If I'm honest, I was at my healthiest in Costa Rica. Walking every day, eating out only once a week, then eating fresh, healthy food during the rest of the week really helped me slim down. Not nearly as much as I needed to (that dratted sprained ankle really came at a bad time, when I was just gaining momentum), of course.
While we didn't eat out a whole lot more, not walking every day once we got to Mexico and had the use of a car, really made a difference.
Then, throw in a huge amount of stress as we transitioned back to the States for our furlough year as well as a LOT of eating out and sitting in a car traveling for long hours at a time.
Yikes.
So today, after completing 2 miles with Leslie Sansone and a stretchy band, I hopped onto the Wii Fit board for a baseline weight reading. It was not what I wanted to see, of course. Actually, it was the same as it was at last month's doctor's checkup. And following the checkup, we spent 10 days at a camp where we were very well fed, followed by more travel and transition. So, either I gained and then lost weight back to that amount, or I maintained throughout that entire month of irregular eating. Either sounds good to me. Point is, I have a baseline to work down from.
The thing that really annoyed me this morning, however, was the Wii Fit voice. Anyone who has ever weighed in on the Wii fit board (and have pounds to lose) will understand when I complain about that obnoxious little voice that always cries, "Oh!!" when you step on the board. Like you're this enormous 2-ton Goliath instead of a 200-lb woman. It's very insulting and not in the least encouraging. Apparently, her mother never told her that if she didn't have anything nice to say, she shouldn't say anything at all.
Already, I'm missing my digital scale in Mexico. At least it didn't talk back to me.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
End of February Weigh-In
Lost another 1.5 pounds this week (last week I didn't exercise and had gained just a little bit), weighing in at 182.
While it would be awesome if that number was higher, that was only with walking 8 miles this week (for the bigger numbers, I think I'll have to get in my full 12). I also know I'd speed up this process if I restricted my diet, but as this is more of a lifestyle change and NOT a diet, I'd rather not. I think increasing my level of exercise and eating a variety of foods (within limits, of course. Can't lose weight if I eat fast food every day or even several times a week) will be easier to maintain once I reach my goal weight. My ultimate goal, after all, is to be a new healthier me by the time I reach my 40th birthday.
I am a mere 2 pounds from my driver's license weight and a mere 7 pounds from what I weighed when we got married. Awesome!
While it would be awesome if that number was higher, that was only with walking 8 miles this week (for the bigger numbers, I think I'll have to get in my full 12). I also know I'd speed up this process if I restricted my diet, but as this is more of a lifestyle change and NOT a diet, I'd rather not. I think increasing my level of exercise and eating a variety of foods (within limits, of course. Can't lose weight if I eat fast food every day or even several times a week) will be easier to maintain once I reach my goal weight. My ultimate goal, after all, is to be a new healthier me by the time I reach my 40th birthday.
I am a mere 2 pounds from my driver's license weight and a mere 7 pounds from what I weighed when we got married. Awesome!
Friday, February 14, 2014
A Big Week
Last week, when I weighed in, I was pleased to discover I hadn't gained back too much weight after leaving Costa Rica.
This week, I'm excited to say that I am a mere 3 pounds away from the weight I've claimed to be on my driver's license for the last 12 years. Looks like my ultimate goal of weighing 125 pounds by the end of September is actually in reach.
Today, I weighed 183 pounds. I will continue to do weekly weigh-ins each Friday. On the last day of each month, I will have Troy measure me to chart how many inches I've been losing as well.
This week, I'm excited to say that I am a mere 3 pounds away from the weight I've claimed to be on my driver's license for the last 12 years. Looks like my ultimate goal of weighing 125 pounds by the end of September is actually in reach.
Today, I weighed 183 pounds. I will continue to do weekly weigh-ins each Friday. On the last day of each month, I will have Troy measure me to chart how many inches I've been losing as well.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
First Mexico Weigh-In
Since arriving in Mexico back in August, I knew I'd put back on some weight (my face is fuller and my pants aren't as loose as they were in March before I sprained my ankle). But I'm not walking absolutely EVERYWHERE (on hills even) anymore, so it's little wonder.
Well, Troy finally bought a scale today and I stepped on it with no small amount of fear and trembling. The shocking news? I'm the same weight I was in May, the last time I'd posted my weight on my blog--190. And I'm only 2 pounds heavier than at my lowest weight in March. So I guess I haven't been doing too badly after all!
I've been doing 40-45 minutes of a walking DVD pretty sporadically (my goal is to do it 5 days a week), and we're still pretty much only eating out on weekends, when we do eat out.
I have a goal of losing 15 pounds by March 1. It might be an impossible goal, but I want to give it a shot.
Well, Troy finally bought a scale today and I stepped on it with no small amount of fear and trembling. The shocking news? I'm the same weight I was in May, the last time I'd posted my weight on my blog--190. And I'm only 2 pounds heavier than at my lowest weight in March. So I guess I haven't been doing too badly after all!
