Weight Loss

I started my weight loss journey on July 11th. Now around a month later, 9 weeks, I am down 10 lbs. I'm sticking to my 1 lb a week weight loss it seems. As frustrating as this is at least I'm still losing weight. I have been taking a B Vitamin as well as a Slim Quick diet supplement. I take that and it seems to help curb my appetite a bit. The vitamin I think helps me not be so tired. I'm not losing weight as fast as I would like to but I'm trying to not get depressed about it. To be honest though there are days where I do get depressed, especially when someone at the store will ask me when I'm due. Really? Do you need to ask people that when you have no idea? I was in baggy clothes from cleaning and cooking, guess I can't wear those out and about. I do fit into a couple of capris from before Kallen. I will continue to try and control my portions and eat healthy. I'm still training for my 5K in Oct. I'm not exercising as much as I was but I still get in at least 3 days a week. The running is getting a bit easier and I'm actually looking forward to the race. So keep up the good work me! you're doing great. Don't get discouraged. It took 5 years to put it on you can take time to get it all off.

Weight Loss Goal In Progress

x this by 8

I started The Biggest Loser Challenge at work 6 weeks ago. Since that time I've been trying very hard to exercise and eat right. I had my sister to work-out with and help motivate me. By the end of the Challenge I lost 7 lbs. I went from 189-182. It's not as much as I had hoped to lose but with all the ups and downs along the way I am grateful for those 7 lbs lost. Now the Challenge is over but the desire to exercise and eat healthy has blossomed inside me.

Larry has been watching the babies in the morning while Jen and I exercise and that is a big help. Plus with kids being in school that helps as well. So Kait and Kam go to school, Kal takes a nap and depending on the day Kinsee might be in school so that keeps Kai awake and exercising with us or playing with Larry. If Kinsee is home they play together which is very nice. Now on to a new goal...

Jen and I have decided to train for a 5K race. We would like to sign up for the one in Mesa for Thanksgiving Day, the Turkey Trot. Before that though we have the chance to run in UT for the Dead vs the Living 5K. I'm really hoping we do this as it seems fun and running in a race benefits those we're running for as well as us. Plus having a goal for why we're running helps to not hate running so much. So we are now In Training.

Jen and I also went to a Hypnotherapy appointment the other day to help us in our weight loss goal. I was skeptical at first not knowing what to expect. But...I have to say I honestly think it is helping. I'm not sure what all she said to us while we were under but I do have the desire to eat smaller portions and to be happy with what we're eating. I want to drink water over kool-aid. I feel a little more relaxed and happy. I want to exercise and eat right. I want to lose the weight and be satisfied. I can feel myself at the weight I want to be. This may seem weird but I think I'm a believer in the hypnotherapy. I may just do it again when I feel like I need a boost or a bit of help. Since this appointment I've lost another pound! I know it could be water or just the daily fluctuations but I know I can lose this weight. I can do it!

So now 6 weeks and 2 days later I'm down 8lbs! May not seem like much but you look at that picture and multiply it by 8 and it really is quite a bit. Jen and I can do it!

Weight Loss So Far

I think we're on week 4 of the Biggest Loser challenge at work and I've gone from 189 to 183 (I'm rounding up the couple of ounces to get to this it was actually 182.8). Not bad I guess but near what I was hoping to have lost by now. I guess I should be happy that I'm at least losing weight, right? So yay for the 6 lbs in 4 weeks. We have 2 more weeks to go so I'm hoping to keep up the downward trend. I've been bad in the fact that I've been eating desserts again so I need to cut those back or out and then continue to exercise, maybe even add some time to my workout regime. Keep up the hard work!

Hate it!!!!

I hate that I can't lose anything or keep it off! I hate that no matter how hard I try I'm not getting anywhere. I've been exercising 30-60 min a day. I've cut back on my sweets and snacking. I'm watching my portions and STILL no success. I lost a few lbs only to have them come back on. I hate it! I hate the way I look! I hate it all. But I have 5 more weeks on this competition so I'll keep trying and keep hating how I can't be successful. Is it my age? My metabolism? The fact I only get 3-4 hrs of sleep a day? Is it because I work nights? I don't know and I'm too mad to care.

