Before and Halfway

For today's blog I thought I would show some before and half-way pictures. I say half-way because I am not finished losing the weight I would like to lose. I started this weight journey at almost 200 pounds. I do not have any pictures of myself at that weight because, frankly I wasn't exactly proud of who I was. Content? yes, proud? no.  I was at times content with the way I was, but overall I wanted to be strong and healthy. So, around 2009 I started on my journey. I was 40 years old and I made up the mantra losing 40 pounds at 40. I think I even wrote a post about it in one of my older ones from 2009. Anyway, I thought that if I worked out hard enough I could lose the weight within the year. Well, it hasn't exactly gone the way I planned. I have been at it going on three years. There are some positive things, such as, I have been exercising fairly consistently so I do have a habit of exercising. However, I did struggle with my eating for a long, long, time. I was under the misconception that as long as you exercised hard enough, well, the weight would just pour off. WRONG!!! If you ever have read any of Tosca Reno's articles, she says "that exercising is only 20% part of losing weight, the other 80% is eating." That's right 80%. I was shocked, in fact shocked into reality. She also has said that cardio is important, but if you really want to transform your body you must strength train. Well, let me tell you that was another thing I was doing wrong. All I did was treadmill. And all I did was walk on the treadmill, I really never wanted to challenge myself. I did do quite a bit of incline walking, but never wanted to run. And yes, that got quite a bit of weight off. But I stalled last winter and started gaining. I was gaining because I was discouraged and told myself it wasn't working anyway. Luckily, I only gained back 15 pounds. But, still it is 15 more I had to lose plus what I hadn't lost yet. Okay, so what I am doing different now is, I am running and yes, this cardio only girl has started strength training as well. Also, I have increased the amount of fruits and vegetables I have been eating. Also cutting back the sugar. That was another thing I was addicted to sugar, really, really bad. I thought I had to have something sweet every time I finished eating, if I was reading a book, or whenever I had coffee. The picture that is by itself was taken last winter, the before picture in the collage was taken this past September, and the other halfway ones were taken today. By the way did I mention, I really, really, hate to take pictures? :)

THE BIG BANG AND EXTREME DIETING

Yesterday started off with a big bang!!! I fell down my stairs on my booty.

I was so mad!!! My kids all came running, wanting to know if I was ok. I got up went in the kitchen and started crying. My son Luke wanted to know how I fell down the steps in running shoes. Well, I will tell you how that happened. I decided last week that I was not losing weight quickly enough. So I decided to change things up. My plan was a protein shake in the morning, a protein shake in the afternoon, and a sensible supper. My shake included fruit, protein mix, fiber and that was it. I could have a snack 2 hrs after drinking this shake, something like a protein bar or yogurt. The first week I did fine. I took Saturday and Sunday off. Then Monday I went back to my plan. Well, Monday at my workout I noticed I was feeling a little off during my run. But I figured that was because I did strength training first. WRONG!!! I woke up yesterday sore and in a fog. I waited way too long to drink my shake. Let me just say something right here, I agree with all the experts out there, You should eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. So, back to my story I was already nervous, shaking, and hungry. I went upstairs to get the kids up for school, argued with Samantha for a minute about her cleaning her room, came down angry and BOOM slipped and fell right on my booty.

I was in such a fog, I couldn't even stop myself. Thank goodness I wasn't hurt worse than I was. I only have a bruise the size of Montana on my butt. A lesson to everyone out there if you are thinking about extreme diet measures, and adding working out to it. DON'T!!!! You just might end up at the bottom of your stairs!!! And by the way I had a sensible breakfast today: Oatmeal with peanut butter powder and cocoa, a chobani yogurt with pineapple. Off to do my run!!! Have a fall-free day!!! LOL 

Feeling like I ran into a wall.

Do you ever have days when you feel like the above image?? Well I did yesterday. It just seems like the more I run, the more I feel like I am running right into a wall :)!! I know this is normal and maybe I am just trying to reach my goals too fast. Like I said in the other post, I do try to keep up with Anthony but it just seems like I can't . You know the whole testosterone vs. estrogen thing. I know in my head that he has been working out a whole lot longer than me and therefore is more physically fit, but I feel like after working out for 3 years I should be further along physically. But I have to tell myself that I HAVE been only running for 2 months and I am doing pretty good. Also I got on the scale this morning and I had gained a pound!! This image shows how I felt.

