that darn restart button...-25.6 (with an update!)

funny story. I didn't go to the gym last week and didn't pay attention to my consumption on Christmas...or at all last week. Ok, it's not really funny or a story, but here I am!

So to give me that extra push, I kicked off my DietBet game that I told you guys about, and it's huge! There are 186 people participating and $4,650 (and increasing!) in the pot. I can't wait to test this out, as I think it'll be a really fun thing to do these as a supplement to my weight loss journey. Everyone participating is really supportive of each other and they're from all over the world!

Since I went a week without training, and didn't watch my eating, my weight went up, making my goal weight for DietBet (aka 4% loss) one that I've hit before. It's actually the weight that I usually find myself plateau at. Therefore, it should be easy to hit. To make sure I stay motivated and push through the plateau, I signed up for another one that starts in two weeks. 

I'll have a better update next week, as I'm getting back to training tomorrow. In the meantime, I wanted to share a picture. 

Last week, my boyfriend and I attended his company's holiday party (which is always fun and full of me dancing with the many women he works with). We took our usual event picture, and I couldn't help but to compare it to last year. I do have a long way to go, but am so proud of how far I've come. I also love love love the picture we took this year. Enjoy!

Update: got back to training tonight and....

:)

pressing the restart button...-32.8

First off, how cool is this??

Yeah, that's right. A white belt beat two blue belts! Here's a picture showing how our belt ranking goes.

I have to admit...after my competition, I took it easy during the week. I only got to my gym on Wednesday and Saturday, and took a step aerobics-type class on Thursday morning at another gym.

Guys, I think I found something to give me a little push! It's a website called Diet Bet. I came across this in an e-mail from Hungry Girl (she's great! Daily e-mails to help your weight loss with recipes, tips, etc.) and I'm kind of obsessed.

How it works:
1. You find or create a game
2. There's an ante that each person puts up, starting at $10 (I just saw one where everyone is putting up $300...no, thank you!)
3. Those who lost 4% in 4 weeks split the pot

4% is totally doable and an incentive of winning money never hurts! Obviously the more people you have, the more successful it is. Right now I've been watching a game with a week left. They have 193 people and $9650 in the pot, with a $50 ante. So far 29 people have lost their 4%, which means if it stays like this, they each get $332. Sweet!

I've got my eye on this game, which starts the day after Christmas: http://www.dietbet.com/games/4660

I've been recruiting people, but let me know if you're interested!

Back on the grind this week.

....and new! -33.8

Early New Year's Resolution: Post a new blog entry every Monday.

Yesterday was epic. Months and months of training, and the day finally arrived. Challenge of Champions XXXIII, an exclusive Tiger Schulmann's grappling and kickboxing competition, kicked off and the nerves began. It was my first competition, and the emotions of excitement and anxiety began once I walked into the Raritan Center. A sneak peek of inside:

My first division was grappling. I was shaking and unable to control my breathing. I tapped out to an arm triangle from an opponent who was extremely strong. Not a big deal. On to the next one!

After a long break and the opportunity to watch a lot of my teammates compete and win, it was time for kickboxing. There were only 3 girls in my division, including myself, but I knew I didn't want 3rd place by default. 

With the support and coaching from my boyfriend, brothers, and training partners, all 3 judges said I won the first round. I got the chance to take a break while the girl I just went against went up against the final opponent. They ended up going into a 1 minute overtime, giving me a little extra time to catch my breath. Whew!

The final opponent won that round. After watching them for 3 minutes, I was able to scope out her technique and develop a game plan. The 2 minutes against her seemed like forever! At the end of the round, being up against a girl who was a higher belt than me and in better shape, I saw all three judges raise their hands in my favor again. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to cry. It was so surreal that after 6 months of training in advanced kickboxing, with many extra hours of sparring practice, tears and frustration over pain and exhaustion, I had just won 1st place.

I owe so much to those around me, but of course, I have to pat myself on the back for having the courage to get in there. On the way home, I laughed as I reflected on the day and thought to myself, "I am never doing that again." 

You best believe I'm doing that again. COCXXXIV, watch out. I'm coming to defend my title! (and dominate in grappling!)

"an excuse is a lie guarded" -29.8 lbs

"An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded." 

I read this on Twitter today and was able to reflect back on my life full of excuses. In fact, if it wasn't for an excuse at the beginning of my current weight loss journey being shut down, I don't know that I'd be where I am today. I say "my current weight loss journey" because, as someone who has been overweight their whole life, losing weight has always been a goal. But, as my parents used to say when I was younger, I wasn't truly ready. I am now.

In January 2011, my boyfriend and I stopped by Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts (TSMMA). He wants to be an MMA fighter and was looking for the right school to train with. This was a convenient location for him and with the history of Tiger Schulmann's (first as a karate school and now as an MMA school), this one was intriguing to him. He joined and was hooked. In the year and a half since he's been there, he has had multiple belt promotions, won multiple grappling competitions and lost at least 60 pounds, now being in the best shape of his life. 

Throughout the nine months that I did not train, I would come and watch, in awe of what he was learning and scared out of my mind to join. I had excuse upon excuse for not joining: I was paying another gym membership for a cardio kickboxing gym that ended up being a 30 minute commute after moving in together in September; I was finishing up my Master's program, which kept me occupied until 8:30 every night; I was scared and unsure that my body could handle the work-out; and the list goes on.

On November 14th, 2011, the excuses ended. I was holding an event at my job where the Sensei of my TSMMA gym was teaching self defense at the university that I work for. He asked me why I hadn't started training and all of the above excuses came out. He said "I'll see you tomorrow." which was followed by the excuse, "I have a work function tomorrow night that I have to go to!" "...I'll see you tomorrow."

And it began. And pictures to prove it!

On May 23rd (three days after I graduated with my Masters) I got my first belt promotion. After 7 months of working out, participating in a 90 day fitness and nutrition challenge at the gym and challenging myself, I had lost 23 pounds. And more pictures to prove!

And my favorite before and after:

I still have a long way to go, but I love looking at this picture!

I intended to utilize the summer to go hard. Granted, I have only lost 6.8 pounds (which brings me to the 29.8 lbs in the subject line) in the 11 weeks since this picture was taken, the summer isn't over yet. Overall, my goal is to lose 100 pounds (well, actually 150, but one thing at a time) and to compete in grappling and kickboxing. You'll get to follow along!

Welcome to my journey :)