The 2.5 weeks since my last check in have been very emotional. I have learned an important message with my weight loss, it is not just about the weight being shed... I have been learning that I am beautiful, it is scary that it took me until I was 26 years old to start looking at myself in the mirror and seeing beauty on the outside, thinking that I am worthy of the positive attention that I am beginning to receive from others. What is scarier is that some women are much older than I am when they realize this and even more never get there. I feel beautiful and confident in myself... Although, the confidence is something that is gradually gaining momentum. I can't wait for these last two weeks to pass and my dh to come home on leave. I know that he will be blown away by the changes in his wife, a woman he has known for ten years.
So where am I in my weight loss journey? I weigh 182.5, meaning that I've lost 4 pounds since last time. My body fat percentage is at 26.7%, still getting healthier... My BMI is 30.4, hopefully by this time next month I will have hit a 29.9, making me overweight but not obese. My waist, hips and chest are what please me the most, they are respectively 33, 43.25, and 43. That's right, I can call myself an hourglass!
What is my biggest accomplishment? I fit into the only pair of jeans I saved from when I was 18 after my first miscarriage. I danced around the room yesterday when I tried them on. The most exciting part of that is that I actually weigh about 10lbs more these days, but it must be muscle and I must be tighter.
The other day, I was driving down the road and just started thanking God for this transformation He has allowed to take place in my life. It started on the outside, but it has become so much more and it has caused me to truly appreciate all of the gifts he has given me... My husband, who has in the past month given me an outpouring of love and support using words to tell me how proud he is of me, which is not an easy thing for him. My children, who have kept me active and especially my little girl who I never want to suffer through weight issues and am hoping that this change in me will provide her with the right example. My workout buddy, who has pointed out the changes in my body and given me a sense of accountability where the gym is concerned. God put her in my life at exactly the right moment and she has become a great friend who I am so thankful for.
As you go along your own weight loss journey, be prepared for the old emotional wounds to be reopened so that they can truly heal. It is painful, but when you come out the other side... Wow.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March Check in + 15 days
I know that I'm delayed doing this, but I've had some fantastic company this past month and it totally let me slide past the calorie counting, weight loss, and everything else. I'm not going to be too hard on myself, March was a fun month with a lot of food and I was out of the gym for a whole week due to an upper respiratory infection.
So where am I? I weigh 186.5 which means I've gone up. My bmi is 30.9, but my body fat (which takes into account muscle weight) is 28%, this means that I am comfortably in the "healthy" category for body fat. I'm not going to complain! My waist is 33.75" and my chest is at 43". My hips are 44.5". That vavavoom kind of sexy is definitely on it's way. Most of my clothes are larges and I'm comfortably into size 14's.
The biggest thing I have changes this month is my workout. I am really beginning to hit the weights. I've dedicated myself to twice a week at least. I also have been swimming once a week. The first week it took me 25min to swim a half mile, the last time it took me 20min. Every morning I am itching to get into the gym and within hours of getting out, I'm thinking what should I do tomorrow? I don't want to plateau so I'm starting to hit the bikes and treadmill instead of the elyptical. Right now, my arms are tired from the weights so I better stop typing and go rest them.
Only thing left to say is my hubby won't know what to do with himself come R&R!
So where am I? I weigh 186.5 which means I've gone up. My bmi is 30.9, but my body fat (which takes into account muscle weight) is 28%, this means that I am comfortably in the "healthy" category for body fat. I'm not going to complain! My waist is 33.75" and my chest is at 43". My hips are 44.5". That vavavoom kind of sexy is definitely on it's way. Most of my clothes are larges and I'm comfortably into size 14's.
The biggest thing I have changes this month is my workout. I am really beginning to hit the weights. I've dedicated myself to twice a week at least. I also have been swimming once a week. The first week it took me 25min to swim a half mile, the last time it took me 20min. Every morning I am itching to get into the gym and within hours of getting out, I'm thinking what should I do tomorrow? I don't want to plateau so I'm starting to hit the bikes and treadmill instead of the elyptical. Right now, my arms are tired from the weights so I better stop typing and go rest them.
