…as I am out of town with my kids for a church camp, my weigh-in will be next week.
Thanks for stopping by!
Motivational Monday – Goals
“Motivational Monday”….Yes, I’m finding after a weekend of higher calories and less exercise I like coming on here to remind myself why I’m going to still work on my weight loss.
One of the things that motivates me is a slight dream of mine….to be able to wear a Prior Fat Girl t-shirt. In fact, I wasn’t going to buy the t-shirt until I reached my goal weight, but Jen had to close out her store before I got there. So, I bought this a few weeks ago and decided I’d squeeze into it (a size small in generic t-shirt sizes) and share with you all where I’m at right now. Then I’ll take a comparison pic in it when it’s fit to wear in public.
I have to admit that I’ve put off posting this picture and dream due to a fear of failure to reach a healthy weight. After reading some weight loss blogs today I decided to just do it. I’ve been honest on this blog thus far, so why not put this out there as well?
Now you know… I have a goal shirt. It’s hanging in my closet and when I see it I’m reminded that I want to wear it someday.
Speaking of goals…
In my blog reading this morning I caught up on Lori’s posts and saw her monthly post of goals for the month. She’s been doing this for a while and I thought today, “You know, it might be good to post a few goals for this month.” Maybe knowing I’m trying to stick to some goals will help motivate me to make better choices this month and finish summertime strong.
So, my August goals are:
- Exercise 30 minutes every day (Mon-Sat) I can. We have two more out-of-town short trips planned this month that will cut my workout days to about 3 and I don’t want to scrimp on those days.
- Get more running in. i’m not going to say how much, because I’m still dealing with a bit of hip pain, but I have a race I’d like to do this fall and I need/want to run again.
- No snacking between meals unless I’m truly hungry.
- Eat until satisfied when faced with meals that I’m not able to control what’s being cooked (read: how to control food I don’t cook on our trips.)
So, there…I am setting some goals to get me through these last weeks of summer break and I will let you know at the end of the month how it went.
Have a great week everyone!
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Weigh-In … Success
Today’s Weight: 166.5
Loss/Gain: – 1.0
Seeing a number closer to 165 makes me feel more like my old (new) self. It’s like, yes, this is me…down here, not up at 170 – that Leah is no more.
I didn’t especially push myself this week, but tried to really be conscious of eating at mealtimes and reigning in the extra snacking. I did track my food most of the time.
During the workout DVDs I’m doing Jillian will make comments about how this is to not just live to be 100, but to look good in the process. “We’re talking bikinis and skinny jeans, people!!”, she’ll yell.
Um, no. Not for me anyway.
This journey is about learning to be content with what my body needs to live. “Eat to live, not live to eat.” and all that. It’s about disciplining myself and not letting self indulgence rule my life.
I’m also finding this journey bringing me to a new arena wherein I want to challenge myself a little bit physically. Not because I want to wear a bikini (never have, never will) but because I feel strong and I know taking care of my body now will help me as I grow older.
I’m not out to prove to the world that I can look good in a bikini when I’m 100. Bodies age, skin sags and looks can be temporary. I’m only out to prove that with a little discipline and some healthier food choices one doesn’t have to live a life feeling hopeless and drowning in food.
Ok, I think I’m rambling a little…(must be the post-run endorphins. LOL)
But really when I see the scale go down, or look in the mirror and see this new smaller Leah I’m amazed. I still have a bit of weight to lose, but little by little I’m learning to make better choices with regards to food and staying active.
And this is success. Glory!
Thanks for checking in, and have a great weekend!
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
Starting My Day Off Right
There was a time when I just got up, showered, went to work and that was my morning. Then I had kids and I stayed home, but still I got up had breakfast, took care of their needs and on with the day we went.
With the exception of one year of working at a school I’ve either worked from home or been a stay-at-home mom and my mornings consisted of the same. Get up, eat, feed kids and get on with the day.
All the while I knew as a Christian the need for daily Bible reading and prayer. Sometimes I took the time to do it, sometimes not. Over the past, oh five to six years my morning devotional time has really become part of my day. I feel lost and incomplete if I don’t get it done. The time spent with God getting ready for my day is essential to my life. There are days I get distracted and it doesn’t get done. Life happens, but I get back to it as quickly as possible in the succeeding days.
This is exactly how I feel about my exercise now.
It’s become a part of me. My days just don’t feel right if I haven’t done some kind of exercise movement. And even more so, it doesn’t feel right if I put it off until later in the day.
I didn’t work out the last two days. Missing Tuesday was no big deal. I was busy all day and felt very productive despite the fact that I skipped my exercise to get on with my day. Missing yesterday’s exercise was a different story.
Something came up that took some time in the morning to deal with. It was a very legitimate situation, and I had some projects to do later, so I allowed myself to skip exercising a second day. It felt weird to get dressed and ready for the day without exercising first, but I let it go. Life happens.
The day went fine. I didn’t fall into a depression or anything over not working out, but I did realize something.
