Going for it!

J

Jennifer72

New member
I was apprehensive about starting a diary/journal - but I have found that I am very motivated reading through the other journals (lots of them - still making my way through). I thought I should start one so that I can reflect back to see how far I have come - when I am not feeling as motivated.

I'm 5'8" - my lowest adult weight has been 130 lbs and my peak weight was 257 lbs - I am currently at 240 lbs. It would be easy for me to say that I have struggled with my weight my entire life - but I don't know how accurate that would be. Yes - I have gained and lost large amounts of weight a few times. I am still working through my issues with what causes the weight gain. I know what to do, how to get there and how to maintain - but I always choose not to stay focused after reaching the 'goal' - I think a large part of it has to do with not making sure I focus on me - I'm always looking for another 'project' to work on - so I don't have to focus on me.

I know quite a bit of the weight I put on was from skipping breakfast, eating out every night (not a fan of working all day, then cooking), drinking tons of regular soda, and having multiple sweets each day. My calorie intake was off the charts.

I gave up on diets years ago - for me a 'diet' just does not work - yes, I can be disciplined for the period of time needed - but then would get back into the 'normal' routine. Over the past few months, I have adjusted my way of thinking about food. No matter what I eat, I am very aware of EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. There is no more random grazing. I'd say my ballpark calories are 1500 - 1800 a day. If I want that hershey's kiss (or two) - I think about it - I may still have it - but I think about it now. I am also more aware of how much time passes between eating something. I try to eat every 2 1/2 - 3 hours. I rarely have soda now - preferring to stick to unsweetened tea, water, and water with lemon juice. We still eat out - but usually only once every week or two. I found that I really need to watch the sodium in some of the groceries I buy - I very rarely use table salt - so I don't think about it much. I bought some premade soup at the deli and found it had over 1000 mg of sodium - ugh. That explains the uptick on the scale overnight.

I love exercise (I just have to remind myself of that when I'm not 'feeling' it) - love to go hiking in the hills behind my house. I used to go every Saturday morning - for at least 4 hours - by myself (I know, not safe). My husband (then boyfriend) found out and put his foot down and said absolutely no hiking by yourself. Well - my hiking dwindled to maybe 4 times a year after that for a couple of hours - when I could find someone to go with me. I found a local hiking meet-up and have signed up - now to get the courage to actually join them for some hikes!

I have to take responsibility for myself once and for all. Motivated by some of other forum members, I have started the couch to 5 k program and I just finished Week 4, day 1 today - thought it was going to kill me (ok - so I am over dramatic). I've been consistently doing cardio and balance work since 11/26 and I'm feeling really good about it. I'll probably start adding in some weights after I can successfully run 3 miles in 30 min. No particular reason - I just want to reach that goal for myself.

I'm tired of being 'Obese' as my little Wii friend says - and to this point in my life, I am very lucky that my blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar are in the 'normal' range. I don't want to continue gambling with this aspect of my life! I am in control!

Thanks for reading. It is great to have a place to write random thoughts about this process.
 
Hey there, and welcome.

I love hiking too. Get yourself out with that local group! I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

Sounds like you've got some good fitness and eating going on, well done.

see ya round

anna.banana
 
Thanks for stopping by anna banana - I do think I just need to take the plunge and sign up for a hike.

Daily calories have been good - though I know I'm still hanging on to some water. Was in a great mood this morning - nothing like a bit of work stress to bring me down. A bit grumpy by the end of the day and was really dreading getting on the treadmill. Partly because I knew the 3 min, 5 min, 3 min run was going to take all of my 'you can do it' to actually get it done. But - I pushed on, got dressed and headed straight for the treadmill. Voila - 30 min later, I was done. Can't say I had that rush of 'You did it, again' - but I was really proud that I didn't let a foul mood get in my way.

decided I should add a few key measurements whilst I remember - so I can look back.

At highest weight:

42" just under bust
44" natural waist
52" hips
30" thighs
17" calves

@ 240

39" just under bust
41" natural waist
50" hips
29" thighs
16 7/8" calves
 
Been awhile since I posted. Happy to report that I managed to keep my weight in check over the holidays and have been hovering between 237 - 239 for the past couple of weeks. My eating could be better - but my main focus right now is making sure I don't slide back into skipping meals.

