Getting back on track....

I haven't blogged since September and lately I've been sort of in a weight loss slump, a crappy "plateau".  I was always so careful about this happening within my first year at Weight Watchers and only gained 2x in 1 year!  But now I lose, gain, lose, gain.  It's been a yoyo and it's driving me CRAZY!!  I've only lost 35 pounds in 8 months so I decided I needed to get back to basics...back to the beginning of all of this to find what made me so successful.  It's starting with my blog's...it was another way to keep me motivated and that's what I need!!  My next goal is to get to 200 pounds lost.  I'm in this again and keeping my focus on getting it done before my 2 year mark!!  I know I can do this!!

Breaking Goals and making new ones...

I can not believe how much I've changed and grown since I first started going to the gym in January.  I remember when I first started, I was absolutely terrified!  I was embarrassed about my size and sweating and looking like an idiot on the treadmill cause I was walking so slow.  I was also afraid of trying new work outs and I would only do the treadmill for a good 3 months before I even looked at anything else.  As I got stronger, I got braver.  I started setting goals for myself.  My initial goal when I first got on that treadmill was to just get to a mile on a steady basis.  I could barely do .8 miles in 45 minutes.  So as my strength increased my new goal became 30 min miles, then 20, then 15.  I finally got to 15 yesterday!!!!  But tonight was more than I ever dreamed...I did 2 miles in less than 30 minutes!!!!!  I was also at a pretty steep incline the entire time.  I'm so proud of myself!  I never stopped once.  I didn't even want to.  Each step made me feel so empowered!  I actually enjoy the sweat now because I know it's working and I am certainly not embarrassed anymore at all!!  I walk in that gym like I'm meant to be there and I absolutely love this new me!!  My new goal is set to jog/run for half a mile without walking.  This is going to be tough but I know I can do anything I set out to do...I will not let myself down!

Happy Anniversary to my new Life!!!!

I can not believe how fast a year goes by.  Over the past, short year my life has changed dramatically!  Exactly 1 year ago today, I walked into Weight Watchers scared to death, reluctant and hopeless.  I was in extremely poor health.  High blood pressure, borderline high cholesterol and probably one donut away from diabetes.  I couldn't even walk up the stairs in my house without becoming winded and needing a break before I carried on with whatever I needed to get done.  I was very lazy.  A regular couch potato.  I never, ever exercised.  I had horrific eating habits and could easily eat fast food for every meal.  I was also afraid of everything.  I would make up an excuse to skip school functions for my kids because I just couldn't stand having people stare at me.  I would get to a destination early just so I could circle around looking for the closest spot to park in.  I had become accustomed to my limited movement and maximum appetite.  I would watch weight loss t.v. shows (while sitting on my butt with a junk food) wishing that could be me, but never dreaming it could be.  I had even contimplated surgery.  That was before I walked through those doors of my first meeting at Weight Watchers.       

What a difference a year makes.  12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days.  That's all it took for me to completely change my life and become a new person.  I never thought in a million years that I would be blogging 1 year later with a 156 pounds lost and a near perfect bill of health.  No more blood pressure and labs are great!  I have gained so much more during these past few months than I ever thought possible.  I have gained confidence, power, strength but most importantly I am more healthy today than I have been in 20 years.  The outlook I have on life is so bright.  This life is better than the woman I was could have imagined or dreamed, watching other people living their lives and wishing it could be me.  It is me.  I am still amazed at how I can easily walk anywhere without pain and shortness of breath.  I have so much energy, I can hardly sit still.  I am always up and moving.  My body craves it.  My willpower is so strong.  I can easily pass on junk food and I use food for fuel rather than pleasure and never over eat.  I no longer get stares or whispers.  People treat me like everyone else, no longer feeling sorry for me. 

I have so many people to thank for helping me get through this past year.  My friends and family have been a catalyst to my success.  All of their encouragement and love pushed me through the more difficult days and gave me the boost I needed every week to continue success.  I will continue to take you all with me as I keep this journey going and look forward to my new, long life with you in my corner.  I am blessed and lucky and I love you all from the bottom of my heart.    

Cheers to life! 

It's been an interesting month...