Only thing left to say is my hubby won't know what to do with himself come R&R!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Falling off the wagon, a little...
Well, we are now into the fifth month of my dh's deployment and beginning month six of my weight loss journey. It is also girl scout cookie time... You are all thinking yum yum, as did I when I downed the entire box of tagalongs right after they were delivered. Every bite of that chocolaty peanut butter goodness was savored. Two mornings later I woke up and found that I had gained 2 lbs... I was not happy and that was the slap I needed to get back in line... Everything in moderation, even girl scout cookies.
Even with that little lapse (temptations are always around us) I have managed to get down to 184.5 as of this morning. My waist is at 34.5'and my hips at 45'. Having started to track my body fat I am very happy to say that it is now measured at 27.4% which is in the "acceptable" range. My BMI is down to 30.7. I also went ahead and measured my chest, seeing as my bras are starting to not fit as well... I've actually gone down a band size and up a cup size! I guess that I have efficiently shown that losing weight doesn't mean you have to lose the girls.
Obviously, this month had ups and downs, had those tagalongs not come along I'd probably be around 182.5 right now, but oh well, I can't do anything about that, can I? I am celebrating where I am. I went into a store yesterday and decided that if I bought anything it would have to be a size 14 or a L. I came out with a new skirt, new pair of jeans and two blouses. I must say, I am ecstatic. I've not worn a 14 since before Alice was conceived and now here I am, wearing them. I am in better shape today than I've been since I was a teenager and my arms that I have always hated are starting to not be as despicable. The goal for this time in March? 178
So, I've had people ask me what I'm doing and also how I fend off those cravings. In addition, there have been requests for before and after pics. First, how am I doing this? Loseit.com on my iPod is my constant companion. I check everything on there before I eat it if I'm out to eat. This saves me from ordering something that is equal to my daily calorie requirement. I actually eat at McDonald's once a week and have still been doing this. I also work out 3-5 times a week, which is definitely helpful. At Starbucks I order nonfat drinks, but I stay away from artificial sugars everywhere... I just won't go there, but that's me. To satisfy the cravings, buy Skinny Cow or some of the Weight Watchers (there are a few that don't have artificial sweeteners) Ice Cream Bars. They are a nice little treat at the end of the day and I can budget in one a day without it being too much of a caloric bullet. Not to mention, the fiber in those wonderful desserts allow my body to process the sugar more effectively. Thank you Skinny Cow! As for before and after pictures... I'm not to the after part yet, but I think I can oblige by sharing at least two pics. The first was taken in August 2010, I was around 216, and let me just say, it was hard to find a picture of me from last summer because I avoided cameras. The second was taken today by a friend of mine who is on her own inspiring weight loss journey.
Even with that little lapse (temptations are always around us) I have managed to get down to 184.5 as of this morning. My waist is at 34.5'and my hips at 45'. Having started to track my body fat I am very happy to say that it is now measured at 27.4% which is in the "acceptable" range. My BMI is down to 30.7. I also went ahead and measured my chest, seeing as my bras are starting to not fit as well... I've actually gone down a band size and up a cup size! I guess that I have efficiently shown that losing weight doesn't mean you have to lose the girls.
