Back in the saddle again

In order to achieve my goal, I obviously need to do something.

I have been trying to figure out what would work for me. Do I try CrossFit? Do I try a gym that has a daycare facility, I've done classes before (zumba) that I've enjoyed, but then again I've been a member at Planet Fitness and enjoy that as well. I've run/walked a 5K, and in doing so I've determined that I am not a runner.

So when trying to get refocused, is it a good time to change and add something new? Or should I stick with what I know?

Goals... I got them

Before snow flies I would like to be below 300 so I can go for a beach ride with my favorite people and horses!

When I weighed myself this morning, I am 331.....

Let's make this happen

Boom!

Recap

I had to take 2 full days off from the gym to recover from Zumba! My abs were killing me. But I was back to the gym today; I did 40 minutes on the elliptical. I had to go home and get laundry done before it started raining. Oh the perks of living in an apartment! I cannot wait to own a home and have in house laundry! At least we have on-site laundry; I just have to go outside to get to it. So between the stairs and the lifting of laundry baskets, I feel like I was still getting some work done. I also plan on going tomorrow morning; getting another 30 minutes on the elliptical and then doing some weights. Then I'll go Monday for cardio and then Zumba again on Tuesday.

So for the week I have gone to the gym 3 times (Sun, Mon and Sat) and Zumba on Tues. This week is shaping up like gym Sunday and Monday, Zumba on Tuesday, Horseback riding either Wednesday or Thursday and probably gym either Friday or Saturday (depending on the day of horseback riding). I am going to see about possibly doing a beach ride, since the weather is forecasted to be nice and sunny.

I think that Zumba will be a great addition to my workout routine. It shakes things up and gets me moving in a different way. Also, I get to spend some more time with my girlfriends, which is always nice!

Even though I completed my task of gym 3 times a week for 2 months straight, I am going to keep trying to attain that. I think Zumba will count, but I am going to still am for 3 visits to the gym in addition to Zumba.

I felt slightly guilty last week that I had 2 full days off. Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely make time for myself. Ever since joining weight watchers, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that it’s okay to say no and that I need to make time for me. But last week, I felt that old guilty feeling creeping back in. But I just stepped on the scale and said to myself that I am making lasting changes for myself and right now that is more important than anything else. I have to get to the gym, I have to be conscious of what I eat, for me, it’s a constant re-affirmation that I am making good decisions and moving in a good direction.

For some reason today, I could not satisfy my craving for diet pepsi. I had 3 20-ounce bottles over the course of the day… I don’t know why I was craving it so much. But now I am chugging the water and probably will be all day tomorrow. I don’t drink much soda anymore, so I guess its okay – so long as it doesn’t happen every day.

The good, the bad and the ugly...

This pictures are so embarrassing! I've lost 25 pounds already and I still look like THIS (Charms! ugh!):

 

And this....(ugh the dreaded back rolls!)











Finally, this....

I can tell that I've lost weight, but I know I have a long way to go. I am going to try to remember to have my dear boyfriend take pictures of me in the same outfit each month to try and measure my progress. I need to do this. It will hold me accountable.

I can and will be better...

Setting up to fail and coming out of the junk food coma

I'm down over 25 pounds, I need to get over my body image issues and really think I need to take progress pictures. But that means putting it out there... here... on the World Wide Web, for EVERYONE to see... all 2 people who read my blog.

Pictures don't lie... it’s a capture of a moment in time. And to be honest, I really thought I was going to fail at this diet. So many times I have failed in the past, so it didn't even occur to me that I could actually be successful... So I didn't bother taking start pictures. I know I am fat, I didn't need proof. Seriously, I would (and still do) hid from cameras! I don’t want proof that I am fat! Or if pictures are taken, I need editorial rights… and you can only take pictures from the chest up! Its’ my good side/angle. LOL

However, I am really ticked off at myself now; that I didn't take pictures. I am so proud of my weight loss, and I would have LOVED to see the difference between then and now. I was so embarrassed and had already prepared myself to fail, that I missed on the opportunity to see and acknowledge my changing body.

It sucks that I started a lifestyle change thinking I was going to fail. That is a terrible mentality! But it’s how we are conditioned... over and over again I've failed and just gone back to those old terrible ways.

Once I started going to WW meetings again and also having my friends and family helping me along away. I am motivated so much by my weight loss. I am encouraged by the results and my own feelings. I can feel my body and mind changing about food and exercise. I enjoy going to the gym, it’s a stress release for me and I feel great after getting a good workout in. I am changing my ways with food. I am re-wiring my life and trying to set it up to succeed.

When I started WW, the night after my weigh-in was my let loose night. If I maintained or lost weight, I wouldn't journal or count points, or nothing. Now, I no longer need that "let loose" night. I've rewired my way of thinking... I get the nutrition I need when I need it. I look at the amount of food I used to eat, and I get sick thinking about it. I can no longer eat the amount. Let alone the content.

Too much fried food makes me sick, too much red meat makes me sick... my body is starting to revolt against the bad food; I am FINALLY coming out of the Junk Food Coma! It is like someone turned a light on and it is finally starting to click that I do not need certain food in my life. I no longer crave French Fries like I used to, I can still have a taste and I don’t go hog wild. And the one time I did recently was met with disastrous results (I’ll leave it at that).

