Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Day 157 - Hi, My Name Is Emily and I'm An Over Eater

Have you ever seen that show Mike and Molly. I love it, but my favorite parts has been when they get up at their OA (over eaters anonymous) meeting and say, "Hi, my name is Mike/Molly and I'm an over eater." So when I posted that title, I got the typical response in my head, "Hi Emily". Lol.

From January to May, I have done tremendously well, but the last part of May, I didn't just fall off the wagon, I destroyed the wagon. I have been eating horribly again, and I know it's the fact I let excuses get in my way.

#1 Excuse - Cheating just this once won't hurt. But wait, let me tell you a secret....lean closer.....#whispers It will if you cheat everyday..... #gasp. I know right!

#2 Excuse - Skipping the gym won't kill you. True, but skipping it once, just once (in my case) led to me skipping it multiple times).

Now, the main this is, that I didn't do as horribly as I am making it out to be, but I have it set in my mind that I am. I gained two pounds instead of losing two pounds. Which I've lost them again and am at an incredible 278.2lbs (yay!), but I normally lose two pounds a week and I gained two pounds that week, so in all actuality it feels like I gained four pounds. And I have to work harder at being 275 by my birthday, which is June 30th. Which I only have to lose 3.2lbs by then and I hope that I will be able to make my goal, but still, I wouldn't have had to be working so hard to do just that if I hadn't destroyed my wagon.

I am still having a problem tracking my food, and I think that's a main reason why my wagon got destroyed too. Like today, I know what I've eaten, but I just haven't gone in and tracked my food. I've got the computer right here, the iPhone sitting next to me as well as the Kindle fire. All of which have access to the Sparkpeople food tracker. Oh and I most likely haven't been drinking enough water as well. I've been trying to keep up with my water intake though. Really because it is literally all I drink. (Which I know is something I say all the time, but it's true.)

My biggest breaking point was Sunday. I had McDonalds. Stuck with the water and the grilled chicken sandwich (just bun and chicken, nothing else, literally) and then I added the fries. Afterwards I felt so bad that when my nephew didn't want his nuggets, I ate those too.

As I continued driving us home, I came to a realization. I cannot go back to that lifestyle that I have worked so hard to avoid! I cannot get off track and gain the 66.8lbs that I have lost. I just can't do it.

My trainer has been telling me to start eating foods with less salt. And while yes, I realize that's it's healthier to eat stuff with less salt/sodium, I kind of felt like I when he told me to change that, I was doing everything wrong. But another thing I realized Sunday is, 1. I already eat low sodium. That is because I was raised in a heart healthy house. Both my parents had heart issues and they changed their diets for the better and we all learned to eat foods with less salt or no salt at all. 2. What I was eating before, it was working for me. I was eating all of these foods and losing weight at the same time. Yes I know the trainer guy is supposed to know what he is doing, but maybe what he is doing is not right for me. Or I could just be stubborn, lol. Well, I know I'm stubborn, but I don't think I should change what works.

Monday, I went to the grocery store and I bought the foods that work for me, and I started eating it again. With the exception of an apple I didn't eat this morning for lunch because it was a little mushy. But all in all I'm on the right track again and feeling better.

Oh and on another note, I got my uniforms in finally and took a comparison shot of me in it compared to my old uniform. :-) Really shows a difference.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Day 136 - Updates

Been a while since I've blogged on SP so I thought I'd post a blog today. 

I've had a few non-scale victories lately, but my most exciting one happened yesterday. I was told at work that I had to go get measured for new uniforms, because mine are incredibly loose and frumpy looking, lol. So I went to the uniform shop and had me try on new uniform stuffs. 

NSV 1: My shirt size went from 6X to a 2X in my uniform shirt!!!! 

NSV 2: My pants are now a 50 compared to the 60 they were!!!! 

But my other nsv's that I'm also excited about, I can see my collarbones now. And I can see those little bones on the outer part of my wrist that I've never been able to see! :-) Goofy, I know, but I am so proud of those little accomplishments when it comes to my weight loss. 

Last time I blogged I weighed 285.2lbs. As of last Saturday (5/12/2012) I weighed in at 280.4lbs. :-) 4.8lbs less and a total loss of 64.6lbs so far!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Haven't met with my trainer lately. Probably because I've let a few things become excuses rather than actually meeting with the guy. My car situation for one and having to work late a few days the other. But I'll go to the gym Wednesday and work my butt off (hopefully literally, lol) and be the better off for it. 

