Friday Check-in!

Guess who was at the gym 2 times in one week? ME haha of course me, it's my blog. My weight is holding steady at 235lbs but I'm ok w/ that after enjoying over 1/2 a bottle of wine last night at the downtown's Girl's Night Out thing. Worked in my MIL's furniture store with my older SIL, it's always a blast.

Ok so back to the gym, did about 20-25 minutes of the treadmill, some running, some walking on an incline. All good stuff. Got to see the director of training and he's like I need to meet with you to set up a new plan.  It's such a happy go lucky guy, and so motivating if you are motived by one of those people. So next Friday I'll be meeting with him.  Next Friday is also Homecoming for my cheerleaders! AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh HAHA good stuff.

Now it's time to clean, laundry, shower, and then go coach...

here's a great one of them where you really can't see their faces. Love these girls as much as I love my puppy.

Stay happy, healthy, and smile!

Weight Loss, a ride or journey

When I think of a ride I think of Point A to Point B. Whether smooth and enjoyable or fast and crazy there is an end of it.

A Journey is endless full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Working though each and every moment. 

I'm down about 5lbs and almost back to my lowest from the weight I'd lost earlier this year. I was very disappointed in myself for getting off track but life happens and when it's not the normal for you, you can easily fall back to the old unhealthy normal. thankfully I was off for only 3-4months before getting back "to the beach". I feel so so so much better losing the simple carbs, after a week without them I no longer want to eat the entire produce section of potatoes, the candy aisle, and every box of pasta/cereal in my house.

It's fun to think that in about 37-38lbs more lost and I'll be in "onederland"! Can I make it by Christmas, that would be exciting.  I just need to find a way to balance everything. Working a full time job, coaching definably makes for balance challenges. Not to mention taking care of 3 cats, a dog, and a husband.  I'm so thankful that my husband has taken over cooking as I hate  to cook!

PCOS? Maybe...

So I'm finally giving in and going to the doctor. Losing weight is not working well... I have nearly every symptom of PCOS except for the missing periods. Hold my excess weight in my middle region, excess hair on face and hands (yuck), hair loss on my head (my hair is sooo thick that I still have to have my hair thinned by the hair stylist.

I hate going to doctors, terrified of what they are going to tell me. Over time I've gone from 172lb in 2004 to 220lbs by 2005 and then 240lb by 2006. Now I'm around 240-50lbs. I would like to get down to 160lbs. I was told my blood pressure was on the high side of normal in 2006, I cut out frozen meals and canned soup and in 2006 my bp was back to the same reading I got in 2004! 

Going to plan for a full blood work-up to see what is all out of whack to cause me these issues, I assume PCOS but there could be other things.

Wish me luck on finding out what's up with my body and hopefully a smooth transition to a healthier me. Just hope I can get my hubby on board to help me with the food aspect.

Two Steps Forward, One step back

Wow feeling very depressed and motived at fleeting moments.  Made a meal plan for the next 4 days and got all the food needed to follow the South Beach plan. Hubby asked me where the junk food was, replied "fat lady doesn't need junk food but there's yogurt and pudding in the fridge" he ate 2 puddings and 2 yogurt cups.

Monday: Spinach & feta stuff chicken breasts w/ oven roasted brussel sprouts and onion
Tuesday: Small steak w/ mushrooms & asparagus
Wednesday: Taco salad
Thursday: Zucchini, summer squash, leek, and shrimp
Friday we'll grill something

Breakfast is 1c almond milk, 1T hemp seed, 1/2 banana

Lunch is left overs w/ salad.

I was feeling so shitty that I was f*ck it I'll step on the scale, happily I found that I had only gained 10lbs over the last 3 months instead of the 15-20 I thought I did.  So I'm at 242lb, I can deal with that.

I start coaching tomorrow and I'm very nervous that I won't have a team since I can't get a hold of one girl and I only have 2 more! Ya 3 girls, that sucks...

Here's to a good nights sleep and a better day.

Emotional eating

I have been gone, hiding out, and eating... and eating way too much.  Work sucks, my grandpa's cancer took a bad turn and we lost him on the 10th. 

I'm hoping to find a way to work though my emotional eating. Whether I'm happy, sad, mad, excited, depressed... I eat and eat and eat.

