I know, it's been along time. Life has been crazy busy!
I'm still on my diet, though I've changed from salads to sandwiches with low fat cheese, healthy meats, and low calorie bread with fruit as a side dish for lunch, but I'm still within my counts. Though I'm having a super hard time sticking with any type of exercise program. I seem to be able to do whatever I plan on Monday, and sometimes Tuesday if I don't have to go to court, but by either Tuesday or Wednesday, I'm discouraged, tired, and just don't want to get up any earlier than necessary to just get ready and go to work.
So anyway-to the really great news! I've lost 19.4 pounds!!! I have 5.6 pounds to go to get to my first mini goal of 25 pounds, and I should be able to do it by our aniversary trip! Rob and I are going to the city for our aniversary the weekend after Thanksgiving while friends stay at our house and take care of our four critter children. We'll have been together and dating for 3 years on November 27th. Its nothing really big, I'm leaving work early and Rob is too, then we're headed to OKC to check into our hotel, have dinner, and hit the hot tub, then the next day we'll spend at the zoo, have dinner, and see a movie. The last day we'll have lunch and head home. Just a little get-away us time. I can't wait!
I also have discovered I have lost a size in clothing! We have a K-Mart in town, and I went with my mom and her friend when they came to visit. I ended up getting two shirts and a new skirt in a smaller size, 2X (I had been wearing a 3X), thinking that since I was losing weight I would be able to wear them, hopefully by the trip. I got home to kind of try them on that night and discovered that they fit fine right now! This was about 3 weeks ago. This past weekend my parents were here and mom and I went back to K-Mart and I found two summer dresses that are the same smaller size that fit great too, and I have a shrug at home that works great already with the two dresses. The best news, the first three pieces were $22 each for two of them, and $18 for the other, but I only paid $3 each! And the two summer dresses were $33 and $25, but I only paid $2 each!! So in all I spend $13 and saved $107!!!
So, my goal for each month is to lose at least 10 pounds a month. I'm at 265.6 now (started at 284), and my goal is to be at lease to 255 by our aniversary trip which starts a month from tomorrow. Think I can do it??
Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
The Next Step
A little change for phase 3. I'm not feeling the 30 Day Shred is doing much good other than making me hurt every day and have no energy. Exercising is supposed to give you energy, and I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't be doing that video every day because of the weight lifting that is in it, I'm not allowing my muscles any recovery period. So the exercise part of phase 3 is being changed from 6 days a week doing all three circuts of the first level of 30 Day Shred to doing the video every other day of the 6 days and attempting to jog the other three.
I say attempting because I've never been a runner or jogger. It's going to have to be a little at a time, because with my hip wearing out I have to be careful how much impact I get, and at 272 pounds, that's a lot of impact with every step. So, the plan is this. We live in the middle of the long side of a block, so I'm going to walk to one end to warm up, jog the short side, walk the next long side, jog the next short side, then walk back to the house and repeat for at least 2 laps this first week, and add an additional lap each week for the next two weeks. Then I'm going to start adding more jogging time to each lap until I'm walking from the house to the first corner to warm up, jogging the rest of that lap, the next three laps, and all but the last half of the last long side of the block on the last lap, then walking the last half of the long side of the block back to the house as a cool down. If I can accomplish that, then I'll start working on jogging the full 7/10 of a mile area around our neighborhood that we currently walk every night twice.
The rest of the exercising for phase three includes two laps 6 nights a week around our 7/10 mile area in our neighborhood.
Next, I'm happy to have my sweetheart on board with me for our new diet plan! We're starting this week counting calories, with me getting 1200-1300 a day and Rob getting 1300-1400 a day. Plus, our fat is less than 30 grams for me, less than 50 grams for him, carbs are 150 grams or less for me and 175 grams or less for him, and finally protein is 60 or more grams a day for each of us. Also we're drinking at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day. I have to put some flavoring in mine but Rob likes it plain. My favorite to use is the Mio Southern Sweet Tea and the Mio Lemonade mixed with the Mio Black Cherry.