Watching The Biggest Loser last season taught me that if I want a healthier me, then there can be no excuses, and that's what that is. Excuses.... I'm fairly determined when I put my mind to something though. So I'm still going to keep eating right and exercising and stay with my mottos to stay on the path for a healthier me. :-) 

Yesterday before the uniform store, my boss found an old ID picture of me I thought I would share with SP. It was taken in 2007 and of course I had to make a versus picture to show it compared to me now. :-) 
 

And another from when I started on Jan. 1st to May 9th 2012: 
 

Have a great day sparkers and thanks for sharing this journey with me! 
 

Monday, April 30, 2012

Day 121 - May

Yesterday I weighed myself. Forgot to on Saturday, but I have dropped another 2lbs and now weigh 285.2lbs. Which means I have 10.2lbs to go before I am at the weight I want to be at by my birthday. My birthday is on June 30th and I will be turning the big 3-0. *cringing* I know, I know, it's not that big of a deal, but I am having a little bit of a hard time dealing with it. 

May is the fifth month into my new journey (the one I'm succeeding in). 
Goals 
~To lost approximately 8 more lbs. I've been losing 2lbs a week so far and with four more weeks coming that should equal out to 8lbs. But with going to the gym, I may lose more than that. :-) 
~To track what I've eaten every day. I have a little note book that I will write everything down in so I will not forget to track in on SP. 
~To drink the amount of water I am supposed to drink. I've been slacking on that lately and at my last trainer session I could feel that my body didn't have enough water. I barely broke a sweat. Which is not normal when working with him. And water is all I drink. I used to drink a Vitamin Water Zero here and there, but I think the last time I had one was a month or so ago. So definitely need to work on that. 

Mostly I am still focused on my main theme, "One Day At A Time". This is really what I have to do and not be too focused on what's going to happen long term or I know I will get discouraged. 

I will also be blogging more. I haven't really had much to say regarding my weight loss. I have been struggling to lose even the two pounds a week, but I mostly blame the non-tracking habit I've picked up lately. Back to tracking for sure! 

To reinforce my One Day At A Time theme. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Day 113 - Still Going Strong

It's been a while since I've posted a blog. But I am still going strong and on day 113!!! :-D My current weight is 287.2lbs. Which makes for a total loss of 57.8lbs! :-) 

I have made another step to getting healthier. In addition to my awesome free membership to Ballys (love my job!), I am now paying for trainer sessions. I figured how am I supposed to know what to do at the gym, and am I actually going to push myself to do it? No, most likely not. So the trainer will be doing the pushing! Lol. He's actually a pretty nice guy, I didn't think so after Friday, he had me doing exercises to strengthen my core so that I am not so off balance when I work out. I'm not as off balance as I was but I surely am not as balanced as I would like to be, lol. I have another session with him today and am nervous because I don't think I have ever worked out as hard as I do when I'm working with him. He is also being protective of my back and having me do a few exercises for it since I hurt it. 

This past week was fairly crazy. I was switched from my normal 6a - 2p shift to work from 2p - 10p. Which threw me so off! I was a grumpy person those first few days. But it also made it more difficult for me to get to the gym. I do not like waking up earlier than possible to go, so I didn't. But I did get up early Friday to meet with the trainer. So back to my normal shift this week and my plans are to go to the gym every day. Today I meet with trainer guy again and then tomorrow I will go in and do some cardio. 

My legs are still sore from Friday, but I know that this is a good sore and I will probably be even more sore tomorrow. 

My eating is still good, I cheated at my friend's daughter's birthday party, BUT I had about 1/3 the size of the normal cake I used to eat, and ate good for the rest of the day. However, it was the only thing I cheated on last week at all. So I still feel good about how I ate. The only problem I'm having is tracking my food. I know that I am eating right from past experiences and I can literally guess how many calories are in what food and such, but I don't want to accidently over do some type of food or another by not tracking it. Water consumption is still good, even better on the days I go to the gym, and it's still all I'm drinking, lol. 

But to end this blog with an awesome quote I love! 

