Strong is the new SKINNY

Remember last spring when I posted about being fat?  I actually followed it up with another post about what it actually FEELS like to be fat, and then I entered a local weight loss competition.  I've mentioned it here before, and if you want to read the details about it, you can check out my weight loss blog.

My reason for bringing it up now, is that I really haven't ever updated you all on my actual progress.  YAY FOR PROGRESS!  For starters, I have lost over 50 lbs since September 10.

I've lost more than 20 inches, 8 of those just from my waist.

I have dropped from a size 24 to a size 16, and of course am still shrinking. I even fit into SOME size 14 clothes!

I seriously feel like a new woman. I look (and feel!) so much YOUNGER than I did six months ago, and I have so much more ENERGY! The energy part is probably due more to proper nutrition than to exercise, but everyone knows that working out really gives you more energy, right?

I'm working out at least once a day, six days a week. At least twice a week, and up to five times a week, I do a second workout (2-a-day). My main exercise is cardio, of course, to burn all the fat. In addition I do strength training, zumba, and yoga and am looking into starting some new workout classes to keep my body guessing.

A few weeks ago I did a 'spin' class for my first time ever.  At the end of that hour, I decided it would likely be my LAST time ever, as well.  Seriously, why do they make those stupid seats on spin bikes SO PAINFUL?  I had a bruise in the exact size and shape of that seat marking up my butt (and my hoohoo) for at least 5 full days. Um, NO THANKS!  Especially since I only burned about 600 calories in that one hour spin class, and I can burn 1000+ in workout classes that combine cardio with resistance.  Instead of going back to Spin, I started P90X, and am LOVING the new 'Bodypump' barbell workout at 24 hour fitness.

My time is pretty limited overall, but I am trying really hard to juggle things to allow myself more time for blogging - I MISS my bloggy friends! So many of you have helped me SO MUCH with your love and support as I went through this very difficult reintegration (which still isn't necessarily OVER, but it looks like the roughest part is) as well as through my difficult weight loss journey.  Someone asked me if I was 'bringing sexy back' and I replied that I don't NEED to bring sexy back, as long as I can take my "ME" back.

As far as my goals are concerned, I am still shooting for 145 lbs OR a size 10, but more important than this, I want to be STRONG.  Skinny people look great in their clothes, but FIT PEOPLE LOOK GREAT NAKED.  I sooooo wanna look good naked!  (not posting THOSE before & after pics, sorry LOL)

Music linkup week 45 - St Elmo's Fire

OK, ready to laugh at me again?  This song definitely dates me, but whatever.

If you've been reading me for awhile, you know that I recently took part in a local weight loss competition, which completely CHANGED MY LIFE.  I have a pending post about this, which I should be able to finish and publish this week sometime.  Anyway, the girl who won the contest is now a very good friend, and she inspires me every day.  Even when she's not trying to inspire me, she does, just by CALING me.....because THIS IS HER RINGTONE ON MY PHONE:

It was especially cool that she called me today while I was out running, because the song (and the great news she was calling me with) gave me an extra burst of energy to finish my run.

You don't even have to know anything about the movie or the story behind it, just listen to the lyrics!  Don't you totally feel like you can 'climb the highest mountain' now?

Or at the very least, don't you feel like posting an inspirational song to share with the rest of us?!  Go ahead, post it, and then be sure to link up over at Goodnight Moon.  Thanks for grooving with me again this week!

music linkup week 44 - Beds Are Burning

When I was a kid I could not understand what this song was about AT ALL, but I liked it.  Now that I know a little more about the world, and about 'green' living, I think of this song any time there is a man-made disaster that effects the environment.

So, naturally, when news broke this week about a possible radiation leak at our friendly neighborhood power plant in San Onofre, CA this song popped into my head - and it won't leave!

Catchy, huh?

For those living on or near Pendleton, I hope and pray that this is all just a false alarm.  And for our children's sake (and our grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc) I truly do hope that we find a way to 'give it back' like the song says :)

OK, stepping off my environmentalist soap box now..... have you linked up your song yet? (and WHY NOT???)  Hurry and go see Amber over at Goodnight Moon, see what all the fuss is about, and then JOIN IN!

(this song is in YOUR head now, too, right?  HA HA HA!)

music linkup week 43 - YOU MIGHT THINK...

We've been watching a lot of Cars 3 this week, and this song is soooooo stuck in my head, everywhere I go.

