Zoo Day

Today was Brayden's birthday and we celebrated by going to the zoo.  We spent all afternoon there.  If any of you know the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, then you know that it's pretty big and has quite a few steep hills.  We had the girls in the stroller and Jeremy and I took turns pushing it.  The last hill we went up I pushed the stroller and I was pretty much out of breath by the time we got to the top!  It was so fun to spend the day with the family.  Before we reached Omaha, we stopped at a rest stop and had a lunch that we packed.  It was a simple lunch, but we figured it was better than getting food in the zoo.  Also, it was really nice out so it was nice sitting at the rest stop at a picnic table.  We didn't have to worry about people or anything really.  There was a nervous sparrow flying around and about half way through our lunch we realized there was a nest in the roof above our picnic table.

Brayden is playing a game and since it's his birthday, I figured I'd let him play.  I could kick him off and send him to bed so I can do my 30DS but... to be honest... I kinda don't feel like it.  I am going to use the pathetic excuse that I walked a lot today and it was a pretty good workout pushing the stroller up a few hills.  Right now, I'm having fun watching him play the Wii.

I was looking at some pictures I have and found one that I feel represents me.  I think I may have posted this before but I like it.  I do feel like a skinny, athletic girl, stuck in a big girl body.  I do feel like I could just unzip and walk right out.

 Jeremy and I were looking through an old photo album of mine and I envied the girl in the photos.  If I could only go back and tell that girl that she wasn't as disgustingly fat and ugly as she thought she was.  I didn't let it hold me back as much as I feel I do now.  I will scan some of those pictures and show you all.  I was quite the catch in High School! haha :) My skinniest is still 7th grade though.  I came to 7th grade after jumping on our trampoline every single day all summer.  I didn't even realize it then but I slimmed down quite a bit from 6th to 7th grade.

I scanned a couple of the pictures... they are both from prom, I believe, so we are all dressed up with our hair and everything nice.  I like these pictures and am excited to feel pretty like this again... to feel good when I see a picture of myself.  It does kinda seem like I'm down on myself or that I'm having a pity party but I guess that's how I feel.

This one is with my best friend, Linda.

This one is with a girl I went to H.S. with, Amy.

Measurements and Pictures

I finally got a chance to get pictures taken and take my measurements.  Pretty scary but there they are.  At least I know that #1 I have been larger and #2 The measurements won't this be this way for long.  I added a few measurements to what the other girls are doing because there are other areas I'd like to watch change.  

Right Arm: 19 1/2"
Left Arm:18 1/2"
Right Thigh: 31"
Left Thigh: 31"
Right Calf: 20 1/4"
Left Calf: 20"
Chest: 58 1/4"
Upper Waist (smallest): 54"
Lower Waist (at belly button): 59 1/4"
Hips (biggest part): 50 3/4"

Here are my pictures.  I was on uneven ground so that's why it looks like I'm standing a little funny.  And the grass is bad there because we just cleared out some pine trees to put in that fence a few weeks ago.  I hate looking at pictures of myself because I don't really think about what I look like until I see a picture.

I went to Target yesterday and bought the Zumba Wii, a Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown video, and a Bob Harper Ultimate Cardio Body workout video.  They were having a sale on all of them.  I decided I wanted to try the Bob Harper one since one of my friends has been talking about it and how she likes it, I wanted to get a Yoga one to try, because I know yoga is great for you and I want to also work on my balance...I'm sure this will help.  I've been really wanting to get the Zumba one for a long time and since it was on sale I decided it was time.  I did one of the things on it today (still haven't completely figured it out) and it was a lot of fun!  ...and hard!  I'm sure I will catch on to the moves quickly.  From what I did today I was already catching on pretty well.  I was a sweaty mess when I was done... and I took a little break to help Jeremy with something... and was still sweating!  I took a picture when I was done with it.  I wanted to do a face picture, because I saw another girl with a before and after, after a month of doing the 30DS.  The picture was of her face and it was a very inspiring before and after!  I can hardly believe they were taken only 30 days apart!  I am going to try to do pictures every week and I still haven't decided how often I will measure... I'm thinking every month.  The reason I think I will try to do pictures every week is because I read somewhere a girl did that and she was so happy she did.  She could see the progress she was making and it helped her to keep going!  

