6 Months Progress Report: 4-17-13 to 5-17-13

SIX MONTHS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh my golly!!  I can't believe it's been six months since this journey has started.  Half a year.  Almost to my birthday soon.  Half a year.  And man, has it been a battle!! Been I have made it this far, and for the most part, have kept it off!!  Hall-le-freakin-lujah!!

It's been six months of ups, downs, inside outs, and so much more.  This month has been the hardest of it all, I think.  So much has been going on, both physically, mentally and emotionally.  Needless to say, that means spiritually too.

From work schedule, to school schedule, to more work schedule, and then personal life happens, and so does the crap from it all.  All of that, and still able to lose 4.8 lbs this month.  And that's with inconsistent workouts due to all of the scheduling issues.

Man, is my God good!! :)

NSVs:

1. When I tried on jeans last month from my "new to me" side of the closet, they fit perfectly.  Now, they fit loose. :)

2.  My hips no longer touch the sides of the arc trainer.  AT ALL.  Period.  Nada.  No rub off!!  I've waited 6 long freakin' months to stop having friction burns on my hips! lol

3.  When I go grocery shopping, I now constantly look at the nutrition facts, and base my eating habits of buying stuff from reading labels, figuring out what foods are good for me, etc.  I plan my meals the same way.  That's been a HUGE change from even just a few months ago.  It has become 2nd nature to look at the label, and if it's not good for me, put it back.  I've even stopped buying sweets for the most part (minus the frozen yogurt from healthy choice! haha).  Actually, my sweet tooth has lessened considerably.  I tend to only have dessert if I go out w/ someone, and even then don't eat most of it.  I haven't been eating as much chocolate (except for yesterday....yesterday was a bad day and I needed my cocoa people!), and haven't been craving it as much either. :)  Ah, the changing of the taste buds!

4.  19.25" down since November 17, 2012. :)

5.  I'm lasting about 1.25 miles in my walk/jog intervals.  Last month was maybe a mile.  Maybe.  Usually between .8-.9 miles. :)

6.  My ankles look cute in my running shoes.  Yes, this is important to me. :) lol

7.  My head has shrunk.  Yay! :)  So has the fat around my neck.  Double yay!  Soon, no more double chin!!  Sa-weet!!!

8.  I'm learning to control my emotions through exercise, rather than through food.  This is a HUGE victory for me.  Some days are better than others, of course, but still.  To long for a run and not a burger or a giant candy bar....that is a complete 180 from where I was at.

And now, pictures I can be proud of, the further you go down! lol

Oct/Nov 2012:

Dec 2012:

January 2013:

February 2013:

March 2013:

April 2013:

May 2013:

I'll post a few more from the past month later. :)

And tomorrow, the big Biggest Loser RunWalk Off-Road Challenge.  Mud, running,obstacles.  Dude, I'm excited!!! :)

Until next month!

Oh...and I OFFICIALLY made it to my 20 lb mark, and have kept it off. :)  Now to my 30 lb mark baby!! :)

Non-Scale Victories (NSVs)--1/6/13

1. a pair of pants that were starting to fit a bit snug fit just right now. :)

2. my hips no longer touch the cross trainer outer grips

3. I've discovered that I have some pretty awesome bicep action going on...noticed it during the arm curls yesterday, and was kinda impressed! lol

4. My desire/craving for sugar is lessening as it slowly works its way outside my system once again.

5. I'm more intentional about what I eat, yet still allow myself freedom to eat stuff like wings, chocolate, cookies, etc. on occasion.  I'm learning to not just control what goes in my mouth, but to have a HEALTHY balance and have fun with it.

6. I can see my hour glass figure slowly being defined once again.  And I'm starting to be okay w/ the fact that I have a huge badonkadonk, always will, and huge boobs, which has seen a slight marginal decrease (which I'm fine w/...I'd be sad if I lost the girls...)

