Today is the end of the 18th week of the program. To say this last week has been stressful would be an understatement. It's probably been one of the most stressful that I've had since starting the program. I am a person who doesn't like to be at odds with people and to say I've been at odds this week with someone would, again, be an understatement. It's been a little stressful to say the least.
On top of all of that, at the last minute on Wednesday morning I needed to head up to Jacksonville to sign closing papers on the house because the title company did not give correct instructions as to what needed to be signed before I overnighted the package to them.
If there were a week I could have just said, ya know what, I'm over it....I'm ready to be done, I don't care anymore...it would have been this past week. I considered it for a few minutes. I then thought that I've known that there are people out there who have a negative outlook on this diet program. They are not going to get the satisfaction of seeing me fail on the program or on the maintenance. I opted to start this program because I knew it was something I could maintain at the end. I know what I have to do to maintain and the most important thing, I think, is that I don't feel like I'm making "sacrifices" to eat on program. I've said it before, I'm sure I'll say it again...I enjoy what I eat. I don't want to run out and have a bag of Doritos. I'm quite sure I'd be turned off by the smell as I sit here and think about it. Thinking I had support from people in my life and finding out that they truly don't think anyone in their "right mind" could manage to keep the weight off was a real eye-opener for me to prove to myself that I can do this and will do this.
This week, even through the drama, I managed to lose 1.2 pounds and .5% body fat. I'm at a total of 64.2 pounds lost and 13 pounds to go to reach the final goal.
This week I am working hard at getting things packed up to move into the beautiful new house on Friday. There are boxes everywhere, things all over, but it's a work in progress. It's all for good reasons. I'm moving closer to life, closer to work, a single-family home with some space. I know I have a lot of space now, but it's different. I miss having a yard, I miss having ONE floor and I can't wait to get in there and make it home. It won't take long...I'm pretty quick about unpacking and settling in, and it definitely helps that my mom is coming over this weekend to do some of the decorating stuff with me.
After the move and after getting settled I have a couple of weeks of work craziness. This time of year starts our convention season and we have some other initiatives going on that require me to be out of the office every day for a couple of weeks. It's going to be a stressful May. All I can do is take one day at a time and be the best me I can be each and every day at work and at home for my family and friends. Once all of that is done, I think a nice vacation to the beach for a few days might be just what the doctor ordered!
In closing, I hope you all have a fantastic week, I know I will!
“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer.”
April 27, 2009
April 20, 2009
Completion of Week 17!
Another week down. I don't have a whole lot to blog about today. There is a lot going on and I have a lot on my mind with the move, work is busy and things are just a little 'crazy' for the next few weeks.
There is stuff everywhere in my house. I need more boxes. It's a bigger chore than I thought to pack all of this stuff by myself. I did decide to hire movers for the actual move day. I can't wait to be in the new place and get settled. I can't wait for SPACE! I can't wait to not have neighbors (whom leave little to be desired) not 'attached' to me on one side. There are a lot of positives in this upcoming move. Anyway, lots going on, and this blog isn't the spot for all that.
I did receive information today on the maintenance program and how that all works. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to afford to continue that part, but we'll see how it goes. I'm not so much worried about the maintenance aspect of this, as I know what I have to do and I'm not willing to "not" do it. I've blogged before about my dad who has lost weight and kept it off for a lot of years, just simply by knowing what he needs to do and doing it. I know I'm motivated enough now to do that.
I've had to shop again lately. I'm having an issue with buying things that only fit for a couple of weeks and then that's it. I finally bought some shorts. Knowing that I'm close to being done, and having two pair that are too big, I went this weekend and finally found some. Shoes have been another issue. My feet are smaller!??! This has caused me to need new shoes. I absolutely hate shoe shopping and I can't find anything that I like. I just continue to wear the same shoes that really don't fit anymore!
So...today's weigh in was great. I was pretty sure I knew where I was going to end up and it was close. I had a busy morning and had to actually leave the doctors office and come back later in the day. I lost 2.8 pounds this week for a grand total of 63 pounds. I also lost 1.8% body fat this week, for a total decrease in body fat of 16.3%. That means absolutely nothing to me though...I can't relate 16% body fat to anything...but it's out there! It's been 117 days and I have 14.2 pounds left to goal.
