ya'll. this is
biiiiiiiiiig.
I have officially lost 100 pounds. in 15 months. I remember reading a blog on runsforcookies.com about how she lost 100 pounds and 100 things that were different for her when that happened. I promised myself that "if I ever lose 100 pounds, I'll write one too"...and well that time has come. Some of them will probably be repeats from my "55" post, but they likely are worth repeating. I started this blog over a year ago to help me process some of what I was going through and the changes I was making. Who knew it would be such a hit? ha. I think a few of you (Darin) have probably wanted to hit me, but that's not the point. So. without further ado, here are 100 things I've learned, that I've changed, wish I'd known, challenges I've overcome and just things I want to put in a list. I'm going backwards, because #1 will be the most important but the rest are just in order as they come to me.
100. I never understood when people talked about fast food making them feel bad. Now I do. When your body gets used to getting at least decent food for a week, then you throw some chicken mcnugs down the hatch, you'll notice a difference.
99. push ups are the worst exercise on the face of the planet, and no one should ever have to do another one if they don't want to.
98. water is the best thing to drink, and mountain dew is a close second.
97. some days you just don't feel like doing anything, and those are the days you do it anyways. But there are days that you just can't, and it's not the end of the world.
96. new music to listen to while you do your cardio makes the time pass a lot quicker.
95. sometimes I still don't know what some exercises are for. Like I didn't know the incline press was a chest exercise for about 8 months. some still baffle me.
94. gyms are the germiest places in the world. wash your hands when you leave. legit.
93. foam rollers are Satan's handiwork, straight up. If you've never tried one, go workout and make sure you're really sore the next day and then lay down on a pair of scissors and roll back and forth. it's the same thing.
92. working out isn't a punishment for what you've eaten and it shouldn't be treated as such. "i had a brownie today so i have to run 5 miles" isn't a healthy attitude. You can't negate everything you eat and it's okay to have a treat. one bad meal doesn't make you fat like one good meal doesn't make you skinny.
91.there's a difference between going to the gym and actually making good use of your time there, and I don't think I need to explain the difference.
90. get rid of your 'fat' clothes...I think it's a way of letting yourself off the hook. like "i might need them again"...well if you do what you're supposed to do, you won't ever need them again. I kept 1 pair of my largest size pants, mostly to remind myself where I never want to be again.
89. having a workout partner is the best especially if you start at the same place and have the same goals.
88. cereal is not a meal.
87. deciding at 6am (when you're a grumpy gus anyways) if you'll go to the gym or not that evening, isn't the best plan of attack.
86. it's okay to be happy where you are.
85. comparing yourself to someone who doesn't even look like you is stupid. I can't compare myself to girls who are 5'3" and want to weigh as little as them.
84. people want a quick and easy fix, and there isn't one. good luck trying to find it.
83. you have to decide that it's worth the sacrifices you'll make.
82. saying "i don't eat xyz" instead of "i can't eat xyz" actually works for me. People will always ask why you can't eat it, and then you end up explaining you're trying to lose weight.
81. no one at the gym gives a rats ass what you're doing. no one is staring. no one thinks you look stupid. no one is thinking about you.
80. eventually you WILL feel different. you won't be as tired and you'll just feel better overall. and that feeling is priceless.
79.
you are respoinsble for
your journey. if you barely scrape by and hit your goal(s) or if you smash them and make new ones, is up to you.
78. you have to step outside your comfort zone. that's where all the magic happens. and if you're anything like me, you'll throw up
before your first workout with your new trainer and you'll be scared to death the entire time and likely look like a deer in the headlights. but it's okay, because it gets easier.
77.
haters gonna hate, but I think everyone should try crossfit at least twice.
76. don't reward yourself for going to the gym/losing weight with food. It's
really easy to do, but
really stupid.
75. plain oatmeal is disgusting.
74. everyone has an opinion on how to lose weight. It's simple really. eat good food and get off your ass. and by good food I mean nutritious food. not chicken mcnugs and milkshakes.
73. flexing, no matter how small the muscles you have, never gets old. ever. I understand why people do it now. Because you work SO hard to build them, and it's part of the reward you get for busting your ass in the gym. I flex my biceps at least 10 times a day.
72. what worked for your coworkers uncle Pete may not work as well for you. You have to find what works for you, but you have to be smart about it too. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If it sounds unhealthy, it probably is.
71. sometimes you
have to take time off. when your brosef dies unexpectedly and you get bursitis in your hip, you physically
can't go to the gym. and you won't gain every single pound you ever lost back in the span of 2 weeks or go from using 20s for bicep curls to the 2 1/2 pounders.
