Wow! I've been at this thirty weeks. That's a victory itself.
This morning I weighed in with a loss of eight tenths of a pound. I was sabatoged by gifts of sweet treats at work! I have officially lost thirty-five pounds though I have claimed it for a few weeks now.
A stick of butter = .25 pounds....therefore 1 pound of fat = 4 sticks of butter!
I've lost 140 sticks of butter! How many have you lost?
At this morning's weigh in I was the same as last week - zero change. Fred was up one tenth of a pound.
I'm not sure what's going on with the scale, but I know we losing inches and improving fitness wise.
Today is the end of week three of INSANITY for us, our rest day. We should be ending week four, but we had to take a break after week two due to some hip pain I was having. We're still hanging in there though and getting stronger each day.
We've decided to switch to simply filling for at least a week. I'm sure it will go pretty well.
I'm down one and eight tenths of a pound today, so no complaints here.
Weight Watchers was closed last Saturday so I had to go to a meeting on a Tuesday that week. I didn't post about it here because it hadn't even been a full week from the previous weigh-in. I just went to the meeting to not lose money. Today's weigh-in was the first since Thanksgiving.
One goal I have for this month is no fast food. I'm doing pretty good there. I've eaten out, just not at McDonald's or Wendy's.
Now I have a taste for ice cream. I wonder if Fred will go out and get me some. Does anyone else have an ice cream problem. Isn't it the greatest human creation EVER? Yum, yum, yum! And yes, I've eaten PLENTY of ice cream during this journey.
Sometimes I want something healthy (beneficial) and sometimes I just want what I want.
Fred lost eight tenths of a pound. A loss is a loss is a loss!
We had decided last week that we would run today in addition to doing our INSANITY workout. (I have REALLY missed running while doing INSANITY.) This morning I realized that I might not have the motivation later to run. I rarely workout in the afternoon. So we decided to get a run in and skip INSANITY.
Going out I knew we would get one mile in and I wanted to do at least two. We haven't run in about four weeks so I didn't know what to expect.
Mile one was a typical first mile for me. It takes me a mile to warm-up. Half way through mile two I wanted to quit. My heart rate was at 180 and the twenty-five degree weather was making it hard to breathe. However, I went home with several NSVs:
1) I exercised on a day when I normally focus solely on food.
2) I stuck with a decision to run today even though it meant missing a scheduled workout (I might still get it in).
3) I pushed myself to finish mile two AND three.
4) I finished my 5k in one of my fastest times ever.
5) I burned one and half times as many calories in my run today than I do in a typical INSANITY workout.
This morning we completed day one of week two of INSANITY! The program really pushes us, but it's not so extreme that it can't be done. It's just fast-paced cardio with short, strategically placed rest breaks. We both agree that if we hadn't built or cardiovascular endurance with consistent running in the months prior, we would likely be pretty wiped out during the workouts. After the first workout, we knew what to expect and . could hang. Of course we don't look like the INSANITY workout crew - we do get tired and we have to build up to higher, faster everything. Still, we aren't discouraged, we pace ourselves, we know when to modify, and we know to never give up.
I am reluctant to take a break from running, but we want to know for sure how we benefited from INSANITY. I do believe we might go for a short two to four mile run on Thanksgiving Day. I am so grateful for the growth God has allowed in our lives, and I want to show my thanks by running - not stuffing my body with food.
The workouts we complete in rotation are below. Every two weeks, we complete a fit test. Other days, we rotate through discs two through five. The other discs will be used during month two. Each week we are to workout six days and rest one day.
I just left one of the best meetings ever. We discussed our Thanksgiving plans and designed our plates. (I'll share mine on Thanksgiving, plus I can't upload pictures from this iPad.) Members were really engaged and having a good time. I really do love my meeting. That's very important on this journey.
This week I weighed in with a GAIN of one and six tenths pounds. My exercise changed this week, but I was on top of my points. It's not a big deal; I'm not defined by a number on the scale. When I look at the big picture, I'm headed in the right direction. (My cycle starting last night may have something to do with the gain. I know it had something to do with me enjoying the alternate bites of chips and cookies last night.)
