ImPress Nails

Soooooo it's been a LONG time since I last posted... and that will be discussed in my next post (tomorrow most likely).

Tonight I'd like to write about ImPress Nails.  I received two sets from influenster.  This is my first time receiving something from them, and I was impressed how quickly the package arrived and how "in the loop" they made me feel about the process.

Anyway, onto the nails!  They came in a super cute package that looks just like a nail polish bottle (which I sadly forgot to take a picture of before I opened them).  They give a variety of sizes, way more than are needed for a single use.  So if you're lucky I can see you getting a couple uses out of one package.

The instructions were very easy to follow - way easier than constructing anything from Ikea!  As someone who routinely plays around with nail art, I have to say that this was way way way faster than what I am used to doing.  Simply clean off your nails, pull of the sticker, and hold the nail on.  Easy!

The package states that the nails can last up to a week, though I imagine this would be for someone who doesn't really use their hands for much.  I found myself constantly worrying about breaking one off.  In fact, one came loose 2 hours after I put them on.  Though this may well be due to improper application, maybe the wrong size?  I'm not sure.  I'd think if your hands are in water a lot, (dishes or swimming or something) that they would not last as long.

Overall I thought they were pretty good!

One Year - 112lbs - Day 4

Well there's nothing to say.... I gained a bunch of weight.  It sucks, but it ends now.  On Monday I reeled in my calories, 1200 a day, 1400 max - but only for the first few weeks, in case I start to go crazy.

In the end, I want to lose 112lbs (hence the title of this post).  I am giving myself exactly 1 year to accomplish this.

In a little under 2 weeks I'm starting a nursing degree, and I refuse to be obese when I finish in 2 years time.  And I would like to spend the last year of my degree comfortable in my body.  August 20, 2013 is my deadline.  It's completely doable, I just can't get off track. 

It's not going to be easy, since I started all I think about is food.  But it's worth it in the end.  One year is the end date - but I'll try to do it faster.

August Reboot

Ok it's been a while, a long while.  But like always, I'm back. 

I'm refocused on my goals and have found some new obsessions.

So along with weight loss, I'll be blogging about my current nail art obsession, books I've been reading, movies I've seen and anything else I can think up :)

Tomorrow morning will start with a weigh in - it's bad (eep), but will only get better.

Weekly Weigh in #2

Last week: 231.4lbs
This week: 232.4lbs
Overall: +1lb

A gain is never what you want to see on a weight loss journey.  I know it's only a pound, but I was really hoping to break into the 220's, and now I've gained.  FRIG!

The challenge continues, I'm 100% on plan, eating all the food and drinking all the water.  I'm in this for the long haul, a 1lb gain is not going to derail me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the other Canadians out there!

Habits

Before I found my current job I was a substitute teacher.  This in an of itself is horrible.  Kids are not what they used to be.  Technology seems to have made them strangely detached, and this has led to increasingly poor behaviour, especially if a substitute is present.  Now enter an obese substitute into the picture.  It's not pretty.  Kids are mean to their peers, but their even meaner to obese substitute teachers.  They call you names, say offensive comments, and draw cartoons of you.  It's not a fun time, and caused me a large amount of stress.

Thankfully, well not really, but sort of, subbing here is mostly part time work.  So, you're not in the classroom everyday.  But this in itself is a problem.  If you're not working, you're not getting paid.  And if you're not at work, what are you doing with your time?

I used to tell my mom that I was going to the gym.  I'd get dressed in my gym clothes, fill a bottle of water, make a show of putting my headphones in my purse. 

I'd get in my car, drive down the highway, and end up at the movie theater.  I would buy the largest popcorn, smother it with "margarine" and sit in the dark theater by myself eating.  I saw all the movies.  Even the terrible ones.  My desire to eat was horrible.  I branched out from popcorn to chicken tenders and fries, covered in honey mustard sauce.  It wasn't even delicious, it was just a habit that I had that I couldn't break. 

I really don't know what my mom thought I was doing at the gym all that time, I wasn't losing a single pound.  And some of the movies that come out are just sooo long. 