I have coaching season starts on Tuesday that means I won't be home till 8:15 at night after working all day. I'm going to have to plan way ahead to eat right, I want to get back to eating the "South Beach" way as it is truly easy and I felt fab but the allure of fast food and deep fried cheese nuggets won over when you feel like crap.

Till next time.

Slacker <- That's me!

Wowza have I been slacking and definitely feeling it... meaning I feel like poo! Eating way too much simple sugar (picture bowls of ice cream, chip and dip, white bread galore!) and it must stop!

I love love love to eat out, growing up it was always a "reward" for good grades to go out to dinner or get an ice cream treat. Now I turn to crappy MSG filled restaurant food like I'm addicted too it. I can't stop eating it, well I can stop eating it I just have to plan ahead and not be a lazy bum!  It would also help if I could find away to get my hubby to be more excited about eating healthy with me. He's not a fan of some of the new things I made that I love (such as this recipe from Pasta Queen http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2005/12/recipe-stuffed-portabello-mushrooms/) I believe it wasn't flavorful enough for him. My sister who is the world's pickiest eater ate one.

Working to recommit myself to making wiser/healthy food choices and working out minimum 5 days a week. I miss feeling energized and seeing myself shrink. I can't wait to share clothes with my sister!

I really need to find a way to become addicted to calorie counting since I know if I track those I'd be able to lose the weight with out a question.  Moving forward and not looking back...

A bit of tired

Wow have I been busy being tired. Not much has changed. Still sitting at 235lb so that's a good thing. Been enjoying life and getting stuff done around my house.

Completed a mile jogging and timed... 13.5mins! I can't believe I did it and how much I hated running the mile in school today didn't seem that long and I was excited to complete it. My goal is to get down to a 10 minute mile and be able to do a 5k in 40 or less minutes by the end of summer so September 1st of 2012. Eek I stuck a date on that, well someone needs to hold me to it.

Pushing towards eating wiser more often and getting back into a 5 day a week work out. 6 days if I'm up for it but I know I can squeeze 45-60 minutes a day.

Till next time, keep moving one foot in front of the other and don't focus on the past.

Photo Update Compare 245lb and 235lb

245lbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

235lbs

Even at my size a small change as even 10lbs has made a big difference. I can start to see my check bones and my jaw line. My eyes also look wider and my double chin is SHRINKING! I'll post another photo in another 10lbs.

Friday Check in Week 14

Yippy weighted in today and I'm down to 235lbs!

Last time I was losing weight and got to this point I was feeling deprived and gave up. I was hungry and wanted everything. Now I eat things I enjoy but with a different thought process. I no longer eat tons to pasta, potatoes, and rice or bread. I still eat them but it's not all the time, I opt for extra veggies and protein. I am also eating breakfast every day, loving Silk's Almond milk that is unsweetened and flavored with vanilla. Only 35 calories too. I add that to 1tbsp of hemp seeds for protein and then some frozen fruit and some times unsweetened cocoa powder (the sweetness of the fruit makes it sweet).  I really love bananas and the cocoa powder as it tastes almost like the one from Starbucks from last year.

As of Monday I have completed week 4 of C25K on the treadmill, I was so proud of myself and really wanted to give up in the last minute of running but I held out and got it done!  Now on to week 5 finished workout 1 on Wednesday and that was 3 5min runs w/ 3 min rests so not too bad but I might extend week 5 into to weeks doing each workout twice once on the elliptical and then once on the treadmill since I find it much harder there.

Keep Strong as it is the NEW Skinny!

Spring or Maybe Summer?

Wow for over the past week the weather has been so nice it feels like Summer! In Wisconsin! Seriously 80 degree days it's been crazy.  I've working out and working on my yard and holding pretty steady since I'm def. not eating enough veggies.

I have a new strength training routine:
Push-ups super set with 60 degree rows
Goblet squats super set with limited rotations
Kettle Bell swings super set with over head pull downs
Then the killer planks w/ a hip slap super set with dumbbell over head press!

Then my finisher is Kettle bell figure-8's and touchdown squats (I can only got 15 secs before dying on those so I wonder how long it will take to be able to do the full 30 seconds. Took me about 3 weeks for the mountain climbers.)

The craziest places that I've notice weight loss so far is my neck and my feet!  My boobs have shrunk too but I'm happy about that. Wonder if I'll need a breast lift when I'm all done with this...