I've been doing 40-45 minutes of a walking DVD pretty sporadically (my goal is to do it 5 days a week), and we're still pretty much only eating out on weekends, when we do eat out.
I have a goal of losing 15 pounds by March 1. It might be an impossible goal, but I want to give it a shot.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Return to Normal
I weighed in today to see what the total damage was from essentially two months of not walking every day, two-ten day breaks, and lots of eating out/goodies from home. I was down from three weeks ago, but in total gained two pounds. Not bad. (Not great, but not bad, either.)
My goal was to lose half the weight I need to lose while in Costa Rica, down to 165 pounds. I'm sitting right at 190. It would require me to lose roughly 2 lbs a week for the next 3 months in order to accomplish this goal. It's definitely doable. We'll see.
Starting again today. I walked three laps around the park at my normal gait and am enjoying a bowl of Corn Flakes and a cup of tea for breakfast. I plan to watch the calories (but not too closely). I won't post another weight until the second week of June, but hopefully, it'll be in the lower 180s (my plan of posting the first of the month is out, as that is my cycle--never a good idea to weigh just before or just after a period).
My goal was to lose half the weight I need to lose while in Costa Rica, down to 165 pounds. I'm sitting right at 190. It would require me to lose roughly 2 lbs a week for the next 3 months in order to accomplish this goal. It's definitely doable. We'll see.
Starting again today. I walked three laps around the park at my normal gait and am enjoying a bowl of Corn Flakes and a cup of tea for breakfast. I plan to watch the calories (but not too closely). I won't post another weight until the second week of June, but hopefully, it'll be in the lower 180s (my plan of posting the first of the month is out, as that is my cycle--never a good idea to weigh just before or just after a period).
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The Day I Climbed a Mountain
Okay, so it wasn't really a mountain.
There is an amazing park a couple hours from our house, up in the mountains, with a huge variety of Costa Rican birds, frogs (some poisonous!), butterflies, and monkeys. There are even some big cats, and not of the domestic sort. But the highlight of this park are the waterfalls. One giant cascade and several smaller falls. They are spectacular. However, to view them, you must walk a path that includes many, many stairs. The first half of the trail has stairs that go down. But, what goes down must come up again. Naturally.
The first time we visited the park in September, those stairs felt every bit like a mountain. I had only been walking to school and back, and even at that only for two weeks. I hadn't lost weight yet at that point. And so descending the stairs was tough, but not too bad. Going up, however... I thought I was going to die. My heart has never pounded so fiercely, my gasps for air never more audible. Even with frequent rests, it was almost more than I could manage. A friend walking the trail with us took one look at my face and, concern etched across hers, asked if I was okay. I was most assuredly not. I finally did manage the trek, completely worn to a frazzle.
The second time we visited the park in March, during mom's visit, I had every intention of walking the trail, but for the little inconvenience of a recently sprained ankle. It was decided I would not attempt the trek (one of my wiser decisions), and so I had a lovely 45 minute wait for the family up at the check-in desk, comfortably ensconced in one of the twin rocking chairs overlooking the view.
We took my aunt to the park this last week, what is very likely our last visit there. My ankle mended, I decided I wanted one last chance to see the gorgeous waterfalls. I will say that the steps were not made for people with short legs, as walking down them takes about two of my steps to every one of someone else's of a more average height. No matter. We saw the big waterfall, and enjoyed having the place to ourselves for a long time before seeing any other tourists. The big test of my recent weight loss and fitness level loomed.
The staircase to heaven, or so it seemed. The mountain of my previous trek.
I began the climb at a rapid pace and continued all the way to the top without a single pause. My heart was rapidly beating, but after all, stair-climbing is an excellent cardio workout! I was breathing hard, but not laboriously. I never once experienced the sensation of light-headedness, as I had before.
Thanks to the 15 pounds I've lost, and the miles I walk every week, I have attained a new level of fitness I've not seen in many, many years.
I may never climb an actual mountain, but it is due more to the fact that I am terrified of heights than because of ability. But making that trek without stopping, without feeling like I was going to die is every bit as big an accomplishment for me as actually climbing a mountain would be. And so, on that Tuesday, you may well understand why I was so proud of myself. Why I felt such joy.
It was the day I climbed a mountain.
There is an amazing park a couple hours from our house, up in the mountains, with a huge variety of Costa Rican birds, frogs (some poisonous!), butterflies, and monkeys. There are even some big cats, and not of the domestic sort. But the highlight of this park are the waterfalls. One giant cascade and several smaller falls. They are spectacular. However, to view them, you must walk a path that includes many, many stairs. The first half of the trail has stairs that go down. But, what goes down must come up again. Naturally.
The first time we visited the park in September, those stairs felt every bit like a mountain. I had only been walking to school and back, and even at that only for two weeks. I hadn't lost weight yet at that point. And so descending the stairs was tough, but not too bad. Going up, however... I thought I was going to die. My heart has never pounded so fiercely, my gasps for air never more audible. Even with frequent rests, it was almost more than I could manage. A friend walking the trail with us took one look at my face and, concern etched across hers, asked if I was okay. I was most assuredly not. I finally did manage the trek, completely worn to a frazzle.
