Thursday, January 26, 2012

(5) Thursday




I love this. It is the honest truth about what I am going thru.  


Today I am fighting a cold/sore throat... but am questioning if it is bad enough to miss out on my spin class. I'm leaning towards... NO! My Dad used to tell me that working out and sweating was the best thing for a cold. I don't know if this was ever medically proven... but whenever I had a cold/sore throat he made sure I was at the gym 'sweating out the germs'.  Looking back, I never died! 


I talked to my gym coach and I think I know why my weight has not been dropping. I need to stick to my 1200 calories a day... instead of eating more on the days I workout. It makes sense. Todays menu is already counted out and ready to go. As long as I stick to it I should be good! 


Here are some motivational pics from a couple of years ago... I am not close to what I started at here... but knowing that I lost it then gives me the strength to lose it now!



(about 220 lbs)


(about 175 lbs)



Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sunday Stats

Ok... its time to face the facts.

WT: 194

Ht: 5'6"

FP: 30.9%   ..... (Down 4% in 3 weeks)

Neck: 14

Waist: 37

Chest: 40

Hips: 44.5

R Arm: 15.5

R Leg: 26.5

L Arm: 15

L Leg: 26

Saturday, January 21, 2012

(4) Saturday... I got new toys!!!

Ok, so there is nothing more exciting then getting new toys to play with... at any age!

First:

OMRON Fat Loss Monitor


This is the Omron Fat Loss Monitor. I got it for $39 at GNC. This might be something to replace my scale! My Spin teacher tested me about two weeks ago... my body fat was 34.7%. Today when I got home from the store it was 30.3%. I'm super excited. To make it official, I will do my stats tomorrow morning... body fat percentage and measurements. Its time to start tracking all this stuff! If the weight won't go down... then lets watch the inches drop!


Second:



Billy Blanks PT 24/7 DVD Set - As Seen On TV








I did really well with Tae Bo a couple of years ago... and even though I still have those workout DVD's still... I figured I would do better with a new one! I plan on adding this workout to my afternoons. 


So, I am excited to play with my new toys. Better get moving. Look for tomorrows post on my beginning stats... and 'before' pics. :)















Friday, January 20, 2012

(4) Friday

I haven't written all week because there hasn't been much to say. I have put my head down and focused on moving forward. I've been tracking my food everyday..... done an hour of cardio everyday.... and keeping focused.

Today was my last day of my fourth week of this life style change. One month. I feel like I should be doing better then where I am at right now. Although I do see a little change in my body... I don't feel it. My clothes are still tight and the scale has not budged.

I am heading out the door this afternoon to buy a measuring tape.... and a workout DVD.  I love to workout at home and with two kids it is not always possible to get to the gym. I am trying to decide if I want 30 Day Shred... or Tae Bo.

So, here is to a good weekend and a perfect start to week (5)!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

(3) Sunday

Its been a rough weekend. I have broken down into tears more then once. Why?

I have been physically and mentally beaten down. I didn't feel good on friday. I knew that my body was exhausted and that I needed a day off. So I stayed home and cleaned out my closet. I emptied my entire closet except for my workout clothes. Not because I am THAT motivated to workout... but because I have gained 20 lbs in the last year and none of my clothes fit me.... except for the ones that stretch.

That got me realizing how much I have given up. I was so happy at the 170 lbs. I was fitting in a size 9.... I was so happy in all my pictures.... and I could run.

Then... life happened and I let it all go. For FOOD. How stupid is that? To let all that happiness go because I couldn't handle stress without stuffing my face.

That put me in a depression. I cried on hubby's shoulder yesterday morning... so ashamed that I had lost that girl.

This morning I sat down and read my morning blogs. One of my fav's is this girl who has done amazing things with her life and is continuing to strive for better.... On her blog is this video:






This reminded me of my Dad. In fact, I cried because I could close my eyes and hear my Dad telling me "DONT YOU QUIT ON ME!"

More tears. But this time they are strong tears. I'm not going to give up on myself. I am going to get that girl back and I'm going to bust my butt everyday to do it.


And my reward when I hit 170 again?...... THIS!!!




Thursday, January 12, 2012

(3) Thursday

I'm awake... I'm rested... I'm ready!

So, I was checking out My Fitness Pal and was wondering if I am eating too many calories. So far it has me scheduled to eat 1800 a day... but 5 days a week I burn more then 600 calories with my workouts and it adds it to my food. So my calories allowed goes up to 2400. That seems like a lot to me, and although I don't ever eat that many I am still going over my 1800 and I am wondering if that is the reason for me not losing any weight.

