What? It can't be. What do you mean it's the final weigh in for the Slimmer this Summer Challenge? Where did the summer go? Didn't we just celebrate Memorial Day? How can it be over already? Who turned the clocks on fast forward. It seems like just yesterday we were making all our summer plans and now Labor Day is next weekend.
I may not have the most exciting numbers to report but I feel like I made some good progress over the summer. I didn't reach my goal of 101 pounds lost and I didn't show much of a loss on the scale but there are other factors and lessons learned that are just as important. Just because the StS challenge is over doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. I'm going to continue to fight for my good health and I hope you are too.
Here's my stats for the week:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
8/12/11 Weigh In: 147.7 lbs.
8/19/11 Weigh In: 148.6 lbs.
8/26/11 Weigh In: 149.0 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 0.5 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 2.2 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/26/11): 149 lbs.
Total Loss: 93.0 lbs.
That is certainly NOT how I wanted to finish off the Slimmer this Summer Challenge but it is what it is. I had my third straight week of gains but it's not the first time that's happened, it's not the end of the world and I'm definitely not giving up. I'm not happy about crossing over my "do not cross" line in the sand (150 pounds) early in the week but I'm glad I was able to work it back off before weighing in. Sure, it would have been nice to get to my goal during the challenge but I know I will get there and it will happen exactly when it is supposed to happen.
HYDRATION
I've been slacking a bit on my water consumption the past few days. I'm not dehydrated but I could be drinking more. I find it's so much harder for me to get my water in on the weekends when I'm not at the gym. I actually had a cocktail Saturday night while sitting out at the bon fire enjoying the calm before the storm.
EXERCISE
I got in some intense workouts this week including my regular cardio kickboxing classes, three days of sweating on the elliptical and some good long walks here and there.
DO NOT QUIT
I will never stop fighting this battle until I have evicted every last one of the unwanted pounds I've been lugging around for way too long. Even after I get to my goal weight I know that the fight is not really over. It will never be over. I know I will have to keep fighting for my health and not let any of my old bad habits sneak back into my daily life. I will not suffer through regaining ever again. I refuse to regain. Quitting is NOT an option!
KEEP BLOGGING
My last post about Feeding Your Faith was my 400th post after 4 years of blogging. It's exciting to actually show some progress since I spent the first two years bitching, moaning and crying about my weight but not putting in the effort to actually make any progress. I'm still here and I don't plan on going anywhere. I'm going to need all the help I can get on the next leg of this weight loss journey - maintenance.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
I've been doing my best to get around and comment but haven't done as much as I wanted to do. I wish we could all give ourselves the support and encouragement we give to others so easily. The next time you leave an encouraging comment on another blog, turn it around and tell yourself the same thing.
C25K
I didn't make any progress on the C25K program this week but I feel better about being able to run now that my knee isn't screaming at me every time I do.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
I still haven't reached my goal but I know I'll get there, slow and steady.
THANK YOU!!! Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It really is an amazing supportive community we have here and I'm so lucky to have you all in my corner.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Peace out!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Feed Your Faith
KEEP FEEDING YOUR FAITH AND YOUR DOUBTS WILL STARVEHow would we ever reach our goals if we don't believe it's possible? If you believe you can, you can! If you believe it's impossible, it is. You have all the power you need.
You can't lose 100 pounds overnight but you can take the teeny tiny steps in the right direction and little by little, slow and steady, pound by pound, you can lose it. You can change your habits, you can stop eating so much processed crap, you can drink water instead of soda, you can get your ass off the couch and break a sweat once in a while, you can take the stairs instead of the elevator, you can learn to feel your emotions instead of eating them and you can feel better in your skin if you really want it.
When you have over 100+ pounds to lose it can seem impossible, overwhelming and so out of reach. Even those last 10 pounds can seem just as impossible. No matter how much you have to lose, it's NEVER easy but IT IS possible.