Friday, April 6, 2012

Day 97 - Backtracking

Holy cow! I cannot believe it has been 97 days since I have been doing this! :-) This last weekend, I really went off the eating path I was doing so well on. I started Saturday with a party (EXCUSE) I went too eating waaaaay too many appetizers and then the rest of the weekend was blown as well. I didn't track any of my food, then I had tons of errands to run Monday and Tuesday and didn't eat right.(EXCUSE) But Wednesday morning I decided I was not going to screw up all of my progress that I have made in these past three months! And to re-realize that I cannot make any excuses for eating junk! 

Saturday weigh in was 293.2lbs! Which gave me a total loss of 51.8lbs. :-) :-) I am super excited about hitting the big 5-0 mark, but I am scared about this Saturday coming up and am worried that I have gained weight. Right now I would be pleased to just have maintained my weight after eating like I did this past week. I tracked my calories since Tuesday and have been doing better when it comes to eating healthier. I walked all over both Walmart and HEB yesterday. My back had a relapse on Monday causing me some more pain, but it has gotten better since. Yesterday was killer for it though walking around both stores. But because of all the walking I did yesterday my back is feeling even better and has yet to cause any pain today. 

So with the NO EXCUSES and ONE DAY AT A TIME theme that I have been using I am back to them. I know that I can do this. I can't afford not to do this. It's not worth being unhealthy just to eat something that tastes good. Today I add one more theme to my list of theme. (LOL, who knew you could have a list of themes) I AM COMMITTED! 

Thank you to SP for providing this awesome quote: 
 

Friday, March 23, 2012

Day 83 - Whoville?

Let me start with this: 
 

emoticon I am one quarter of the way finished with my journey!!! 

And.... 

wait for it..... 

wait for it..... 

I am officially 298.6lbs! I am finally in twoville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! emoticon I have never been this excited and honestly I don't even remember the last time I was in twoville. I never weighed myself. Even when I went to the doctor, I didn't look at the scale numbers so I didn't have to know exactly how much I weighed. I didn't want to know. I lived in a world of denial about my weight and felt that I would always be okay. Even after my mom had a triple bypass at the age of 47 and my dad had A-Fib at the age of 53. 

So on this beautiful Friday I have something incredible to celebrate and finally hit one of my short term goals! 

Have a great day Sparkers!!!!!!!!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Day 79 - The Weekend

I had a fantastic weekend!! Saturday I weighed in at 301.6lbs. Last Saturday It was 303.4lbs so I'd lost 1.2lbs total. Not as much as usual, but I don't mind, because I still lost. I ate bad at the beginning of the week and I couldn't exercise any because of aftershock twinges with my back. When I weighed I really only had hopes of maintaining my current weight after not eating right at the beginning of the week and no exercise, but nope! That wasn't the case! I still lost my 1.2lbs!!! :-D 

Saturday night I went to my boss' wedding in my new SMALLER outfit and had a great time. The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was fun, especially chilling with my co-workers. The best part was all the compliments I got on my weight loss. At work, I am wearing a uniform that is 2 or 3 sizes too big and is soooooo baggy. Then I show up in clothes that fit and people noticed. It was such a huge motivational booster too. 

Sunday I slept in really late and relaxed for the most part. I got to see my friend that I haven't seen in a really long time. I spent a couple of hours with her and she and her nephew got me to try seeweed chips. NEVER Again!!! Those things were so nasty!!! I still shudder at the thought of them, lol! The only plus side is that a serving of those chips are only 10 calories. But fish and salt flavored seeweed chips are just not worth it, lol. 

All in all I had a great weekend, even with the mishap of the seeweed chip, lol. But I'm still motivated and going strong! 

Quote of the day: 
"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are." 

-Bernice Johnson Reagon

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Day 76 - NSV

I've had a couple of non-scale victories before, but I am even more excited about the one that happened today. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow and I went to Torrid today to buy an outfit. (I am a strictly tshirt and jeans girl) So, I go and pick out a couple of things and go to try them on. Then....they were all tooooooooo big!!! I was like what?!?! So the sales associate went and got smaller shirts and handed them to me. Then I tried them on and they fit #gasp! I am so excited!!! I got an awesome(and pretty I might add) outfit and a boost to my weight loss motivation too! WHOO HOO! So yeah, shortest blog ever, but I had to share the awesome news!!! :-D 

 

*Originally posted on 3-16-2012

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Day 71 - Newer Me VS My Old Jeans

I cannot believe I am at 71 days! :-) It has gone by so fast. I've had a minor set back, but I am not letting that break my stride. Well, it sorta does, but not mentally, lol. I was putting my nephew in his car seat on Friday and ended up having a muscle spasm in my back pinching a nerve at the same time. I could barely walk that day and now I am getting around, but I can't stand for too long or it hurts really bad. I can feel the other muscles in my back straining to make up for those that can't handle it right now. I know it's getting better slowly but surely right now. 

