My journey to consistency

Updated my after picture

Friday, December 1, 2006 00:03:09

Had DH take a picture this morning since I have met my WW goal - I really like the way I look but there is more room for improvement. Hopefully my final after picture will come in a few months.

On the exercise end - I thought I was tired last night and decided not to do my pilates and yoga. But then I decided I wanted to. I'm glad I did because the pilates worked me and the yoga relaxed me. I really enjoy my before-bed yoga.

I got up this morning and did Firm CA&WT with Emily - I love this video - it really works you and it is fun! I am currently doing the Firm January specialty rotation which focuses on the lower body (which is my problem area). I am enjoying it so far. I am also adding in running at least three days a week and pilates and yoga nightly. For the scheduled rest days I plan on doing Power Yoga when I feel like it and if I need to take a full rest day I will. I am actually getting much better at listening to my body.

So that's it for today. I hope to run this afternoon if all goes well and I can get off of work in time. Comments(0)

A new year and really a new me!

Friday, December 1, 2006 00:02:14

Well - I'm not really making weight loss resolutions this year. I do have goals, but first I want to take a moment and celebrate 2006!
2006 was finally the year for me. I had tried weight loss before and did well for a while then I went back to my old ways. Finally in May of 2006, I joined Weight Watchers, and that has been the best move I have ever made. The accountability and the meetings really motivated me and I began to lose weight. I gained a few times and would get a little down, but I kept on trucking. Eventually I realized that everything was becoming second nature. I ate less and didn't mind, in fact I felt comfortable when I finished a meal instead of stuffed. By September exercise was fully ingrained in me and by October I took very few days off from exercise (now no one worry - I do easier days - sometimes just yoga). In October I also began running and that empowered me and jump-started my weight-loss right when I needed it.

Today I went to my weigh-in and I lost 3.6 lbs since the 19th of December - this also brought me below my WW goal of 150 lbs. I do want to lose more weight - but this was a huge milestone for me - one that began over 45 pounds ago.

So this is all to say that anyone can do this if you set your mind to it. You just keep going no matter what the setback and you roll with the punches. You can reach your goal - because if I can do it, anyone can!

Now - onto this year - yes I acutally want to lose about 10 more pounds and then assess how I look. I can see the fat on me even though it isn't as evident anymore in my clothes. I want to finish toning up. These aren't resolutions though - these are goals. So my goals for this year:

1. Lose 10 more pounds and assess how I loook - I want to do this by March 15th.

2. Run my first 5k in April.

3. Train and do the Avon Breast Cancer walk in October of this year in Charlotte, NC ( this is a marathon on Saturday and and half on Sunday). I really really want to do this but have to get the money together for the entrance fee first (or I would have already signed up).

4. Continue running and enjoying it

5. Keep up my exercise routine - it helps my overall well-being and I need it.

6. Do yoga/pilates almost daily - I need this part of my routine.

7. Love myself and take care of myself, because if I take care of myself I can take care of others better too!

Happy New Year everyone and here's to everyone meeting their goals this year! Comments(0)

Friday!

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 00:08:13

Well it's Friday and I'm thrilled, though I have a bunch to do this weekend, at least I don't have to work!

We had a Holiday program at DS#1's school last night and it was good - lots of kids, but enjoyable singing and fun. After we got home I had an emotional melt down - DH got our Christmas tree and at first glance it looked kind of puny and then in a money discussion he said something that didn't sit kind of right so I was upset. We sat down and talked and that helped. He did ask me where I was in my cycle and that made me mad, but I know he is right - I'm right in the middle - just ovulated and I was highly emotional. I have troubles with that where things just seem to pile up and I can't deal with that. Thankfully I found a couple of books on hormones and balancing them at the library and as soon as they come in through interlibrary loan I will get busy reading them. I also plan on talking to my doctor when I go in for my yearly at the end of the month. I don't really want medication - but I do need to figure something out to even my mood swings and emotions out a little more.

