Biggest Loser Competition Complete - Recap

8 weeks - it really doesn't sound like much does it?? 8 weeks ago I agreed to join this BL competition at work because some gals at work asked me too.  I saw it as a good opportunity to lose the weight I gained from a stressful year end and the holidays.  I would say the last 5 months of 2011 was an eating free for all!  I don't know if all the working out I did in the beginning of the year burned me out or I just stopped caring...all I knew was my clothes were tight and soon enough I wouldn't be able to wear my beloved black hoodies to hide my growing muffin top.

So my goal was to AT LEAST get down to my lowest weight before the gradual gain of 2011.  

GOAL ACCOMPLISHED - 22 lbs lost (and hopefully never to be seen again)

As I was driving into work this morning, I was thinking about how hard I had to work to get that weight off....weeks of eating right, not eating out, exercising 5 days a week....I'm exhausted...and the pathetic truth is some days I wanted to burst into tears!  *sniff sniff*  I ran 3-4 days a week and would attend hour long zumba classes at the community center.  Zumba was probably the only thing that kept me sane.  Love me some Zumba.  It's like club line dancing.  I also met with a trainer from our gym at work once a week for strength training.  

I still have about 17 lbs more to go, but that sure sounds better than 39 lbs.  So you know what helped me keep my motivation? 

PINTEREST!

(motivation for my lazy booty board)  

Whenever I would feel zero desire to get on the treadmill, I would get online and look at the things I pinned for that extra bit of encouragement I needed.   Here are a few of my favorite pins that helped me along.

Getting Fit Feeling Sexy Tumblr

Runs For Cookies Blog

For those that are and have always struggled with weight, you are not alone :)  It's the one addiction you have to learn to manage.  Unlike other addictions (i.e. drugs) you can't quit eating and survive. You CAN quit crack and be just fine.  See what I'm saying? :)  

I also pinned some healthy recipes which you can find here: Pinterest - Healthy Recipes

I've tried the Crockpot BBQ Chicken and Taco Soup - both delicious.  

**Also!  I recommend some friendly competition.  Since this WAS a competition it gave me additional motivation to try to keep up with the person losing the most weight.  AND working out with friends  really helped too.  My sister in law Katy and my friend Jami go to Zumba with me every week.  

Have a great week everyone :)

No Blogs in February?

I realized the other day I have not blogged in weeks!  I know everyone has been DYING to read something new from me (ha! I like to think so in my head), but like all failed moments in life, I have an excuse!  My #1 excuse, I honestly had nothing to blog about - I haven't taken any photos, I haven't quilted, I haven't tried any new recipes...

Sad?  Yes.  

For the last few weeks, it has felt a lot like Ground Hogs Day.  I work, go home, hang out with my husband and kiddo, then it's dinner and bath time (separate, not together), and lastly bedtime.   The one thing that HAS consumed my time (at least for the last 7 weeks) is working out.  Yes, I have been "workin' on my fitness."  I joined a Biggest Loser competition at work and our last weigh in is this upcoming Monday.  I'm glad I did it because I've lost 20lbs, but I am ready for it to be over.   I desperately want something covered in gravy!!  Brother Hooligans, I'll see you Monday evening for dinner.  Their motto is, "Got More Gravy?"   Even though the competition will be over, I still have a personal goal to lose 18 additional pounds, but it would be nice to cheat every once and awhile.  

Monday I will (hopefully) do a full blog about this whole Biggest Loser competition.  Now, I will (hopefully) have more time to photog, cook, quilt...anything my little heart desires :)  

As far as Valentines Day is concerned, please refer to my last years thoughts on this "holiday."  

Scheduled Romance is Dumb

Ok guys! I'm getting out of my bloggers rut!  :)  I'm gonna blog the snot out of March!  

T-Shirt Quilt Complete {Next} Pinwheels. Ooooh.

I FINALLY finished my tee shirt quilt  This is also my first quilt I made for myself.  It's small and nothing too fancy...kinda like me :) 

So it has shirts from high school and college(s).  You should probably know I have been to 4 different colleges and 5 different campuses.  I just did a quick zig zag stitch to hold it all together.

 On the back, I just added one tee shirt logo - this is the college I ultimately graduated from ( my husband too). 

While we were at the flea market this weekend, one of the guys my husband gets his geek on with surprised me with this vintage Star Wars bed sheet.  I've been looking for a vintage Star Wars sheet as the backing for Christians tee-shirt quilt since most of his shirts are sci-fi related.  Yay!!!  He totally made my day.  It was so nice that he kept an eye out for me.

Oh if he only knew one day mowing the lawn won't be so much fun and he'll have to do it cuz we said so :)

Here is the start of my next quilt.  Pinwheels!  My first actually :)  The floral pattern was thrifted for $2.50!  Old bed sheet set - I just loved the pattern.

I think it'll turn out quite nicely :)

Yes ladies, back off!   This NERD is ALL mine.  LOL.  I bought that clone troopers mask on clearance for our SON, but what do you know, it fits him rather well.  These are his latest paintings.  He likes to mix sci fi with well known art.  The first one is The Scream and the TV show Dr. Who.  The second one is American Gothic and Battlestar Galactica.   

I know Geek runs deep in his blood, but he could be into far worse ;)  He's an amazing husband, that's all that matters to me :)