There's allot of talk about "the switch" and "the wagon" and how it's either "on" or "off." I'm learning that it's not that simple. There is no switch and some days we're driving the wagon and other days we're chasing it down. There are hundreds of little decisions to be made each day and each one is an opportunity to get you closer or further away from your ultimate goal. There will be days that you will want to eat cake, have a cocktail or indulge in some decadent treat and that's ok. The problem is when we get into the all or nothing mentality. We think one splurge is a good reason to give up because it's impossible. How can I expect to lose weight if I just ate birthday cake? I might as well have another piece, right? WRONG! A splurge is a splurge and a treat is a treat. That's all it is. Enjoy it and move on.
We always want what we can't have so as soon as you tell yourself you can't have chocolate, ice cream, cake, cookies, chips, dip, whatever...that's all you think about, that's all you crave and as soon as you give in to those cravings, look out, it's a slippery slope back into those fat pants. Regaining weight that took so much effort to lose can be devastating. You can't just go back to your old ways that got you fat in the first place, you have to make permanent changes to keep the weight off permanently.
I'm sure we've all bought into one rapid weight loss plan or another over the years only to be let down by the promise to "lose all the weight you want without exercise and still eat your favorite foods." I call BULLSHIT on every single one of those plans. Don't buy it. Don't waste your money or your time. Sure, most of them will enable you to lose some weight but unless you are willing to follow the plan for the rest of your days the weight will come back. I know, I've been there. I've lost it a few times on one commercial plan or another before and it always came back. I couldn't eat food out of a cardboard box forever and I couldn't live the rest of my life without eating bread. I love bread. I decided life without bread was not worth living. I had to find a plan that worked for me and my life. I needed to break some weight loss rules and create my own rules. We can't always live by someone else's rules. What works for me may not work for you but you can figure out what does work for you and make it happen.
We live in a world of instant gratification. We don't want to have to wait for anything. You know the person behind you will beep the horn if you're not hitting the gas the second the light turns green. We want it and we want it NOW! If I eat right and exercise this week I deserve to see a loss on the scale, right? Well, sometimes that just doesn't happen for any number of reasons. We have to get over being instantly rewarded for doing the right thing. Just doing the right thing is the reward. I exercised allot and ate right all week and still gained 0.9 pounds. It doesn't seem fair but it is what it is. The number is just a number and not an accurate reflection of my efforts. It's not an excuse to slack off and give up.
We all want weight loss to be easy and effortless. It's easy and effortless to gain but it is a stubborn bitch to take off. I hate to break it to you but if you haven't figured it out yet, you have to face the fact that it takes effort, lots of effort, to change your lifestyle. There is no magic pill, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, and it doesn't happen overnight but if you are consistent in your efforts you will see results as long as you never stop believing. It does get easier once you make your new habits part of your routine but it takes a consistent effort.
There is a better way but only YOU can decide what is right for YOU. Is your plan working for you? What can you do right now, today, to get you one step closer to your goal? Take a small step in the right direction and you'll be one step closer to reaching your goal.
Keep feeding your faith and your doubts will starve. I know I will reach my goal and I know you can reach yours. Like Dorothy and her ruby slippers, we've had the power all along, we just need to use it.
Keep the faith!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Challenges Update
Can you believe we are in the home stretch of the Slimmer this Summer and 101 Days of Summer challenges? It's sad that we lost a few challengers along with way, some are still in it but struggling and some are showing us how it's done. Wherever you happen to be on your journey, today, right now, is a new day and a new chance to get on or continue on the path you want to be.
I'd love to be able to finish out the challenge strong by reaching my goal so I can finally throw my arms up in the air in victory like Rocky after he makes it to the top of those stairs. I can already hear the Eye of the Tiger music. I was anticipating reaching my goal of 101 pounds lost by the end of the challenges but that may be just out of reach at this point, not impossible, but highly unlikely given the lack of progress the past couple of weeks. I'm a bit disappointed but I know I'll get there eventually as long as I keep doing the right things and staying true to my motto ~ SLOW and STEADY ....
I had another rough week but that's just part of life, right? Everyone has stumbling blocks and obstacles they need to get over or work around and mine are relatively minuscule compared to what some others are dealing with so I'm not going to complain (too much). Life doesn't stop throwing things at you and there will never be a perfect time to get healthy, it's never easy. I know I have to make the best decisions I can every single day no matter what is going on in the world around me.
