Biggest Loser: Week 9 or 10

I am a bit late with the last post of the Biggest Loser... and the challenge was 10 weeks but according to blogger I am on week 9... so I don't know where week 9 went...but the challenge is DONE! 

How did I do? ... FABULOUS!  I lost 8.6 lbs or 5.13% of my body weight!  I was the biggest loser on my team.  Wooo hoo!  That last week I lost .6 lbs.   I wish it would have been more, but I won't let that cloud my great accomplishment!

As I changed into my work out clothes right before the final weigh in, this game/fight song was on the radio in the locker room.  I don't know the song and I've tried asking people by humming it, but no one knows what I am talking about... anyways, I felt like a fighter getting ready to go out there!

I am so glad I joined this challenge, it has really helped me change my views on the gym, working out, and on people.  I use to feel very intimidated, but now not so much.  I can't say that I am a gym rat, but at least I am not "afraid" of going in now.

I plan to continue watching what I eat and only splurging once a week.  Also, I hope to continue to work out at least 2/3 times a week.  So far it hasn't gone so well because of work, but I hope not to lose all the lessons learned.  Even after the chanllenge adrenaline leaves me I hope to keep the lessons.  BUT if not, I will always have "pretty blessed" to remind me.

Biggest Loser: Week 8

Week 8?!  Really?  So I weight in today and what happen?  NOTHING!

I was at the same exact weight as last week.  At first I said, yes!!! and saw it as an accomplishment!  I didn't gain any weight yuppy!  BUT really Eva?  That's an accomplishment?  NO!  I must get on it.  There is only two weeks left and I have to bring it on!  How?  I don't know.  I also don't feel very ambitious.

Maybe because I just had 2 chicken tacos which have put me in a food coma.  I will think about it and try to pump myself up.  I really wish I had a more positive attitude and was ready to kick this challenge in the butt... we will see.

Biggest Loser: Week 7

So I have good news and I have bad news... which ones do you want first?

The good?  Ok.  My team was in first place for week 6.  Yey!  This is our first time.

Ready for the bad?  I gained 0.60 lbs.  Yikes!  Well, not really yikes, because to be honest I didn't work out from Thursday to Sunday.  Yes, after I lost two pounds I relaxed.  Oops!  Time to step back in it!

I was going to weigh in later to see if that 0.60 weight gain had dissapeared, but I decided to stick to my words of weight is only a number and accept the 0.60.  A half pound is not going to put me down!

So far, 4 out of 5 teammates gained weight and I don't know about the 5th one.  Yes!  Misery loves company:)

Lesson Learned:  Just because you did well last week does not mean you can "relax".  Yes, I did relax because last week went well, so I did earn that half pound.  Now time to look forward and work it!

In other happy thoughts: I did do two good things last week.  I filed my taxes.  Yesss! Should be getting a return which will go to my hair zapping (aka laser hair removal)!  The other good thing is that I finally washed my couch slip covers.  My white couch is actually white again!  Aww love it!  I will have to post a studio tour soon!

Biggest Loser: Week 6

Today started as a good day, but for some reason I feel down now.  I lost -1.8 lbs this week.  I was very happy because again I was scared I had not done that well, but I am glad it was a good week.

Lesson Learned: At first I thought my "lesson learned" was going to be to stay "Eva" through out this process.  What I mean by that, is that I don't want to give up things that make me... such as enchiladas.  Who would I be if I didn't eat enchiladas on a special ocassion?  Not me.  On Sunday I went to Maya Del Sol restaurant to celebrate Fabian's mom's birthday.  I kept on struggling with what I was going to order.  Part of me wanted to "be good" and order the salmon and the other part was "screaming" for the mole rojo chicken enchiladas with the chihuahua cheese.  I decided on the enchiladas and I do not regret it one bit!  They were delicious!  I was still afraid that they were going to hurt my weigh in today, but I worked out on Monday and had healthy meals.  So ONE of the lessons I learned was that it's ok to celebrate special occasions and allow yourself an indulgence... as long as it's not everyday!