This morning my friend Kylee called and we went to workout together.  The last time her and I worked out together I got down to about 290-295 lbs.  I'm happy she is wanting to workout because it means a workout buddy for me.  She is getting married in October... which is her big pusher, I'm sure.  I am in her wedding...which is my big pusher.  Right now that is my goal date.  I'd like to be down to 270-275 lbs by then.  I figure if I lose 3 lbs. per week, I should be able to get there by then.  Since the gym was locked for some reason this morning, we went to the track and walked around it ... I jogged a little... a very little.  We also stopped and did ab work and push ups a couple times.

I did the 30DS 3 days in a row!  Then last night, for some reason, I was so tired and pretty much fell asleep around 8pm.  I didn't get it done last night but I thought I'd work extra hard today to make up for it.  I also plan on doing it tonight.  That's 3 workouts in one day... impressive! :)

Weigh Day Monday!

Weight Watchers meet on Monday's at noon.  I like having them on Monday's (for now) because it helps me to stay honest on weekends.  Sunday night at work someone wanted to order out... I thought right away about the scale and declined.  I was anxious all day about what it would show.  I had weighed in MRI first thing this morning to get an idea but the scales are usually about 5 lbs off so it's hard to say what it will be for sure.  I got in line, stepped on, and I lost again!  I'm currently at 327.2 lbs.  Which is 5.6 lbs less than two Monday's ago (no meeting last week because of the holiday.)  To be honest, I was hoping for a little bit more but I'm pretty excited.  I'm also excited to see how next week will be, now that I'm doing the 30DS.

Speaking of... I've done it two days in a row!!  haha!  I know that's not that big of a deal but I am pretty proud of myself. :)  I did it yesterday before work.  It definitely was hard but I got through it.  I struggled through some of the jumping jacks and the jump-roping.  Also, the reverse crunches were pretty difficult for me to do.  I ended up doing the jump-roping for all but the last set one leg at a time like jogging-jump-roping.  I did the last set the correct way... I was determined!  The bicycle crunches are very hard for me, too!  I hope, someday, to read this back and see how far I've come.  Tonight was pretty neat.  Brayden did it with me the whole time ... the best he could, anyway.  I was so proud to be such a good example for him... that was worth it alone!  He did it with me a little bit yesterday in the end but tonight he did the whole thing with me... and he was breathing hard, said he was tired, said his legs were tired, and was sweating in the end!  I wasn't alone! lol :)  We both got a glass of cold water and are going to chill for a little bit before bed.

I NEED to get my measurements done and pictures taken!  I read somewhere to take pictures every week so you can go back and see how you've changed.  If I get organized, I'm going to do that!  I thought about doing that picture a day thing, so at the end of the year I could have that fast slide show thing like you see online for different things.  I could probably handle doing that for my face... that's something I can manage alone!

Jeremy gave me a compliment yesterday... actually a couple.  I decided to lie out in the baby pool with the kids while they played, so I could catch some sun and watch them at the same time.  Well, I dug out my swimming suit and he said he could tell I've lost weight since the last time I wore it... last time it didn't fit well in the bottom half area at all.  I guess the last time I wore it, I was probably about 25 lbs heavier.  Then, when I got done with my workout he told me I did a good job. :)

Well, I'm going to watch Makeover.  It's a show where they take a person over the course of a year and help them to lose weight and show their weight loss journey.  I watched last weeks show and it's really neat.  She went bungee jumping!  That is on my bucket list!!  That and skydiving!  Both I am super scared of but I think it would be the thrill of a lifetime.  Both also have a weight limit.  I will, someday, do at least one of those things.

Last quick thing... I tried a new little recipe tonight.  Mix box angel food cake, a can of crushed pineapple, and a tsp. of vanilla.  Bake 350* for 35 min.  I have some strawberries and cool whip to put with it!  Haven't completely figured out the points but I think it will be pretty good! :)

Measurements

Well, I'm going to have to do the 30DS when I get home from work tonight because this morning I didn't get a chance. Saturday mornings we have to flee the house so Jeremy can get some sleep from working the night shift. So, we went over to a friends house to hang out for the morning. By the time we got back from there, I only had enough time to take a quick shower and leave for work. This stinks because it's already the 4th and I have yet to do a single session of 30DS! --I know I only found out about all the wonderful girls doing it 2 days ago but still...