While still doing a bit of exercise, I fell off the 'running' bandwagon....Couch to 5k week five was just too daunting. Well, I have been missing running and finally decided to get on the treadmill today - and tried week 4 again, just to see if I could do it or if I would have to bring it back a notch. Well....I feel SUPER....finished it without a problem. I am ready to tackle week 5 this week! I want to participate in my first 5k (meaning first time actually running) in late March.

Looking forward to an upcoming hike to Palm Springs - going to take the tram up and go for a hike with family.

Have also been missing visits to a personal trainer I used to see 2 - 3 times a week (3 yrs ago). She has emailed a terrific special, so I am going to take advantage of 2 months with her (2 x per week) to kick start my resistance training again.

Enjoying a nice afternoon watching the Superbowl - still have some of the usual temptations (planned for it and moderation is the key) - but decided to bring in some bbq. I will be having a bbq chicken breast (skinless) for dinner. I find this to be a much better choice than the pizza we would have ordered.
 
Hey Jennifer
welcome & good luck!! :hurray:
you can do it!! :)
personal trainer sounds good - i wish i could afford one!
 
Thanks for popping in Justina.

Really wanted to run today. I know the c25k says to take a day off between runs...but I really wanted to run today. So I did. I just did not do what I normally would on the schedule. I decided to see if I could get my speed up. So I alternated 1 min of run with 90 sec of walk. For the run portions I did 5, 5.5, 5, 6, 5, 6.5, 5, and 7. I feel really good - seven was tough but not my max.
 
Oh dear, you seem extremely motivated. It's refreshing. Keep it up!

Sending positive energy your way,

Xoch
 
Thanks Xoch - positive energy was much needed today.

I mentally psyched myself out all day thinking about running walking 5/3/5/3/5 min tonight. It was every bit as difficult as I told myself it would be. I wanted to quit running with about 1 min left in the second interval....but kept on for the full 5. 2 min in to the last set, I actually argued with myself taht tehre was no way I could finish with a run....and then back to, it's not that bad, not much more to go.....in the end, I finished all three 5 min segments of running. Woohoo...can say I am proud of myself.

Need to find a way to not psych myself out about 8/3/8 on Thurs!
 
Today was a run day again. It was actually a 8/5/8 day (had it wrong in previous post). I made it through the first 8 minutes and felt fantastic - breathing was heavy...but ok. I only made it 5:45 of the second run - then I had to rest 1 min - and I picked up the last 2:15 at a run. Was a bit disappointed with myself for not making it - but I'm focusing on making the first 8 all the way through. I'm going to do this run again until I make it through before moving on to the next 'day'.

Hiking on Sat. and I'm going to give jumping rope a try. I've been thinking of all the things I did for fun as a kid....boy are they work now. That has to change.
 
Completed a hike at a nice slow pace on Sat morning. It was so nice and relaxing.

Decided on Friday that I needed to give hopscotch a try again. Some kids never grow up....off to Toys 'R Us to pick up a foam set.....Disney characters to boot. Well, tried it out today - it really is made for kids...squares were small, but I still got winded (how embarassing is that?)...but did a full 'game' and switched hopping foot and played again. As a side note...the dog did not like that at all....crazy mom hopping around. Might give it another go on the foam set, but will likely donate it to my friends girls. I can just hop to imaginary spaces.

Then it was to the backyard to jump rope. I did better than expected, but not as well as I wanted to do...if that makes sense. Had DH time me and I was able to jump a full 30 seconds (did not think I would be able to) then rest for a minute. I did this 3 times...was hoping for more.

Really is a fantastic way to get the heart pumping!
 
hi Jennifer,
your hopscotch experience is just too funny!!! :) i mean :hurray:
thats the spirit!!
your excercise routine sounds cool too - you are very determined! go you!!!
 
Thanks Justina.

Well....tried the 8/5/8 run again tonight....it beat me again. I did the first 8, walked the 5 and started the second 8. I must have a serious mental block - only made it to 5 min when I convinced myself I would just die (kidding of course) if I ran one more second. I finished out walking. I'll just keep at it until I get there. I still feel really good physically after the run - feels like my lungs are super clear - getting lots of fresh air (hard to describe).

