Oh no!
OH NO!
I can’t be the only person thinking that right? I’m not ready for it to end because I’m nowhere near where I want to be. Several of you have been KILLING it though, and I admit I am excited to see who ends up coming out on top and photographing the winner in a fabulous “look how hot I am after losing all of that weight” session.
I’ve basically made no progress for months now, and at only one month to go before we leave for Europe I am ready to be one of the killers (the fat killers, workout killers, clothes-size-dropping-hot-date-night-going killers). I haven’t gained anything back, but I haven’t lost anything either. I’m all the sudden running 3-4 miles without stopping and yet I find myself stuck, stuck, stuck.
And so I will start again (not like I ever stopped) because moving forward in some way, any way, is better than never moving anywhere at all.
Can you tell I’ve been looking up cheesy inspirational quotes on Pinterest lately.
Here is what I will do for the month of August to get me closer to my goal:
I’m going to start working with a personal trainer in the gym in my apartment building and make weight training my focus for the month.
I will take a picture of everything I put in my mouth. Really I will. No excuses. Mindful eating is key for me. No more sneaks, no more telling myself that the little decisions that I make don’t matter.
I’m running a 5k in Indiana with friend/reader/former-Jenna-Cole-client Kate. Join us!
I’m recommitting to the #twlc hashtag on Twitter. When you want to tweet about something weight loss related attach #twlc to the end of your tweet and odds are high I’ll write you back!
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Here is what I think YOU should do if you signed up for the challenge with me.
Log on to Daily Burn and weigh in again.
Write down in the comment section the changes you are going to make. Do it right now, because if you’re anything like me, you won’t make it happen unless you write it down.
August 1st, 2011 on 7:10 am
I’m completely bias because I just had our son (yay!..we named him August by the way..”August who was born in July”)…so now I’m ready to lose weight! Will you be starting up a new challenge? I’m on Daily Burn and love it so far.
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Jenna Reply:
August 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Oh my goodness, you had your baby! So happy for you! Now you can do TWLC #2 with me
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Meg Reply:
August 1st, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Yup I had him and I’m so relieved to now work on myself. I’m happy you’re planning a TWLC #2 because I’m going to join!
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August 1st, 2011 on 9:10 am
I’ve been under the stress gun for several weeks now and have stalled out. For the month of August I hope to lose about 10 more pounds. To do so, I’m going to continue reminding myself how badly I want to win (And it’s possible and maybe even likely that I will!) and that no matter the outcome, I’ve wanted to be a thinner version of myself for so, so many years. I’m down just over 50 pounds and I’m hoping to finish closer to 60 or 70 pounds lost. Here’s hoping!!
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August 1st, 2011 on 10:11 am
You can do it, Jenna! This month is going to push you out of the plateau, I know it!
You look so great already – and I can’t wait to see photos of you and TH strolling through Europe, looking slim and fit and beautiful.
Kill it!!!
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August 1st, 2011 on 10:20 am
I haven’t been on a scale since July 4th, so I’m not really sure. I’m pretty happy where I’m at non the less. I already went down a cup size in bra, so I really don’t want to loose too much more. I already didn’t have that much.
I did do something interesting this week-end. My chiropractor had mentionned that my body might need a detox. I looked it up, there is a million ways to do that. My goal to do it wasn’t too loose weight, just a light clean up on the inside I guess. So for two days I tried to follow the basic principles of no gluten/wheat/flour, no dairy or meat and instead eat raw or slightly cooked vegetables and fruits.
I only did it over two days because those were the only two days I wasn’t running. I didn’t carry through on the last evening because of a staff party and I didn’t resist the chips (although really I should have it was not worth it).
Anyhow, it just made me realize that I can definitely find ways to add more fruits and vegetables in my diet and still have enough energy to go through the day. I don’t know how much good it did as a cleansing but it wasn’t a bad experience either (besides drooling over my husband’s grilled cheese sandwich that I couldn’t have).
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August 1st, 2011 on 10:28 am
I didn’t sign up for your challenge, but I need to recommit too! After losing twenty pounds I’ve plateaued for the last few weeks and I really need to lose another 10. I’m going to recommit myself to my diet. Specifically, I think I’ve been sneaking too many handfuls of cereal throughout the day. All that snacking adds up! I also want to challenge myself to take a few group fitness classes at my gym.
Good luck to everyone!
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August 1st, 2011 on 10:44 am
Go you! I dropped out due to the pregnancy, but I am planning on taking an “after” picture just to see what the differences are. Depending on what I think, I may send it in…
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August 1st, 2011 on 11:15 am
My first comment didn’t post
– Trying again…
Woohoo!!! I’m so excited for you to work with a trainer – I think you are going to LOVE it and I can’t wait for you to write all about it. Also, I think that traveling for a month, being out of a routine, and yet STILL not gaining weight AND maintaining your workout habit – WOW – that is impressive and you should be proud!
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August 1st, 2011 on 11:32 am
Pretty sure I committed to run a 5K and I haven’t been running for a month! Whoa, just realized that its actually 6 weeks. Crazy… I was doing so well… now I’m pretty sure that I would have to start C25K all over again to get back on track! So sad.
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August 1st, 2011 on 12:09 pm
We’re all so proud of the progress that you’ve made so far! Maybe as extra motivation you should keep your husband keep your accountable by saying no babies till you really lose that weight since you’re losing that weight T2!
Sometimes a little threat of losing what you want will you to the final line.
Good Luck!
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August 1st, 2011 on 12:24 pm
HEY! No negative knocking on TW! She’s a driven, intelligent, loving, BEAUTIFUL woman, just as she is! Who also happens to be inspiring more beautiful women to health-ify their lives!
