" on yoga, in addition to the half moon and sun salutation. I twisted side to side and pushed hard on 10 jackknife reps in strength to firm my stomach, my biggest problem area.

I finally conquered the skateboarding game...on beginner. I used to skateboard, but it's a little different on the Wii, as you can imagine...and I was never that great of a skateboarder, but as a chick, all you really have to do is stay on the board and master the ollie and guys thinks you're pretty awesome.

I tip-toed across the tightrope on the "expert" level. I guess my time on the balance beam really paid off.

I "stepped" to the beat for two rounds.

I learned it *was* the remote! The game instructs mii to secure the nunchuck through the remote strap, which I never do. This time I did. And my left hits finally connected like they should on boxing. And my score jumped up to 301. And I felt proud, despite the boxing trainer bellowing, "You can do better than that!" I went two rounds in total.

I shook my hips on hoola hoops. And then tried my hand on the golf course.

The game told me I could rival the pros. I consistently got the ball within feet of the hole at the driving range on the game. Maybe I could take Tiger Woods' place now that the douche is in hiding.

I really liked golfing. In real life, I worry I wouldn't even connect the club to the ball, but I'd be willing to give it a shot. The only place I've actually golfed comes with go carts and Dance, Dance Revolution.

Now, I have to write for money. Later, I hope to buy yummy, healthy foods to make meals I found in a magazine. And when I say make, I mean, for my husband to make for me, of course.

Day 6

Weight In Time: 12:30 a.m.
Weight 136.2 (rough estimate. It doesn't show tick marks.)
BMI: 23.26
Fit Age: 25!

Warning: Feeling ranty today!

I have the worst stomach ache. Half due to spicy Del Taco for dinner and half due to my workout. Ow.

I warmed up with new yoga moves today: standing knee and "palm tree."

I did three rounds of a game that requires movement on the balance board, plus the right remote and left nunchuck: juggling in the circus. I did alright, occasionally juggling three balls while balancing on a ball, center ring.

I competed in the obstacle course, which is one of the best training games. It's designed like a platform video game; think Mario World. The first round you lightly run in place and avoid wrecking balls. It's a matter of speed, judgment and skill. Next round you run and jump over obstacles by bending and extending your knees...a lot. Finally you must combine all of your skills: timing jumps, avoiding wrecking balls from bumping you out into the sky, watching out for logs falling from the sky (shadows indicate an obstacle's path), jumping from platform to platform and over rolling logs. My legs were so tired at the end, but I beat it this time! Go mii!

I hit soccer balls, which I enjoy doing and am determined to win with a perfect score, one day. Each consecutive soccer ball you hit with your head increases points. First ball is +1 point, next is +2 points, and then +3 points and so on. Once you miss a soccer ball, your next hit is only worth +1 point. You also must dodge shoes (-1 point/hit) and panda bear balls (-3 points/hit), which look an awful lot like soccer balls. It's fun, but frustrating!

I beat the ski race where you must weave in and out of marked goals. I also beat my husband's high score by a point. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

But I can't capture my beginner's luck on boxing. I went two rounds today and was nowhere close to my personal best. Husband's high score is now nearly 100 points past mine. We're very competitive.

I like to blame the nunchuck for not working right when my left hits don't connect. That might be the case. But I also must admit that my left arm is uber weak. I'm a petite little girl. And I've never had much arm strength. I hated the bars and the vault for that very reason.

My husband's a really strong man. I don't just think this because I'm a weak little girl. He delivers furniture and he amazes people when he lifts up entire recliners and carries them down flights of stairs. So I never feel too bad about being weak because I know husband can mess with anyone who messes with me. He will, too.

So I don't actually expect to beat my husband's boxing score...but I'll keep trying!

I did 30 minutes on the Wii today.

It was my day off from work and so I ran some errands, including shopping, which I logged in as 30 minutes of low/mild exercise. I wandered around Target for what felt like forever trying to spend a $20 gift card. They didn't have what I wanted: a computer keyboard. So I splurged on 2 boxes of hair dye, a 2 pack of Burt's Bee chapstick, batteries for the thermostat (we've grown accustomed to this thing called heat) and a paper shredder...basket not included. I know, I'm so extravagant with my purchases! I'm wild! Oh, and husband bought some disgusting gum. Who buys gum in a purple package? Never eat the purple!

I figure that's at least an hour worth of exercise today. And now I am ready to crawl into bed with my book: The Time Traveler's Wife.

And hope the Mormons don't knock on the door tomorrow and wake me up early, again. I do believe they came by two different times and knocked a total of FIVE times. WHO DOES THAT? I wish husband would have just answered the door and told them to go away instead of hiding behind the peek hole as they knocked...waited...knocked...waited...knocked. UGH. That, combined with the kitten being his usual hyper self in the morning and husband blaring the Daily Show from the office...did not start my day off very well. Reading was my escape this morning and will be my escape tonight.

Until next time...