Weighing In

My last weigh in was this past Monday 01/23. I had actually cheated twice during the week and got on the scale. It had only moved .2 of a pound, so come my actual weigh-in day I was not very enthusiastic at all. I worked very hard last week. Yesterday was my first rest day in 8 whole days. I felt very proud of myself. My Husband got on the scale first, and had lost 4 pounds. I was happy for him, and irritated all at the same time. He just started working out last week and had already lost more weight than me. It is very frustrating how fast men lose weight over women, and just not fair!

As I go get the scale out of the closet, I'm griping saying it's not gonna make a difference because the scale isn't gonna say something different from two days ago. I set it down, and step up. The scale reads.....250.0. I lost 2.2 pounds. I felt so excited, and stupid at the same time for complaining so much...lol! FINALLY!! I just wanted to sing. That's a total of 6.4 pounds for the month of January so far. I have only 1.6 pounds to go to reach my February 12th goal of 8 pounds. I may even exceed it, which would be awesome.

Another accomplishment is the inches I have lost. I wish I had been able to measure at the very beginning, but didn't have a tape measure. I measured myself for the first time last week. In a week's time, I have lost 1.5 inches in my waist and hips, and two inches off of my legs. I can tell a slight difference in the way I look, but not enough to be amazed. Adam says he can really tell though.

I am being able to push myself further and longer in my workouts, and that makes me feel amazing. So, I'm just gonna keep going, enjoy my skinny legs, and watch for the rest of me to catch up!! So far I have had a few bumps and grumps along my way, but this Road to Wonderland is looking more beautiful everyday!

Roadblocks

ROADBLOCK: 1.)A barricade or obstruction across a road set up to prevent the escape or passage, 2.)Something, such as a situation or condition, that prevents further progress toward an accomplishment.


I have recently come across a roadblock in my journey. I am pretty sure I have shin splints, which are very painful. It can occur when one goes from a non-active lifestyle to being active. It is almost as if your muscles go into shock, they tear and swell. A lot of athletes get them also, even though they are very active. It is preventing me from performing exactly how I want to. I was very disgusted yesterday, when I could only do 10 minutes on the treadmill. I finally just had to stop and come home, I was in so much pain. It never occurred to me, to just stop and assess the situation, this roadblock in my path. See the great thing about Roadblocks is, there is always a way around them, or sometimes to even remove them completely.

As I walked to the gym today, I was already nervous thinking that I might fail at my workout again! When I got on the treadmill, I decided to start slow and slowly push myself. This way I could see what triggered the pain the most. The faster I went, the more my legs began to throb. The incline was excruciating! I decided to take the incline to 0, and found a comfy pace at 3.0mph. It wasn't the ideal speed I wanted to go, but it is what I had to do to get around that roadblock! I was even able to go a little bit longer than normal at that speed to make up for some calories and mileage. I came home with the satisfaction of knowing that even though I had to do things differently, I was able to finish.

My whole point in this is to tell you not to give up! We all will encounter a roadblock or two, at one time or another. We will all struggle with different things. Don't give up if something not so ideal comes your way or falls in your path. Take a step back, look and reassess your situation. With patience you will surely find your way out!!

Success....What does it mean?

SUCCESS.....I have thought a lot about this word today. What does it mean to me. I have been on my journey for a very short time (just 2.5 weeks), and the meaning of this word has already changed for me. When I started my journey, success meant weight loss...seeing those numbers drop on the scale. That, of course, is my ultimate goal. That, however, will not be a complete success until I reach the end result, and keep it off! Now, it's so much more than the numbers on the scale!! Take today for example. I got on the treadmill, and decided I needed to push myself a little harder. I jogged a third of my time at 4mph. While this for some is probably a very small feat, for me it's big. I have never in my life been able to jog on a treadmill for the time that I did. That to me, was a huge success. I realize that I am a lot more successful at this thing than I thought I was! I have managed every single day to better the way I eat. I have kept track of my calories and stayed under my goal. I have been working out 3 days a week, and decided to take it up to 5. I am pushing myself to reach the goals that I want to attain. I am SUCCESSFUL!!

Weighing In

So I have waited all week in anticipation for this day! I have eaten healthy. There were probably a couple of meals I could have done better with. I did stay under my calorie goal for every day though. I worked out three straight days for the week, getting in over 3 miles walked. I felt really good. I felt I would have a decent number. I awoke excited and scared all at the same time this morning. My eyes were still blurry as I stepped on the scale. Numbers starting turning....253.6. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was seeing it right. I got off of the scale and got back on it, same number. I gained one pound.....O*N*E P*O*U*N*D!!! What the crap? was my first thought. Then I felt I just wanted to cry. How could that be? I worked so very hard. To go from being a person who hardly ate anything throughout the day, not making good food choices, and not exercising....to a person who watches what they are eating and making healthy choices and being active. WHY? I know it doesn't happen overnight, but I thought I would have something to show for all of the hard work I've done.

