20 lbs GONE!

On October 6th of this year, I was 204 lbs. 

These photo's were taken 11 days later at 199.5 lbs.

As of yesterday, December 6th, exactly 2 months later I've lost........

20 lbs!

My very 1st mile on the treadmill, took me over 20 minutes.

Yesterday I did my shortest mile yet, 12:20 minutes! It was hard but I pushed through it!

I haven't been tracking my calories, but am still following portions listed on the packages. 

I still cannot believe my "old" size bowl of ice cream was four times the recommend serving size.

I am still hitting the gym a minimum of four times a week, plus working out with the Wii Fit Plus, Wii Active, and Golds Gym Cardio Workout. 

Now, I am just 5 lbs away from leaving an "obese" BMI and moving to the "over weight" catagory.

It hurts to be excited about being "over weight," but I'll take "over weight" over "obese" any day!

Cucumber and Chicken Salad

Whenever we have left over chicken breast I like to make chicken salad for the next day's lunch. Each time it tastes different and is made differently depending on what fresh produce and spices we have on hand at the time.

This time I actually measured everything I used. You must try this! I am eating it right now and there is a huge party in my tummy!

1/2 C shredded/diced left over chicken breast

1/2 C diced cucumber, I cut our the centers as I do not like the seeds.

1 pinch of each of the following: sea salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, parsley.

1 TBSP Hellman's mayo

Mix with fork.

Total Calories: 216

I toasted two slices of Weight Watcher's 100% Whole Wheat (Thank's to WIC) and put half on each pieces of toast. Add in a bottle of water and 10 baby carrots, cut long ways into 4 pieces w/ 1.5 tbsp of Italian Dressing and you have a great lunch containing protein, veggies, and good carbs, plus your water! All for under 500 calories! Next time I will only use half of the chicken and cucumber salad and once slice of toast as I am currently over full! Whoa! Me? Over full on a lunch of just 439 calories? Crazy!

Now seriously, Doesn't this just look absolutely delish? 

(Notice, this is after I had already eaten one slice of wheat covered in this yummy goodness!)

Oh and the best part of homemade chicken salad: So yummy with diced celery and bell peppers (red, green and orange really brighten it up making it look amazing!), also, crushed almonds!

Week 3

I am in my 3rd week of actively watching my portion sizes and working out. Also started the 3rd week of Couch to 5 K.

After feeling pretty sore all week and pushing through I had a lazy weekend. Meaning I stayed away from the gym, stuck to On-Demand videos and the Wii Fit.

The 5 K was amazing. To see so many people in one place for one cause. I was invited by a friend for a breast cancer walk. With each lap we got faster, ending with a 58 minute walk. (Not counting the time we stopped and waited for the rest of the Edible Arrangement's team.) I am looking forward to trying to do a MS walk in April. I'd love to walk for something that hits close to home.

 I watched my portions all weekend but ate a bunch of crap. I was convinced the scale would be much higher this morning. But it was 2 lbs less! Eight lbs lost since October 6th!

Today was day 1 of the 3rd week for C25K. So hard, pushed through, ran extra 90 seconds! 30 minutes, 1.88 miles hitting the mile mark at 15:20. Between that and the scale going down instead of up, it's been a happy day.

My current mini goal is to have a 10 lb total weight loss by November 6th, my one month mark. I am still struggling with portions. Like instant oatmeal? I usually make 3 packets. I was doing just one for a bit there, but have snuck back up to two. I am still working on the portions with everything else though and doing okay! Heck, Saturday night Thomas and Eddie (nephew) had mini reese's and reese's pieces! I could have snuck out half from each bag, but instead I just stole exactly one portion from each. Tasted oh so good!

Now onto progress pictures (don't mind the grumpy expressions):

Week 2:

 Week 3:

Still going strong!

Week 2 Complete.

I mentioned a couple of days ago I had started Couch to 5K (C25K). Today I did my 3rd day of Week Two. And boy did I suffer! What makes no sense to me is, Day 1 was not bad at all! I mean I was beyond scared of running for 90 straight seconds, but I did it and with each run I completed, I felt amazing! I was so high on happiness when I completed the last run. Day 2 was hard, and I really felt it that night. My knees were killing me! Today, while I did get my 2nd furthest distance, was the hardest yet! I honestly did not think I'd finish! With each run I was planning on quiting. I did stick it out and for that I am super proud of myself, but damn that was hard! The inside of my calves are killing me. I swear I was expecting a fire to spontaneously start from them with each run! Week three I have to do a couple 3 minute runs! Oh man...

