2011 3rd Quarter Results

So it's the last day of the quarter and here are this quarters results:
26 lbs lost
89.5 Hours of exercise
18 inches gone.

I'm happy. It's hard to go from the last quarter which had BIG losses to a more moderate weight loss, but it's still great. Weight loss is always fast in the beginning, this I know and slows down over time. It's still almost 9 lbs a month average, and that is great.

So my grand totals over the three quarters, keeping in mind that I didn't track much in the first quarter: Weight loss: 72 lbs
Hours of Exercise 171.5 PLUS whatever I did in the first quarter (probably 30 or so hours)
Inches: 48.5"!!

Now, a little word about inches. I measure the following things:
Neck
Thigh
Calf
Hips
Stomach (right above belly button)
Waist
Arm
Wrist
Ankle
Chest

I only count one measure for each one - meaning if I lose an inch on my thigh, I only count it once in my total, not twice for my two thighs or arms, etc. I'd rather be conservative on this. But even with that almost 50 inches!! That's A Whole lot!! I didn't meet my personal goal this month, but it's all good.

I'm all good.

Drat!

2 weeks - barely a move on the scale. Frustrating. Will this be the plateau? I'm so annoyed. You see, my body hasn't seen this weight since 1992. I'm not sure what I have to do with it. I can't really lower my calories by much because I've been eating pretty low calories - under 1500 most days. I exercise almost every day. I've exercised more this last quarter than the previous but have lost less. I knew it would slow down eventually....but I wasn't ready yet. Maybe I should have started slower and then decreased my calories little by little, but I didn't do that. I went pedal to the metal and no looking back. I've been reading some that I could increase my calories for a few weeks (gain back a few pounds) and then try again? This just seems so counterproductive! There is still a chance that I could be under 200 lbs by the end of the year, but if I've been losing like I've lost this month, it won't happen. My very initial goal I made at the beginning of the year was to be 212 by 2012. This will surely happen, even if it's a snail's pace to get there. I only need to lost 6 more lbs or so to get there. It will happen. Well, I'm off to Body Pump! Have a Happy Thursday!

Changing it up

I decided I need to change up my food a little bit. I've been pretty much stuck despite adding exercise to my week! After reading a bit, I figure my body has just gotten used to what I've been eating, so I need to give it a little shake up. I did have a bad day yesterday. I think I'm so stressed that in two weeks the scale has not moved at all that I figured I'd try to trick my metabolism by having a semi-binge day. Ok, so that's kind of stupid, but I don't like this desperate feeling. I know, I know....just keep moving forward and the weight will come off. But this is the first time I really feel like freaking out because it isn't moving. I'm not in TOM, I've added exercise, I'm drinking my water....but nothing.. GRR....so I'm changing it up. Let's see what happens!!

I Rock!!

So I had a very good time at the women's retreat. I felt very included in the group, the food was great, the scenery was awesome. The speaker was pretty good as well. And I tried climbing a ROCK WALL!. I have never done it, never even thought about doing it, but I did. I made it about half way up before my hands started to hurt alot, but here are some photos!!

So Rock on, ladies and gentlemen...Rock on!!

Is September a Struggle?

I've noticed that blogging has slowed down quite a bit the past two weeks and it led me to wonder whether people are not blogging because they are busy or because they are struggling. September has been incredibly slow for me, partly my fault and partly unexplainable. I am working out more since the kids are in school, but I've had a few extra calories as I've celebrated my birthday, but the scale is pretty much stuck despite balancing those out. I'm heading this weekend to Lake Geneva, WI for a women's retreat with my church. I'm not super excited about it because honestly I don't know hardly any of the women but I was able to secure a room to myself and at the very least it's a weekend for Mommy to get away and be rejuvenated. I'm also trying to put myself out there and get rid of this fear of meeting new people at church, since people in our last church did a lot of damage. I'm so tired. It's dark in the mornings and gets dark early. I think I need to be aware of this as well, because winter is coming and it is a time where it is a lot easier to fore go the exercising and just stay home and stuff my face! Happy Thursday everyone.

Gym Peeps

I am so thankful for the people that I've met at the fitness center. They give me so much encouragement on a daily basis. Right now this has been so essential to me. I've been kind of "afraid" of people since we left our last church almost a year ago. I was very hurt by people that I looked up to. People made me feel so worthless, like my ideas didn't matter, my skills weren't important. Do you know how hard that is to bounce back from?

My gym peeps though - they rejoice when I rejoice, they get annoyed when I get annoyed...they notice how hard I work and affirm me.

