Drop and Give me 20

Well, I didn't follow the Challenge as planned, but you know what? How many other people on it really finished and followed it through all the way? Who denied the cookies during that time of the month and worked out each and every time?

When I started the challenge I was 155-154. Currently I am 141. Almost 15 pounds. I was at 145 for about 3 weeks and just dropped this past week. My ultimate goal is 135.

Now, this is actually something REALLY special. I have lost almost 40 pound since graduating from college/starting my first job 2 years ago. 2 years night seem like a long time, but it shows that nice and slow is the way to do it.

My life has changed a lot too. I make different food choices and also spend more time on me-- in th gym, spa, and in general.  And that's what it's all about.

It's not about just doing the challenge. It's about changing your life and mind on how you view food and working out. I still veg out and watch tv, but I go to the gym. Sure I'll have a burger, but I'll make it and not go to fast food. I don't drink as much as I used to and I also am at the gym as much as I can be! One day at a time!

So the challenage in on week8, but i'm on week 7...

Well I am still at 149 weight wise but during the week my weight stays closer to that weight-- 150-152. I could be "upset" but in getting in shape we all have to open our eyes and rememebr there is going to come a time when our bodies start building muscle, which is heavier. And I believe that's what is going. Being that I've lost 29 pounds, damn you one pound!, I feel that in looking at my shape and that I've lost almost an inch off my waist and hips that I am losing body fat but gaining muscles.

My running is still going great! I actually ran outdoors in Austin for the first time last week. It was wonderful! I ran about 2 miles and walked .5. Not that I've given up on lifting, but I've started something new. 

Last week I started Bikram Yoga and LOVE it. Had you asked me last year to do yoga in a class of barely dressed people who are sweaty with a temp of 104 degrees, I would have laughed at you. But in just the 4 classes I've been to, I've noticed some awesome changes. AND I am improving on each class. It also makes me want to eat better, and drink only water. 

While I did succum to the evils of Starbucks yesterday, caffine in general dehydrates me horribly, so my class yesterday wasn't the "best" but I focused on my stregths and pushed myself. I'm actually heading to the East Coast this Saturday for a week and will be taking classes at a local studio there and running.  

Oddly enough... today is a running say but it looks cloudy and gross in Austin. I want to run outside, but the gym and treadmill work as well. But I also want to go to yoga... So readers... what should I do?! Yoga to improve or running for cardio? I think running it is! Plus I'll be in yoga on Wedes and need to lift.

So while I haven't lost another 8 pounds, I have maintained well. I have kept 6 pounds off. I still have more than enough time, 12 weeks, to lose the rest of my weight before the trek to San Diego.

Hope everyone else is doing great!

 

Ok. So as we all know I am doing the Self Challenge-- even if I cheated and subtracted a week or really just made it disappear. 

I also know that Self would respect that my opinion is my own. That being said...

Why they hell was Katharine McPhee the cover person for this month. Yes. She is a talented singer who has take 2nd place and made it 1st. Yes she is really cute and has a good heart and sees how fame can effect you. But... she's recovering from an eating disorder...

Not that those who have or had disorders should not be on Self or saying that what she has overcome  means she doesn't deserves a cover. I am not trying to say that those with eating disorders should not have a chance to speak out on other issues as we all know they are more than just their disease.  I am happy that in the issue she is talking about it, but I wish she would have really talked about it.

One thing you learn from doing the Self Challenge through the Forums as well as just in being a woman in general is that no one really likes their body. Someone will always say "Your boobs are too small, you need to lose 10 pounds, your arms aren't toned enough". Hell, just in the grocery store we will see one celeb being called out for being "fat" or gaining weight while another is said to have an eating disorder-- this is from the same Media that tells us if we aren't a certain size and shape we are "ugly". 

We wonder why young girls are dressing worse than strippers and want to be one when they grow up. We wonder why eating disorders are on a rise. We wonder why we can't be like that model or that actress-- And we don't just love who we are. McPhee showed us that even in the lime light with America loving you, that you sucum to the pressures. You need to be perfect. We all feel those pressures.

I wouldn't say I am disappointed with Self in picking McPhee. She's a great person and singer, I just don't know how I feel about putting someone on the cover of a magazine geared towards women and health who had an eating disorder and isn't talking much about it in the article. Had the article been "McPhee talks on eating disorders, what got her there, and how she is getting healthy now the right way" I would have been ok with it... this to me walks around the issue rather than addressing it.

