Thriving Thursday

Nothing Thriving about this week except that I have lost my appetite. All I have to say is this week is... Bronchitis

Workout Wednesday

Now that the gym has changed classes, my workout routine has changed.
Here is my new schedule:

Monday Zumba 5:30 - 6:30
Tuesday Core and More 5:30 - 6:15 Turbo Kick 6:30 - 7:15 Wednesday Body Pump 5:20 - 6:30 Zumba 6:30 - 7:15
Thursday Core and More 5:30 - 6:15 Treadmill 30 mins
Friday Zumba 5:15 - 6:00
Saturday Zumba 11:00 - 12:00 (If I feel like it)
Sunday Free

Truthful Tuesday

I have been really down on myself lately - not sure why.

It could be because I'm sick and I gained weight.

I've been detoxing for 2 days though and I'm losing most of what I gained.

Lets hope for the best!

Moody Monday

(This week I am not writing Mmmmmm Monday because I have to bitch) (Wednesday I will not whine, it will be Workout Wednesday instead)

So I left Thursday evening to go visit my bestie in Boston. When I left, I weighed 255.8. I was ecstatic and I knew I didn't want to ruin my progress on this trip. I worked out one day, and Kevin and I were pretty active the whole time. I drank during the trip, but never to the point of drunk. I had one bad dinner and a piece of birthday cake. The rest of the trip I was fine. I expected to maintain or gain at the most 2 pounds.

Well this morning I weighed in and it was 262. I gained 7 pounds in 3 days. I have never even gained that much, even when I have spent a weekend binging! How is this possible?!

Seeing that number on the scale made me so discouraged. I know this will be a life long battle, but it is so upsetting to know that I basically have to hide in my house until the weight is gone.

I am going to only eat fruits and veggies for the next 3 days to detox my body. Hopefully this is just a weird day, and I can get the weight off fast!

Shrinking Sunday

So I was not able to weigh in today since I am in Boston. I was staying in a house of twinks, so they have no need for a scale since they know they will never weigh more than 100 pounds. The weigh in will have to wait till next week. As of Thursday morning, I was 255.8 and it was awesome! So as of Thursday I was down 2.3 pounds! I don't think my body likes the 250s - I'm ok with that! I'm hoping that next week is another wonderful week!

I also have to say something weird - this is the first time I have spent a weekend out of town and I don't feel like I completely ruined my weight loss. I even worked out one of the days. I have never done with that before!

Here's to change!

Sweet Sweet Saturday

Welp - nothing sweeter than this Saturday! Kev and I were lazy in the morning then walked around Boston harbor for a little bit. It was the windiest but super pretty! We also went to panera and played words with friends....we are the coolest! Kev and I can pretty much have a great time in all situations! We then hung out at his house with Jon (his wonderful boyfriend that I love love love). Kev's bday party was later in the night at a divey karaoke bar. It was cheap and reminded me of a Pittsburgh bar! We had a great time. I love Kevin's friends. Everyone is sooooo fun and my face hurt from laughing! The party was a success and I've decided I never want to leave! I love myself some Boston - almost as much as my Pittsburgh!

I didnt get the memo that we were taking a serious picture....fail!

Fashion Friday

HAPPY BDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND KEVIN! I am currently in Boston visiting my bestie - Mr. Kevin Long. I flew in Thursday and surprised him. Since it is his bday, I decided to let him guest blog. Being gay, Kev has a good eye for fashion and he loves himself some jeans. So since every week I blab about women's fashion, I decided to let Kevin talk a little bit for the male readers out there.

Ghost Writer - Shmev (justapicture.blogspot.com)

Well, gentlemen readers, we need to talk about Jeans. I love a good pair of jeans. I would rather lounge in jeans than in sweatpants (I know, I know...how queeny must I be?) I will stray away from talking skinny gay jeans. Lets just talk JEANS THAT FIT! Seeing the ginormous jeans that high school boys wear makes me sad, but I can understand why they do it. Now, grown men on the other hand...there is no excuse for jeans that don't fit you. Sorry...there isn't one.