I was planning to step out this weekend and head to a women's retreat with my church, but the rooming situation didn't work out. I'm okay about it. I just need to put myself out there and not be so afraid. I've done great things for myself and I need to remember to be proud of myself, who I am and who I am becoming.

My body can't handle it anymore...

It was my birthday weekend, which meant that it was the weekend of eating out and going a little crazy. Thursday I went to lunch with a friend and ate a sausage cheese stromboli. I didn't finish it and I ordered it without sauce. Friday I went to lunch and had a turkey wrap with bacon and avocado - again no sauce. Then there was the disgustingly sweet Baskin Robbins Ice Cream cake for dessert. Then the night out with the girls - some appetizers and a glass of wine. Then a salmon and bacon wrap for lunch yesterday. There were a few packs of pop tarts thrown in for good measure this weekend as well.

Can I tell you, my body is not happy. I have so much gas, and yet I'm constipated. Today I am not eating at all. I'll drink my water, but I've got to work out what's in my body now. I'm not upset with what I ate at all. I rarely let myself indulge to that extent. I did a double work out Friday in preparation. Yesterday I did a 30 minute hike with a friend. I'm just shocked at how my body reacted. Eating all that stuff used to be my normal life EVERY DAY and my body just adjusted to it.

I'm glad it's adjusted to something new. I had a perfect birthday, morning til midnight and I'm excited for my 37th year. Starting it by weighing what I weighed in high school is a great start!!!

Have a good sunday!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today is my 37th birthday! It's closer to 40 than I'd like, but I'm okay with it. I dye my hair and I have great skin, so I look closer to 30 than 40 on a good day! My husband got me a fabulous new yoga mat with dragonflies and hydrangeas. (ok, so I picked it out and he bought it, but still.) I was a little bummed because the one mat that I loved even more is only available in Canada and will NOT ship to the US! WTF! I'm willing to pay people! But no..apparently if it is not Media Mail, they won't ship. GRRRR...

I plan to work out, then have lunch with a good friend, then shop for a new top, then eat icecream cake from Baskin Robbins! (woohoo!) and then go to a bar to celebrate with some girlfriends (one of which is turning 30 today). I'm not really into the bar scene, but since this girl is 30 I figured, "Let her live it up."

I got a no-chip manicure yesterday and so far - NO CHIPS! I actually prefer the process to regular polish - it dries much faster. We'll see how it holds up!

Have a great Friday people!!

Stress and the Food Monster

Ok, so this is not a post about how I totally blew it and ate a whole box of Little Debbie snack cakes (which has been done MANY times in the past), but rather the acknowledgement that when my stress level goes up, all I want to do is stuff my face.

I can be honest and say that I do not always have this Food Monster under control. It's only been these last 6 months that I've even come close and have often times even failed. But I'm glad when my stress level went up that I reached for my computer to blog and not to the snack cupboard to chow.

I'm a happy lady.

What Happens When the Compliments End

Something is on my mind today. I am wondering what will happen when the compliments aren't coming as much or stop all together. I know I'm not near it yet, but it will happen. There's such a high from hearing so constantly how great I look, how well I am doing, etc. So what happens when the hurrahs die out? How will that impact my journey. I know it's premature to think about it, but I worry a little bit. If you've made it to your goal, how do you deal with it...does it matter by that point or will I be so pleased with myself that I won't care what others say? I still have a lot to lose so I still see all the fat even though I've done very well so far.

I had a great spin class and body pump class today. I'm working hard this week since my birthday is Friday and I have a few lunches out and will surely have some cake on the day!

6 months ago...

I stopped drinking Diet Coke
I committed to working out.
I was 65 lbs heavier.

I used to get frustrated that weight loss was so slow, but it's not really. I used to hear people say "You didn't put it on overnight, it won't come off that way." But really..in 6 months I have almost wiped away 20 years of weight gain. I am 7 lbs away from being what I weighed as a junior in high school...which would be 16 years old. It really isn't that long of a time period considering.

Sure, we would all like to wake up thin, and we surely didn't wake up fat. But really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't take that long if we commit. (There are exceptions for those who battle thyroid conditions and insulin problems).

I hope I inspire people. I hope that I can be proof that it can and does come off. Not overnight, but more quickly than it came or stayed on.

Happy Monday!

Feeling Blah

Maybe it's 09/11. Maybe it's hormonal. Maybe it's the stress of potential negative news from the doctor. I've got the blahs.

