Week 2 Begins

Weight:  264 lbs

Weekly Weight Loss:  8 lbs

Total Weight Loss:  8 lbs

This morning before I stepped on the scale I considered weighing this evening instead after I had done one more work out with Jillian.  However, that's not what I had planned to do in the beginning, so I decided to stay with it and be happy with whatever number popped up on the scale.  I wasn't expecting an eight.  After all, there was the girl scout cookie fiasco and on Wednesday night I had a live online debate for one of my master's classes so I didn't get to workout. 

My clothes don't fit any differently, and my body still looks and feels the same.  The last time I tried to lose weight it was the same thing.  It took me losing 20 pounds before I noticed.  What happened with that?  It was the Biggest Loser at my mom's school.  I signed up thinking the competition would motivate me to get healthy.  Then it became all about the numbers of everyone else.  I killed myself dieting and exercising sometimes twice a day.  It wasn't fun and depriving myself of things made me gorge on weigh in days.  I did really good the first few months.  Then Thanksgiving hit.  I started eating and I couldn't stop.  I quit exercising because I felt like a failure.  It was depressing watching everyone else's numbers go down and mine bob from gaining to losing what I had gained, so I quit trying.  I gave up.  This time it's going to be different.  I'm not dieting.  I'm changing.  Watch out waistline!  This time you're gone for good! 

And the Bile Will Rise

Everyone has a weakness (some have many).  Like Superman has kryptonite, I have.... girl scout cookies.  That's right.  Samoas beckon to me.  They sing praises to my name as I devour them.  I know what you're thinking... just don't buy any.  If you're not a fatty then you cannot understand the allure of the cookie.  We all laughed in Beverly Hills Troop when the girl scouts sold cookies outside the gym and were rushed by some overly large women, but that scene isn't far from the truth.  I was heading into Walmart and the table holding the girl scouts looked wonderful.  I would swear I could smell the coconut and chocolate wafting through the air.  It wasn't until I was almost finished consuming the first box that the "To eat or not to eat" thought drifted into my mind.  The delicious combination the Samoa offers blinded me to anything else.  Then I felt sick.  Not from the actual eating but from the thought of what I had just consumed.  It took me less than 10 minutes to consume 2,000 calories.  Disgusting!  If this had been The Biggest Loser I would have just crashed and burned on a challenge.  Having all of that sweet stuff in my stomach while I did my workout tonight didn't help much either.  The bile sat in my throat the whole workout and it's still there.  Waiting.  Oh, well.  I have to look at the silver lining.  Before I started this journey I would have killed two boxes of Samoas while I grocery shopped and not thought anything of it.  So, even though my workout tonight didn't even begin to touch the calories I consumed at least I'm learning to recognize poor decisions.  Next time, hopefully, I'll be more conscious of what I stuff in my face and I'll be able to resist the decadent cookie.

Rubber Limbs

Weight:  272 pounds 
(7 pounds lighter than when I started my blog)

Waist:  47.5"

Hips:  52"

Thigh:  33"

Calf:  19.5"

Upper Arm:  18"

Neck:  16"

My first experience with Jillian has left my legs rubber, my arms dead weights, and a slightly nauseous feeling in my stomach.  Did I mention the lightheadedness and the desire to curl up on the floor and sleep?  The routine wasn't as bad as I thought.  Well, ok...so I wanted to die 2 minutes into it.  What I mean is Jillian is really supportive through the whole workout.  She's not screaming from the screen making the person working out want to cry.  There are a couple of moments when she's less than nice, but she's not outright witchy with a capital B like she is on the Biggest Loser. 

My almost ten year old daughter did the routine with me.  She's tall and slender, and she wants to stay that way.  :)  That's good.  We'll help her develop some good habits that will last her a lifetime.  I bought her a set of 2 pound weights so she could do all of the exercises with me.  After it was over she gave me a high-five and told me I'd be skinny in no time.  I could barely lift my arm to return the gesture and I think I mumbled something congratulatory to her, but I wouldn't swear to it.  Now I'm going to go take a hot shower before I put my kids to bed.  Then there is a good chance I'll be going to bed right after that.  The good news...I did it! 

Fat on Valentine's Day

Being a big woman is a challenge.  There are the little things like running out of breath climbing stairs, having a difficult time finding flattering clothes, and looking in the mirror while naked.  Then there are the mid-level things like getting infections in all of one’s crevices (trust me this is much grosser and more painful than you can even imagine), brown armpits (yep…being fat can cause discoloration of your armpits), and the constant battle with the “fat” smell.  Then there are the large things like worrying about dying before your kids are old enough to really remember you at all.  All of those things make being triple extra medium not so fun.

Now, take all of the depressing things you just read and add to that a holiday designed to make single people feel like total losers and you’ll have a small idea of how I normally feel on Valentine’s Day. 

This year is going to be different, though.  I bought Jillian’s 30 Day Shred and I’m going to celebrate V-day by starting my new exercise regiment.  I’m going to try something to better my life (and my kids’). Tomorrow I’m going to weigh myself and take all of my measurements.  I’m also going to take my picture.  Then, Monday through Friday I’m going to do the following:

1. Take my vitamins (weekends, too)
2. Drink 32 ounces of water (weekends, too)
3. Eat veggies with dinner
4. No junk food
5. Do Jillian’s 30 Day Shred at 7 PM nightly

Each Monday I’m going to weigh myself and take a picture.  At the end of 12 weeks I’m going to take new measurements.  I’m nervous and excited all at the same time!!  I’ll keep you posted on how things are going.  Wish me luck!

Changing Habits

I've been doing really good sticking to my goals.  I haven't been eating junk food during the week and I have been eating veggies with dinner every night.  Walking my dog in the evenings has been a little more difficult because it's been FREEZING here.  I've lost 3 pounds, but one pound a week is hardly making a dent.  I need results.  They don't have to be Biggest Loser numbers, but I'd like to know changing my habits is really improving my health.  Tomorrow when I go grocery shopping I'm going to get Jillian's 30 day shred and try it.  My sister said it's wonderful.  We'll see.  Once it warms up I'll walk the dog and set up a time when my kids and I can ride our bikes 3 days a week.  Until then, I'm going to keep up my new eating habits.  I also need to start taking vitamins regularly.  My kids get them everyday, so why not take mine, too?  Wish me luck!!