12 Week Challenge Awards Ceremony

Winners! We finally found out who won the 12 Week Challenge! Our team came in 2nd place, which was really cool considering the fact that we had team members who got sick, injured (remember when I threw out my back playing Wii Fit hula hoop?), went on vacation, went overseas for assignments. So that's $500 split 5 ways. Yey!

One of my team members won 1st place for the portion of the challenge that didn't require weight loss. I was kicking myself earlier for not joining that one, but wanted more of a challenge so that's okay.

2 of us got Honorable Mention fruit/veggie baskets for our efforts. I think they might have felt bad because only men won for the individual places - no women.

Awesome job to all...we're all winners!

Everyone eating and waiting for the announcement of the winners.


1st place winner - Full Fit Challenge

2nd place winner - Full Fit Challenge (he lost 37 lbs.)

Our HR announcing the 1st place winner for the Well Fit Challenge

2nd place winner - Well Fit Challenge

1st place winners - Team Challenge

Woo! We won 2nd place! I was so happy we placed!

Honorable Mention Fruit and Veggie Baskets

So now the new challenge begins...I'm having a hard time getting back on track, that's for sure. I have decided to not eat anymore "treats" and "goodies" (giving up chocolate for Halloween has been tough, let me tell you!) for another 12 weeks. I decided not to eat rice unless it's w/ my spicy ahi bowl or sushi.

I managed to get to the gym on Monday and actually stayed there for nearly an hour...a record! LOL!!! I ran into my old turbo kickboxing teacher, who was probably wondering why I haven't been to her class. Did some weights and elliptical. It was so humid and hot, but I survived. I'll try to go again today. :)

Headphones!

I've gone through 4 pairs (yes, four) of headphones/earbuds during the last 12 weeks. ARRRGH!!! I'm kind of a earbud freak; always searching for the bestest pair possible. :) I've paid anywhere from $5 to $160 for a pair. Just bought a $5 one because for some reason I lost the $40 pair in the middle of conducting the burial of our bird. 2 mins after I bought the earbuds, I broke them. ARRRGH!

I really NEED a good pair of sound isolating headphones. If I won the 12 week challenge, that would be the one splurge I'd go through with. Hehehehe...unless of course anyone would like to donate to my "buy some Dr. Dre headphones" fund!

Before and After - 12 Weeks Later

Tomorrow is the final day of the challenge. We were already weighed last week, but tomorrow we turn in the last fruit/veggie/activity journals for Week 12. Here's pics of me, 4 days before the first weigh in, and pics of me today (you can click on the photo for a larger (eeks!) view:

Do forgive the just-took-a-shower hair, the funky teal Crocs sandals and the wet tank top (had to wash dishes)! Oh, and I forgot to smile because I was telling my bro to hurry up and take the pic.

I still have a long way to go on my journey. These 12 weeks were just the beginning...and onward I go! I'll still keep posting blogs until I lose the 100 lbs. I'll try to stop shopping for clothes every time I lose weight, but instead I'll buy myself a Pandora charm to commemorate every 25 lbs. lost (I'll try to save money so I can go to Vegas for the weekend to shop!). I'll refrain from "treating" myself with desserts, except once every payday, I'll have a nice dessert or a dark chocolate bar (must be at least 70% cocoa). :) I will be a sexxxy bitch!!!

Petwalk 2009

Once a year we try to bring Maui to see all of his furry friends at the annual Hawaiian Humane Society Petwalk. Since he's a spoiled baby (indoor dog) who likes riding but freaks out when I tell him, "Hey let's go walking!", this occasion is a special treat.

It's basically a 2 mile walk around Magic Island/Ala Moana Beach Park. This is the ONLY time that dogs/critters (not counting the rats that normally live in the park LOL) are allowed in the park. Otherwise, dogs are only allowed at designated dog parks.

He started getting REALLY excited about a mile away from Ala Moana. I suppose he could smell all of the other doggies through the vent system. By the time we got there, he was whining and jumping around in the truck. When he got out, he PEED right on the road because he was so happy. We set Mom up in a beach chair under a tree and went to register him (a.k.a make a donation to the Humane Society). He gets a purple bandana since he is an "alumnus" (adoptee of the Humane Society).

Do I have to wear this stupid Gentle Leader?

Mom, take the Gentle Leader OFF!!

Waiting for the walk to start...


On the trail with my buddies

Ahh...the finish line...Oooh sexy cheerleaders! No wait...they're jail bait...high school. :p

Relaxing after a job well done. Where's my cookie?!?!?

