So close I can taste it!

That might not be the best metaphor considering that I'm talking about weight loss! But now that I'm just 3 lbs away from where I was when I had Nathan, and only 4.2 lbs away from my 10% goal, this is getting "real" for me. I've never lost this sort of weight in just 7 weeks, so it's HUGE for me. It's been a long time since I've even stuck with a healthy lifestyle change for more than a few weeks. Normally I would get discouraged after a couple of weeks and throw in the towel. Or I would get bored with eating the same things, and feeling like I was completely depriving myself of everything I love to eat.

Now I've learned (with the help of Weight Watchers) that I CAN eat the things I love - as long as I eat it in moderation and plans lots of other healthy meals that I enjoy eating. The crazy thing is that now I don't really want the things I thought I had to have, like Big Macs and tons of candy. The fun size Hershey's is just the right taste for me, and doesn't wreck my weight loss.

To treat myself, I ordered some new clothes tonight. I got most things in a smaller size, so I'll have something to wear as the pounds keep falling away. I'm looking forward to that!

It's getting easier

The running, that is. I remember thinking how I didn't know if I could make it running 1 1/2 minutes...now 5 minutes is becoming easier. Now the next time I run and I have to do 8 minute stints, I might be singing a different tune! I still enjoy going to run, though, so this is HUGE for me. Normally about 2 weeks into a new weight loss routine I get bored and then I stop doing everything. The fact that I've been essentially doing this since right after New Year's astounds me. And being successful with it is just icing on the cake.

Okay, maybe not the best metaphor for someone losing weight!

Hitting a wall

I'm getting to a bad point, where the whole Weight Watchers thing has lost some of the "excitement" I originally felt. I'm still losing weight (down 0.8 lbs...11 lbs total), but I think it's the monotony of having to constantly track every.little.thing that goes in my mouth. I KNOW it's working and I KNOW I have to keep doing it...but it's wearing on me. I can't go back to eating anything and everything, because I hated the way I felt back then (I say that like it was soooo long ago....it's only been 5 weeks...lol), and I don't ever want to feel that way again. I LIKE being able to fit into smaller jeans and not wonder when I'd have to start shopping in the plus-sizes.

So I'll just keep plugging away. I bought a cookbook at the meeting tonight that's all 5 ingredient recipes. Maybe choosing some of those to mix things up a bit will help. And hopefully soon I'll be able to get a couple more "smaller me" outfits :D.

A Big Milestone....

Last night was my Weight Watchers meeting....week 4. I was hoping I'd have at least 0.2 lbs gone to hit my first goal of losing 5% of my weight. I did one better - 1.4 lbs gone, for a total of 10.2 lbs lost since I started WW!! I was thrilled with the results, especially since it came a day after a Super Bowl party. My next goal is to lose a total of 18.4 lbs, so I have another 8.2 lbs to go.

These goals are perfect for me. In the past I would say I need to lose 50 lbs. Since that obviously wouldn't happen in the first couple of weeks I'd get frustrated and give up. But by breaking it down into smaller, achievable goals I know I can reach them.

Oh, and right now I'm wearing a brand-new pair of size 12 jeans....haven't seen that number in over 2+ years!

Feeling inferior

I'm kind of freaking out right now...yesterday I signed up for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago on April 10, 2011. What the hell was I thinking???? I'm nowhere near ready for that, and I'm so scared I won't be ready for it by then. I'm trying to calm myself by noting that I have over 10 weeks before the race, so there is still time for me to get running more. I know I can walk part of it, but I want to run most of it. Plus I have to finish in 1 hr 15 minutes. Right now I'm about a 17 minute mile, when I walk and jog it. I've got to improve my time.

My mom and I went to a local runner's store today since I've been having a lot of arch pain when I run/walk. Wow, did I feel out of place! It's like a whole different culture, and I'm on the outside looking in. They had things in there for runners that I never would have even thought of, and stuff for things I don't want to think about (hello chafing!). I hope some day I can go in there and feel like one of them. I did find out they have a Walk2Run program that will start up in April, right before the 8K. I think I'll look into joining that. It'll be nice to meet people on the same journey. And, on the upside, I got a great pair of running shoes (thanks Mom!). I tried them out tonight, and my feet feel a lot better. Plus, I felt like I could run longer. They'll get broken in tomorrow when I start Week 4, Day 1.

Oh, and on a happy note - I can wear a pair of size 12 jeans now =D!!!

A Happy Moment

This morning I was looking through my closet, trying to find dress pants that would be warm enough for the subzero temps outside this morning. I noticed a pair of black velvet pants that I haven't been able to wear in over two years. They're a 14P, from Ann Taylor Loft (or I guess it's just Loft now...lol). I really didn't think it I'd have any chance of fitting into them, but thought I'd give it a shot.





They fit!!!!! And they're even a little baggy on me!!!! It was a nice way to start out a day that was so cold and snow-filled. I'm hoping that by spring, none of the things that fit me last year will fit me this year =D!

Where to begin....

I've never started a blog before, never thought I had a reason to start one. But on New Year's Day 2011, I decided that I was going to do whatever I had to do to become healthy again. And having a place to write about it - vent when things are tough, celebrate when great things happen - is something I feel is going to help me stay on this path.

Up until I had my first son, over 12 years ago, I never had to worry about my weight. I could eat anything and everything (and I did), and not gain an ounce. I looked great....I felt great. Then motherhood hit.

I did okay with losing the weight after I had my oldest, Thomas. Luckily most of the weight came right off. Then, three years later, I had Matthew. Okay, this time it was a bit tougher to lose the weight, especially since I had started out the pregnancy at a higher weight. But eventually I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and while it was a bit higher than I would have liked, I was happy with how I looked. Then Nathan came along two years later....

I swear, that child took every bit of my metabolism and hangs on to it to this day. I initially lost the pregnancy weight, but the pounds kept creeping back, adding a few more each month. My clothes were getting tighter, and I was feeling the effects of the extra weight. I was tired, crabby and had no energy.

Sure, I had a few times where I'd kick my butt into gear for a month or so, eating better and walking when I had the chance. But the pounds just stuck with me, and I gave it up at least a dozen times. I just got to the point where I accepted that I was fat, and that was that.

This time, I'm done with quitting. I am NOT going to sit by while the pounds suck the life out of me. I used to be so outgoing, but the way I look and feel has held me back. I don't want to be like that, and it stops now.

So, on January 10, 2011, I signed up for Weight Watchers. I have some great friends online (Jenn, Ashley, just to name a couple) who raved about the program. I knew I needed something to hold me accountable, so I bit the bullet and signed up. Going into that first meeting was difficult for me...I felt like I was waving a big banner that said "Hey, look at me - I'm huge!!!". But it's been great for me. Knowing that I'll be weighed in once a week has actually been a boost, and the meetings are full of wonderful ideas. Since I joined 3 1/2 weeks ago, I have lost 8.8 pounds. This is a milestone for me - I've never lost that kind of weight in less than a month, ever.

On the heels of this, I also decided to start a Couch to 5K program. Some of the women I know around here are great runners, and while I don't know if I'll ever be in those ranks, I want that feeling of accomplishment from finishing a race. I got the app for my iPhone, and it's shaping me into the runner I never was. Even in my skinny days, I never enjoyed running. Now I look forward to the segments of running in the program. This weekend I'll be signing up for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. And I WILL finish it! I might be last, but I'll cross that finish line with my head held high.