Obviously, this month had ups and downs, had those tagalongs not come along I'd probably be around 182.5 right now, but oh well, I can't do anything about that, can I? I am celebrating where I am. I went into a store yesterday and decided that if I bought anything it would have to be a size 14 or a L. I came out with a new skirt, new pair of jeans and two blouses. I must say, I am ecstatic. I've not worn a 14 since before Alice was conceived and now here I am, wearing them. I am in better shape today than I've been since I was a teenager and my arms that I have always hated are starting to not be as despicable. The goal for this time in March? 178
So, I've had people ask me what I'm doing and also how I fend off those cravings. In addition, there have been requests for before and after pics. First, how am I doing this? Loseit.com on my iPod is my constant companion. I check everything on there before I eat it if I'm out to eat. This saves me from ordering something that is equal to my daily calorie requirement. I actually eat at McDonald's once a week and have still been doing this. I also work out 3-5 times a week, which is definitely helpful. At Starbucks I order nonfat drinks, but I stay away from artificial sugars everywhere... I just won't go there, but that's me. To satisfy the cravings, buy Skinny Cow or some of the Weight Watchers (there are a few that don't have artificial sweeteners) Ice Cream Bars. They are a nice little treat at the end of the day and I can budget in one a day without it being too much of a caloric bullet. Not to mention, the fiber in those wonderful desserts allow my body to process the sugar more effectively. Thank you Skinny Cow! As for before and after pictures... I'm not to the after part yet, but I think I can oblige by sharing at least two pics. The first was taken in August 2010, I was around 216, and let me just say, it was hard to find a picture of me from last summer because I avoided cameras. The second was taken today by a friend of mine who is on her own inspiring weight loss journey.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Promises to myself
It is a new year and I already feel like a new me. Actually, more like a better version of the me that I used to be. I'm more energetic with my children, have an honest desire to work out and I've not been having any real issues keeping to my health conscious goals. Coming back from Christmas, I expected to have gained weight, but I had in fact lost 1lb. Not my normal 1.5 per week, but given all the yummy food, I'm not complaining.
So where am I now? I weigh 189lbs, if I lose seven more, I'll be at what has been my all time post Alice low. That is incredible to me that in four years I've not gotten under 182, but I know that by mid March, I'll be there, maybe even sooner! What is even better are the inches coming off of my whole body, it is insane! I have a 35' waist (imagine that being something to be excited about) and my hips are at 45.5. My husband would be happy to see that my chest is the same as ever, but he is still "over there". The reality is that I have only 1.5' between my hips and my chest, though, making me an hourglass. I look at myself these days and see a va va voom kind of attractiveness that I've been missing for the last several years.
This past month I've also been reading body fat verses BMI, which is more important? I don't honestly know but what I have decided to do is to pay attention to both. Why? My guess is that they will both put me in about the same place at about the same time, but honestly, I'm just curious. So, my BMI is 31.4 (this is calculated by height/weight). My body fat is at 28.2% (this is calculated based on different measurements around your body), and that puts me in the "acceptable" range, but 22% is where I want to get to.
How far have I come? When I first decided in May to start this blog and to have it chronicle my weight loss and a little bit of my self-discovery, I weighed 203lbs. Over the summer, I gained somewhere between 11-13 lbs, which was definitely not the intention. I got serious about the Y at the beginning of August and weighed 214 when the trainer there tested me and I had a 39.5' waist. So, since then I have lost 25 lbs, 4.5' off of my waist and God knows how many inches off my hips (the last time I wrote that down was in January and they were 50.75').
I also look in the mirror and can be proud of the woman I see in front of me. I am showing my daughter that it is important to take control of her health and be concerned with what she puts into her mouth. I am showing my husband that I care about him and myself enough to shed the weight I have been carrying around since I was 18. I am showing God that I have respect for this body that he so graciously gave me and that I will treat it with care from now on. Best of all, I am showing myself for the first time in my life that I can follow an exercise regimen and be disciplined about what I eat. I fight the urge to emotionally eat these days and I keep healthy options around me.
I have 39lbs to go to be where I was when at 15 I met the love of my life. If I keep working to lose 1.5lbs per week, I'll be there by the last week of July, but I'd love to see myself do it by the first week!
Being healthy isn't an option for me anymore, and it shouldn't be for you either. Every excuse I used (time, the kids, tired) just seems worthless now because the healthier I am the less I worry about those other things.
