Accountability Monday (on Wednesday) - 4/10/13

I am running behind this week…ugh!  Too many things on the to-do list, too little time!  So better late than never with this week's accountability post.

This one seemed fitting this week...

I had a thoroughly wonderful road trip getaway to MO this weekend to see my girlfriend Melissa!!  I got to do the Color Run with her and her family in Springfield and what a BLAST that race was!!!  It was untimed race so I put my competitive side on hold and just enjoyed the fun.  I took in the crowds, the music, and tried to get as much color as I could!  It was so amazing to be there and watch Melissa run her first 5k!  Having recently been there myself I can completely appreciate the emotion, pride, accomplishment and all of the other emotions that go into that.  Melissa was one of my very first inspirations to begin this journey and I felt so blessed to be able to witness her huge accomplishment and help cheer her on!!!

I hit up the goodwill while I was there in search of some clothes that would fit a bit better.  I had again hit the point where it felt like everything in my closet was baggy and ill-fitting.  Since I don’t seem to be staying in sizes very long (a GREAT problem to have!) I am trying to shop as economically as possible these days, so goodwill has been a great choice when I have time to search through the racks for a great find.  So what better time than a weekend without the kiddos!  I was able to score 2 pair of size 12 dress pants (omgeeee a 12 people….I haven’t been that size since I graduated high school nearly 20 years ago!!!!) and a couple of shirts.  Keep watching future blog posts for pics of the new outfits.  I also finally spend my JCPenney’s gift card from Christmas on a few shirts (one was even a MEDIUM!!) and found a cute spring dress at Old Navy.

Monday's outfit

Coral dress - Old Navy (size L)

Denim jacket - Old Navy (size XL)

So now that Easter and my trip are behind me it is time to get back to my normal routine and get the progress going again.  I find that anytime I really get out of my routine my body doesn’t respond well.  I can maintain so that’s great, but I still have about another 40-50 pounds to go to get to my goal weight so I am not satisfied with maintaining now.   One of my goals is to continue to make progress on eating “cleaner” (less processed foods).  I don’t ever expect to be one that is 100% but I figure the more natural I can be the better.  So I have talked my hubby into joining me in starting the Advocare 24 day challenge on April 16^th.  I am super excited to see what progress we are able to make with that and how we feel.  Be sure to watch for blog posts on our thoughts and progress throughout the challenge!

My weekly results...(4/1-4/10)

Monday weight:  193.0 (down 1.2 from last Monday)
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  down 2.2
Workouts last week:  6

Workout minutes:  226
Total miles last week:   12.42

Times at the YMCA:  1 - I am having to adjust my routine due to crazy busy spring schedule

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Accountability Monday - 4/1/13

Spring is trying to sprung.  But in Kansas, that can be a tough battle.  Yesterday it was 70+ degrees and today in the upper 30's...ugh!  While I love spring time....the green, the flowers, the birds...I always forget what a busy time of year this is for me!  Why the schools think its a great idea to cram 3 band concerts and 2 choir concerts into  2 month time is beyond me!  Add that to a child playing 2 spring sports (soccer and track), practices, rehearsals, and other various taxi service and errand running and you get one tired mamma!  This is the time of year that I am required to be even more flexible than normal.  The good news is that I feel like I have finally turned a corner in my journey and the daily routine of things don't seem to be as challenging as they were before...I don't have to fight myself tooth and nail to go workout or eat well.  It's just habit and almost second nature now.  So that makes the hectic nature of things a bit easier to handle.  It is all a journey and you do grow stronger with every day.  Keep pushing forward!

Holidays and celebrations with food are still a huge struggle for me.  I do really well when I can control my food environment.  But I know that is not always practical.  There are going to be times I am around food that is beyond my control.  I will be around food that I don't know the nutritional information for. I can only try to make the best choices I possibly can.  I may not always succeed and that is ok.  With each test I learn more, get stronger, get better.  I just hate that one or two meals can do so much damage on the scale!  I wiped out all of the amazing progress I made last week and then some in those 2 weekend meals.  I still overeat in those situations.  But my choices today are better than those I made before.  And those I make in the future will be even better than now.  Today is a new day and I am back on track!

