Maintenance Check

I forgot to do a maintenance check in July, so I wanted to make sure to get one in today.

Holding strong...

June 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29 inches
Aug 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29 inches

June 3rd Hips: 35.5 inches
Aug 3rd Hips: 35.5 inches

June 3rd Arm: 10.5 inches around
Aug 3rd Arm: 10.5 inches around

June 3rd Thigh: 21.5 inches around
Aug 3rd Thigh: 21.5 inches around

Phew. I wasn't so sure this would go so well, especially since my scale checks have been questionable the past two weeks (see-always best to stick to measurements). Three months of taking it easy diet and exercise-wise can be dangerous.

Month Eleven Results

Here are my latest measurements:


Mar 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29.75
April 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29.5
Down 1/4 inch! Down 4 inches total!

Mar 3rd Hips: 36 inches
April 3rd Hips: 35.5 inches
Down 1/2 inch! Down 3.5 inches total!

Mar 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
April 3rd Arm: 10.5 inches around
Down 1/4 inch! Down 1.25 inches total!

Mar 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
April 3rd Thigh: 21.5 inches around
Down 1/4 inch! Down 1.5 inches total!

I am so thrilled. I had been worried about this month since I have been so busy in rehearsals at night! Could it be that I was just eating too little and pushing myself too hard? It seems as though this past month of doing shorter workouts or sometimes only getting in a walk actually helped me along? Did my bod just need time to process all that I've hit it with? Clearly I still haven't figured out the science of it all, and everyone seems to have a different opinion for what works best, but I've lost about two pounds this month and 1.5 inches of jiggle. Wow! Again, I will sing the praises of clean eating, calming deep breaths and meditation, doing the best I can, and making the choice not to beat myself up too much (surprisingly still tough!)
 
I'll leave you with this promising shot of me in a pair of shorts I bought a year ago for my honeymoon. They are big now! As we've gotten a small taste of warmth in Chicago the past few days, it's been really motivating to put on clothes from last year and see some results!

Happy Easter!

So We Meet Again 3rd Day of the Month...

Here are my latest measurements:
Feb 3rd Waist (at belly button): 30 inches
Mar 3rd Waist (at belly button): 29.75
Down 1/4 inch! Down 3.75 inches total!

Feb 3rd Hips: 36 inches
Mar 3rd Hips: 36 inches
No Change. Down 3 inches total!

Feb 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
Mar 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
No Change. Down 1 inch total!

Feb 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
Mar 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
No Change. Down 1.25 inches total!

Honestly, I am really frustrated so I am a Debbie Downer right now and my new found confidence has taken a hit. I have been exercising so much over the past month. I've worked so hard and feel disappointed. There just can't be a way that I'm not losing more inches! I am definitely firmer and more defined which is amazing, but there is superficial part of me that just wants to be smaller and refuses to believe that this is as good as my frame gets!! My clothes are all loose so it's amazing that I've only lost a quarter inch in my waist. It just doesn't make sense or add up. I feel like I am eating well, not getting too many or too few calories, averaging about seven hours of sleep a night (low for my needs, but decent), doing a good variation of cardio/strength training/Pilates,  as well as drinking lots of water. I'm down you guys and definitely didn't feel motivated to work out this morning (I felt gloomy and thought, "why bother-what I am doing is not working"). I think with my busy schedule that I just don't have the time to get in the super long workouts that I need and can't spend the money and don't have time for a trainer and nutrionist. I clearly must be doing something wrong. I am trying to fight the negative and embrace the positive and acknowledge that being less jiggly is wonderful and a huge accomplishment and that I have come far. I am the lightest I have ever been by 2 pounds and have more muscle than I ever have. These are great things and I would be foolish to poo-poo them! I absolutely know that! One of the things that is hard to keep that in mind sometimes is that a slender human and a slender camera-ready actor are two very different things.

My husband met my disappointment with a tough love approach and wouldn't let me just cry it out. It hurt, but I am trying to see that he meant well.

Could gluten be the cuplrit? Perhaps I should test my sensitivity by staying away from wheat.

Is It That Time Again Already?

Here are my latest measurements:
Jan 3rd Waist (at belly button): 30.75
Feb 3rd Waist (at belly button): 30 inches
Down 3/4 inch! Down 3.5 inches total!

Jan 3rd Hips: 36
Feb 3rd Hips: 36
No Change. Down 3 inches total!

Jan 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
Feb 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
No Change. Down 1 inch total!

Jan 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
Feb 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
No Change. Down 1.25 inches total!

Hey 3/4 inch in my waist ain't too shabby! I am a little surprised that after so much hard work and additional workouts over the past month that I haven't shaved off a little more, but I am seeing tone and definition, so that is awesome and most important.

I am definitely battling some harsh winter blues right now, but I know I would be in an even worse place mentally if I wasn't eating kindly and cleanly and exercising. I've started taking a B-12 supplement in hopes for a boost. One thing about not eating meat and dairy is that you miss some B-12. This isn't a loop hole in the system, it is because our soil today isn't as rich and healthy as it used to be. It's so overtreated now that all of the healthy bacteria that houses B-12 is missing and we're left with animal guts (literally) as the only place to get it instead of in our vegetables. So I take a dropper of liquid B-12 most days. Have the winter blues hit you?

