WSR: Weight 239.2 - Weight Left To Lose 69.2

Height: 5'7"
Age: 40

Starting Weight: 370 lbs
Goal Weight: 170 lbs

Current Weight: 239.2 lbs
Pounds Lost: 130.8 lbs
Pounds Left To Lose: 69.2 lbs

Percent Of Weight Lost: 35.35%
Percent Of Way To Goal: 65.40%

Starting BMI: 57.9
Current BMI: 37.5
BMI Lost: 20.4

I finally crossed over into the 230 range as of last night. It is an awfully good feeling to know that I am inching closer and closer to onederland. I had the realization that I will hit that some time THIS year instead of next year like I had previously thought. Can I say how much that just thoroughly blows my mind?

I cannot say enough how much I am just sold out to regular exercise - interval training especially. I have seen a dramatic difference each week since I have focused on trying to walk 5 miles per day - at high and moderate speeds. Forget that foolish TIME article nonsense - exercise (with proper diet) will help you lose weight. I did really well last week walking 5 out of 7 days and doing 5 miles on 3 out of those 5 days.

AUGUST MINI GOAL:

Starting Weight: 248.8 lbs

Goal Weight: 225.0 lbs

Current Weight: 239.2 lbs

Pounds Lost: 9.6 lbs

Pounds Left To Lose: 14.2 lbs

Percent Of Way To Goal: 40.37%

When I set this goal I thought maybe I might be stretching it a bit in terms of what was realistic. What I am finding is that I am doing pretty darned well in meeting it. I am looking to get at or near 225 by August 31st - near being good enough. However, the raging Virgo in me wants to hit it dead on.

Onward and downward!

A Lazy Day And A Smarter Choice

I don't know what happened to me today. I never got out of bed at all until 6PM (but only because I had to go get something to eat). I don't keep food at home to prevent binging, so I always have to go out to eat. It works for me. I mostly eat at the cafe at Central Market. They have a great prepared foods case with tons of healthy, diet-friendly foods.

Needless to say I did not walk at all. I'm disappointed in myself for that. I had planned on walking a great deal today.

But I did make an excellent choice as far as diet goes.

When I first started this diet plan of mine I had determined that each Saturday and Sunday I would use all of my WW points on one meal each day - making it whatever I wanted. After about a month or two I scaled it back to just Saturdays. Two months ago I stopped doing that altogether. My go-to meal on those days was typically a 1/4 order of chips and guacamole with a side of refried beans at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant. It was decadent and I felt like I had this oasis in Dietville that I always knew was there waiting for me.

Well, today I had only had a yogurt all day and knew I could eat basically whatever I wanted for dinner and still remain within my allowed WW points range of 32 points (although most days I stick to 20-24 points). I considered going for the chips and guacamole. But I made a smarter choice of going to Central Market and having a 2 point WW meal along with wilted spinach, an apple and an iced coffee with skim milk. So instead of consuming 25+ points on one meal alone I ended the day with eating only 12 points overall. It felt good.

But I am SO going to get back out there tomorrow and burn up some mileage. I miss my daily endorphins rush.

Friday Night Quick Thoughts

1. I had another great week sticking completely to my diet and exercise plans.


2. The urge to drown myself in food last night was strong after an encounter yesterday afternoon. I fought that urge and I won. ::does the dance of pride::


3. Knowing that tables are turning is pretty damned cool, especially when dumb asses realize how badly they screwed up and there is nothing they can do about it.


4. My co-workers are amazing! I get complimented multiple times each day by practically everyone about how skinny and fantastic I look. I could start to get a bit conceited with all the gushing. It is an incredible feeling.


5. The plan to have a spa day on my birthday has been scrapped. I wanted to celebrate the fact that this is the first birthday EVER in which my yearly vow to lose weight has actually come to pass. However, I decided to spend the money for the spa day on purchasing a really good pair of shoes for walking/running as well as some new workout clothes. It is a better investment in ME.


6. Tomorrow I aim to put in 7 miles on Nike+. I want to up the mileage on the weekends (after upping the weekday mileage to 5 miles) and it will be my test run for the new goal.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. As Marvin Zindler (the real life inspiration for Melvin P. Thorpe in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) used to say - good golf, good tennis or whatever makes you happy!

Back In Step

I did it! I got back out there today and walked over 5 miles. It felt good. It felt really good.