I wanted to add my current measurements

Bust 48"   +.25
Waist 38"  -.5
Hips  48"  +.25

Amazing how things can change. I'm holding onto a lot of water right now from switching up my weight training so I'm not even going to include my weight this week.

Still Alive

Just checking in. Down to 237lbs today, had to step on the scale 3 times to make sure that was what I was really seeing.  My weight had been up a bit, guessing from starting a new weight training plan, so I was getting a bit depressed and not wanted to go anything. Kept myself busy with the wonderful weather we've been having and it paid off. A bit of rest of the gym and I'm feeling much better.

A New Program and Check in Day

Friday check in!

Bust: 47.75"  -1.75"
Waist: 39.5" - 1"
Hips: 47.75"- .25"

Weight: 240lb- No change

This shows how important it is to take your measurement. They will help you from getting discouraged when your weight doesn't go down. I've lost an additional 2" but my weight hasn't changed.  There are so many factors that can change your weight but your measurements are a bit more solid.

I know I could have eaten better this week and I would have had a bigger loss but I'm not in a hurry to drop all the weight at once. I want my skin to be able to keep up with my loss to avoid as much sagging as I can. I hear drinking lots of water can help with that.

Today I finally got my new workout and I'm so excited, it's challenging and very different then my last program.

Wee Bit Lazy

Wow, ate out too much this weekend. I'm wishing I had felt better over the weekend and not eaten so much over salted food.

I wasn't feeling the gym today and didn't push myself as hard as I should. I'm really looking forward to getting my new strength training program this Friday. Tomorrow I get to do Day 1 of Week 4 for C2-5K so I'm looking forward to see what that is like, maybe I should have ran today since I'm more excited about that then lifting lately.

Tomorrow I will drink more water and eat more veggies.  I will not let this deter me, I will push harder and longer and make healthier choices. But I will never deprive myself.

Week 2 check in

Eww it snowed last night so I won't be able to run my last day of my 3rd week of C25K outside **sad face**. I just wanted to check in with my measurements.

Current:
240lbs
Bust: 49.5"
Waist: 40.5"
Hips:48"

Changes from last week

Weight -5lbs
Bust +1.5" must have built some chest muscles
Waist -1.25"
Hips -1.5"

This is a total of 20lbs lost since 12/27/11

1 Full Week on South Beach

So I haven't been following the plan to a T but I and sitting 1lb away from a 20lb loss. I'm sooo excited! This is the most weight I've ever lost!  I'm going to be setting up with my trainer for a new strength training program. Starting to get bored with my current one because it's getting easy.

I'm hoping to fit into a fit into a sports bra soon. All my normal bras are getting loose too. I think when I get new ones I'm just got going to get 1 black and 1 nude since they are still $$$ for "watermelon" sized.

Completed Week 2 of Couch to 5K!

Back in 2010 I was working out at the gym with one of my good friends.  She had told me about the Couch to 5K running program that would like you from Sofa Spud to being able to run, yes Run a 5K in as little at 10 weeks.  It's running intervals. Week 2 includes a 5 min brisk walk then you Run for 90 seconds and then walk for 2 minutes. You run 6 times total. I was able to find an awesome podcast with good running music and then the person who put them together chimes in to let you know when to run and when to stop, Makes timing yourself effortless, there for I can focus on running. I'm working towards running on the elliptical for 2 days a week and then now I'm adding running outside on the path behind my house one day on the weekend.

I really enjoyed the run today, felt good to breath hard. I had my little Maverick with me today too, I think enjoyed a bit a quicker pace.  The still run full speed into the backyard after I took him off his leash when we got to the end of our drive way.

Today we made one of our FAVORITE recipes. Chicken Tikka Masala normally I make it with a ton of rice and have 2 huge helpings. Today we made it with spaghetti squash and broccoli. I was stuffed and it was just as delicious as with the rice! I am soo happy!

Monster Cat need a bigger bed or a smaller bowl...

Progress Log

I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to take some before photos and some before measurements, they are not exactly perfect since I've been working out for a month and I'm down 15lbs but it's better a bit late then never. That goes for exercise too. Never is never going to get you any were other then higher health insurance, higher health costs and an earlier crapper end of life.

So lets get down to business.