I made up for last week's missed workouts by joining my sister in law at her fancy smancy gym on Monday for a double workout consisting of a Body Flex class and a Belly Dancing class. I'm pretty sure I burned more calories laughing at myself trying to belly dance than the actual workout. I'm not the most coordinated or graceful gazelle in the herd so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. I felt like I was trying to rub my stomach and pat my head at the same time. It was HYSTERICAL! I got my ass kicked at TaeBox on Tuesday and Thursday and hit the elliptical for sixty minute sessions on Wednesday and Friday in addition to the usual walks.
Last week I mentioned I had breakfast for dinner a couple of times (pancakes and french toast) and I wanted to clarify it wasn't the food itself because I have no problem eating pancakes and french toast occasionally for breakfast on the weekends but having it for dinner prevented me from getting my usual doses of protein and vegetables. I also notice when I eat lots of white carbs and simple sugars it sets off cravings for more. I prefer eating those types of food early in the day so I have a chance to burn it off during the day.
Anyway, without further ado, here's my challenge stats:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
8/12/11 Weigh In: 147.7 lbs.
8/19/11 Weigh In: 148.6 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 0.9 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 2.6 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/19/11): 148.6 lbs.
Total Loss: 93.4 lbs.
Yup, another week, another gain. As much as I want to reach my goal, I'm not too upset about these fluctuations because I have been maintaining a 90+ pound loss and staying under my line in the sand of 150 pounds. I think my body is very comfortable in this range. I'm wearing sizes 4s, 6s and 8s, I feel healthy and strong and I'm just not going to make myself crazy trying to get to a specific number on the scale because that's where all the trouble started almost 30 years ago. It will happen when it happens. The most important lesson I've learned over the past 21+ months is that it's not all about the numbers, it's about the healthy habits I've made a part of my life.
HYDRATION
This month marks THREE YEARS since I gave up Diet Coke. I still find it hard to believe I don't even crave it anymore. I used to have Diet Coke with my coffee for breakfast and would drink three or four additional glasses every single day. Now I generally drink only coffee, tea and water (and an occasional cocktail). I'm still getting at least 64+ ounces of water a day and more if I'm working out in the heat so I'm saying hydrated.
EXERCISE
As I mentioned, I tried a couple of new classes (Body Flex and Belly Dancing) and got in some good sweaty workouts this week. It's crazy to think that getting in my workouts is the "easy" part of my healthy living plan. I'm sure it won't be so easy when I go back to work but I'll find a way to fit it in because it's a very important part of healthy living.
DO NOT QUIT
Quitting is NOT an option! I'm all in.
KEEP BLOGGING
Hi, I'm still here!
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
I'm so happy to see many of you working the slow and steady plan, marching to the beat of your own drum. Keep marching, especially you!
C25K
No C25K progress this week but I'm determined to get through Week 4, Day 2 OUTSIDE soon.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
Today is not the day but I'll get there eventually.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Peace out!
I'd love to be able to finish out the challenge strong by reaching my goal so I can finally throw my arms up in the air in victory like Rocky after he makes it to the top of those stairs. I can already hear the Eye of the Tiger music. I was anticipating reaching my goal of 101 pounds lost by the end of the challenges but that may be just out of reach at this point, not impossible, but highly unlikely given the lack of progress the past couple of weeks. I'm a bit disappointed but I know I'll get there eventually as long as I keep doing the right things and staying true to my motto ~ SLOW and STEADY ....
I had another rough week but that's just part of life, right? Everyone has stumbling blocks and obstacles they need to get over or work around and mine are relatively minuscule compared to what some others are dealing with so I'm not going to complain (too much). Life doesn't stop throwing things at you and there will never be a perfect time to get healthy, it's never easy. I know I have to make the best decisions I can every single day no matter what is going on in the world around me.
I made up for last week's missed workouts by joining my sister in law at her fancy smancy gym on Monday for a double workout consisting of a Body Flex class and a Belly Dancing class. I'm pretty sure I burned more calories laughing at myself trying to belly dance than the actual workout. I'm not the most coordinated or graceful gazelle in the herd so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. I felt like I was trying to rub my stomach and pat my head at the same time. It was HYSTERICAL! I got my ass kicked at TaeBox on Tuesday and Thursday and hit the elliptical for sixty minute sessions on Wednesday and Friday in addition to the usual walks.
