End of March Weigh-In / The End of Lent Weigh-In

Well, Easter has come, and it's time to find out how I did.

I lost 12.0 pounds to make my current weight 199.4 pounds!

While it's not the 15 pounds I had hoped for, but I am happy because it is a loss. And, I can tell a difference in the way my stomach looks.

I've decided to keep going with my weight loss adventures. I hope to talk more about what works/doesn't work, but for right now, I am in the push to finish the school semester.

I've decided that I will continue to weigh in weekly, but the day of the week will correspond with the last day of the month, so that I can get a monthly weight loss. Since the end of April will be a Tuesday, my weigh-in dates will be on Tuesday this month.

My April weigh-in dates will be:
- April 2
- April 9
- April 16
- April 23
- April 30

My goal for this month is to lose 7 pounds.

It will be a lot of work, but I can do it.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Weigh - In # 5

I was sick yesterday, so I didn't weigh-in then. But, I did weigh-in this morning, and I lost 1.8pounds this week.  That's better than the two weeks before, but I hope it's not a result of my having been sick the day before. Either way, I'm proud to be getting closer to going under 200 pounds. I should be there by Easter!

Current weight: 203.6 pounds

Weigh-In # 4

Another short post. I had a really, really stressful week... which is not always good for weight loss. Plus, I traveled over the weekend and ate some foods I shouldn't have.

That said, I still lost 1 pound, so I guess that's good. This is harder than I thought it would be. And, not very much fun at all. :-(

Current weight: 205.4 pounds

Weigh-In # 3

Not much to say today. I had a rough week, one where I didn't get to make a lot of healthy choices, so I maintained. I guess that's good in that I didn't gain any weight, but I also didn't lose. Oh well.

Current weight: 206.4 pounds

Weigh-In # 2

Well, this morning's weigh-in wasn't all that great.

I lost 1 pound.

Current weight: 206.4 pounds

I'm not all that surprised since I ate Chinese food twice and I've just had a "hungry" week. But, it's still disappointing.

Goals for this week:
- get back on track with my food choices - less pre-packaged food, and more fresh food.
- continue tracking my calories, but pay more attention to fat content.
- exercise 4 times this week for 30 minutes or more.

Goal for next week's weigh-in: lose 3 pounds.

Weigh-In #1

It's been one week since my Lenten Promise started, so it was time for a weigh-in...

I LOST 4.0 POUNDS!!! :-)

While I was secretly hoping for more, I am pretty darn happy with that.

My New Statistics:
- Weight: 207.4 pounds

- Goal for this week: Add in more exercise and lose 3 pounds.

- Week 1 proudest moment: The fact that I logged every single calories I ate. Gum, mints, and all.

Wish me luck for week #2!

Love,
E.

Gotta Shed Those Extra Pounds... My Lenten Promise

Somewhere along the way these past 2 1/2 years I stopped caring about what I looked like. I gained 60 pounds, stopped wearing makeup, and wore less and less flattering clothing.

I don't know why it happened, I really don't.

While I have come to terms with my larger body, I recognize that I'm not comfortable with it. I can't stand up like I used to, do work around the house like I used to, or have fun with friends in the same way.

More than that, I've found myself withdrawing from interactions with the outside world and enjoying more and more nights at home alone. I told myself that I was happier being alone.

And the truth is, I was.

At home, I didn't have to face the facts that I was stuffing my face every night to quell my loneliness. I could lose myself in the television shows I watched, and I didn't have to think about how lonely I really am. I've always been an outgoing person and loved meeting new people. I loved to talk to people and I loved being social.

But, I've allowed myself to withdraw from anyone and everyone over the last few years. This has happened for a number of reasons, but the one that stands out more than the others is that I am embarrassed. I don't want people to see what I've allowed myself to become. Seriously, I used to run 5Ks, 10Ks, and even a half marathon. Co-workers and friends used to comment on how healthy I ate (I love vegetables!). But, I lost myself and that drive for health somewhere along the way.

While I have my suspicions about where my motivation went, it really doesn't and shouldn't matter. Regardless of what was going on in my life several years ago, I shouldn't have let it get to this point. I shouldn't have stopped caring.