So on to the sad news...

My weekly results...(3/4-3/10)

Monday weight:  195.0 (up 1.2 from last Monday - Easter food was not kind to me)
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  up 0.4...darn holiday celebrations and my lack of stronger willpower!
Workouts last week:  8 (no rest days but feeling good)

Workout minutes:  317
Total miles last week:   13.92

Times at the YMCA:  2

Size Large on the shirt!!  I was having trouble finding clothes to wear....everything was looking too baggy. I actually felt skinny in this.  And the muscle pump class is paying off...I am not totally hating my arms with the warmer weather and short sleeves coming.  I actually have some baby muscles in there!  The shirt is a hand me down from my daughter.  Time for mamma to go shopping again!

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Accountability Monday - 3/25/13

I feel like I have been away from the blog forever!  Life has been super busy and I find myself posting to the facebook page more because it is quick and easy.  If you’re not following there YOU SHOULD BE!  Go now – https://www.facebook.com/losingit2012 and LIKE it!  My blog posts tend to get wordy (I know, you’re shocked).  While life has been super busy for me, I had the best of intentions to post my Monday accountability post after the Biggest Loser finale last week.  Buuuuuuut instead I got hit with a stomach bug that put me out of commission.  Boo!  But I have to say that I have been VERY lucky this winter avoiding most of the germies that had been making the rounds.  So the 1-day bug wasn’t too terrible.  Now if I could just get the allergy/sinus yuck to go away, life would be super grand!

I continue to be amazed at how good I feel these days!  I don't ever remember feeling this good - having this much energy, this much zest for life, this much of a sense of peace.  I am LOVING this new lifestyle!!!

Soooooo…I feel like I have lots to catch you up on.

• Weight loss has been very good for me the last couple of weeks.  I am solidly into the 190’s and think it is safe to say that I plan to never see a 200 weight again!
• I achieved 30% weight loss and 85 pounds gone milestones last week
• I competed in my second 5k race of the season and finished with another new personal record – 38:44 (last year my time for the same race, my first 5k, was 57:59)
• I have made it into size 14 jeans!
• I need to plan another shopping trip….it is getting harder to find clothes in my closet that aren’t baggy again!
• I am starting to see some baby muscles beginning to emerge in my arms and legs.  Still lost of work needed to tone, but I am making some progress (and getting away from being the cardio queen)

Top - 2012 Run 2 Believe 5k....my first race!  Who knew it would be so addicting?!??!

Bottom - 2013 Run 2 Believe 5k

My weekly results...(3/4-3/10)

Monday weight:  193.8 (down 3.0 from last Monday) - loss of 87.2 pounds to date
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  down 2.0
Workouts last week:  6 (3 rest days though due to illness and scheduling)

Workout minutes:  284
Total miles last week:   3.1 - due to being sick the only running I did was my 5k race

Times at the YMCA:  4

 Weekly pic (finally a different outfit!)
The skirt and the shirt are size LARGE!   I am really hoping to be able to rid my closet of x's for good very soon!   I bought the skirt earlier this summer on clearance for about $10 I think and am now able to wear it comfortably. I love the versatility....I think this will be super cute this summer too with a fun pair of black sandals! 

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Motivation Monday - 3/11/13

Ok folks, this is gonna be a quick and dirty post...mainly just to keep myself accountable with a weekly Monday post and my weigh in.  Not a lot a frills (or words) tonight (you can thank me later).  It has been one heck of a busy weekend and I am trying to play catch up!  I have several post topics in the queue for you, so be patient....they are coming!

I need to confess to you all (well those that don't already follow me on MFP) that my eating has been a little higher than I wanted lately.  Still not too bad and pretty healthy choices, but some of the meals and snacks have been a little larger than they should have been and all of those little calories add up over the course of the day.  And I am sure last night's diary wasn't quite accurate, as I got a major case of the munchies last night and grazed while cooking dinner, so not sure I logged all of the food that went into my mouth.  But I am here to call myself out and with this pic, remind myself that my goals and most importantly my HEALTH and overcoming the addictive tendencies I have toward food are more important than the food I think I want to eat at the moment.  But I will not let a few slightly off days steer me off course.  I will celebrate my victories and size the opportunities for improvement....today begins another week!!!  (well so much for quick and dirty, eh??)

