You're running? No weight change? ~Jully

I've been running 2x/week for the past 2 months and my weight has not decreased, not even 1 pound. I know people don't believe me. I almost think that without my nikeplus gadget, I really have no proof, except for my sweaty clothes. Granted my eating habit hasn't changed dramatically, but I don't eat hamburgers & french fries, actually, most days I have salads for lunch (and no, I don't have it with ranch dressing, cheeses, and any fattening items), I don't snack on sweets and I don't binge. So what could be the problem? My metabolism IS completely shot.

Let's see where this all started, shall we?
When I was in high school, I did slim fast for a few days, tried herbalife (aka shakes for meals), also I did Nutrisystem too (pre-packaged food). I liked Nutrisystem because I didn't have to go anywhere, just ordered the food and just had to eat what was given to me, but I just ended up eating more than I should have. My weight was probably in the mid to high 150's during that time.

While in college, I gave Weight Watchers a shot. It worked while I was committed to it, but it was difficult to go in and get weighed in (and talk about it, too!), work out just for 30 minutes, and keep track of the food. I also attempted to do the Atkins, but was not successful the 1st time around. My weight then was around 160 to 170's.

After college, I bloomed... and eventually reached 194 lbs. At that point, a doctor in Brazil prescribed a medication to suppress the hunger, and in exchange, all I had to do is not drink 2 hours before a meal, during a meal, and 2 hours after a meal. Now, for someone who drinks about a gallon of water with each meal, this was quite difficult, but I did it. I would lose several pounds per day at times, and reached 150lbs. I don't think I stayed there very long, maybe 2 weeks? The drug made me feel like a zombie, and I knew it wasn't something good, but it worked. Eventually, I decided to see if I could maintain the weight without the drugs. I wasn't successful. I gained 1lb here and 2lbs there, and in my mind I was ok with that, because I just wasn't 194 anymore. Before I knew it I reached 160's, then 170's and eventually 180's. But in my head, I really believed that I could always go back to 150, IF I really wanted to.

In my mid 20's I tried Atkins, and it was the perfect diet for me. I would have eggs, cheese, and hamburgers with no bun and no guilt. Within the 2nd day, I would lose 2 lbs. When I followed the plan, I would lose up to 14 lbs after 2 weeks. Of course, I had no idea how to maintain it after those 2 weeks, so i would gain it back, and then go on it to lose it again. In between, I also tried the South Beach diet, I was also a vegetarian for about 4 months, and I may also have tried the cabbage soup diet. Obviously, none of it worked.

In my 30's, I would just laid off the carbs and decreased my salt intake for a few days if I had an event to go to. This was how I managed my weight. The final diet that did it was the Lemonade fast (lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup). I managed to not eat anything, but drink the lemonade for 10 full days. I really did feel great during and afterwards. I know it's hard to believe, but I did like it. My mind was clear and knowing that I didn't have to eat, or worry about eating was a great relief. I probably lost about 8lbs on it, BUT ... my body has not been the same since. To know that you can go 10 days without eating did give me a sense of empowerment, but... the weight came back, and before I knew it I was 194lbs again. Of course, my emotional state has gone up and down as the weight has moved up and down. Let's face it, that's really the problem to begin with.

Now, after almost 2 months of pilates and running 2x a week... I've not lost a single pound. So if you EVER wonder what yo-yo dieting can do... think of me. My body has grown tired of me playing with it. No liquids, no meats, no carbs, no eating... I'm not even sure if I can reverse the effects of the past 15 years of abuse, but I'm going to keep trying. It's all I can do.

Session 15 ~Jully

Today was my 15th session.
Virginia spent some quality time with just 'lil o' me.
A lot of her description of me in the studio can interestingly describe my personality outside the studio as well.
- I focus a lot of my concentration in making sure I don't do something wrong, rather than trusting myself.
- I don't really communicate and ask questions even when things seem a bit off, I just think I'm working through it.
- I am a little more confident compared to the 1st session.

Recently, I've been realizing more and more about myself. It could be the age, I could be where I am in life, or it could be what this experience has triggered. So here's what I noticed, I am not as confident as I think I should be. I am pretty afraid of the aspects in life that require taking ANY risks. Oh yeah, lastly, here's what my sister told me this morning, "You REALLY need to learn how to communicate better!".

I did do my run yesterday and I'm planning on going tomorrow too.
The eating hasn't changed much. That's fustrating to you too, right? Somehow I prefer going through 40 minutes of sweat and pain, rather then just eating less.

Ahhh!!! I'll do it! Soon...

Bad weather + Holidays = NOT GOOD! ~Jully

Due to the recent weather and holiday get togethers, I am all out of synch! I haven't been at the track since last Monday (12/15). I did go to the gym on Sunday (12/21), but I wasn't able to do 3 miles on the treadmill. I did 1 mile and my right ankle started to hurt, so I moved to the eliptical machine for 20 minutes. That helped me balance my weight and then I went back to running for another 1 mile. So I tried.

Fortunately, I haven't gain any weight as of yesterday, BUT this may change unless I increase my level of activity ASAP!

