Happy 3 years to ME!!!

Hard to believe.  Seems like yesterday.  Couldn't imagine life w/o it.  Can't believe I've done it.  It's a lifestyle not a diet.  

YES!  I successfully made it to my 3 year mark.  Three years since I started this journey to better health.  I'm w/in 5 lbs of my goal weight (fighting HARD to get back to goal).  I'm still personal training with Dan.  I continue to do cardio 4-5 times/week.  I'm training for my second 1/2 marathon.  And......

I LOVE IT.  Everyday.  Every time I look in the mirror.  Every time I look at old photos.  Every time I go shopping for clothes and things fit.

I'm not sure if my journey is over and this is my life or if this is my lifelong journey.  Whichever, I'M IN!!!

It all started TWO YEARS ago!!!!

Today marks the TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my weight loss & better health journey!!!  There are times it seems like I just started and others that feel as if I've been eating this way and exercising forever.  Amazing!!!!

It all started first with a quest to lose weight; a diet.  I was so tired of being fat.  I also had terrible balance; I really couldn't stand on one foot.  I saw and read terrible things about the aftermath of falling.  I didn't want that to happen to me.  Things had to change!

I started with my Atlanta personal trainer and Body Solutions guru, Dan, and the goal setting began.  Lose 10 lbs, another 10 lbs and on to 50 lbs; master (?) squats, walking lunges, curls & presses.  Walk the IJT 10 miles for breast cancer, run 1 mile, run a 5K, start boxing and now train for a half marathon.  The goals got bigger & bigger and I'm hooked! 

The weight came off, some came back on a little and I took it back off.  Two years later and I'm still at my goal weight!!!  My fitness routine has remained;  still doing 3x/week w/Dan plus 5x/week cardio!!!  Two years later and I still journal every day!!! 

My life has changed!!!  No diet for me; lifestyle change.  The physical changes are great - weight loss, strength, endurance and so are the changes to my mental & emotional well being.  I won't even go into that, trust me. 

Yeah me and as I've said so many times..............NEVER AGAIN and I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!

Weight loss is global

I never really stopped to think @ weight loss around the world.  Recently I received an email (and we have since been corresponding) with a woman in Libya!  (I have no clue how she found me). 

This woman, 40ish I believe, has expressed the very same things I've dealt with or am dealing with currently.  I'm trying but it's not coming off OR what can I do to lose weight?  Questions that have gone through my mind the last almost two years. 

It's not the questions that struck me cause they are pretty much the norm from what I hear all the time, it's that these same questions are coming from around the world...Libya!  I guess women are women are women.  Those that want to lose weight anyway.  We all have similar struggles, challenges, questions and hopefully wins!! 

Best of luck to all wherever you are in your weight loss journey! 

Yea, losing weight!!!

I did it!  I'm back on it!  I'm SO excited.  My first official weigh in was a great success and just what I needed to get me back in the game.  I lost more than 3 lbs this first week back!!!!  You may have heard some screaming near you about 10am Saturday morning.  Yep, that was ME!

Results!  Rewards!  Ahhhhhh!!! I love it!  That is of course when the scale gives me good news.  I kicked my bad habits and am back in my groove.  Amazing how I got so off track and didn't even realize it.  Thank goodness for my food journal. One look @ the journal and Dan immediately pointed some junk out.  Thanks (again) Dan! 

The great scale news made for a spectacular Saturday.  Lunch with a friend, a little shopping (new lipstick! and run tights!), mani and then fell into bed.  It's a sunny, yet chilly, morning but almost time for my run.  Have a great day all!   

It's weigh in day.....

Yep, it's the official weigh in day @ Body Solutions.  I weigh every day @ home but that doesn't count.  However I think I've had a rockin week.  I'm ready for Body Solutions to open up so I can get the news.  I'm having a hard time waiting for the 9am class.  Impatient cause I'm feelin it. 

I've switched up some stuff this week & I think it's working!  Eating breakfast earlier (1 hour after getting up), killed the day long grazing (actually eating breakfast earlier has curbed the hunger during the day - hmmm), drinkin lots more water and eating my largest meal @ lunch w/a lighter din, din. I've also had an awesome cardio week plus some personal training mixed in. 

It feels so good to be back on track and focused.  I will feel even better when I see my results.  More on that tomorrow............!!!  I'm off to a great Saturday!!!  I hope you are too!!!