Here is an example of very attractive guys with jeans that don't fit...



Your jeans don't have to be tight and uncomfortable to fit and look good! Here are some things to keep in mind when you go to buy jeans:

1- Know your waste size...and buy that size
2- no pleats or cargo pockets or loopy things
3- no whiskering or much distressing if you're out of college (holes, too)
4- dark jeans can be dressed-up or down. They will go a long way
5- SLIM STRAIGHT LEG...not Baggy...or Loose...or Flared. Slim isn't skinny, don't worry!
6- they should rest on your heel when you have on shoes

Here's an example of a simple pair of jeans that any straight man could pull off...


Come on men, lets start to wear some nice-fitting and APPROPRIATE jeans

-Kevin

p.s. just for fun... DAD JEANS...

Thriving Thursday

This has been a happy week as far as health. I am so happy about my progress. I have been eating less and realizing that I am not thinking about food as much which is a weird feeling! I'm def over my 20 pound loss after this week (unless I eat 6 cakes this weekend). I'm hoping my new feelings are indication of a shift in lifestyle. If every week is like this then I'll have a lot more Thriving Thursdays!

Smooches!

Whiny Wednesday

I have a lot to whine about, but nothing I want to put on the internet. Lets just say things aren't going well professionally. Hopefully I will fix things sooner than later. I want to get a job and retire there....

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I feel like I've lost my spirit! You know its a big deal when I am having trouble smiling. I am going to be ok.

Side note - Things are going well on the scale this week :)

Truthful Tuesday

I feel like I'm always pretty truthful, so I always have to try to come up with something for Tuesdays. Something that keeps coming up today is compliments and I LOVE THEM. I don't want to sound conceded, but it is so nice that people are starting to notice that I have lost weight. Today I fit into a pair of brown pants that I have not worn in a long time, and people commented on my weight loss all day. I don't see the weight loss, but my clothes and people's reactions are helping keep me see the change. It sounds really shitty to say I need compliments, but it really pushes me to work harder and lose more! Sorry if I sounds self involved - but I guess having a blog is pretty self involved anyway haha.

Mmmmmmmmmm Monday

So I decided to document a typical day in the life of an Allison meal plan.

Breakfast
Vitatop - 100 Calories
Apple - 80





Snack
Banana - 110



Lunch
Canned Chicken - 140
Light Mayo - 16
Special K Cracker Chips - 110
Springtime Spinach Mix - 40



Snack
Almonds - 180
Light Cheese Stick - 80
Carrots - 35




Dinner
English Muffin - 100
Reduced Fat Cheddar - 84
2 Eggs - 140
Yogurt - 100





Total Calories - 1,315

Shrinking Sunday

Current Weight: 258.1
Weekly Loss: - 0.1
Loss-to-Date: 17.9

(I'm realizing that my body really holds weight the week before my period starts....next week I will be down more....working for over 20 pounds lost!)

Sweet Sweet Saturday

I'm an animal hoarder.......


I'm watching my parents dogs till Monday (since they are moving Billy to Chicago) and so my new roomies are Max, Fergie, Nico and Bea. 4 dogs is toooooo much! How do these people on animal hoarders even function? 4 smaller dogs in my 3 floor town home is making me nutty and animal hoarders have 50+ animals in a trailer. Weirdest!

So that sums up my day!

Not the sweetest Saturday I must say!

Fashion Friday

So, I have decided to give Janet another guest blog since she is still in PA visiting. She is pretty much the funniest person ever, so I want to get as much as I can out of her while she is here. So she decided to write about full bum undies - personally my favorite - specifically a pack of Hanes Her Way (Sexy I know). So here is Janet (A thin woman who still loves the big panties).

