{Weigh-In Wednesday: The Ugly Truth}

150lbs is an official number. 150.192 lbs to be exact.
The picture below, the one that slaps me in the face, tells me it's official.

So, this result was a big ole slap in the face...

To begin with, I went to the base gym to have my Bod Pod measurements done yesterday. They, awesomely, do it for free for military members. Yay, for having my reserve ID until October! The experience, overall, was really good. You're only in this egg-shaped tube for a total of 1 minute. Two times at 30 seconds a piece. If you're claustrophobic it's really not that bad. It's supposed to be pretty accurate. This is what the machine looks like...

You wear a swimsuit and a swimmers cap but you don't get wet at all. The tube gets air compressurized and that's how it gets your measurements. Here's Med Terms definition:

BOD POD: A method for determining the lean body mass. The BOD POD is a computerized, egg-shaped chamber. Using the same whole-body measurement principle as underwater weighing, the BOD POD measures a subject's mass and volume, from which their whole-body density is determined. Using these data, body fat and lean muscle mass can then be calculated.

Anyway, so you get a print out with all your info on it. My % Body Fat number...that's in the highest range.

I didn't think it was that bad but turns out it's worse.

I'm so happy I've started Operation Red Bikini. While I knew I was going to begin a weight loss journey, it gave me the push to actually do it and strive for something. I had 3 goals.

1. Get in the best shape possible within 12 weeks

2. Do well and hold myself accountable with Operation Red Bikini

3. Run one 5k race a month for 12 months

I've just added a 4th goal...

4. Lower my fat percentage to a healthy range

So far, I'm doing well with #3. It's the other 2 that I'm slow on. Since the beginning of the year I've not ate "clean" often and I pretty much stopped doing strength training since I began running. With the new 12 week plan I'm working on, strength training is incorporated into my running routine.

Now, I've got to focus more on "eating clean."

Here are some photographs of yesterday's attempt at it all...

For all of  yesterday... 

12 Week Plan Day 2: Cardio Only (576 Calories burned)

Eggs/Spinach/Turkey/Rotel

Berries with breakfast

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Avocado Chicken Salad

The Soup made me 7 servings at 360 calories for each serving.

Banana, PB, Dark Chocolate
Seriously, delicious! I made 4 of them a serving in little baggies.

So, there ya have it. I'm going to do the Bod Pod once a month until the end of my 12 weeks to see if there are any changes and to see results, if any.

I am also going to hold myself more accountable for the food I eat. I will try to use the 'Lose It" app more, it's just hard those 4 days I work since I can't have my phone with me. I will write it all down and add it later. OR since I always pack my food for work, I'll add it all before I even leave the house.

{Sabotage and Accountability}

Why do we sabotage ourselves?!

Well, here's my accountability...

Last night I gave in to my sweet craving.

The pot stickers I'm okay with. It's that disgusting thing on the right I'm not okay with.

And it really did taste disgusting.

Even as I was eating it, I knew I was going to regret it.

Well, tomorrow's a new day and another new beginning.

Today is cardio only day and I. Am. Going. To. Kill. It.

No more starting over. 23lbs to lose in 95 days.

{It's a Crepe kinda day}

I got up kind of late since my body has yet to adjust to the nights I worked.

Tomorrow I'll set the alarm to ensure I wake-up earlier.

Anyway, so I'm late in everything I wanted to do today. 

I wanted to hit the gym earlier than this but wanted to make myself a good breakfast first.

That obviously did not happen.

I did end up making some crepe's from Blooming Homestead's blog.

Oh my, these were delicious!

It made so many that I ended up freezing some. We'll see how those heat up later in the week.

I tweaked good ole Martha Stewart's crepe's just a tad.

I never have regular milk on hand since I no longer drink it, so that was the first change.

I used 1 1/2 c. Original Almond Milk (I normally buy unsweetened but the store was out! I also too lazy to stop by another store in search of 1 item).

I also added in a scoop of my Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein mix. 

I ate 4 of these bad boys.

As soon as one was made it was in my mouth.

Talk about delicious.

Then I got tired of just cooking on 1 pan because it's a shit load of mix it made a lot of mix.

So, I got out another pan and that helped some.

After my belly was delightfully, but lightly full I went to the gym. 

Today was the first day of my 12 Week Plan.

The arm workout was pretty good. I think I have like tennis elbow or something. If I move my arm certain ways (unpredictable ways), then my elbow hurts. More like burns. I've tried to lay off arm workouts for the most part, but everyday movements keep the pain.

