Weekly Challenge: Doing What Works

Alright, we're down to the last couple of weeks now, so let's get really serious.

What has been working for you? In the past few months, what gave you the best results, or what were you most able to stick with? That's what you're going to do this week: whatever worked best for you. Throw out anything that didn't work, no matter how much you wanted it to work. If it didn't give you the results you wanted, why keep trying? Ditch it and get back to the activities that will help you the most.

For me, I had the best nutrition results when I followed Weight Watchers closely and drank a lot of water each day. It seems so simple, and it really is. If I write down and track what I eat, not going over my Points, I tend to eat more veggies and whole grains, since they're more filling for fewer calories.

Exercise-wise, I've signed up for the BlogHer 5K, and I plan to feel proud of that accomplishment. That means it's time to work harder on running longer intervals, adding more time to my run, and going the entire 5K distance. I've got access to a gym and a great weather week, so I have no excuses here. And a little teeny, tiny secret I'll share: I'm finding I like running better than other exercise.

So this week, I'm going to get back to what works best for me. I'm going to run, I'm going to track what I'm eating, and I'm going to drink more water.

What about you? What best practices will you be focusing on this week?

New Challenge on Monday!

We're under a month until BlogHer now, and now is the time where I'm trying to keep myself from getting complacent. It's so easy to look at nearly 20 pounds lost and think, "I've done great. I can totally relax everything a bit, right?"

But that's how I got all of these extra pounds to begin with. It's not like they suddenly appeared overnight. It took several days of choosing an extra serving, or going for something fried over something fresh. So while I'm thrilled at my progress so far, the job ain't over yet.

BlogHer is just a mental deadline for me, and my goal is to step out in Chicago looking and feeling great. Working out and eating better will continue after BlogHer, too, but I'm really hoping to get as far as I can before that weekend.

I'm currently at 194 pounds. Not a lot of change in the past few weeks, mostly due to birthday celebrations and probably too much ice cream. I'm setting a goal of seeing the 180's by the time I leave for BlogHer. Sure, no one else will see the number - it's not like someone is going to look at me and say "Girl, look at you! How does it feel to be in the 180's?" but I'll know it.

How is your progress right now? Still chugging along, going full speed, or stalled out? Start thinking about what has worked best for you so far, because on Monday I'm going to have a new challenge to help push us all the way until BlogHer!

Finish Strong

I know BlogHer is still just over a month away, and many aren't ready to think about the end yet, but the end of this particular challenge is drawing near. And while I've set many goals I want to reach by BlogHer, I just added one more and I hope many of you will join in with me.

Phat Mommy has organized a 5K Fun Run on Friday morning at BlogHer. OK, I'll admit the words "fun" and "run" really don't belong together, but aside from that, I think it's a great idea. So many women have been working on getting fit through walking and/or running, and this is the perfect chance to walk or run alongside the group of women who have been part of your support network for the past few months.

I've already signed up, and I'm challenging all of you to do so as well. It's $5 - that's all. If you can afford BlogHer, you can afford the $5 for the run. A t-shirt is included for that fee, and there's a chance more sponsors will add to the swag. And yeah, you'll have to get up early that morning. But you'll have time to shower afterward and make it back down to registration and breakfast.

Also, just because it's called a run doesn't mean you have to run. There are several women who plan to walk the entire distance, so know you won't be alone if you choose to walk.

To enter, visit Phat Mommy's blog for all the details. And leave a comment here to let me know if you're participating. I'm hoping to see several ladies I recognize beside me at the starting line. And we can all celebrate that no matter what our time is when we finish, we know it's better than it would have been had we tried a 5K in early March.

Fashion Show

Hey everyone, it's time for another interactive part of the show here. I somehow was one of the lucky ones to have some of my clothing for BlogHer sponsored by Lane Bryant. Amy (TasteLikeCrazy) sent them an awesome pitch, and I'm convinced it was her ability to sell us that led to this.

Anyway, shopping for clothing is never fun for me. And when I do think I really look good in something, I tend to bring it home, wear it out, get photographed in it, and then wonder What was I thinking? I look like a hot mess!

So I figured I'm going to do it right this time and bring along a few girlfriends for the trip. OK, well, I only brought one with me (Heather from Domestic Extraordinaire), but she had a camera, so it's kind of like you were all there with me.

