Another month gone. I am so glad I’ve continued this challenge. It’s been a great impetus to get healthy and have the added benefit of losing weight.

My journey is not over. I’ll start it again in 2014 on January 2nd. I’d still like to lose 5-10 lbs and this has been a great way for me to track my progress.

Thanks for everyone (I think maybe 2 of you) who have been following along regularly and encouraging me. It has helped more than you’ll know!

Happy New Year! And have a blessed 2014.

Date: December 29th, 2013

Days Complete: 29

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. 90 minute run (9 miles)

Feeling: Tired

Date: December 30th, 2013

Days Complete: 30

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. Walked for 30 minutes, 60 minute weight lifting class

Feeling: Accomplished!

Had a great work out today which always makes me feel better. I realize I’m only a couple days from the end of this month’s challenge. My weight loss has been slower this month but I realize it’s probably because I’m closer to where I’d like to be. I feel I’ve probably splurged a bit more this month than last, but I also feel like I’ve managed be fairly balanced with those splurges.

My plan is to continue in January. I’ll take the 31st and 1st off and start again on the 2nd. 🙂

Date: December 28th, 2013

Days Complete: 28

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. 30 minute run, 60 minute cardio combat class

Feeling: Good

Another fairly solid day although probably not the most balanced. Had a small breakfast and a big lunch which resulted in no dinner (unless you count a cocktail for dinner). Did around 4 miles of walking but didn’t officially work out. Trying to get over a cold so I think having a few days off during the week is okay. Lost a couple of the Christmas pounds already. 🙂

Date: December 27th, 2013

Days Complete: 27

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: No

Feeling: Exhausted

Definitely a more on track day. Managed to run 5.5 miles and walk 2. Tracked my food and felt good about my day. I know I splurged a lot over the holidays but the good thing is I will be able to make up for it over the next few days, and it was worth it!

Date: December 26th, 2013

Days Complete: 26

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. Lots of running.

Feeling: More in control

Going to combine these two days because I forgot to post yesterday and they were sort of similar.

Christmas Eve started off alright. Normal breakfast, good run at the gym. Went downhill when I didn’t have lunch and went a bit crazy on my friend’s Christmas snack table. But I had already written off these two days because of the holidays. Still, I do know better than to wait too long to eat. My one saving grace this day was to work out.

Christmas Day was pretty bad in terms of being “on track”. I didn’t track my food, nor did I work out. It was a very lazy day. The good news is that I’m back at it this morning. Getting a guest pass to my parent’s gym so I can get a good work out in. Hopefully a few good days will help negate the bad day and a half I had over the holidays. I’m not stressing which is good. Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!

Date: December 24th, 2013

Days Complete: 24

Tracked: Sort of

Worked Out: 45 min on treadmill

Feeling: Good!

Date: December 25th, 2013

Days Complete: 25

Tracked: no

Worked Out: No

Feeling: Christmasy

Decided to take it slightly easier on the work out today. Although I suppose CrossFit doesn’t seem easy to most people. But really it’s a 60 minute class but I think at least 20 minutes of that time the coach is talking to you or you’re watching your partner lift. So it wasn’t too hard although I was doing some heavy thrusters (shhh you dirty people….). Followed it with a 30 minute walk (15 min mile pace). Stayed within my points, did a really delicious chicken mexican stir fry (I LOVE CUMIN!!). Overall a good day, but I started feeling antsy last night. I think it was all the gift wrapping and being cooped up at home. Not used to that. LoL

Date: December 23rd, 2013

Days Complete: 23

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: CrossFit and 30 minute walk on treadmill

Feeling: Antsy

Had another long run today for my half marathon training. 8 miles done….it was definitely harder than I wanted it to be. Part of it I think is due to the fact that I’ve worked out really hard this week with no real breaks. I’ve been pushing hard because of holiday stuff and I know when I’m up at my Mom’s I likely won’t get a chance to work out. Although I am going to bring my running stuff and hope I can get at least one in. Got just over a week and Christmas just happens to be in the middle of it. 😛

I splurged a little today but considering what a hard work out I had, I think I deserved it. Just going to leave it at that. 🙂

Date: December 22nd, 2013

Days Complete: 22

Tracked: Yes!

Worked Out: 80 minutes on the treadmill

Feeling: Tired

So in case any of you are wondering, I’ve lost about 15 lbs so far. My weight tends to fluctuate throughout the week so some days it’s more. some days it’s 15. But that’s the loss based on my official weigh in day. I haven’t been this weight in at least 5-6 years. It’s strange because I can’t really tell too much in most of my clothes, but I was able to wear a top today that I hadn’t in a while because it was too tight. And now it’s kind of loose. So these are the things that get me excited. I also treated myself to a new pair of skinny jeans and they’re a smaller size.

I still worry about what I will do when I reach my goal weight. How can I maintain….I think I’m the opposite of most people who think losing weight is hard. It is hard, don’t get me wrong, but it almost seems easier than maintaining.  Because there’s still a part of my mind that thinks that this is a “diet”. That once I lose the weight that’s all I need to worry about. I worry more about maintaing than losing, to be honest. Because I’ve been here before. Granted, I’ve been able to keep off most of my weight for 10 years, so I guess that says something. But it still is on my mind about what I need to do to be consistent in maintaining in the long run.

As for day 51, I tracked in the day but I went to a beer share for the evening and so I can’t even guess points. I know I splurged a lot not only on alcohol, but food as well. I’m okay with it though because I had a great work out yesterday and kept my calories low during the day. 🙂

Date: December 21st, 2013

Days Complete: 21

Tracked: Sort of

Worked Out: 15 minutes of running fast. 60 minute cardio combat class

Feeling: Impressed with my endurance

Day 50….10 days left of this challenge.

I’ve already made the decision to continue in the new year. I’m on a roll but I know there is still weight I will want to lose after day 60. So my goal is to continue it in January. So you’ll have to put up with my annoying posts for another month. :-p To get back to day 50, it was sort of a splurging day. I had a BLTA sandwich that had garlic mayo and a soft white roll for lunch. Totally not what I would normally eat. Dinner was pretty light – shared a couple salads and some brussel sprouts but had 2 glasses of wine. So you can imagine my surprise when I got on the scale Saturday morning and I was the lowest weight I’ve been in years. Just goes to show how splurging every so often isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Keeps your body guessing!

Date: December 20th, 2013

Days Complete: 20

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. 30 minutes on the treadmill, around 45 min of weight training.

Feeling: Surprised!

SUSHI! Day 49 brought me sushi for the first time in a long time. I love sushi but I don’t eat it very often. Lucky for me what I eat is pretty darn healthy (tuna and seaweed salad) and I feel like I’m really enjoying food without feeling guilty.

What’s a meal you feel like you’re splurging when you’re really not?

Date: December 19th, 2013

Days Complete: 19

Tracked: Yes

Worked Out: Yes. 40 minutes on the treadmill!

Feeling: Solid