12 Weeks + 20 LBS!!!

It's been 12 weeks since I started this journey of losing these rolls!!!

 

I have been doing pretty well. I have been feeling good about my food choices for the most part. I haven't been feeling deprived. I haven't been feeling super hungry. I have logged on Myfitnesspal everything I'm eating...even when I have slipped and eaten a few mallow creme pumpkins (Darn Fall candy!). The key is making sure I still log it so I know how many calories I ate...and trying to make better choices the rest of the day. I haven't slipped up much and eaten a lot of sweets and felt guilty later though...and for me that's progress! I have a hard time after kids go to bed! I have started grabbing a big glass of water to sit and watch whatever show I'm trying to catch up on before bed. It has helped me feel full and not need to munch. Such a bad habit to snack and watch TV! Why do I even have that habit?! Here's to breaking that habit once and for all! Also I have been going to bed earlier...which also curbs the late night snacking. It's hard though...I'm a night owl.

 

Working out has been going well. I have still been hopping on the elliptical for 30-40 minutes a day. Although when I had out of town guests for a week I didn't get on it once! Yikes. I felt a little winded when I started back up. Not really winded, but I was tired by 30 minutes and I hadn't been feeling like that. My exercise goal for the next month is to do 30+ minutes a day on the elliptical and at least 10 minutes of pilates 4 times a week. I found a great workout series called on YouTube called PopPilates. On top of that continuing my strength work out including my planking, push ups, squats and weights.

 

I took all my measurements again the other day when I hit my 20LB loss.

20.4 loss! :)

 

 

I have lost 32 inches overall in 12 weeks! Totally Amazing to me! First off that I had that many inches ready to come off that fast. Second off...I wonder how many inches it will be overall when I reach my big goal!

 

Here are my comparison pictures!

 

It's crazy motivating the huge difference in just 20lbs and 32 inches! I am so excited to see what the difference will be with the next 20lbs!!!

 

 

 I was telling my hubby this morning when I made the collages that I don't feel like I notice that much of a difference. I know I've lost the weight and inches but I don't feel like it looks as dramatic as it does in the pictures. I guess that is just one more reason I didn't really get off my lazy butt and do something about it before I saw pictures of us on vacation and how awful I felt I looked. I have so much more energy. I walk faster. I jog to the school with the stroller because I can without feeling like I'm gonna die! Lol. I feel healthier...but I don't necessarily feel smaller.

 

A few days ago my mother in law told me I needed smaller jeans when we were at my eldest basketball game. They are definitely too big and looked pretty silly. Normally I wear my jeans twice before I wash them. Well I had only had them on for a couple hours and they were falling off as I walked. Lol. I tried on a bunch of jeans 3 weeks ago and my size smaller than when I started were too small. They gave me crazy muffin top. Well I didn't think they would fit yet..but I tried them on again and they fit perfectly! One size smaller than that I couldn't even close to zip up three weeks ago...but I could zip and button them. I had wicked muffin top but in a couple more weeks I will be able to wear them! YAY! I went from wearing maternity jeans still when I started this journey (YA 8 months post partum I was still wearing them!What?!) and 18's were too tight. Now 16's (and junior 17's) fit nicely. They are a little loose in the thigh even...but my big belly gets in the way of going smaller. Awesome c section/fat momma belly hangover. Boo. Hopefully keeping up my weight loss and strength will pull it up more and more. That is my biggest fear is the flap not disappearing. Can any of you other mommas relate? Experience? Did it go away as you lost weight?!!!

 

I am now 193...21lbs down!!! I am almost out of the 190's. Crazy awesome! I can't tell you how excited that makes me. My next short term loss goal is 177. If I continue to lose 1.5 a week like I have been I can be .5lbs past that by my birthday in 11 weeks! I haven't been that weight since 2005/2006!!! Also if I keep up the 1.5lbs a week I could be at or very close to my goal by mid June! Woohoo!

 

Thank you everyone for following my journey and supporting and encouraging me. It means a lot!

 

If you are new to my blog please check out my first two posts here and here and please subscribe and leave me a comment :)

 

Add me on Myfitnesspal...mommie_Tay

 

 

 

 

 

Two Months + First Goal = Reached

So, it has been a rough two weeks in my house. Sick cranky two year old. Sick, teething, cranky 9 month old. Neither letting mommy out of their sight...not even to pee! Ya I have been totally slacking on working out and I have been feeling the repercussions. I am tired all day instead of feeling energized. I have been snacking more on the days I haven't worked out.

