Weight Loss Journey: Toning Up

looking for muscles...

I've been a bad blogger lately, both reading and writing blogs.  Life has gotten in the way. I'm back to work full time plus I'm still going to the gym and doing my craft business, Plus everything else.

I thought you might like an update on my weight loss journey (is anyone still reading this blog?) I'm not yet comfortable with sharing full body in-my-underwear pics yet, but here is a time line photo of my arms, which I've gotten several comments about over the last couple months. The first photo is a crop of THIS PHOTO from 2011 when I was goofing off. I took a picture in March because I wanted to see if there was a difference, and then I took another photo today. As you can see my arms are toning up a bit.

My weight loss is moving very slowly. The number on the scale hasn't changed much at all, in fact, it went up again, but my body itself is starting to show some very slight changes.

I also did my measurements the other day and here's what I discovered:

June 2008 vs June 2013
Bust - down 2.75
Waist - down 1 or 3.8 (depending where it was measured in 2008, my trainer measured my waist in 2 spots)
Hips - down 3.25
Thighs - down 4.5
Arms - up 0.5





The trainer forgot to do my abs but when I checked on my own it was down about -10 but that doesn't seem right to me...

Anyway, that's where I am in the progress. Some days I feel like it's going way too slowly and that there isn't any progress, but people are commenting a lot on my arms, as I mentioned, and my clothes are fitting better, and in fact, a pair of jeans that were too tight last year are now too big for me, so I guess things are happening.  They say you're always the last to notice, so I hope that I will see it soon.  Taking pictures like this helps, though I'm still at the stage of wondering if I'm just imagining what I see.

The gym itself is going well. I'm enjoying it. I know that my work out is quite modified because of my fibromyalgia but I am not letting it stop me. Nosireebob. I am going to DO this.

Weigh-In: May 2013

7 lbs down since my last post

Well, it doesn't seem like a lot, but ...
Today I measured myself and I have definitely lost several inches since 2008 at almost my heaviest.
My clothes are looser
I have baby muscles coming in.

I'm trying not to get down about the numbers.
It didn't pile on in a day, so it's going to take time to come off.

I'm going to the gym and seeing my trainer 3 times a week.
I try to do as much activity as I can the rest of the week.
I'm enjoying it for the most part.

I need to work on my eating.
I feel like I am eating all day long, but the numbers are saying I'm not eating enough.
I mostly eat healthy, though like everyone else, I do have my weaknesses!
I'm in better control of those now though.
A few years ago, you wouldn't have seen me without a can of coke near by.
Now I have it less than once a week.
Yes, that's right, some weeks I don't have any at all!
 I drink water all the time now.
I don't really miss the coke.

My fibromyalgia is ever present
but I'm tolerating it more.

And if winter ever ends...
(yes, it's snowing today!)
we'll be able to go for longer walks
and spend more time outside.

Yes, I just need to be positive that this is gonna happen.
This is it.
I will win this battle!

(now to convince myself of that)

 

Friday Funny: Bike

I did my first spinning class yesterday. Whoa. 

 

DO: Continue Weight Loss Journey

You may recall that my Word of the Year is DO. One of the things I need to DO this year is to continue my weight loss journey. Since I'm now working full time, I decided I can finally afford a gym membership. In addition to that, I decided to sign up for a personal trainer to get me started towards my goal of losing weight and reducing pain due to Fibromyalgia. Below is a "personal prescription plan" that the trainer created for me. It's kind of hard to see from the scan I made. So far, I have only signed up for the first phase (18 sessions), but if it goes well, I just may sign up for the rest of it.

I'm looking forward to this and I hope that it works. Your moral support and encouragement is much needed! I'll post updates every so often. Here's where I'm at since my last update...

I've gained 4 more pounds since I last posted in March last year.

The fact I was beginning to gain weight again depressed me so I stopped posting about it. I actually gained a bit more than the 4 pounds mentioned but I've since gone back down a bit. Hopefully, with this new gym program and continuing to work with the trainer as well as my naturopath doctor, I will continue to lose weight and reduce pain. Wish me luck.

See more posts about my weight loss journey HERE.

Weigh-In: March 2012

Wish I could be happy with this 1 lb loss
after a few months of gains then plateau.
The reason I'm not happy with it is
because I haven't been able to exercise as much.
Maybe I will do a post about chronic pain.
I started physio therapy last week. Hopefully it helps.
Two weeks ago, I had a stomach bug and lost 3 lbs.
but as you can see, I gained a couple back.
My goal of losing another 20 lbs is seemingly impossible.
Some motivation would be nice.