Current Weight 245lbs
Chest:48"
Waist: 41.75"
Hips: 49.5" (in jeans)

I am also 5' 4.5" (yes that 1/2 inch counts!)

Maverick is wondering what I'm doing in the living room....

My goal for the rest of the month is to get down to 240lbs. I'd like to continue working towards 6-10lbs a month till I find a size I feel healthy at. I'm not looking to be a tiny size 2, not that size 2 is a bad thing it's just something I know I won't look good in. I love my curves and my boobs and like them to stay a bit... just in a healthy way.

Valentines Day awww

So I'm still at it! Down 15lbs today!!!!! In a month and a 1/2 I'm lost 15lbs! I'm so excited. I've been doing cardio 3-4 days a week and strength training 3 days a week.

I started South Beach Diet on Monday and so far so good.

Valentines day really isn't celabrated more the a kiss and some themed socks. We had Qdoba for dinner so that was yummy.

Simple Tuesdays

I'm loving the gym, still loving to eat. I've been going to the gym for a month. Going to schedule my massage for February. After that month I'm going to reward myself with my facial. Maybe I should switch them since my face is acting like I'm a teenager again and it's driving me bananas!

To concure my over eating I think I need to plan out every meal and every snack so that I know what I can eat and enjoy that.

I'm also switching to going to the gym in the morning so that my evenings are free to work on my husband's business.

Signed on the dotted line...

I'm all signed up for the gym!  $50 a month but totally worth it. I love that it's quiet and motivating. At any time I can add classes or personal training. There's a hot tub and we got 10% off at the attached spa.

I took today off to rest and tomorrow back in for cardio then M/W/F weight training and T/Th/Sat Cardio intervals! I can't believe of the intervals kicked my butt on Friday. I skipped afterburn Friday and Saturday because I over did it with my arm and don't need to fall backwards with that.

I'm officially down 10lbs in 30 days. Only drinking water and unsweeted ice tea and skipping candy and opting for fat free pudding.

Wonderful Weekend

Thursday I rocked at Foundations class. Friday I finally did Afterburn! and I lived to continue to do it again on Saturday!  Saturday was much harder, even though it was the same class with everything the same I think it was just the exertion 2 days in a row.

How afterburn works is a high intensity circuit. This weeks class was 5 or 6 stations that you'd do the exercise for 60 seconds and then a 30 second brake, doing that twice then a minute brake then do the other side or stations twice.

I've been watching my eating but not tracking the calories, it's very fustating to track them with this new site that they gym has since we eat a lot of food from Aldi that they don't have in the data base.  I'm still aiming for lower carb foods and feeling good.

I picked up a new water bottle today that the cat can't tip over! It also fits ice cubes with no problem.

Tomorrow I meet with the personal trainer, Tuesday is Foundations, Wednesday is program design, Thursday is Foundations, Friday and Saturday is afterburn. The following week is my last week of the free trial and sadly I lose my classes and personal training but I think I can still keep up with just a cardio and program design. 

Since I'm down 9lbs I'm going to schedule my massage. I can't wait.

I'm on track with my goal of about 10lbs a month.  We'll see where I get.

I've been feeling a bit depressed lately and that's not something normal for me at all so I'm going to be posting things that I'm happy for, thankful for and things that I'm looking forward to.

I'm happy that I'm able to afford a gym membership and I'm healthy enough to work towards my goal.
I'm looking forward to more thrift clothes shopping.
I promise to myself that I will replace all my undies with Victoria Secret ones when I read the size I want to stay.

Wednesday Already!

Attending the gym has been going well, giving it my all. It's nice to see my strength increasing but I do still see my lack of motion on my left arm that had be fractured back in July.

Monday I worked with a personal trainer and one other person. It was nice to have the personal attention wow-y! I got a work out!

Tuesday I did foundations again. That was enjoyable as much as exercise can be when your overweight.  I still have suspended pull-ups and mountain climbers still kill me!

Wednesday I did my program design, did well with it, kind of wishing I would have thrown some cardio in there but meh there is always tomorrow.

Looking forward to smaller sized, higher energy, and shopping for new clothes. Once I reach my goal I'm replacing all my undies with Victoria Secret ones!

