Ashley's Weight Loss Diary [[ No diet pills, No surgery, No workout partner!]]

ashross88

ashross88

New member
Hello!


I am not too sure if I will have any followers but regardless I feel like it will be beneficial to maintain a weightloss diary!


My name is Ashley and I am currently 23 years old, 24 in august. I am from a suburb of Chicago originally but moved to Southeast Arkansas to help care for my mother and go to school to become a nurse. At the age of 18 my weight was 312 lbs. It was at that time that I obtained my Certified Nurses Assistant Certificate and started caring for the elderly. After a year in the field and using mechanical lifts to transfer my heavy patients, it clicked that I would be in the same machine if I did not start living healthy.


It was not until the age of 22 that I put my foot down. My daily eatting habits consisted of mostly fast food or processed foods. In January of 2009 I cut out ALL of the processed and fast foods in my diet and by Febuary I had lost 15 lbs.


Being heavy my whole life, I have tried to work out, I have tried to diet. It worked for a few weeks and then slowly died out.


Starting my 2009 weightloss goals (no diet plan no trainer and no workout routine) I knew it was imparative to first get control of my diet and become comfortable in my new eatting habits before I started incooperating a workout plan. It worked! It has been a long hard road but I am still struggling everyday to motivate myself. No diet pills, No surgery, No workout partner! Althought Id love a workout partner.



Today 2/27/12


I am 5'8

I weight 191 lbs

Goal:160


I am trying to get myself into running. I have hit a plateu. I dont work out on a shedule but I try to get a good walk in or a workout routine from my android phone. A friend of mine, whom also has has tremendous weightloss, introduced me to "couch to 5k". I am very excited to start this program and stick with it! It seems to be a great way to introduce my body to running. I will be writing in my diary every chance I get and especially after my "couch to 5k" workouts!


http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml << Program guide


Before and Current photos!
 
Hi Ashley! Welcome to the forums!
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Awesome progress photos! You look really incredible and the transformation is jaw-dropping! You should be really proud of yourself and it's inspiring what you've accomplished so far! :hurray:


I can relate to being heavy and overweight growing up. Like you, I tried to work out and establish something healthy from time to time - mostly due to pressure from worried relatives. For me, it wouldn't even last a few weeks. Just a few days at best before I was back to eating junk. I never really ate fast food, but I did eat a lot of pastas, tv dinners, fruit drinks, sodas, etc.


And hey, I started my journey in 2009 as well! :biggrin: Time sure has flown by pretty quick!


I started out at about 377lb. We're about the same weight and height currently. I was almost in the 170's earlier this year, but a few days of lax eating made me put on some water weight that has stuck with me for a while :)


Anyway, I don't mean to hijack your diary! I just wanted to say how awesome you've done and that it's really great you found that turning point. Seeing those patients struggling with obesity-related issues can definitely be a strong factor in wanting to change. I've seen almost all the seasons of the Biggest Loser and it never failed to inspire me when the contestants told their stories and you saw how their lives were before losing weight.


Keep up the great work, and best of luck to you in reaching your goals soon!


I hope you continue to update and keep us posted with your progress!
smile.gif
 
Hey Ashley,

I agree with Frogged...awesome progress girlly...and without exercising...wow! I was 279 when I started and I'm currently at 188 and I've needed every hour of exercising to get to where I am...so well done girl! I don't have an exercise partner either...this forum serves as my partner on many things!

When I started exercising, I was slow go on the treadmill...30 minutes on level was all I could really manage...I slowly pushed it do incorporate "hills" and did more time. Then one day, my sister (who is also on a weightloss journey...but she lives a long way away) introduced me to the elliptical or cross trainer...I've been on it ever since. I've found that it gives me maximum calorie burn in the shortest period of time...start slow and short time and I've worked my way up to an hour and can burn some serious calories. It's much easier on my knees than running and I get alot of the same benefit. The big thing is...don't do too much too fast..if you do, you may burn out...and that's not good for anyone! you may want to start with 3 days a week or maybe just a 30 minute brisk walk each day. I would also recommend getting an mp3 player (like ipod) and making some playlists for a certain period of time...I've got several 30 minute play lists made up of peppy songs that make me want to move/dance, whatever...we're not going for meditation state here...we're going for action and calorie burn! I'm betting that when you combine your great eating habits with some exercise you will not just jump off the plateau, but leap off it!! I'm looking forward to following your progress!


