I know.. I know!! I should’ve posted this LAST Sunday!! My timing is off! I won’t do it again! PROMISE. Actually, I have a good excuse – my partner in exercise, Erica, whisked me off to Martha’s Vineyard as of  Sat, August 22nd.  Hello, heaven! She’s an East Coaster and vacationed in MV every summer since she was a wee-one in diapers. I went with her two years ago and she yanked me along for the ride this time as well. Actually, she didn’t have to yank too hard! She was like “Lauren, will you come to Martha’s Vine…” and I interrupted her with a “YESSSS!!! Will you marry me?” I might or might not have jumped in her lap knocking her over. It sounds sort-of romantic, she is, in fact, my Heterosexual Life Partner, however, catch the “heterosexual,” we’re not in the lesbian way. That’s not a knock, I have lesbian friends, we just like our men.

Anyhow – despite the vaca – we’ve managed to be active everyday – I REFUSE TO GAIN WEIGHT! Let’s talk about last week’s results:

Erica - 0 lbs -she had a big Week 4. Total weight loss in 5 weeks – 7 lbs

Lauren -  2lbs – had to rebound from Week 4!! Total weight loss in 5 weeks - 10 lbs

Exercise is such key. You hit that gym, keep a food journal and it really does come off. Everyone is reading this and saying “No shit?” But, take it from a crash, yo-yo dieter, this Steady Edy approach is totally new to me. I’m just not freaking out or obsessing. That’s what I’ve done in the past - hit it too hard, too fast then fizzled-out early. Now, if I get off track, I just jump back on the next meal or workout. This weight is coming off for good. Move over, Jennifer Aniston… well, actually don’t… I don’t think I’m capable of your body. The Wine and Chocolate Monster attack me often!

As I said – I’m in Martha’s Vineyard this week on vacation. Although we’re not blocking lobster and the BEST-CLAM-CHOWDER-EVER indulgences, we are watching what we eat during the day and I get my butt up every morning and huff-it running at least 4 miles. I also leaned on my BFF SHAPE magazine and did some research. Here’s a good link for staying on track while vacationing:

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/cardio/at_home/4_ways_to_stay_fit_on_vacation

Come back on Sunday to see who wins the fight between Martha’s Vineyard vs Lauren’s Ass!! (Que “Eye of the Tiger”)

Ahh... Martha's Vineyard. Not a great picture of us, but a major improvement in my mid-section and arms. Look at Erica's legs! Keep on keepin' on!

Can I get a WOO WOO???? WOO!! WOO!! Get on a treadmill, pick up some free weights and what do you know… Mr. Lard Pockets gets his ass whipped by the Exercise Fairy. She is no joke… you start getting that Fairy in your corner and she goes all GI Jane on Mr. Lumpy Ass, Miss Cellulite, Captain Cottage Cheese Thighs and Mrs. Muffin Top. You know how the Tooth Fairy leaves you a dollar under your pillow and you wake-up and find it? The Exercise Fairy sucks fat from your thighs and while you’re forcing your sore body from bed to bathroom, you realize that you’re not getting that morning chafe from kissing thighs. Thank you, Exercise Fairy. You work for Shape Magazine, don’t you? Shape and I are becoming better friends the more we hangout together.

OKAY YOU CUTIES….. WEEK 3 RESULTS:

Me: 2 lbs, down a total of 8 lbs in 3 weeks

Erica: 1 lb, down a total of 3 lbs in 3 weeks

We’re a month behind though, because we haven’t tried the August Workout, AKA Jada Pickett-Smith Exercise, because we’re still hooked on Natasha Bedingfield’s Exercise. We’re finally at the point where we don’t have to look at the July issue of Shape to remember what move comes next so we wanted to bask in the glory of our short-term circuit training knowledge. HOWEVER, we start the August workout this week. Damn Jada and her crazy jump-ropin’, 50 lb benchin’ , rocked-out muscles. JADA – you better watch yourself and your perfect bicep-ed hubby AKA Fresh Prince, Erica and I are coming after you!!!! Well, sort-of, we’re going to try your workout and I’m pretty sure we’ll cry… or moan a little.. not really moan.. more like wince. We’re getting stronger. I’m not really talking to you, am I Jada? I’m just typing to air… but maybe you’ve found my blog and you’re reading this… call me…. or maybe I can come to LA and we can have dinner? I like salmon.. I read in the August issue you do too.. Okay, I’m starting to scare myself with this imaginary blogging to you. Good-bye. Tell Will – S’up.

Here’s a breakdown of last week’s workout:

Mon – 1 hour cardio/ Tues – 30 min cardio then circuit training/ Wed – Lauren slacked, Erica spinned for 45 min/

Thur – 30 min cardio then circuit training/ Fri - 45 cardio/ Sat - 45 min Spinning / Sun – Lauren slacked, Erica cardio/circuit

I slacked two days, but still got in 5 workouts. Food note: I ate well, but drank wine (or a bottle) on a few occasions and may have eaten too much cheese. Two things I’ll work on this week. Erica ate well, but said she went a little food crazy Friday and Saturday. SO, no regrets, we lost weight and we’ll just re-energize and tackle this week.

I will say this, it’s very different from any time I decided to lose weight. I want this to be a life-style change which means freaking out about a missed workout and a few high calorie-indulgences is a waste of time. I just fix it the next meal/workout.

GIRL POWER!!!!

If you’re on your own weight loss journey, GIRL speak up!! Comment! You’re not alone and I’m not either so spill it. Jada, you’re welcome to comment as well.