Start Over

 So many things have happened since I last wrote on this blog. Our family lives in Canada, I have become a nurse, I have been working through depression, anxiety and PTSD. My parents have moved, our oldest daughter has moved out on her own and my children are now all adults! The most significant change is not one I am proud of, over the past seven years I have gained back all the weight I worked so hard to lose and then some. 

Last year, I had a large stag horn stone removed surgically from my kidney, and my recent follow up bloodwork was an eye opener. So Thursday evening after my appointment with my urologist I decided NOW is the time I have to change! No more waiting to lose weight when I feel like it, letting my mood control my cravings or living with self loathing and shame. 

Friday morning, I stepped on the scale and BOOM 239.8lbs. Today my journey begins. No more pop and juice to explode my calorie intake. Smaller portions and better choices lead the way. Get off the couch and move! I am slowly building up distance walking each day and looking forward to lifting some weights. 

Slow and steady, that is how I will manage this lifetime change. It cannot be looked at as temporary or until I lose the weight. This is a forever journey that requires action today. 

A New Pic

Myah took this picture of me during our road trip today.

Two Weeks at the Gym

Okay, so after two weeks of going to the gym I have noticed a change in my stamina. I have also noticed that my waist has gone down 2 inches, my hips 1/2 an inch and my chest 2 inches.

I'm Just a Sweat Machine

Last night Myah came to the gym with me. She snapped these pictures.

I sweat so much during my workout and drink about 1 1/2 litres of water, but it feels good afterward.

On the stepper

I love using the bike!

My least favourite - the elliptical!

Good Kind of Sore

I went to the gym for the first time yesterday. I used the stationary bike, elliptical machine and a stepping machine. I was sore at the end, but the good kind of sore. You know when you rediscover muscles you forgot you had. My plan is to go three days a week and if I do anything else it will be to continue my walking here on the base.

I also weighed in this morning and I am now at 189.8 lbs. I made it to the 180's. It has been a long time. Great to see you, but hope to leave you in about a month. He he.

P.S.
Had to start using a belt to hold my pants up.

Changes

I wanted to see if I could notice a difference in my face in the last three months. Sure enough I can. But wait, there's more, check out the rest of me!

4 days before starting my life change.

After 3 months

Measurement Update

I decided to take my measurements again after two months. These numbers are compared to my original measurements back at the end of May.

O - original measurement
C - current measurement
D - difference between measurements

Waist

• O 45"
• C 41" 
• D 4"

Chest

• O 42 1/2"
• C 39"
• D 3 1/2"

Bust 

• O 46 1/2"
• C 43 1/2"
• D 3"

Hips

• O 50 1/4"
• C 45"
• D 5 1/4"

Neck 

• O 15 3/4"
• C 14 3/4"
• D 1"

Calves

• O Left 15"  Right 15 1/4
• C Left 14 1/2" Right 14 3/4
• D Left 1/2 Right 1/2

Thighs

• O Left 27" Right 26 3/4"
• C Left 25 1/2" Right 25 1/4
• D Left 1 1/2" Right 1 1/2"

Upper Arms

• O Left 12 3/4" Right 13"
• C Left 12 1/2" Right 12 1/4"
• D Left 1/4" Right 3/4"

Total difference in inches -21 3/4"

Definitely Need Water

Well last week I only managed to drink between 4 and 5 glasses of water a day. I think that it might be one of the reasons why I only lost 1 pound last week. As my diet was pretty much the same as the other weeks.

I wish water had the same taste as juice. Oh well, I only have two more to drink today!

Week Six Weigh In

Janet

• down 1.6 lbs
• total down 8.7 lbs
• current weight 199.8 lbs

Somebody made it to Onederland!

Brenda

• down 2.5 lb
• total down 12.5 lb
• current weight 204 lb

What My Daily Walk Looks Like

Today, Hannah took some pictures of me while I was on my walk. I can see some of the changes in my body. I think that I am pear shaped. I don't think I noticed that before.

New Gadget

Last night I ordered this armband strap for my new iPod to use while I am walking. I have been using an app called Runtastic Pedometer for my daily walks. It tracks my total steps, speed and distance in kilometres. It also keeps a history of all my walks and links my calories burned to My Fitness Pal.

Having this armband will free my hands so that I can add weights or run if I want. Can't wait until it gets here!

Scary Number

I just figured out that I have a body fat percentage of 51.9%. YIKES!!!

Based on my height both the body fat calculator and body mass index calculator recommend that I lose another 89 lbs to get to a healthy weight and body fat percentage. Not sure that I can get myself down to 116 lbs maybe 125 lbs.

On a funny note. last night while the girls were helping with a little spider catching Myah snapped this picture of my mid section by accident. I can see a difference in how I look. I can't wait until it is a lot smaller, but this made me happy.

Week Four Weigh - In

Janet

• Down 2.9 lb
• Total down 7.1 lb
• Current weight 201.4lb

Brenda

• Down 2 lb
• Total down 9.5 lb
• Current weight 207 lb

Thought these numbers do not seem very big after one month. If we look at it like - if I can lose this same amount each month I will lose 70 - 90 pounds in ten months. That make it seem a lot less daunting.

Famine Mode

I watched a little bit of the first made to crave video online last night and am so thankful that I did. I have been discouraged this week that my body isn't dropping any weight. While watching this video they talked about how between weeks 3 and 4 your body will likely have a rebellion towards your attempt to lose weight thinking that you are entering a famine and start trying to hold on. They talked about how this discourages many women and they often feel like giving up. But to not allow this to stop you, your body is adjusting.

Thank you Lord for knowing what I need to hear and giving me ears to hear it.

First Non Scale Victory

I can feel a bigger difference in my body than is reflected on the scale. This was confirmed the other day when I tried on a pair of capris that I bought while I was in Canada. I tried them on about a month ago and I could not even get them close to buttoning up. There was about 4" between the button and the button hole. Yesterday I tried them on again and I could do them up! So even though the scale is showing that my weight is changing, trying on these capris was just as exciting.

Tonight is our third weigh in. Looking forward to seeing what the scale reads.

Using New Weights

I borrowed some 5 lb. weights from a friend the other day to use in my workout this morning, it felt good to use them. A big difference form my salt shakers.

Very Happy

I was pleasantly surprised by my weigh in last night. I am beginning to feel like this is really possible. I know I am still a long way off, but I feel each day like my daily food intake is sufficient and I am not hungry. Than you Lord for helping me each day.

My Fitness Pal

I found a new app for the iPad today that allows you to keep track of your food intake and exercise called My Fitness Pal . It comes with the ability to scan the barcodes from the packaging of your food for easy calorie tracking. I am going to try it for the week and see how it goes. I have mostly been guessing about my calorie intake so I think this will help.

Two Sets

I worked out today because we will be away on Monday and my next planned workout with mom is on Tuesday. I decided to try to do two sets of the exercises that I could. Not having sufficient weights is a little frustrating to me. My salt shakers feel pretty much weightless now.

Feeling the Need...

To increase my activity level. As mom noted yesterday our exercises are less difficult than they were in the beginning. I really need to get some real weights, but that is still a month away.

I think it would be good if I can start walking 2 - 5 km a day. Maybe with a short run in there somewhere. I don't really enjoy running, but I am sure it would get my heart rate to a good speed for a while.