70. things that seem so hard now will seem incredibly easy in 6 months.
69. trying new things is scary but if I had never tried Zumba, I would never now how much fun it can be. plus it's cardio!
68. always have a plan. don't walk in to a gym without knowing at least what muscle group you want to hit, and don't walk in to a cafeteria or restaurant without knowing at least what you're going to try and eat.
67. embarassingly enough my max speed on a treadmill use to be less than 3mph. not anymore though!
66. The Rush is the most ADD inducing gym I've ever been in, but it's one of my favorite gyms I've ever been in.
65. only put in half the work if you want half the results. seriously. there were a couple weeks I saw Darin 4 times a week (2 with Jennifer, 2 alone) PLUS boot camp, PLUS some cardio on Sunday and in a span of 3 weeks lost maybe 4 pounds because I was eating like garbage.
64.If you're reading this and just starting out, take some damn pictures. I know you don't want to, and I know it sucks to see yourself like you are at the moment. But if you put in the work and do what you're supposed to, this will be the last time you see yourself like this.
63. people on instagram are morons. #teamnodaysoff should be #teamimanidiot. you have to rest.
62. sometimes an iced coffee from dunkin' donuts is worth 200 calories.
61. If you can't put not text/facebook/instagram and focus on what you're doing at the gym, get a cheap ipod and lock your phone in your car. instagram can wait an hour until you're done.
60. protein shakes don't taste all that bad once you get used to them.
59. protein shakes smell
TERRIBLE if you leave them in your gym bag for more than a few hours. seriously. don't try this at home. or you'll throw up. I've thrown away shaker cups instead of washing them because there is no stank like old protein shake stank.
58. sometimes I lip synch on the treadmill and look like a moron. but I'm having fun, which is less than I could say for the girl next to me who usually looks like she's ready to cry.
57. being sore is the pits.
56. Zumba is really, really fun. classes called "boot camp" with instructors named "Janice", are not.
55. never say never. I remember vividly explaining to Darin he wouldn't catch my dead, lifeless, dehydrated body at boot camp. Where did I spend most Saturday's from about September-December? boot camp. I still believe that if it would have been at 10:30, there would have been a lot more people attend.
54. pop tarts have real fruit in them. but unfortunately that still doesn't mean they're a nutrtionally sound choice.
53. It's okay to be proud of what you've accomplished. really.
52. RERACK YOUR DAMN WEIGHTS.
51. hiring a personal trainer was hands down one of the very
best decisions I've made in my 23 years of life.
50. cutting the sleeves off old shirts is one of my favorite ways to make new gym attire.
49. I asked for cellucor c4 in pineapple flavor and a tub of peanut butter cookie protein for my birthday.
48. I don't see it as (that much of) a chore/inconvience to go the gym at 5am anymore.
47. I used to be afraid to sit down in lawn chairs for fear I would break them because I exceeded the weight limit. it happened twice and I will never forget it. not anymore though, and never again.
46. never in my entire life did I ever think I could run an entire mile without stopping...but there have been days I've ran a 5k on a treadmill after my workout. to say I've changed would be the understatement of the decade.
45. I have a face now, and it looks a lot different than it used to and that amazes me.
44. sometimes you have to interrupt your shoulder and bicep workout to play basketball for the first time in 10 years.
43. write out new goals every month. I remember my consult with Darin, and he asked me what my goals were and I remember shrugging my shoulders (little did he know that would be my answer for
EVERYTHING he asked the next 10 months). I didn't want to do much, just lose weight. now I have 100 different things I want to do. but short term goals at least give me motivation to get to the gym.
42. buying new clothes and feeling
okay good in them, is a great feeling. especially when jeans are 10 sizes smaller and shirts are 4 sizes smaller.
41. I like ellipiticals now. and the stairmaster is my new nemesis. we can all agree that perpetually walking up the stairs is what hell is like.
40. I'm going to invent an apparatus that will help you wash your hair post shoulder/arm workouts. it's a necessity.
39. it makes me really uncomfortable when people call me an inspiration. I think that's weird.
38. everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. I didn't get an extra hour a day to lose weight. I just had to rearrange my schedule and decide which was more important, laying on the couch and watching tv after work or going to the gym.
37. you don't have to eat everything on your plate.
36. there's a major difference in mental limiations and physical limitations. My physical limitations include the ridiculous amount of metal in my body (just call me iron woman). anything else is an excuse...in my humble opinion.
35. It makes me really happy when, on the rare occasion, someone at the gym asks me to show them how to do something.
34. there are days an 8pm bedtime is necessary.