My kids totally missed the irony that this is a cover song by Weezer, but the original band was, YEP, you got it, THE CARS!  I love Disney/Pixar movies :)  Bonehead of course recognized that it was Weezer, because that's his favorite group right now.  He's teaching himself to play a Weezer song on his guitar right now.  Man, I love that kid, but am seriously counting the days until he moves out.  (Maybe it's time for another Bonehead update post?  If you don't know what I'm talking about, go through my archives, starting like in May of 2010. This kid will be the death of me, I swear!)

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, and make sure you head over to Amber's blog at Goodnight Moon and join in the dance party!  You can link up your own song, or just check out what everyone else is grooving to right now.

Music Linkup Returns! "...and I know it"

Awhile back I posted about my adorable toddler dancing to his favorite song, "I'm Sexy And I Know It" by LMFAO.  The song is pretty ridiculous, and the video is even MORE ridiculous, but it has a great beat for working out.

Last week my FB all but exploded with friends sharing this parody version of the song:

Best part about it? It's kid friendly.

Second best part about it? It's freaking ELMO, man!  ELMO!

Worst part about it?  Um, can't think of one.  :)

Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did!  Now go say hi to Amber over at Goodnight Moon.  While you're there, link up your song, and check out everyone else's. Let's DANCE!

Ugliest Backyard Contest

I never do this, but this is SO IMPORTANT to me, I am breaking my own rule.  I am using my blog to BEG for your help to win a contest!

Our backyard is dangerous & hideous.  We are the first owners of this home, and of course the front yard was already landscaped when we bought the house.  We knew it might be awhile until we could afford to do the backyard, but when new next-door-neighbors moved in, we took a leap and ended up hiring their contractor to do our backyard. We had to borrow money from family, and then this crooked contractor DISAPPEARED with our $6,000.00!  (he also screwed my neighbors out of $3000) This was five years ago, and now we've added Baby Bobblehead to our family - so we REALLY NEED A USABLE BACKYARD.

System Pavers here in so-cal is holding a contest on FB for the "Ugliest Backyard" they can find.  The winner gets $5000 toward a backyard makeover from System Pavers!  We had them out for a bid a couple weeks ago, and with all of the discounts we can qualify for, the cheapest we can get our patio/walkway done is $15,000.  We've qualified to finance $10,000 so winning this contest will close the gap and get us a patio that Baby Bobblehead can enjoy every day.

You have to be a Facebook user to vote for me - but you can vote EVERY DAY between now and February 29, 2012.  (And I will love you forever if you do!)

Here are step-by-step instructions - this only takes about 15 seconds if you have decent internet connection:

1. Go "Like" the System Pavers FB page HERE.

2. After you 'like' the page, click the link on the left that says
"Ugliest Backyard Contest"

3. The contest form will come up, look for the "Click Here to Vote" button and CLICK it.

4. Scroll down until you see the picture of MY ugly backyard, with my name "GAILE GONZALES" next to it, and click "like it"

THAT'S IT!  If you have a few extra seconds to share this with your facebook friends, I would sure apreciate it.  (make sure you don't just go through the regular photo album and 'like' my photo, as this will NOT COUNT.  Only votes submitted through the "vote" page will count.

Please vote, and come back often to vote more over the next few weeks - we REALLY REALLY REALLY need to win this!

This adorable little man really deserves a chance to run around and play outside, don't you think?

Music linkup week 41: "Asleep"

WOW, 41 weeks of this linkup?!?  REALLY?  Awesome. :)

My song this week has layered meanings for me - on the surface, I chose this song just because I am SO FREAKING TIRED.  Two nights in a row of NO sleep equals one cranky cranky woman! But who doesn't love The Smiths, no matter how tired you are?

The other reason I chose this song is to have another excuse to brag about my awesome friend, Janice Whaley.  I mentioned her once before - she created "The Smiths Project" last year, singing every Smiths song a cappela all in the course of a year.  Then she used kickstarter to actually make this into an album, which is now available in select record stores and through bandcamp.com.  I actually have known this amazing artist since we were KIDS, and am SO SO SO proud of her recent accomplishments!  She even recorded a duet with Curt Smith (of Tears For Fears) and it was released on his new album last month. 

I'm also floored that Janice has now taken on an even more daunting task: recording a solo album of original music.  I'm bringing this up because I think a lot of you might really 'dig' her voice, and might want to support her latest efforts via kickstarter (and thereby be among the first to get your hands on her new CD when it's all done!)  Her first track is available for FREE download on her website http://www.janicewhaley.com/ and here is HER version of the song I linked above:

Thanks for listening, now go link up YOUR jam this week over at Goodnight Moon!