Open Diary - CyclingChick

Open Diary - CyclingChick http://www.opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=C101711 The Brickhouse Chronicles... WW Week 4 Weigh-in and other fun stuff! http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20629 http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20629 Hello lovelies! First, the business...this week showed a loss of 1.2 lbs, No 10 lb star for me yet, but I did lose 9 lbs in January and that makes me extremely happy. My hope was to lose 8-10 lbs per month, so I'd say the first month of the year was a success. Hooray! In other news, I completed the Big D Climb! 52 flights of stairs in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/fountain.htm">Fountain Place</a> building. The climb was ultimately a success, but it wasn't without issues. Myself and another teammate are asthma geeks and we got our asses kicked when we reached the middle floors. There was virtually no air in the stairwells, so good ol' wheezing and lung burning decided to join the party. I kept my inhaler use to a minimum to avoid tossing my cookies. We decided to slow our pace and take mini-breaks after every 3-4 floors. At one point, I offered a fireman (who was climbing in full gear as part of the First Responders team) $50 for a hit off his oxygen tank. He laughed, but I wasn't kidding. I have no shame! LOL Just when I questioned if I was going to be able to push through the asthma issues, I reach the 25th floor and see this poster: <img height="391" width="566" alt="" src="http://pics.opendiary.com/C101711/climb1a.jpg" /> I was shocked! Everyone on my team noted they were climbing to honor Angel when we registered, but I had no idea that the organization would be hanging posters throughout the stairwells to honor those who fought and are still fighting. Needless to say, I got very emotional, but I also found the strength to continue. While some may think the poster placement was coincidence, I firmly believe that Angel knew I'd need a kick in the azz once I got to the middle of this crazy climb. Around floor 40, I begin to feel a breeze and my lungs started to relax. Believe it or not, the last part of the climb was easier than the beginning/middle. The teammates that finished before us came back downstairs to cheer us on to the end. I can't tell you how happy I was to cross the finish line and slap 5 with the EMT (and thank Sweet Baby Jesus that I didn't need him during the event lol). Look what greeted me at the finish: <img height="270" width="480" alt="" src="http://pics.opendiary.com/C101711/climb3.jpg" /> Another poster for Angel...I love it! I informed Angel's parents that we were doing this event in her honor. The funny thing is that her Mom had a few friends also doing the event and her phone was blowing up on Saturday due to Angel poster sightings. Her parents have pledged to the do the event with us next year. :) <img height="450" width="600" alt="" src="http://pics.opendiary.com/C101711/climb4.jpg" /> I was very proud of myself for finishing this task. My legs were super tired afterwards, but I still managed to attend my friend's birthday part that night (and belted out an inspiring version of Bohemian Rhapsody with Chesty!) and celebrate the Wonder Twins 3rd birthday the following day. Busy life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Next up for me will be the Hot Chocolate Race on 2/12 and The Color Run on 2/19. How could I not be a part of this: <object height="315" width="560"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZWsfHC-0d6A?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed height="315" width="560" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZWsfHC-0d6A?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT WW Week 3 Weigh-in http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20628 http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20628 Hello Lovelies! I am so proud of myself! I've kept my promise of checking in here weekly. 3 weeks down...forever to go. LOL Start Weight: 298.4 Current Weight: 290.6 Total Lost since 1/4/12: 7.8 lbs Ok, so I missed my goal of losing 2 lbs this week, but no complaints here. I survived a challenging food week. Ken and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary (hooray!) on Saturday evening and that involved yummy food and spirits. The following day, we took his mom out for a belated birthday lunch. I didn't go crazy with the food choices, but I enjoyed myself. Workouts are back to normal and I'm sleeping better at night. Coincidence? Me thinks no! Goals for Week 4 -Survive <a href="http://ntx.bigdclimb.llsevent.org/">The Big D Climb</a>...52 flights of stairs. I'm going to take it slow and steady. I have a birthday dinner/private karaoke party to attend later that night. Good thing it doesn't require much physical exertion to sit on your butt and sing horrible pop tunes.&nbsp; -Eat clean! The birthday dinner is the only food hurdle for this upcoming week and luckily <a href="http://www.viareal.com">Via Real</a>&nbsp;has a few things that I can tweak and make diet friendly. -Gym 4x -Lose 2.2 lbs (I *really* want my 10 lb star...it's the little things!) Hope you're having a fabulous week! C &nbsp;  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s46cyclingchick"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://s46.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" target="_top"> <img src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/></a> </noscript>  &nbsp; &nbsp; Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT WW Week 2 Weigh-in http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20627 http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20627 Hey Lovelies! Start Weight: 298.4 Current Weight: 292.4 Total Lost: 6 lbs Lost 1.2 lbs this week. I am pleased with the result. Part of my &quot;reset&quot; changes is abandoning the idea that I have to drop 4 or 5 lbs every week. If you're in a weight loss journey, the phrase &quot;I only lost...