Week 9 weigh-in - Final results

March 23:
Weight: 207
Weight Lose = -7 pounds
Total weight loss = 37.6 pounds
BMI – 35.7
Body Fat % - 36.9%
Total body fat lost = 7.9%

Starting/Janurary 20:
Weight: 245.4
BMI: 42.1
Body Fat %: 44.8%


Target body fat – 27%
Target/Predicted weight – 179.8 lbs
***I didn’t get a chance to get my measurements this week after my weigh-in or take a picture, so I will post those in the next post tonight or tomorrow.***

For those of you who are not on facebook, I did not win the biggest loser contest. Originally after my weigh-in I became so excited for my results that I felt like I had already won the contest. I was in 2nd place, and due to win the second prize. As long as no one came in and took out the person ahead of me, I’d be the 2nd winner. Then, at noon I was informed that this is exactly what happened. Someone weighed in and had a higher weight loss percentage then the person ahead of me, taking me out of second place and into third. I was devastated. All the excitement I had for my results, for my hard work, just flew out the door. It was never conceived in my mind that I wasn’t going to win. I had worked so hard for the past 9 weeks, and felt like I had made a huge effort to make sure I was going to win. But, two people did better then me. I couldn’t even comprehend how to react. It was a complete loss of something important to me, and I went through all the stages of grief. I am still grieving, and lost a huge part of my confidence in myself due to this. It is no one’s fault, and I have to be okay with that fact that I didn’t finish first. I have to appreciate the work I put in, and see it for what it truly is - a success.

About 12 weeks ago is when I decided I was going to do this contest. I felt completely led by the Holy Spirit, that this weigh loss journey was not over and I had to complete something before going onto another path in my life. I kept feeling like this is what God wanted me to do, that I was to win the contest and have confidence in myself and my abilities. I knew the 50 pound weigh loss goal was an unattainable goal, but again it wasn’t just pulled out of thin air, it was from God. I began to read scripture on how my body was a temple and I had to treat it that way, and how anything I did I did for the greater glory of God. All of these messages came to me and made me see myself as someone who was going to take on this contest full force. Along the way I struggled, just like any journey, and so many people came alongside me to encourage me and lift me up to keep reaching for my goals. I slowly saw the ability I had to do the same for those in the contest who were struggling much more then I, those who were just beginning their weight loss journey. I ran next to them, told them my story, and gave them tips. I never once told someone they couldn’t do it, I just always made them see their abilities. By week 8 of the contest I had a support group of people who cheered me on, ran with me, encouraged me, and became closer in friendships then I had ever expected in such a short time. I ran a 5K, I worked out with professional athletes and trainers, and I did it all without stopping; complaining; or just not being able to do it. So, once the anger and sadness lessened from my loss, I realized something very important that God was really trying to teach me. I wasn’t in this contest to win; I was in this contest to help others and to find connections with people who needed my guidance and encouragement. I was guided into this contest not to win, but to lose and to see that I can make an effort so strong that other people will follow my lead. That this is how I should lead my life in all that I do, not just in my exercise and weight loss, but in my spiritual life; my family life; and everything that surrounds me.

I am not at a stage in my grief yet that I am content with my loss. Contentment will come, when I meet my own goals, but I am at a stage to see that I am a part of the win. That without me there, the winners might not have done as well. They might have still won, but maybe without such an effort. Maybe they wouldn’t be as please with how hard they worked, but with me there I set a fire under them and lead them to know they can push themselves into new directions in life and it will be rewarding.

So, where do I go from here? I cried about that too. I wasn’t sure at first; I didn’t know how to keep going without the prize and victory I had expected to follow me through the rest of this. But, the real prize came to me in forgiveness and love. These two things brought on such a huge emotional moment for me, that I realized that I can forgive myself and others and love all the hard work I have done without any conditions put on it. I can do this for myself and bring along those I love with me to make this journey even more rewarding. The real prize is at the end; this finish line, not in the middle. I am not done!