Fred also had a gain - eight tenths of a pound. I'm pretty sure it's the exercise; he's not so sure.
We haven't posted in a while, but we are still here! Life has just gotten in the way. I do love blogging though, so I'm making plans to set aside time to get some blogging in.
This past Saturday I weighed in with a loss of three pounds with a total loss of thirty-four and six tenths. I lost one and eight tenths pounds during the weeks I didn't post updates.
Fred lost four pounds and six tenths pounds at this last weigh-in.
Hopefully in the next few days I will post progress pictures and provide an update of our workouts.
This past Saturday we finally experienced our first official 5k run, "The Halloween Hustle". We were a little nervous about the race since we really didn't know what to expect. Upon arriving at the check-in site, we saw many individuals dressed up in some awesome costumes. At this point, I thought the race would be a joke. I wondered how those people were going to take the race serious dressed for a Halloween party.
As we got out of the car we could not help but notice how chilly it was. We checked, and the temperature was about thirty-eight degrees; I began to think that maybe this was a bad idea. After checking in and drinking a cup of coffee, I was relieved that some of the tension and nervousness were beginning to die down. I noticed one individual with some ultra-short running shorts on warming up; I thought, "Wow, either he is serious about running or he is seriously crazy." Well, come to find out he was seriuos about running. More on that later.
As we lined up to begin our race, I tried to signal for Bridgette to come up to where I was. She wanted to stay back, so I went to where she was. It was crazy to see so many people taking off with costumes on, but my attention was quickly turned away from others and to the race. We began at a pace that was faster than normal for us; however, I felt pretty good about it.
About a half mile into the race I have to admit that the inner competitor in me wanted to come out. I wanted to blaze through the crowd and compete, but I know I would have not made it far and would have burned myself out. I found myself about twenty feet ahead of Bridgette but I was happy to see her still pushing on behind me. I knew in my heart that I could have finished with some of the runners who were ahead of me. Still, I didn't want to finish without Bridgette being that it were our first race.
After Bridgette caught up we finished our last mile or so together. Right before we made it to the finish line we heard a runner quickly approaching. And who did we see? Yeah, the individual dressed like it was eighty degrees out instead of forty. I found out that he was a very serious runner: he actually was one of the runners racing in the 10K run. Yes, he finished his 10K before we finished our 5K. This made me feel motivated to continue with my healthy lifestyle because one day I want to be in the same position as that fellow. In the end Bridgette and I cross the finish line together with her time being a couple of tenths faster than mine.
We finished our first official 5k run without walking. This was an anticipated non-scale victory for us both.
In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.
I didn't actually run SOLO, I just went for a 3.1 mile run WITHOUT Fred. One of the anticipated victories on the NSV tab is running without Fred. (It was mean that I would run alone. If there were a indoor track nearby, I'd be all for it!)
It was this past Sunday: we had eaten lunch and Fred was absorbed in NFL games. I suited up and enlisted our twelve-year-old son who is interested in running with us. I had to warn him that I was slow and that he would need to proceed slowly as he had never completed the distance. At times he was ahead of me; other times, he walked. I ran without walking though and finished four minutes faster than my typical pace for the distance. It was slow, but progress nonetheless. Go me! (Fred has gone without me several times already.)
This past Saturday at my meeting I was down 2.6 lbs. I was so happy to hear that bell. I have officially lost 30 pounds. About eleven or so more pounds gone will leave me weighing what is printed on my license. That's my next goal.
Fred was down 3.6 lbs at weigh-in. Woot, woot!
We will likely end up weighing Thursday due to having our first official 5k this Saturday. We won't break any records but we will SHOW UP!
In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.
