I May Be Slow, But I'm Doing It

I don't work out NEARLY enough.  It is a major downfall I have.  I always have good intentions, but the follow through doesn't always happen.  I know if I start working out more, the scale will move more, and right now.... I REALLY want that.  I miss having those 3-5 pound losses (or more) every week like I did in the beginning.  Now, I'm lucky if I get a 1 pound loss lately.  I had one good 4 pound loss a couple weeks ago, but other than that.... it's been very slow going.  I finally forced myself to go for a walk/run yesterday.  I found this app a while back called Map My Walk that uses GPS to track your mileage and time.  Looking through my (very short) work out history on the app, I realized that even though these workouts are spaced way far out, each time I go for a walk/run I get a little faster.  It's not much... but seeing that made me SO HAPPY!! And Motivated to do more!  And even better..... the scale was DOWN 1.6 pounds this morning! 

I used to HATE running.  I couldn't have run if my life depended on it.  If I were in a Zombie apocalypse, I might as well have just laid down and waited to be eaten.  When I first started trying to "run" it was more of just an awkward walk thingy where I lifted my knees a little higher and swung my arms a little more.  But now, I can actually jog.  I'm slower than a turtle walking through molasses and I don't "run" as far as I would like, but.... hey, I'm doing it.  And looking at the results above, I'm getting better.  If I keep it up, eventually, I might just be able to beat that turtle. 

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEK 34

WooHoo!! Finally a Good Loss!!

Total for the week: -4.4 pounds

Total Lost So Far: 73 Pounds

Morning Naked Weigh In - Week 33

Weigh In Resutls - + .4 pounds

Total Loss so far: 68.6 pounds

 

This was not a good week for me,

BUT I was on my period for weigh in

and my feet and ankles have been swelling

a lot all week.  Hoping that is why such poor results.

FITSPIRATION

Knowing When To Stop

One of the hardest things for me to learn since having my Gastric Bypass surgery has been WHEN TO STOP eating, ESPECIALLY if what I'm eating is very good. I think this issue is one of the leading causes to me being SO overweight.
I don't eat anywhere near the amount I used to eat, but I still catch myself saying "one more bite" especially if it's really yummy, usually regretting that decision immediately. Sometimes I'll eat until I'm full, and stop like a good girl, but as I sit at the table and everyone else is still eating I continue to "pick" at my food until everyone else is done, eating more than I originally intended.
This is such a dangerous habit that needs to be broken. By pushing the limit I know I can, and eventually will, stretch out my stomach, and I do NOT want that to happen. I must learn to slow waaay down and really pay attention and STOP at that "satisfied" moment EVERY time. I don't have to eat until I'm "full". I did NOT get this surgery and go through all that I've been through to wind up remaining over weight.
Change doesn't occur over night. I'm miles away from the person I used to be but a lifetime of bad habits doesn't just go away. But I'm aware of them. And I'm actively working on changing them.   When I think about how much my attitude towards food has changed JUST in the past 7 months, I'm amazed.  I'm not perfect and never will be.  I am so much better than I was, and I will become much better than I am now.

"Cookie Dough" Greek Yogurt

I Found this Recipe on Pinterest...

Add the following ingredients to a small

container of Greek Yogurt:

 1tbsp of creamy peanut butter (or PB2)

1tsp of Honey

1/4 tsp of Vanilla Extract

1tbsp of Miniature Chocolate Chips

Dash of Sea Salt

I forgot to grab Honey from the grocery store

so made mine without the honey. 

Even so, it was pretty good.  I'm NOT a fan

of Greek Yogurt but this was pretty good.
While this doesn't taste exactly like Cookie Dough,
it is a nice healthy alternative when you have a
sweet tooth and a great way to get in Protein for the day. 

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN - WEEK 32

Weekly Loss: .8lbs

Total Loss So Far:  69.4lbs

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN - WEEK 30 AND WEEK 31

WEEK 30

Weekly Loss: 1.4lbs

Total Loss: 67.2lbs

WEEK 31

Weekly Loss:  1.4lbs

Total Loss: 68.6lbs

To Realize How Far We Have Come, We Must Remember Where We Have Been

 

Today I went clothes shopping for an outfit to wear 

to my daughter's Graduation, that would also work 

as a professional Interview Outfit.  

I walked away empty handed.

For once, the clothes FIT.  AND the top was a size 14/16!! 

Putting it on felt A-MAZING! 

Then I looked into the full length mirror....

It just didn't look good on me.

I left feeling disappointed.

I've lost 67 pounds, and yet, I still can't 

find anything that will look decent on me.

