Starting Tomorrow!!!

So, my packages came today!!

I couldn't wait to get home and see... but I stopped at Walmart before I came home to do a little "lean and green" shopping.  I wasn't actually planning on starting until Thursday but when I talked to my coach this evening she said, "Ok, I'll talk to you tomorrow night!"  So, I guess that settles it.  I am starting tomorrow.  Why not?  I am really excited to start so I might as well start as soon as possible, right?  I thought that I would need to read through stuff to make sure I'm prepared, but really I don't.  I read the getting started guide in the email she sent me last week and know my options.  Anything else I can learn along the way.  I don't need to know every rule before I start.  Secretly, I guess I wanted to wait so I could eat a few more of the forbidden foods.  I have some things that I got from Tastefully Simple a few weeks ago that I have yet to make.  What was I going to do?  Make the cheeseball and eat the whole thing in one night?  What a waste.  I will start tomorrow and take advantage of every possible day I have.

I have been eating a lot more this week, I think.  I saw in a vlog someone reference it as "last supper syndrome."  As a result, I think I've gained a little this week.  I am going to make my "official weigh-in" tomorrow morning when I get to work.  I expect it to be anywhere from 330-335 lbs.

I am going to vow to myself that I will completely stick to this plan.  If I slip up and eat off plan it will throw off my body and get it out of the fat burning stage and waste the next 3-5 days getting back into that stage... thus wasting time and food (that's like $30 in food) -is any little treat worth that cost or more importantly the cost of what I've set out to do?

I found my little lunch bag I bought last year at a ThirtyOne party.  It's so cute! 

It will be perfect for my meals at work.  I looked for a water bottle at Walmart tonight but didn't find what I was looking for.  I'm going to make a quick stop at Target tomorrow.  My goal, set by my coach, is to drink half my body weight in fluid ounces.  So, my goal is 165 ounces.  That's a lot of freeking water!!  I think it's a good day when I have 3 jugs of water at work... I need to, in a day's time, drink more than 5!  I actually do really well drinking water at work, usually.  I am, however, a terrible water drinker at home!  When Jeremy and I first started dating we both drank water so well.  He was always fixing mugs of ice water for us... it was awesome!  Now, it's usually pop.  Speaking of pop- I am making a pop goal for myself, too.  I am starting out by limiting myself to one can a day.

I can't believe how fast this evening has gone!  It's already almost 10:00!  ...and I realized about 5 minutes ago... with all the excitement, I missed one of my favorite shows.  Switched at Birth on ABC Family.  I love sign language and I think it's a really neat show that involves deaf characters. ...and tonight was the spring finale!  I'll have to see if I can find it online... fingers crossed!

Alrighty!  I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how Day 1 went! :)

Patiently Waiting

EEK!!  I'm excited to begin my new adventure! :)  I've been checking my email non-stop to see the shipping information updates and... nothing!  My packages departed from Texas at 2am on Friday and hasn't been updated yet... ok, I realize we had a weekend but give me an update!  I wish they were coming today, since I have the day off.  According to the email I should receive the packages tomorrow.  So, I plan on reading the information and whatnot and starting on Thursday.  So, 3-22-12 will be my start day and the first day of the rest of my life!  I've spent my weekend checking out video's and before and after pics and recipe ideas on Facebook.  There is a guy doing the program right now.  His name is Daniel Cox.  He has a bunch of videos that are really great.  Today was a video about the Peanut Butter Egg Siren -haha!  How he was walking through the grocery store and the peanut butter egg was calling his name and teasing him.  He went on to say that it's just trash talk and trash deserves to be in the garbage.  I don't know... those peanut butter eggs were a creation of the gods ... they are amazing as far as I'm concerned!  Although, it's not worth it... not to mention they are a little pricey.  I've also been checking out vlogs and whatnot on youtube.  I found one that I really liked and she was doing Medifast, also!  Then I found out A. she quit the program after a month and B. it's a couple years later and she still hasn't lost weight.  ...sound familiar?  jeez.  Well, I plan on sticking to the program.  I am very motivated and excited!!  I couldn't fault her for not losing weight because I am in a similar situation.  I am desperate but am still stuck in my old ways.  We are different in a way, I believe.  I watched one of her vlogs where she was really upset.  She was afraid of losing weight and said she would be losing her protective barrier.  That is far from the truth for me.  For me, my body is not a protective barrier at all.  I feel more like, me standing in a battle field with no protection or weapons.  I am most noticeable and the easiest target.  Not that I want to blend in more.  I'd just like it to be my personality and witt that makes me stand out instead of my body.