So today was the first day of our diet. It went fairly well. We have an Thomas's English Muffin with a wedge of Laughing Cow Cream Cheese (strawberry for Rob, Cinnamon for me), one scrambled egg, one slice of turkey bacon, and either a glass of OJ for Rob or a small can of V8 for me, plus a serving of fruit (one small apple, cup of grapes, etc).
For lunch, we have two cups of lettuce, 1/2 ounce of shredded carrot, 2 ounces of cucumber, 1 1/2 baby bell pepper, and 2 ounces of mesquite smoked turkey for a chef salad with a lime juice/olive oil/oregano/Italian seasoning/garlic homemade vinegrette. We also have another serving of fruit as at breakfast, and a serving of low fat dairy (pepper jack cheese for Rob, cottage cheese for me).
Dinner each night is different, but it will be the same choices for the next few weeks until we get tired of it and decide to create new healthy meals. Tonight we each had 4 ounces of boneless pork chop-trimmed of fat-and covered with half of a can of 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup ( I just put the other half of the can in a bowl and put it in the freezer for next week). For sides, we each had a cup of cooked glazed carrots, and Rob had a half cup of peas, and I had a cup of steamed cabbage. For desert every night, we get one ounce of dark chocolate (we're using the Giradelli's bittersweet chocolate chips from the baking asile. It's cheaper and tastes just as good!).
Because of our work schedules, we're both having breakfast about 7am, lunch at noon, then don't get dinner cooked and ready to eat until about 7pm. So we have an afternoon snack of 1 ounce of nuts-Rob has cachews and I have pistashios.
Like I said, so far so good. We'll see how this week goes. I only purchased the weeks groceries from the diet list, so we have no choice but to stick to it this week. I figure if we can get through this week it should be easier to do it next week and the next and so on. I really want to lose at least one size if not two by our anniversary weekend trip (the weekend after Thanksgiving).
I say attempting because I've never been a runner or jogger. It's going to have to be a little at a time, because with my hip wearing out I have to be careful how much impact I get, and at 272 pounds, that's a lot of impact with every step. So, the plan is this. We live in the middle of the long side of a block, so I'm going to walk to one end to warm up, jog the short side, walk the next long side, jog the next short side, then walk back to the house and repeat for at least 2 laps this first week, and add an additional lap each week for the next two weeks. Then I'm going to start adding more jogging time to each lap until I'm walking from the house to the first corner to warm up, jogging the rest of that lap, the next three laps, and all but the last half of the last long side of the block on the last lap, then walking the last half of the long side of the block back to the house as a cool down. If I can accomplish that, then I'll start working on jogging the full 7/10 of a mile area around our neighborhood that we currently walk every night twice.
The rest of the exercising for phase three includes two laps 6 nights a week around our 7/10 mile area in our neighborhood.
Next, I'm happy to have my sweetheart on board with me for our new diet plan! We're starting this week counting calories, with me getting 1200-1300 a day and Rob getting 1300-1400 a day. Plus, our fat is less than 30 grams for me, less than 50 grams for him, carbs are 150 grams or less for me and 175 grams or less for him, and finally protein is 60 or more grams a day for each of us. Also we're drinking at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day. I have to put some flavoring in mine but Rob likes it plain. My favorite to use is the Mio Southern Sweet Tea and the Mio Lemonade mixed with the Mio Black Cherry.
So today was the first day of our diet. It went fairly well. We have an Thomas's English Muffin with a wedge of Laughing Cow Cream Cheese (strawberry for Rob, Cinnamon for me), one scrambled egg, one slice of turkey bacon, and either a glass of OJ for Rob or a small can of V8 for me, plus a serving of fruit (one small apple, cup of grapes, etc).