So, when Lent came around this year, I thought for days and days about what I could "give up." But, the answer didn't come easy and it was actually late at night on Fat Tuesday that I knew that instead of giving up some luxury, I should make a commitment to myself to lose weight. After all, the idea of giving something up for Lent is to honor God and recognize His sacrifice and obedience. What better way to honor Him than to take care of the life He gave me? Plus, if Lent is all about obedience and sacrifice, sticking to a healthy regime will definitely fit that description.

So, here I am, making public my promise to lose weight, and even more importantly, get healthy.

Since I'm kind of OCD about rules, I decided to list 10 rules that I would follow. If I can stick to these rules 90% of the time, I know I'll succeed. :-)

So, without further ado, here are my 10 rules to lose weight for Lent:

1. Pack my meals, don't wing it.

2. Lose the add-ons (ie. mayo, ranch).

3. Drink 8+ cups of water everyday.

4. Exercise 30+ minutes, 7 days a week, even if it's just a brisk walk.

5. Track my food, weight, and exercise using the calorie count app on my phone.

6. Eat 6+ servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

7. Eat a purely vegetarian diet. (I'll explain this one in more detail later)

8. Eat oatmeal/something solid for breakfast. No donuts or bagels.

9. Pray daily for wisdom in food and exercise decisions.

10. Don't beat yourself up over any failures... and realize that life happens, it will all be okay.

Lent started on Ash Wednesday, February 13th, and I weighed myself that day.

My weight was 211.4 pounds.

I wear a size 18 pants and an XL/1X top.

While I have these crazy aspirations to lose a bunch of weight during the 46 days of Lent, I have to realize that I'm older and my metabolism is crap. So, I had to establish more practical goals. Here they are:

1. Lose at least 15 pounds.

2. Get in shape enough to be able to start running again.

3. Increase my self-confidence and stop with the self-deprecating humor. I am more than a fat, middle-aged, old lady. And, yes, I refer to myself with those words almost daily. Not good.

Now, some photos for reference...

This photo was taken in July, 2012. I had broken my ankle, which is why I'm in a wheelchair. But, this photo is where I saw for the first time how large I had gotten.

This photo was taken in January of 2013. I did a transport for this sweet dog, Riley. This is the most recent photo of myself. I'm wearing sweats to hide my heavier frame.

This was taken in January of 2012. So, it's a little older, but still shows my apple shape. 

Here I am in May of 2010 before I started rapidly gaining weight. This was my sister's wedding. Ironically, at the time, I remember thinking how fat I felt. 

This was at my baptism in June of 2010. Look at those legs! :-) 

I can't remember when this was taken. I think it was in 2009 some time. 

Before the Lexington St. Patrick's Day run. I need to find my running ju-ju again! 

At my Uncle Phil and Aunt Jodi's wedding. I really felt pretty that day. And, it was a good hair day too! 

I post these photos not to shame myself, but to motivate myself. I can do this. I can get my old body back... and even more... I can get my life back.

Anyway, I think that's more than enough for today. I'll be checking in frequently since I need to keep myself accountable.

Love,
E. 

In Case You Missed Me...

Just a quick update... this summer has been really rough as far as health concerns.

In May, I had a couple of days where my back was spasming pretty consistently and I ended up going to the urgent treatment clinic for some pain meds.

Later that same month (2 weeks later), I contracted the chicken pox... seriously. :-) Yet another trip to the urgent treatment clinic.

Then, on June 3rd, I slipped down some stairs and broke my right ankle and sprained the left. This time, a trip to the emergency room! I had surgery on the 13th and am recovering VERY slowly. Needless to say, my summer has pretty much been ruined, as I love to swim and I can't with a cast/boot on my ankle.

Anyway, I have a couple of posts I am working on, but the percacet has made me pretty spacey and I want to make sure they are coherent before I publish them...

E. :-)

Fur-Baby Friday!

This is me with my very first little guy, Socks Arthur Hill. He was my 10th birthday present. I had begged my parents for a cat for years, and my mom finally gave in June 5th, 1990. This photo was taken the next year. I am pretty sure I was 11 in this photo, but it may have been the Spring before I turned 11. Socks turned my dad into a cat-person, and he cemented my love for all things feline. He was a Maine Coon mix, and an absolute character. Socks lived to the age of 17.

