Weightloss Portions and Other Thoughts

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
As I mentioned before I’ve also been in a bit of a funk these few weeks. Well, Steve over at Log My Loss made a great comment the other day about eating only weightloss portions this week to get over the funk he’s in.
The phrase “weightloss portions” really hit home with me. To look at my portions as what I need to eat to lose weight versus what I can eat to maintain my weight is something I don’t always do. I think it’s a good way to think to keep track of how much a person should eat, that is if you’re having a hard time stopping when you feel satisfied like I have been lately.

So, I have been also trying to get myself motivated to eat smaller portions again. I also need to get those fruits and veggies in. Today the only fruit/vegetable I got in was a frozen banana in my protein shake for lunch.
Oh, I also confess that I need to step away from the candy. Sheesh! Compared to my former self I’m not eating hardly any, but the last couple of days it’s been 3-4 candies a day – like 3-4 dark chocolate kisses.
Water has been getting better, so that’s good. I really need to get back to the water too, and I am doing that.
My workouts have been fine. Today I busted my rear on the elliptical for 10 minutes at about 130 strides per minute, then I finally had to drop down to my former highest rate of 125 strides per minute. I did a total of 32 minutes on the elliptical with 4 minutes being warm-up/cool down at a much slower pace. Then I did the weight machines, three sets of eight on each machine and with heavier weights this time. It was a good workout day and I can feel myself getting stronger physically.
So, I feel better, with the exception of eating a little too much food and candy, and just hope that the scale shows something this week. I don’t know if I have enough days left of eating better to make a difference, but I certainly hope so! If not, there’s always another week, and I’ll press on for more then.
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I Will Not Fail

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
I have been in a bit of a funk again, mainly with my food. My exercise has been great and I’ve seen some wonderful non-scale victories in the realm of my fitness levels; but it seems I’m not being so careful with my food.

This is driving me nuts and I’m ready for it to end.
So, today I happen to pop on over to Steve’s blog at Log My Loss and he posted this great motivation for Monday on getting out of the funk. I suggest you take a minute and check it out here if you’re fighting a road block or funk in your weightloss journey, or in any area of your life for that matter.
One thing he said was for us to repeat to ourselves:
I am worth it.
I will not quit.
I will not fail.
I could print this out and stick it on my mirror to look at every day. I do struggle with feeling like I’m not worth it and being afraid that I will fail.
Yet, as I’ve said before, deep down I know that I refuse to quit and thus I can not fail. Along the way I am learning that I am worth it also.
So, I will keep doing what I know to do. I will push myself to keep an extra eye on my food portions, curb the sweets and high fats, drink my water and make sure to get my exercise in. I know that by doing this I will NOT fail in the long run.
I hope you can be encouraged also that you will not fail!
p.s. If you pop on over to Steve’s blog..leave him a nice little note. He really has a kind heart and cares so much for others who struggle with weight issues. Thanks, Steve!
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Progression Pics – 5 Months

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
I always like seeing other people’s progress pictures, so I decided back when I started this journey that I would take pictures every month to have my own set of pictures to look back over and share.
I bought an outfit that was a size smaller than I was wearing when I started my weight loss journey, so they were very tight on me. I always take my pictures when the clothes are freshly washed so that they don’t look baggy just from being worn.
“Baggy” ha! Today was the first time I noticed the shirt is actually a little loose in spots. When I took the first pictures it was skin tight. *grin* Now the shirt is still too tight for me to wear out anywhere, but it is comfortable enough for me to workout in.
Beginning Front View – 231.0 lbs

5 months later, front – 209.0 lbs
-22.0 lbs so far

Beginning Side View – 231.0 lbs.
5 months later, side – 209.0 lbs
-22.0 lbs so far
You can see the month by month progress here. I was super busy in September, so I didn’t take pictures that month. I try and take them during the same couple of days each month so that there are pretty much the same number of weeks between each shot.
So, while my weightloss journey has been a slow one at least I do see changes that coincide with how much better I am feeling now compared to 5 months ago. It’s encouraging and revealing all at once to see these photos. I am encouraged that I’ve come so far, and I see where there is still more work to be done.
Have a great weekend!
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A Funny Joke

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

I can’t resist sharing this joke I received in my email today. Personally, I got a good laugh out of it. I’m all into donating, I give most of my children’s clothes away when they don’t fit anymore, but it was the ending of this joke that had me laughing.

CLOTHES DONATION
I just had a call from a charity asking me to donate some of my clothes to the starving people throughout the world.

I told them to forget it….

Anybody who fits into my clothes isn’t starving!!

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Weigh-In … Each Day Counts

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

Today’s Weight: 209.0

Loss/Gain: -1.0 lb
Total Loss So Far: -22.0 lbs
After I weighed in today the thought that kept coming back to me was, “Each day counts, Leah.” Along with staying focused on the ultimate goal I have to remember that each day and each meal counts.
I don’t have a problem with having a free day of sorts when it comes to food. However, I know that I have to be careful and make sure that I don’t let one or two special meals happen too often so as to ruin my weight loss efforts.
Earlier this week I was stressing a bit about thinking I wasn’t going to move away from 210 pounds. Well, I did move down one pound away and I’m happy with that. I will work harder to make sure that I am careful to stay focused on my goals and remember that each day counts on this journey. 🙂
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Hot 100 – Update #3

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


I decided to post my updates for the Hot 100 Challenge every 10 days like Steve is doing it on his blog. So, now is the time (according to his blog..I lost track of time. *grin*)


So far my goals for October look like they will be met.