Last week I mentioned I had breakfast for dinner a couple of times (pancakes and french toast) and I wanted to clarify it wasn't the food itself because I have no problem eating pancakes and french toast occasionally for breakfast on the weekends but having it for dinner prevented me from getting my usual doses of protein and vegetables. I also notice when I eat lots of white carbs and simple sugars it sets off cravings for more. I prefer eating those types of food early in the day so I have a chance to burn it off during the day.
Anyway, without further ado, here's my challenge stats:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
8/12/11 Weigh In: 147.7 lbs.
8/19/11 Weigh In: 148.6 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 0.9 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 2.6 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/19/11): 148.6 lbs.
Total Loss: 93.4 lbs.
Yup, another week, another gain. As much as I want to reach my goal, I'm not too upset about these fluctuations because I have been maintaining a 90+ pound loss and staying under my line in the sand of 150 pounds. I think my body is very comfortable in this range. I'm wearing sizes 4s, 6s and 8s, I feel healthy and strong and I'm just not going to make myself crazy trying to get to a specific number on the scale because that's where all the trouble started almost 30 years ago. It will happen when it happens. The most important lesson I've learned over the past 21+ months is that it's not all about the numbers, it's about the healthy habits I've made a part of my life.
HYDRATION
This month marks THREE YEARS since I gave up Diet Coke. I still find it hard to believe I don't even crave it anymore. I used to have Diet Coke with my coffee for breakfast and would drink three or four additional glasses every single day. Now I generally drink only coffee, tea and water (and an occasional cocktail). I'm still getting at least 64+ ounces of water a day and more if I'm working out in the heat so I'm saying hydrated.
EXERCISE
As I mentioned, I tried a couple of new classes (Body Flex and Belly Dancing) and got in some good sweaty workouts this week. It's crazy to think that getting in my workouts is the "easy" part of my healthy living plan. I'm sure it won't be so easy when I go back to work but I'll find a way to fit it in because it's a very important part of healthy living.
DO NOT QUIT
Quitting is NOT an option! I'm all in.
KEEP BLOGGING
Hi, I'm still here!
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
I'm so happy to see many of you working the slow and steady plan, marching to the beat of your own drum. Keep marching, especially you!
C25K
No C25K progress this week but I'm determined to get through Week 4, Day 2 OUTSIDE soon.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
Today is not the day but I'll get there eventually.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Peace out!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Slimmer this Summer and 101 Days of Summer Challenges Update
I had a rough week. The weather has been dreary and so have I. I'm not sure what it is. I don't know whether it's just allergies, a cold or what but I don't feel right. Maybe I'm making myself sick just thinking about having to go back to work soon. When I filed my unemployment claim this morning it said after this week's claim I don't have any remaining benefits. Yikes! Oh well, I had a good run. I made good use of my time off. I've lost over 90 pounds. I accomplished something.
I guess I really need to get my ass in gear and get serious about finding a job now. Nothing like waiting 'til the last possible moment, huh? I'm glad I was able to take advantage of every single dollar of my benefits and every single day I had to get my life back. I know I should be ready to go back to work after all this time but I'm nervous about it for lots of reasons. I'm sure it will be fine once I get back into the swing of things but I'm scared. Change is scary but if we don't change we don't grow, right? I have to keep reminding myself change is good.
Because I wasn't feeling so hot my workouts weren't as good as they usually are. I didn't even get a workout in on Friday because I got up late after a long sleepless night and spent over three hours at the salon getting my hair done. It takes a long time to cover the evidence of my 40something years. The good part is my hair looks fabulous. Too bad I can't work the magic and it only looks great for a couple of days because I don't have the patience to spend the time on it.
In addition to slacking on workouts, I had breakfast for dinner twice this week (pancakes and french toast) and there was a night out that included a couple of volcano bowls and sodium packed chinese food so I didn't expect to be any closer to my goal this week and I was right.
Here's the evidence of the consequences of my actions:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
8/12/11 Weigh In: 147.7 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 1.8 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 3.5 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/12/11): 147.7 lbs.