I'm on vacation from work this week... for the first few days all I wanted to do was go eat some popcorn.  But I remember last weeks 6lbs.  It's not worth it.  The 2 hours of munching will not make me happy.  Today, I will get my stuff together and drive to the gym.  Fulfill some of the exercise component of this challenge.  Exercise will be my new habit.

Weekly Weight In #1

I've been on the plan for a week.. the results are in.

Starting weight: 237.0lbs
Current weight: 231.4lbs
Loss: -5.6lbs

Awesome way to kick this off.  I'm itching to get into the 220's - I've got my eyes set on breaking 230 by next week.

Day 4

Food and water down the hatch.  I'm watching comedy night thinking about popcorn.  But I've already eaten all my food.  So no popcorn today.  It wouldn't be the same anyway, I'm having visions of butter smothered, ultra salted popcorn.  And since that's no longer an option, I think I'll just shelf the popcorn for a while. 

I'm toying with the idea of going on a trip next week.  Banff maybe. 

Sheesh it's been forever

But I'm back.  I've gained some weight back.  This is what happens when you stop following your plan.  Or stop following your plan and start shoving everything in sight into your mouth.

237 lbs is my starting weight for the Triple Dog Dare Challenge.  Way higher than I was when I left here in May, but no looking back now.  Only looking forward to weighing 195 lbs on January 1, 2012.

Day 1 is down... a bunch more to go... but, worth it in the end.

Phase 6 - Day 2

Day 2 is over and done with, on to day three.

All these liquids are causing the weirdest stomach growls I've ever had.  They're long and low and it almost sounds like you can hear the liquid sloshing around in there.

Peristalsis with nothing to move around...

Meanwhile, at work, all I hear is click click crunch crunch

I'm ok with the click click typing, it's the crunch crunch nom nom eating something crunchy noise that's driving me a bit mad.

Though, the no cooking is a definite plus. 

Phase 6 - Day 1

Things I've learned on day 1 of the Phase 6 challenge:

1.  My stomach is able to emit grumbly sounds all day long
2.  That dull hunger pang just does not go away
3.  One serving of Jell-o is not very much Jell-o.

Allan wasn't lying when he said this was hard.  Time for willpower to kick in. 

Drinking my fluids and staying strong..

Couch to 10K Week 2 Day 2

If you see someone hobbling down the street, it's probably me.

I am so unbelievably sore.

On the plus side I shaved 35 minutes off my commute home by trying a different bus route.  I have to walk 2.5 blocks, which is no big deal, except when you're practically crawling down the street.

I'm starting to think that I should have done the 5K, oh well.  I'll just repeat weeks until I can move on.

I'm getting shin splints from the running, does anyone have any advice for that?

From Oblivion to Couch to 10K

If this were Wheel of Fortune, that title would be in the Before and After category.... this is why you don't let your grandma pick the shows you watch.

I've started the Couch to 10K.  I was going to do the 5K, but I thought, stupidly mind you, if I'm going to do 5K I may as well do 10K.

Today was day 1 of week 2 and I almost quit about 14 times on the treadmill.  I really have no idea why I kept going.  My usual pattern is to just quit half way through and say "good enough."

But I didn't, I finished.  I think I'll have to repeat week 2, I'm not used to this much running.  And frankly, I don't like running all that much to begin with.

Then as I was blog hopping I saw this quote:

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T", but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'. And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are."- Unknown

I don't remember where I saw it, as I peruse a lot of blogs.  But it was just want I needed to read. 

We'll see how Wednesday and Friday go.

Daylight Savings - I'm against it

I am not a fan of daylight savings time.  I cherish sleep, it's my favorite time of the day.  And losing 1 hour, though it doesn't seem like much, really really screws with my system.  It's like super jet lag.  I don't know why it affects me so much, I just hate it.

This morning I was on the bus and I was wondering if losing the hour affects others as much as it affects me.  That's when I noticed the bus was about half a foot away from hitting a pedestrian.  Apparently the pedestrian noticed too because she stopped walking.  The bus driver didn't seem to notice until we were through the cross walk, where he stopped, seemed to ponder whether he should apologize to the woman, and then just drove on.

So, apparently the answer is yes.  Daylight savings time is clearly evil.