Anyway, here are some photos of outfits I tried on. I need feedback on what you think works and doesn't work. And please, remember I was under fluorescent lighting - colors are off, and it's the most unflattering light to be seen in.

Outfit 1:


It's a pretty dress, but I don't think I have the boobs to carry it off. Without something filling out the top, it only draws attention to my tummy. But I could be wrong. Do you like it?

Outfit 2:


My least favorite item, but I decided to include it anyway just to see if anyone actually liked it. It felt too tight around the hips, but a larger size up would have caused gaping at the top.

Outfit 3:


I thought it was a cute dress in person, but Heather disagreed with me. "Frumpy" was the word she used, I think.

Option 4:


The tank is actually a shade of hot pink, but under those lights looks more of a salmon/orange color. Trust me - it's bright pink. The pants are true to color.

Option 5:


Same tank, different pants. These are a little longer, and made out of a smoother material. I liked both pants - not sure which would be best for me, though.

Option 6:


The pants are not to be judged here - they're a pair of Lee capris that I already own. We're only looking at the tank top in this photo. (Unless you really like my capris and tell me I should wear them at BlogHer.) It's a lightweight tank that would probably be perfect for the hot Chicago weather.

Option 7:


Same brown pants from option 4, but a sweet hippy t-shirt. Heather said she could tell I felt most comfortable in this. She's probably right. While I love playing dress up for events, a t-shirt and capris are my standard everyday clothing. And tie-dye? Right up my alley. But maybe too casual for BlogHer?

And finally...

Option 8:


This is not from Lane Bryant. It's from JC Penney's and I'm adding it in here because I've walked past that dress every single time I've been to the mall in the past two months. I tried it on once and loved how it fit, but didn't buy it because I wasn't sure I looked as good as I thought I did in it. So I dragged Heather in with me to try it again, and found I could wear a size smaller - YAY!

I like the dress, but I really need some additional opinions on it. (And, uh - ignore the chubby arm. I was holding my arms in some weird way that shoved all my arm fat front and center.)

Also ignore my ugly feet in all of these photos. Shoes will be decided after I choose clothing.

So that's the run-down. Let me which ones you like, and which you don't. Be honest, I can take it. Or if you see anything on Lane Bryant's website that I should have tried on, let me know that, too. If they're going to help pay for some of my clothing, the least I can do is look good in it for them, right?

What's Working For Me Right Now

Three and a half months ago, I set out my goals and committed to getting healthy. And damn if I haven't kept to most of those goals. Still exercising, still eating (mostly) well, and still working on convincing myself I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog gone it, people like me. (That last one is proving to be the biggest challenge, really.)

But I'm not doing the same things that I was back then. It's way too easy to get bored with a single routine, and as this challenge has progressed, my strategy has evolved as well.

So what's working for me right now?

I've joined in with the Shredheads to start training to run a 5K. There's going to be a 5K on Friday morning at BlogHer, and I've decided that will be my first chance to try it. At the moment I'm running three days a week, doing a five minute warm-up walk, then intervals of two minutes of running, one or two minutes walking for 25 minutes, and then a five minute cool-down walk. Next week I'm going to try going up to two and a half minute running intervals. I don't expect to run the entire time of the 5K, but I hope to run at least half and walk the rest.

Along with running, I'm still doing the 30 Day Shred once a week or so. I also realized I needed a day that gave me a better upper body workout (sundresses, people! I want good looking arms!), so I looked through my dusty old workout DVD collection and came up with Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight. As much as I hate listening to her shrill "wooo!", I do like her 20 minute upper body workout with weights. It's targeted, gets me what I need in as little time as possible, and I'm still sore the next day.

I'm not using My Fitness Coach for Wii as much anymore. After three months of every other day, I finally got a little bored. But it's still waiting for me whenever I want to use it again.

My diet is one area that hasn't changed. I'm absolutely LOVING Weight Watchers. The Points system is so easy for me, and I've been taking a closer look at the idea of "filling foods" lately. In other words, foods that fill you up for fewer calories. I've tried incorporating more filling foods into meals lately, and not only are they helping me avoid feeling hungry as often, they're also mostly foods with a lot of nutritional gain versus other foods. I'm also experimenting with the recipes found on the Weight Watchers website - there are some very tasty foods there!

