Watch this!

My mom and I watched this this last weekend. It's hilarious and ridiculous all at the same time!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Awesome

WHAT WHAT!!

I have watched everything I've eaten this week, unfortunately I haven't been able to go to the gym, but I have managed to lose a whopping THREE POINT ONE POUNDS!!!! Sure it could be water weight, whatever, but i'm taking it and I'm proud to say that I am back in the 180's!!!

stuffed sausage anyone?

That's what I feel like today, and most days recently. I feel like a stuffed sausage. My newest clothes are starting to feel a tad snug and it's pissing me off actually. Yesterday I realized that the month we had planned on starting... something... is quickly approaching, so it's down to business!! I have GOT to lose at least 15 pounds, 20 would be better, in the next few months. I'm giving it all I've got for the next 2 months, that's not a lot of time, I can totally stay strong for that long, and then I can slow down a little, but of course keep working at it. Dawn gave some good advice today, "ONE pound at a time and ONE meal at a time," which duh, I know. But it really is important to remember that and it really helps!! Especially when you look at the total that you need to lose, it can sometimes feel unreachable. But I can totally lose one pound and eat one healthy meal at a time. Thanks Dawn!

And did ya notice? I lost .5 this week!! HA! It's something, not much, but it gives me hope.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Sorry for the disturbance in my posts. I recently got a new job and haven't had time to post.

But now down to business.

HOW, have I let myself gain almost TEN POUNDS?! HOW?! What was I thinking?! Why am I self sabotaging.

This week I started working out in the morning. And I'm actually doing Corinne's routines, early in the morning. It's hard. I'm not a morning person. And that's a lot of movement for 7 am. But I've decided it's the best thing to do right now. So that all sounds great right? Well it would be great if I could STOP EATING. I have been starving throughout the days, and at night, I pretty much eat whatever I can get my hands on. Therefore negating all my hard work that I woke up so early for. So today I got on the scale. I've know that I've been flirting with the 190's again. But I didn't realize I was actually back in them! This morning I weighed 190.5. That's right. The last time I wrote down my weight I was 184.9. But I had weighed unofficially and had hit 182.9, which was my 40 pound loss mark. So now I'm up, a lot!

So today I got back on Sparkpeople and wrote down everything I am eating, and tomorrow I will go grocery shopping so I can start eating healthy again, and get all this stupid weight off me. I'm so disappointed in myself. I also took my measurements, I've gained 7.75 inches total since November. YUCK. So now that I've got the working out thing going really well, I have to get the eating thing down. And I'm going to. Next week I will be loving the 180's again. Even if it is 189.9. I will be 160 by this summer.

Eh, forget NyQuil, give me some codeine

NyQuil really doesn't cut it when you have a hacking cough. But cough syrup with codeine, now that's some pretty good stuff. Ok, not really. I still woke up about every 4 hours trying to cough up my lungs, but it did better than NyQuil. Last night was the first night in a week that I have slept straight through. I woke up earlier than normal because of the cough, but it wasn't 1.30, or 2.30 or, 3.30 or 4.30, like the past few nights, so I was pretty happy. Maybe tonight I can make it without taking any medicine at all. Maybe...

Today was supposed to be my big back to the grind day. And by grind, I mean gym. But with the stress of starting a new job, I decided I didn't feel like going. So I came home so I could blog. I'm not as freely able to mess around at my new place. So basically I made an excuse to not go. But this is the last one. I just have to make it through this week. I just have to go everyday from here until Saturday and I will be back in the groove. It's always the starting back up that's the hardest. So wish me luck.

Nyquil take me away....

I'm so sick. I've been sick since Thursday, and now it's getting worse. Now I have a cough that won't let me sleep, well, my favorite little red bottle helps me sleep, but in order to not cough throughout the night, I have to sleep sitting up. Yeah, it's as comfy as it sounds. So not only do I have a killer cough, stuffy nose, headache, body aches, but now my back is sore from my sleeping posture. UGH, I hate being sick. Oh, and the worst part... In the mornings I get to cough up all the nasty green phlegm in my chest, and that's fun. So needless to say, I have not worked out at all. Nor have I really worried about what I'm eating. I'm not eating horribly, but I'm not really paying attention. I'm just too tired and sick to care right now.

And I'm pretty sure if I keep coughing like I am, the other designers here are going to ask me to go home. I would love to go home, but I don't have any more sick time and I already took 2 unpaid days this pay period, so I can't afford to take another. Man, I hate this cold.

I'm baaaaack!

That's right ladies, I'm back from my lovely vacation to my parent's house in Southern California. While I was there, the same question kept coming back to me... "Why do I live in Utah?" Especially when the weather is nearly perfect in CA. We went to the beach on Christmas (we always do, but this year we didn't have to bundle up! It was perfect) We sat in the sun, went to Santa Barbara, slept, ahhhh, we had such a nice break!

