I'm getting close - I am less than 10 pounds away from being under 200 pounds for the first time in close to 10 years. I can hardly believe it. And somewhere along the way I started running again. I have tried off and on for years to be able to run for more than a few minutes. I haven't been able to sustain the time or length that I'm at now for over 10 years. I've even signed up for a 5K. This one doesn't mean anything, it's merely a fun run at a conference that I'm attending, but I figured this would be a good way to get my feet wet, so to speak. Later in the spring I'd like to sign up for a race here in the DFW area. I don't think I'll ever be a distance runner, I'm not really interested in running 10Ks or half marathons, but I think I can handle running a 5K every now and again.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 210.5
Current Weight: 208.5
Lost: 2.0
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 61.5
08 February 2014
31 January 2014
Paying the Price
I have been maintaining my workout regimen pretty well. I ran on the treadmill last Saturday and Sunday. I missed AquaFit on Monday, but made it to Zumba Tuesday night, AquaFit Wednesday night, and Zumba again last night. Now, if you know anything about me you know I'm competitive. If I can push harder at something I will. Which is how I've been approaching my workout the last few weeks. Now that I've found this new zone where with my diet and exercise I am averaging 1.5-2 pounds lost a week, I am working hard at maintaining it. I was down another 1.5 pounds this week.
All that to say, my back has been incredibly tight lately. Not pain, I don't really have pain just tightness across my back. Stretching feels oh so good. And I signed up for a massage. Next Friday after work. I am so so looking forward to it. So what's on tap for this weekend? Well I can't hit the gym tomorrow morning, I am attending Graduation 101 at UNT because I am scheduled to graduate in May. Hopefully I get out at a decent time and I'd like to hit the gym after that. Sunday I'll definitely make it to the gym and then I need to work on some edits from my committee on Chapters 1&2. There weren't many so I'll be able to do some work on 3&4 as well. Just keep swimming is what I tell myself. I am pushing so hard to get this dissertation done. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My finishing this semester is an incredibly aggressive timeline, but I am committed to doing it. Almost there. And I'm going to look good and feel great when I cross that stage in May.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 212.0
Current Weight: 210.5
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 59.5
All that to say, my back has been incredibly tight lately. Not pain, I don't really have pain just tightness across my back. Stretching feels oh so good. And I signed up for a massage. Next Friday after work. I am so so looking forward to it. So what's on tap for this weekend? Well I can't hit the gym tomorrow morning, I am attending Graduation 101 at UNT because I am scheduled to graduate in May. Hopefully I get out at a decent time and I'd like to hit the gym after that. Sunday I'll definitely make it to the gym and then I need to work on some edits from my committee on Chapters 1&2. There weren't many so I'll be able to do some work on 3&4 as well. Just keep swimming is what I tell myself. I am pushing so hard to get this dissertation done. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My finishing this semester is an incredibly aggressive timeline, but I am committed to doing it. Almost there. And I'm going to look good and feel great when I cross that stage in May.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 212.0
Current Weight: 210.5
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 59.5
25 January 2014
Moving Right Along
So I feel like this today:
In other words - pretty good. I've been very dedicated the rest of this week and the result of that is another 1.5 pounds down. If I can stay this course, I'll reach my goal by the time my reunion comes around in June. So so exciting. There's other stuff going on too that's helping to keep me motivated, but I don't want to jinx it, so I'm going to stay mum on that a little while longer. Working out this week - Tuesday: Zumba, Wednesday: Aquafit, Thursday: Zumba, Friday: day of rest, Saturday: Treadmill. And I was able to run for 30 minutes straight on the treadmill today. I haven't been able to do that in...oh...never.
Foodwise it was a good week too. My breakfasts for the week were refrigerator oatmeal, a recipe on found on pinterest. Y'all, it was so good. I made my own version with almond milk instead of regular milk and my add-ins were some chocolate protein powder, bananas, and pb2. Delicious. And filling. It's pretty hardy and I never finished a whole serving (I never finish a whole serving of anything anyways). I found myself nibbling on it for most of the morning at work. Lunches were spinach with diced chicken breast, a few croutons for crunch, and a little dressing. I didn't make a big meal on Sunday like usual because I was out, but I had leftover Taco Soup on Monday (thanks Billie-Jo!) and some lean cuisines the rest of the week. I highly recommend the mezzaluna mushroom ravioli. And then last night it was sushi. A roving band of Girl Scouts accosted me on Sunday at the Tom Thumb and forced me to buy their cookies, so I've nibbled on those here and there, but nothing crazy.
