Re-start

Long time since blogging...
The financial part of the F and P is going better. We've had some rough spots with D not working as much as he used to - so we've been dealing with living on one paycheck for quite some time.
We are paying cash for everything - this is the Dave Ramsey plan - and we did FPU together which was perhaps the best thing we could have done for ourselves and our relationship.
We are getting married :) Just about 5 weeks to go!

On the weight loss -well, we've had to drop the gym because of money - so we are starting over. Eating a lot cleaner on the slow carb plan - NO carbs really at all - even starchy veggies are out. The only problem I have is with the beans - we have to eat them to get the protein and fiber, but I'm still not a fan :P I've given up my beloved coca-cola :P and I've realized I can live without it and feel better without it. Will update my measurements and weight - even though I don't want to do that. I did take pics of me this AM (will not be posting those until I get to the 'after' pics) to help me really see how far I need to go with this. I cannot believe how bit I am!!! This, perhaps, wasn't the best day to do that due to my snit (see below) - but oh well, done now.

I've been in a snit the past two days - so thought writing might help. It started Wed evening - had to take my dad to the hospital for PVCs - he's fine, but that really shook me up quite a bit. I'm not ready to be an "adult orphan." Very nerve-wracking for me. Thursday went by and I didn't really pay much attention. Normally, I enjoy being outside and working in the yard which is all we did on Thursday - was still in a snit. D made me walk - which was good - but I figured after all the time out in the yard raking and moving leaves and trimming and blowing leaves, then walking SURELY my weight would reflect that this AM - NOPE! Very irritating/frustrating/de-motivating. So, he made me walk again this AM. I think I'm doing better, but man was I a bitch this morning!!!

So - perhaps blogging more often would be helpful to me. We'll see. On the good side, since doing the FPU course - I added up how much we paid off in debt - just about $10K in 9-10 months. We still have a ways to go - so after the wedding, we can put a good 1/3 of my paycheck towards debt and work on becoming completely debt free! I only have a small line of credit at the bank, and then under $4K on a credit card (the last one that has been closed down forever). If all goes well - both of those gone by July. Then, onto attacking SM and kicking her to the curb for G.O.O.D! D has some debt as well - and I know we are behind on some things dealing with the house, so once we are done with the wedding, we will sit and prioritize things we need to get rid of and determine the best way to do so. Really hoping that his work picks up very, very, very soon! It would help relieve a lot of stress from both of us...

Been missing blogging...

D and I are now working out together. It's really nice. We walk the dogs early in the AM - slower b/c mine is a little older - but about a mile. He has a REALLY hilly neighborhood. Then, we do our walk - about 2.3 miles or so. BRUTAL hills on this walk and we do a 15 min pace. His legs are longer - so sometimes I have a hard time keeping up! I wear my heart rate monitor and I've been watching it - some of the hills it has gone down significantly! I figure when each hill is at 80% or under, I'm ready to start running!
We are also going to the gym 3x per week in the afternoons to weight train. Even tho he hasn't really had to spot me, I will go knowing that he is there in case I need it :) My clothes are a little looser - so this is working :) The other days I go to my gym (he hasn't joined mine yet - I joined his for $9 a month!) and do RPM.
We are getting back into a routine now that I am back from CR. This week was hard as I hadn't been sleeping well, and the heat during the day is KILLING him when he gets in at night. So, this morning was the first one where we did everything back on pace like usual - felt ssssssssssoooooooo good!
I like that he wants to walk/workout with me :) MUCH more encouraging for me. My short-term goal - lose the 20 pounds I put on during grad school to get back into my good work clothes by the beginning of August. We've also been watching our meals - so I think as long as I keep that up, I'll be good on my goal :)

Still at Plateau - BUT new motivation

Still plateauing - ugh - BUT I have a couple new motivators. First, I may have a gym partner soon :) D likes RPM and wants to join my gym - yea! Second, B in CA has been running and is also thinking about a sprint-tri. I figure if he can do it, so can I! I'm just not a runner/jogger. So, going to try the "couch to 5K" running program. 3 days on the treadmill per week. The plan now is: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday for the runs. I still want to do RPM on M/W/R/Sat. I figure on Fridays and Sundays (and maybe another day after RPM depending on D's schedule and if he can help me) I can weight-train. I may have to skip one day a week on cardio and just weight train to recover a bit.
So - this week I will begin :)

Good news on the F front!