The C25K run was not so hot. *le sigh* I did it. today was W3D1. I was definitely wearing the wrong shoes. What I should've done was bring my running shoes with me. I didn't even think about it though since I knew I was going to be doing the upper body workout first. When I first began running, I felt heavy and off balance. The off balance part, I'm sure, were the shoes. I got my groove and it got better.

{New Plan, Stan}

So, I've always liked the workout plans on Body Building. I did quit using it for a bit since I began running. The plans I were using never really allowed for much cardio.

I actually like cardio. 

I like using the elliptical. I like swimming. I like the row machine.

As of late, I'm even beginning to enjoy running.

So, I searched the Body Building website for a strength training plan that used cardio as well.

I found one in Jamie Eason's 12 Week Fat Loss Guide.

I'll follow the workout guide and the nutrition guide somewhat, or tweak it as it fits with the Eat Right for Your Type I've been following. No red meats, reduced/no dairy, etc.

The good thing is, I put in my goal weight and it said by  June 1 was a good time to lose the amount of weight I want to. That's perfect since it goes along with my goal for Operation Red Bikini.

What I would like to try to do is do the C25K run in the morning before work. I figure I should be able to handle getting up at 3 A.M. at least once a week. I'll then do the 12 week plan workout after work. The rest of the time, my schedule is more flexible. For nights, I should be able to do it all in one workout.

Day 1 is Upper Body/20 min Cardio

Day 2 is Cardio only + C25K

Day 3 is Rest 

Day 4 is Lower Body/20 min Cardio + C25K

Day 5 is Cardio only 

Day 6 is Full Body/20 min Cardio + C25K

Day 7 is Rest

I took photo's also. Photo's in my own "red" bikini. 

It's actually not red but one I already own that I want to rock out this summer.

Both of these are from last year. The one on the right is from June 2012. May of 2012 I was hitting the gym pretty hard. After May, I kinda just stopped going for the most part.

Here are today's photo's. A lot worse, IMO. I'm working on it though. ;)

I didn't smile. Ha I'm not sure why.

So, that's the plan, Stan.

{A-Ha Moments}

So, I worked last night. It was long and boring. I thought for sure I could sleep for hours once I got home. It didn't happen though. I, surprisingly, woke-up at 10'ish this morning (only 4 hours of sleep). I looked through Instagram and chatted with a friend via text for a little bit. I was extremely tired though and I'm not sure what time I fell back asleep, but I did fall back asleep.  When I woke-up I was, again, surprised at the time. It was 2:45 p.m. I just lay there though and didn't get up right away. It was then I had an "A-Ha" moment where something just clicked for me. Instead of writing it out to you, readers, I'll write it out to him.

Dear G: 

I get it now. I get how happy you are. I get that there was absolutely nothing, nothing, at all I could have done that would have made you as happy as you are now.

You are truly living your dream right now. For that, I am happy for you. 

With the loss you suffered as a child, you deserve this. Know she is at your side, living this dream with you like no one ever could right now.

With the pain your ex put you through many years ago, you deserve this. You deserve to be exactly where you are right now.

I am glad you did not settle and settling is what you would have done had you stayed with me.

You are surrounded by people who want, and are living, the same dream as you right now.

I do still love you, and I always will, time and a-ha moments have finally set me free as well.

Love, 

Me

Dear Future Love:

I always wonder what you're doing right now and if you're happy.

I wonder what your life is like, if you at least live in the same state as myself or if you're living from afar right now.

I have found myself trying to settle constantly with what I think I deserve. I try being patient but loneliness gets to me. I found a quote though through an unknowing friend that has left me more open than I ever thought. 

"Rejection is God's way of saying, "Wrong direction."

I hope you're a loving man.

 A man who adores his family as much as you'll adore me. 

I hope you have supportive friends who are just as kind as generous as you are.

I can't wait to meet you and get to know you.

Love,

Me

Now that I'm thoroughly depressed, ha okay not really, I'm gonna go run it off with W2D3 of C25K.

{Confession}

Remember here when I said, "but I also did W2D2 of C25K today."?

*sigh*

It wasn't true. That day was my last day off, before going back to work, so I decided to take it easy and not workout at all. I was planning on it as I wrote that post. As the day wore on though, I decided a complete rest day would be good. I did do it yesterday though. It snowed all night the night before, so I knew I did not want to run outside. I also didn't want to run on the "dreadmill." What's a girl to do then? Luckily, the Buckley AFB gym has an indoor running track. Say what?! It's not a full track and really small, so I normally hate running on it. On days like yesterday though, it was perfect. 

