Day 2 of Week 6 – I Won’t Give Up

I started my journey on January 25, 2010 and thought that I would drop major weight by now. But, I haven’t. This knowledge is not power. It makes my classes harder. It makes my workouts emotional. It makes me think that I bit off way more than I can chew…ooohh…chewing…remember Charleston Chew Bars? YUMMY—I digress. But so you SEE what it does? It makes me think about eating more bad stuff and I find myself falling prey to oh-so-familiar “I don’t give a crap” attitude.

When I started this project, I set some ground rules. I would blog and weigh in weekly. I would take measurements and post pictures monthly. No matter what.

Yesterday was March 1. I had to weigh in, take measurements and post a photo...and I was NOT looking forward to it. All day, I was filled with a bit of anxiety. My family had gotten together the night before and indulged in pizza, bread sticks, wings and chocolate silk pie….WHAT? Needless to say, I was NOT feeling well. In fact, I was pretty nauseous all day. I am not going to do that again or anytime soon. It’s just not the way I can or want to eat. But, it’s exactly the way I ate for years…almost daily.

Feeling ill and unmotivated, I almost didn’t go to the gym. But, knowing that I am committed to blog, measure, weigh and take a picture, well, it got my butt moving. Unwillingly, I went to my Zumba class. Now, usually I like to hide in the back row, but this class was so packed that I had to move to the middle. I tried not worry about blocking the view for the gals behind me…which I am sure I did anyways.

I danced. It hurt. My stomach hurt. My muscles ached. My back was tight….and so, I thought about just doing 30 minutes and leaving. But that isn’t who I want to be anymore. The half-assed way is not ok. So, instead, I forced myself to think about how great it will feel in 9 months, when I am on the beach in Maui. I envisioned myself barefoot, sun kissed and wearing a cute Hawaiian sundress. I saw myself dancing and laughing to the music on the beach with my hubby and my daughter. I thought about it to the point where I closed my eyes, and let the music move me…and it did. I found myself smiling and thinking that I will remember this day, this class. The one I almost left. In December, when I am on that beach, I will choose to think about how I stayed in this class, in this moment and how I earned every single second of it.


I left the gym and felt renewed, energized and ready for my weigh in and measurements. I got home and went to get a glass of water and found this note from my husband:

All things are difficult before they are easy.
-Thomas Fuller


AHHHH! What perfect timing he has!! I still don’t know what I did to deserve this guy. He is my rock. He is my biggest fan. He is amazing.

Into the living room I floated, smiling and eager to take my measurements.

I am so proud to say that I have lost a total of 9.25 inches!

Arms:   -1.75

Hips     -2.5

Tummy -5.0 <<<< YAY!

My bust and thighs seem to have stayed the same, which is fine. I am way more motivated by my arms and tummy. The weigh in stayed the same as last week—I have lost less than 5 lbs. But, the measurements---well, HOLLA!

So, it’s working. IT IS WORKING!!!

Here is my latest pic.

Thanks for taking this voyage with me.

Hip Hop class tonight, ahhhh yeah!