A Good Day!

Today is a great day! I had my hub snap my 30 day pictures last night. ... .and at first I didn't think there was much to be happy about. You know how last week I was struggling, thinking nothing was happening (that I could SEE). Well, I put the pics side by side and compared. .. and YES!!!! There ARE definite changes!!!! Obviously not as drastic as Miss I Want It Now (ahem: me) would prefer. .. but there IS something happening! So as you can imagine I'm pretty darn excited about it.

I made it through last week, which I have to admit was feeling pretty darn tough to stay with it. My motivation was low, but I kept up with the workouts and the nutrition without doing anything detrimental to myself or the program. ... . though it was definitely difficult. I told myself, 'what else would I be doing and how would I feel if I did that?' (aka: skip workouts, eat bad stuff). ... and knowing the alternative to being good and how that would make me feel (aka: WORSE) kept me going, putting on my workout clothes and pushing play. And now, coming out the other side (aka: feeling good about it all again, motivated etc.) I am SO glad that I didn't let myself get derailed like I have let happen so many times in past.

At the end of last week, Friday, I watched the DVR of a show I've started watching lately, involving one particularly hottie doctor who was once on ABC's The Bachelor. [:> Evil grin] That particular day they were talking about body fat and body composition and all of that. I figured, hey, I've heard it all before, right? Well for the most part I have (we all have - the hard part is putting it into practice on a daily basis!!). But the thing that really got me and motivated me was. ... . they showed physical examples. ... a visual model of what 5 pounds of FAT looks like.... a big, nasty glob of goo roughly the size and shape of your shin from ankle to knee - gross! And then they showed what 5 pounds of MUSCLE looks like. HELLO, it is the size of your closed fist!!! Okay, so who wouldn't be struck by that extreme difference?! I know I was. Who doesn't want the 5 pounds of muscle and the smaller, tighter amount of space it takes up in your body (under your skin) compared to the alternative? HD (Hottie Doctor) also emphasised that diet really is the majority factor in how your body looks. .. . . . and that was another thing that really stuck with me out of this particular episode/show.

Rounding out the week was the Legs/Back workout (with Ab Ripper X). Tough workout. I am stronger every week but some days I just have more oomph to 'Bring It' and I worked out hard and seriously felt the burn in the lower body (still working on those pull-ups - yikes!). Then Saturday I knew I wanted to get out and go running/walking. I took the same route that I did last week (mile of gravel and the mile of hilly paved road). This time I ran the first/gravel mile, then I walked the steep uphill portions of the paved road and ran the downhills or flat portions for the next mile, turned around and did the same returning on the hilly road, and then I ran the whole gravel mile home!! Felt AWESOME (well, as awesome as pushing oneself and sweating to distraction in the humidity/heat can feel, that is - lol). I knew I had worked hard b/c I was feeling it the rest of the evening. I'll tell you what - I was one sore/stiff gal (all lower body, where I certainly need it!) late into the night and most of the day yesterday. Even after my usual recovery drink, which in this case I desperately needed after all that activity and sweating. But it felt GOOD for sure. :>

Just finished making a bunch more copies of my little daily portions cards that I use to track what I eat daily. This really helps me stay on track with my portions and combinations. I'm all set to keep the ball rolling!!! Excited!

Oh, and another "Win" - I resisted the Krispy Kreme glazed donuts and the birthday cake at the office today! They were just sitting in the kitchen, ripe for the plucking, no one else around to see. ... . but I had my mind set that I wasn't even tempted. I kept seeing that 5 pounds of fat in my mind. .. ... So I have to give myself kudos for that - b/c I haven't always resisted in past, but today is MY day to make the good, healthy choice, and I DID IT!

CARPE DIEM people! Today is a GREAT day!!