bikini madness

I just read this blog post by Melissa and I couldn't stop smiling. She has the exact same goal that I have (to wear that bikini w/ pride) and to read of her success is so inspiring! Great job Melissa!

no excuse monday

Another wonderful weekend has passed and Monday is upon us. With the rain and fog that greeted me I really wanted an extra hour or so to snuggle in bed.

Lithe was great this weekend! Saturday was Sculpt w/ Bari and Sunday was an early High Mini with Carrie. I can't stress enough how wonderful it is that each instructor has a slightly different way of teaching the class b/c it keeps things so interesting. I've taken Thigh High with Bari but hadn't taken Sculpt w/ her (I've had Steph, Carrie, and Krista--all amazing!). Bari was great and I left Sculpt feeling ready for the day. I think I might even graduate to the the 5 lb. weights next time!

High mini was at 8 am with Carrie. Ann wasn't available at the usual 9:45 slot so Carrie filled in for her and taught at 8 am. It was early but I wasn't going to miss it and I appreciate Carrie's willingness to fill in. Carrie kicked my butt! That class is such an amazing work out and, again, each instructor brings a new element to each session.

Oh and another fun tidbit... I tried on my favorite pair of Joe's Jeans and they are fitting me so much better! They are even a little larger around the waist than a month ago and I needed to throw on a belt. I posted that the jeans I wore on Friday were gapping at the waist but in my head I sort of thought "well, these are supposed to fit a little bigger anyway..." That is not the case for my Joe's! No excuses I'm seeing results. Pure and simple. Yay!

bringin' back the belt

My jeans are too big! My jeans are too big! Here I am whining and complaining about results when... My jeans are too big!!

Woot! Woot!!

i am not

It's amazing what a Lithe class will do for you! As you can see through yesterdays post, I was feeling pretty "meh" about my progress. I went to Cinch and Carrie worked that self doubt right out of me. Down on self doubt!

I can do this and I AM doing it. If I'm not in a bikini by May that's ok. I'm still working hard and eating right and that's the whole point of this experiment. The negative feelings don't get me closer to the end result. I am not lazy. I am not the "f" word. I am not taking shortcuts. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I am beautiful and I am doing it.

My prayer: I would like to see me the way God sees me: wonderfully and beautifully made.

perspective

After a really great High Mini on Sunday my week of Lithe (Wings, High Mini, and Cinch) has been pretty "meh." Yes, I'm still working really hard but I had a personal goal of wearing a bikini on our weekend trip to Florida. That trip is next week and I don't feel ready for that step. I actually don't feel close to ready.

In preparation for the trip I did a little shoppy-shop during my lunch hour. Seriously, WHAT is with the lights in fitting rooms?? Hasn't anyone figured out that if they gave us flattering lighting that we would buy way more?? Sigh. It wasn't a positive experience. Do I expect to be a toothpick? No. I don't even want that. As I've mentioned in previous posts I don't want another body I want the best "me body" I can have. I want to see how great I can look and feel in my own skin. Well, I think I just said it (or typed it)... I want to see how great I can look and feel in my own skin. Somehow I need to figure out how to shed this negative "you have so much work to do until you look great" attitude.

Anne Lamott wrote an essay about body image. She said when she was at her skinniest she STILL thought she was overweight because she never saw herself as beautiful. Her attitude was that of a "big girl" and she could only see herself as such. The essay is really great and I'll try to find and post it. What she points out is that we just have to love ourselves. If you don't think you're beautiful at your current size you won't think you're beautiful at any size--curvy, thin, musculer, in shape or out of shape. We all have our days of doubt. I mean look at this post... it went from "woe is me and my jiggly bits" to "ok let's get it together here." Though I might not be exactly where I want to be - I have to admit that my body is certainly changing. I feel stronger and I need to accept that these things don't happen over night. Sigh. I always said that it would be amazing if we lost a pound just for avoiding the donut. Just for the action of "nope, I'll skip that." BAM! Minus 1 lb. How great would that be?? (Almost as great as amazing lighting in fitting rooms perhaps...)

Tonight I'm headed to Cinch with Carrie. She's bringing along a measuring tape so that my friend LA and I can take our measurements. I took mine when I began but Chris did it and neither of us really knew what we were doing... I think I might talk to Carrie about how I'm feeling. Perhaps she can shed some light.

high five after high mini

Yesterday's High Mini was my BEST class. My form was ON and I felt strong both mentally and physically. Yes, I still had to modify a few things but I would rather modify and hit all the reps than not modify and mess up my form. Not only that but I just kept pushing myself to go hard and stick to it. After the class I felt really amazing!

Mr. C was fishing this weekend so I decided to visit my parents in Lancaster and meet my friend's new baby boy. I left after Sculpt and drove back in time to catch High Mini. I have to say the trip gave me a bit of anxiety so as I drove back I was ready to let it all out in High Mini. The class was an "ah-ha!" moment for me. It just clicked... form... breathing... positive mental state... it was an amazing class.

the body of me

Another great week of Lithe! I'm at the point where I'm beginning to feel the difference even if it isn't noticeable to others. I think Lauren says other people start to notice the difference after 2 months... that could be wrong. She also says after 6 months the difference is just amazing - and I can believe it. At 5 classes a week I'm feeling a change already.

It's really fun b/c I'm noticing little changes in my body and I'm excited to see the continued results. A good friend of mine said simply: Don't expect to have the body of anyone else but Carmen. But it will be the best body Carmen can have. I love that! I'm excited what to see what my body can do.

Thank you Lithe!