Things are progressing for sure. Today one of the ladies that works at the check-out at the office told me she didn't remember me from before. When I showed her the "before" picture, she was shocked. Pretty soon, I suppose I'll be showing all of you the actual before picture that was before I lost the 25 pounds I lost between moving from Connecticut to Jacksonville to Tampa.
Once I hit goal, the program total will be 77.2 and the actual, overall weight loss total will be 102.2 pounds. I will have lost almost my entire "new" self. Give or take 35 pounds, but WOW! As I type that, it's a LOT! To know that I had that much to actually lose doesn't make me overly happy. I probably wasted a lot of years not living life to its fullest because of that. I'm just sitting here contemplating things that I haven't thought of about having lost almost 100 pounds.
Prior to beginning the program, I suffered with (let's just call it) stomach issues. Since December 22, I have not taken any of my stomach medicine. It's amazing the difference in not taking those meds, the lack of meds for migraines, because I'm not having them so much. It's rare that I take any meds, other than the 11 prescribed things I take a day for the program!
Well, since I guess I found some stuff to blog about I'll close now that you've made it this far. I just ran across someone else's blog post that listed 101 thoughts on how to lose 100 pounds. There was some great stuff in there, I decided to use a few of them as the closing quote for tonight....enjoy and have a great week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Restaurants don’t care if you eat everything that you are served. Their goal is to fill you up on free breadsticks, extra soda and alcoholic beverages before your entrée comes so you’ll go home happy…and fat. They won’t be there holding your hand when you get that coronary bypass.
If you eat your meals with overweight people, you will eat more. Period.
If you eat your meals with healthy fit people, you may eat less… and save money.
And, although I disagree with these, here's a few more:
Getting “checked out” is a real mood-booster, even if you are in a relationship.
The first time you walk by a friend you have not seen in a while and they do not recognize you because you have lost so much weight is an amazingly positive experience.
There is stuff everywhere in my house. I need more boxes. It's a bigger chore than I thought to pack all of this stuff by myself. I did decide to hire movers for the actual move day. I can't wait to be in the new place and get settled. I can't wait for SPACE! I can't wait to not have neighbors (whom leave little to be desired) not 'attached' to me on one side. There are a lot of positives in this upcoming move. Anyway, lots going on, and this blog isn't the spot for all that.
I did receive information today on the maintenance program and how that all works. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to afford to continue that part, but we'll see how it goes. I'm not so much worried about the maintenance aspect of this, as I know what I have to do and I'm not willing to "not" do it. I've blogged before about my dad who has lost weight and kept it off for a lot of years, just simply by knowing what he needs to do and doing it. I know I'm motivated enough now to do that.
I've had to shop again lately. I'm having an issue with buying things that only fit for a couple of weeks and then that's it. I finally bought some shorts. Knowing that I'm close to being done, and having two pair that are too big, I went this weekend and finally found some. Shoes have been another issue. My feet are smaller!??! This has caused me to need new shoes. I absolutely hate shoe shopping and I can't find anything that I like. I just continue to wear the same shoes that really don't fit anymore!
So...today's weigh in was great. I was pretty sure I knew where I was going to end up and it was close. I had a busy morning and had to actually leave the doctors office and come back later in the day. I lost 2.8 pounds this week for a grand total of 63 pounds. I also lost 1.8% body fat this week, for a total decrease in body fat of 16.3%. That means absolutely nothing to me though...I can't relate 16% body fat to anything...but it's out there! It's been 117 days and I have 14.2 pounds left to goal.
Things are progressing for sure. Today one of the ladies that works at the check-out at the office told me she didn't remember me from before. When I showed her the "before" picture, she was shocked. Pretty soon, I suppose I'll be showing all of you the actual before picture that was before I lost the 25 pounds I lost between moving from Connecticut to Jacksonville to Tampa.