For lunch, we have two cups of lettuce, 1/2 ounce of shredded carrot, 2 ounces of cucumber, 1 1/2 baby bell pepper, and 2 ounces of mesquite smoked turkey for a chef salad with a lime juice/olive oil/oregano/Italian seasoning/garlic homemade vinegrette. We also have another serving of fruit as at breakfast, and a serving of low fat dairy (pepper jack cheese for Rob, cottage cheese for me).
Dinner each night is different, but it will be the same choices for the next few weeks until we get tired of it and decide to create new healthy meals. Tonight we each had 4 ounces of boneless pork chop-trimmed of fat-and covered with half of a can of 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup ( I just put the other half of the can in a bowl and put it in the freezer for next week). For sides, we each had a cup of cooked glazed carrots, and Rob had a half cup of peas, and I had a cup of steamed cabbage. For desert every night, we get one ounce of dark chocolate (we're using the Giradelli's bittersweet chocolate chips from the baking asile. It's cheaper and tastes just as good!).
Because of our work schedules, we're both having breakfast about 7am, lunch at noon, then don't get dinner cooked and ready to eat until about 7pm. So we have an afternoon snack of 1 ounce of nuts-Rob has cachews and I have pistashios.
Like I said, so far so good. We'll see how this week goes. I only purchased the weeks groceries from the diet list, so we have no choice but to stick to it this week. I figure if we can get through this week it should be easier to do it next week and the next and so on. I really want to lose at least one size if not two by our anniversary weekend trip (the weekend after Thanksgiving).
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Bad Day
I'm getting really discouraged. I didn't work out or walk much at all last week, and barely watched what I ate. As a result, I gained back 4.4 pounds! Totally stinks (really need a stronger word here but trying to be nice).
I really need to get back into it, but I'm having a really hard time finding the motovation. I'm getting back into the old 'why bother if it's not going to stay off and I can't get below 12 pounds lost anyway' mindframe. I need to stop with this mind frame, but it's really hard. I've never been skinny, or even remotely thin, so I have a hard time seeing myself as anything but fat, and everytime I try doing something even remotely cardio, like jumping jacks, I get totally out of breath and just stop.
Really needing encouragement now!!!
I really need to get back into it, but I'm having a really hard time finding the motovation. I'm getting back into the old 'why bother if it's not going to stay off and I can't get below 12 pounds lost anyway' mindframe. I need to stop with this mind frame, but it's really hard. I've never been skinny, or even remotely thin, so I have a hard time seeing myself as anything but fat, and everytime I try doing something even remotely cardio, like jumping jacks, I get totally out of breath and just stop.
Really needing encouragement now!!!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Rough Patch
Well we've hit a bit of a rough patch. Yesterday morning I worked out but tired really easy. Last night we didn't go walking because Rob was feeling ill and my hip kept popping and hurting all day (I have a bad hip with little cartliadge left). This morning I had a meeting at work so I couldn't work out.
Tonight's walk isn't happening and probably not tomorrow's workout either-now I have the stomach bug from Rob. (bad boyfriend :)) So I'm thinking I'll take off tonight and tomorrow still to get better, then I have to do the grocery shopping tomorrow so it will be way too dark to go out by the time I get home. Saturday I WILL get back on track with the morning workouts and evening walks. I'm still going to repeat phase 2 though-didn't really get phase 2 acomplished this week.
It's been a rough week but I'll perserver and get back on the wagon and get busy! I must do this! Then I can get off some or all of those medications that fill up my nightstand drawer and cost me $134 every three months!
Until next time (probably Saturday evening). Keep pushing and working out!
Tonight's walk isn't happening and probably not tomorrow's workout either-now I have the stomach bug from Rob. (bad boyfriend :)) So I'm thinking I'll take off tonight and tomorrow still to get better, then I have to do the grocery shopping tomorrow so it will be way too dark to go out by the time I get home. Saturday I WILL get back on track with the morning workouts and evening walks. I'm still going to repeat phase 2 though-didn't really get phase 2 acomplished this week.
