Non Scale Victory!

Good morning Kittens, Its time for another week of Non Scale Victories!

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I'm finding it harder each week to write a non-scale victory that I personally think is worth writing about.  I feel like my victories are not worth a whole post or not big enough to be called a victory.

Regardless, My victory this week is the comments I'm starting to get from people.  I told you earlier this week in my Gymspiration post, that a fellow workout buddy told me I was her motivation for coming to the gym earlier and working out harder.  That was awesome.

I had a coworker come back from surgery on Monday after not seeing me for a while, told me that I was looking much better and that my belly looked much flatter (Hello thats a mega compliment.  My belly is my worst area!).  Then literally 2 minutes later another coworker came to say hello to the first coworker and asked if I was losing weight! YES.

Yesterday when I was on my way out the door in my gym clothes-- yet another coworker stopped me and said, "hey I didn't want to embarrass you in front of your friends but you look great! Have you been losing weight!?"

Seriously? 4 compliments in less than a week?

Not to mention the serious love I've been getting from my twitter and instagram followers! Love you all.

I think the past few weeks I've been struggling with dedication.  After I had the  8 pound gain week, it was hard to get back on track and stick with it.  Although I think maybe that was exactly what my body needed. I feel like those fat girl moments when your in the kitchen eating peanutbutter off a spoon sometimes need to happen.  Not all the time.  Not every day or even every week.  Occasionally yes.  I had one of those this weekend and then days later people were telling me I look awesome.  So motivating.  Needless to say, I wont be having another Fat girl moment for a little while.  I still have 1.2 pounds to lose before my dietbet is over!

The Hartungs Blog, Dietbet, and the 31 Giveaway!

Hey Kittens,
 
I'm not sure if you saw it yesterday but I was featured over on Sheree's Blog, The Hartungs.  She seriously has the cutest little blog ever and she is absolutely stunning. Love her.  So go check that out.  She did an AWESOME job displaying my post and I just loved everything about it.  I was really honest and myself and it really does show my personality-- So thanks Sheree!

So I'm nearing the end of my dietbet leagues (are they leagues? I have no idea).  I have 11 days left in "Operation Get Fit", 6 days left in "Get Fit Naturally", 7 days in "Erin's Dietbet", and 8 days left in "The Anti-Jared's Dietbet".  I'm not going to lie its going to be close.  I have 1.6 pounds to go for all of them.  I haven't really been too active in the dietbet games-- and by active I mean posting comments and pictures.  The app needs some revisions and it frustrates me to use it.  And I don't really go on the dietbet site very often.

I'm not sure if anyone out there is interested and hasn't signed up yet but I started a dietbet that begins April 3rd.  You can join HERE.  Remember you have the chance to earn a decent chunk of change.  I got $70.97 from my last dietbet games.  I'm hoping that I can make a great deal more this time.  So if you're already on the diet wagon why not stop over and earn some money while your at it?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to be entered to win a 31 bag.  Remember you must do all the mandatory entries in order for them to count.  Sam send over a picture last night showing what you'd win from her:

Super cute.  So don't forget to enter that Here and do all the mandatory entries.

Gym-Spiration

Good Morning Kittens!!

I want to tell you all about an awesome conversation I had last night. 

You know how down and out I felt the past couple of weeks--- like all my hard work was basically for nothing.  I had gained 8 pounds in one week and lost it the next but regardless didn’t feel thinner or healthier at all. 

Last night I went to the gym right from work.  (sidenote: I was so freaking hot all day yesterday it was crazy! So I was sweating up a storm!) I drank my spark in the car and got ready to bust out a good workout before my zumba class. 

I started on the elliptical 30 minutes-- level 10 and running at a moderate pace.  Again I was so hot all day so I was really looking gross.  I moved to the stair stepper where I did 35 minutes on level 5.  I was starving by the end of that.  Not really sure why I never get like super hungry any time other than when I'm working out.  But alas I brought myself a snack. 

