Last Loser Standing: Week 1

Beginning Stats

 

Weight (as of last night): 248 (weighed right after a super fatty dinner at Red Robin to give myself a leg-up. lol)

Shoulders: 46"

Upper Arm: 15"

Chest: 45"

Waist: 38"

2" Below Belly Button: 46"

Hips: 52.5"

Upper Thigh: 32"

2" Below Knee: 18"

 

 

Okay!  Now that that's out of the way, here are my goals for this week.

 

1) No coffee.  This is a big one for me.  I've only been a big coffee drinker for about a year, but I don't drink coffee without creamer, and creamer is garbage.  Delicious garbage, but garbage nonetheless.  My body doesn't like it, it doesn't make my guts feel good, and so as a test I'm going one week without coffee to see how my weight reacts.  I will, however, be drinking hot tea with agave, honey or Sweet n Low and plenty of water.

2) No soda.  I gave up soda for months, but the last few weeks I've been guzzling it any chance I get.  It makes me feel terrible, it hinders my weight loss (duh) and it hinders the quality of the food I put in my body.  No more.

3) Eat when I'm hungry, don't eat when I'm not.  Sounds easy, right?  Not for this girl.

4) Elliptical.  Minimum of 4 times. 

 

I hope to be down a minimum of two pounds at my next weigh in (Tuesday the 18th) and I plan to take my measurements once a month, so the next time I post those stats will be Tuesday, January 8th. 

 

I also included a new "motivation tip" that I came across on Pinterest.  It helps you to see something physical even on the days when you're seeing nothing.  I'm super excited about it!

 



Believe it or not there are exactly 100 beads in those two glasses.  It looks like a lot less which is what's helping me realize this will be easier said than done.



 

 

May you all have a blessed week!  Can't wait to report next Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

Newfound Motivation

Hello friends!  Today is December 4th.  How close am I to my 30lbs loss goal by the end of the year?  23 pounds away..... I've lost seven pounds in three months.  Not my best efforts, by far!  But it's time to get back in the game.  I don't care that we're in the holiday season, I don't care that I will be tempted almost daily by some sort of baked good or hot, cheesy dish.  I will resist most of the time and give in some of the time.  I want (and need) this to be realistic for me, and saying I'll never "indulge" is not realistic.  However, it's my definition of indulgence that I need to work on. 

I talked to my doctor last week about wanting to have another baby sometime next year.  I expressed to him my intentions of losing a bit of weight before getting pregnant.  I would like to be 20 or more pounds less than I was when I got pregnant with Owen, which puts me right about 30 pounds from now.  I feel this is very realistic, and if I find my inner-exercise goddess I hope I can lose that in 4-5 months.  I would LOVE for it to take less time than that, but I'm trying this new thing where I don't set myself up for failure. ;) 

I joined a weight-loss challenge on FB called Last Loser Standing.  There are 500 spots and I snagged one of them, silently having an anxiety attack while clicking the "Join Group" button.  I don't know what I was thinking, except that this might be the motivation I need.  This challenge involves a weekly weigh-in, and if I don't lose or maintain (within one ounce of the previous week's weight) I get disqualified.  I'm excited about it for many reasons, but the main reason being that I can focus on this "journey" on a week-to-week basis and not the big picture.  The big picture scares me.  It's a lot of weight to lose and I can't think about it without getting discouraged and wanting to throw in the towel before I even put a dent in it.  So here I am!  I think it's a good challenge, uncomplicated and very doable, if I can just stay focused. 