 

NOT GOOD!!!

 

I gotta get this train back on the tracks! I have been doing so well these first two months with the weight coming off consistently. I want to continue that trend!

 

I did reach a BIG milestone for me this last week! I am at my first goal weight!

HOORAY!!!

 

{Please excuse my ugly toes and blistered feet!}

I am UNDER 200 Pounds!!!!

 

I am not exactly sure when the last time this happened was! I can tell you for sure it was before our third miscarriage in May 2008. I know that after that miscarriage I had to have a DNC and that is when I gained up to 217...right before we moved. It's been at least 4 1/2 years!

 

I have lost 15 lbs! I am so proud of the progress I've made so far! I still have a long way to go but I am doing it! I am SO going to kill this and feel healthy and strong and create new habits for the rest of my life. I will be a better example to my kids and that feels so good. I came across a picture that a friend posted on facebook. It struck me. I have had so many people tell me how brave I am for putting this all out there for everyone to see. Well, that's kind of the reason I started this blog. I needed something to help me hold myself accountable. If I made it a secret I was trying to lose 70lbs  I might lose a little...or I might lose it all, but this way...even though I am on this journey for MYSELF....I wouldn't think twice about eating crap...or gaining back. This way...even if nobody reads this thing...I am holding myself accountable by putting it all in writing. I want to be able to look back and see how far I've come and remember that I don't want to be that 214lb+ person who was weak, uncomfortable and unhappy. I am a work in progress...in so many ways...but I will do it...and how dumb would I look if I just talk about doing it and take no action?!? 

 

 

I also reached my September goal of planking for 3 minutes straight! Holy Moly! It was rough. at the beginning of the month when I started barely over a minute I didn't think there was any way I would make it. I did it though! I was shaking so bad at about 02:45! Now on to trying to get to 5 minutes. HA! It will probably be awhile because it seems I hit a wall right at 3 minutes. I need to try some new distractions.

 

 

So. First weight goal down....on to the next! 177lb here I come!!! 22lb to go!

 

 

"Biggest Loser" Challenge!

Lately I've been doing pretty well. Not so much this week working out with sick kiddos who aren't sleeping...like at all! But I have watched my diet the same way I have been and the loss is still consistent. I'm hoping upping my cardio and strength helps it along even more. If not for weight, at least for inches quicker. Toning up my flab is a huge part of this process, so hopefully with starting the 30 Day Shred again it will really help on that front. 

I am so motivated by my own results in the last 8 weeks. Seeing the progress I've made when I've only just begun to take a dent out of my goal, is still so awesome! Makes me want to work harder and I know I can do this! It will take time...but I will get it done....for good! I decided late last week when a friend asked me if I'd be interested in a "biggest Loser" challenge with some other local moms that I would go ahead and take her up on it. Granted I am probably one of the biggest (if not the biggest) girls in the competition so it might be hard to win based on the fact that I have to lose a lot more to have a higher weight loss percentage. Yes, I have a lot more I need to lose, but I am also trying not to lose more than 1 1/2 lb per week since I am still nursing Miss M and don't want to jeopardize losing my supply. She is more important than my quick weight loss. Plus it's proven that when you lose at a rate 2lb or less a week that it will likely be more permanent than rapid weight loss anyway. Lifestyle change is what I'm keeping in mind...not just weight loss. We started this past Saturday with our first "weigh in" and it will go for 10 weeks through Dec. 1st. If I stick to my 1.5lb a week I will lose another 15lb by the end of this thing. Sweet, right?!

The plan is to be 27lb down by Dec.1st. (Since I was already down 12 before starting) 27 lb in 18 or so weeks. Cross your fingers for me and throw any motivation my way! Maybe I will win this challenge, maybe I won't...but either way it's another extra motivator to keep me going!

P.S. If you are just joining my journey please go back and read my previous entries. Thanks for following along!

Wordless Wednesday {Progress}

10+ Loss Comparison

I was officially 10 lb down last week! 6 weeks and down 10 lb is pretty awesome for me. Since I am nursing miss M and trying not too lose too quickly this has been so great.