I love full butt underwear. I just love them. What I don't love is thongs. Butt cheeks are friends and want to be together. People, usually thin women, say they like thongs because full butt underwear gives them a weggie. I don't understand this because a thong is a weggie that won't go away. The other complaints are that bigger underwear give you panty lines and they hang out of your pants. I say "oh well" to that one. Sorry society - I'm a lady and I wear underwear. Also, thongs hang out of your pants too. When you see thong hanging out of someone's jeans, your eyes are drawn to it immediately because it looks like some weird bungee underwear contraption. There are beautiful options for full butt underwear - lace, ruffles, seasonal themes and funny sayings. Bigger underwear have come a long way since the days of buying a new pack at K-Mart. Although I do still like to pick up a pack every once and a while for old times sake. What I'm saying here is don't feel bad for liking full butt underwear. It's fashionable, comfortable and you can go for a jog without feeling like you are being sawed in half.

xo,
Jan

Thriving Thursday

I would have to say that I am doing well changing my lifestyle. I may eat poorly one day, but I am learning how to not let it destroy me. This has always been my biggest challenge and I think I'm finally realizing that I don't have to be all or nothing! My major focus now is on my weight and health. In the past when I would start a diet or new workout routine, so many things were more important. I would say yes to going out drinking multiple times a week, I would never say no to a meal in a restaurant and I would always pick a sedentary activity over any movement. Even when I am doing something I shouldn't (drinking and eating pizza), I am thinking of when I will workout extra or cut calories later. I feel focused and for the first time in my life, I feel like this is it - I am going to reach my goals - even if it takes a while!

Whiny Wednesday

.....Whiny Whiny Whiny.....

I'm kinda annoyed about how off track I get on the weekends and if I drink then I'm off track for days or a week. I wish I was normal and could have a good time without feeling the repercussions for a week. I like drinking and going out. I live alone and I don't do much/see people, so the one night a week I decide to go out, I would like to enjoy it and be a little crazy. I am aware that I dont have to always get drunk, and I don't always get drunk, but I really like being drunk haha. Here is a good article about depression and alcohol. I am fully aware about what alcohol does to my seratonin levels, so you would think this would be enough to stop me from drinking....but NO.

It has been proven that alcohol causes depression.Depression is ongoing feelings of hopelessness, sadness, unhappiness, and causes a bleak outlook on life. And when you are suffering from depression you can't be at the top of your game. It is hard to function in high gear when you are fatigued and are experiencing a general lack of interest, also caused by depression. It may also be important to point out here that depression causes anxiety. So many who suffer from depression will also have episodes of anxiety. Since alcohol is a known depressant, it stands to reason people with depression shouldn't drink. This applies to people suffering from manic depression as well. Studies have shown that doctors miss diagnosing correctly roughly 65% of people who are depressed. The depression caused by alcohol actually starts with your physical body. First, alcohol lowers the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. These chemicals are the chemicals that give you your good feelings - a feeling of well being, and they help you to feel normal. The anti-depressant drugs were designed build these chemicals back up. After a long drinking career, since alcohol can take these brain chemicals down to ground zero, it can take a long time for the anti-depressants to bring these brain chemical levels back to where they need to be. Alcohol also temporarily nullifies the effects of stress hormones. This is why after drinking you feel worse than ever, because alcohol depresses your nervous system and your brain. A study was done that followed people who were only drinking one drink a day and after these people stopped drinking for 3 months, their depression scores improved. And that is only at one drink a day, so it is easy to imagine the impact the kind of volume an alcoholic takes in every day can have.Alcohol all but wipes out every vitamin in your system after a drinking session. A folic acid deficiency will contribute the brain aging and in older people, dementia. The folic acid deficiency also contributes to overall depression. Further, the alcohol in your system also breaks down and peeds the elimination of antioxidants in your blood. Antioxidants are critically important to our health because antioxidants fight free radicals and free radical damage causes diseases and aging. Our immune system actually creates the antioxidants which then neutralize the free radicals. Alcohol can activate a gene that has been linked to depression and other mental issues. The result of this activation can cause not only depression, but seizures, and manic depressive episodes as well.Although the majority of problem drinkers associate depression with their mental and emotional states, the fact is this kind of depression originates in your physical body's response to drinking alcohol.

