Final Update: My Fresh Start For the New Year

I write this post feeling a bit sheepish. I fell behind a bit on my New Year’s Resolutions. For a split second I considered coming here and telling you about all I had done and how great I did these past two weeks, but in all honesty, I slacked a bit.

The first problem was when I didn’t get to the store in time and I ran out of yogurt. I swear it was all downhill from there, because it threw me off of my morning routine, and my snacking routine.  I was still eating my Cheerios but I felt like I wanted more.  Unfortunately sometimes the cravings got the better of me.

The good news is, I didn’t GAIN any weight.  Matter of fact I still lost an additional pound, bringing me up to a grand total of 7 lbs lost – which really isn’t bad for a month.  I’m just kinda hard on myself and felt like I lost a bit of my momentum.  The good news is, I have been LOVING on my new Xbox 360 with Kinect – and I’ll confess that I may have bought “Dance Central” for it as well.  I’ve been “Evacuating the Dance Floor” with Ke$ha like, every night.

Also, for about 2 weeks I slacked on using Walmart’s free health and fitness tools, but when I got back on the wagon this week I noticed a CONSIDERABLE change in my momentum and determination.  Keeping track of everything I eat makes me SO much more conscious of everything that I put in my mouth – and since I know that one Oreo is a whopping SEVENTY calories, I think about all of the other things I could be doing with those calories before it goes near my mouth.

I’ve also completely slacked in taking my vitamins, which make me feel SO much better when I do.  My biggest hang up with the vitamins is that I can’t take them on an empty stomach, so I have to take them with food and I never seem to remember to grab them when I eat, or I’m out at a restaurant and I forget.  I need to work on carrying a few of them in my purse, and leaving them somewhere in my house where I will remember to take them.

Then, of course, there was my daughter’s 4th birthday party – which meant that there was, of course, cake.  Cake and ice cream.  Funfetti cake with strawberry icing.  I couldn’t pass that up!!!  My little princess would have been crushed if mommy didn’t want to share her birthday cake, or at least that’s what I told myself!

Don’t worry, I haven’t completely forgotten my health goals, and I’m still on track to lose that 15 lbs, though maybe not as fast as I originally thought I would.  I’ll definitely try and keep you updated!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms. All opinions are, and always have been, my own.

CoolSculpting: After My Consultation

In my last post I introduced you to CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ – the non-invasive way to reduce fat in problem areas.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to go for a consultation to see just what this procedure was all about.

I arrived at the Dr. Kinsley’s office (which felt more like a spa, to be honest) and was given a robe and ushered into a comfortable room with a full length mirror.  Before I knew it, I was laughing and talking about my daughter and my life while standing in my bra and panties in front of the mirror, discussing parts of my body that I was not too…ahem…fond of.  I’m relatively modest, but Dr. Kinsley’s staff put me at ease immediately.

They more fully explained the process to me – about how the machine freezes the area to 12 degrees below zero, literally reducing and eliminating the fat cells in that area.  Cool fact about fat cells?  Once they are gone, they don’t come back!  The size of your already-existing fat cells can increase, but the ones you are targeting are gone and gone for a lifetime.   Of course, I had already done a fair amount of research – like reading this Marie Claire article about it, and watching a video of the procedure being done on Dr. Oz.

Where can I sign up?

I am somewhat shy, so I’ll refrain from telling you ALL of the places that I qualify for CoolSculpting, but let’s just say that it’s enough to make me feel like I will look like a new woman.  I’ve scheduled my appointment to try it out for next week, so I’ll definitely update you to let you know how it goes.  All of the women in Dr. Kinsley’s office have tried CoolSculpting and rave about it – including Dr. Kinsley herself – so I feel much more at ease going into it.  Basically I’ll be sitting for an hour for each problem “area” and hanging out, reading my kindle or watching a movie while the machine works it’s magic.  It must be pretty popular, because it was difficult to find a time in the near future when I could get an appointment – the office manager told me they have a steady stream of clients who are eager to try CoolSculpting.