Off to see the trainer for the first time in over 3 years tomorrow at 5 a.m. (not looking forward to getting up super early to get there - I'm a sleep until about 7 kinda gal). She's an avid runner - so that will be one of the topics we discuss tomorrow.
 
:hurray: Another soon to be runner!!! I started out with a motified version of the C25K program last summer and when I started I could not run 30 seconds without feeling like I wanted to die. Now I run 3 to 4 miles 3 days a week, and 6 to 7 miles 1 day a week. I feel like I could go longer but I'm usually crunched for time and that's all I can fit in usually.

So if I can do, you can too! Keep up the great work lady - you'll get there!
 
Thanks for popping in Tig - reading your posts and jjjays posts really got me thinking about running. Thanks for sharing that you had trouble in the beginning - makes me feel that it is possible to run 6+ miles by the end of this year.

Whenever I start something new - that involves getting up early, I tend to not sleep very well the night before - and usually only a light sleep when I do actually sleep. Last night was no different...made a point to get to bed before 9 - and wouldn't you know it, did not feel tired at ALL. DH fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and promptly started snoring. Finally drifted off to a light sleep only to be startled awake by DH snoring - then the dog would join in the snoring...ugh.

So - 4:25 came and I was actually wide awake as soon as the alarm went off. Got dressed and ate 2 tbsp of peanut butter (don't want to work out on an empty stomach - usually start off with walnuts when I work out that early. We did the 'official' clothes and tennis shoes on weigh in and measurments. She also advised that I was 13 lbs lighter than the last time I trained with her (which is always nice to know).

She started me off with 5 min on the elliptical to warm up - then some work with a kettlebell that involved quite a bit of squatting - then some ab work. Those five min on the elliptical reminds me of the importance of cross trainging - I used to be able to go an hour - but those 5 min were tougher than they needed to be. Loved the kettlebell work - but boy did I pay the price today (kinda scared with how I'll feel tomorrow) - you don't realize how many times you get up and sit down during the day....I found out today....too many. I did feel great today!

I'll get a full hour in on Thursday morning - it's back to running tomorrow....I'll beat that second round of 8 min.....
 
hey girl I really admire your discipline!!

i love the feeling of achivement! :) and u deserve it!
:party:

Good luck beating that time tomorrow!!!
 
OMG...I was soooo sore today - worse than yesterday. Have to brace myself everytime I sit down. TMI warning - I actually contemplated peeing while standing!

I have this visual of me swinging my arms around without control on Friday - or having them hang as dead weight (as that is part of what I will be working on tomorrow morning).

Not looking forward to 4:30 a.m. again - but I am looking forward to the workout!

Ugh...ipod played for exacltly 1/2 second when I started my warmup tonight....right now, that is how I try and guage my time without staring at the timer....90 seconds into my run, I convinced myself I was going to pass out (again it is such a mental block)....managed to run 3 min, rest 90 sec - repeat 2 more times. Not feeling super hot about what I did...but I am feeling good that I did get on the treadmill. ipod is charging as I type. So...will continue in my quest for the 8/5/8 success!
 
Hey girl! you are doing good - just dont push yourself too hard!!
you get better - you are determined!!! :)
Good look getting up so early!
 
Another somewhat restless night of sleep. At least I did manage to get 5 solid hours in and just lingered in twilight for the last hour and a half.

My legs were still a bit sore this morning - but a 5 min warm up on the elliptical helped quite a bit. We focused on bi/tri/back/shoulder/abs today. It's kinda funny - she brought the ball out for part of the bi/tri workout - and without saying a word, I was in position (guess it was habit from previous training). In case you are wondering, shoulders and head on the ball (the big ones) and feet flat on the ground, butt raised and tummy tight (always a laugh at that one).

So far, I still have full mobility in my arms. hehe It really is nice to be working with weights again. I know it has only been two days this week - but it feels like my body is starting to shift weight around. This usually means I'll start seeing the scale drop...it has been pretty stuck. I think the running is definitely paying off.

With that said, think I'm going to skip running tomorrow night and make a date night with DH to hit the gym. Perhaps I'll hit the elliptical for an hour.
 
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