DAMMIT! Failed again.

I suck ass at challenges apparently. I took one picture of my food all week...and when I just went looking through my phone to find it, I realized that I have deleted it. AWESOME!

My meals don't really change so much though. I literally eat the same thing almost every day when I have what to eat in the house.

Typical Day:

Breakfast: A Jimmy Dean's D-Light's breakfast sandwich (english muffin, turkey sausage, cheese and egg whites).

Lunch: Sandwich (one piece of whole wheat bread, light mayo, turkey), Yogurt/Fresh fruit, something crunchy

Snack: Granola bar or Yogurt (if I didn't eat it at lunch)

Dinner: Whatever we have at the house, chicken or ground turkey is typically the main event.

This makes it seem like I never eat junk. I totally do. I love junk food. I need to stay away from it! Oh well. It's one of those things I guess. Learning moderation.

I also haven't worked out, gone running/walking, or hell, even lifted anything too heavy in about 2 weeks (maybe 3). My motivation and drive to succeed is waning and I'm not liking it. It's like I got to 10 lbs lost and my mind was like "great job, you don't have to try anymore!" WRONG. I'm still hovering at right at about 10 lbs down.

Ugh, I really need to get back out there and start training for the half marathon I'll be doing in January...13.1 miles is going to SUCK if I'm not ready for it. Speaking of...check out this kick ass ticker!

Yep, I've got that long to train my ass off and gain some endurance! It's going to be hard. Any tips and tricks would be appreciated!

Wanted: Willpower - can I get some on CraigsList?

This whole week has been a blur of bad food and laziness. Seriously. I'm not exactly sure why either. It just means I need to do better.

I was a co-hostess of a wedding shower for one of my best friend's, Leah, this weekend. There was SO MUCH FOOD. Bacon wrapped weenies; fruit with a crack dip made with cream cheese, sugar caramel sauce, heath bars, and chocolate chips; chocolate covered strawberries; something called Captain Rodney's dip that you spread on a cracker; mini quiche; pinwheels; and lots and lots of alcohol. Oh and I forgot the cake. Basically, we had way too much food so we all sat there and ate it. And then we continued to eat it.

I am terrible in settings like that! I tried so hard at first to not eat the stuff that was bad for me and stay close to the bottles of water and fruit (without the dip) but you should have seen this spread. It was amazing. I really need to figure out a way to keep myself from eating or "grazing" when there is just food lying around! Any ideas?

Like I said earlier, this week was rough. I went walking twice, but it wasn't much at all. I really need to make some improvements.

The challenge I've made for myself this week (not that none of yours were good, but this one popped into my head, sorry) is to take pictures on my phone of everything I eat. If I'd be embarrassed to take a pic and show the world what I'm eating, then that must mean something. So basically, you guys are going to get to see all of the food I eat this week! YAY!

Please do NOT hesitate to tell me I'm eating crap or tell me that I could have eaten X instead of Y. I'm still learning! And if you can think of some challenges for me, please let me know! I fell off the wagon again - I don't like it! HELP!

Challenge #1 - FAIL

Remember my oh so simple sounding challenge to myself last week? Yeah. I failed that night. I don't even remember what we ate for dinner, but it wasn't until after I ate it that I remembered what I had promised myself - and I was too ashamed to come on here the next day and say "yeah, I already ate (instert deep fried goodness here)  - I suck."

However, I've been praised for my honesty here in my blog and dammit - I FAILED. Miserably. So I guess it means I need to challenge myself again.

READER INPUT TIME!

Whatcha think? What would you suggest I challenge myself to do? I think I'm going to start a weekly challenge that I will complete and blog about. If I know people are pulling for me or are interested in if I can do it or whatever, I'm more likely to take this stuff seriously.

SERIOUSLY, you guys. This is the internet. I have to make you all like me. KIDDING.

But yeah! What should my first challenge be? Leave a comment! These are going to be WEEKLY challenges (I don't trust myself to do Vegan March, like my friend Sam - who has a HILARIOUS blog) so give me something I can do for a week - or more!

COMMENT NOW - or I might have to hunt you down and tickle you til you give me ideas.

My skirt is falling off!

I'm pretty excited about this - a skirt that I bought and very vividly remember being too tight for me, is literally falling off! I keep having to pull it up as I go on with my day. I'm feeling like a bad ass. Look how cute I am (ignore the mess, please. I need to clean my bathroom)!

