Such a Nice Night for a Walk

I had already walked 2 1/2 miles earlier today, but tonight I was so bored and needed something to do so I went for another walk. Instead of going to the track I just walked around town. It was so peacefully quiet. I even stopped at the park and played on the swings a while. Nice. So I did another 40 minutes, or about 2 miles of walking. I am amazed at the physical difference those extra pounds being gone makes. I think I may actually enjoy walking. Before it was always such a chore, everything hurt. Now I feel energized after I walk. It's awesome.

Holy Cow...I Have a Neck!

Time for a progress picture! Wow, I can't believe that I actually have a neck! This a comparison of 303 versus 236, from last June to today, July 16--that's 67 pounds ago! My face looks so different. I think there may actually be a little more spark behind those eyes too. It's easier to smile too since I don't have to use my facial muscles to push all that fat out of the way. I can't stress the importance of progress pictures to me. I really need that visual confirmation that I am changing.

I had to laugh, I took a few pictures with my camera's timer setting. I looked at he first one and realized I was swimming in this old shirt. It's a 22/24 which I have had for several summers. So I took a big binder clip from my desk drawer and cinched the back up a few inches for this photo. I am still working on that size thing, I think I need to go to a store and just try on some stuff. I don't necessarily have to buy it, but I think just trying some things on for size may help me match my body to my brain. I am feeling so positive about my progress right now. Sometimes it seems incredibly slow, but I know that each small step helps. Hope everyone is having a great day today and all your weight loss goals are coming true! Gotta love the band.

Walking Update

Well, I have been doing pretty well with my walking goal. I had set out at the beginning of July to try to exercise at least 20 minutes every day. In the first 15 days of the month I only missed 3 days, that's pretty good. And most days I walked 30-40 minutes, so that was better than my goal. I can tell you the scale is showing it too. I barely lost 2 pounds last month and already as of today I can claim a loss of 5 pounds and I still have half a month to go. Who knew exercise would help...duh! Saw a new number on the scale this morning, down to 236. Awesome.

66...Moving Down the Road So To Speak

I'm going to wax poetic in my blog tonight. I was pleased to see 237 on the scale today, my walking must be working. So that brings my total loss to 66 pounds. So as I was thinking about something to write I thought about good old route 66 and the message that came to mind was that sometimes we need to slow down and take a different path in life and enjoy the view. I think I am slowly learning to appreciate that small changes in direction can eventually lead to great progress.

I am still having a lot of issues with body image and letting the numbers and facts and figures all catch up with me. For instance the other day I was wearing a new pair of capri's that I bought this summer and I was thinking that they were already too big. I think I am afraid to buy the smaller size...well, not afraid, but I just keep thinking that I always used to buy stuff with the thought that I would rather buy it a little big, because I would either shrink it in the wash or I would gain weight eventually and it would be tight. Now, I think I need to shop one size smaller with the idea that my weight will decrease, not increase. That's a lot to wrap my head around, especially as I get closer to wearing a size 18--a size that isn't in the 20's is so far from my frame of reference, I think I just don't believe it could be true. Lots of head work to go with the body work.

New Number

Well, the scale has been rather fickle lately, with lots of ups and downs and big swings of 2-3 pounds one way or the other. But I am happy to report a new number that I saw on the scale this morning...hello 238. Hope it sticks. I hate the ups and downs of the scale, but I just need to remember that it is the normal up and down fluctuations of my body. It's hard not to be a slave to the numbers. But I know I am eating right and I have really kicked in the exercise this month, so by all rights that should equal a loss. Slow and steady!

HS Reunion Then and Now

Just for fun I thought I would put up the comparison picture of 1990 to 2010. I think my face is thinner now. I think I am getting better with age and hopefully as I move forward toward my weight loss goals I will start living my best life ever. I can hardly imagine a "skinny" me. That person has just never existed as an adult. Being heavier than most of my peers since I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade has shaped so much of my life. I can't wait for the new me to continue to emerge. I think I am going to like her.

I Saw It!

I saw 239 on the scale this morning, but I don't think I am ready to claim it just yet. But woo hoo, at least I saw it! 239 marks the half way point to my initial goal weight of 175. That means I will have lost 64 pounds--just gotta make sure it sticks. Oh what the heck, might as well celebrate it--it's mine!

I had a great time at my 20 year high school reunion this past weekend. It felt so good to show up knowing that I was feeling skinnier rather than fatter than when I was in high school. I wish I could remember what I weighed back then, I know I am close to that weight, and maybe just a little less. It just felt good to have a new outfit on feel like a million bucks in it. I wore a cute little plaid skort (size 20!) and a blue short sleeve hoodie sweater (1X!). The size 18 skort actually zipped, but it was a little tight across the hips, so I opted to buy the 20, but damn, it felt good to try on some new sizes and have to ask the sales lady, "could you please get me a smaller size". Awesome!

Jump Start

In an effort to jump start my weight loss again, I am going to try to walk everyday throughout the month of July. My goal is to do a minimum of 20 minutes each day, but more is better. Anyway, I thought I would blog for some accountability. So here's my minutes for today...and more, might as well repost my minutes here and save some space.

