Wow, it has been way too long since I have blogged. You may be asking yourself, what's been going on with her. Well, let me tell you. The reason I have not blogged is because of all the stuff going on in my life. I have been getting thrown curve balls from every direction. I have stumbled a few times, but have gotten right back up.
I'm not really sure what all to say. Most of what I have been going through is personal and stuff I don't really want to share.
So, now that I have your curiousity peeked. I will change the subject.
I have slowed down my weight loss. I haven't stopped all together, just toned it down. I guess for a couple of reasons. #1 is because I think it was necessary. I lost a lot of weight really quickly and to keep it healthy, I think it was best that the process be slowed a bit. #2 I had given up so many things, that it was time that I gave in and treated myself to some of the things I hadn't eaten in over 6 months. #3 is that I finally spent my Christmas money from last year on some new clothes and I would kind of like to wear them for a while before I have to give them away.
Which brings me to my shopping trip. I went a couple of weekends ago to spend the money I had been saving on a new wardrobe. I was a bit intimidated because it had been a long time since I had done any serious shopping and even then, I pretty much hated it. I remember going into the dressing room with about 7 items and coming out with nothing or maybe 1 thing that actually fit. Well, this shopping trip was not like that at all! I took 6 things into the dressing room and everything fit me wonderfully! So, I took 6 more things in, and they all fit! Wow, now I was faced with an actual decision to make. I had to choose what items I would purchase and what items I would leave behind. That decision was not made for me based on what fit me. It was an awesome feeling. I really can't wait to shop again!
In case you were wondering. I'm down to 168 lbs. 82 lbs lost and only 18 to go. I can't believe I have made it this far.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
New things
So, I got my new shoes on Saturday (none too soon) and so far, I love them. My wonderful MIL decided to buy them for me for my birthday, which is tomorrow in case you were wondering. She took me to a New Balance store and they measured my feet and had me stand on some sort of computer that checked how I stood and I eventually got size ten running shoes. So, running shoes, walking shoes, I guess it doesn't really matter that much, but a ten. I used to wear a size 8. After having my three boys, I have started wearing a 9, but she gave me a 10. I didn't really like that, but she said that when you are walking, you need to have plenty of room for your toes, so I guess I'll let someone who knows a little more about shoes than me make that call. I have walked in them three times now I think, and they are really comfortable. I am hoping they last through all my training and get me through this half marathon in October.
Oh, and I forgot that on Monday, I reached my 6 month anniversay of weight loss. I don't remember my exact weight from Monday, but I'm guessing it was around 172. So, 78 lbs lost in 6 months. I am pretty happy about that number. Now, just 20 some pounds to go and I will reach my goal of 100 lost. I don't really have a set date in mind to have this goal reached, but I did tell my fellow bacon lovers that I want to be down to 158 by the time we walk our half marathon on October 23.
Man, this is a long journey.
I am also about ready to spend my Christmas money. (I know, I'm a saver) Now I'm going to have some birthday money to go with it and I am going to get me some new clothes. I have been waiting since December for this and it's going to feel good. And I am going to LOVE it! I haven't enjoyed shopping for clothes in so long. I even remember a time not too long ago that some friends and I went out and stopped into a store for some of them to buy some new jeans. Well, I wouldn't even try anything on because I hated what size I would have to try, if they even carried that size. Now, I can't wait. Lately, all I have to wear is my borrowed clothes and I am ready for some new stuff of my own.
Oh, and I forgot that on Monday, I reached my 6 month anniversay of weight loss. I don't remember my exact weight from Monday, but I'm guessing it was around 172. So, 78 lbs lost in 6 months. I am pretty happy about that number. Now, just 20 some pounds to go and I will reach my goal of 100 lost. I don't really have a set date in mind to have this goal reached, but I did tell my fellow bacon lovers that I want to be down to 158 by the time we walk our half marathon on October 23.
Man, this is a long journey.
I am also about ready to spend my Christmas money. (I know, I'm a saver) Now I'm going to have some birthday money to go with it and I am going to get me some new clothes. I have been waiting since December for this and it's going to feel good. And I am going to LOVE it! I haven't enjoyed shopping for clothes in so long. I even remember a time not too long ago that some friends and I went out and stopped into a store for some of them to buy some new jeans. Well, I wouldn't even try anything on because I hated what size I would have to try, if they even carried that size. Now, I can't wait. Lately, all I have to wear is my borrowed clothes and I am ready for some new stuff of my own.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Walking
I have been walking alot. Just ask anyone in this town. I get comments all the time about how somebody saw me walking the other day. It's really a bit commical. But, I have also had some people ask me about how I track my walks. I have borrowed a case that straps to my wrist and holds my phone and I use an app that tracks wherever I go on my Android phone. It's called mytracks. I'm not going to say that it's the best app you can find, because I just heard someone else say they use it and so I downloaded it and that's what I have been using. But, it works well, so why fix something that isn't broken. The app uses a gps signal and tracks the length of time that I walk, the number of miles that I walk, and the average speed for my walk. That's really all I need to know. Oh, and it also shows a map of where I went. That's kind of neat to look at once in a while, but not really important info.
