Well, thanks to having plenty of time on my hands, I got in some good workouts this week! I went to two relaxing yoga classes and two awesome Zumba classes. I didn't get any running in thanks to my knee being out of whack, but I'm headed to the doc on Friday to get it all straightened out, so hopefully I'll get back on that track next week. And going up and down the stairs all day is a great work-out addition.
I did well on the food, though I still haven't gotten back into tracking. I had very little snacking, almost no desserts, and made some good food choices this week. It's nice not having super temptations around all the time!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 71: -2.4
Total weight loss: -54.4
Current weight: 202.8
A great start to the summer!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
SOS...
Almost a year and a half ago I started on this crazy journey and began this blog by asking for your help...and I continue to need it.
It has been about a month since my last post...and my last weigh in (until today). I can make all the excuses I want about why I didn't go...I had a lot of work to do before leaving for the summer, I wasn't feeling well, etc etc etc. But, the reality is that I knew I hadn't done well and I didn't want to face the music...in public.
As I've said before, I have a scale in my apartment and I have gotten much much better about not weighing myself mid-week, but I still usually weigh myself there the morning of weigh-in so I have an idea of what to expect. The first week I missed I stepped on the scale and realized that I had gained back a couple of pounds...so I "had to work late." Then the following weeks looked very similar...step on the scale, realized I'd gained more, and made up another excuse not to go. I, obviously, knew myself that I wasn't doing well (and I have a million excuses for that, too....). But, there is just something painful about going to the meeting, stepping on the scale, and then seeing the receptionist/leaders face when they tell you that they have you "up a little" and ask if you expected it. It's like that feeling when you know that you've disappointed someone important to you - they're not mad...just disappointed...and that feels worse. Now, I know that these women have all been through the same struggles so they, of all people, understand what you're going through and wouldn't judge you for it. But they get all hush-hush and the look on their face is one of sympathy and it just feels worse than if they'd rip the band-aid off and just straight up tell you...you gained this week, don't be too hard on yourself, it happens...good luck this week. Well...my scale has not been friendly the last few weeks - I know that that's when I need meetings the most, but I just couldn't bring myself to go...and every week the number on the scale kept creeping up on me.
But, I have run out of excuses now. I'm done with work, I'm at home with my family, and there's nothing to stop me from working out but myself. So, I'm working on not just getting back on track, but speeding down that track! I already started making some better food choices again and I signed up for a summer pass to the local Y. Yoga with my SIL on Mondays and Wednesdays, Zumba with Sis on Tuesdays and Thursdays (at least) - and getting in running in there too!
Initial weight: 257.2
Weeks 67-70: +5.4
Total weight loss: -52
Current weight: 205.2
Hey, at some point during the last month my scale said 208, so I'll take the 5 pounds and be happy...
It has been about a month since my last post...and my last weigh in (until today). I can make all the excuses I want about why I didn't go...I had a lot of work to do before leaving for the summer, I wasn't feeling well, etc etc etc. But, the reality is that I knew I hadn't done well and I didn't want to face the music...in public.
As I've said before, I have a scale in my apartment and I have gotten much much better about not weighing myself mid-week, but I still usually weigh myself there the morning of weigh-in so I have an idea of what to expect. The first week I missed I stepped on the scale and realized that I had gained back a couple of pounds...so I "had to work late." Then the following weeks looked very similar...step on the scale, realized I'd gained more, and made up another excuse not to go. I, obviously, knew myself that I wasn't doing well (and I have a million excuses for that, too....). But, there is just something painful about going to the meeting, stepping on the scale, and then seeing the receptionist/leaders face when they tell you that they have you "up a little" and ask if you expected it. It's like that feeling when you know that you've disappointed someone important to you - they're not mad...just disappointed...and that feels worse. Now, I know that these women have all been through the same struggles so they, of all people, understand what you're going through and wouldn't judge you for it. But they get all hush-hush and the look on their face is one of sympathy and it just feels worse than if they'd rip the band-aid off and just straight up tell you...you gained this week, don't be too hard on yourself, it happens...good luck this week. Well...my scale has not been friendly the last few weeks - I know that that's when I need meetings the most, but I just couldn't bring myself to go...and every week the number on the scale kept creeping up on me.
But, I have run out of excuses now. I'm done with work, I'm at home with my family, and there's nothing to stop me from working out but myself. So, I'm working on not just getting back on track, but speeding down that track! I already started making some better food choices again and I signed up for a summer pass to the local Y. Yoga with my SIL on Mondays and Wednesdays, Zumba with Sis on Tuesdays and Thursdays (at least) - and getting in running in there too!
Initial weight: 257.2
Weeks 67-70: +5.4
Total weight loss: -52
Current weight: 205.2
Hey, at some point during the last month my scale said 208, so I'll take the 5 pounds and be happy...
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
End of the academic year
Well, it's that time again...the end of the academic year. What does that have to do with losing weight? Well, increased stress and celebration lunches/dinners and decreased time to fit in a workout. Strangely, I'm actually feeling a lot more motivated recently. In the past few years, it's about this time that I struggle to finish all the work I have to do because my brain is just fried. Perhaps my earlier struggle with motivation paired with my mental renewal in Florida have combined to make this a strong end for me. There's tons of work to get done, but I feel like the stress is much more manageable than usual.
