Out of the Frying Pan

And into the fire... Some things of note:

I cancelled my Y membership today and I'm feeling a little nervous about it. This year, I intend to generally track my progress a la Bridget Jones by marking down where I start the year and periodically (but not on any given schedule) checking in with myself. Maybe if I'm good, Collin Firth will show up and think I'm perfect, just the way I am. :)

I registered on Christmas Eve for my first half marathon. So far I am up to 12 (very tough) miles in my long runs but my running group is going strong. Most people are going to run a later race, but I've got to be up for 13.1 miles on January 27th. It's making me a little nervous.

I've been trying to keep my eating under control but this last month has been stressful. I nearly lost my dad to an infection of his blood right around Thanksgiving, and then a couple weeks ago they diagnosed him as being in the early stages of Alzheimer's (which, if I'm being honest, I really figured before he went for all the testing). Add in the holidays and you have a perfect recipe for a girl who will eat WAY more chocolate pie than is good for her. But now that the holiday is over, I will eat my black eyed peas tomorrow and get myself back on track. I swear, though, my life used to be a lot more laid back than I feel like it has been this past year.

I have decided that my goal for 2008 is to run my first (only?) marathon in the fall. It will be tough since training starts in May and runs clean through the fiery Texas summer (there's a reason "hotter'n hell" is a common response when discussing the weather down here) but I think I can do it.

I've decided that I'm going to try and make weight loss less of a priority in the new year. Instead, I intend to focus on living the lifestyle that I want to - eating good, healthy, nutritious foods, continuing to run, and enjoying opportunities that come my way - and see where that leads. If I start gaining again, we may have to re-think this strategy, but this is basically the strategy I started out in the first year of this blog and it worked well for me. Over the past year I have been more fixated on weight and as a result (?) I've gone nowhere fast. I'll keep you updated on how it's going.

Finally, I'm so proud of each of you for what you've accomplished in the last year. Some of you had tremendous losses that reflect your hard work and dedication to yourselves. Others managed to maintain your weight at a level that a year or two ago may have seemed unimaginable. And still others found in themselves a strength and endurance to go beyond what you thought you were capable of and push yourselves to excel. I am proud of you all, I love you all, and wish everyone many blessings in the New Year.

New Year - NO resolutions

There's a new year a-comin. There are new starts to calendars, new years to write on checks, new clothes from presents and new hopes for health and success.

But there is one thing that should remain absent from the new year.

Resolutions.

Why? Well - why start out your year with a goal that will probably be over-zealous and depress you if you fail? Why value the new year more than the true goals of your heart?
A Monday is a good day to start a new thing. So is a Friday. So is a New Years...but do the days you choose to start a good thing matter? No. Its the goal in your heart that motivates you - not the calendar.

So do yourselves a favor. Pour yourselves a glass of water. Resolve in your heart to continue drinking it thru the day. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, next year, but we know that NOW is the time for good choices.

Setting yourself up for Success by NOT making resolutions? Sounds odd - but I'll take it!

Hi there all!

Well, I thought I would write and let you all know how things are going on this front. I am glad that our visitors have left the building, LOL, it was stressful having my in laws over for a week. Eating was hard. I was so swollen after a couple of days of dining out with them and now my hands and feet are just getting back to normal. I love having a schedule which is pretty much empty. It was getting nutzo around here. The house is a wreck, but we are all happy and together, and not expecting company, so what does it matter.

I weighed in at 160 on last Friday and then by Christmas was up to 168. Pure water gain. I am back to 162 by doing nothing other than drinking lots of water and eating again as I should, meaning mostly veggies and seafood. I don't know if I will be at 160 this week or not. Auntie Flo will be dumping her magic hormones on me again soon, but I am relieved to be rid of the excess fluid. It was a real pain. I mean it too, my joints ached, I had headaches, I felt completely unwell from eating crap foods. And it's not like I went overboard. I was still under 1700 cals a day, but it was a lot of processed stuff and white flour and some things that I usually shun, like sausage.

So, I am now adding in a couple of things that I have been shirking in the past months, weight lifting and push ups and crunches. Trying to get this bod more firmed, because, well, bathing suit season cometh shortly. I wonder what size I will be wearing this year. Last year I was in a size 26. I think that this year I will be in a 12 at the very biggest. Oh, shopping for a swim suit will be fun, don't you think?

Fear of the Scaley Tale

How was your Christmas, y'all? Am I the only one who is afraid to get on the scale?

Letting your Left hand know what your Right is eating

I am schizophrenic. I know because I make glorious statements of health and well being. Then, not an hour later I have a second brownie in my hand headed towards my mouth. Yet, I really believe that I do want to lose weight, tone up and look great.

With one hand, I pour a glass of water and with the other I forage around the cupboard for something to sabotage myself with. That is plain double minded.

