Week 3

Let's have a moment of honesty here... I did not do well this week. I was lazy and didn't hit my step goal most days. And because I didn't do as well, I decided to just stay off the scale. Hopefully next week is better. 

Week 2

I'm down 2.6 lbs this week to 205.6. I was hoping it would be a little more after my cleanse, but a keep reminding myself that a loss is still a loss. Weight is put on one pound at a time and it will come off one pound at a time. The highlights this week were that I hit my water goal, of at least 80 oz., every day. I also was able to get in either a long walk, or a workout, almost every day this week. 

On Monday, I did a Beachbody work out, T25 Full Body Circuit. It has several planks in it, so I got out my yoga mat. The cats have the entire house to sleep in, but they have to sleep on the mat. And they were perturbed each time I kicked them off for my planks. After my workout, I was only at 8,600 steps, so I decided to do a quick walk until I hit 10,000. But when I hit 10,000, I decided to go to the end of my road before I turned around. When I got home, I was at 12,500, so I made sure to hit 13,000 before going to bed.

Sept 11th

On Tuesday, I decided to do a detox cleanse. I was going to do it a few weeks ago, but then my period started so I decided to wait. Then I was going to do it last week, but when Brittany invited me to her DietBet, I decided to wait until that started so it could hopefully give me a good jump start there. I used to cleanse once a month and I always love how I feel afterwards. But right now, I can only afford to do it about every 3 months.

Tuesday's usually end up as my running days. It was hard to push myself, maybe from the cleanse. I started with my 5 minute walk and then covered the screen and bumped it up to a run. After what I thought felt like 30 minutes, I took the towel off. To my despair, I had only been running for about 21 minutes. I got to admit, I thought about quitting right then. But I know my body can run for 30 minutes, so I pushed through. Then I walked for 10 minutes and ran another 15 minutes, followed by a 10 minute cool down. I also made sure I hit 20,000 steps before I went to bed that night. 

Sept 12th 

Wednesday is usually one of my lower step days. I have bible study after work, so I usually don't plan on getting a workout in. But this day was different. My employer had their flu shot clinic that morning. It ran for 2-1/2 hours. The last hour was pretty dead, so I decided to make laps around the training room. By 10:00 that morning, I was past 9,000 steps! I wanted to just hurry and get to 10,000, but I needed to get back to work. Still, by the end of the day, I had over 15,000 steps.

Sept 13

Thursday was also a tough day. During the afternoon, my upper back started to hurt.I had planned to do a T25 workout, but by  the time I got home, all I could do was lay on the couch with a heating pad. Around 7:30, my back was feeling better, so I decided to just do an easy walk down the road. But you guessed it, once I start, I have to go all the way to the end before I turn around, so I ended up with more steps than I had planned on.
Sept 14

On Friday, I did a T25 workout in the morning. After that, I made sure I took a break from homework every hour, and I would get about 500 steps in. I also walked in place for several minutes while watching a lecture. I forgot to take my screen shot before bed that night, so all I have here is my steps, but I did hit my active every hour and water goal that day also.

 Sept 15

 On Saturday, I woke up extra energized and decided to go run. I even bumped the speed up a notch and was able to run 2 miles in 28 minutes. It ended up being one of the best runs I've had in a while. I was thrilled when I had my 10,000 steps in my 10:00 am. Other than the hour I missed sleeping in, I was able to hit all of my active every hour steps, so I ended the day with over 17,000 steps! Not to bad for a lazy Saturday.

Sept 16

Sunday, it all caught up to me, and I decided to have a more lazy day. Between church in the morning and prayer group at night, I can't hit the active every hour goal. I also had a few homework assignments that were due by midnight, so I had to opt for homework instead of a workout. (Just kidding, I would have watched the football game if I hadn't been stuck doing homework.) But for a lazy day, it still didn't turn out too bad. I did meet my daily water goal of 80+ oz each day, but Sunday I really struggle with that. So I find myself chugging a lot of water in the late afternoon to try and make up for it. I will have to work harder on that.
Sept 17

Overall, it was a pretty good week. I was thrilled on Saturday when I saw my weekly step total was up to 100,000 steps over the last 7 day period. On Sunday night, I wasn't quite there, so I did a few laps around my house to make sure I ended the week with 100,000. Next goal, to get 15,000 steps every day for a week.

Week 1

I forgot to hop on the scale yesterday morning, so I'm doing my check in today. The scale didn't move this week. Literally. I was 208.2 last Monday and I was 208.2 this morning. 