That said, we went to bed a little late last night (and as of this morning I actually like the tree) so I didn't do yoga last night or get up to work out this morning (but it is technically a rest day for me). I do plan on getting a run in after work even though it's just 36 degrees here right now - no telling what it will be at 5:00! I tried to get DH to let me wear the new UnderArmour running tights I'm getting for Christmas from his dad but he said no - so it's thermal underwear and pants on top. I know I will warm up quickly but this will be the coldest it's been since I've started running. And yes I am a baby I know it gets much colder in a lot of places than it does here on the coast and truly I'm blessed because this is about the coldest it typically gets. Doesn't mean I have to like it though - I mean last week I was running and pouring buckets of sweat since the temps were in the upper 60s!

So that's that - hope to get my run in - fix a great Shrimp Bisque for supper with a salad and also do my yoga tonight. We'll see how it goes.

Tomorrow holds making invitations for DS#1's b-day party next weekend, putting lights on the Christmas tree and planning my Christmas baking. I may get DS#1 to help me bake something because I think that would be fun! Comments(0)

Wow - it's been quite awhile!

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 00:07:09

Okay - I now have been trying to lose weight for almost 7 months and I have been very successful combining Weight Watchers and exercise. I am loving myself now - I have lost 41 lbs, countless inches and 3 sizes. I proudly wear a size 10 now. I have 2.4 lbs to weight watchers goal and 9 lbs to my ultimate goal. I hope to reach WW goal by the end of the year (yes even with Christmas, but my secret is I'm really not much of a sweets snacker).

I decided to start blogging again as I am trying to tweak my exercise program and finish toning up. My belly is much nicer now, but it still sags - two babies and two c-sections definitely aren't helping. I am getting firmer in the upper abs, but my lower abs leave a lot to be desired. I also still have some saddlebags and my thighs - well they are just large - that's my wonderful pear shape! :)

I have also started running in the last month and plan to enter a 5k at the end of April. I can continuously run for 30 minutes at a time now and if I pushed I could probably go longer. I am really enjoying running and asked for good running clothes for Christmas (and know I will get them since I picked them out and FIL is getting them for me). These were things I would never have bought myself - UnderArmor is very expensive, but from my understanding very worth it!

I have also started using iTrain products and have the monthly membership that allows me 5 downloads. I am loving the iStretch combination 12 - even though so far I have only done the yoga. The yoga is power yoga and I'm not as use to that - I do more Hatha-style when I do it. I love this yoga though - it has even made me sore (and no I haven't pushed myself too hard while doing it). The hip openers are amazing and I actually like sun salutations. I really want to keep this up in the evening and then expand my workout time into more of these workouts. So far I got the iSculpt Ballet #13, iStretch Combination #12 and iStretch#12. I put them on CD and play them through my DVD player and they work great.

Well this is the busy time of year - I don't just have Christmas, I also have DS#1's birthday and all that is going on at school with him - it's just crazy - but I feel more ready to handle it this year. Being smaller has given me so much more confidence. I talk to others more, I look at others more and I love my new self. I honestly could be happy if I didn't lose another pound because I have done this and I have made my health and my body better. I can't wait to see my doctor's face at the end of the month when he sees how much I have lost. I have gone from obese to normal weight range in BMI and that was my main goal. I don't have to be a size 2 - I just want to feel good in my skin and I do. Yes there are improvements to make, but if they don't happen it won't depress me.

So everyone who is losing weight - just keep it up, don't get discouraged (trust me I did about 4 months in), just keep going and trying and you can get there! Comments(0)

A Return to blogging

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 23:01:15

It's been hectic around here and fitness hasn't been at the forefront of my mind for the last two weeks. I've just been exhausted, so I have only worked out sporadically. However the good news is I have been still following WW - I haven't journaled, but I have been eating sensibly.

I went to my weigh-in today and the really good news is I am down 4.8 pounds! That is for two-weeks since my meeting day fell on the 4th last week so we didn't meet. I was thrilled and so was the worker who took my weight! I got my 2nd star to put on my bookmark since I lost my 3rd 5 lbs! Only 2.4 lbs to go to make my 10% and then I chose a goal weight. I'm honestly unsure what it will be, but talking with my leader will help I'm sure. I know I'm a lot smaller right now that I have ever been. I definitely look like I have lost weights and have been getting comments from everyone lately. That feels really good.

