A Wonderful Realization

I had a wonderful thing happen today.  I had a very stressful day at work.  Every time I turned around, someone was asking me for something, the phone was ringing, etc.  I felt close to tears at times.  I had so much to do and couldn't seem to get anything done.  Anyway....all I could think was that I was excited to get home so that I could take a walk.  Later this afternoon, I realized that I did not think about what food I was going to eat to make me feel better, I wanted to TAKE A WALK!!  Nine months ago, I would have gotten myself something very "yummy" and bad for me for lunch but that was not even a thought this time!  :)

Weekly Weigh In

I weighed in on Thursday evening.  I was down 4 pounds!  Woohoo!!  I am very proud of myself for sticking the last few weeks out.  Normally, this would have been enough for me to give up.  But I didn't give up!  I pushed on and it paid off.  :)  I have lost 69.6 pounds total.

Picture Flashback

Dave came across this picture on his phone.  It is from December 2012.  I walked in the Girl Scout parade with Kirsten's troop.  Wow!  I just look miserable.  I remember thinking I looked sporty in my bright hoodie.  This really makes me realize how far I have come!

Weekly Update

I weighed in on Thursday night.  I stayed exactly the same....again....  I knew when I started running that I would struggle on the scale.  It's totally normal for your muscles to retain water for awhile when you change up your exercise routine.  I had myself mentally prepared for a gain.  All of that said, it's still a mental battle.  I feel like I work so hard all week, I want to see the scale go down, right?!?!  I have had to remind myself over the past few days that I feel smaller, I know I am losing inches, my clothes are falling off, Dave keeps telling me how much smaller I look, etc.   Those are what you call non-scale victories!  I know the scale will drop eventually.  I am trying to make this lifestyle all about the number on the scale.  It is a daily mental battle.  One that I am determined to beat!

I completed week one of no soda!  I struggled in the beginning but got through it.  The longer I go, the easier it is.  It is hardest when I eat out.  I have been ordering a large glass of water and mixing in a "true lemon" packet that I have.  It is "natural lemonade".  That helps, for sure!

Yesterday, I completed week 2 of my C25K.  It is going well!  I am a little nervous about this week.  I will have to run 3 minute stretches.  I KNOW I can do it and that I will feel so accomplished when it's done.  :)  I went to Luke's Locker yesterday and bought some running shoes.  I have never had two pairs of tennis shoes at the same time.  lol!  I am planning on wearing these only when I run.  I found out that the 5K I was planning on doing was cancelled.  I have got to find another one.  Kathy, I wish you were here and could run with me.  :)  If we are in Lincoln for Thanksgiving this year, we will do the turkey trot together!!

No soda!

I have decided to give up soda for one month.  I have cut WAY back in the past few months.  The only time I was drinking it was when I ate out once or twice a week.  This past week was tough for me.  I think because I was on spring break, I was craving it more.  Not to mention, the more soda I drink, the more soda I crave!!  I only indulged a few extra times but definitely noticed a difference.  For some reason, when I drink it at dinner time, it really doesn't seem to bother me.  I think I can just sleep off the yucky effects.  (The caffeine keeping me awake has never been a problem).  But, this week I drank it two or three times at lunch time.  I really noticed being hungry for the rest of the day.  Hungry as in wanting to eat my arm kind of hungry.  I think the soda (diet, aspartame, etc) played a major role in that.  It was making me feel like I wanted to binge on sweets, carbs, etc.  I do NOT want to even go there.   I was able to resist those temptations for the most part. 

So, starting today, I am giving it up 100% for a month.  I will still drink my little crystal light energy packet once a day.  That doesn't seem to bother me and it gives me the caffeine I need to get through the day.  (I am not a coffee drinker).

Weekly Weigh In and NSV

I weighed in at Weight Watchers last night.  I stayed exactly the same.  I am totally fine with this.  I fully expected a gain since I have changed up my exercise this week by adding the jogging. 

After my meeting, I went to Penneys to buy a new pair of jeans.  My current jeans are falling off of me.  I literally could pull them down without unbuttoning them.  :/  I know that's a good problem to have but it is sure a frumpy feeling.  Anyway, I was able to buy a size 16!!  I have not worn a 16 for at least 7 years.  Woohoo!!!!!

