Yes, I am Alive and Ready to Continue Blogging!

I can't believe it has been a week since I returned home. Life has been crazy since the night I landed at DCA! It has been SO wonderful to see so many of my friends, be in my home (which I LOVE) and luv on my pup Abby!

It has been VERY difficult to figure out what I do everyday. It is bazaar... I feel like I have stepped into a past life...somebody else's life. Don't get me wrong, it is a great life! I live in the same place, surrounded by the same wonderful people, work in this great place that I created...but I am a different person. I am struggling to find the right balance.

I lost two more pounds my first week and and have found them this week... I just want to get through December...at LEAST maintaining my loss and the muscle tone that I worked so hard to develop. December makes me nervous for all the obvious reasons...welcome home get togethers, holidays, catch-up sessions, etc. I am, however, very confident that I will take off the next 35 come January. I can envision the new life -- I just need to put it into play.

On the positive side.... I have had some GREAT workouts since I am home. I have worked out with my trainer (Adrien at Fitness on the Run) three times and done some classes at Sport and Heath in the OT. Such a difference from my old workouts here at home!!! Also on Saturday, I spent about 8 hours trying on every piece of clothing that was in my closet. VERY little fit me. It was not until I did this that I realized just how much weight (and inches) I have lost. BIG emotional impact. I will close this post by sharing a few pics....

First, my "before and after" of my face (someday I might show all of the pics...but for now, just my face) ( WARNING: These pics are SANS MAKE-UP!!)

Next, pics of me trying on old clothing and the MOUND of clothing that no longer fits!!!

And last, some pics since I have been home at my welcome home gathering

Luggage packed...heading to LAX!!!

Wow...I just put make-up on for the first time in two months! I also put on my Cartier watch instead of my heart rate monitor/watch...my Gucci shoes instead of sneakers and packed up my Prada purse instead of my Northface backpack....IT'S ME...I am back!!!!

Looking forward to the next few weeks as I explore how to blend these two people into one whole, happy person!

WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

DONE! Done...with this part of the program anyway! It is surreal...I can't believe I just completed 8 weeks of this insanity! I am tired and sore just about everywhere...but I am DONE!

Unfortunately, my weigh in does not warrant as much fan fair. I only lost 1 pound this past week. I am confident that I will drop this week...that seems to be the routine for me. So, final "camp" numbers are (insert drum roll)....

In Eight Weeks...
32 pounds
36 inches
9% body fat (pure body fat...does not include lean mass numbers)

Like I have stated before...I am at my halfway point. I have been this weight before...probably a few years ago even...but I have never had the momentum and resolve to continue and lose the rest of the weight like I do now. Also, I am in better shape than I have been in since I was in my twenties!!!

Today, I went on a 40 mile bike ride and did a personal training session with my coach. The rest of the day was spent doing a final session with the nutritionist, getting weighed, measured, dunked and getting my "after" picks taken. I am going to try to get them digitally and MAYBE I'll post some of them...not sure...the "before" pics are really scary!!!

I also spent time with my coach finalizing a workout plan for home...which is still pretty intense...but nothing compared to here!!!!

I am going to continue to blog as I continue my journey....stay tuned world....you ain't seen nothing yet!!!!!

Two more days....and a long flight home!

I don't think I have ever been more ready to do anything in my life! I am packed and counting the days, hours and minutes. So instead of thinking about what I miss at home, I decided to think about what I will miss here when I leave. Such as...

1) Riding bike along the coastline (this is a BIG one)
2) The trainers...they are all great.
3) Friends that I have met here...it is great to be able to talk with those that are fighting the same battle.
4) Being in a safe, no-judgement environment
5) Being able to work out for seven hours or more a day (...I almost wrote that with a straight face! )

That is really about it.... but I'll keep thinking.

On a completely different note... As I have shared, I am only about half way to my goals. My "Journey" is far from over. So I am trying to decide if I should continue the blog when I get home. I welcome your thoughts!

Final Friday!

As I head into my final weekend, I am feeling good. Aside from not getting enough sleep...I am like a kid at Christmas...I can't sleep because I am so excited to go home! Last night I tossed and turned for three hours!!

Today, just like every Friday, we went to the Santa Monica Stairs. I did two trips and then decided that I did not want my calves to be killing me for the next four days. So...I jogged! I jogged all through the neighborhood by the stairs which includes stunning homes and a breath taking view of the ocean....it was beautiful!!! AND I was jogging!! Suddenly, I found a comfortable pace and it just worked. I still mixed in a good bit of speed walking...but I easily jogged more than half of the time.

Back at the gym it was kind of a light day. I had a circuit, a private training session, a nutrition session and a massage. My last massage. It was good. Tonight I plan on starting to pack and I have a little bit of BRG work to complete.

I found this humorous...today within a one-hour span a guy at the gym told me that I don't even look like I need to be in the program anymore...and then...the housekeeper told me I still need to lose more weight (it was broken English...not meant to be an insult...she is actually really sweet)!!! Just goes to show you how subjective this stuff is!!! As far as my opinion...I am happy and feeling good -- have a good way to go, but am happy for where I am!

Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday weekend!!

I know I can, I know I can, I know I can...

I have officially moved from "think" to "know". I can't explain the how or why...but I woke up this morning just KNOWING that I could do the Bike, Hike, Bike...KNOWING that I can make it to my goal weight...KNOWING that I can maintain an active healthy lifestyle.

The BHB was amazing. I had completely head-tripped myself into believing that I couldn't do it...and I not only did it...I led the pack and finished it in THREE hours!!! To be fair...I only lead the pack that I left the gym with, while two of the more fit people had left early....they would have smoked me on the mountain (but I can beat them on bike :-) )!

I can't remember if I have described the BHB -- it is a 15 mile bike ride, then a one mile straight up hill on bike, then a 4 mile hike (climbing up almost 1,000 feet in the first mile), then a 15 mile ride home. It is the same hike that I have done in the past...however in the past I was driven to and from in a van! Here are some pics from the hike...

Since I was pretty far ahead of my group, I did the entire trip by myself. I really enjoyed it...riding along the beach, hiking to the top of the mountain where you can see LA, the oceanfront and all of the beautiful homes...but most of all, I enjoyed just appreciating what I am now capable of doing! I just got such a kick out of the fact that me...lazy, lay on the couch, don't like to sweat, don't like the bugs outside, not athletic Jane... was out there just doing it, doing it well, and enjoying it!! Granted, the bugs still suck.

So many people here are afraid to go home. They want to stay in this safe environment and don't trust themselves with their own lives. I can't wait to start my new life at home! This is how I always have wanted to live and now I KNOW I can!

Making My Final Stretch Count!

Next week at this time I will be at home playing with Abby!!! I can not wait to get home! But first, I have a few more things to accomplish. I have four more full workout days (tomorrow, Thursday, Friday and Saturday)...the gym is close on Thanksgiving but am planning on working out on my own. Monday will be a light day since I will be doing all of my final testing and getting my pics taken. In my last four workout days I want to:

1) conquer the BHB
2) jog at LEAST half of the "pier run" -- this is on the beach and we go from one pier to another
3) ride all the way to Redondo beach (next beach down from Hermosa)
4) lose at LEAST 4 more pounds

Tomorrow is BHB and I am trying not to psych myself out. I will be honest...it scares me. I know I can do it ...but it is gonna be painful!!! We are starting at 8:30 in the morning. I need to go to bed now!!

I am going to do the "pier run" on Thanksgiving and I am going to do the Redondo beach ride on Friday or Saturday....and , well, you all know when weigh in is...that's right, let's say it all together....MONDAY.