So that's where I am at this point.  I'm still seeing my trainer once a week on Tuesday mornings (getting up out of the chair after this post will be difficult).  I've really slacked off on cooking healthy meals and most days I struggle to get my arse on the elliptical, but I'm determined to get in 5 sessions of 35-40 minutes on the elliptical each week on top of the work out with my trainer.  I also intend on doing another session with weights at home once per week.  Just typing this makes it feel like a bigger commitment than I want to make.... soooo let's say 3-4 days of elliptical.  Then if I do more I can pat myself on the back.  :) 

In addition to all of that I scoured my cook books and manilla envelopes of recipes for some healthy, clean meals to cook.  I pledge to cook three healthy meals per week.  Including leftovers, this should only allow room for one "indulgence" meal per week and I intend to eat that meal the night after I weigh in for the challenge, then I have a whole week to sweat it out.  :) 

I need to hold myself more accountable, and one of the ways I'll do this is by posting once a week with my weigh-in results, meal ideas and exercise results (miles, hours, etc.).  (I'm borrowing this idea from my friend over at www.2012losingit.blogspot.com :)

Below are my new "before" pictures.  They were taken about a month ago when I tried to squeeze into a dress that's about two sizes too small in the belly/ass areas.  I thought it looked GREAT but boy am I glad I got out the camera to see what it thought.  I saw something completely different after uploading the pictures than I saw while looking in the mirror.  Funny how that happens. 

 Starting weight: 247

 

 Side shot- note the 5mo pregnant-looking belly...

 

Rear-shot..... no words....

 

 

There you have it!  Wish me luck!  3408024570845th time's a charm, right??  ;)

Scale Says One Thing, Measuring Tape Says Another

Hi all!  So since Andrew and I started our weight-loss challenge on September 10th, I have gained and lost the same five pounds several times. Grrr! My problem is not exercise. I've found multiple ways to be active that I really enjoy, the most recent being walking outside.  My problem is food. I grocery shop alone or with my munchkin, so generally I stay in the very healthy areas of the store and make it home with lots of veggies and fruits, eggs, etc.  So I can stock our fridge and cupboards with the nutritious stuff, but we still battle with restaurants and fast food. There are a couple of very tasty places within seconds of our home and most days we do just fine, but, well, you know... we have moments (ahem, days) of weakness, as well.

So from 9/10 the scale says I've gained two pounds. However, my measuring tape says I've lost 10.25in off my shoulders, chest and waist. I'll take it!

For now I'll keep walking and doing my elliptical. I've realized in the last couple of weeks I really need flexibility and my daily goal right now is to do one active thing. I recently started walking with a friend and with Hubs when said friend is preoccupied. Last week I walked 13.5 miles over the course of four days. It's not a lot but it's a start and I feel incredibly good and refreshed by the time I get home. When I'm tired after only a mile and want to stop, what drives me forward is this thought- Why did I let myself get to the point where walking in flat ground for 3 miles is difficult?

Day One of Shred

Well, I just finished my first day with Jillian. There were a few minor moments when I took a small break, but I finished strong and probably won't be able to sit on a toilet tomorrow without crying.

I missed my weekly workout with my trainer this week. Munchkin woke up at 4:30am and I wasn't about to do anything that required changing out of my pjs and putting down the coffee pot. I should've just stuck a straw in it, really. I did pretty well with my food until evening, when I came across a bag of those dark chocolate covered pomegranate pieces.... let's just say we don't need to worry about them anymore and leave it at that...

The last two weeks were pretty chaotic and strange and we had some "family stuff" going on, but this week (or today, really) I've recommitted to this adventure and I'm ready for the soreness and the energy brought on by kick-ass work outs and eating to fuel.

On another note, I'm on the hunt for a gently used jogging stroller. As soon as I get my hands on one Munchkin and I will begin a Couch to 5k program. I'm eager to start exercising outside. I've always loved walking with Hubs and friends, but there's something about those joggers I see every day, sweating their asses off and loving it... for some strange reason I've always envied that, for as long as I can remember. I am a little nervous about being alone out there, but we're gonna be going on the local green belt late in the mornings, so there should be a decent amount of other SAHMs out there. Maybe we'll meet new people! Or maybe Mister will want to start the program, too, and we can go together.... we shall see...

Munchkin is asleep, then we're headed out for a walk with some friends. What are you doing to be active today?

Happy Wednesday!

A Year Later ...

And I've lost nine pounds. Really? In a year? I'll tell you why- from last October until, roughly, six weeks ago, I stopped caring. Don't get me wrong, I cared about wanting to be thinner and more fabulous, but I didn't care ENOUGH to really clean out my pantry and get my booty back on the elliptical.