This week I have not been making the best food choices, and I have been struggling to track. Today, however, I was determined to track and stay within my points. By dinner time I only had four points. I get sooo hungry when I get off work and want to eat everything. Then, I want to eat when the family eats too. Tonight I decided to cook only vegetables. We had whole okra, squash with a bit of 2% cheddar cheese, steamed string beans with onion and bacon (not a veggie but just a bit). Fred and the kids also had corn on the cob, but that would have taken all of my points! I am so glad I went to the grocery store yesterday and bought plenty of fresh fruits and veggies: apples, mandarin oranges, pears, squash, green beans, spinach, onion, and mushrooms. We had sauteed spinach, onion, and mushrooms for dinner last night with some chicken. If I hadn't gone to the grocery store yesterday, I might have eaten fat free Greek yogurt or cereal with milk for dinner.
Fred has been fitting into some smaller sizes lately. Here is a blazer he bought at the end of July. It is now too big. He is holding the back so that the front looks proper. He tried on one size down at the store, and it was a bit loose. Two sizes down looked great on, but he said the arms were a little snug. I couldn't tell though. (The blazer doesn't match; he was trying it on while getting ready for work.)
I love that the scale is moving down, down, down. I put on pants in the a.m. and by the time I get home from work they are a mess - baggy, sagging, and unflattering. Oh the joys of being in between sizes. The amount of spandex in women's pants needs to be reduced. It's hard to find pants without spandex these days. Uugghh . . .
Fred has lost at least one pant size (almost two). I've lost twenty-nine pounds and no pants or dress sizes. MEN! Maybe one pound will make all the difference. As hungry as I've been today, that pound may have to wait til the weigh-in after next.
In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.
This week I was able to put on and zip up (and breathe easily) in some jeans I haven't worn been able to fit since the Fall of 2011. I do believe they can stand to be a bit looser, but they weren't pulling at the side seams, squishing my stomach or cutting off my circulation. What do you think about how they fit? (I know you have nothing to compare them to - I couldn't find anything.)
Fred was also able to fit in a shirt he hasn't worn in a while.
On Sunday we ran five miles. Our longest distance previously had been four miles, which we've run a couple of times.
So our NSVs for this week include fitting into smaller clothes from our closet and adding a mile to our longest distance ever. Fred went grocery shopping alone this week, and he didn't buy any JUNK. (unless he ate it on the way) I think this too counts as a victory.
We arrived at Weight Watchers late this morning, so I was afraid I wouldn't get to weigh in this week. I was expecting a loss, but I didn't expect a four pound loss. I told you last week's gain was just the sunflower seeds! I have officially lost twenty-five pounds. I jumped the gun: I have less than a pound to go though!
I wish I was in uncharted territory so that I would have an excuse to buy new clothes. However, I have one more size at home that I can't fit yet and they are fall/ winter clothes. Another ten to fifteen pounds should have me sitting pretty. Hopefully, it won't take until summer.
Fred lost the two and two tenths he gained last week.
This morning at McDonald's I ordered a value meal with small iced coffee. I specifically asked for small but saw medium on the screen. I informed the lady taking my order that I wanted a small cup and had no problem paying for a medium. She had to go find her manager, and by the time my money was taken, a medium iced coffee was sititng by the register. When my food arrived, I told the manager I ordered a small. She told me to go ahead and take it (like I was getting a bonus) because it had already been made. I told her I wanted a small. She went and poured it in a small cup. I left happy!
I am on Weight Watchers. If I wanted to spend the points necessary for a medium, I would have ordered one!
About a month or so ago I was at Wendy's. I ordered my go to meal: jr. burger with added lettuce and tomato, kids fry, and jr. frosty.
The young lady taking my order tried to insist that a value meal was my best option. She said if I got a small fry it would be cheaper. She told me a regular frosty was about the same price. I didn't care if I had to spend $10 more. I order exactly what I wanted. I didn't need any DEALS!
I ended up leaving Wendy's with my kid size fry and a regular frosty (and an empty jr. cup). My mom told me to get the regular, take what I wanted and give her the rest. It worked!
A different time at Wendy's they tried to give me a regular frosty because they had fixed that instead of a jr. Umm, no thanks! Get me what I ordered.