So now I’m excited.  I am constantly aware of my weight and my body, but I struggle to get the look that I really want because of those pesky areas that I can’t stand.  Now I feel like when I get married sometime this year or next, I will have the sexy physique that I’ve always dreamed of but really thought was unattainable.  You can bet I won’t be wedding dress shopping until AFTER my treatment!

Don’t forget that you can win your very own CoolSculpting treatment for you and a friend on the CoolSculpting Facebook page!

Go check out the contest and enter to win.  As a bonus, if you enter, come back here and let me know in the comments, and I’ll enter you to win a brand new Flip Cam HD – so you have an extra chance of winning!

Disclosure:  This post was sponsored by CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ, but all opinions are my own.  For more information, check out my disclosure policy.

CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ – A New Way To A Slimmer You {A Giveaway!}

This past month has been a total blur for me, and I’m still reeling/reveling in the idea that I’m now engaged!  I am so excited to marry the man of my dreams sometime in the near future, but while I’m hearing wedding bells, I’m imagining all of the things that I should be doing.  Working out.  Eating right.  Focusing on dropping the 15 pounds that I had committed to losing with the start of the New Year.  (only 12 to go, for the record!)

This photo was taken just 5 days ago - see how I always pop my arms up on my hips?

Getting In Shape With “Your Shape” Rocks. Seriously.

Confession:  I hate to sweat. HATE IT.  I refuse to be caught sweating in public – it’s one of the biggest reasons I can’t stand to go to the gym.  When I was still teaching high school, the worst thing was when a student of mine would hop on the treadmill next to mine and cheerily chirp at me “Hiii Ms. Lehhhmaannnnn!”  Seriously?  I don’t want your perfect 16-year-old self next to me – being at the gym is supposed to make me feel BETTER about myself, not worse.

Don’t you love how some people try to make sweating sound all awesome – like they say you’re “dewey” or “glowing” instead of “jeez, you’ve got water pouring off of your forehead”.  Don’t worry, I don’t buy the glamour of it all.  Not in the least.

Of course, I’m not a big fan of working out in general.  The idea of it pains me – I feel like it should be a lot easier than it is.  I generally feel very accomplished when it’s over, but the whole process of getting in my gym clothes, putting on tennis shoes, and going to the gym is somewhat off-putting.  It seems like 3 hours of work for a 1 hour workout.  I write from home, people.  I’m a BLOGGER.  Getting dressed up and leaving the house reminds me just how agoraphobic I can be.

All of this to say that Walmart and Microsoft sent me an Xbox 360 with Kinect last week, plus a copy of Your Shape for the Kinect and I LOVE it.

Yoga in my pajamas? Yes, please.

Kickboxing at 2 am to blow off some steam and wind down? Yes, please.

Not counting every. single. calorie. burned because I’m having too much fun to care? Yes, please.

Sweating in the privacy of my own home, not next to a former student at the gym? YES, PLEASE.

Your Shape for the Xbox 360 with Kinect may have changed my life.  If that sounds dramatic, then good.  I meant it that way.  It certainly helped me to drop those 2 extra pounds this week.  5 down, baby.  10 to go.

How are your 2011 fitness goals shaping up?  Share with me in the comments!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms.All opinions are, and always have been, my own.

How To: Get Michelle Obama’s Toned Arms

I’m somewhat obsessed with having perfect, sculpted arms. Have I ever acheived this? Well, no.  Not even close.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t be slightly preoccupied with the idea, right?

I saw this segment on the Today Show this morning and thought I would share it with any and all of you who wish for the same perfect arms that I do.  Or for those of you who are just curious or maybe looking for a new workout.  I’ve gotta say – that mountain thing looks like it will kill me but BY GOD if that is what I have to do to get arms like that then I am most certainly going to try it.  Even if I do give up after 10 seconds.

Ahem.  Without further ado.