When you can't sleep, get productive!

I woke up at 3 am today.  I went pee, then went back to bed...and laid there.  For an hour.  So I got up. I had not intended to workout today as I wasn't going to have time. I work from 9-12, and then around 2:30 Nick's parents and sister will arrive, and around 5 we're going out to dinner with some of my family as well, and then coming back to have drinks.

But I was bad last night, and didn't cook, and when I went to go pee I saw that my nails, which I had so carefully painted, had not cured when I went to bed and had those lovely little fabric lines in them.  Ladies, you know what I'm talking about.  So, I drank some Chocolate Silk (I love that stuff surprisingly!) took the nail polish off, and worked out.  The hardest I ever have.

Not only did I set the resistance and the highest I've gone (not for the whole time I up and down it), but I went 3.5 miles all at once, and in only 65 mins.  The first time I worked out for an hour I went one mile.  In one month I have vastly improved and I am feeling good.  I also burned the most calories I ever have in a day.  I'm very impressed with myself.

And that folks, is why you stick with it, you DO improve, but it's gradual.  But in just one month you see drastic changes in your fitness level, and the more fit, the more muscle, and muscle burns calories more efficiently thus less fat.  So STICK WITH IT, and when you can't sleep, get productive!

~Shannah

I'm engaged! AND lost more weight! Happy Day!

Nick proposed last night!  It was unexpected, in a lovely manner, and I cried.  And told him I loved him a billion times but I'm not sure if I ever really said yes!  Lol!

And, to top off that great news, I got on the scale and was down to 206.4!  Since I weighed 210.6 last Monday, I know my calorie counting and workout effort is working!  That's 4.2 pounds in a week and a half!  Not even!  More than I want to be honest because I want my skin to stay tight, but on the other hand it means I'm back to being as close to under 200 as I thought I was before I bought the new, more accurate scale.  I bought a cute maxi dress at wal-mart today to wear out Saturday for our engagement dinner with both sides of the family!  It was 16 and I don't feel like a wale in it.  Lovely!

Thanks everyone and I hope your week is as good as mine is!

~Shannah

Changing The Plan

So, by Wed of last week after not losing any more weight, I decided to start tracking calories too.  And by Thursday I was just tracking calories.  As a result, as of this morning, I lost 2.2 pounds last week!  So, calorie counting it is.  Number one this is tried and true, and number two Myfitnesspal.com allows me to track food just as easily as Weight Watchers, and it still holds me accountable as it shows me when I go under/over/right on my calorie goal.  It also tracks exercise and you can tailor it all to your needs.  It also counts my fat, protien, and carbs, just like WW did.  Only I can see how much of all that I'm eating and what changes I should make!

So, we'll see how well this works.  I think it's the best method just because it's teaching me how much to eat and of what.  It's also opened up more options to me, while closing the doors on some other, poorer options in the sense that I feel some foods just aren't worth it.

Also, I've been on the elliptical like crazy!  I upped my resistance and am improving my time and distance quite a bit.  Which ALSO burns more calroies!  I bought a heart rate monitor today to more accurately track that.  But the calorie counter is weird and attached to the pedometer so we'll see how it goes???

Can you do it today?

A few days ago I read an inspirational blog from someone who had lost an incredible amount of weight.  She had been afraid she wouldn't make it, didn't know if she could live without all of the food she loves ever again, and I feel much the same way.

However, something she asked herself, which I think we should all ask ourselves, is "But can we do just today?"  Can you go without that McDonalds today?  YES!  Can you eat just one dessert today?  YES!  Can you drink more water today?  YES!

And this, my friends, makes the journey MUCH easier.  Look at just today, and things will be different tomorrow.  :)

Making More Changes

So, my WW weigh in was today, since on Friday I was 206 and I have worked out and ate within points I was really surprised to see it at 207.2.  And very upset.   I've also worked out the past three days.

So, I decided that I MUST not be doing something right.

Number One: I've been eating high point dinners. This may be effecting it.  Also had a bit of sodium in there.  So I'm going to try and balance my points throughout the day.

Number two: No more guessing points!  As in, guessing that's 1/4 pound burger and not weighing it, so I bought a food scale.  And realized I have been guessing a bit.

