You know its a good workout when even your eyelids are sweating. Of course it was freaking HOT today, so I'm sure that had something to do with it too. Still, I wasn't even aware I was sweating that much until I realized my bangs were soggy. Then I noticed the bottom of my braid was wet from brushing against the sweat on my lower back. I really need to figure out a different way to wear my hair when I'm working out, the braid down the back usually works, but I need an alternate for hot days.

Ah well, work with weights tomorrow. I think I'll try to do it in the morning so I don't have to deal with the room the weights are in being hot & stuffy when I get home from work tomorrow night.
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The becoming an exercise junkie has motivated my husband to start working out too. This makes me happy. I'm hoping he'll eventually come take the MMA classes with me, so we can spar outside of class.

I really need a punching bag!

Its funny, I've also been encouraging a couple of my coworkers to get out to the gym more often too. One of them is going to that conference in Las Vegas with me, so I will be doing my best to drag him to the gym while we're there.

Another coworker asked me today what I've been doing. I gave him the brief rundown, and the amount I've lost. Now he wants to talk to me about it.

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I wonder how many people consider changing careers after they've lost a lot of weight. Part of me wants to work towards becoming a nutritionist as well as a personal trainer. I'd love to learn how to be a personal trainer for people who are overweight.

I think one thing many overweight people have run across is they go to a personal trainer that has never had a fat day in their life, and they don't have the experience of actually being there. These gym jocks & bunnies don't know what it feels like on the inside of that extra padding, they don't know how it feels, how it makes your body feel. They don't realize that some exercises for people who are not overweight can be extremely uncomfortable, even painful, for someone who is.

But being somebody that has been there? That's a twofold good thing. The trainer knows how to get the maximum workout from a body with limits, and adds to it as time goes on, AND its a good motivator for the person going to the trainer... "well heck, if SHE can do it..." Inspiration, much like this site.

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Just for grins I did a search on Susan Powter. I didn't realize she had her own site and was still selling workout DVDs. Good for her!

Heh, interesting you should say that.... I have also been considering dietician, personal trainer, dance instructor, yoga instructor, and professional dancer....

Like suddenly I REALISE what I can DO in my life with my body!

I think I'd like to know more about sports nutrition too. Seems there's something in there that can apply as well.

Ok, I upped the amount of 5HTP I was taking last night, I did sleep a little bit better. It was damn hot last night (I have no A/C) so it was kinda difficult to actually fall asleep because of it.

Ah well, the weekend is approaching, I should be able to get this figured out soon.

5HTP - Wazzat mean?

You are doing so great! And size 10? Woot! Woot! If I can just get into my Junior 12's (which are sorta like 10's) by October I will be ecstatic. I still look uber hippy at that size, but my wardrobe is certainly more diversified with jeans as an option. I have tons of baby doll tees and leather jackets. LOVE cooler weather, rah!

The temperature is rising so bad here. Went on some errands and came back exhausted from the heat. Blech!

Gentleman Jack huh? That's less calories than beer or wine, right? I guess it all makes ya lose slower but I know beer is so baaaaaaad for dieting. It puts weight on me FAST! My friend likes to do vodka and sugar free cranberry drink. I may try that for days I absolutely "HAS TO," lol.

Anyhoo, I am very proud of you!!! And thanks for encouraging me, even when I am being a total pessimist. . .

My mother has even suggested that I could probably do some type of exercise-related career because of my dedication, but she really advises against it because I would be neglecting my mental faculties. I receive the most fulfillment from mental tasks, so I'll gladly stick to my English Literature courses. I'm a book nerd.

If I were a personal fitness instructor or what not, I would always carry my fat pictures with me and other pivotal points in my weight loss journey. Sometimes I want to do that anyway and slip them in my lunch box as a reminder not to reach for that extra piece of food, heh.

I normally wear my hair in a ponytail, but it's way too long. I can't braid it because my hair always slips out. The hair tie is never secure. So I get my hair soaked as well, and the sweat just flies off of it. It annoys my back, all that heavy, wet hair jabbing at my exposed skin. The weight doesn't help my neck, either. But I refuse to chop it off just yet, so I must suffer willingly.

Wordslinger:

Heh, I can understand where your mom is coming from. My thinking is if I were to do something like that I'd be part time. Use the rest of the time for my artistic and mental pursuits.

I was thinking along the same lines about the pics. I think having pictures is a good 'proof' that you know what you are talking about, you've been there, AND its possible to get the weight off.

Another thought behind this is if I were to do a fitness related career change, I would have to continue to keep in shape. I don't see anything wrong with that. And my butt wouldn't be parked behind a desk all day.

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Colleen:

From Wikipedia, the definition of 5HTP:
5-Hydroxytryptophan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bascially its an amino acid that helps with the seratonin levels, helps you sleep, can aid as an antidepressant and supposedly an appetite suppresor.

Spirits, as opposed to beer or wine, have no fat and no carbs. HOWEVER the body does convert it to sugars, and when your body goes to burn calories, it will burn those before anything else. Just means moderation in all things. I love my Jack, and I savor every sip. I just drink a lot less of it now.

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Soooo, I went in for my weekly weigh-in. Lost a half pound, which means just over 6 pounds to my 'goal' weight. The thing that made me excited is I've lost another 2% in the body fat. That puts me down to 29.2% Only another 4.2% to my goal of 25! Yeah!!!

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Been fun so far this weekend.