Only three months left folks until I have vowed to feel fit and confident enough to wear a bikini. It's exciting and motivating and terrifying all at the same time! The hardest area is the ol' abs. I feel like I can't do enough ab work! I remind myself that I am working through a lifetime of squish and to be patient and kind to myself about it!!

"My Lovely Little Lumps"

Apparently The Black Eyed Peas put it best when they sing these lyrics.

Early on I noticed that my chest was one of the first things effected by my new lifestyle, but I hadn't measured to see where I stand. My bras are undeniably the wrong size now, so I went to the net today to find the steps to measure just what bra size I am now. The results: I have gone from a 36B to 34A. Woah. While I feel a little blow to my femininity, this is a win and I should celebrate! This Victoria's Secret method seems to be the most typical way of measuring.

source

I know I was always too chubby as a kid to wear a real training bra, but C'MON. Haha.

Now on to shopping for new pretty intimates!! (...and comtemplate the fact that I just publicly posted my bra size.)

Has your fitness journey left you a bit flatter?

December: The Month of Quarters

Quarter INCHES, that is! Over the past month I lost a quarter of an inch in each of my measuring points!
Behold:

Dec 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31 inches
Jan 3rd Waist (at belly button): 30.75
Down 1/4 inch! Down 2.75 inches total!

Dec 3rd Hips: 36.25
Jan 3rd Hips: 36
Down 1/4 inch! Down 3 inches total!

Dec 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
Jan 3rd Arm: 10.75 inches around
Down 1/4 inch! Down 1 inch total!

Dec 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
Jan 3rd Thigh: 21.75 inches around
Down 1/4 inch! Down 1.25 inches total!

source

I am thrilled. Last month was a bummer with progress at a standstill, so I feel some hope knowing I've been given a kick start! What have I done differently over the past month? I've worked hard to incorporate clean eating and removing animal products from my diet. Clearly it has proven to be just what I needed! I have a nice kind diet to thank this month!

How are all of you doing? Did you survive the holidays unscathed?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~BB30

October 3rd Measurements

And here we go....

Sept 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31.5 inches
Oct 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31.5 inches
No change. Down 2 inches total!

Sept 3rd Hips: 37.5 inches
Oct 3rd Hips: 36.5 inches
Down 1 inch! Down 2.5 inches total!

Sept 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
Oct 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
No Change. Down 3/4 inch total!

Sept 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
Oct 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
No Change. Down 1 inch total!

So, not many changes, but one whole inch in the hips?! Yes! Mind you, it is beyond me how my thighs haven't shrunk but my hip area as a whole has. Regardless I suppose the tape measure doesn't lie. I am definitely firmer which is great. I wish I had a body fat measuring device so I could have taken my percentage at the start and could compare that each month as well. I think that would actually be very valuable to know. (Ugh-I just flashed to those horrible days each year in P.E. when we had to have our body fat percentage taken with one of those claw things. This is a most unsettling and embarrassing annual event for a fat kid whose number is always painfully higher than everyone else's.) Anywho, it's proving to be true what they say, the end of the lifetime of chubby road is in deed really challenging.

source and interesting article about exercising when you are sick

This week has been rough for me. Sunday I woke up and couldn't keep down food or water for five hours. I didn't think my evening cocktails the night before warranted such a reaction, it seemed really odd, something else had to be going on, maybe I had just run myself down from exercising plus working plus rehearsing. I was in terrible shape! Monday I made it to work, but feeling pretty rough. By Monday night at rehearsal my throat was on fire and I felt horrible. Tuesday I was out for the count and ached and couldn't move. Wednesday morning met me with much the same, plus a blinding headache. By Wednesday afternoon I couldn't keep food or water down again and my husband had to come home to take me to my doctor. The results: No flu. No H1N1. Sinusitis and a little virus plus dehydration to the max. Two IV bags of saline later and I was on the mend and coherent. I wish I had a picture of how dramatic it looked. Because of the Swine Flu threat I had to put on a mask immediately when I arrived at the doc's office (and curled up on the waiting room couch clutching a garbage bag). Then, because saline is kept at room temperature (over 20 degrees colder than human body temp) I had to be covered in blankets and given a hot pack to hold in the hand of my exposed arm because it makes you so cold. I was quite a sight, but my adorable and amazing husband managed to make me laugh after a while, and he was such a sport (on top of being crazy busy right now with his own show on the verge of opening-he is the most unselfish person I know).

So, my goal of moving of everyday was quite a challenge, but I have made it work. I actually got in some elliptical time this week as well as doing leg lifts almost everyday (Wednesday I was out of commission obviously). Having dehydration play such a big factor in my illness has made me recommit to water. Water, I take thee as my healthful companion to have and to hold and to keep me hydrated.

So, with my impending six month progress pictures and dress by opening goal coming up next month, I know I need to be on top of my game in the next four weeks!