I got to Zumba completely drenched in sweat.  My shirt was light pink when I got to the gym-- it now looked purple.  Gross.  I cranked out my 700 calorie Zumba and really worked it. 

Now you have to understand I take Zumba with basically ladies that are 55+.  Me and the instructor are basically the only two that are young.  So these ladies aren’t working out or getting as sweaty as either of us but EVERY week they stop over at the end of the class and ask me how many calories we've burned.  I think they were a little saddened to learn that our calories have been decreasing as we get healthier.  They say, "only 700? But you're so sweaty"… Thanks

Yesterday I had the same thing happen to me.  But instead of talking about how awesome 700 calories was, she started telling me how I'm her inspiration at the gym.

Me? Are you sure you're talking to the right person?

I'm the chick over here making a mess all over the machines, panting and we all know that ain't pretty!

She went on to explain that she sees me "Killing it" with a hard workout before our Zumba class and then I come to zumba and "Crush it".  She said that I've inspired her to come to the gym before Zumba and get a few more minutes of cardio in.  Which in my opinion is seriously awesome. 

Its awesome that others are being inspired based off of what I'm trying to do for myself.  I know I've said it a few times before but it really humbles me that anyone would really even read my blog let alone call me their "Gym-spiration". 

To say I was thrilled was an understatement.  It makes me want to work harder.  Want to push that much harder. Want to lose more weight. 

I got up and weighed myself this morning expecting to weigh basically the same. 

Holla for a Dolla- Honey Boo Boo-- 30 pounds Gone!  GAH!!

I was so thrilled.  SO THRILLED.  It feels like I'm starting to get somewhere again. Although I still have pain in my shin, and I still have fat girl ___day, I'm moving in the right direction.

I'm a Gym-spiration and I'm losing weight! 

Its Monday, School, and Weight loss.

Hey Kittens!

Welp its Monday.  I really could just end the post right there.  Ah but I'm way too wordy for that business.

Its officially Spring here, but it feels more like February in Canada.  We got about 6 inches of snow overnight. Pittsburgh weather is the craziest weather ever.  We're going from literally 6 inches of snow today to literally 50+ degrees on Saturday.  In one week.  Ah, that's normal Pittsburgh.

Many of you know or have read that I'm in grad school.  Its all online and I'm loving it so far.  What I'm not loving is my new teacher.  I make a point to do more than the required discussion posts and put a little more than needed effort into the first few weeks just so I can "make a good impression" on this new teacher.

This guy-- isn't having my charm.

So we're required to post 1 discussion post by Thursday and reply to 3 others by Sunday.  The syllabus says nothing more than that.  Last week I did my work on two days.  I posted my discussion post on Thursday and replied to 2 posts-- and went back in on Saturday and replied to 4 more posts.  So I went well beyond the required.

I GOT DOCKED POINTS.  Even though I exceeded the minimum amount of posts.  Even though I posted by the deadlines.  You know why? Because I didn't space out my posts through the week.  Somehow to him that shows that I wasn't engaged in the class the whole week (even though I had signed on several times that week).

I could understand writing me a nice little note since it was the first week but taking off 12% of the grade because I didn't space out my posts? And by the way it says NO WHERE in the syllabus that I needed to do that.

Then take off another 12% in the homework because I didn't imply other questions with my paper.  Seriously?

Seriously?

Okay Vent over.  I've just decided that this guy and I will never get along.  But I'll play your games, DUDE.

I'll figure out you.  It may not be in time to save my A, but I'll get a good grade in your class.


In other news like I said in my post halfway through last week, I'm down those extra pounds I gained a few weeks ago.  I have no idea what was going on with my body that week but I'm glad to see that most of it is gone.  I'm hovering right at the 28-20 pound loss mark and its driving me crazy that I cannot get past this.

I had some Fat girl moments this weekend.  Which is clearly the reason why I didn't break past.  Some leftover pizza, tablespoons of PB, Cheese.  You name it.  I'm sure it found its way to my mouth at some point.