I like to average at least 4-5 miles for each walk and lately I have been walking over 4 miles an hour. If you aren't a big walker, that might not mean much to you, but for me, this is monumental. When I started, my fellow bacon lovers figured that we would need to average at least 3.6 miles per hour in order to finish our half marathon in the 4 hour time limit. And let me tell you that I was not sure I would be able to do it. So, to be walking at 4 miles per hour or greater for 5 miles or more is just thrilling for me. Now I'm thinking about making my goal to finish the half marathon in 3 1/2 hours.
The other day I was talking to my husband about the amount of weight I have lost and how I can't hardly wrap my head around the extra 75 pounds I had and how that felt and he suggested I take one of my walks with that amount of weight in a backpack. Now, I have been thinking about this and it sounds like a great thought provoking assignment, but I am kind of terrified at the thought. I might give it a try. But, I think I might have to do my walk at the high school track so I never get too far in case I'm not able to carry all that weight for the entire walk. That seems so weird to think that I couldn't carry that weight, when just a few months ago, I was carrying all that weight around 24/7. So, I will let you know if I attempt this experiment.
I like to average at least 4-5 miles for each walk and lately I have been walking over 4 miles an hour. If you aren't a big walker, that might not mean much to you, but for me, this is monumental. When I started, my fellow bacon lovers figured that we would need to average at least 3.6 miles per hour in order to finish our half marathon in the 4 hour time limit. And let me tell you that I was not sure I would be able to do it. So, to be walking at 4 miles per hour or greater for 5 miles or more is just thrilling for me. Now I'm thinking about making my goal to finish the half marathon in 3 1/2 hours.
The other day I was talking to my husband about the amount of weight I have lost and how I can't hardly wrap my head around the extra 75 pounds I had and how that felt and he suggested I take one of my walks with that amount of weight in a backpack. Now, I have been thinking about this and it sounds like a great thought provoking assignment, but I am kind of terrified at the thought. I might give it a try. But, I think I might have to do my walk at the high school track so I never get too far in case I'm not able to carry all that weight for the entire walk. That seems so weird to think that I couldn't carry that weight, when just a few months ago, I was carrying all that weight around 24/7. So, I will let you know if I attempt this experiment.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Weight Watchers
Can I just talk for a minute about Weight Watchers? Why sure I can, it's my blog. I started my weight loss with Weight Watchers in February. I tried it once before, years ago when I didn't have much weight to lose. I went to the meetings and felt very out of place. When I decided to do WW this time, I was a bit skeptical of the meetings, so I signed up for the online version. I was a bit skeptical of that too because I was worried that there might not be enough accountability there to keep me going. But, the online program was really good. There were lots of recipes and tracking features. My points plus allowance was around 40 per day with an extra 49 flex points for the week to use. I also liked that you could earn extra exercise points for each week. I really did well and the fact that the new program allows you to eat almost any fruits and vegetables without using any of your points was a huge plus for me. I filled my day with fruits and veggies and continued to cook a lot of the same things for my family. The online program also has a recipe builder so I could put my recipe into the system and it would tell me how many points it was. So, I could just eat a smaller portion of what I would normally eat, add a big serving of steamed vegetables on the side and feel really good.
After three months on the program, my subscription was up and, being the cheapskate that I am, decided that I knew enough of what to do that I didn't need WW anymore. This was the same time that the Biggest Loser competition was starting and my team was trying to use MyFitnessPal online to be accountable to one another. This website gives you a calorie limit for each day, mine was 1320 and that's it. I tried it for a few weeks, but it didn't seem to be working very well with my personality and what I needed, so I bit the bullet and subscribed to WW again. I knew that it worked well for me. For some reason, I needed to be able to not feel guilty about eating a bowl of strawberries for a snack. I know that it's a great choice, but having to count those calories against my day, just didn't help me.
So, back to WW and the points that I am allowed each day continues to go down each week. Now, I'm allowed 29 points per day, with the same 49 flex points each week. It's getting more difficult to stay within my points allowance. I thought it was hard at 40, but now thinking back, 40 would be so nice. I'm also having troubles spreading my points out throughout the day. Since I am still trying to not eat anything past 7 pm, I need to make sure that my points are used up at dinner. That's a hard thing for me. I don't know why. Early on, I had those extra points left at the end of the day and I would snack on some popcorn or something else after I got the kids in bed, but not anymore. I just need to really work on getting those used earlier in the day. So, that's something I am going to work on in the next couple of weeks. I will let you know how I do.