&quot; should be removed from your mindset. I realize that's easier said than done, but look at it this way: If you started your journey during the first week of 2012, you can be down over 50 lbs by the end of the year if you &quot;only&quot; lose 1 lb per week.&nbsp; I met all the goals I set for this week. Last night's Emirates event was fabulous! Daryl &quot;Moose&quot; Johnston was our emcee, we ate a lovely meal on the field at <a href="http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/">Cowboys Stadium</a> and entertainment was provided by Dancing with the Stars regulars. Nice. I didn't go overboard with food (although I was tempted to eat about 80 of the kobe beef/duck sliders!) or alcohol (I had one glass of champagne and one glass of pinot grigio). Dessert was some chocolate ganache/banana pastry thing. I didn't finish it, but I made sure to eat all of the <strike>ganache-laced</strike> bananas...must get our daily fruit in! Heh. Goals for Week 3 -Gym 4x...must continue love affair with stair climber or I will be in a world o' hurt during the Big D Climb. -Increase H2O...I am truly slacking on my water...nowhere near the daily 96oz I'd like to get. -Decrease processed treats...I have fallen in love with <a href="http://www.newmansownorganics.com/food_newman-os.html#">Newman Own Organics &quot;Ginger Os</a>&quot;...think ginger snap sandwich cookies. I only eat one serving at a time (2 cookies), but I had them 4x last week. No bueno. I am obsessed with having something sweet almost daily, but I'm going to move to high quality dark chocolate and fruit.&nbsp; -Lose 2 lbs How are YOU doing with your goals? Hope everyone is having a great week! C  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s46cyclingchick"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://s46.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" target="_top"> <img src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/></a> </noscript>  &nbsp; &nbsp; Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Big D Climb http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20626 http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20626 I registered for <a href="http://ntx.bigdclimb.llsevent.org/">The Big D Climb</a> yesterday. I am nervous simply because stairs and I have never gotten along...and this event involves 52 flights of the them. I've been training and the plan is to take a moderate, steady pace (no desire to challenge &quot;Zach&quot;...the guy that finished last year's event with a time of 6 minutes...WTH?). I will attempt to keep my foul mouth in check (although it really did help me to cuss my way up &quot;Bitch Hill&quot; in Austin). The Big D Climb benefits the Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society...a cause close to my heart after losing my friend <a href="http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&amp;entry=20616&amp;mode=date">Angel</a>. If you're in the Dallas area and would like to participate, let me know. I have a team in place...but please know that &quot;team&quot; does not imply split duty. Everyone has to do 52 flights. Hope everyone has a great weekend! C  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s46cyclingchick"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://s46.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" target="_top"> <img src="http://s46.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s46cyclingchick" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/></a> </noscript>  &nbsp; &nbsp; Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT WW Week 1 Weigh-in http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20625 http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=C101711&entry=20625 As promised, I'm here with a weekly report! Previous weight: 298.4 Current weight: 293.6 Down 4.8 lbs and I am a fat, happy camper! I cleaned up my eating a few days prior to my &quot;reset&quot; with WW, so I'd like to think the water loss in this result is minimal. At this point, I don't care as long as the bitch scale is doing what I want it to. How is that for rational thinking? LOL It is amazing what the reset did for my mindset. I managed 4 workouts this week...two of them required me to get up at 4:45am. Yes, I know people do this on a regular basis, but I am usually in a murderous rage before 6am. Work has been pure chaos and it really helped to get those gym trips accomplished early vs. avoiding them in the evening due to fried brain and a general disgust from corporate America. *smiling sweetly* Goals for Week 2 -Increase H2O (my water consumption suffers in the winter time and that's unacceptable) -Gym 4x (I am working my way back to 5...baby steps) -Lose 2 lbs Potential challenge: I am attending a travel industry event at the new Cowboys stadium on Tuesday. Note: I could care less about the Cowboys, but the stadium is a masterpiece! Anyway, the airline host is notorious for going overboard in the food/beverage offerings. The last event had an international food theme, so there were lots of cuisines to choose from. I am thinking that my previous choice of Greek lamb chop, paella, pad thai and tempura shrimp...washed down with a rum &amp; coke that was the color of a band-aid will need to be &quot;edited&quot; LOL. My plan is to work out that morning, keep breakfast/lunch light and enjoy dinner without going overboard. Hope everyone is having a great week! C&nbsp; Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT