...

Kate posted something on my profile and I thought, hmm, this is interesting, maybe the NTH girls want to "weigh in" (I weighed in this morning and I up a bit, I thought my skinny jeans were tight from my huge muscles, but I am not so sure )

"I have been coming around to the performance before aesthetics attitude but I honestly believe its more effective in achieving the aesthetic goals. Intuitively, if you want a body that looks strong and fit should you actualy be strong and fit? Also this: "When you’re in the gym, or outside sprinting, focus on your performance, not burning calories. You’ll be more motivated if you’re concerned about getting an extra rep or running an extra sprint than about working yourself to complete and utter exhaustion. Oftentimes when people train for fat loss, they perform grueling workouts that leave them huffing, puffing, and crumbled into a delirious heap of sweat on the floor. Just because you finish a workout exhausted or nauseous does not mean it was an effective or productive workout. The value of your workout is not determined by how tired you are afterwards, or even how sore you are the next day. You should follow a sound training program that emphasizes improved performance to achieve your fat loss goals."

...

I found that for myself when I shifted my focus to fitness goals (do a pull up, do 10 real push ups are both goals I'm still working toward, ha!) I was able to maintain motivation. Even better for myself was tracking my progress of reps/sets and seeing improvements that didn't revolve around measurements or a scale. It was a mindset shift for me that helped a lot. I think when I get too focused on the aesthetic goals I tend to sabotage myself when I don't see them quickly. It's like the fitness goals are a distraction to keep me busy and not so focused on the aesthetic.

Ashley - the plank series looks like a great workout, I'll have to try it some time.

Ris - that sounds like a good plan, i am also going to try not to overindulge too much over the next week and I am working on a plan for the New Year. i'll post it when it's done.

Amy - my skinny jeans always get a little snug when I work my legs a lot

Beeps - I am with you on the aesthetics thing - dangit, I just want to look good in a bikini!

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

One of the things "2012" taught me was that, I really didn't have "the last 10 lbs" to lose....more likely it's "20 lbs". So, now that I'm in the midst of "losing the fat", I have LEARNED that I had rose-colored-glasses on regarding HOW MUCH WEIGHT (fat!) I would need to lose to get "THE LOOK" I want.

Totally eye-opening....and, I didn't know this in March or July or even September!! It has only been as I've worked my way through my toils and troubles that I've learned this about my own body.

I also believe that, once I get to MY "MAGIC NUMBER", maintenance will be a biyatch....as in, I won't know what the heck I'm doing and the scale will likely drive me BONKERS.

But, that's a 2013 matter, so I'm not worrying about it, just now. While I would REALLY like to be done 'cutting' about now, I've still probably got 3 months to go.....the fat is dropping off MUCH slower, now, and that's okay - I *get* that it's a PROCESS.

I still concentrate on getting in 3 x weight-lifting sessions per week. I'm not GROWING any muscle, just now....but am trying to maintain what I got so that there's something THERE when the fat dissipates.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!

(I kind of figured it might be quiet in here for the next few days....but, I'm working, so will keep checking back!)

Looks like everyone had/is still having a nice holiday break. I am back to work today. Boo. Tomorrow is weigh in day and I am really not excited. I haven't been working out, and I've been drinking pretty much every day, and my diet has been less than fantastic. Not absolutely terrible, but not great either. This is how it goes at Christmas. I was hoping to at least work out some, but between company, working around baby nap time, and just wanting to relax, it just didn't happen. I'm ready to hit it hard come January. I'm thinking about doing 2 weeks of pretty restrictive diet; I'm thinking 1200 calories a day no excuses. We'll see. I hope you all had / are having a great holiday!

I'm so relieved the holidays are over and I can go back to eating what I want without all those huge meals and temptations, ha! As of yet, we don't have any plans for New Year's, and I think that's OK with me. I'm looking forward to feeling balanced with my meals at home again.

I am falling off the deep end this week! I am ready for normalcy as well! My family will be here this weekend so I have been using that as an excuse this week to not get back on track yet. Whatevs. The scale rewarded me for my carelessness; up 1.5. I guessed what the scale was going to say and was right. I'm sure some is water weight, but I am ready to gear up come January 2. I'm not sweating it too much; the weight will come off once I get back to working out and eating well. I literally had chocolate for dinner last night. And then around 10:30 warmed up some short rib leftovers and split it with my husband. I need to clean out my kitchen!

Better - yep, January usually means GOOD things for everyone! (At least fitness related.) I actually HATE the gym in January because all the "new year's resolvers" show up!! But, they are gone by mid-Feb, so it's only a short 6 weeks of PROBLEMS.

kclynch - oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, I'd like to hear all about your adventures with Cathe's new program!

I think I'm going to delay my eating, daily, for as long as I possibly can over the next few days. Photos/measurements are upon me and I want ZERO bloat and I'd like to lose a pound or two prior to measurement time! (Usually I don't eat until about 12:30 pm or 1 pm, anyway....but am going to try and delay until 3 or 5 pm, if possible!)

Hey everyone! I just wanted to check in. I am still working out everyday, but I am on vacation until Wednesday so I have been eating and drinking too much that is for sure. Tuesday I am throwing away every bit of junk left in the house and I am going to attempt a no booze January I think.

Sounds fun Beeps. Have a great time! You deserve it. I love to hear about your fasting. I have been brainwashed to believe if I don't eat within 90 minutes of waking, my body goes into starvation mode and my metabolism slows (and I need all the help I can get). I have done some reading about this, and this seems to be BS. I have tended to skip or eat very small breakfasts in the last several weeks as a means to restrict at least some of the calories I've been scarfing. I've actually been thinking about doing a 24 hour juice fast. I have done "detoxes" probably 4-5 times; consuming only juice and berry smoothies and a bunch of cleansers and supplements. I too think most of THAT is BS, but a 24 juice fast (I make my own) just sounds like a nice little mini cleanse. Ideas?

It sounds like we've all had some indulgences over the holidays. I'm a little depressed about how I feel. All my clothes were getting loose, and now they're tight again. I know a lot is water bloat and some may also be TOM. It came back (barely) after 20 months. This could be affecting lots of things. Anyways, just trying to stay positive and not screw up too bad through the rest of the year. I got a fitness plan together for mini training with a little strength training. It's going to be tough to get it all in as my workouts now on work days tend to be 30 minutes or less and I'll be running 3-5 miles on some weekdays with long runs on Saturdays. My strength i'll be doing every other week will probably take 45 minutes, so adjustments will need to be made in my schedule. I hope to incorporate some morning workouts so I don't have to use weekday after work baby time in the gym. Anyways! Sorry to ramble. I tend to think out loud.

I'm also on for Just Say No January with 2 night exceptions (concerts). I'm excited. And I'm not. I love drinking but I think it will do me some good and maybe help a little with some weight loss. I plan on a couple weeks of pretty restrictive eating also. NOt exactly sure how I will stay within cals; maybe a little fasting (skipping breakfast), maybe just eating much smaller portions and lots of veggies. I just need to do something to get back to where I feel comfortable.

Sorry to not individually respond to everyone, but I need to get back to work! Have a great weekend ladies.

I have a cold and feel grumpy. I did workout this morning but haven't logged it because I want to try to get in a little more. My tummy looks extra flabby. :sad: even though the scale isn't up much. I got a confirmation email for my Cathe DVDs and they won't be here until Jan 7th. I was hoping it would be here sooner. I need something to get me motivated NOW. I'm going to Vegas for Presidents Day weekend to meet up with brothers and cousins and all of our families. I really want to look my best.

Beeps - I'm jealous of your upcoming vacations.

Good luck to all you ladies on your dry January!

I'm HAPPY you are all JEALOUS of my travels, lol!! Because, I've been slaving away through THESE holidays and that means I'm DUE!