It's been a rough week but I'll perserver and get back on the wagon and get busy! I must do this! Then I can get off some or all of those medications that fill up my nightstand drawer and cost me $134 every three months!
Until next time (probably Saturday evening). Keep pushing and working out!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
TARANTULA!!
Yesterday was a bad day-I totally fell off the wagon. I did not work out, walk, or even come close to eating right at dinner time-we had cook-at-home pizza and cookies. Bad Michelle!
Sunday night's walk, however, was interesting. Rob and I went out, taking the girls (our dogs) with us, two each trip (we have four dogs). It had rained Saturday, so there were still some puddles that the sun hadn't dried, and the girls had fun hopping over them.
Suddenly, Rob yells "get her away, get her away!!!" I pull Katie to me (she's the littlest one, a Chiuauah/Jack Russel Mix), trying to figure out what he was talking about. Turns out what I thought was a pile of wet leaves in the dark (it was about 8:30 pm byt his time) was actually a rather large tarantula walking along the edge of the curb-right where Katie was walking. Now, I know she's a little dog, but that thing was huge-as big as her head! I'd never seen a tarantula before outside of a cage, so it gave me the creeps.
Needles to say, we will now be taking flashlights with us on our walks, despite the streetlights that give ample illumination in our neighborhood. We're also taking those Off Clip-On things. There's too many gnat swarms!
Tonight I will be good! We're having a healthy dinner and we're going walking. I wasn't able to work out this morning because I had court, but I will absolutely be working out tomorrow morning!
Until next time friends. Have a great day!
Sunday night's walk, however, was interesting. Rob and I went out, taking the girls (our dogs) with us, two each trip (we have four dogs). It had rained Saturday, so there were still some puddles that the sun hadn't dried, and the girls had fun hopping over them.
Suddenly, Rob yells "get her away, get her away!!!" I pull Katie to me (she's the littlest one, a Chiuauah/Jack Russel Mix), trying to figure out what he was talking about. Turns out what I thought was a pile of wet leaves in the dark (it was about 8:30 pm byt his time) was actually a rather large tarantula walking along the edge of the curb-right where Katie was walking. Now, I know she's a little dog, but that thing was huge-as big as her head! I'd never seen a tarantula before outside of a cage, so it gave me the creeps.
Needles to say, we will now be taking flashlights with us on our walks, despite the streetlights that give ample illumination in our neighborhood. We're also taking those Off Clip-On things. There's too many gnat swarms!
Tonight I will be good! We're having a healthy dinner and we're going walking. I wasn't able to work out this morning because I had court, but I will absolutely be working out tomorrow morning!
Until next time friends. Have a great day!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Just a Quick Disclaimer
I just thought I'd better throw this in for saftey!
I am in no way a medical professional. Everything written about or expressed in this blog is done by me, for me. If you want to try it, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise or nutrition program for weight loss, weight gain, or any other benefit, as I have done.
I am writing this for my own benefit and to inspire others to take control of their health-the right way, by talking to your doctor first!! I simply want to share my journey and help keep myself accountable, so that others will be inspired. Everyone needs someone to share this journey with, and I hope that by sharing mine it will help others to embark on a journey suited to their needs.
I am in no way a medical professional. Everything written about or expressed in this blog is done by me, for me. If you want to try it, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise or nutrition program for weight loss, weight gain, or any other benefit, as I have done.
I am writing this for my own benefit and to inspire others to take control of their health-the right way, by talking to your doctor first!! I simply want to share my journey and help keep myself accountable, so that others will be inspired. Everyone needs someone to share this journey with, and I hope that by sharing mine it will help others to embark on a journey suited to their needs.
The First 7 Days
Inspired by a friend of mine who is currently teaching in Japan and started a blog about her life there for those of us at home who miss her, I have decided to start this blog about my journey to lose weight and become healthier.
