Rough Week Ends with Joy!

At my Tuesday weigh-in, I was down 3.2 pounds.  My WW total weight removal is 20 pounds!  YEA!! 

I have had a rough week, not fallen off the wagon, but a rough week.  We have eaten out many days- pizza, bbq, Bob Evans, staff meeting, chinese, and an adoption party.  Also, due to a huge blisters on my feet, cold weather, lack of baby-sitter and head cold, my exercise for this weeks SUCKS!!!  So far, I have only earned 3 activity points.  My goal is at least 20 points a week!  I am trying to not get discouraged.  At this point, I am 13.5 points over my weekly allowance.  I have 3 days left.  I am praying that I can get at least 2 four-mile walks in and one day at Curves.  That would give me 12 points.  Not sure if this will work or not, but I will feel much better.  Blister and Rain GO AWAY!

Also, at my staff meeting, no one noticed my weight loss unless they knew I had lost.  I was a little disappointed.  Instead of getting discouraged, I have counted down the weeks until my next staff meeting- 8 weeks.  My goal is to  lost another 15 pounds.  That would be a total loss of 35 pounds.  I bet they will notice then!

On a Good Note for this weekend, a close college friend spent the night with us on Friday night.  She was my workout partner in college and we had so much catching up to do.  She didn't realize that I have been working out and lost my 20 pounds.  We have a similar drive for exercise, even though she is at her ideal weight and I am not.  We have different lifestyles and different body types and she has to work hard to maintain her ideal weight.  She just finished a Full Marathon!  I shared my desire to walk the Half-Marathon in May.  She began to tell me all about her training for the Full Marathon- food, hours of running, and blisters!  After we stayed up late talking, I went to bed second guessing my desire to walk the Half in May.  The next morning, I told her I don't think I am up to doing a Marathon.  Then I asked if a half was as bad?  She said she also thought about it last night and decided she would come in May to walk with me in my first marathon.  Thinking back on this, I tear up.  She is 7 hours away, but she is part of my support group for my weight removal.  To think that she would drive 7 hours and walk with me for 13.1 miles just overwhelms me with joy.  Thank you for believing in me! 

Trick or Treat

My kids went trick or treating in Grandma's neighborhood this afternoon.  I didn't expect to want to eat the candy.  I have not had many cravings for sweets since I started my weight removal.   BUT, I started eating the candy!  While at Grandma's, I made note of what I was eating.  Then, I got home and snacked on a few pieces.  Later, I went back and snuck in a few more.  I had 18 points left after tracking my food for the day.  I just planned on counting all the 18 points to candy.  Just for fun, I tried to remember all that I ate and counted up 14 points!  Hard to believe those little bits of candy add up that much! 

So, I decided to see what I could have done better today.  The actual town trick or treat is in 2 weeks.  More candy will arrive in the house.  Here is my plan:
1.  Plan ahead- know point values of candy and save points for candy!
2. Save the wrappers of what I ate- you can see how much and be able to write in the points!
3.  I may purchase myself some of my favorite candy- PEEPS!  Only eat my candy.  This probably won't work since I will eat my candy and the kids!

With the holidays around the corner, I want to continue my weight removal.  I also don't want to deprive myself.  I know I need to learn to incorporate my new healthy eating into my everyday life.  I need to be able to enjoy some "good" food in moderation. 

Goals

At weigh in this week, I lost another 2.2 lbs.  I was sure I was going to gain. I had remained in my points values, but did not walk as often as often as I usually do.  Life happened =)  I was very excited.  Now, I am down 16.8 pounds!  Woo hoo! 

I feel better.  I don't notice being more healthy, but I feel better because I have control of my body.  I have control over what I put into my body.  I fit into a size smaller pants today too! 

I can't wait until more people notice.  My husband and my Grandma have made comments about my weight loss.  I have heard that 10% is when people start to notice your loss and your health improves.  26 pounds is my 10% goals. I have about 10 pounds to go. 