I'm a LOSER...!!!

Yea!  I'm happy to report I'm back on the losing side of things.  I think I mentioned earlier that last Saturday, I got refocused.  Dan looked @ my food journal and pointed out some bad habits I've developed that are most likely getting in the way of my losing weight.  Funny how I know this stuff but totally missed this.  It sure helps to have a Coach - thanks (again) Dan!!!

#1 - I waited too long to eat breakfast after waking up.  I was going @ 3-4 hours before eating after I got up.  TOO LONG.  So I cut that back to only 1 hour!  I don't like to eat right when I get up so 1 hour is working for me.

#2 - I was eating too often during the day; only @ 2 hours between snacks and meals.  Dan pointed out that all I was doing was "grazing" all day long.  Ugh!  So I'd trained my body to just be hungry all the time.  CUT THAT OUT.  This week, when I'm feeling a little hungry, I either grab a piece of gum or drink more water.  Of course I'm living in the bathroom :-) but at least I'm LOSING. 

#3 - I cut out or greatly reduced carbs at dinner & after.  I did this all along my initial weight loss journey and it worked for me.  Lots of people can eat carbs at night but it doesn't work for me. 

This week, I'm excited to get up in the a.m. and jump on my scale.  Yep, I do that every morning too.  And so far, the scale says.................I've lost @ 2 lbs this week!  Can that be?!

The real deal comes Saturday morning when I weigh in @ Body Solutions.  I'm feelin it and think I'm off to a good start!!!  Back to goal weight by 2/12/2011 - that's my goal!!!

Do over....

awww as in MAKEOVER.  Yesterday was so much fun.  It was the final day of my WOW (work out weekend).  I trained with Dan @ 9am, followed by some cardio and a little socializing at the studio (I just can't call it a gym - it's so not). 


Sidebar: I'm back on the weight loss program.  Dan & I talked on Saturday, he helped me get focused and I'm going to nail this.  I've suffered from weight creep!  I'm getting these 10 lbs back off and getting back to my goal weight!!!

Back to yesterday....my friend, Stepanie @ (Plā) Beauty came to the studio so we could "(Plā)" with makeup.....for hours.  My studio bud, Christine,  and I tried all kinds of colors and learned cool tips!  Aha!  The tricks of the trade!!!  We had so much fun.  (Photo isn't from yesterday; no longer have that cut or color!!!  But here's Stephanie trying to do something with me several months ago.....it's a work in progress!) 

Following the workouts and  (Plā) Beauty fun, we were starving so we headed to what's come to be our post workout lunch place for some fish!  Yummy grilled fish.  The Ketch in Bhead if you live near! 

The last day of my WOW was so great - trained w/Dan (I love that!), cardio (don't love that but have to do it), (Plā)'d with makeup (love it but not good @ it), lunch (always LOVE to eat) and spending time with friends (LOVE that). 

Do over......SUCCESS!!!

Snow day and the anti-weight loss

What is up with all this snow and don't I live in the deep south?  Am I going to have to move deeper?!!!

..beep beep beep - this post is intermittently interrupted so I can eat popcorn!!!......

Yesterday the forecasters called for snow in the eve and continuing into the day.  You could hear cheers throughout the city - NO SCHOOL and NO WORK.  The weather people nailed it.  It started snowing, big time, around 9pm and continued.  Quit a bit of accumulation so NO WORK today.  The city is shut down. 

I woke up and looked out my window to a beautiful, quiet, white wonderland.  Haha.  Not really a wonderland because I live in town, on the 27th floor across from other hi rise buildings, adjacent to a pretty major street...but you get me or just take a look out my window.  Quiet and did I mention NO WORK (at least not from the office).

The day has progressed and it's turning into my nightmare.  I CAN'T STOP EATING.  Boredom, being near the kitchen all the time - I'm not sure.  I don't seem to be getting full either.  Note: I have taken a short break after each sentence to grab some more popcorn.  What is up with that?!  I am eating or thinking @ eating everything in site.  It's too cold to go out for a walk although some crazies are doing just that.  Maybe they've already finished everything in their kitchen! 

So it's several hours from dinner, I just finished a bag of popcorn and I'm going to make it to dinner w/o eating another thing.  I must; I know I can.  I hope I can; I know I can! 