I'm avoiding most of 09/11 coverage. I worked in Boston, where the planes took off, in 2001. We had a client in the towers that perished. The planes flew so low in Boston for the next few weeks, I felt at any minute a Boston building would be hit. I remember it very well. It was also the day I said screw it to weight loss and then gained and gained and gained. I couldn't ever forget it.

My eating today though is fine. I'm not about to say screw it to the last 6 months of working out. I'm in it for the long haul.

We had a dance party at the fitness center on Friday. 1 hour and 20 minutes of Shbam, BodyJam and Zumba. Here's a photo of me with 4 instructors who really motivate and inspire me. This is an AWESOME picture of me. I think I look much thinner here than I actually am!

Exercise Goal #2 Met!

Well, I met my second exercise goal with 20 days to spare! I lessened the goal from last quarter because we went on vacation on a couple of times and the kids were home from school so I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it to the fitness center enough. Apparently, there was no need!

Yesterday, I was very naughty eating though. I had gotten a bunch of snack foods for the kids and I went on kind of a smorgasbord of snack foods. Oh well. I did go an dance for an hour and 20 minutes last night. I'm not even sure what happened to make me do that. Oh well. Today is a new day. That is one of my mottoes. It really helps me from staying in bad patterns!

Have a great weekend.

A Blog Give Away

Hilary over at The Big Weight is having a Starbucks gift card giveaway! Yesterday, I nominated Hilary for the Liebster Blog award, so here's ANOTHER great reason to check her out!!!

Sorry if it's confusing!

I've changed the title of this blog recently, as you might have noticed or it came up in your blog roll. Part of the reason was because I found that great quote by George Elliot and I find it inspiring. I guess too that it's been 30 lbs since I've been bigger than a baby elephant, so I needed something new. Sorry if it's confused you.

I need to remember that it isn't too late for me (and it's not for you either!) to do what I've always wanted to do. To be My best self. So this motivates me!

I've now lost 70 lbs this year! That is so very exciting. So much. I've never lost this much weight before. Heck, it's 20 lbs MORE than I've ever lost!! If I can accomplish this, I know I can accomplish anything!!

I'm an Award Winner

Leah, over at My New Ending has given me a blog award!! Leah is a loving mom and wife who is working towards health, like many of us. She loves God, and is also working on the Couch 2 5K program (which I never really finished, but I did jog/walk a 5K!

"Liebster is German for friend or love." The point of the award to is to recognize blogs with less than 200 followers. I am to pick 5 blogs to share with you, so here are my picks, in no particular order!

1. Melissa over at Little Miss Married is Maintaining Victory is close to 200 followers. She battles insulin resistance but has been losing little by little the last few months!!

2. Rae Rae J over at Losing 147 is on a quest to lose and she's doing well. I love how she analyzes what she is doing and things about ways to make it better!

3. Dawn at A New Dawn is brave and does NOT use the scale. She goes only by clothes sizes and this year she's dropped 5 sizes! Her blog always has fabulous pictures! She's a great gal too, always encouraging!

4. Need to Get Me Back. Sadly, I do not even know this bloggers real name, but that doesn't keep me from reading her blog! She writes honestly about successes and trials. She's lost over 70 lbs, so she's surely had some great success!

5. Hilary over at The Big Weight is working on the New Rules of Lifting for Women. I love how she works out with her husband Joel, too! She records her goals and often gives us recipes. I confess that I do not know how many people follow her, but it's a great site and deserves the recognition!

So, check these ladies out when you have a chance (if you aren't already!) They are all fabulous in my book! (Really, check out anyone in my blog roll...You are ALL fabulous! - that's why I read you!) And pass on the award to those you know are deserving of it!!

Happy Thursday!

The Results are In!

Blood work results came back today, there's good...and well...read on.

Triglycerides: 98 (should be under 150)
Cholesterol: 150 (should be under 200)
HDL (good chol): 50 (should be greater than 40)
LDL: (bad chol): 80 (should be less than 130)
Glucose: 84 (should be between 75-99)

I expected some things to be higher than June because I've added eggs pretty much every day. I am pleased that my good cholesterol is now where it should be and that my Glucose number is lower than it was.


These were JUNE 22 results for comparison.

Tryglycerides: 96 (should be under 150)
Cholesterol: 136 (should be under 200)
HDL (good chol) 39 (should be greater than 40)
LDL (bad chol)78 (should be less than 130)
Glucose 91 (should be between 75-99)

So here's the rather annoying, I want to kick someone news that made me get emotional and cry a minute. My TSH levels (thyroid/pituitary function) are low. TSH 2011 - .014
TSH 2009 - .893. So what are the symptoms of low TSH? Weight loss. I can't tell you how unbelievable upset it makes me to have my weight loss attributed to my thyroid (which I have unsuccessfully tried to blame for my obesity my whole life even though the results always came back as normal). I have worked HARD. I have stopped eating bad things, I have exercised nearly an hour EVERY day. So f*!$ you TSH levels. You may not have the credit.

