Wednesday, July 14, 2010

I just found this

I happened across this story when I went to search online for something work-related. I don't have time to write about my thoughts about this since I'm at work right now, but I wanted to be sure to post this URL. I'll write more about it later.

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/07/09/sean-shed-258-pounds-without-a-single-salad/?ncid=webmail

Thursday, July 8, 2010

80 sticks of butter

I've been avoiding the scales. Too many times, I've been disappointed because I didn't lose as much as I thought I would, or sometimes, I've even gained weight when I've been working my hardest. I decided I didn't want this to be about a number. But, OK, every so often, I DO need to step on scales. Last night, when I got home from working out, I decided it was time to do that--even though it would be a night time weight. It showed I had lost four pounds!!! I was pretty excited about that, but get this! I decided to go ahead and get my morning weight when I got up this morning.

I've lost 10 more pounds!!! That's 20 pounds altogether! Do you know how many sticks of butter that is???? 80! 80 sticks of butter, gone!

You might say I'm a little excited about this. This is even more motivation to be really serious about my new eating and exercise habits between now and Labor Day. Please, if you've been thinking about losing weight, join me. Just think of all the sticks of butter we can lose together!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

From now until Labor Day...

Wow! I just finished watching "Losing It With Jillian." I find this show very motivating, and tonight's show was no exception. In fact, I got on my exercise bike while I was watching it! I've been doing pretty well with my eating the last few days, but I really didn't exercise like I should have over the long weekend. I needed this show to get my motivation back, and it worked! I know I wasn't too far off-course, or I'd need more than that. But I watched as people had lost 18, 30, 53 pounds in just six weeks, I was so inspired.

I haven't been weighing myself because I don't want this to be about a number. I want it to be a lifestyle change. Matt has recommended that I weigh at least once a week to keep my motivation up, but I'm concerned that if I don't lose what I think I should, it will have the opposite impact. I'm making a pact with myself, right here in this blog, to challenge myself between now and Labor Day. That's September 6, so for the next two months, I'm going to go all out and really push myself. I'm going to exercise with all my heart. I'm going to focus even more on keeping good eating habits.

Sunday was Independence Day, a great day for our nation. But it's also going to signal for me to declare my own independence from being fat, to be free of all the things that being overweight limits me from doing and being. I saw on "Losing It," how beautiful Cora-Lei was when she walked out at the end of the six weeks. The rest of the family, too. Not only had they lost weight, but their inner beauty and happiness was shining through, too.

I want that. I can have that!

Does anyone want to join me? The great thing about this is that everyone can do this, and it doesn't take away from anyone else's success. Everyone can have their own success story. I hope my blog inspires others to accomplish their goals, too. Maybe the goal isn't weight loss. Maybe it's something entirely different. Whatever it is, let's do it together!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Step by step, flight by flight

I am so excited!!! I met with Matt, my personal trainer, tonight and had a great surprise. To get to the workout area at Bradley's Markin Center, you need to go up a flight of stairs. Those stairs have been my challenge from the start. I've told Matt for a long time that my goal is to be able to take those stairs like it's no big deal, and we've spent lots of time going up and down those stairs during workouts.

I arrived tonight a few minutes before he was done with the client ahead of me, so I decided to go ahead and climb those stairs.

Wow!!! I zipped (for me) right up the first half to the landing, and I even climbed the second half with ease. I went back down and climbed them again with Matt. I did great again! I know this may not sound like a big deal, but it is to me. I've hated how I trudge up stairs, and to be able to take them easily and not get winded--I can't tell you how happy that made me. Matt may be the only other person who can fully appreciate the progress--he was certainly pleased. He also noticed that during the walking portion of the workout, I wasn't getting winded. I know this may be "shocking," but I talk a lot during workouts, and he said he could tell in my voice that I wasn't having to breathe as hard. Way cool!!!!

I have to tell you about an unlikely workout I had one day this week. I volunteered to participate in this psychology test they were doing at Forest Park Nature Center, mostly because I think it may make an interesting story on down the road and I wanted the firsthand experience. Anyway, the nature center has some very hilly trails, and I swear, I took the longest and most challenging way out there! A friend of mine who had also done the test said she had been on some pretty challenging trails and said I might want to tell the guy conducting the study that I needed to stay on some of the easier trails. I decided I wasn't going to do that, though. I was going to do this!!! I didn't intentionally choose the most difficult trails, but as it turned out, I ended up on them. Even the student who went with me confirmed that. I told him during the course of us being out there that I've challenged myself to live a healthy lifestyle and that when I feel like I'm in better shape, I'm going to come out there and gauge my progress. I guess it made those steps at the Markin Center seem like a breeze!

Otherwise, I've enjoyed walking in our beautiful weather. It makes this challenge for myself that much easier. As for eating, I have been eating out a lot, but I've been trying to either order smaller portions or get a take-out box. I haven't had to cook, because I've always had leftovers! I do wonder how sushi stacks up as a healthy option. I've had it twice in the past week, so I'm hoping it's OK.

Finally, thanks for all your support. I am blessed with absolutely the BEST friends in the world. I'm happy to see I'm inspiring a few of you to get serious about your own eating and exercise habits. Together, we can do this!