Me and Maui

Bacon Bars, Brussel Sprouts, Bras and Bees

Bacon!!!! One of the strangest things I wanted to eat before the 12-week challenge started was a Bacon Chocolate Bar. I've heard from others that it tasted pretty good, and I remember one of my co-workers ate one and said it was yummy. The Tuesday before the challenge started, I went to the candy bar (go to one of my first posts for pics) upstairs from the dialysis center to buy one...and they RAN OUT. On Thursday (day after challenge start), they RESTOCKED. ARRRRGH!!!! So for the past 12 weeks, those little baco-choco bars were taunting me. When I would walk up that staircase, they would be calling my name from behind those class cabinets...eeeeeeeat me...i'm small...i promise i'm yummy...it won't hurt one bit. BUT I successfully resisted them, until the day after the challenge. Woooo! I handed over my $3 (damn that's expensive...less than 1/2 the size of my iPhone) to the candy dude and bought my bacon choco bar. Got home, cracked off a piece and put it in my mouth and let it melt. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM it was weiiiiiiiiiiiiird!!!! But GOOOD!!!! Then my brother was like, hey what you eating, chocolate? So I broke off a small piece for him and he said "Uhh that's weird. Bacon." Then I broke off a small piece for my Dad and asked him to guess what was inside. He spit out the bacon bit and said, "What is that?" I said bacon, then he put it back in his mouth and agreed that yes, it was bacon. Duh!!! Then I ate the rest of the bar myself. I WANT MORRRRRRRRRRRE!!!! MWAHAHAHHHAHAHA!! Okay, maybe not now, but in another 12 weeks.

Brussels Sprouts!!! My co-worker let me try one brussel sprout a few weeks back. Actually she offered me two, but as she was handing me the plate, one rolled to the floor. Hahahaha! Pretty funny because we swear it happened in slow motion. Last week I bought a bag of BS and also bought a box of Glad Microwave Steamer bags to cook them in:

Now I find it funny how movies and television always portrays BS as the vegetable we love to hate. I LOOOOOOVE BS!!! I steam them then immediately toss them with a little pesto. It tastes reeeeeeeeally good!!!

Bras!!!! The one and only VICTORIA'S SECRET is finally in Hawaii!!! After eating dinner at Panya Ala Moana with an old friend (I had spinach salad, 3 pcs. gyoza, and a creme brulee...yummy!), I headed straight for VS to buy a much needed bra. Had to stand in line (!!!) to finally get in, but once I got in, I made a beeline to the BioFit bras. The "twins" refuse to wear anything but VS. I had an email coupon good for $25 off a $100 purchase, so I bought 2 bras and basically got my 5 thongs free. Woooo!!! It was actually funny to watch the guys in the store. ALL of them would be standing or sitting on the side, just watching all of the ladies picking out their undergarments. Most of them looked SOOOO bored and uncomfortable. Hehehe!

Bees!!! My co-worker noticed my Pandora bracelet and mentioned she has a bracelet as well. I asked where she buys the charms and she said that there was a shop called Jewel Flair that sells them. OMG! Finally someone carries them in Hawaii! So I decided that for every 25 lbs. I lose, I will buy a charm. I celebrated my first 25 lb. weight loss by purchasing a new charm for the Pandora bracelet I got for my birthday. I bought some charms off eBay, but I'm guessing they were cheap Chinese-made silver plate rather than solid sterling silver because they are now rusting. Ugh!!! I bought a Queen Bee charm, cause I am the Queen B!!! (yes, I'm can be "berrry nice" but "berrry bitchy" if you make me mad):

So I ate all the not-so-healthy food after the challenge, but today (Saturday) I am back on track! That's the thing people need to understand about eating well. Yes, you can eat things that you wouldn't normally eat, but in moderation. It's okay to eat a bacon chocolate bar. Okay, maybe not, but so long as you don't eat ANOTHER bacon bar tomorrow. :)

Happiness and Sadness :(

Happiness: Weigh-in is over...I officially lost 23 lbs. since July 15th (start of the challenge) for a total of 28 lbs. since July 11. I celebrated by buying 2 loaves of bread (asiago pesto and peanut butter chocolate chip) and sharing it with the office.

I had planned to go to Costco to buy BBQ ribs to share with my family for dinner. And to eat rice!

Sadness: I came home to share the news with Mom, and found Mick-Mick, our youngest lovebird (11 years old), dead on the floor of his cage. Mom and I started crying, and even Dad was tearing up and sniffling. I think he died of loneliness. He was more "human" than the other 2 lovebirds we have, and would always do strange little things to get our attention. He also liked crawling in my brothers shirts, that is, when my brother would still play with him. Ever since my brother started dating this 44 year old twice-divorced lady (he's only 27), he's been VERY neglectful with the household. I'm stuck helping out my parents with everything. F*ck him.
It's his fault that Mick died.

I'm so pissed off and sad.