So yesterday I started working out regularly again and I have bought some new videos to try. I just can't wait to get them.

Yesterday I did Denise Austin's Personal Trainer - Moderate Arms and the Abs segment (20 minutes total)

This morning I did Tae Bo Boot Camp - Cardio Live (30 minutes) - what a blast and the Billy Bands really kill my arms!

I think Tae Bo has a lot to do with all the compliments I'm getting - I think it is really helping to slim down my upper body which makes me look better. I'm honestly not sure I can do a whole lot with my lower body - but I will keep trying. I do love low rise jeans because they really help with slimming my lower body.

I bought some of the WW water add-on packets and I tried the Cool Raspberry this afternoon - it is good, I was just looking for a light flavor and these have a lot of flavor. You are supposed to add them to 16.9 oz, but I added it to 20oz and it was still stronger than I wanted - good but stonger. So I will defintely get my money out of the packets since I finished about half the bottle and then refilled it again, a little lighter flavor now -but still fairly strong. I do like them and they aren't much more per packet than what I pay for a 12-pk of soft drinks. I will be buying more of these next week. Comments(0)

Wednesday

Sunday, December 4, 2005 22:04:09

Wow - where is this week going. It's an interesting week at my house, DH is on a committee for an event and he was gone yesterday evening, will be gone this evening and the event is tomorrow night. This is usually an event we attend together, but because he will be working at it I have opted not to attend. Well, I say I opted, but the truth is I don't have a babysitter for the boys and I really don't want to pay anyone. So it's just me and the boys for the next two nights. Usually this is rather hectic, but since I took a walk at work yesterday afternoon, I felt completely in control last night. I didn't feel on edge like I usually do in the evenings so I am going to really try and walk every afternoon at work. I also did several things around the house that needed doing and that was great.

My WW leader talked about making a taco salad yesterday at the meeting so I decided to go home and make one. I had 12 points left for the day (including my activity points) so I got to eat cheese and I grilled a tortilla until it was crunchy to put in it. It was really good - meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, green onion and then some sour cream and salsa for the dressing. I also browned the meat to put in the crockpot today for spaghetti, but I am thinking I will save the spaghetti for tomorrow and eat another taco salad tonight - it was that good.

My new bedtime is 9:30 since I'm getting up at 4:30 to workout. So far it's working great. Both boys are in bed no later than 8:30 so it gives me some downtime.

Today's workout was a virgin to me - Firm Volume 6 - wow - now I remember why the classics are considered so tough. I was sweating and out of breath several times and it felt good. Jayne Poteet was a good leader and it was a great workout, I will definitely do it more in the future and will be adding more Firm Classics to my rotation. The only other ones I have done before are Volume 1 and Volume 4. Time to pull out the other 3! Comments(1)

Great weigh-in

Sunday, December 4, 2005 22:03:13

Well I went to my weigh-in and I lost 2.6 pounds for a grand total of 7.4 pounds in the last two weeks. I am thrilled. I can't believe I lost again, especially with being out of town last week. Looking back now I realized that I haven't been deprived at all - I'm just eating less, feeling full and not snacking on things I don't need. Now to just keep it up.

Great meeting topic today about when you lapse and keeping it from becoming a collapse. I'm doing well right now, but I know I will lapse sometime and the thing to do is just get right back to it and not beat myself up. I am going to do this this time!

I got my five pound bookmark today and hope to get my first star in the next few weeks (you get stars for the bookmark for each additional 5 lb loss!

Now for some goals:

I want to reach 10lbs lost by June 6th (that gives me two weeks to lose 2.6 pounds)

I want to make my 10% - 19 lbs - by the end of July (that should be doable should my weightloss slow down some)

I want to workout every day - some days will just be a walk at work and something in the morning at home, but most days will be a good workout at home and then maybe a walk at work. I need consistency to keep it up, that means doing something every day. My rest days I will use a 20-minute yoga or a stretch tape, but I want to do something every day, so I don't get out of the habit of getting up early.

