Never Giving Up!

I'm trying. Trying to get into better shape. Trying to lose weight. Trying to change my eating habits. Trying to get more sleep. Trying to spend quality time with my family. Trying. Trying. Trying. Always trying. And trying pays off. Because I'm having success in all those areas. It may not be with dramatic results, but I'm still seeing results. And loving it.

I'm in the best shape I've been in for at least 15 years. I've lost 20 pounds this year. I'm eating healthier and fewer calories. I'm getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night versus the 5-6 I was getting before this year. I'm totally enjoying my family and our quality time together - and not in front of the tv! So, yes, I'm definitely seeing results - and all because I'm trying. And I'm going to continue trying.

I didn't know I had this in me. I'd always hoped it was there, but I'd never given it a chance to come to the surface. When I started on this journey at the beginning of the year, my ultimate goal was to run a 5k. Well, I haven't actually run in an official race yet, but I'm able to run the distance without walking! Now, my goal is to get a little faster and enter a race. Never thought I'd actually be able to do it, but here I am. I've gotta say, it feels good.

Another goal - to get under the infamous 200 pound mark! It's my nemesis and I want to say adios to 200 in the WORST way! I never ever thought I'd weigh this much and it makes me sick that I let myself get here - - BUT I'm so not going to let it get me down. That's how I got here in the first place.

Working Out & Loving It!

Let me just say that Couch to 5k is difficult! When I decided to start this program, I knew it would be hard, but I also knew that I needed to have something to work towards or I would be quick to become lazy about going to the gym. Well, I now have 2 weeks of training under my belt (6 weeks total of going to the gym!), and it feels great! Even though I find myself wondering if I will actually be able to ever run a 5k, I also find myself very motivated to try.

The first week of training consisted of a brisk 5 minute walking warm-up followed by 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking - for 25 total minutes. Last week it was supposed to be the 5 minute warm-up followed by 90 seconds jogging and 2 minutes walking, however - for some reason I got it in my head that it was supposed to be 90/90. So, that's what I did. Yep, made it harder than it needed to be. BUT, I did it! And that's the important part. Now I'm totally ready for week 3: 2 reps of 90 sec jog/90 sec walk/3 min jog/3 min walk. I think I can - I think I can - I think I can...

I can't believe how much my attitude towards working out has changed. I'm really enjoying it! It's helped tremendously to have someone to work out with and motivate me. My friend, Marci, has become my "personal trainer" and I believe there are days when she's actually trying to kill me. Not really, but it feels like it afterward! If I would be trying to do this all on my own, I'd have given up a long time ago. Sad, but true. I know me too well.

The one big discouragement for me has been the scale - it just won't budge! Grrr.... However, the one huge encouragement for me has been that my clothes are definitely getting looser. My husband pointed out the other day that maybe I should start using a belt, since I'm forever pulling up my pants/shorts. I laughed, but he's right, I am! I can't wait until the end of May, because I get to measure myself. That should help make up for the scale issue... Marci told me to toss the scale...

Gearing up for week 3 of 5k training!

Still here...

And the weight loss adventures continue - - finally! I never thought I would be one of "those" people who joins a gym and works out, but guess what? I've done just that. Our little town has a little fitness center and with very little encouragement I was persuaded to get a membership and begin a regular workout regimen. For me, the most amazing part is that I'm actually enjoying it! Of course, it helps that I have a couple of friends to work out with, because I know how I am - and if I were trying to do this alone.... Well, let's just say it wouldn't be happening!

This week I started the "Couch to 5K" program, and whoa! It's a killer! At least for a wimp like me. I try to work out every M,W & F and this program is laid out for weekly training. So, I'm going to stretch each week out into 2 weeks. Basically, for the next 2 weeks I will do 25 minutes of this: 5 minute warm up  and then alternating with - 90 seconds walking - 60 seconds jogging. You try it, if you're not already a runner, and tell me just how easy it is for you! I'm also combining this with regular weight lifting and elliptical machine time.

I did have this great sense of satisfaction when I was done with my workout this morning. Like maybe this will actually make a difference, and maybe I will see results! So far, after a month of going to the gym, I've gained 2 pounds and lost 3.5 inches. Now I just want the scale to start it's downward spiral!! AND I need to not get on the scale every day - that can be way too discouraging!

Counting Calories

I find it funny, and just a little disturbing, that I avoided "counting calories" for so long. My reasons don't make a lick of sense to me now. I mean, how can "I don't need to count calories", "The food I eat doesn't have that many calories in it" or "I don't eat enough to have to count calories" or even "I don't have time to count calories" - how can any of these excuses have made their way to my brain?!! Thank goodness I came to my senses when I did, because heaven only know how much more weight I would've gained!

