Week 4 Weigh-in

Starting weight: 242
Weight last week: 209.8
Weigh-in today: 207.4
1 week change: -2.4
Total loss on WW: -34.6
Total loss since Feb 2010: -46.6

Another loss!! :) I'm so excited that Weight Watchers is working for me. I was worried when WW changed their program. However, I am eating more than I did on the old program, thanks to fruit being "free," and losing more weight!! It also helps that I've started walking more and getting more exercise.

I also took new measurements today.

Bust: 45
Waist: 39
Hips:47.5

From my last measurements, I've lost another 2.5 inches! My clothes are starting to show it too. Pants that I just bought before the holidays and those that I had my mom take in are too big again--soon I'll have to have more taken in. I'm also starting to use the last notch on the belt I bought right before Christmas! All great signs that this is all working. :)

Yesterday, I walked 11.1 miles. During that walk, I ran for 45 min--NOT all at the same time, but spread out over about 5 miles. I jogged for about 6.5 minutes a stretch which was about one-half mile--at least at the beginning. If that's the case, I guess I ran/jogged about 3.5 miles. I'm paying for it today, though. My thighs are still sore. My knee and my toe hurt too. I'm thinking I may take a day of vacation on Valentine's Day to recover a little from the race! LOL

I'll update everyone more later!!

Pound for Pound Challenge

Today I went to Subway for supper and saw an advertisement for the Pound for Pound challenge. I checked it out online and decided to pledge to lose 20 pounds for the challenge. For each pound pledged or lost (still trying to figure that out), 1 pound of food will be donated to a food bank. I registered to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. I created a team called In It to Thin It. Please consider joining the team at http://www.pfpchallenge.com and pledging to lose or maintain your weight. It's for a great cause!

Weigh-in Week 3

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything...1 week I guess.

Over the last week, I could say that I did fairly well. At least in some respects. I didn't get as much activity in as I would have liked. I walked on Tuesday using my treadmill. Then, due to other activities, I wasn't able to walk again until yesterday. But, that was a HUGE walk--I completed 10.28 miles in 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 37 seconds.

Eating-wise I had a lot of temptation I had to resist. The week started out ok--for three days I stuck to my points and had a few left at the end of the day to treat myself. I didn't go eat out for work and we cooked some meals (one of our favorites is Vegetable Beef Soup). Wednesday night, I had 7-8 points left after supper and the scout meeting, so I treated myself to a sonic blast! :) Then the end of the week took some struggle. Friday I had chicken enchiladas which were higher in point value than I had hoped. Saturday, I ate the entire lunch the scouts provided which included a roast beef sandwich with cheese, a bag of Lays potato chips, and a chocolate chip cookie--a total of 20 points!! It didn't leave me much for supper that night. We ate at my sister-in-laws who cooked spaghetti. That took the remainder of my points. That evening, there was birthday cake for my mother-in-law--I did not eat a slice, at all!!! That was a big temptation too. Then yesterday, I was invited to a Court of Honor with some of the best food around. I stayed away from the twice-baked mashed potatoes (so awesome if you've ever had them). And I avoided the cake again!

So, where did I end up?

Starting weight: 242
Weight last week: 214.8
Weigh-in today: 209.8
1 week change: -5.0
Total loss on WW: -32.2
Total loss since Feb 2010: -44.2

So, a 5 pound loss! Sounds great, but I'm a little worried. I'm hoping its not an error with the scale--I tried weighing myself 10-15 times because every time the scale gave a different weight. It wasn't until the last three weigh-ins that I finally got the weight above. I have an average of 4 pounds a week if I look at just the last two weeks--it's about 3 over 3 weeks. I just hope I'm not going too fast.

So this week, my goal is to lose, obviously, but also to work out more. I'm hoping to get at least 4 walks in this week. I also need to start some type of plan for strength training and toning. I keep saying it--one day I'm going to actually do it.

Thanks for staying with me on this journey. See you all later!

Weekly Weigh-in

This is my second weigh-in since I started this blog.

Starting weight: 242
Weight last week: 217.9
Weigh-in today: 214.8
1 week change: -3.1
Total loss on WW: -27.2
Total loss since Feb 2010: -39.2

I also took my measurements today--the last time I took them was Jun 7.

I lost 3 inches in my bust--down to 46"
I lost 3.5 inches in my waist--down to 39.5"
I lost 2.5 inches in my hips--down to 48.5"
For a total loss of 9 inches in 7 months!!! Yippee!!

I'm so excited. 3.1 is a lot to lose in one week, however, with the poor weeks just ahead of this, focusing back on my points allowance and making better choices helped me to make this jump. I don't expect this type of loss each week, but this is motivation to keep going.