OK so if today isn't bad enough, I can't even imagine what the scale is going to say tomorrow - yep, I still weigh every day.  Snow, white, quiet or not tomorrow - if you hear a loud roar about 7am tomorrow morning - that's me.  I feel quite certain that depending on what the scale says, the roar could get pretty loud. 

As I was saying, as if today isn't bad enough, now the forecast for tomorrow could have us home ANOTHER DAY.  Does anyone know a locksmith who will travel in this cold with icy streets and who will put a lock on my refrigerator?!  Make that a lock on my whole kitchen!!!!

Stay safe & warm!

MY STORY - journey of weight loss & good health!

Whatz the Skinny?......my story, 2010: Wow, How Things Have Changed is posted on the Atlanta Track Club's (ATC) blog today.  Check it out.

2010 has been another fabo year and we still have 2 days left!   I'm going to do what I can to make it the VERY best 2 days!!!!  I'm starting with another looooong run along the Pacific Ocean.  My last day on the West Coast before heading back East. 

My last personal training session of 2010!

Another year, still 50 lbs lighter and SO much stronger!  It's unreal; I sometimes can't believe what I can do these days.  WooHoo - go me.

Well, I had my last training session with Dan yesterday.  Yep, there he is; coffee in hand and ready to torture.  Ahhhhhh.  I was a little sore going into the session from the prior workout....pushups! No sympathy from Dan; more like chuckles. 

Off we start, no clue what you call it but squats with the bar (& weights) behind your head, bent over rows, walking lunges and on we went for an hour.  Dan was in an awesome mood so it was really fun.  We laughed, I may have cried and laughed some more.  Another GREAT session. 

Because I'm new to all this or maybe because I'm a data junky or may because I'm jut crazy like this, when I compare the workouts from the beginning of the year to now.....OMG.  Is it really me?  I keep pushing or coaxing my body to new levels and my brain is keeping up with body. 

In 2011, (this isn't a NY resolution) I'm going to turn this around - my brain (I can DO this) is going to lead my body.  It's time for me to realize (and accept) I can do ANYTHING I really want to do.....in the gym, on the track, running a race or any other fitness goal.  I think (and read), the mental approach is as important as the physical.  So MENTAL here I come!!!!!

Sometimes you need a little push....

Check out my guest post...........Sometimes you need a little push and support to achieve your weight loss goals

QUICK WEIGHT LOSS

My Friday morning rant!  Come on.....too good to be true ring a bell!  Not only do I hate (yes hate) this phrase (QUICK WEIGHT LOSS); it's everywhere - every media source.  Especially this time of year and I only expect to see it more as we move out of Christmas and into NY resolutions. 

I have a Google alert set up for the keywords "weight loss atlanta."  Yep, I'm crazy like that but I like to see what's happening around me.  In today's alert alone, there are seven hits for quick weight loss schemes.  OMG, why do we fall for this?!  The promises are one thing but what @ how unhealthy it is and stats show "fast" doesn't stay off.  So why would I put my health at risk and stats show I'll gain it all back and then some.....because it's fast and easy?!  Too good to be true!

I'm passionate @ this; these ads make me nuts!  I've been there; I wanted it off FAST; start losing it FAST and I wanted to keep losing it FAST.  Then I woke up (with the help of Dan I must admit) and decided I wanted to lose it this one last time, keep it off (I've been on "diets" my entire life) and I wanted to do it in a healthy way. 

Lose it, keep it off and in a healthy way are oxymorons for quick weight loss.  Don't fall for it!!!

Wow, I wasn't expecting that.........

I had an awesome pre-long holiday weekend workout with Dan last night.  I felt great and was looking forward to a long weekend.  As I was leaving, I saw a fellow Body Solutions member that I haven't seen in a while.  She is the kind of person that when she walks in and says hello in her sweet southern accent, everyone smiles. 

I stopped by her workout for a quick hello and she shared that she recently had a not so good biopsy and required chemo (details are a private matter).  WHOA!  I wasn't expecting to hear that.  We won't see her for a few months as she travels home to take her treatment.  The good news is she said its treatable, she's young, healthy & strong and all that works in your favor for sure.  My thoughts & prayers are with her. 

As I was driving home this is all I could think about....this fellow workouter and that you never know what you'll hear or experience so make each moment & day count for the most.  I guess that's why they call the "present" a "gift." 

