Shred, shred, shred

Mondays seem to be the day of the week when I am able to post...


Well, this past week turned out pretty well.  After this morning's weigh-in, I am 187.2 lbs.  (12.8 total lbs lost, for those keeping track).  Wahoo! 


I decided on the 30-Day Shred, Jillian Michaels, DVD.  I've been doing it 5 days on, 2 days off (pretty much giving myself the weekends to do other things...and, truthfully, to avoid looking foolish by working out in the living room while everyone is home.  I mean, I cannot be the only person who is embarrassed to work out in front of other people, right?  Is there anything worse than realizing that your arms - or God forbid, your thighs - are making a flapping noise as you're doing jumping jacks with an audience?!  Maybe some day I will get over this body-noise phobia.  Until then, I'll work out on weekdays when I've got the living room to myself!).


The workout is intense for this out-of-shape girl, but I'm noticing results already.  I've also bumped myself up to Level 2.  (There are three levels, three being the most challenging.  I think I'll be hanging out at Level 2 for a while.  Also, still doing the low-impact modifications where they apply.  My knees are not what they should be.  But, as with everything else, I'm workin' on it.). 


As I was saying, results!  Aside from weight loss - which does seem to be evening out, as I knew it would - I am tracking inches lost as well.  In the past three weeks, I've lost many inches, 3.3" around my waist, 1.5" around my hips, etc etc. and that feels pretty fantastic.  My shirts are certainly much looser (or loose at all!)... and, drum roll please, those damn size 16 jeans?  Those stare-me-downs in my closet?  The evil pants that refused to even consider zipping?  


I can wear them, comfortably!  I mean, no "sucking it in," no squeezing, no "muffin top."  They just FIT.  :D


Also, unexpectedly, I may be dealing with the smoking issue sooner rather than later.  I've been feeling lousy this weekend, got a killer chest cold.  So, I haven't had a cigarette since Friday morning.  Well, I say to my other self (the one that fiendishly longs for a cigarette, even when I'm taking my inhaler every few hours), why don't we just keep going?  Let's say, GET LOST! to the tricky bastards and go chew some gum or something.  Auditions are coming... 


It's the looming auditions that really get the point across, lol.  Forget feeling lousy, or not being able to breathe.  I need to be able to sing!  :P 


Sigh.  Whatever gets the job done, I guess.  Does anyone else feel like their constantly battling *themselves* along with everything else?


Well, there's one great win, at least.  I won the battle of the jeans.  Plus, a possible win over the cigarettes.  Now, off to buy a pair of 14s and some gum!


All love,


n*