In good news last saturday I weighed in at 307lbs. Yesterday, I weighed at 304.4lbs!!! I am so close to the 2's and am getting anxious to get there, but I know that it will happen soon enough. I took a photo of myself with my old jeans in front of me and you can definitely tell the difference. 

Me and my old pants: 

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Day 66 - Bittersweet

Yesterday was a very bittersweet day. My dad, who passed away on May 13, 2009, would have turned 60 years old. I still miss my dad like crazy every day. Three weeks before my dad died, my brothers and I took him to the emergency room. His blood tests at the doctor's office that day came back and showed he was in danger of possibly bleeding to death if he accidently cut himself. After more testing at the hospital in the next few days we found out that my father was in stage four liver cancer (a blow as he had just beat colon cancer four years earlier) and was so weak that he was not going to be able to make it. The day he died changed my life and I'm sure I'll never be the same. But I know that I'll be stronger because of it. 

Towards the end of his life my dad (a heavy set man for most of his adult life) started eating healthy. He went from close to 400lbs to 200lbs. He never got an accurate weigh in at doctor's visits when he was his heaviest. He couldn't really do much exercise because his back and knees were in terrible condition because of his weight. 

But when I really think about it my true motivator for healthy eating is my dad. He was able to change his weight even when he couldn't exercise just by eating better. I have his will power and his stubborness (is that a word?) and I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Yesterday I had the urge to do something I have never done... ride my bike to my brother and sister-in-law's house. Probably because I wanted to keep my mind off the fact that it was my dad's birthday and I couldn't celebrate it with him coupled with it was a gorgeous day weather wise. 

So I started off riding my bike towards their house. Then I got to a road that had no sidewalks. Because I have no balance and am afraid of riding my bike on the road (I usually yell at the bike riders that ride on the road, from within my car of course and they can't hear me, lol and I get over to a different lane to be sure that I won't hit them.) and I started walking. Well I thought I could take a shortcut, but that didn't work, and went a different way taking me even longer (great for the exercise). So 1 hour and 21 minutes later, I finally reached their house a tired and sweaty girl. I mapped my route on SP and found that I walked/rode a total of 3.41 miles! 

I didn't map it out before because I knew I would chicken out if I did. But it was great feeling to be able to walk/ride that far! I felt I celebrated my dad's birthday in a great way to him and to myself. 

And on another note I'm down to 307.6lbs!!!! 

Here's to my dad! A good man who was taken from us too soon! 
 

The route I took! 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Day 60 - Water

60 Days!!!! 2 full months of being on a journey for a healthier me!!!! Whoo! I am still so excited to see where this will lead me as I continue down this road. Lately I have been having some trouble with drinking enough water. It's the only type of liquid I consume, I haven't even been drinking Vitamin Water Zero lately, just water, but I know I'm still not getting enough. Normally I wouldn't have to force myself to drink it, but now I have to make sure I do. So the water thing is reminding me of day 1 again and forcing me to drink water again..... 

So here's to drinking......water! And more of it! 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Day 56 - Chili Recipe!

I was watching the Food Network, which is never a good idea, lol, but they were making chili and of course it made me hungry for chili. I've made chili in the past, but I decided to make it a healthy one this time. Here's the recipe: 

 

Minutes to Prepare: 10 
Minutes to Cook: 40 
Number of Servings: 8 

Tips 
Let the chili sit for five minutes after cooking, and be careful when eating, it will be hot! 


Ingredients 

1lb Ground Turkey Breast 93% Fat Free 
1/4 Medium Onion 
2t Minced Garlic 
2T Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
1c Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth 
1 6oz can Tomato Paste 
1c No Salt Added Tomato Sauce 
1 15oz can Peeled Whole Tomatoes No Salt Added 
1T Dried Parsley Flakes 
1T Dried Oregano Leaves 
4T Chili Powder 
1 Small Pinch Cinnamon 
1 Small Pinch Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 
1t Salt
1t Black Pepper

Directions 
Put the olive oil in a pot to start heating. 
Finely chop the onion and place it and the garlic in the pot along with the ground turkey. Let it brown and fully cook. 
Once the meat is done add the juice from the whole tomato and then individually smash each tomato in your hand into the pot. 
Then add the chicken broth, tomato paste, tomato sauce, parsley flakes, oregano leaves, chili powder, cinnamon, cocoa powder, salt and black pepper. 
Mix together thoroughly and let the chili simmer at a medium low heat for 30 minutes. 


