Week Ending in October 9, 2010

I really need to get better about updating this! lol

October 9th was my evaluation. I knew I wasn't at my goal, but I have made progress!!

The biggest thing is the percentage of body fat. In April, my body fat was 32%, which is overweight. It is now 28%! I've lost 3% body fat and I am now in the normal range for my height. I hope to lose at least another 3% by the time I'm done. I figure since I'm halfway to my goal, that is possible.

I weigh 146 pounds, so I've lost 10 pounds since March. My goal was 135 by this point, but there was a lag for awhile, but I'm back. Lori says if I stay on track, I should be at my goal by Christmas. My main goal is to be between 135-140.

I've lost 3 inches on my waist and two on my hips. So my waist is 30 inches and my hips are now 39. It's the area between my waist and hips that need work, but I have lost inches there, too. My 10s are baggy on me. I can fit into a size 8, but the pair I tried on was just a little too tight around my midsection. If I knew they were going to stretch, I would have bought them. But I wasn't going to take a chance. So, within the next few weeks if I can stay on target, I'll fit into a size 8 for the first time since my Freshman year of college! There is a possibility that when I reach my goal weight, I will be a size 6. If that happens, I may cry. I don't ever remember being a size 6. Even in high school, when I weighed 130-135, I think I was still an 8. Actually a 9 because I was wearing Junior sized clothes. And we all know they run small. EDIT: I remember wearing 7s in high school. I was a 7/9.

I'll miss my favorite jeans. But I am sure that I will find another favorite when I reach my goal weight. I am looking forward to buying AE jeans again, but I won't spend that much money on jeans when I'm going to grow out of them.

I also lost 2 inches in my chest, which I figured since I've dropped a number on my bra since I've started. I'm back to a 36! Yay. I don't really have a goal to lose more haha. They usually are the first thing to go, but I really don't want to lose more.

I don't have a PT session this week and this is my non-weigh week. (I don't weigh myself when it's that time of month) So I'll update at the end of next week. I hope to be at 144-145 by the end of next week. I've been able to maintain my weight (and I see that as a positive that I know how to) but I need to work harder and lose some more. My eating habits are still going pretty well. The week of my time of the month can be difficult. Sometimes I'm just so hungry and all I want to do is eat. I just have to remember to eat healthy stuff rather than other stuff. I tend to crave salt and sugar at that time. I'm pretty good at saying no, but then there are times like yesterday where I ate a lot for lunch. Even my mom said she hadn't seen me eat that much in a long time. Here's what I had: Two eggs, two pieces of French toast, 3 pieces of bacon and some hash browns. I never eat that much, but I finished my plate! (We went to Bob Evans for lunch) Wow, I almost feel guilty admitting that I ate all of that, but that's what I ate. I usually never eat that much food. But it was so good. Of course, the fat levels were high and I felt really tired an hour later.

Here's to hoping today goes better!

One of the best confidence booster I had this past week was last weekend and I wore a dress that I felt comfortable in.

That hasn't happened in a very long time. I looked good in it and I felt confident that I didn't look fat in it. That is motivation for me to keep going. Looking back at pictures of myself and then pictures of me now, I've also noticed I've lost weight in my face. Another confidence booster.

What I really want to look good in is one of those knit sweaters and leggings. Maybe that will be soon.

Okay, this has been long enough. I'll update next week! Thanks for reading!

Jen

Week ending August 28th

Hello all!

I started out having a rough week. I was sore from my PT session from the previous Saturday (the 21st) which I expected. On Monday night, I slept crooked and woke up with a horrible pain in my neck and shoulders (mainly my left one). Tuesday, I could barely move my neck. Wednesday evening it started to feel better. Because of this, I decided to take an easy and I didn't go to the gym. I guess I could have done cardio..

Anyway, I went to my training session on the 28th feeling better. So, I worked out and afterwards, I felt elated! This is why: when she was doing the plan for our workout that day (Kyra usually comes with me, but she was still getting ready to move) Lori (my trainer) knew Kyra could do it, but wasn't sure if I could, so she was thinking of ways to tweak it. Well, turns out, I didn't need any tweaking! I have a hard time doing things that require me to hold my body weight up and have my butt up, for lack of a better description. I was in push up like position and then had to use sliders to spread my legs out to either side. Well, I did those work outs without having to pause! I felt really confident as I continued to finish the exercises with more ease than I had been. I still can't do crunches, but I sure tried! We did an exercise involving a weighted ball and 4 step crunches. It went over my head, touch my tummy, over my knees (I couldn't get up like to do a crunch, but it was enough movement that I was sore the next day haha).