After three months on the program, my subscription was up and, being the cheapskate that I am, decided that I knew enough of what to do that I didn't need WW anymore. This was the same time that the Biggest Loser competition was starting and my team was trying to use MyFitnessPal online to be accountable to one another. This website gives you a calorie limit for each day, mine was 1320 and that's it. I tried it for a few weeks, but it didn't seem to be working very well with my personality and what I needed, so I bit the bullet and subscribed to WW again. I knew that it worked well for me. For some reason, I needed to be able to not feel guilty about eating a bowl of strawberries for a snack. I know that it's a great choice, but having to count those calories against my day, just didn't help me.
So, back to WW and the points that I am allowed each day continues to go down each week. Now, I'm allowed 29 points per day, with the same 49 flex points each week. It's getting more difficult to stay within my points allowance. I thought it was hard at 40, but now thinking back, 40 would be so nice. I'm also having troubles spreading my points out throughout the day. Since I am still trying to not eat anything past 7 pm, I need to make sure that my points are used up at dinner. That's a hard thing for me. I don't know why. Early on, I had those extra points left at the end of the day and I would snack on some popcorn or something else after I got the kids in bed, but not anymore. I just need to really work on getting those used earlier in the day. So, that's something I am going to work on in the next couple of weeks. I will let you know how I do.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
One more good choice
I know I've written a lot about my story, but I can't help but think that I've left some gaps. So, if there is something that you have a question about, feel free to ask me. Either here on this blog, or in person. I really want to be able to help others because I feel so blessed to be where I am today. Sometimes, it's hard for me to really understand how much weight I have lost and where I used to be, but then, there are times like today, that I feel so fortunate to have made this change and to be able to feel this good.
It really comes down to choices. Like this morning, someone always brings breakfast into Sunday School for everyone. Sometimes it's a breakfast casserole, sometimes it's muffins, but today it was dougnuts. I have really missed dougnuts. And I really wanted one. But, I made a choice and did not eat one even though it was a tough decision. I didn't need it, and I had already had my breakfast at home. Before I was paying attention to what I was eating, I would have taken that dougnut (or two) without a single thought. It feels good to make the right choice. It really does.
A quote that I have heard recently and has stuck with me says "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". I am starting to realize that more and more. I love to eat sweets, but I have to realize that no matter how those foods taste in the moment, they really aren't worth the consequences. I know all about consequences. I am a very logical person. Even in my anger, I am too level headed to act in a rash way because I don't want to deal with the consequences. Why didn't this logic follow through into my eating habbits? I don't really know, but I think that it's starting to get there. Now I understand, if I eat a blizzard, I have to work it off or deal with the consequence of added pounds. I hope that this stays with me and that I don't fall back into my old way of thinking. I am going to do what I can to not forget these important things that I have learned.
It really comes down to choices. Like this morning, someone always brings breakfast into Sunday School for everyone. Sometimes it's a breakfast casserole, sometimes it's muffins, but today it was dougnuts. I have really missed dougnuts. And I really wanted one. But, I made a choice and did not eat one even though it was a tough decision. I didn't need it, and I had already had my breakfast at home. Before I was paying attention to what I was eating, I would have taken that dougnut (or two) without a single thought. It feels good to make the right choice. It really does.
A quote that I have heard recently and has stuck with me says "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". I am starting to realize that more and more. I love to eat sweets, but I have to realize that no matter how those foods taste in the moment, they really aren't worth the consequences. I know all about consequences. I am a very logical person. Even in my anger, I am too level headed to act in a rash way because I don't want to deal with the consequences. Why didn't this logic follow through into my eating habbits? I don't really know, but I think that it's starting to get there. Now I understand, if I eat a blizzard, I have to work it off or deal with the consequence of added pounds. I hope that this stays with me and that I don't fall back into my old way of thinking. I am going to do what I can to not forget these important things that I have learned.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Committments
It's the second day after the Biggest Loser has ended and I'm still having some tendencies to slack off the diet and do whatever I want. But, I have made committments. I have committed to this blog and if I revert to old ways, I will feel like I have let down everyone who is keeping up with my journey here. I have made committments to my Bacon Lovers. We have decided to continue to keep each other acountable with bi-weekly weigh ins and tracking measurements. I have made committments to WW. I have a goal to get to 155 lbs. These committments are helping to keep me on the right track and not to give up.
Also, I have the encouragement of everyone around me. I have received numerous congrats and compliments from everyone I know. I even received flowers yesterday from an unknown source. Really, who can give up or feel discouraged when surrounded by so many great people. I truly am feeling the love and I think that maybe this is how some of the contestants from the Biggest Loser tv show must feel. It's such an incredible high.
