Biggest Loser Update...

Today is the 3rd weigh in.  We've been at it for 3 weeks now which means we're a quarter of the way through.  I'm not positive but I believe a few people dropped out of the competition.  I worked really hard this week to make up for gaining weight during week 2.  I was bummed but knew it would happen since I was out of town for a few days and didn't work out or have my healthy food available to me.

This morning I ran what I think was the COLDEST 6 miles I've ever ran.  I took one step out the door to my house and went right back in to put on another sweater.  After the run my lips were completely numb.  It's finally feeling like January.  Anyways, once I get the email from Heather I'll add my total percentage weight and in what place I'm in.  I guess I should take my measurements again, too.

January 26, 2009-Week 3:  139 lbs

Total weight lost since January 5th- 7 lbs :)

LOL

This video is intended only for those who need a good laugh.  

No, a really good laugh.  This is so ridiculous that I cried a 

little from laughing so hard. I breathe easier knowing that 

there are actually people out there in our world like him...just 

like him! It's fascinating how diverse people are...and how 

they come to be. It makes me wonder what kind of children 

I will have, and after raising them, what kind of adults they will 

grow to be. Will they be like this man? I wonder what MY mom 

dreamed I'd be like when she had me 26 years ago. I wonder if

the laughing yoga man's parents had ever expected their son to

become...well...this. =)

This also reminds me of the scene in Mary Poppins where they're all floating towards the ceiling from laughing so hard.  Ahhh it's great.

Connections

Ugh...

I think maybe the new year is responsible for this...

I've seen one too many commercials on TV for Eharmony.com, Match.com, etc...I can't remember all of them, there's so many.

They all ask the same thing, "Wouldn't you like to know who YOU would be matched up with?"  To which I always respond with "Yes" (outloud, ha).  That's exactly what did me in about a year ago when I kept hearing the dumb commercials.  I'm a very curious person so of course I checked it out.  The commercials tell you that you can set up a free account to see who your matches are.  Wrong.  You can set up a free account and then READ about who your matches are.  You can't see their picture or communicate with them in any way.  At least that's how Eharmony does it.  After a few weeks of just browsing over profiles for fun...curiosity kicked in again.  I was reading so many great profiles from guys that seemed really cool, of course I came across much more that weren't so cool.  I gave in!  I wasn't even really interested in finding someone at that time, I wasn't looking for a relationship.  I was living in San Diego and enjoying the single life. 

*AHH!  I just heard a Match.com commercial right now! haha.

Oh by the way, I have trouble watching infomercials without purchasing what's on the screen.  I'm a proud owner of the Magic Bullet!  It's a food blender, processor thingy.  I've only made chocolate mouse and salsa with it.  Wow, I really should dig that out of whatever box it's hiding in and test out a few more recipes...I mean, it does come with 101!  

So...it was killing me to NOT push the button to buy a few months of Eharmony so that I could actually see faces!  To avoid death by suspense, I finally did it.  I spent like $130 on 3 months of Eharmony!  Haha.  It wasn't long before my inbox was full with requests to get to know me.  I denied hundreds over those months.  It wasn't until the very last month that I said to myself, "Ok dork, you impulsively bought this service, you might as well use it!"  As weirded out by it as I was, I actually talked to one guy on the phone...who was soooooo boring!  Oh...my ...word....we spoke for about an hour about things that I could care less about!  I was being nice, I didn't know how to hang up with him...or say no to a date!  Ha.  I never went on it though, I told him I was sick and then continued to ignore his calls/texts.  I need to learn to reject with class and tact, I know.  

I actually DID go on a date with one guy from Santa Monica.  Oh wow, it was a big fat mess.  I'm not going into details...no way.  I just look back and laugh.

So here I am AGAIN!!!  I'm hearing the same commercials x 2!  But this time I'm in a different city (LA) and I'm in a different stage in my life.  I'm definitely ready to meet someone.  I've been single for a little over 3 years now.  I finally feel like I'm figuring myself out and I'm up for the challenge of figuring someone else out!  I feel like I have so much to give...love, laughter, loyalty...and it isn't being used to its full extent; I want to give it away and I want this energy reciprocated.

Hhmmm...should I do it??  Should I give Eharmony a second chance?  I've never met an actual couple that has met through this, but I've heard of plenty.  This is my year for happiness, I've already determined that.  But is it possible to find it online???    

GREETINGS!!!

I can't believe it's been 5 years since I have made a greeting card!  My friend, Alain, came over to my house last night until around 2am to make some cards with me.  He made a really funny one for my brother and we left it in the bathroom for him to find this morning.  Anyways, I dug all these out of my craft drawers in the garage; the back are signed by me and dated 2003.  I also used to scrapbook way back when and make quilts, too.

The inside of some of these cards are decorated as well with maybe a border.

All of them are hand made by me!  Some have my drawings and others use stickers.

Not all the ideas are 100% mine.  I looked through craft magazines to find inspiration.