I know she'll do well.  She's a strong girl, great mom and she has all of our thoughts & prayers from Atlanta with her every step of the way.  If she reads this some day.....just like when we are at Body Solutions trying to lose weight or lift weights - we are all in this together!

Adios....Shalom...Au revoir....

Most people say goodbye, we say..........Make good choices!  My coworkers and I laughed about this the other day.  Our farewell's are laced with "make good choices."  It's that little being there for each other that helps in the easy times and gets you thru the tough days too. 

I haven't make such good choices the last couple days.  I've not been feeling myself and I used that excuse to eat things that would have never made it onto my plate.  Like FISH & CHIPS last night at the Buckhead Bottle Bar.  Uh true confessions, add calamari, a piece of pizza sort of thing and an adult bev or two!!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!  Not to mention I knew I'd feel like crap when I woke up this morning but that didn't stop me either. 

This week has been a roller coaster weight week.  Down 1/2 lb, up 1 1/2 lbs.  Every day has been unusual swings in my weight (yep, I weigh daily).  It's been frustrating to say the least.  I had those days when I made good choices and gained so I guess I also figured, what the heck...eat what you want.  Ooooh, that's a bad place for me. 

So today's a new day.  Today I'm going to work on getting my head back in the game.  I've kept up my running (walking more during this heat) and think I need to add something new to my cardio.  Maybe get back in the gym for step or elliptical.  Perhaps my body needs to be awakened or I'm in a rut.  Shortly I'm headed to Body Solutions to train with Dan and on Thursday night he said today we are doing something different.  I'm looking forward to that and maybe exactly what I need.  Hmmm, maybe Dan recognized a rut before me?!  Not possible?! 

 It starts today.....sayonara.....Make Good Choices!!!

Is getting healthy making me sick?

This sounds like such a strange question but I'm left to wonder / question.  I started my weight loss and journey to better health with Dan McGrath in February 2009.  It was great.  Loosing weight & inches and feeling wonderful.  I was not sick a day in 2009.  It was spectacular.  I missed all the colds, flu's and everything else that went around.  Now 2010 rolls around and I feel like I've been nothing but sick.  UGH!  It's awful. 

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with a sore throat and fever.  Burning up!  That's a whole other question - how do you go to bed feeling great and get sick in the middle of the night?!  Since the beginning of 2010, this is the third time I've had a sore throat.  The last two times rolled into bad, bad colds.  I'm so hoping this one doesn't go that way. 

I don't get it.  I eat healthy; healthier than I ever have in my life.  I exercise regularly, never did that before.  I get good rest, at least 8 hours / night.  My stress level is manageable, lower than prior years for sure.  So what gives?  Why do I keep getting sick? 

Eat to lose....

I'm back in the weight loss game.  I'm maintaining my loss pretty well but I stopped journaling a couple weeks ago and picked up 5 lbs and it's not coming back off so fast.  It never did the first time so why should I be surprised I guess.  Not surprised but disappointed & today a little frustrated. 

I've been able to take off 1 1/2 from the 5 but haven't been able to break past it yet.  I'm back to journaling every day, eating right/making good choices and regular exercise but no go.  Nada!  Not happening for me just yet.  I'm not giving up...never.  It's just the way it is. 

Its funny when I mention my gain to friends, they sort of dismiss me - "you got this," "5 lbs is no biggy," "you've done this before" and on go the comments.  Yeah, I've done it before, many times in fact but frankly it doesn't get any easier.  I'll turn one year older in a couple days and I think its gettin harder!  But I'm never going back so this is just the way it is for me. 

I guess this is my very own game of cops and robbers - good guys/days and bad guys/day.  The game I will play for the rest of my life.  It's my lifestyle now.  I got that and am much happier because of it yet there still are those days (like today) when its frustrating.....The great news is today's a new day and I'll take it one day at a time.  Relaxing @ a goal is not my strongest point but I'll work on it........

The health halo..

Have you ever been lulled by the "health halo"?  You know, it's organic so it's "good for me".  Right so that makes organic pop tarts, animal crackers, gummy bears, etc good for me?

I guess it depends on what I was eating before, how often I eat these "good for me" products, how much of these "good for me" products I eat and/or when I eat these "good for me" products. 