Just losing weight and inches has helped with my self-esteem, but I'll admit it's still pretty low. I'm fighting life-long issues here, so obviously it'll take more than a three month challenge to convince me I'm someone that people actually want to be around and talk to. I'm very good at listing my faults, and I know precisely what I need to change, but coming up with positive traits about myself is difficult. Will have to keep working hard on this one.

So what's working well for you right now?

Oh, Hi! I'm Still Here and Pondering "Hot"

I've noticed lately that participation has been slipping lately. Is anyone still here? Are you still interested in weekly challenges, or are you looking for something else?

I've noticed lately some...irritation? ...annoyance? at the idea of being "hot" at BlogHer. Some are wondering why we women need to look better for each other, and if this was a men's conference they wouldn't be stressing out about what to wear and losing a few pounds. And they're right - women put way too much pressure on ourselves regarding our outward appearance. I can also see feeling annoyed at the idea of people trying to get thin just for an event. I get it, and even though the name of this blog is "Hot by BlogHer", I can say I agree in many ways.

I can only speak for myself, but "Hot by BlogHer" was started so that I could get healthier and hopefully gain some self-confidence, and invited others to join me as well. Yes, for me getting healthier involves losing weight, and no doctor would deny that I need to lose a little weight and exercise more to improve my cardiovascular health. And those who know me well know that I have very little self-esteem, so even a little boost in confidence can go a long way - we all know that someone who is confident and sure of herself carries herself in a way that makes her look more attractive - even "hot" - than someone who thinks they're fat and worthless, right?

The end date of BlogHer was simply a goal date when I knew I'd be in an uncomfortable situation and could really put to the test what I've accomplished. I knew I'd be dressing up, as opposed to my normal mom uniform of ripped jeans and t-shirt, and I'd want to feel comfortable in my clothes. And I knew I'd be facing lots of new people, giving any new confidence a chance to shine.

Whitney from Rookie Moms and I had an e-mail conversation about this a few months ago. (You're way ahead of your time, Whitney!) Here were her concerns: (copied with her permission)

This goal to be "Hot by BlogHer" has stirred up some weird feelings for me. I definitely support everyone taking on these challenges, and love to cheer them on, and LOVE that we can do this for each other thanks to the Internets. My "weird feelings" are that I went to a women's college (Barnard) and the thing that was cool about single-sex ed for women is that everyone - the smartest, the most ambitious, the funniest, the raunchiest, the most daredevil, every superlative superstar there was a woman. Ideally this meant that all those qualities about them stood out more than their physical appearances and that we could be more focused on those things because it was a community of only women.

I sort of have the same expectation for the BlogHer community. Like, shouldn't we be able to appreciate the best designers, most honest, clever writers,savviest entrepreneurs, etc, and not worry about impressing one another with our thinness? I'm wondering what you think about that. And "Easy for you to say, skinny bitch," is a totally acceptable answer. Am I being unrealistic about my wish? I can admit that I don't know what it's like to struggle with weight.

I'm glad that she shared her thoughts with me about it, and she makes valid points. Why do smart, educated, talented women still judge each other on our appearance? Shouldn't our talents stand out above everything else?

Here was my reply, which I still stand by and still represents why I did this in the first place:

As for the Hot by BlogHer issue, I agree with you that we shouldn't focus on physical appearance when meeting with a group of women, but from my experience it nearly always happens. When someone sees you in person for the first time, there is always an immediate snap judgment made about you, whether consciously or unconsciously, and physical appearance plays a part in that.

An example: think about if you met a woman in a business suit, with hair pulled up and natural makeup vs. a woman covered in tattoos & piercings with torn clothing, heavy eyeliner and pink, punked out hair. Dramatic example, I know, but your immediate reaction to them would probably be different. You might later find they are both business owners and have a lot in common, but there is still that first reaction, and in a room with 1000 other women, that first impression can be the difference between finding a great connection with one woman or passing her by to speak with another. We can't possibly talk to everyone at BlogHer in two short days, so we have to pick and choose, and some of that picking and choosing will be based on seeing people who "look" like they'd have something in common with you.

And of course, I think that your own reaction to your physical appearance plays a part in that, too. If you're happy with yourself, you'll make a different impression on someone than if you are self-conscious and have low self-esteem. You're also more likely to seek out more connections if you feel good about yourself.