Its just how hard it is to wean ones self off stress eating. So, in the hopes of confession and repentance, I'm posting here to say that I went from 151 to 156 in one week. I'm ashamed.

However, maybe with a little support I'll get back down towards the 50s and maybe even break into my goal of dipping into the 140s. I am so close...but I don't have the determination of Kristina. What to do? I'm not a runner...I'm not a counter, I'm not even a weight watcher.

Back to my water, my goals and my attempts. Its not over until the fat lady sings, and I've got my mouth clamped. For now at least.

Mini-Goal!!

Surprise, surprise, surprise!!

I got on the scale after my walk, and that's after 20 ounces of water and my fiber one bar this morning and I weight ---- drum roll please:

160!

10 lbs left to go

MVM Fun

I was playing around today with My Virtual Model, trying on different outfits, trying to visualize the difference 40 pounds can make. I decided that with the right clothes I look pretty darn good now, but at my goal weight I am HOT. Hee!Hee! Anyway, here I am. Like my hairdo?



And here I am stripped down. If only my skin were as smooth and nice in real life. I have a feeling that even at my goal weight I'll find something to be unhappy about when I look in the mirror, and that perhaps, is the more important transformation we all need to make -- becoming happy with who we are, seeing and loving ourselves the way God loves us.

Opinions Requested

So, I would like your opinions.

I have been a member of the Y where I work out for almost 5 years, at a cost of $53 per month, and I have (ahem) not been the best at getting my money's worth. I love the ability to go swim indoors during the winter, but I rarely take advantage of it. I have to try every trick in the book to get myself there to work out and now that I'm running 4x per week outside, I hardly ever go to the Y anymore. And when I do, I have to force myself to go because I don't look forward to it like I used to.

So here is my question: would you keep the membership?

The running classes that I have been taking are not terribly expensive - around $80 for a 6-week class - and I intend to keep taking them through the next year. I can afford both, but as long as I am running, the chances of me actually getting to the Y are slim to none (since I work out with our group so frequently, I rationalize that I don't have to go to the gym) and I feel a little like I may be simply wasting resources by maintaining my Y membership. I can think of things to do with the $600 a year it costs me. On the other hand, my options are greater at the Y since it has facilities for racketball, swimming, yoga classes, and things other than running.

So what would you do? If I drop my membership, I will likely do it at the end of the year - a short couple of weeks away - so let me know.

Lisa

A little Then and Now

I haven't posted pictures in a long time because I haven't lost any weight since September, but I thought I'd post a couple now. It's kinda fun to see the difference between now and last year.


It's my husband and I last summer, and then one of me this past weekend. I wasn't quite at my highest weight during the summer of 2006. I packed on a few more during the fall and winter. A picture from last Christmas would be interesting, but I don't have one.

Here's one from January with another recent one:

This Photo Was Taken in the Future

I thought that since I'm so close to breaking into the 140s that I would try to help myself and have a boost by literally seeing even further. So, I took a photo of what my scale WILL look like when I'm at my goal weight.

I have been losing over the past few weeks, but its been a recent decrease. I haven't weighed 135 since in back in the 90s when I would use a 135-140 base weight.

As I am approaching my 40s I want to make sure I wrestle and master this area of my life. It feels crucial.


How will I do it? Drinking water number ONE. If I can JUST do this ONE thing, I'm sure I will be overall more healthy. Who doesn't want that? I'm starting small, but I'm aiming high!

Checking In

Hi Y'all!

Well, it's been awhile since I checked in and I've been totally derelict in the Jingle Jiggle Challenge - and for that I'm sorry. I've been eating good, healthy food but I've also been hitting the holiday indulgences (well, most of them) but I don't feel bad about it.

I am not much of a drinker and I never really have been. I have a friend, however, who really needed to quit. He and I talked, and argued, and negotiated, and finally he agreed that he needed to quit. As a show of solidarity, I quit too. That took out all of maybe a glass of wine each month, but I will take my calorie losses wherever I can take them. So this year, my cup of holiday cheer is most likely Diet Dr Pepper. Now if I can just start getting more water.

On the exercise front, however, I'm still doing well, it's keeping me busy, and is part of the reason I haven't had much time to post lately. I ran in the Whiterock Marathon relays a couple of weeks ago and after that, the running class I was taking through our area running shop was over. The next set of classes don't start until a couple weeks into January and that meant that for over 6 weeks I would be on my own as far as running was concerned and that was just a set up for failure. I'm kind of proud of myself for this, but since there were no formal classes during this time I started my own by getting a bunch of my classmates excited about the winter half marathons, coming up with a training schedule, organizing everyone by email, coordinating the logistics on our long runs, and generally serving as the team touchstone. Long story short, I am now running a half marathon class for nearly 20 people just to make sure that I will keep running over the holidays - and it is completely working. I feel like I can't skip any runs since I'm coordinating things and I've been sticking with the training schedule since I have other people around me who are abiding by it too.