Eating Disorders are serious issues for women and I would have hoped a fitness mag would have gone into how damaging they can be and how one can lose weight in a healthy manner, seek help if they have a disorder, and etc.

/two cents

I took last week "off" as I was on vacation and while I guess it should count, I didn't follow the eatting or exercising, so I am saying "screw it" and picking up where I left off. I worked out on Week 5 Monday and if you count running around the airport and lugging bags as a workout then sure I did it Tuesday as well. 

I was on "vacation", I was working btw, last week in San Diego to visit my boyfriend and celebrate my birthday. Which of course means Cake and more importantly In and Out Burger. I'm not a fast food fan by any means. The only time I crave it is when I am horribly hung over, but there is something about an In and Out Buger. It's gloriously and holy. I also asked for it without sauce to avoid those calories and only had a few fries plus a water. See that's healthlyish.  Overall, I gained basically everything I lost back.

Yep. you read that. I was back at 155 when I got home tuesday night, yesterday I was 153.5 and today 151. I am blaming water weight, salt, and etc. I had a ton of fruit, fish, soups and salads while out there and a bit of cake for my birthday. But really this vacation was the Challenge.

You see, I am moving in with my boyfriend in July. Yep, moving to San Diego. Its one of the reasons why I want to get down to 140/135 range-- to look better on the beach. But he is a boy. A boy that hardly cooks, who likes all the horrible foods, and etc. So what am I to do?

Be strong. Cook at home. Not go out to eat.  And I am giving up booze until my best friends graduation-- May 5th.

My mother is also coming into town on Sunday. Luckly, I can order a salad and etc with her and I plan on cooking this African beef stew that was in cooking light and other things and hopefully only eatting out a few times. I'll also be working sooo i'll bring lunch and have my normal breakfast. Plus I asked her to bring our older yorkie with her, so I am thinking of meeting her down at the lake to walk him in the afternoons.

My goal for MY week 5 is to workout everyday for an hour of cardio and 30 minutes of weights (I did 50 minutes last night of cardio) and eat as well as I can. I have lots of veggies and fruit at home to snack on. And I am grilling the veggies with lean steak  (those little thin top round steaks) or chicken. 

My Goal for April is to get to 145-142
Eat Not eat out this week, only three times when mom is in town, and then none the following weeks.
Bring something "sweet" to have as a snack in the afternoons at work-- thinking granola bars only 110 calories verse 140 for the biscotti and drink 80-100 oz of water at work.

I also want to start getting up at 6:00ish to workout in the mornings like a nice 30 minute run/elliptical to get me up...

The real thing about the challenge is to take the aspects of it and put it in your life forever. It's not about being a stick, but getting comfortable with your body and enjoying life, foods, and exercising!

I have officially lost 8 pounds while on the Self Challenge! Which means.... I have lost 31 pounds since graduating from college/ starting my first real job!!

I did get a burger and fries on Weds-- and got horribly sick from it!
I did go to Starbucks and have a treat-- but ONE of the petite scones which are 140 cals each.
I did go to a rodeo last night and have BBQ and beers.

Why am I stating these "mess ups"??

These mess-ups are life. We all have days when we NEED a burger. And we all have days when we want a little treat. We also don't want to sit at home on a friday eating left overs when there is music and beer to be had! Oh and FREE BBQ! And I show that you can "mess up" or live your life and lose weight. Monitor your eating and eat as right as you can, but still enjoy life!

This weekend was hectic. To make a long story short: was yelled at on St. Patty's by a friend but it was drunkeness and etc and then Sunday I got up to find I had a flat tire, changed it and went to drive to tire shop and my donut was flat too. Got a tow, found out all my tires had dry rot, had to get new tires-- i bought my tires back in Aug 2005. Then found out I have a crack in Axle... So I ate a lot of pizza since I didn't actually get to eat until freakin 3pm. But my boyfriend ordered it since he knew I was upset and sometimes you need pizza.


Today I have done great food wise and today at the gym ran a 5k in 30 minutes! I skipped my walking warm up and jogged at 4.5 instead. I actually jogged/ran until 25 minutes into it when I really needed some water. Then I did weights. I feel amazing.

Goals this week: eat food in fridge. work out all weekdays. 147 if possible!

