Summer Sizzle Slim Down stuff and a story about a nipple

Finally! A sunny day! It's amazing what sunshine does for the human spirit! I feel really alive today and more motivated and dedicated to my weight loss than I have in a while. So as I sit here chomping on an apple and sucking down my strawberry Crystal Light (post-workout), I thought I'd share with you what's been going on with me the last week or so.

First off, I graduated on Saturday!!!! I am now the proud owner of a Masters of Education degree. It took three long years to get there but I did it and now I can begin the grueling task of hunting for a teaching position. I know that I will need to put my time in subbing but I've already had an interview - and if nothing else comes of it, it was at the very least good practice because it has been a looooong time since I have interviewed.

Second, I have been working on the Summer Sizzle Slim Down Challenge and have come up with some goals/strategies for each week. The challenge will begin May 25 and the ending date will be Sept 2 - it's a 14 week challenge which is long, but I will try to make it interesting.  I'm thinking about making some "incentive packages" for along the way, and offer some monthly challenges as well as each weekly challenge or goal to try to meet. Some ideas I have so far are to do a vegetarian week and also a week where you have to embrace a fitness fear - meaning either do an activity you have never tried before (but maybe secretly always wanted to) or try a new piece of equipment at the gym. I have a few other ideas up my sleeve, too. Right now I'm trying to get a feel for who might join me in this challenge???? I will post all of the nitty gritty details for the challenge this weekend. But tell me, if you were interested in doing the challenge, would you be willing to post weekly and/or monthly pics to show progress??? It might prove to be a great motivator...

In other news, I had my third training session at the gym today. I am finally getting over my embarrassment at being a lard-ass in front of the trainer. I figure I'm not the worst he's seen and so far, with the exception of the sit up test, I have been able to do everything he has asked of me, including planks with my feet up on a rolling bolster! I try not to focus too much on the image staring back at me in the mirror and try to think more about what that woman might look like if she keeps sticking to the program and working out. It's hard because I REALLY am very unhappy with the reflection I see right now, but I am working on trying to have a positive self-image while I continue to work on changing myself (both inside and out). It doesn't help that when I was staring in the mirror doing my arm curls, I realized I had one hard nipple! LOL - I practically busted out laughing because it looked so stupid, but then thought better of it because I'd have a hard time explaining my immaturity to the trainer who has probably had hundreds of hard nipple sightings during training. I don't know why on Earth that happens - or frankly, why only ONE popped out on me today and not the other. All I have to say is, I need a frigging sports bra! (Please tell me I am not the only one who has ever experienced this or am I a total freak of nature???).

Despite Nipplepocalyspe, I have to say that the training sessions are a huge motivator. I have always wanted to work with a personal trainer but was always too broke or too self-conscious to do it. I am happy the gym membership came with the 4 free sessions because it has allowed me to try things at the gym that I would have never done on my own because of my own chicken-shitness.  Today, for example, I was doing these pull ups from these strappy type things hanging from the ceiling. My body was leaning way back and I held onto the handles and had to pull my body up (kind of in a rowing motion). It was hard but I did it.

After my training session I did 20 mins on the elliptical and 25 mins on the treadmill. I left that gym looking like a sweaty pig, but I was a happy sweaty pig nonetheless!

Of course, life isn't all rainbows and butterflies. I will say that I need to still get a handle on the eating. It's the same old, same old there. I know I can't be working out just so I can have ice cream. It's so counter productive! I need to completely eliminate the bad stuff and cut those damn calories. It does me no good to burn 300 - 500 calories exercising so just to stuff my face with dessert. Hello? Self-sabotager in the house!!!!

So, yes, I have some work to do. I know this....but I'm feeling better than I have in a while and  of course I always have the words of Michelle egging me in in my brain: If not now, when?

Anyway - I have to start getting veggies prepped for dinner. Tonight I'm making grilled salmon and roasted veggies with broccoli, tomatoes, onions, cauliflower and asparagus. Should be good - and most importantly, healthy.

Until next time....sweat on, my friends!