I'm going to do this.
I mean REALLY do this.
I've shed 30 pounds, have 39 to go...and I am going to make this HAPPEN!
In some ways I'm surprised it took me this long to feel convinced that I'm actually doing it. So far, I guess my mental game is that I'm "trying" but not that its actively changing my life! I feel thinner, I feel more confident, I like myself! I also push harder, stretch longer, and try to be more encouraging to the people I see who were me thirty pounds ago. It isn't that my weight defines me, or ever has, but its the feeling of being in control, loving myself, and actually thriving that makes all the difference.
In addition, I have a budget for the first time in my life. I'm losing weight, losing debt, and changing my life! I'm not destined to a life of unhealthy lifestyle and financial habits, and I'm continually learning new ways to be better. I've found a passion in life that changes myself first, and if I can learn it, I can teach it and help others to live their lives to the fullest--bless others the way I've been blessed to learn about PCOS, organic foods, activity, budgeting, savings--all of the above!
I'm gonna do this, and no one can stop me =)
__
"The greater danger for most of us is not
that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it."
- Michelangelo
Keep on doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. [Galatians 6:9]
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
★★★★★★ = 30 Pounds GONE!
Today, I woke up and weighed myself...I did the mental math and counted 29 pounds, Wohoooooooooo! Then, I logged into the Weight Watchers site to actually track my weight (after coffee of course) and realized that I really am as bad at math as I pretend to be...I officially met my 30 pound mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly 30 pounds from where I started. I even re-weighed to make sure I read the right number. That's the amount of cheese the average American eats each year!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(that's one star for every five pounds I've lost)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I've literally just sat at my computer wondering what I want to say...its just AMAZING! I had a medical doctor tell me (one year ago, actually) that I would probably never lose the weight I gained as a result of PCOS. Never? I disagree!
Just this week I overheard a conversation about how WW doesn't even work and "anyone who tells you it does is lying." Really? I disagree!
On top of that, I created my first budget ever...EVER...and I even found a great charity to donate to and my Total Money Makeover is off to a great start! I feel like such a grown up, a healthy, happy, smart, beautiful grown up! I'm getting physically and fiscally fit and I'm loving it!! These are two amazing things that will help my future and my ability to teach my future kids all about living a great, meaningful, and blessed life (while also being able to bless others)!
This is what I've 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 housecat
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
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
This is what I've gained:
- Health
- Happiness
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Gazelle intensity
- Peace
and the list goes on and on....
Finally, for my sister, I'm obligated to tell you about the following:
Nutella + FF Cream cheese on a saltine cracker! Its like a mini-chocolate cheesecake and the PERFECT bite sized, WW friendly, sweet-treat! It sounds gross (my sister even said 'NASTY' when I told her about it) but it is sooooooo good!
--
"The heights by great men reached and
kept, were not attained by sudden
flight, but they, while their companions
slept, were toiling upward in the night."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(that's one star for every five pounds I've lost)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I've literally just sat at my computer wondering what I want to say...its just AMAZING! I had a medical doctor tell me (one year ago, actually) that I would probably never lose the weight I gained as a result of PCOS. Never? I disagree!
Just this week I overheard a conversation about how WW doesn't even work and "anyone who tells you it does is lying." Really? I disagree!
On top of that, I created my first budget ever...EVER...and I even found a great charity to donate to and my Total Money Makeover is off to a great start! I feel like such a grown up, a healthy, happy, smart, beautiful grown up! I'm getting physically and fiscally fit and I'm loving it!! These are two amazing things that will help my future and my ability to teach my future kids all about living a great, meaningful, and blessed life (while also being able to bless others)!
This is what I've 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 housecat
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
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
This is what I've gained:
- Health
- Happiness
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Gazelle intensity
- Peace
and the list goes on and on....
Finally, for my sister, I'm obligated to tell you about the following:
Nutella + FF Cream cheese on a saltine cracker! Its like a mini-chocolate cheesecake and the PERFECT bite sized, WW friendly, sweet-treat! It sounds gross (my sister even said 'NASTY' when I told her about it) but it is sooooooo good!
--
"The heights by great men reached and
kept, were not attained by sudden
flight, but they, while their companions
slept, were toiling upward in the night."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Friday, August 26, 2011
How to Live (a reminder)
"How to Live" by Charles Harper Webb, from Amplified Dog. © Red Hen Press. Reprinted with permission.
How to Live
"I don't know how to live."
–Sharon Olds
Eat lots of steak and salmon and Thai curry and mu shu
pork and fresh green beans and baked potatoes
and fresh strawberries with vanilla ice cream.
Kick-box three days a week. Stay strong and lean.