I used a lot of my weekly points and didn't track a few things because I didn't know how (like the strawberry margarita at Outback the other night), but I didn't blow it. I also earned 26 activity points throughout the week (14 of them came from yesterday's nine mile trek for 2 hrs, 21 mins. :)

My goal for this week is to have activity points throughout the week (not just the weekend) and to have more of a routine. I need to sit down with my calendar and try to figure out the best way to get it in. I also need to find some type of strengthening and muscle toning to add to the aerobics of walking/jogging. I think I'm going to have to start waking up earlier (UGH!!) to do some of this since it's still getting dark early--can't Daylight Savings Time hurry up already?!?

So, pretty good week. Now to concentrate on this upcoming week. Going to try to make meal plans for the week to stay within my daily points range, which dropped to 33 today!

Have a great week!

Non-Scale Victories (NSVs)

I have to celebrate my non-scale victories from yesterday! While at work yesterday, my colleagues decided to order from a local seafood restaurant. It would have been so easy to put in an order for fried seafood or a large lunch. However, I decided to stick with my smart ones pizza and lemonade!

Then, after the frustrating day was over, my son's box of World's Finest Chocolate was staring me in the face--milk chocolate, dark chocolate almonds, crisp, and caramel bars. I wanted to eat one so badly--however, I put all of the information in my Weight Watchers calculator and found that each bar would be 9-10 points--NOT worth it.

With all of that, I was able to end my day after supper with 7 points left for the day, so I treated myself to the remainder of the pint of Moo-llenium Crunch ice cream, by Blue Bell! YAY ME!! I ended the day 2 points over, but I had weeklies to cover it and I felt good!

This morning I've gotten in an hour walk--4.3 miles!

Tonight, I have plans with my dear hubby for an "us" night. :)

Day Two this week

Well, for two days, I've been able to stay within my daily points!! After almost two months of tracking here and there, two days is a streak! :) Both days, I've had 7 or 9 points at the end of the night that I had to eat--that allowed me to have treats! Today I had some of the ice cream my wonderful husband bought for me yesterday.

I've also started more drinking more water. I took the suggestions and used flavor packets for some of my water.

I didn't walk today--got home late from work, ate supper, and worked on Brandon's science fair project. Gotta change that tomorrow!

Day 3 tomorrow! Good night y'all!

Weigh-in Today

Well, it wasn't great, but at least it was a loss. Last week I was at 218.5. This morning my weigh-in was 217.9. This puts me down 0.6 of a pound in one week and a total of 24.1 down since April 2010.

I wasn't happy about this at weigh-in this morning. However, I have reflected on my week and realized that I didn't stay true to the plan all week. I didn't track lots of things that I ate. and on Saturday, even though I said I wouldn't, I over ate using the race as an excuse. I could also attempt to excuse it as "that time of the month" but that would be placing blame every where except where it belongs.

So what do I do about it? Today, I decided that I MUST start drinking more water and I have to be more strict about tracking what I eat. There isn't really any reason for me not to track--I have access to my computer and have the app on my phone so it's right there! The water is a little more difficult. Today was good- I didn't make the 4 16-oz bottles I had hoped, but I did get 2 of them and then an extra 8 oz glass at supper. I am doing my best to stay on target this week and trying not to stray--it's really hard especially when my loving husband brings home two pints of ice cream with two types of pie (single servings). He meant well--he needed it and didn't want me to feel left out; I refused to eat it, so I don't know who else will. :)

I also walked today. It would have been sooo easy to skip it. I'm tired and we had a cub scout meeting tonight. But I walked anyway. When I started the treadmill kept stopping--almost like the belt got stuck. Somehow, I got it working, instead of giving up, and walked for 45 minutes. If I can keep that up, Monday's weigh-in should be much better!

Racing

I never really considered myself a runner. In fact, all through high school I abhorred running--I couldn't stand PE which helps to explain my current state! :) In college I actually took a jogging class--I'm still not sure why--and liked it, although I very rarely jogged. In order to get an A, I simply had to improve my time on 1 mile. There was ONE time during that class in which I jogged the entire time. That was the first and last time.

I've been a couch potato for a long time too. There are times when I still am. However, in the last 8-9 months I've begun to change that. As I said in my earlier blog, I've begun walking. I don't know if the walking by itself would be that successful. I think what drives me to keep walking, more than anything else, is competition. Much of the time that I'm walking, I'm preparing for some race. It gives me something to look forward to and a purpose for walking/training other than just weight-loss--which should be its own motivator, right??

Anyway, I started with my first official 5k on September 11, 2010 for the Boost the Bayou 5K here in Lutcher. Since then, I've completed two more--Tanger Fit Families 5K and the Bonfire Festival 5K. In these months I've also convinced myself to complete a Half Marathon--that's 13.1 miles people! For someone who was sedentary much of her life, that has to be some accomplishment right?!?