Now, that's not to say that it's going to be easy...the sheer number of celebrations at the end of the year (most of which have amazing food at them), is a little daunting. I'd already had two before this week and I had a reception yesterday, a dinner tonight, an etiquette dinner tomorrow, plus a luncheon next week. Now, my bank account is certainly thankful for the free delicious food, but it means less control over how that food is prepared. I'm managing my best by trying to make good choices, being realistic about if I WANT or NEED more food, and trying to behave when it comes to dessert. That certainly doesn't mean avoiding them altogether...it means limiting how much and making sure that I get in workouts to help make up for them.
Thankfully, I was able to get in my run on Sunday - 5 miles!! It got interrupted a few times by duty calls, but thankfully nothing too serious that I wasn't able to just answer a few questions then pick my pace right back up. My lungs were a little angry with me immediately after, but that's something they've got to get used to if I'm going to be running outside more. It's certainly much more interesting than running on the treadmill. It's strange that when running outside I don't feel like I'm running any faster than on the treadmill, but the last two times I've done it I've logged my fastest mile and my fastest 5k...maybe it has something to do with not having to alter my stride to match the treadmill. I don't know, but I'm certainly not complaining!
Check out how I managed this week...
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 66:-2.2
Total weight loss: -57.4
Current weight:199.8 (and I'm back under 200!!)
Now, that's not to say that it's going to be easy...the sheer number of celebrations at the end of the year (most of which have amazing food at them), is a little daunting. I'd already had two before this week and I had a reception yesterday, a dinner tonight, an etiquette dinner tomorrow, plus a luncheon next week. Now, my bank account is certainly thankful for the free delicious food, but it means less control over how that food is prepared. I'm managing my best by trying to make good choices, being realistic about if I WANT or NEED more food, and trying to behave when it comes to dessert. That certainly doesn't mean avoiding them altogether...it means limiting how much and making sure that I get in workouts to help make up for them.
Thankfully, I was able to get in my run on Sunday - 5 miles!! It got interrupted a few times by duty calls, but thankfully nothing too serious that I wasn't able to just answer a few questions then pick my pace right back up. My lungs were a little angry with me immediately after, but that's something they've got to get used to if I'm going to be running outside more. It's certainly much more interesting than running on the treadmill. It's strange that when running outside I don't feel like I'm running any faster than on the treadmill, but the last two times I've done it I've logged my fastest mile and my fastest 5k...maybe it has something to do with not having to alter my stride to match the treadmill. I don't know, but I'm certainly not complaining!
Check out how I managed this week...
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 66:-2.2
Total weight loss: -57.4
Current weight:199.8 (and I'm back under 200!!)
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Putting my money where my mouth is
I've mentioned several times over the last few months that I was going to do the 2014 Disney marathon...well, the time has come to put my money where my mouth is...or should I say, "where my feet are". I am officially registered not just for the marathon, but for the Goofy Challenge. "What's that?" you're probably asking. "The sure sign that I need a psychiatrist..." I answer. It's a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday and a full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. I have yet to decide if I'm going to walk or run the half...I'm sure that I will change my mind a million times between now and then, so I'm going to leave that decision until I see how I feel closer to January. But, I am non-refundably registered so there's no turning back now!
That definitely means that I need to get my butt back to the gym. However, it's also allergy season and I was off my meds for too long so I developed a sinus infection. I spent all of the last two weeks battling that and it's settling in my chest now. Here's to hoping that I can hold off the bronchitis I developed with the last two sinus infections! So far, I've been pretty successful, though I do have a pretty chronic cough right now...thankfully, it's not too bad.
This week I've been able to get out running at least once - my hope is to go again tomorrow, but being on duty for work does make it a little more challenging. I went running outside for the first time in a very long time and it felt so good! I struggled a little to get started, but after everything that happened in Boston on Monday with so many people who couldn't finish their race, I couldn't justify not running for just half an hour. I ran a little over three miles in 33 minutes and logged my fastest mile as well as my fastest 5K! My hope is to get in 5 miles tomorrow, but we'll see if I can fit it in with work.
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 63: I didn't weigh in...but my own scale said that I was up by quite a bit :-(
Week 64: +2.4 it was listed as a gain, but still less than what my scale said the week before
Week 65: -0.4 at least it was a loss!
Total weight loss: -55.2
Current weight: 202.0
I feel like I've been so much more on track and motivated this week already - less tempted by desserts and continuing to remove pop from my life and increase my water intake! I feel more energized and crave it a whole lot less...there just may be something to this!
That definitely means that I need to get my butt back to the gym. However, it's also allergy season and I was off my meds for too long so I developed a sinus infection. I spent all of the last two weeks battling that and it's settling in my chest now. Here's to hoping that I can hold off the bronchitis I developed with the last two sinus infections! So far, I've been pretty successful, though I do have a pretty chronic cough right now...thankfully, it's not too bad.
