Checkin' In!

Hey there!
I thought I'd check before going out of town tomorrow morning. I'm chuggin' along here in AZ.
I started going to step class again on Tuesday night, to help push myself towards my goal. It's a Tues/Thurs class and it goes for 45 minutes. I just got home and it was GREAT! A bit tough, but GREAT! I'm really glad I started the class again. It's been a LONG time since I've taken a class at the gym. I've mostly been doing circuit type training on my own. It's nice to have a group of folks all focused on the same types of goals (in a class).

I made some nice observations, that are different from the last time I was taking this same evening class. I'm no longer the "fattest" one in there---not by a LONG shot. (Kinda cool huh? I know I thought so). I'm pretty coordinated now, without all the weight around me (which is also cool--my core balance is SO much better than it used to be). I don't have to work near as hard as I used to (no worries, I'm still working hard, I'm just not feeling like I'm going to die!). I still sweat like crazy, which is a good thing. I am able to do ALL the exercises without rest, using the heavier weights-8 & 12 lbs (last time I was using the 5 & 7 lb weights). It feels good to see progress! I'm happy with that!! :-)

On that note, I am OUTTA here! Time to finish up my packing and stuff. We'll be leaving bright & early in the morning.
Hugs,
Shannon

Weekly Weight & Measurements 6/23/08

Hi! Here's the weekly info for me.....
Wt-179.1 lbs (down 0.7 lbs)
Abs-36.25" (down 1/4")
Sucked In Abs-33.5" (no change)
R arm-11.5"/15.25" (no changes)
L arm-11.5"/15.5" (no change & up 1/4")
R leg-21.25" (up 1/2")
L leg-21" (up 1/2")
Chest-41.75" (down 1/4")
Neck-14.25" (down 1/4")
Pannus-43.5" (down 1/2")

Some big changes---chest, pannus & abs--those were good. My pannus & abs haven't moved in a long time so I'm happy for that. I'm not sure why there's an increase in legs---could that be muscle mass? I'm hitting the gym harder and have started swimming. Who knows, I know that I'm not worried about it though.

I'd have liked to see a larger weight loss BUT I know that I have to STILL work on the amount of calories I'm bringing in daily. I'm doing great with exercise, good with food choices but not good with calories. I range from 1700-2000 most days. It's a challenge....I think it's my greatest challenge actually. In the past 7 days I only remained in my calorie range twice (1200-1500). The good part of that is...it's 'good food' not junk, so that's a positive piece of it anyway.

This week--actually the next two weeks I want to keep moving forward. I'm going out of town on Friday and won't be back until July 7th. I am going to Yellowstone and plan to really hike and enjoy the outdoors (and the weather). I'm looking forward to it!! :-)

Talk soon,
Shannon

TGIF!

Hello There!
I thought I'd pop in for a few minutes to say hi. I'm just chuggin' along here. I am having some weird battles with calorie ranges this week BUT I'm doing very well with exercise. Yesterday I had the 'hungries' all day...notice I said the hungries and not the 'munchies'. I was all out hungry...so I ate. I ate good choices, except for 1 thing. I just ate too much of them. I hit like 2200 calories yesterday....UGH! However, I am determined to reel that in today and keep it around 1500. The nice thing about my calories is, the exercise offsets some of that inflation. Since I'm doing an hour of cardio everyday, in addition to my strength training, I'm pretty much 'covered'. However, I'd be losing more weight if I would do better on the hungry days, because I wouldn't be bring in so many calories. Ahhhh....live and learn.

I had a good strengthening workout at home yesterday. It felt nice. It's been a while since I did a full strength workout, especially one at home. I really focus on cardio and have to make a true effort to get my minimum of 2 strengthening workouts in weekly.

I am seeing some of the negative results of my lack of strengthening enthusiam too....my inner thighs look like raisins (they are saggy bags of skin now that all the weight is off of them). I need to tone up and I am planning on putting a much better effort towards that now. I don't want to do all this work to lose weight and then look awful. I have to admit that is very frustrating BUT that's the price I pay, I guess, for a lifetime of obesity. I'm glad I am making the positive changes now though, while I'm still in my 30's. Hopefully my skin still has a little elasticity left and some of this skin will tone up. We'll have to see.