I started seeing a trainer again. This one is polar opposite from the one I had a few years back. While she was great and definitely helped me accomplish my goals, this time around I want to come at it from a different angle. I don't want to feel micromanaged, or like someone else is going to be disappointed in me if I mess up. The disappointment and joy are mine and mine alone. I'm taking responsibility for myself, giving the credit and glory to myself. Karin kicks my ass one hour per week, but the other six days I'm on my own and, while last time I had a trainer this terrified me, this time I am totally stoked.

So here's where we're at...

Mondays: elliptical, 40+ minutes, make sure I'm dripping but not dying.
Tuesdays: circuit/strength training with Karin, 60 minutes.
Wednesdays: elliptical, 40+ minutes
Thursdays: Power 90 3-4 (not P90x), 35 minutes, elliptical, 40+ minutes
Fridays: elliptical, 40+ minutes
Saturdays: same as Thursdays.

This is what I'm HOPING to accomplish each week. If I must I'll rearrange things, but I'm trying to do three days of strength and five of cardio. Sunday is a rest day. I'm only allowing myself one day off, because for me, well, it's a slippery slope.

Are you guys tired of this yet? I'm thinking you stopped reading this blog two years ago.... but on the off-chance there's still someone out there who isn't bored of my yo-yo-ing, bring on the encouraging words!

Day 3!

I don't have much time, a friend is coming over for a haircut and coffee.  We're also going on a walk, you see, because I actually walk now. :) 

Today is day 3 of Phase 1.  I woke up and weighed myself first-thing (after peeing, of course) and I'm down almost 5 pounds since Monday morning!  I'm seeing incredibly fast results.  I know the weigh is mainly water weight from all of the sodium and chemically-altered food that were in my system, but it's still enough to motivate and inspire me to keep going. 

Yesterday morning I went for a walk with a friend, we walked about 3 miles in 45 minutes.  (My mile average literally has not changed since 7th grade gym.)  It felt great and we decided to form a sort of "stroller club" with a few other friends from church.  We're going to walk once a week together, next time is on Monday.  I'm so excited that I'm making this change all on my own!

Last night for dinner I made taco salad, sans tortilla chips.  Not gonna lie, the chips definitely make it better, but I can live without them for two weeks.  I found Ortega taco seasoning with 40% less sodium and I used lean ground beef and vegetarian (fat-free) refried beans.  Piled on top of a giant bed of romaine hearts and baby spring mix and topped with some cheese it turned out to be a pretty tasty dinner!  Dessert, however, was my favorite.  I toasted a bunch of sliced almonds in the oven, then did a layer of sugar-free cheesecake-flavored Jell-O pudding, a layer of sugar-free chocolate fudge Jell-O pudding and a layer of Cool Whip Lite, then topped it with some of the leftover toasted almonds.  IT really hit the spot, so much, in fact, that I felt a little guilty after eating it, like I had eaten something "forbidden".  And I know "sugar-free" really doesn't sound great, but if I couldn't tell the difference I doubt most people could.

That is all for now.  I'll be spending the better half of my afternoon cooking my minestrone soup (it's a process, but so worth it.) 

Life... food... laziness...

Wow.  Well my last post on this blog was approximately 2-3 months before I got pregnant.  During my pregnancy I lost 17 pounds (for no reason at all, wasn't sick or anything, doc said it just happens with some women).  This was perfectly okay with me.  I didn't keep my activity up much and I definitely ate whatever was in front of my face whenever I felt like it.  At the end of my pregnancy I came out +4 pounds.  Not bad, right?  After Owen was born I lost 22 pounds in the first three weeks.  I felt invincible!  Super Mom, unaffected by food or beverage, fabulous big boobs and a freshly-flattened tummy.  Didn't last long.  Super Mom was defeated by... duh duh duhhhh.... the Sugar Monster.  You know those things people say about eating "whatever you want while breastfeeding because it doesn't stick"?  Total and complete bull.  I've learned first-hand that if you're going to lose weight breastfeeding, it's in your blood.  I quickly gained back the 22 pounds (plus a few...) and now I'm at an all-time high of........ not telling.  Did you think I was going to tell?  Only one other person in this world knows and that's because she has to love me know matter what (thanks Mommy!) 