So, I'm going to let all that be the fuel I need to power through this and keep it all up.
On a side note, I want to explain my nickname on this blog. I did not come up with that on my own. A week or so before I started this blog, someone at church came up to me and said that myself and a friend of mine were like the incredible shrinking women. I kind of liked it and it stuck with me.
If you are trying to lose weight, make sure you make some committments, whatever they may be. They can help you to power through those little road blocks that could otherwise trip you up. And one more thing. I want to share with you a quote that I have seen multiple times lately that has also stuck with me.
"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels"
The thiner I'm getting, the more I see this as being true. Don't give in to that temporary pleasure of something that you think is going to taste great, but think about the long-term effects of that food and decide to make the best decision.
Also, I have the encouragement of everyone around me. I have received numerous congrats and compliments from everyone I know. I even received flowers yesterday from an unknown source. Really, who can give up or feel discouraged when surrounded by so many great people. I truly am feeling the love and I think that maybe this is how some of the contestants from the Biggest Loser tv show must feel. It's such an incredible high.
So, I'm going to let all that be the fuel I need to power through this and keep it all up.
On a side note, I want to explain my nickname on this blog. I did not come up with that on my own. A week or so before I started this blog, someone at church came up to me and said that myself and a friend of mine were like the incredible shrinking women. I kind of liked it and it stuck with me.
If you are trying to lose weight, make sure you make some committments, whatever they may be. They can help you to power through those little road blocks that could otherwise trip you up. And one more thing. I want to share with you a quote that I have seen multiple times lately that has also stuck with me.
"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels"
The thiner I'm getting, the more I see this as being true. Don't give in to that temporary pleasure of something that you think is going to taste great, but think about the long-term effects of that food and decide to make the best decision.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
It's not over til the fat lady sings
Our Biggest Loser competition ended last night and it was awesome. The Bacon Lovers (anonymous) finished in first place and we won $1500 for our charity. It was so great to see this team of ladies come together and lose some weight together over the past 12 weeks and benefit a great cause. I also took 2nd place as the biggest losing individual losing 18.4% of the 210 lbs I started the competition at. And even though I did not come in first, I did win the MVBL award (Most Valuable Bacon Lover). My team is so sweet and made me a special award to commemorate all my hard work. I just love those girls.
We were very proud of our team and had to celebrate last night. We went to Bobby's custard stand and got whatever we wanted (with bacon on top) and then finished off the night at Burger King for some french fries. I am trying to remember that this was a rare indulgance and not the end of my journey altogether, but for some reason, I'm having trouble. The end of the competition and the celebration last night has me feeling like I am done. I know I'm not. I mean, we are still walking a half marathon in October that I have to continue training for. I just need to take charge of the day and get back into the groove of my WW system.
I also need to remember all the reasons I am doing this and all the benefits I have reaped from losing weight. I was able to kneeboard this summer. Something I haven't been able to do in several years. I can cross my legs again. Seriously, this doesn't sound like much, but it is such a big deal. Not being able to do that was a constant reminder of how bad I needed to lose weight. I am wearing a size 12 instead of a 20. All of these are reaons to keep doing what I am doing and not throw in the towel. So, if you see me out, don't let me start slacking. I still have 23 lbs to reach my ultimate goal.
We were very proud of our team and had to celebrate last night. We went to Bobby's custard stand and got whatever we wanted (with bacon on top) and then finished off the night at Burger King for some french fries. I am trying to remember that this was a rare indulgance and not the end of my journey altogether, but for some reason, I'm having trouble. The end of the competition and the celebration last night has me feeling like I am done. I know I'm not. I mean, we are still walking a half marathon in October that I have to continue training for. I just need to take charge of the day and get back into the groove of my WW system.
I also need to remember all the reasons I am doing this and all the benefits I have reaped from losing weight. I was able to kneeboard this summer. Something I haven't been able to do in several years. I can cross my legs again. Seriously, this doesn't sound like much, but it is such a big deal. Not being able to do that was a constant reminder of how bad I needed to lose weight. I am wearing a size 12 instead of a 20. All of these are reaons to keep doing what I am doing and not throw in the towel. So, if you see me out, don't let me start slacking. I still have 23 lbs to reach my ultimate goal.
Monday, August 8, 2011
And here it is
I almost forgot. I have my new picture. Thanks to my wonderfully talented photography friend. She took me out and did a mini photo shoot with me. It was only midly awkward.
Here is the before.
Now remember, one of these pictures I was trying to wear a terrible Christmas sweater, so don't judge me on that. The other is our church directory picture and I was just one month out from having our third son, but nonetheless, that was me. (What I really want to know is if I can take a new family picture and replace the directory picture for everyone that got one. All 500 or so of them. Not sure I can make that happen.)