Serve with crackers and/or cheese and enjoy! :-) 
Serving Size: Makes 8 1-Cup Servings 
Number of Servings: 8 


It was super yummy and I was surprised by the taste. :-) But in other news I've lost a total of 34.8lbs since Jan. 1, 2012! I'm officially down to 310.2lbs. It's getting there slowly but surely!


For nutrition facts check out the recipe here.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Day 54 - Discouraged No More!

I feel so discouraged today. I am still eating within my calorie range which is from 1700-2050, and I've actually lowered it from the one SparkPeople gave me since I've been losing weight. However, I gained a pound! I know, I know, it's one pound and I really shouldn't be making a big deal out of this, but I am on the road to a fitter me. That one extra pound I gained back feels like I'm driving in reverse and picked it up after I've already kicked it out of the car. 

Today I drive forward and I will be kicking it back out of the car! I know I can do this! I've been through losing 33lbs already and I know it's possible! 

I haven't been exercising every day like I should and I haven't been going to the gym either. I used the excuse of letting my tattoos heal, but I know in the end that was really just another excuse to not work out. My gym buddy has been busy and I feel really intimidated going to the gym alone. But no more! Today I AM going to the gym, alone or with my gym buddy! No more excuses! After going to the gym a couple of weeks ago and losing the 4lbs in 2 days I should have known to keep going. BUT that's okay, because I'm still fighting and I WILL lose this extra pound that crept back AND many more pounds to come!




Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Day 50!

Day 50 is here and I'm still doing this!!!! I'm still super excited because I'm still eating right and exercising, and I've only really cheated once since I started and that was at the beginning. 

Friday I had a jewelry party to go to for my sister in law and I wanted to look nice.

Previously when I went clothes shopping, I had to shop at Woman Within online. They were one of the only places online really that I knew about to shop. But since I've lost a total of 33lbs now (officially at 312lbs!!!!) I am able to shop at places like Torrid and Lane Bryant. So I can actually go into the store and try on clothes and not look dumb when they don't fit. So before when I shopped on line I would get a size 34 in jeans, and Friday when I went shopping I found that I am down to a size 26! Of course right now that is still not enough for me, I eventually want to fit in normal sized clothing!! But I am incredibly excited that I was able to shop in a store rather than online for once in a long, long time! I also got a few new shirts and am down to a 4X in shirts rather than the 6X I was in. 

Things are definitely looking up in my weight loss journey and I cannot wait for more milestones to cross. :-) 

*Original Post Date 02-19-2012

Day 48 - Busy Bee & Restrictions

I'm haven't weighed yet this week after weighing last time. I don't even remember when that was I've been so busy. I haven't been to the gym all week because work has kept me busy and so has life really. Also, I got two new tattoos and I'm really trying to let them get good and healed before causing myself to sweat excessively. 

I also had a pretty awesome realization hit me earlier this week. I am losing weight and I have been restricted from certain things because of my overweightedness(is that a word? lol). But the realization is that as I lose weight more and more, several previous restrictions are being lifted. 

I don't know why it took me that long to realize it. I work in security and possible jobs from here are police, military and such and so many of the guys are I work with are usually ex-military, or going into the police departments and/or military. Usually when one of my co-workers would tell me they were going into either work field I would be like, "Oh I could never do that!" But now I know that when I lose all of this activity restricting weight, I can be "Oh I don't want to do that." Because in all reality I do not want to go into either field. I just can't see being happy getting yelled at, but I could totally do it. 

Last weekend I have a total of four days off, which was a super lovely mini-vacation! I ended up getting two different tattoos. I went on Friday with my brother who was getting on in memory of our mom, and ended up getting one with him that night. But when we got there we put our names in a drawing and I won a free tattoo up to $100. 

This is the first tattoo I got, it's my last name. 
 

The next tattoo I got was my free tattoo and is only half way done. It is in memory of my dad. I still have to add wings and his initials. 
 