July 1: 20 minutes
July 2: 30 minutes
July 3: 20 minutes (burned some calories dancing at my HS reunion!)
July 4: Darn holiday, didn't get in my walking, oh well!
July 5: 40 minutes at the track with jogging and sprints, woohoo!
July 6: 40 minutes at track with sprints
July 7: 35 minutes at lunchtime
July 8: 25 minutes at lunchtime
July 9: Oops! Didn't have the gumption.
July 10: 30 minutes at the track
July 11: 45 minutes at the track with 5 stairs and 5 inclines, whew!
July 12: 20 minutes at lunchtime + 40 minutes at the track, yippee!
July 13: 45 minutes at track
July 14: 30 minutes at track
July 15: Busy day, didn't find time today
July 16: 40 minutes around neighborhood in the AM
July 17: 50 minutes at the track - 2 1/2 miles! + 40 minutes around town - wow!
July 18: 40 minutes at track
July 19: 40 minutes on vacation
July 20: 40 minutes on vacation
July 21: 40 minutes on vacation
July 22: Too busy, didn't get a walk in today
July 23: 60 minutes at track
July 24: 60 minutes at track
July 25: 60 minutes at track + 30 minutes around neighborhood
July 26: 60 minutes at track
July 27: 60 minutes at track
July 28: 60 minutes at track + 60 minutes at track PM
July 29: 60 minutes at track + 60 minutes at track PM

Not Much to Cheer About

Well, it seems as if the scale has handed me another slow month of weight loss. I wish I knew the secret to this. I suppose it is a good time to reassess my calorie intake and exercise levels. There is always room for improvement I suppose. So officially for the month of June, I lost 2 pounds. But a loss is still a loss. Here's to July! Hope it treats me a little better. I would love to see the upper 230's before the end of the month. :)

Lighter on My Feet in DC

Thought I would share a picture from my recent trip to Washington DC. It's a pretty good profile picture from the side, me and FDR. Little by little I am starting to see some changes in the shape of my body. It's still pretty lumpy in places and maybe it always will be, but I am definitely shrinking. Flabby arms are nasty, it's like somebody deflated a balloon, LOL. For the record, these clothes are a 2X shirt and the capri pants are a 2x (18/20).

On my trip to Washington, I was so pleased to find out that I had more than enough energy for the trip. I was bounding up and down stairways without getting overly winded and I could keep up with the teenagers I was chaperoning. It felt awesome to know that my physical strength has definitely improved in the last few months. What a difference it makes not to be lugging around an extra 60 pounds!

New Number

Well, being away on a trip to Washington DC for about 8 days wasn't too bad on the scale. In fact, even though I felt like I was eating some big meals, I actually ended up seeing 241 on the scale this morning and I think it may have included some water weight too as my rings were so tight. I did an awful lot of walking and sweating too, that ought to be worth a few pounds.

I talked to a good friend of mine and just for kicks we stepped on a scale at one of the truck stops. I was nearly shocked and amazed that I only weighed 20 pounds more than my friend--I never would have guessed that. I have so much mental work to do yet on body image and matching the picture in the mirror with this new and constantly changing shape of mine. Crazy.

Being Away is Hard

I haven't been home in a while and I am leaving for another 7 day stint out of town. I am finding it terribly difficult to eat well away from my home environment. It is so easy to snack and just get too many calories I have not been drinking enough and I know that I am retaining water, I can feel it in my rings. I just can't seem to catch up. I am finding that the scale has come to a complete stand still, and has perhaps crept up just the slightest bit. I have almost been afraid to look. I saw that nice low of 243 quite a while ago and that is all the farther I got. I really need to kick it in gear.

Progress Pics and a Pep Talk

Decided it was time for a progress pic and a pep talk. These photos were taken about 1 year apart. The photo on the left is me at 303 pounds in June 2009 and the photo on the right is me at 243 pounds in June 2010.(I don't think my hips are actually that big in the photo on the right, they are sort of squished against the wall I was leaning against.) Otherwise I can definitely tell a difference in my face and I almost have a waistline back. I know I still have a long way to go yet, but I need to be very proud of how far I have come too. Just think of what a picture next June will hopefully look like. So to all you bandsters out there, don't forget to be your own cheerleader! We all need that. :)

Slow...I Hate Slow

I wish I could figure out this weight loss thing. The scale seems to just slow to a crawl sometimes. Sigh. It takes so long to lose a pound once in a while. I wish I knew the magic formula for good weight loss. Just gotta keep it all in perspective I guess. The pounds will go away eventually. OK, enough belly aching for today.

Iced Tea and Tomatoes

Loving my summer time iced tea. I was finding it hard to get enough water/liquids during the day. I just forget sometimes and then I don't think of it until I am ready to eat. Then of course that is not an option, so I never seem to get enough. But it's like I rediscovered an old stand-by, iced tea. I bought myself a new pitcher, since my old one had sprung a leak so I have been drinking it like it was going out of style.

I think it is really important for me to remember to try lots of new foods. I think I had a habit really limiting myself to the same old high fat, high calorie foods that were a comfort to me. Having to try new things (or find some old favorites) has been a good experience. Tonight for instance, I put tomatoes on my sandwich to add a little pizazz and it was really good. I need to branch out a little bit and try some more things this summer like more fresh fruits and veggies. So much yummyness out there, I just need to be adventurous.