Reference
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Alcohol-Causes-Depression&id=1294741

Truthful Tuesday

I decided that I do much better when I am on my diet and working out. Once I get lazy and start eating fat and laying on the couch, I become disorganized and flustered. I am clumsy and irritable. All I want to do is sleep and when I have to complete a task, I get stressed really easy. This picture of me is a good representation of whats going on in my head when I am unhealthy. Everything is hard and on top of it, I am upset with myself for giving up! This might seem extreme, but it is Truthful Tuesday so I feel the need to expose my crazy haha!

Mmmmmmmmmm Monday

Sooooooooooo

Jan Jan is visiting and she is going to be my guest writer for the night! She knows way more about "Mmmmmmmmm" than I do......

Before 2007, I thought dieting was getting diet ranch instead regular ranch. If I didn't feel like I was going to pass out by the time I left a restaurant, it wasn't a good meal. My metabolism slowed down and I started packing on the pounds around age 25. I joined Weight Watchers first in 2007 and then again in 2011. They made me realize that diet food could be delicious (and also filled with chemicals) but mostly delicious. My favorite diet snack is a diet version of tomato, mozzarella and basil.

2 Roma Tomatos
Fresh Basil
1 Wedge of Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss
Salt
Peper

1. Slice 2 roma tomatoes
2. Tear off small pieces of basil for each tomato slice
3. Smear a small amount of laughing cow cheese onto of each slice of tomato and basil
4. Salt and pepper to taste

Voila! Fancy diet food.

xo,
Jan

Shrinking Sunday

Current Weight: 258.2
Weekly Loss: 1.4
Loss-to-Date: 17.8

The week of depression and binges was turned around and into a loss!

Sweet Sweet Saturday

Well today was amazing because I picked up Janet at the airport! Having Janet home just makes me calm and happy! I absolutely love her and she makes me smile the whole time we are together. It is so rare to have such an amazing friend for so long! I am lucky!

I also went to dinner with my family. It was really nice. I didn't eat a ton and I didnt feel gross and full after our meal. We had awesome conversation and some wonderful drinks and cocktails. Billy moves to Chicago with his wonderful girlfriend Sarah next week. I am happy for them but selfishly sad for me. I was really looking forward to Billy moving back to PGH at some point and us getting super close. I have always been jealous of siblings that are besties! I'm sure it will happen eventually!

Fashion Friday

I have always been jealous of people who can look nice in lounge clothes/sweats. When I am lounging around I usually look sick or homeless. I think the reason I feel that I can't pull it off is that overweight people are seen as lazy and unhealthy, so when you put the sweats on top of that, they just look like they have given up. I'm hoping when my body is tight and healthy, I will be able to feel pretty in sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Thriving Thursday

So I was talking to Kevy on the phone earlier and I was complaining that I don't have much to talk about for Thriving Thursday. This has been a pretty crappy week - body and mind. I was going to write about the fact that I put on a pair of size 20 jeans today. I have been wearing size 22 for a while now and this morning I didn't have any clean size 22 jeans. I decided to venture into my drawer of jeans that don't fit. If you're like me and your weight has changed so much, you probably have every size in your closet. I have sizes 12-22 in my closet so when I lose I don't have to go shopping, I just have to open a different dresser drawer. Well I felt good in a smaller size and I said bye to size 22! I also took a minute to look through the drawer of smaller sizes and I realized that I really want to fit back into some of those jeans cause they are cute. This was a new motivation for me that I have never tried before. I was in those smaller jeans before so I know I can be there again!

