Hurley takes on the world

[RedPandaOne]

Here goes my first challenge!!

 

Main Quest

Lose 20 pounds/2-3 inches from entire body so I can fit into the Frye Melissa Tall Lace Boots and my size 10 little black dress that I only got to wear once.

 

Goals

- Go to the gym 3x a week and work out for at least 30 minutes

- Reduce my Chai Latte consumption to two 8oz cups a week

- Reduce my Pepsi consumption to one 16oz bottle for the entire weekend (ie: only 8oz at lunch on Saturday and again on Sunday)

 

Life Goal

Buy my own place.

I've already contacted a realtor as well as the builder for one new complex that is being built in town. I now need to set up a appointment with the realtor. And the builders are still pulling permits, so they told me contact them in a month or so and they should be able to answer my questions about costs and such then.

 

Motivation

I am sick and tired of only half of my closet fitting me. I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and not feel winded and like my heart is trying to burst out of my chest. Most of all, I just want to be healthy and lower my risk of all the cancers and other health issues that run in my family.

[Chris56Ryan]

Great goals to get things going your way, you can do it all and good luck

[VTSPE772]

agh...Pepsi is my Soda-Kryptonite!  Good luck with your goals...as for your closet...when you start fitting into the smaller items, get rid of the bigger items!  That way you will HAVE to keep working to stay in that smaller size!

[pattycake118]

Solid goals! What are your plans while at the gym?

[RedPandaOne]

Thanks for the encouragement guys!

 

You have no idea how much Pepsi is my soda-kyrptonite as well. I don't even want to know how many ounces I drank last weekend. I ended up having a sugar/caffeine hangover on Monday it was so much. Granted that is not normal for me. I went years without drinking it, but in the past 2 years became addicted again. And great idea about the closet!! I'll keep that in mind.

 

My goals for the gym are to do 20-30 minutes of cardio and do a modified version of the Beginner Bodyweight Workout. I have a wound on back that needs to heal and my doctor told me to avoid any unnecessary movements such as lifting laundry and what not, so lifting weights and pushups are kind of off limits right now. But I figured I could do the lower body portion of it. 

[Teros]

- Reduce my Chai Latte consumption to two 8oz cups a week

- Reduce my Pepsi consumption to one 16oz bottle for the entire weekend (ie: only 8oz at lunch on Saturday and again on Sunday)

Love vanilla chai.  Big Train=best brand ever.

 

For the soda....if only you were here at the last challenge group I made.  One person gets grossed out every single time there's soda and doesn't want it anymore.

 

Is soda an issue on weekdays, or is it just on weekends- hence the restriction?

 

I have a bunch of stuff in my closet that doesn't fit me yet. I did however, keep the biggest size pants/shirt I ever wore as a reminder that I never want to be that again. Any sizes between that and right now are gone though.  That way I can have one of those photos where I'm holding up giant pants that look absurd (because I'm gonna be all covered in muscles and look awesome....some day)

 

Good luck and have fun!

[RedPandaOne]

I love it too much. It use to be a treat during the winter months to warm me up, or I'd get an ice one as a treat during the summer to cool me off. But now it's a daily 16oz habit. The amount of sugar is just too much. I need to get it back to being a treat. But I'll check out Big Train. At home I have Pacific Sun (it's Pacific something), at work we have the Cafe Escape K-cups. Those k-cups are what is killing me.

 

Aww man! I should have been here last challenge. I knew I should have joined earlier, but I kept on debating.

 

The soda is only a problem during the weekends. I don't touch it at all during the week. But when I start making lunch on the weekends it's automatic for me to go grab a bottle of Pepsi instead of water. And then I'll drink only half of the 16oz bottle at lunch, and then sip on it the rest of the afternoon all the way to dinner. I even tell myself not to, to get up and put the rest of it in the fridge but never do, or very rarely do. My plan is to pour out 8oz into a glass and immediately put the bottle in the fridge so I'm not even tempted. Then during the next 6 week challenge try to cut it back out completely and make it a treat to have once in awhile.

[Guzzi]

Hey girl! Good to see you signed up. Definitely subbing this one.

[RedPandaOne]

Yup! I signed up! Another pair of pants ended up not really fitting this week so I need to do something. I hit my last straw.

