{Operation Red Bikini comes to an end}

Operation Red Bikini began back in December 2012.

 I wasn't too much of a blog regular back then and only really got into it in January.

December though is when I decided enough was enough.

I took our family photographs for Christmas and really saw the weight gain in myself then.

Once I got back home from my Christmas trip, I decided enough was enough. I would start going to the gym more and I would begin eating better. I researched the internet for workouts and eating plans and that's when I came across Kassie's Southern Girl Gets Fit blog and, therefore, Operation Red Bikini.

Even though they'd already began almost a month before me, I still committed myself to joining also!

My comment with my goal was this, 

NicoleJanuary 2, 2013 at 7:09 PM

I am absolutely in! My goal is to (ultimately) lose 20lbs. I think that's pretty doable by May. Another goal for this YEAR is to run one 5k race each month. I hate running but that seems to be making me even more determined to do this.

My weight at the time was 155/156 pounds. 

I'm not sure exactly because I later found out my scale is off by 2-3 pounds.
I already had a swimsuit I wanted to look hot in but didn't start taking those photographs until February.
I also bought myself a goal outfit.

I couldn't even button the pants up and the shirt extenuates every fat roll I possible could have.
I was not a happy camper.
It was all my own fault though.
I let myself get this far.
I was going to do something about it though.

My other goal listed for O.R.B. was to run one 5k race a month for 12 months.
I actually made this goal back in December but what better way to verbalize it than to list it for this goal also?
January 19 was my first 5k race.
I was terribly slow but I did it.
I'm still doing it.
In fact, I have race #5 today.

I never thought running could make me feel the way I do.
I actually enjoy running.
I get goosebumps.
I get goosebumps when working out too.
I absolutely love it.

Here are some more progress photo's and then I'll talk about where I am today.

Feb 23, 2103

It seems as though I didn't take any progress photographs in April.

I just didn't think about it.

This one was taken in April though.

So, on to today, May 31, 2013...

Today I weigh 143 pounds.

I've lost a total of 12-13 pounds.

I, personally, do not see that as a lot of weight given the timeframe.

It's also 7-8 pounds shy of my 20lb weightloss goal.

However.

I am okay with that.

I feel so much better today than I did 6 months ago.

I have so much more energy now.

My clothes fit better now, most are too big.

I can see a difference in my body today than I did 6 months ago.

I also stopped caring about my scale weight because of those reasons listed.

Weighing myself got to be so entirely depressing.

I was doing so much hard work and barely seeing a difference in the scale.

I hated the way it made me feel even though I knew how much I worked out and ate better.

I mean, I can button my goal pants now and look good in them.

I couldn't do that 5 months ago.

December 2012 on the left.  May 2013 on the right.

Am I done?

No, I don't quite think so.

There's still some toning up I'd like to do and I'd still like to find what works best for me food-wise.

I am happy though.

{Tired of being tired}

Today's my first day off and I am exhausted.

I worked the last 2 nights (and 2 days before that) and I've gotten the worst sleep this week.

Other than that, things are going great.

Yesterday, while getting ready for work, I didn't pay any attention to the bluejeans I grabbed from my closet.

As I was putting them on I felt disgusted because I'd grabbed a pair of jeans that haven't fit me, like at all, in over a year. But, I decided to try them anyway. They fit! And, they fit perfectly. This situation is exactly why I stopped weighing myself. I would drive myself crazy! So, I actually did weigh myself yesterday and I still weigh 145, which is a pound less than I did a month ago. Yet, these jeans fit me better today than they did a month ago. It makes me extremely happy.

What was nice also was two co-workers asking me last night how much weight I've lost now because I looked so much thinner. It's the small things. :)

Here are some of my latest workouts I've completed:

So, with this leg workout... I did this 2 days ago and I am still in a lot of muscle soreness pain. It's definitely a good workout!!

I tried to make-up for my lack of sleep by pretty much sleeping, or tying to, all day.