Once I hit goal, the program total will be 77.2 and the actual, overall weight loss total will be 102.2 pounds. I will have lost almost my entire "new" self. Give or take 35 pounds, but WOW! As I type that, it's a LOT! To know that I had that much to actually lose doesn't make me overly happy. I probably wasted a lot of years not living life to its fullest because of that. I'm just sitting here contemplating things that I haven't thought of about having lost almost 100 pounds.
Prior to beginning the program, I suffered with (let's just call it) stomach issues. Since December 22, I have not taken any of my stomach medicine. It's amazing the difference in not taking those meds, the lack of meds for migraines, because I'm not having them so much. It's rare that I take any meds, other than the 11 prescribed things I take a day for the program!
Well, since I guess I found some stuff to blog about I'll close now that you've made it this far. I just ran across someone else's blog post that listed 101 thoughts on how to lose 100 pounds. There was some great stuff in there, I decided to use a few of them as the closing quote for tonight....enjoy and have a great week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Restaurants don’t care if you eat everything that you are served. Their goal is to fill you up on free breadsticks, extra soda and alcoholic beverages before your entrée comes so you’ll go home happy…and fat. They won’t be there holding your hand when you get that coronary bypass.
If you eat your meals with overweight people, you will eat more. Period.
If you eat your meals with healthy fit people, you may eat less… and save money.
And, although I disagree with these, here's a few more:
Getting “checked out” is a real mood-booster, even if you are in a relationship.
The first time you walk by a friend you have not seen in a while and they do not recognize you because you have lost so much weight is an amazingly positive experience.
April 13, 2009
OOOPS---I forgot
Everyone has been asking for updated pictures...and I forgot to post them! Here you go, from this past Saturday night...
Completion of Week 16!
Sixteen weeks...It's been 112 days since the start of my lifestyle change. One hundred and twelve days of better decision making where food, drink, exercise are concerned and finally, one hundred and twelve days of people noticing a change in me.
I have blogged about this every week for the past month or so, but it's still something in which I struggle daily. I honestly don't know how to 'get over' the comments, compliments and looks. It's just not something I'm used to. I was out on Saturday night, with friends, for the first time in a long time. I saw people that I haven't seen in a long time. Every time someone made a comment, I tried really, really hard not to roll my eyes, say "whatever" and just blow it off. It's hard. I've given this some thought this week to see what really bothers me about it and I think that it's that I feel like I'm still the same person inside. I guess I feel like people think I'm different and I really am still the same person inside. It shouldn't matter what I look like 'outside' and I think that people are putting more emphasis on that, rather than who I really am. I'm so "not" the "skinny girl". I'm much more comfortable being the girl who would do absolutely anything for her friends and her family. The girl who wants nothing more than for the people in her life to be happy and healthy and who loves God, her family and friends more than anything else.
Okay-so enough about that....the reason you all come here is to see what the result of the Monday morning weigh-in is. Yesterday, I really thought it might not be such a great week. I didn't (still) deviate from the program, but I'm still not drinking the water I should be drinking. I made a pact with Kristin (the MA who weighs me every week) that when I saw her next week, I'd have consumed 7-gallons of water by then! I'm going to do that!!
This week, officially, I went over 60 pounds. I lost 1.5 pounds for a total of 60.2 pounds on the program. From the time I started losing weight, I'm actually down 85 pounds...but we're not tracking that here. I've lost 14.5% body fat and I have 17 pounds to get to the 'updated' goal. I guess (it just hit) that means, if I hadn't changed my goal, I'd have 2 pounds to go, and next week, I'd be starting maintenance! Oh well, it is what it is...16 weeks in, no gain to goal so far and 17 pounds to go.
I'm thrilled about the impending start of the maintenance program. I'm happy to think about starting to add things in that make no sense to me why I can't have today. I mean, it's not like I want to add in a Snickers bar (I hate chocolate) or a bag of Doritos (no desire for them), but to not have to pick slivers of carrot off of lettuce when I eat a salad, or to have an extra piece of fruit or two during the day is something I look forward to! I was discussing eating habits and shopping with a friend this week. We discussed how, really, I only shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Only things that are "from the earth", fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood and limited dairy products. I absolutely love the food that I get to eat. The other night I made scallops and filet for dinner, with asparagus and sliced tomatoes. Can't get much better than that!