Go fly-fishing every chance you get, with friends
who'll teach you secrets of the stream. Play guitar
in a rock band. Read Dostoyevsky, Whitman, Kafka,
Shakespeare, Twain. Collect Uncle Scrooge comics.
See Peckinpah's Straw Dogs, and everything Monty Python made.
Love freely. Treat ex-partners as kindly
as you can. Wish them as well as you're able.
Snorkel with moray eels and yellow tangs. Watch
spinner dolphins earn their name as your panga slam-
bams over glittering seas. Try not to lie; it sours
the soul. But being a patsy sours it too. If you cause
a car wreck, and aren't hurt, but someone is, apologize
silently. Learn from your mistake. Walk gratefully
away. Let your insurance handle it. Never drive drunk.
Don't be a drunk, or any kind of "aholic." It's bad
English, and bad news. Don't berate yourself. If you lose
a game or prize you've earned, remember the winners
history forgets. Remember them if you do win. Enjoy
success. Have kids if you want and can afford them,
but don't make them your reason-to-be. Spare them that
misery. Take them to the beach. Mail order sea
monkeys once in your life. Give someone the full-on
ass-kicking he (or she) has earned. Keep a box turtle
in good heath for twenty years. If you get sick, don't thrive
on suffering. There's nothing noble about pain. Die
if you need to, the best way you can. (You define best.)
Go to church if it helps you. Grow tomatoes to put store-
bought in perspective. Listen to Elvis and Bach. Unless
you're tone deaf, own Perlman's "Meditation from Thais."
Don't look for hidden meanings in a cardinal's song.
Don't think TV characters talk to you; that's crazy.
Don't be too sane. Work hard. Loaf easily. Have good
friends, and be good to them. Be immoderate
in moderation. Spend little time anesthetized. Dive
the Great Barrier Reef. Don't touch the coral. Watch
for sea snakes. Smile for the camera. Don't say "Cheese."
--
For the full effect, visit this link: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2006/11/03 and select "listen now"
How to Live
"I don't know how to live."
–Sharon Olds
Eat lots of steak and salmon and Thai curry and mu shu
pork and fresh green beans and baked potatoes
and fresh strawberries with vanilla ice cream.
Kick-box three days a week. Stay strong and lean.
Go fly-fishing every chance you get, with friends
who'll teach you secrets of the stream. Play guitar
in a rock band. Read Dostoyevsky, Whitman, Kafka,
Shakespeare, Twain. Collect Uncle Scrooge comics.
See Peckinpah's Straw Dogs, and everything Monty Python made.
Love freely. Treat ex-partners as kindly
as you can. Wish them as well as you're able.
Snorkel with moray eels and yellow tangs. Watch
spinner dolphins earn their name as your panga slam-
bams over glittering seas. Try not to lie; it sours
the soul. But being a patsy sours it too. If you cause
a car wreck, and aren't hurt, but someone is, apologize
silently. Learn from your mistake. Walk gratefully
away. Let your insurance handle it. Never drive drunk.
Don't be a drunk, or any kind of "aholic." It's bad
English, and bad news. Don't berate yourself. If you lose
a game or prize you've earned, remember the winners
history forgets. Remember them if you do win. Enjoy
success. Have kids if you want and can afford them,
but don't make them your reason-to-be. Spare them that
misery. Take them to the beach. Mail order sea
monkeys once in your life. Give someone the full-on
ass-kicking he (or she) has earned. Keep a box turtle
in good heath for twenty years. If you get sick, don't thrive
on suffering. There's nothing noble about pain. Die
if you need to, the best way you can. (You define best.)
Go to church if it helps you. Grow tomatoes to put store-
bought in perspective. Listen to Elvis and Bach. Unless
you're tone deaf, own Perlman's "Meditation from Thais."
Don't look for hidden meanings in a cardinal's song.
Don't think TV characters talk to you; that's crazy.
Don't be too sane. Work hard. Loaf easily. Have good
friends, and be good to them. Be immoderate
in moderation. Spend little time anesthetized. Dive
the Great Barrier Reef. Don't touch the coral. Watch
for sea snakes. Smile for the camera. Don't say "Cheese."
--
For the full effect, visit this link: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2006/11/03 and select "listen now"
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Total Money Makeover
Now, before you get all paranoid, let me put your mind to ease...I am *not* becoming a financial blog, I am and will always be a Katy-blog...I blog about the things I want to talk about because I write this blog for myself first and foremost, and then any readers I might have follow after that! Its the way it has to be :)
So, as a daily frequenter of the Weight Watchers message boards, I've been seeing this daily "TMM" thread, so I decided to check it out. A bunch of 20-somethings getting on board with managing money...ok...what's it about? I don't really know, but I'm realllly excited to learn. Here's why: in 10 months I will be 100% FREE from all my credit card debt. 100%! I've already paid off two entire accounts (which I never should have had anyway) so getting these last two taken care of is a big freaking deal. YAY!!
