Three months down

The month of February wasn't great. At the one month weigh in, I weighed 196.8. I thought I had lost more and was slightly discouraged but it wasn't too bad. I got sick in February and went about two weeks without exercise so when I weighed in at month two, I had only lost a pound and a half (195.3). I was bummed but kind of expected it.  I decided to push myself extra hard in March to make up for it.  I almost never eat breads or pasta and increased my cardio a bunch. Our three month weigh in was last Saturday and I lost 7 pounds (188.2).  I really wanted to be under 190 and I am so proud of myself for working so hard and am glad I saw some results. I am down a total of 13.6 pounds.   Have lost almost 2 inches in my chest, 2.5 in my waist, and 2.25 in my hips. I don't feel a whole bunch smaller but am starting to notice clothes fit me better.  I am going to take three month pictures in the same outfit I wore before and post them soon.  Hopefully the pictures show some real progress too!  

I am pleased with my weight loss yet still feel a little discouraged sometimes.  I need a new swimsuit and was looking at some cute ones. My measurements are still quite large and I couldn't get the one I really liked in a size that would fit me. Maybe it will be a reward for me when I meet my goal weight.  

I would love to get under 170.  It would be amazing to get under 160 and maybe I will achieve that someday but I need to be realistic.  When I hit 169 , I'm buying ghat swimsuit! Hopefully it will be summer still so I can actually wear it!

8 pounds down

It's been about a month and I am down about eight pounds.  For three mornings in a row, I've weighed in at 193. I feel like I have to do it a few times for it to be real, not just a skinny fluke it something.  Three years ago, I went to the doctor for my 12 week pregnancy appointment and I weighed 183 (if I remember right).  Hopefully I'll be seeing that number again in 4-6 weeks.  That's my next goal weight. I considered setting some sort of tangible reward for myself but I have a few pair if jeans from a few years ago that I would love to be able to wear again.  That is probably reward enough.

I went to Zumba this morning and felt kind of sick and light headed early on.  I powered through bug it wasn't as good a workout as I would have liked.  I need to drink more water.  I'm sure of that.   I got really dehydrated a week or so ago and ended up pretty sick for a couple days.  I'm awful at drinking water but I am setting a goal to drink at least 64 ounces a day.  That still is less than I ought to be drinking but it's a whole lot more than I am drinking now.

If I can really lose eight pounds a month for the entire competition I will end up at 154.  I know that is extremely unlikely but I would really love to weight that again.  I would also love to have energy and a flat stomach!  Someday.  I just need to keep working!

One month weigh in

Remember how I lost six pounds the first two weeks. That was awesome and I really wanted to kept that momentum. Instead I gained a couple pounds and lost a couple. What the crap, self?!  Just kidding.  I think it is a combination of several factors.  First, I am in my time of menses (ahem), and I tend to retain water and gain a pound or two during said time.  Second, I like to think I am actually acquiring some muscle mass.  Fat weighs more than muscle.  Such and such.

So here are the results.  I'm posting last month's as well for comparison and because I meet posted them on the first place. January's stats will be in parenthesis.

Neck: (13.75) 13.25
Chest: (44.25) 42 ... Goodbye boobs!
Waist: (39.5) 39
3 inches below waist: (44.5) 42 ... :)
Hips: (47.75) 47
Right thigh: (24) 24
Right calf: (16) 16
Right arm: (13.5) 13.25

Body weight: (201.8) 196.8
Body Fat %: (37.1) 36.2

That's all I have for now.

My percentage lost is 2.5%. Did I want to do better? Sure. Am I disappointed?  Not so much.  I still lost some weight, that's better than nothing. And I lost inches.  It's a little bit of a bummer that my chest is shrinking quite rapidly but my waist is more slow.  But whatever, boobs are overrated anyway, they just slow you down, right? Right.

A guy named Don came and talked to us about running.  He was quite helpful.  I still doubt I'll ever love running but I'll try the things he suggested.  Head up, shoulders relaxed, natural swing, no clenching, mid-foot strike, 180 cadence, better shoes, run outside in the morning before utah's disgusting inversion gets too bad. Got it, Don! I'll be a runner in no time!  Lies.  But my husband lies running so I should give it a chance, maybe we can do it together.