Right Arm:
Left Arm:
Right Thigh:
Left Thigh:
Chest:
Upper Waist (smallest):
Lower Waist (at belly button):
Hips (biggest part):

Anyone can join us and I hope you will. If you do you will love the end results. I am so excited to see the results. They say you can lose around 10lbs and a dress size. Want to know what to do?

We are all doing before pictures and measurements. For your measurements take a soft measuring tape or some yarn and cut to the sizes then you can use a flat ruler to measure the yarn.

Where to measure?

•Each arm (thickest part)
•Each thigh (thickest part)
•Upper waist (smallest)
•Lower waist (at your belly button)
•Your hips (biggest part)
Write this info down, or put it in Excel so you can come back to it after 30 days. After we complete the whole 30 days we are going to remeasure and take after photos.

Day 1 of 30 Day Shred....

I set my alarm to get up earlier... something I've done many times! but!... this time I actually got up when it went off! haha I got up and zombie-like walked around aimlessly, trying to wake up. I decided to open the drawer that held the DVD of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I pulled it out and walked over to the recliner and sat down. I sat there holding it with my eyes closed hoping just holding it would give me some momentum to actually get up and do it. Finally, I opened my eyes and started looking at it, reading everything on it. Then, I opened it....to find no disc! What the heck?! I knew it had to be in one of the 100 other DVD cases and I def. wasn't going to go searching thru all them cause who knows if it's even there! I did search around a little tho... that stinks! So, instead of doing something else productive, I checked out Facebook for a little bit...made B some breakfast and started getting ready for work/clinicals. On my way to work I decided that I should just get another DVD, if it's cheap enough. I could spend the next 30 days looking for the one I already have somewhere or get another one. I figured when I find the other one, I will give it to my sister. So, I pulled into Target, ran in and found where they were and it was only $9.00! -So I got it! I know I could have gotten it cheaper on Amazon but I didn't want to put off starting any longer. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better "Day 1"! haha

In food world, I went over my daily points by a bit. I know I have the weekly extra points to fall back on, but I am going to try to work towards not using them.

This weekend I work, but I still want to make sure to get some working out in my day! Beyond the 30DS I want to do my other 2 days of walking I promised myself I would do this week. I told myself I would do 3 days of walking this week.

So, my friend, Kylee, is getting married this coming October. I am using her wedding as my goal date. I would LOVE to be the weight I was at when I got pregnant with Brayden....274 lbs. That would mean I would have to average 3.5 lbs per week until her wedding. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! I'm not sure if this is a goal I want to set for myself or not. I think a secondary goal (haha) should be 289, which would be lower than I have been since I had Brayden. A couple years ago, a couple friends and I (Kylee, actually) worked out quite a bit and I ended up losing a good amount of weight...but it was so hard to keep up that workout schedule and still have time to be with my family, so, it kept slowing down until it finally just stopped. Anyways, the DVD of 30DS says you can lose up to 20 lbs in 30 days... that would pretty much be 5 lbs per week. So, I figure, if I can do that, that would take down the average per week to almost 3 lbs per week. ....I think too much about all this. I should just get to work and see what comes of it! lol Another note about the wedding is the dress I ordered. I took my measurements and called them in. I said I wanted to order a size smaller than what the measurements suggested but she didn't think that was a very good idea because "it's a lot easier to bring in than let out". I figure they have a lot of girls that say they will lose weight before a wedding and end up having problems with the alteration. As long as it all works out...I don't care!

Weekend Goals
-track all points
-do not go over daily points
-walk 3 miles Saturday and Sunday
-do 30DS both days
-get measurements and "before" pictures taken and posted
-burn some calories doing some housework!

30 Day Shred Challenge

My friend Mandey and a bunch of other girls in the blogging world are starting a challenge... Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I am going start along with them! I will post my pictures and measurements as soon as I can.

I will take a minute to catch up... I spent the last 4 months or so not moving outside of work and eating whatever, whenever. I gained back quite a bit... (insert extremely sad face.) My only excuse is the toll of being so busy with work, family and school x2... I guess that's a decent excuse...I will tell myself that anyway.