I was planning for 1.5 lb a week...but hoping for at least 1. 10 in 6 weeks is one lb more than 1.5 lb a week would have been! I'll take it!

 

I was actually a little frustrated last week because I only lost .2 on my weigh in day. Then later that day I decided to take my measurements all again since I had passed 10 lbs. I was pleasantly surprised that even though I hadn't lost much weight that week I had lost another couple inches! Woohoo! I decided since it was 10 lbs I would do a new set of pics to compare.

 

Looking at the comparisons I feel great. I know I have a lot of work to do...but it's great to see that I really am making progress...even in the small amount of weight I have lost thus far! I am feeling much better in my clothes than I did. A lot of my jeans are way too loose in the thigh (which was almost the case already....they were just too tight in the gut) but they also fall off as I walk because they are too loose at the waist too. :)

 

I have a couple goal goal jeans that are a size smaller that I can put on and zip but I have a pretty wicked muffin top. Hoping to have them fit nicely soon. It's nice to see the progress changing the way my clothes fit. I was wearing maternity jeans still sometimes before I started this journey!!! What?!?! Ya my baby was 7 months old and I was still rocking them. Ha...not! I guess it was fitting considering how pregnant I still looked. At least now I look at least a month less pregnant right?!  

 

 

 

I actually took all my Measurements again this morning too.

 

Here is my progress:

 

WEIGHT: 203.4

Bust: 44               -1 1/2in.

Under Bust: 36    -2in.

Waist: 38             -7 1/2in.

Belly: 43              -6in.

Hips: 44               -3in.

R.Thigh: 26 1/4   -1in.

L. Thigh: 25 1/2   -1 1/2in.

R. Calf: 16 1/2      -1/4in

L. Calf: 16            -1/4in

R. Arm: 14 1/2     +1/2 in.    Gained muscle? Need to work them more for sure.

L. Arm: 14 1/4      +1/4in.

Neck: 14                -1 1/2in.

 

Holy Moly!!!  24 1/2 Inches lost over all! In Just 7 weeks and 11 lbs! Amazing Motivation!!!! I can't wait to see my body keep transforming and to keep feeling better! I am off to reward myself with a new bike :) (I needed a new one anyway...but it will be great exercise too! Two birds one stone!)

 

Thank you all for your encouragement and motivating words! You will never know how much I appreciate that you all believe in me :)

Month One Progress

YES!

I have made progress!

 

More than I was expecting or had hoped for!

 

I was kind of surprised the other day when I decided to take a few measurements because I was feeling a little difference in my midsection and my lovely sister mentioned how much slimmer my face looked and told me "you can see your dimples better" Ha!

 

Well She was right my face has slimmed down...I had noticed but was waiting to see if other people would notice too. I have actually lost 8 lbs since I started! I am still only planning on one to one and a half pounds per week so the 8 lbs this month is definitely motivation.

 

 

I fell off the 30 Day Shred bandwagon after day 2. I was doing it while M was in her swing and it wasn't happening. She screamed the last 10 minutes the first day...making it super hard to concentrate and finish. The second day she screamed for about 15 minutes. Ya. No way I can do that. The plan is to get her sleeping in her crib for her morning nap and doing 30 DS while shes up there. I am going to wait until C starts school next week so we can get back into some sort of routine. For now I am doing my elliptical for 20-25 minutes every morning and then doing strength stuff later during afternoon nap. Planks are my number one challenge right now. I am trying to work towards being able to hold it for 2 minutes! Planks are tough...especially since I'm pretty weak and out of shape. I am trying to get used to some burpees too. Both of those are pretty full body exercises.

 

Since I stopped and didn't do the 30 DS I'm kind of glad I decided to take measurements again so I could have another starting reference for inches lost doing it.

 

Here is what my measurements were the other day. I made a note in my phone.

 

 

I actually measure my neck after this and it has gone from 15 1/2 in. to 14 1/2 in.

 

`YAY for progress! I am very excited for month two progress since I really just started actually working out this last week! How many inches can I lose this month?! :)

 

Still logging on MyFitnessPal if any of you log with MFP please leave me your name so I can add you and we can help each other stay honest!

 



SOOO out of Shape & Motivation

Well. I feel like I have been neglecting to keep this as my journal.

But...Kids and family are first.