Eating is going well! I am so proud of myself at the moment. Since we have to get skim, 1 or 2 percent milk with Collin's WIC checks and Bailey needs whole milk when drinking milk, I decided to take the plunge and drink some 2%. I know it isn't the healthiest, but I'll take it! And I am slowly decreasing the amount of sugar I put in my tea as well! This is a big thing! I usually add ten, yes ten teaspoons per 10 oz cup of tea. I also usually put a bunch on my WIC cereals. I have started eating the Quaker Oat Squares and the Honey Oat's and Flakes (contains granola as well) and both are actually tasty with out loading on teaspoon after teaspoon of sugar. Who knew?

Newest accomplishment: I can actually get into push up position! I still can't do a push up but I can go half way down and back up! I can also do the yoga stance, downward dog. That one position has always deterred me away from yoga. I am so excited! I can't believe after just 16 days I am actually seeing changes! Mostly, I can't believe I am still sticking with it after 16 days! Go me!

If anyone has any healthy suggestions on to get that scale to move a bit faster, or how to sustain running for 3 minutes straight, I'd love to hear them! (Other than slow down, I already am really slow! I can walk at my running speed.)

Also, if anyone knows any good weight loss or fitness blogs, please share in the comments as well!
Thank you so much to those who have been so supportive of my yo yo urges to do this. I finally believe I can do this. I will lose the weight needed and I will get in good enough shape to play harder with my kids.

Survived the 1st two weeks.

I have been trying on and off since Bailey's birth to get fit, eat right, and be a healthy weight. Since her birth, I put on 25+ lbs. Yep I said it. My highest weight ever (not pregnant). 205 lbs. Whew. That was hard. This is the 1st time I am saying it out loud. Two weeks ago, today, I said screw it. We had finished dinner early. Another dinner of me filling my plate and not stopping until it was empty. Just they way I was taught growing up. There are starving children in China, don't ya know? Must always eat everything on your plate. Always. Or there would be beatings, televisions and toys taken away, and being locked in bedrooms only to be allowed to eat or use the bathroom. Needless to say I have always been one to clear my plate. Even when dieting.

I am done dieting. I am done having a gym membership that I only use a few times a month-if that. I need a lifestyle change.

Heard this before? Yeah, I said it before. I've attempted before. Yet, something seems different. I've never taken before pictures before. I've never taken measurements before. I've never successfully logged my calories more than a few days before. I've never gone to the gym 4 times in a week before. I've never worked out at home more than 4 times a week before.

I have gone to the gym every single day for the past two weeks, some days twice. Yes, my body is sore, but last night I saw some results. While attempting a beginners yoga video, I was able to touch my toes without bending my knees! May not seem like a big deal to most, but for me this is huge. I've not been able to touch my toes since elementary school. I've been aiming for 60+ minutes of cardio daily and strength training and toning 4 days a week. I've also started the Couch to 5 K program (C25K) Today will be W(week)2D(day)2! It is so hard! With each hour leading up to actually getting on the treadmill, I dread those running jogging intervals. During each run jog I push myself until I can't push no further. And I am doing it. It was so hard last week when I began. That 1st 60 second run jog nearly killed me. I pushed through. Monday when I started W2, that 1st 90 second run jog I saw a flash of white. I pushed through. I never stick with anything too long, so I am petrified off falling off the wagon. Eating is my biggest problem, which I didn't realize until I took a good look at my diet. Thanks to financial problems, I am no longer drinking my Starbucks Vivanno's, Dunkin' Donut's Latte's, McDonald's Smoothies. I am still having my nightly bowl of ice cream after the kids go to bed, but that is better than a 1/4 of a lb size bag of Reese's. And I've cut my portion size down. I am no longer filling my bowl completely to the top. Now it is 2/3 of the way. Baby steps people! I want these changes to last a lifetime.

Speaking of portions.. When making myself a bowl of cereal, I measured out the correct amounts. Wow. I was eating 3x the amount recommended in one bowl! I have a lot to change. I have time to change it though. I have a lifetime to make lifetime changes. And I will.

I have to pictures I want to share here. Hopefully to hold myself accountable. They are on Facebook, in an album viewable only to me. I am afraid to show them but if I can run jog 90 seconds straight, I can do this too. And I will share my *gasp* measurements as well... So scary!