All that adds up to 1.5 pounds!
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 213.5
Current Weight: 212.0
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 58
In other words - pretty good. I've been very dedicated the rest of this week and the result of that is another 1.5 pounds down. If I can stay this course, I'll reach my goal by the time my reunion comes around in June. So so exciting. There's other stuff going on too that's helping to keep me motivated, but I don't want to jinx it, so I'm going to stay mum on that a little while longer. Working out this week - Tuesday: Zumba, Wednesday: Aquafit, Thursday: Zumba, Friday: day of rest, Saturday: Treadmill. And I was able to run for 30 minutes straight on the treadmill today. I haven't been able to do that in...oh...never.
Foodwise it was a good week too. My breakfasts for the week were refrigerator oatmeal, a recipe on found on pinterest. Y'all, it was so good. I made my own version with almond milk instead of regular milk and my add-ins were some chocolate protein powder, bananas, and pb2. Delicious. And filling. It's pretty hardy and I never finished a whole serving (I never finish a whole serving of anything anyways). I found myself nibbling on it for most of the morning at work. Lunches were spinach with diced chicken breast, a few croutons for crunch, and a little dressing. I didn't make a big meal on Sunday like usual because I was out, but I had leftover Taco Soup on Monday (thanks Billie-Jo!) and some lean cuisines the rest of the week. I highly recommend the mezzaluna mushroom ravioli. And then last night it was sushi. A roving band of Girl Scouts accosted me on Sunday at the Tom Thumb and forced me to buy their cookies, so I've nibbled on those here and there, but nothing crazy.
All that adds up to 1.5 pounds!
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 213.5
Current Weight: 212.0
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 58
22 January 2014
And We're Back
Dear readers - it's been awhile hasn't it? My mom asked me a little while ago about why there hadn't been a blog post lately. To which I had to reply, there really wasn't anything to report. I had kind of plateaued at 215. Which, to be fair, wasn't a terrible place to be at considering where I had been before. Taking into account the 10 pounds I lost before the surgery and the 55 that came off after the surgery, those came off pretty easily. I didn't really have to think about it. Well, I found the point where I really had to start to think about it. Not that I wasn't measuring my food or exercising appropriate portion control, but I wasn't eating as healthily as I could and I was probably going to have to bump up the exercise.
It's not that I'm not happy with how I look and feel now - I feel great. I move better, I feel better, but I knew I was going to have to commit to working out more instead of just a few times a week. So I bought a fitbit. It tracks a bunch of things - my weight, my steps, my activity level, my calories in/calories out, etc. I track all of my food and portions. The info syncs between my phone and my computer and my wristband. It also tracks my sleep. For those who have known me for a while, you know what a terrible sleeper I am.
I could have stopped where I was at and maintained that easily enough, but I didn't have the surgery just for it to be easy. I want to be even healthier than I am now. I'm not done yet. It helps that I have some milestones coming up that I want to hit. Not only do I have my cousin's wedding in December which is less than a year away now, but my 15 year college reunion is in June. And I'm going. Flight is booked, hotel is reserved and I am headed back to Fairfield to see everyone. So I have a goal in mind and I know if I work at it and keep on course, I will get there.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 215.0
Current Weight: 213.5
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 56.5
It's not that I'm not happy with how I look and feel now - I feel great. I move better, I feel better, but I knew I was going to have to commit to working out more instead of just a few times a week. So I bought a fitbit. It tracks a bunch of things - my weight, my steps, my activity level, my calories in/calories out, etc. I track all of my food and portions. The info syncs between my phone and my computer and my wristband. It also tracks my sleep. For those who have known me for a while, you know what a terrible sleeper I am.