I was thinking about making a list of reasons that I need to stick to the program and lose weight.  That way I have something to look back at when I'm feeling discouraged or having a rough day with temptations.  I'm sure I will not think of every reason but I'll start with 10 reasons.  Then occasionally, I will add another 10 reasons.  This is in no particular order.

1. Feel better about myself
2. Have more confidence
3. Have more energy
4. Be a good role model for my kids
5. Be more comfortable in my own skin
6. Be able to be described as something other than "fat" or "the big girl"
7. Be able to buy clothes at regular stores
8. Feel good about how clothes look on me
9. Not have my bras make my sides really sore
10. Better sex :)

Same Journey, New Path

Well peeps, I'm going to give it my all again.  There is a reason this is called a challenge... because it's completely challenging!  I guess that's why I've spent the majority of 27 years overweight.  I have been up for the challenge many times in my life and have fallen short.  I've been trying the same thing... which I still believe would work if I could only figure out how to stick with it and not sabotage myself after I get a little success.  I know the key is exercise and eating right.  For some reason, after I start feeling good and succeeding, I just stop.  I don't know why but I am going to work hard to make sure I can fight through those barriers.  I am starting something completely new and foreign to me.  I have never tried anything like it before and I hope it can give me success!  I was approached by a friend, someone I worked with when I worked at the Iowa State Fair throughout High School.  She offered to coach me in a program that she tried and had a great outcome with.  Such a great outcome that, she is now a mentor in the company!  This program that I am going to try is called Take Shape for Life.  I was leery in the beginning because of how the program works.  What they do is "replace your groceries" ...which means you eat their food only.  To be honest, as soon as I found this out, I thought, "Nope, not gonna do it."  I've given it a lot of thought... several months in fact.  I was actually still with Weight Watchers when she first approached me.  (P.S. -I still really like W.W. and I think it's a great program to teach you portion control, how to eat healthier, and the benefit of exercise.  I don't know what happened.  I just slowly started not counting my points and got out of control and eventually quit.  It is something I would try again, though.  Although, I hope I don't have to! :))  Anywho... I began thinking that maybe it would be a good thing to try what Mandy was offering.  She has been posting so many success stories on Facebook... so, I know it works.  Then I heard the quote that goes something like, "Nothing will change until you change something."  I know I need to make changes in my habits.  So, I'm hoping this new program will be that stepping stone to get my on my way.  I've committed myself to one month.  If I can get through one month, I will do two months.  I vow to be completely engaged in the program during the month.  At the end of the month, if I decide it's not working for me, I guess I will have to decide what I will do at that time.  I know if I stay committed in the program, I will lose weight.  I know it's going to be hard and I'm going to have a lot of temptations but I have to remember how important this is to me.  Along with the program, I'm going to start hitting the gym again.  I'm going to make my goal 3 times per week.  My first goal date is May 12th.  That date is my friend Andrea's wedding.  (sounds familiar, huh... I guess I like wedding goal dates- HA)  I hope to be 299 lbs by her wedding day.  Since last fall, unfortunately, I've gained some weight back.  The last time I weighted myself, which was last week, I weighed 330 lbs. 

I realized I haven't even explained the program.  So, they replace your meals with their food.  You eat 5-6 "meals" a day.  I say "meals" because I think it's like a shake, a bar, or some other small portioned nutrient packed food.  ....and viola! Skinny Megan! :)  haha  The order is being put in tomorrow so I, hopefully, should be able to start next week.  I'll be back with pictures and measurements... although, I doubt they've changed much.

Pictures

June 9, 2011

September 16, 2011

June 9, 2011

September 16, 2011

June 9, 2011

September 16, 2011

I wanted to update my new measurements with new pictures, too!  It was a little overcast today so the brightness of the pictures are different and it's a little hard to see details like the first ones.  I wore the same pants and was going to wear the same shirt but decided that it wasn't that big of a deal.  The pictures don't "scream" change, but I can see overall results!