My weekly results...(3/4-3/10)

Monday weight:  202.0 (down 0.2 from last Monday)
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  down 4.0 (mostly thanks to a great weigh in Sunday! But still yo-yoing this week)
Workouts last week:  6

Workout minutes:  324
Total miles last week:   16.39

Times at the YMCA:  2 

Highlights of the week:

• Of course my PERSONAL RECORD 5k race!!!  39:22 minute official time....wooooooooo hoooooooooo!
• Having the energy and ability to play with my daughter on the inflatables at a birthday party.....priceless!!
• Seeing Onederland on the scale again (and even a smidge lower this time!)...oh I can't wait for the day it comes to stay for GOOD!!!
• Fitting into a Large tshirt and realizing that it is way more flattering than the old larger size ones in my closet!

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Motivational Monday - 3/4/13

It's getting late tonight, so I will make this a short and to the point post tonight (what a novel concept!  You can all thank me later lol)

This is a good quote for today.  I was not in the mood for a 2nd workout tonight after I got home from work (I went to the YMCA over lunch and did weights).  I was tired and would have much preferred to plop my butt on the couch.  But it was Biggest Loser night and that means workout on the treadmill.  I knew that if I got on and started I would feel better and be glad I did it.  And that was exactly what happened.  I even finished my 5k intervals instead of just walking the entire thing!  It wasn't my fastest, strongest, or best, but I did it!  I am glad that I have set goals for myself.  I am glad that I share them with you all so that I can hold myself accountable.  But mostly I am proud that I have made the choice to change my life and do it even when I don't want to.....sooooo worth it!!!!

Not a bad workout for not wanting to do it lol.

My weekly results...(2/26-3/3)

Monday weight:  202.2 (up 0.8 from last Monday)
     not surprised after getting a GREAT number on the scale last week - typical for me to rebound a bit after :-(
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  up 0.2
Workouts last week:  7

Workout minutes:  401
Total miles last week:   21.83

Times at the YMCA:  2 

Scale results SUCKED after my visit to Onederland on Friday :-(  I can really tell I haven't been to the grocery store for produce and fruit since I got back from my business trip last week.  While I have still been eating within my calories and making healthy choices, those fresh greens and some fruit make a HUGE difference!!!!  I have GOT to fix that ASAP!!!

Some other highlights of the week:

• I jogged another practice 5k again on Sunday!  My last practice run before the first 5k of the season next Sat!  And I am thrilled to announce it was another personal record for my outdoor 5k's!
• I made it to ONEDERLAND for a brief visit on Friday, hitting 199.4 on the scale.  I am working to get the 200's behind me for good!  Give me a couple of weeks.
• I said no to seconds of a very yummy (but healthy) meal and dessert and maintained good portion control while visiting my mom & dad on Sunday....this is a BIG deal for me!!!



My photo this week is a comparison....me after tonight's workout (I just wasn't feeling it after work tonight) and in the same outfit before my last 5k last season in October.  A difference of 14.8 pounds....not too shabby!  Not sure I see a ton of difference in the two pics, but I know its there!

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It's finally official.....80 baby!!!!

This is totally how I roll!  I celebrate every 5 pound achievement!   So I bet you can guess what today is......happy dance time!!

Starting weight (Aug 2011) - 281.0

Today's weight - 200.6

Weight loss to date - 80.4 pounds

HOLY MOLY!!!!  It is finally official....after a couple of weeks of flirting with it (seriously I was within 0.2 pounds, but I like to keep things exact around here), I have finally officially hit the 80 pounds GONE mark!  Man does that feel awesome to say!!!!!  It is hard to actually wrap my brain around it though.  The more weight I lose and the closer I get to 100 pounds, the more surreal it feels.  The more I look in the mirror and see a new person.  I am actually starting to like the way I look in photos and not be completely negative and be uuber critical/pick apart all of my flaws.  It is AMAZING to finally get to that place of self love & respect.