Weigh-In: February 2012

ugghhhh!

Well, at least it wasn't a gain this time.

Follow my weight loss journey HERE.

Weigh-In: January 2012

Another gain.
This is getting ridiculous.
Time to get back on track.

Please send me some motivation and inspiration.
I don't want to be back over 200 again!!

I can not let my pain keep me from exercising.
Walking almost every day isn't enough, apparently.

It's time to EMERGE a healthier me.

Weigh-In: December 2011

Ugh, another gain.
In my defense, TOM was here.
(Time Of Month)

This is so depressing.

Follow my weight-loss journey HERE.

Friday Funny: Taking Exercise Seriously

seriously, I gotta get back on track with my exercise...
... who's gonna virtually kick my butt?

Weigh-In: November 2011

Let's just say...
I'm very, very disappointed.

This can't continue!

Weigh-In: October 2011

Much to my disappointment
I gained 3 pounds in September.

These are not excuses,
but just a way for me to track
what may have caused this gain.

In September,
I started to wake up earlier
to ensure my HomeStay student
wakes up in time.
(her bus comes to pick her up at 7am!!)

Being awake earlier means I eat more.
Some days I have breakfast twice!

I took a whirlwind trip
out of town one weekend
and drank lots of coke
to keep me from nodding off
as I drove.
(it didn't work, I kept nodding off.)

And while I walked almost every day,
I did not do much other exercise.

I need to find another exercise program
that does not bore me to death.
and find something that will put me
back on the right track
with my weight loss journey.

Two months of low losses
then a month of no loss/no gain
and now 3 lb gain.

Something is not working.

You Asked.... Weight Loss, Hearing, and Stampin' Up!

Last week, I gave my readers a chance to ask me anything. I only received a couple of questions this time around, but you can email me your questions any time.

Mallen asked: Are you doing anything in particular to lose weight?(congratulations by the way!)

A: My two biggest changes have been 1) Cutting back the consumption of Coke and 2) Getting Off My Wide Behind.

I was drinking up to 6 cans a day of Coke (and that was on an average day - if I was having a bad day, I sometimes had more!). I now only have a few a month, if that. This past weekend I had a few because I was driving on the highway and was trying to keep myself awake (it didn't work).

I started doing the Shred, but over the summer I failed to do that much. However, I started walking again in January, and not letting my chronic pain stop me. Now, I walk much further and tolerate the pain longer.

That's about it. My weight loss is slow-moving as a result, but I'm hopeful that means it's more likely to stay off. You can read more about my weight loss journey HERE.

Mallen also asked: Were you always hard of hearing?

A: Yes, I was born with a severe profound hearing loss as a result of Maternal Rubella (German Measles).

Jen asked: I was wondering how your Stampin' Up! is going.

A: Well, as with any new business, I've had my ups and downs with this business. I have some great customers, but I need to expand my customer base. A few weeks ago, I went outside my comfort zone and invited some strangers to my open house in addition to my regular customers. Unfortunately, no one came! I was so bummed. But just a few days after that, I had a SU party at a friend's and each of her guests were brand new and they all enjoyed themselves and made orders, so I felt successful again. I hope that things will continue to go in the right direction. Even though right now I am not making a lot of income, in fact, I am probably losing money, I am still enjoying it and will stick with it in hopes that it will become a successful business.

Unfortunately, due to customs and all that, I can't sell to my American friends, but if you are Canadian, you can order from my website 24/7 or join my team as a fellow demonstrator! Send me an email if you're interested! (I'll have to be brave and use some COURAGE to let people know my full name. lol)

~@~

Thanks for asking!! If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to me at any time! Just let me know you're asking for the segment "Ask Me!" If I get enough questions, I'll do this segment on a regular basis!

Weigh-In: September 2011

I can't believe it.
I didn't lose a single pound in August.
On the upside, I didn't gain anything either.
I stayed exactly the same.

I know I didn't do alot of exercising
but I did go for a walk almost every day.
I'm not really sure where the lull is coming from
but this has to change soon.

I had a very stressful August.
Probably one of the most stressful months I've ever had.

Things should be better soon.
Then maybe I can focus on my health some more again.

Weigh-In: August 2011

Well, I didn't lose much since last month.
I wasn't surprised because
with my trip to Salt Lake City
followed by babybear's birthday
and our anniversary,
I didn't eat very healthy at all.
However, I am a bit surprised I didn't gain any weight!

Hopefully, I'll be back on track in August.
(but I just ate a cookie, so we shall see.)