Now of course in the past I would have taken the higher point (or calorie) meal because it was less money. I am grateful that I don't fall victim to such tactics anymore. This is exactly why I don't do buffets anymore: it's like taking a recovering alcoholic to a free bar. More precisely, it's playing with fire. We all know not to play with fire.
Fred said that I should just tell the people taking my order the reason I need a small or kid size. He says the people probably think I am crazy to insist on a small when a medium is cheaper or a FREE upgrade. I don't think I should have to tell them anything. What do you think?
My non-scale victories are sticking with my plan (and standing my ground) and . . .
running three times this week (after a two week hiatus). We also plan to get in a bike ride and weight training tomorrow and a three to four mile run Sunday to conclude our exercise week.
This week the scale was up one and four tenths pounds. I do NOT believe I gained this in one week. I'll blame the dill pickle sunflower seeds I ate Thursday and Friday evenings.
Fred was up two and two tenths pounds. I don't know what his problem was - it wasn't sunflower seeds.
The number on the scale was motivation to me. I was in bed by 10:30 last night; 9:00 was my goal. This morning, we got up and got a run in. It sure felt good since we hadn't been able to in two weeks. We ran two and walked one.
This week we are looking forward to getting enough sleep and exercising six out of seven days.
I love the challenge of evaluating my life to determine and acknowledge the small (seemingly minute) victories that will prove invaluable when the scale won't budge an inch tenth.
As I've stated previously, I had a last minute job change that has turned my life upside down. While I am still teaching, my subject area has changed; my largest class size is now double what it has been the last five years; my total student load for a given day is now fives times more than I've grown accustomed to. Despite the challenges, such as bringing work home, I am loving being in high school again.
The new job has had me staying up past my normal bedtime for the past three weeks and I've barely done any exercise all. I typically never let anything come between me and sleep. This week my none scale victory is the fact that I've been getting an adequate amount of sleep each night: seven to eight hours.
For those of you who work outside the home or have very busy days, how do you fit in exercise? I need it in my life!
This week I am down another two pounds! It must be all the movement I get in at work because I sure haven't done too many workouts with the hubby at home. I definitely have had to get adjusted to standing about six hours a day. While I did get plenty of exercise this summer, all other time was spent glued to the couch - an active couch potato. I had spent the last four or five summers working in our district's summer school. This summer I rebelled and did absolutely nothing. (I would have spent that time preparing for my new job had I known about it!)
In other important news, Fred is down eight tenths of a pound. He's has earned his second five pound star. Way to go!
A typical holiday in the past was celebrated by lounging around with family, eating, watching television, and more eating. Physical activity, if any, was limited to a leisurely splash in the pool (think July 4th).
Labor Day 2013 started before breakfast with a four mile run for the adults (Fred and I). The kids had to cut their run short due to pouring rain, but they ran between two and three quarters in a light drizzle.
I am definitely looking forward to fall temperatures when it will be practical to get outside and exercise any time of the day.
My loss of one and six tenths pounds put me at a total loss of twenty pounds. What a way to celebrate my birthday, which was this past Thursday.
I didn't have any cake and ice cream for my birthday, and I didn't miss a thing. We have three August birthdays in our house so I've had cake this month. I am ready to cash in my rain check for a birthday dinner of sushi and frozen yogurt. Too bad we have to go out of town for both.
Fred also had a loss his birthday weekend earlier this month. We are working it!
This week Fred had a loss, but I forgot his numbers! Update coming.
I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! It's been busy around here with the kids and me going back to school after a much needed summer break. I feel like I have been left without a spare minute in the day. Wednesday before last I returned to work for the first of three teacher in-service days. On the last day before the students were to return, Friday, I was moved to an entirely different school to teach a different subject than I was set to teach at a different grade level. Whew!
I am just now able to catch my breath. Things have been chaotic. Because of last minute preparations into the wee hours of the night, we didn't get a single run in last week. But we hit it today! There's no way I will let my progress go to waste to grade papers. Running, and exercise in general, make me feel great. My health and fitness are a priority - plain and simple.
