Final Update - We Are Famous

The story can finally be all wrapped up nice and neatly. The infomercial is here! Get ready for a treat.

Here's a link to just the video if you want to see it without any other distractions. It's pretty spectacular. And imagine our surprise when we find out that the featured ladies are none other than the three of us. The perfect end to our little story here. Enjoy.

The Final Weigh In OR "You lost a dog"

The last two days have been...well I don't know what to call them yet because I haven't processed it all so I'm going to save my final thoughts for when my brain can produce words. Until then, I will leave you with my final stats because, frankly, they kick ass.


As a reminder, here is where I started:
Weight: 161 lbs
Waist: 35.25"
Hips: 39"
Thigh: 24"
Arm: 12.5"


Final Stats:
Weight: 148 lbs
Waist: 32"
Hips: 36"
Thigh: 22.75"
Arm: 11.5"

Boo.Yah.

I told Tara, the girl touching up our make up at the infomercial shoot today that I had lost 13 pounds and she said "wow, that's like losing a dog" (hence the title). I didn't even know I had 13 pounds to lose. I haven't been below 150 in seven or eight years. And don't forget about those inches, which I think is the real victory, 'cause who cares how much you weigh as long as that muffin top is gone. I look good, I feel good and I ate a brownie for the first time in over a month today! It was a goooooood brownie and I deserved it and I loved it and then I went to the gym. Alright, I can feel a ramble coming on so I shall stop myself for now. Also, I repeat...boo yah.

First workout and I almost lost my very small lunch...

Okay, apparently I have let myself get REALLY out of shape!!! The first workout wasn't even the full hour because she was giving us all the info for our upcoming month and I still barely made it!! We got introduced to the program we are testing, it's called Zone Dancing and it includes the diet we are on, a dance based workout that utilizes a "Zone Sculptor" which is a resistance ring that hinges on one side and gives resistance when you pull the two sides of the ring apart. You can put the ring around your thighs so that when you are exercising you have resistance on your legs or you can pull on it with your arms while you are doing other exercises.

We mostly worked our legs by doing a lot of squats and pulling on the Sculptor!! I thought I could handle squats with all the ones I have done at 24Hour but last night we were doing them continuously!! Mindy is a great motivator and we would just move from one exercise to the next without breaks!! But she kept you laughing and smiling throughout the workout so it helped to push through!!! But by the end of the workout I was sure I was going to throw up!! I'm sure I had a horrible look on my face and was maybe a little green and I was right in Mindy's line of sight!! I was trying to continue with the exercises and I'm sure at that point I had horrible form!! I desperately didn't want to be the girl who threw up on the first day so I was doing my best to hold it together!! I have let myself get so out of shape!! So finally when the stretches came I couldn't even hold the positions!! I didn't want to be at any awkward angles!! Then she started to talk about how this workout was easy compared to what's ahead!! Hopefully I will be more in shape at that time and won't feel the need to lose the precious few calories I get for the day. ;) I made it through workout number one and I go back today!! I'm going to be in amazing shape by the end of this!!! I can't wait!

"I Don't Cook" OR "Day 1"

Things I learned today:
How to bake a chicken breast ( I know, I know...but it's a pretty big deal for me)
I really don't like scrambled eggs
I also don't like greek yogurt

Things I still need to learn:
How to NOT grab things straight out of the oven with my bare hands
How to make an over-medium egg
How to live off of a LOT less food than I'm used to

I'm sooooo hungry. Right about now I'd be toasting up myself a couple pieces of bread and lathering on the peanut butter and honey as a bedtime snack. Alas, that is not in the diet plan and I followed the meal plan today like a champ so I can't give up now.

Breakfast was nothing short of gross. As stated above I don't like scrambled eggs and adding a bunch of spinach that just, as Katie described it, gave me "squeaky" teeth did NOT help. On the next egg day I shall try something different. Also, eating an egg and a half and half a banana just made me more hungry, and I'm not even a fan of breakfast.

I spent the next hour and a half learning how to and then baking a chicken breast for my next two meals and then made myself go to Spin at 24 to give myself something to think about other than food. The moment I restrict my eating, I start obsessing over all things food related. But I guess if every time I get fixated on how hungry I am I go to the gym then I'll kick exta ass at the final weigh in.