I didn't do a post when I hit 75 pounds because quite frankly it snuck up on me so quickly.  But I will tell you that 75 pounds brought me to tears.  After it had had a couple of hours to sink in, I found myself sitting at my desk sobbing.  It was a mixture of emotions that came over me like a wave - disbelief, pride, accomplishment, strength, and even some mourning (the loss of and saying goodbye to the broken and sad person I once was).  It is crazy to think that 15 YEARS of my life was spent being so heavy.  I am soooooo blessed to have the chance to take back control of my life and begin living again!  I truly do feel like a completely different person.

As I thought about hitting the 80 pound mark, I wanted to do something special to really help truly grasp how much of a loss that is.  I am a very visual person, so for me seeing is believing!  I hope you enjoy my little experiment!  (I actually did this a couple of weeks ago in anticipation....I am thrilled that I FINALLY get to share it with you!!!)

I started by taking a laundry basket and filling it with items from my pantry and around the house.  My goal was to come up with items that would total the 80 pounds that I have now lost.  Mind you, this ended up being a pretty good sized laundry basket (it comes up to my knee)!!  As you can see in the pic, it was mostly full too!

I put it on the scale until I reached 80 pounds (80.6 was what I ended up with)

Here is the inventory of the items I ended up with to make the 80 pound weight:

• 10 pound bag of potatoes
• 6 pound jar of peanut butter
• 1 gallon jug of vinegar (not quite full)
• 1.32 gallon jug of floor cleaner
• 5 pound jar of honey (about 2/3 full)
• 1 bottle flavored coffee syrup
• 2 - 5 lb hand weights
• 2 - 3 lb hand weights
• 16 cans
• 1 can pineapple
• 4 cans soup
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can water chestnuts
• 1 can cranberry sauce
• 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can green beans
• 1 can peas
• 1 can mandarin oranges
• 2 cans manwich

I really wanted to fill a backpack with 80 pounds and force myself to wear it for a full day to really get the experience, but I couldn't find heavy enough items that would fit in a backpack!  I guess I need to get some more hand weights??  I can tell you that hoisting that basket on and off the scale to keep filling it and weighing it was a lot of work.  Honestly I am not sure I would have made it a whole day of carrying around that much weight again!  I seriously wonder how on earth I carried all of that weight around for so long????  I definitely do not wonder why I never had any energy to do anything but sit around all the time!  Again, I am soooo grateful to be regaining my life and my health!

A fun list of factoids for you...it also looks like I have lost the world's largest ball of tape :-)

What have you lost??  Leave a comment so we can celebrate your success!

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Motivational Monday - 2/25/12

Mission ONEDERLAND is in full swing up in here!  I am almost back to where I was 2 weeks ago (before leaving on business trip).  While I was good while out of town, I still struggle a bit with being out of my normal routine.  It is hard not having as much control over the food that is around me and having nutritional information not as readily available.  I was still proud of myself for making what I felt like were good choices, but it is certainly a blessing to be back home and my sphere of control!  But no regrets!  Each challenge strengthens me in some way.  I am soooo much stronger than before!  Previous business trips would have been carte blanche for me to eat whatever sounded good and calories wouldn't have even been a concern.  Working out wouldn't have even been a consideration.  This time I was bummed that the hotel treadmills were all full and I had to miss a workout.  I am definitely making good progress!  It is a lifestyle change for sure!

My weekly results...(2/18-2/25)

Monday weight:  201.4 - down 1.0 pounds from last Monday
     (trying to get back to normal routine after being out of town for work for 2 weeks)
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  down 0.6
Workouts last week:  6 (5 days)

Workout minutes:  412
Total miles last week:   24.03

Times at the YMCA:  1 - finally back to water Tabata on Sat...YAY!!

Some other highlights of the week:

• Bodymedia has done some enhancements to their android app and my armband will now sync with my HTC phone....YAY!!!!
• Yesterday I exchanged my new running shoes for another pair to see if I can fix my shin pain issues when running.  These are hot pink and lime green so I sure hope they work...they are too cute to have to return!  lol  I will test them out so stay tuned for more "shoe saga".  



No weekly pic again this week....me working from home in the "blizzard" today = sweats/snuggie (not pretty!)  I promise to get back to it next week!

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