New Clothes for a New Janna

So I have been out recently trying to find cuter ways to stay warm. (It has gotten cold in my world this last year and a half). I have been shopping a couple of times in the last couple of weeks thanks to some gift cards I got for the birthday! I have to say…shopping these days is A LOT more fun than it used to be. When I first started this journey and I ventured out of Lane Bryant/Avenue territory I was TERRIFIED!

I had no idea where to go, what to try on, what size to start with…I was a MESS! I would be so upset by the time I got out of the stores. After lots of trial and error I am getting the hang of being able to shop wherever I would like. It is all so surreal at times! But I digress.

I have ventured out of my comfort zone and tried on things that I NEVER thought I would get. Like today…I have on a sweater dress with tights and tall boots. Who would have ever thought that I could wear this outfit? Certainly not me, but the compliments have been a flowing and it is nice to hear them!

Yesterday I found a skirt, (and I can’t find a picture of it online but I will take one when I wear it) it IS a size 8…A SIZE 8. Now, keep in mind that not everything I am wearing these days is a size 8. This girl who 550+ days ago who was wearing a 26/28 is not purchasing clothing in a size 8. WOW…

And to top it off…I got my hair done at lunch! So I am feeling like Hot Stuff today…and every girl should have days like this when they feel like a million bucks!

~J

On a side note…I got a gift card to Old Navy from Misty for my birthday…$50…and let me tell how I spread that puppy out! (thanks to outwear being 50% off and a nicely timed friends and family 30% of discount coupon)
• Black Wool Cropped Pea Coat
• Black light jacket (keeping with the keeping Janna warm theme)
• Fleece PJ pants (you getting the picture?)
• Long Sleeve shirt to go with Fleece PJ Pants
• Thanksgiving day Long Sleeve T-shirt
• And last but not least…a cute new sweater!

THANKS MISTY FOR HALF A NEW CLOSET…and lots of gear to keep me warm!

THANK YOU!

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi

"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland

Unless you change how you are,you will always have what you've got. Jim Rohn

"Confidence is the companion of success." Anonymous

This has been MANY MANY days in the making (554 to be exact) but I have FINALLY reached 90 pounds lost, well 91.2 to be exact. Back in August I thought I was right there. I had hit the 89 pound mark right before I left town to do the 3-Day in Boston. Who KNEW it would take another 105 days to finally hit this milestone?

There have been a lot of learning experiences along the way. I have learned that I can’t be so complacent. That if I want this I need to put my head down and get after it! I think I started taking my success for granted and I thought my body would just finish this journey without me putting too much effort into it. BOY was I wrong! I cannot rest on my laurels and I can not put aside the things that got me to this point. There is a system and it WORKS, I know it works and I have to work it!

So here I am with 17.2 pounds until I reach my goal weight! This time I will not let it take me another 105 days to hit another milestone! My goals will start out small so that I can work towards the big prize! And just for the record…when I hit 100…THERE WILL BE A BIG CELEBRATION and I hope you can all join in! I know that I could NEVER have done this without all the wonderful people in my life who have supported me, cheered me on, picked me up and just in general LOVED ME through this journey!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Some Mini Goals:
• To NOT gain during the Thanksgiving Holiday
• Continue to work the WW plan just how it is written!
• To lose another point on the plan (to get to another decade on the scale)
• To get to 95 pounds lost by Christmas
• To strengthen my lower back so that it doesn’t hurt so bad
• To work on my arms during the “winter” so that by the time it gets here I can wear tank tops and be PROUD
• To Lose 7.2 pounds so that I can apply to work at WW
• To continue going to Boot Camp
• To continue to try new foods and recipes (if you have any…pass them on!)

Until the next time
~J

This Week...

My week in a NUTSHELL!

Ok, so I posted the other day some of the things that I needed to work on this week. I am happy to report that I did ACTUALLY work on them!

This list as of Tuesday:
• Stay within my points (staying away from the extra points)
• Go to Boot Camp and then go above and beyond and get other workouts in
• All 8 Healthy Guidelines EVERYDAY (no exceptions)
• Attend my normal meeting, but then find another one to see if I can get something that I might be missing from my normal meeting
• Try new recipes and foods (keep myself from getting bored and nibbling)
• TRACK, TRACK, TRACK
• Use my message boards to get and give support (that is what they are there for)
• Pay attention to what I do on the weekends...plan ahead!
• Stop beating myself up!

This week I have STAYED within my points! Staying away from the things that have been my down fall in the past. I planned ahead, tried new recipes, stayed away from restaurants and have seen the inside of a grocery store more this week than I have in quite a LONG time! I also jumped in more on the message boards, not as much as I planned but more than I have in awhile! The 8 Good Health Guidelines were checked off everyday well except for the healthy oil on Saturday but I will work on that!

The things I haven’t done yet but I am working on are going to another meeting during the week and I didn’t really get any extra workouts in. Well, I did go a couple of nights with Jason to walk Evie (the dog) which isn’t a 5 minute thing anymore. We take her out walking for at least 30-45 minutes so that she can stretch her legs! And I did go for a little jog the other night so that I could have some hot chocolate!