September Measurements

Pardon the delay in monthly results. I woke up unable to find my tape measure this morning which I now realize may have been a sign:

May 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33.5 inches
June 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33 inches
July 3rd Waist (at belly button): 32.5 inches
August 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31.75 inches
Sept 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31.5 inches
Down 1/4 an inch! Down 2 inches total!

May 3rd Hips: 39 inches
June 3rd Hips: 38 inches
July 3rd Hips: 38 inches
August 3rd Hips: 37.5 inches
Sept 3rd Hips: 37.5 inches
No Change. Down 1.5 inches total!

May 3rd Arm: 11.75 inches around
June 3rd Arm: 11.5 inches around
July 3rd Arm: 11.25 inches around
August 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
Sept 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
No Change. Down 3/4 inch total!

May 3rd Thigh: 23 inches around
June 3rd Thigh: 22.75 inches around
July 3rd Thigh: 22.5 inches around
August 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
Sept 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
No Change. Down 1 inch total!

I could blame my period. I could blame my overly lax weekend. I coould question everything I have eaten or even not eaten. Really though, I have only myself to blame. But I'm clinging to that quarter inch lost in my waist! No time to get down on myself. I just have to move on. Easier said than done, because in all honesty I'm a teary mess right now, but that won't help me. I'm in the last phase of getting off a life time of chub and it's just going to be really tough.

Measurements Part Tres!

source

Here we are, the third day of the month, Measurement Day. Let's get to it!

May 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33.5 inches
June 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33 inches
July 3rd Waist (at belly button): 32.5 inches
August 3rd Waist (at belly button): 31.75 inches
Down 3/4 an inch! Down 1.75 inches total!

May 3rd Hips: 39 inches
June 3rd Hips: 38 inches
July 3rd Hips: 38 inches
August 3rd Hips: 37.5
Down 1/2 inch. Down 1.5 inches total!

May 3rd Arm: 11.75 inches around
June 3rd Arm: 11.5 inches around
July 3rd Arm: 11.25 inches around
August 3rd Arm: 11 inches around
Down 1/4 inch! Down 3/4 inch total!

May 3rd Thigh: 23 inches around
June 3rd Thigh: 22.75 inches around
July 3rd Thigh: 22.5 inches around
August 3rd Thigh: 22 inches around
Down 1/2 inch! Down 1 inch total!

Slowly but surely gang! Maybe my scale isn't moving, and maybe I didn't have a stellar exercise week last week (I didn't get in the lengthier workouts I was aiming for, just a couple of shorties), but the measurements don't lie! What a great way to start the day!

This week my goal is to add variety to my workouts. As we know I am doing lots of cardio, but have only just started adding in some strengthening with ab work. I want to try to incorporate a variety of exercises this week and focus on strengthening.

An Open Letter to My Scale

Listen here Taylor Made, I don’t appreciate or condone your stubbornness. I am here to let you know that despite your efforts to hold me back on my fitness quest and upset me with your unchanging number, I am disregarding your tireless labors to make me question the true results that Tape Measure continually presents. As a woman of decorum I feel obligated to forewarn you that I am on the verge of making a break with you completely. A target date for this break has not been established, but trust that it is currently being reviewed and seriously considered. If you continue to be uncooperative, I will terminate your involvement from my get-fit journey and delegate full monthly check-in responsibility to Tape Measure. Inches and clothing fit do not lie friend, and your performance leads me to believe that you are not a qualified judge of progress.

Let this be a warning.

Sincerely,
BB30

Tape Measure vs. Scale

VS.

(Thank you getfitsource.com and umm.edu)

After my One Month Mark post, I wanted to share my thoughts on using measurements vs. just weighing myself.

When I took my monthly measurements I didn't review my beginning stats so I could make sure I was super honest about where I was. It was such a fun surprise to see my results. The next day I actually did step on the scale. 3lbs down. Any weight loss is good at this point, but I was so glad I had measurements to gage my progress, because I know I would not have been as proud or given myself as much credit if I was just comparing weights. I tend to be hard on myself (and of course think way too much in black and white), so it was nice to discover a tool to help me, well, be more pro-me.

Do you prefer measurements to the scale? Have I made you want to try it?

The One Month Mark!

I was so nervous about this post. I knew I should probably check in and see how I did regardless of if I thought I had my perception of a rough month. Maybe this post should be called Oh ME of Little Faith. Check out these "rough month" stats:

May 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33.5 inches
June 3rd Waist (at belly button): 33 inches
Down 1/2 an inch!

May 3rd Hips: 39 inches
June 3rd Hips: 38 inches
Down 1 inch!

May 3rd Arm: 11.75 inches around
June 3rd Arm: 11.5 inches around
Down 1/4 inch!

May 3rd Thigh: 23 inches around
June 3rd Thigh: 22.75 inches around
Down 1/4 inch!

I am so blown away! It's working y'all! Maybe I wasn't able to go jump in as full force as I wished, but the results speak for themselves. Slow and steady just may win this race!