Also, I've taken some really big steps to be physically and emotionally healthier, so why wouldn't my finances follow? It should, and now it does. This is especially helpful since David and I are trying to save money for a move at the end of the year, and because--while not any time soon--at some point, I will want to be married and have a family, and the better financial foundation I can offer, the better off everything will be.
Effective today, I've started reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" and putting it into practice starting with ME, my #1 fan and #1 worst enemy. It helps that one of the boardies posted that there is a daily special for a "envelope wallet" on Dave Ramsey's site (which I took full advantage of) and I found a coupon code for a FREE copy of "More than Enough" (promo code: more). With the help of my WW Boardies, David, Dave, and especially "Cheese Emily" of Skinny Jeans, Fat Wallet(http://skinnyjeans-fatwallet.blogspot.com/)--this will be a great success! What have I got to lose?
--
"You must take personal responsibility.
You cannot change the circumstances,
the seasons, or the wind, but
you can change yourself"
- Jim Rohn
So, as a daily frequenter of the Weight Watchers message boards, I've been seeing this daily "TMM" thread, so I decided to check it out. A bunch of 20-somethings getting on board with managing money...ok...what's it about? I don't really know, but I'm realllly excited to learn. Here's why: in 10 months I will be 100% FREE from all my credit card debt. 100%! I've already paid off two entire accounts (which I never should have had anyway) so getting these last two taken care of is a big freaking deal. YAY!!
Also, I've taken some really big steps to be physically and emotionally healthier, so why wouldn't my finances follow? It should, and now it does. This is especially helpful since David and I are trying to save money for a move at the end of the year, and because--while not any time soon--at some point, I will want to be married and have a family, and the better financial foundation I can offer, the better off everything will be.
Effective today, I've started reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" and putting it into practice starting with ME, my #1 fan and #1 worst enemy. It helps that one of the boardies posted that there is a daily special for a "envelope wallet" on Dave Ramsey's site (which I took full advantage of) and I found a coupon code for a FREE copy of "More than Enough" (promo code: more). With the help of my WW Boardies, David, Dave, and especially "Cheese Emily" of Skinny Jeans, Fat Wallet(http://skinnyjeans-fatwallet.blogspot.com/)--this will be a great success! What have I got to lose?
--
"You must take personal responsibility.
You cannot change the circumstances,
the seasons, or the wind, but
you can change yourself"
- Jim Rohn
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Keeping up with C25K
I've now completed week 3 of Couch to 5k (C25K). For me, Week 3 has been the hardest week by far, but I was also dealing with some low back, neck, and knee pain related to stress, so Week 3 took a few days longer than I planned, but its better to feel better and rest than it is to run with pain and re-injure yourself (isn't that right, Lauren??)
Thanks to a friendly visit to a chiropractor, I ran today with no pain...none...miracle! This week's interval was:
-5 min warm up
-Run 90s
-Walk 90s
-Run 3 min
-Walk 3 min
(REPEAT)
-5 min cool down
It doesn't sound like much, but it kicked my butt! But, after taking four days off, it wasn't nearly as hard to get back at it as I was expecting, and being pain free made it actually enjoyable! We'll see if I'm still in love with C25K in Week 4.
My first 5k is 8 weeks from yesterday, so I have plenty of time to keep it up with C25K and get my times where I want them.
Also, as of yesterday, I've dropped my BMI by 5 entire points since starting WW and I'm soooooooo close to meeting my "Drop 30 Pounds in 2011 goal" things are definitely looking up! You see my little ticker up there? OH YEAH! AWESOME :)
Running actually feels good for the first time in my life. Its hard, I sweat, I get winded, but I haven't given up yet...I can do ANYTHING for 30 seconds, 90 seconds, 3 minutes, and coming up, 5 minutes...ANYTHING to be healthy and keep my weight down.
If you're interested in more information on C25K, you can find several variations online or in the iTunes App store.
"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but
tomorrow is ours to win or to lose."
- Lyndon B. Johnson
Thanks to a friendly visit to a chiropractor, I ran today with no pain...none...miracle! This week's interval was:
-5 min warm up
-Run 90s
-Walk 90s
-Run 3 min
-Walk 3 min
(REPEAT)
-5 min cool down
It doesn't sound like much, but it kicked my butt! But, after taking four days off, it wasn't nearly as hard to get back at it as I was expecting, and being pain free made it actually enjoyable! We'll see if I'm still in love with C25K in Week 4.