Lesson Learned TWO: Now on to the other lesson learned...or actually the one I am trying to learn.  After dinner I told Fabian, "You didn't tell me I looked pretty."  He said, "Oh sorry, yes you look gorgeous!"  Then I asked him, "Why do I always have to remind you that I look pretty?"  His answer? 

"Because I don't want you to be full of yourself."

WHAT?!  Well, if you can't rely on your boyfriend for a self-esteem boost...who can you count on?  That's right, no one but yourself!  I can't wait for him or for anyone else to validate me.  I have to realize that I am enough, that I am pretty/gorgeous/smart...everything!  I am everything I was meant to be.  I am.

Now... "knowing" that, tell me why I started to get sad about my weight loss?  I have lost a little over 8lbs now and that is great!  What is not so great is that I have about 20 more pounds to go.  That is overwhelming!  Ahh!!!  I have to keep reminding myself of all the things that have changed ever since I started caring for myself and that it's not only about losing the weight, it's about enjoying life and making the best of my time here, with my family, with my friends, with my coworkers and with my love.

It's hard to take yourself out from a hole which you have dug up.  I realized, that no one else can get me out... specially if I don't stop digging.  So here is me halting the digging.  I already gave myself a pep talk, yes out loud because my ears need those words.  So this entry is attempt number two, because my eyes need to read these words.

I am enough.  I am of value.  I am everything I need to be.  I am.

Biggest Loser: Week 5

I have been sick with a cold for about a week now.  It was a light cold last week so I kept working out and going about my business.  I even came in early on Monday to work out.  After last week's little set back I was ready to bring it on!

Except the cold really hit me on Monday!  I couldn't breathe, my nose was too stuffy, I was sneezing, coughing and basically dieying!

I took a half day on Tuesday and a full day off on Wednesday.  I finally felt better on Thursday and came in.  It was time for the weigh in (since I missed Wednesday).  I was scared.  I didn't work out hard, I ate too much and I was ready for the consequences... Well, guess what?!  I lost ONE pound!  How does this happen?  I don't know.  I even had pizza yesterday (because I thought all effort had been lost). 

I thought, maybe it's the pound of muscle that I gained last week, but who cares?!  I am taking my pound and running with it!

Lesson Learned:  Sometimes, when your body is sick, it needs a break!  I should have taken a break when my body had the light cold... but I didn't.  I kept working out and going on with business as usual until I couldn't anymore.  Sometimes you just need a break.  I can't wait until I am back 100% to really bring it on!

Biggest Loser: Week 4

[Week 4, 03.02.2011]
The number is +0.80.  Yes, I worked out.  I was very good. SO WHAT HAPPEN?!

According to the trainer, I gained muscle.  Which I will believe, because I did work out!  I promise I did!  I even came in on Monday morning again to work out!  She said, that people always gain weight around week 4 because we are finally starting to gain some muscle.

I am so glad that last week's learning was that weight is just a number... what a way of testing me.

Lesson Learned: Weight is really just a number.  Even though I "gained" weight I still feel well.  My clothes fit better, so yes weight is just a number.

A side story: After I weight in and the trainer told me I was up 0.80 she also said, "Take a deep breath, it's going to be ok."  Like she expected me to break out in tears or something.  She said that the previous person had also gained weight and that she was practically in tears, because she had worked out so hard.  That put things into perspective and made me realize  I need to chill.  I couldn't let this week take a toll on me.  So I accept that 0.80 of muscle gain and move on!

Biggest Loser: Week 3

[Week 3, 02.23.2011]

The number is -1.6.  I was very happy with this number.  Hearing that made want to give it my all.  So that week I worked out super hard.  I was in the gym 3 days doing eliptical and classes.  I was a bit obsessive.  It was also the first week I worked out before work!  Now, THAT I thought would never happen.  Me giving up sleep for the gym...never.  Until now.  I am a new person...LOL. 

I also worked out over the weekend!  Wow.  I know, I was shocked too!

No need to be sad... only you see that number.