Anyways, I think I almost shocked myself with how strong I am getting! Lori said she was proud of me and that I was making excellent progress! And THAT feels great! Not only was Lori proud of me, I was proud of myself for keeping with it. I am proud of myself for what I have done. It was such a confidence booster to do things that I couldn't have done a few months ago. And to do them well without too much of a struggle! I'm not saying it was really easy, but I didn't look at the clock wondering if we were almost done. I have those days. However, this was a day that I was actually sad that our session was over. I was so pumped I probably could have gone another 15 minutes. However, it's probably good I didn't. I was sore enough on Sunday and helped Kyra move that day. I count that as a day at the gym. I actually thought that would make me more sore (moving) because I was moving stuff as I was sore, but I woke up this morning in better condition than I thought I would be.

So, that was my week! I didn't lose any weight, but I am hoping to lose at least one pound this week. I am now about 13 pounds from my goal weight. I would like to get to between 135-140. I weigh 148 right now, so I've actually gained a few pounds. But that won't stop me! Especially after the weekend I had!

We'll see how this next week goes and my next training session goes.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

Week.. I have no idea!

Well, after I went to Colorado, it took me awhile to get back on the "going to the gym wagon." I finally went back last week. I haven't gained any weight since I stopped going to the gym, I just haven't lost any either. I'm glad I know how to maintain my weight, but I would still like to lose 10-15 pounds...

Saw my trainer yesterday morning. I lasted about 15 minutes before I thought I was going to hurl. I don't know what went wrong, maybe it was the heat, but I couldn't get past it. Sometimes when I do certain workouts, I feel nauseas.. like abs. But I usually can take a few breaths and be fine. Not yesterday, so I stopped. I'm sure part of it is that I haven't worked out in forever and my body is rebelling. I am even more determined now to go back and start seeing results like I did before I hit my slump.

I am sore today, though. My legs hurt and it's hard to walk up and down stairs. Not as bad as the first time I saw the first trainer who evaluated me, but enough to be a bother. My shoulders hurt, too. But I am getting back on the wagon!

There's my update for now. I'll write soon!

Jen

Weeks 7-9

Yikes!! Have I really not updated in this long? I am really slacking off!

I am down to 149! I made it to the 140s. I really wanted to be 145 by the time I went to Colorado, but that isn't going to happen. That's okay, though. I have been losing inches, which means more to me. The weight is still important, but inches is really what I need, especially since I am now under 150. And according to the BMI index, I am no longer considered overweight! That doesn't mean I am going to slack off, though! My new goal is to be 142 by my wedding anniversary, July 18th. So I have just under 8 weeks to lose 7 pounds. We'll see how that goes. I am leaving for Colorado Wednesday. I hope I am at least able to maintain my weight while I am out there.

Since I am going to Colorado, I probably won't be updating this until I get back.

I have really been slacking at the gym. My work hours have gotten a little longer and sometimes I just don't feel like going to the gym. I just want to go home. But I will push myself to do it more often.

I took my first spinning class Tuesday, I loved it! It hurts a little to ride it, but I guess they make special pants for it.. which I may invest in, because I want to keep going!

Eating is going fine for the most part. I really don't go out for food. I try to limit it to once a week. That doesn't always work, but that is my goal.

Anyways.. that's my update. See you in a few weeks!

Jen

Weeks 5 & 6

So, I slacked a little off in my updating.. sorry about that!

Well, I am 151 exactly right now. I haven't lost too much weight, .4 lbs since I last wrote, but I am seeing changes in my body.

I had to go one hole tighter on my belt (which I may have already said) but when I do that, the front of my jeans bunch up. I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and I am starting to really like what I see. I am losing inches on my lower back, which really excited me. I wore a shirt today that I hadn't for awhile because it was too tight and my midsection looked bigger, but today it fit much better! I caught myself looking in the mirror at the bookstore today and was like, I am slimming down! I don't want to sound conceited, but I thought I looked good! I still need work, but I was impressed with myself. Something I noticed was that I can see my belt poking out under my shirt now. I don't know if that made any sense, but it looks like I may have to find a flatter belt. I still need to lose more inches on my midsection, but to see it start to go down almost makes me want to cry!

I haven't lost a lot of weight, but the inches is what I'm really going for! I mean, I still want to lose the weight, but if I lose inches faster than the weight, I'm cool with that!

The fact that I am liking what I am seeing is keeping me motivated to keep going. I know I keep saying that, but it's true! To finally start seeing real results and know that if I keep going it is only going to get better makes me so happy. It is a real confidence booster. I even notice my face is getting smaller. My chin is thinner! Thank goodness! I'm hoping it goes away even more.

