Weight LOSSSSSS

Okay, I honestly have no clue what "week" I am on...I've lost track!
What I DO know is that I've lost TWENTY POUNDS!!!!

I am SO excited to be at my next goal!  When I started back in March, I decided I would take it 10 pounds at a time.  The first ten came off so quickly, but these last ten have been much harder.  I'd love to lose another 10, but not sure how long that will take....  But my recent thinking is "Who cares?!"  My exercise and eating routines have become such a lifestyle change for me, that I know if I continue to eat healthy and workout, the weight will come off (even if it is more slowly).  You see, I've had a big shift in my thinking.  The beginning was full of eating less, feeling hungry, and feeling guilty when I ate something I shouldn't.  But I've really started thinking that the key to maintaining this weight-loss is what I am the most interested in.  A little history....

I've been up and down in my weight since about the age of 16.  Got heavier and heavier towards the end of high school, and went off to college at 185 pounds.  Luckily, I contracted a nasty stomach bug/infection my freshman year and I lost 30 pounds in about 3 weeks.  With that jump start, once I started feeling better, I began working out with friends (working out is such a social activity in college!) and lost another 10.  Came back after my freshman year - all of my friends had gained their "freshman 15", and I looked like a totally different person!  Of course, I couldn't take all the credit....nothing like a stomach virus to get you looking great!

Met my honey my sophomore year, and throughout our dating I gained about 20 pounds.  LOTS of nights out, indulging in yummy meals, ice cream dates, etc.  We broke up for about 6 months and I lost 15 pounds.  Back together, gained.  Engaged, lost.  Married, gained.  Lost before having the baby (about 15 pounds).  Pregnant, GAINED.  Do you see my pattern?  I'm so TIRED of it!!!

What makes me excited now is that I've never lost this much weight on my own before.  Feels like a giant accomplishment to me!  It hasn't been by any crazy means....just doing stuff that makes sense.  Working out 3 (sometimes 4) times a week.  Watching portion sizes.  Making healthier food choices.  Recently, trying to cut out as much processed foods as possible (within reason and within budget).  Eating whole grains.  Incorporating protein into my breakfast.  These are things that I can keep doing.  And I hope that I can stop this endless cycle of weight gain and weight loss. 

So, enough chit-chat.  Do you want to see my 20 pound pictures??

I'm gonna keep-on, keepin'-on.  I know that my weight loss has hit a bit of a plateau, but I think if I change up my workout routine a little I can get things jump-started again. 

If you are on a weight-loss journey, keep at it!  You can do it!  I know what it feels like to cry because none of your clothes fit, to look at pictures and not recognize yourself, to avoid mirrors, and to feel like you are destined to be heavy.  Now, I'm not skinny by any means, but I do know that I feel healthy these days, and I feel good when I look in the mirror.  And that is so much more important to me than numbers on a scale or the size of my jeans.  You can get there, too!

Weight Loss Update

Well, I guess these have become an every two weeks update, rather than every week.  Really, it's been getting redundant.  Another week, another pound.  Blah, blah, blah.

Not much to report....like I said, in the past couple of weeks, I've lost a couple more pounds, bringing total to 16 pounds.  Eating has been so-so...not always the best choices, but managing to keep my calories down.  I'm hoping to get back on track this week.

Some back/hip issues have interrupted my workouts in the past week or so.  I went to the chiropractor, and my pelvis was tilted in the wrong way?!  That, along with my neck out of place, had been giving me daily headaches and some leg pain while running.  I'm feeling much better after a couple of adjustments, but I really didn't get any workouts in (except for a couple of walks) this week.  Hoping to get back on track with that this week, as well.

Hoping to get to the 20 pound mark soon!
Also hoping that this will give me some much needed motivation this week:

Weeks 8 & 9

Oops...behind again.  I tell ya - the end of this school year has me runnin' in circles.  But only a couple of days left and I'll be FREE for the summer!!
Here's the latest...

Weight Loss/Gain:  Just under 3 pounds in the past 2 weeks.  Total weight loss is about 14 pounds.

Best part of the past 2 weeks:  Hmm...struggling here a bit.  I feel like I'm losing steam.  That could be stress related, though.  I am just having to really force myself to continue eating well and getting in those 4 workouts a week.  I think I am just worn out and needing a break - and I hope I can pick up steam again once school is out.  I did start using the My Fitness Pal app on my phone, and it is helping me track my food better.  What I like about it is that it doesn't just track calories, but carbs, sugars, fat, and all that other good stuff.  And lo and behold - I've been going over on my sugars.  I hope to work on that in the coming weeks....I do have a bit of a sweet tooth. :)

Worst part of the past 2 weeks:  Just the fact that I've been unmotivated this week....hoping to feel a surge of energy soon! 

Goals for next week:  My water intake has been pitiful.  I need to drink LOTS more water, and eat much LESS sugary stuff.

