Haven't Given Up

It's been awhile! I haven't fallen off the wagon, gained weight, and decided to give up. I just have been dealing with life. My gym partner (Mom) has returned to work. So I have been slacking on getting to the gym on every single day off I have. Which makes so sense because the first two months of my journey I was able to make myself get to the gym all by my lonesome. I guess I just got used to having her with me. I'm giving myself this last week of just going every other day. Then IT'S ON!

I haven't gained but I also haven't been as strict as I had been with tracking every morsel of food I slap into my face. My water intake? It has suffered since the weather has started to cool down. I just filled my Bubba Mug up, and am hoping to get my gallon in today. All of these things I know happen at points in the journey. Important thing is to realize that and make the changes needed. Most of my other attempts I would have given up completely. Nope, not this time.

So I have maintained my weight. And I am ok with that. It'll start going down next week mark my words!

I've also attempted to start running. I got fitted with running sneakers and a specialty store and am able to do intervals with much more ease than I was able to prior. It's helped that I'm pretty fit cardio wise. I still have aches and my feet still hurt a bit. But I've been told running hurts. I'm also still rather overweight and it stressed my body.

I just had a nice salad for lunch. Making pasta tonight so I wanted to make sure to have the calories set aside for that.

So yeah... I am here, still doing what I do.

Much needed encouragement.

Just woke up, got naked, and got on the scale. So glad to see a downward motion! I had hit a small plateau and it was starting to bother me mentally. I was still looking in the mirror, unhappy with what I saw. Living in a body its hard to see the changes. I know I am losing weight as the scale has gone down, and my jeans are so baggy it was bordering on ridiculous. Last week right before Labor Day I told my mom that I wanted to go buy new jeans. This is something that I haven't wanted to do in 2 years. Last time I purchased jeans I had to go into Lane Bryant. I was completely mortified. Sure I fit into their smallest size but it was a low point for me. Those jeans were now falling off of me, and it was time to see what I could fit into. So we headed down to Nyack (mostly because I wanted sushi for lunch) to do a little shopping. Old Navy was having a Labor Day sale. I grabbed 2 pairs of jeans size 18, and 16. In the dressing room I slipped into the 18's too easy, buttoned them. OH MY GAHD! They are LOOSE! Moved on to the 16's they fit PERFECTLY. At that moment I almost cried! Instead? I took some mirror selfies! Which in itself is a milestone as I haven't taken a picture of myself in years. At the start of my journey I had mom take a few before pictures and boy am I glad I did (even if I look like total crap). 

That was what I needed at the exact moment. That little push to keep me going. So I now own two new pairs of jeans. One of which only cost me $6.99! Later that night I went out with Don because I had to wear my new jeans. And tried on a fuzzy North Face jacket I had been lusting over. The last time I tried them on an XL didn't fit. This time? The L fit! I'll be investing in one before the weather gets colder. Gosh it was a good week last week.

Last night after work I was so super hungry. I ate a little over my calories but I still lost weight! 

Starting Weight: 245.8

Current Weight: 227

Total Lost: 18.8

Get Away

Provincetown Harbor

Well I've been hanging in there ladies and gents. Not many posts, but not because I have fallen off the healthy lifestyle express. Nope, I just needed to take some time to myself. A few weekends ago my mother & myself went away for 3 glorious days. Went to Plymouth, Massachusetts and it was splendid. We toured the Mayflower, Plimoth Plantation, visited Plymouth Rock, went whale watching, and spent a day in Provincetown. While away I ate what I wanted, but still tracked and stayed within my calorie goal. Our hotel had a nice, but small gym so I was able to get a good workout in. I came home, weighed in and found that I maintained my weight. If only I had worked out another night I am convinced I would have lost a pound or two. This little getaway not only was a reward for my handwork so far, but also a chance for me to clear my head and de-stress. There has been some family drama that I have been dealing with because I am the helpful nurse, and loyal to my flesh and blood. So it was really nice to just get away, and enjoy something that didn't involve any of it. As soon as we got back I asked my mother "Where to next?"

Yes I am still on track. Yesterday I cut my calories intake down by 200 to see if I will see more of a downward trend in my weight. I'm so close to being down 20 lb. it hurts. I'm cutting back on my workouts because I don't think I wasn't giving my body enough time to recover. Some nights I will go to the gym at 10 or 11pm and then go back the next day at 11am. I'm going to try a 3 or 4 day a week schedule. Like I said in my first post I am re-evaluating as I go.

Now my weigh in!

Starting Weight: 245.8
Current Weights: 228.4

That is 17.4 lb that are completely and totally gone!