Challenge accepted.

My workplace has put out a new program. A "Biggest Loser" of sorts. Obviously not called that because who wants to bother with copyright issues, amiright?

Anyway. Top prize to the person (individual) who loses the biggest %? $500. Five hundred clams.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, workplace. Challenge accepted.

I'm gonna rock this thing.

The only thing I moderately worry about is my milk production. The last time I tried to lose weight, it tanked. I mean, BAD. Like, still haven't recovered two months later. But the fact of the matter is that Lil is already getting 1/2 formula at daycare because I can't produce enough. So, if we're reduced to morning/evening and comfort nursing, I guess that's what's going to happen. Ironic that, in order to give her a more positive and healthy parental role model, I'm risking losing what's probably kept her this healthy - breast milk. It's a bummer, but I want her to look at her mom and see a healthy woman and get healthy eating habits from us.

I also can't wait to force Mr. P to participate. Ha.

There are so many things coming up that I need to get in shape for too - another trip to Europe this fall, 1-year pics with Lil, having another baby sometime before I get too old...

I mean, I'm 31. Time's a runnin' out to get in shape while I'm still young enough to enjoy it.

So, cheer me on, kids! That $500 would come in damn handy in Europe. :)

Here; where I've never been before.

I've discovered that I have gotten to this really strange place that I don't think I've been before. I'm completely out of control. It's like I can't say no, no matter how much I know what I'm doing goes against my goals.

Frankly, it's bizarre.

I find myself trying to figure out how to tell myself to say no, but can't.

Here's an example. Caribou. I love their coffee, I love their bakery goods. My weaknesses are the Campfire Mocha and the apple fritter. So. Flippin. Good. So good. BUT, together, they're 1000-ish calories. Yeah, no. Not good.

I was going to Caribou every morning for a couple of weeks. I would order my Campfire (medium, soy, with dark and milk chocolate - in case you wanted to get me one...) and tell myself no fritter. And then would order the frickin fritter. It's like someone else just took over my damn mouth!!

I've never had this kind of terrible, dysfunctional relationship with food before. I've always been able to say no if I wished. That's just something I find I can't really so anymore.

I'm trying to figure out how to fix it. For now, it's just the avoidance of that which tempts me. Caribou free for now. Sad. I hope I'll be able to figure out how to look temptation in the eye and say no again. Soon would be good. I miss my mini-marshmalows...

Well. Hello, Jell-o!!!

Mostly, that's me talking to my post-baby gut. :) But also to anyone who may still be reading the 'ol blog.

Quick set of stats to catch my reader up. Baby was born on 10.10. Go, team! I gained about 30lbs during my pregnancy. I walked out the door of the hospital at least 7lbs lighter. :) At my 6-week postpartum visit, I was 7lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Holla! NOW, I'm 5 months down and somehow almost 20lbs up. W.T.F.

My seester and I agreed that I have 6 months after having Lil to lose the baby weight before I'm a Big Fat Fatty. Shit. I have 30 days to lose 20lbs.

We have a challenge, folks.

Before you get all bent out of shape, I'm joking. Only because I'm breastfeeding and I need those calories, baby! BUT, I've decided that I need to be down to my pre-pregnancy weight by the time Lil is 9 months. It took 9 to put the lbs on; I should get 9 to kick' em off.

As my least favorite character in my least favorite Batman movie said, "let the games begin." And I hope you read that in Bane's obnoxious voice. I know I typed it that way...

When it rains, it pours!

TWO posts in two one day!!!

It's your lucky day, man.

Just a quick little thing.  I found a new blog today that I really kind of love.  It's interesting and fantastic, and I hope you'll like it as much as I do.

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/

Girl lost 135 lbs.  And looks DAMN good.  Read on, readers!

Welcome back, not Cotter!

Oh, man.  It's been a while, huh?  Yeah, I know.  Shame and all that.  :)

I feel like I should do some full disclosure.  I have two posts that are sitting in "Draft" status.  Just two.  It's only been two-and-a-half months since my last post.  Or has it been three?  Either way, I've been sitting on a couple and watching as the top websites I visited filled up with everything but Blogger.  As a matter of fact, I don't even think Blogger IS one of the 8 or 10 top websites I frequent.  They even changed the Blogger format.  Yikes.  Still gotta figure that one out.

Since I plan on being a better blogger for a while here, I'll need to learn to navigate that puppy.  Again.  Soon.

So, maybe you're saying, "Since Blogger is no longer in your Top 8 or 10, what is?"  Well, my friends, it's a little website called Babycenter.com.  YUP.  Mr. Peavs and I are breeding.  WATCH OUT, WORLD!  :)  Come October, there's going to be a real, adorable new reason to get my skinny on.  Lots and lots and lots of  not sleeping and working out to get all skinny and yummy.

I'm going to do my best to keep this blog all about the whole weight loss thing and not much about the whole preggers thing.  Granted, for a while, it'll be a combination of the two of them, but I'm not going to talk about breastfeeding and labor except in how many calories they burn.  (both of which still SERIOUSLY gross me out, btw...)