Week 1 of Biggest Loser

This week has been Week 1 of my Biggest Loser Challenge with work. I have tried really hard to cut back on my soda and sweets. I think I've done pretty good too. I didn't deprive myself of everything I just cut back. Baby steps right? I haven't had any soda except for 1 while I'm working to keep me up at night. Even that I'm trying to get away from by buying those 5 hr energy drinks. I haven't had as many desserts but I do have a small treat at times to satisfy my sweet tooth. It's all about portion control for me. I've tried eating healthier and smaller portions for my meals as well. Cutting back on potato chips at lunch time and drinking a lot more water. So after my initial weigh in of 189 my weigh in today was 185.6! Jen and I have been exercising to some DVD's that we have that also incorporate weights in them. I've moved up from 5 lbs weights to 10 lbs weights. I have Bob and Jillian from the t.v. show The Biggest Loser coming into my home to make me work out. I'm loving it and hating it. They are tough videos and make me sweat but I love it. I love feeling like my workouts are doing something for me. We also do Zumba for a day of cardio in between those with weights. I'm excited to see some good results and hope that I can continue to lose weight. I really want to make this work so I'll keep exercising and possibly increase my time doing so from 25-30 min to closer to 45 min this week. I just need to remember that slow and steady sometimes really does win the race. Also to keep cutting back on the portions and sweets. Maybe if I do it little by little I can make and keep the changes instead of feeling hungry and deprived where I'll crave and binge. So here's to another week ahead of making little changes that are good for me and to becoming a healthier person! Way to go Me on the weight loss!

The Biggest Loser!

I don't want to take a picture of just me and I don't have one of just me so I'm going to use this picture as my before picture. This week started my Biggest Loser Challenge. My company every year has a Biggest Loser Competition. We put together a team or get put on a team and then do our best to lose weight. There are weigh ins and prizes so we are accountable. Since I didn't have to pay to participate I thought why not? I have a bunch of weight to lose and so here I go! We go from July 11th - Aug 19th. So far I'm motivated, of course it just started, but I really do want to lose weight. I want to be healthy. I know it will take a while to get to my goal but I believe I can do it. So as of yesterday my starting weight was 189.0, although I fluctuate between 188-191. I want to be around 115 since that is in the middle to upper middle weight in my healthy range. I really just want to be able to fit into some of my clothes again and then eventually get down to the size where there are cute clothes. So wish me luck! I have some DVD's to do, I will exercise some outside when it's not too hot, and the hardest will be to watch what I eat. I don't eat a lot but I don't think I eat the right things. I really want to win and be The Biggest Loser!

Love my new workouts

I need to take a before, during and done picture. I have started a new workout regime this week and I'm pretty excited about it. I bought The Biggest Loser DVD a while back and now have some weights to go along with it. I also have another of Bob's Workout DVD's to use my weights with and both videos kick my butt. :) I also got in addition to those two the Zumba DVD Set with the "weights". They are actually more like maracas. I am loving it! I'm keeping track of my weight daily to see how I do. I was doing ok losing a bit each day but gained a pound today. I love the workouts but really need to control my eating. I find that hard to do when I work nights. I want to eat to stay awake. I'm definitely an emotional eater so have to really watch myself. I will keep up with this and work on it. I want to be healthy again and I have about 70 lbs to lose to reach my goal. I know it will take time and there will be plateaus and gains along the way but if I keep at it I'm sure something will happen.

So far I even have a friend coming over to workout with me! Thanks Mandy for taking time to hang out with me and work out with me. It's helping me stay motivated knowing you're coming over! I don't think anyone reads this blog but if they do feel free to come join us! I try to work out around 9:15-9:30am and then have weigh in between 10am and 11am every day. I want it to be routine so am trying to keep it around the same time every day.

Here's to having success and fun!

Progress

Well I've been trying to be healthier for about a month now I guess and I feel I'm making some progress. According to the Wii I've lost a few pounds which is a good motivator. I don't feel like my clothes are too tight. I tried to get into some of my pre-baby clothes and a few of them I can wear while some I can't. Maybe I'll try again to see if I can get into all of them or not. I have also tried cutting back my eating while at work. Instead of eating with the family before I go to work and then getting hungry shortly after arriving I have been taking my dinner with me. I'll eat a bit later and then I find I'm not quite so hungry or snacky. I still eat a bit later in the night but I try to keep it small and healthy. I've been eating chex mix and a fiber one bar. I also have been trying to drink more water and less soda. I still have my 1-2 cans a night but then drink water in between them or juice. I've discovered the management has a fridge with juice in it so I borrow one or two a week. :) Now to just eat out less and keep up the good habits.