So last weekend (at 5:30 a.m.) we ran over 10 miles around the lake and through several neighborhoods. If you had told me in August that I could have ever done that - much less enjoyed it - I would have thought you crazy. But there you have it: 10 miles, 1 hour and 45 minutes, 1342 calories burned, and an icepack later and I'm the fittest I may have ever been. And it feels great.

I hope everything is going well for the rest of you. Elicia, I love the newest addition to your family menagerie and Jennifer - keep with your walking, you total weight-losing rock star!

Lisa

Just for Fun!

This is Sir Rudy.

He is the newest member of our household. He comes to us from the loving family of Fretland and he's getting on nicely.

That makes...
Three dogs: Blackjack, Baretta and Mr Bill
Two birds: Sir Pretzel and Sir Rudy
and one fish: Bernice.

We're a happy menagerie!

Motivated

I've decided it's time to move the rest of this extra weight I'm carrying. As happy as I am with the way I look, and as much as I enjoy shopping for clothes now, I'm still not at my goal weight. If I'm being really honest with myself, when I look in the mirror I can see every one of those forty pounds I'm still wanting to lose.

I haven't lost any weight since September, and I don't think it's a coincidence that after the 3-day in September I pretty much stopped walking. So this week I walked every day, and wonder of wonders, I lost 2 pounds. My mood is also vastly improved. I think I've been experiencing the beginnings of my annual gray and gloomy Northwest depression. It seems to start with insomnia, which leads to fatigue and lack of motivation. Well, the good news is that thanks to my experience with training for the 3-day, I know that walking really kicks my depression in the butt.

So, my new goal is to lose roughly a pound and a half a week, which I will do by walking at least five days a week, and eating regular healthy meals and snacks. It worked for the first forty pounds, right? I know the last pounds may be harder to lose, and if that happens I'll need a new shot in the butt to do what it takes to lose them, but for now I think my plan will get some results.

Yay for water!

Thanks (in part) to all the water reminders this week, I lost half a pound this week!

That might not sound like much, but after gaining two pounds in two weeks, it's great.

I've already had two glasses this morning, by the way!

Water Time Girls!

If you have a right hand, take it and grab a glass.

With the left hand, open the tap and let water fall into the glass.

When it is full, use the right had to put it up to your mouth.

DRINK.

Then post to me that you did!

(Melissa!)

6 month pictures!

I have lost 105 pounds and have gone from size 26/28 4x to 16/18 XL clothes. I am feeling great and think I am looking great too :) at least my hubby thinks I am looking pretty hot. Thanks for all of your support.

The Christmas Chin Wishes You Happy Holidays - AGAIN!

an oldie, but still make me laugh!

This is how my sister in Atlanta remembers me, and this is how I am now!

Yeah, my younger sister Heidi is planning to come up to Washington around the New Year. I've not seen her in 2 1/2 years, since we took our family down to Georgia for vacation. Talk about motivating me to keep on track. I want to blow her away when I see her again. It's such a trip for me to see these photos of myself... It feels like a lifetime ago. I am a new woman, in many different ways. : )

If your first name starts with a Consonant....

GO GET A GLASS OF WATER AND DRINK IT UP.


NOW!


I'll wait here until you are done (AHEM, MELISSA)


- love,

the waterbearer

Me and my first Post

So I've finally figured out how to get on here and post! YIPPIE! Now if it only takes me this long to loose 50 pounds I'd be a happy girl! ~HaHa

I've had 2 babies in the last 3 years, and how the marks to prove it-:=}

Since we've decided we are done having babies, it's now time to 'get to work'. I don't yet have a game plan, other than getting a membership at 24 hour fitness and honoring a comitment to go at least 3 days a week. This is realistic for me right now. I'm also comiting to better eating, but giving myself some room over these great holidays. I'd just dissapoint myself otherwise.

Bought some jeans and tops...

I bought a pair of jeans today.
I grabbed them, a size 10
didn't try them on...I figured if they didn't fit then they should fit within a few weeks.

I also purchased some cute tops - its been a long while since I bought anything new, so it is fun.

Wheeee!

Tearing up that elliptical!

This week at the Y, I broke my record three times for calories burned for a thirty minute session. THREE times! Yesterday, I burned a whopping 534 calories in just half of an hour. Before that, my record was 509, and before that, it was 491. ( I know, I'm a numbers freak). : ) But the point is, I'm pressing forward to make progress. I just keep increasing the intensity. Watching The Biggest Loser this week really motivated me too. I mean, if they can do it, SO CAN I! If Jan and Kris can do it, then so can I. I believe that. It just takes a lot of discipline.

Not maintaining at all!