And here is the current one. The picture quality itself is much better on this one, but I think the improvement is pretty dramatic.
I still have about 24 lbs to lose to reach my goal of 100 lbs lost, but I'm getting there. Just a few more months.
Here is the before.
Now remember, one of these pictures I was trying to wear a terrible Christmas sweater, so don't judge me on that. The other is our church directory picture and I was just one month out from having our third son, but nonetheless, that was me. (What I really want to know is if I can take a new family picture and replace the directory picture for everyone that got one. All 500 or so of them. Not sure I can make that happen.)
And here is the current one. The picture quality itself is much better on this one, but I think the improvement is pretty dramatic.
I still have about 24 lbs to lose to reach my goal of 100 lbs lost, but I'm getting there. Just a few more months.
The one where I hide my emotions
The title of this blog post is a play on the titles of the Friends tv show (ok, I know I am really showing my addition to tv). I just love Friends. Anyway, lately things have been very emotional and I don't really want to post about anything that will get me crying or make me rant about things that no one really needs to hear, so I will blog about my shoes.
It seems like I just bought these tennis shoes a few months ago, but they seem to be nearing the end of their life. I have never gone through tennis shoes very fast. Mostly because I'm not too rough on them, but my husband says it's because I never wear real shoes. But, since I have been walking every day at least once, I seem to be wearing them out a little bit faster. Shortly after buying them I stepped on a rock that went all the way through into the inside of my shoe. It wasn't until a few days later when I got really tired of that rock that I dug it out, but ever since then there has been a little "puff" from the air through that hole every step I make. The other day, I stepped on another rock with the other shoe and it seems to be stuck in there somewhere because it is really bothering me. I also noticed that the tread on the bottom of them is pretty much gone.
This all sounds like I probably need to get some good shoes that are a little tougher for all the walking that I am doing. The problem is that I am a cheapskate. I am not afraid to admit it. I usually buy the cheapest pair of tennis shoes from Payless that I can find. Since that doesn't seem to be working for my new lifestyle, it looks like I should probably consider some other kind, but I just don't know what to get. I'm sure someone could recommend a super expensive awesome pair of walking shoes, but I want something at least reasonably priced but good enough to handle my training and walking a half marathon.
So, do you have any suggestions for me? Where should I go? What kind should I get?
It seems like I just bought these tennis shoes a few months ago, but they seem to be nearing the end of their life. I have never gone through tennis shoes very fast. Mostly because I'm not too rough on them, but my husband says it's because I never wear real shoes. But, since I have been walking every day at least once, I seem to be wearing them out a little bit faster. Shortly after buying them I stepped on a rock that went all the way through into the inside of my shoe. It wasn't until a few days later when I got really tired of that rock that I dug it out, but ever since then there has been a little "puff" from the air through that hole every step I make. The other day, I stepped on another rock with the other shoe and it seems to be stuck in there somewhere because it is really bothering me. I also noticed that the tread on the bottom of them is pretty much gone.
This all sounds like I probably need to get some good shoes that are a little tougher for all the walking that I am doing. The problem is that I am a cheapskate. I am not afraid to admit it. I usually buy the cheapest pair of tennis shoes from Payless that I can find. Since that doesn't seem to be working for my new lifestyle, it looks like I should probably consider some other kind, but I just don't know what to get. I'm sure someone could recommend a super expensive awesome pair of walking shoes, but I want something at least reasonably priced but good enough to handle my training and walking a half marathon.
So, do you have any suggestions for me? Where should I go? What kind should I get?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Bad Day
Yesterday, I was having a bad day. I'm not really sure why. I just woke up feeling sleepy and ready to crawl back in bed. I couldn't of course because my three sons (ha, wasn't that the name of a tv show?) were awake and needed me. I also felt like eating everything I could get my hands on. For some reason, I couldn't decide to eat things I knew I shouldn't, but I did lounge around on the couch for most of the morning. When my husband got home early in the afternoon, I decided to get out and go for a walk and that seemed to boost my mood. It's amazing how excercise can turn my day around, and that I let excercise be my go-to thing instead of frozen dairy products or choclate. Fortunately, I had salvaged enough of my attitude for the day that when my husband suggested pizza for dinner, I was able to make a smart choice. A fellow bacon lover told me that when her family gets pizza, she always orders a small thin crust veggie pizza for herself and so I remembered that and fought every urge I had to give in to soft, doughy crusted meat pizza and went for the veggies. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my little pizza. From Dominos, the small veggie pizza is only 6 WW point plus for 1/4 of the pizza. I ate a little more than I probably should have because I was exceptionaly hungry, but I made the best choice given the circumstances. I also knew that it was best if I got full at dinner time rather than be hungry again an hour later and give in to something less healthy or end up eating after my cutoff at 7 pm. Funny thing is that if you check out the nutritional information on Dominos website, they give you suggestions on how to lighten up your choice, and they had no suggestions for me. I guess that's because I made some pretty good choices. I feel that even though I was in a crumy mood at the beginning of the day, I stuck with the good habbits that I have formed and didn't cave to old habbits. I'd say, all in all, that was a pretty good day.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Too much tv
I believe I am a tv junkie. I don't watch much tv during the day because I am busy with my boys, but once they get in bed, the tv comes on and I have several things I like to watch. A few shows have been really inspirational to me. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, The Biggest Loser, and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution are three shows that have inspired me lately. The Biggest Loser is something I have watched for several seasons. I have watched amazing transformations in people and been amazed at what they achieved, but for a long time, I never saw myself doing that. It wasn't until the two sisters were on last season that I really connected with the contestants. I saw where they started, they started where I was at. I saw the progress they were making and I put myself in their shoes. I think that's when it hit me, that I could do the same. Following someone so personally was the key difference between sitting on the couch eating my junk food and making changes to follow their example.