All that to say that I'm rather enjoying this "new" diet. It's really nice to look at my notebook at the end of the day and see that I haven't gone over my allotted calories, or that I still have room for a little treat. What I once considered a burden (because I'd never tried it...) has actually given me a ton of freedom! At this point, I'm allowed 1700 calories a day. This may seem like a lot, but it allows me to lose approximately 2 pounds per week. Of course, this will adjust as my weight continues to go down, but for now it's perfect. I'm learning the ropes and finding that I really do enjoy fresh veggies and fruit. I'm working more proteins and good grains into my diet and trying to make this a change for a lifetime - not just until I lose the weight.

I'm also allowing myself one "free" day per week. At first, I ate whatever I wanted to on that day, without thought about calorie content; however, I now try to be more reasonable about it. For example, if we go out to eat, I try to make that my free day. But instead of ordering the smothered chicken with fries and a caesar salad, I will order the roasted chicken with fries and a garden salad. I know, fries are bad. But I LOVE fries, and if I allow myself to have them once a week then I don't crave them all the time. Hopefully, someday down the road, I won't need to order them, but for now...

As for the progress I've made since beginning this "new" diet? Well, I started the year at 230 pounds and on February 1 I weighed in at 222 pounds. When I weighed myself a week and a half ago, I was at 218, so hopefully next week will be less than that. This means I've lost 12 pounds this year! And all that from counting some simple little calories.

Happy New Year!

Wow. It's 2011. There's so much I hope to accomplish this year. I'm not one for making "resolutions" - I like to set goals. My goals for this year?

• Lose weight and get healthy! This means exercise and eating more whole foods and way less processed crap. 
• Get organized! I'm giving myself an entire year to get there. This also includes de-cluttering and de-piling! (And cleaning my basement...)

May not look like much, but there's a lot piled into those two goals. I also don't believe in setting myself up for failure - why would I want to do that? So, here's to a great 2011 and reaching my goals!

The "New" Plan

So, I'm on Day 4 of my "new" diet plan. I say "new" rather facetiously because it's not really new at all. I'm just doing what I should've been doing from Day 1 - 3 years ago... I started counting calories and attempting to exercise regularly every day. What a novel thought! It's interesting that everything I read points me in this direction. All the experts say that the best way to lose weight and keep it off - healthily, I might add - is to eat right and exercise regularly. Most of them don't recommend trying any of the fad diets at all. So, here I go. Trying what has worked for years.

I'm amazed at how calorie-illiterate I am. For example, I made a very yummy breakfast pizza yesterday - crescent roll crust, eggs, bacon, potatoes and cheese - 428 calories per piece! I wouldn't have guessed there were that many calories in it. But I'm learning - fast, I might add. I found a very helpful website:
http://www.livestrong.com/
This site is awesome! I started by answering a few questions about losing weight and then it gave me my daily caloric allowance to help me lose 2 pounds a week. I'm able to track everything I eat and my exercise. It also lets me input my own recipes and gives me the caloric content per serving - which is wonderful, because I'm all about cooking from scratch! I am then able to track my progress and see what I need to add to my diet - such as more protein, etc. and I can see where I need to cut back - such as sodium, carbs, etc.

Another thing I really like about the website, is that it calculates how many calories I can have when I don't get any exercise so that I can still lose weight. This means that when I don't exercise, I have to eat a lot less! Just another good reason to exercise.

I really want to be successful at this. I don't need to look model-thin, but I do want to be healthy. And I don't believe that being 70 pounds over-weight is healthy at all. So, here I go!

UGH!!!

Ok, this is getting bad - how many times can I go around this circle before I find a way out?! I gain weight, I lose weight, I gain  weight, I lose weight - round and round I go. I'm getting very dizzy! This has got to be the last time around the circle, because I'm so done with it already...

Setting new goals. Right now.

On black Friday I'm purchasing a new scale, my old one is dead and unreliable. (I've totally allowed it to lie to me....if I lean far enough forward on it - I weigh less...) So it's a digital scale for me. No more lies.

30 minutes of exercise a day. Starting now. This will be my daily goal. It's just got to happen, no way around it. I've slacked so much off since my 30 day challenge a couple months ago, it's not even funny... All progress made during that time is gone...

No more excuses. Plain and simple. How is it that I think that extra helping isn't going to do any damage? I mean, come on already!

Blog on a regular basis. It may not be daily, but it will be regular. I find that it's much easier for me to succeed when I know that people may actually read this. I think they call that accountability?

My 20-year class reunion is starting to loom large on the horizon. What can I accomplish in 8 months? I'm going to find out!