Total Loss: 94.3 lbs.
Yup, that's a 2.2 pound gain for the week. It's certainly not the direction I want to be going in but I know why and that is half the battle. I know it's just a blip in the screen and I will get to my goal eventually. I'm still fighting the fight and I have faith I will make it to my goal soon (sooner if I cut out the cocktails and pancakes but that's all part of life, right?).
HYDRATION
I haven't been tracking how many ounces of water I'm drinking but instead have been trying to determine my level of hydration by the color test. When my pee gets to be a very pale yellow, almost clear, I know I've had enough water for the day. There are so many different studies about how much we should drink and I recently read a new one that says you should take your weight and divide it by 2 and that is how many ounces of water you should be drinking. It sounds like a good rule of thumb but I'm liking the color method.
EXERCISE
I got a few good workouts in at the beginning of the week but things kind of fizzled out by the end of the week. I got some ellipitcalling, kickboxing, and walking in but no running this week.
DO NOT QUIT
Quitting is still not an option! I'm all in.
KEEP BLOGGING
Oh yeah, I'm still here.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Still trying to get around to everyone and spread the love. I'm so happy to see many of you working the slow and steady plan, marching to the beat of your own drum. Keep marching!
C25K
No progress this week but I'm determined to get through Week 4, Day 2 OUTSIDE soon.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
Today is not the day but it will be here soon enough, I just know it.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
I guess I really need to get my ass in gear and get serious about finding a job now. Nothing like waiting 'til the last possible moment, huh? I'm glad I was able to take advantage of every single dollar of my benefits and every single day I had to get my life back. I know I should be ready to go back to work after all this time but I'm nervous about it for lots of reasons. I'm sure it will be fine once I get back into the swing of things but I'm scared. Change is scary but if we don't change we don't grow, right? I have to keep reminding myself change is good.
Because I wasn't feeling so hot my workouts weren't as good as they usually are. I didn't even get a workout in on Friday because I got up late after a long sleepless night and spent over three hours at the salon getting my hair done. It takes a long time to cover the evidence of my 40something years. The good part is my hair looks fabulous. Too bad I can't work the magic and it only looks great for a couple of days because I don't have the patience to spend the time on it.
In addition to slacking on workouts, I had breakfast for dinner twice this week (pancakes and french toast) and there was a night out that included a couple of volcano bowls and sodium packed chinese food so I didn't expect to be any closer to my goal this week and I was right.
Here's the evidence of the consequences of my actions:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
8/12/11 Weigh In: 147.7 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 1.8 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 3.5 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/12/11): 147.7 lbs.
Total Loss: 94.3 lbs.
Yup, that's a 2.2 pound gain for the week. It's certainly not the direction I want to be going in but I know why and that is half the battle. I know it's just a blip in the screen and I will get to my goal eventually. I'm still fighting the fight and I have faith I will make it to my goal soon (sooner if I cut out the cocktails and pancakes but that's all part of life, right?).
HYDRATION
I haven't been tracking how many ounces of water I'm drinking but instead have been trying to determine my level of hydration by the color test. When my pee gets to be a very pale yellow, almost clear, I know I've had enough water for the day. There are so many different studies about how much we should drink and I recently read a new one that says you should take your weight and divide it by 2 and that is how many ounces of water you should be drinking. It sounds like a good rule of thumb but I'm liking the color method.
EXERCISE
I got a few good workouts in at the beginning of the week but things kind of fizzled out by the end of the week. I got some ellipitcalling, kickboxing, and walking in but no running this week.
DO NOT QUIT
Quitting is still not an option! I'm all in.
KEEP BLOGGING
Oh yeah, I'm still here.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Still trying to get around to everyone and spread the love. I'm so happy to see many of you working the slow and steady plan, marching to the beat of your own drum. Keep marching!
C25K
No progress this week but I'm determined to get through Week 4, Day 2 OUTSIDE soon.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
Today is not the day but it will be here soon enough, I just know it.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Changes...