I have also really enjoyed Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. This is the show that takes one person, who is usually heavier than most people on The Biggest Loser, and works with them for a year. These people have so much work to do. They usually have at least 200 lbs to lose and I can't even imagine how they feel. I have seen them lose the total of weight I need to lose and are still only half way done. I have such a respect for the hard work they put in to make big changes and I know that it isn't easy.
One more show I enjoy as an inspiration is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. This isn't a show about weight loss, but about eating foods that are good for us and I know those two things go hand in hand. His goals are mostly geared towards schools, but I believe he truly cares about people and showing them how to eat right. I know that dieting sometimes consists of lots of processed foods, artificial sweeteners and foods with lots of preservatives. This is another thing I know I should avoid, but don't do the best job. I do try to eat lots of natural food and avoid processed foods, but sometimes it's hard to avoid. His general rule is that if the list of ingredients has things that you don't know what they are, then you should not eat it. This kind of hit me the other day when I was drinking some diet lemonade that I had bought. I had no clue what 90% of the ingredients were. I guess this is one area I could really improve.
Are you a tv junkie like myself? Do you have shows that inspire you? Don't just sit there and admire them, take action and make changes for yourself.
I have also really enjoyed Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. This is the show that takes one person, who is usually heavier than most people on The Biggest Loser, and works with them for a year. These people have so much work to do. They usually have at least 200 lbs to lose and I can't even imagine how they feel. I have seen them lose the total of weight I need to lose and are still only half way done. I have such a respect for the hard work they put in to make big changes and I know that it isn't easy.
One more show I enjoy as an inspiration is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. This isn't a show about weight loss, but about eating foods that are good for us and I know those two things go hand in hand. His goals are mostly geared towards schools, but I believe he truly cares about people and showing them how to eat right. I know that dieting sometimes consists of lots of processed foods, artificial sweeteners and foods with lots of preservatives. This is another thing I know I should avoid, but don't do the best job. I do try to eat lots of natural food and avoid processed foods, but sometimes it's hard to avoid. His general rule is that if the list of ingredients has things that you don't know what they are, then you should not eat it. This kind of hit me the other day when I was drinking some diet lemonade that I had bought. I had no clue what 90% of the ingredients were. I guess this is one area I could really improve.
Are you a tv junkie like myself? Do you have shows that inspire you? Don't just sit there and admire them, take action and make changes for yourself.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Working hard
Just in case you are really curious, I am still working on getting a picture taken so I can show you my progress. A friend has volunteered to take some for me tomorrow, so hopefully, you can see soon. But, before I show them, I just want to make sure you know that this did not happen to me overnight. I know that sometimes it's hard to see that transformation in someone else and forget that it took a lot of hard work to get there. Before I started to lose weight, I felt like this was something that would take me "forever". And I think that's one of the reasons I waited so long to begin. I thought the road would be way too long and way too hard. Well, it has been long, and it has been hard, but nothing beats the satisfaction of all that hard work paying off. The weight does come off slowly and so make sure that you have small goals set for yourself to prevent getting discouraged. For me, it was hard to see that 240 lbs go to 238 lbs. It doesn't really seem like much of a difference, but I didn't gain all that weight in a few weeks and it's not going to come off in just a few weeks. Just know that all those little successes do pay off. Each pound lost is one less weighing you down.
Another thing that I have learned to do is to get rid of all those clothes that I used to wear. I mean really, why would I want that stuff clogging up my closet. I think it would be too easy for me to slip back into some of it if it was still hanging around, but now that it is gone, I have no excuses. And let me tell you, the thrift store has seen some big deliveries from me lately. And, instead of going out to buy clothes for myself during this transitional time, I have relied on some good friends who used to be this size. They have lent me their items that are too big, so at least I have something. If I bought a pair of size 16 pants, I think I could have been tempted to stay in them a while and get my money's worth out of them. So, if you have lent me clothes, bless you.
