Almost Halfway There January 1, 2012

I guess I started this blog a little late in my journey, and I feel like I have some catching up to do for all of you.  My goal weight that I want to reach is 165 pounds.  I am 5’7″ tall and one month shy of 40 years old.  Who knows, maybe once I reach that weight I will change my goal, but for now I am sticking to it.

I found this site for choosing a goal weight, Set a Realistic “Ideal Weight” Goal for Your Body.  When I had tried other programs, the goal weight I needed to reach always seemed go unattainable, that it frustrated me and seemed hopeless.

Anyways, my starting weight was 303.2 and I want to get to 165.  So doing the math, that’s 138.2 pounds to lose.  I have lost 64.4 as of today so 69.1 is my halfway park and I am almost there in just about 5 months.  Not too shabby.

Here are a list of things that I have noticed since I began this journey:

1.  I have gone from a size 26 pants to a size 18

2.  I have gone from a 24 shirt(3XL) to an XL, and my bra size was a 44C and is now a 40C

3.  When I flew to Disney in November, I fastened the seatbelt with no problem and could even pull it tighter.  I was always so scared I was going to need a seatbelt extender and sometimes that damn belt was so tight across my lap I am sure it was screaming inside.

4.  I think once I am done, I am going to have to have a tummy tuck.  I already have a lot of loose skin from losing the initial weight.  I have never had any type of surgery before, but if I work this hard to lose this weight, I sure as heck want to get rid of the excess skin once I am done.

5.  My husband is way more affectionate and touchy.  He has always been supportive of me no matter what, but I can tell he is much happier since I have changed my lifestyle.  I guess I am too….maybe that helped 🙂

6.  My kids are  proud of me.

7.  I feel pretty.  I feel more confident.  I feel like I can finally do things I never would have done before.  I am going to start doing them this year.

8.  I have lost a total of 35 inches from my starting measurements to my current ones.

9.  My body is always sore.  However, the soreness is from working out and not from just not moving.  It is a good kind of sore I am getting used to.  This is NOT a complaint, it is a fact and one I am far happier with than the soreness I used to have.

10.  I  no longer have to shop in plus size stores.  I refuse to step foot back into Lane Bryant.  EVER.

11.  I run.  Not because someone is chasing me, but because I can.  I never ever ever thought I would do that.

12.  I am getting stronger and actually can feel a few muscles underneath my body parts.

13.  I enjoy working out and going to the gym and running.  It is a habit.  A good one.

14.  I am truly beginning to redefine who I am.

This is a very short list off the top of my head of just a few of the changes I have noticed already.  It is a great list.  It will grow as I continue this journey.  I am excited to add to it.

Exercise December 31, 2011

I was a self-proclaimed couch potato for years.  I hated aerobics, classes, working out, sweating in general.  I never was athletic in school, and as I gained weight, my ability to do anything physical became harder and harder.  Walking took effort, and I was embarrassed to admit that even climbing the stairs winded me.  The thought of regular exercise as part of my lifestyle change was going to be a tough one to overcome.

About a month into my healthy eating change my best friend (who has also lost a lot of weight and looks amazing) invited me to come to the gym with her.  She belonged to Planet Fitness and said it was a really nice gym.  So I went……

The first time on the treadmill, I was barely able to go 2.5 mph, and then she made me jog for a minute.  I thought I was going to DIE.  I had not moved my legs that fast in YEARS.  I was huffing and puffing and really considering just falling down and letting the treadmill shoot me off the back and into the weight machines.  But as I watched the seconds add and that magic number….58….59…60….arrive, I was amazed that I did it.

My best friend, Deana, has become a runner.  She has completed numerous 5K’s and also a 10K and is planning on doing the half marathon in Pittsburgh this spring.  I NEVER and I mean NEVER thought there would ever be a day I would run.  I used to joke that I would run for chocolate or if someone was chasing me with a knife, and even then it depended on the size of the knife.

I went home that day with a new attitude.  I saw running as something I could possibly do.  Slowly.  Deana was a huge source of encouragement.  I love her to death and really wouldn’t be doing so much of this without her support and encouragement.  She is amazing, and my best friend in the whole wide world.

I started looking over beginning runner websites, also looking to see if overweight people can run without killing themselves or doing serious damage to their bodies.  What I found was basically saying….go slow, take it easy, listen to your body, and yes, you can run.  I also found the program couch to 5K and thought….hmm…maybe I will do this.  For some reason the motivation of a personal intrinsic challenge was something I had never done before but maybe wanted to try.

In addition to this new interest in running, I also kept going to the gym.  Joined even.  Did some cardio every day along with strength training on the weight machines.  I saw the weight coming off at an even faster rate, and was starting to enjoy it and …..gasp….enjoy sweating.  What the heck was happening to me???