Day 30 - Success!!!

I can't believe I actually made my goal - - 30 consecutive days with 30 minutes of exercise per day! I did it!! My little old exercise bike is being used regularly, my abs are loving pilates (so is my back!) and my legs are getting stronger. Before I do anything else - here are the results of my challenge.

30 days ago, I weighed and measured myself:

• Weight: 225 pounds
• Waist: 44 inches
• Thighs: left 29 inches & right 29 inches

Today, these are my results:

• Weight: 219 pounds
• Waist: 42.5 inches
• Thighs: left 28.5 inches & right 28.5 inches

I lost 6 pounds and 2.5 inches!!! I was really nervous holding that measuring tape. I was so afraid that there wouldn't be any change and then I would have to get discouraged, but NO! I'm actually seeing results! I measured my waist 5 times because I couldn't believe I was doing it right. But I was, in fact, to get it to measure 44 inches, I had to really stick my stomach out. I'm so happy!!! Honestly, I'm amazed that such a small change is making a difference. Sometimes I felt like my 30 minutes of exercise wasn't much - especially when all I did was pilates, leg lifts and push-ups - but obviously it's working and I'm going to continue doing it. This has been a permanent life-style change for me. Woohoo!!!!

Now, I'm so excited to reward myself. That haircut is going to feel like the best one ever, simply because I had to work for it and I was successful. It feels so good.

My 30-Day Challenge

How do you motivate yourself when it seems all motivation has flown out the window? For me, I'm going to try a 30-day Challenge. I figure that if I can stick with something for 30 days, not only will it become a habit, but I should definitely see results and find that ever-elusive motivation once again! I've been trying to come up with a challenge that isn't too easy but that isn't so difficult that I want to give up. It needs to be attainable - with some effort. So, here it is:

For the next 30 days (including Sundays!), starting Monday, July 26, I will do 30 minutes of intentional exercise each day. I'm calling it my "30/30 Challenge"!

Now, it may not seem like much of a challenge. However, for me, it is! You see, I'm very good at starting things and not so good at keeping at them until they're done. That is about to change. I need to do this, for my health and my sanity. I drive myself nuts thinking about how much progress I could have made by now if only I would've kept at it - and I'm done with that!! With God's help, I will succeed in this challenge and hopefully follow it with another one!

I would love to have you join me! Just knowing that I'm not doing this alone would be a huge motivator! (There's that word again!) Tomorrow I will post my starting weight and my exercise, and I pray there will be a difference by the end of 30 days! I know - I'll also measure my waist, hips & thighs (ugh) - seeing those numbers go down would be a HUGE motivator for me!!

I'm looking at this challenge as my best effort so far in the journey towards losing my double chin! Please join me, or at least send your encouraging thoughts my way! Because I know I'll need it! Woohoo!

Oh, I nearly forgot - I've got my 20-year class reunion coming up in 1 year, and I am determined to that there will be less of me attending that reunion than there is now!!

And So It Begins....

Finally! My own official weight-loss blog! I've been thinking about this for a while and since today is rainy and my daughter is taking a nap - what better time to start, than right now.

Weight has not always been a struggle for me. I didn't even give it a second thought when I was in high school, and even when I gained the "freshman fifteen" in bible school, I still wasn't concerned. I was 5'9" 155 and a size 10. Then, I got married. I think it was the pill that started it. I gained 25 pounds in the first 3 years - yikes!! Then I went off the pill for various reasons, including the awful weight gain. I tried a natural diet pill with ephedra in it, and was able to lose it all within a year. But then, I went off that pill and let's just say, "The proof is in the pudding." And what a pudding it has been! 75 pounds have been gained in 11 years. It disgusts me to think that I've done this to myself. And for the past number of years I've let that disgust rule me. NO MORE!

That is why I'm starting this blog. I no longer want a discouraging voice in my head - I want an encouraging one!! These are my goals for this blog:

1. To daily encourage myself and others to eat right and live healthy.
2. To be real and honest about the struggles involved in doing the above!
3. To have others share their struggles and victories, so we can all be encouraged.
4. Honestly, I want to lose weight - and I'm hoping that this blog will help me find and keep my willpower to do just that.
5. Weekly weigh-in.
6. Contests. Who doesn't love a little incentive?

As I think of more goals, I'll add them. #4 really should be my #1, because that's really what I want! At the beginning of April, I weighed in at a hefty 230 lbs and a size 18/20. As of May 10, I'm at 218. That's been very encouraging to me, and makes me want to find my 155 again - AND I really want to lose my double chin!

Join me in this journey, because it's always easier with a friend!