For the next week I am going to keep my calories under 1800 and see what happens. :)


Breakfast is over, kids are off getting ready and then it is off to the gym for my spin class! 







Wednesday, January 11, 2012

(3) Wednesday

I am on week 3!

My body feels a little tighter and my endurance is so much better... but to be honest, I am exhausted.

Getting up early to eat breakfast, feed the kids and get us all out the door in time for me to get a run in before my spin/strength class..... then running home to fix lunch and get school started.... and then finally cleaning house/doing laundry, make dinner and get the kids in bed.

Today I am so tired that I actually forgot to take the kids to their workout class. I didn't even think about it until they asked me what day it was. (They LOVE their workout class). Needless to say, I had to apologize to them and promise to make up for it.

I am SO looking forward to hitting my pillow tonight. The only sad thing is, I have to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again. I know that this will eventually mellow out a little. My timing will get better... I will get a little more organized...........zzzzzzzzzzz


Saturday, January 7, 2012

(2) Saturday

I need to get a measuring tape. I am seeing some great changes and want the measurements to prove them!!


Today is the last work out day for week 2. Spin class!  


I cannot wait for Hubby's next day off. The girls and I are itching for another trip to the rock wall for some climbing!! 


I'm afraid this is all my fingers have to write today.  



















“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” 
 Kurt Vonnegut


Friday, January 6, 2012

(2) Friday

(Tae Kwon Do, 16 years old)



Martial arts was always my favorite past time. When I was 13 my dad signed me up for a Tae Kwon Do class. I was 75 lbs over weight and was about to make the transfer from a small private school to an over crowded public high school.  My dad was trying to do all he could to protect me, and by signing me up for the class I became SO much stronger then he will ever know. I dropped the 75 lbs over the summer before my freshman year.

I also became a competitor. I won first place metals for forms and sparring, and even challenged the men in my dojo to spar me. When they refused I went to another school where I was able to spar men and picked up some weaponry too. My fav was the staff.

(Staff form, 26 years old)


Once I was out of high school I quit martial arts. It didn't take long for it to call me back though!

I took a Jui Jitsu class and a Tang Soo Do class.

(sparring in Tang Soo Do 27 yrs old)

We moved across the country and once again I was looking for a way to keep in shape. I joined a boxing gym that trained some of the top UFC fighters. This was one of the best motivators. I trained with women that had actually gone to Thailand to train. I trained with men that were about to go into huge fights.


After a couple of months I was asked to step in the ring and help train one of the girls for a big fight coming up. I was 32... she was 23.  I won't lie. I got my head rattled a couple of times... but it brought me alive to be in the ring again. It felt good to be fighting. It felt good to feel my body respond fast and fearless.

(after the fight 32 years old)

Today I am not doing a martial art. But my mind has gone back to that training mode. I am loving my spin class and my strength class. I am feeling my body respond to the demands my mind is putting on it. I may not be ready to get back in the ring..... yet.... but I am on my way.


“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” 
 Oscar Wilde

Thursday, January 5, 2012

(2) Thursday

Yesterday I managed a 2 mile run on the treadmill before going to my strength class. It may have been mistake. All afternoon I felt my knees slowly swelling. I remember this feeling from 4 years ago when I first started running. The only cure was to drop weight.  As soon as I dropped under 180 lbs I was able to run farther, run faster and not have the strange knee swelling afterwards.

Food is great. My calories are right on track. It helps that I am not eating anything processed!

The scale is not budging.... and yes, I am ignoring the suggestions to hide my scale.... but I am ok with it. I know that my food is on track, I know how much I am sweating and that I am sweating that much 5 times a week.  In all honesty, I think it is now more  of a curiosity to see when the numbers will start dropping.

I am going to give my knees a rest today and not do any running... but I do have a spin class to do!!


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

(2) Wednesday

I am super sore this morning. I can tell you that rock wall climbing kills the back muscles. (YAY!)

This morning I thought I would share some of my before/after pics for a little motivation.  I have a  strength class today.... I need a little *umph*










I'm ready... Lets go!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Endurance.... and a little Faith.

I WENT ROCK WALL CLIMBING!!!!

I never thought, in my wildest dreams, I would be able to go rock wall climbing. I am so afraid of heights that I can't even stand on the top step of a step stool. I can't swing with the kids because I get light headed and woozy. The last time I went on a roller coaster I thought I was going to die. I  NEVER ... EVER ... get on a ferris wheel when we go to the carnivals. I am SCARED of heights.