Change is so hard but it's totally worth all the effort and struggle it takes to change. I'm such a creature of habit and often get stuck going to the same places, eating the same foods, and doing the same things over and over again because it's familiar and comfortable. We get so complacent in our routines and tend to live our lives on auto-pilot, not really thinking about what we do and what the consequences of our actions will be. It's just easier to keep doing what we're doing than to make the effort to change.
After melting off 90+ pounds, I feel like I finally shed my fat suit cocoon and I am just learning how to spread my wings and fly. Being so weighed down, stressed out and depressed affected almost everything I did. Even at my heaviest weight I was still pretty active but stress eating, emotional eating (no matter what emotion) and binging would negate any activity burn I would get. No amount of exercise is going to make up for regular binges of thousands of calories.
I've never paid much attention to horoscopes, numerology and other hippy-dippy cosmic theories but I downloaded an app on my phone and have been checking my horoscope lately just for sh*ts and giggles. It's been interesting to see how accurate it has reflected back what has been going on in my life lately.
After melting off 90+ pounds, I feel like I finally shed my fat suit cocoon and I am just learning how to spread my wings and fly. Being so weighed down, stressed out and depressed affected almost everything I did. Even at my heaviest weight I was still pretty active but stress eating, emotional eating (no matter what emotion) and binging would negate any activity burn I would get. No amount of exercise is going to make up for regular binges of thousands of calories.
I've never paid much attention to horoscopes, numerology and other hippy-dippy cosmic theories but I downloaded an app on my phone and have been checking my horoscope lately just for sh*ts and giggles. It's been interesting to see how accurate it has reflected back what has been going on in my life lately.
Here's what I read yesterday:
Cancer Aug 7 2011As an adult, I've never gotten involved in any type of organized religion but I've always felt a spiritual connection especially when I am out enjoying and taking pictures of the beauty in nature. Hiking and ATVing through the deep woods, watching the seasons change, snowmobiling through the pristine snow covered trails, looking up at the milky way, wishing on shooting stars, being awed by the magnificence of the Aurora Borealis...it all makes me feel so small in the grand scheme of things but also connected to something so much bigger than me at the same time.
Native Americans find guidance in nature, with many trees and animals offering specific symbolism. If a butterfly were to begin to show up frequently in someone's life, for example, it might signify some kind of transformation. You are very close to the earth and its creatures, Moonchild. You can relate to this kind of spiritual sensitivity. Right now there's a recurring theme in your life. You've probably been wondering about its significance. Yes, it has meaning. If you interpret with your heart and your intuition, you will receive the wonderful message it is sending you.
Not only did I receive a butterfly wing necklace for my birthday but I have been seeing butterflies flutter around me more than I ever have before. Is it some sort of sign? Is nature trying to tell me something?
I believe we are constantly being sent messages and it's only when we are able to turn down the noise of everything going on that we are able to hear the messages. Have you ever gotten a message through nature? Do you believe in signs? Are you willing to make a change?
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Slimmer this Summer and 101 Days of Summer Challenges Update
We finally got some relief from the sweltering heat and humidity last week. Ahhhh...it feels so good to be able to breathe again. I was starting to feel like a caged animal being trapped in the recycled air-conditioned rooms. It was so cool and beautiful out I decided to skip the gym for an outdoor workout last week. More on that to follow.
We are only a few short weeks away from Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer and the official end to these summer challenges. How is everyone doing? Are you closer to your goals now than you were in June? Are you making progress? holding steady? or need a jump start?
Here are my most recent stats:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 4.0 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 5.7 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/5/11): 145.5 lbs.
Total Loss: 96.5 lbs.
Another .2 pounds gone! It's not much but it's going in the right direction so I'm happy with it.
HYDRATION
Still not paying much attention to my water consumption but I'm sure I'm getting enough.
EXERCISE
Ellipitcalling, kickboxing, walking and RUNNING! Yes, running! Well, not what runners would consider running but running for me.
DO NOT QUIT
I'm ALL IN! Quitting is not an option!
KEEP BLOGGING
Hi! I'm still here.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Still working my way around, spreading the love and trying to encourage everyone to march to the beat of their own drum. Keep marching!