I am signed up for the Rock-n-Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon on February 13, 2011. This has given me something to train for. It's currently 5 weeks away. The farthest I've walked to date is 7 miles. Today, I completed 6.5 in the Houma Heart and Soles Half Marathon Relay as a part of a 2-person team in 1 hour and 26 minutes--that's a 13 minute mile, mostly walking!! I have 5 weeks to complete walks that will get me as close to 13 miles as possible before race day.

Understand that I am under no delusions that I can win any of these races--my goal is to complete them--each one faster than the last if possible. My competition is myself--but the races are extremely fun especially when my entire family can get involved.

Now that the new year is here, I'm looking forward to the SCC Run for the Son, United Way of St. Charles Bridge Run, and of course the Mardi Gras Half Marathon. I'll keep you updated on all of these!

Mandy

So where did this begin?

I know not many people may care about this blog, but I felt like I needed a place to document the journey I've taken with my weight loss. If it inspires you, GREAT! I'll say that I appreciate all motivating comments from anyone who reads this blog. It is my plan to document my successes and failures in this blog.

For as long as I can remember, I've been overweight. Seriously--I don't remember a time when I was at an acceptable weight except maybe in early elementary school. I've always said or been told I was big boned--which is probably true. At certain times while I was growing up, when I would talk with people about my weight, they would comment that I didn't look like I weighed as much as I did.

Throughout all of high school I weighed anywhere between 200-230 pounds. I don't know my exact weight simply because, at that time, I didn't worry about it. During my senior year, I went to the doctor for a check-up and decided to ask about losing weight. He told me to count calories and that's where I started. For the remainder of my high school career I counted calories, did very little exercise, and lost weight. I graduated, in 1993, at 210 pounds.

Throughout my college career, my weight fluctuated between 210 and 230. I watched what I ate, exercised by taking PE classes and managed to end college at about 210. I met my wonderful husband at the end of my college career . The wedding plans helped me maintain my weight so that I looked stunning on my wedding day. :)

In the year and a half that followed, I gained weight. When I found out I was pregnant for my first child, I was at about 230. Throughout my pregnancy, I LOST weight! Yes, LOST! Everything was fine during the pregnancy. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. When I left the hospital, I was at my lowest weight ever since high school ended--approximately 208 pounds. That was nine years ago.

In 2003, I found out I was pregnant again. At this time, I was approximately 230-240 pounds again--I gained 20+ pounds in 2 years! Again, pregnancy seemed to be my best weight-loss plan as I lost weight during the entire pregnancy and I left the hospital much lighter than I started. I weighed about 215. I vowed at that time not to gain my weight back! HA--that was a joke.

Over the next 5-6 years, I gained a whopping 35+ pounds. I tried Weight Watchers at least twice and never lost more than 15 pounds. I didn't feel like I had the will power to keep it up. In 2009, I found out I was pregnant for my third child. Again, I lost some weight during the pregnancy, but not as much as I had for the first two. However, once my beautiful baby boy was born, I was again much lighter than when I had found out I was pregnant. I left the hospital at about 230 instead of where I entered at 254--my highest weight ever. This time, I vowed again, never to see that number.

In the two months after my youngest was born, I gained about 12 pounds--of course I couldn't excercise much for 6-8 weeks. Once I was cleared by the doctor, I decided to start back on Weight Watchers and began walking for exercise. I officially started with Weight Watchers in April 2010 at 242 pounds. My husband inspired me to start walking when he started training for and racing in various 5Ks. I decided that I could walk while my boys practiced baseball. I also joined water aerobics in the summer which helped me get acclimated to exercise. When my husband ran the United Way Bridge Run across the Luling Bridge in April 2010, I decided my goal would be to walk it in April 2011.

Since I began in April 2010, I have officially lost 23.5 pounds from my starting weight of 242. If I consider my highest weight before my last pregnancy, I have lost 35.5 pounds. It has been difficult! I have to be strong especially when co-workers want to go out to eat. There are periods of time when I do REALLY well and bring my lunch, count all my points, and track all of my activity. Then there are times when I do none of that. I don't beat myself up if I don't lose weight especially if I know that I didn't follow the plan closely. I also don't deprive myself--I try to budget my points so I can eat what I want and not feel like I'm "dieting."

I had set a goal to end 2010 at 210 or less. I didn't make that goal--but I'm not upset. I was able to maintain my weight during the holiday season with the sweets and incredible amount of food I exposed myself to. So, now, my goal has been reset. I want to be below 200 by March 4th. That gives me approximately 10 weeks to lose about 19 pounds--that's right at 2 pounds per week. It's doable, but I'm going to have to be VERY disciplined.

I've started back with my exercise and am doing a better job of tracking my points (today I ate WAY too many--thank goodness for weekly points!).

As I continue I will post my successes and failures as I go towards this goal. WHEN I make it, I will be at my lightest since HIGH SCHOOL--at least 18 years ago!

Feel free to follow me as I journey to my ultimate goal of 155 pounds--a weight I probably haven't seen since elementary or junior high!