Now, you might be wondering how my eating and working out went? Well, why would you ask such a stupid question?!! It was HORRIBLE! I ate whatever I wanted and didn't think about it. I went for a few walks, but when I really tried to go get some actually physical activity, my parent's pulled the old "You're only going to be here a few more days, don't you want to go to eat at that really good place instead?" Yeah, I fell for it. It's ok, I'm back. I'm back in my old routine and will be sticking to it. I WILL lose those last 20 pounds, even if it's 25 pounds now. (I'm too scared to check, I'm going to give it a week or 2 before I weigh).

As I am wasting time reading blogs, instead of working, I am noticing that many people are posting their goals for the year. I don't like making new goals for the year. I never have. I thinks it's lame (not that the goals people are making are lame, I just don't like doing it myself). So I'm not going to do that. But I do have a goal, can you guess what it is? Yup, lose the weight. I've watched those Jenny Craig commercials with Valerie Burtineli saying she isn't going to resolve to lose weight this year. Wouldn't that be nice. Maybe next year... hopefully!

Music makes me dance in my chair

Yup, you heard me. Music makes me dance in my chair, at the office. And sometimes I make hand movements. And when I get really rambunctious, I throw my arms up in the air. Usually that fun little move is reserved for when I'm the only one at the office, but not always.

So as I think I've mentioned previously this week, I have NOT been working out. This week has been crazy busy with work and getting ready to go to California for the next week. I didn't really think I missed it, until I put on my headphones and started listening to my most recent and most favorite workout play list. (Thanks to my friend Megan for her "Mixed Tape" of great music) Man, I hate not working out for this long a period of time. It's been almost a full 2 weeks since I've been to the gym. That's disgusting. I had all these big plans for yesterday, but then there was too much to do at home in preparation for vacation. I can't wait to get out of here and have nothing to worry about, even if it is only for a week, so maybe I can start working out again.

I have all these amazing images of myself running through my parents neighborhood, listening to my ipod, just feeling the road.... yeah, it's probably not going to be as glorious as my imagination makes it look, but still, I can't wait.

Sweet Nector of the Gods

This afternoon at work we had a Christmas party. Whose brilliant idea was it to have everyone bring in Greek food, you might ask? Well that was MY great idea!! Yes, the food was amazing and in great supply. WHY is it that I overeat whenever I am eating somewhere other than my house? Interesting or completely absurd? Yeah, I say the latter of the two as well. But I loves me so greek food, so I ate. The food itself wasn't so bad, it was the small slice of pecan pie I had after and the bag of sweet chex mix that I also partake of and the bag of homemade toffee that I plan on partaking of later tonight. Ahhhh..... I hate the freaking holidays.


And kinda love them all at the same time.

Christmas Challenge: Week 12 Weigh In and Rants

Well holy crap ladies, it has been a rough ride these last few weeks. I am STRUGGLING to get back to eating clean and healthy, especially when my friend gives me a whole bag of homemade toffee and I worked until 9 without dinner. Oops, the bag is gone. I ate the WHOLE thing in one day! My weigh in was pitiful. I lost .2 lbs last week. And to be quite honest, I'm shocked that I did even that! It'd been a week full of chocolate covered nuts and other office goodies. This week has been a little better, except for the aforementioned bag of toffee. Although I haven't been able to get to the gym because I've been at work until 10 the past 2 nights. And it looks like tonight will be a repeat performance. But tomorrow, just wait, tomorrow I will hit the gym hard. I haven't been lifting as regularly as I used to. It's been a good 2 weeks since I did and that makes me sick. So tomorrow night, it's on.

Now let me explain why my workouts have been scarce the last week. Not only am I working late, but my husband finished the semester so he doesn't have to do homework every night. Which means he's home and available to play! Sure we don't really do anything, but I really like him and like spending time with him. During the semester, I don't really see him. He goes to the print lab just about every night and doesn't get home until about 10. So now that he's home for a few weeks, I want to see him as much as possible. Sure that could be an excuse to not workout, but I think it's a legitimate one.

On Saturday my husband and I are going home, to my home, Southern California, to visit my parents. We will be there until the 31st, and I am a wee bit panicked about eating healthy and especially working out. My mom has been doing Weight Watchers for EVER so the food options aren't really that bad, but our neighbors bring goodies over and I'm out of my controlled environment, so it's hard. I'm hoping my Gold's gym membership will be good in CA, so I can go to the gym while I'm there. I have big plans of waking up and going to the gym first thing. We'll see if that happens.

Christmas Challenge: Week 11 Weigh In

Another one bites the dust! One pound lost this last week. Not sure how that happened, given that I didn't eat very well or workout that much this week, but I'm pretty happy about it!

The beauty of smaller jeans!

Feast your eyes on my fat thighs! HA! They kinda look bigger than I want them to, but that's the purpose of this whole thing right?! But here's the size 12 jeans purchased this weekend.

Christmas Challenge: Week 10 Weigh In

Down .2!HA!.2 That's ridiculous, according to my brother. But it's something! So I'll take it. And to top it all off, I bought my first pair of size 12 jeans since I was a senior in high school. That's 10 years that I have been bigger than a size 12! This is BIG news people!! I didn't even have an "skinny pants" in that size. My skinny size was a 14. That feels pretty freaking cool, if I do say so myself.