I hope all is well with you! Have a great weekend!
Hugs from AZ,
Shannon

Weekly Weight & Measurements 6/16/08

Weight-179.3 lbs (LOSS OF 3.3 LBS!!!!)
Abs, sucked in abs, R arm, chest, pannus & left are at largest part-No Changes
L upper arm, smaller area-11.25" (down 1/4")
R leg-20.75" (down 1/4")
L leg-20.5" (down 3/4")
Neck-14.5 (down 1/4")

Step Total=87.511 for the week

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!! I'm VERY happy with those numbers. I've worked very HARD/SMART to earn them too. I've hit my 10K steps a day, been to the gym every day but one for at least an hour (the one day I wasn't I was on the golf course for 4 hours +) and I've been eating MUCH better. It feels GREAT!!

I'm now officially at my lowest total since starting my journey May 2007. I'd like to continue to work to bring that number down this next week/month. My efforts & actions have to match my words and I have it licked! :-)

A number of my measurements are lower than they ever have been too. It feels good. I am happy. I am excited and I am CHARGED up!

I think I'll celebrate by hitting the gym HARD today!
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Hugs from AZ,
Shannon

Moving Forward

Hello!
I'm moving forward here in AZ. I've been doing great with my 'back to basics' plan. I've kicked butt with exercise, steps, water, veggies/fruits, tracking and I'm working on the calories. All the days but one I've been within 100 calories of my range (1200-1500). Yesterday I was 500 above---that was accidental, I underestimated what my dinner calories were going to be by a mile. Live and learn on that one.

I'm encouraged. I feel good. I hope/want to see change.

Talk soon,
Shannon

Weekly Weight & Measurements 6/9/08

I almost forgot to post the weekly info. I'm not really surprised by my numbers. I'm glad I was 'ready' for what I saw on the scale. I am definitely READY to make some positive changes to see some real results again. I AM COMMITTED!! :-)

Weight-182.6 (up 1/2 lb)
Abs, Sucked in Abs, R leg, R arm, L arm, Neck & Pannus-no change
R upper arm (heaviest part)-down 1/4"
L leg & Chest-up 1/4"

I figured I'd summarize them this week---it keeps it pretty darn simple that way.
:-)

I hit 58,333 steps this week (which is far below the 70K minimum goal) and only hit 10K three days. THAT WILL CHANGE and already has. I'm over 10K today already.

I'm moving forward. I'm feeling good. I'm making a positive change.
Hugs,
Shannon

I have my solution!

Well today I buckled back down. I finished my soul searching and this is what I came up with......I don't need a 'new way' to do things. I need to just get back on track with what was working in the first place. It's so simple it's right in front of my face.

Here's what I plan to do:
1. Get into the gym 5-7 days a week for 45-60 minutes each workout (like I used to).
2. Track my daily calories on SP (like I used to).
3. Watch portions and choices very closely (like I used to).
4. If I eat a bit more, I need to exercise a bit more (like I used to).
5. Hit 10K on my pedometer EVERY day.
6. Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies daily.
7. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily (like I used to).

OK--7 "simple" steps to get that scale moving down consistently. It began today and I had a great day! I have met my goals today. YIPEE! It felt really good to really push at the gym. It's been a while since I have. It was nice and sweaty! LOL!

I plan to keep it up too. That scale is GOING DOWN! ;-)
Hugs,
Shannon

All Over the Map

Well this week I have been all over the map. I've had good days and not so good days. I've had all my servings of fruits and veggies some days and I've munched on chocolate chips on others. Isn't it weird how that goes? I wonder why that is. Why can't the focus remain 24/7? Hmmm....I actually think that in my case, some of it's boredom. I think I'm a little bored. I think I need some new challenges. I need new exercise. I need new music. I need to break out of myself a bit to MAKE change happen. I think my body is used to where it's at, what it's eating and how it's exercising. I think it's time for me to REALLY COMMIT to change and actually do it. It's not about what I WANT to do, or what I CAN do. It's about what I WILL do. Hmmmm....I actually have to think about that. What WILL I do? What am I willing to do to really get the fire going again? How do I want to mix things up so I can start to see consistent results again? I am going to sleep on that and mull it over. I know it's time to really get SPARKED up though.