I wish I could say I got to run on it. Well, I did, just not like I expected. Once I got there, a few (about 15 or so) Air Force members were having their Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Part of this test includes running a mile and a half within a certain time based on your age. SOOOO, since the weather was crappy, said test was on the indoor track. Boo! That meant I had to use the dreadmill afterall.

One reason I don't like doing C25K on the treadmill is you don't get an accurate reading of how your doing on your run vs walk. Ya know? Like this from last week...

So, I had to take pics of the treadmill. The funny thing is, the first pic I tried taking I forgot to turn the flash off. It always makes me self-conscious taking pics at the gym and to leave the flash on just makes it more obvious that's what I'm doing!

One thing I did was from something off of Biggest Loser. Gillian lost her mind last time because 2 people couldn't run for more than 1 minute at 6mph on a 1% incline. I have no idea what my capabilities on this is either since I never run at 6mph on the treadmill. So, I gave it a shot. I bumped up the incline to a 1 and for every single run session I ran at 6mph. That's a minute and a half each time. It wasn't too bad either. It's nice to see improvements like that. Little small NSV's.

This week has been slow in Instagrams for me also this week. Here's what I've been up to according to Instagram...

Ok, so maybe it's not been that slow. ;)

Today is my Friday, but it won't be over until 5a.m. tomorrow morning. Yay for night shifts. 

*shaking head no*

{First Things First}

Today I'm linking up with Penguins, Pasta, and Polka Dots for

First thing I do at the gym: If I'm working out on my own, no gym class, then I always do a warm-up first. Depending on what I'm working on that day, I'll either do the elliptical for 5-6 minutes or the row machine for 5-6 minutes.
First date with my current significant other: Well, I don't have a significant other right now, so I'll talk about my first date with my ex-bf. I met him at his apartment, Downtown Denver. From there we went to an Indian restaurant. It was delicious food! Then we went to the Nature and Science Museum. It might sound nerdy, I know, but it was such a blast! It allowed us to hang out and talk and make jokes and just have an all around good time. I absolutely loved it. He and I dated for 3 great years before he moved to work on his PhD at Princeton.
First email address: I absolutely do not remember my first email address. I do want to say it was an AOL account, but I could be wrong. Hey, don't judge the lack of memory! That was 17 years ago! Ha! :)

{Weigh-In Wednesday}

148lbs
5'2"

So, while I've been spot on with my workouts, I've not been eating the best. Don't get me wrong, I'm not eating entirely crap. If anything, I'd say it's the opposite. I always gain weight if I don't eat like 6 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and 2 snacks). Isn't that insane? I shouldn't be, but I am always less structured if I'm not working. On days off, I just kinda go with the flow...and I get lots of days off. I work 4 and have 4 off. This week, I have 6 days off. I'm single and I have no kids. My schedule is also very different from most of my friends, so I've got a lot of downtime. Plenty of time to cook myself food. I don't though. I'm good about doing it when I have to work since I always bring my own food into work. 12 hours worth of food. I need to work on getting better at it on days off.

I'm also craving sweets. Not of the candy type, I rarely crave that. Sweets of the bread type... Krispy Kreme donuts, Starbucks Salted Caramel CakePop, cupcakes

I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not, but I decided to give up sweets (anything dessert-like sweet) for Lent. I never give-up anything for Lent. Why this time? To try and help me on my path of better eating and working out.

However. All. I. Want. Is. A. Stinkin. Donut. Or cakepop. It's all I think about! I see something sweet and my mouth starts watering! It's insane.  It's been a week since I gave these up. I'm making it sound like I ate these all the time. Really, I didn't. Maybe once a month. Now that I've given it up though, I want them all the time.

Yesterday I did BodyPump at my gym.

I can barely move today, but I also did W2D2 of C25K today. 

It was a great workout though, just really intense. If I felt like I wanted to quit, I just thought of that "Make Yourself Proud" quote. I even printed and framed that quote I like it so much. See...

On another topic, I created my own monogram background for my phone, courtesy of For Chic Sake. It's a free download. They also have other free downloads for you to use and, overall, it's a great website. You should check it out. :)

Tons of colors to chose from also!

And, because I couldn't help myself, I had to add a screenshot of my screensaver.

Eh, how cute is this lil guy? :)