After a pretty surreal and depressing sit-down with my wonderful mother, I realized that I am slowly killing myself with what I'm putting in my body.  We discussed my health and the potential (and very real) consequences.  What it comes down to is this:  I need to be healthy.  Thin would be fantastic, but health is the number one goal here.  I have a very young son, I'd like to give him lots of adorable brothers and sisters.  I'd like to give them all a healthy and active upbringing.  I'd like to show them that there is more in this life than deliciously poisonous high fructose corn syrup and addictive video games/internet/tv.  I am currently the perfect example of the average American woman-  Overweight.  Sedentary.  Lazy.  Well, ladies and gents, this is about to change, and I hope you will all witness! 

I've done this before.  I had the trainer, I had the food program.  I had the resources.  I gained back all of the weight and I went back to all of the terrible eating habits I had before.  Obviously this is a hard thing to change and these are hard habits to break.  The healthy habits were proving hard to restore until this talk I had with my mom.  It was eye-opening and inspiring and terrifying, all at the same time.  So here we go.  Round 2 of  Hayley vs. Food & Couch.  Hayley's gonna come out on top this time, peeps.

After a spontaneous trip to Winco late last night, our refrigerator is now stocked with fresh vegetables, lean meat and lots of eggs, cheese and milk.  The cabinets are stocked with peanut butter, quinoa and Sweet n' Low (gotta have it for me tea.  Not backing down on this one.)  Today marks day one of Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet.  I've never tried a "diet", and this one seems more like a lifestyle than a "diet" anyway.  The diet was created by Dr. Arther Agatston.  He's a cardiologist and hopefully by the end of this week I'll believe he's a genius, as well.  The "diet" is broken up into three phases.  Phase 1 consists of lean protein, fresh vegetables, salads, reduced- or non-fat dairy, and eggs.  No carbohydrates, including complex carbohydrates.  This means no fruit.  At this point, the no-fruit-thing doesn't bother me.  I do believe, however, by the end of the next thirteen days I'll have a new found appreciation for fruit and it's natural sugars.  Here's what is still/was on the menu today, to give you an idea of what an average day of Phase 1 looks like:

Breakfast:  1 whole egg + 3 egg whites, scrambled.  I added Benefiber to them (turns out you can add that stuff to anything.  Weird.)  I then sprinkled some colby jack cheese on top of the eggs.  This was 264 calories. 
Snack:  1 low-moisture part-skim mozzarella string cheese.  80 calories.
Lunch:  3 cups of baby spring mix salad, 1/2 a medium-sized orange bell pepper, 1/8 cup of sliced almonds and 2 tbsp of Lite Northern Italian dressing, all mixed together.  I also had a small protein shake made up of chocolate whey protein powder and water (chilled overnight.  If it's not cold enough it's harder to drink, honestly.)  Lunch was 340 calories.
Snack: one Yoplait Light Fat-Free Very Vanilla yogurt and 2 tbsp of peanut butter.  I love peanut butter and was perfectly content to just eat if off a spoon.  This girl hates celery.  The yogurt was 110 calories and the peanut butter was 190.  (...I'm just realizing in this very moment that peanut butter is very high in calories...)
Dinner tonight will be this:  3oz chicken tenderloin, grilled on the stove in olive oil and various spices, homemade marinara and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese.  A healthy spin on chicken parmigiana, if you will.  We will also be having a salad like I had with lunch. 

I'm trying to stick to the same exact meal plan for breakfast and lunch every day during Phase 1, but will mix up dinners.  Dinners will be rotated with this chicken and salad dish, a turkey sausage minestrone (compliments of ColorFuel, best recipe I ever tried) and a turkey and quinoa chili (also compliments of ColorFuel). 

Andrew is following the majority of this as well.  We're including 4-5 days of walking per week and I will be doing at least 2 days a week of weight-training.  Wish us luck!!!