Goals:
I have so much more work to do, why would I think this what the end of the line? I have lose skin problems and I am not even at my goal weight. So, to the gym I go to keep on the path of making my body a temple. I posted at the top what my predicted weight would be if I hit my target BMI, giving me 28 pounds to lose still. That’s a good starting point for me I think. Let’s get to the healthy stage of this, and then keep going! I will work to lose 30 pounds (let’s just make it an even number) in 12 weeks or by my birthday (June 15th). This is 2.5 pounds a week, nothing I can’t accomplish already, right? I will NOT be going to the gym 4 hours a day for 6 days a week. Some days are going to be harder workouts then others, and I’m going to allow life to be in charge of what days those are. I might have to take a night off for family or allow myself some more rest. I’m not going to go at warp-speed this time, but I will continue to go just above the speed limit and find my own victory.

Goal Accomplished!

One day I put down on a list of things I wanted to accomplish this year that I wanted to run a 5K race, but it never occurred to me that I’d be able to do it like any other athlete could. I’ve never seen myself as an athlete, or sporty person, or even in shape. But, the last few weeks things have changed. My mind and body have gone through a transformation into this person who can put her mind to something and just do it (thank you Nike for that). And that is exactly what I did! I ran the 5K, faster then I have ever done it before, and without ever stopping to get a breath, some water, or to “tie my shoe”. I had no excuses to stop, I just kept going.

Last month I was encouraged by several friends, but one in particular to run the Shamrock run, and knowing that I was in the best shape of my life I thought about it, but was sitting on the fence. A few days later, my friend came up to me and said, “I’ll change my race to the 5K and run with you if you sign up.” Wow, that’s pretty powerful encouragement! How could I say no to that? So, there I was on the last day to sign up putting my name down as going to be running (rain, snow, or shine) in the 5K race.

About a month later I get my super cool green Adidas shirt and all the race accessories, and it all becomes a reality. I began to run outside a few times, and realize that “Hey, I can do that!” and then just days before the race I am finally able to just run a mile without stopping for anything. I’ve been pushed to become an athlete I realize, and that I am capable of running and that I am no longer the out of shape fat girl! It stirs so many emotions for me that I can’t help but cry off and on about it, but in the end I realize that I could never have changed that self image of myself without prayer and encouragement! God has blessed me with some amazing people in this journey.

The day of the race we get to the park and of course it’s freezing outside! I’m so cold I just want to run as fast as I can to get somewhere warm. We watched the 15K and 8K start, and then shuffle into the enormous 11,000 plus crowd for the 5K. I had a group of people cheering me on, and two great people to run with (as well as the Zumba party in my ears to keep me going!) I hit mile 1 and realized I did it again, just ran and never stopped, so I knew I could make it to mile 2. About a block before mile 2 I almost stopped, but all I heard in my head was “If I stop, I won’t be able to go again” because I knew I’d lose the confidence in myself, not the ability. So, I slowed a bit and then just kept going. I even passed up the water station! A huge hill (to me at least) to climb came just before mile 3, and I began to think about the finish line and wanting to find my husband. I envisioned being able to just run into a huge bear hug at the finish line, so as soon as we were down the hill I picked up my pace! I started to see people on the sidewalks, and looked up, but I had such huge tunnel vision that I couldn’t even focus on anyone’s face. I just hoped that he would see me. We crossed the finish line in a huge crowd of people and my legs were shaking, but I had this feeling that I could have kept going further. I wasn’t able to get that huge bear hug until a long search for each other, but I had high fives and hugs with my friends! That evening I found my race time and knowing that I ran faster and longer I was excited to see how I did. I ran the 5K in 36:06 minutes!

Now in my head all I can think about is how 3 miles is nothing, I’m gonna have to go longer then this next time. Jon and I joke that we’re going to do the 15K next year, so we can hear our names announced, and yes I’m going to have Jon run with me soon! No way am I doing this without him anymore, and I’m for sure going to run with great friends too! I can’t say thank you enough to everyone around me these days, life is pretty hard overall, but when you surround yourself with the right people life’s challenges can be much easier.

Training in Session!

I have to say that there is such a difference from working out by myself as compared to working with a trainer. For a long time I have felt that I was capable of doing most of the work on my own, but in the past few weeks have felt that I was lacking in ways to challenge my body in ways I had not before. With the help of an amazing friend I was able to workout with a trainer today and the workout was brutal and challenging. With a mix between a cross-fit circuit and some great weight lifting sets I had 2 hours of serious calorie burning and muscle building.