[Yes, I realize this comes across odd in a comment but Jenna, I'm talking to you about you.]
I’m all for recommitting and getting back in gear and I think that’s just even more amazing, but no dogging on yourself for the choices made so far!!
(And a quick thought about Europe being such a health kick killer – you’ll be bringing your phone (which has the C25K and maybe B210K apps and your music), just bring your running shoes and ask TH for a supportive reminder every so often that 30 minutes for a running workout is very doable in your schedule.
Go girl Go! (And if you aren’t already, pat yourself on the back for all the work you’ve done so far. Its good for the soul and a good stretch!
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August 1st, 2011 on 1:39 pm
I need to lose a lot of weight. Probably 50! It freaks me out to think about that much but I need to start somewhere.
In August I plan on:
-Completely cutting gluten out of my diet (due to a recent diagnosis of celiac disease)
-Focus on organic, real foods!
-Cut back drastically on going out to eat. Dining out is near impossible for celiacs where we live anyway.
-NO SODA!
-Run a 5k again, I need to redo Couch to 5k
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August 1st, 2011 on 1:40 pm
I wish I had joined the TWLC when it started!
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August 2nd, 2011 on 6:09 am
I really want to come do that 5K, but it’s 5.5 hours away. =( Maybe next time. Good luck with the rest of you TWLC! I wish I had joined in then instead of waiting until last month to decide to lose weight.
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August 2nd, 2011 on 10:45 am
I just started following your blog so I didn’t know about your weight loss challenge, but I too have been trying to lose weight. I had a baby 5 months ago and am trying to get back to where I was pre pregnancy. So far I’m on the right track! I’ve been counting calories on My Fitness Pal and only have 6 pounds to go! Such a great idea to inspire your readers!
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August 2nd, 2011 on 2:28 pm
This post yesterday inspired me to attend my first Zumba class. I loved it and it was a great cardio work out! I had made tentative plans with friends to go and I was totally ready to bail because I didn’t feel like going and that quote from Nike really hit me. So I went and loved it! Thanks for the push.
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Jenna Reply:
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I thought about that Nike quote this morning too
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August 2nd, 2011 on 4:41 pm
I always read, Jenna, and barely comment, but I just want to say…I am SO with you. I had a baby 6/8/10 and started my weightloss journey in January at 182 pounds. I made it down to 157, but I am STUCK, STUCK, STUCK, too. Back to healthy eating and Zumba this week. I would love to try C25K again. I attempted once before and couldn’t push through it and I am afraid of injuring myself. Also, SO hard to find motivation to run in the evening after dinner or early, early morning, which are my only options. I’m SO with you.
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Sophia Reply:
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Nicole, I just wanted to pop in and say that I altered C25K so that I did each week twice. I have hip/back issues and I really wanted to take it slowly. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you, as long as you use the basic template and cater it to your needs
Just take it slow, do weeks twice, start over, whatever you need to do. I love the program but it isn’t one size fits all, for sure. And good luck!!
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Nicole Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:31 am
Sophia! You’re brilliant! Thank you so much for your simple, yet totally amazing, comment! When I exercise I take a very all or nothing attitude. It’s very hard for me to “take it easy”, which recovering from giving birth and a second major abdominal surgery, requires. Thanks for giving me permission to make C25K work for me. There’s no reason why I can’t take it slow or make changes as needed, and in my head I know that doing it different is WAY smarter than not doing it at all, right?
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Sophia Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:33 pm
You’re absolutely right, there’s no reason why you can’t just make it your own, tailor it to you and your goals, and decide that doing it your way is totally valid and amazing
I am the *exact.same.way* with pushing myself too much. I’m all or none, go hard or go home, which is great in some aspects but not in all. This C25K program was the first time I allowed myself the right to just go slow, and this is also the first time I haven’t had to quit in the first week because my hip was so out of socket I was limping. Lesson learned 
Good luck!!
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August 2nd, 2011 on 9:52 pm
My weightloss slowed to a crawl when I got to longer distances of running as well. For me, at least, running has been great for my health, but not so much for losing weight. I have found that I need those intervals to lose weight, even though running miles feels amazing.
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August 2nd, 2011 on 10:50 pm
I haven’t weighed-in in months, so I’ve blown any chance, BUT I do need to get serious again so I just may use the challenge’s approaching end to help re-motivate me.
Go us!
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August 5th, 2011 on 1:27 am
Just my .02… Plateaus are not bad. Our bodies seek homeostasis. I think it could be many things but maybe your body just needed a bit of time to ‘reset’ itself to a lower weight. The fact that you haven’t regained means that you are DOING IT RIGHT!!! I would tend to judge by the way clothes fit and your fitness- which if you are running 3-4 miles, sounds great! That takes alot of energy!
The key is not to get frustrated and revert to self-defeating behaviors. As you said in your post on stretch marks- there is more to life than perky parts! My guess is that the people who love you would rather you be healthy, fit and happy than a waify, wimpy, energy-lacking size X more worried about her waist size than her family.
You look great and if you focus on fitness and healthy eating, your body will end up where it is meant to be- even if that doesn’t match a number on the scale.
BTW- for me, I know when I lose weight I tend to drop lbs in big bursts rather than slowly and steadily… there is a long plateau, then boom- 5-10lbs. And I always gain a few lbs as I ramp up my running. Water? Muscle? Body holding onto extra calories as a response to added stress as a protective mechanism? I’ll take a size 8 and being able to log a good 6-8 miles over being a size 4 lump anyday.
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August 10th, 2011 on 8:24 am
I just signed up for that 5K like 2 hours ago. A friend of mine lives in Griffith so I’m running with him.
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Jenna Reply:
August 10th, 2011 at 8:43 am
I hope you will say hi! I don’t think it’s going to be very big
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