Just like a day, or week, with no prayer or Bible reading, a day or longer with no exercise throws me off. I need it. It’s become part of who I am and I just don’t feel right when I neglect that area of my life.
So, today I got that workout done. Yes, there are things to do, places to go, but I already feel better knowing I’ve taken care of my exercise – both spiritually and physically. It’s going to be a good day!
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
Wednesday LOL
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
My New[est] Apron
I love aprons and wear one every time I cook or am cleaning in the kitchen, so I was tickled when a friend of mine gave me this apron she found.
She’s one of my new friends here that I discuss health and exercise with. We both got a good giggle out of it…and I’ve already worn it a couple of times. 🙂
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Monday Motivation – I Did It!
Good morning! We had a very full, but nice, weekend. This morning I allowed myself to sleep in a little and it felt good. Of course, then I was lazy and didn’t want to workout after doing my devotions.
But…I did, and I’m so glad, because during this morning I motivated myself with “THIS is why I keep exercising!!”
I’m on workouts 5 and 6 of the 12 included in the Body Revloution series by Jillian Michaels. The instructions are to do these twice weekly for two weeks. I extended this set an extra week because I haven’t completed a full week of these workouts in the last two weeks.
Well, in workout 5 there is this move I haven’t been able to do so far. It’s like a pushup off your side using one arm. Let’s just say when I first saw her do it I was like, “WHAT?!?!?” Then I thought, “Just try it, Leah.” and I…well, I couldn’t lift myself up off the ground.
I was wondering how the heck I could modify it and finally figured out to start at the top and lower myself down (like in push-ups). So, that’s what I would do.
Well, today I am proud to say I was able to do the move correctly on both sides. I was so happy I asked my son to take pictures to show you. (hhmm…I’m checking my form out now too..LOL)
In fact, I asked him to take another picture of a move that I would never have dreamed close to possible 60 pounds ago. A single leg squat with an arm raise (after you come to standing up straight again.)
This reminds me of a text a good friend sent me last Thursday night. She said something like, “Isn’t it neat to see how far you’ve come in your exercise?” We chatted for a few minutes about how we were both dying when we started exercising and can now do so much more. Feeling all weepy like I was last week, I was so encouraged by that text.
Yes, I have come far. I don’t always feel like exercising, and sometimes I have to modify the moves in the beginning, but with consistency comes progress and that is very motivating!
p.s. These photos show you where I workout…my living room! The computer that I play workouts on is directly behind where my son was standing. A real “in-home gym”. 🙂
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Weigh-In … I Stepped Away
Today’s Weight: 167.5
Loss/Gain: + 0.5 lb
With PMS and TOM arriving I’m not surprised one bit by the gain. It’s been a rougher TOM week.
Some months I’m grouchy during “that time” and then I get over it quickly and some times I’m more weepy. This was a weepier month. Stinkin’ hormones… I love that this body was able to conceive and bear children, but I could do without the monthly cycles. 🙂
Since my moods were a bit weepier I had to step away from being so focused on food and the weight loss world. I tracked my food, I exercised three days this week so far, but I mentally stepped away from the pressures of needing to lose weight.
It was overwhelming me with guilty feelings and then tears would come and, folks, I don’t want food to have that kind of power in my life.
So, instead of focusing on me and my weight issues I looked elsewhere and have spent four days (and counting) helping out some friends of ours by watching their four kids all day, every day. I’ve worked on a craft project. I’ve kept up with daily tasks and gotten good rest nightly.
And, yes, I’ve scanned through the weight loss blogs I follow, but only for a few minutes a day and then I went back to things presently going on in my life.
One of those things, and a non-scale victory of sorts, was as I putting “hang-up” laundry away last night I pulled out a shirt that used to be too tight on me. Too tight, as in when I bought it I was so vexed because it was supposed to be a 2X and it wouldn’t even button…well, that was a good five or six years ago and somehow I’ve kind of passed it up in fitting into it. I, um, am now too small for it; as in I can grab a handful of the front of the shirt and it would still fit comfortably. LOL oops…
As I gathered the front of the button-up shirt in my fist and saw the new me that was hiding under there I thought, “See? It’s not all that bad.”
So, I am reminded for the umpteenth time to just take it a day at a time. This is life and a life change, not a diet. I will keep going.
Thanks for checking in. 🙂
Posted in Uncategorized
3 Comments
Choosing to be Thankful
When one feels PMS’y and TOM has arrived it is not always a good idea to post one’s feelings on weight loss…fickle and hormonal as they can be. 🙂 So, I thought instead of coming on here and whining I’d share a really good point I came across today in my devotional reading from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Lysa Terkeurst said, “Sometimes I feel more guilty for what I’m not than thankful for what I am.”
So, I’ve decided to be thankful and enjoy the day. My kids have friends over and they are all getting along smoothly. The chores are getting done and I’m even finding time to be creative. It’s a good day!
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Pool Time
I spent a great, hot afternoon at the pool with my kids today. More later…off to bed. 🙂
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
My New Ending 