I put the scale away. I went to a meeting at work. When I got back home....still wallowing in self pity...I got back on the scale. I figured since I hadn't eaten yet, and got moving a little maybe it would show something different. Numbers turning once again....252.8. That's pretty much the same that I weighed last week, so still no difference. I have received all kinds of support and encouraging words and made a decision for myself.

I could do one of two things....1. Continue to wallow in my self pity and give up, or 2. Let this fury motivate me to push harder and do even better. I choose option 2! I realize that even though I didn't lose a pound, I have gained so much these past two weeks. I do have several things to show for all of my hard work. Stomach issues that I've had for 2 years are going away, I have so much more energy....I feel good about myself and what I am doing!! Those are things to be proud of and that is why I will continue on My Road to Wonderland!!

NO Excuses!!

I don't sleep very well at night. I take melatonin to help me sleep...I forgot to take it last night! I didn't think about it until it was too late to take it. I tossed and turned all night, my mind going one million miles a minute, like always. I wish I had a ON/OFF switch for my brain!! I finally started dozing off, until I was rudily jarred back awake by the phone ringing...Metro calling to say the kids were out of school. I managed to get a couple of crappy hours of sleep after that until Adam went in to work this morning. Needless to say I was exhausted. On top of it all, the kids are being very ugly today...too much fussing and fighting.

I was already pre-determining in my mind, that I was way too tired and too stressed to go walk on the treadmill. I was coming up with every excuse I could NOT to go....sleepy, aggravated, too cold, snow and ice on the ground, I can go tomorrow. I was on the verge of giving in, and then.....something rose up in me and I said NO! Not this time. I have given up every other time. See, what would have happened is come tomorrow I would have made another excuse and then another, and probably wouldn't see the treadmill again until next January. That's right...I said it. I'm calling myself out. I refuse to let anything get in my way this time. I will be healthy, I will like what I see in the mirror....I will be comfy in my own skin. So you know what I did? I put on my jacket, walked over to the clubhouse and got on that treadmill!!! I walked 30 minutes, 1.6 miles again today. How did I feel? Proud, so proud that I did not give up. The most rewarding part was, that exhaustion and stress just melted away. I feel FREE! I cannot wait to do it again tomorrow!!

Staying Motivated

I have been big my whole entire life! Even as a child I was on the chunky side. I have no clue what being skinny feels like, or looks like on my body. My motivation is just picturing what I may possibly look like. My best motivation....what it will feel like to love what I see when I look in the mirror. Right now I can only imagine it, but I imagine it is one of the greatest feelings. What is it like to shop in a regular clothing store, with the whole store that I have to choose from...instead of one little corner of ugly material? Saving money from not having to pay extra for the plus size clothes because they use extra materials!! There is so much to be gained, and it is all a motivator to me!

Today I got on the treadmill. I walked 30 minutes, at 3.5mph on an incline. I walked a total of 1.6 miles. It may not seem like much to some, but I felt on top of the world. I have never went at that pace, for that long on the treadmill. It was a big accomplishment for me. I asked myself, "How did you just do that?" Other times I had always gave up as soon as I started getting tired. This time, I feel unstoppable. I am so determined and motivated. I feel....DIFFERENT! I can do this, I WILL do this!! Bring on the weigh-in Monday!!

Putting Plans Into Action

In order to make things work you must have a plan. To see results you must put the plan into action. I've been thinking a lot about my plan this week and how I can put it into action. The first thing I planned on doing was changing the way I eat. That, so far, has been successful. I put that plan into action by finding healthy recipes, and buying organic and fresh produce and veggies on my first shopping trip of the year. I have done really well at watching my calories. My goal is to stay under 1600 a day, for right now. Next plan of action....exercise. I have yet to do an actual exercise routine or get on the treadmill. I have to put my words into action or I will not get the results I want. My plan, starting out, 3-4 days a week for 30-45 minutes. I am going to start this tomorrow. I should have started last week, so I have to make up for lost time. I will also be weighing in every Monday, and will post for all to see!

The next step in planning is to set goals. This is where I mess myself up. I set unimagineable goals, and I let them defeat me. NOT THIS TIME!!! I decided to set a small weight loss goal for each month. Something reasonable and imagineable. If I reach that goal, I will reward myslelf. I don't want new clothes just yet, so I'm trying to come up with other things. I could dye my hair, or get a hair cut, or get a pedicure. Something, just for me!! This, I think will help me stay motivated, and also refreshed. I have forgotten about me and my health for far too long now. It's time to be RENEWED!!

Goal Date: February 12, 2012
Goal to Reach: Lose 8 lbs.

Reward: Hair Cut