C25K
I RAN! OUTSIDE! Last Wednesday when the heat wave broke I decided to skip the gym and take my workout to the beach. My knee was feeling better so I thought I would pick up the C25K program where I left off. I completed Week 4, Day 1 of the program which included FIVE WHOLE MINUTES of running. I think it was the first time I ran outside since I was a kid and it felt amazing, weird but amazing. What a difference it is running outside than feeling like a hampster on a wheel trudging along on the dreadmill at the gym. It was great to be outside and RUNNING. I was a little giddy and thought about running like a crazy kid ala Phoebe on Friends but I held back from making a complete fool of myself. I still don't think I'll ever consider myself to be a "runner" but I'm glad to be making some progress on the C25K program after being sidelined for so long.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
I'm not there yet but I'm two tenths of a pound closer to my goal. I know lots of people would be totally frustrated with such slow progress but the slow and steady plan is working for me so I'm sticking with it. I know I will get there no matter how long it takes and I will have learned the lessons I need to learn to keep it off this time.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Speedy Turtle Out!
We are only a few short weeks away from Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer and the official end to these summer challenges. How is everyone doing? Are you closer to your goals now than you were in June? Are you making progress? holding steady? or need a jump start?
Here are my most recent stats:
WEIGH IN
6/1/11 101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Starting Weight: 149.5 lbs.
6/6/11 Slimmer this Summer Starting Weight: 151.2 lbs.
6/10/11 Weigh In: 148.2 lbs.
6/17/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
6/24/11 Weigh In: 147.5 lbs.
7/1/11 Weigh In: 148.4 lbs.
7/8/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/15/11 Weigh In: 146.4 lbs.
7/22/11 Weigh In: 147.9 lbs.
7/29/11 Weigh In: 145.7 lbs.
8/5/11 Weigh In: 145.5 lbs.
101 Days of Summer Challenge 2011 Loss to Date: 4.0 lbs.
Slimmer this Summer Challenge Weight Loss to Date: 5.7 lbs.
Starting Weight (11/2009): 242 lbs.
Current Weight (8/5/11): 145.5 lbs.
Total Loss: 96.5 lbs.
Another .2 pounds gone! It's not much but it's going in the right direction so I'm happy with it.
HYDRATION
Still not paying much attention to my water consumption but I'm sure I'm getting enough.
EXERCISE
Ellipitcalling, kickboxing, walking and RUNNING! Yes, running! Well, not what runners would consider running but running for me.
DO NOT QUIT
I'm ALL IN! Quitting is not an option!
KEEP BLOGGING
Hi! I'm still here.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Still working my way around, spreading the love and trying to encourage everyone to march to the beat of their own drum. Keep marching!
C25K
I RAN! OUTSIDE! Last Wednesday when the heat wave broke I decided to skip the gym and take my workout to the beach. My knee was feeling better so I thought I would pick up the C25K program where I left off. I completed Week 4, Day 1 of the program which included FIVE WHOLE MINUTES of running. I think it was the first time I ran outside since I was a kid and it felt amazing, weird but amazing. What a difference it is running outside than feeling like a hampster on a wheel trudging along on the dreadmill at the gym. It was great to be outside and RUNNING. I was a little giddy and thought about running like a crazy kid ala Phoebe on Friends but I held back from making a complete fool of myself. I still don't think I'll ever consider myself to be a "runner" but I'm glad to be making some progress on the C25K program after being sidelined for so long.
GET TO GOAL and START MAINTENANCE ~ FINALLY
I'm not there yet but I'm two tenths of a pound closer to my goal. I know lots of people would be totally frustrated with such slow progress but the slow and steady plan is working for me so I'm sticking with it. I know I will get there no matter how long it takes and I will have learned the lessons I need to learn to keep it off this time.
Stay strong, be cool and rock on!
Speedy Turtle Out!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
How Did I Get Here?
As I sit here, I am a mere 4.6 pounds away from reaching my goal of losing 101 pounds. Really? I'm wearing sizes 4's, 6's and 8's. Really? I'm working out regularly. Really? I love kickboxing. Really? I'm not binging and stuffing my emotions down with food anymore. Really? I still indulge in cakes, cookies and ice cream on occasion. Really? Who am I and how did I get here?