Lunch was worse.  I went to the store to buy some groceries.  I got what I needed, when I went to pay, I realized I had lost my mittens.  My glorious raccoon mittens.  Frantically I searched the store, no luck.  I asked the cashiers and customer service, no luck.  All faith in humanity was lost as I realized someone had scarfed my mittens.

I called them later in the day to see if they had been turned it.  They had been!  Faith in humanity restored!

When I got to the store the line at customer service was huge.  But the guy saw me, waved and said "are you looking for raccoon mittens?"  I nodded enthusiastically.  He waved me over and passed them to me.  I thanked him a million times.  I think my raccoon hat tipped him off.

Weekly Weigh In

Down another 2 lbs this week.  Initially I was frustrated with only 2 lbs a week, but it really does add up.  Though I knew that logically all along, I'm really starting to be pleased by that.

More later, I actually feel like blogging again.

Phase 5 - Weigh In

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted.  Time kind of flew by ...
Anyway, 2lb loss this week.

I tried out that new gym that was much closer to home, it was horrible.  They didn't even have a treadmill.  This is the #1 fitness facility in the city??!? Insane.

Since then I've found a better gym downtown. 7 blocks from work.  I've been taking the bus in the -30 weather, but when it warms up I'll start walking there. 

Phase 5 Day 7 - Weigh In

Ugh this week has been tough.  I'm down 2lbs.  I was hoping for more, but I did have the flu for a couple days and ended up not getting in the exercise on those days.  Or all the water, hard to drink when you're asleep.

But, week 2 is starting, and my water bottle is filled and ready for the morning.

I'm trying out a new gym tomorrow.  It's only a 5 minute drive, as opposed to the 30 minute one I'm currently making.  It's got a pool and all kinds of other facilities.  I'm hoping I'll like it.  Currently when I go to the gym it takes so long to commute it's a total turn off, I go, but I'm never happy about it.

Phase 5 Day 2

I've had a really blah day.  Went to work but came home at lunch with flu symptoms.  Bleh I hate being sick.  A day of sleep seems to have helped, though it's tough to get in the water when you're asleep.  I've got it almost all in, just a bit of late night chugging and I'll call it a night.

Food on plan, exercise is done.  Fever possibly broken. 
Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Phase 5 Day 1 - Part 2

I suppose the only thing more fun than working out is working out with a shoe full of ice.

In case you are wondering, it takes 10 minutes of walking and 23 seconds of jogging for a shoe full of ice to melt and soak your sock, numb your foot, and drive you completely mad.

Add another minute and you start to wonder if your foot has fallen off because you really can't feel it anymore. 

Two more minutes and you realize that you're going to be cold for the rest of the night.  There's no warming up after this.

Lesson learned - don't keep my runners in my trunk, have a bunch of snow fall in then let the snow melt and refreeze in the shoe.  Shoes go in the house.

On the plus side, I didn't think I'd be able to do the jogging in the plan, but I did it all.  And it wasn't that bad.  OK - it was pretty bad, but, it was doable.

Water in, food on plan, exercise in the bad.  119 days to go.

Phase 5 Day 1

First day of phase 5 and my first post from my iPhone. I find typing on this thing really annoying, but I probably shouldn't be blogging on my work computer (it's lunch so the phone is allowed lol).

I lost 1.5 lbs last week, by since Allan doesn't do half pounds, I reported a 1lb loss.

Starting challenge weight, 233lbs.

More later, phone typing is driving me crazy

Weekly Weigh In - Phase 4 Week 4

Well the results are in, down 2 lbs this week.  Kinda disappointing, but, I started the week not really focused, but with all the support I received, the rest of the week went well.  I've got my motivation back in spades, to be honest, I didn't think I was going to lose anything this week because of how it started off, but when I saw a drop on the scale I was overjoyed, and I'm ready to see a lot more losses.

This week is going to kick ass - it's shape up or leave the challenge, and I don't want to leave, so, 1200 cals, zillions of ounces of water, and nothing else, except the exercise that is.

Let's have a great week everyone!

And thanks to Debbie and Fat2Fit for two more Stylish Blogger Awards!