As good as that was, something Thriving Thursday worthy did happen tonight. I got home from my professional development, it was cold and raining and the couch consumed me. I started to feel tired and I felt the emotional eating urge coming on. I was going to drive down to the dollar general and buy something yummy and definitely unhealthy to eat. I was going back and forth about it. I thought about how little I have worked out this week and how I had a bad binge earlier in the week. On one hand I said "Allison, stop, remember how shitty you felt a few days ago after your binge," on the other hand, my all or nothing attitude said "Well, your week has been so shitty, whats one more day of eating crap?!" This is one time my laziness helped me out. I had just pushed play on my DVRed Biggest Loser from Tuesday and I didn't want to get up to go to the store. After a few minutes of watching Biggest Loser, I started to feel motivated (naturally). All the sudden, I paused the TV and I went to the kitchen and made tuna salad and ate it with flax seed crackers. I also had 2 huge glasses of water and a banana. I took control of the situation and I feel happier and healthier for my decision. Everyday will thrive if I can get rid of the ALL OR NOTHING attitude!

Whiny Wednesday

Man oh man! I couldn't possibly have more to whine about today! This has just been a horrible week. Here is everything I'm upset about right now:

• I have been mid panic attack since about 12:30 today. I haven't had a panic attack in so long so this has been pretty upsetting.
• My job is sucking this week. The unit has been so understaffed this week that I haven't been able to teach anything. I am so stressed and I'm not making enough money to make this stress worth it!
• My dogs are not trainable! I have been working on them peeing on the pee pad when it is in a tray so they don't get it on the tiles. Well - they are peeing everywhere and they are ripping the pee pads out of the pan! So frustrating!
• I have lost all motivation for eating well and working out. Tomorrow I will be back at it. I need to get out of this funk
• Its rainy and cold and my feet wont warm up from my walk from the bus.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Truthful Tuesday

Instead of "Truthful Tuesday" I think I'm going to call this "I fucked up Tuesday." So - Yesterday is what you would call a bad day. I was exhausted at work and didn't feel well. I decided to come home after work to either lay down or workout at home. Instead I went to the dollar general and bought mac and cheese and peanut butter cups. I ate the whole box and half the bag of cups. This is even hard for me to type because I am so ashamed of my binge. I haven't binged in so long. Even when I have eaten an unhealthy item, I have been able to control myself and not eat a ton of it. Well - not this time! After I ate, I was very aware of the difference I felt. I felt like my stomach was extended and I couldn't breath. I felt nauseous and sad. I even started to cry, asking myself why I do this. Since Friday's burger and alcohol fest, I have been off course. Even today, after my horrible night, I still forgot to pack my lunch and got a burger from the cafeteria. I feel more sluggish and depressed when I eat shitty. Luckily I have a 90 minute Zumba class tonight - Hopefully that will snap me back into a routine!

Mmmmmmmmmm Monday

So not much exciting has happened in the food category. When I get serious about eating healthy, my meals become pretty boring and basic. I usually eat the same things all the time. Right now, my favorite thing to have for lunch is canned chicken mixed with light mayo on top of baby spinach. I also discovered the Special K chips in sour cream and onion which are pretty awesome and you get 30 for a serving (the sea salt tastes a bit like chemicals...warning) This meal really fills me up and I usually avoid the afternoon hanger (hungry anger) (credit to Janet on that one). Here is my normal lunch.

Goals

Here are my goals for this week:
(writing this post is really just to organize my own thoughts)

• Monday - Zumba @ 5:30, groceries, pick up prescriptions
• Tuesday - Core and More @ 5:30, laundry
  
• Wednesday - Body Pump @5:20, Zumba @ 6:30
• Thursday - Professional Development, Post Office, Kettlebells @ home
• Friday - Zumba @ 5:00, clean house
  
• Saturday - Pick up Jan at the airport @ 9:30, snuggle Janet and her mama!
• Sunday - Yoga @ 12:00
  

