Biggest Loser Contest Begins!

Alrighty folks... I'm all signed up and have started the Biggest Loser competition at the gym!  My starting weight was 189 (higher than normal, but I usually weigh in first thing in the morning and this was right after lunch).  Yesterday was the first day of the competition.  I am using myfitnesspal to track my calorie intake, and yesterday was the first day in as long as I can remember (literally) that I didn't go over my 1200 calorie limit!  It was a little tough, but no major temptations yet... I'm sure they'll come later.  I got to the gym last night at about 7:15, jogged 3.3 miles (40 minutes), did 10 rounds of: 10 burpees and 10 sit-ups (about 17 minutes), and finished with 20 minutes on the elliptical.  While I was working out last night, I saw some ladies who may be my competition.  I don't know yet who's in the competition, so I just see everyone there as a competitor!  If I see someone working out hard, I try to up my intensity - competition is good for me!  It's only day 2 and I'm already tired, but I'll find my groove.  I did it before, I can do it again!  This time, unlike before, I had Chuy take some "before" pictures for me.  I'll be sure to take some at the end of these 2 months to see if we can really see a difference.  So exciting!

Who's Gonna be the Biggest Loser!?

When I joined my gym, I noticed on the website that they had recently held a "Biggest Loser" competition.  The winner won $300!!  I have been waiting... hoping... and asking for them to do another one, and finally it's HERE!  It begins Sunday, April 21 and ends Sunday, June 23. I don't even know yet what the prize will be or how it will be judged.  I know that I have to weigh in and they have to measure my body fat.  I don't know if it will be number of pounds lost or percentage.  There are a lot of "I don't knows," but what I do know is that I will do everything in my power to win.  I will not do anything that is not good for my body, but I will be pushing myself harder than I have been.  Chuy is willing to eat (and prepare!) simpler meals for the next couple of months, and I'm ready to make some sacrifices myself.  I have my priorities - things that won't get cut from the calendar, but for the most part, if you want to find me, check the gym... or the trail... or my living room floor (I've been TRYING to work out at home lately).  If you offer me candy or a cookie, I might slap you... just a warning. ;-)  If you see me, PLEASE ask how I'm doing.  I welcome any advice, encouragement or work out buddies.  I figure no matter what, I'll win. I'll give my all to win the competition, but more than that, I'll have lost more pounds, be closer to my goal, and be stronger.  I always try to pick it up a notch in the summer anyway, so this will be a great boost.  

If anyone out there has been following my journey since the beginning, you may remember that I was in another competition from Jan - March of 2011.  I won that competition, but I feel like the competition will be tougher at my current gym.  I've seen some pretty intense athletes!  I'll have to raise the bar and see just how hard I can work.  I'll update here after my initial weigh in at the gym.  I'm so tempted to eat junk food from now until weigh in day!  But I know that wouldn't be good for me at all... can't blame a girl for trying though. ;)

Here's a little trip down memory lane of the last competition...

If memory serves me correctly, this was about 40 pounds ago... so losing 20+ pounds might not be feasible this time. Any thoughts on what my goal should be?

New Muscles and Operation: Bridesmaid Dress UPDATE!

This will be a quick post, but I would like to get into the habit of posting more regularly, even if it's just something small. :)

Today, as I was looking in the mirror, I noticed back/shoulder muscles that I hadn't really noticed before!  I also flexed my leg the other day during one of my gym classes and noticed muscles in my leg moving that I hadn't seen before either!  This is all extremely comforting, as the number on the scale hasn't moved much lately. I suppose I'm going through another "building" stage.  

The scale has moved a bit, and just to update you all... I am at 182 now.  I hoped to be further along by now, but such is life.  My birthday is coming up, so I'm feeling a little more of a motivation to push it.  I have about 12 weeks until my birthday, so my goal is to be 169 by then.  I know that might sound like an odd number, but I started out at 259, so 169 will make 90 pounds gone.  I've LOVE to be 159 by my birthday, but that would be almost 2 lbs a week consistently, and I haven't been able to to do that in a long time.  We'll see what happens, right!?

So... I picked up my SIZE 12 bridesmaid dress this week and it fits perfectly!!!  Just goes to show (again) that the number on the scale isn't everything.  I would post a picture, but I figure I should wait until the wedding.  Don't worry, I'll post pictures!  All of the bridesmaids are wearing a different color, and my dress is RED!  I love it... can't wait to wear it.  Currently it is hanging in the closet next to my size 20 bridesmaid dress.  I really should get rid of it, huh?  Hip Hip Horray!!