re-inspired

Clearly I’ve mentioned that I am the most successful person when I have a schedule, priorities, the works, etc. Ultimately this summer, I didn’t have that kind of schedule going for me – and thus I slacked on some of the goals I set for the summer.

I set some pretty specific goals at the beginning of summer when it came to my fitness and my weight loss. And I’m here to tell you, I really didn’t hit any of them, but I’m totally not upset about it at all.

Let me explain.

My main goal was to get back my fitness. My main motivation for this was honestly so that I could go workout with any of the girls in my internship program and not worry at all about my ability to complete the workout. I wanted to get over my injury. I wanted to get back my confidence for working out and to build it back as a priority in my life.

My secondary goal to this main fitness goal was to build muscle. I knew that I wasn’t happy with the way my body looked, and I needed to get some muscle built and some tone working.

And sure, I set some goals about how I thought I was going to accomplish these main goals – and truthfully, I didn’t do any of them. I think I went to spin once, did a few speed workouts for running – but otherwise – I did my own thing. I tried new workouts, which was awesome. I established a good basis for strength training with a trainer, that I’ll be able to translate into my own workouts now that my internship is starting.

I’ve seen SO much success and progress towards this main fitness goal. I ran 3 miles this summer for the first time since March, 2011 and I took 3 full minutes off my 5K PR. That’s with me barely running at.all. I have noticed substantial tone develop in my arms and legs, as well as the strength I’ve gained. Almost every workout is done in the 90 degree morning weather and my body is TOTALLY used to it.

I now workout roughly 5 days a week, usually completing at least 6-7 workouts. I have stopped stretching/icing my hip – unless I go for a 1+ mile run. I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in during my life, and I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT. I feel so strong, so much faster, so powerful and so badass. I feel like I can walk into any workout and not worry at.all about my ability to complete it.

Not only did I get my fitness back this summer, I kicked my previous self’s ass and my body is the best it’s ever been right now. And frankly, it’s only getting stronger as I continue this workout schedule.

Arms are in chronological order over the summer:

The place where I unfortunately didn’t hit my goal was with my weight loss. I mentioned this, but June was a hot mess as far as hunger and eating went. I was going through re-dosing with a new thyroid medicine, plus the start of building muscle with my trainer. I’ve never been so hungry in my life. In addition, I was unfortunately putting a lot of guilt on myself in June about everything that was going on, and it was a rough month for me.

Then July came around, and I let loose a little. Every time I felt guilty, I listened to everyone around me telling me to relax and just enjoy my summer. It was never intentional, but I just started feeling a LOT of pressure from myself and the healthy living community – and I backed off everything. I didn’t track my eats every day. I stopped blogging. I ate a lot of french fries. I maintained my 3,000 calorie a week workout burn, but I didn’t watch my food as tightly.

Ultimately, the scale didn’t move all summer. I have maintained that 199-203 range that I’ve been stuck in since April all summer. I clearly have lost a lot of inches and fat, while gaining muscle. But I also have a little extra bloat around my stomach from my month of fun in July that I’m sure will show a new loss on the scale once it’s gone.

I was really upset about my weight because I thought once my internship started, losing weight would be impossible. However, everyone seems to be telling me that it’s actually going to be the opposite – and I’m going to drop weight within the first few months. Being on my feet all day, plus being back in a heavy schedule – along with the muscle I put on all summer is going to make the difference (so everyone keeps telling me).

And so that’s where I am right now. For once, I just let go of all the stress and the worry this summer and lived. And it was awesome. I sweat HARD, I worked SO HARD and yeah, I didn’t eat perfectly. But I had an amazing summer and I’m okay with it all.

The start of my internship, along with getting back into regular (non-workout) clothes has really motivated me to get back to my consistent eating. When you live in workout clothes all summer, you really don’t care that your mid-section is a bit bloated. However, having shopped for new business casual clothes last week – I know that I really do have a few pounds of bloat around my waistline that needs to go away, and it will within a few weeks of normal eating again.

So, we’ll be back with the meal plan Mondays and the Feel Good Fashion Fridays next week. I’m really REALLY looking forward to getting back my normal life and focusing back on weight loss again. It was such an amazing summer, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world – but I’m also looking forward to real life again.

What is inspiring you right now to reach your goals?