Today, the gym is closed, but tomorrow I'll be in there, for sure!

On Monday, I went to a Christmas dinner and although I wasn't all made up with make up and a pretty outfit for the occasion, I felt really happy in my own skin. Our last get together was during 4th of July, and I was in a much worse place then. For that party, my friend had to pratically beg me to come to the party, since the last thing I wanted to do was to socialize. I don't think I'm ready to put myself out there even now, but I was happy and really enjoyed talking to everyone.

Below is a picture of me from October (left), I had my interview with Jessica (owner of JFP Studios) that very weekend, and the one next to it is from Monday (right). The exterior difference is slight, but I kinda like myself a bit better today, then I did then.

About the program, we just had our 14th session yesterday, and will have another one on Saturday. I'm hoping to bring my sister (the photographer of the family) to take some shot of us, so we can share here.

Anyways, Merry Christmas everyone!!! Thank you so much for your continuous encouragement and support. Santa gave me a great gift this year... me!

On a more serious note ~ Jully

This past week was a tough one for me. It was filled with challenges, emotions, and harsh realizations.

But before I get into all that, since I wasn't able to write as of Friday (12/5), here’s a recap from my last 3 sessions:

12/6 Saturday – Session 10
According to Joe (yeah, the one who created Pilates), it takes 10 sessions to “feel” a difference, 20 sessions to “notice” a difference, and 30 to change to shape of your body.
Honestly, I have felt a difference right after the 1st session. As I mentioned in my previous blog entries, I acknowledged my body as soon as I walked out of the studio that first day.
During this session, Shannon and I were very much in synch, flowing from one exercise to the next. Afterwards, I went for my second run of the week, but instead of running in the track, I actually ran over to the Tenafly Studio to surprise Shannon during her workout. I felt really great, even though the scale was still at 188.5lbs. Really, nothing was going to bring me down that day.

12/10 Wednesday – Session 11
The week was pretty tough on me by the time the Wednesday session came along. First, I ran on the coldest night known to mankind (ok, I’m exaggerating, but it really felt that way!), and headed to work where my forearms were still frozen and sensitive to my warm hands. As the week continued on, I just looked forward to my pilates session, and it was great again. Shannon looked really good that day and I was extremely happy for her. I did weigh myself again, and I was at 188lbs. Really, no joke, no change.

12/13 Saturday – Session 12
This session started earlier than usual, since we had to leave to meet our nutritionist. Our reps for the sessions have increased from 4 to about 8 each time. We did a lot of work on the mat and focused on the legs. We then met our Nutritionist and found that I should only consume 1600 calories per day in order to lose 1lb per week. She made it sound like simple math (-500 calories = 1 lb lost). Calories IN - Calories OUT = weight gain or weight loss – oh so simple! Another interesting fact is that because of all the yo-yo dieting for the past 20+ years, my body has shut itself down. This is why I can't lose the weight as fast as I could when I was younger. So after our session with the Nutritionist, I dragged myself to the track to do my run. This was probably the hardest run yet (I know I say that everytime!). By the 2nd lap, I was completely out of breath. It was like I was carrying a 20 lb bag on my back. You can read the below to discover why…

So now, on a more serious note, I swell up when I stress out. When I am challenged with a situation that I feel hopeless about, I turn to food. I don’t it consciously, before I can even realize it, I’ve already satisfied most of my cravings. On a more positive note though, I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink, I don’t hit a punching bag, I don’t cry or scream, I don’t even talk about it… I just eat and find myself in a trance. Actually, I don’t find myself there when it's happening, it’s only days later that I realize why I feel and look so much heavier. To be quite honest, I don’t think I would stop eating even if I knew what was happening. What else can I do to occupy my mind and time?

Some say that admitting that I have a problem is the first step, right?

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it ~Shannon

Hi My Loyal Readers!

The above image is a ticker that will track my progress from http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

The web site is a great tool for those of you who are both tech savvy and looking to lose some weight. Our nutritionist, whom we met with for the first time today, told us about this helpful site. The meeting with the nutritionist was just what I needed. I have been doing Pilates sessions with Jully for a little over a month now, but I needed someone watching my food intake. I have a decent idea of what is good and what is bad for you but our nutritionist, Dr. Z, really laid it all out on the line for us. We had our weight and BMI measured. We calculated the amount of calories necessary each day in order to lose weight, including daily moderate activity. Dr. Z wants us to get a pedometer to keep track of our steps per day which I plan on getting later today. I am curious to see how much I move on a daily basis, aside from added exercise. We also went over WHAT to eat within those allotted calories (mine happens to be approx. 1600). I am really really excited to get this pasrt of my journey started. I feel really blessed by this opportunity. We also had our Saturday a.m. session with Virginia and that went very well too. I am really optimistic about my journey and again, thanks for coming along.