Inspiration:

Week 7

Total Weight Loss/Gain:  Down another pound!  I am a mere pound and a half away from my pre-pregnancy weight.  I am excited to see that old friend of 165 show it's face on the scale sometime soon!

Best Part of this Week:  I got to have a little shopping spree this week.  Well, kinda.  I ventured down to the basement storage room and dug out some "new" clothes - clothes that I haven't worn for two years!  It was like finding a whole new wardrobe!  I have lots of capris and shorts for the summer now that I am down to a smaller size, and I am feeling so much better about how I'm looking in my clothes.  Not where I want to be yet, but it felt really good this week to get those clothes out and know that all my hard work is paying off.

Worst Part of this Week:  I am still struggling with my diet a bit.  I have worked to keep my eating between 1400 and 1500 calories a day, which has proved successful.  But lately, my calories have been creeping up closer to 1600, and I don't want to get in a habit of that.  I honestly don't eat anything special - I've been incorporating lots more fruits, veggies, and protein - and cutting back on carbs and sugar.  The sugar one is hard - I get a candy craving at about 2:00 every afternoon, where I just want something chocolate or sweet.  I eat pretty light for breakfast and lunch and try to save around 600 calories for my dinner so that I can eat what my family is eating.  However, I know that it is better to eat more earlier in the day....this summer when I have more flexibility, I'd like to try for four smaller meals a day.  I do allow one cheat meal a week.  Last Sunday my mom invited us over for dinner and made fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and biscuits.  And I ate it.  All of it.  And I didn't make myself feel bad about it - just got back on the diet the next day.  I know that I can't live with a lifestyle where I don't get to indulge in things that I like every once and awhile!

I did want to share two good healthy recipes that we tried this week.  The first one I saw on a tv show - here's a link to the recipe:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/golden-ticket-burgers
The recipe calls for lean beef, but we used turkey because that's actually what she used when she made the recipe on the show.  These are seriously SO good, and we both liked them.  If my husband likes a healthy meal, that's a victory!  We are going to be working these into our regular meal rotation - you should try them!  Mark used baby portabellos instead of the mushrooms in the recipe, and they were so yummy.
The other meal that we changed up this week was breakfast for dinner.  We used to eat that once a week - pancakes, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy....lots of things that are unhealthy for my diet.  This week, Mark made an egg scramble - no recipe to share, but it was really easy.  He scrambled up 6 eggs with about a half a box of thawed frozen spinach, mushrooms, and onions.  He sauteed the mushrooms and onions first to get them carmelized and yummy, then added the spinach, then added the eggs and scrambled it all up.  We topped it with just a little low-fat cheddar cheese.  It was really good, and actually really filling.  Natalie loved it too!  We ate a little fresh fruit with it and it was delicious.

Exercise:  This week was kind of a hodge-podge of exercise.  My goal is four workouts a week - that's what works for my schedule and our family.  Every once and awhile, I'll get five in - but I never let myself do less than 4.  I did some running outside, running on my treadmill inside (because it was so darn HOT this week!).  My sister came over on one muggy evening and rather than brave the heat, we decided to do some "circuit training" in my basement....if you can call it that. :)  We alternated turns on the treadmill running at a fast pace and high intensity for 5 minutes at a time.  While one of us was running, the other would be lifting weights, doing squats, lunges, etc.  We ended with some abs.  However, we aren't exactly fitness experts.  I'd lift the weights and say to Kate, "Is this a move?"  She laugh and shrug her shoulders.  Sounds safe, huh?  I guess you can't hurt yourself too badly with 5 pound weights. :)  The abs were particularly amusing - we were trying to remember some of the pilates moves we learned in a class we took WAY back (as in about 10 years ago), and our memories were failing us.  Needless to say, I think laughed off as many calories as we did exercising.  My hubby said he could hear us "cackling" all the way upstairs.  But I tell you what....I was SORE the next two days!  Really sore!  I haven't done much strength training so far, and I'd like to build in more of it.  We did have FUN and get a really good workout, so we are going to try some more workouts like that pretty soon.  I think we will try to do some research beforehand though, so we can pretend we know what we are doing next time.

Inspiration:

Weeks 4 & 5

Yikes, I got behind on my updates!
The past couple of weeks have flown by....I've been super busy at school and my workouts and diet have suffered a little bit.  I've gotten back on track in the past few days though, and after my weigh-in today, I am still on the downward.

Weight Loss/Gain:  In the past 2 weeks, only about a pound and a half....but that wasn't a big surprise.  I'm still counting it as a success!  Total weight loss is now at just under 9 pounds.  However, I'm trying to obsess less about the number on the scale, and enjoy the feeling of feeling stronger and healthier.