Today I didn't work and I wasn't going to make a special trip to S.C. just to go to the gym.  I decided I wanted to dig my bike out and go for a bike ride.  My initial intentions were to ride my bike to Mapleton (6-7 miles) and meet my friend, Kylee, to go for a walk, then ride my bike back home.  Well, the walk wasn't going to workout and I was initially bummed because I really wanted to try to make it to Mapleton, but I decided that I'd go for a bike ride anyways.  I called up my friend, Mindi, to see what she was up to.  She was going to be around... now I have a "reason" to go to Mapleton!  I got my bike out and the tires were really low.  Probably because it hadn't been touched in at least a year.  I got Jeremy to air them up... since I don't really know how to make the air compressor run.  I dug my helmet out and spent about a half hour adjusting it to make sure it fit right.  I downloaded a couple songs and made a little play list of my current favorites.  I grabbed my cell and a little cash just in case I needed to stop for something to drink when I arrived.  I was finally on my way!  I rode a couple blocks and had to stop to adjust my seat height.  By the way, my legs are still sore from Wednesday!  I'm not sure if it's from the Group Power class or riding the bike at the gym so much... probably a combination of the two.  It was pretty chilly out today but I wore a hoodie and was pretty comfortable.  I got about a mile or so outside of town and stopped because I wanted to adjust the seat height again.  Something just didn't feel right.  I thought the seat had been slipping down or something.  When I stopped, I realized what I thought I had noticed before... my back tire was pretty low again.  I don't know if it just didn't get aired up enough, there was a leak, or the temperature outside was causing it to go down.  Whatever reason it was I knew I wasn't going to make it to Mapleton and headed back to Danbury.  The way back was worse I think.  The wind was coming at me from my right side and was blowing my pants into my chain, I felt like the wind picked up, my legs were burning, and I was nervous about the status of my tire.  I made it home but was a little bummed that I didn't get to go further.  In hindsight, it's probably a good thing because I'm not sure if I would have made the whole trip.  I think that it's going to have to be something I work up to... or try on a more temperate day.  I was still out riding for about a half hour, though! ...I should measure my trip because it must be more than a mile out of town.  I can't imagine that I only rode 2 miles in a half hour.

This weekend I have to work and it's also my birthday on Sunday!  I'm not sure what I will get in for workouts this weekend.  I could go to the gym tomorrow morning but I don't really want to have to make two trips to and from Sioux City.  Sunday I could go before work but I think I want to spend as much time at home with everyone before I have to go to work.  I really should do something this weekend since I have to weigh in on Monday.  I'm trying really hard to get as close as I can to a 4-5 lb loss.  We'll see what happens!

Feelin' the Burn

Yesterday, I went to Group Power, one of the classes the Y has.  My friend, Jodi, is the instructor for it so I thought it'd be a good one to go to.  Plus, I was thinking I should start incorporating weights into my schedule and I'm not super comfortable hanging in the weight lifting equipment area yet.  I don't know why, I didn't have a problem at the Rec Center but I feel kinda self conscious at the Y.  I also think that in my limited time I would rather get in as much cardio as possible.  I know that building muscle helps with weight loss, too, that's why I thought I should start going to the Group Power class, when I can.  Yesterday, at the class, I thought most of it was pretty easy and that I should add more weight next time... aside from the shoulder exercises!... I definitely felt the burn there!  After class I did a little on the bike- crushed my previous personal best time on one of the 1 mile courses by 9 seconds.  It doesn't really seem like much but I was pretty worn out from the class and the first bike course I did, so, I was pretty pumped.  After that, I did about 20 minutes on the elliptical.  I decided that since I hadn't had lunch yet I would treat myself to Sushi.  I haven't been to this place before and have been wanting to try it.  I got salmon and it was delicious!!  I was WAY under my points yesterday, but I didn't feel deprived at all.  Although, I did come home from work and have some cake that was left over from the girls birthday... still under daily points though.  This morning I'm feeling the burn from yesterday.  The tops of my thighs are burning and my shoulders are sore.  It's a good burn though! :)

I decided to take measurements again.  The last time I did was the first part of June, before I started the 30DS.  I will have to take pictures again like I did then.  But for now, here are the measurements:

Rt arm: 18 1/2" (-1")
Lt arm: 17 3/4" (-3/4")
Rt Thigh: 31" (0)
Lt Thigh: 31" (0)
Rt Calf: 19 1/2" (-3/4")
Lt Calf: 19" (-1)
Chest: 55 3/4" (-2 1/2")
Upper Waist (smallest): 48 3/4" (-5 1/4")
Lower Waist (at belly button): 57" (-2 1/4")
Hips (biggest part): 50" (-3/4")
Symphysis to Sternum: 27"