The WW location that I was attending closed down and started back up in a church, with meetings only a few times a week. The times they had meetings I could not attend because of work and school conflicts, so I basically just paid for my membership and ...that's about it. Where I work has an at work program. They were starting up a new session and I decided to join it! It started three Monday's ago. The first weigh-in I was at 337.8 lbs. -ugh. My first week I stayed dedicated to my points. At the second meeting I weighed in at 332.8... 5 lbs in the first week and can you believe I ate pizza a couple times, McDonalds once, and had some Oreo's.. ok several Oreo's... but I just tracked the points and look where it got me! :) This last Monday was Memorial Day so there wasn't a meeting. I'm excited for next Monday to see how I've done. I do have to say I believe I feel better already and definately, without a doubt am not as hungry all the time! That obviously has a lot to do with my food choices... I'm eating a lot more protein and a lot less carbs.

In the last couple years, during the times I have been working on being good to myself and trying to lose weight, I always go back to wanting to start running. I will do this! I am going to start small... that's the only way! I guess I should start with walking. haha

Goals:
-get out and walk at least 3 times this week
-track points all week (including weekends)
-start the 30 Day Shred

I almost forgot! I have an added pusher... I have to not only fit into but look good in a bridesmaid dress this fall! I still cringe when I see photos from the last wedding I was in.

It's A New Year!

A lot has happened since my last post! I actually thought about quitting this blog but it's kinda fun for me to look back and see how far I've come.

My family has not slowed down at all! If anything we have gotten more crazy!! Jeremy is taking a couple classes and so am I! I started CT training Jan 3rd and started EMS classes a few weeks ago. I may be crazy but in a few short months I'll be done with those and have somthing to prove for all my hard work.

Last October I started Weight Watchers. I LOVE it!! I have the monthly pass so I can use the online tools and go to as many meetings a week as I like. Since I started at the beginning of October I have lost 18 lbs! Which brings up an important topic... since I started WW and weigh in there once a week, I now use whatever that scale says as my current weight. I was weighing in at work in MRI and that scale is off from the WW scale... by about 5 lbs. So, the MRI scale always reads about 5 lbs. less than the WW scale. So, really, my actual weight loss is about 40 lbs!! That's pretty awesome, I think!

Well, right before Christmas I went to a meeting and didn't go to meetings for the next 3 weeks or so... not on purpose I just got busy with life! I decided I needed to get back to a meeting because I felt like I was spiraling out of control. I just knew I had undone all that I had accomplished and I did not want to weigh-in. I went anyway and had to weigh-in with the receptionist (whom I don't really like) and she looked at me with a frown and her judgemental eyes and said, "You're up a pound." I was like, "REALLY!!" I was so excited that I hadn't gained all my weight back I didn't care what she thought. HAHA I spent the next week not really tracking and didn't feel motivated to do anything but knew I HAD to get to the meeting. Both of these meetings were days of blizzards and I walked in just in time to weigh-in and go. This time I stepped on the scale and got my book back and was shocked, embarrassed, and mad at myself. I was up another 2.6. GRRR!! That was on a Friday and I spent the weekend trying to be more careful- still not tracking, though. Monday I went down to the WW at work meeting a little early so I could talk to Marilyn- my wonderful leader. I had to talk to her and figure out how to get out of this rut and how to get myself back in control. I talked to her and she told my how it was a great week to try to get back in control and the weeks meeting was all about it! I couldn't stay for the meeting but took the weekly to read. She told me to check out my weight and start from there. I stepped on and cringed... then I realized that I was down 3 lbs! Over the weekend I had fixed everything and gave me a positive attitude and definitely gave me a jump start to get on plan again. Marilyn was like, Wow! See, you are always too hard on yourself! I got to thinking, I am sometimes too hard on myself. I set my goals too height and beat myself up if I don't reach those goals. So, I decided to set my goals low. I thought if I make a goal of losing 5-7 pounds a month for the rest of the year that adds up to a lot of weight! If I could do that I would be down to the weight I was before I got pregnant with Brayden! I have never really thought about how much the little things add up. A goal like that means that I only have to rely on myself to lose somewhere between 1-2 pounds a week, which is acceptable.

We got a Wii for Christmas! I LOVE it!! I love the Wii Fit!! Added bonus is that Brayden loves playing it, too so it's a fun game for us to do together. I played a game on there for about 30 minutes straight one day and found myself to be sweating. Jeremy and I played the boxing game the first day a lot and both of our arms were so sore we could barely use them for the next few days! haha

So, now that I'm back on track, I'll try to keep this blog updated! I know there are a few of you out there that like to read and see what I'm up to in my weight loss world... most of you I work with everyday and are just nosey... JODI! LMAO