Thankgiving and the tree

My husband and I went to visit his family in Idaho for Thanksgiving. It was fun, cold, but fun. It's a Shirley family tradition to go up to the mountains for trees the day after Thanksgiving, so here's our tree. Oh, and you bet your arse I went shopping on Black Friday! I got a Kitchenaid and a bunch of clothes, it was so fun and the deals were AMAZING! Sure we left the house at 4:54 am, but it was so worth it. The finniest part is, we didn't buy a single thing for anyone but ourselves! No Christmas gifts were purchased, HA!

Christmas Challenge: Week 9 Weigh In

Nope, I'm not gonna do it. I was out of town on Friday, so I couldn't weigh, and I just know that I gained last week, so I'm not going to weigh today either! I can't do it! Although, I do have to go to the doctor this afternoon, so I will HAVE to be weighed there, although it won't really count cause I'll have all my clothes on!

So I'm back on track this week, kinda. Yesterday was my birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! So my husband and I went to the Cheesecake Factory. So not only was Thursday a bad eating day, but Friday was bad, Saturday was not as bad, but not good and Sunday was bad too! Ah crap! And they are bringing in a pie for my birthday today at work, so today won't be as stellar, but it will be better than the last few days.

I have tons of pics to post of my weekend, but I forgot the cord for my camera, so I can't download them today. I'll try and get that tomorrow.

a few issues....

As I was at the gym last night, working my little buns off, a few issues came to my mind that I think need to be seriously discussed. If possible I would like a memo to go out to all the gym goers at the Bountiful Gold's Gym, so they will be able to correct their annoying behavior.

1. Is it really necessary for men, or women for that matter, to put on cologne, perfume OR scented lotion BEFORE a workout? I think not. I find it offensive and extremely annoying when I am running and the smell of patuolie (I can't spell that right), peppermint and just plane stank hit me in the face because mister slick decided to chose to use a treadmill TWO down from me. OK, if I can smell you from 2 treadmills away, there is a problem! Now don't get me wrong, I understand the smell of BO at the gym. I get it, I often times get a wiff of myself and hope those next to me can't smell the wretced smells coming from me, but when it's mixed with other VERY strong scents, I want to vomit. OR at least move away, which I have done in the past.

2. I understand that there is a limited amount of space to stretch at my gym, but when there isn't anyone but me there, there is NO need to sit right next to me and proceed to place your foot in my FACE while stretching. Literally this stupid chick had her foot 2 inches from my face. I was there first, there was plenty of room for her to sit an appropriate distance away from me. And WHY put your foot in my face?! Would you like me to put my foot somewhere uncomfortable for you?! Cause I would be happy too.

3. This also has to do with the aforementioned stupid chick and a few others I noticed last night... Why wear fashion tennis shoes to work out? Don't you know how you can hurt yourself without appropriate foot wear? Dummy!

4. Why come to the gym if you aren't going to actually work out? Why come and casually walk on the treadmill while wearing moccasins? Or sipping a smoothie? Huh?

I don't understand the people I saw last night and I hope I don't have to see them again.

Christmas Challenge: Week 8 Weigh In

OK, so for the official Christmas Challenge weigh in, I lost 1.2 pounds last week. For MY official weigh in, this morning, I lost 2.1 last week!!! HOLY CRAP! TWO POINT ONE POUNDS IN ONE WEEK! I haven't lost that much since I started this whole weight loss journey. I guess my secret plan to burn at least 100o cals every workout last week did me some good! Now if I had eaten as well as I worked out, maybe it would have been a little more, but I will take my 2.1 and LOVE it!!

The plan for this week... given that we have to go to Idaho (a.k.a. hell frozen over, it's freezing there!) Thursday through Saturday for Thanksgiving, I most likely won't be able to workout those days. So I'm trying to basically kill myself for the first 3 days this week. I'm shooting to burn around 1200 cals during my workouts for Monday through Wednesday. We'll see how it goes. Obviously, I'm also going to really focus on my eating, so as to not kill the hard work I do with the workouts.

What a difference a year makes

May of 2006 I finally changed my last name, and therefore got a new drivers license. I looked awful, and who knows why I chose to wear a tan colored sweater. And one last question, where did my neck go?



October of 2007, I had to change my address on my drivers license. Sure I didn't have to get an entirely new license, but I hated the above picture, so I wanted a new one. And... drum roll please..... The new and improved Tara, one year later and almost 40 pounds thinner (37.3 to be exact)!

Christmas Challenge: Week 7 Weigh In

So last week SUCKED! I had major drama at work, so what did I do, turned to food. I know it's bad, I know better, but I did it. And to top it all off, I only worked out 3 times last week, as opposed to the 5 times I normally do. So crap. I GAINED 1.4 pounds. UGH! It's ok, I'm not too worried about it. I'll get it off this week and hopefully a little bit more.

I just keep hoping that at some point this whole thing will click in my head and I won't have the strong desire to run to food for comfort. I hope that at some point my first instinct will not be to eat when things are bad. I think with time it will get easier, but who freaking knows!