Last week, the answer for me was all the time (except the pop tarts).  I was eating the organic cookies and candy every day, way too much at each sitting and mostly at night.  Combine all these and what I got was a big ole 4+ lbs weight gain, felt sluggish, tired but in a great mood.  I let myself fall victim to the HEALTH HALO concept.  Just because something is made with whole and/or natural ingredients doesn't mean I should eat it! 

This week I'm back on my game.  I went to Whole Foods yesterday, passed right by the animal crackers and candy aisles and I restarted my journaling.  Journaling for me is a must.  Been doing it now for 15 months.  It works for me.  The HALO is gone and I'm back in my zone.  Ready!

How can I lose weight?

Can you say - bathing suit season!  The media is bombarding us with a gillion ways to lose weight, get thin fast, have incredible bodies, etc.  In these ads, I haven't seen much regarding getting healthy, staying healthy or if the product will even damage my health?!  Hmmm. 

I googled "diets" and it returned 19,900,000 results - that's 19 MILLION results.  As compared to googling "lose weight" which returned 43 MILLION. 

Over the last week, I've been thinking @ possible ways to lose weight:

• Diet Pills - Alli
• Supplements
• Drinks / Powders
• Surgery - bypass
• Fasting
• Lipo
• Some sort of spa treatment where they wrap you in plastic
• "Diets" - Atkins, South Beach, Grapefruit, Mediterranean, Lose Weight Fast, Detox, Flat Belly, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Celebrity and millions more
• Exercise - can you lose by exercising and not change eating?
• Lifestyle change - what I eat, how often I eat, portion sizes, exercise, fun activities.......

The Health Coach in me is bothered (I guess cause there's so much of it right now) by all the "stuff" screaming and in our faces @ quick solutions.  What are the lasting results of these?  Are they positive / Does the weight stay off?  And perhaps more importantly, are the longer term results damaging? 

I was talking to someone the other day who went the bypass route a few years ago.  She reduced over 100 lbs.  Two years later, she says her health is not good.  Are these two connected?  Does one lipo lead to two, three...?  

I chose the lifestyle method.  Slow, steady, healthy and lasting!  I didn't make it into a bathing suit the 1st summer and not yet where I want to be for the 2nd summer but I'm working on it every day.

The Heart Rate........

What's it all about?  There is resting, recovery, training, target, normal, healthy and on..........For the first 50 years, I was simply glad I had a heart rate/beat.  Over the last year, I've learned more @ the importance and how to positively affect my heart rate and my health.  I did my HR first thing this a.m. when I woke up and WOW! 

Some basics - My heart rate is beats per minute.  Things that affect HR are my age (51), female (males typically have lower HR), weight (135), my health and fitness levels. 

So I thought I'd take a look at where I started and my progress:

• 
  
  March 2009 - 170 lbs - resting HR 79
• 
  
  November 2009 - 135 lbs - resting HR 65
• 
  
  April 2010 (TODAY) - 135 lbs - resting HR 55

Just like with weight loss, lower is better with HR.  It's a measure of physical fitness and heart health.  WooHoo, 24 beats lower.  I'm learning all this and I'm excited.  All these months of food journaling to keep my weight down, continuing my cardio workouts and my strength/weight training with Dan is really having an impact.  It's so much more than just how I look in the mirror (although that's a good one too).  

Spectacular Saturday!!!!!!

This is going to be a GREAT DAY! It is so far and I've only been up for one hour. I got up this morning with no alarm - how wonderful to just wake up when your body says it's time to get up.  I weigh every morning @ home and today I love what I saw.  I've been working hard to get rid of the "creep" and its gone and moving forward!!!! 

I opened all the windows - sunny and slightly cool outside.  Fired up some candles (can't wait until I get my essential oil diffusers) and frothed the milk for my coffee!!!  All simple things yet I rarely do them. 

Next stop computer.  My "thank you's" for donations to St. Baldrick's have been hanging over my head.  Today was the day to get them out and when I looked at how much money the Body Solutions team raised ($4500+) and the generosity of my friends & family, I didn't know what to say.   I'm not often speechless but this a.m. I was.  So I said exactly that......words this time can't express my gratitude.  I actually got a little emotional while typing.  What a great thing to cry over!!!!

It's time for breakfast and the rest of the day.  I'm going to hit my weekly running goal today - 10 miles here I come!  There is no stopping me today!   I hope everyone who reads this post has an equally as wonderful day and make that weekend!!!!