Happy Birthday, Annabelle!

Today my sweet girl turns 3 years old! It's hard to believe that she has only been with me 2 1/2 years, it seems like she's always been there! So, today it's all about sweet Annabelle. 

Annabelle is hands down the troublemaker of my four cats. She has an inherent ability to sniff out trouble. From sleeping in the clothes dryer, to dashing out into the hallway every chance she  gets, to becoming stranded atop a very high bookshelf, Annabelle likes adventure! 

 

  But, she's also my cat who loves to snuggle and has quite a sweet little purr. She follows me from room to room and asks (demands) that I pet her and scratch her chin. 

 

 

 We have a morning routine whereby she comes running when the alarm goes off, waits outside the shower for me to finish so she can lick the tub, and then retreats to her special corner to wait for her favorite time of the day... treat time.

She is very much a girl after my own heart in that she will try any food, even if it's just once. She has been known to eat hummus, pesto, pretzels, kool-aid, corn on the cob, garlic greens, and maple syrup. She doesn't ask whether she can have a bite, however, and often times I'll come around the corner after returning to the kitchen to grab something, and she'll already have my dinner in her mouth. Just last night she stole a shrimp from my plate... apparently she is a fan of crispy orange shrimp. 

 

 

 

 Annabelle is into exercise. She is by far my most active cat, despite her robust stature. :-) She chases bugs, laser pointers, and sometimes things only she can see. She likes wrestling with her feline siblings, and has been known to give me a love nip or two. :-) These past two summers have been especially exciting as we have had pigeon babies on our porch and she chatters non-stop at Momma pigeon and the babies. 

 

  Annabelle was not an easy cat when she first came to live with me. I got her from a friend because of her penchant for scratching and biting any living thing... especially hands and feet. Of all the cats I've fostered/adopted, she took the longest to train. She was so wild at the beginning that she slept in my bedroom sequestered from the other cats, while I slept on the couch. I was actually afraid she would attack me in my sleep. I spent two months sleeping on the couch, and it took seven months before I felt comfortable letting her off a leash around my other cats. I remember warning friends that if she were to bite them, they shouldn't pull back because she would break the skin. But, we worked hard at understanding the word "no," and slowly but surely she became an amazingly tender cat. 

 

 I love her more than words can express, and can't imagine what I would do without her entertaining antics. So, Happy Birthday, sweet girl, I look forward to many more years of hilarity with you in my life!

Fur-Baby Friday!

Annabelle is a very adventurous girl. But last weekend she found herself in a tough place. I heard her meowing from the dining room area, and at first I ignored it. Eventually it got a little more fervent and I went to see what the fuss was all about... here's what I found...  

 

  Yep, this little troublemaker was perched atop a bookshelf with no idea how to get down.

Zeke found the situation pretty amusing and seemed to taunt Annabelle a little...

  

Mom, how do I get down?  

  

By the end, she looked pretty amused with herself... 

 

 

Of course, after I grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos, I helped her down, but gosh I love this girl, she makes me laugh every day!

Fur-Baby Friday!

Zeke loves his Uncle Roman!

yes, I know we're crazy...

Yes, I live in Kentucky.

Yes, my sister and her husband live in Kentucky.

Yes, I know, the NCAA championship game in basketball tonight is between Kentucky and Kansas.

Yes, we may have been the only two weirdos in Kentucky wearing Kansas gear.

Yes, we may have been the only two crazies in Kentucky who were sad at the outcome of the championship game.

But, we were.

Especially with all the illegal, thug-like action that happened after the victory. Yep, Kentucky winning meant embarassment.

I bet Kansas wouldn't have behaved that way.

Fur-Baby Friday!!!

This is what you'll find most mornings in my bed. I sleep on the left side of the bed, and my fur-babies sleep on the other side... of course, I'm the only one who gets up when the alarm goes off.

What a life, eh?

Fur-Baby Friday!!!

Slowly stepping back into blogging... excited about where I hope to take this blog, but I am going to have to spend some time researching other successful blogs.

In the mean time...