Conclusion

When I come to my blog to write a post, I always have a hard time trying to decide what to say to end it.  It's become kind of stressful for me.  I'm weird, I know.  It must be some OCD coming out.  Anyway, I was thinking about it this morning.  I decided that my posts shouldn't have a conclusion.  I am NOT finished.  This journey will be on-going for the rest of my life.  There is no conclusion.  That is probably one of the most profound thoughts I have had in a very long time. 

So, if you're reading my blog, I hope you are not disappointed when my posts don't have a conclusion.  I will not allow it to "stress me out" anymore.  :)

C25K update

I completed day 2 of the couch 2 5K this morning.  It went much better than day 1.  I wasn't quite as out of breath and my back really didn't bother me.  I am so excited and ready to conquer this!

I heard this quote yesterday and LOVE it:


"The miracle isn't that I finished....it's that I had the courage to start."
John Bingham

Weekly Weigh In and Miscellaneous

I realized that I never posted my weigh in from last Thursday.  I lost .6 making my total 65.6!  I feel GOOD!!!

This week is spring break for us.  This is a huge advantage of working for the school district.  We are not travelling this week.  We are getting lots of things done around the house.  We moved my daughter upstairs which has been a huge undertaking.  It has felt so good to go through things and donate/throw stuff away.  It has also been nice to get the added activity in each day!  :)

I started my C25K yesterday.  It went pretty well.  I was just happy to get through it.  I will do it 3 times per week.  Otherwise, I am doing my usual walking.  I have done some extra walking since I have the time to do it.  :)

Thank you for your continued reading and support of my blog!

A short term goal for me

I have always wanted to run a 5K.  Last spring, before I started this journey, I walked one.  It was a wonderful feeling to complete.  I was the last one to finish.  Yes, the police car was right behind me.

My friend Meredith (left) and me. 

March 22, 2013

 

 

 

The police car.  :)

 

I don't know why running has always fascinated me.  Maybe because I can get my workout done in half the time.  :)  I have never been a runner so this ought to be interesting.  If you see someone laying on the ground at the park, it's probably me.  LOL! 

I loaded a Couch 2 5K app on my phone.  It is an 8 week training session.  Low and behold, it is exactly 8 weeks after I will begin the training that the school I work at is hosting a 5K.  Hmm, maybe God is pushing me to do this.  I am scared to death!  Like I said, I have never been a runner. 

So, next Monday, I will begin the training.  (We have Spring Break next week so it is the perfect time to start).  All prayers are appreciated.  :)

What got me started

I have been thinking about what made me start this journey.  Besides the obvious...pain when walking, feeling horrible all of the time, can't fit in to my clothes, etc.  On July 16, 2013, I drove to Newton, KS.  My twins had been with my in-laws for two weeks in Nebraska and Julia was going to be the next one to spend time there.  So, Julia and I left home around 7:00 am.  We stopped at McDonald's and got breakfast.  I don't remember getting anything too awful but I know I got a large Diet Dr. Pepper.  Got to stay awake, right?  About two hours later, we stopped for gas.  I got a little six pack of powdered sugar donuts and another soda.  Around 12:30, we met Herman and Marj at a Braums in Newton.  I had a double hamburger value meal (yes, another soda).  While I was eating, I got really dizzy.  I went to the restroom.  (I didn't tell anyone I was dizzy).  I came back feeling a little better.  We left the restaurant and started on our way home.  About 30 minutes into it, I got very dizzy again.  To be honest, I should have pulled off the road.  I should NOT have been driving.  I was putting mine, my kids and strangers lives at risk.  But, I don't admit defeat very easily so I kept going.  I ended up making it home just fine (8 hours later) and all was well. 

I realized during that drive what I was doing to myself.  I knew that the dizziness was from all of the sugar and carbs that I had eaten and drank in the morning.  What was I doing to myself?!?!  I knew, at that moment, that it had to change.  I was miserable, physically and emotionally!  I had already planned that I would go back to Weight Watchers but this day really sealed the deal.  I knew I had to do something or I was going to have a heart attack.  Two days later, I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and the rest is history. 

I have strived everyday since then to be healthy.  I have cut WAY back on the sodas.  I usually have two a week.  I'm ok with that.  I do not consume sweets and carbs like I used too.  Do I still struggle with wanting to eat that way?  Yes!  That is a big part of the reason I started this blog.  I wanted to be able to look back and see my changes and improvements and remember how far I have come.  I have learned so much through this process.  I wouldn't trade it for anything!!