I also purchased a pair of size 14 jeans this weekend. If they don't fit when they get here next week, I might cry. If they DO fit, I might also cry.

So, my "training" for the half marathon in January is going. Nothing too spectacular, but I definitely need to get my endurance up. I need to be awesome at walking because 13.1 miles isn't a walk in the park! I'm also still working on my running, which I'm still not very good at. Oh well.

Has anyone used the "Nike Training Club" app? I'm kind of loving it! It's like a step by step workout - it made me do lunges. I HATE LUNGES. But, I kind of dig this app! I definitely suggest it if you're just looking for something to change up your workouts. There are workouts where you don't need any equipment at all and others where you need dumbbells, medicine balls, jump ropes, etc. I'm really enjoying throwing it in with my walking/running workouts. SO DOWNLOAD IT! I think it's free. Or it was when I got it. I don't pay for apps - Brian would kick my butt lol.

Speaking of Apps, I love love LOVE my My Fitness Pal App. I know I've said it before, but damn, this thing is great and you can even scar bar codes of the stuff you're eating to make sure you're getting the right nutrition information. Be my friend on MFP! BRenkwell is my username.

Speaking of My Fitness Pal - look at a screen shot I took of my App the other day! Yep! That's me at the top - I've lost 11.6 pounds so far! YAY! I'm excited. I hope it keeps coming off. MFP even moved me from eating 1740 calories a day to 1680 - I'm surprised how much faster I'm reaching 1680 than 1740! But hey, I'm okay with it. I'M LOSING WEIGHT!

I guess that's about all I've got for this update...anyone wanna make me a cool graphic for the top of this thing? My blog is kinda blah compared to all of you fancy bloggers.

I'll love you forever!

Half Marathon!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Blame my friend Chrissy, but yes. In January (as long as she doesn't bail on me) I'll be signed up for the MS Blues (Half) Marathon.

If you're like me and have no idea how long a half marathon is, well, let me tell you:

13.1 Miles!

Sadly, you read that correctly. I will somehow drag myself across the finish line after 13.1 miles in January. Why, yes! I have lost my mind!

This is what I call motivation, kids. If I don't have something to work towards and a set deadline, well, it ain't happening.

Now, as I've said - I plan to walk most of this crazy half marathon thing. I'm not kidding myself into thinking that in 4 months I'll be able to run 13.1 miles without stopping, oh no. But, I do know that my ass isn't going to be huffing and puffing to get to the finish line either - I need to pace myself! Start walking/jogging a lot more.

I CAN DO THIS.

Challenge #1

I, Fry Lady, will be staying clear of fried foods for an entire week - starting today 9/6 at 9:30 AM.  

This week, I will not eat a single fried morsel of deliciousness. BUH BYE FRIED YUMMIES!

Oh God, this is gonna be hard.

I live in Mississippi, y'all. We fry er'rything - and we're fat; just check out this map! We're the fattest state in the Nation! Yeehaw! I can't say that I'm surprised. Seriously, I swear this state has more fried food than I've ever seen. And it's all so good! Have you ever had a fried pickle? No? You're missing out. Don't get the spears, get the pickle chips. Dip that awesomeness in ranch dressing. YOU'RE WELCOME. Trust me on this one.

So yes, this week I'm giving up my love, the food that takes a bath in bubbly hot grease and is oh so delicious. Can I do it? We shall see. Wish me luck!

Weakness: Weekends

I've said it before and I'll say it again - EFF WEEKENDS. I do SO well during the week normally and then Friday night rolls around and it's as if I haven't been working hard to eat healthy food all week. This Friday night, Brian wanted to eat leftover turkey tacos and I wasn't feeling it, so I ate more veggie buffalo wings - I love you Morning Star Farms! - and some french fries, with ranch. I was okay with portions so I didn't blow my diet out of the water, but I definitely should have eaten something a touch healthier. *sigh*

Florida Gator Football - you will NOT make me fat!

Saturday morning I was asleep. We didn't get out of bed until 1:30 and it was amazing. I told myself I was going to eat a healthy lunch and I did, I had a turkey sandwich and it was delicious. I even did okay for dinner Saturday when I made personal meat loaves for us with ground turkey. What I didn't anticipate was that some friends would come over Saturday night for the Florida Gator football game and bring beer.

Beer! You WILL make me fat!