Ok, so I gained another 1.5 pounds this week! What is wrong with me?

(And no, I'm not pregnant. I know that's the next question my mom is going to ask when she finds out I've gained two pounds over the past two weeks.)

Know what I realized last night? Well, other than I get way too depressed after a bad weigh in? That I didn't drink my water this week. I can't say that was the only reason I gained weight, but I can say that staying hydrated goes a long way to helping with correct body functioning (and perhaps weight-loss). It's just so hard to drink water when it's cold outside! My body is screaming for coffee and hot cocoa!

I did get an email from someone recommending this article on negative-calorie foods. It's pretty much stuff we already know, like eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, but I thought y'all might find it interesting anyway.

Guess I'd better get busy on that water!

Gaining a proper perspective... I am NOT fat anymore!

You know, some times I look in the mirror and still see a "big" girl. Not always, but sometimes. These days, I usually am pleased with what I now see. I USUALLY am. But it can be a struggle.
I seem to have a love/hate relationship with the scale too, but don't most of us? I'm trying not to obsess about the numbers. Because really, isn't it more about how you feel and look? I had a woman from the Y that I've not seen in probably six or seven weeks, say a very encouraging comment to me yesterday. She said,' Have you lost more weight since I've seen you last time?' 'No', said I, 'I'm about the same weight'. (which I am) . But then she said,' Well, it looks like you have lost weight, because your body shape has changed, and you look great!' These were very encouraging words indeed! I'm going to get another fitness analysis next month, I'm pretty curious to see what my body fat is now. The last one I had I believe was in July. And at that point my body fat was like 26%, which is still pretty high, but compared to my former 44.2 %, pretty damn good, if I do say so myself!!

Welcome Maggie - Part TWO!

Ok - I ran into Maggie and she and I figured out how to add her.

Maggie - I added you as an author - let me know if you get in ok :-)

So let's give her another round of welcome!

WELCOME MAGGIE!!!

100 POUNDS!!!!!!

In six months I have lost 100 pounds! I feel great and I am looking great, if I say so myself. I will post pictures soon. I was just excited to share my news.

Have a great day everyone!!

Shoes to make your legs look sexier?

fitflop walkstar Want to look ‘fit’? (In England, it’s synonymous with fabulous.) Don’t get caught without FitFlops on your feet. Not only do FitFlops help tone and trim your thighs, your calves and your glutes while you walk in them, they’re biomechanically engineered to absorb shock and lessen joint strain. They’ve been spotted on many a celeb, recently hailed as a ‘Medical Miracle’, and reported to relieve back pain. (And if you don’t live where it’s warm all-year-round, we’d suggest subbing them in as your slippers.) p.s. FitFlops make great Christmas gifts! “I have to say I was skeptical, but I am so glad I tried these amazing flip flops. I saw and felt a difference in my legs and butt right away. I also suffer from sore feet no matter what shoes I wear. These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. Well worth the money!" -Debbie, Vineland, NJ • women’s whole sizes 6-10

Girls, I saw this and thought they were cool - plus, Bliss makes tennis shoes that help you walk better while improving your muscle tone!

My Fitlinxx stats for November

Last month at the YMCA:
I earned 17,021 fit points. Placing me 1st in my age group, 1st for all women, and 3rd for the whole Y.

I lifted 1,065,713 pounds. (My most yet) Placing me 1st in my age group, 1st for all women, and 3rd over all.

I burned 9,953 calories. Placing me 2nd in my age group, 11th for all women, and 25th over all.

This was my weakest month for burning calories, and I'm not very pleased about it. I have been having problems with a bump that forms on the top of my right foot, it can get rather painful. It comes and goes. I wonder if it's because of the way that my foot lands when I run? I may need to go to a fancy shoe place and have them check me out while I run. And have them tell me the best type of shoe for my foot. I don't know. I hope it's only my shoes, and nothing more. Regardless, I'm back on the downward trail as far as pounds go. I'm down ten pounds, and hallelujah for that! My pants were getting too tight. I had crept back up to 184, but now I'm 174 and feeling in control again. I'm ready for those 160's baby! Holiday's or no, I'm goin' there!
I'm finding that I do much better if I weigh a lot more frequently, rather than not. It's when I avoid the scale that I get myself into trouble.

Starting a new venture

For a couple of months I have been a contributor on a site called Tales From The Scales. Well, starting soon, I will be playing a part on a much more frequent basis. I will be doing a weekly column.

It's sort of scary and exciting at the same time. There are a lot of people who are working through the challenges that Tales offers. I am going through my second challenge. I lost about 80 pounds on the first one and have taken off nearly 20 on this one.

I was on my computer, trying to figure out what articles I would write, what bits of insight I could give on so frequent a basis and finally realized that I would do best to start with the basics of what has helped me and just keep it simple each week.

I am really thrilled and excited about this.