Goals for the next 12 weeks and beyond!

Hey Team! Jourdan here.

 {My three reasons for all this crazy business}

I have to say, I think I have gotten myself way in over my head with all this Biggest Loser stuff. But I am nonetheless excited to be your host for the next 12 weeks and share in our journey of weightloss and commiting ourselves to a healthier lifestyle. My hope is that everyone of you reaches your goal, that you all inspire and motivate each other along the way and that you learn to pack your life with healthy[er] habits that make you feel amazing. Live long and prosper!

My reason for joining BRBL: 
One word: pregnancy. My world turns upside-down when my womb is full. Not only am I roughly 60lbs heavier while With Child, but I am cranky, tired, emotional, and basically every out-of-control adjective you can think of. This includes my eating habits, among many other things (just forget about exercising, because my body feels like it's literally falling apart). So, now that I am roughly 13 weeks postpartum and feeling 250% times better, I am more than ready to take back control of my life, as it was, and make some improvements along the way!

Goals, including my Plan-of-Attack:
I usually like to concentrate on how I feel, and how my clothes fit; I try to stay off the scale, but I'm not going to lie when I say I want to see some low numbers there, once and for all. My main goal for the next 12 weeks is to find a way to control my diet without feeling like it's controlling me, and to bump up my exercising without feeling like it's draining my energy and forcing me to take a daily 3 hour nap. I want to be as lean as possible for racing purposes while increasing my strength to weight ratio; I'm no natural athlete, but would like to take about a minute and a half off my previous years running pace. I also do not want to do anything too extreme that I will not be able to keep up past January, burn me out or cause me to stop lactating (sorry guys!). It would be very nice as well to throw out the range of 6 sizes that adorn my closet and just stick to one (preferably small) size for at least one full year.

Here are a few things on my list:

• No sugar, at all, for 12 weeks. This includes all desserts, ice cream, cookies, cake, candy, pies, breakfast cereals, syrups, diet shakes, soda, stir-in drinks, etc. This also includes chemical sweetener replacements: Splenda, Aspartame, etc... My three exceptions are: low-sugar/high-fruit jam, low-sugar/natural yogurt, and agave nectar to sweeten my morning hot cereal. (I haven't had a drop since last Wednesday![pat on back])  Nice try in tempting me though, Julie!
  

• At least one raw green salad, daily (Though I really do love salads, I haven't quite gotten there yet...I am a fruit lover). 

• Keep a water-bottle near at all times.
  

• Whole grains always, if at all possible. 

• No fast-food. Period. 

• Exercise Mon-Sat. Keep current schedule, except pump up the intensity: (Run 3x's weekly, Strength Training/Weight Lifting 2-3x's weekly, Spin class/Bike ride 1-2 X's weekly, Swim laps 1-2X's weekly, Yoga 2-3 times weekly; all at 60minute  intervals totaling at least 8 hours weekly or more. All subject to change depending on race training requirements.)
  

• Bump up the running mileage. Train for and race in St. George's Half Marathon, January 23rd.  Long term? Do I dare say? A sub 3:30 marathon and a half ironman in August 2010. Yikes.

I figure  these 7 mini-goals will at very least get me going strong into the new year, if not help me reach my goal of 15+% body weight loss. My plan is to go from Postpartum Frumpty Dumpty to Lean N' Speedy by January 20th. I'd say that's definitely easier said than done! But here I go...

                                                                                                                                                        





Now it's time for everyone to meet their teammates and size up the competition!
Please post (or email it to me so I can post it) your introduction and include the following:

1. A picture (so we can put a face to your name)
2. Your reason for joining BRBL.
3. Your 12 week goal(s) and/or beyond.

It doesn't have to be lengthy, just let us all know who you are and why you're here. Thanks!

Jourdan