My hope for the next 3 weeks is to be able to workout with this trainer 1-2 times a week and especially the evening before or day of my final weigh-in of the Biggest Loser contest! The workout was challenging, but at the same time I was capable. I felt amazing being told by a professional that I’m in great shape and needed to be pushed even more then this. I have an ability to be a great athlete for myself, and it feels amazing to know that I am so close to such a huge goal. My muscles are sore and tight tonight, but nothing a good stretch and some ice won’t fix. I have no problem pushing myself to this level of intensity, and am glad to have such an amazing opportunity to do so.

Goal for the week: I’m going to put this out here for all of you to know – 10 pound weight loss this week! I’m going for a huge number, and even if it’s an 8 or a 6, I know that if I push for that 10 I will succeed in any way possible. Bring on the pain!

Hitting the wall and making it through

Why is it on our weight loss journey we have to experience such a difficult time with so many emotions? I watch it every season on The Biggest Loser, where contestants hit a wall and then suddenly break down with emotional pain and make a huge break through, but I suppose I thought I’d already done that. So, when that wall hit, and then the pain, and now the break through came I was not in any way ready for the turmoil it would bring on.

My wall came on when I had only a -2 for last week’s weigh in, and I just couldn’t get past the disappointment. Then, I began to make poor food choices, not completely abandoning my diet, but just didn’t think clearly about what I was eating entirely. Two days like this, and then birthday cake hit me hard! Yes, birthday cake was my ending point in poor choices. I completely fell to the temptation of frosting and fluffy goodness. Doubt and guilt began to creep in to my thoughts, taking over my ability to think clearly, communicate, and even process my feelings. The lack of self-control I had made me feel incapable of success, that I could not accomplish my goals anymore. I then, for the first time, had negative reactions and attitudes while in a church bible study, and knew that I was overcome with evil trying to break me down! I finally had to cry really hard, realize what was going on with me and after about a day of facing the emotions head on I got myself back into the gym and began to work off the heavy burden I had felt for 4 days (and the extra calories).

So, why did the wall come up in the first place? It’s hard to explain when we will hit a wall of frustration and lack of focus, but it will always come on. I think for me, the dedication of entire focus on weight loss and exercise is something I have never fully done. My focus has always been split on other tasks and responsibilities in life. That’s not saying I am 100%, like they are on The Biggest Loser ranch, but my family has lost time with me and many of my mom/wife daily tasks have taken a back burner to that of exercise, calorie counting, and a mind/body overhaul! I think this is what brought on my wall of emotions. That green monster in my head that has always kept me overweight and filled with depression and lack of energy reared it’s ugly head to tell me it wasn’t going away so easily, and I had to find a way to kick it’s butt back against the wall and say “No, I am going to WIN!” Today and every day is a struggle. I struggle with temptation of foods, temptation of doing something other then making it the gym, and temptation of listening to those negative thoughts that find away around my will power. I will conquer my temptations! I will win this battle! I will lose more weight, and will continue to be a healthy, productive person always!


To keep me focused I’m signed up for the Shamrock Run in Portland on March 18 for a 5K run. Not only is this motivating, but I have people running with me – to encourage me and keep me going through the race! Right now, I am running/walking a 5K in about 50 minutes, and am working on getting my time down to 40 minutes, and aiming to make my time in the race 35 minutes! That’s about an 11 minute mile! So, let’s get moving and run!

Setting Goals for the Contest

It’s just 10 days away from The Biggest Loser Contest and it’s all I can think about these days. I think about the schedule I’m going to take on for my workouts, the food I’m going to eat, and the stress it’s going to put on my family. Above all I think about winning it though. I have put in my mind that I can do this, but at the same time I can ONLY do this because I have God on my side. He is my encouragement, my strength, and my guidance in all of this! I’m so empowered by the feelings that this contest has brought up in me. I want to share this excitement with everyone I can. So, let’s begin with sharing my goals!

1. Lose 50 pounds overall in a 9 week period – 5.5 pounds a week!
2. Workout 4 hours a day, 6 days a week
3. Eat a 1,200 – 1,500 calorie diet, including a 4 day cleanse to begin with.

These are pretty steep goals I’ve set for myself. So, let me break it down for you. The 50 pounds is how I’m going to win this event. The winners are based on a % of weight loss or % of body fat loss. Last contest I lost a little over 5% body fat and only 16 pounds, and was very close to winning. With a weight loss of 50 pounds I will have a 20% weight loss, and who knows how much of a body fat loss. In the past I’ve seen the winners lose approximately 10-12% weight loss, so I wanted mine to be much higher to account for this skinny ladies who inevitably join the contest to get a cheap rate on training (the less you weight, the high your % will be with every pound lost, so someone 100 pounds lighter then me would only have to lose 30 pounds to have the same percentage as me).