They also come with an envelope.

I only have singles.  None have been duplicated.

I plan to get back into this more this year!  I've got a serious crafty side to me, and it's time for me to get in touch with it again...wake it up!  More cards, more scrapbooking, more quilts and more painting!  

Who knows, maybe i'll try and make some money off of these some day.  For now, their sole purpose is for me to put a smile on a friend or family member's face...to let people I care about know that I'm thinking of them =)

"Loser" update!

It's been ONE whole week since the biggest loser challenge began.  I worked very hard, sweat a LOT, ate appropriately and consumed NO alcohol =)  Yes, I feel the burn...it hurts to stand and sit today.  That still didn't stop me from doing a small workout this morning.  BUT...I feel amazing on the inside!  After running, I'm incredibly happy, can't stop smiling, nothing in my world is wrong, I feel like I could do anything.  It's a thousand feelings at once that you can't get from anything else...it's so worth it.  No pain, no gain!  Anyways...here's my progress in numbers:

Oh, first let me say...I'm actually going to give up my initial weight...GASP!  whhaaaattt???!!!  I KNOW!  I can hardly believe it myself....BUT...i've given it a lot of thought.  Why have I been hiding behind a stupid number?  It doesn't define me.  It doesn't make me any less amazing than anyone else...no one will cross me off their list of friends after hearing it!  Quality not quantity, right?  And I know without a doubt that I am quality....it manifests through my actions, not my appearance.  

However, the pounds I carry show a bit of carelessness and represent internal struggle.  I know I have been an emotional eater and I turn to either food, shopping or alcohol to temporarily void the issues (dumb Pisces addictive personality).  This is my attempt to take responsiblity for my actions.  I'm owning up to all the poor choices I've made by putting them out on the table, looking them over and making a change.  I know there will be times that I give in to temptation, but this is a process; have patience.  Nothing happens overnight, and what's important is how I deal with minor setbacks.  I'm choosing to no longer beat myself up over small slip-ups, instead I'll forgive myself because tomorrow is a new day to make things right again and because...well, I'm human.    

Ok, ok....the numbers:

Pounds...

Week 1: 

January 5, 2009   -  146 lbs.

Week 2:

January 12, 2009 -  141 lbs.

*The heaviest I've ever been is 165 lbs!!!!!  Unacceptable.  Never again.

Inches... (over the past few weeks)

Bust:  above (under arms)  

           lost 1 inch

           lower (under bra)      

           lost 1/2 inch

Waist:   lost 1 1/2 inches

Hips:     lost 1 inch

I think I'm off to a good start!  

*Nothing tastes better than what thin feels like

COLOR playground!

This is soooooo NEATO!  

look...

http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/

Polaroids are back!

I WANT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just one more reason to look forward to spring =)  A possible purchase with the $$$ I win from my "Biggest Loser Challenge"...  I could have so much fun with this thing.  

Check out the link:

http://www.nbcdfw.com/around_town/shopping/The-Polaroid-Camera-is-Back.html

Biggest Loser Challenge

My friend, Heather, has organized a new year challenge for all who are interested in participating.  It's a weight loss challenge inspired by the show, The Biggest Loser.  It's THE greatest show on television...in my opinion.  This season has the biggest contestants in history and they've added a few new twists to make things a little more interesting.  The new season started yesterday, and just in time to motivate me to get my ass in gear...literally.  I haven't missed an episode over the past few seasons.  Actually, I really want to buy the first few seasons on DVD since I was a little late jumping on the bandwagon.  I'm always so pumped to work off calories after each show I watch.  Watching last night was the reason I was able to roll out of bed this morning at 5am and run 3 miles.  Everytime I'm too close to backing out and being lazy, I visualize all of those obese people who are biting the bullet and pushing themselves to their limits.  If they can do it, I can do it.  I also picture these 2 old men (60s) that walk around the Rose Bowl (3 miles) around 4 or 5 am, like 3 times everyday!  If THEY can do it, I can do it.  People inspire me.  I want to inspire people, too.

OUR challenge is this: beginning January 5th (2 days ago) you weigh yourself and email the pounds to Heather.  This is done every Monday at the same time of day to ensure a consistant weight over the next 3 months of exercise and hard work, until March 30th.  She calculates the percentage of weight you've lost each week and then notifies the rest of the participants with everyone's progress via email.  Our actual weight remains unknown until the final weigh in.  We also inform her of our ultimate weight goal; mine is to lose 25 lbs!  That may be a bit of a stretch but I think I can do it.  It averages about 2 lbs each week.  There are now 14 players, each putting $40 into the pot.  At the end, whoever has lost the most percentage of weight wins $520!!!  The runner up gets their $40 back.  I'm TOTALLY excited for this.  To help keep my eye on the prize I've begun to write little reminders on post-its to stick all over my...life; bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, my classroom at work, in my car...maybe even stick one on a cat!

         Wish me luck!!!!!