I'm pretty excited about the loss!  The first one I did was my right arm and I thought, I couldn't have lost 1" on my arm?!  I put the tape measure to the previous measurement and looked at what it was... that's pretty awesome to be able to visualize the progress!  The best was the chest measurement!  I put the tape out to the previous measurement and can not imagine that just a few months ago my chest was that much bigger!  Now, the upper waist measurement I was confused by.  I'm not exactly sure where I measured last time because I just can't imagine that I've lost over 5" in that area!  Just so I'm clear next time, this time I measured in the area a couple inches under my bra line.  I also wanted to make sure I noted that I did all measurements standing and when doing the legs I put my weight on that leg.  I read somewhere that that is how you are supposed to measure your legs.  Oh, and I took my chest measurement with a bra on.  I also added a measurement.  Once before I took this measurement and I hope I can find it because I would love to see how it has changed.  This measurement is something I may have made up but since I have such a big belly, I figured it'd be a good way to measure how it's shrinking.  This measurement is from my symphysis, following my skin all the way to my sternum.  It's pretty much the same measurement they do when you are pregnant and they measure your uterus... only I'm measuring my belly.  I will have to take some pictures, too!  I have noticed the T-shirts I wear are a lot looser, which makes me smile! :)  I guess now I know why!  I've lost 2 1/2" in my chest and 2 1/4" in my waist! 

YMCA!

So, I joined the gym last Tuesday!  It has been a great week of working out.  I got up (really) early Tuesday morning so I could join and workout before I had to go to work.  I got there at about 6:15am and was all signed up in about 15 minutes.  He was pretty shocked when I walked in that early and wanted to join... he said it was the earliest he has ever started someone!  I jumped right in and started on the elliptical.  It took me a few minutes to figure out the TV thing but I think I about have it mastered now.  After I did about 25 minutes or so on the elliptical, I went on the treadmill for 10-15 minutes... I had to start getting ready to go to work.  I felt pretty good the rest of the day, but I was tired.  I'm not used to getting up at 4:45am!  The next day I went after work and started a new thing, the Expresso Bike!  I really like this thing!  It's a stationary bike that is very similar to a real bike.  The handlebars move and it's hooked up to a system that you can go through and ride paths.  As you go up hills the resistance gets harder and you have to turn around corners, just like you would a real bike.  The first day I signed in as a guest but the next day I decided to make an account.  I have done it three times now and it is so fun!  It keeps track of your times and the next time you do that trail you can race against your best time.  It really helps to make me go fast and work hard!  I am usually sweating about 2 minutes in... the first day I forgot a towel and the sweat ran down my face and over my nose, as I breathed out the sweat would go flying... lol!  Saturday, I took the kids.  Since Brayden is in Kindergarten he actually has to have a membership to go into the youth center (where the older kids go to hang out.)  I did the math and it's cheaper to just get him a day pass when he goes instead of getting a family membership.  The girls went to the child watch room.  I actually expected a little bit of whining when they realized I was leaving but I think as soon as they saw the other kids and all the toys, they completely forgot I existed! haha!  They were off and having fun, so, I took Brayden over to the youth center, which is just next door.  That room has tons of fun things for kids his age to do and he went right to the Foosball table to play.  I went off and started with the bike for 30 min, then the elliptical for 30 min, then went to the pool!  I was pretty excited to do the lap swimming.  I think I only swam 1 time this summer that I can remember and it was a couple weeks ago in a friends pool.  I love swimming!  I remember one summer when I was a kid I went to the pool every single day.  I have never really lap swam before but it was pretty nice.  There were a few others swimming, too.  I had to stop after each lap, but I was OK with that.  I tried to make my breaks only a few seconds or so.  The weirdest part was that I think I was sweating.  I'm not sure if I've ever really sweat in a pool before.  Maybe it was just leftover from before, I don't know.  I did learn a very important lesson though.  I did not have goggles and I opened my eyes a lot under water so I could make sure I was going straight.  When I left my vision was so blurry.  We went in the morning and the rest of the day my vision was blurry and I felt very strange, almost sick.  We went to Wal-mart right after the Y to get a few things and I bought some goggles.