Anyway, all in all it was a great week. I'm looking forward to a few more weeks of losses and then starting maintenance. I know I can do it, I know I can stick with it and I know I'm ready!
In closing, have a fantastic week!!!
You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. Rosalynn Carter
I have blogged about this every week for the past month or so, but it's still something in which I struggle daily. I honestly don't know how to 'get over' the comments, compliments and looks. It's just not something I'm used to. I was out on Saturday night, with friends, for the first time in a long time. I saw people that I haven't seen in a long time. Every time someone made a comment, I tried really, really hard not to roll my eyes, say "whatever" and just blow it off. It's hard. I've given this some thought this week to see what really bothers me about it and I think that it's that I feel like I'm still the same person inside. I guess I feel like people think I'm different and I really am still the same person inside. It shouldn't matter what I look like 'outside' and I think that people are putting more emphasis on that, rather than who I really am. I'm so "not" the "skinny girl". I'm much more comfortable being the girl who would do absolutely anything for her friends and her family. The girl who wants nothing more than for the people in her life to be happy and healthy and who loves God, her family and friends more than anything else.
Okay-so enough about that....the reason you all come here is to see what the result of the Monday morning weigh-in is. Yesterday, I really thought it might not be such a great week. I didn't (still) deviate from the program, but I'm still not drinking the water I should be drinking. I made a pact with Kristin (the MA who weighs me every week) that when I saw her next week, I'd have consumed 7-gallons of water by then! I'm going to do that!!
This week, officially, I went over 60 pounds. I lost 1.5 pounds for a total of 60.2 pounds on the program. From the time I started losing weight, I'm actually down 85 pounds...but we're not tracking that here. I've lost 14.5% body fat and I have 17 pounds to get to the 'updated' goal. I guess (it just hit) that means, if I hadn't changed my goal, I'd have 2 pounds to go, and next week, I'd be starting maintenance! Oh well, it is what it is...16 weeks in, no gain to goal so far and 17 pounds to go.
I'm thrilled about the impending start of the maintenance program. I'm happy to think about starting to add things in that make no sense to me why I can't have today. I mean, it's not like I want to add in a Snickers bar (I hate chocolate) or a bag of Doritos (no desire for them), but to not have to pick slivers of carrot off of lettuce when I eat a salad, or to have an extra piece of fruit or two during the day is something I look forward to! I was discussing eating habits and shopping with a friend this week. We discussed how, really, I only shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Only things that are "from the earth", fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood and limited dairy products. I absolutely love the food that I get to eat. The other night I made scallops and filet for dinner, with asparagus and sliced tomatoes. Can't get much better than that!
Anyway, all in all it was a great week. I'm looking forward to a few more weeks of losses and then starting maintenance. I know I can do it, I know I can stick with it and I know I'm ready!
In closing, have a fantastic week!!!
You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. Rosalynn Carter
April 6, 2009
Completion of Week 15!
What a week! Things here at home have been a little crazy, a little busy and a little stressed. I've been looking to move out of my current townhouse into a single-family home and have worked this week on finding something, getting paperwork done and making plans for all of the utilities and the like to be turned on when I move. I'm finally moving a bit closer to "life" than where I am now. I can't wait. I'm excited about the house. I'm excited about the neighborhood, and that I will have my friends MUCH MUCH closer to me once the move is complete. The house is closer to everything I do, work, church, friends, shopping, out..you name it! As you can see, I'm ready to go NOW~but just a few weeks and I'll be in there.
I am still fighting with drinking a gallon of water a day on the program. Since I had company at the end of February, yes, over a month ago, I've not completed a gallon a day yet. I really have a hard time thinking about drinking the water. I forget to drink it. I forget sometimes to even eat--so drinking water isn't something that seems to be top on my priority list. I guess I should put it back up there where it used to be. I've noticed since the increased work-out schedule and the decreased water intake I am starting to get muscle cramps in my legs at random times.