Now, everyone I talk to about the 4 hours a day of exercise tell me I’m crazy, but when I watch contestants on the biggest loser I see them working out 8 hours a day every day! They are loosing double digits some weeks, and other times barely any! So, in order to really keep my momentum going I need to prioritize my lifestyle to include a lot of exercise! As we are still in winter time conditions (no snow yet though) I’m planning my time at the gym and am very blessed to have daycare available for the daytimes for Julia, and a husband who is fully committed to me winning this contest in the evenings. So, my general plan is 2 hours in the daytime and 2 hours in the evening, and doing so Sunday though Friday with Saturday being a rest day. Having 1 day where my body does not have complete fatigue will give me a chance to recuperate my muscles and allow for them to relax.

The diet is where I am going to have the hardest time. Not because of the obvious reasons either, I’m concerned about the cost of food. Those who say it’s cheaper to eat healthier are really not living in today’s lifestyle of a family on a budget. With me couponing and stockpiling foods for our family we manage to keep our budget averaged $350 a month, sometimes lower and sometimes higher. But, this doesn’t always allow us to eat the healthiest of foods or the worst either, but just not the best! So, I’m trying to come up with a plan of making mini meals for me, and stockpile/pantry style meals for the family. I’ll be using “my fitness pal” Ap on my IPhone to keep track of my calories, along with a diet book called Flat Belly Diet.

I’ll post a weekly update on my progress, along with a weigh in to keep me on track. I will be using the scales at the gym, so I’m not sure how accurate they will be. I’ll attempt to post a couple of times a week outside of the weigh-ins. Keep me in your thoughts when you workout each week, and remember this is when we get stronger, when we think we can’t keep going!

100 pound milestone!

Current Weight: 232.5
Total weight loss = 100.5 pounds!

WOW, I did it - I lost 100 pounds. It feels so good to know that I went from my heaviest weight and lowest point mentally to this amazing feeling in my life now. Now, I am by no means finished here! I'm not even in wonderland yet (in the 100 pounds range). I have work to do, and I have to keep it at a slow and steady pace. My primary goal at the moment is not to lose a huge amount of weight actually - I am in the process of trying to get pregnant you see, and my body needs to learn to maintain now in order to be ready for a 9 month change! I'm so exhilarated to have reached this goal before becoming pregnant, and feel so ready to take on the next phase.

Here are some of my goals to keep me going every day...
I will keep exercising like a mad-woman!
I won't over-indulge in food and junk!
I will keep a healthy and low budget meal plan for my family.
I won't over-eat due to stress!
I will find outlets for my emotions!
I won't forget to stretch!
I will run a 5K in 2012!
I won't let pain get in my way!
I will love myself!
I won't criticize myself if I make a mistake!
I will keep on fighting!

Photo of Me (on the left) and my Workout Buddy Candice

Here are some of the ways I hope to keep going in my exercise...
The gym: I of course don't see any reason I'd ever give up my passion for exercise, and that passion is strong when it comes to my group classes. Zumba, Body Combat, and Body Pump are 3 of the main ways I burn calories and keep my body moving for an hour or more each day!

Everyday life: I have a 3 year old, so let's face it I'm always on my feet! I take walks, many, many walks to the park, the library, or just around our town. I work in the yard, chase the dog, and kick a ball around! We go hiking, or trail walking often. Special days include trips to the Zoo or OMSI, or any other amazing children's activities we have in our great Pacific NW! We love farmer's markets, and work in our church gardens. I'm always cleaning something in our house, climbing the stairs, or just plan scrubbing! I rarely stop, and that's all before I make it the gym in the evening!

The Future: I hope to be pregnant soon, and that comes with complications to weight loss and extreme exercise. Of course with a normal pregnancy you can do just about the same routine as before, but as many of you know I won't be having a normal pregnancy. Due to my previous pregnancy I will be watched very closely, as well as have a low impact rule applied to me for exercise. My plan already includes adding in water Zumba once a week, and with my increased weight loss since the doc since last saw me I'm hoping I will be able to keep up on a moderate level of Body pump (weight lifting) and some Zumba and Combat. If all else fails, I'll just sit on a bike, walk on a treadmill, and use the elliptical as much as I can to keep active and healthy!