I wanted to show you this picture (that is me on the left with Stephanie Klein) and recommend an awesome book by my absolute favorite author, Stephanie Klein. The name of the book is MOOSE and it is a memoir of Stephanie's experiences in at fat camp. The book is hilarious, yet touching. She speaks from her heart and identifies some of the struggles many adolescent girls face in our society. She also wrote STRAIGHT UP AND DIRTY, another hysterical memoir of her single days in NYC. I am not her personal friend, but she is a great inspiration to all women and a wonderful author. Her blog, Greek Tragedy, is at www.stephanieklein.com

Shannon

Feeling a bit uneasy ~ Jully

Our company's holiday party was last night and because of this, I didn't have the strength to get up this morning for my run.

Maybe the dancing can count as a work out. I danced so much my muscles are aching.

So, I have good news and bad news.
Bad news: At my weigh in, I gained 1 pound... so I'm at 189 lbs.
Good news: I don't feel so bad, because I was able to wear a shirt that I could not wear since last year! So maybe the pounds aren't going away, but the clothes are fitting better.

Is it weird that I'm feeling uneasy about not going running today? I'm going to try to do it tomorrow. Weird... who would have thought this day would come. Me, feeling guilty about missing a day of running. I guess things are changing.

Snowmen and Victoria's Angels ~Shannon

I am back from sickland. And feeling better than ever. I have been working out the past three days, eating well and focusing on changing my habits. We had our Pilates session with Virginia last night at the Tenafly studio. I went early and worked out for an hour- 40 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the bike. I am taking it pretty easy because I still have a cough, but it feels good to get moving. Our session last night felt good- I was definitely more focused that Saturday. I am feeling stronger and I am starting to notice a difference in my posture. I lost the weight I had gained last week in addition to a half a pound, so that is good. When I got home, I made the mistake of putting on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. C'MON. Noone looks like that! I am straight as a line, but I watched motionless, with my jaw on the floor, for the entire hour. I don't even know what to say about it except those were some skinny girls with giant ahems. As a middle school teacher, I am sometimes disappointed at what the media glorifies as a sexy woman. It gives girls who are extremely impressionable the wrong idea. I know because I was one of them not too long ago.
Today, after work, I drove over to Metro Golf and Fitness and worked out for about an hour, doing some cardio and some free weights. The one thing I have to remember is that this is not an overnight fix and that it will take some time. I get bummed when the numbers on the scale don't move too much but I have a feeling since I started doing cardio and being careful with my diet this week, things will begin to change. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
I have adopted an extrinsic motivation method as well (teaching terms). Basically, that means working towards rewards. For every 5 pounds, I will reward myself with something cool. I am one and a half pounds away from my first five. And I really hope it happens by Saturday morning because it's a manicure and I really want to get one this weekend (: My next five will be a new top. I have plenty of ideas, believe me.
Did anyone see the singing snowmen at Hallmark this year? They are so freakin funny. It's a little corny but when you press a button the snowmen "dance" and sing a whole song about eating Christmas goodies. After the song, the chubbier snowman says "Uh, what's for dessert?" Funny and apropos. My description does not do the cute little knick-knack justice.

December 1~Shannon

Hi All,
This is going to be short and sweet because I am sick. Like, haven't gotten out of bed all day sick. I started not feeling so hot Saturday night- I always know I am geting a cold when I start uncontrollably sneezing. Needless to say, it developed into a full blown cold. I took off from work today and have absolutely no appetite. Perhaps that is the trick to losing Thanksgiving pounds! I think I will be okay by Wednesday night, so I will write more after that session. So far, I have lost two pounds since the start of the program but plan on really buckling down now that Thanksgiving is over. Our session Saturday morning was good but I did feel a little weaker than usual and not so focused. I now chalk that up to my developing illness. Hope all is well and everyone had a lovely holiday.
Shannon

Month 1 - Complete! ~ Jully

My pilates experience started on November 1st and a month later, here I am, still trekking. According to the scale at the Tenafly Studio, my weight is still at 187.5 lbs.

I have been feeling great and noticing miniscule changes. For example, I touched my triceps and it is tighter, the way I think "normal" person's would feel. Same thing happens when I look at my double chin, I see a difference, but it's so subtle that I wonder if I'm only seeing what I want to see. There are moments when I am overjoyed, but then the self doubt kicks in and I wonder if it's just my imagination.

The running also continues, I started at 1 mile and now I've reached 3 miles at 13:34/mile (Yeah, SUPER slow!). From this point I will stay at 3 miles and improve on the time and intensity of the runs.

The pilates sessions get better and better, and I keep looking forward to them. Of all the exercises, there are only 3 that I know by name: Hundreds, Elephant, and Running. You can only imagine what the instructors have to go through to memorize and perfect each of the 100's of exercises. Virginia introduces us to at least 2 new exercises during each session. The workouts flow pretty smoothly and keep me interested and motivated.

So December, here I come!

For a visual, to the left is a not so glamorous shot of me on 11/6 at 8 am. This was taken after our "brisk" morning walk at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA. Not sure if you can tell in the picture, but I am lacking oxygen, sweating profusely, and hanging on to the poles for dear life. :-)

On this day, I took class after class and did another hike in the afternoon.
I got confirmation of my all or nothing personality, which has allowed me to be more aware of myself and do things in a more balanced manner.

I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks because I will be reaching my 6 weeks mark, which from what I hear is how long it takes for something to become a habit.