Shrinking Sunday

Current Weight: 259.6
Weekly Loss: 1.6
Loss-to-Date: 16.4

Why hello 250s...nice to meet you

Sweet Sweet Saturday

Well there was nothing sweet about this day. I was up drinking from Friday night till Saturday at around 9 when I got a cab home. Clearly I think I am a rock star. Well I came home and slept for a few hours and then I went with my mom to Dozen bakery to pick up cupcakes for a baby shower. I was in a wonderful bakery and I didn't get anything to eat! It was partially the hangover but also my lack of interest in sweets at the moment. (Sidenote - Friday we went to a burger and milkshake restaurant and Andrea and Travis got milkshakes and I controlled myself and didn't get one. I was having self control, but I also realized how unhealthy the burger was and I was scared to eat 2 bad things) Later in the day I did order a Pizza to try to cure my hangover and it def helped. No salad is going to get you over a hangover like that! Well - the day was spent on my couch watching TV and trying not to die. Blah!

Fashion Friday

So - One of the hardest things to do when you're overweight is to look good naked. Even if you have the most confidence in the world, we all feel vulnerable when the clothes come off - Even when our significant other is attracted to us. A lot of the overweight people out there are having sex in the dark under the covers. Don't you look forward to the day when you don't have to hide? Well in the meantime, I think we should try to feel as sexy as possible in our bodies that we have NOW. Most women hold weight in their stomachs, so I would suggest covering your stomach up because you will fell much more confident moving around. I like the one piece baby doll type dresses called chemises. I also like anything that has a shaper in it. Torrid.com has come cute lingerie that will cover up the parts of our body that aren't the prettiest! Here are some of my favorites sexy bedroom wear from torrid.com!

Thriving Thursday

Soooo....something new happened today. I had a teacher meeting and that usually means food food food. Well I promised myself I wasn't going to have any of the fatty goodness! If I stuck to that promise then it would have really been a thriving day. Of course I gave in and had pizza and a cookie....horrible! BUT now for the thriving part. A month ago eating that food would have put me into a downward spiral. I would have eaten that food, skipped the gym and ordered takeout when I got home. BUT I DIDN'T. After eating the pizza, I automatically thought to myself that I didnt want to go to the gym and I was thinking of excuses to get out of it. Then I snapped out of it and forced myself to go to the gym. I also only had a banana for dinner since I ate so poorly earlier.

This blog has really made me think about where I was and where I want to go. Reflecting on my days and my ups and downs really helps me prepare for the hard times. I am trying really hard to not be all or nothing with my healthy lifestyle. I know that food is an addiction. Like today - just the taste of pizza instantly made me want PJs and a couch. I am addicted to pizza and the laziness that comes with it (even if it makes me depressed and tired). Fatty foods are like heroin to me - I know that now.

Whiny Wednesday

I have a sinus infection. Thats reason enough to whine. I am stuffy, coughing and I keep getting sinus pressure headaches. I am on antibiotics and after I'm done with them, I am supposed to start taking a steroid nose spray to try to prevent anymore infections. Waaaa! I get sinus infections all the time, so I am used to the annoying symptoms. Luckily I haven't been super dizzy during this infection because if I was then I wouldn't be able to workout. I did 2.5 hours at the gym today so that was pretty awesome! I did BodyPump and Zumba. BodyPump is becoming my new obsession. I actually did 2 real push ups today. I can tell I am getting stronger. Oh wait....I'm supposed to be whining.....waaaaaaaaaaa.

Truthful Tuesday

I am feeling discouraged. I know I had a good weight loss last week, but I can't seem to break into the 250s. I weighed in Sunday at 261 as you saw, but then I woke up on Monday at 266 - what the fuck! Every other time I have been this dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, I have lost weight a lot faster. Its so hard to put so much work in and teeter-totter all over the 260s. I know I have destroyed my metabolism since I have been dieting off and on since 7th grade. I am going to try and eat more and jump start my metabolism again.

Here are some tips on jump starting your metabolism that I am going to try:
(according to http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/12ways.htm)

• Eat breakfast
• Eat the majority of your food earlier in the day
• Don't starve
• Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day
• Get enough aerobic activity
• Build muscle with weight training and resistance exercise
• Water!
• Vitamin B
• Supplements for fatigue

Smooches