And of course I can't end my blog without a quote. :-) 
 
*Original Post Date 02-17-2012

Day 46 - My Birthday Goals

Part of one of my Live Mind Motivational class assignments is to post a blog of the goals I want to accomplish by my birthday on June 30th. 

1. Lose weight! I know I know, I'm supposed to put a specific number. I can't do this the easy way? .... Darn. Okay, so my goal weight by my birthday is 275lbs. I currently weigh 315.6 (lost another 2lbs, yay!) and I KNOW another 40lbs can be dropped within the next 4.5 months. 

2. Buy new clothes! I don't want to buy all new clothes just yet, especially since I'm still losing. Although the scrunched up pants look isn't the hottest trend, or especially professional at work, it's a sign of my weight loss and reminds me where I cannot go back to. 

3. Walk the entire way around the local lake near my house. Not truly a lake, but a reservoir pond near my house that my family and I walk around to see the sights. My brother, sister-in-law and their three children go with me. The last time we walked it we got 1/3 the way around it before having to turn back because it was getting dark. But totaled 1.88 miles. So walking the whole way around will be a great accomplishment! 

And those are my first 3 goals on the journey of many goals to come. 

This is so true so I must share it! 
 


*Original Post Date 02-15-2012

Day 41 - Such A Difference

You know, people say going to a gym makes a big difference. On the 8th I weighed myself at 321.6 and today I was curious, after going to the gym three days in a row I wanted to see if it had affected my weight at all, and boy did it. Just two days after going to the gym, I am now weighing in at 317.4!!!! A difference of 4.2lbs! I am ecstatic about this and it really erases any doubt from my mind about paying for a gym membership. I knew that I wasn't doing enough exercise, but eating right was still letting me lose weight, but by exercising, it's helping me take off even more! :-D 

So to taking it one day at a time!: 
 

*Original Post Date 02-10-2012





Day 40 - Enough Said!

I can't believe that it has been 40 days since I've started this journey. I weighed yesterday morning at 321.6. My lowest in a long time! I am actually getting too small for my pants! That is such a good feeling. Tuesday I joined 24 Hour Fitness and after a two hour sign up process, I finally got to use the treadmill for a quick exercise. Yesterday I went back and hit the racquetball court, rowing machine, four various weight machines, and went swimming. Needless to say I am sore today! 

I am excited about tonight though, because I have a 1 hour session with a trainer at my gym. :-) 

I can definitely tell a difference between how I feel today and how I felt when I first started. I can't believe I've made it 40 days. I'm still sticking with my motto "One Day At A Time", but I still can't wait for that end result I know is coming. :-D 

January 1, 2012  

February 8, 2012 

*Original Post Date 02-09-2012

Day 37 - Wow!

I did my weekly weigh in on Saturday and I am now down to 322.8. I didn't lose much weight compared to my last weight in at 323.2. I think it's because I stopped tracking my food for last week. I still truly believe I ate healthy, but might have gone over by eating a little too much due to not tracking. And I really wasn't being true to myself by not tracking. So this week, I'm back to it. No more skipping tracking, there are no excuses really. I've got reminders set up on my phone to help me and two apps to track on. :-) 

Another is that I've been super busy last week with work and other stuff, plus the rain kept me indoors a lot of the days, so exercise was pretty non-existent. But that is an excuse and one of the mottos I have is No Excuses! So time to start doing some more exercises! 

Goals for this week: 
1. Track every day. 
2. Really start using Coach Nicole's 28 Day Boot Camp DVD. 

Positive Motivational Quote For My Day: 




*Original Post Date 02-06-2012

Day 33 - Groundhog's Day

January is done! It was a tough month, especially at first, to be motivated to eat right. Now I feel fuller when I eat a normally portioned meal, I am staying at my calorie range and only ate over my goals one time this month. :-) I know they say that anyone who starts off as losing weight for their new years resolution usually gives up by the middle of February, but I am going for beyond that, and I think that if I make it that far, I can do this! 


I do get cravings for something sweet or for something I shouldn't have, and I have a support system in place. Yesterday in fact I was at work and said out loud to my self, I think i'll have my cupcakes... one of the guys I work with said, and I hope those are healthy cupcakes. Of course they were, they were the 100 calorie pack cupcakes that satisfy those sweet tooth cravings I still have. I gave him a high five and am so glad that he said that, because to me that's just more support I have to keep going on this journey. 