One more thing for today. I found the Weight Watchers official Facebook page the other day and noticed that they are looking for people who have met their goal weight to star in some commercials for them. Now, I am not looking for fame or stardome and I'm not really sure if I would be comfortable with that, but I am bummed that I am not eligible because I haven't hit my goal weight yet. I am about 20 lbs away from my WW goal. I just love being able to share my story and find someone that can relate and realize that they can do it too. I think that is what helped me get started. Finding someone that I could relate to and watch them make those changes.
Another thing that I have learned to do is to get rid of all those clothes that I used to wear. I mean really, why would I want that stuff clogging up my closet. I think it would be too easy for me to slip back into some of it if it was still hanging around, but now that it is gone, I have no excuses. And let me tell you, the thrift store has seen some big deliveries from me lately. And, instead of going out to buy clothes for myself during this transitional time, I have relied on some good friends who used to be this size. They have lent me their items that are too big, so at least I have something. If I bought a pair of size 16 pants, I think I could have been tempted to stay in them a while and get my money's worth out of them. So, if you have lent me clothes, bless you.
One more thing for today. I found the Weight Watchers official Facebook page the other day and noticed that they are looking for people who have met their goal weight to star in some commercials for them. Now, I am not looking for fame or stardome and I'm not really sure if I would be comfortable with that, but I am bummed that I am not eligible because I haven't hit my goal weight yet. I am about 20 lbs away from my WW goal. I just love being able to share my story and find someone that can relate and realize that they can do it too. I think that is what helped me get started. Finding someone that I could relate to and watch them make those changes.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Kids
I love to talk about my kids. I have three wonderful boys. Chase turned 7 last week, Joel will be turning 2 in September, and Isaac will be 1 in October. They are a handfull and keep me very busy. I guess that's one of the ways I stay active. And, now that I am feeling better, I want to be more active with them. They love to be outside and go to the park. When I was heavy, I used to sit on the side at the park and not want to exert myself at all. Now, I look forward to playing with them and letting them help me stay active.
They also help me to eat less. Joel is best at this. He is always by my side wanting to take a bite of whatever it is that I am eating. I have said a few times that I think WW needs a "shared with a toddler" option so that it takes away a few of the points for your serving. It never fails that I fix myself a sandwich and I end up with only 3/4 of it. But that's ok. Before I thought about what I was eating, I would probably have fixed a second sandwich to make up for what I had shared and probably ended up eating about 1 and 3/4 sandwiches. Now, I still count my whole sandwich even though I lost a few bites and call it good. So, if you don't have your own hungry toddler at home, I highly recommend getting one, they are great to have around.
Chase, who is the oldest, is a great helper. I can ask him to do just about anything and he is willing to do it, but I used to use this as a reason to sit on my rear end and do as little as possible. I would ask Chase to go get me this and take care of that. I even made sure Joel knew how to throw away his own diapers and get a kleenex when I needed it. Now, I am very conscious about asking the kids to do something that I know I am capable of doing. In a pinch, I will still ask for their help and I do still expect them to help out around the house, but it's not because I am being too lazy and don't want to get up. Before I ask them to help, I really think about if I really need assistance or if I could do it myself and get moving a little more. I believe all those little things really do add up to make a big difference in getting active.
They also help me to eat less. Joel is best at this. He is always by my side wanting to take a bite of whatever it is that I am eating. I have said a few times that I think WW needs a "shared with a toddler" option so that it takes away a few of the points for your serving. It never fails that I fix myself a sandwich and I end up with only 3/4 of it. But that's ok. Before I thought about what I was eating, I would probably have fixed a second sandwich to make up for what I had shared and probably ended up eating about 1 and 3/4 sandwiches. Now, I still count my whole sandwich even though I lost a few bites and call it good. So, if you don't have your own hungry toddler at home, I highly recommend getting one, they are great to have around.
Chase, who is the oldest, is a great helper. I can ask him to do just about anything and he is willing to do it, but I used to use this as a reason to sit on my rear end and do as little as possible. I would ask Chase to go get me this and take care of that. I even made sure Joel knew how to throw away his own diapers and get a kleenex when I needed it. Now, I am very conscious about asking the kids to do something that I know I am capable of doing. In a pinch, I will still ask for their help and I do still expect them to help out around the house, but it's not because I am being too lazy and don't want to get up. Before I ask them to help, I really think about if I really need assistance or if I could do it myself and get moving a little more. I believe all those little things really do add up to make a big difference in getting active.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Things I've learned
I knew a lot about healthy eating before I started. I think most of us do. It's shared with us in every way possible, it's just up to us if we heed that advice and put it into practice, which is the hard part. Here are some things that I learned along the way that have made this possible for me.