I'm in the BLC on SP---so that will be a perfect match to whatever I decide. I have 7 more weeks of that challenge to make some changes and I AM going to do that.

I'm not too sure what my weigh in will bring tomorrow. It may bring small positive change or it may be pretty stationary. We'll have to see. I didn't do anything amazing to deserve a big scale change, so I know one isn't going to happen.

I have resumed my 10K step goal though. For a few days this week I slacked off on that. I am pushing to get the last 1K in tonight before I call it a day. I AM going to do 10K steps a day ALL week. That IS goal number ONE!

The thought of mixing up the goals is actually exciting. I am fired up just thinking about it. Hmmm.....I guess my most recent favorite quote is actually having quite an impact on me.
"You can't get what you WANT by remaining what you ARE". Nice huh?? I read that on a friends SP. It's so true too!

OK...I have lots to think about. Have a super night & I'll check in tomorrow after weights & measurements.
Shannon

Weight & Measurements 5/28 & 6/2/08

Here's the scoop on the weight & measurements:

5/28/08-Wednesday
Weight-183.7 lbs
Abs-36.5"
Sucked In Abs-33.5"
Chest-42"
Neck-14.75"
R upper arm-11.75/15.75
L upper arm-11.5/15.5
R leg-21"
L leg-20.5"
Pannus-43.75"

6/2/08-Monday (back on usual schedule)
Weight-182.1 lbs (down 1.5 lbs)
Abs-36.5"
Sucked In Abs-33.5"
Chest-41.75" (new all time low)
Neck-14.75"
R upper arm-11.75/15.75
L upper arm-11.5/15.5
R leg-21"
R leg-21"
Pannus-44"

As you can see...it the good, the bad & the ugly! LOL!! OK...not so bad or ugly but nothing amazing. I think I'm OK with that though. You know what? In life and on this journey we are going to have ups and downs. My weight will fluctuate some, I understand that and I can accept it. At one point on this journey, I actually thought if I gained ANY weight that I was a failure. I know that sounds silly now, it really does even to me, but that's how I felt. Why is it that so many overweight people have such an "All or Nothing" mentality?? Hmmmm....it's definitely been a challenge to work on re-training that mindset about pretty much everything in my life. I can honestly say that it's been a slow process but I am learning it and putting it into practice. Whoever said "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" never met THIS dog!! LOL!!

I started the Biggest Loser Challenge 5 on Spark People this past Monday. My goal is to lose between 10-15 pounds in the next 8 weeks. I can do it. I need to apply myself, stick to my exercise and track my intake. It'll be a bit of a double challenge because I will be out of town for 3+ weeks of the 8 week challenge. I'll be in Yellowstone for a little more than a week in June/July and then I'll be in Europe with my Girl Scout Troop in July (YES, I did say Girl Scout Troop and I did say EUROPE!! Cool huh??). Busy, busy but FUN!! :-)

Ok, on that happy note, I'm going to get going. It's time to log in what I've had to eat so far today, I also need to log in my cardio (I just got back from the gym).

Have a SUPER day!
Hugs,
Shannon

I'm here!! I'm here!! Don't count ME out!! :-)

Hey gang!! I'm still around so don't you EVEN count ME out!! I'm still chuggin' along on my journey. I'm spreading myself pretty thin and I've not been able to blog (nor have I made the time, unfortunately). We did get my oldest daughter up to college for the 5 week summer program. She's doing well. Unfortunately my eating & exercise got a bit side tracked during graduation and moving and I gained 4 pounds. :-( However, I am back on track and have lost 1.5 of those already. WHEW!! Speaking of that, I better post my last few weights & measurements. I'll go get my notebook and brb.
Hugs!
Shannon