But then I remember back to being in that SAME 

dressing room, trying on size 26 clothes and

they were TOO TIGHT!! 

I may not be satisfied now, or able to find

clothes that look "cute" on me.....

But I'm definitely heading in the right direction.

I guess sometimes to realize how far we have come,

we have to remember where we have been...

The Power To Change

Happy Memorial Day 2014

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEK 29

TOM came to visit this month, so I wasn't expecting much of a loss..... and didn't get one.

Loss for the week: .2 lbs

Total loss so far: 65.8 lbs

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEK 27 AND WEEK 28

Week 27

Weigh in Results: +.8lbs

Total Loss So Far:  63.8

 

Week 28

Weigh in results: -1.8

Total Loss So Far:  65.6

Who Do I WANT To Be?

 Maybe it's part of getting older... or maybe it's a result of the surgery and the changes it has brought... but I find myself searching for who I AM.  Because honestly..... sometimes, I just don't know.  

 How much of my life has been wasted on "One Day...", "When I Lose Weight", "If I were skinny",  "If only".....   It feels like I've gone through life holding  down the "Pause" button, waiting for this or that to happen first.  But.... What would my life be like if there was NOTHING holding me back?   Not my weight, my self esteem, my insecurities... What if I didn't CARE what people thought of me?  What if I didn't have limitations on what I could  do.  What if I could go back to Graduation Day at high school, with my new sense of "Freedom", a little wiser than I was back then, carrying all the hope and belief that I did on that day of my future.  What would I choose to do? 

As I shed my excess pounds, I am also working on shedding all the other things that I have held on to that have kept me down. Because, let's face it, although my weight has made things more difficult for me... My weight isn't REALLY what has held me back all these years, but my own insecurities about it.  At social events I felt awkward, so I kept to myself.  I realize now that it wasn't THEM not talking to ME,  By staying off by myself, my entire body language was screaming BACK OFF.   When we went to the Lake, public pools, water parks, etc.  I could have gotten a bathing suit on and joined in. (Of course, I weighed too much for some of the water slides, but I could have joined in the Wave Pool and the Lazy River), but I was so embarrassed of my body, I refused to be seen in Public in a bathing suit.  So I wore Capri pants and a T Shirt over my swimsuit and stood around waiting at the end of each ride, sometimes for over an hour, for the my husband and kids to come out.  And it isn't my weight that has kept me from pursuing my dreams.... it's my fear of what others would think of them.   And now.... I've suppressed those dreams for SO LONG, I don't even know what they ARE anymore.   

THIS Sounds Like The Perfect Way to Spend Mother's Day.

More NSV's (Non Scale Victories)

This week I have been focusing on some of the "NSV's" I've noticed so far.   They are small things, but for those that are or have ever been morbidly obese..... you will understand.

1.   When I sit in my car, the steering wheel no longer rubs my stomach, and I don't have to have the seat ALL the way back anymore.  There is actually a gap now between my stomach and the steering wheel.

2.  I can now fold my hands in my lap when I'm sitting.  Before I lost weight, I had a hard time trying to figure out what to do with my hands and my arms if there was no arm rests.   I was too big around to clasp my fingers and I had NO LAP whatsoever.  My stomach rested on the tops of my legs.  I now have a lap and can comfortably sit in the chairs at my daughters cheer practice and not even THINK about what my arms are doing. 

3.  I can now bend over and pick something up off the floor.  Even small items.

4.  I can put my socks and shoes on and not feel like I have just run a marathon.

Fitspiration

I may be crawling at a Turtle's pace....... but I'm getting there.

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEKS 24-26

 Week 24

 Week 25

 Week 26

I haven't posted in a while...... It has been crazy busy around here.  Above are my Weekly Weigh In's for Weeks 24-26.  Total loss so far: 64.6 Pounds!

I've Lost An Elephant's Penis!! What Have You Lost?

I am now officially down 60 pounds! That is Equivalent to an Elephant's Penis!!  What have you lost?

1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human’s skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average house cat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant’s heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11″)
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4″)
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEK 23

Not a big loss this week, but still a loss:  -1.8 lbs.  I still haven't made it back into the gym, and until I do, I'm just not going to see any big numbers.  I was doing great for a while, but it seems once I stopped, it has been so hard to find that drive again.   So much has been going on lately... life is very hectic right now, but my gym is open 24/7 so there really is no excuse.  I know what needs to be done.  I just need to do it.