I walk Kamden to school at least twice a week to drop him off. I drive to pick him and Kaijsa up. Kinsee depending on where preschool is depends on if we walk or not. I have also been trying to fit in some yoga for stretching while at home or at work. It's been nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Now to reduce my stress if possible and to keep making progress!

exercising

It's been a while since I've done a good exercise program. In the last 5 years I've had 4 babies so it's been difficult to start anything. Since I'm now done having kids I feel it's time to start again. I realize I'm much older than I was previous to babies so I know my body will react differently. I find I can't do as much for as long. I get sore more easily and out of breath. BUT, i'm determined to see this through. I feel better after working out. I've been walking Kamden to Preschool and sometimes even Kinsee to preschool depending on whose house it's at for the week. Pushing the stroller with 3 kids, Kallen stays home with daddy, is good resistance and I've been wearing my Shape-up shoes. Man do I feel the burn! I have also purchased a couple of new DVD's to work out with Bob! I got the Biggest Loser and than another one that he does. I can barely make it through the 1st workout of The Biggest Loser and the other is an hour with me doing 25 min of it. I figure start out slow and work my way up. I need to be realistic about this right? I then will weigh myself on the Wii Fit Plus to see how I'm doing. After a week or so I've lost 3.something lbs. It's a start. I have a long way to go but figure it took me 4-5 years to gain it all I can take my time losing it. I love seeing my kids try to do the workouts with me. I'll even catch them turning it on and doing it themselves! I'm setting the example of exercising being good. That's important. I have help with the kids and that helps me too. I have even started doing Yoga during my break at work. It helps me wake up a bit and get through the night. I don't know a lot of yoga moves but the few I do know take up the 30 min that I get. I'm feeling good about my beginnings and actually feel like I can do this. I can lose the weight! Now to cut back on my snacking and soda at work....

Walking

For Christmas I bought me some new sneakers, Shape-Ups. They kick my butt! I love them. I have started walking either Kamden or Kinsee to school (Preschool) when I can. It ends up being a few times a week and I wear these shoes plus push the stroller taking Kai with us. Kallen I leave at home with Daddy since my stroller only fits 3 not 4. I have enjoyed these moments of walking with the kids. I am completely out of shape but it's been fun to get out and start walking again. I also try to do some Yoga on the Wii to get some stretching in. This is a bit harder to do since Kallen will want my attention or the kids will want to play games. So I'll do what I can and try to fit some exercising and stretching in. I figure start slow and maybe I'll stick to it. Little by little right? I haven't noticed any weight loss or changes but I've only been doing it about a week. I'll continue working on it and maybe soon I'll notice some difference. :)

Long Time Coming

It's been a while since I last posted. This blog was to be for goals and motivation. After I found out we were going to have another baby, had to move from TX to AZ and then get life settled there I took a break from blogging on 2 blogs and did what I could with 1. Now that life is slowing down a bit I may be able to keep up. The family blog is all about the family. The Goals blog is about my goals and desires for the family and myself. It's a new year so new beginnings...right? I may fail and have to start over but at least here I'm writing about them and trying to keep up with them.

There are so many things I want to work on this year and many more that I need to work on. So here's hoping I can think of them, write them down, do them and follow up/through with them.

To begin with I think the first thing I want to work on is my spirit. I want to attend all 3 meetings at church but not only attend I want to get something out of them. So far so good as I did that today. My sub goal from listening at church is to work on making my fasts much more effective. Which leads to my first need goal. I need to work on getting things in order to find a new job. That too has a sub goal that I have been working on. I found and updated my resume. So see I'm doing good already this year!

The next goals is to fast for help in deciding what to do with my life since I now need to do this. I have some time before my job officially ends but I'd like to have everything lined up for a smooth transition. So I'll be fasting, maybe more than once, to not only find a job but one that will be good for me and my family. One that can support us and that will have health insurance. I'm considering going back to school so maybe my fasts of job will also include school and if that's the right thing for me and my family.

I will try to focus on these and post about how things are going with them in the next week or two.

I also want us to have good Family Home Evenings. I want a good lesson that applies to us all and for us to really and truly work on making our home better. Since I have Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off I think we can make this work. We can plan the lesson on Sundays and give them on Mondays. Sounds easy enough but life gets in the way. If Sundays are better than we'll have FHE on Sundays. Maybe I can follow through with this one by posting on what the lesson was on and if there was an activity. Maybe I can even take some pictures!

I think this is a good beginning.
Fasting and making it more effective.
Fasting for help in finding employment and/or going to school.
Having good Family Home Evenings.
Reporting on all of the above.

I can do this and with any comments y'all may have I know I can stick to it and make them habits. Habits that are worth having! Here's to the New Year!