There are moments when I get tempted to go back to my old ways, but I've learned to forgive myself, that not everything must be "all or nothing". I am patient and I keep telling myself... this is it.

This is for no one else but me.

Thanks ~ Shannon

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Last Saturday, I missed our scheduled Pilates session because I wasn't feeling well. That being said, I fed my cold. A lot. I was also stressed out because of different things going on- my brother got hurt at college playing basketball, my ex has been disappearing and reappearing like he was David Copperfield, and the holidays always seem to stress me out a little bit. Tonight, though, I was feeling better and went to the Tenafly studio for our Wednesday night session. I got there about fifteen minutes early and spoke to Virginia for awhile about my week. She was very helpful and her presence alone is very calming. We talked about how I need to concentrate much more on Shannon and feeling comfortable in my own skin, realizing that I really need to take this day by day and not become discouraged. See, I am extremely hard on myself-a perfectionist to fault.

Jully and I did a number of exercises on the Tower, a lot which are familiar and getting easier. However, Virginia, constantly adds new exercises that are challenging and keep our minds moving, as well as our bodies. After about a half hour on the Tower, we went over to the Reformer. I almost had my first Pilates related accident. Hahaha. I was dying laughing. We were supposed to raise our legs, butt, everything but the shoulders off the mat. I did this a bit too emphatically and almost went heels over head right off the Reformer. Thankfully, I didn't flip but it did provide some great comic relief. Virginia also told Jully and I that she sees an improvement in our posture. That made me really happy to hear. I have not noticed it yet, but I do believe it. At the end of the session, we weighed ourselves. I am sorry to report that I gained +1.5 I am not going to beat myself up about it though. I can't, or the cycle will begin again.

I also reflected after our session, which made me feel a hundred times better, about being stressed out for the holidays. Why? What is so stressful? All that is really required of this holiday (Thanksgiving) is to think about what I am thankful for. Yeah, yeah, we focus on the food. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, pie, yada yada. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the food and am thankful for the fact that my family is able to have it on our table every year. That's not the point of the holiday though. As a meditative practice and maybe as an inspiration for you to make your own list, here are some of the things I am thankful for:
my parents, my brother, my thinking brain, my pumping heart, my loving friends, my rewarding job as a special education teacher, the food in my fridge, the music on my I-Pod, the heat in my apartment, the blanket on my Queen size bed, the hot shower I can have any time- day or night, the education my parents worked hard to provide, the setting sun, the full moon, the ocean, memories, possibilities, fresh baked bread, wine, flowers, Thank you cards, hugs, vanilla ice cream, being outside when the cold air burns your lungs, jumping in a pool on a hot summer day, bike-riding, colors(especially royal blue, kelly green and hot pink), our new President, the hope for a better tomorrow and the blessing of life given to us today.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Shannon

Pilates makes me happy / Session 6 ~ Jully

Today, I had a session with Virginia on my own.
I can confidently say that I'm getting better and stronger.

I discovered my weak muscles: my neck and abs
The exercises we did worked on my obliques, spine, and my lower abs muscles.

I learned about finding my neutral place for my neck, it was quite an experience.
I have always been self conscious about my neck (or double chin) so I'm hoping the awareness there will help me even more.

The last few exercises included a few balancing exercises on the ball, they were surprisingly challenging.

I feel very good right now, full of energy and elongated, I hope that makes sense.

I'm heading over to a Thanksgiving dinner at my friend's, my goal there will be to not over eat, and have a blast.

Next session will be Wednesday, the day before actual Thanksgiving.

No Funny Business ~ Jully

I'm not a happy camper. This will be an angry posting, so proceed at your own risk...

I GAINED 3 POUNDS!!! (At least Shannon lost 1, I was really happy about that. I didn't want her to feel what I was feeling.)

Yeah, yeah... It could be my muscles from running, it could be from my "eventually scheduled to start 'MS'", or it's really the fact that I had an all day feast on Monday.

Of course all types of thoughts came to my head. Maybe I should run more, maybe I should go on the Atkins diet, or maybe... I should just stop eating. All of this, just makes me want to eat even more.

This just makes me feel like crap.

... But I guess I did get up this morning and did a run. Okay, the below does make
me laugh.

Biggest Snoozer and Meat on a Bone ~ Shannon

Good afternoon everyone,

I am pleased to announce that I am (drumroll in your head)... -1 lb. as of last night, when Jully and I weighed in at the studio in Tenafly. I was very encouraged by the loss. In addition, we had what I thought was a great workout last night. I got there half an hour early to do some cardio before the session and realized as I pulled into the gym, that I was wearing Uggs, not sneakers (Pilates is done shoeless) and that would not be possible. Duh. Virginia put us through a number of exercises that we have done before and are, I am happy to report, getting easier to accomplish with time. We also did some stuff we have never done before. One exercise being this crazy split-like move. I have never been a cheerleader, gymnast or dancer. I played basketball and ran cross-country. "Split" is not in my vocabulary of workout words. Imagine doing this and it explains the exercise (DO NOT attempt at home though): Pour water on your tile floor in your kitchen, put a rollerskate on one foot and move that foot so that you go in and out of a split. It is, by far, against all of my bodies wishes and desires which are not to fall and not to split in any sort of way. I am not a wishbone. Who knows, maybe all this splitting will bring out my inner cheerleader and I'll find a spot as a Knicks City Dancer. Okay, I am making it sound torturous. It really was just something I am not used to but I am more than willing to keep on keeping on. I really love love love our instructor Virginia- she is so patient, yet challenges us.

