Update

So, I'm at a bit of a plateau. I can't seem to get below 182lbs, which is kind of annoying. I switched up my exercise routine today and moved to level 3 of the shred, which I love. I'm going to pick my 3 and 5lb weights tomorrow though, because some of those moves need more than the 2s. I'll keep the 2s for the cardio, but some of them I definitely want to be using my 5s. I especially want to use those on the arm exercises because I'd like to start seeing a difference in my arms.

I found 3 pairs of older jeans in my room which had been too small on me. I tried them on today, somewhat skeptically, and they actually ended up being a tiny bit too big on me! I was really happy. I'll still wear them because I'm in a weird in between stage where the jeans I have are either too big or too small... none of them fit nicely. Which is okay, because hopefully in 5-7lbs I'll be able to fit into my skinny jeans again. I just need to get past this plateau. I did get a compliment about my weight loss yesterday, though. My aunt, who is bigger herself and has always been the type to say "what's the point of diets? just eat whatever you want" said that I was looking good. It actually meant a lot because she's really not the type to comment on things like that. So at least I'm at the point where people can notice I've lost weight, but I still want to lose way more.

I'm just really going to go hard this week. I think I'll do a class at the gym too. Amanda and I decided not to do the booty camp because it's too expensive. So I'm going to do a few classes at the gym with her. Hopefully we're going to do this Body Art class on Tuesday which is like.. strength training and cardio mix, but also with a focus on relaxation. I also really want to do a cycling class, and physique which is a ballet conditioning class which I love. I hope doing these will help me push past this plateau. But if anyone has any tips on how to get past plateaus please let me know! I'm drinking water and not snacking at all, so I hope I'll get to 180. I really want a pedicure!

I think that's it for now!

-Monica

Quick update -

Things are going well. I'm still 182lbs. I did eat chinese food tonight because my aunt invited us over for dinner but I made healthy choices. And despite a pulled muscle in my leg, I still worked out today which I'm glad about. I'll just keep making good choices the rest of August and I feel like I will make it to 175lbs.

Also, my mom has informed me that I need to put my old jeans on because my current ones are like.. falling off of me. And I've started wearing clothes that I was wearing last summer when I was just a few pounds lighter than I am now.. so I'm happy with my progress so far. I think it's a good sign.

-Monica

Okay.. really back on track this time.

I had a cheat weekend, haha. I was on my period and craving every bad food imaginable, and I let myself indulge. But today I was back on track for sure. It was actually the first day since I've been sick where I felt like I had the sustained energy to get through a workout. I did the 30 day shred and it really tired me out, but I got through it. I also ate very healthy today. I know I gained a few pounds the past few days, but hopefully they'll be off soon.

I had someone comment that I looked good this weekend. My cousin, who I don't see very often, said that I was looking great. It made me feel pretty good about myself since people can notice a difference in the way that I look. I think it gave me extra motivation to keep going - because who knows what kind of compliments I'll get when I'm down 30, 40, 50lbs.

Amanda and I are signing up for booty camp which I'm looking forward to. I hope it'll kick our asses. Maybe it'll be what I need to help me reach 175lbs by the end of August. If I combine it with eating healthy (and from not until the end of August I only have one foreseeable occasion where I may not eat completely healthy) and doing the shred + normal cardio on non-booty camp days, I feel like I'll reach my goal. I'm going to stay positive about this. I also can't wait to get my pedicure so I'm doing my best to drop the few extra pounds until I read 180. I found this old notebook of mine and I found a piece of paper I wrote on in the summer of 2007. It was about my weight - I had recorded my weight along with the exercises I had done that day. I was 177.4lbs - at this point I had gained most of the weight I had lost back. So it makes me very optimistic because once I reach 175lbs, it'll be the smallest I've been in 4 years. I'll have no choice but to keep going after that because I'll be so happy with my progress.

On the studying side of things, I did an entire practice LSAT today under timed conditions. I got a 178. It's kind of crazy thinking about it because only like, 1% of test takes score that high on the actual test. I know I'll get lower on the actual test just because of the pressure of test day and anxiety and all that, but if I can get at least a 170 I'll be so happy. I still need to make an appointment with the bank though to see if I can get the money for law school. I also need to start writing my personal statements very soon - likely later this week. I sent off some emails to old professors about writing recommendation letters for me and I think I've found two great profs who will write me one - I hope so anyway because I'm not sure who else I'd ask. It'll be such a relief to get that out of the way.

All in all, I've had a pretty productive day and I'm happy about it.

-Monica