Actually, I take that back. It was at 210.8 on Friday afternoon. I am trying to only weigh once a week. If I weigh more often, I tend to freak out and then punish myself by not eating. So I will try to just weigh myself on Monday morning. But on Friday, my friend invited me to join an online weight loss competition and I had to take a picture of the scale to get started. So I guess I should be happy the scale was at 208.2 this morning and not higher. 

My main goal this week was to hit my water goal every day. I really struggle with drinking enough water. I was pretty proud that I hit that goal every day. I defiantly still need to work on that, because Sunday I hardly drank any water, which had my chugging most of it down late that afternoon and just before bed. I'm also trying to hit 10,000 steps a day. I only missed two days, hopefully I can do better this week. I do realize that I should drink half of my weight in water, which would be 100 oz., but 80 oz. is already a struggle, so that is my current goal. But there was a few days where I was closer to 100 oz. 

My Fitbit Stats for Sept 4th - Sept 10th. 

I forgot to get a screen shot the first night. When I go back a day on my Fitbit App, it only does the top portion with my steps. Then I have to do the hourly activity, water, etc individually. Since it was a labor day, I slept in and didn't get the 7:00 and 8:00 hours. But I did drink 83 oz of water and I got a workout in. 

Sept 4th

Tuesday was my best day. I was able to get a run in at the gym. I am still amazed that I can actually run. Its not fast, but I'm running. I started with a 10 minute walk, and then I ran for 30 minutes, getting just over 2 miles. Then I walked for 5 more minutes and ran another mile in 15 minutes. Then I had a 5 minute cool down. Not too bad. I'd like to get to the point where I can run the entire time, maybe then I could hit 5 miles in that 70 minutes. 

Sept 5th 

Wednesday, I didn't think I'd get my steps in, because I had bible study. But after a stressful day at work, I decided to get a quick run in and blow off some steam. I was able to run 30 minutes and hit just over 2 miles again. (No picture of the treadmill because I bumped the stop button half way through while reaching for my towel. So I looked at far I had ran and then restarted it and ran until the two runs added up to 2 miles total.)

Sept 6th

Thursday, I had plans to go for a walk. But instead, Vince came over for dinner and a movie. But I still hit my active hours and water goal. 

Sept 7th 

Friday, I slept in, so I missed the first active hour. Sometimes I will feel my Fitbit vibrate to remind me to move, just enough to wake me up, and I can hurry and get those steps in. But I didn't feel it vibrate until 8:50. I did a workout that morning, and then about once an hour, I would take a break from homework, and walk laps around the house.

Sept 8th

Saturday was our church yard sale. So it was pretty easy to get my steps in that day. And I thought I had the 250 steps in at 7:00, but I must have just barely missed it.

Sept 9th

Sunday is usually my rest day. I can't hit all the active hours in church. I also ended up at 2 different family dinners, so I was impressed I hit over 7000 steps.

Sept 10th

I can look at the last 7 days and see the leaderboad. I had the lead most of the week, but it adjusts every day as it drops off a day and picks up a new lead. When its not so hot at night, one of my goals will be to do 100,000 steps in a week.

Weight Loss 2.0

When I last blogged here, back in 2013, I was at the lowest in my weight I had ever been, around 175. But then life got busy, I got lazy, the excuses piled up and eventually the weight came back on. 

Last year, I went through a divorce. I quit eating and then picked up running to deal with the pain. I dropped 50 pounds in about 4 months. (It was probably a few weeks before I actually stepped on a scale, but it was 248 when I finally did. Which if I remember correctly is just about what I weighed back in 2011 when I started that weight loss journey.) Earlier this year, I saw 199.8, once or twice, on the scale, but it would only last for a day or two.

This year, I have learned, when I'm happy, I eat more and work out less. When I'm depressed, I run. I've slowly put 10 pounds on and gone back up a pant size. Yay for happiness. Boo for weight gain.

The first picture is July 2016 at my brothers wedding, a week after the ex left for another woman. 

This picture was from yesterday. I love seeing my transformation. Because of my little makeup biz, I take a selfie nearly every day. When I feel like I've made no progress, I can go through old pictures and be amazed at the changes I see. And not just in weight loss. I see a woman who has found her strength and confidence. I love seeing the woman I have become. 

Years ago, when I did my weight loss, I kept this blog. But I was ashamed of my body, so I left details out. I always regretted that. I wish I had better documented it so I could better track the results. So this time, I am going to be real. I currently weight 208.2. Even though its better than the 248 I was at last fall, its still a number I'm not happy with. I want to get back down to 175. I know I can do it, because I did it once before. 

Current weight: 208.2

Measurements:

Neck 16 in.

Upper arm - left 14 in.

Upper arm - right 13 in.

Upper chest - 44 in.

Chest/nipple - 45 in.