As far as my food choices so far this week, I have been pretty good. Today, I went on a class trip to Medeival Times. One of my friends whom I teach with went along as well. It was a very humorous experience. The kids got right into the action. As we were rooting vigorously for the blue knight, they started serving the food. I had brought a mini whole wheat bagel with chicken salad just in case and it ended up coming in handy. I am not a big meat eater (I actually just started eating meat again after a stint as a vegetarian that made me gain even more weight- I don't think pasta and potatoes is healthy vegetarian). I also am not a fan of wasting food or any food still attached to a bone. As our maiden brought a big ol' chicken leg, ribs and a potato, I asked for a vegetarian meal. Not quite the Medieval spirit, but I have to draw the line somewhere when I am watching my food intake- and that type of food has absolutely zero appeal to me. I am fortunate in the sense that my tastes tend to lean towards healthy foods, my problem is with the amount that I eat. She brought vegetables and buttery rice as a substitute. So I ate the bagel and veggies. I even resisted the Otis Spunkmeyer dessert cookie. I do love those- they remind me of my high school cafeteria.
After my last post, I went home and caught some of the Biggest Loser on television. One woman lost about 60 pounds in 9 weeks. I am doing this in 20 weeks so that was inspirational but a little scary- what must they be doing to lose that much weight that fast?, so I looked up how much they work out on "the ranch" and was aghast. Um, up to SEVEN hours a day. No wonder! At this point in my journey, aside from Pilates and my occasional run, I am unfortunately not very motivated to work out. I have been working a lot this week, since report cards were due today and when I get home, all I want to do is chill and go to sleep. So, I have deemed myself the Biggest Snoozer. I don't really want to be called a loser anyway, so that works. Joking aside, I have to start working out on my own more. I want that to be part of the lifestyle change.

My goal for this weekend is to work out twice, excluding our session with Virginia Saturday morning and continue to watch what I eat. And avoid meat on bones at all costs- hey, we all have our quirks.

The Compliments, or Lack there of. ~ Jully

First off, Welcome Shannon!!! Let's give our Readers something to talk about or read about is more like it!

Monday morning, I got up and went for a run in the morning. I did my 3 miles (YAY!!!), granted they were 11+ minute mile, I did them! I can't even imagine how I'd be able to get it down to 7 minutes, but I'll continue trying.

Sunday night, I tried to fall asleep when I realized I didn't have dinner! That was probably the ONLY time in my life that has ever happened. If I miss a meal, I KNOW I'm missing a meal.

Monday was a feast day, I had 2 irresistable meals (lunch @ Primehouse + dinner @ Yakitori Taisho). I didn't feel so guilty because of my run in the morning. Granted, I probably ate about 3,000 calories, and I only burned 400+ calories during my run. But that's still something, right?

I was told yesterday that I'd looked like I lost some weight. I am really not sure if it's true or not, but I feel better. In the past, everytime I started a diet I would noticeably lose weight. For example, on the Atkins, I've been able lose about 5 lbs in 2 days. When I was under medication, I would lose 2 lbs per day. So you can see why I feel like I haven't really lost any.

On the other hand, someone told me that I looked like I gained weight. "Yeah, since the last time I saw you, you look bigger."

I get it all the time... It's almost the way some people greet me.

First Post ~ Shannon

Hi Readers!
My name is Shannon, and along with Jully, I am a spokesperson for Jumping Frog Pilates. We are in the "weight-loss" category of the several of us who are going to be speaking on behalf of Pilates, and what it can do for our bodies. I am currently twenty-nine years old and will be turning thirty in January. When Jessica, the owner of JFP, put an ad in the paper looking for people willing to give Pilates, exercise and nutrition a shot at changing their lives... I thought, "What perfect timing!"

See, in the past year or so, I have gained some weight, even in places that have never had given me problems before. I had been starting to increase portion sizes and eat when I was happy, sad, gloomy, excited, bored, you name it- basically I was eating way too much, way too often. Also, I had neglected my exercise routine. I have always, since I was in grade school, been active, played sports and gone to the gym. I am very aware of the physical AND mental benefits that go along with being active. Basically, I was in a rut. I am about to climb on out of that rut along with the support and encouragement of the team from JFP, my new friend Jully, and you, my readers.

We have met and started to work out with Virginia, our Pilates trainer. She is awesome! Her explanations of the equipment and exercise during the first few sessions have made me feel secure and confident in my training. Now, we are starting to really challenge our bodies to do things that they are by no means used to doing. I am extremely happy to have Virginia on my side! Jully and I are supposed to meet with the nutritionist and a trainer from Metro Golf and Fitness in Tenafly, NJ who will be supplementing our Pilates sessions at some point this coming week.