One thing I have learned in this removal process is that goals help.  I used to set dates to my goals.  By January, I will lose 30 pounds.  I don't set dates anymore.  Think about how inconsistent weight loss is.  Set your goals without dates.  My next goal is my 10% goal.  I do use dates as motivation.  For example, my children play in a local basketball league during the winter months.  During those games, I run into many friends that I have not seen in awhile.  I know that they will notice my loss.  When I think about that way, I will figure my loss at 5 pounds per month.  It is great motivation!  I could be down 20 more pounds by then!  That is a total of almost 40 pound loss! 

Since I work from home, I rarely see my co-workers.  This week I have to go to work for a meeting.  I really hope someone notices my loss!  I will let you know in my next blog!

For those of you trying to lose with me- keep working hard!  It will be noticed!

Walking

A co-worker posted recently that she is training for the Capital City Half Marathon.  She asked if anyone else was interested in running the marathon.  I took a look at the website and found that the marathon was on May 1st.  My daughter's birthday is on May 1st.  I could walk this marathon for her. 

The marathon is 7 months away and 13.1 miles.  I walked 5 miles the other day.  It was a little difficult, but not too bad.  I really feel in 7 months, I could do 13.1 miles.  I think this would be great motivation to keep on my walking through the cold winter months. 

I talked to my daughter.  She wants to go to.  I told her they had a kids run before the actual marathon that she could participate in.  You know, you can give your child music, singing and dancing lessons.  You can have them participate in all sports.  But, if you give your child the ability to integrate physical fitness into everyday life, what could be better!  Especially, at such a young age!

One Month Down and I'm losin it...

Okay, flash foward one month.  I have lost 14.6 pounds.  My measurement had a loss of 8.5 inches.  I will be measuring again in one week for  month 2.  It really didn't feel like I was on a diet, until last week.  I just wanted to snack.  I also allowed negativity to creep in.  I have lost nearly 15 pounds, but I still have 102 more to go! Is this even possible and how can I keep up so long. 

I took my daughter for a haircut the other day.  We started having a discussion about weight loss.  She is only 9 years old and was very informed on the topic.  I explained that I wouldn't be losing 15 pounds per month from now on.  I told her the first month you lose a lot of weight.  She so smartly said, "Well yea, but you just need to mix it up on the exercise end.  Walk a little more each day.  It will help you to burn more calories".  She then started tearing up.  She told me that my 8 year old son had called me fat.  She said it really bothered her.  I explained that I am overweight right now (actually obese).  I told her that he was right, but it was nice that he did not say this to my face (he has before).  I continued to explain that it will be nice to look better after I lose weight, but that is not my main goal.  My main goal is to be healthy.  She then started crying and said that she could not wait for me to lose the weight.  And BAM!  There is my motivation.  There is the reason I want to be healthy.  I have heard you have to do this for yourself.  I am doing this for my health so I can be around for my children in the future. 

I like to picture myself in 10 years.  My daughter will be graduating high school.  We can either be going on fad diets together while we sit on the couch and watch movies - OR- walking/jogging together next to each other.  I would it rather be the latter! 

And so it begins...

Actually, my journey began about one month ago.  I was 261.4 pounds and 5'4".  I have Type II diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high triglycerides.  I am currently on two medications, TriCor and Labetalol.  My A1C, for those diabetics out there, is only 5.9.  Although, since my sugars are high and very sporadic my physician has determined I am diabetic.  I was on MetFormin in the beginning, but during my last pregnancy I switched to insulin.  Surprisingly, I watched my diet very well during my pregnancy and lost 45 pounds! (Of course, by the time my baby was 6 months old the 45 pounds were back)  Currently, I am trying to control sugars without medication.  Personally, I feel if the weight comes off and stays off I will not have issues with high sugars.

I had to develop a plan that is workable for me, a busy wife and mom!  I also wanted a plan that would work!  I began to think back to what had worked for me in the past and my schedule.   I developed my weight removal plan.  I decided to join Curves, Weight Watchers, and walking.  Curves is local, in my area we don't have many fitness centers.  I had a sister-in-law also starting Curves so I thought that I could have a weight loss buddy.  I also decided to start Weight Watchers with another friend.  Walking has always helped me lose weight.

I decided to go to Curves four days a week and walk four days a week.  Saturday would be my double-up day.  And so the journey began...