Not this week.  I need to buckle down and focus on the goal at hand this week: Lose weight!

As lame as that is, this post basically sums up my weekend.  Oh yeah throw in a 5 mile run and then watching NCIS for about 3 hours after in and you've got it!

My Week In Instagram's!

Alright Kittens, Its time for another week in My week in Instagram! Don't forget to Follow my Official Blog Instagram: LifeByLex

St. Patrick's Day 

Celebrating!

Avoiding Homework...

Froyo Addiction

Lion Hair! RAWR

Oh just causal window cleaning at work..

New Hair cut! Not darker just cut off all the "trailer part trash ombre" that was happening. 

This costume is happening for Foam Fest... 

Have Instagram? Doing a My Week In Instagram Post? Link up with me!!

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Non-Scale Victory!

Good morning kittens!

Time for another round of Non-Scale Victories.

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So last week, I did a whole lot of bitching.  I'm not just talking like a few negative posts here or there. It was like everyday for a week.  I was down and out.  I had gained 4 pounds in 4 days. I felt crummy.

I ate like crap Thursday to Sunday.  All the stuff your not allowed. Yup, I ate it. Didn't track anything.  Nothing.  I had rest days from the gym to try to heal up my shin.  I iced, took ibuprofen and stretched.  I listened to my body and just did nothing.

I gained 8 pounds.  I didn't want to post that number on Monday because to be honest I was ashamed.  I was upset that I had given up on the plan.  Let the old me take hold again.  But on Sunday night I packed my lunch and started over.  I rededicated myself to doing things the right way.  I got my eating on track-- I was determined to get in some good burns this week.

I'm happy to report that I did just that.  I stayed on point with all my eating.  More than on point with my exercising.  I started a new routine of going to the gym right after work instead of coming home and changing at home.  Its giving me an extra 30 minutes give or take that I wouldn't have by going home.  Its giving me some extra time for lifting and strengthening this tool.

Last week I said that I might have been okay with this gain if I felt skinny-- but I just felt fat.  This week, I do feel skinny.  I put on a sweater today that was tight on me at Christmas.  Its awesome to get into old clothes and FEEL the difference.

I know NSV is not about the number and I'm not trying to make it-- but I am thrilled to report that as of this morning I'm down those 8 pounds.  I'm back on track and feeling AWESOME.

I'm gonna get all mushy gooshy on  you all but I honestly probably would have gone back to the fat girl lifestyle if it had not been for ALL of your comments.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  My readers are the ones that are motivating me.  When I get a tweet from someone telling me my workouts are killer and they wish they could do a "Lex workout" I think to myself-- "the only reason I'm doing these killer workouts is because I want to show all my readers that if I can to do it-- you can too". 

Its your words that have really motivated me and inspired me to keep going and doing what I'm doing.  Keep focused on the end goal-- eyes on the prize .

So again I want to thank you all for your encouraging words-- your support, motivation, and ideas.  You all have inspired and motivated me to get my butt back on the plan and continue to stick with it.

thank you.

P.S. I got a haircut

Want to participate in the Non scale link up? Highlight the code in the box above. Right click and select copy.  Head to your blog-- Select "HTML" when writing your post. Paste the code where you want it.  Click "Compose" to return to the normal view to edit your post. 

Non-Scale victories are those victories big and small that (as I see it) help you become a better person.  Whether it be physically, mentally, or in weight loss.

So if you've got a Victory you'd like to share-- Link up!!

Lets get it all off my chest...

So I've been seeing some post in the blog world that literally made me frown.  Posts that made me sad to really follow these people.

Posts about "Blogging rules".  I think the reason this made me so upset was because blogging is your own blog.  You shouldn't have to follow some preset "rule" or "standard".  I blog to write about what ever the hell I want to write about.  Sorry, but if you want me to adhere to some rule or try to make my blog be like someone elses-- your out of your mind.  This is my space, my blog and I will write how, what and when I feel like it.