Sarah
 
Hey Guys!


Thanks for all the support! I am working on trying to be just as content with the results but I guess I feel like I could always look better. The last few days though have been my cheat days... UGH lots of candy and sweets... Fast food... Im makin myself tired of it. Back to the gym tomorrow though with no excuses! I supose I will just have to suck it up and burn off all these extra calories. Normally I have alot of control over my diet but I admit I lost track. Reading you posts have really pushed me back into gear! I am so thankful I joined this forum, its exactly what I need! I just wish I could carry you guys around with me everytime I talk myself out of the gym or pick up that ice cream :p
 
I have a major sweet tooth as well!


One of the most important factors of cheat days, aside from the calorie confusion aspect, is also how it reminds me of just how awful you feel after consuming so much of your favorite junk foods.


I used to eat that stuff every single day that it's no wonder I became so heavy and felt so awful for so long! The only thing that helped numb those awful feelings was eating more of it, which was a rather vicious cycle. Eating your favorite junk food always feels and tastes amazing while you're doing it, but, the feeling afterward is so cruddy that you'd almost rather be starving than what you're currently experiencing.


That's how it is for me anyway. I'm sure it differs from person to person
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It's always good to recollect those sluggish feelings now and then just so I don't fall back into a lifestyle of constantly feeling that way!


Speaking of ice creams, Ben & Jerry's is my downfall! I still have it from time to time on my cheat days, but holy wow.. ~1200 calories on average for my favorite flavors! (Cinnamon Buns, yeah! :biggrin:) lol!
 
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. Life has been crazy busy and dramatic. I have been doing much better with my diet but I have had trouble with my exercises. I went to the university gym the other day (Thurs the 5th) with my mom to restart my couch to 5 k program( because I had gone so many days between runs...) and a guy hit on me there and ended up causing a bunch of nonsense drama between my boyfriend and I. Now my boyfriend doesnt feel comfortable with me going to the gym.. ugh... Aside from that I worked friday and was pooped and I worked today 12 hours... on my feet... my calves are killlling me! I also fell at work this morning and popped my right ankle, hurt so bad when it happend. It is swollen now but not very painful, tender and achy. Now Im not so sure I should work out and run on it. We will see how I feel tomorrow I supose, Ill sleep with it up on a pillow.


Short post... I need sleeeeeep. Night all! And I hope your motivation and situation is going good!
 
Sorry to hear about the drama, Ashley :(


That's no good for trying to keep your focus. I hope you can work it out and can continue to participate in your gym activities without any aggravation!


Take it easy with that injury too! I wouldn't try to do too much on it for a few days. Maybe stick with some upper body strength training and try not to do any kind of running. Maybe just some light walking to see how it feels for the next few days.


It's not a race, it's a lifestyle :) There's no rush!


Good luck and keep us posted :)
 
Thats exactly what I needed to hear!! "Its not a race its a lifestyle" Just have to correct myself as I go and not get too overwhelmed. I have plans to go to the gym today, im going to try the eliptical... We will see, I have been working the last few days which kept me on my feet, its sore but I can make it! Ill post again later to talk about my gym time! Thank you again so much for being so supportive, its exactly what I need.
 
So I ended up having a decent lunch, Whitebread w/salomi and just a few chips... I would have prefered turkey on wheat but my moms pantry is far from subway :p. Anywho, I went to the university gym with my mom and we stayed for over an hour! I ran for 25 min on the eliptical which has a heart rate monitor and Id say my average was 163bpm. I only ran the distance of 1.67 miles... :( kind of disappointing but Im glad I stopped when I did because my ankle started throbbing a bit.


After the eliptical I headed for the weight machines. I was able to do 5 reps of 20 @ 80lbs with the ab machine. I did a few reps of 10 with 100lbs with a machine that focus's on my thighs. And then my mom and I did 2 reps of 20 on both sides of our abs with 10lb free weights. Id say it was a good day!. I also ate pretty well for dinner. My boyfriend Michael took me to a mexican resturant and I had a grilled chicken burrito, very fresh! mmm food HA! Guess thats the problem! Always tempted... kind of like the handful of peanut M&Ms i just ate... o well! Better luck tomorrow! Ill be working 7-3 so Hopefully my mind and body will be busy doing other things. Im also hoping for motivation to hit the gym again! Bed time! Good night all!!


<3
 
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