The big day is getting close!

I have sent the invites out for the reveal and I am getting so excited! The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. My new teeth look AMAZING and they aren't even finished yet! I am going to be swamped with appointments for hair, clothing, teeth, workouts, etc., but it will be so worth it in the end.
The reveal is May 23rd @ 4pm, Palmers!

Another night at Indra!

Indra may be my new favorite place. Tonight, I am getting a facial with Paula, who gives the best facials I have ever had. My skin has improved tremendously from getting treatments with her. I have been to every dermatologist on the Northshore and have never gotten results like I have from her. I honestly can't say enough about her! She has also reshaped my brows, which are now looking wonderful! I also am really enjoying my new eyelashes. I was skeptical about them because I thought they would bother my eyes, but they are great. I don't even notice them at all and I get tons of compliments on them. So fun! I am so thrilled with every treatment I have gotten here, and especially how friendly everyone has been. My favorite is Anthony who has taken great care of me since day one! Thanks Anthony!!

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6 wks to the finish line!

So far, so good. I was down another 3 pds today. I would love to be able to keep this up to the end. I had a great workout W/ Steve at Fitness Together. I love working out with Steve! He is so fun and supportive, but doesn't let me slack off at the same time. I also started this week with Aaron, who is also great. Aaron may be the nicest guy in the world. I feel super comfortable with him which is so important.
I also got pre-zoomed (the real zoom/whitening is next week) at Dr. Cooper, Spiller, Nahata and Lubinsky. They have a great plan for my teeth, which will be really fun. I am NOT a fan of going to the dentist, but this office is really nice. Everyone there is friendly and gentle. I am planning to go there well after the makeover.

More to come...

Spending the evening at Indra

So, I am in the process of getting my hair done with April (one of the owners). If you have not been to Indra lately, you really should check it out. It reminds me of the years I spent in NY.

I have so far gotten a great facial, new eyelashes and now my hair. I am loving everything here. Tonight April will be taking some of the blond highlights out and cutting my hair. Then next visit will be for my highlights and extentions. So fun!!! I am feeling so much better about myself. It is amazing what some self care does for your self esteem. My clothes fit better, my skin is healthier, my body is more relaxed. This makeover has been such an INCREDIBLE experience.

I am having a blast!!

This makeover has been so exciting and I can not say enough great things about all the people I have encountered. I haven't updated in a while so here goes...

Fitness Together is going well. I love everyone there!! They have been so supportive and kind to me. I work with Dorothy a lot and love her! I have made a lot of progress over the last 6 weeks or so. My latest was doing 20 minutes on the elliptical...that's huge for me. I am so incredibly proud of that goal. When I started I was doing the treadmill at 2.3, which is barely moving, and it was a struggle because of the pain in my lower back. One of my biggest obstacles was working through that pain so my body could start functioning again. My goal this week is 30 on the elliptical and getting to 4.0 on the treadmill (without falling off!).

I have to run now, but more to come on my other services...

Why I have failed in the past (and will succeed now!)

So, I went to the gym yesterday to do a step aerobics class. I really do like the people at the gym I go to, but as you can tell, it hasn't done anything for me. I actually weigh more now then I did when I started three years ago. This is why the traditional gym setting hasn't worked for me;

My consistency is on and off. There is no accountability. I work to the level I want (easy) and then I'm done. I don't really know what the heck I'm doing, so I would move from machine to machine and without ever getting any results. I stop going because I don't get results. I don't really change my eating. I also was watching the personal training yest. and they do it right in the middle of the floor. NEVER would I have ever signed up for that because I would find that so embarrassing. I love that Fitness Together is a private space and I don't feel like everyone is staring at me. Working with a trainer pushes me to work at a level I would NEVER work out at alone. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. Not even close.
So, that is my rambling for today, but I thought that was important to share. I need to learn why I have failed in the past, so I can succeed now. ;0)

So the good news is...

my fat jeans are loose! I have been soooooo frustrated with my weight because the scale won't budge, but yesterday my jeans were baggy. I had been running around in gym clothes for the last two weeks so I hadn't noticed. I was so excited to start to see some results.

I have also noticed that going through my day to day life has become easier. I am able to whip through my errands much quicker than I had. I am wanting to try different things with my kids like skating and tubing, and I am excited that I am moving more in my day to day life.

So far so good.

Food addiction

So, I was talking today to Lisa today about food addiction. I guess I would say I was a food addict. I use food to alter my mood, which basically what an addict does. Food is just my drug of choice. So yesterday I had a very stressful afternoon and instead of eating everything in my house, I went to my massage appointment. By the time I got home, I felt a lot better and more relaxed. The problem hadn't gone away, but the distraction did the trick. I need to find other ways of handling problems rather than eating. My new motto is "If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the answer". I'm going to put that on my fridge!!

Speaking of massage, Elements is really wonderful! Last night I walked in and it is such a relaxing environment. Shanna was my massage therapist and I felt really relaxed with her. I have not gone for a massage in years, and one reason is I don't want people looking at my body. I like to stay hidden, but Shanna made me feel at ease. Thanks Shanna!! Plus when I left, I felt like a million bucks. Massages are the best for sore muscles!

Thanks Element!!

Wine, pizza and cake!!

What a weekend it's been. Saturday night I wanted so badly to relax at home with a couple of glasses of wine, but I decided not to. Mainly because I am still working to get my eating on track and working to get my portions in control. I have made major changes in my diet, and I am really proud of that. So, I skipped the wine and made some flavored tea. Sometimes the tea feels like enough of the treat to do the trick.
Then today I went to a bowling birthday party. Joey (my 9 yr. old) was invited and we all tagged along. Dan (my husband), Alex (my 4yr. old) and myself, grabbed a lane and had a great time bowling. I also packed a snack for myself because I knew there would be pizza and cake. That was really hard to resist, but again, not worth the calories. I had some LF cheese and a banana and was ok. Before EM, I would of had pizza and cake and felt really gross afterwards. I want to start this week feeling stronger, not bloated and tired.
That's all for now. Tomorrow is full body workout and my first massage. I can't wait!!

The Extreme Makeover has started!

Today I finished my 4th workout at Fitness Together. I have had sessions with Steve, Dorothy and Lisa, all wonderful to work with. I had a lot of fear going into this process. I was worried that working with a personal trainer would be too challenging for me, and that the trainer would be annoyed at my lack of fitness. It is very challenging, but it's a supportive, encouraging environment. I never feel like I am being judged for my weaknesses or made to feel embarrassed by my lack of fitness. The environment is actually a lot more relaxing then the gym because their is so much privacy. So, I learned a lot this week about what working with a personal trainer feels like and it's great. I wish I had done this years ago.