For now, we'll stop there.  There will be some more fun posts about how awesome it is working out and eating now and what's coming next.

Stay tuned!

Who IS this girl, and where have I gone?!

Something strange has happened, dear readers.

I enjoy working out!

What the H???  I've never actually enjoyed it.  It's never been anything that I thought about or looked forward to.  Working out was hard work.  You get sweaty, it's hard to breathe.  It takes time away from the things you want to do.  It's painful.  It's not fun.  It's sore and achy and tired the next day.

But it's awesome.  It's such a high after you're done.  You're shaky and need a gallon of water and can't stop talking (at least, that's my jam!).  There's no real way to describe all the highs of working out.  It's just so spectacular.  I love it.  I really do.  For someone who seriously couldn't do a pushup to save my life, I'm now doing a pile of them (full disclosure - they're knee pushups, but I can do a whole lot more of those than the one or two regulars!) at once.  I can do a grip of jumping jacks and CRUNCHES.  Actually do crunches.  It's craziness.

I was in Ohio for work a couple of weeks ago.  First time traveling for work, first time in a hotel room by myself, big meeting the next morning...so I was feeling all out of sorts and jittery.  Instead of taking a quick dash across the street to get some bad-for-me snack food, what did I do?  Jumping jacks, pushups, lunges, squats, and crunches!  I just couldn't sit still, so I turned on the Kardashians (promptly turning OFF the sound...yikes) and got to it.  I was all tired after the 20 minutes or so that I was working it, and went to bed feeling good.  It was pretty great.

Craziness that I like.  :)

I didn't workout today or yesterday.  I'll be blaming Tuesday's kettle bells class for kicking my ass something fierce.  However, I can't let that take all the blame.  I'm feeling much better today.  I miss it.  I feel kinda itchy or like I'm full of nervous tension without it.  It's a really weird feeling.  Not that I'm doing anything about it, mind you.  ha.

Anyway.  Just a quick report on that.

Adios, y'all!

Prepare yourself for some whining...

OKAY.  We’ve got a situation happening here.

I logged into my beloved Myfitnesspal to log some food.  Along the way, I thought, “I’m going to see when my last check-in was.”  My girl Jill had lost a pound since her last weigh-in (YAY YOU!!!!!!!!!!), and I was feeling motivated to see when my last lb drop was.

And then, I was kinda heartbroken.

SEPTEMBER.  I haven’t lost weight since SEPTEMBER.  That’s FOUR months with no change.  Four.  What the H.

Because I’m feeling a little moody lately, I’m going to break down the negatives of this here plateau.

• No smaller for my sister’s wedding.

• Four months of weight loss totally lost.  Gone.  My journey is now going to be four months longer.  Neat.

• Four months where I should have been losing weight to have a baby.  GONE.  Does that mean another four month delay on that one too?  SUCKY.

• I’m no closer to fitness.  I’ve lost four months in my quest to enjoy working out and how it makes me feel.

• Talk about self-confidence plummeting!  I totally feel that this is a completely un-attainable goal, and that makes me mad.

Man, I’m frustrated.  And, if I can be a little honest, a bit ashamed of myself.  I’m better than this.  I know better and know how to get my butt in gear.  But now I feel like all this know-how is total crap, and more like “things I heard in passing from a third-party” than knowledge.  I’m annoyed and disappointed in myself.  How could I have been letting this sit for so long?!  I mean, I knew that it was before Christmas when I did my last real good weight loss.  But I didn’t realize it had been frickin’ four months.

Okay.  Putting on my big-girl panties.

I’ve lost four months, but all I can do now is surge ahead.  Well, surge ahead or eat all the cupcakes the next time someone brings them in to work.  I tend to not be one to wallow in self-pity for too long (nor do I hold a very good grudge!), so really my only option is to get over myself and move ahead.  Realize that I’M the one who made the mess, so I’M the one who has to fix it.

Lynda says that you need to have CONCRETE goals in order to achieve them.  So, here are some concrete goals for you, to help me break out of this crap-ass funk.

• I will burn 3-500 calories five days a week – in conjunction with the lower calorie intake.
• I will plan my meals in advance to avoid being stuck in the “what’s for dinner” crisis.  This meal planning will take place on Sunday or Monday nights.
• I will eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day.  Meal planning will help.
• I will banish the chips and chocolate and other temptations from the house.  PURGE TIME!
• I will sleep for 7 hours a night.  Sleeping aids optional (we’re going through some insomnia lately…).

Okay.  That’s a decent list to get started with.  It’s kind of a lot of things, but some of them are inter-twined, so it should be pretty achievable.  Because I’ve got confidence in me!!!  J

In other news, I’d like to make a semi-formal announcement that, as an attempt to have a bit of a release from my (seemingly) constantly racing mind, I’m going to take up writing again.  I want to start with short stories, and then hopefully move on to something that people would pay a buck for on Amazon.  J  I’m no Rowling or Austen, but I can spin a decent yarn if I have a mind to.  Hopefully I can make it work.  Wish me luck!