Half way there, with a smaller neck to show for it

We've hit the halfway point and I don't know what I have to say in a blog entry that I haven't already said? I'm gonna give it a go with some bullet points, though. Sometimes it's easier than trying to form coherent sentences that "flow" together nicely.

* I am currently down 5.3 pounds although I think I've been losing and gaining the same five since the beginning. I'm hoping that at weigh-in on Friday I will be down a little more, even if it's only a tenth of an ounce!

*On that note, I live with my boyfriend who I see everyday and when I asked him if I "looked skinnier" (yes, the kiss of death in a relationship) his answer was, "I dunno. I guess. I mean...I dunno...your neck looks smaller." So apparently I was she-hulk, or a 97 year old woman with a turkey waddle gobbler hanging from below my chin. Rest assured it is gone and I am back to looking like an overweight 26 year old woman with junk in the trunk!

* Because I didn't spend enough time in college and my semester was coming to a close, I felt that I needed to prove myself as an overachiever once more, and went to two classes back to back this past weekend. First, I did cardio pilates at 8:00am on Saturday morning (and may or may not have still been processing the Guinness from Friday's debauchery through my system) and then stayed for Kettlebell afterwards. I was proud of my accomplishments in cardio pilates, seeing as I did not pass out or vomit. Kettlebell, however, was another story. By the time that class came around my body was fatigued and saying "no more, for the love of something, no more!!!"- I persevered and made it through, barely breathing and able to lift my arms above my belly-button, but alas, I won!

* Shannon and I were warriors and conquered the island known as Mackworth through the rain and sleet and impending Tsunami on Friday. Ok, a bit of an exaggeration, but we DID run/walk around the island three times, which equals out to a littler over three miles. Of course as soon as we got home the skies cleared and the clouds parted and all was right with the world.

* I am wondering if my bodybugg is sensing my waning motivation because whenever I upload my calories burned after a workout they seem extraordinarily high, which makes me want to continue to work out because I am my biggest competitor.

- on that note. I have found in the past that when I set goals for myself I usually stop after reaching them and then either a.) remain stagnant at the goal I sent or b) regress to where I was pre-goal. One of the big things for me with this program is knowing that it's "okay" to continue to push myself. I often relish remaining in my comfort zone and a class like cardio pilates has given me the motivation to push through the plateau phase i generally inevitably face.

* I've also been trying to make a conscious effort to at least watch, if not log all my calories consumed. It's hard because I generally dislike eating breakfast, I don't eat any fruit or many vegetables, I avoid red meat and seafood, and I'm pretty picky with everything else (which, really, you think would have the opposite effect and I'd be skinny for lack of food choices, but alas, you are wrong my friend because the world of processed foods and I are tight). I'm a big fan of smoothies that I've been making with frozen fruit (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries), stoneyfield farm yogurt, rice milk and flax seed. A few seconds in the food processor and there's breakfast! If I'm feeling saucy I add some kashi or granola and I'm generally set for a while. Food has always been my biggest weakness and issue so I'm just working on it slowly and seeing what happens. Also, here's a tip -! though it's good to get lots of fiber in your diet, there is a thing as too much...just sayin'.

* I am officially out of work and the economy, as we all know because it's all anyone, including myself can talk about, sucks, and I am broke broke broke. The upside is that I have more free time to work out. The downside, aside from scanning the streets for change and lottery tickets when I walk downtown? - oh, that by the time I'm "romper ready", I won't have the cash money to buy new clothes (let me ease your minds. I am not really intending on wearing a romper this summer, but I feel that it is my personal goal to be able to pull one off because damnnn if you can wear a romper then you've made it in my book)

* I swam laps at Reiche pool today. I had not swam laps since this past fall. I did about 20 lengths which = 10 laps and I felt pretty good. I forgot how much my pseudo troll doll hair hates chlorine and I need to remember a swim cap for next time. also, does anyone want to donate an ipod that you can use underwater to me? no? just thought i'd throw that out there.

That is all, folks who read this, which is really my mom, so mom, I'll talk to you soon!

Happy hump day, everyone!

-Alex-