My husband is too, but has somehow managed to over come it for his job. While we lived in Charlotte, NC he made some friends that invited him to go rock climbing with them. He fell in love with it. He tried to get me to go then... but it terrified me to even think about it.

For Christmas I gave him a conditioning book for climbing. The girls looked at it and got interested too. Turns out, there is a climbing gym 10 minutes from here. Today my husband had a day off and decided to take the girls rock wall climbing. Since I don't get to spend much time with him, I thought I would tag along just to take pictures of the girls.

Bailey was the first brave soul. She is as bad as I am... but she went half way up and I was SO proud of her. Amber kept saying she couldn't do it... but I would pick a rock somewhere and challenge her to touch it. She got every rock I picked for her.

After awhile I thought, if my girls can just see someone go all the way to the top... they would do it too!

Well, my husband was on the belay (the safety rope)  which meant I was the only other person left to do it. Somehow I got the courage up and got a harness and some shoes.

In all honesty, I made myself NOT think about what I was about to do and just focused on the task at hand. I hooked up to the safety rope and started climbing. I won't say that I totally rocked and made it to the very top the first try... cuz I didn't. It took me 3 tries before I hit the top ledge... but I HIT THE TOP LEDGE!!!

I have to say that I now understand why my husband fell in love with it... it was fun! Even the ride down, dangling from a single rope, I let a little giggle out.

I won't say I'm over the fear of heights... but I will say that I will no longer let it stop me from having fun with the girls!

OH... and did I mention that right after I hit the top ledge.. Amber did too!!  Bailey was still on the bottom half.. .but she kept at it for a long time after we all gave in from exhaustion. She wants to go back tomorrow.  :)












(2) Tuesday

Today is weigh day...   It was a gain.
Focus: Making this week 100%

The important thing is to not let it get in my head. This morning I have a 2 mile run to do and a Spin class.
I've already put in my food for the day on my calorie counter... so I am ready for an on point day today.



A picture of me at my lowest... right after a workout... I need to find this hot momma again!!!

“I think if I've learned anything about friendship, it's to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don't walk away, don't be distracted, don't be too busy or tired, don't take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. Powerful stuff.” 
 Jon Katz

Monday, January 2, 2012

(1) Monday


I am scared to step on the scale. THAT is crazy. I have gone from being a total scale junky, to being terrified to even touch it. Why, you ask? Because I am afraid that this whole week of doing my workouts and sticking to my eating plan ... didn't work.

What if I gained weight? What if doing my best didn't work? I don't think I could handle that.

Now, I have said it more then anyone...... I am more then just a number on the scale.  Yes, I feel better today then I did one week ago.  Yes, I feel stronger then I did one week ago. Trust me when I say that I am constantly reminding myself of that. The problem is.... more then anything right now,  I want to see that number drop.

Tomorrow is the beginning of my 2nd week... and weigh in day.  Will I get derailed if that scale doesn't show a loss? No. It may hurt... but I will keep going. Eventually, something has to give.

Today is our first day back to school. No workouts scheduled so its business as usual.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” 
 Bil Keane

Sunday, January 1, 2012

It was bound to happen...



Just when I started to hit my stride I hit a speed bump. The past three weeks we have been on holiday. Starting tomorrow it is back to teaching 2nd grade to my girls.  THAT is not the problem. I LOVE being their teacher. I love that they love me being their teacher... no, the problem is that usually our school day starts at 8 a.m..

This means that in order to make my 9 am spin and strength class I am going to have to change our school schedule. I'm a little bit nervous about doing this as the girls do better in the morning with their school work then the afternoon.... but at the same time... I NEED to make these classes for my own sanity  well being.

So... I guess we will have to change our schedule for awhile and see how it works out. If it doesn't then I will have to do something else... but we'll deal with that as it comes.

“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” 
 Virginia Woolf

(1) Sunday


MOTIVATION




I am dreaming of the day that I can do this again! My motivation is high... because not only am I losing the weight to be a healthier me... but I am doing it so that my family can do this again...





I have been doing great on food. I've been keeping it at 1800 or under for calories. My workouts this week were great. These next two days are my two days of recovery... which means, NO WORKOUTS.  I need to focus on drinking LOTS of water to flush my body. Food will stay clean and simple. 


(on a side note... my husband has also been bit by the bug and is working hard to get a beach body too!!)


“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”
― Elizabeth GilbertEat, Pray, Love