Continuing on my journey…

Nothing crafty to share today as I’ve been enjoying time with my family the past few days. Sam and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary yesterday and enjoyed spending the day together with the most amazing lunch at a local Japanese Steak House where they cook the food right in front of you.

Since I didn’t have any crafty goodness to share, thought I’d write a bit about my journey and the progress that I’ve made.

My 3rd weigh in and measure was last Friday and I was very nervous and negative about it at first and then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was nothing to be negative about! I have made HUGE changes and I am PROUD of what I’ve accomplished. Still a long ways to go but I’ve started everything in motion and the rest will come.

The results thus far~

• total inches lost- 7.75
• total weight lost- 7.50 lbs.
• total body fat % lost- 1.30 %
• total body fat lost- 5.23 lbs.
• total workouts- 50

And the things that I have changed that I’m proud of~

• gave up soda-I still have an occasional one when we eat out but I get a water with it so I don’t have it refilled numerous times
• have really stopped eating out at fast food places for lunch as much as I was. I was going to McD’s or Taco Bell 3-4 times a week for lunch, now if I only usually go out once a week and to Subway.
• am beginning to really like to workout--something I NEVER thought would happen
• been able to fit into jeans I couldn’t wear for over 2 years
• am starting to fit into XL shirts vs 1X
• bought actual workout clothes and shoes--and have been told I look good in them!
• dedicated to working out
• eating more healthy foods and paying attention to the nutritional content more
• a biggie--I now have no trouble drinking all my required water for the day
• taking care of myself in other ways--started a face care system and also went for my first ever pedicure and also have been styling my hair more--before I just didn’t see the need as I was so unhappy with myself
• and the biggest thing of all--I like myself and what I see in the mirror!

Like I said, I have a long way to go but I know I’ll get there. I’m excited for the next two months as I’ve signed up to do a Curves challenge. We start May 7th and end June 30th. We’re working in teams of two and our goal is to lose 10% of our body fat. So for me, roughly around 17 lbs. I have a plan and am ready to put it into action--yes for the challenge but more for myself!

So there’s a bit about my journey and how it’s going. I’ve been told that I’m helping to inspire others to work out and get healthy, I sure hope that is true because that would just be the icing on the cake for this whole adventure!

See you back here tomorrow for the fun new release and new challenge from Pixie Dust Studio!

The results

Posting the results real quick and then back to my book. I have come to the conclusion that I really can only do one “hobby” at a time and right now I’m consumed with the series of books I’m reading. I’m half way done with the book I started last night, the 5th in the series and then one more to go and I’m taking a long break! LOL!

Here we go~

• Weight in November when I started- 179
• Weight when I started Curves 1/27/12- 175.5

All the rest of the measurements are since I started Curves--I have done 20 workouts so far~

• Bust- lost 1 inch
• Waist- lost .75 inch
• Abdomen- lost .75 inch
• Hip- lost 1 inch
• Thigh-we couldn’t get an accurate measure as my pants were baggy so we’re thinking it stayed the same
• Arm- lost 1 inch
• Weight- 172 lbs.- lost 3.5 lbs since starting Curves
• BMI- lost .66
• Body Fat %- lost .60
• Body Fat- lost 2.45 lbs

Not too shabby for a start! Lots more work to do but I’m happy with how things are going!

An important day

I haven’t really shared much on my blog about my journey that I’m on so I thought today would be a good day to share. This post could get long so I hope you’ll bear with me.

I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. Although looking back, many of my struggles are more with what “I” see myself as vs. the way I really look/weigh. Regardless, it’s always been an “issue”.

My health has been fairly good..a few things here and there, mainly while I was pregnant. My family on the other hand, not so much. There is heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, etc. on both sides of my family.

During Sam’s last deployment I really packed on the pounds and got into some very unhealthy eating and non-exercising patterns. I didn’t think much about it. I mean, I knew I was overweight but just shrugged it off.

Then my best friend worked super hard over the last two years and done such a remarkable job--she’s lost around 70lbs and has kept it off! She’s established healthy eating habits and exercise. I’m so proud of her and she is my inspiration.

Then a few months ago the wake up call came to me…my mom was told she has diabetes. It hit me like a ton of bricks that if I don’t change what I’m doing, I’m going to be going in the same direction as my family. Not saying that I won’t get diabetes and etc., but I don’t want to just sit still and let it happen.

So on November 14, 2011, I began my journey to get healthy. Yes, I want to lose weight in the process but the main thing is to be healthier than I was.

Sometimes I think I’m not doing much or haven’t done much so I’m writing this more for me to acknowledge that I have done a lot. I know there’s lots more to do but you have to start somewhere!

So far I have~

• quit drinking my beloved Dr. Pepper--well, okay, I didn’t drink any soda for 2 months but then I just missed it so much so now I drink Pepsi Max and occasionally I splurge and have a Dr. Pepper--still MUCH better than the 2-3 a day I was drinking before.
• started really looking at calories and such for the foods I was eating
• kept a food diary--so interesting. I always thought my problem was sweets as I love cookies but turns out my problem areas are fast food and soda
• stopped going out to eat as much and changed what I order now--instead of my favorite Big Mac meal (UGH, I know, I know) I now order a salad or a kids meal.
• have started having more healthy snacks--fruits, veggies, baked crackers, trail mix, yogurt, etc.
• make myself go up and down our stairs a few extra times a day and play with the dogs a few more times a day too--chasing them around
• do the Wii Fit when I can
• joined Curves!

The last one, joining Curves, has been one of the best things I could’ve done. I can’t even begin to tell you how much that has helped me. It gets me up and out of the house every day throughout the week plus it gets me around adults and then of course, the benefit of the exercise.

Which brings us to why this is an important day. Today is my first weigh and measure day at Curves. I’ve been working out there a month-5 days a week.  When I started this journey in November I weighed myself on the Wii Fit and (I can’t believe I’m putting this out there) I weighed my heaviest, 179 lbs. I’m only 5’1 so this is way overweight! I didn’t measure myself when I started but I know I’ve lost a few inches because I can finally fit into a pair of jeans that I bought a year or more ago that I saved as a goal! Plus I can fit into my favorite pair of jeans that I haven’t worn in over 2 years.

So I’m curious and excited to see what the numbers say today but regardless, I know I’m on the right track! Wish me luck and I’ll post tomorrow what the results were!