This week I've been able to get out running at least once - my hope is to go again tomorrow, but being on duty for work does make it a little more challenging. I went running outside for the first time in a very long time and it felt so good! I struggled a little to get started, but after everything that happened in Boston on Monday with so many people who couldn't finish their race, I couldn't justify not running for just half an hour. I ran a little over three miles in 33 minutes and logged my fastest mile as well as my fastest 5K! My hope is to get in 5 miles tomorrow, but we'll see if I can fit it in with work.
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 63: I didn't weigh in...but my own scale said that I was up by quite a bit :-(
Week 64: +2.4 it was listed as a gain, but still less than what my scale said the week before
Week 65: -0.4 at least it was a loss!
Total weight loss: -55.2
Current weight: 202.0
I feel like I've been so much more on track and motivated this week already - less tempted by desserts and continuing to remove pop from my life and increase my water intake! I feel more energized and crave it a whole lot less...there just may be something to this!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Flo-Rida
As I mentioned in my last post, I was out of town all last week...so I actually have a legitimate reason for not posting!
I attended a work conference at the beginning of last week...and it was in Orlando. I can't tell you how much good the sunshine and warm weather did for me...not to mention the great time spent with coworkers and meeting colleagues from other universities. Aside from being super tired from the traveling, I'm feeling so refreshed and ready to tackle the world again...which is good because April is one of or toughest months.
Food-wise, I did pretty well for traveling. I had taken a couple extra days off to go to Universal Studios, but I didn't let myself get sucked in to the park food trap too much. Actually, I think the only "snack" I had there was a pretzel one day. Somehow I managed to avoid stopping at the several Cinnabons that were in the park...and that was certainly not easy when they smelled SO GOOD.
I think the days of the conference were actually the hardest...the hotel breakfast was complimentary, but not super healthy. I ate as well as possible, making sure to grab the light yogurt and fruit to go along with my bagel. The socials had good food, just again not very diet-friendly, but at some point beggars can't be choosers. And it certainly didn't help that the biggest part of the day was spent sitting in sessions listening to people talk. But, the good part was that the conference center was HUGE and getting from session to session usually involved a bit of walking. And the hotel had a great pool so I was able to get in a couple swims which felt great (especially since I couldn't find the gym)!
I even did pretty well for my first "week o water" - now, I did allow myself a couple non-water drinks, but you can't go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and NOT have Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice! I mean, that's like going to England and not having a cup of tea, or going to Italy and not having pasta...it's almost sacrilegious! Okay, maybe not THAT extreme, but you can't blame me for having them.
Plus, after the conference ended, we moved to a new (read "cheaper") hotel, which was also closer to the park. It was only about a mile from the park so instead of taking the hotel shuttle, we walked to and from the park! So not only did we get in tons of walking IN the park, we got extra! I would love to be able to tell you how much, but that's my sad story of the week. We spent our first day at the park riding roller coasters, walking everywhere, going on water rides, etc. and had major success. At the end of the night my Active link was at at least 150%! However, the next day (first day of the conference) somewhere between my hotel and the conference center...it fell off. I went a whole day walking around and being flipped upside down on rides, but the day I spend mostly sitting, I manage to lose it. *sigh* Such is life, I guess.
In any case, I got back to my meeting tonight and bought a new one. The good news is that the new one still linked to my account and uploaded all my old info (pre-trip) to the new one, so at least I don't have to completely start over. But, after I get my sleep caught up, I'll be back on my regular work-out routine with some renewed energy.
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 61-62: -1.0
Total weight loss: -57.2
Current weight: 200.0 (so close to being back under!)
Monday, March 11, 2013
Riding the Struggle Bus
I have clearly been riding the struggle bus for quite some time now and I don't quite know how to tell the driver that I need to get off the bus. Who can help me?!
I haven't been blogging, I've been slacking on working out as much, and each week I keep seeing little gains. The good thing is that they're LITTLE gains, but they're still gains and those little ones sure add up quickly. Part of my problem, though, is that I've not just been struggling with my weight loss, but with lots of things in my life...actually, with almost everything. I haven't been super motivated at work (sorry boss-type people)...I'm going to Florida at the end of this week and I haven't even been super motivated to plan the weeks events! (It's a mostly work trip with a little personal time in there...)
I know that a lot of people recently have been talking about having a major lack of motivation, and I've talked before about struggling with motivation, but this just seems really excessive for me. I've dealt with minor Seasonal Affective Disorder before (Happy Valley is very dull and grey in the winter time...), and I don't think it's that...but maybe that's a small piece of it. I haven't felt depressed, per se, just unmotivated to do pretty much ANYTHING.
There are a few bright spots to my struggle, though.
1. Monday I discovered that Blogger has a mobile app! No more being constrained to being near a computer to blog...I actually started this one from my phone while I was waiting for my meeting to start.
2. The weather has been really nice recently which has helped a little with the activity motivation - I can't wait to have the time to actually go running outside!
3. I've now had three people remind me that they've noticed my lack of blogging...one even wrote me a song about it! (Thanks, Rho! It made my day!)
4. Spring Break!! Last week was Spring Break and I got to spend the whole week at home with the family. That was definitely some much needed personal rejuvenation! Seeing my family, snuggling with the pups, and getting the chance to get back to Zumba really gave me a boost!
5. Speaking of Zumba...Sis and I did a Zumbathon while I was home! We Zumba'd for two hours to help benefit a very worthy cause!