Last Saturday, Jully and I met with Jessica to go over our goals for the four months and to get weighed and measured. Oh, and have pictures taken. So, when you see the Irish girl with the red face whose booty is in the air on the blog, yes folks, that is me. Needless to say, I was not thrilled to be weighed. I have number issues so bear with me. If you really want to know what I weigh, feel free to drive to Tenafly and take a look at the blaring bulletin board in the front hallway. For purposes of bashfulness, I am going to ease myself into revealing "numbers". So, let us just say that I am at a starting weight that is the biggest number I have ever seen when I have stepped on a scale. Ugh. For the time being, I am going to do -# and +# (God forbid) to let you know each week how much I have gained or lossed. Hopefully I will have a minus something to report tomorrow. Inches, I will share. 34"waist, 45 ?" hips (obviously pear shaped and I think 45 is accurate, must've blocked that part out) and a bunch of other measurements I honestly can't remember. I'm looking to shrink the hips and thighs. Luckily the whole Kim Kardashian/Beyonce look is in, but I have to lose a bit before I can start comparing myself to those gals.

My goals are to lose 35 pounds, increase my energy, run 3 miles in 27 minutes, control portion sizes of food and avoid emotional eating. I am also willing to bring you along on the journey from a personal place and hope you enjoy and respect what I am doing.

Right now, I am trying to figure some stuff out with an ex-boyfriend who I can't just let go. This is putting a strain on my ability to focus on me so I really need to cut that tie. I also have a very active social life and love to go out so the Holidays are going to be interesting for me. I like a glass of wine- or three- and I love good food. Jully and I have so much in common... We are definitely going to have to come up with some strong strategies to get through the most wonderful time of the year. Even now, I am in Starbucks and the cozy feeling I get from the red Christmas cups and soothing music makes me want a coffee cake, or an Old Fashioned Doughnut. Isn't it reasonable to try to pack on some extra lbs. for the cold months coming? Yeah, probably not for me. I am so glad to meet you, hope to get to know you better and thanks for rooting for me (:

P.S.- Pilates session tomorrow night at 7 pm! Tell y'all about it Thursday.

The Details ~ Jully

We met with Jessica, the owner of Jumping Frog Pilates, on Saturday to discuss the details of the program. There are 4 groups and a total of 7 participants, not including the instructors, nutrionist, acupuncturist, and personal trainers. The plan is to complete the program by the end of March 2009. As we progress, clients will have the opportunity to participate as well. We will all have 3 personal goals and a signed contract to ourselves.

My goals include weighing 150 lbs, run at 7 minutes per mile, and change my relationship with food.

Initially, I said 155 lbs, but Shannon motivated me to go for 150. I will have to lose 38.5 lbs in about 20 weeks. Here's where I start creating calendars, weighing daily, and become obessed (MUST lose 2 lbs per week... or else) BUT, this time it'll be different. I will only weigh myself at the Tenafly Studio once a week, and will try my best to not become obsessed avoiding the disappointment and the self punishment.

My running goal was to run at least twice a week and get to a point where I can run 3-4 miles comfortably. Here, Jessica pushed me to go for 7 minutes per mile. Honestly, I don't even know what that will entail, but if she believes I can do it, then why not.

Last, my eating habit. I can't even begin to explain this one. I believe I have a very good understanding of what is good for me and what is not, but somehow I just can't seem to notice when it is out of control. More to come on this topic I'm sure.

Saturday's session: I was very eager to attend this class. So eager I arrived 15 minutes early. In some ways the excercises are getting harder because I'm more conscious of when I'm doing them wrong. My body feels like I had an uncomfortable night of sleep, minimal soreness in odd parts like my shoulder blades. I also feel very heavy, but that is probably because of weekend food. Indian w/ red wine on Friday AND Korean BBQ w/ soju on Saturday.
Good Food = My Kriptonite.

The Beginning ~ Jully

Friday, November 14, 2008
First Run with Nike+

I had some trouble getting the Nike+ gadget started (probably because I didn't read the instructions), but once I got it going, it was pretty cool. It was a nice surprise to find out that 4 laps around our high school track is WAY over 1 mile. I'm noticing that running is getting a little easier for me. My goal is to get to 3-4 miles, and run them comfortably. Virginia told us "You should be able to hold a conversation when you run because the body needs oxygen to burn the fat". I'm definitely not there yet. I have to admit, it was tough to get up this morning for the run, but I reminded myself that today was the only time I could get my run in for this week before tomorrow's session. Honestly... it's only my 3rd run since the beginning of this experience and I really hope I can keep this up. To me right now, moderation is the key. As long as I don't over do it...