I just realized I haven't blogged in a month!  I'm still losing weight and working out, but it's been a busy month...vacations and work...work and vacations.  I guess that's what I work for.  In the last month I have only lost about 6 pounds, which is nothing really special to report.  I am however, extremely happy about the progress I've been making on my work outs!  My trainer (I love saying that) has increased my workouts from a 10% to a 100%!  He has me running sprints on the treadmill, then I go to 4 ab exercises, the 4 core balance sets and then to the weight room for 8 different sets of weights with 2 sets each.  This is extreme sports to me.  I can't even believe my body is allowing me to do this.  When I started this weight loss journey in September of last year, I couldn't even go around my block without gasping for air and stopping at least twice and it still amazes me when I finish my hour and a half work out consisting of all those strenuous activities.  So I've been told I'm gaining muscle, but I just don't know.  I think it has to do with the fact that lately I have been saying oh one bite won't hurt and it's really not like me to do that.  So I will get back to basics and start over with my strict regimen and hopefully I can get over the plateau slump I'm in.  One thing is for sure, I could not do any of it without going to my meetings every week and definitely not do it without the support of my friends and family...love you all!     

Goal is set...now it's crunch time!

OK, I came out of the gate pretty strong with my weight loss...but now I feel like I am at a strange plateau.  I'm not gaining weight at all, but I am not losing a lot either.  I make really good choices with the food I eat, I'm at the gym a minimum of 3 days per week and I have never missed a meeting at Weight Watchers and yet, I'm still only losing a small amount each week.  I still have not gained any weight, but I'm always so fearful of that especially when I go to my meeting and only lose .4 pounds.  This could have easily swung the other way.  I'm in a phase right now where I am experimenting with different ways to boost my work-outs, metabolism, etc.  Anyway, I fully expect to continue on this journey with these ups and downs.  My next goal is 150 pounds lost by September 13th.  That's exactly 1 year from the day I started Weight Watchers.  I figured it out and I need to lose a minimum of 1.8 per week in order to meet this goal.  I think I can obtain this and in the past when I've had a very specific goal in mind, I have made it work!  Once again, I am so lucky to have the supportive family and friends to help me along and support these highs and lows.  Lots of love to you all!!

Beachin' summer day...

I had an amazing day yesterday at the beach with just about everyone I truly love here.  Missing my family of coarse and handful of other people... but overall everyone came out to Newport for a birthday party..yeah, I want to have my birthday at the beach too ;)  It was glorious and beautiful.  I love the ocean so much.  So peaceful and serene.  I was so relaxed.  The best thing about it was comparing it to my experience in the past.  Last summer I had the hardest time walking in the sand from the car to the water.  I had to stop to catch my breath, I was winded and I dreaded having to walk back to use the bathroom because I knew I'd have to tackle the awful walk back through the sand.  I was so debilitated.  I just lived with it for so long and accepted that I was no an active person.  I was wrong.  I did have an active person inside just hiding behind my weight.  This experience was way different.  I walked several times through the sand.  I ran through the sand.  I RAN through the sand....WTH???!!!  YES!!  That feeling was amazing.  This was nothing like I've experienced in a really, really long time.  I even surprised myself.  My body continues to amaze me as I find new things it can do that it could not before.  I am so proud of myself for this accomplishment.  I remember dreading summer in the past.  The heat, the outdoor activity, the bathing suit...gooo.  But now, I am so happy it's summer.  These are the months I will now look forward to from now on.  Yay summer!

Came through a plateau with flying colors...

I haven't blogged since I got back from vacation mostly because I was in a rotten plateau, something I've been dreading since say one of starting Weight Watchers.  Everyone warned me about it, but I stayed a step ahead of it at every turn.  So when I went to Disneyland, I thought all the walking would help me out in keeping the dreaded plateau at bay.  However, my body thought differently and it happened.  In fact, I only lost 1 pound over a 3 week period of time.  I was devestated each time I stood on that scale and only lost .2 or .4.  UGH!  So frusterating!  I was not going over my points at all.  So, a couple of weeks ago I got really sick and thought for sure I would gain weight, but I didn't.  I drank a ton of water, ate really fresh food and I ended up losing 11 pounds.  Thank goodness!!!  I finally went back to the gym after 19 days of being on vacation or sick and it felt amazing!  I really feel my body craves the gym.  I went 3 days in a row and then weighed in last Thursday for another 5.4 pounds!  I even had a stay-cation with my hubby and we had room service and cocktails and still came out with a "W" for the week.  I know it wasn't much of a plateau, but for me and the dedication I have to this journey, it was rough for me.  But now I know I don't have to be afraid of it because it will happen again and I will get though it. 

One thing the dreaded plateau can not take away from me is how great I feel.  I have so much more confidence in myself.  I feel so comfortable in my own skin.  I even bought a new bathing suit and didn't have to wear a cover up or stay wrapped in a towel by the pool.  Thats a first for me in years and years.  I couldn't be more happy and I'm looking forward to getting even more fit!  What a great summer this will be :)