6. My friend Zeke has been challenging himself to drink only water and he's gone over 40 days! I've never been a big milk or juice drinker, but I do love some iced tea and pop! However, he has inspired me to try my own hand at a water-only lifestyle...
This post has been several days in the making...it's been way crazy around here! But I've had a great few days and I'm really hopeful that this is a good start to turning things back around! Now, I'll be in Florida for a week so I'm not sure that I'll be able to get to a meeting down there, but I'm packing workout clothes to make myself stay on track! Plus, the conference I'm attending is even offering Zumba every morning!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 58: 0 (exactly the same)
Week 59: +0.6
Week 60: +0.2
Total weight loss: -56.2
Current weight: 201.0
Monday, February 11, 2013
Cause and Effect
It amazes me how I continue to learn things about food and about myself! You grow up learning about protein, carbs, sugars, etc. and what they do to your body, but knowing and understanding are two very different things!
I've only recently begun to truly understand how carbs, protein, and sugars work on my body. Before, I would just eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it and never really paid much attention to how my body was feeling. I didn't stop to consider why I was hungry when I'd only eaten an hour before or why I couldn't sleep when I ate a bowl of ice cream before bed.
When you start paying more attention to what you put into your body and when you put it there, you really start to understand the feelings that your body is sending you. A few weeks ago, I had an apple, about 1/2 cup of grapes, and 1/2 cup of cantaloupe for breakfast. I was full, satisfied, and content after I finished eating, but only about an hour later, I was STARVING. I sat there feeling a little baffled as to why I was so hungry when it hadn't been all that long since I'd eaten. I started to realize that maybe it was because I'd only eaten fruit and hadn't eaten anything with carbs/protein to sustain me. I went to the mini-convenient store up the stairs from my office and bought a low-point granola bar with lots of protein. And you know what?? I stayed satisfied until it was lunch time! It was a true "a ha" moment for me and I've started making sure that protein is in my breakfast every day...usually in the form of the same granola bar or greek yogurt.
Now, that is a positive example of something I've learned. But, sometimes we make boo-boos and learn things the hard way. This weekend I had to take some students on a trip to the hills of West Virginia - about a 6 1/2 hour drive. We stopped for lunch around 1, but by the time we got to the school, got registered, dropped off our belongings in the hotel rooms, etc., we didn't have enough time to get dinner before the conference opened. Then, we had to sit through the opening ceremonies, attend the socials, and weren't going to be free to leave the school for the evening until around 9:00pm. So, the "socials" ended up being "dinner" and consisted of fruit, cheese and crackers, cookies, and brownies. Not the healthiest choices, but I needed SOME sustenance. And then I laid in bed that night and despite how much my brain wanted to turn off and go to sleep, my body was all sugared up and not ready to go down without a fight. I laid there so sleepy and cursing myself for eating those cookies. Thankfully, my brain eventually won out and it didn't take too long to fall asleep. But, I will most certainly think about that the next time...
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 57: +1.6
Total weight loss: -57
Current weight: 200.2
I hate seeing that number again, but to be perfectly honest, after the week that I had, it should have been much higher, so I will take these numbers and be happy about it. It'll go back down next week.
I've only recently begun to truly understand how carbs, protein, and sugars work on my body. Before, I would just eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it and never really paid much attention to how my body was feeling. I didn't stop to consider why I was hungry when I'd only eaten an hour before or why I couldn't sleep when I ate a bowl of ice cream before bed.
When you start paying more attention to what you put into your body and when you put it there, you really start to understand the feelings that your body is sending you. A few weeks ago, I had an apple, about 1/2 cup of grapes, and 1/2 cup of cantaloupe for breakfast. I was full, satisfied, and content after I finished eating, but only about an hour later, I was STARVING. I sat there feeling a little baffled as to why I was so hungry when it hadn't been all that long since I'd eaten. I started to realize that maybe it was because I'd only eaten fruit and hadn't eaten anything with carbs/protein to sustain me. I went to the mini-convenient store up the stairs from my office and bought a low-point granola bar with lots of protein. And you know what?? I stayed satisfied until it was lunch time! It was a true "a ha" moment for me and I've started making sure that protein is in my breakfast every day...usually in the form of the same granola bar or greek yogurt.
Now, that is a positive example of something I've learned. But, sometimes we make boo-boos and learn things the hard way. This weekend I had to take some students on a trip to the hills of West Virginia - about a 6 1/2 hour drive. We stopped for lunch around 1, but by the time we got to the school, got registered, dropped off our belongings in the hotel rooms, etc., we didn't have enough time to get dinner before the conference opened. Then, we had to sit through the opening ceremonies, attend the socials, and weren't going to be free to leave the school for the evening until around 9:00pm. So, the "socials" ended up being "dinner" and consisted of fruit, cheese and crackers, cookies, and brownies. Not the healthiest choices, but I needed SOME sustenance. And then I laid in bed that night and despite how much my brain wanted to turn off and go to sleep, my body was all sugared up and not ready to go down without a fight. I laid there so sleepy and cursing myself for eating those cookies. Thankfully, my brain eventually won out and it didn't take too long to fall asleep. But, I will most certainly think about that the next time...
