Indoor Triathlon

So, it has been way too long but I just wanted to reassure you that I am not back on the fatty train! IN FACT...this weekend I participated in an indoor triathlon with my friend Gina. It wasn't a crazy one, just see how far/fast you could go in each event for a certain amount of time. I have to say I am pretty proud of how I did: 10 minute swim: .53 miles 30 minute biking: 7.4 miles 20 minute run: 2.1 miles They're not rock star stats, but for me they are proof of just how far I have come in the last year and a half.

Weight Management Newsletter

In more positive news, I was recently featured in Alegent Health's monthly Weight Management newsletter, which is distributed to all members of the Weight Management Program as well as anyone who is a member at any of the Alegent Health fitness centers. Here is my snippet, but kind of hard to read. Enjoy!

2012 Update

So, contrary to my previous blog some TWO MONTHS ago (really sorry about that), I have found it very VERY difficult to "get back on the wagon." I definitely see why we were told in phase one to stay in the box, meaning don't cheat! It has been such a struggle for me to go back to eating only healthy foods; shakes, entrees, vegetables, and fruit. I can't believe how quickly I became comfortable with my old eating habits again! I think now, more than ever before, I realize that I will never be "cured" of being a fatty. Part of my brain probably always will be, but hopefully the other part can fight it off! I really thought that after losing the weight I would have no desire to eat an entire plate of cookies....DAMN YOU CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!! That was not the case, sadly. I still want to eat food that is bad for me...which is very frustrating.

It has been discouraging to see the number on the scale rise in the past months, but it is a new year and I am ready for the challenge of revving up my workouts in order to combat my less-than-perfect diet. More and more I am realizing that I have to focus on both my diet AND my exercise. When one suffers, the other has to be strong. This has been a thorn in my side in the past, and I need to make it a lifetime goal to find a balance.

Here's to not giving up on myself again! Happy New Year!

Mrs. RISLOV!!!

Well...I am back and happy to report that I survived the big day!!! Everything went PERFECTLY!!! Who would have guessed?!? I am a firm believer that my anal retentive over-planning helped the cause! But seriously, I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Here are a few pictures of our wedding day.

I felt so wonderful the whole day, and the best part about it...I didn't think about my weight once. Writing that actually makes me a little teary-eyed...WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME??? Looking back just one year ago, I would have never expected to be so comfortable with my body, and myself in general. I can honestly tell you that I felt beautiful on my wedding day!

The next day Jay and I drove back to Omaha (ugh!), so that we could get up at 2:30 AM on Monday to get to the airport for our flight to JAMAICA!!! I have NEVER been so excited to get on a plane in my life!

We had so much fun, and for the first time in a year I didn't even think about what I put in my mouth...in fact I think I probably ate way more than I normally would because I knew after 7 short days I would have to get back on the wagon!!! While my first weigh-in after the honeymoon SUCKED (up 7.7 lbs!), I will tell you that it was TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! I am slowly but surely getting back into my routine and plan to lose the weight that I gained, and hopefully a little more.

That in itself is amazing to me...had I gained that much weight in the past, I would have simply given up and gone back to my fatty-ways. I know that I am a changed person because even though it is a constant struggle for me to manage my weight, I know it is worth it.

Pre-Wedding Post

So peeps...the wedding day countdown is now below two weeks and honestly....I feel pretty good. I have over analyzed every single detail to death, and with the help of my friends and family I can honestly say I am as prepared as any bride could be at this point!

It was about this time last year that I realized that my weight had gotten completely out of control. While I had probably had the realization in the past, this time I actually was ready to do something about it. I vowed to make a change after Jay and I returned from our vacation to Vegas. I am so blessed that I found the Weight Management group at Alegent as well as the HRM plan. I would like to say that I could have done this on my own, but historical evidence would disagree.

Although I have set many weight-related goals along the way, I had hoped to get down to my ultimate weight of 165 before the wedding. I didn't quite make it, but I am still happy with my results and plan on getting there sometime this winter. I guess I technically still have 11 days to go.....nah, I'll take the hit on this one!

Anyway, I know I don't have a huge following (two I believe!), but you have supported me long before I started this blog, and I have no doubt you will be with me far into the future, so Thank You!!!

Teri (soon to be Rislov!)

Still Going Strong...

Well the past weeks have definitely been a challenge to say the least! I had a bridal shower, thrown my my mother-in-law back in Thief River, followed by a bachelorette party and shower thrown by my wonderful Maid of Honor Laurie. While these festivities were AMAZING and some of the most fun I have had in quite some time (see blog pic!), they did take a toll on the scale. BOO!

In the recent 3 weeks I have put on 3.2 lbs, which most people would agree isn't life or death...and I would tend to agree. However, I now am beginning to realize how slippery the slope of American eating can be!

While in phase one I never wavered...never cheated...never went "out of the box." Now in phase two, I am struggling with all of the temptations that surround us in the world of food. I feel like a shark that had it's first taste of blood....FEEDING FRENZY!!!! Seriously, this is much harder than I expected. I have tried to go back "in the box," meaning eating nothing but HMR approved entrees, shakes and fruits and vegetables, but now having been reintroduced to "real food" it seems impossible. So how am I coping? Well, to be honest...I'm not! haha! No, I am continuing to eat entrees and shakes and fruits and vegetables, hoping that the more of those that I eat, the less other food I will want. Some days it works....some days it doesn't. It's going to be a lifetime balance that I will just have to find along the way.

Alcohol...how I've missed you!!! This challenge has proven to be harder than I expected. I don't necessarily find the urge to get completely smashed every weekend with mass amounts of Bacardi Diets (former BFF!), but I now have the constant desire for a glass of wine. Like, seriously...EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! And many of you may say, "The American Heart Association says drinking one glass of red wine is actually good for your heart." To that I must say....DON'T TEMPT ME DEVIL WOMAN! I have absolutely no off-button when it comes to wine. I have tried....many.....many times, with no success. I consume wine in bottle increments instead of glasses, so if I am having wine, I better hope there is only one bottle in the house!

What I am taking away from this is that I am not immune to gaining every single pound I have lost back...and if I want to avoid that fate, I need to find some balance. Or I need to invest all of the time that I am not drinking and eating to running my fat ass off!

20 Worst Drinks in America 2010

Interesting Article if you have time to read. We discussed this last night in my phase two class. I was amazed to learn that over half of the calories that children in our country comsume come from BEVERAGES!!! Weight loss is hard enough when you are just talking about food...why put drinks into the mix?!? Well, unless it is the weekend of your bachelorette party.....2 WEEKS BABY!!!

http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/20-worst-drinks-america-2010