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Thursday, November 13, 2008
Body Unconscious

Yesterday was my first session at the Tenafly Studio, which had more machines, such as the chair, the cadillac, some kind of semi circle wooden unit, and lots of other props. I didn't get to use them, but guess which one is used for what? The session flowed much smoother than the previous two, one exercise right into the next. We were more comfortable, understood the intructions, and we began to feel and move along with our breath. The full connection is still not there, but I can sense that I'm getting there.
After each of the sessions, I get in the car and feel tighter in the mid section of my stomach right away. Overall, I have started to notice my body in an unfamiliar way. This is going to be a bit tough to explain. What I mean is, I am now realizing how fat I am. Yes, I'm using the word fat, don't worry, I'm ok with it (now).
For the past week or so, I've been looking at my body a lot differently. First thing, I am "LOOKing" at it. I can see the size of my calf, my waist, my arms, my double chin, and so on. I have looked at myself in the mirror plenty of times before, but I've never noticed it quite this way. I found myself saying, "Wow, I am pretty big." Now, don't feel bad... because I really don't. I feel like I have opened my eyes and have finally seen what I really look like. Really, I do weigh 188 lbs!
In my mind, I think I stopped gaining the weight, and stopped getting bigger visibly even when the scale told me otherwise. What's that called? Body Dysmorphia? Ok, not THAT bad, but I really have been unconscious of how big I've become. I can now focus on a few parts of my body and feel the muscles. They've always been there, but now I feel them in ways I didn't before. I can only compare myself to the people on the "Biggest Loser". You wonder how people ever allowed themselves to get that big? Well, I get it...

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Monday, November 10, 2008
Running

I did my 2 mile run this morning and I feel great about it. For work today, I attended a conference and one of the presentations spoke of Nike+. I've actually got a pair of Nike ID Zoon Jasari+ last month. The first time I wore them was on 11/3, after my first introductory Pilates session. I was sort of saving it for a special occasion. I only have an ipod shuffle, so I was not able to activate the Nike+ functionality, BUT today during the presentation they talked about the SportsBand, which does not need an ipod. It shows distance, pace, calories, and much more. Of course, during lunch I went out and got it. Here, you'll be able to see if I meet my goal of 2 runs per week. As you can see, for now it's still empty (even though I've already had 2 runs). My next run will be after my Wed. session. I'm just excited for my next run to see how the nike+ tracking will get updated. Very excited!

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Sunday, November 09, 2008
My weight

Today I jumped on my friend's scale. I weigh 188 lbs. This is the number I have to associate with my body for now. Part of me felt a relief, and another was in disbelief. Relief because I am not 194 lbs or more. (This is the most I have EVER weighed, so of course to me it's the number to fear.) Disbelief because at some point during the past year I was 175 lbs and I had not realized how much weight I had gained. I kept telling myself that I was bloated, I was stressed, and really believed that at any point I would go miraculously stay at 175 lbs. BUT the scale doesn't lie. I am 188 lbs. Realistically, I can only imagine losing about 20 lbs, which would put me at 168 lbs. Ideally, I would love to be in the 150's, which I have not been in a VERY long time. I was probably 17 when I was in the 150's, and came back to that weight again in my mid 20's. After I had reached my max of 194 lbs, I dieted by taking medication. I started at 194 and ended at 154 lbs in a matter of 3 months. I stayed there for about 1 week, before I gained every pound I had lost before the diet. Eventually, I want to be 130 lbs. That would make me happy. Not 110 or 120... I don't want to be skinny, I just want to be normal, healthy, and outside of the "obese" category. Of course, this would mean I would have to lose 60 lbs. My actual weigh in for the program will be this weekend. I hope the numbers will look better by then. Activity: I didn't go running today, but had a light lunch and dinner. I plan to go for a run in the morning. Body: My body is still sore in a few areas. At this time, I'm not sure if it's from Canyon Ranch or from Saturday's work out. My ribs are sore (right below my chest), my triceps are tight, my lower abs hurts when I sneeze or when I try to get into the car, and the thighs. Learning: Just Pilates alone will not do it. I have to do cardio AND become more concious about the food I ingest. Yeah, it's that simple. Right?!?!

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Saturday, November 08, 2008
2nd Session - 8th Day

We didn't have our weigh in nor our measurements done today, but I had a FULL hour of pilates this morning. Twenty minutes into the work out, I was breaking a sweat. There were a few exercises I just couldn't do properly. It was difficult keeping my neck and shoulders stable in the right place. After the class, Shannon, my pilates buddy, and I caught up. This was the first meeting with each other after the first introduction session last Saturday. I asked if she was sore after the first session, and she pointed right to the middle of her stomach, this was where I was sore too. I felt a sense of comfort. I am still sore from Canyon Ranch, but I'm hoping I'll feel better soon. Ironically, of all the classes I participated on, the "Pilates with Props" was the one class I just could not keep up with. I'll try to go for a run tomorrow to keep up with the cardio portion of the work out. One week has passed, and I'm still going strong.

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Friday, November 07, 2008
Back from Canyon Ranch

On Wednesday, November 4th I got an amazing opportunity to go to Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachussetts. Unfortunately, I had to miss my second class, but in exchange I took tons of classes: 2 hiking trips, body muscle conditioning, mind and body (yoga position + body training), strip class, pilates with props, and 2 mile jog. Intitally I was worried about missing the 2nd class, but I believe I've made up for it. I did TONs of CARDIO. Tomorrow will be my 2nd class, and the day I will be measured and weighted. I am a bit nervous to find out my weight.