7. I'm slowly liking the way I look w/ clothes on, and learning that I don't need to hide who I am underneath.

8. I'm starting to slowly examine myself in the mirror, nekkid.  And learning to be happy with who I am, fat and all.  Why?  Because though I want to lose the weight, I know it's a process and a body.  And if I'm not happy w/ myself now, I'm never going to learn to be happy with myself later, which can easily lead to another type of addiction.  So...basically, learning to take one step at a time.

Contemplations

You know, sometimes I really hate late nights.  Like tonight.  When I have too much time to think.  And then I think about my day, the things I've done, the actions I did or did not take.  And then I start to over think.  I know, I know.

Like this morning, for instance.  When I weighed-in on the scale.  And then I immediately wanted to hurl the scale, or maybe just myself, off in a fit of temper.  Because the number was seriously high.  And I know numbers don't matter, especially when clothes are fitting loose.  But lemme tell you...I'm a numbers girl...and I like numbers.  So, to me, numbers DO MATTER.  Why?  Because it's something I can see visibly.  Which stinks...because then I get hung up on these numbers...and, well, now you know what a semi-conversation looks like inside my head in this paragraph here.

All that to say...

I had to breathe. And NOT let the numbers get me down.  Because I know I've been working out.  For the most part, I've been REALLY good on my meals/eating habits/lifestyle changes.  And that all this interval training has made me get some serious muscles on my body (yaaaaaaaaaay).

But I have received that I need to just bury the scale somewhere in the boonies in hopes that it never find me anytime soon.

Because numbers and visuals do a whack-job to my brain.  And start getting me in a tizzy.

So today, I had to learn to lean on Him for my identity.  To choose to not listen to the lies inside my head saying all kinds of crappy things.  Was it easy?  No.  Am I still battling?  Yes.

But PTL His mercies are new EVERY morning.  And so are my choices. :)

So, all that to say....

If you're in a strangle, struggling place...it's okay.  Keep going.  Keep holding on.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  You'll get through it...push through....keep up the good work...even when it's not so good, keep going...because your new day is coming! :)

Short, sweet, to the point.  It's just something I needed to write out to get out of my head and on to the journal.

night, my small world. :)

Workout #3: Strength Training Intervals

Once again, thanks to Debbie G for putting this all together!  :)

Burpees, 10 each.  On a step.  Challenge: w/out step
Squats w/ Shoulder Press.  20 each, 10 w/ press 10 w/out press.  Barely touch bottom of chair.

Everything else is timed; start w/ 30 seconds and work the way up to 1 minute each:

-side to side (w/ a step or w/out).  Challenge, for me, will be with a step...working on my coordination here! lol
-push ups (on knees right now)
-on the ball w/ a band:
   back pull (lying on hips/abs area and then pulling band back to work my back upper back region)
   abs on ball w/ band (in crunch position, hold band w/ each hand, and use band as added resistance)
   1-arm bicep w/ band (tie around something, and do from side position)
   tricep dips on ball--place ball against the wall (challenge: ball off the wall)
-1-arm shoulder press (10 lbs e/ arm)
-bottom to upright row, go up on toes (10 lbs each arm)
-reverse lunges w/ a punch out
-Russian twist w/ 5-8 lbs (arms to floor to work abs more)
-plank, on knees, elbows aligned w/ shoulders (start w/ 30 sec, challenge is a full minute)
-toe touches (crunches w/ arms out)

As of March 2nd, here are my original numbers for each.  I'll need to put an updated total when I move on to the next workout round! :)


30 seconds each:

-side to side 17/forgot to do 2nd set of this...whoopsie!
-push ups 11/18
-on the ball w/ a band:
   back pull 12/13
   abs on ball w/ band 11/11
   1-arm bicep w/ band 13/13
   tricep dips on ball--place ball against the wall 18/16
-1-arm shoulder press 18/19
-bottom to upright row, go up on toes 11/13
-reverse lunges w/ a punch out 11/12
-Russian twist w/ 8 lb kettlebell 10/12
-plank, on knees, elbows aligned w/ shoulders 2 30-sec planks
-toe touches 18/19

Visuals...

