RoseMadder

So, the last few weeks have been a little tougher- did a road trip to SoCal with my husband and I tracked most of the time we were there but working out was really tricky. And then it was hard to get back in the habit after getting home. However, apparently the one thing I can stick to is corseting lol. So, I went ahead and ordered a custom waist trainer from a nice lady in Poland! I'm really stoked This week, back to the grind. I already did my plank this morning, already tracking food and laced in. Gotta remember to do my stretches tonight and I'll be officially back on track!

Size 6 work pants achieved!

I'm feeling pretty good going into week three! I've been on a real roll with tracking, and have been under my calorie goal most of the time for the last three weeks! Obviously, this might not be sustainable forever, but it's nice to see that 1400 or 1600 calories is feeling ok right now for non gym days. And I actually made it into see the Physical Therapy folks! YaY I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to my own health, so I'm really glad I made the time for that. Now, just gotta actually do the fussy strengthening stuff to make my rotator cuff stronger and move back towards weightlifting.

Week 2 roundup: Stretching: B+ Week 2 6/7 M T W Th F Sun Tracking A+ Week 2 7/5 M (1241) T(1546)(Gym) W(1457) Th (1338) (Gym) F (939) S (1358) S (1804) (gym) Corseting: A+ Week 2 7/5 M 9h T9h W 9h Th 9h F 10h S 4h S 4h (54h) Core focused workouts: BWeek 2 5/6 M (30 sec plank) T (30 sec plank) W nope Th (30 sec plank) F (30 sec plank) S Nope S (30 sec plank) Wow, so today I'm down to 150.7! I'm pretty happy with my progress so far, and having my appt with the physical therapist yesterday was great. He gave me some stretches to do in order to strengthen my rotator cuff, so I now I have a band thingy and will try to do that on my lunch at work. I'm thrilled to have been tracking so consistently, and made it to the gym three times last week even with a pretty busy schedule. Go me Corseting went rather well this week, with the exception of the time I tried to nap w/o loosening it up a little first. Onward!

151.1 this morning! Hell yeah

For perhaps the first time in my life, last night I made myself a burrito, and only ate half. Weird. I think my stomach capacity might really be changing here.

Hi! I'm doing this 6 week challenge as well, and came over from the FB group. /waves

Week 1 roundup: Stretching: A- Week 1 6/7 M T W T F Sun Tracking A+ Week 1 7/5 M (1978)(Gym day) T (1529) W (1710)(Gym day) T (1178)*sick F (1287)*sick S (1287) S (1251)*sick Corseting: A- Week 1 5/5 M 0h T 12h W 9h T 8h+2h F 0h S 3h S 2h+2h (38h) Core focused workouts: BWeek 1 5/6 M (30 sec plank) T (30 sec plank) W (30sec plank) T (30 sec plank) F Nope S Nope S (30 sec plank) Given that I got sick this week and had a fever on and off Thurs-Sat, I'm pretty happy with this week. I weighed in this morning at 152.6lb's, which... given that I was rather under-eating all week due to feeling horrible is to be expected. But I'll take it! I'll keep tracking and hopefully be able to maintain that loss and build from here. I also went to the gym twice, so I'm pretty proud of that. Onwards and upwards! Corseting, while I made my 'days' goal, I did not make the 8h on average by 2h. I'm still considering this a pretty big win for being sick most of the time. I felt well supported by the corset, and did a short photo-shoot on Thursday for a local clothing store. I think that wearing the corset more frequently did make it easier to be tight-laced for photos. So that's pretty cool

It's been a really crazy week, but I'm proud of myself for tracking and staying generally on track as much as I have been. I had a fever yesterday, so no work, no corsets and really not much other than trying to see doctors and sleep. But! I did finally talk to a physical therapist over the phone. He said to stop the ibuprofen, since the injury is not new (probably been injured since before Halloween and just in denial... so that makes sense. I should continue the stretches, but try to avoid stuff that actually hurts. Also, since swimming hurts... no swimming. I'll make an appointment for when I'm not ill to go in and get evaluated in person. It feels good to be finally taking some steps for my own health, and I am missing lifting, so I need to pay attention to this and not just have a chronic injury.

Updated for the first two days, and sent a message to the Physical Therapist I was supposed to talk to a month ago. It's a start!