I talked to my brother yesterday on the phone. I told him on New Year's Eve that I was going to start eating healthy on New Year's Day and he is still sticking with his plan that we agreed to when I joined SparkPeople for the first time. When I get down to 250lbs he is going to quit smoking, and when I do get down to that weight goal, I'm going to hold him to it! I'm going slow for now, taking everything one day at a time, so he has plenty of time to prepare to quit smoking. 



So I've never shared my actual weight on my blog, but today I'm going to. I think it'll hold me more accountable for getting the extra weight off. 



I started at 345lbs. I am now down to 323.2lbs. That's a total of 21.8lbs in the month of January alone! (I weighed on Jan. 31st.) I haven't been this light is years and it really is feeling great, I actually have more energy than I did before, eating lighter meals, and shedding the weight is making me feel amazing. Before I would eat way too much, and afterwards I would feel like I could hardly move. Now when I eat, I feel like anything is possible. :-) 



But to end my blog, here is one of my favorite picture quotes right now. :-) 

 *Original Post Date 02-02-2012

Day 23 - Continuing the Journey

My weekend went well! Well, besides not enough calories that is. But again it was by a hundred calories or so therefore I am not going to beat myself up about it. Good news is that when I weighed Saturday (Saturdays and Wednesdays are weigh days) I've gone down more. :-D So I've lost a total of 19 pounds!!!!!!!!!! Extremely excited about it, yet trying to keep a calmness about it too. 


I went riding at Terry Hershey park again on Saturday. I went pretty late so I was unable to go as far as I wanted before it got too dark. Still rode for a total of 3.59 miles! 



In other news I have decided to walk a 5k in February. I've decided that if I can ride my bike 5 miles I can walk a little over 3. I'll be signing up on February 4th and walking February 25th. It is the Conoco-Phillips Rodeo Run. In my case, the Rodeo Walk, lol. Running is definitely not in my picture yet, but eventually it will be! 



My goal for the end of the year: Be physically fit enough and able to ride the Terry Hershey trail the entire way and back! Which is a total of 13.24 miles. :-) I think that if I keep this up, I can do this! 



However! I am still taking everything one day at a time and right now, that is what is working for me. :-) 



*Original Post Date 01-23-2012

Day 18 - No Excuses!

This season on the: 


 their motto is, "NO EXCUSES" 

So that's going to be mine along with "One Day At A Time". Two pretty good mottos to have on this journey. :-) 


*Original Post Date 01-18-2012

Day 17 - Bicycling

Today my sister-in-law and I went to Terry Hershey Park in Houston, and rode our bikes for a total of 3.68 miles. The very first time I got on a bike and rode the same trail in 2008, I could barely ride a mile. But this time I went for almost four!!! Love, love, love this new me so far!!! I've lost a total of 16 pounds and I can definitely feel the progress!!! 


A map of the trail we took. 



Me with my bike. 



My sister-in-law (luckystars86 on SP) and I. 

*Original Post Date 01-17-2012

Day 13 - Not Eating Enough

Yesterday when I got home I was tired. Around 5p.m. I fell asleep in my recliner. I slept through supper until 5a.m. The 12 hour shifts I had this week really threw me off. I ate a little over 1200 calories yesterday and definitely felt my hunger this morning when I woke up. The last three days I have failed to meet my calorie goals. Wednesday and Thursday it was just under by a hundred calories or so. 

I knew that I would be changing my eating habits when I started this, but I didn't think I would have trouble meeting my caloric intake. Lol. 

And just to add: 



*Original Post Date 01-13-2012

Day 10 - Motivation

I seem to have lost some of my motivation. But I think it's because they've got me working 3 twelve hour shifts here at work. All in a row. Normally I don't mind working the shifts at all, but right now I get here at 6a and then leave at 6p. So it's dark when I get here and dark when I leave. Really kills my motivational "buzz". I love being outside, especially when it's nice and cool outside like it is in Houston right now. Thankfully this is just for this week and next. 

I also think that my "One Day At A Time" motto has gone out of focus. So I am really trying to focus on that, because that is all I can do. Take everything one day at a time. 

I was browsing on Facebook feeling generally sorry for myself when I came across the following, and I realized that it was a sign that I'm on the right track with my motto. So without further ado. 






*Original Post Date 01-10-2012