33. my feet lost almost 3 shoe sizes. who knew that could even happen?
32. post workout poptarts are the bomb.
31. you have to be honest with yourself about everything. it doesn't hurt anyone else when you skip a set or cheat the last few reps. YOU are the one who suffers.
30. gastric bypass may work for some people, but working in healthcare I've seen too many cases where it doesn't. my theory is that you don't learn anything or anything sustainable. Yeah, eating good food and exercising take a bit longer to see results, but you LEARN to make better choices that you can live with forever.
29. kid's yogurt cups have ENTIRELY too much sugar.
28. I get colder more often now.
27. having your personal trainer certification doesn't make you a god among men, or give you the right to tell me what I'm doing is wrong
especially when I see you chain smoking winstons outside the gym drinking your protein shake. #healthylyfe
26. I believe I've lost approximatley 1 million hairbows during this process.
25. people will doubt you. I, no doubt, tried
at least 10 times to lose weight on my own. When I hired Darin, I got a few skeptics and unwanted opinions about "wasting my money" and rude comments of that caliber. 50 pounds later, they shut up.
100 pounds later, that's my middle finger to all those people.
24. impossible is not a synonym for difficult.
23. work your way up to being able to hold a 1 minute plank, don't do one (or any kind of ab exercise for that matter) for 5 months and then try the same 1 minute plank. it's no bueno. I work on my spanish while I plank sometimes. I need new ways to say bad things.
22. sometimes you just have to suck it up and eat your broccoli. or feed it to your dog.
21. I never thought tracking my food on myfitnesspal would be as important as it was. I actually really like seeing how close I can get to my target macros, and I like the charts you can make. ha. I'm special sometimes.
20. I never thought I would use words like 'macros' and feel like it's normal and everyone should know what they are/track them too.
19. I'm too stubborn for my own good.
18. there are no good choices to be made in a drive through. except krispy kreme. just kidding. that's the
best worst.
17. there are still days my eyes are bigger than my stomach, and I get about halfway through what I have on my plate and think...when did I start training to become a sumo wrestler?
16. yelling "fuck" when you drop a plate weight on your finger will get you some stares in the gym.
15. I love to get on youtube and watch instructional exercise videos. people are SO stupid and Scott Herman is my favorite to make fun of. typically because he never has on a shirt and his accent is ridiculous. I laugh every time.
14. it's always more fun to workout with a group of friends. there were a few Saturday's of boot camp that rank in my
top 10 most fun days ever list.
13. if I can do this, anyone can.
12. sometimes I park myself on an elliptical and watch all the massive fails happening at the rush, and it makes my cardio time go a lot faster.
11. the more sugar you eat, the more sugar you want.
10. the scale can make you crazy if you let it. it's a number, and even though I'm still terrible at taking my own advice, it shouldn't determine how you feel the rest of the day...or anything else for that matter. What you eat, if/how hard/you workout...anything. it's a number. the end. how you feel is way more important.
9. I don't see 100 pounds worth of difference in the picture I can't upload to this stupid blog. But I also look at myself with a different pair of eyes, and I see myself every. single. day. and I still have a "is this real life?" feeling about it.
8. not everyone will accept your changes. People are pushers. Cookie pushers, pizza pushers, fried chicken pushers. I think it's because they feel not-as-bad about eating their junk food when you do too.The words are "no thank you", and you have to mean them. Once you start consistently saying no, people finally get the picture.
7. no one can do this for you.
6. I always heard people talking about what a stress reliever/fun time/etc working out was for them, and now I feel the same way. you just have to find something you enjoy.
5. going to the gym/eating healthy isn't my entire life though that's what it feels like sometimes, it's part of my life. a big part at the moment but still.
4. bosu balls are still retarded. no matter what you're doing, you look like a retard and it's hard to stand on them no matter which way they're turned.
3. one. day. at. a. time.
2. this blog (and my faithful readers) have helped me more than I could ever put in to words. I mean, 100 pounds and 15 months later, I'm still writing and you're still reading.
1. You can do absolutely anything you want to, as long as you're willing to work for it.
there you have it. 100 pounds and 100 things. I know the above is probably filled with a ton of errors and bad grammar and stupid stuff ya'll didn't want to know. oh well, this is my blog and I do what I want. I'm still still limited to upperbody and some light cardio for a few more days per my orthopedist, but I'm cool with that. The rest has been nice, actually. After my birthday I plan to get fully back on track and make shit happen. I have more weight to lose and things to accomplish. So, until next week mi amigos. told you I've been working on my espanol.