Now to figure out my rewards. I'll have to think on that and post more tomorrow! Comments(0)

Life just keeps happening

Sunday, December 4, 2005 22:03:07

Well, after I thought things were getting back to normal yesterday, I got a call at 4pm yesterday that our little one had a 101 degree fever and I needed to come and get him. Well that solved my dilemma of eating out, but I really need to be at work right now. Thankfully I did some work from home. DH went to our meeting at church and Jacob's fever went up to 102.6. I gave him tylenol and he slept through the night. He did wake up with a fever this morning, but I really just think it's a teething fever because he doesn't have any other symptoms. He's not even lethargic or very fussy, it's strange - it's just a fever. So I've given him some more tylenol, I plan on working from home and watching him for a little while this morning and if all goes well, I will take him to daycare midday, just before my WW meeting.

Yes it's weigh-in day and I'm excited. I can't wait to see if I lost anything. I don't expect a huge number but I will take whatever I can get if it's a loss! More later after my meeting. Even if Jacob isn't better, I'm taking him and doing my weigh-in and I'll leave after that.

This morning I did Tae Bo Energy. It was fun - I can defintely see why people like Tae Bo and I know that this isn't even one of a lot of people's favorite sets. I am hoping to pick up some more Tae Bo tapes or DVDs on Ya-Ya Swap soon. I'm going to hold off on Turbo Jam now (I think - but I keep wavering backa and forth), if I get it I will get it from QVC. I am thinking about Billy's boot camp set that is on QVC's site too - it's not too expensive and looks fun. Any suggestions?

Well I have some work to do and getting ready to do also in case I get to go to work. Last I checked Jacob's fever is down below 100, now I just hope it stays there. He's toddling around right now happily. Comments(0)

Back to normal life

Sunday, December 4, 2005 22:02:09

Wow, does that seem strange. After being off with my little one and myself with the stomach bug Thursday and Friday of the week before last. Then only working a half day Monday of last week, finding out my grandfather died that evening and then working a half day on Tueday to leave and go out of town for the rest of the week for the funeral, it feels strange to be back on schedule. It feels good though - I honestly thrive when I have a schedule to keep.

This morning went smoothly. I got up around 4:30 to do Firm Tough Tape 2 which felt great. I plan on alternating a cardio day with strength and AWT days with some rest thrown in there too. I will use the Firm for the Strength and AWT and probably Tae Bo for awhile for the cardio, maybe with some others thrown in. I also plan on walking at work when I can especially on my weight training days. I may try and go to the gym some too, but we'll have to see about that. I'm still up in the air about whether to join, but I'll discuss the pros and cons another day.

So after working out, I had a good breakfast and now I'm here at work trying to get back in the groove. Thankfully that is going well too. Tonight is our church meeting on handling money. My mom is still sick so we can't go to her house this evening and eat, so we are going to Pizza Inn - but I have already planned it. I plan on eating two pieces of pizza and then filling up on salad. My weigh in is tomorrow and I definitely don't want to jeopardize it. This will definitely be a test of will power since I love pizza. Think good thoughts for me.

I also should do some pilates and yoga tonight but I'm not sure I will as we don't usually get home until after 9:00 or so and I will probably be rather tired. I also need to run to the grocery store to get some things, I'm hoping DH will take the van and the boys home after the meeting and I can take his work van and run and get a few necessities at the grocery store.

Well I better get back to work now! Comments(0)

Sunday

Sunday, December 4, 2005 22:01:12

Eating went well yesterday. I did use some of my flex points, but I don't think that is a bad thing. I may do the Wendie plan anyway and add some intentionally on some days to change things up.

This morning I got up before church and tried out Tae Bo: Foundation. This isn't much of a workout as it just explains the 4 punches and the 4 kicks and you try them out several times each. I enjoyed doing it because it did give some good form pointers. I think I will alternate Tae Bo with my Firm AWT and Strength tapes for a little while. I also may use the gym a few more times for cardio but I am thinking I won't join because that will use up the remainder of my blow money for the month (that with WW which I won't quit) and I'm just not sure how much I will go. I will give it a few more weeks until the end of my free month to decide though.

I may try and get in a little more of a workout this afternoon, but I know I am definitely taking a nap when the baby goes down because I have a headache right now and just feel really tired. I think this past week may be catching up with me today. Comments(0)