BRING ON THE NEXT STEP OF WEIGHT LOSS!

100 pounds lost.....almost

I am 1.5 pounds away from losing my first 100 pounds! It feels like it's taken me forever to reach this goal, and that I could have done it at a faster rate, but I know I wouldn't have learned what I have learned in the last year and half! I want to celebrate this milestone in my life somehow and I am here to ask you readers what should I do!? I do NOT want food involved, and I DO want activity involved. What would you do if you reached a goal that you never thought possible? How would you celebrate in your life? Who would you tell, and who would you thank? I'm going to tell everyone, and God is who I will thank first! Not only do I pray before all my workouts, but I also feel empowered by the word of God when I am struggling with weight loss. This support has given me great guidance in life. My husband is who gives me support and validation whenever I need it most. He gives me so much time to do what I need to do for my health, and though he's had to make many sacrifices for it we are better for it! The instructors and trainers at my gym motivate, encourage, teach, and train me for all that I need on a daily basis. I've developed great friendships with many of them, as well as many of the other members in my classes. This journey is in no way over, but the road looks much shorter then it use to. I've been so blesses to have developed a love and passion for exercise and health, one that I never thought would come upon me.

1 and half more pounds to a huge benchmark, then 80 more to go! Yes, 80 MORE pounds to lose. I may not get to that right away, but it's a long term plan! So, tell me what will I do to celebrate this huge accomplishment!?

Accountability

Well I haven't been posting on here as much as I use to, and mostly it's due to staying focused on the gym and family life. But, I do need to still keep my accountability to everyone who is watching. I'm at the lowest weight I've been since starting college, and feel great. But, I'm not done! So I need to keep on focusing on new techniques and ways to make the pounds come off. I don't have any answers to this yet, but welcome suggestions. I do, however, want to update you on what's been going on with me lately.

Gym life -
Monday through Friday I am in the gym anywhere between 1 hour to 3 hours each day, depending on the day. I have some awesome new shoes that I got for my birthday that are great for the workouts I am primarily doing (cross training). I also got the Zumba for the Wii game for those days when I can't make it to the gym (vacations or Saturdays). My workouts include, Zumba, Body Pump, Body Combat, and frequently some elliptical and sit-ups. In order to keep treating any knee and shoulder pains I have to do stretching 3 times a day and really keep my body flexible and out of any stiffness that I encounter a lot after a workout.

Diet Life -
Well, food around here isn't the best. We decreased our food budget almost by half to save money and I did so with couponing. But, the down side to this is that stores do not coupon produce. So, the amount of fresh foods has decreased in our diet lately. I use a lot of frozen veggies though to supplement, and have added vitamins to make sure we do not lose out on an nutrients. I have also been taking a potasium pill once a day to help with water retention and muscle cramping.

Goals -
With the use of a lot of pantry items and freezer foods now my goal is to cook almost 100% from scratch (likely 90%) and keep our sodium levels low. I'm hoping to grow some of my own vegetables too, but unfortunately I won't get to do a whole garden as I'd hoped to do. I am also trying to lose about 1 pounds a week for the summer. This is a super realistic goal for me, considering all the BBQs we have and possibility of eating out that happens in the summer time.

I am hoping to become pregnant by the end of the summer, so at that time this blog will become about maintaining weight and eating a low sodium diet, along with low impact exercises. If I do not become pregnant by the Fall then I will change the weight goals and continue to lose weight.

Running Journey

I’m new to this running thing. I remember in middle school track how much I dreaded it and really did not do well at it at all. I can’t say I’m any better these days, but I see the benefits and really am enjoying developing the skill of running (because, really it is a skill). I’m going to begin research more about running and really begin the process of becoming a runner. On the side bar you can see that an exercise goal of mine is to be able to run 1 mile without stopping. I’m almost there to; I can run about half a mile without stopping which is a great accomplishment for me! I still have my foot pain and would love to invest in better shoes and orthopedics, but at this time it’s just not realistic. So, until the pain is taken care of I can’t do a lot of running. At this time I am jogging/walking on the treadmill for about 15-20 minutes at a time about twice a week. I love it! I’m running at 4.5 mph pace with no incline, and am also considering doing a 5K run at my gym (considering!!). So, share with me any of your running pointers, and we will see how far I get in this part of my journey.