My goal weight is probably higher than "they" recommend but I think it's realistic and maintainable. It's a little crazy to think that my goal weight is probably the same weight I was when I started my very first diet and thought I was SO FAT. Oh, why are we so stupid when we're young? Why can't we really see ourselves? What was I thinking?
Losing weight, no matter how you do it, is NEVER easy. We all want a magic pill, a quick and easy plan, a list of foods to eat and a list to stay away from. We look to anyone and everyone to tell us HOW to do it when, like Dorothy with her ruby slippers, we finally realize that we have the power, we've had the power all along.
I do feel like I had a little bit of an advantage this time around because when I got laid off in November 2009 I got rid of the crushing stress that was sucking the life out of me and had the luxury of having the time to devote to going to the gym like it was my job. I was determined to take advantage of the time and work on finding myself.
For the first few months I pretty much stuck to the elliptical machine. I always picked a machine that was far away from the mirrors and in the back row because I didn't want to look at myFATself and I certainly didn't want anyone else watching me. I would struggle to stay on there for 30 minutes at Level 1. I was barely able to keep the machine from shutting down because I was moving so slow. It was hard but I forced myself to go and just do it at least 5 days a week. After a few months I was able to increase my time to 60 minutes but it was hard. Very rarely I would venture off to the dreadmill (snore), bike (ouch-knee pain) and weight room (zzzzz) to mix things up a bit but I felt I got my best workouts on the elliptical.
Although I've never been much of a cook, funds were low and I was forced to cut down on eating out. No matter what I threw together at home it was almost always healthier and less fattening than anything I would get at a restaurant. I wasn't stress eating and I was getting better at controlling my binge episodes. I wasn't stressed out and there weren't so many emotions swirling around anymore so I stopped trying to stuff them down with vast amounts of food.
The weight wasn't coming off fast, as you can clearly see from my weekly weigh-ins on the sidebar, but it was coming off, sometimes a tenth of a pound at a time, sometimes adjusting upwards, but I knew I was onto something. I felt better and more determined than ever. I was doing something consistently and I knew if I stuck with it I would continue to see results.
After I lost about 50-60 pounds I finally worked up the courage to try a Zumba class and shortly after that my friend invited me to join her for a cardio kickboxing class. As you know by now, I absolutely love getting my ass kicked. I wish I had done it sooner. There isn't a single person in those classes that care how heavy you are, how high you can kick or how much you sweat. They are there for themselves and don't really care how you look. I can't believe I now look forward to working out and will rearrange my schedule so I don't miss my classes.
It took way too long but I finally learned that there is no magic pill or easy way to lose weight. You may find something that works for a while, allows you to drop the weight and then it all comes back and brings more fat along with it. I didn't try to force myself to live by someone else's rules. I didn't count points, I didn't count calories, there were no foods that were off limits, I still ate cake and cookies and everything I wanted but I ate it in moderation. There were no rules and there was no deadline.
There wasn't a single week over the past 20 months that I lost more than 5 pounds. The most I lost in a single week was 4.8 pounds and then the following week I gained back 3.3 pounds. Of course I loved seeing the numbers on the scale go down but they didn't tell the whole story. The scale lost its power to control my attitude once I realized that it wasn't all about the numbers as long as I continued to work out consistently and eat relatively healthy 90% of the time.
Unfortunately, I will be going back to work soon and I'm really nervous about being able to get my workouts in and not letting stress eat at me but I have faith I'll find a way to work it out. It's important and I know I need to do it so I don't backslide back into obesity.
I truly believe that we need to make our own rules and find a plan that works for us as individuals. Eat the foods you like, find something you enjoy doing that works up a good sweat, take care of yourself and know that if you stick with your plan consistently you will see results. It's not a race to the finish line, slow and steady will get you there too. I like to say "I'm fast like turtle now." I don't know when but I do know I'll cross that finish line no matter how long it takes.
Why did it take me so long to figure things out? Why did I waste so many years being fat and miserable? How am I going to make sure I don't ever put that fat suit on again? I'm not sure. I do know that I wouldn't be here if I gave into the despair and sense of hopelessness I felt for so long. No matter where you are on your journey, don't ever give up trying, you don't know how close you are to finding what works for you.
The most important thing I've learned is to never EVER give up!
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