Lesson Learned: Weight is just a number.  That's is an on going lesson.  One of my teammates does not look like she needs to lose weight, but she claims she gained 20 lbs from college.  She wanted to lose 20 lbs, but for the first 3 weeks she lost 1 lb.  I told her to realize how hard it was going to be for her to lose weight because she didn't have that much fat to begin with... unlike other people.  That instead of focusing on the number of lbs, to focus on the way she felt and her attitude.  No one but you sees that number on the scale, but what people do see is whether you have a smile on, whether you are happy or stressed.  So we decided, that how we felt was more important than what numbers we pulled in... because the other girls were not doing so well.  Some gained weight after Valentine's day so the team pressure was off!

I also noticed a difference in me.  I am way happier and also a lot less stressed.  I am able to talk to certain people (at work) with out wanting to punch them in the face!  Yey me!

Biggest Loser: Week 2

I worked out 4 times last week... that was an accomplishment for me.  A couple years ago, I would take my gym bag and literally walk past the gym... why?  I don't know.  I was scared, lazy... I don't know.  So that alone was huge for me...now add losing THREE pounds...wow!  Great!

While at the gym, I do the eliptical and I've taken two classes.  One was Zumba and I love Zumba!  It's like dancing at the club and you get to shimmy all you want without the stares!  I also took a spinning class... that was tough!  I took it on Monday and my butt was in pain until Wednesday. 

Tuesday I didn't get to work out and I was starting to get really bummed out!  I had to work late and just couldn't get to the gym.  I was also in pain from spinning and dead tired from work.  That's when I decided to just rest.

Lesson Learned:  I also learned that crap happens and that sometimes I won't get to work out and I can't let that get to me.  BUT that, that also should push me to work out when I have a chance.  On Wednesday I didn't want to work out, but I told myself...I don't know if I will be able to go tomorrow so go!  I did, and boy am I glad, because today I had to work late again!  I wished I would have been able to go, but there are things that need to get done.  I needed to finish some work today because I can't work late tomorrow because I have dinner plans with Ed and two other coworkers.  I am happy to work late today if I get to enjoy my friends tomorrow.  I am learning to prioritize and to not get bummed out...because crap work happens!

Biggest Loser: Week 1

{this was suppose to be posted on 02.09.2011}

So today was the moment of truth....the dreaded first weigh in.....and I am lucky to report that my prayers worked.... I lost TWO pounds.... yey! 

How?!  I don't know, prayer I guess...because this was not the best week.

The first day was easy, but on Tuesday I left work at 1pm because of the snow storm...  I went to my parents because I didn't want to deal with parking and with my car being buried by snow.  I stayed there until Friday morning when I went back to work.  I did not leave the house, other than to shovel some snow.  While at home I ate delicious homecooked meals, exquisite chinese take out, sneaked in a few Oreos, a few Chips A'hoy, some chocolate Abuelita, some sweet bread....and I think that was it.  AND I didn't work out.  Mmm yea not too good.

On Friday I went back to work and had a salad and worked out.  Trying to recover... but then I went out with Fabian and his friends for a very delayed Christmas dinner at Nandu's Argentinian Restaurant.  It was delish!

The rest of the weekend I tried to take it easy, but it was Super Bowl Sunday and I had to have a couple wings.
I worked out Monday and Tuesday to try to recover again...and then on Wednesday I was at -2.  Prayers I tell you!

As for prizes...we haven't been told, but I do know we get t-shirts.

Lesson Learned: This week I learned that if you let people in they will support you!  I have always been closer to the guys at work, meaning I stay away from the girls...well now with the Biggest Loser I am surrounded by girls and you know what?  They aren't so bad!  They have been so supportive!  They come by ask how I am doing, ask about going to the gym, and my fave... they hi-five!  Yea, guys don't really hi-five!

Picture Source

The Biggest Loser!

So as I have mentioned to most of you...I have joined The Biggest Loser weight lost program at work.  This week is the initial weigh in.... it was a reality check... but I wasn't surprised because I have been stuffing my face for the last year! 

The program runs from Feb 1st to April 8th.  We are divided into teams of 5 people and compete per % weight lost.  (pounds lost/initial weight)

My team seems pretty serious about winning which is a great because I need to be pushed!

Today was also my first work out in about a year!  Yikes...shock to the body!

I worked out for 40 minutes in the eliptical and here is proof! 

I am very excited!  Hopefully this is a new healthy beginning for me.  Wish me luck friends, wish me luck!