 

But once I again I have to tell myself it could be because I am lifting weights and my muscles are getting bigger?

I don't know about how anyone else feels but I feel like this journey of becoming healthy and fit is one of the hardest I have ever been on. But all I can do is take each day as it comes and when I feel like I hit a wall. Just get up and climb over it as fast as I can!!!!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

I woke up this morning to take the kids to church and I heard a strange noise outside..... SLEET!! I couldn't believe it. Yesterday it was pretty warm, around 59 degrees. Then later after I took the kids to church, I looked outside to an unbelievable sight... SNOW!!! I have been praying for snow all winter. I love a gorgeous snow fall. In other news (LOL) I had a fairly great week of running and weight lifting. Luke had me do all kinds of different workouts with the weights. He is very good at changing things up!! I told him he will be one of the trainers on the Biggest Loser Someday. He may be only seventeen (and a mama does like to brag) but man oh man ( as my dad would say) that boy knows how to train somebody. He has a God given talent, not only with training but also with his power-lifting. After all he does hold several APF titles. But I can tell you with Luke training, I never am bored. Running is coming along very well. I can now run 1.20 miles without stopping. I can actually feel myself getting stronger every time I run. I usually run on the treadmill since it has been so cold. But Friday it was very pretty outside. So I asked Anthony if he would like to run outside instead. He wanted to walk but I kept nagging and he ended up running. He let me start the pace at first but then he took over. And he KICKED my butt. The above image shows how I looked after we were done. But I do have to give him credit because I would have never ran if it wasn't for him. He challenges me everytime to do the best. I feel so good now from running and weight training. I feel like this mama can do anything!! So besides being thankful for the beautiful snow God sent, I am thankful for Luke and Anthony.

"Me and running don't always see eye to eye. Some days it hurts more than others. But it doesn't mean I don't do it. I deal with it and I keep running because not everything that is good for you always feels good for you."

New Fitness Challenges for 2012

For the past three years, I have been trying to get to my goal weight. I started out with the goal of losing 40 pounds at 40. Well, here I am at 43 still trying to meet that goal. When I started I thought if I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and tried to watch what I ate it would be simple and I would be at my goal weight in a few months. Boy, was I in for a surprise. First, I found out that it wasn't as easy as when I was in my 20's. I found out that it took me longer to recover. Second, I didn't realized how bad I was addicted to sugar. I just didn't want to give it up. I tried Weight Watchers for about a year and lost around 15 pounds. But, I am bad about keeping up with points and all that. So, last year I just tried this and that. But, still did not want to give up those sweets. I would make up excuses, like if I go walk on the incline, well I can have that candy bar. I played around with jogging. But never liked it. This past summer I was outside with the hubby but could just never get over the huffing and puffing. That all changed about three months ago, I started walking 2 miles everyday outside with my hubby, and then we built up to a 3 mile course. I then gradually started adding in a little bit of jogging. I can now run a mile comfortably, but not too fast. I have been reading a lot of blogs by runners and love the encouragement. I also started weight training with the hubby and my son ( it helps to have a son who is a power-lifting champion who holds world records.) . I find it to be challenging but I love it!! I also have changed my eating habits. I have begun eating low carb with lots of veggies. I am even enjoying eating eggs which I hated in the past. So far, all of this seems to be working I have dropped 10lbs since Christmas, and my flapping old lady underarms are getting toned. So this is the challenge I have set for my self this year, I want to be able to run a 5k before the year ends. I can't wait to see what this year holds for me and I hope to meet my goal weight this year.

Motivation Tip: The way you think about your run can increase or decrease motivation. If you focus on the good feelings from running before and during, you are more likely to get out and run---and feel good doing it.

Let me tell you something about running. It will make you cry. It will make you smile, laugh, dance. It will make you want to shoot yourself. It will give you the urge to scream “I LOVE MY LIFE” at the top of your lungs. And all of these emotions typically are expressed during one run. That’s the amazing thing about running; it puts everything in perspective. You might start out your run in a horrible mood, having the worst day of your life. Then after the first mile you start to smile when a certain song comes on, and feel the urge to dance. (Do it, you’re sexy and you know it anyways.) Then you’re going to dominate a hill, and when you get to the top, you’re going to throw your hands up in the air and laugh.

And you know why I love running? Because it proves that you can overcome obstacles and still have a smile on your face at the end of the day.

THIS IS SO TRUE. I LOVE THIS