Another year and not much has changed

I am saddened by the realization that once again my intentions haven't gotten me any closer to my goal.  I just measured myself and I am back to square one on my avenues.  Ugh!

I did receive a Fitbit for Christmas and it has been nice watching my calorie intake, I am realizing that it is my food consumption which is my downfall. 

Day 2- everyday for the month

Well, it is day two and I was up bright and early throwing the weights around.  It felt great to be lifting again.  For 6 weeks I had a personal trainer who really pushed me and my abilities- I was building muscle.  Now that I had to say goodbye to Sylvester (tear), I now need to find a way to keep pushing myself and the amount of weight I am lifting.  I am stronger than I think!  With my schedule being a little crazy this week, we are getting up again tomorrow to lift and hopefully a cardio day on Thursday. 

Strong is the new skinny.
SRW

Everyday for the next month

In a hope to keep myself motivated, I am going to try and blog everyday for the next month.  I am going to talk about my accomplishments and my challenges. 

Yesterday was a decent day when it comes to my workout.  I jumped on the treadmill, threw on Drop Dead Diva and busted out a walk for 40 minutes at a 6% incline.  It felt good to be on the treadmill again, my hope is to get back to running but I don't love it so we will see.  We stopped at Red Lobster last night for dinner and I thought I would be good with some crab legs (no butter) but they were rather fishy so I didn't love the meal, which left me hankerin  for more food while we watched Game of Thrones.  I threw some triscuits back and caramel corn along with a Coors Light.  Yeah- not exactly on my accepted food list. 

Well, today is a new day.  Mondays are our day off from working out.  We have found it to be hard to get up early after the weekend because typically it is hard to fall asleep at an appropriate time on Sunday nights.  Tomorrow is a lifting day- 430am wake up call. 

I received so many comments from friends who are also trying to make healthier habits.  It is so exciting to all the different options available.  Thanks to all who shared- I would love to hear more about what you are doing because I don't have this whole thing figured out yet and all suggestions are helpful. 

You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be. – David Viscott
SRW

You are what you eat

I haven't been as good at the gym as I was earlier in the year but I have been making some substantial changes to my eating habits.  I have learned that you really are what you eat.  I stepped on the Wii Friday morning and weighed in at 152lbs.  OMG!  I can't tell you the last time I weigh this little- it has been at least 15 year.  I feel great and I a learning the foods that I can't eat any longer: pizza, sweets, cheese.  All which are a total bummer BUT I feel so much better and I am beginning to enjoy the taste of fruit and vegetables.  I have even been eating raw cashews and almonds. It is amazing how good they can taste without the salt.  I know I know... I am sounding like one of those health food nuts. Scary!!! Diet Soda is finally out- I guess it is bad for you.  I am attempting to drink at least 3 Naglene bottles a day.  

We leave for our cruise in a month, hopefully I can get a little closer to my goal.  It would probably help if I worked out again...Off to the treadmill I go. 
Here are my measurements since my last post:

Right Arm: 11.5" (lost .5")
Chest: 32.5" (lost 2")
Waist: 29.25" (lost .75")
Hips: 39.25" (lost 1.5")
Right Thigh: 21." (lost .5")

Here are my updated photos- sorry about the no makeup thing. :-)  I am wearing the same shorts as the last post- I can see quite a difference in my butt.  (Includes my new tattoo and Teddy who decided he wanted to be in the photos this time)

I hope you find this motivating... let me know if you have any suggestions. I'VE ONLY GOT A MONTH PEOPLE!!! Still a year til forty though... Thank God.

Shannon  



2 Month Check In

Well, I haven't been as focused as I hoped- especially when it comes to my eating.  September was a little weak regarding the workouts but October I got at least 3 lifting sessions in each week.  Cardio is a different story- very little in either month. I took measurements and photos today, hoping that seeing minimal change will get me more motivated to eat better and get some cardio in my routine. 

Right Arm: 12" (same)
Chest: 34.75" (lost .25")
Waist: 30" (lost 1.25")
Hips: 40.5" (lost 1.5")
Right Thigh: 21.5" (lost 1")

Here are the photos... a little freaked out my my shoulders in the back, they look bigger but I am hoping that is muscle. 

SRW

Weigh in

Last Saturday, I finally got the courage up to step on the Wii to determine my official weight as I begin my journey.  I weighed in at 158lbs.  This is the weight I have been at many times but in the past 5 years I haven't been able to fall below this number.  I am motivated to get to 150lbs but the Wii says I should be at 145lbs.  145lbs seems like a nice number but that is 13lbs from where I am now- not sure I can do it. 

I learned a good lesson this week.  I was at a wellness fair with a coworker this past week.  At the fair was a personal training company who was determining your body fat.  My co-worker, who has lost 30lbs over the past year, and I were both excited to have the test done on us.  She came in at 34.6% and me at 32% body fat.  WHAT?????  The last time I weighed this weight, I was at 24%, how I can have gained 10% body fat, especially when I have been lifting 3x a week and have begun to notice significant muscle?  I am definitely not at 24% now but 34% seems rather high.  Of course, they were selling their services of nutrition and workout training.  I made up my mind that this woman was just trying to sell her product and the only way she felt she could get people motivated was to possibly increase individuals fat %.  I might be wrong but I couldn't let her bring me down.

Unfortunately, my co-worker didn't reach the same thought process that afternoon.  She came in the next day and explained to me how depressed she became after learning of her body fat %.  She didn't even want to work out that evening.  We had a long talk about how one little thing can take you from being motivated to completely deflated.  It is horrible how people can easily manipulate our minds.  This was a huge lesson for me, one that I probably should have learned earlier: Don't let other determine how you feel. 

Big lesson this week. Still motivated....

Measurements

Wow- last night I had Steve do my measurements and take my photo- which I have a huge zit in.  Yikes!  I can't believe that I am not more embarrassed.  I am also angry that I have figured out how to hide so much.  Here goes:

Right Arm: 12"
Chest: 35"
Waist: 31.25"
Hips: 42"
Right Thigh: 22.5"