It's hard to go to bed early with so many things left undone. It's far too easy to slip back into old habits of eating poorly and not exercising because there isn't enough time. Being a lazy bum is easy. However, I've decided that easy is not for me.
I am willing to put in the effort, I will work hard, and I am determined to succeed. I am dedicated to this healthy lifestyle. I'm in it to win it!
Yesterday, I weighed in with a loss of one and six tenths pounds. I am very close to a total loss of twenty pounds.
Fred weighed in with a loss of six tenths. A loss is a loss. We'll take it.
I like my Saturday meetings better. First, the people are closer to my age. Most members have zero kids or some kids - not GRANDKIDS! Also, these people work and are not retired. I find myself sharing more since our struggles are more alike.
I really do love Wendy's. I can do without eating out, but when we are on the road, I need to have a meal that I know the points of. I like to have a Jr. Hamburger with added lettuce and tomato, a kids fry, a cup of water, and a Jr. Frosty (usually chocolate). Sometimes, I might drop either the fry or frosty depending on the number of points I want to spend. While this meal might be a splurge point wise, it only costs about three dollars.
burger - 6 pts+
fry - 6 pts+
water - 0 pts+
frosty - 5pts +
I don't mind eating a salad (especially the Berry Almond Salad), but I usually have a taste for a burger. Wendy's tastes far better than McDonald's in my opinion. If it weren't so full of fat (and points!), I'd opt for a number one Sonic burger with added cheese, chili and coleslaw and an order of onion rings. YUMMY!
I think that I will change my meeting date to Saturday. I weighed in this morning for the second Saturday in a row. I don't know how long this will last.
So. . . the scale showed a gain of one pound and four tenths. You won't get any complaints or whining from me after last week's great loss. The gain is probably the result of a change in our training (or the lasagna my mom cooked for us Sunday.)
Fred had a loss of six tenths this week. He's being weighing in every week with me even if there aren't updates on here. He is just not that good at updating.
This week I plan to do something a wee bit different in terms of how many and what kinds of points I'll be eating. I am anxious to see how the change will be reflected on the scale. At work I was assigned to a new school and a new grade level Friday. Our students start Monday. I hope this doesn't cause me to have too many late evenings of planning and grading that disrupt my exercise routines. Otherwise, I am excited about new beginnings and opportunities.
When we started running earlier this year, one minute at a time, I was hoping we would stick with it. I was hoping we would progress. I was hoping it would become a part of our lives, I was hoping, but I could not see it. Now a few months later I can see the fruits of our labor. These results have come by hard work and were by no means instantaneous.
This week we have
Run three miles in under forty-five minutes (a goal I can cross off)
Run two miles in a constant light rain (in the past we would have heard the rain and rolled over with relief, but this day we got up )
Run three miles with negative splits (now, we didn't set any world records, but each mile was a bit faster than the previous - never thought I'd have the energy for that )
Run three consecutive days (each of the above victories occurred on a separate day )
Celebrate the victories that make your life better no matter how insignificant they may seem. Growth is great!
About a month ago I read something that implied that not all change is good. I can agree. The author also stated that not all people change for the better. I can agree.
My husband and I have undergone some changes since we have been married, and the changes have been for the best. Each of us have strengthened our relationships with God individually. We've been doing more reading, studying, and praying. The best change has been that we are ONE. We've also come to be better friends and better parents. We have also decided to better stewards of our bodies, which is why you have anything to read from us in the first place.
A song by Matthew West, which our whole family loves to sing, really gives voice to the change that has taken place in us. Right now the words are my very own testimony. I am not ashamed of my past, and my past has no hold on me. Every single step in the right direction is cause for me to give God praise. Nothing I have accomplished is of my own doing. Not one mile of running, not three miles of running, or even the four miles I'll run this weekend. It is through God's power that I have strength to accomplish anything - even that which was once foreign to me like running or sharing Christ with others.