The condo is being SOLD! SSSSOOO happy! Won't make much money on it, BUT it's enough to pay off two cards. Also, my raise *should* be coming through at the end of this month. If I've calculated correctly including taxes out, I should be pulling in $1000 more each month above what I was previously (before furloughs). That will SIGNIFICANTLY help in getting the rest of my bills paid off. I want to have at least one other card done by August if possible. I'm still waiting for this d*** lawsuit to shake out. As soon as that does, that might actually give me breathing room and a cushion. Will not even begin to count on that until it happens, but my attorney is in negotiations right now, so I'm hoping to have a resolution within the next couple of months if at all possible.
Now on the P side - D and I have worked out once together - RPM at the gym. SSSSSSOOOOO excited that he likes working out :) He's also going to help me with the strength training :) He wants to mix up his cardio - so RPM 3 days a week for him would be good, and I need to mix up my cardio, so he's going to help me with that. We may also need to discuss cooking "healthier" meals - but d*** he is a phenomenal cook! We may have to do more grilling so it's lower fat now that the weather is getting nicer :)
The goals this week are:
Break through my plateau - I want to break my 210/209 weight that I have been stagnating at for the last few weeks. I HAVE gone back on the pill, so that actually should help as I think I have more issues off of it than on - partially b/c I've been on them for so long, I think my body has finally adapted.
WATER!!!! I've got to get off the caffeine (limit to one glass of tea in the AM) and get back to my water regimen. D is SO good about that - and I KNOW I flush more out and do better when I drink it!
Gym consistency this week - plus I need to find out about putting D on my membership - or find out how much per month it would be if I cannot add him right now. I'm just excited that we can go together!!!!

I'm joining Jen - the Prior Fat Goal on her goals for 3 months. I DO need to find a reward - but I'm sure D and I can think of something! My MAIN reward will be to be able to wear my clothes - my really pretty FUN clothes - when we go out :) We are looking at doing the Jazz Journeys at the aquarium, the Martinis & IMAX at Fernbank, and maybe the cocktails in the gardens. Regardless, I need to be looking a little nicer and I WANT to dress up for him :) First time that's ever happened! So - gym tomorrow - WATCH OUT!

another pound gone!

9 pounds to 1-derland :)

Pounds lost: 7
To go: 49 (I like that this is under 50 pounds :) makes me feel better!)

re-tweet so to speak

I have to put this quote in from another blog as another reminder to myself about my goals:
Dr. Oz said, “People change not because of what they know, but because of how they feel.”

I KNOW what I need to do to lose weight and become healthy. Now, it's a matter of that I must FEEL that I can do this and I no longer want to FEEL the way I do about myself. That needs to be firmly in my mind as I go through this....

10 pounds to 1-derland

Okay - being sick is not an excuse, but it's been tough to get back into routine. So, back to work this week. I also have new motivation :) Additionally, I have other reasons I want to be in shape - mainly the trip to Costa Rica again this year. Plus, I have 2 weeks to the academic team competition and I would like to feel better about myself this year. Finally, I just need to do this for me. That's really the reason - ME.
So - 10 pounds to 1-derland. I can do this. Eating clean and working out - that's all it takes. I just need to keep that in front of me.
One final thought - WATER - I NEED to drink it!!!!

I think I'm going to include this at the end of each post as well....we'll see....
Pounds lost: 6
Pounds to go: 50
This may or may not be motivating for me - not sure yet....