Best Part of this Week:  Pulled out some of my size 10 pants this week.  That's an accomplishment for me!  I was squeezing into my 12's when I started....now not ALL of my 10's fit yet (why is sizing so weird?), but I'm on my way!  Mornings have been going more smoothly, as I am not fighting zippers or changing outfits 4 times because I feel that I look fat.  Just fitting into my clothes better makes me feel so much better.

Worst Part of this Week:  I had to also drag out my smaller bras this week - boo!  Leave it to me to lose weight in my boobs, when there isn't even much there to begin with!

Exercise:  Treadmill, treadmill, treadmill.  Getting burned out on that, so I did some outside runs in the evening this week.  Thinking of getting a workout video, but there are so many out there that I wouldn't even know where to start.  Suggestions?

Goals for next week:  Lose more than one pound!!

Inspiration...this kinda sums it all up:

The one about exercising with a friend?  My sis and I have been walking/jogging together (such a motivator!), and she told me that at a women's conference she heard an interesting statistic:  If your best friend is overweight, you are 57% more likely to be overweight as well.  Jenn - that is speaking to us!!  We can do it! :)

Week 3

Weight Loss/Gain: Down 2 pounds this week!  Bringing the grand total to 7 pounds so far.

Best Part of this Week:  I had a big Easter meal at my mom's at the beginning of the week, and I didn't even skip any of the good stuff. :)  Gotta have a cheat-treat every once in awhile!  Mmmm....carrot cake.

Worst Part of this Week:  Mark had to work nights this week, so that put me in "single parent" mode.  It was really hard to deal with the baby/house/meals by myself - I guess mostly because I'm not used to it.  My honey is so good about helping me out in the evenings, and taking care of the little one when I want to work in a run.  I was missing that big time this week!  I only got 3 workouts in, so I had to adjust my eating accordingly.  And...big props to all the single mommas out there!  Don't know how you do it!

Exercise:  Treadmill three time this week with interval workouts.  Trying to work in some high-intensity intervals during my walking/jogging/running to boost the calorie-burn.  Seemed to be effective this week since I had less workouts than less week, but more loss.  I need to start working in some strength training as well, so I did one workout that included some abs and arms.

Goals for next week:  4 workouts, plus some strength exercise as well!  I will post some progress pics when I lose my first 10!

Inspiration!

Week 2

Weight Loss/Gain: Down only 1 pound this week.  Not gonna lie....that was a little disappointing compared to last week's loss.  But, as the hubby says, "Better than gaining a pound!"  I'll take any loss I can get. :)

Best Part of this Week:  I got to exercise a few times with my sis this week.  Much more fun to walk with her than alone on the treadmill in the basement!  We brought Natalie with us to our favorite park and took turns pushing the stroller.  She fell asleep and we walked our little big butts around and around and around that trail.  Good workout and good company!

Worst Part of this Week:  It's been a little harder this week to resist some of the temptations of all those yummy things I used to eat.  I did indulge in a cookie one day when a kiddo brought birthday treats at school.  It was from my favorite bakery and I couldn't say no.  I did work out a little more that night to make up for it. :)

Exercise:  Walked 2.5-3 miles at the park with my sissy two nights this.  Two other nights were spent on the treadmill at home....mostly intervals of walking/jogging and really trying to push myself.

Goals for next week:  I generally spend about 30 minutes on the treadmill and complete two miles.  I'd like to push myself for 3 miles a couple of times this week. 

Inspiration for this week:

Week 1

Last Friday was weigh-in day for Week 1.  Stepped on the scale, and to my absolute delight I was down 4 pounds in just one week!
YAHOO! *happy dance*

Best part of this week:  DUH.  Getting on the scale.  Also feeling motivated and excited.

Worst part of this week:  Two days this week, the counter in the teacher's lounge was covered with things like cinnamon rolls, chips and dip, apple pie, and brownie.  Oy.  I summoned up all my will power and munched on my carrot sticks while I silently cursed my co-workers who were enjoying the goodies.

Exercise:  My treadmill and I got reacquanited.  Three days this week I did two miles, a combination of walking and jogging.  Totally kicked my butt because I am so out of shape!  I know it will get easier...
Food: All day I look forward to my Skinny Cow mint truffle ice cream bar at about 8:00pm.  That's the time of evening that I get a snack-attack.  My hubby munches on popcorn or ramen noodles...and I savor every bite of my ice cream.  This week I am also loving hard-boiled eggs, fresh pineapple/grapes/strawberries, and my Trader Joe's veggie sticks.  I am missing my Cheez-its.  I sneak a few here and there - but I no longer get to sit down and consume half-a-box in one sitting.  I am also missing eating buttered popcorn with my honey.

Goals for next week:  I have upped my water intake, but I'd like to do even better.  Next week, I am making goals to drink more water, 4 days of exercise, and maintain my 1300-1400 calories per day allowance.

Inspiration for this week: