Tag: weight loss
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Breaking the Weight Loss Plateau – Change it Up
I am at 38 pounds lost which means, I broke the plateau! What did it take? A change up in my exercise routine, just like everyone told me! I started with swimming and water aerobics. Felt so good to get in the pool and swim in the water. Another thing that I have started is working out in a new area of my Gym. They call it the Red Zone and it is full of super fun equipment to get your workout on. Resistance bands, medicine balls, cross cable machines, rowing, tug of war ropes, and so much more. Here is a video taken in the Red Zone: -
My Weight Loss Journey – Plateauing
Created by MyFitnessPal – Free Weight Loss Tools
I have lost 33 pounds in the last 5 1/2 months. It feels great but I still have a ways to go. The problem: the last 6 weeks I am only losing .5 pounds a week! I guess this is what they call plateauing. I knew it would be coming sometime, everyone warns you. I am taking it in stride. My jeans are so baggy so I know that the weight is not always the best indicator.
People have mostly said that when you hit a plateau, kick up your workouts and change them up too. So that is what I am going to be doing.
Time to change things up!
I kicked up my workout and this week I plan on trying new things to shock my body back into gear. I have been doing the elliptical for 45 minutes, 3x a week and 25-35 minutes, 3x a week. I also do circuit training.
I am also interesting in taking one of the classes available at my gym, in an earlier post I stated that it was my desire to not start classes until I was in better shape. Well… I think now is the time!
Will let you know how that goes!
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My Weight Loss Journey – Slowly but Surely
My new theme: Slow and Steady wins the race.
Since I started this journey, I have hit a wall of sorts. I have been losing a 1/2 pound per week for 4 weeks now. Frustrating to me but ultimately I know that losing it slowly will result in it staying off. I also need to consider that I have been strength training and building muscle. MOST importantly, however, is discipline.
I have thought about it and ultimately it was a few factors that have led to the slow down in weight loss recently.
1. Illness – Our family went through a round of a nasty colds and it put me out of commission. I did not work out for 5 days straight, that killed me. I was so afraid of getting out of the swing of things… and then I did.
2. Parties – Tis the season of parties. I had 3 parties and a dinner out. At the parties I scooped up the potato salad, pasta salad, chips, even soda pop! I was remorseful later but at the time I kept telling myself that it was a party and to enjoy myself. I need to remember that enjoying myself should not be predicated on eating. Will need tons of self-discipline for this Summer season. There is always fruit. I need to stick to that and to lean protein only. Nothing else is needed, at least for me.
3. Temptation – This can go along with #2 but I am specifically talking about having junk food in my house. There is no need. Yet, this past weekend we ended up with soda, candy, chips and donuts. The good stuff…right? Wrong! We really did have it all. And yep, I really ate some of it all. Bad idea. The solution for now: NO junk food in the house! My kids do not need it, my husband doesn’t need it, and I certainly do not need it.
I am back 100% starting yesterday, even had a great workout. Drinking lots of water with lemon and lime today, will eat light and have another great workout tonight. Onward! Looking forward to the 30 pound mark, only 1 pound to go!
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My Weight Loss Story – Goodbye 27 pounds!
Officially, as of today, I have lost 27 pounds since the beginning of February! I am so thrilled and not only with the pounds lost but, the inches lost is even more remarkable. If you are reading this and you want to lose weight and get healthy, START NOW!
O, how I wish I would have started years ago, even months but I let soooo much time go by. I started this journey just a few months ago and I am seeing real results already, it’s amazing. At times, even this week before weigh in, I feel like it’s taking forever to see results but then I do a reality check. The results are there and they are real, slowly coming but surely coming. Start today!
Also, measure yourself in the beginning of your journey. I did not measure myself until about 7 weeks after I started. I measured at the beginning of April and then today… I have lost 14″ from all over, except my thighs. That is just in the last 4 weeks!
I work out just about everyday, we go to the gym at least six days a week. I do cardio using the treadmill, bike, and the elliptical. I also do strength training as well as Just Dance.
When I first started working out in February I could this machine for only 5 minutes before I was gasping and couldn’t go on.:
Then by last week I was up to 20 minutes!!
Yesterday I am happy to report that I did it for 25:38!
So thrilled at results!! Today I am going to shoot for 30!