I feel a bit adrift right now, with a tentative shoulder diagnosis of tendinitis, a head cold at the moment and a rather busy life (weird, I know!) So, I think I just need some accountability, and a little bit of structure. If this challenge helps then that would be awesome. I've completed two challenges, and started a third a while back, so I hope to make it through this time! I want to get back into a bit more of a fitness mindset, and ideally come down a few lb's from where I am now. It's depressing to look back at my first challenge and see the weight difference (was 138 at first challenge, now approx 156). I'd love to get back there, but in a healthy manner only. Right now, my first goal is to get back to 150lb's. Small weight goal= achievable weight goal (I hope!) I turn 30 this June, so my "Big Goal" is to be back in weightlifting shape, and down to 140lb's by then. I know the BMI is shite, but hey... I think 140 could be a perfectly sustainable weight for me and I want to try. Goal 1) heal the shoulder Daily actions: 1x per day stretches. *from 1/19/15 I'm going to be doing the new stretches assigned by PT. Stretching: B+ Week 1 6/7 M T W Th F Sun B+ Week 2 6/7 M T W Th F Sun B+ Week 3 6/7 M T W Th Sat Sun F Week 4 2/7 T Th FWeek 5 1/7 T Week 6 x/7 General action: get in touch with physical therapist for stretches etc * Due next week* **contacted on 1/7/15** **Appt set for 1/19th** Goal 2) decrease the weight Daily actions: track on FS daily, goal 5/7 days per week Aim for: 1600 on non-workout days, 1900 on workout days Tracking A+ Week 1 7/5 M (1978)(Gym) T (1529) W (1710)(Gym) T (1178)*sick F (1287)*sick S (1287) S (1251)*sick A+Week 2 7/5 M (1241) T(1546)(Gym) W(1457) Th (1338) (Gym) F (939) S (1358) S (1804) (gym) A+ Week 3 7/5 M (1667) T (1368)(Gym) W(1368) Th (1342) (Gym) F (1918) S (1622) S(1603) (gym) B Week 4 4/5 M (1745) T (924) (Gym) W (1717) Th (1732) (Gym) F S S B Week 5 4/5 M T(1268) (Gym) W (1487) T (1337) F (2246) S S Week 6 x/5 M (1833) T (1770) Goal 3) try out waist training ::So this one is a little unusual for NF, but hear me out. I love corsets. I have... many of them that I wear for fancy dress up etc regularly. And I like the idea of making this a little more of a devotional practice and being able to lace down further on occasion. Waist training with a properly fitted steel boned corset (not that latex tube stuff) is generally safe and low risk. Folks who are the knowledge base for this sort of thing regularly suggest combining waist training with small changes to diet and working out to increase overall health. It's also strongly recommend that you get regular movement and focus on core strength. Since all of those things are actually pretty solid advice no matter what, I feel comfortable including this goal here:: Daily actions: *Actively corset at least 8h per day, goal of 5 days per week. This can be split up or a longer stretch. I'm not going to set any reduction goals right now, this is pretty much just to see if I enjoy waist training and does it assist or align with my other goals. *6 days per week, daily core focused exercises (plank, crunches etc) Corseting: A- Week 1 5/5 M 0h T 12h W 9h T 8h+2h F 0h S 3h S 2h+2h (38h) A+ Week 2 7/5 M 9h T9h W 9h Th 9h F 10h S 4h S 4h (54h) A+ Week 3 6/5 M 0h T9h W9h Th 9h F 10h S 4h S 4+4 (49h) A+ Week 4 6/5 M 12h T 7h W 9h Th 5h F 6h S 2h S 0h (41h) A+ Week 5 7/5 M 3h T 9h W 3h Th 14h F 13h S 9h S 5h (56h) Week 6 x/5 M 9h T 12h Core focused workouts:B Week 1 5/6 M (30 sec plank) T (30 sec plank) W (30sec plank) Th (30 sec plank) F Nope S Nope B Week 2 5/6 M (30 sec plank) T (30sec plank) W nope Th (30 sec plank) F (30 sec plank) S Nope S (30sec plank) A Week 3 6/6 T 2x 30s plank W 30s plank Th 45s plank + 50 bicycle crunches F 45s plank S 45s plank 50 bicycle crunches 10 regular crunches S 45s plank F Week 4 3/6 M 45sec plank 50 b crunches T 45 sec plank W 45s plank Th F S S FWeek 5 2/6 M NA T 30sec plank W 30sec plank Th F S S Week 6 x/6 M 35sec plank Rewards: If I make it through, and am at or below 145lb's, and enjoyed corseting, then my reward is a custom waist training corset from a corset maker I admire. RetroFolie Custom Waist Training Corset

Glad to hear things are coming together! I was catching up and you sounded really stressed last week, but much better this week. Candies and arches and books and ribbons oh my! Good luck for this week ~

I'm having a good but very busy week! Decided to focus on tracking, and if I make it to they gym 3 times then yay, otherwise I'm not going to beat myself up about it! Birthday today, party tonight, pirate festival tomorrow... yeah, going to be a fun weekend

Thanks for even more stories! I really love hearing these I've been tracking, and slowly getting closer to nailing down some ideas for the wedding. Will probably fall short of my workout goal this week but ya know what? It's my birthday today and its been a really crazy week and this is not about perfection. This is about making choices to have a happy, healthy life and I'm going to just go for it!