Happy St. Paddy's! Yes I am going out to enjoy the celebration. Game plan is to drink a beer and then a glass of water or two. So I can enjoy the day and not be wasted. While everyone loves and Irish girl, they don't like ones who want to go home at 4pm to take a nap.

Well I worked out last night- 2 miles in 21 minutes and 25 minutes of weight lifting. And this morning I did 30 minutes of elliptical on 13 resistance (doing backward and forward motion to work the butt!) and then lifted upper body and did a lot of ab work.

And today was the weigh in.... My goal is to get down to 140. I started at 155. Week one: 152. Week two: 151. Week Three...

149! Two pounds and that means I have lost 6 pounds total and am 9 pounds from my goal!!  And I've never been below 150 except on my lying scale.

Also other reasons to celebrate outside of weight loss and irish heritage, My roommate and I both got into the grad schools of our choosing! woohoo!

So I went to fill in my food intake for the last two days on self and had to look up everything... Ok half a fajita pita and some fries is actually a meal of 440 calories! that's not that bad! the beers... if I had gotten the 12oz it would have been 107 calories per beer but I had the big ones 24 oz... so that's like dinner right there. But even with all that my calories were at 1300's!  Add the bowl of cereal I had as dessert and it was perfectly 1500's. 

So that right there goes to show you can eat out and have something you want, just  don't go over board on it!

Next time I will ditch the fries and do the black beans and pico de gallo as I love that actually more and it's only 180 calories per serving.

Also, I am about to start "that time of the month", because you all want to know. And I typically gain a bit before hand-- nothing. So I might not weigh myself tomorrow and wait until the following weekend. 

I am really falling in love with my body as well. I am a curvey girl. My hips will always be larger and I have a really wide rib cage. I don't want to be a stick, I want to loose my gut and it's slowly fading away. I have 11 pounds left to loose which isn't "a lot". I know there are so many people on the Challenge with so much to loose and I have to say this to them:

Not only can you do it, but you can enjoy it. Loosing weight and getting healthy isn't just a "I need to meet society's code of what is beautiful", it's about loving yourself to make the changes in your LIFE to get there. It's accepting that you might not loose that last little bit or fit into a size 2-- but you are now in a size 10! and that's fantastic! It's about celebrating yourself and your life changes. It's not about "dieting". I hate that term, it's about eatting what tastes good and enjoying it because it's GOOD for you.  Have a cupcake, just not 5. Get on that treadmill and slowly work up to running. Let it take time to get all the weight off that you want.

But most importantly: Reward yourself. You went to the gym 3 times a week for cardio and 2 times for weights-- go get a mani and pedi. You did your first full month of the challenge and stuck to goals pretty well and feel great even though you didn't loose as much as you had hoped: go get a nice massage and facial! By Hell and Glory, you have lost what you wanted to fit into that dress to go to that wedding of your ex and his slut of a bride: eat that cake, flirt with the groomsmen, and realize that you are fantastic not just because you are without him, but because he was holding you back to this new you!

now drop and give me 20.

So I broke a goal. Wednesday can only be called a HELL day. I worked over 14 hours for my crappy little job. Luckily I worked from home that day. But it was stressful and completely wipe me out. I ate very little all day, and then made a deep dish pizza for dinner and yes, ate it all.  I didn't workout because work didn't stop until about 9 pm that night

Yesterday I had the normal breakfast and lunch about 500+ calories total. I then went to the gym but wasn't feeling it so just ran for about 14 minutes. I did run a mile in under 10 minutes, but it was so hot in the apartment's gym. I went home and relaxed and then went to Chili's. I got the chicken Fajita pita and only ate half and a handful of fries. I had two beers.

Yes I know the scale would not change over night but I was at 151 still. I might only loose a pound this week or nothing at all. But I ran a 5k and I am noticing the celulite on my legs is starting to go away. I did better than last week and only ate out once verse 3 times and only ate half the meal. and a light beer or two is not going to kill me.

Not the best, but that's life. We all want to stay on track, but life doesn't let you do that. Cake will always be around as it's always someone's birthday. Beer will always be drunk because we love it. And sometimes you want those fries. Indulge, know your limits and have the piece of cake every once in a while.

And I will be running 5k tonight and tomorrow morning to make up for this! :-)

 

WOOHOO!
I have maintained 151 this week at my "should not be weighing myself daily but what the hell" sessions. High fives all around.

I also have been pretty good at sticking to my goals. Even though I am craving something mexican for lunch-- waiting for approval on a project and then I can grab something.