Lunch was a much, much better. My first attempt at chicken was a success. It wasn't too dry and I wasn't starving for at least a half hour after I finished. Yay me!!



Then there was the wait to go to the first workout where I drank more water than maybe ever before just to make my stomach feel a little more full (the half a cup of strawberries, though delicious, not really filling.) Temptations were few until Deric brought home a tantalizing gyro but fortunately I was on my way out the door to go get my ass kicked by Mindy. And boy did she. Lunges, squats, more squats and then a few more just for good measure. Bending down to pick up the babies at work tomorrow might be a bit tough but so far there is minimal soreness. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, even if that means I have to lumber around Mindy's deck tomorrow plieing (probably not a word) like a wounded ostrich. Yes we start the ballet portion tomorrow. Yes I'm glad there will be no cameras.

Anyway, dinner was also delicious (salad doesn't count as cooking for me) and filling for at least 15 minutes. I skipped "desert" because greek yogurt just isn't doing it for me. Maybe I'll get used to it but it tastes a bit like whipped up feta. Deric tried to convince me to cheat by having regular good old fashioned cows milk yogurt but I thought it would be bad juju to cheat on the very first day. I can start that nonsense tomorrow.

Rae's stats!! and one day in!

I went to take my before pictures and have my measurements done and I was pleasantly surprised! (with the experience, not my measurements, I gained weight this week!! ;D ) On my way up there I had visions of "shake for breakfast and shake for lunch" and of being uncomfortable with having my picture taken without the many layers of clothes I use to hide my body. But I got there and the energy was great and so was the food!! I walked into a room filled with women laughing, drinking wine and bonding over this crazy experience we are about to embark on together! Everyone was encouraging especially our trainer Mindy! We got our pictures taken, wearing sports bras and shorts, on a white backdrop with glaringly bright lights by a cute photographer, (just to add insult to injury!) which should have been horribly embarrassing but ended up just being funny. Then the food food was divided up and it was great!! It was all food I would buy for myself normally!! Greek yogurt, great fruit like pineapple and strawberries, different vegetables, pasta, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, chicken and ground turkey, I could go on and on! We are eating good food! The only thing is that for the first week the portions are very small but the plan is set up to where you eat every couple of hours to keep your blood sugar from dropping and to help keep you full. I feel pretty good so far today, I'm a little hungry but I had gotten used to eating way too much so that's to be expected!

We do our first workout tonight and get to learn more about the exercise product and routine we are testing. We'll let you know how it goes!

Rae's Stats:

Height: 5'4
Weight: 161 (I was at 156, what was I thinking labor day weekend!)
Waist (belly button): 40.5
Hip (at hip bones): 43
Thigh (largest part): 25
Arm: 13

What's it gonna take?

Something I've learned and forgotten and relearned about myself many times is that I need a very specific and tangible goal to accomplish anything at all. I need milestones and measurements of success to motivate me to action. Graduating college, going to massage school, each summer at camp, etc etc all have an end in sight, a moment that signifies successful completion. (I realize that this may be why I find it nearly impossible to choose a career that would keep me satisfied and motivated for more than a year let alone decades.)

This has also been true in my life of fitness and weight loss. The best shape I have ever been in was about 7 years ago when I was training for my blackbelt (obvious motivator.) The years before and after that, however, and pretty much for my entire adult life I have been maintaining my weight at a level that, though nothing to be ashamed of, is a constant reminder of just how lazy and unmotivated I can be. I know what it takes to lose those last 10 pounds. I have not plateaued and been frustrated by a lack of results. I just haven't done it. Yes I work out and yes I try to eat healthy but to really achieve those results I covet I need something big. I need another black belt, so to speak.

So what's it gonna take? I didn't see it coming, but apparently the motivation this time is going to come in the form of an infomercial. The strong desire not to disappoint Mindy Mylrea, a looming deadline (Oct. 6th) for the "after" shot, and the group effort with Katie and Rachel will hopefully whip my ass into shape over the next month. I don't doubt that I will be able to accomplish what she asks, because I have no problem chasing that carrot (though I imagine I will be sick of carrots by the end) when the finish line is in sight. At least I hope I have it in me. And then when I reach that milestone I can find the motivation to create a new one to achieve, whether it be success in fitness or just in life.

And if nothing else, watching Katie's head explode with excitement when she is finally in an infomercial will make this all worth it.