Heya hope you are feeling better! Making up workouts is good, but don't stress too much about it. Perhaps just concentrating on getting this week's workouts in will be enough! And if the DOM's are killing you, ease back a bit. Better to go slow and keep going than really push and take yourself out of commission!

Thanks for all the stories! I really appreciate it I'm not sure if I'd actually want to wear the dress, but I suppose I'm not actually ruling it out at this point. I'm polling my mom about how offended family would be if we did something like Pookie talked about! Offered to host Thanksgiving to compensate Workout log for yesterday- 30min elliptical 300cal incline bench press: 2x5 @75lb 8x75lb's Deadlifts 10x75lb's 3x115lb's 5x95lb's 20 walking lunges 20 bodyweight squats. My lower back is a bit sore today, so I'll have to be very careful about my deadlift form methinks!

Ok, so I just squeeked in everything for last week, did my last gym session at 11pm on Sunday! But hey, it still counts Gym 6/6/13 30 min elliptical 10 swinging side tucks, 5 front Flat bench press: 8x80lb 3x8 85lb's (new record!) Deadlift with the long bar: 10x 45lb's 5x100lb's 3x4 @110lb's Bringing my gloves helped a lot with the deadlifts, and I think I'll feel better about the longer bar now that I've given it a try. Gym 6/9/13 30 min elliptical And while in SoCal we did talk more about wedding stuff, got a starter list of people that we might want to invite and I started looking more at locations. Looks like we'll be doing it mostly on our own, and we keep going back and forth about how big of a wedding to have. I'm leaning towards nearly eloping just because of the cost factors! But, more discussion etc will be needed of course. Fun part though- his mom gave me her old wedding dresses (only a few years old actually) so that I can sell them if possible and of course I tried them on just for fun! One was all lace overlay in ivory/cream and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Must remember to try on some like that in the real stores!

Glarble. Tracked yesterday but was over again due to road tripping with the fiancee last night. We left at about 8pm last night and got to his mom's place at about 4am! I'm feeling a bit bleary of course, but we will be going to the gym and then perhaps a nap. After that it'll be dinner at the portion insane claimjumper restaraunt, but technically my goal was about tracking not staying within my calories for the day! (Perhaps nitty gritty of me, but right now I'm feeling more concerned with just getting back in the habit vs. anything else. I'll post a gym report later! Thanks for all the complements I'm so over the moon about my ring and the whole thing right now

Glad to see you again for this challenge! I've been doing a lot of interviewing (actually looking for people to hire in my field) so perhaps if you are looking for the same type of work I can offer a few tips! I look forward to seeing your foodie shots and I'm glad you like the new fitness routines

Yay mini- challenges! I'll have to add that to my log. Jo, I'm impressed that you got all the planning etc done so fast! And I doubt even he blamed you for bashing him a little lol. Good work on your workouts! Back on the wagon, er kettle ball and all that

Hey great job on the BBW! When I started I was doing knee pushups and could not get past the 15 second planks. So glad you also had a great yoga class, that sounds like an excellent experience

Glad to hear you could get your ceremony edited the way you'd like! Here in California the requirements are very minimal. (I once preformed a marriage for my friends in their kitchen... long story!) You only have to say the 'do you (Full name) take (Full Name), get agreement, ask other person, then state that by the power vested by the state of California, now pronounced married!. Or... something like that. I did a bit of improv but it was quite easy thankfully. Ireland sounds lovely, and having a car while you're there will probably be a boon in the end as well!

No worries about the MFP My diary on there is friends only I believe, and I don't post much but I figured I'd throw it out there just in case. Hope you have a good today!

Yay! Glad to see you back Water and Vitamins are excellent goals. I've finally managed to get on track with my vitamin habit, and I found that keeping them all together in the bathroom helped. Now I take them all at night right when I'm brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed. I was getting sick constantly, but the addition of a few supplements per my acupuncturist seems to have really helped! De-cluttering is another great goal, good luck taking it a bit at a time. A friend of mine had the 10 min a day rule, and found that once you start it's much easier keep going and build up momentum. I look forward to seeing your progress

Pookie, thank you for the advice! I'll be referring back to this for sure A few of my other friends got engaged about the same time, and one of them already showed me offbeat bride and I love it~ Jo, good suggestion as always! I think I will certainly do that next time. Bring gloves, start w/o them with just the 45lb bar and go from there. No workout yesterday, and I was over my calories (mmm Olive Garden) by 369. Actually, since I was under yesterday I still feel ok about this!