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 57: +1.6
Total weight loss: -57
Current weight: 200.2
I hate seeing that number again, but to be perfectly honest, after the week that I had, it should have been much higher, so I will take these numbers and be happy about it. It'll go back down next week.
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Tortoise and the Hare
So I've gotten called out by a couple people about not posting in a few weeks. I feel like time just keeps slipping away - I weigh in on Monday and before I know it, it's Friday and I haven't posted...then I think to myself, why bother when I'm going to post again in two days?? Well, that's what happened the week before last. Last week, I didn't get to go because of work stuff. Yes, I could have still posted even though I didn't weigh in, but I didn't.
This past week wasn't anything super special to write home about. I slipped on the ice Monday on my way home from a meeting and landed directly onto my left knee. Man, did it hurt! When I first fell, I didn't think it was that bad, but after I got home it started to ache and then I saw the damage. I skinned a big chunk, about the size of a 50-cent piece, and then bruised an area even larger than that. I iced my knee for the evening, but it still hurt pretty bad for the next few days. More ice and no exercising for a few days and my knee is almost as good as new.
The weekend was a little challenging - I was on duty (which always makes life a little more challenging), had a birthday dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and a Superbowl party. But, I managed them the best that I could. No snacking in between duty calls and balancing my brunches to save room for my special dinners. Frankly, it could have been better, but I also could have done MUCH worse.
Today, however, I had a slight revelation. I realized that for quit a while now I've been really frustrated with myself that I'm not losing fast enough. Granted, I know that I'm the only one standing in my way and I need to get my butt moving if I want to see the results. However, I have often found myself thinking about how much weight I'm going to lose this week/how much I HOPE I lose this week, versus actually working to lose said weight...and then I continue to get frustrated that I'm not seeing the results on the scale. But, my revelation today told me that it's okay.
In the story of the tortoise and the hare, the super fast rabbit gets cocky, takes a nap, and ends up losing the race. The slow little tortoise takes his time, goes at his own pace, and wins in the end. I feel like I started out as the rabbit - doing my thing, working super hard to lose as much weight as I could in as short a time as possible. I remember sometime during the beginning of this journey thinking about the "average" weight loss that is recommended by Weight Watchers (1-2 pounds per week). I knew that I needed to lose about 100 lbs and at an average of the max 2 lbs a week, that was going to take a year. I thought that seemed like such a long time and I'll admit, I was a little disappointed it was going to take so long. (Even though it certainly took longer than that to put it all on...) But, my giant revelation is that I've become the tortoise. It may be taking longer to get the weight off now, but when it comes down to it, after I get all of the weight off, this is going to help me be more successful. I will have a better understanding of how to live every day without worrying about how much I'm going to lose that week. I will know what it takes to be in the slow lane and to live my life in the balance to keep the weight off. So, I may not lose weight as fast as my ego would like, but just maybe my life in the slow lane will help me win the race in the end.
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 54: +0.8 (not too shabby since I'd lost almost 4 the week before)
Week 55: no weigh in
Week 56: -0.4 (hey, after the week I've had...I am super happy with this!)
Total weight loss: -58.6
Current weight: 198.6
On the super exciting side - I had to get a new school ID today...four years of swiping it multiple times a day will wear that little black strip out. I got it back to my office and saw it next to my drivers license which was taken 2 1/2 years ago...all I can say is WOW. I mean, it's only my face, but the difference is just incredible....and bonus - there's no double-chin!!
This past week wasn't anything super special to write home about. I slipped on the ice Monday on my way home from a meeting and landed directly onto my left knee. Man, did it hurt! When I first fell, I didn't think it was that bad, but after I got home it started to ache and then I saw the damage. I skinned a big chunk, about the size of a 50-cent piece, and then bruised an area even larger than that. I iced my knee for the evening, but it still hurt pretty bad for the next few days. More ice and no exercising for a few days and my knee is almost as good as new.
The weekend was a little challenging - I was on duty (which always makes life a little more challenging), had a birthday dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and a Superbowl party. But, I managed them the best that I could. No snacking in between duty calls and balancing my brunches to save room for my special dinners. Frankly, it could have been better, but I also could have done MUCH worse.
Today, however, I had a slight revelation. I realized that for quit a while now I've been really frustrated with myself that I'm not losing fast enough. Granted, I know that I'm the only one standing in my way and I need to get my butt moving if I want to see the results. However, I have often found myself thinking about how much weight I'm going to lose this week/how much I HOPE I lose this week, versus actually working to lose said weight...and then I continue to get frustrated that I'm not seeing the results on the scale. But, my revelation today told me that it's okay.
In the story of the tortoise and the hare, the super fast rabbit gets cocky, takes a nap, and ends up losing the race. The slow little tortoise takes his time, goes at his own pace, and wins in the end. I feel like I started out as the rabbit - doing my thing, working super hard to lose as much weight as I could in as short a time as possible. I remember sometime during the beginning of this journey thinking about the "average" weight loss that is recommended by Weight Watchers (1-2 pounds per week). I knew that I needed to lose about 100 lbs and at an average of the max 2 lbs a week, that was going to take a year. I thought that seemed like such a long time and I'll admit, I was a little disappointed it was going to take so long. (Even though it certainly took longer than that to put it all on...) But, my giant revelation is that I've become the tortoise. It may be taking longer to get the weight off now, but when it comes down to it, after I get all of the weight off, this is going to help me be more successful. I will have a better understanding of how to live every day without worrying about how much I'm going to lose that week. I will know what it takes to be in the slow lane and to live my life in the balance to keep the weight off. So, I may not lose weight as fast as my ego would like, but just maybe my life in the slow lane will help me win the race in the end.
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 54: +0.8 (not too shabby since I'd lost almost 4 the week before)
Week 55: no weigh in
Week 56: -0.4 (hey, after the week I've had...I am super happy with this!)
Total weight loss: -58.6
Current weight: 198.6
On the super exciting side - I had to get a new school ID today...four years of swiping it multiple times a day will wear that little black strip out. I got it back to my office and saw it next to my drivers license which was taken 2 1/2 years ago...all I can say is WOW. I mean, it's only my face, but the difference is just incredible....and bonus - there's no double-chin!!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
One Weird Week
Well this has been a most interesting week - it certainly did not go quite the way I had originally planned, but then again, what ever does?!
Last weeks small gain after getting so close to clearing 200 really motivated me to get my butt into gear. I was determined to get under that number in approximately one year from my original start. So I started the tracking week with a vengeance! I tracked absolutely everything that I ate - I never went over my daily points into my activity points or the extra weekly points - and I went to the gym Tuesday and Thursday mornings...and even still danced Wednesday night! I was kicking butt and taking names...and even convinced a friend to go to the gym with me!
But, then the weekend hit and I let myself loosen up a bit. I didn't track like I should have, and perhaps enjoyed myself a little more than maybe I should have. I'm sure that I did not go over all of my daily/weekly/activity points, but I didn't quite make the super smartest choices. But, as I said last week...those are choices that I made and I don't regret them and I won't beat myself up about them.
Well, I was feeling a little guilty by Sunday...especially since I got in very little activity over the weekend. Sunday evening began to roll around and I started feeling not great. I had a friend in visiting for the weekend and she was leaving the next morning, I was exhausted from work I had to do during the day, so we decided to go out with a mutual friend. I wasn't really feeling anything on the menu...I was feeling a little nauseous and nothing sounded very appealing. I ended up getting a very "homestyle" type of dinner, which was just okay, and started to realize throughout dinner that I was freezing and neither of my friends were. We went home and I was so tired I could have happily gone to bed at 7:30, but I made myself stay up a little later. I tossed and turned all night and when I woke on Monday I quickly realized that there was no way I was going to work! I called off, said a quick prayer that it wasn't the awful flu that everyone was getting, and went back to bed. When I woke again, I figured it was like 11ish....it was 1pm. I managed to move myself to the couch and didn't leave it for the rest of the day. I wasn't the slightest bit hungry, my whole body ached, and I kept toggling between cold and hot. My temp wasn't too bad - it got up to about 101.3...and spent a good portion of the day there...but, considering, it wasn't too horrendous. I made myself drink as much water as my stomach would allow, and I made myself eat some noodles for dinner (the only thing I ate all day). I slept a lot - then finally took some Excedrin for the headache I had acquired.
Frankly, I could kick myself for not thinking to take it earlier. Almost immediately I could feel my body temperature drop...within half an hour it had already dropped to 100.2! I finally was able to fall asleep for the night and woke up feeling like a new person! Well, maybe not completely new...I wasn't back to 100%, but I felt amazingly better. I said a quick thanks that it wasn't the nasty flu, and went on with my day. Since I had to move my WW meetings back to Mondays, and since Monday was my couch-day, I didn't get to weigh in. I debated on whether to go today or not - I tried talking myself into and out of it all day. "You'll be late because of class" - "that's okay, at least you'll have gone" - "yeah, but you didn't do great this weekend" - "but you did do great the rest of the week...and you hardly ate anything yesterday!" Ultimately, I decided to go because I knew that I needed to. I was late, as was predicted, but I felt good about the decision to go...especially after I stepped on the scale.
Now, before I get to the big reveal of my weird week, I would like to point out something - especially to those of you who may go to Weight Watchers, or any other type of weight loss/weigh in program. I, as a rule, wear as little as decently possible when I weigh in. That generally consists of a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top that I wear under my "normal" clothes. I usually undress in the bathroom at the center, leave my clothes on my chair, go weigh in, then get redressed. This isn't really typical behavior for most people weighing in...at least at my center...and the one I go to at home. Well, since I was late today, I had to strip right at the scale. The ladies often comment on my "weigh-in outfit"...in a positive manner. Today, though, after she got my official weight registered, she asked me to stay on the scale and to pick up my jeans and sweater to see what the difference was. I weighed an extra 2.6 pounds holding my clothes!! You'd better believe I'm going to keep up my routine!! If I'm gonna get weighed every week, I want that scale to reflect what I weigh not what my clothes weigh!
Well, after my weird week (and before I picked up my clothes), here's what the scale said:
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 53: -3.6!!!