Better - I've only tried 1 24-hour fast....and, I didn't make it! (I think I made it 22 hours, though.) Hunger monster got me! I just know (now!) that when my body DOESN'T want to eat, I just don't eat....so, after Xmas indulgence, my body was CRAVING a break from food, and I'm doing the best I can to give my body NO FOOD, lol. Yesterday, I made it 18 hours. Today, I made it 17 hours. Tomorrow, I'm aiming for 18 hours, but we'll see.

kclynch - lay off the carbs and your tummy will flatten RIGHT OUT! Oh, and drink TONS AND TONS OF WATER, too!

Ris - I'm glad you're posting, again! What exercise do you have planned for January?? Are you in marathon training?

Shmoozy - I've never HEARD of "piriformis syndrome" - maybe that means that your workplace needs to provide you with a standing/walking desk! That would be AWESOME! I met 2 dudes who have standing desks that they use 6 hours per day - they claim that it has helped with weight control and also with aches/pains often associated with sedentary jobs (like mine).

Welcome, jellybird!

Beeps - I work on a farm! :laugh: Any sitting troubles are my own doing, unfortunately! Sitting in a tractor all day bothers me, I do have to get out and stretch from time to time. Then other days it's totally fine. It's weird.

For me, this "delaying my meal as long as I can" is the ONLY thing that seems to be keeping my calories in check. I can't even explain it beyond that!

And, it's become "routine", now, so I quite like it.....yet, I am *still* looking forward to the day when I don't have to be in a "calorie-deficit". It is getting a little "hum-drum" and, yes, I'd like to BE at "goal weight" instead of STILL STRIVING FOR IT!

It'll come....at least, if nothing else, I now know how to get MY body there and, now I know that my body WILL be at "goal weight" in 2013! That's comforting!!!

Happy New Year, ladies?!?!?!?!? Who is doing what??

Beeps--I am in marathon training, sort of. I signed up for the Providence marathon in May as well as a two 10 milers in April. I did something to my toe right before Christmas (I thought I broke it, but it has healed very quickley) so I haven't been running too much lately, but I'm going to try to get back to it soon. I was hoping to get in a long, slow run tomorrow just to see where I'm at, but it's supposed to be pretty gross out, so I may have to wait until this weekend. I'm not looking to set any records, just to finish.

In January I'm going to start focusing on my general health rather than fitness in particular, as right now I'm more concerned with TTC again than losing weight or fat since I'm in a healthy range on both. I just changed my goal weight (previously 120) to my current weight (123), so I am officially going for maintenance now. So my goals are to eat cleaner and get some sort of exercise in every day. I'm going to go for a no-booze January, with exceptions for a few special occasions TBD.

We're going to two holiday parties tonight, both with food and lots of booze, so I'll probably skip the logging and just make sure I've left myself some extra room for calories. We have to drive to the second party so I'm going to skip the booze at the first, which should help. We'll be walking home from the second, so at least I'll burn a few extra calories that way!

Ris, I'm excited that you are TTC....2013 is going to bring you so much joy, I KNOW IT!

asjerven - if "vacation body blueprint" includes HEAVY lifting, than I want it! I'm at beeps.speeb@*****.com

I am *not* going to do a "dry" January.....because I'll be in Mexico, but I think I'll keep it "dry" OTHER than Mexico! I think I had exactly 6 drinks through the holidays....and, that was good enough for me! I don't like champagne, so getting through New Year's is also pretty easy for me.

here's an interesting tid-bit....I fasted (accidentally) all day yesterday....had my first meal (an egg, cheese, bacon homemade 2-egg omelette) at 5:00-ish! And, I stopped my eating at 8:00 sharp. That "unintended" fast dropped A POUND off me!

I wasn't sure how much could come off with a one-day fast, but, now I know (at least for me). I'm trying to figure out if I could fast, every other day, until I go to Mexico, just to get rid of 5 lbs (knowing I'll put it right back on while in Mexico). What do you think?? I think I'm going to try this.