The first issue I think needs addressed is the frequency of blogging.  Some posts I've read recently said basically, "You must post everyday to get readers that actually want to read your blog".  I completely disagree with that.  I have the most awesome readers.  You guys follow my blog, comment on my posts and encourage the shit out of me.  Its motivating.

Do I blog everyday?

NO.

Do I blog about really interesting things all the time?

NO.

I know my life can be boring at times.  Heaven forbid I choose not to blog about those days.  Or there are days when I don't blog because frankly I either 1. Don't have time 2. Don't feel like it or 3. Don't have ANYTHING good to say.

Which leads me to my second issue with these blogging rules.  Bloggers out there have said that your posts should not be more than a handful of linkups.  Again, that brings me to the point of "Its my blog-- I do what I want".  I personal post 3-4 link ups a week.  Depending on what bull I realistically have to write.  I choose to participate in linkups that I feel are relevant to my life, likes, and my weight loss and fitness goals.  I don't post on ever every single link up I see, nor do I post every week on the same link up.  Its your blog. You do what you want.  Don't follow anyone's rules.

Which brings me to my third topic of link up pictures.  I get it. You want credit for your link up.  You REALLY want those views from random people checking out your blog.  So you created a button for your followers to use and you strictly want them to use that button when referencing your link up.  Even going as far as deleting posts that are linked up that do not have the button added.

If this is you... You my friend may need a reality check.

In my opinion, if you host a link up (which I host 2), the people who are linking up with you are only helping you.  You shouldn't be making rules on how people link up to your blog.  If people are that interested in the link up they'll find their way back to your blog.  There's some post out there saying that people get so offended when a blogger saves the link up picture and inserts it into the post weekly.  Okay lets just be real here.  Who has time to go out weekly to each link up they want to be a part of and find the stupid code that they've put in one of their posts.  If you have that time, Great.  I personally, most of the time, choose to copy the picture and provide a link to their blog myself.  Its just easier for me to do that than to save the code somewhere or have to go search for it on someone elses blog.  In my eyes the link up is there to be a motivational tool, provoke some kind of interesting posts, and encourage each other.  I don't care if you dont use my picture.  I don't care if you copy and paste the code or just the image.  I dont care if all you say in the post is one line about the link up.  These link ups are supposed to be fun ways to get to know eachother, motivate and encourage.  Not a way to gain followers.  Not a way to get more views on your page.

The forth thing I really want to talk about is Giveaways.  There's a lot of controversy about giveaways.  As you can probably guess I am of the opinion to do what you want.  I don't really care.  Yes, I will participate in giveaways.  Yes I have them on my site.  No I will not participate in a giveaway with 5000 people just to give them followers.  I really try to limit the people I follow strictly because I want to actually enjoy and know the blogs I follow.  If I would follow all these random people just to have my name MAYBE picked, I'd have such a horrible GFC or Blog lovin' that I'd never be able to read or comment on any of your blogs.  I guess moral of the story is-- use your judgement when deciding to do a giveaway.

The fifth topic is more of an observation.  I've noticed there is some serious blogging groups out there.  You've got the fashonistas, the Runners, the Beauty blogs, the health blogs, the personal blogs, the craft blogs, etc etc etc.  I personally don't really know if my blog fits into on of those categories.  And to be honest with you I'm perfectly fine with that.  I shouldn't have to fit into a certain group and do what is popular in that group.  And I certainly don't want to do that... just because all the health blogs are posting about what they ate on Wednesday doesn't mean i should!  To be honest, I 100% positive you all would be completely bored with what I eat.  That group likes that but Just because I don't post "what i ate Wednesday  doesn't mean I cant be a healthy blogger.  Just like if i don't post my workouts.  Chances are NONE of you really care that I did zumba yesterday.  Doesn't mean I cant be a fitness blog.  I guess my point is I really encourage you to participate and be a part of multiple "groups" of bloggers.  As a reader and outsider (before I started my blog) of all these groups of blogs it really is interesting how you can tell EXACTLY what group you're in based off your group posts or trends that your blog follows.  I try to have a nice mix of what I post from beauty, fitness  health, weight loss, crafts etc.  And I hope that i Don't fall in a category.  I think I like that better.  