Today, as far as weigh-in was concerned was fantastic. I was down an additional 3.7 pounds for a total after 15 weeks of 58.7 pounds. I have 18.5 pounds to go to the new goal and then start the maintenance program that I have been reading about.
I'm ready to start that program, yet still don't mind the program how it is today. I have gotten a little more lax in the "no alcohol" department. There are the occasions where I'll grab a beer now and again. Usually no more than one and no more than one or two days a week. Apparently it's not been an issue! Then again, I'm not eating as much food as I'm supposed to eat and the beer is 99 calories!
I'm still having the same "me" struggles, but I truly don't see them going away anytime soon. It's a self-confidence issue that I have I suppose. I know I've had it for 20 years (at least!) and lately it's been more prevalent. I suppose because for the first time in forever, I'm hearing things from people I'm just not used to hearing. I guess when you lose almost 60 pounds in 15 weeks it causes people to take notice. I'm not used to the "take notice of me" thing. I think I've just sort of been "around" for the past 20 years and there hasn't been a whole lot of reason to compliment me. I mean, that sounds really bad. There are a lot of things I have been complimented on in the past, but none as "physical" as this process has been. It's just sometimes hard for me to believe it about myself.
It's funny, I never doubt the sincerity of the people who do the complimenting...but I find myself thinking, "ya, ok, whatever...it's just me, let's move on to something NOT about me." Yet, there are people who I call and text immediately after my weigh in, just so I can update them~it sounds stupid as I write this, but those are the people that I never doubt their feelings or what they tell me. Anyway, it's what I feel, so it's here. That being said, after I write the last paragraph, I typically go to a quote website I use and look for something that fits the topic. If this doesn't say it, nothing else could! Now, to start believing it!
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I am still fighting with drinking a gallon of water a day on the program. Since I had company at the end of February, yes, over a month ago, I've not completed a gallon a day yet. I really have a hard time thinking about drinking the water. I forget to drink it. I forget sometimes to even eat--so drinking water isn't something that seems to be top on my priority list. I guess I should put it back up there where it used to be. I've noticed since the increased work-out schedule and the decreased water intake I am starting to get muscle cramps in my legs at random times.
Today, as far as weigh-in was concerned was fantastic. I was down an additional 3.7 pounds for a total after 15 weeks of 58.7 pounds. I have 18.5 pounds to go to the new goal and then start the maintenance program that I have been reading about.
I'm ready to start that program, yet still don't mind the program how it is today. I have gotten a little more lax in the "no alcohol" department. There are the occasions where I'll grab a beer now and again. Usually no more than one and no more than one or two days a week. Apparently it's not been an issue! Then again, I'm not eating as much food as I'm supposed to eat and the beer is 99 calories!
I'm still having the same "me" struggles, but I truly don't see them going away anytime soon. It's a self-confidence issue that I have I suppose. I know I've had it for 20 years (at least!) and lately it's been more prevalent. I suppose because for the first time in forever, I'm hearing things from people I'm just not used to hearing. I guess when you lose almost 60 pounds in 15 weeks it causes people to take notice. I'm not used to the "take notice of me" thing. I think I've just sort of been "around" for the past 20 years and there hasn't been a whole lot of reason to compliment me. I mean, that sounds really bad. There are a lot of things I have been complimented on in the past, but none as "physical" as this process has been. It's just sometimes hard for me to believe it about myself.
It's funny, I never doubt the sincerity of the people who do the complimenting...but I find myself thinking, "ya, ok, whatever...it's just me, let's move on to something NOT about me." Yet, there are people who I call and text immediately after my weigh in, just so I can update them~it sounds stupid as I write this, but those are the people that I never doubt their feelings or what they tell me. Anyway, it's what I feel, so it's here. That being said, after I write the last paragraph, I typically go to a quote website I use and look for something that fits the topic. If this doesn't say it, nothing else could! Now, to start believing it!
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
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