Don't go "cold turkey". Don't start out so hard core that you are ready to give up the first week because all you've eaten is chicken and broccoli. Ease into it slowly. You will still see results and it will give you a place to make changes later when things get a little harder.
Treat yourself. I don't mean every day. I have learned that dessert is a treat. It does not need to be eaten every day (or after every meal for that matter). But, if you give up your favorite sweets, forever, you will probably feel deprived and want to overdo it. I keep a bag of hershey's kisses in the house for when I need some sweets. They are small and I can have about 5 of them without hurting my points allowance very bad.
Chew gum. I found the dessert delights gum that was sweet and kept my mouth busy for a while and that kept me from going to get something to eat just because I was bored. And that is one of my big reasons for eating, so it helped a lot.
Have a back-up plan. Lots of advice I had seen said that you needed a plan for your day so you knew what you were going to eat and didn't eat junk because you didn't know what else to eat. Well, I am a busy momma of three little boys, and I can barely think ahead to the next diaper change, let alone all my food intake for a day, but what I did have was a back-up plan. When dinner time rolled around and I hadn't figured out a nice healthy meal to fix, I would fix myself a sandwich. Regardless of what I gave everybody else to eat, I at least had something that fit well in my day. I found Healthy Life bread that is only 1 point per slice, used lunch meat and one slice of cheese.
Be prepared. I'm not talking boy-scout level preparedness here, but when you know you are getting ready to go somewhere that there will be food that isn't exactly on your diet, take some fruit (or a fiber bar) with you and eat it on the way. That way, you aren't famished and eating anything you see just because you need something. Then, if you want to have a taste of a couple of things, you can stop after just a couple bites. This goes for all those BBQ's, picnics, family get togethers, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, etc. If you give yourself freedom to forget the diet for these "special ocassions", you will end up having one every week and not have changed your habbits at all.
Fit activity in wherever you can. My outlook on activity has completely changed. Before, I would really hate having to be the one to drag the trash out to the road once a week and bring the cans back up, but now I am eager to do it because it's a small opportunity for me to move around a little more and be active. Walk to places that are short distances, like the park, store, or bank. For me, this ends up being easier than the car since I have to load everyone up in and out of car seats and carry them into each building.
Well, I hope some of this advice is helpful and something you can use to make your journey a successful one. Don't be scared, just jump in and do it.
Don't go "cold turkey". Don't start out so hard core that you are ready to give up the first week because all you've eaten is chicken and broccoli. Ease into it slowly. You will still see results and it will give you a place to make changes later when things get a little harder.
Treat yourself. I don't mean every day. I have learned that dessert is a treat. It does not need to be eaten every day (or after every meal for that matter). But, if you give up your favorite sweets, forever, you will probably feel deprived and want to overdo it. I keep a bag of hershey's kisses in the house for when I need some sweets. They are small and I can have about 5 of them without hurting my points allowance very bad.
Chew gum. I found the dessert delights gum that was sweet and kept my mouth busy for a while and that kept me from going to get something to eat just because I was bored. And that is one of my big reasons for eating, so it helped a lot.
Have a back-up plan. Lots of advice I had seen said that you needed a plan for your day so you knew what you were going to eat and didn't eat junk because you didn't know what else to eat. Well, I am a busy momma of three little boys, and I can barely think ahead to the next diaper change, let alone all my food intake for a day, but what I did have was a back-up plan. When dinner time rolled around and I hadn't figured out a nice healthy meal to fix, I would fix myself a sandwich. Regardless of what I gave everybody else to eat, I at least had something that fit well in my day. I found Healthy Life bread that is only 1 point per slice, used lunch meat and one slice of cheese.
Be prepared. I'm not talking boy-scout level preparedness here, but when you know you are getting ready to go somewhere that there will be food that isn't exactly on your diet, take some fruit (or a fiber bar) with you and eat it on the way. That way, you aren't famished and eating anything you see just because you need something. Then, if you want to have a taste of a couple of things, you can stop after just a couple bites. This goes for all those BBQ's, picnics, family get togethers, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, etc. If you give yourself freedom to forget the diet for these "special ocassions", you will end up having one every week and not have changed your habbits at all.
Fit activity in wherever you can. My outlook on activity has completely changed. Before, I would really hate having to be the one to drag the trash out to the road once a week and bring the cans back up, but now I am eager to do it because it's a small opportunity for me to move around a little more and be active. Walk to places that are short distances, like the park, store, or bank. For me, this ends up being easier than the car since I have to load everyone up in and out of car seats and carry them into each building.
Well, I hope some of this advice is helpful and something you can use to make your journey a successful one. Don't be scared, just jump in and do it.
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