My final topic is followers.  I think its more important to have quality followers (like mine) than to have a huge number of followers.  Maybe you have 10,000 followers.  But all of those followers came from giveaways, or whatnot-- who NEVER actually read your blog.  What's that getting you? Satisfaction? If that satisfies you that's great but I'd rather take my 173 active followers than 10,000 any day.  Whats the sense in having followers who don't actually read or comment or encourage or put in their 2 cents!? I don't see one but that's just me.  And I love my followers.

Do you own thing.  Quit trying to play by someone elses rules.. Its your blog and your experience in life.  Don't let some group of blogging girls boss you into thinking you blog has to be something its not.

Holy Random-- and Oh How Pinteresting

Well I look like a lion today-- in a good way I guess.  I curled my hair with my curling wand because a coworker always tells me how awesome it looks when I do it and that it should be my "go to hairstyle".  Did I mention that coworker is a male?

I'm taking my first Advocare Spark right now.  My hopes with this stuff is to wake me up and/or give me the energy to power through my tough workouts after work.  I'm currently drinking Cherry-- Which has a strangely familiar taste-- I just can't figure out what (besides cherries... duh).  When I started mixing it up I really thought it was going to be really gritty but to my surprise it mixed well.  I sampled it off of 8 oz of water, and decided it was way too strong for me and needed more water.  I was mixing it in a 21 oz water bottle so it worked out well (plus I get more water in for the day.  Although it looks NASTY in the bottle, I promise it doesn't look that nasty in a clear container-- its currently in a blue bottle.  I started drinking it at 7:40 and I'll let you know the timeline of how I feel.

I've been getting in the habit (or should I say, getting back in the habit) of drinking a full nalgene before I get to work.  Basically from the second I wake up to before I get out of my car to go into work.  I drink it out of my gym bottle so I really don't want to get in the habit of taking it in to work (because I know my dumb ass will forget that shit).  But I do take it inside after the gym to rinse it out and fill it up for the next day.  If you don't know what a nalgene is-- I highly suggest you purchase one.  Its a 32 oz bottle that is basically indestructible.  I've literally dropped this thing off a slide where I work that was 40 feet in the air (just to prove that theory) and it survived.  Sure the plastic gets scratched but you can still use it!  I love them.  I have NO Joke about 15 of them.  Who in their right mind needs 15? No one. Ever.  But I love them.  They let me get the water in that I need to for the day, plus you can put ANY liquid in them and it wont stain or smell or taste like that food.  Soup included!!  I'm really in love with the "wide mouth" bottles because they're the largest and that'ts just really all I buy.  Those other ones are way too small for me.  But I'm telling you having one of these really does encourage you to drink more water.  Its like a challenge.  I WANT to finish the bottle just to feel successful.  Just me? Okay good. By the way, I am in no way being paid by Nalgene to talk about their bottles... Or spark... Or some curling wand company.. I just love all three of things things.. Alright now that I got that out of the way,  I have my eyes on this baby next:

You can see all the nalgenes and all their glory here.

Oh How Pinteresting:

I know this breaks the rules of the "Oh How Pinteresting" linkup but I switched to the new Pinterest and Embedding is broken at this point...

How to clean a Nalgene

33 Desk Exercises!

Great Manicure Link

MY LORDY-- Doesn't this look refreshing?

Seriously Can't wait to buy a house to do stuff like this

Have you ever tried Advocare Spark?

Did you participate in the "Oh How Pinteresting" Link up?

Whats your favorite pin this week?

9 most random facts about Tuesday.

1. Can we just talk about the fact that Danni not only won the biggest loser yesterday looking SMOKING HOT-- she won it by one pound!!! Talk about crazy! Lets just take a second and look at those guns. And that awesome faux-hawk. She's amazing.