New Recipes I tried this week!
• Antipasto Salad (thanks to Marissa)
Mix 2 cups drained canned water-packed artichokes, 1c. roasted peppers, 1c. diced zucchini, and 2 tbsp. balsamic vinaigrette.
• Yellow Fin Tuna
• Butternut Squash-this is becoming a favorite!
• Spice Rubbed Pork Chops (thanks www.weightwatchers.com)
• Stuffed Bell Peppers (thanks MOM!)
• Chili that we are having tonight (thanks Jason!)
• Fancy-Schmancy Oatmeal (thanks to the Hungry Girl cookbook)

I am learning that I like to cook...it is really easy when your boyfriend has great cooking equipment!

I am also happy to report that Jason and I went to Fiesta Texas yesterday to play like kids...and we packed our cooler so that we would not be tempted by all of the yummy yet bad foods that they serve there...and we were SUCCESSFUL!! Granted that my lunch did not stay down after a bad choice of roller coaster rides...I knew better but I rode it anyway! But I rallied afterward and we still had fun!

Thanks for being a great support along the way! I could not do this without you!!

Until next time...

~J

Round 1 of Boot Camp...COMPLETE!

“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”


Friday was the last day of my first session of boot camp. It was supposed to be a 4 week session but I jumped in at the start of week 2. So my session was only 3 weeks. Here are my finishing stats for round 1.

Weight Lost-5 pounds
Body Fat- lost 1%
Thigh- Lost 1.4 inches
Hips- Lost 1 inch
Waist-2 inches
Chest- 1/4 of an inch...not that I need to lose ANY more there!

I didn’t get to do the initial assessment but here is what I could do in 1 minute following 3 weeks of boot camp.

Push ups: 32
Squats: 43
Dips: 43
Kettle Bell Swings with 20 lbs-36

Ran ½ mile in 4:57

All in all round 1 of boot camp was a great experience. I had no idea what to expect going in and I learned that I am capable of doing more than I ever thought I could do and I am excited for the start of round 2. Here is to the start of round 2...anyone want to join in?

8 is GREAT!

8 is great!

8 Favorite T.V. shows
1. Army Wives
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Ugly Betty
4. The Starter Wife
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Desperate Housewives
8. Entourage

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Made Pumpkin Pancakes YUMMY!
2. Got lunch packed in a cooler
3. Drove to San Antonio
4. Went to Fiesta Texas
5. Rode Roller Coasters and played like a little kid!
6. Lost my lunch from riding said roller coasters
7. Picked up Fire wood and made a fire
8. Had Hot Chocolate and slept next to said fire!

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Rudy's
2. Z Tejas
3. Beluga
4. Fresh Choice
5. NXNW
6. Cracker Barrel (I KNOW...but I like it!)
7. Trudy's
8. Chuy's

8 things on wish list
1. To get to goal weight!
2. A house
3. A new digital camera-mine has almost had it!
4. Enough money that I don't worry about expenses and have enough to save for a rainy day
5. To finish getting my college degree
6. To see James Taylor in concert
7. Meet Dale Jr :)
8. Go to Seattle

8 people to tag
1. Julie
2. Slip
3. Leslie
4. Jane
5. Shannon
6. Becky
7. Jenny
8. Lely

Believe

So here is my struggle this week. How do I get motivated again to finish this weight loss journey that I am on? I can do REALLY well during the week and then on the weekends I just seem to blow it. Now granted this past week I didn’t really blow it, but I didn’t really do that great either. I stayed within my points with my allotted extra points, but I just didn’t feel like I was doing that great. So my goal this week is simple...well simple is all relative but I am going to do my best to work the WW plan that I signed up for.

• Stay within my points (staying away from the extra points)
• Go to Boot Camp and then go above and beyond and get other workouts in
• All 8 Healthy Guidelines EVERYDAY (no exceptions)
• Attend my normal meeting, but then find another one to see if I can get something that I might be missing from my normal meeting
• Try new recipes and foods (keep myself from getting bored and nibbling)
• TRACK, TRACK, TRACK
• Use my message boards to get and give support (that is what they are there for)
• Pay attention to what I do on the weekends...plan ahead!
• Stop beating myself up!

Ok...there it is, in print, my goals for the week!

I CAN DO THIS! I WILL DO THIS!

“Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will.”
Norman Vincent Peale

I VOTED!

I got up BRIGHT and early this morning so that I could exercise my American right to vote! The alarm started going off around 5:15 and I got out of bed around 5:45. I wanted to make sure that I was able to vote and get to work by 8. I really thought after all I had seen on TV that it would be CRAZY and people would be lined up.

So I got to my polling place at 6:20 with my sweater on and book in hand…and I was FIRST in line. Crazy I know to get there that early but I take my right to vote seriously and I wanted to get it taken care of. So there I am sitting on a bench outside an elementary school reading my book and people were so friendly. Everyone that walked up to join the line had smiles on their faces and Good Mornings for all around. It was great to be a part of!