I hope this isn't TMI, but if it is, oh well! lol. I am finding that my panties are now not as snug and they are almost too big now. I'm kind of sad because they are VS, but I'll keep wearing them until they are too big and I'll buy more when I reach my goal weight. My sports bra is also getting loose. I'm losing inches around my ribs, I guess. My cup size hasn't changed. Yet. My regular bras still fit the same. Although I wear a 36 in sports bra and 38 in regular bra (which I am hoping to go down to 36 again). Maybe my sports bra is just getting stretched. Who knows, but I do think 'they' are getting smaller. They usually do when you work out. It's just hard to find the right sports bra when you actually need support.

My goal this week is to get to 150! I am so close to the 140s. It's like my body is saying "wait for it.. wait for it... just a little longer." It is a bit frustrating. I am sure I can get there as long as I stick to my 3-4 days at the gym.

I'm going to start taking yoga classes. They are included in my gym membership. My trainer suggested them because my balance still needs work. As does my core. My core is weaker than she thought, so that affects everything I do, so yoga should help that, too.

Well, that's all for now.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

Week 4

I reached my goal for this week!! Yay! I weighed 151.4 Saturday morning. So I lost 1.5 pounds for the week last week. I'm so glad I was able to do it!

Workouts are going well. I was sore for a few days from Kyra and my workout with Lori on Saturday. Although I am sore still because we worked out last night, too. I can feel myself getting stronger, though. And that is another motivation to keep going. Eating is still going pretty well. I enjoy my time with friends and while I try not to gorge myself, I still let myself have something extra that I wouldn't eat during the week.

Fage Greek yogurt is the BEST! I tried the Yoplait and it doesn't even come close to being as yummy. Plus, Fage is all natural. Not sure if Yoplait is. Fage is a little more expensive, but totally worth it.

I'm starting to see more definition in my legs now. I can see a little bit on my upper abs, too. I mean, they obviously still need a lot of work, but I am seeing progress. Nothing was overly difficult this week. Working out and eating better has definitely improved my mood and how I sleep.

That's all for now. I may update again this week or wait until the end to do the weekly update.

Thanks for reading!
Jen

Week 3

Well, this week I think went better overall than last week.

I didn't lose any weight again.. HOWEVER I think I may have lost some inches. Usually when I take my jeans out of the dryer, they are tight and I have to wear them out so they'll fit just right. This time, though, they weren't tight! They are also a little baggy around my thighs and I had to go to the next rung in my belt because I kept pulling my pants up. So I see that a huge plus this week!

I am also feeling much better physically and emotionally. I am also sleeping much better! So even if the weight isn't coming off as fast as I would like it too, I am seeing improvements in other areas.

My goal this week is to lose one pound! I am going to be even more careful about what I eat. It's hard when there are birthdays and you go out to dinner. But that had nothing to do with it this week, as my weigh in was Saturday morning. I haven't gained any since then, either. I just want to lose some! I am getting so close to 150. Once I it 149, I'll be so stoked! I haven't seen that number in awhile.

My first workout with my trainer, Lori, was Thursday. It went well. She had me do some exercises to see where I was physically. The reason why I have trouble balancing and the major reason I can't do normal sit ups are because I have weak hip flexers. (flexors?) They are weak, so I have a hard time doing lunges and squats because of that also. But she taught me some exercises, such as squats, to make them stronger. she also taught me how to do them correctly. I watch myself do them because I know you are supposed to keep your back straight, but since my muscles there are weak, I tend to lean forward.

She says I have a strong core, though, so that's good! It obviously needs help, but she says it's strong. It's nice to know not all of me is weak! haha.

She also showed me this machine that you can either use as kind of stair master or you use it kind of like you are jogging. She recommended it because I prefer the elliptical to the treadmill. I also hate jogging because it aggravates my left knee because of the impact. So this is almost like jogging on air. It feels like you are pressing down on air. I love it. It does take some getting used to and I have to work up to the minutes that I want to be able to stay on it. So right now I'm on 6 minutes at a time. I'll do 6 minutes on there and then 15-20 minutes on the elliptical along with my other exercises I do when I am at the gym. I'm actually going to try for 7 minutes tomorrow. I started at 5 last week. The new machine burns calories much faster because it gets your heart rate up quicker. I think I burned 27 calories in 6 minutes. If I get to 30 minutes, that's 162 calories. Once I can go quicker that will hopefully go higher. So I plan on doing that instead of jogging. Those machines also have TVs on them, so if I don't want to listen to my IPOD or Kyra isn't with me, I can watch TV.

So goal this week is to lose one pound! If I workout like I did today for the rest of the week, I'm thinking that will be possible! I am working out Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Also, as long as the weather is nice, I'll also be walking with Josh on most, if not all, days.

That's this week's update (well, for last week lol). I'll try to do better about posting on Saturdays like my original plan.

Thanks for reading!

Jen