Total weight loss: -59.0
Current weight: 198.2
YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Last weeks small gain after getting so close to clearing 200 really motivated me to get my butt into gear. I was determined to get under that number in approximately one year from my original start. So I started the tracking week with a vengeance! I tracked absolutely everything that I ate - I never went over my daily points into my activity points or the extra weekly points - and I went to the gym Tuesday and Thursday mornings...and even still danced Wednesday night! I was kicking butt and taking names...and even convinced a friend to go to the gym with me!
But, then the weekend hit and I let myself loosen up a bit. I didn't track like I should have, and perhaps enjoyed myself a little more than maybe I should have. I'm sure that I did not go over all of my daily/weekly/activity points, but I didn't quite make the super smartest choices. But, as I said last week...those are choices that I made and I don't regret them and I won't beat myself up about them.
Well, I was feeling a little guilty by Sunday...especially since I got in very little activity over the weekend. Sunday evening began to roll around and I started feeling not great. I had a friend in visiting for the weekend and she was leaving the next morning, I was exhausted from work I had to do during the day, so we decided to go out with a mutual friend. I wasn't really feeling anything on the menu...I was feeling a little nauseous and nothing sounded very appealing. I ended up getting a very "homestyle" type of dinner, which was just okay, and started to realize throughout dinner that I was freezing and neither of my friends were. We went home and I was so tired I could have happily gone to bed at 7:30, but I made myself stay up a little later. I tossed and turned all night and when I woke on Monday I quickly realized that there was no way I was going to work! I called off, said a quick prayer that it wasn't the awful flu that everyone was getting, and went back to bed. When I woke again, I figured it was like 11ish....it was 1pm. I managed to move myself to the couch and didn't leave it for the rest of the day. I wasn't the slightest bit hungry, my whole body ached, and I kept toggling between cold and hot. My temp wasn't too bad - it got up to about 101.3...and spent a good portion of the day there...but, considering, it wasn't too horrendous. I made myself drink as much water as my stomach would allow, and I made myself eat some noodles for dinner (the only thing I ate all day). I slept a lot - then finally took some Excedrin for the headache I had acquired.
Frankly, I could kick myself for not thinking to take it earlier. Almost immediately I could feel my body temperature drop...within half an hour it had already dropped to 100.2! I finally was able to fall asleep for the night and woke up feeling like a new person! Well, maybe not completely new...I wasn't back to 100%, but I felt amazingly better. I said a quick thanks that it wasn't the nasty flu, and went on with my day. Since I had to move my WW meetings back to Mondays, and since Monday was my couch-day, I didn't get to weigh in. I debated on whether to go today or not - I tried talking myself into and out of it all day. "You'll be late because of class" - "that's okay, at least you'll have gone" - "yeah, but you didn't do great this weekend" - "but you did do great the rest of the week...and you hardly ate anything yesterday!" Ultimately, I decided to go because I knew that I needed to. I was late, as was predicted, but I felt good about the decision to go...especially after I stepped on the scale.
Now, before I get to the big reveal of my weird week, I would like to point out something - especially to those of you who may go to Weight Watchers, or any other type of weight loss/weigh in program. I, as a rule, wear as little as decently possible when I weigh in. That generally consists of a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top that I wear under my "normal" clothes. I usually undress in the bathroom at the center, leave my clothes on my chair, go weigh in, then get redressed. This isn't really typical behavior for most people weighing in...at least at my center...and the one I go to at home. Well, since I was late today, I had to strip right at the scale. The ladies often comment on my "weigh-in outfit"...in a positive manner. Today, though, after she got my official weight registered, she asked me to stay on the scale and to pick up my jeans and sweater to see what the difference was. I weighed an extra 2.6 pounds holding my clothes!! You'd better believe I'm going to keep up my routine!! If I'm gonna get weighed every week, I want that scale to reflect what I weigh not what my clothes weigh!
Well, after my weird week (and before I picked up my clothes), here's what the scale said:
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 53: -3.6!!!
Total weight loss: -59.0
Current weight: 198.2
YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Back to the Grind
So I got back to work this past week.
The week was a little difficult - we had very limited places to eat during the day and pulling 12 hour days made it hard to get to the store to do any real shopping other than basic necessities. Seriously, my fridge still only has milk, eggs, bread, yogurt, and a few fruits and veggies in it! Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get out and fill her up so that Mother Hubbards cupboards won't be so bare!
The other piece that made it hard was that not only did the 12 hour days also make it hard to get in some exercise, but since the students weren't actually here for most of the week, the gym had very limited hours...when it was even open. Now, don't get me wrong, I could have made a bigger effort to do things outside of the gym, but I didn't and I can't go back and change that now.
One of the things that has been an important, albeit difficult, lesson to learn (and one on which I'm still learning) is not beating yourself up over choices you've made in the past. Sometimes when I weigh in and the scale doesn't really go in my favor I sit and think of all the choices I could have made better that week. The "where did I go wrong?" almost always comes out (unless it's an expected gain). You think about every single day and what you ate and what exercise you did...or didn't do. "I know I could have worked out a little longer on that day." "I shouldn't have eaten that one cookie." Oooohhhh if the world were built on shoulda, coulda, wouldas. The fact is: I didn't and I did. And I just have to learn to live with the decisions I make, let them go after I've made them, and move on and do better next time.