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Monday, November 03, 2008
Day 3: November 3rd, 2008

With the time change this weekend, I decided to take advantage of it and woke up at 6:30 for a run. Good thing my body thought it was 7:30 instead. My goal was to just get through 1 mile, but I surprised myself with doing 2 more laps around the track. I ran 1.5 miles, if you count the walking... about 2 miles. I intended to start slow and safe, so I can't believe I ran faster and longer than planned. So far, so good.

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Sunday, November 02, 2008
Day 1: November 1st, 2008

November 1st, 2008 is the day Pilates changed my life. Well, at least this is what I'm hoping for.I met my instructor, Virginia, and my new buddy on this journey, Shannon. During the first portion of the session we talked about Joe Pilates, the machines, the program, Virginia's background, and our goals. In addition to our 2 sessions per week, Virginia suggested we also add 2 days of cardio for our heart and lungs. With Pilates I focus more on whether I am doing the exercises correctly. Every exercise requires the right posture and breathing; with NO exception. Some of them were definitely more difficult than the others. Specifically, the ones that required muscles that were not awake: the shoulders, the back of my thighs, and the hips. We used both machines and did about 4-5 reps of each exercise. After a few exercises, I did get warm, but did not drip in sweat; which is common for me when I do any other type of exercise. Here's an image of one of the toughest exercise we did: Virginia explained to us that we would start feeling sore in 2 days, but I admit I feel a few sore spots already. When I sneezed this morning, the center of my stomach is a bit sore. So are the back of my legs when I move in a certain way. The first session has been educational, and productive. I didn't feel like I was straining my body during the exercises, and the sore spots feel great. Virginia mentioned that I will notice "something" different with time. I've noticed myself tucking my stomach in, maybe that's it? Or it could be that it's because I'm sore.

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Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Scale

My first session has been scheduled for this Saturday at the Fort Lee Studio. Of course I'm still very excited and eager to start. I haven't weighed myself in quite sometime, so that should be interesting. Last time I checked I was 194 lbs. I haven't weighed myself since then. There was a point in my life when I used to weigh myself at least 3x per day: morning, before/after meals, and right before bed. It was during this time that I understood the effects of water weight, salt, starvation, stress, and obsession. I can loose 5 pounds overnight, I can gain 5 pounds overnight. Yes, this is my super power.

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Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Official Post

Are you looking to make a change to your body? Whether its weight loss, pain reduction, athletic improvement, better alignment & posture or just overall health improvement, then this is the gig for you.
Jumping Frog Pilates, a Bergen County health & wellness company is looking to cast 5 regular people as their spokespersons. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. So if you or someone you know is interested in applying, follow the information below.

We're looking for the following characteristics:
1. Woman, 40-something, may or may not play golf or tennis, wants to lose a little bit of weight (10-20 lbs)
2. Teen (14-20 years old) wants to lose a little bit of weight (10-20 lbs)
3. Man, 40-60 years old, may or may not play golf, has back, hip and/or shoulder pain, may or may not want to lose a little bit of weight
4. Woman, 65+ looking to improve posture, flexibility and overall body aging
5. Post-Partum Woman 28-40 years old having had a baby within past 3 months looking to lose baby weight and regain core/pelvic floor strength

Application process includes written app (which can be faxed or emailed to interested parties) followed by an in-person interview for those who make it past the written application process. You will be compensated with four months of free health, wellness & fitness services. Candidates must live in Bergen County NJ and be willing to commit to a four month regimen for goal achievement.
If interested, please respond to the above email address and we will send you an application. Applications will be accepted after September 22nd and the start of the four month program will begin on October 20th. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008
First Contact

Virginia, my pilates instructor, called me today. We have determined that we will meet on Wednesdays @ 7pm in Tenafly, and Saturdays @ 9am in Fort Lee. Each session will be 1 hour long, and she suggested I wear leggings and t-shirt, or long sleeve shirt (no sweatshirts, tanktops, and basketball shorts are preferred). She'll get back to me on the official start date. As she described her schedule, I really feared it would coincide with work. I work in the city and the earliest I leave work is 6pm. It takes me about 1.5 hours to get to Tenafly, so in a normal situation 7pm in Tenafly would be out of the question, BUT... how often do you "win the lotto"?, as my friend put it. I will have to let work know that once a week, I'll have to leave earlier. Fortunately, my boss knows how important this is for me, so I'm hoping it won't be a problem. I'm still very excited and somewhat anxious.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This is where it begins or where it ends.

Right now, I'm waiting for a call from Virginia, my future pilates instructor, my Future instructor. I'm not sure exactly why, but I'm a little nervous. One thought that has crossed my mind, is whether or not I am "fit" (physically) to follow this program. I really don't want to disappoint her, or myself. So many are involved in this effort, and all are dependent on my success. And my success will be defined by how good I look at the end of this journey, which I cannot even imagine. More important than the weight loss, success will probably defined by how great I feel and how healthy I become. Here's a bit more detail on what's been happening: Jumping Frog Pilates was looking for 5 spokespeople, and II am one of the chosen ones. The program will include Pilates, Accupuncture, and even a Nutritionist for 4 months. Need I ask for more?
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