After our weight in and running chat, I rocked the crap out of Zumba.  I am terrible at it and probably the heaviest person I'm the room.  The giant mirror doesn't help.  Bug I am working by booty off and enjoying it so I don't really care if I look like a ridiculous chubber.  I am awesome.

6 pounds in two weeks

I didn't have a very successful weekend. I ate out a bit and consumed for junk than I should have. I still stayed pretty close to my 1330 allowed calories, but I wasn't killing it. I guess I wasn't sucking too bad though because when I hopped on the scale this morning (two weeks mark), I weighed 196.8.   I'll take that!  I still don't notice any difference in my body...appearance, strength, fitness level...nothing. But it's only been two weeks. Results take time, right?

If I continue losing three pounds a week (which is extremely unlikely, I know), I will meet my goal long before the completion of this competition.  I'm going to be realistic but is sure good motivation to keep working hard.

My trainer recommended the book "The Formula, 40-30-30".  I ordered it.  Hopefully I love it and find it to be very helpful.  Now I must sleep so I can rock another workout in the morning (and keep up with my crazy two year old).

Bummer

Overall, I have pretty much been kicking ass and taking names.  Awfully bold talk for someone who has been in a weight loss regimen for less than a week.  I have even lost some weight and have been pretty consistently sore.  I've been under by calorie intake goal (1330 calories a day) every day but today.  Saturday, I was WAY under. It was awesome. Today, I went over. Rats. I'll do better tomorrow.   I guess it isn't realistic to be perfect all day every day.

So tired!

I took my two year old swimming yesterday.  We were there for two hours.  It's not like I rocked some intense cardio but it was still physical activity and I'm counting it.  Today, I am so tired and so sore. What the heck!  I don't think either is merited but it is what it is.  I have plans to go to the gym today so I'm just have to rally and power through.  I started tracking my diet and exercise on my fitness pal.  It's a rad app and I love how easy it is to keep track of things with it.  Ok!  Time to get motivated!  Wake up, lady!

And so it begins

I just got home from my first group training session.  Let's rewind shall we.  I was once a high school athlete.  Then I was a college athlete.  I was pretty fit.  Before that, I was chubby.  After that, I was chubby.  Then I had a baby and a pocket full of excuses to let myself get fat.  And here I am.  Fat.

I decided I was sick of being fat.  My husband is a triathlete and a marathon runner.  I have a beautiful and impressionable two year old daughter.  These two deserve a fit, confident gal around. That's going to be me.

One day, I was checking a gym near me for class schedule and hours and such and stumbled upon a contest.  Slim to Win.  It peaked my interest.  Turns out, I qualified and spent the next couple days filling out my application, writing an entrance essay, taking horrid "before" pictures, and getting a doctor to clear me for participation.  I got in (clearly) and here I am.

I met my trainer and my group today.  They all seem like a good bunch and I'm excited to get to know them better.  We got measured and weighed and had our body fat percentages assessed.  I think documenting things and being super honest will help motivate me and will give me something to answer to and reference later, you know, when I'm fit.

Weight: 201.8
Body fat percentage: 37% ish (I'll need to double check that)

I'll add my measurements and stuff later.

Next we ran a mile.  I walk/jogged it.  I was the second fastest in my group and got 13.07.  I think under 10 would be awesome.

Push-ups:  I did twenty...girl style.  It was really good for my group and honestly more than I thought I could do.  I was shaking by the end.

Sit-ups in one minute: Twelve, really not good.  They hurt my right hip, oddly.

Sit  and reach: with my feet at the fifteen inch mark, I got 14.  Not good at all but better than I expected.  My hamstrings are crazy tight.

It seems I am a little smaller and more fit than the average participant so I will likely not win (lose the most weight) bug I'll still try my hardest and as long as I'm fit and happy and look seriously slammin, I'll be pleased.

I'm going to change my life, and today is day one on my journey!