Measurements 

Neck: 13.5''

Bust: 41"

Hips: 41"

Arms: (Left) 15.5" (Right) 15"

Thighs: (Both) 28"

That was hard. No going back now. I must continue this journey. I have a minimum of 50 lbs to lose. I want to lost 60. My starting BMI was 34.1; I am currently at 33.1. Both of which are in the obese range. I really want to get down to a healthy weight. Not obese, not overweight, but healthy. To just move from "obese" to "over wieght" I need to get down to 179 lbs. The heaviest I should be and still be in the healthy range is 149.5. I could only dream of being in the 140's! 135 would put me right smack dab in the middle of the healthy range. I don't see that ever happen. 149 would be amazing!

Most people say I hide my weight well. I think everyone is blind. While others found me sickly when I was down to 150 lbs just two years ago, I was also coming off of Heroin. This time I will not have track marks on my arms and hands and that anorexic look. I will do this right. For my children. For myself. 

Just because I am really trying with this C25K program, I also would like to share my 1st week, and start of the 2nd with you.

Week One:

W1D1
     28:46 min; 1.45 miles

W1D2

28:54 min; 1.65 miles

W1D3

27:14 min; 1.63 miles

Week Two:

W2D1

30 min; 1.82 miles

Today I will do W2D3, hopefully. Unfortunately, the gym is closer than anywhere I'd like to do this outside. And my only way of tracking my distance.

I've also been working out on the Wii Fit and Gold's Gym Cardio Workout (Wii).

I aim to do 30 minutes of free step while watching television. And Gold's Gym while the kids are occupied. I usually sweat like a pig when working out. Thank you Methadone. Love that side effect. The Cardio workout is intense for someone as out of shape as I am. But I love it! Nothing like punching away stress.

Anyway, I've attempted to use this blog to hold myself accountable before. Here's to hoping this time is the charm! I'd love to be 149 lbs by next May!

Goals:

Be satisfied eating proper portion sizes.

Size 9 jeans.

Size med top.

No muffin top! 

Run 5 K with out walking

Keep up with kids when playing outside and running around.

50 push ups.

10 pull ups.

Ability to get up from the ground without struggle.

Ability to do yoga poses! 

Bend over with out my stomach getting in the way. 

I just don't want to look like this anymore:

Before

I'd much rather be like this:

After??

Back on the Wagon!

I weighed in at 182 lbs yesterday at the gym. 32 lbs more than where I was a year ago. Devastating. Sad part is the one way I know how to rid myself of the extra baggage I can't turn to. I cannot do dope, though last time it had me drop 30 lbs in 3 weeks. So I have to do this the hard way. The right way!

I finished off the last of the Reese's last night. I will no longer drink 2-4 Strawberry Banana Vivanno's daily. I will get to the gym at least 2-3x a week. I will do this. I can do this.

Yesterday I kicked ass at the gym. I did 20 minutes on the elliptical, I've never done that before! And I was moving pretty fast, sweat was literally pouring off of me after just 2-3 minutes! I did a total of 30 minutes on the weight machines as well. I am feeling it today. Especially my calf's, inner thigh's, abs. and triceps. They are all super sore! I wanna go back tonight!

I need to stay motivated. Unfortunately my loving husband is not helping out in this department, he's all, "uh huh, I've heard this all before." And, "I'll believe it when I see it!"

Can I get some much needed words of encouragement? Some motivation?

Motivation, Planning, & Routine

Motivation: Is my flabby bulging tummy, fat arms, thunder thighs, and my jeans that are tighter now than one week post-partum.

Plan: Eat right and exercise

Routine: I have no idea! Anyone have any suggestions on healthy ways for a busy, nursing mommy to lose weight?

I know I have to diet w/o cutting calories. I cannot focus on calories, I just have to stop eating junk and start making healthy choices. I need to stop eating a whole Halloween bag of Reese's, I should have PB on wheat crackers or toast.

As for exercise, I plan on hitting the gym eventually as my cousin's guest as he told me I could. It's getting the courage to go there. For now I have walking and the Wii. I have Wii fit, which I plan on doing the balancing, yoga, and areobic's to work on my posture and flexibility; and Gold's Gym Cardio Workout, which I plan on using to burn kcal's. It is all boxing which is awesome to get out my frustration in a healthy manner. I also plan on doing yoga a few times a week in the early morning or before bed or both.

I need to figure out how to do all this without jeopardizing my nursing relationship with my baby girl, and I will!