What's Next?

I have so much to say about the last 9 weeks, and even more about the next 9 weeks in my life. Not only have I experienced myself feeling amazing, energized, happy, and completely proud of my abilities, but I have accomplished so much in the past year I never would have thought possible in my abilities. I did not win the Biggest Loser Contest, and don’t even know how close I came to winning (working on finding out though). I was disappointed at first (maybe I still am a little) but I truly know that I gained so much from the experience. I’ve gained knowledge and strength, but the most that I’ve gained is the drive and the desire to keep going.

While on a short vacation this weekend, I stepped away from the meal plans, the calorie counting, and the gym. But, I did not step away from the mentality. I did sit-ups and yoga, worked out to a couple of exercise videos, and did not choose to over indulge in large amounts of food and drinks. My core beliefs stayed intact, and that I am proud of. At the same time though I was away from my home, my comfort zone, and did not take count of what I was eating. That being said I need to refocus myself and remember the goals I set forth for myself. I have always said I did not want to restrict myself in life, or cause others to make changes for me due to my needs, so in that I am happy to have had a weekend of fun. Now it is back to the grind stone and working hard at the gym and home.

Next Goals for coming weeks include:
- Get a new scale!
- Lose 12 pounds (the amount I need to make it to 100 pounds lost)
- Go down 1 pant size and fit into a new pair of jeans!

Just 10 more Pounds to 100

This week already feels like it's going to really be exciting, hard, and be a sprint for the finish. I am so excited for the next chapter in my weight loss journey. I would like to tell you why I am moving into another chapter soon.

About a month after Julia turned a year old I was still at my heaviest weight and gaining. We did not have a handle on our finances or our health. And trust me, the two go hand and hand in my opinion. I went into the doctor for my "yearly girl exam" and saw the real number in front of me. Now here's the truth telling that people need to hear - I was at 333 pounds. My body was hurting all the time, and my mind was filled with self loathing and depression. Just days weeks later Julia began to walk! Wow, such a micircle to watch her grow and develop from all the struggles she had to overcome. I can't say that this moment was when I realized I needed to lose weight or that my fog of depression lifted, because it wasn't. But God slowly took me out of this fog by allowing me the ability to slowly lose just a few pounds (from chasing after my now running child) and noticing the difference in my body. About 3 months into Julia's walking I began to realize that my body would feel better if I lost this weight. My clothes were fitting a little better (although still the largest size I had ever worn) and some people even noticed.

Now, in January of 2010 is when my real journey began and started this blog and I was truly lifted out of the depression. I was now almost 30 pounds lighter without even trying. I began walking every day with Julia through our town (about a mile a day) and started using my Wii fit. I began to feel better. We then began to take control of our finances and not eat out or buy expensive junk food. This made a huge impact! If you read through the archives of 2010 you can see the journey unfold and my weight begin to shed off of me. I was smiling more, talking to people more, and participating in my life once again.

So now here we are in 2011 and I am 10 pounds (give or take a few oz) away from losing 100 pounds! It took me a year and half to reach this point, but it was worth the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and especially the amazing relationship I developed with the Lord and myself each day I accomplished something.

I will continue to keep working, because though I may be healthier and fitter I am still at an unhealthy weight and have another long journey towards that healthy weight I want to find. My goals will change, my outlook is stronger, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A New Year = New Goals

Alright people, let’s hear it for 2010 and start off fresh with 2011. I’ve been making it to the gym this past week several times now, and have really missed it. With working part time during the holidays and all the other events going on I had no time left over for myself, let alone the gym. I am back in full force and will start a new adventure soon with The Biggest Loser Contest at my gym. This week I will register for the contest and the following week I will do my weigh in and body composition test. The results and winners are judged on highest % of weight loss and/or highest % of body fat lost in both a men and women's category. So, there will be 2 chances for me to win. I sure wish I had a financial sponsor for this, but I will have to lay down $99 for this whole thing. If I win, there’s no lose for me really, but it will put a burden on our finances this month. Jon and I are prepared to work around that. So, here’s a quick run down of my current weight, some thoughts on goals and workouts, and for the next week I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from 2010 and then we will get into the contest!