– I already weigh a little less than when my mother-in-law came on September 12th.
– I’m doing fine with any comments. Of course, she doesn’t make that many, so it’s been pretty easy. It’s comments about non-food things that I’ve been learning to just ignore or not worry about. So, that is also good. 🙂

I have to confess that I’m worrying about making my November goal of reaching 199 by Thanksgiving. I’m struggling with breaking a plateau of sorts. I’m working out regularly and trying to get those fruits, veggies and water in.

Hopefully this will break soon and I’ll be back on track. I am nervous, because I almost didn’t join this challenge because I was afraid of not meeting my goals. As I see myself struggle with getting past 210 pounds I feel that fear of failure setting back in and I worry that I won’t meet the goals after all.

I won’t quit though. I just need to figure out what I can do to get that scale moving back in the right direction, so I can meet the rest of my Hot 100 goals.


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The Gym

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
The gym I’ve started going to is part of the recreation area at this local church. They offer use of the gym for free to the public. You don’t have to be a member of their church.
My neighbor told me about this soon after we moved in and I was too embarrassed to go to it since I’m not a member of their church, and I have my own church that I attend faithfully and am very involved in.
Then last spring I decided to check it out.
It consists of two full-sized basketball courts, a full walking track up on a second level around both courts, two raquetball courts and a workout gym. The workout room has two treadmills, one elliptical, free weights and one each of about ten different weight machines. You just have to go through the orientation to be able to use the workout room, and it really is free of cost.
Last spring I signed up and started walking on the track and then on the treadmill. I attempted to use the elliptical, but could only handle about 15, then 20 and maybe 30 minutes at a very slow pace and with lots of breaks.
I started doing my Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs soon after going to this gym, so I stopped going and just worked out at home.
Last week I told my husband that I wanted to up my workouts a little bit and I was thinking of doing the elliptical and some weights twice a week. He encouraged me that he thinks it will really help my weight loss.
Being that my husband is a full-time dental school student a free gym fits in our budget perfectly. So, I am going to try and go twice a week for weights and the elliptical for now and then keep doing my DVDs at home the rest of the week.
I appreciate this church’s little gym and look forward to seeing some great results from using it.
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Confession

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

Yes, I confess…I like watching The Biggest Loser. We don’t have a television, so I watch them online at NBC.com. Online they are a week behind what’s currently playing, but it’s okay for me.

For all the drama that’s involved in that show I have heard bits of wisdom and heartfelt struggles that I can totally relate to. It was seeing this show for the first time last spring that helped push me into thinking I could lose this weight.
I felt like that once more last night when Dina said that she had to do this for herself. She had to get over her fears and struggles by herself and for herself.
So do I, Dina. And we will.
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Snap Out of It

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

It is one thing to write this long post about getting focused, yada, yada and it’s another entirely to actually do it. *sigh*

I’m in a bit of a funk this morning.
Yes, I’m happy with the loss I’ve seen so far and the changes physically that are noticeable more in clothing than on the scale. I weigh the same as a year ago, but my clothes fit me looser. It’s great!
But it’s not enough and I’m not content with that any more.
I know I can’t quit. It’s just not an option. I also know that I haven’t been meeting my weekly goals, and I think I’ll struggle until I do. I’m just so sick of doing good for a bit and then slacking off. It’s been six months since I started and 21 pounds in six months means an average of 3.5 pounds a month.
I know it’s better to be up than down, and at this rate I can still make my goal of being out of the plus sizes department by May 2011 (like I want to). But…. come on…I don’t want to be the slowest person losing weight.
Okay, there it is. I don’t want to be the slowest turtle in the race. I don’t mind being the turtle, but I’m tired of being the slowest one.
Sorry this isn’t an uplifting post, but it’s how I’m feeling. I will get back on track….I will… I have a Hot 100 challenge to meet and I am determined to meet that goal.
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Staying Focused

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

Over the weekend I’ve been thinking more and more on my weigh-in post and how it seems I got a little comfortable with my weight loss so far. I appreciate all the comments. They gave me something to think about. One comment that has really stuck in my mind was Diane saying “Stay focused and don’t lose sight of where you want to be!“
That is my problem, and not just in weight loss.
Many times I get really excited about a project, start it, get distracted and then don’t finish it. Or I do finish the project, but if it’s one that needs upkeep I get lazy and don’t have the motivation to maintain it.
Other times I am focused on an area of my life, but when things get hard I tend to just quit. It may be an obvious, “I give up.” kind of quitting, or it may not be so obvious, a sort of “Well, things are getting tough, so I’ll work on it as I’m able..some other day. ”
I understand that there is balance in all things, but I know myself and my habit of not finishing things or backing off when some things gets hard is a habit that needs to change.
I notice that I tend to have one or two really good weeks and then the days/weeks that follow I tend to get lazy and think I can still see the same results. Sometimes I reach a goal, like losing the first 10 or 20 pounds, and I’m so excited that I just revel in that joy for a while instead of seeing it as a mile marker to be passed as I keep on going.
Well, this needs to change and I believe that it can. I don’t believe that it’s going to be easy, in fact it scares me a little to think I can change. It’s hard to think I can change when I’ve always been this way.
Yet, though I have this habit in some areas I also have areas, life projects of sorts, that I’ve continued working on no matter what, and not gotten distracted in the process.
For example, I’ve stayed married for 14 years to the same man, I’ve had children and continue to learn how to be a better mom and how to better care for them, I’ve kept living for Jesus no matter what and I have relationships that I’ve kept up with for many years.
I have not let distractions keep me from staying focused on these areas of my life, so why should I let my weight loss journey be affected this way?
If I can stay focused on other, just as important, areas of my life, then I know I can make myself stay focused enough to see this journey through to the end. Maybe as I see my habits changing consistently in regards to weight loss I’ll also see some change in how I approach other projects as well.
It’s just going to take some hard work and…well, staying focused. 🙂
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