I have even more motivation to burn up the sidewalk because I have gotten so many compliments this week about how much thinner my face is now. The extra walking is working and yielding the results that I wanted.

However, I can't keep my eyes open. I'm going to sleep now. Walking 5+ miles per day has another benefit besides weight loss and fitness - better, longer sleep.

WSR: Weight 243.2 - Weight Left To Lose 73.2

Height: 5'7"
Age: 40

Starting Weight: 370 lbs
Goal Weight: 170 lbs

Current Weight: 243.2 lbs
Pounds Lost: 126.8 lbs
Pounds Left To Lose: 73.2 lbs

Percent Of Weight Lost: 34.27%
Percent Of Way To Goal: 63.40%

Starting BMI: 57.9
Current BMI: 38.1
BMI Lost: 19.8

My frustration with the lack of movement on the scale last week is over.   I had a great week, registering a loss of 5.6 lbs.  I am finally completely back on track with both diet and exercise and it feels good.  I plan on sticking to the basic diet I began with because it is bearing such fantastic results.

AUGUST MINI GOAL:

Starting Weight: 248.8 lbs

Goal Weight: 225.0 lbs

Current Weight: 243.2 lbs

Pounds Lost: 5.6 lbs

Pounds Left To Lose: 18.2 lbs

Percent Of Way To Goal: 23.53%

My August mini-goal is going really well.  I am not going to be too bummed if I don't hit the 225 lb mark dead on by the end of the month.  I am just going to give the effort my all and see what happens.  It certainly can't hurt to make the attempt to get into the 220s.

Onward and downward!

Better Bloggy Edition

I made a few changes today with ye olde blog.

1. The Woman Inside Me | Fitness. I added a page devoted exclusively to exercise and fitness. I will be posting one summary for each week that will be updated daily starting tomorrow. I also plan on posting news/information that I find useful. The latest post on that page will appear on the sidebar of this blog. I titled it Fitness. Catchy, right?
2. The Woman Inside Me | Progress. I also added a page that is all about my goals and progress in achieving them. It will contain more progress pictures as well. I set up a flickr account to be able to create a weight loss timeline. The last 3 pictures posted will also appear on the sidebar of this blog. I'm going to let you figure out what area these appear in. You guys are smart. I am sure you will find them.
3. Menu bar : A new menu bar now appears at the top of the page to link to the new pages as well as my Twitter account (I am starting to really love 140 characters or less blogging).

I am pleased about how these new additions to the blog have turned out. After getting back on track with the diet and exercise in the past few weeks I wanted to kick it up another notch with increased measures of accountability. I can't very well have a page devoted to exercise if I am not going to exercise, right?

Onward and downward.

Rest Time Is Over

I am going to get up early tomorrow and start moving my butt down the streets to the sounds of my funky beats.

Rest time is over. I have had a few days to recoup my strength and stamina after being sick. However, it is now time to get back out there and burn those calories.

I've missed walking. I've missed the rush of the endorphins. I've missed the amazing feeling of knowing I am becoming more fit each time I get out there and get my heart pumping. The progress picture I posted yesterday has given me an extra burst of motivation. It has confirmed that the extra mileage I added to my routine is really doing my body some good in a hard and fast way.

I signed up for dailymile and am anxious to see how it interacts with Nike+. If it works well I may use it to log my exercise instead of relying on Nike+ (which has stopped updating).

Work In Progress: Snapshot 125.0 Lost

I thought I would take another progress picture today since I hit an all time low on the scale and completed a mini goal on the same day.

The picture on the left is from today. The picture on the right was taken 06.26.09. I thought I looked good in June, but today's picture is absolutely incredible. The difference in my face and my stomach is very noticeable.

Back To Work

I have been sick this week and only just went back to work today. It was an exhausting day just doing routine stuff.

I ate more than I normally do (mainly protein with fruit and vegetables) because I hadn't eaten for a day and a half. I actually managed to eat all of the Weight Watchers points I am supposed to eat - 32 (I usually stick to the 20-22 points range).

Needless to say I did not exercise - at least at my normal level - but I did walk over a mile:

1. 0.7 miles to the bus stop this morning
2. 0.2 miles in to work this morning
3. 0.2 miles to the bus stop from work this evening
4. 0.2 miles home from a different bus stop this evening

At least that is something considering how I am feeling such a loss of stamina.