BEWARE OF THE SUGAR FREE "SWEET FREEDOM" ICE CREAM

 

Before weight loss surgery, I was a LOVER of Blue-Bell Ice-Cream.  If it was in the house, I could not stay away from it. After the surgery,  I could no longer have it.  I missed Ice Cream.  One day, I tried a few bites of my husband's Banana Split, and although I only had a few bites, it was a few bites too many and I started feeling sick.  I didn't go into a full blown dumping episode, (I didn't throw up and my heart didn't start racing,  I didn't eat THAT much of it) but I did feel very nauseous.  I learned my lesson.

Then one day, while grocery shopping, I found the  SWEET FREEDOM no sugar added Ice-Cream at the Grocery Store.  I checked the sugar content and it looked safe, only 5 grams in half a cup. So, I bought it! That night, we all dug into it.  I got a small 1/2 a coffee cup size serving.  It wasn't great tasting, not like the real stuff, but it was OK.... it was cold, it was creamy... it would do.  Until the Diarrhea struck.  Within 20-30 minutes of eating the ice cream, my stomach started to cramp up, and I had to race to the bathroom with a severe bout of diarrhea.  I haven't eaten any of it since.   It is evil.

DAILY WEIGHING

I'm usually a Daily Weigh-er.  

First thing in the morning, before getting into the shower, I jump on the scale and record my weight for the day.  I like weighing first thing in the morning, before I've had anything to eat or drink, butt-naked, because it takes a way a lot of the factors that can effect your weight, such as clothes and water retention. For me, Daily Weighing keeps me on track, I find I do better this way.  But I've heard of others that hide their scale during the week because they find themselves obsessing over the numbers.

Here is  a short list of PRO'S that I have found in DAILY WEIGHING.

1.  It gives me focus during the week, and is a daily reminder to eat right and exercise.  When I weighed only once a week, I found myself thinking "It's OK, I have the rest of the week to work it off". 

2.  I can see on any given day how the foods I ate and exercise I did (or did not do) that day effected me, such as water retention, etc. 

3.  When the scale is down, I am even MORE motivated that day to eat right and exercise.

4.  By keeping track all week, I have a pretty good idea of what my official weigh in will be on Sunday, so do not get that crushing feeling when it is not a good loss.  If it's been a bad week, I already know.

 And now for a short list of CON'S in DAILY WEIGHING

1.  It can lead to frustration at times because your weight naturally fluctuates throughout the week. 

2.  I've read other's say that they find themselves obsessing over the numbers on the scale, and would rather focus on inches lost. 

3.  Muscle weighs more than fat, so if working out a lot, the scale may be going up instead of down, even though you are losing inches. 

4.  When the scale goes UP despite eating right and staying on plan,  it may lead to frustration, and for some, make it easier to give into temptation.  At the same time, when the scale goes DOWN despite giving into temptation it may make it easier to go off plan, knowing last time you still come away with a loss. 

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN: WEEK 22

Well, After a very disappointing MONTH last month
(See my Morning Naked Weigh In Page)
I'm pretty happy with this week's Weigh In result. 
241.6 lbs.  That is a loss of 5.8 lbs for the Week!!
Total Loss so far:  58.4 lbs.

MIA

Well, I've been MIA for a while.

And Here's Why:

* My Husband cut his foot with a CHAINSAW
* My House got struck by LIGHTENING
*A TORNADO came through our town

Long stories short..... my husband was home for quite a while requiring my undivided attention,  the Lightening Fried our T.V., our Wireless Router, our Receiver, Antenna, Tivo, Wii, etc., so had no internet access for a while, and the stormy weather meant not much free time to Blog, etc. 
But I'm BACK!  Be watching for an update on my progress soon! 

Morning Naked Weigh In - Week 17

What a STRESSFUL Week!!  Between an Emergency trip to the hospital with my husband,  Him off work all week, Lay Off's at my work, and a meeting to discuss this "critical period" at work,  I have been one stressed out Momma!  The scale shows it too....... I GAINED 1.4lbs.   Gotta get busy and hit the gym this week to work it off!  Weigh In results: 248.6 pounds. 

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN - WEEK 16

This was a pretty bad week, weight loss wise, but I still came away with a loss. All week the scale has not budged, and then finally this morning it was down 1.2 pounds.  T.O.M (Time Of Month) showed up yesterday, so that may be why it is so low this week.   This week marked the end of another month. Monthly total loss: 7.2 pounds.  Total loss so far: 52.8 pounds!