Now, don't get this post wrong...I didn't have THAT bad of a week, but sometimes I need a reminder to quit beating myself up. Sometimes we ALL need to quit beating ourselves up. Stop it, people! Play nice!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 52: +1.2 (Officially 1 year! Woohoo!)
Total weight loss: -55.4
Current weight: 201.8
The week was a little difficult - we had very limited places to eat during the day and pulling 12 hour days made it hard to get to the store to do any real shopping other than basic necessities. Seriously, my fridge still only has milk, eggs, bread, yogurt, and a few fruits and veggies in it! Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get out and fill her up so that Mother Hubbards cupboards won't be so bare!
The other piece that made it hard was that not only did the 12 hour days also make it hard to get in some exercise, but since the students weren't actually here for most of the week, the gym had very limited hours...when it was even open. Now, don't get me wrong, I could have made a bigger effort to do things outside of the gym, but I didn't and I can't go back and change that now.
One of the things that has been an important, albeit difficult, lesson to learn (and one on which I'm still learning) is not beating yourself up over choices you've made in the past. Sometimes when I weigh in and the scale doesn't really go in my favor I sit and think of all the choices I could have made better that week. The "where did I go wrong?" almost always comes out (unless it's an expected gain). You think about every single day and what you ate and what exercise you did...or didn't do. "I know I could have worked out a little longer on that day." "I shouldn't have eaten that one cookie." Oooohhhh if the world were built on shoulda, coulda, wouldas. The fact is: I didn't and I did. And I just have to learn to live with the decisions I make, let them go after I've made them, and move on and do better next time.
Now, don't get this post wrong...I didn't have THAT bad of a week, but sometimes I need a reminder to quit beating myself up. Sometimes we ALL need to quit beating ourselves up. Stop it, people! Play nice!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 52: +1.2 (Officially 1 year! Woohoo!)
Total weight loss: -55.4
Current weight: 201.8
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A Year in Review
I know that it's totally cliché and that everyone does year reviews at the end of December/beginning of January, but this is also marking my one year Journey anniversary - so we're doing it anyway!
January 9th is my official anniversary - that fateful day that I went for my first weigh-in/meeting. I didn't start my blog until the week after, but I made the courageous decision to start this journey that day. I've mentioned before that I've done Weight Watchers half a dozen times, but this is the first time that I've lasted this long. The first time that I've been this successful. The first time that I invited the world into my journey.
Not to make this post about tooting my own horn, but (toot toot...) I have accomplished some awesome things in the last twelve months. For starters, I've kept up with my "diet" AND this blog for twelve whole months! I've lost over 50 pounds (that's about one pound each week). I've lost a lot of inches: 11 from my waist, 8 from my hips, 2 from my arms, 8 from my bust, and 6 from my thighs! I can not only run longer than a block, but I can run several miles with very few walking breaks in between. I actually like exercising!! I get restless just sitting around.
It's New Years Day and instead of sleeping in since I stayed up past my normal bedtime (oh yeah...I also go to bed before midnight now pretty much every night), I got up and went to weigh in. There were a total of five people at the meeting today, not including the leader/receptionist. Now, the next few weeks start the "busy season" for Weight Watchers - getting all the new "January Joiners". All those people who make New Years resolutions to lose weight...and you could say that I'm one of them, though as I said in my first post I didn't make a New Years resolution - I made a LIFETIME resolution...and I'm glad to say that I've kept it for a year, so far!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 50: Christmas Day - no weigh-in
Week 51: -0.4
Total weight loss: -56.6
Current weight: 200.6
Any loss over not one, but TWO holidays is a major success in my book!! Consider the Holidays CONQUERED!!
January 9th is my official anniversary - that fateful day that I went for my first weigh-in/meeting. I didn't start my blog until the week after, but I made the courageous decision to start this journey that day. I've mentioned before that I've done Weight Watchers half a dozen times, but this is the first time that I've lasted this long. The first time that I've been this successful. The first time that I invited the world into my journey.
Not to make this post about tooting my own horn, but (toot toot...) I have accomplished some awesome things in the last twelve months. For starters, I've kept up with my "diet" AND this blog for twelve whole months! I've lost over 50 pounds (that's about one pound each week). I've lost a lot of inches: 11 from my waist, 8 from my hips, 2 from my arms, 8 from my bust, and 6 from my thighs! I can not only run longer than a block, but I can run several miles with very few walking breaks in between. I actually like exercising!! I get restless just sitting around.
It's New Years Day and instead of sleeping in since I stayed up past my normal bedtime (oh yeah...I also go to bed before midnight now pretty much every night), I got up and went to weigh in. There were a total of five people at the meeting today, not including the leader/receptionist. Now, the next few weeks start the "busy season" for Weight Watchers - getting all the new "January Joiners". All those people who make New Years resolutions to lose weight...and you could say that I'm one of them, though as I said in my first post I didn't make a New Years resolution - I made a LIFETIME resolution...and I'm glad to say that I've kept it for a year, so far!
Initial weight: 257.2
Week 50: Christmas Day - no weigh-in
Week 51: -0.4
Total weight loss: -56.6
Current weight: 200.6
Any loss over not one, but TWO holidays is a major success in my book!! Consider the Holidays CONQUERED!!
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