Here are the lyrics to the song (and a video is at the end):
Hello, my name is
regret
I'm pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I'm the whisper inside
That won't let you forget
Hello, my name is
defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I'll drag you right back down again
'Til you've lost all belief
These are the
voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is
child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, and I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer
defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it's true
Just take a look at my life
Hello, my name is
child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, and I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
What love the
Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
What love the
Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
Hello, my name is
child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, and I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am a child of
the one true King
For those who know Fred and I personally, if you believe we have changed for the worst, I dare you to get to know Christ for yourself. If you believe we were better off how we were before, you are wrong.
Because our church had VBS this past week, I had to miss my regular meeting. This morning I got a chance to attend a meeting. The scale showed a loss of . . .
seven pounds and six tenths!
Shut up! I know! When I heard all of the dings from the bell and the clapping from the members, I felt like I was on Biggest Loser! The leader was like "You must have worked really hard this week." Um. . . Not really, but it's 'bout time! I've weighed every morning this week since I missed my meeting so I knew the number, I just hadn't done the MATH.
My weight loss has been a bit slow, but I know it's because of the steady increases in exercise. We've been running and doing Chalean. But this past week I didn't slack in exercise - I didn't complete one single exercise. I really am a believer in rest weeks (though this one wasn't planned), and no, it's not the laziness in me. Oh, I did run two miles this morning! (Early to bed, early to rise - makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
This week we will move on to a new phase of Chalean; therefore our bodies will have to make adjustments that might negatively impact the scale. However, this journey is not all about a scale.
I don't know what the future holds, but today I will bask in this scale victory!
This morning we went out for a run with a different mindset than usual. Since we were pressed for time, we decided that we would run only a mile today with the goal of running it at a much faster pace. According to my run keeper app I ran 1 mile in 12 minutes 23 seconds. Although I know I could have beaten this time as done before, I did not want to get too ahead of Bridgette. I am not sure just how accurate my app is. I am definitely looking to upgrade. (HINT)
This woman has made such a huge improvement I can't just say with words how proud of her I am. I know that I am not one to talk too much because I'm no Hussein Bolt, but I once was an athlete. There is still that competitiveness that runs through my veins that gives me the mind frame that I can do it all. But back to Bridgette, she has never really been an athlete and for her to accomplish the things that she has over the last three or four months is truly my inspiration.
I won't get into the time that she ran today and will let her update you when she posts, but believe me when I say that you will be surprised. I told her that we will set this as a once a week goal to run 1 mile as fast as we can to improve our breathing and leg strength. This day definitely has non-scale victory written all over it.
Bridgette here:
I ran my mile in 13 minutes 08 seconds according to my Garmin. It's NOT all that. I was faster than this past Thursday though. Thursday was easier, today I had to huff and puff through those thirteen minutes. Though I didn't post it on my non-scale victory page, I do have a thirteen minute mile as a goal. For me, that's an accomplishment. I might not ever run a mile in 6 minutes, but I will break ten one day. (In the distant future!)
I love my husband. He's the best. This summer has been my first one off in FIVE years. I might have put a dent in the couch (taking a much need rest and relaxation time), but I am NOT a couch potato. Even though he's supposed to drag me out of bed, I sometimes have to push him out.
I wanted to get a fast(er) mile in at the start since I'm not a strong finisher yet. Near the end I have to up my mental game not to quit.
I completed mile one in 13 min 46.8 seconds according to my Garmin. Of course this is no where near fast, but it's an improvement over my usual 15 minute average pace. I pushed myself, (praised God), and succeeded. It takes HARD work and effort to pick this body with all these pounds up, go running, and not take a single walk break.
Fred said he was really proud of me. That's all he kept saying - like I did something near impossible.
I also finished my 5k distance in 1 minute 50 seconds faster than my fastest time.
So I can say that in spite of the scale going up, I have something to be proud of. I'm glad for these little victories and pick-me-ups along the way. If I didn't have NSV's to brighten my way, I might quit.
I have been MIA for over a week! I have been so busy with some last minute VBS stuff for this upcoming week. Whew!