So where am I now? I weigh 189lbs, if I lose seven more, I'll be at what has been my all time post Alice low. That is incredible to me that in four years I've not gotten under 182, but I know that by mid March, I'll be there, maybe even sooner! What is even better are the inches coming off of my whole body, it is insane! I have a 35' waist (imagine that being something to be excited about) and my hips are at 45.5. My husband would be happy to see that my chest is the same as ever, but he is still "over there". The reality is that I have only 1.5' between my hips and my chest, though, making me an hourglass. I look at myself these days and see a va va voom kind of attractiveness that I've been missing for the last several years.
This past month I've also been reading body fat verses BMI, which is more important? I don't honestly know but what I have decided to do is to pay attention to both. Why? My guess is that they will both put me in about the same place at about the same time, but honestly, I'm just curious. So, my BMI is 31.4 (this is calculated by height/weight). My body fat is at 28.2% (this is calculated based on different measurements around your body), and that puts me in the "acceptable" range, but 22% is where I want to get to.
How far have I come? When I first decided in May to start this blog and to have it chronicle my weight loss and a little bit of my self-discovery, I weighed 203lbs. Over the summer, I gained somewhere between 11-13 lbs, which was definitely not the intention. I got serious about the Y at the beginning of August and weighed 214 when the trainer there tested me and I had a 39.5' waist. So, since then I have lost 25 lbs, 4.5' off of my waist and God knows how many inches off my hips (the last time I wrote that down was in January and they were 50.75').
I also look in the mirror and can be proud of the woman I see in front of me. I am showing my daughter that it is important to take control of her health and be concerned with what she puts into her mouth. I am showing my husband that I care about him and myself enough to shed the weight I have been carrying around since I was 18. I am showing God that I have respect for this body that he so graciously gave me and that I will treat it with care from now on. Best of all, I am showing myself for the first time in my life that I can follow an exercise regimen and be disciplined about what I eat. I fight the urge to emotionally eat these days and I keep healthy options around me.
I have 39lbs to go to be where I was when at 15 I met the love of my life. If I keep working to lose 1.5lbs per week, I'll be there by the last week of July, but I'd love to see myself do it by the first week!
Being healthy isn't an option for me anymore, and it shouldn't be for you either. Every excuse I used (time, the kids, tired) just seems worthless now because the healthier I am the less I worry about those other things.
Friday, December 17, 2010
White Christmas?
I love White Christmas, the movie and the real thing. Unfortunately, the closest I will get to it is white sandy beaches this year. Most people would be thrilled, but I'm not. I would much rather a white Christmas, alone at home with my children and husband much like last year's. I can handle this alternative though, it will be an opportunity to spend some extra time with my family.
So, it has been four months since my family has last seen me and I've lost even more weight. I'm at 192 lbs, which is four pounds less than I was when I got pregnant with Baby #2. My waist is also at a 36.5 now. Not too bad I guess. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I'm looking forward to getting down to 150lbs, it won't be a long time now. I've lost 22 lbs since my high of 214 and I have another 42 to go... I'm a third of the way there. I checked out what my Body Fat was, it is 30.8%. Anything over 30% is considered unhealthy. Once I hit 29.9% I will lose be considered "acceptable" with my body fat, that isn't that far away. The frustrating thing is that the size 16s are mostly too small and the 18s too big.
I'll make sure to check in next year.
So, it has been four months since my family has last seen me and I've lost even more weight. I'm at 192 lbs, which is four pounds less than I was when I got pregnant with Baby #2. My waist is also at a 36.5 now. Not too bad I guess. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I'm looking forward to getting down to 150lbs, it won't be a long time now. I've lost 22 lbs since my high of 214 and I have another 42 to go... I'm a third of the way there. I checked out what my Body Fat was, it is 30.8%. Anything over 30% is considered unhealthy. Once I hit 29.9% I will lose be considered "acceptable" with my body fat, that isn't that far away. The frustrating thing is that the size 16s are mostly too small and the 18s too big.