The second time we visited the park in March, during mom's visit, I had every intention of walking the trail, but for the little inconvenience of a recently sprained ankle. It was decided I would not attempt the trek (one of my wiser decisions), and so I had a lovely 45 minute wait for the family up at the check-in desk, comfortably ensconced in one of the twin rocking chairs overlooking the view.
We took my aunt to the park this last week, what is very likely our last visit there. My ankle mended, I decided I wanted one last chance to see the gorgeous waterfalls. I will say that the steps were not made for people with short legs, as walking down them takes about two of my steps to every one of someone else's of a more average height. No matter. We saw the big waterfall, and enjoyed having the place to ourselves for a long time before seeing any other tourists. The big test of my recent weight loss and fitness level loomed.
The staircase to heaven, or so it seemed. The mountain of my previous trek.
I began the climb at a rapid pace and continued all the way to the top without a single pause. My heart was rapidly beating, but after all, stair-climbing is an excellent cardio workout! I was breathing hard, but not laboriously. I never once experienced the sensation of light-headedness, as I had before.
Thanks to the 15 pounds I've lost, and the miles I walk every week, I have attained a new level of fitness I've not seen in many, many years.
I may never climb an actual mountain, but it is due more to the fact that I am terrified of heights than because of ability. But making that trek without stopping, without feeling like I was going to die is every bit as big an accomplishment for me as actually climbing a mountain would be. And so, on that Tuesday, you may well understand why I was so proud of myself. Why I felt such joy.
It was the day I climbed a mountain.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
What You Don't See
Yesterday, I stepped on the scale for the first time in well over a month (and well before I sprained my ankle). I definitely didn't like what I saw. Between not being able to walk for a month and overindulging in some goodies from home (that lack of discipline really, REALLY gets me into trouble), I put back on 3 of the pounds I lost.
Some of you might think that 3 pounds is not a big deal. Some of that could be water weight. And that's true. I was bummed out for awhile, yes. After all, when you've been steadily losing weight, the last thing you want to see is the scale go in the opposite direction, right? Right.
But today, I realized something.
When I got dressed this morning, I didn't have to suck in my gut just to button or zip my pants (haven't in a long while, for that matter). In fact, I need to wear a belt with all of my pants or else they will fall off. I am wearing one of my new Hobbit t-shirts mom brought. I ordered it before Christmas in a couple sizes smaller than I have worn in many, many years. And while it is snugger than shirts I typically wear, it's DEFINITELY not something I would've even been able to put on when we arrived. Or even at Christmas, for that matter. Furthermore, yesterday, I wore a shirt I'd purchased right before leaving the States. When we arrived, it was long, but not overly so. Yesterday, it almost looked like a dress on me.
When I step on the scale, all I focus on are the numbers. Are they good? Are they bad? Have I made progress? Lost it? What I don't see, however, is what everyone else sees when they look at me: I have visibly lost weight. My clothes are looser. My face has thinned somewhat, as have other parts of me. Nobody else sees the scale numbers unless I feel like sharing them.
This is what I need to remember. It's not just about the numbers. They are important, yes. Because with each pound and inch lost, I'm making myself healthier and healthier. But in the end, they're only numbers. I need to forget what everyone else doesn't see and focus on what they do see.
A smaller me.
Some of you might think that 3 pounds is not a big deal. Some of that could be water weight. And that's true. I was bummed out for awhile, yes. After all, when you've been steadily losing weight, the last thing you want to see is the scale go in the opposite direction, right? Right.
But today, I realized something.
When I got dressed this morning, I didn't have to suck in my gut just to button or zip my pants (haven't in a long while, for that matter). In fact, I need to wear a belt with all of my pants or else they will fall off. I am wearing one of my new Hobbit t-shirts mom brought. I ordered it before Christmas in a couple sizes smaller than I have worn in many, many years. And while it is snugger than shirts I typically wear, it's DEFINITELY not something I would've even been able to put on when we arrived. Or even at Christmas, for that matter. Furthermore, yesterday, I wore a shirt I'd purchased right before leaving the States. When we arrived, it was long, but not overly so. Yesterday, it almost looked like a dress on me.
When I step on the scale, all I focus on are the numbers. Are they good? Are they bad? Have I made progress? Lost it? What I don't see, however, is what everyone else sees when they look at me: I have visibly lost weight. My clothes are looser. My face has thinned somewhat, as have other parts of me. Nobody else sees the scale numbers unless I feel like sharing them.
This is what I need to remember. It's not just about the numbers. They are important, yes. Because with each pound and inch lost, I'm making myself healthier and healthier. But in the end, they're only numbers. I need to forget what everyone else doesn't see and focus on what they do see.
A smaller me.
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