Number three: I will eat all my points!  I have been weighing myself every day, and if I don't lose, I don't eat all my points the next day.  After reading a few blogs, and remembering my sister said you need to use them all to lose, I am going to eat them all.

Number four:  I bought a new scale that also calculates BMI and Body Fat%.  That way, if I'm gaining muscle from workouts, I will know.

Number Five: Weigh myself ONCE A WEEK.  I have been weighing myself daily to hold myself accountable, but I don't hold myself accountable.  Last week I ate McDonalds twice in one day and at Applebee's the next.  Granted I was within points the Applebee's day and manage to somehow not have McDonalds effect my weight, it's not good food.  It's bad food.  Very bad food.

Here is my problem with buying a new scale, it says I'm 210.  Not 207.2.  So I can't imagine I'll have a good WI next week.  It will say I have gained weight.  This is not going to be good for my self esteem.  I was so excited to get o 206, to have lost 26 pounds, 8% of my bodyweight, etc.  And to have that ripped from you SUCKS.  So, now I have to go on that journey all over again.

I still want to be 192 by September 8.  I am hoping I can get there.  That's 11.5 weeks.  That's 1.5 pounds a week.  It'd be nice to do more.  Now that I am exercising more maybe that's what I need.  I was on the elliptical for 2 miles today.  Took forever because I'm slow but that's about 400 calories according to the elliptical (it said it was more but I don't quite trust it 100%)

I will get there!

It's been about a month since Disney and I haven't really gotten any farther in my journey.  I didn't realize that vacation would set me back a whole moth, but it pretty much has.  It was a lot harder to get back into the good eating habit than I thought and in fact this past Friday I actually finished unpacking.  I've been lazy.

I did get my elliptical about a week and a half ago and have been very good about using it.  My work schedule makes it a little difficult (10-6 is a horrible shift to try and get anything done ever), but today I stayed on it for a whole hour.  It was very slow going, I only went 1.5 miles.  Which is sad that my half mile takes 20 minutes of my time but that's the truth!

I also have to say that Fat Free Cool whip is a godsend!  It's 0 points for 2 tbsp and if you go over it's not that many points.  I put it on some strawberries and bananas and it makes for a very delicious treat.  If only fruit lasted longer!  I tend to gobble it up!

I'm slacking I know...

So Disney World was awesome, the weight gain from it, not so much, and then a week later there was Memorial Day Weekend.  Nick and I haven't really gone grocery shopping since before Disney so I'm totally off track on Weight Watchers.  I did manage to get back down to before Disney weight (208), but after the past few days it's gone up to 211. Nick's birthday.  He doesn't realize eating out at wherever he wants doesn't work for me or my diet, but I didn't fight it that much and indulged.  I think once in a while I have to take a few and revert to the old ways.  It reminds me that I give myself heartburn and tummy aches.  Lol.

My dad finally got my elliptical here, but forgot the adapter, so we had to go buy a universal one, and I've done a half mile today and yesterday.  It took 17 minutes for me to do a half mile and I was dripping sweat.  Out of shape much?  Yeah.  And totally more intense than walking.  So no I have no excuses to not push myself.  YAY!  I wanted to be to my goal weight by the end of the year, not sure if that will happen.  I want to be at 192 by September 8.  Nick and I are going to a Cardinals game (his birthday present from me), and I would like to have lost all that.  That's just over five pounds a month.  It IS doable, but can I do it?

Spray tan...not so bad.

I wanted a spray tan for vacation because my legs reflect light, they really do.  I looked it up online and that is good and bad, there are some real horror stories out there!  Anyway, here are the results.  Up close I freak out, because I have NEVER been tan, but in pictures, which is what I wanted it for, it doesn't look too bad!

10% gone!!!!!

I was 209 at my weight watchers weigh in yesterday which was only .2 pounds from my 10% goal so I weighed myself this morning and I was 208.6!!!  So I have officially lost 10% of my body weight!

I consider this a huge goal, because losing 10% of your body weight can lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, decrease change of diabetes, and improve many other aspects of your health.