Saturday.. resting

Enjoying the day away from the gym, it's kind of weird not to be there. I'm going to go tomorrow and get some cardio in to work off the fudge pops I ate. 70 calories but still need to work them off. I did shovel some more snow off the patio to keep Mr. Maverick from peeing there and making it look gross. Don't think the tenant would like to look at that when she comes outside either.

Now I just need to keep my hubby from trying to eat everything that is loaded with grease, fat, and calories. 1st he wanted Buffalo Wild Wings, then it was pizza, then Denny's, then George Webb's! for the love of my belly flab I don't need to eat those things and if he gets them it will make me very grumpy that I can't join in like I use to. But then again, doing what I did before got me where I am now.... 100lbs over weight eww.

I was looking at local thrift stores in Milwaukee that carry vintage and designer clothes, I can't wait till I can visit the stores and not have to call 1st to see if their carry plus sizes. 

Pushing on.

Day 12, 13, & 14 at the gym

Wednesdaay I worked out with the personal trainer again. I will be working with a different trainer on Monday and it will only be me and one other person. I'm looking forward to the personalized attention. I keep being informed that I have great form.

Thursday I did foundations class which seemed a little too easy, I finally got the formula of shaking the rope but I still hate hate hate it!

Friday, today I did my program design work out, that went well but my hamstring is still a bit tight. My back is sore from shoveling for the 5 or 6 inches we got between Thursday morning and this afternoon. I only shoveled the back patio and the front deck.

One the fluffy dog side Maverick at about a week's worth of food. Yep my Cavalier King Charles pulled his bag of food out of a drawer and munched away.

Day 10! and 11! at the gym...

Monday I did my strength training plain, that went well. My hamstring is still tight in my right leg, I hope I can get it to stretch out cause it is annoying!  I ate well yesterday picked up some more string cheese and some high fiber oatmeal in cinnamon, yum.

Tuesday I had foundations again and they changed up the circuit. I was partnered with a lady who last over 100lbs back in 2006-07 and has kept it off for the past 5 years. She said the hardest part is keeping it off, losing it was the easy part.  I had a pretty heavy lunch so for dinner all I had was a piece of string cheese and a bowl of high fiber cereal.

I am down 6lbs total from when I weighed in on Gym day 1.

Day 7, 8 and 9!

Wowza I've been busy. Wednesday I had group personal training with 4 other ladies. The formula of the things we did were 4 of one strength exercise and then 3 of the there switching back and forth. The trainer I had great form and my strength will come back the more I push myself. Since breaking my arm in July I still have weakness there but only slightly. I still have some flexibility issues.

Thursday I had foundations class again, it was a much smaller class than Tuesday. Makes me wonder if people are already giving up on the New Years resolution.

Friday I met with Kip again. He gave me my workout plan for the next 3 weeks. It's broken down by day another with my goals and strengths and motivation.  Every 4 weeks I will meet with him to update it with new exercise plan.

Saturday was an enjoyable day with breakfast with my hubby and father-in-law. Later DH and I put together my closet, well he cut the boards and drilled the holes and I did the rest.  Later we went out for mexican food and it the the 1st time I had a soda in over a week. I ordered it out of habit but after one small glass I had her bring me an ice water.

Tonight we finally had Christmas with my side of the family and enjoyed a bit too much of garlic bread and lasagna. But it was sooo good.

We got some wonderful gifts from our family. It was a Christmas of giving things that were useful. My grandparents went shopping in their home, they have so much stuff and everything was new still in packaging. They have always over bought when they find good deals. My sister painted me a photo of my dog Maverick and my parents got me a tea kettle.

Day 5 & 6 at the Gym

Monday I met with the Director of Personal training, Kip, he was wonderful to work  with. I'm all set up with dotfit.com and have a free year there. He did a little work out with me to see where I was with mobility and flexibility. He sent me an email that said they were both "very good". 

I am also set up to meet with a personal trainer Monday, Wednesday, Friday. then Tuesday/Thursday I have group circuit which I did today, it was hard but awesome.  It's great to see the trainers so excited about what they are doing, so different from the past time I attended. It was so wonderful and now I'm wonderfully sore!

Happy New Year!

Just a relaxing recoup kind of day.  The weather is gross and we're under wind advisory all day! Looks to be snowing again, all we had was an inch of crusty stuff.  I picked up bird seed for the little cold birdies.  I meet with the personal trainer tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that, hopefully it doesn't snow too much on my car.