Friday was my 15 year anniversary. My boss let me bail from work early, so I was able to get home to spend some quality time with my husband. He had suggested Thursday night that maybe we could work out together on Friday when I got home, so who was I to argue? He just started working out again (Yay!!!) and I am not going to discourage him. Did some belly dance in the morning before I went to work, then worked legs & lower body with weights when I got back home.

By the time we were done with that and showering etc. it was getting late for lunch and early for dinner, so we decided to get a late lunch and have a salad with shrimp later. We headed to Fuddrucker's... I figured I could grab an ostrich burger or chicken something and not eat the bun. Got there and realized they had buffalo burgers. I've never had one so I decided to try it. They are VERY tasty! . I took off half the bun, put on some condiments & grabbed some lettuce, tomato, pickles, and ate probably about 2/3 of the burger patty, and only 1/4 of the bun (my concession to enjoying bread occasionally). Did some other running around, got home and had another workout .

Later that evening D asked me if I could fit back in to my wedding dress yet. I told him I didn't know, but he could help me try it on. I still have the bustier bra thing I wore under that dress at our wedding too. Got it out of the back closet, had D help me hook up the bra contraption, then put on the dress.

It fit!!! I haven't put that thing on in 15 years and it fits again!

That got me to thinking I wanted to use it in a Halloween costume this year, but then realized what I wanted to do would destroy the dress, so I changed strategy to find a perfectly hideous bridesmaid dress.

Saturday morning, Worked arms, chest, shoulders, upper back with weights. Talked D into joining me. Good thing I did because he was waffling on whether to do it or not,

Stopped by the local Goodwill today and droppedd off a couple hefty bags full of clothes I no longer can wear because they are so huge. While I was there I found a perfecly hideous bridesmaid dress, then poked around the jeans area just to see what they had, maybe try on a few pairs. Only pair I really had any hope for fitting turned out to be too big (oh, darn!!! hehe) but then I saw a pair of Levi's 501s that I HAD to try on.

These jeans were already perfectly broken in. No real wear, except at the hems... just perfectly soft & faded. At the moment just a wee bit too tight to be comfortable (can you say Muffin Top?), and my ass is still way too jiggly and not nearly firm enough for these pants. They weren't very much, so I got them anyway. I'm hoping to get in to these by the beginning of September at the earliest, or by my birthday mid-October at the latest. If I get in to these comfortably I will be down to what I was at in high school & early college years. Or somewhere thereabouts.

Wow, what awesome things you are making happen. You are inspiring

Thank you.

I don't know if I'm inspiring or driven.

Fairly mellow day today. Did some belly dance dvd for my workout, been working on some domestic stuff.

Thing I've been struggling with today is for some reason I've been absolutely RAVENOUS all day. Like the phentermine just didn't want to work or something. I'd eat something that would normally keep me good for a few hours, and very shortly after I'd be starving again. We're talking I at one point wanted to unhinge my jaw and tilt back the fridge! Luckily I didn't, but its been tricky to find what to eat that wouldn't overdo it too badly. I am guessing it is because it is close to TOM. So now I get to deal with that fun. OH yay!!!

Shame, that sucks.

I haven't done any research on Phentermine, but are you worried at all about keeping weight off after going off it? Even though your exercise is at optimum levels, it appears to me the phentermine helps control eating cravings...

Just interested

You're right, that is what phentermine is for. It helps trick the brain into thinking you are full, which if used correctly (and under the supervision of a physician) gives you time to relearn how to eat, what to eat, how much to eat.

There is a big of concern about the weight returning after I go off the phentermine. But I am hoping that I can keep the habits of what and how much I eat while working with this doctor, and I'll be talking to him about my concerns after going off the drugs. The ladies at work seem to be keeping it under control, and they don't work out nearly as much as I do. I think that is what has helped me get so much of the weight off in such a relatively short amount of time. However, yesterday was a good sign to me that it is getting close to time to wean myself off of it, so I'm hoping the end of the month. I need to email the doc and tell him about yesterday, see what he recommends.

I've been looking at it as an aid to helping me learn a new lifestyle... that is the biggest difference between this time and all the times that have failed. Another reason why I am so glad I found this forum... it'll help me stay mindful of my goals.

Hmmm, well that's interesting. It's almost the same as nicotine replacement therapy (5 weeks clean today!!!)

... I guess sometimes it's just DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IT STARTED!

hehe. All in all, QUITE interesting. Also expensive-ish, not so?

Good job on the nicotene therapy! I quit smoking almost 12 years ago. Took me getting REALLY sick, laid up in bed for a few days, then when I went to have a cigarette after I was feeling better... it was the nastiest thing on the planet. Haven't smoked since. Now I'm hypersensitive to smoke.

Expensive-ish? Yes. But so worth it! I think the fact that it isn't cheap is part of my incentive to dilligence about losing weight. I don't want it to be a waste of money. I think of this as an initial investment to a lifestyle that will pay off a lot in the long run.

So... here I am standing in my wedding dress from 15 years ago, holding pants I wore 7 months ago:

http://onfinite.com/libraries/1392005/208.jpg

The pants are men's 42s, and while they weren't my tightest pair, they were starting to get rather snug... especially in the abdomen. Even these I had to unbutton just to tie my freaking shoes!

The wedding dress? It is actually looser in the waist than it was when I got married, and a bit tighter in the top area. I think it is because of the muscle development. If anything my boobs are also smaller than back then.

Wow, you are looking amazing!!!

Really can NOT picture you wearing those when you're in THAT dress.

HAWT HAWT HAWT!!!