My first 5k is 8 weeks from yesterday, so I have plenty of time to keep it up with C25K and get my times where I want them.
Also, as of yesterday, I've dropped my BMI by 5 entire points since starting WW and I'm soooooooo close to meeting my "Drop 30 Pounds in 2011 goal" things are definitely looking up! You see my little ticker up there? OH YEAH! AWESOME :)
Running actually feels good for the first time in my life. Its hard, I sweat, I get winded, but I haven't given up yet...I can do ANYTHING for 30 seconds, 90 seconds, 3 minutes, and coming up, 5 minutes...ANYTHING to be healthy and keep my weight down.
If you're interested in more information on C25K, you can find several variations online or in the iTunes App store.
"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but
tomorrow is ours to win or to lose."
- Lyndon B. Johnson
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Let Me Introduce You to Some Numbers
A few weeks back, I mentioned I was starting the 30 Day Shred and took my measurements. Well, I've since decided to C25K full time in preparation for the Buddy Christian 5k I mentioned before, so these are not my 30 Day Shred results. Sorry to disappoint, I still love 30 DS, but this is close to my heart so Jillian is taking a backseat.
For a few weeks I was pretty discouraged that I was seeing -0.4 and then +0.6 back and forth. I know that's normal and even healthy, so I didn't allow it to derail my mindset, but it was frustrating no matter how logical I try to make. (In fact, at yesterday's weigh in I saw +0.4, but hey...I know what I didn't do to make the scale go down this week, so there's no one to blame but me!)
Then, I put on some pants I bought maybe three weeks ago (you know, the ones from Old Navy I got so excited about!) and they no longer fit quite so perfectly. Then it hit me. NUMBERS. The number on the scale hasn't jumped significantly (every bit counts, though!) but the numbers on my measuring tape have. I'm losing INCHES, not just pounds. What a discovery!!
So, let me introduce you to some numbers:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Staying Motivated
Every once in a while, I need a shot in the arm. Something to jumpstart my mental game to remind me why I'm doing this whole weightloss/healthy lifestyle kick. Right now, my biggest motivator is the Buddy Christian Memorial 5k. 5k? What, really? YES. Really. I'm soooooooo pumped! I'm using the C25K app and just finished week one.
You can read about the event here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=225087070868916 and I'd love for you to join me!
The background story is this, Buddy Christian was a police officer, daddy, husband, and friend in Athens-Clarke County where I live. Buddy was shot and killed in March of this year, leaving behind sooo many loved ones. You can read more about the tragic events here: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20791-senior-police-officer-elmer-buddy-christian
I didn't know Buddy personally, but I do know some good friends who loved Buddy and his family dearly, and the way my community came together to show love and support to this family is so moving, there's no way someone could not be affected by this tragedy. Out of every tragedy comes some kind of blessing, and hearing the testimonies of Buddy's loved ones and seeing the unity of complete strangers at fundraisers has been a great blessing on me personally, but also within the community.
Knowing that doing this 5k supports something so much bigger than myself, my weightloss, my health, and my journey is the biggest motivator I have right now. I want to complete this 5k for me, but also for Buddy's wife and children. Motivation doesn't have to be a wedding, an outfit, a guy, or even a number...motivation just has to be something that means enough to you, that you make sacrifices and work hard to achieve a goal. That's what I hope to do!
Buddy (and Melissa and kids), this one's for you!!
"You are today where your thoughts
have brought you; you will be
tomorrow where your
thoughts take you."
- James Allen
You can read about the event here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=225087070868916 and I'd love for you to join me!
The background story is this, Buddy Christian was a police officer, daddy, husband, and friend in Athens-Clarke County where I live. Buddy was shot and killed in March of this year, leaving behind sooo many loved ones. You can read more about the tragic events here: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20791-senior-police-officer-elmer-buddy-christian
I didn't know Buddy personally, but I do know some good friends who loved Buddy and his family dearly, and the way my community came together to show love and support to this family is so moving, there's no way someone could not be affected by this tragedy. Out of every tragedy comes some kind of blessing, and hearing the testimonies of Buddy's loved ones and seeing the unity of complete strangers at fundraisers has been a great blessing on me personally, but also within the community.
Knowing that doing this 5k supports something so much bigger than myself, my weightloss, my health, and my journey is the biggest motivator I have right now. I want to complete this 5k for me, but also for Buddy's wife and children. Motivation doesn't have to be a wedding, an outfit, a guy, or even a number...motivation just has to be something that means enough to you, that you make sacrifices and work hard to achieve a goal. That's what I hope to do!
Buddy (and Melissa and kids), this one's for you!!
"You are today where your thoughts
have brought you; you will be
tomorrow where your
thoughts take you."
- James Allen
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