Weigh-In: July 2011

Down 2.5 lbs since June.
My scale does not read half pounds
but it kept flipping between 188 and 189
so I'm counting a half pound.

(next goal: reaching the 170's!)

More evidence of weight loss:
No longer need a bra extender.
Now I can wear my cute bras
that never felt comfortable even with the extender!
Sorry, no picture of that!

My Weight Loss Journey: Same Dress, Two Years Later

(blob on left, crazy-smiley-lady on right)

The other day, I saw a cute little black dress on sale.
On a whim, I tried it on and was amazed to see
it not only fit but I liked the way I looked in it.
I totally brought it home with me!

It got me thinking about how I don't really SEE a difference yet.
I know I have lost weight because several pairs of pants are now too big
and ones that were too small now fit again,
and some of the too small ones are now too big too!

I dug out this blue dress from my closet.
I bought it to wear to my brother's wedding in 2009.
It fit then, but I felt like a blob.
(a very alone blob)


Decided to try it on and take a photo to compare.
And while I still have a very long way to go,
I can see that this blue dress is fitting me better.
Soon it may be too big!

My Weight Loss Journey: Goals

just me being silly

“Courage doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
‘I will try again tomorrow’.”
~Mary Anne Radmacher

In looking for quotes about weight loss, I found the above quote. I have heard this quote a few times this year, and I think it rings true. More importantly, you may remember at the beginning of the year, I chose the word Courage for my Word of the Year (WOTY).

When it comes to weight loss goals, I have always kind of generalized my goals. "I want to lose weight". I think this came from fear of disappointment.

As a sufferer of chronic pain, I have often quit any attempts to exercise and get into shape. This year, I have my WOTY urging me along. An even though my body aches, I haven't quit.

I met my first major weight loss goal in April, in part due to my courage to keep trying. This may be a lesson I've learned too late, unfortunately, but its one I plan to continue.

Don't let your fears prevent you from taking that first step. And the many that will follow.

Weigh In - June 2011

Down 5 lbs since May 1st.

for a total of 19 lbs since December 1st.
and a total of 34 lbs since my highest recorded weight.

Weigh In - May 2011

Down 3 lbs since April 1st.

Follow my weight loss journey.

P.S. I thought I overslept and missed summer when I looked out the window this morning!

My Weight Loss Journey: Exercise

me and my wide behind, doing the Shred

For me, exercise is the number one component for losing weight. My eating habits are good for the most part, so for now I feel its necessary to focus on implementing exercise in my life.

After losing 4 lbs simply by cutting back the coke (cola), I became very motivated to try and lose more weight.

In January, once my pup's foot was healed, we began walking again on a regular basis. We started very slowly, and just to the end of the block but we soon were walking further and we walked every day for nearly 3 weeks. Unfortunately, we hit another deep freeze and that put our walking to an end again. This was a real bummer for me, as I noticed that by walking more regularly, my own chronic pain was becoming a bit more tolerable.

Near the end of January, I found The Shred at Walmart for less than $7 and decided to buy it with a gift card I had gotten. I also bought an exercise mat and two 2lb. weights. I have been more or less doing the Shred a few times a week since I got it.

I have not done the Shred for two weeks though. But not because I've been slacking! My friend and I got ourselves a FREE two week membership at the Y. In the two weeks, I went several times and I became good friends with the treadmill. I also got to know the bike and weight machines, but my love was with the treadmill. (Remember this??)

For quite some time now, I have been feeling the need to run. Well, when you live in Canada and there's snow and ice on the ground from October - April, and not to mention the deep freezes, I was anxiously waiting for Spring to arrive to give it a try. I've been reading running blogs (such as this one) and reading up on Couch to 5k and being motivated by the Biggest Loser contestants who are heavier than I and yet, somehow manage a marathon... So, when I went to the Y, I got on the treadmill and the next thing you know, I was running. Yes, me! Me with the bummed knee and the fatty-fat. It felt great, though I do need some proper runners so my feet won't hurt. At my best, I managed to go 1.34 miles in 30 minutes (walk/run alternating in 1 minute spurts).

Sadly, the two week membership ended this past Wednesday. So now I must motivate myself to exercise at home again. My friend gave me a new exercise DVD which I tried out for the first time on Sunday.

My plan now is to alternate the dvd's and continue to walk when the weather is decent. I really hope to get some new shoes soon so I can try running outside, but that may have to wait until I get another job. Until then, I will keep doing what I'm doing, and hope the weight keeps coming off.

Follow my weight loss journey