Differences...



Here is a photo of myself when I began my exercise and weight loss adventure back in Sep



Here is a photo of myself last weekend.

Looking at this right now is one of the first times that I can say I see a difference in my appearance. I guess the running and going to the gym is paying off. I can't wait to see what other changes I undergo. thank you for your support. I hope to always make you proud.

12 weeks

That is how long ago I started running. 12 weeks ago I looked like this...

Today I look like this...

In just 12 weeks I have lost 21 pounds. I am at my lowest weight since probably about 2001. But it doesn't mean I am going to stop now. After just 12 weeks, I have run my first 5K, and this weekend I will be signing up for another 5K, my first 10K and even my first Half Marathon. Yep, you read that right, my first Half Marathon. I love how it feels to get out and run, but I love what it is doing to my health. I love shopping for smaller size clothes, and while I haven't bought new clothes in 10 weeks, I will probably by a pair of pants or something just to keep me motivated. I never really thought that I would like running, yet keep at it after my original goal of running a 5k. I NEVER imagined that I would be so excited that I would want to run a half marathon. There is something about running. How proud of myself I am after a run is complete. I think back to 12 weeks ago when I couldn't even jog for 30 seconds, and now I run for at least 40 minutes straight. Well, unless you take today when running with a jogging stroller is so much more than I expected. My goal for that right now is to run 2 miles ;) I can't believe that I am that person who has to figure out how the gym or running fits into her day, and if it looks like it won't I hit the gym or run BEFORE I care about anything else. I hope you will all continue to support me as I work my way to a healthier me, and that you will be there cheering for me at my next 5, or at the 10, but even better I hope you are there as I cross the finish line of my first half marathon! Thank you for all of the support you have given me so far. I know without it I wouldn't have accomplished so much. 21 pounds in 12 weeks, and 40 pounds since May. That is a whole lot of me that has left, but I am so happy with the results!

It's what's for lunch

So, Yesterday I started the program called Loseit. My sister R has had great success with it, and I found out that my sister J is also using it. So, I thought why not. Unfortunately, my android phone does not have an app for it, so I have to do it online. I have however emailed the company to see if I can test out an android app. Anyway, I realize that I don't eat unhealthy on work days, it is when I get home from work that I eat poorly, and weekends. Both of which I am trying to improve. As a family we are going on vacation in 15 weeks, and I hope to be 30 pounds lighter by then. If I can do that, then I know I am on the right path to healthy. Anyway, today I made my own version of McDonald's Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, and thought I would share it with you. Here is what the finished product looks like...

Here is the recipe, I used what I had at home, but I am sure you can adjust it to make it friendly to your palate.

1 -serving of Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal (3/4 cup divided into 3 1/4 servings)

1- cup strawberries divided into 1/2 cup portions

1/2 cup raspberries divided into 1/4 cup portions

1/2 cup blueberries divided into 1/4 cup portions

1 serving if Yoplait Light Key Lime Pie yogurt

I took one 1/4 portion of the cereal and put it on the bottom of the glass

then 1 1/2 cup serving of the strawberries sliced thinly, with 1/4 cup raspberries and 1/4 cup blueberries, then topped it with some of the yogurt.

I repeated these steps and made sure that the cereal and the yogurt were the last 2 toppings.

Surprising, I loved it more than with granola, and it was really filling.

What did you have for lunch?

