Skinny Mini Challenge

Alright people, you ready for the "deets"? That would be details for those of you who don't speak slang :) Anyway, the Skinny Mini Challenge is starting January 1st so it's time to lay out the specifics.
So here's the deal. The challenge is a basic contest seeing who can lose the biggest percentage of their current weight....Biggest Loser style. To participate all you have to do is email me with your name, age and current weight. The challenge will run the entire month of January. I'll collect mid-way(Jan 15th) and final weights(Jan 31st). In the end I will do the calculations and crown a winner. The winner gets bragging rights, a trophy (made by yours truly) and a small prize. So rev up the competitive spirit, and let this serve as motivation to kick your weight loss into high gear!
I have 2 ladies who have already contacted me with their info and I can't wait for the rest of you to join us in the fun. If you want to participate, please email me your info no later than Jan 4th at: the_skinnyjeans@yahoo.com Let's do this thing!

Time to Refocus...

Like most everyone, I went off my normal healthy regimine during the holidays. It's hard not to temporarily slide back into old habits. But here's the thing, eating that way made me feel bad. And gross. My body is wondering what the heck I'm doing to it. Sometimes the idea of eating something is more tempting than how it actually tastes. So now's the time to refocus. Set some new goals. Get back on the healthy track and move forward. I'm not waiting for the new year. I'm not waiting for Monday. Each time I eat something it's a choice, good or bad. Time to start making the right ones again. I haven't made all the best choices today, but I did make the choice to go out and run 4 miles. It's a step in the right direction and I can live with that. How is every else doing getting back on track?

Gettin' Revved...

So after my last post about feeling better, I ended up with an ear infection. It just seems like it's never ending. The worst of it seems to be over now (knock, knock on wood). The kids are on the mend and though my hearing is still not back to 100%, I am not in pain anymore. I even managed to get out for a run last night....woo-hoo! I ran a 3 miler in 25:15. My lungs held up okay, but I could tell that I've been sick :) I just needed to get back out there though and start getting back into my pre-holiday season routine. My half marathon is in 12 weeks and I know it will go quickly. My training schedule is 10 weeks long and I am getting so excited to get into it. There's something about having a goal that just revs me up! I even stocked up on sweet potatoes and salad stuff at the grocery store yesterday (for the perfect lunch, in my opinion).
Hope everyone is getting revved to start the Skinny Mini Challenge. I set up my new email for this blog. Feel free to email me directly if you have a question or comment you don't want viewed publicly. For those of you participating in the challenge, remember we're starting Jan 1st so I will need you to email me the following info no later than Jan 4th: Name, Age, & Starting Weight. The email is.... the_skinnyjeans@yahoo.com
Have a great Christmas everyone! And remember.... CONTROL, CONTROL, YOU MUST LEARN CONTROL =)

Update...

Yes, I am alive. I'm feeling better, thankfully, but I wear out so easily right now. I haven't forgotten about the contest either. There are so many things going on with the holidays and everything, I just haven't gotten around to writing about anything lately. Just to give everyone a heads up, the Skinny Mini Challenge will be starting on Jan 1st. As cliched as it is, we might as well use that as our jumping off point. The way things look, we'll be doing a Biggest Loser type competition. (Maybe the next month we'll try something else). Your weigh-in number will be anonymous, so don't start freaking out that I'm going to post names and weights....I won't. All participants will email me their starting stats so it will be private....I may however give nicknames or numbers to everyone. So that's the update. Hope everyone is doing well. Happy Holidays!

Bit by the bug....

Yup, I'm sick. Blech. I've got the body aches, fever, sinus pressure, chills....the whole she-bang. I'm feeling slightly better than yesterday, but not a whole lot. Just thought I'd fill everyone in. The bright side? I don't really feel like eating so maybe I'll drop a few lbs this week...hahaha. Not exactly the best way, but.....
I'll check back in soon. Take care everyone!

Here's the Scoop...

I decided to face the music this morning and step on the scale. I've been avoiding it because I felt really bad about the way I've been eating and thought I was up about 5 lbs. Well, this weeks' better behavior really paid off. I'm only up 1 lb from my lowest weight the day before Thanksgiving! Yipee. What a great feeling. I just had to share the good news. Now I definitely feel like my head is back on straight and I'm on the right path.
Next on the agenda is getting my workouts back in line, which is why I suggested what we're gonna start calling the "Skinny Mini Challenge". Thanks to everyone who responded about participating. Please vote on the type of contest you want me to host, (even if you aren't participating). I still want more people to jump in as well...lets make this a fun endeavor! We're in this journey together, let's have some fun while we're at it.

Did Someone say PRIZE?

So here's the update. I've been doing better. Not totally back on track, but WAY better than I was doing. I'm excited to be exercising again, even if it's not as intense as before. I'll get there again, but for now I'm working out ways to use my time wisely and concentrating on little things instead of the whole picture. Something new I've been trying this week is a mini workout in the evening while my littlest monkey is in the tub. Why didn't I think of this before? Some squats, pushups, basic pilates moves and I'm getting toned up while the kid plays. He thinks it's pretty amusing too (though at 16 months alot of things Mommy does are amusing). My point is....get creative!
On a side note, I'm thinking of doing a little contest. Anyone up for a challenge? I'm not sure exactly what the parameters will be, but I'm open to suggestions. Fitness or weight loss. I'm just curious if anyone is interested. There will definitely be a trophy and bragging rights up for grabs, as well as a small token prize. If I get 5 people who want to participate I'll set something up. Leave me a comment if you want in!

I've Been Thinking...Oooo scary!

Ya'll are getting a second post today! Don't you feel special? Hehehe. No, this is actually a serious post after some soul searching and analyzing. I had one of those "Ah-Ha" moments today while I was doing the dishes. I've been battling the old eating habits and overeating....again. I was trying to figure out WHY. Are you interested? Well, I'm sure it's just one piece of the puzzle, but figuring out some of the reasons WHY I'm hoping will help me avoid sidetracks in the future. Okay, now I'm stalling. I really don't want to cop to this....it's embarrassing.
I want to be lazy and lounge around right now. But I feel guilty if I'm not being productive. I could be cleaning something, folding laundry or any number of things. If I'm taking a "break" to eat something though, THAT'S a legitimate excuse to sit down and veg. Isn't that pathetic? I'm using food as a stalling tactic, just like I used to use cigarettes when I smoked. Throw in some hormonal loveliness and you've got a recipe for disaster.
So enough of this crap! If I'm having a lazy day, so be it. Every once in a while it's okay, continuing on with it is not. Acknowledge and move on! Now. I am not a lazy person, most of the time. I am not going to allow myself to regain any more weight that I've worked so hard to get off in the first place. That is not an option!
So now I think my noggin is back on straight. How is yours doing?

Burnt Out!

So yeah, I'm burnt out. I'm trying to pull myself together and do a small amount of exercise but I have been lacking the drive. I really just want to get back to the basics. The first of the year I'll start back up with the Insanity workouts, but I need a break. And I've decided that 5 days a week is plenty of workout days. With 2 small children and a household to care for, I need to make sure my priorities are in order and I have enough in the tank to take care of my responsibilities. I have no idea what I weigh at the moment and I'm so afraid to find out. So for now I'm taking a break. I'm going to work on getting my focus back. Exercising because I enjoy it, not because I feel like I have to. Eating healthy because it makes me feel good. Doing the things that make me a better wife and mommy. Stay tuned, I'll be back soon!