My current weight is 266.6 and I can certainly tell you I am not excited about that number, but I am glad to see that by only indulging myself once in awhile during the past month I did alright about not gaining weight. My goals are large and will need a lot of focus from me to accomplish, but with some accountability partners (you readers), my family, and my drive I will do it!

Goal 1: Compete in the Biggest Loser contest at my gym. I would really like to put win as part of the goal, but would need to really size up the competition first. The contest runs into March, so this will be a good long term focus for me.

Goal 2: Complete 30 day Challenge on EA Active Wii Fit game. I started this again to see how well I do now that have lost weight and have a full year of exercise in my system. When I started this journey, the EA Active was all I had to get me started. I felt like it gave me a great starting point then, and it will give me another avenue of exercise this time around too. I began on the 1st and will finish the challenge in 30 days. The program consists of 2 days on and 1 day off of exercise, so some days I will do the Wii and the gym depending on what’s going on. So far I have really enjoyed the muscles that are being worked again – I had mostly been focusing on cardio lately and not strength building, so this is a nice variation to my workouts.

Goal 3: Zumba class! My gym is now offering Zumba fitness classes and I am interested in seeing how this class works. A lot of my friends have been working out with Zumba for awhile and have seen great results with it. They also say it’s challenging at first, but very rewarding and fun at the same time. The class is offered at 6:30-7:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, so this will correspond with a lot of things and I will have to work out lives around trying to go to this class.

Goal 4: Lose 30 pounds by April 1! Wow, that’s a deadline that is looming close. I’m only giving myself 3 whole months to shed the weight. Why you ask, well that would be a couple of weeks after the biggest loser contest, but I really just want to have a deadline. I don’t want to keep telling people around spring time or early summer. It doesn’t give me a sense of urgency or keep me on track if I just throw out a time period that is ambiguous. So, that’s 10 pounds a month or 2.5 pounds a week. I can so do that!

Goal 5: Keep a daily food log, sometimes counting calories, but without obsessing over it. Last year at this time I began a head first focus on counting my calories, and it took up a good portion of time to calculate, input, and keep track of all the calories going in me. So, I’ve made my own little journal and will write down what I’m eating and the calories if I know them. If I can see when and what I am eating in front of me I think I will have a better perspective on anything that could be hampering my weight loss.

So, there are the goals and the hard work ahead of me. I hope you will continue to join me on my journey and send encouragement my way. I will do that same for your journeys and help lead you onto a new and healthy path for your life. Happy New Year and I mean it, make it a happy one!

December 1st Weigh in!

Weight: 266

Total Weight Loss: 42.1 since January 1, 2010.

Well, it appears the Thanksgiving holiday has caught up to me and given me an extra +3.4 pounds. I think for the lack of exercise and the non calorie counting days I am in good standing right now to lose that weight and more in the next couple of weeks. I have been asked several times in the last few weeks when I plan to have another baby. Well, my ideal time would be right now or this spring. So, my goals are more related to this spring and my main focus is loosing 30 more pounds before I get pregnant this spring. Let’s keep up the hard work!

Lacking the Motivation from The Biggest Loser

As I watched Biggest Loser weigh ins last night I realized I am not on the same level as they are and have no chance of losing as much weight as they (the biggest loser each week) are. I indeed knew this when I challenged myself to lose as much as that person each week, and I certainly knew that I wouldn’t be working out 3 hours a day either. So, why did I challenge myself? I think this is one of those times I have given myself a goal that is too much to accomplish and I ultimately have let myself down. This happens a lot in weight lose and in life, but in the long run I have to pick myself up and really be proud of what I have done and stop pushing myself so much. I have to remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a contest or a diet – this is real life!

I am not as excited about Biggest Loser as I usually am. Maybe I haven’t connected with the contestants yet, or maybe it’s the format change they are doing right now, but each week I feel disappointment that the challenges are lacking in motivation and the workouts are just an all out gross factor (puking) instead of showing us the actual sweat and effort that goes into it. So, I will keep watching and hope that they give me more to motivate me, but for now I feel like it’s a drama fest reality show with no real guts to it yet.

NO MORE GIMMICKS!