Start today, if I can do it, you can do it!
****UPDATE****
I am up to 45 minutes now! I am shocked!
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Weight Loss Journey – 1 pound away from 25 pounds Lost!
WoW again and again!
Who would have thought that I could have lost 24 pounds already? Not me!
I love the way I feel and I love the way my clothes fit! My wardrobe is already growing since I am able to pull out clothes that didn’t fit anymore. I am down 1 jean size and almost another because they are basically falling off. It’s incredible! What a feeling. The ultimate goal is far away but I am please with how far I’ve gotten. There is no stopping now.
What have I learned this week? That there actually is a “right time” to weigh yourself!
Let me tell you a little story…
I joined a weight loss contest among friends and we post our weight each week on a private Facebook page. I have been weighing myself on Thursdays because that is the day of the week that I weighed in on that very depressing day back in February. I have also been weighing myself at night because I use the scale at the gym and we work out, as a family, in the evening.
Last week I weighed myself before leaving the gym and I was so depressed to see I only lost 1 pound, it felt like more. I came home and posted my weight on our FB page. The ladies were wondering why I posted early because they all post on Friday morning. They told me it is way better to weigh yourself in the morning. I decided to get up early the next morning and run to the gym. Sure enough I had lost 3 pounds! Isn’t that amazing? The trainer at the gym also told me that your morning weight is your “true weight”.
Needless to say, from now on, I will be running to the gym on Friday mornings.
Even though this week saw only 1 pound gone, I feel slimmer in my clothes. I have been doing strength training in addition to cardio, and since muscle weighs more than fat I think I am gaining muscle.
Join me! It is never too late to change your life!
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Weight Loss Success – No more Fast Food or Restaurants
I have lost 20 POUNDS SO FAR!!
I thought it was time for a before and after picture! I am at only 20% of my goal, but to me, I can’t believe it! I never thought I could do it!! I didn’t really take a formal “Before” picture but I found one taken close to the start of my new lifestyle.
Funny thing is… I lost most of it in my rear, which is great! No more shelf!! Most people I see say something after I go to walk away from them. I keep hearing “Wow, now I can really tell”, lol. Seriously though, looking at the picture on the left makes me disgusted and ashamed. I am so glad that I am finally changing! I can’t wait to buy cute clothes!
One HUGE eye-opener for me was fast food and restaurant food. Now, of course I have always known that Fast Food was not healthy but I truly didn’t realize the extent of it. Truly too, restaurant food is not better. Even those who tout a “healthy, low-cal or low-fat foods, their numbers are just double what you should have for a meal.
Admittedly, grabbing some drive-thru can be so very convenient when you are on the go and have kids to think about. But really, what I realized, I can run into the grocery store grab fresh fruit, yogurt and bottled water for the same price. They even offer cube cheese with apples slices and other types of healthy snacks in the deli area. Sometimes I will grab my boys a veggie tray and they devour it. Fruit trays, no problem, they go in a flash. My first thought is the price is so much more, but really it isn’t. Plus the nutritional values difference is unmistakable.
Or you can make the same food at home for just about half the calories.
Did You Know that new smothered burrito from Taco Bell has 700 calories, 35 grams of fat, 2260 mg of sodium, and 68 carbs???!!?!!? Can you even believe it? The steak nachos have 1190 calories, 60 grams of fat and 117 carbs!!! Yes they are the most fattening items on the menu but I wanted to show you because I was shocked.
More examples come from McDonalds. Of course we have all heard how incredibly horrible the Big Mac is, right? It comes in at 550 calories, 29 grams of fat, 46 carbs, 25 g. protein. Now look at this: the SW Crispy Chicken McWrap is a whopping 670 calories, 33 grams of fat, 67 carbs!!!?? Shocking! Even the grilled version is 510 cals, 30 grams of fat and 53 carbs. So don’t be fooled thinking wraps are better.
I am not just picking on those two big name fast food chains either, let me be clear, all fast food should be avoided. In my, opinion, restaurant food too.
This has all been an eye opener. Like I said, of course we all know fast food is bad for you, but I did not realize the reality until I started reading the nutritional information. This goes for everything in the grocery too. Check them all! Don’t forget to take serving size in to account. ONE GREAT place for a calorie counter is MyFitnessPal. They make looking up nutritional info for all food, grocery and restaurant easy. You can also track all your meals, calories, food intake, etc.