 

I have been doing well I think. As of Tuesday I have lost 7 lbs. (well, 6.9...but who cares! Lol)

I have 3 lbs until I reach my weight when I got pregnant with E! I have been thinking about some short term big goals I want to set. I think I have some pretty good ones.

 

In June the hubs and I will being going on a vacation...just the two of us....to one of my best friends destination wedding! Fun, exciting, awesome....SCARY! Lol. It is scary for me for more than a few reasons. First off I will be leaving all 3 kids. That will be a tough one. Miss M will only be 18 months. I know that seems plenty old enough...but it will be for a week! That's a long time! I think the boys will do OK...but I am still worried about them too. I have a lot of things to figure out on that front before June...but I have 10 months. Plenty of time for that. 10 Months! It's only 10 months away and I am supposed to be at a beach....in a bathing suit....AHHHH! 

 

It's OK. It's fabulous motivation to get my flabby belly toned and my floppy arms shaped up...and lift my butt where it's supposed to be...and get my thighs trimmed down so I don't get chub rub when I walk down the beach after sitting in the sand with my handsome guy.

 

 

I am actually excited for this challenge. I super excited for my friend who is getting married. I am excited they finally settled on the actual destination (they were having quite a time with it). I am excited to spend time with my friends (we were three amigos pretty much in hs) who we haven't been together in 6 years! I am excited about being a witness to another friends love and commitment to her man (this will be the 6th wedding I have been a bridesmaid in!) Good thing I'm married or I might be on my way to being like that girl in the movie 27 Dresses. Ha!

 

I have to say though. I'm pretty darn excited about a trip with my hubs. We never really had a honeymoon. I mean...we did...ish. But we went to a small little place north of our home town...and that wasn't even the plan. It was nice...and wonderful for the two days we stayed...and we made wonderful memories that we tried to share with C the few times we went there before we moved away. It was just not really a honeymoon like we both would imagine. We say all the time..."why didn't do this...or go here...or there?" We were young, in school, and poor! Now is the time! We have a perfect opportunity while we go to be with a friend to witness their love to celebrate our own! :) We will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary less than a month before the trip! Perfect timing.

 

Anyway. A little off track...but you can see that I have a little motivation to get things done! I want to look great on the beach with my hubby. I want to get a good chunk of this weight off. I want to tone up and be able to wear a cute suit...not a mommy moomoo. I have 43 weeks! If I lose 1 lb a week I can lose 43 lbs before we leave! YES! I can do it! If I lose 43 lbs before the trip I will weigh 164. I will still have exactly 20 lbs until I reach my goal weight...but 164 by the trip would be fantastic!

 

I figured out some big short term goals this last week.

 

1. Get under 200...199! This has not happened since before our last miscarriage in 2008!
2. Lose 3 inches in my belly measurement! Hoping this will happen in 30 days when I finish my first rotation of the 30 Day Shred.
3. Finish every day of the 30 Day Shred! Today is day 2.
4. Reach 177! Random number I know. This number is significant to me because it is what I weighed the day I delivered C! Yikes! Ridiculous! How in the heck do I weigh 30lbs more today that I did when I delivered C almost 11 years ago??!!! Reality hit me when I was thinking about short term goals. This will be a big one for me. Once I reach this one I will be shopping for a goal swimsuit for the trip!

 

I am thinking I will add more short term goals as I complete these and as I think of more. I'm sure more will come up as I get closer to each goal.

 

 

As mentioned above I started the 30 Day Shred yesterday.

Ya. Um. YUCK! Lol.

I seriously thought I was going to pass out at about 15 minutes. When she said back to 2 minutes of cardio the last time I wanted to throw my 3 lb weight at the TV! HA!

In all honesty though. I made it through. I almost passed out but...I Did It! I can continue to do it because the first day should be the worst and it should be easier from here on out. If I can do it on the day I started...so incredibly out of shape...every day should get better...even if it still makes me feel like passing out...I can finish. I can hang with that crazy woman as she reminds me with every jumping jack, butt kicker, squat, push up, etc. how fat I am and why I need to get through it. It's only 20 minutes. No pain no gain!  I am actually excited to see how much all this sweat and heavy breathing changes my body. It has been way to long since I worked out and I feel good today. Sore, but good. I will keep updating my progress on this. Wish me luck!