2. I found a setting on my heart rate monitor that allows me to see all the calories burned since I bought that watch. 30,582 calories. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

3. Can we just talk about the fact that I cannot get over Dannis arms? I need to find out what the hell she's doing. And I need to so that. Watching that finale was so inspiring.

4. The new shoes worked out well yesterday. I still had shin pain-- and my run was tougher than last week (probably because I haven't run in a week). I cranked out 2.3 miles, 35 minutes on the stair stepper, and then 1 hour Zumba. #getitgirl #QueenDiva. (Yes I hash tagged in a blog post)

5. I'm signing up for Foam Fest which easily promises to be by far the most run race I've ever seen. Promise ill spam you with photos.

6. I'm coming to the realization that I probably won't be able to fit into the size 10 jeans as I thought I would back in a prior post by April 1st. That's discouraging especially because I feel like I've lost a good portion of weight but haven't gone down at all in size. I feel healthier and my heart rate is getting better but I'm still the same size.

7. I have 20 some days left on the diet bet challenge. With last weeks weight gain I'm really starting to wonder if I will make it by then.

8. Omg Danni's arms. Okay omg Danni's whole body! So jealous

9. I'm trying day 2 of packing my gym clothes and going straight from work. One of the main bridges around my house is closed causing A LOT of traffic on all the surrounding roads making it a lot more difficult to get where we need to. It's taking me about 15 more minutes to get home and to the gym which isn't a lot by its already a 15 minute drive past my gym to go home to change and then I have to backtrack 15 minutes. It's really lame and not really worth it.

Lex needs a new pair of shoes-- Just kidding.

So if you follow me on Instagram this weekend you saw I got new shoes.  They're beautiful.

I went to a place around my house that specializes in knowing exactly what shoe you should be running in depending on the tread on your show (wear pattern), and any injuries since the last shoe.  Since I have had both shin splints and plantar fasciitis since the last time I got new shoes- and was currently wearing heel cups in my shoes to allow me to run I was super excited.

I ended up having to get a shoe that was more supportive than prior.  It has an arch support and more padding than before.  They look a little.. orthopedic to me but I love them.  They are green and blue and have a slight silver zebra stripe (okay so its not really zebra but I still consider it!)

Anyway I get to try these puppies out tonight on my run and zumba class and I'm going to kill some calories tonight.  Get ready.

Weight Loss (Gain) update.

Last week.  Awful.  (I know, I know, Your tired of reading about how awful it was).  Lets just say 4.0 pounds that I was complaining about last week wasn't the total gain for the whole week.

I'm pissed off.  My shin is still bothering me a little here and there.  I got new running shoes Friday night, but did no running at all (or really any strenuous working out) since Wednesday.  That was probably part of the problem with this weeks gain.  I cut back on my exercise to basically nothing.  My plan was to let my shin heal.  Well it didn't heal and I'm up a LOT from last week.

All I can do at this point is get right back up and kick it's ass.  I will be getting in my regular workouts this week-- shin pain or not.  I will continue to ice and treat the shin as needed.  I got verbal confirmation over the weekend that I indeed will need to run 6+ miles for the Relay in a few weeks so I need to get myself up and over that hurdle.

For now, I will continue to take every piece of advice you gave me last week.  Drink more water.  Take the week off (that was last week), Eat more then eat less.  I heard it all and am greatly appreciative for every single one of your comments and support.  Its great to know I have a family out here that really wants me to actually do this.

Here a Keek, There a Keek, Everywhere a Keek Keek!

Chick got a Keek.  Keek me up! .... no.. that doesn't work does it.. Damn.

Lex_Antos

My week in Instagrams

Hey guys!! Thanks for stopping buy for another week of My Week In Instagram's!!  Don't forget to hop on over to Instagram and follow me : LifeByLex

Before you start looking at my instagrams-- if you havn't seen this video you MUST

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