I am up 1.4 lbs from last week. I didn't get in as much exercise as I would have liked because I have hardly taken a break from anything VBS related. I did track, and I ate okay. I didn't get enough water one or two days. I am definitely not mad because the scale was down two pounds this morning! I would much rather weigh on Thursday or Saturday mornings but oh well. I'll stick with Wednesday evenings.
Oh yeah - I totally attribute the gain to "that" time of the month!
I'll be back later with a NSV because I have great news! Off to Bible class . . .
I believe in Weight Watchers. Still, I know that A, B, and C above could have resulted in E (instead of D) - 2.8 pounds gained. Would I have been pleased with E? No! However, I know that in the end, I will be able to say I lost x pounds with Weight Watchers, but I won't be able to tell anyone that following WW guaranteed me a loss each week. Even though every member is given the same guidelines, no two people will have the same results. Life must be factored in.
Sometimes, it pays to look at the big picture. Other times, it's best to concentrate on the matters right in front of us.
So, Fred recommitted to tracking and planning and he saw a loss of 4 lbs! I am proud of my hubby! I almost feel partly to blame for his weight gain over the years because my cooking is just sooo good. (Almost doesn't count though!)
Last night as we were getting ready for bed, Bridgette asked me how I felt about running a new route. I told her that I was just fine with it. After she told me which route she had in mind, I told her that I could see myself running the full distance. I never actually thought it would happen today. Our goal distance for today was to run a 5K or 3.1 miles nonstop. This goal was at the top of the list of goals that we've set for ourselves, and we've been on a mission to accomplish it for a few months now.
Victory is Ours!
Taking a look back at our accomplishments over the last three to four months has given me the encouragement and the will to add to our list another non-scale victory. I actually crossed one off the list about two weeks ago when I ran an eleven minute mile. I beat my anticipated time of a 12 minute mile by one whole minute. Knowing that today I could actually cross off another non scale victory was plenty enough encouragement for me.
As each quarter mile of our run passed, I felt better. I was concerned for Bridgette and how she was doing because I knew that this would be an anticipated victory for her as well. I'm surprised to say that every time I asked her how she was doing she could answer me, "I'm Okay Baby," with free flowing words. Usually she would answer with heavy breathing and pauses between each word, but not today. She was doing great; it motivated me even more.
Around 2.5 miles Bridgette told me she was tired and needed to slow down. I was okay with that; I just didn't want her to stop. When Runkeeper signaled that we were at 2.75 miles I told Bridgette we have a little over a quarter mile left and I could hear the change in her voice. "Really?" she asked. Next thing I know we were on our last leg and she gave it all she had down the stretch, even speeding up a bit, and I sprinted to the end. 3.16 miles was my final time, and I felt like I could go another mile or two. (Bridgette stopped at 3.1 miles, but I raced to the nearby stop sign.) We gave each other a high five, and thanked the LORD that we made it.
I was an athlete up through high school, but I have never in my life run this far without walking or taking a break. It feels so good knowing that I can run a 5K nonstop. I'm motivated more than ever. PRAISE THE LORD!
Looking at over 100 pictures of us exercising was quite eye opening. We got to see when our form was good and when it was poor. Do cameras really add ten pounds? If they do, I feel much better about what I've seen!
I really enjoy doing Chalean Extreme. Each time I find I am able to increase my weights on almost every exercise, which is why we invested in SelectTechs in the first place. I purposely started off light because I hate that sore, gotta roll out of the bed, hurts to sit on the toilet feeling. I also like that I can actually see several people performing the exercise so I know how the exercise should be done. (I wish I had a mirror at times though.) We have a weight lifting book of workouts that's kind of awkward for beginners who have no idea of correct form. I like that someone modifies the exercises to make them slightly easier. Chalean tells you what weight she's using and sometimes what the others use. (She and another person use SelectTechs. Two people use three sets of free weights, and one person uses resistance bands.)
In case you are wondering, Fred and I work out at the same time. One of our kids took the pictures above. They may not be the best shots, but we have good ones to judge our form and we have good body shots that we can compare to later ones down the rode and say, "I can't believe I used to have all that stomach!"