Month's End

I cannot believe that today is the last day of January! Where the heck did the month go? Today is my uncle's birthday, but they aren't celebrating it until next Sun. Glad I have off then too. I have been doing weight watchers now for 1 month, and while I might be logging my food as strictly as I would like too, I must be doing something right because I have lost 21 pounds so far! While I don't feel like I have, I am sure that it is possible. After the wedding I have to admit I did let myself go, and my motivation is that I want to look that way, if not better by our 1 year anniversary. I was truly happy then, and not that I am not now, but I was happy with myself then. With groundhog day being 2 days away, I am hoping that spring will be here soon. I would love to start walking our dogs again more, but I still might try to take them for longer walks starting today. I know that I won't have a lot of days off coming up here, and since money is tight at the igloo, I might just start doing what I did for the wedding. I will take the dogs for long walks on my days off and on my work days take them for semi long walks. It worked before, it can work again, right? I think though, that in order to do this the best I need to look into the Gentle Leader dog leash so that I can actually walk Gizmo, and not have her walk me. I think walks would be more beneficial for us all if we ALL enjoyed them. Hopefully with tax season coming up, Uncle Sam will love me and give me some money back. No, Penguin and I don't need anything, but it would be nice to be able to pay for the family camping trip to the 1000 Islands, and possibly even before that go away for the weekend once or hopefully a couple times to Assateague State Park. Other than the family camping trip, we don't have any other vacations planned, and with us starting to save for a house, we need to be frugal with our finances. Hopefully we will also be able to go on a trip to Chicago to visit with my sister J and her family and Penguin will actually get to see some of the sites.
Well, I hope everyone enjoys the last day of January, and I hope the start to this year has been as good to you as it has to be.

Peace love and rock n roll!

Shred Day 5

Today is Day 5 of Shred. But, before I get to that, let me just say how excited I was to wake up to SNOW!!! I took the dogs out at noon, and there was nothing on the ground, but while I was out there I got hit in the face with a snow flake. Needless to say I woke up to snow!
OK, now back to Shred...
5 Days in a row...for me this is a huge accomplishment because I have worked everyday since Wed, so making sure that I have made time for myself, even if it was just the 27:36 that it takes from warm up to cool down, I am still making time for myself. So, what have I noticed...
1- No changes physically yet, although I am hoping to start seeing changes soon
2- This is not a workout that I should do in front of hubs; while I was exercising here is what I had to listen too : Hubs "push it ladies, I want you to feel the burn, burn this skinny b*tch." (Jealous much?)
3- While I haven't noticed a huge change in my endurance, I have noticed that I only had to stop once because my arm weights are really too heavy. Oh, and I HATE, no wait, loathe, jumping jacks. Being a girl with really large tatas, even with the specialized sports bra, they are still uncomfortable, although getting more tolerable.
4- I actually feel hungry sometimes, and for me that is huge. I know that I am an emotional eater, so I am fighting hard to only eat if I am really hungry
5- (this part is gross, so readers beware) I have now remembered how gaseous I am. I am so glad that this is a workout I do at home. Hopefully this will get better..otherwise, maybe I need been-o or gas ex.
6- Hopefully I will be in at least a little better shape by the spring so that I can run and not feel like a tub a lub

Shred Days 3 and 4

This is going to be a short post, because 1 I am at work and because 2 this is going to be day 5. Yep, 5 days in a row. What have I noticed different...umm I sweat more, I am actually hungry when I wake up and exercising = better sleep. Working out as soon as I come home from work DOES NOT keep me from sleeping. If anything, it allows me to work out my stresses from work so that when I go to bed I can forget about work, even if it is only for that short period. Today will be day 5, Sunday Day 6 and then finally on Monday my next day off will be Day 7. In the video Jillian talks a lot about the endurance on people who are at days 6, 7, and 8...let me be the judge of that. Anyway, I hope you have a great weekend. I will be leaving work here in like 3.5 hours, going to let the dogs out, work out and then hit the hay so my day can continue. Hope all is well!

30 Day Shred Day 2

Today was day 2 of the 30 Day Shred, or well day 3 if you count the day I did before Thanksgiving. Anyway, I wasn't as sore today as I was last week, nor was I as tired today as when I did the exercises yesterday. No, I am not saying that I am in shape, but I am a shape and I guess from the research I am pear shaped. Today, I took pictures before my workout, which I will keep to myself. In a week, I will take pictures again wearing the same clothes as today to see if there is a difference. I am also thinking about supplementing the 30 Day Shred with WW although I have to do some more research about my job helps pay for that. Anyway, I am looking forward to this daily taking care of myself business, and the next 5 days will be a challenge because I work every one. Well, hope everyone is having a great day. Later alligator!