Not only that, but I'm only 1.6 pounds away from my 207 goal for Disney and I have no doubt I will do that by the end of the week.  I am also excited to see if Nick's family notices my 25 pound weight loss.  Will it make a difference???  I know it does in my face, I barely have a double chin now when I smile!  Woooo!  But the rest of my body it's questionable.  I've been taking measurements and I have lost some around my hips, waist, and bust, but I find my arms and thighs hard to measure in the same place so I don't have a change there but I'm not sure if that's accurate or not.

Success!!!

Had my weigh in, down to 209.  I checked the scale twice.  I about had a heart attack.  I was hoping for 210 something but 209!!!!  Not eating wings from Buffalo Wild Wings last night was the right choice for me!!!   No problem I will be 207 by Disney.  I have a week to lose two pounds.  If I keep this will power I will see under 200 in no time!   Well....vacation may interrupt it but we'll see!

Update

Down to 211.2.   My Weight Watchers weigh in is tomorrow though so hopefully I can get down to the 210 range by then.  That gives me one week to lose 3 pounds before vacation to meet my goal of 207.  I know I can do it, because if I get down to 210 that means I lost three pounds this week and I even struggled mid-week after eating pizza.

I went shopping the other night for vacation clothes and that was difficult.  Shirts usually aren't too bad for me, but I went to four different stores (Kohls, Gordmans, Dress Barn, Old Navy) and didn't find anything.  Some of that was due to a trend in crappy thin fabric, some size, and lastly, giant armholes in tank tops.  I didn't want to have to heavily alter a tank top that was $20 you know?  I had already been to Wal-Mart, Target, and Maurices but hadn't found anything either.

Last night I made a trip to Wal-Mart and saw that there was a Cato by it.  I had forgotten about this store and they have a half hour until close but I thought I'd try it.  Found two shirts, tried on a few more that I could have done but one had ruffles and rhinestones and the other had clear sequins and Nick doesn't like fussy fashion so I opted out because I thought I might feel silly.  I did have to fix the armholes on one of them but it was very simple and quick so no biggie.

Anyway, I can't wait to show you guys pictures from the trip and it shouldn't be too long that I'm showing you pics of 202!  Well, I might gain in Disney but I'm not going to follow WW while I'm there.  It's vacation.  You shouldn't worry about that stuff on Vacation.

212!!!!

So, another good day of eating and I made it!  212!  Just five more pounds to my goal for Disney and if I behave I know it will happen!  I personally don't see too much of a difference from 222 to 212 by my clothes do fit better and my measurements have gone down.  Well the ones that I've been able to log!  Lol.

222 on the left, 212 on the right 

Again, 222 on Left, 212 on right.

Like I said, physically it's hard to see a difference, I tried taking the pictures at the same angle and whatnot but I clearly didn't do a great job!  Lol.

Anyway, see you again at 202!!!!

I did it!!!!

So, I'm finally past 214.2  Which is what the scale said ALL weekend.  Yesterday I was a little more strict on myself so it finally moved down!  I didn't eat any of the weekly points (which seem to be more to maintain weight) and I saved a few of my daily points.  And the scale said....212.8 this morning!!!!!  Woooooo!!!

I'm not going to post any new pictures today, because it's not quite 20 pounds lost yet, so I'll hopefully get to take those tomorrow.  If I'm at 212.2 or something I'll still do them.  So look for those tomorrow!

I can't wait to see where I'll be at in two weeks when we go to Disney World if I stay on track.  207 here I come!  I think I can do it!

Oh, and the other day I made a yummy cake using a spice cake mix, a 15 oz can of pumpkin, 1/2 a  cup water, and two eggs.  Put in a 13x9 pan and cut into 15 pieces it's only 3 points a piece.  I did add some cream cheese frosting which is horrible (not tasting-wise though!) and makes it about a 7 point treat but sometimes it's worth it if I still stay within points.

Someone also told me that if you add pumpkin to just a chocolate mix and no water or anything it tastes like brownies so that's on the list next!

Time to start exercising!

The first few days of Weight Watchers I always loose like crazy, well, today I was down .2 pounds.  So, while I'm not complaining that I'm back to 214.2, I need to do some more to start losing faster before Disney!  7 pounds to go before my goal and 19 days to do it!  It CAN and will happen!