I will have them rechecked in one month.

Subtracting Pounds, Adding Life

I have taken out a lot of things in my life. I've taken out high caloric meals, fatty snacks (mostly) fast food. I've taken away sitting on the couch/chair all day long. By subtracting these pounds, I'm adding to my life.

Not just adding exercise, but I've noticed other changes too. I shave my legs nearly every shower (I hated my body so much before I hardly ever did). I wear make up much more often just for the heck of it. I wear jewelry now because I'm not afraid to have people looking towards any part of my body (I was so minimalist because I didn't want anyone to look at ANY part of my body). I've added smiles and smiles to my days that weren't there before.

I'd be my friend today if I met me. Probably not before. I was so insecure. I still have those moments and probably will the rest of my life, but I'm able to reach out without as much fear. I'm worthwhile knowing and I'm starting to really believe it.

:) Loving life.

Cycling Success

Two years ago I posted this:

http://biggerthanababyelephant.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-could-i-forget-to-mention-bicycle.html

I did not do that loop again until today. I was probably about 280 plus pounds then. I rode today at least 60 lbs lighter and I did NOT have to stop and rest at all and I did NOT need to walk my bike up the hill.

To think about it, it makes sense. If I were to walk around carrying 60 lbs in my arms, I'd be tuckered out right away. It's these continually apparent things that make me want to continue to succeed!!

I hope you have a restful Labor Day!

I am Balanced.

Over a year ago, I started going to therapy because I had been having really negative reactions to other people's positive things (which is NOTHING like me...I'm a rejoice when you rejoice type of Gal!) Something was out of whack and I was living in a self pity, woe is me type of mentality (some of it maybe justified) and even the happiest news for someone else would make me cry in sadness because my life was never that good or easy.

I can say honestly, nothing was balanced in my life then. My eating was out of whack, I didn't exercise much, my parenting was not consistent, I wasn't always treating my husband very well. I went to church, but I hated it. I spent too many hours dwelling on squabbles with friends past and present. I was a mess.

I was able to say goodbye to my therapist on Friday. She told me that I have achieved a lot more balance in my life and that I'm one of the most balanced people she has been seeing. I eat well, exercise well, I have balanced my friend life between church and non-church. She said she sees it so much in my demeanor. I feel good. I don't stress about little things so much. I'm embracing life in a way I haven't done in a very long time. (if ever)

Today we took the girls on a bike ride along the river. We rode about 6 miles. Fun times!

Sometimes you just need a little rest!

I was supposed to take Pilates this morning, but I'm pooped. I did a few double workouts this week, so I think I need some much deserved rest. I'm curious how most people break down their calories per day. Do you eat more at breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Right now I eat about (approximately)
Breakfast: 400 calories
Lunch: 400-500 calories
Dinner: around 500-600 calories (I think...this is the most varying meal)
Snacks: 200 per day.

How do you break down yours?

How far I've come

The last time I visited the doctor in April, it was for that serious, possible hernia. (which resolved itself quickly. In just the basic stats for BP and Resting Heart rate there was a huge improvement:

Resting heartrate: In April: 70 Today: 52
Blood pressure: In April: 120/80 Today: 110/68

This means that I have moved from the Pre-hypertension stage into the Normal stage for blood pressure! NORMAL (my one of my favorite words). And the 52 resting heart rate is BELOW normal which means I am in good cardio-vascular health! GO ME! YAY!!!

Here is a very good quote. It might be my new favorite!

"It's never too late to be who you might have been" - George Eliot

Shout out for September!!

So, was your August astounding? Mine was good, but maybe not astounding. I had a loss of 9 lbs. Less than prior months, but it's pretty stellar.

But let's hear it for September!! WOOHOO!! Seriously, September is my most favorite month of the year. Probably because it has my birthday it in, but really because it was always back to school (and I loved school) and the weather gets cooler, the leaves begin to change... I love it!

With the kids in school, I'll be adding a bit more activity (ie walking the dog, adding fitness classes here and there.) I already work out a lot, but if I'm not doing anything else, why not?

Tomorrow is my annual doctor visit. I'm excited to go in weighing much less than I was the last time :) It's a happy day!