I have had too many false starts and good intentions that I've given up on in the past to count. I hope having this blog and (trying) to write every day will help keep me accountable, since it's online where everyone and anyone can read it and comment. I've actually stuck with it 7 full days so far, but taking it a bit at a time and starting in phases, introducing a new phase each week. I've already stuck with it longer than I have before, and hopefully this will continue.
I'll try to write every day, about my daily life, work towards my goals, and struggles with reaching them. My ultimate goal is to reach a size 12, or about 134 pounds in weight. I have a larger bone structure, so this is what my doctor recommends. Otherwise I'd look anorexic! I also have some health issues that I hope losing weight and becoming more active will reduce or eliminate either the condition (high blood pressure) or the medication I have to take for the disease (diabetes), plus taking the weight off will hopefully make it easier to move around. I have a bad hip with not much cartliadge left in it, and even walking gets painful after awhile.
So, my progress. I started (again) trying to walk at least four nights a week back in June, then stopped because it got so hot. I lost 9 pounds during that time (about a month), but got discouraged because it wasn't coming off and because it was so hot, even at dusk, I just didn't care if I exercised or not.
After a lot of soul searching, I'm finally going at it-in what I believe to be the right way, for me at least. I'm doing something each week, having weekly goals, and adding to what I do each week until I work up to where I want to be, then once that gets easy I'll add even more to it. I finally figured out that I'd do up a meal plan and workout plan, stick to it one day for the workout and maybe two or three with the meal's, then just give up, because I was trying to do too much all at once and it was too much.
I also decided I'd reward myself with something each week that I keep to my goals, but NOT with any kind of food. Nothing expensive, just something less than $10.00. If what I want is more than that, I put up the money each week I meet my goals until I have the money for the reward. I also have an ultimate reward-a new wardrobe-complete with bikini-and a cruise with my wonderful boyfriend (3 years this November 27th).
Anyway, I'd kept off that 9 pounds, much to my astonishment, and after this first week of really working, I've lost a total of 12.2 pounds! (I started at 284, now down to 271.8. I know it's not much to many people, but to me it's quite a milestone!)
Phase 1. A week ago tomorrow, I started with a workout video, Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I sat and watched the whole first session workout to see if I'd be able to physically do all of the steps (because of my hip) and to see what I'd need in way of equipment. Thankfully all I needed was a mat and dumbbells, which I had. Each session on the video (there are 3 session) has three different circuts (3 minutes of strength training, 2 of cardio, and 1 of abs each circut).
I wanted to try to do the whole video, but quickly found out that wasn't happening. Therefore phase 1 consisted of being more mindful of what I eat (less fattening foods, less carbs, and smaller portions) without actually counting calories at this point (that's phase 4). Phase 1's workout included doing the first circut of session 1 of the video 3 days of the week, and walking one lap at least 5 nights (one lap=0.7 miles around our neighborhood). I am proud to say I accomplished this!!! The first time I have EVER stuck to a goal for a week!
Phase 2. This week starts phase 2. I am to do my workout video 5 days this week (starting today), doing 2 circuts of session 1, walk two laps every night this week-weather permitting (as in rain/storms, that stopped me last night) and continue being mindeful of what I eat and how much. I have been making better choices, eating more vegetables and fruits, less carbs, and fewer fats (such as using less butter when cooking).
So far so good-I did my workout video this morning and walked this evening, and ate healthy all day. I had originally wanted the five days for the workout video to be Monday-Friday, but realized last week that wouldn't be possible because we have bi-weekly meetings at work on Thursday mornings and I attend court for work usually at least twice a month on Tuesdays. Yes I could get up earlier (I get up at 6am-work at 9am), but the problem I run into is being able to take a shower and get ready for work in time to make it to court and the meetings because of my boyfriend showering in the morning on his work schedule, I don't get in the shower until nearly 7am. So I say at least 5 days a week, meaning on the weeks I have court and/or meetings, I work out on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Well, off to bed to get a good night's sleep. Six AM comes early!