I'll make sure to check in next year.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
monthly update
Well, deployment stinks, anyone who has gone through that knows already and I am sure the people who have not yet, don't believe that it is a picnic. Honestly, though, it isn't nearly as bad as I imagined... We are all doing okay, enjoying our days. Of course we miss our soldier's presence in our day to day life, but we have adjusted quite well. I actually just got done putting the rest of his laundry away, I guess I'll have a little less to do for the next however many months.
With the hubby gone, I've been working on self improvement. Learning to eat in moderation, working out regularly, taking the kids on walks, these are all a part of my life now. I have to say, I feel a lot more energetic these days and he hasn't been gone a full three weeks. So where am I in my goals? I weigh 205 pounds as of last Thursday (I'll weigh in again tomorrow). My waist is also down to 37 inches. Not too bad at all. I'm also noticing some more muscle definition... Working towards such a big goal is not always easy and does take quite a bit of time, but I'm discovering that it is totally worth it. Who knows, I could look like a completely different person by the time the hubby comes home on leave... Now, that would be a treat!
Take care y'all.
With the hubby gone, I've been working on self improvement. Learning to eat in moderation, working out regularly, taking the kids on walks, these are all a part of my life now. I have to say, I feel a lot more energetic these days and he hasn't been gone a full three weeks. So where am I in my goals? I weigh 205 pounds as of last Thursday (I'll weigh in again tomorrow). My waist is also down to 37 inches. Not too bad at all. I'm also noticing some more muscle definition... Working towards such a big goal is not always easy and does take quite a bit of time, but I'm discovering that it is totally worth it. Who knows, I could look like a completely different person by the time the hubby comes home on leave... Now, that would be a treat!
Take care y'all.
Monday, September 13, 2010
All things have their season
Last week we kicked off a "Walk to Iraq" with the hubby's battalion. I couldn't help but notice the beautiful change in nature that has happened in the last few weeks. Leaves have started to change colors, the weather has a touch of crispness in it. Fall is coming. With fall comes baked apples, pumpkin everything, Halloween and Thanksgiving. My husband won't be here for those events this year. This makes it a little bittersweet, as Fall is my favorite time of year.
All of the thoughts caused me to think about Ephesians and the verse "All things have their season." Being separated is just a season in our marriage, one that will eventually pass. This makes the thought of me being away from my husband a little easier to handle. In my life I have gone through many seasons, what is one small season of my marriage, it is nothing when I put it against the time we have spent together. Over this year many things will change, but the love I feel for my husband... The prayers I pray for him and our children... Those things will stay the same. What season of life are you in?
One of my primary focuses as deployment nears is to get into better health. I have been working out 3-5 times per week for going on four weeks and am starting to feel a little down. Two weeks ago I weighed 209, now 208. However, four months ago my waist measured 38.5, today it was a 37. That is definitely not a bad start, but I can't help but feel a little frustrated that the weight isn't coming off faster. It would be nice to wake up twenty pounds lighter tomorrow... Since that won't happen, the next best thing would probably be to keep working and eventually reach that 60lb lighter goal.
All of the thoughts caused me to think about Ephesians and the verse "All things have their season." Being separated is just a season in our marriage, one that will eventually pass. This makes the thought of me being away from my husband a little easier to handle. In my life I have gone through many seasons, what is one small season of my marriage, it is nothing when I put it against the time we have spent together. Over this year many things will change, but the love I feel for my husband... The prayers I pray for him and our children... Those things will stay the same. What season of life are you in?
One of my primary focuses as deployment nears is to get into better health. I have been working out 3-5 times per week for going on four weeks and am starting to feel a little down. Two weeks ago I weighed 209, now 208. However, four months ago my waist measured 38.5, today it was a 37. That is definitely not a bad start, but I can't help but feel a little frustrated that the weight isn't coming off faster. It would be nice to wake up twenty pounds lighter tomorrow... Since that won't happen, the next best thing would probably be to keep working and eventually reach that 60lb lighter goal.
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