BUT Big news!!

I ran my first 5k last night and in 33 minutes! So far this week I have ran 4.9 miles! 

I also have become a huge cereal addict. I love Raisin Bran Crunch. Adore it. Plus it gives me more calories for breakfast, which I was lacking. And It's a great mini snack since my meals are typically pretty low in the calorie department.

Hope everyone else is doing just as well as I am!

Well, I ran over 9 miles this week! I really love that I have been able to actually run. I can't wait to get outside and actually run verse the treadmill.

My weigh-in yesterday was alright-- 151.
So I lost a pound. I would have loved to have lost 2, but you can't have it all!

So far the stats are:
Start Weight: 155
Current: 151
Ran: Monday:2.7 miles, Weds: 1 mile, Thursday:2.9 miles, Friday: 1 mile, Sat: 2.3 miles
Elliptical: Tuesday, Weds and Friday when running was killing me.
Weight Training: M,T,W, T,S

Goals: 148 by the end of the month or better
run 3 miles by the end of the month


I also tried on pants at Limited and the size 8 was a nice fit. I also did the thing most women hate to do: Tried on Bikinis.
Not there just yet but I hope to be in a month! 

Eating: Well, I did ok this past week. I did have scones and other sweets at starbucks. I also went to Olive Garden last night, trudy's another night, and went out drinking two nights this week. Not great but-- will change! Sat is the only day next week I'll be drinking or eatting out. That's already a done deal.

Goals for week 3: Not to eat out or get starbuck's sweets: I can get green tea how ever. and work on getting to 3 miles in 35 minutes!

Reward: Saturday out for St. Paddy's day!


Meals this week:
Cereal and fruit for breakfast
Sandwiches, carrot sticks and fruit
Leftover pizza from olive garden and lots of veggies
Spaghetti and lots of veggies/ salad!

Weight goal hopeful: 149!

Work was hellish yesterday! And I have a problem, a vice. A Pox on you, starbucks, and your scones!

Well, When I went to the gym Tuesday I worked on lower body and did a lot of the strenght moves-- same for wednesday. Tuesday I did 45 minutes on the Elliptical after the weight training and was feeling good. I made sure I stretched out from all those squats I did. Weds I did upper body, stretched out... got on the treadmill... and could ONLY run for about 15 minutes and then had to get off. Ellip wasn't any better. I did a workout of a total of 25 minutes.

Still hurting today! But I stretched this morning and went to work and tried walkin it off. Stretched before my workout AND did another great run! the run helped stretch out those muscles soooo well! I hit speeds of 7.2 in the last 5 minutes to push myself but only ran 2.8 miles in 30 minutes. I got a cramp about 15 minutes in and lowered my speed from 5.8 to 5.2 to work it out. But still! I don't run like that typically!

Food wise I have been sticking to the plan outside of the starbuck scone and cookie of death. But they pulled my calories to 1600 and 1560... so I might have needed those empty calories...

After my fantastic run, my butt hurts today! more like butt and outer near butt thighs.  But it is sooo worth it. I also did the "Goal Post" move that Self has in the 8 pounds in a month challenge. I need to do more of the strength moves.

I can't say really how amazing everything about this Challenge is. I don't know if it's because I am so motivated to be 140-135 pounds by this summer or what. But I can tell you that I highly enjoy Self.com.

The Forums are so great. I've posted a lot and helped others, gotten motivation and motivated. It just feels good to know that there are so many other people out there no matter there size working hard and getting healthy.  I even started a thread on new to running and have had a few people post to it!

Last night I was starving around 10pm. I made myself a little snack that was about 160 calories, but in looking at my eatting log... i needed it. 

Tonight is intervals! lets go!

While Monday is really when I need to weigh myself, and I know I gave up my scale... I just had to this morning.

Monday: 155
Saturday:152 (it was 151.6 but I round up)

So, basically, if i keep this up, I'll hit my birthday goal of 145ish.

I woke up at 7:30-- 5 minutes later than I normally get up on weekdays. I also didn't go out last night since I made la Chicken and also picked up beer and wine-- only had two beers. But I threw on my shoes and workout gear and went to the gym. An hour on the ellip and then lower body. I didn't do any abs. Mainly because a guy was doing weights and was all over the place-- so it was hard to do squats and lunges and harder to find space to do situps. But whatever.