Before I started the journey-October 17, 2011

Where I'm at now-October 28, 2011 I can see slight differences...in the waist/tummy area, face...:)  So glad He made me visual and that I found the program to help me set up the visual.  Now just need to tape the print out on the cupboard for visual aid and help. :)

At my goal weight, estimated January 2013

Day Two...Oh the pain!!

Woke up super early today...an hour and 15 minutes early to be exact.  When I looked at the clock, I wasn't happy.  Then I thought...hmmm...I can get my workout in earlier and have more time in my day to go run some errands...and then I was happy again. :)

So, what I forgot to mention last night is that my best friend of the past year and a half...I had to give away.  His name was "the dreaded scale".  I've discovered that I'm horrendously number conscious, and even when I'm doing good, and I know that muscle weighs more than fat, and that I'm doing things right...anytime that scale jumps up, I feel myself berating myself (I know...awkward statement that one), beating myself up, calling myself all kinds of horrific names, and going into a depression of sorts.  So, to stop that, I handed over the scale last night to my workout buddy, NC.  She cheered when I told her I was letting go of the scale for a while.  I went to the bathroom this morning, and looked at the spot where it was located, and felt this sadness that it was gone.  Which tells me what kind of dependency I had on that stupid inanimate object.  So, I guess it's a good thing it's gone.  How I'm going to keep track of this journey, I don't know.  Except to possibly just weigh in at her place, since she has the bff there in her car.

Anywho...woke up today sore in my legs and thighs.  Seriously asking myself if I want to keep pushing (of course I do, I just like being comfortable, that's all, which is what caused this obesity in the first place....gasp, yes, I said, according to my BMI I'm obese).  The funny thing is, is that I know I'm fairly healthy, in regards to cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.  Only thing that's been a niggle in the back of my mind has been blood sugar issues, and making sure I get enough vitamins and minerals to stay consistently healthy (thanks, calorie counter website, for telling me my grade every day, and letting me know if I'm getting enough nutrients).  So, day 2 of this journey...I'm thinking maybe going for a little hike...or just popping in the power sculpt dvd with the evil Jillian Michaels...or I even have a yoga DVD...that sounds better...cause then I can stretch all the soreness, as MC suggested.  And afterwards, I can eat a banana, like DM suggested.  See, I'm listening, people, just on my own terms! lol

So, good morning little tiny world of mine.  Let's get ready to rock and roll! :)

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Next time I make fun of a workout, just tell me to shut up.  I finally popped in the Pilates Body Band DVD that I was given, like, a year ago.  I was just thinking...oh, this'll be a great stretching thing to help with my soreness.  It's not REALLY a workout.  I betcha you don't even break out in a sweat.

I have eaten humble pie.  Not only did it stretch out and help the soreness in my legs, but because it was the body band workout, my arms got their own workout while the rest of my body did too.  And now they hurt! lol  AND I got a little "dewy".  And I admit it...I had TONS of fun with this.  Probably 'cause I wasn't jumping around everywhere trying to follow weird crazy calisthenics movements.  Instead, I did a low-key workout that my body still feels. :)

So far, so good.  Fun adventure day 2!  Now to try a plum for the first time (hey, I'm not a fruit person), get ready for work, make my smoothie for lunch, pack dinner and snacks, come home, get my workout on w/ Naomi again (going walking/jogging again), then on to home again for the night. :)  I'ma lookin' forward to it!! :) whoop whoop!

Oh, and I did my First Place 4 Health bible study today again...week 2 day 2.  Lord, thank You for keeping me on track!  Lifestyle change, NOT a diet! :)
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I should journal.  Really.  But too tired.  No evening workout. :(  Stayed at work late.  Good thing I got my morning workout in!  Called several people, including MC and DM, for advise on supplements.  Decided no potassium supplements.  Will try fish oil (ewwwwwwwww).  Did research online as well.  Fish oil seems to be the vote.
On to bed.  Tired.  Sore.  Tired.
Night world.  Til tomorrow!