Plus, my hip/piriformis muscle is really starting to bother me again and quite honestly walking and stretches are what makes it go away, so no point in living in pain right?

It's not worth being miserable every day, just for five seconds of taste!

And that is what I have decided.  Weight Watchers is going very well.  I am back down to 214.4. Yes I am on the scale every day but that is for a confidence boost and to assure I'm doing things to help myself to the best I can.

I'm eating breakfast every day, and drinking 64 oz of water.  I am also eating all the points I'm supposed to but I am tracking everything very closely.  No guessing "about how many points".

I have ate at Outback and enjoyed it, and I even at Taco Johns yesterday.  Did I eat two softshells and a large ole?  No.  I had one softshell and a small potato ole. And I took small bites and actually enjoyed it.

And tomorrow when I step on the scale, I will be down again.  Because I can do this, because I want to do this, and because food is not more important than how I feel about how I look!

It certainly does work.

My first week of weight watchers I'm always surprised at how quickly the weight falls off.  I started back up at 218.8 and am down to 215.4 after three days.  I know it won't continue to stay this way but it's a relief to at least see weight starting to fall off and not pack on.  I'm hoping to get down to 212 soon so I can take some new pictures.  I don't think there will be much of a change in how my body looks just yet, but I want to take pictures for every 10 pounds lost because I saw someone else do it and when you you start getting skinny it's awesome to see how much 10 pounds makes a difference.

Anyway, so happy that it's dropping off, wondering when that will stop a little, and hoping I don't hit any bumps too soon!  207 before Disney here I come!  (Why I picked 207 I don't know.  I wanted to be under 200 but felt that was unreachable in two months when we realized we were going to Disney.  With WW in 20 days it might not be so unobtainable but I don't want to fail and small goals are good.

Success!

After two days on Weight Watchers I have already lost 2.6 pounds!  The plus side to this is that I even ate at Outback (I checked points of everything first), and was never hungry!

I drank lots of water, and ate all my points, so I wasn't starving myself.  I don't know how WW does it, but it does!  C'mon Disney!  I'm getting ready!  21 more days!

Back on Weight Watchers....

After admitting my major fail, and then stepping on the scale to see I had gained almost two more pounds....I joined weight watchers again.  I know it works.  I know it's hard to stick to for myself, but I know it works.  And it typically works pretty fast for me I just can't go past two weeks.  I know it'll be a struggle, but I work now so I can buy food I need, and Mr. Wiggles (my future Pugs name) is total motivation.

Wish me luck.  I started yesterday so we'll see how it goes and I'll keep you updated!

Fessing Up

So this past week, I've done very bad.  I haven't done a thing to loose weight and I've done everything to gain.  I've ate fast food several days in a row, and yesterday ate it twice.  I go there telling myself all the way how horrible it is for me, but I can't stop myself.

So I told Nick.  And I cried. And he was supportive.  He told me he didn't know what to do to help me but he loved me very much and wanted a long life with me and didn't want that cut short.  And then a few minutes later said that if I get down to 182 (which is not my goal but 30 pounds)  he will buy me a pug.  That's right, he'll get me a dog.

So, I printed out this a few pug pictures, one on the fridge and one for the dashboard of my car, so I can remember how much I'd rather have a dog than eat junk.

Sad that my own health and being thin are not good enough inspirations.  I just have  hard time looking in the mirror and picturing it and when I hit a roadblock it's so discouraging.

What do you guys do?

On that note, I leave you with Mr. Wiggles:

30 days until Disney...and I haven't even made it to 212 yet!

And I wanted to be 207.  As of todays weight of 217....that's ten more pounds in 30 days.  I'm getting an elliptical but I don't know when I'll get it so I can't bank on that for exercise and I've been kinda tired with work too.  I'm sore and not sleeping well.  I know if I exercise I'd feel better but it wasn't helping me lose weight even with a restricted diet so I gave up and have been eating BAD this week.  Like any sort of craving for fast food I have indulged.

Which is why I'm at 217 today.  Ugh!