So the Hot by Blogher idea isn't entirely about losing weight. It's about being the best "you" that you can be. If that means losing weight, great! But I'm also having Personal challenges each week, which are designed to work on self-esteem, self-fulfillment and happiness. Reading through the goal posts of many participants, thin isn't necessarily the end goal. Most want to feel their best when walking into that first morning keynote session, and if it means losing weight, buying new clothing, or finding ways to appreciate what you are good at, why not do it, right?

I totally get what you're saying, and in an ideal world, our flaws would never be held against us and we'd only be seen for our strengths. Personally, I'd like to see my "outside" match my "inside" and because some of my self-esteem is tied up in my appearance, I want to feel great when interacting with everyone this year, instead of feeling a swirling mess of insecurity on the inside the entire time I'm at BlogHer. (Which, believe it or not, is how I generally feel.)

So I guess it all comes down to the definition of hot. I DO NOT believe that hot=thin. In fact, I generally abhor the word thin - to me, it implies skinny, which I also equate with unhealthy in terms of my own body. I know I'd look ridiculous as a skinny woman. I'd be a giant pile of bones with a big head on top. To me, "hot" is more of an internal characteristic as opposed to an external one. External forces can influence that trait, but it takes the total package of looking your best and feeling your best to make it true.

(And to be completely honest, "hot" is sort of a crazy, tongue-in-cheek word for me that I still laugh at.)

I do plan to be hot by BlogHer, whatever that means. I won't be thin by any means. But I'll be healthier than I was at the beginning of March, my clothes will fit better, I'll be more confident, and I'll feel good that I met those personal goals by this end date. I'm sure many will look at me and think, "Hot? Not in my definition of the word. Keep dreaming." but if I feel good about myself, that's all I need.

And it's not like I'll be going back to binging on bags of Doritos and parking my ass on the couch all day after July 26. This is just the beginning, and I'll be setting my next personal goal after BlogHer. I don't expect this to be short-term. No, this is a long-term endeavor with several short-term goals along the way to keep me motivated.

Progress Report

For this week's challenge, I asked everyone to post a photo of their current self. Some of us have seen some amazing progress in the past few months. (See Bill and Kristen for some very inspiring photos.)

Here's what I looked like when I started all of this in the beginning of March.


And here I am earlier today. I tried to have my husband take a photo, but for some reason he and my camera are having a little disagreement. So please excuse the bathroom mirror shot. (And the birthday balloon in the background.)


I think I've made some significant progress. I'm down 15 pounds and I've ditched my size 16 pants in favor of size 14. My capris in the photo are size 14 - it's been awhile since I wore that size. The shirt is also a large instead of an x-large, and fits quite comfortably.

My plan for the remaining 7 weeks is to lose another 5 pounds, and focus more on strength training to look leaner and firmer. I'm continuing my quest to run a 5k, also. So far I can manage intervals of two minutes, which isn't too bad for someone who has never run before.

Overall, I'm happy with the changes I've made, and I think I can keep them going. And you should see Aaron - he's been dieting and exercising along with me, looking slimmer as well.

I only wish Jillian Michaels was coming to BlogHer this year. I think she'd be so proud to see the changes so many of us have made thanks to the jump-start from her 30 Day Shred.

Challenge #12: Show Yourself

Last week's challenge was quite a surprise for me. I didn't realize my basal metabolism was as high as it was. It made me think more carefully about the number of calories I eat. In the past, I would eat far fewer calories than that in an attempt to diet - it's no wonder losing the weight was so tough! My body was holding onto every calorie, thinking I was starving.

This current weight-loss attempt is all about health, though. I'm done with fad diets and super-low calorie eating. This time around it's about losing weight and getting fit in a way that will improve my health, not hurt it. And so far, I've lost 15 pounds.

I went shopping this weekend and used the last of my Christmas gift cards to buy a new pair of denim capris. I needed a new pair because my size 16 capris are now way too loose - woo-hoo! I love buying new clothing because my old clothing is too big!

This week, I want to see how you're doing. Good or bad, post a photo or video of yourself, maybe comparing it to a photo where you were at your least fit/heaviest. Show us the progress you've made! Even if you don't feel you've made a difference, let us see where you're at.

As soon as I can get my husband to take a photo, I'll post my latest progress, wearing my new size 14 capris, of course.