Recently I posted about the gimmicks of weight loss and how much they aren’t focused on making a long term affect on your body. Many people I know are using a gimmick to lose weight quick to achieve certain goals and run faster on the road of their journeys. I can’t stress more about how life needs to be slowed down, enjoyed, and analyzed on a regular basis. For those of you who are faithful Christians I want you to think about the walk you are on with God. God gives you the strength and the ability to be able to conquer all the challenges that arise during your stay on earth. But, we all know that short cuts are not part of this walk, and when we take these short cuts and do not spend the necessary time on the changes and growth we are to make in ourselves then we do not become mature in our faith, in ourselves, and in our weight loss success.

MetaFast is one of these gimmick weight loss plans that I see as one of the shortcuts of weight loss. This program is a portion-controlled diet plan. This is the quote from their website. “Medifast is a portion-controlled, nutritionally balanced, low-fat, and clinically proven program that helps people lose weight faster and more effectively than traditional diet plans. Medifast Meals come in individual packets that you mix with water and microwave or refrigerate, and are available in a wide variety of foods and flavors, including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot beverages, bars, puddings, pretzel sticks, and cheese puffs. Quick and easy to prepare, they offer a healthy fast food alternative to a busy lifestyle!”

Medifast meals are not “real” food, but a processed bag of food. But, their web site says this “Almost all Medifast products are "meals" since they contain protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients.” These meals that they say you have only give you 800-1000 calories A DAY! This is not a healthy plan, especially if you are doing any type of exercise. You will need more energy for your body to build muscle instead of store what little energy you are getting. Medifast also says to decrease your exercise level until your body becomes accustomed to the decrease in calories.

Now, don’t get me wrong I read all about how safe this is for your body and all the research that shows that it is a proven weight loss program. I can understand that our body will lose weight when we limit our calories and carbohydrates. And I understand that if you continue to follow this plan you will meet your goals faster, and then when you meet your goals you will enter a maintenance stage. Something I keep remembering from former Biggest Loser contestants who gain the weight back is that maintaining the weight lose isn’t something you are taught when you lose weight at a quick rate. Once you enter a maintenance state your body begins to remember the state you were in before the weight loss. You find it harder to eat less food because now your body is craving it, and when you up your exercise levels to continue to maintain your weight loss you find you need more energy, which equals more calories, which equals weight gain if you’re not careful.

So, what should you do? Get off that short cut path you are on, follow the correct road God has put you on, and count your calories with real, fresh foods, and exercise. I know this sounds hard, time consuming, and even at times expensive. But, it’s so worth it. You are showing your children how to eat and be active; you are proving to others around you that you are strong and determined in what you go after.

• Exercise at least 4-5 times a week, if not 6 times. Burn 500 calories each day!

• If you need to lose 50-100 (or more) pounds then eat 1,400 – 1,600 calories a day!

• If you need to lose less then 50 pounds, then eat 1,200 – 1,500 calories a day!

• Eat fresh fruits & vegetables instead of breads and pastas.

• When eating breads & pastas eat whole grain

• Eat lean meats, and only eat red meat 1-2 times a week.

Weekly challenge - Step 1

Weekly Challenge: Ok, so below this post we have 7 new challenges now! First step in our challenge is to set a goal! It can be either a weight goal, a food choice goal, or an activity goal. Make one long term goal and then make a 3 step short term goal.

Mine: I’m choosing to have weight based goals because right now it is my main focus. I want to be in a certain range of weight within a certain time period in order to begin trying to have another child. This is the main focus now, but I still have so many other areas I am working on. So, if you are only trying to lose 10-25 lbs make your focus more on the habits and the exercise then the numbers.

Long Term Goal – Lose 110 pounds in 18 months from my original starting weight. This would be at 198 lbs. Still not a healthy weight for my body, but once I get below 200 it will be much more difficult for me to lose weight. I will then set another goal once I hit this one.

Step 1 short term goal – Lose 37 lbs by June 15
This has been a goal I’ve set for myself for awhile, and it doesn’t appear I am going to make it. But that is ok. Step 1 is going to be the hardest in the weight loss journey, but it doesn’t mean I’m giving up.

Step 2 short term goal – Lose 50 more lbs by January 1, 2011. This will take me to 1 year in my journey and about 2 weeks before I make some other great steps in my life at our church’s Victory Celebration. I will have lost 87 lbs to meet this goal.

Step 3 short term goal – Lose 23 more lbs by the time I turn 30 (June 15, 2011). This will take me to 110 lbs!