During the week, I was pretty upset about what was going on with my body.  I knew how much I was working out and I was doing a decent job at tracking my foods, but I went and did a quick scale check in MRI and I had actually GAINED a couple pounds!  I could not figure it out!  I spent the next couple days with that on my mind thinking that it was crazy and impossible.  Finally, it occurred to me that I had forgotten a few things that I had not been tracking.  I hadn't been tracking my fluids!  I usually don't have to worry about tracking my fluids because I usually only drink water or diet pop.  The beginning of the week I bought some TruMoo, the chocolate milk that is supposed to be a lot better and less sugar than the regular chocolate milk.  I wanted to try it and I occasionally buy chocolate milk as a treat for the kids.  We always half it with regular milk, so it's not as thick and it also makes it last longer.  I also had read that chocolate milk is a good thing to drink after a workout.  In 2-3 days I had been drinking milk and not tracking it at all.  I also had had some ice cream one night and failed to track it and one day I had a handful of M&M's.  I thought I had been doing so well and had blanked out all the foods that were holding me back.  I had used up all of my "free" points for the week in a matter of 2-3 days!  I made sure to pay extra close attention to tracking everything the rest of the week.  I also decided to track my activity and earned 58 points in the gym!  That doesn't include my work yesterday of throwing hay bales yesterday while we baled hay.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited to see, today, what my weeks work has done!
*Update*  I'm down 4.4 lbs.  I'm pretty happy considering last week I was sitting at a gain!... and I weighed in jeans.  4.4 lbs in two weeks is pretty awesome. :)  Although, I hope I can lose about that this week.

Wedding Countdown

4 weeks 6 days until the wedding that I am going to be in!  To reach my goal, I'd like to lose about 17 lbs by then.  I am pretty motivated, so I think it's possible!  Actually, I don't really know where I sit right now with my weight because I weigh in on Monday's.  (I do sneak in a few weigh-in's now and then in MRI but since the scales are about 5 lbs different it makes it hard.)  Since it was last weeks weight (316.4), if you do the math, I only have to lose about 3 lbs a week... I can do that!  I just REALLY want to be under 300 lbs by then.  It's every really heavy person's goal to get to change that first number of you're weight and I hope that I can do it twice!

I think this week I am going to join the YMCA in South Sioux City.  A couple weeks ago I did a little tour and it's a really nice place.  I worked at the Y when it was downtown and liked going there, so, I've always been drawn to they Y.  I have been thinking for quite awhile that I want to join but didn't know if I'd use the membership enough to make it worthwhile.  Luckily, they Y gives discounts to Mercy employees so I get $7 off my monthly membership and they waive the joining fee... which is really nice.  My goal is to be able to go before work when I work 3-11's and before/after work (depending on Jeremy's work schedule) when I work 8-4's.  I want to take advantage of some of they group classes they have to offer... my friend, Jodi, is a teacher for one of the classes so I'll probably check out that class.  I have been dying to swim recently so I think I'm going to do some swimming in the lap pool, too.  Oh!  They have treadmill's, elliptical's, and bike's with TV's built right into the machine!  I know, I know... this is probably old technology but I think it's really neat!  The rec center I used to go to didn't have that stuff!  An awesome thing they have that was hard with the rec center is they have a child watch!  So, I'm thinking on Saturday mornings when Jeremy is sleeping from work and we need something to do to make sure the house is quite for him... we can to to the gym!  I just have to decide when I'm going to join.  I think I might join this week.  I really think going to the gym will help me in a lot of ways.  Besides helping me reach my fitness goals, I think it would help me relieve a lot of stress.  I always feel better after going to the gym.  It's a combination of a feeling of accomplishment and also the time to myself to just be able to think is great.  I get a lot of thinking time in my car but it's not the same, I don't think.  So, possibly, Tuesday I will have an update about my first morning at the gym! :)

You may have noticed that I changed my beginning weight.  I decided to do that because the weight I had as my beginning weight was the weight I was at when I started this blog, which was the weight I was at at the beginning of the weight loss challenge I was in.  My heaviest weight was about 360 lbs (maybe even over that.)  I have always used that weight as my heaviest weight so, I decided to change it on here.  Actually, when I was pregnant with the twins I was heavier than 360lbs... I have no idea how much though because after I couldn't get weighed on the regular scale in the room and had to be walked to a different scale (one that had to have weights added on to make it accurate...how embarrassing!) I stopped paying as close attention to remembering... basically I blocked it all out of my mind because it was horrible.  I don't think it was much over 360 lbs, though.  I always figured when I got to my goal weight I would ask.