Another Week

Yesterday I decided to change up my workout routine just a tiny bit and did my 2 miles of bike riding first! After I was done with that, I got off the bike to walk my mile and my legs felt like jello! It was really hard to give that mile much umph! Wow!!
 Till I got done walking I was beat! I decided to skip my 100 step ups...I did about 20 of them and didn't feel like I could go on! :P

 So today, I went back to walking my mile FIRST. I jogged a bit, just to get my heart rate up. Then I rode bike 3 miles, instead of 2. Got in my 100 step-ups at the end.

 Tomorrow I'd like to try this workout and see how it goes (tomorrow is my off day for exercise). Check it out. I'm afraid those first two moves are going to be harder than they look! :) But I'm willing to give it a shot.

I have not been doing well at drinking enough water and in turn I want to snack more. I am going to try harder the rest of this week!! :)

Friday was weigh-in....I only lost .5 lb., but at least it was a loss!! :)

I put on my walking shoes only twice the past week :( ...

and I also discovered something else. After I would weigh-in Friday mornings, then I would tend to cheat more during the day Friday...and weekends are always a little harder. So that only left Mon-Thurs. for me to work at my exercise and good eating. 

I realized I need to change my mindset! Hopefully I'll see bigger numbers next Friday! :)

While I might not be losing big numbers on the scale I am seeing other changes! Quite a few of my shirts are getting loose and I can tell my arms and legs are toning up a little bit! :) Also, my neck/double chin is improving! YAY! That is one of the things that bother me the most about myself...my saggy "baby pouch belly" and my fat neck/chin. Happy to be seeing improvement! And I may soon see collar bones!! Woooo!! ;)

~Now and Then~

   

Today, while my hubby was running his 5 miles (he is training for a half marathon), and my son was playing soccer with friends, my daughter and I went for a good brisk walk on the paved trail in town. It was in the 70's, cloudy with a light breeze! So lovely!!

My walking partner, my lovely daughter Tamara! :)

And I just had to share the beautiful sky tonight!!

Y'all have a great week!!

Exercise~

My weekly exercise plan, for now, is:

3-4 days a week ~Walk (add in jogging some days) the entire length of our road, briskly, then immediately bike the length of the road 2X at a fast pace. Come to the house and do 100 step-ups on the front porch steps.

Thursday nights, when we can, go to town to run the 5K with "A Case of the Runs" running club. {I don't run the whole way, mostly walking}.

I also want to find some indoor core body exercises for those days that are rainy or too hot, this summer!

 My goal is to up these amounts every 2 weeks, if possible. I'll update as I change them.

And just a little note...

 My hubby is in the 2nd week of training to run a half marathon in Bainbridge, GA in March!! :) Wish him well! :) I'm proud of him!

My Story

 This blog is mostly for myself, to record my journey, but you are welcome to follow along and give me encouragement or feedback! :)

 Growing up, I considered myself "fat". I was bigger than most girls my age, but I was also taller and had a bigger body build. And I WAS overweight, but not as much as I thought in my head!

But try to tell a young girl that she is not fat when people laugh at her and make comments about her being overweight! What my peers thought of me, meant more than reality!

 So, because I "thought" I was fat, I decided I would just BE fat! I didn't care....I had bad eating habits and just kept getting bigger and bigger!

This is a picture of Dan and I when we were dating....

I don't remember how much I weighed when we got married, but Dan says I wouldn't tell him how much I weighed, so I'm thinking that was about the time I hit 200. I was so embarrased!

Having children just added to it. I was 230 lbs. by the time I got pregnant with our first child and gained 40 pounds that pregnancy. I lost a few lbs. and then got pregnant with our second child 2 years later and that time I only gained 15 lbs., but that still took me up near 270 and I never lost much after that...I was up and down from 260-270 for the next 7 years.

A few pics of me at my heaviest (270 lbs.)

This was after we moved to FL in 2005.

Before we moved to FL, I had been to see my gynecologist. With our first two children, we got pregnant as soon as we tried. But in 2003, we were trying for baby #3 and it just wasn't happening. Finally in the beginning of 2005, I went to the Dr. with questions, hoping to find answers.

After some tests, etc., my Dr. determined that I was going through early menopause. Keep in mind, I was only 27 at the time. She said it's rare but it happens. I WAS having irregular cycles. Sometimes I would go for 2-3 months without a period. Then if it was a light one, I might get one again in 3 weeks.

After we moved to FL, I went almost a year with no periods.

Finally, in 2008, after second guessing my PA doctors diagnosis, I went to see an Infertility/Endicronology specialist. After a few tests, they determined that I had PCOS {PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome} 

Her first thing was "you need to lose weight"!! She said that could make my cycle regular and even help me get pregnant again. And guess what? After dropping just 20 lbs. I was back to my regular cycle. 

Within just a few months I had dropped to 225 lbs. by following a low/no carb diet!

(this was me at my lowest weight...or close)

Well, then when I started eating more carbs, my weight started coming on again....till I reached 250. I decided this was it!! I was so tired of yo-yo dieting and needed to change my life style.

Fall of 2011, Dan and I did the C25K program together and I changed the way I was eating.....since then, I dropped back to 234. It's been slow, but it's been staying off!!

This is me Mother's Day 2012 at right around 236.

Last year, I pretty much just maintained my weight.

But this year I am working at losing at least another 20 pounds. My goal is to be 210 or lower by the end of the year. I want this to be a lifestyle, not a "diet". I am currently at 230.5.

I did join a "Mini Biggest Loser" competition on Facebook the beginning of January. I wanted the accountability  but winning the prize of $150 would be a great bonus!! :)

My long term goal is to be at 175 by the time I am 40. I have a little less than 5 years to complete that! I think I can, I think I can!! :) I KNOW I can!!

In September last year, Dan and I started an exercise program and kept track of our weight, etc. This was my "starting pics"....weight was 236

I want to do an updated photo the end of Feb.....6 months later. :)

I have an interesting story to share yet.....

After Tamara was born and I was at my heaviest, I prayed that God would keep me from getting pregnant again till I lose a bunch of weight....well, it seems he answered....but not how I expected!!

Now I'm thinking uh-oh!! :) Am I going to be one of those ladies who has a "surprise baby" when I'm like 40!?? ;) I guess we'll see what God has in store! :)