I have had too many false starts and good intentions that I've given up on in the past to count. I hope having this blog and (trying) to write every day will help keep me accountable, since it's online where everyone and anyone can read it and comment. I've actually stuck with it 7 full days so far, but taking it a bit at a time and starting in phases, introducing a new phase each week. I've already stuck with it longer than I have before, and hopefully this will continue.
I'll try to write every day, about my daily life, work towards my goals, and struggles with reaching them. My ultimate goal is to reach a size 12, or about 134 pounds in weight. I have a larger bone structure, so this is what my doctor recommends. Otherwise I'd look anorexic! I also have some health issues that I hope losing weight and becoming more active will reduce or eliminate either the condition (high blood pressure) or the medication I have to take for the disease (diabetes), plus taking the weight off will hopefully make it easier to move around. I have a bad hip with not much cartliadge left in it, and even walking gets painful after awhile.
So, my progress. I started (again) trying to walk at least four nights a week back in June, then stopped because it got so hot. I lost 9 pounds during that time (about a month), but got discouraged because it wasn't coming off and because it was so hot, even at dusk, I just didn't care if I exercised or not.
After a lot of soul searching, I'm finally going at it-in what I believe to be the right way, for me at least. I'm doing something each week, having weekly goals, and adding to what I do each week until I work up to where I want to be, then once that gets easy I'll add even more to it. I finally figured out that I'd do up a meal plan and workout plan, stick to it one day for the workout and maybe two or three with the meal's, then just give up, because I was trying to do too much all at once and it was too much.
I also decided I'd reward myself with something each week that I keep to my goals, but NOT with any kind of food. Nothing expensive, just something less than $10.00. If what I want is more than that, I put up the money each week I meet my goals until I have the money for the reward. I also have an ultimate reward-a new wardrobe-complete with bikini-and a cruise with my wonderful boyfriend (3 years this November 27th).
Anyway, I'd kept off that 9 pounds, much to my astonishment, and after this first week of really working, I've lost a total of 12.2 pounds! (I started at 284, now down to 271.8. I know it's not much to many people, but to me it's quite a milestone!)
Phase 1. A week ago tomorrow, I started with a workout video, Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I sat and watched the whole first session workout to see if I'd be able to physically do all of the steps (because of my hip) and to see what I'd need in way of equipment. Thankfully all I needed was a mat and dumbbells, which I had. Each session on the video (there are 3 session) has three different circuts (3 minutes of strength training, 2 of cardio, and 1 of abs each circut).
I wanted to try to do the whole video, but quickly found out that wasn't happening. Therefore phase 1 consisted of being more mindful of what I eat (less fattening foods, less carbs, and smaller portions) without actually counting calories at this point (that's phase 4). Phase 1's workout included doing the first circut of session 1 of the video 3 days of the week, and walking one lap at least 5 nights (one lap=0.7 miles around our neighborhood). I am proud to say I accomplished this!!! The first time I have EVER stuck to a goal for a week!
Phase 2. This week starts phase 2. I am to do my workout video 5 days this week (starting today), doing 2 circuts of session 1, walk two laps every night this week-weather permitting (as in rain/storms, that stopped me last night) and continue being mindeful of what I eat and how much. I have been making better choices, eating more vegetables and fruits, less carbs, and fewer fats (such as using less butter when cooking).
So far so good-I did my workout video this morning and walked this evening, and ate healthy all day. I had originally wanted the five days for the workout video to be Monday-Friday, but realized last week that wouldn't be possible because we have bi-weekly meetings at work on Thursday mornings and I attend court for work usually at least twice a month on Tuesdays. Yes I could get up earlier (I get up at 6am-work at 9am), but the problem I run into is being able to take a shower and get ready for work in time to make it to court and the meetings because of my boyfriend showering in the morning on his work schedule, I don't get in the shower until nearly 7am. So I say at least 5 days a week, meaning on the weeks I have court and/or meetings, I work out on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Well, off to bed to get a good night's sleep. Six AM comes early!
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