My plan is to finish out the work week while sticking to my diet plan. I won't exercise Thursday or Friday, but I will be getting back out there on Saturday to resume my normal schedule. I just don't want to set myself back because I couldn't take the time to rest to get my normal strength level back.

WSR: Weight 248.8 - Weight Left To Lose 78.8

Height: 5'7"
Age: 40

Starting Weight: 370 lbs
Goal Weight: 170 lbs

Current Weight: 248.8 lbs
Pounds Lost: 121.2 lbs
Pounds Left To Lose: 78.8 lbs

Percent Of Weight Lost: 32.76%
Percent Of Way To Goal: 60.60%

Starting BMI: 57.9
Current BMI: 39.0
BMI Lost: 18.9

Two weeks in to getting back on track and I have ditched the 15 pounds that I've lost and regained a few times. I am less than a pound away from reaching my all time low that I hit before the 15 pound cycle began.

Going back to basics has helped me regain focus. The diet is a bit limited but I am only going to do it for a few more weeks.

My short term goal is to reach 225 by the end of the month (which happens to be my birthday). It is a lot of weight to lose in a month, but with the increased walking I am doing I think it is attainable. I want to be in good shape to win the next Biggest Loser challenge at work that will begin after Labor Day. I have to be able to beat out the skinnier people who can post a higher proportional weight loss for losing the same amount of weight that I do. It is all about the math.

AUGUST MINI GOAL:

Starting Weight: 248.8 lbs

Goal Weight: 225 lbs

Current Weight: 248.8 lbs

Pounds Lost: 0 lbs

Pounds Left To Lose: 23.8 lbs

Percent Of Way To Goal: 0.00%

Onward and downward!

Non-Scale Victory: The Limited

As the pounds drop off it is really exciting for me when I can begin shopping in a clothing store that was previously off limits because I was just too damned fat. I recently added one back into my possibilities that I have not been able to buy clothes from since high school!

I knew I had dropped a lot of weight in my upper torso and thought I was getting close to being able to wear an XL from a regular store. So I went to The Limited and checked out what they had. The tops I liked the most looked like they would fit. I was still uncertain. So, I tried them on and they fit!

It was such an emotional high and I was brought to tears as I tried one top on and then the other.

This is what I bought:

They are cute, right?

Oh, and these jeans that I was so super, duper excited about buying? They are so loose and baggy now that they are literally about to fall right off of my body. I don't have to unbutton or unzip to take them on and off. There is absolutely no snugness to them at all. I feel like I am living in a miraculous dreamworld with my clothes these days. It is an amazing thing to have to take something out of my closet because it is too big for me to wear.

Jillian Michaels Says

Every time I have read something that Jillian Michaels has said or written, I am always inspired and motivated.

I have recently developed a love for Twitter. I've been reading different people and slowly gotten into tweeting myself. Today I found that Jillian Michaels has a Twitter account and I am in quote heaven.

These are some of my favorites:

1. Shedding pounds isn't just a walk in the park. If you want to drop serious pounds and KEEP them off, you NEED to exercise. TWIM: I wish this weren't totally 100% true. Exercise is some hard, freaking work!
   
2. Clear out your cabinets! Get rid of the junkfood - if you have it around, you'll eat it. Dump the junk and you won't be tempted. TWIM: I got rid of all food at home. I can't overeat if it doesn't exist. It is one of the best decisions I ever made.
   
3. Each time you reach for food, ask yourself why? Once you know why you're eating too much, you can stop the sabotage and achieve your goals! TWIM: It is a lifestyle!
   
4. When friends tell you how awesome you look, drop the, "I still have more to go", crap. You worked hard and you deserve the compliment! TWIM: I do this all the time. I.MUST.STOP.NOW.
   
5. Walk! Once you've got your gym routine down, burn a few extra calories by walking whenever you can. You'll burn calories and save gas! TWIM: Walking is the easiest and cheapest form of exercise. Just do it!
   
6. Learn your labels! Start comparing, and try to find the highest protein and dietary fiber, and the lowest carbs and fats. TWIM: Putting good things in your body really does help you find the energy to stay on course with a real program.
   
7. Listen to your body! Learn to analyze your cravings and satisfy those needs with something healthy. Need a sweet - grab a piece of fruit! TWIM: I have adapted this over the past 9 months or so. Fruit is almost negligible in your daily calorie totals and it is SO good for you.
   

I think Jillian is going to become my favorite Tweeter. There is always so much truth to all of her tips and advice.