I then went to Kerby Lane and had Apple whole wheat pancakes. Totally could not finish them. But I talked to one of the guys who works there and we talked about how much we love food. It was so funny. I told him how I am starting to run and what I am doing and he was so supportive. He was really taken back with how much I work out and what I do. He use to be a trainer and told me what I am doing is so good. He told me a lot of people don't switch things up which can lead to them getting bored or not working as hard. We then talked about how much we love butter and carbs. And our rewards system-- my reward this week was the pancakes because I have been craving whole grain pancakes all week and knew Kerby Lane has the apple whole wheat. 

I then went to Target and spent 50 bucks on a pair of shoes, a tank top, a black vest like tank top, a black headband and red post/hoop earrings. I'm going to see What made Milwalkee Famous tonight with the crew. It should be a fantastic evening. I also realized I am spending a bit of money this weekend, but prob won't go out next weekend and I don't really have groceries to get as I have everything but fruit for this week and then fill the car up. 

Hmm.. I think I might have gotten my scalp sunburnt today... as I had the sunroof open while I was driving around...

Ok off to read on the porch and enjoy this beautiful 70+ degree day in the heart of Texas!

Last night was very interesting to say the least. Sushi was 'aight. Grocery Store afterwards was better. Cookies that I baked later from scratch got the three stars out of five.

I got my cart and wheeled it on it. The Wheat beer flowing through my veins was making me giddy. I got what I needed-green beans, potatoes, a chicken, lemons, sugar, chocolate... but where is the twine?! I looked everywhere and nothing. Not even three employees could help. Eh, guess I'll have to go to Target after my run today.  But while I was searching a girl that was indie to the core in everyway that I love about South Austin, said to me in such a manner that one perhaps would have thought her either on crack or just really happy "YOU HAVE AMAZING HAIR!".

I take compliments horribly. One you don't want to look as if you know you have great hair or what not and the other you don't want to make the person feel bad about pointing said feature out. So I looked at her, pulling myself out of consentration for twine and smiled broadly and said "Well thank you! Best thing I've had said to me all day!". The girl smiles and said "Glad to make someone's day!". After that I realized half the men and boys I was passing were giving me the double take... fuck... did a boob fall out of my shirt? No. Hmm...

As I said Monday, this week has been amazing. I have felt uber sexy and really healthy.  Cookies being the worse thing I've had all week and I only had three. My workouts are getting so much better and today since my quads really hurt I might trade intervals for elliptical.

Cookies were baked, I took a long hot bath as my upper back was hurting from lifting and then got into bed with my new book Witch of Cologne. Then my phone dinged I had a message-- all the pictures of Joe's place! We talked a bit and he went to shower while I read and then passed out. I got up and made  Teavana's To  Life white tea and had a cup while getting ready. I threw my curlish hair that I had tried to revamp into a pony tail, only a bit of make up-blush and mascara-, and a tshirt and jeans. The Jeans? Abercrombie from when I was a soph in college. A pair of pants that are the "skinny" pants. They are the first step back in the rest of those pants from that time. Well the editor pants are the first step-- loose on monday-- and these are like part 2 really. And they are loose. That two finger rule mom's use to do? This is more like two hands on top of each other/ can pull them a good 3-4 inches from my body.

Dear Scale,

I don't miss you. This is soo much better than your damned numbers!

Love,
Gin.

I got to work and hooked up. Knocked out crap that needed to be done and will hopefully leave here at 2pm to hit the gym and then to find twine and peel potatoes.

Ring! Joe! Still in bed in beautiful San Diego. And says "How is the most beautiful girl doing this morning?" points there mister. We chit chat and go back and forth about how I need to get out there and my birthday trip out. I booked my flights yesterday March 27- April 3 and for only 238 bucks. (not bad at all!)

Now here I am. Watching the Driskill get cleaned with some sort of white paint like material and dreaming of roasting that chicken and my workout this afternoon...

Maybe tomorrow I'll go running at townlake...

Today was beyond getting up on the right side of the bed. I got up and felt so happy and just good overall. And since I am getting sushi with Kat after work and having to stay later than I normally do, I decided to hit the gym since I don't need to be in to work until 10ish.

Perhaps the best workout I have had in weeks. Now yesterday I did an hour on the ellip. and felt great and am sore from doing upper body weights. But today I stretched out and got on the treadmill, walked to warm up and then started running, stopping three times for water, but from about 12 minute until 25 minute mark I was in the zone and actually ran--straight through- over a mile. I was running at a nice jogging pace of 4.8. But I did it. I even massaged a cramp out of my side as a I did it. No shin splints as I had earlier in the week.