 

I ended up having a cup of chai today, which makes 3 for the week instead of 2. BUT we had cake at the office today at work and I didn't have a slice, so yay!! I wasn't really even tempted. I saw the cake and was just like "eh, it doesn't sound appealing right now".

[Guzzi]

Yaaaayyyy!!!! *highfive*

[Teros]

Small victories are still victories. Good job.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Great start!!  I have a hard time turning down free food and even harder time ignoring the pouting that often comes from the snubbed giver.

 

I'm doing the bodyweight workouts too - surprising how hard simple movements are!!  Hope your back heals up soon so you can do whole-body exercises for the core and upper body. 

 

Since you're working on bbww - Nuala tagged you as a potential assassin.  Let me know if there's anything I can tell you about our guild.  But in the meantime, I'll stop by periodically to see how you're progressing!!

[RedPandaOne]

Thanks guys!

Chris-Tien, I saw that I've been tagged as an assassin. I'll let you know if I have any questions! Looking forward to be a potential guild member! Once my back heals I can't wait to dig more into strength training.

Just had lunch, and I did as planned and poured myself only 8oz of Pepsi. I also avoided it last night when I went out to dinner with a friend.

I also weighed myself this morning, and I believe I've lost about a pound, but I need to double check what my weight was a couple weeks ago. I either lost or maintained, either way makes me happy. I'll post my official numbers next weekend when I do my monthly check-in and do all my measurements.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Good job!  Awareness and deliberate choices will make a huge difference.  I didn't have to give up soda, but I did have to severely cut back on wine. 

[Hooded-Warrior]

Ah! Found you! oh my gosh yeah soft drinks are addictive and so so bad

Have you considered using cans to help you cut down? That way you don't have that bottle and the thoughts of "it'll go flat if I don't drink it now" and so on. (I'm Aussie so I don't know how big of a bottle you're talking about, but I'm picturing a 1.25 litre bottle, in which case a can would be less)

Following your progress!

[RedPandaOne]

Yay! I'm glad you found me. I was going to post a link in your thread so you could.

 

I have considered using cans. I'm going to see if I can switch to the super small (correct serving size) cans that they make. Right now we (aka Mom) buys the 6 pack of 16oz bottles. Every once in awhile she comes home with the 6pack of 32oz, eeks. I think she just buys whatever is on sale. The downside of still living with the 'rents. I either need to start buying and separating out my own groceries (or else my dad will eat it all), or make a list for my mom to buy. I'm tempted with the making a list because both of them need to lose some weight and if I have her start buying healthy for me, in the long run it might start rubbing off on them...hopefully.

[Hooded-Warrior]

Ooh yeah I hear ya on the living with parents issue. My mum (God bless her) would keep buying my sister and I "treats" and did a lot of baking... It is a lot easier living out of home to keep the house far emptier of baked goods and sweets.

That said, the list is a solid strategy, especially if you explain to them about wanting to make a positive change in your life and health. Good luck!

[Chris56Ryan]

Well if they were up for it, it would be great if you could get some good shopping done without actually having to do it yourself 

[RedPandaOne]

I think my mom may be up for it. I know she is unhappy with her weight, but I think she's just given up. I know she's been fighting with her weight all her life. I've heard many times from her "Don't get your hopes up into fitting into a size 10 jean, it's just not in your genetics. I was never able to." Thanks, Mom. I think if I can fit into a size 10 dress there's a good chance I can get into the jeans, or at least a 12.

 

Even if she doesn't want to buy for me now, they'll be gone in 3 weeks for about a month. She typically leaves some money for groceries, so I'll have some good food for the last half of the challenge.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

My healthy eating is gradually influencing my hubby.  Keep it up - they will be happier, and it will become easier for you too.

[pattycake118]

Oh good God, I understand the worries of parents feeding you. Every time I hear about my nephews visiting grandma and grandpa I also hear about the cake my mom baked for them. It pains me so! Cake shouldn't be an every visit thing! It's just a coffee cake and unfrosted, but it still makes me worry. I'm not hugely overweight, but I know that I didn't learn the best eating there.... Take control of the meals however you can!!!