I could have stopped where I was at and maintained that easily enough, but I didn't have the surgery just for it to be easy. I want to be even healthier than I am now. I'm not done yet. It helps that I have some milestones coming up that I want to hit. Not only do I have my cousin's wedding in December which is less than a year away now, but my 15 year college reunion is in June. And I'm going. Flight is booked, hotel is reserved and I am headed back to Fairfield to see everyone. So I have a goal in mind and I know if I work at it and keep on course, I will get there.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 215.0
Current Weight: 213.5
Lost: 1.5
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 56.5
06 December 2013
Let's Get Physical
With my crazy commute behind me, I have been able to work out more and with the gym across the street from me, I really have no excuse to not work out. I try to keep it varied. I go to AquaFit twice a week (my fave!) and I've added Zumba twice a week as well. Two other days I either run on the treadmill or swim laps. I will never be one of those people who live to go to the gym It's just not going to happen. I do make an attempt to get there 5-6 times a week. It obviously helps with the weight loss, but it also is just good for overall health. And on days like today, when I'm iced in and can't go anywhere, I ride my exercise bike. There are some crazy people out there who are attempting to drive in this mess, but I'm not one of them.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 217.8
Current Weight: 215.0
Lost: 2.8
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 55.0
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 217.8
Current Weight: 215.0
Lost: 2.8
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 55.0
21 November 2013
Back to Business
Ah, long time - no post. To say I've been a little occupied would be an understatement. Since Halloween I left my job in Boston, moved to Texas, completely unpacked and moved into my apartment (seriously, there are no unpacked boxes left), and started my new job on Monday. Whew.
So backing up a bit...on November 11 I got in the car with Jack and Kate and a few possessions and made the 28 hour drive to Texas, arriving on Wednesday morning. As luck and the moving gods would have it, the moving truck arrived there when I did. What followed was a bevy of unpacking and trips to Target. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to start work the following Monday with a clear mind if I wasn't completely unpacked. By Saturday evening, I was done. Sunday I rested. I got to visit with Jim and Billie-Jo and the kids. We had a delicious lunch and I got lots of hugs from Jackson and Lila.
I also made sure to get over to the gym across the street and sign back up. I've been a few times already, predominantly to use the pool. I've done laps and also taken an AquaFit class. Oh how I love having a gym with a pool. I'd love to go back to another class tonight after work, but I have a Board of Trustees meeting that I've been requested to attend. AquaFit will have to wait until Saturday. One of the bonuses of the move is that I have more time (and energy) to work out. When I was taking the train to Boston for work I would leave the house at 6am and walk in the door close to 7pm. When I would get home I just wanted to relax a bit, have dinner, and go to bed. I was only working out on weekends. My commute is now 20-30 minutes. I'm not so rushed in the morning and I have time to make it to classes at the gym that start at 6 or 7.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 222.6
Current Weight: 217.8
Lost: 4.8
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 52.2
So backing up a bit...on November 11 I got in the car with Jack and Kate and a few possessions and made the 28 hour drive to Texas, arriving on Wednesday morning. As luck and the moving gods would have it, the moving truck arrived there when I did. What followed was a bevy of unpacking and trips to Target. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to start work the following Monday with a clear mind if I wasn't completely unpacked. By Saturday evening, I was done. Sunday I rested. I got to visit with Jim and Billie-Jo and the kids. We had a delicious lunch and I got lots of hugs from Jackson and Lila.
I also made sure to get over to the gym across the street and sign back up. I've been a few times already, predominantly to use the pool. I've done laps and also taken an AquaFit class. Oh how I love having a gym with a pool. I'd love to go back to another class tonight after work, but I have a Board of Trustees meeting that I've been requested to attend. AquaFit will have to wait until Saturday. One of the bonuses of the move is that I have more time (and energy) to work out. When I was taking the train to Boston for work I would leave the house at 6am and walk in the door close to 7pm. When I would get home I just wanted to relax a bit, have dinner, and go to bed. I was only working out on weekends. My commute is now 20-30 minutes. I'm not so rushed in the morning and I have time to make it to classes at the gym that start at 6 or 7.
Current Stats
Previous Weight: 222.6
Current Weight: 217.8
Lost: 4.8
Total pounds lost since 26 June 2013 (270): 52.2
02 October 2013
October Posts
Hello All - for the month of October please follow me over at my other blog: http://nichole-longandwindingroad.blogspot.com/
For the last few years I have participated in a blog challenge - 31 for 21 in honor of Down Syndrome awareness month. I already missed day one. Shoot. I'm hoping for 30/31 days. Once October is done, I'll be back to posting updates about my weight loss surgery over here.
See you in November!
For the last few years I have participated in a blog challenge - 31 for 21 in honor of Down Syndrome awareness month. I already missed day one. Shoot. I'm hoping for 30/31 days. Once October is done, I'll be back to posting updates about my weight loss surgery over here.
See you in November!
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