I'm an American, people. Football and free beer? Yes please. I can't say no. I'm sorry. Asking me to say no to football, friends and free beer is like asking me to tell my country to eff off - ain't happening - 'MURRICA!

Anyway, so our friends came over with beer. It was a dangerous time - but hey, like I said, I'm an American and I will drink free beer - who am I to say "Ya know, I appreciate you bringing beer, but I'm just not gonna drink it"? Anyway, since I haven't been drinking as much as I used to, my tolerance is laughable. I had 4 Bud Lights and I was on cloud 9. Here's the kicker, I was already over my calories after beer #1, but Brian said "Let's call my sister and have her take us to Waffle House!" - BAD MOVE...but a delicious move.

Here's the thing, my dad raised me in Waffle House. Some of my earliest memories are singing "Tear in my Beer" - a song I've never heard anywhere but pumping out of a Waffle House juke box. I can't say no to Waffle House when I'm sober, let alone when I'm super excited to be drinking beer.

So, we went to Waffle House. I got what I always get there. A Patty Melt on wheat with extra onions, with hashbrowns scattered, smothered, covered and chunked. For all of you who aren't lucky enough to have the Waffle House hashbrown menu memorized (I'm sorry) that means: scattered on the grill, with onions and ham mixed in and then a piece of cheese melted on top. Why yes, it is heaven! I'm glad you were able to realize that! However, it was no good for my diet. I need Waffle House to come out with some healthy hashbrowns. Please - and thank you.

Weekends are evil. I NEED to change this pattern. Any suggestions? I think keeping up with my MyFitnessPal food diary is imperative. Plus, I need to find a way to get at least a little bit of exercise in one day per weekend. But SOMEHOW I need to figure out how to expect the unexpected on weekends - friends coming over spur of the moment, etc. Maybe I just need to keep some liquor around and some mixers so I can make low calorie drinks and still get buzzed with my pals. *sigh* Something's gotta give, weekends!

It's September 2nd...

Aaaand I forgot to post my topless pics for the month yesterday when I took them, whups!

The official monthly tally is showing that I've lost 9 lbs. I can't really tell in my topless pic (it'll be below the break, I don't want people just popping up and seeing this scary stuff, at least if I make people click to see them, they'll know THEY DID IT TO THEMSELVES. But before we get to me all half nekkid and stuff, let's have an update, shall we?

I'm feeling a bit better, after my friend Katie recommended the Neti Pot. This blue sucker has had me breathing free and clear about 75% of the time. YAY Neti Pot! It was a little strange at first, yes, but it was so cool to feel all rinsed out. I don't know much about these things, so I'm not sure exactly where the water with the saline mixture went while it was on it's way from one nostril to another, but my allergies have been better already. I'm pretty sure I owe my breathing to Kate - so thanks, yo! Everyone needs a Neti Pot. No joke. This thing is amazing.

I still haven't been to the gym all week. Something about sinus pressure and physical exertion doesn't seem very appealing, but I definitely need to get back on it. I hate that I messed up my habit forming process because of ALLERGIES. I feel like a wuss. I really need to bust tail next week at the gym - excuses be damned.

My boss has decided that I HAVE to leave the office every day when I go on lunch. I think this is bullshit, but hey, what can ya do?  It's been difficult not to get fast food every day - extremely difficult. I don't want to just sit in my car with the a/c running (which is a must in this heat) and driving home and then making lunch and driving back gives me a total of about 20 minutes at home, which is just a waste. THERE WAS A REASON I ATE AT MY DESK EVERYDAY. Rawr. Anyway, I was bad and went to Wendy's the other day for lunch, but I really didn't do very bad at all. I got a grilled chicken sandwich (I really should have taken off half of the bun - oh well) and APPLES instead of fries! I was proud of myself and the apples were only 40 calories, instead of the 320 in a SMALL Wendy's natural cut french fry! That's a 280 calorie difference. Holy crap.

It's little things like that - swapping one healthy option for an unhealthy option - that I really feel has been a big thing for me when it comes to this whole weight loss/get healthy journey. Such a simple swap, I was just as full...and I didn't have salt all over my hands afterwards. One of the first pieces of advice I can give to someone who wants to make a change is START SMALL. Swap those fries for some apples!

Okay, I guess I've delayed this long enough. WARNING: Do NOT click the "Read More" link if you don't want to see me with my gut all out.