One more tip – chips are still a weakness of mine, tortilla chips to be exact. Something interesting I learned in my quest to find a healthy chip – there really are no healthy chips, like none. 🙁
BUT I still allow for a few in my weekly menu. Important note – Tostitos Original are DOUBLE the calories and carbs as regular as classic yellow Doritos – which I think taste better anyway. I was kind of shocked to learn of it. If you compare the backs, the info looks the same but the serving size is double on the Doritos.
In all reality, I need to cut chips out. Any good alternatives that you know of?
Hope you are joining me in this quest for weight loss success! Stay tuned…
Created by MyFitnessPal – Free Calorie Counter
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Weight Loss Week 3 – The Importance of a Good Gym
Woohoo and Yeehaw! I lost 5 pounds this week!! I feel great, have more energy and I am getting into the groove of working out.
I am thrilled at this new lifestyle! I have more energy, my mood is better, I sleep better.
One huge factor in this process has been our new gym membership. My husband and I joined a local Gym that is suitable for the entire family. We had initially joined a local rec center but that proved to be a bad option. There was literally nothing for my kids to do, which is ironic for a recreation center. Thankfully, a friend recommended a local Gym so we went and took the tour.
I was blown away at this place. They have everything you need and more! It is 2 levels, tons of square footage, an indoor pool, tanning, sauna, steam, the list goes on and on. The best and MOST important part – there is an entire children’s workout area! My children love it! They have circuit machines, treadmills, a climbing wall, Dance Revolution and Wii Sports on a big screen. The “coaches” lead children through stretches and they even lecture on healthy eating and taking care of your body. It is fantastic! Here is a video and it is already 7 years old, the room is even cooler now!
I did have one friend warn me about this Gym being a meat market and gym rat hangout but my first thought is: I don’t care who is there or what they look like I am there to work on ME, period. The cool thing is…. it’s not like that at all. There are people from all walks of life and all levels of fitness.
This gym also offers over 100 classes a week and they are always packed. I want to try them, they sound like a blast but my worry at this point… I wouldn’t be able to keep up or last. I want to go to the Senior classes first, lol. I figure in 2 months I will be ready to join the classes. I would like to get in better shape and work on flexibility and endurance.
I have been doing 4 miles on the bike and half mile to a mile on the treadmill. I set it at Incline 3 and speed 3. I plan on bumping it up every couple of weeks or so. I am also doing strength training with the guidance of my husband, he helped me put together a routine.
My husband has always been an exerciser so he is thrilled at all of this! We go every night when Dad comes home from work. We come home and have power smoothies and a light dinner. It’s been great.
Ready to join me in a new lifestyle journey? Would love to hear your weight loss stories too!
Cheers!
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The Beginning of My Weight Loss Journey
This is it! I can really feel it this time. It’s different than ever before. Recently I began the long, rewarding weight loss journey of heading to a healthy lifestyle.
THE CHALLENGE
A couple of weeks ago my Mom emailed me to offer up a weight loss challenge. She offered me money to lose weight!
The challenge specifics: “I will pay you $5.00 a pound. If you continuously lose weight from now until May, I will up it to $10 per pound.”
Wow! Ok so honestly the first thought that popped into my head was ‘I must really be bad if my mom is willing to pay me so much to lose’. I was sad but the reality was, I needed to start a change. She was concerned about my health, I have 3 boys to think about being around for.
I decided to accept the challenge. I needed to go weigh myself since I have never owned a scale. I went into to the neighborhood rec center and they let me use their scale.
Can I just say that I was seriously shocked about how much I weighed? I know that might sound crazy but I really did not realize how out of hand it had become. The last time I weighed my self was with my last pregnancy, six years ago.
Reality strikes. It was time to change forever. I was ready too, just so very ready.
I didn’t want to blog about it at all at first because I was afraid I would fail, it seemed overwhelming. The amount of weight I wanted to lose seemed like an impossibility, I felt too far gone.
Yet, I went for it anyway, I took the first step and then second and third.
Like I keep saying it’s different somehow. I know I won’t fail. I want this. I will succeed.
Follow me on my journey. Join me!