Wait on Weight Loss

Regarding weight loss... It hasn't been happening for me. I admit, I am not really watching what I am eating. I eat what I want, when I want. Dieting hasn't ever been my thing. But at the same time, I do feel guilty when I do eat crap food... Honestly, I can't put it down (as in consume mass quantities) like I used to, so that's good. I do have a little bit more control with not stuffing myself. But one day we were so hungry and had no food at home, so we caved and got some McDonalds. I got a double cheeseburger meal. I ate it ALL! (Well, excluding the pickles) But that night, my body got upset - literally - and I had to pop three Tums at bedtime.

I do turn away from a lot of greasy food now, it just makes me feel ill looking at it. We go to Chik-Fil-A about once a week. It's Liam's favorite! They have healthy choices there... instead of nuggets, which I used to get, I opt for the grilled nuggets (I like to call them "naked nuggets"). They are pretty good: basically a seasoned chicken breast cut up into 8 pieces. I'm sure there's a bunch of salt on it though. Oh well. Better than deep fried goodness... er I mean, grossness. I still tear up those waffle fries though!!! haha

Weight-wise, I am back up to hovering between the high 130s and 140. Still pretty high for my height - I am only a little over 5 feet tall. I should probably be in the 110s-120s... LOL I haven't been that weight since middle school! I know most of the weight I have gained back is muscle. I actually do look a lot more fit than I did before I started my regular running at the start of 2012. I am actually fitting into size SMALL shirts and shorts now. My normal pants I wear when I run are getting loose in the waist and start falling off when I run in them. It's definitely a good feeling.

(TMI alert?) With the good comes the bad: My boobs are shrinking. I went from a B cup, pre-preggo, up to an E during pregnancy, then to a D post partum, then C, but now my C-cup bras are getting a little roomy. I also still have my preggo pooch that I am pretty sure is not going anywhere unless I get a tummy tuck. Kinda sucks, but that's what happens with some women. Unfortunately. :( Maybe I can get myself a tummy tuck as a "reward" for sticking with a fitness plan at the end of the year?

I would like to think that with my increased running and maybe starting weight training (at some point), I will lose more, and by the time I run the half-marathon in November, I will be a lean, mean running machine! I hope to one day post an awesome before and after photo to show everyone! :)

Benefits of Bikram

I've only taken 4 Bikram yoga classes, but those 4 classes have really changed the way my body works. Most notably the reduction of body aches, like I mentioned in my previous post. But I've noticed other little things too...

1. I can sit with my knees and feet together with very little effort now. Some may think, "big deal!" But it is a new experience for me. I have some tree trunk thighs (sometimes I have to buy jeans a size up because my things can't fit into the legs!), so it's actually WORK to try to get them to come together because my thighs will physically not allow my knees to touch. Well, it's not that bad! But now I can sit all "lady-like" with ease. LOL I think this is possible because in Bikram, about 80% of the standing poses are done with your heels and toes of each foot touching the whole time. I had trouble with this the first class. Sitting with knees and feet together also engage your core muscles, so it's a mini-workout if you sit like this - even more of a workout if you sit on one of those balance balls (I have one somewhere that I used to use at my desk... gotta find it!) 

2. In my fusion yoga class that I take on my off days, I can bend and fold farther than I used to. One of the basic moves is triangle pose (I think?) - where you open your legs and bend over - then touch one hand to the floor and reach up with the other and look up. Before, I was able to touch my palm to the ground, but now I am able to bend over even more and bring my elbow and forearm to the ground!

3. (SORRY ***TMI***) Three words: In the bedroom. Do I need to explain? I would like to keep this PG here!

4. Ability to relax and breathe deep and slow. Those crazy breathing exercises we do actually help with relaxation. I do some deep breathing before I go to sleep and I'm usually out in a few minutes.

But now, I have not gone in almost a week (I am waiting for payday to start my new month)! I kind of crave it! But it's a good thing I have not gone because I'm tapering for my 5k on Friday. I'm going to run today and go to my level one (easier) yoga class tomorrow night... then the next time I do anything will be Race Day!! Woohoo!! Come on sub-30 minute 5k!!!!