 

My mom likes when I cook for her when I visit (only once or twice a year). How would your parents feel if you took the reigns in that department? Or asked to cook on a certain day of the week, your menu and all that jazz?

 

That's sad that she's so unmotivated about her weight, and looking to keep you down with her. Just because she didn't figure it out doesn't mean that you won't. I think you can do it! Size 10 here you come!

 

 

edit to mention: everything at mom's was home-cooked, but there was late night snacking in front of the tv, too much ice cream, always cookies, etc.

[RedPandaOne]

I like the idea of me cooking one or two nights of the week. I think I'll run that by her. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to have a night or two off. There are a ton of recipes that I've wanted to try but haven't. It'll also help me learn how to cook. I can do some very basics, but that's about it. When I move out I'm going to have to know more than throwing a chicken breast in the oven!

 

I don't think she's intentionally keeping me down. I think in her mind she is trying to keep my goals realistic. I mean, looking at all the women in my family that I'm related to by blood (aside from one cousin who got her moms genes), they are all plump women. I really want to avoid that when I'm their age. But yea, she doesn't help much either. She is an enabler, and doesn't even realize it, which I think is the worst, because she doesn't know how to stop herself from being one.

 

Though, I am fighting back more. For example, while on vacation last month we usually had a big breakfast (I'm talking 3 huge pancakes, or an omelet that took up the entire plate, or 3 slices of french toast. Typical Vegas portions, ugh). Around lunch time my mom would go looking for a "snack", so she'd go to the food court and eye a taco or a subway sandwich and would ask me what I want. I can't tell you how many times I told her I wasn't hungry. I think I may have yelled at her once, oops. I think she misinterpreted my moodiness for hunger when in reality I was just tired and frustrated that 95% my slots were gone and the ones I were playing weren't paying out.

 

My mom is the same as yours, everything is home cooked, but ice cream was almost always had for dessert (and not a small bowl), cookies were always around during holidays and sometimes the rest of the year. We have a candy dish that is always stocked. And if you know where to look (and of course I do) you can find her hidden stash of goodies that she doesn't put out. Not good at all.

[snowberry]

Great goals! And I can sympathize with living with people who aren't the best of eaters. It makes it so hard sometimes when the pizza just appears in the kitchen...  But keep it up! It's not always easy to say no to the junk food, but you feel *so* much better when you do.

[RedPandaOne]

Ugh. So I'm having second thoughts on my Life Goal. As much as I want to move out, and as much as I need to, I don't know if I should.

 

So, anyone who lives in Massachusetts, mostly towards the coast, knows how expensive it is to live here. I pretty much need a house/condo that is under $100,000 to be able to afford the 20% down payment and I would need a mortgage $600 or less to be able to afford the monthly cost of living without a roommate. Well, there is pretty much nothing within my price range. And to boot, I forgot to factor in house insurance when I was doing my budgeting. So, I would still need a roommate now. But everything in my price range is a 1 bedroom place. I could get a second job, which I have considered. However, some of the condos I'm looking at fall under the Affordable Housing law. I just make the salary qualifications. If I get a second job I would no longer qualify because I would make too much money for a single person family (but yet, I wouldn't make enough to be able to afford the regular priced units).

 

Now, I could be freaking out for no reason. I still have to meet with the bank guy to get pre-approved for a mortgage. I may just be over thinking things. But I don't think so. I had one of my stress dreams the other night where I'm driving a car that I can't stop (even when it's parked and turned off).

 

I am constantly looking for a new job. Buying a house could hinder finding a job. I did have the idea to rent it out if I had to move out of state for the job.

 

Am I making the right choice? Do I just need to suck it up and live with my parents still? I just hate that I'm turning 28 this week and I'm still living with my parents. And my dad has made several (concealed and not so concealed) comments that I should have moved out by now.

[snowberry]

I lived with my parents till I was 27 and I didn't move out. They left the state for their own reasons and tada, I'm a homeowner. Even with my fiancé's income, it's not the easiest situation.

I don't want to discourage you from a dream or a timeline. You know your finances best after all. But I still have stress dreams because of the boat we're in. Just go through everything with a fine-tooth comb and be honest with yourself about what you can cut and what you can't. Living on ramen may be worth it or may make you cry every night. But for me, going over the budget keeps me calm and gives me some sense of control.

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