Diaphragm - 39 in.

Waist - 40.5 in.

Abdomen 42 in.

Butt - 47 in.

Upper thigh - left 28 in.

Upper thigh - right 28 in.

Upper knee - left 22 in.

Upper knee - right 21.5 in.

Calf - left 18.5 in.

Calf - right 18 in.

I've never been a fan of measurements. They are a hassle and I never feel like I do them correctly. But I do understand the importance of them. Last fall, there was times the scale wouldn't move, but my pants would get looser, so I started tracking my measurements and I could see a loss there, even when there wasn't one on the scale. So this time, I plan to track my measurements. (Probably once a month.)

This time, I want to make it a journey about loving myself, no matter my size and shape. God gave me this wonderful body to love and care for. When I don't take care of it, its like I'm telling Him I don't appreciate the beautiful gift of life He has given me. He and I recently had a conversation about this. I was getting a headache nearly every day. When I finally took it to prayer, He asked me, "When was the last time you drank a glass of water?" I didn't even know. I've learned I can't complain about my body and how I feel if I do nothing to take care of it. Only I can hold myself accountable for my decisions and actions. One of my favorite sayings is "Jesus in, Jesus out." It reminds me that what I feed my mind with, I return out into the world. I think the same can be said here, "garbage in, garbage out." When I treat myself badly, I feel badly. When I love myself and properly care for myself, I feel good. 

I've been half heartily exercising the last few weeks. I'm still trying to find a schedule that will fit with my job and my schooling. So my workouts may vary until I find that balance. I have a love/hate relationship with running.  I hate running, but it helped me process the pain and not do physical harm to myself during the divorce. It was my healthy outlet. It taught me I can do hard things, things I once thought were impossible. When I run for a mile straight, or 30 minutes straight, I am so proud of myself and I realize that I can do this.

Today, I declare enough is enough! Its time to get back to a healthy weight and a healthy mind set. 

Week 130

I just can't seem to get back on that weight loss wagon :p

Actually, I'm going to the dr. later this week. I just feel like my body is "off."
I get the shakes several times a week.
Sometimes I feel like my heart beat is sped up.
Either or both of those are usually accompanied by my body over heating. I'm not sure if they are hot flashes, or just something else. I've heard hot flashes are horrid, but I don't know that these are that bad, so maybe they are something else.
I feel like I'm constantly grumpy. Maybe I'm just a grumpy person, or maybe its a side effect of whatever is going on.
I'm still walking daily, eating okayish, but gaining weight. I think I should at least be holding steady.
My period is now 8 days late.
I have a constant pain in my lower back.

Yep, I'm just falling apart.

But I refuse to think it is all just a part of growing old.

Week 125

Last week was busy, so I'm just getting to this post, even though my "week" ends on Thursday. And since its the fair this weekend, I bet I post the next one late too.

Not much to report. Still at 181 (or at least that was pre-UBIS).

I'm working harder at planning meals ahead and that really seems to help. I've been trying to plan my menu on a weekly basis, but when we moved, that kind of got forgotten, so I'm getting back on top of that. And I'm also trying to plan my breakfast and lunches better.

More in a week, or two, depending on how the fair goes.

Week 124

I already covered a lot of things in my other post, but still wanted to do a weekly check in since Thursday's are my official weigh in days.

This morning, 181.2.

Yesterday was probably my worse day, or I might have done better this week. But I was just too tempted by my home made scones. But on the positive side, I did make them smaller this time. I usually make them huge so there is less to cook, but this time, I used a biscuit cutter to size them. But still, I had one with honey while they were still cooking. Then 2 with chili. Then another 1 with honey. Which, honestly, is what I always eat when I make scones. But this time they were smaller so I don't feel as bad.

I keep seesawing on the 5K run this weekend. My last excuse (well besides "I don't wanna!") was that I have no way to run with my iphone aka, my iTunes. I've been putting my phone in my back pocket, but I have to stop SEVERAL times to catch my pants from falling off. I can't run a race like that! So today, I went to 4 different places and finally found an armband that will hold my phone. I'm excited to try it out tomorrow and see how I like it.

So I'm out of excuses to avoid the 5K. Josh is doing the 8 miles run, which means I'll have about an hour to kill. I might as well do the other race to take up that time. I'm really hoping they'll let me run with Sage cause I'm taking her. I guess she will be my last excuse. If they say no to her, I won't have anyone to watch her so I'll have no choice. But I can't walk her early in the morning AND do the race. So I guess we'll see. Its Altamont, so hopefully they won't care.

I'm thinking of taking a picture in my sports bar to help me remember I'm fighting to loose the bulge around my middle.

Until next week!