To not feel like such a degenerate, I took the dog on a walk and got in some pretty good pictures.

Just a few...  :)

{Does that mean it's official?}

What a lazy, lazy day today is.

The only thing I've done all day, that is any way productive, is hit the gym.

I went there so tired but had a great workout anyway.

It was a back and cardio workout.

While on the elliptical, I reached up to adjust my playlist on the phone and accidently hit the 'reset' button!

That tank top I'm wearing is pretty sweet.

"Ready. Steady. Win." From the Etsy shop of Strong Confident You.

It was an early birthday present from my parents.

The first birthday present I've received in years! haha

What did I do once I got home?

Oh, I had the most glorious nap ever.

Guess what though! 

I'm still tired.

I know it's because I took allergy medicine last night and a unisom.

Ha, no worries, they weren't taken at the same time, but I'm still tired from them.

So, with the guy I've been seeing...

We had a talk the other night and he's said he wants US to work.

We'll see how it all goes.

I want it to work as well.

He's pretty freaking amazing.

{Weigh-in Wednesday}

A week after shark week ended and I feel great.

144.4lbs

I like it.

As I was getting dressed to go run, I passed my full length mirror in my sports bra and underwear and I liked what I saw.

So, I put on a pair of swimsuit bottoms and took a picture. 

What? You don't do the same?! ;)

I also ran for the first time in over a week today.

It felt great.

I gave the compression sleeves a try.

I felt very slow in them.

I'm not sure if that's because it's been more than a week since I last ran or if it was because of the sleeves.

Either way, I liked them. Other than the slow running, I felt great.

I'll continue to use them.

Yesterday, I also made a Thai Peanut Salad.

Oh. My. Word.

Amazeballs.

This salad is so good and the dressing is what makes it.

Here's the recipe for the Thai Peanut Salad.

Best. Ever.

{A day late and a dollar short}

I have been so extremely slacking with my blog lately. :/ 

I'd say I'm sorry but I'm kinda not.

It's the guy.

No, it's not his fault but he keeps me busy.

It's pretty nice.

Really nice actually.  :) 

Don't worry though, if/when this ends, I'll come running back to mama!

Not really me, but I'm sure it's how I look all dang day.

So, time for the monthly weigh-in.

Of course it would happen during shark week

~~~^~~lol~~~

Lil Hobbit feet. ;)

I will weigh myself again in a week since that will have given my body time to go back to "normal" (whatever that is) after being bloated and all that.

That number up there though... it's exactly the same number from a month ago!

But you know what?

I say screw it.

I am eating right.

(Ok. I didn't today but it was either eat or kill people and I wasn't in the mood to go to jail.)

I workout 6 days a week.

I lift weights 3 times a week.

I run 3-4 times a week.

I feel great.

I want to feel amazeballs.

Don't you worry you're pretty little head though; I'll get there.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Lil bit of Pinterest Inspiration going on here...

Oh yeah, the great thing about him also is he likes to workout too.

Complete brownie points for that.

So, what else has been going on?

Running has been great.

Except for the shin splints that is.

They've been bothering me for a bit but I've been ignoring them.

Finally, I decided to just take a week off from running and ice the shins often.

I also bought a pair of compression sleeves from Amazon.

Once I get to wear them, I'll write about it and tell you all about them.

Even though shark week is here ~~^~~lol~~~ and even though I've eaten this twice...

I'm still eating stuff like this also...

Which broiled grapefruit, btw, is amazing!

We also went from having 75 (and warmer) degree weather to like 4-5 inches of snow.

It snowed ALL day yesterday.

I was not a fan.

Oh yeah!!
I almost forgot some important news!!
I've given up alcohol for the remainder of the year!
Yikes!!
It started out as only for the month of May.
A friend on the FaceBizzy then challenged me to the remainder of the year.
I accepted with one exception:
That I be allowed to drink on my birthday!
What the hell was I thinking?!
Challenge accepted!

So, I should update more often so this isn't as long!