I am so happy to be coming out of the Junk Food Coma and moving in a positive direction. I am cooking more (and yes… getting better at it) and using spices more instead of salt. I am trying new foods; my menu isn’t as boring as it used to be! Picky eaters can eat a variety of foods; you just have to be willing to try new things! Your taste buds change something like every 7 years I’ve heard, so why not try something that you used to hate, you may be pleasantly surprised.

I am still waiting for my taste buds to LET me enjoy yogurt. There is something about the texture of yogurt that I cannot STAND! I know it’s great for you and there are so many benefits with yogurt… I just wish I could enjoy it. It would be a great addition for breakfast or as a snack.

So my point is, this weekend, I am going to have my dear boyfriend take some pictures so when I loose the next 25 pounds, I can have something to refer back to. And yes, I will be posting those pictures here. I can post my weight; I need to be ok with posting those pictures.

Does anyone have any suggestions for flattering poses? Thanks for letting me ramble on.

Thinnerware

I am super excited to try this stuff out. I first heard about Thinnerware from my Weight Watchers meeting leader, and I went to their website to gather more information.

One thing that I am NOT good about is portion control / portion size... and I think that is what helped me become the large person that I am today. If the plate looked full then I would assume that it would make me full. Now plate, cup and bowl sizes aren't the same as they were in the 50's. They've only gotten larger!


Sarah Morris, the 'inventor' of Thinnerware, had a novel idea, why can't a bowl or cup act as a measuring cup without looking like one... and Thinnerware is the end result.

There are lines painted along the bowls and cups to indicate amounts of food/liquid. The plate is really cool. The large flower indicates 1/2 cup of food, the smaller flower 1/4 cup and the two small flowers that together resemble a rectangle represent your 3 oz protein/meat portion. Really it helps you to measure your food without having to get out measuring cups and still being stylish. Even when you have company over, they would hardly be able to tell what the lines mean or the arrangement of the flowers, unless you told them.

For Christmas, I asked Ben to get me the Dianne Set in Caribbean Blue (plate seen below in picture). I love this set and I love that its hand-painted. No two items alike! They offer multiple types of styles as well as a wide variety of colors. You can also create a custom order with colors or variety that you desire.

I am really looking forward to using this in part of my ongoing war against my waistline.

*images used with permission from Sarah from Thinnerware, LLC

A day late...

Good Olde New England, the snow yesterday prevented me from weighing in at my normal time/location. So I weighed in tonight in Plaistow at the local WW Center. Turns out it was my usual leader from the Exeter location! She was happy to see me. Also happy to hear that I am down 0.6 pounds!!! I wasn't entirely sure of this week since I wasn't tracking my food all that well (I was more focused on exercise).

That brings my current total to 19 pounds lost over 15 weeks. I am 1 pound away from my reward an iPhone.... so close I can taste it. I think I will make myself at least maintain the 20 pound loss or lose more for 2 weeks consistently (since my weight does tend to fluctuate)

Very excited about this! Great News!

I'm doing The 2nd Biggest Loser Moms Fuck All Y'all Edition

**sorry for the language - but that's what it's called, folks!**

One of the blogs I follow Mariana from Riding with No Hands had tweeted about this contest. And so I, trying to be more health conscious and loose weight, decided to click on through and investigate further. Well it brought me to Loser Moms and outlined their 2nd Biggest Loser Moms Fuck All Y'all Edition (or FAYE for PC peeps). Me not being a mom, well that doesn't matter, its for people who want to loose weight. And money is a great motivator.

So for $10 (entry fee) I signed up. The contest starts January 10th and ends April 10th. The two highest weight loss percentages will be awarded cash money. The more people that sign up the more money that can be won.

I am always motivated by money (sad fact, but true) and for me, its two fold. I want to lose weight so this will encourage me since I don't want to lose my money. Its an investment, that I am hoping will have big returns.

Contest weigh-ins are looking to be on Wednesdays which is different from my Monday night WW weigh-ins - So I'll be weighing in for the contest on my home scale, which does differ from the WW scale. So it may be confusing, but I am going to go with it. We don't have to post our weights publicly. But I think I will post them here so that a) its proof and b) humiliates me into being better...

I am excited for this opportunity. I've got my game face on!

I can be better....

I entered into a weight loss challenge with some friends, 10 dollars a month and the person with the highest percentage of body loss wins. Continue to do each month until we decide to stop.

Well last week I was down a pound, and this week I didn't loose anything. I've been keeping track of my activity and one of my resolutions was to do cardio 3 times a week. I think what I need to be doing is cardio every day plus Curves (strength training) 3 times a week. I think that will kick up my routine the notch that I need.

So yesterday I went to Curves, but I did not get any extra cardio in...so tonight, I'm hitting the Wii for an hour. Tomorrow will be Curves after work and either cardio in the am or at night...I think I am going to do the Wii on my off nights from Curves and for my cardio either go for a walk, or do one of my Walking away the pounds (WATP) DVD's. I am going to track my progress on my calender and hold myself accountable for my goals.

It will be interesting to see what I will have to do while I am in Georgia for 5 days, but I am sure that Amy will be happy to help me.

I can be better...