My legs are tired. In lifting I got through everything but quads-- I normally lift 50 but took it down to 40 and could only get 7 reps so I put it on 30 and got 12 the second time. But I feel fantastic!

Also, it's going to be 75 in Austin today and it rained in the early morning and walking to the gym was that first coolish warm morning of spring.

Time to hit the showers and get ready for this glorious day!

30 days until I am 24...

 in  (Sangria)

Cute yes? I am hoping at 140 that it will look better than on 155. Bikini shopping is never fun with flab and cellulite and those stupid mirrors.

Yesterday was great! I did Intervals and lower body. My Quads are really feeling it. I also hit the gym a bit later than usual and it got a little packed. Nothing I can do about it. Its what I get for working out at my Apartment's gym.  I also did better yesterday food wise than  Monday! Yay!

Today I don't have much on my plate. It's Elliptical Day! Rather than doing the same workout everyday I switch it up from running to intervals to elliptical. All with weight training.

I also have decided to do the Self Roasted Chicken on Friday and tomorrow I am trying Sushi... lets see how that goes.

I should also mention that all week, I have felt very sexy. Monday-- even at 155-- My size 10 pants were loose and I had not worn them before that week. My top was cute as well. The same went for tuesday. Today I am bummin it in Jeans anda Tshirt to work. But I still feel good.

Can't wait for my workout!

Ok, I am avoiding the scale at all costs... Why do I have an urge to get on it every 5 minutes?! GO AWAY!

I also should mention that before my new "lying" scale, I had another. A freak storm in Austin caused my bathroom to flood only about half an inch but the scale was lost. That old scale also said I was 148. The new scale said 155. Which is why I call it horrible names.

But My weigh in on Sat I was still 155. I tend to drop and go up and drop and go up, but seriously now.

Day one went very well. I am working on getting fit for running. So I ran for 20 minutes with a 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down. I then did upper body with lifting and ab work.

Also, I followed my meal plan. Cereal and fruit from breakfast, sandwich, salad, and fruit for lunch... I did go to starbucks. I did get a Nonfat Cap. Yes It's 160 cals but its worth it in that Venti Cup... I also got shortbread cookies... damn them! And dinner was very good with lots of veggies!

And I have to say I like the challenge A LOT. Unlike Discovery Channel's challenge, I feel with the Self challenge I might follow through with it in keeping track of what I do and eat and workout. I also like that it does not have BMI tools or anything like that. They want you to focus on how you feel and seeing the inches and weight come off verse some "scale" of your self worth.

Yesterday really motivated me. I worked for a long time on the new blog and actually tried to go to bed early. But got sucked back into the internet for more blog adding activities. I've decided to do some of the recipes that Self has. 

I also went through Kat's Flickr account and while I see that I do look a lot better than I did last year or the year before, I know I can look even better than that. It's not about thinness so much as it's about just feeling good. I love how I am feeling today after my workout last night.

I upped all my weights as well. 30 on the chest press now, 30 for tricep pull down, 20 on biceps pull ups and 12 for the free weights of bi and tri, as well as using the 12 pound weight for the butt kick backs. I am sore, but I feel great.

My thighs are 22 inches. They were 27 inches the year I graduated college. My waist is now 30-- it was 35 that year. And my hips are still 41--43 back then. It's those little things that are important. The chub I have has been with me for a long time and it's hard to see it go, it was like a blanket that I was able to hid under.  I also realize I have as long as I want to reshape my body. Sure I want to look good in a bikini this summer, but that is months away -- just enough time to do it :-)

Day 1 of the Self Challenge and I'm pretty stoked. God did I really just say stoked? I guess that shows my age right there.

23, almost 24 year old, who is 155 pounds-- I put 154 down as a guestimate as I didn't weigh myself today. I workout, I eat 'right', and I guess  I am active.

My goal is not just to lose weight, but to lose the chip on my shoulder that I am this fat blob of a person and get some self respect in doing things for myself rather than for others. Since I already workout, I won't be following the fitness part as much because I feel it would take me back 5 steps rather than put me forward.

Goals:
140-135 pounds
Ability to actually run long distances
Fit comfortably into a single pant size-- got the dress part of that.
Look good in a bikini

How Am I going to do this? Self Challenge.