NSV - NON SCALE VICTORY

Yesterday I finally bought a new pair of jeans since having the surgery in October! I've been wearing the same jeans I had before surgery, but they look really bad now, way too baggy.  They aren't falling off yet, but the legs and rear end just sag.  I bought a size 20 Jeans! And they fit great! At my highest weight I was in a size 28 and they were tight....  I have to admit, the thrill of fitting into a size 20 yesterday was greatly dimmed looking at myself in that full length mirror.  Seeing my clothes sag on me felt great, it showed progress!  But seeing myself in a pair of jeans that fit, really showed me how far I still have to go.... not just to goal but to just looking decent in a pair of jeans.  And I've got a belly roll above my jeans line that is still there, that really bothers me.  I put on my saggy jeans again after trying on the 20's and noticed that in those jeans too, the roll is there, I just chose to ignore it.   I was a little down last night...... but I'm feeling much more optimistic today.   I'm not going to get there over night.  And while..... 51 pounds is a lot to lose, when I have THIS Much excess weight, it's not going to have as great an impact on me as it would on someone with less to lose. My husband suggested taking pictures each month so I can compare, which I really should have been doing all along. 

MORNING NAKED WEIGH IN - WEEK 15

Weigh In results for Week 15:  248.4 lbs.

Total loss for the Week:  3.6 pounds

Total loss so far:  51.6 Pounds!

Fitspiration

Head Hunger

Tonight, I'm dealing with Head Hunger.  You know that feeling that you want to eat a snack?  Even though you've had dinner, you still just want ...."something" but can't figure out just what that "something" is.  Something sweet? Something Salty? Something Snacky.   I've got that now.  I know that it is head hunger and not actual hunger.   While I'm very tempted to start trying various things to fill that craving,  I will not let myself cave in.  I am strong.  I am determined.  I will find something else to do instead....  and as soon as my phone finishes charging,  I will go to the gym and distract myself.   It is finding and maintaining the power to make THESE kind of choices EVERYDAY that will see me to my GOAL WEIGHT and keep me there. 

What An AWESOME Day!

What an AWESOME Day!!

We surprised our oldest daughter with a new car today.  She had NO IDEA she was getting one.  It was fabulous!!  I am one HAPPY Momma right now!!  And she is one happy kid!!!

NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT ALSO FOR THEM

This rings so true!  My children are a big reason why I ultimately decided on Weight Loss Surgery.  I can preach to them all day long about eating right and exercising, but if they see me making poor choices, not exercising, and always being unhappy with myself, who am I teaching them to become?

Welcome To OPERATION: GOAL WEIGHT

I've been on many diets throughout out my life time.  I've managed to lose weight before, but have always gained it right back plus some, winding up weighing more than before starting my diet.  My struggle with weight began when I was 19,  fresh out of high school, finally on my "own", and a newlywed.  I've been fat ever since.  I am now one year shy of 40.  The most weight I have ever managed to lose was 85 pounds, and that was on the Medifast diet.  I stayed on the diet for 8 months, and was able to maintain my weight for a few months, but eventually the weight started to creep back on, picking up speed over the past year and half, until I catapulted myself to my highest weight ever recorded:  300 pounds.   

Notice I stated, the highest weight EVER RECORDED?  That's because, I honestly do not know what my highest weight was.  I avoided scales like they were the freaking Plague.   In August of 2013 I made the decision to have Weight Loss Surgery (RNY Gastric Bypass).  At my initial consultation I weighed in at 297 pounds.   After that visit, and the two months leading up to my actual surgery, I went on an eating spree, eating all the things I knew I would be giving up, polishing off each night with a big 'ol bowl of ICE CREAM! I know without a doubt that I gained weight during that time.  Twice I attempted to weigh myself, just to see, but my digital scale would not settle on a weight, it was all over the place before giving me an error message.  Once I started my pre-op diet and was back to 300 pounds, it finally gave me a weight.  I realized then, the reason for the wonky scale and the error, was because 300 was the highest weight my scale could register.  I was getting weird results because I was too fat for my scale to read my weight!   So 300 pounds is the starting weight that I use for my Beginning weight, even though I KNOW it was higher.  

I had my Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery on October 28, 2013. So far, I have lost 48 pounds. I wish I had started blogging right away about all that I experienced.  I tried a few times in another blog, but was unhappy with the blog host.  I was unable to access the blog at all for a couple of weeks, and finally gave up on that site.   I had an old blog, www.shrinking-jeans.blogspot.com, and began blogging there again.  I'd been thinking about starting a fresh new blog to document my weight loss after having my surgery, and then found out recently there is another blog with a very similar name to my old blog, so I decided to start this one.  A fresh start to a new blog for the fresh start to a new me.   I hope you visit often and keep up with my progress.  I'll be very grateful for the support, and  accountability it will provide.  Please feel free to comment and message me anytime with any questions you may have.