So 7 o’clock is almost near and they tell us it will be a few minutes they are having technical difficulties. No problem…I am first in line! Well 40 minutes later they finally start letting us in. So here I am first in line…they can’t find me in the system, even though my name is in the book and I have my voters registration card…they ask me to step aside for the polling judge so that he can figure out what is going on…YEAH RIGHT!

The reason for the 40 minute delay was because the ONE electronic machine wasn’t working…the rest of the stations have paper ballots. This polling place is never very organized at the beginning of the day…I have first hand experience! So after about 20 minutes of getting pushed aside I decided to step up and speak up and FINALLY got my sticker printed so that I could VOTE!

VOTING done…very excited about getting my I VOTED Sticker…uh nope! Seems they weren’t in the box and my precinct had none to hand out. What a BUMMER! But I got to VOTE…and that is all that matters!

No matter how you vote I hope that you do because in the end it is our voice and we should let it be heard!

Here is to watching history in the making…ok that is not so true…I won’t actually be watching any of the coverage tonight…we are opting for a movie night! I have had my fill of politics for awhile…I want to wake up and here the news in the morning! In the mean time I am just glad to know that I live in a country where I am free to VOTE!

~J

Speaking My Language!

“Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility and commitment.” –H Ross Perot

Truer words could not be uttered! I ran across this quote on another blog this morning and it SPEAKS to me! Why is it that when we accomplish what we set out to, whether it be a mini goal or we get EXACTLY what we want, we try and sabotage it? I am so guilty of this and I have no idea why I do it. Here lately I am constantly taking 1 step forward to take 2 steps back. I feel like I am trying to catch up all the time. Why not get there enjoy it and move on to the next goal? That is my goal this week. In Weight Watchers speak I am going to stay on plan and stop the end of the day sabotage! That and get my rear to boot camp and go above and beyond that and work in other activities this week!

Here is to learning self-discipline so that I can continue on with my journey!

I WILL GET THERE!

~J

Boot Camp BABY!!

So last Monday morning at the insane hour of 5 AM, I woke up to get ready to attend my first boot camp EVER. For those who don’t know Tammy and Dave gave me a start to paying my new friend Andrew so that I could attend his camp. Tammy has been doing boot camp for a couple of months now. She tried to drag me in back probably in September but it was on the weekends and I had something going on for like 6 weeks straight that would prevent me from being there. I promise it was legit stuff and not just excuses!

So she told me a week before my birthday that she was going to start going to 6 AM boot camps, so I was like...ok why not! I can try and do anything for an hour a day...right? Well the week of my birthday there was too much going on including a weigh in where I was trying to hit my birthday goal so I didn’t want to change my routine for fear of retaining water, so I told her I would start on Monday the 27th.

So there I was up bright and early headed to boot camp not having a CLUE what it would be like. Let me tell you...I worked my hiney off, but it was worth it in the end. I wore my heart rate monitor (which I LOVE) and found out that in the 1 hour of my day that I gave to Andrew that I burned almost 500 calories! 500! That is what I am talking about! I also learned that the asthma is not under control and does NOT like the cold weather that was camped over Austin on Monday morning. No fear though, the inhaler came out and all is MUCH better! That and the “cold” weather is no longer here either!

On Wednesday Andrew also took my measurements and weight as a starting point. I will refrain from sharing the details...they weren’t as pretty as I would have liked, but I need a starting point RIGHT? I will however share the end results in 3 weeks as soon as this round of boot camp is over!

So this boot camp is 3 weeks long on Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s at 6 AM. After boot camp I head over to my office and take a shower in the gym in my building. So for at least 3 days a week I am going to be ON TIME or early for work! (This girl loves her snooze button!) So instead of telling you EVERY grueling detail about all that I did...I will just give you the highlights!

• Running a lap around the track and tennis court without stopping much (this girl is NOT a runner)
• Squats & Lunges until my legs screamed
• Pushups (not a strong suit)
• These ab exercises that KILL
• Drills
• Burpies (never heard of them before, would like to not think about them now!)
• Ladders (exercise drill with partner-big shout out to LuAnn)
• Jumping Jacks
• Dips on bleachers
• Timed drills (which I set my time on and have to improve on)
• Kettle Bell Swings and Rows

So there is just a taste of what I did this week. I am really excited about what this could do to help me get to goal. I have not done near enough of the exercise portion of the program, so now it is time to kick it in gear!

I told Tammy all week that I “hated” her for dragging me in, all in jest. But the truth is I can’t thank her enough for helping me get started!

SO THANK YOU TAMMY!!

I also dragged LuAnn in...so now I have 2 friends there to support me and for me to support...

As soon as Round 1 is over Round 2 starts so for at least the next 7 weeks you guys know where I will be on Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings at 6 AM! Thanks for all the support!!

Until next time!

~J