From Fat to Fit -- A New Mom's Journey

Pause

2009-05-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while... mainly because there isn't anything to report. I had a procedure done on Fri May 8th -- so I took the day off from exersizing. Then I was sore from said procedure so I took off through Monday.

Between Mother's day, and DH's uncle's 70th birthday bash, I feel off the wagon food-wise. My body has been seeking revenge on me ever since!! I have not felt good, down in the stomach, for about a week. YUCK.

So, Tuesday I started to exersize again... this time I felt some sort of pull around where my c-section incision site is (the internal incision, on the muscle.) SO I took a break again, figuring I'm pushing it too much too soon.

*sigh* This is depressing. Now that I stopped the daily cardio, my legs feel like cement bricks and I'm wicked lethargic. Great. Exactly what I want to avoid. I DID go for a nice 2.5 mile walk (up & down hill) yesterday that was great! But I was hurtin'...

I do not enjoy this... I have been physically "down for the count" for MONTHS now, and I would really like to be able to get up and go, pain free!!!

I'm catching up on housework today and tomorrow, and will try cardio again on monday.

Wednesday Weigh-In

2009-05-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I suspected that the scale would not go down this week. I had a feeling that pasta dinner set my metabolism back a little bit -- but I really think the only adverse affect it had on me was just a sense of lethargy for the next day. It didn't throw me off track... it was merely a blip. Thank God!

Also, I ADDED regular exercise to my routine this past week -- and we all know the mantra, "Muscle weighs more than fat"... everything that I've ever known about starting exersize, you MAY gain a little during your first week because you are converting fat to muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat.

With that said, I gained 1.5 lbs. I worked out religiously every day, kept control of my diet (except pasta dinner night... which, one meal isn't enough to kill all of your efforts)... BUT my clothes feel a little bit loser (especially in my midsection!!), AND I feel stronger, healthier, and more energized.

So this leads me to beleive that 1.5 pound gained is NOT FAT gained, it is MUSCLE gained. If it were fat gained, I would feel like CRAP.. tired, lazy, not ambition. But I don't! I feel wonderful!

I'll take it. THIS week. We shall see what happens next week... if I continue to gain,THEN I will re-evaluate my diet and exercise routine.

But in the overall scheme of things, I'm not upset about today's weigh-in, because I KNOW I'm healthier this week than I was last week. I feel better this week than I did last week. My clothes fit better this week than they did last week. And, I have more ambition than I did last week.

OH LOOK! As I right this, the sun JUST peeked out of the clouds!! HORAAAYYY! First time in at least a week!!!!!! Yes, indeed... the Lord is reassuring me that my thoughts are correct, I AM on the right track... just be patient and keep on keepin' on... the reward will be mine in the end. (This picture is the view out my window right now... so pretty!)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ." ~ Philippians 4:6-7

Last week: 247.5
This week: 249
+1.5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SW: 256.5
CW: 249
GW: ????

Goal #1: Get out of the 250's (REACHED 4/29/2009)
Goal #2: Get out of the 240's

Confessions...

2009-05-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Last night, my DH Jim was in the mood for a pasta dinner. So... I made fettuccine alfredo with Broccoli, Mushrooms, and Shrimp. And I ate a large plate of it.

And I had some leftovers for lunch.

Pasta and I DO NOT GET ALONG and I should NOT be eating pasta!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Dear Lord, please allow this to be my one "free" day, please help me stay on the wagon and not fall off because of "one slip up". One pasta dinner wont completely ruin it for me, if I don't allow it to.

I should probably go VERY low carb for the next few days to make up for this little carb binge.

Ugh. Carbs are I are just not good friends...

ON the bright side... Jim brought home Chips, Donuts, and pure junk food the past week and I have had none of it. NONE of it! GO ME! I have been tempted several times by the bag of doritos on the counter just SCREAMING my name. But NO... I will not do it.

I just finished this afternoon's workout with Bob Harper and I pushed myself more than the last time to do the moves in full motion as deep as possible. Now I'm doubling up the protein powder on my shake...

I will not give up. When I used to be in good shape, I used to allow myself ONE day of eating whatever I wanted. BUT, that was a "reward" for being lean and fit... I can't give myself those days quite yet.

Measurements Week 2

2009-05-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

*Sigh* this is yet another "tool" that I really don't WANT to use, but know it will also help. I took my measurements today, and will follow them weekly, or bi-weekly, just like the pictures.

Anything to help me SEE the progress, as little as it may be. Progress is progress... and I have a long road ahead of me, so every little accomplishment is worthy of noting in order to keep the motivation going.

Here goes...

Neck -- 13 3/8"
Bust -- 48"
Waist -- 41"
Hip -- 57"
Thigh -- 33 1/2"
Calf -- 17"
Ankle -- 9"
Upper Arm -- 16"
Forearm -- 10 1/2"
Wrist -- 6"

Progress Pics

2009-04-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Okay... so here it goes... I'm boldly going where I didn't want to... but know it will benefit me in the end.

Here is the picture that finally did it for me. I saw this picture of myself holding my son, at my highest weight (256.5 lbs) and said, "WOW who IS THAT?!?!?" and was very saddened to find out it was me.

YIKES!!! When I saw this... I really thought, MY GOODNESS, what have I become?!?!?! Enough is enough... pregnancy, bedrest, and a C-Section REALLY took it's toll on my body. BUT IT'S OVER NOW!!! There are no more excuses... it's all over.

Time to get ME back...

So, I'm going to be taking pictures weekly (maybe biweekly, I'm unsure yet) and post them with my weigh in. I think it's very important that I SEE where I was...SO, here I am at Week #2 down 9 lbs -- weighing in at 247.5 lbs

YIKES!!!!!!!!! Let this be motivation enough!!!!! Rolls, rolls, rolls... and plenty of butter to go with them. This is the LAST TIME I'm EVER going to be like this... ever... ever... ever!!!!!!!

"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels..."

Biggest Loser

2009-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I decided with this weeks weigh-in to start working out. I USED to work for UPS loading trucks (which was my weight-training) and then I'd hit the Gym and run or do the elliptical for 2-4 miles every day. I weighed 145lbs and was solid muscle.

Obviously, I am a farrrrrr cry from that right now!!! BUT nonetheless, I really do miss the way I felt when I was in shape, and I MISS exercising. But given my situation with my physical limitations from surgery, I know that I can't go "balls-to-the-wall" crazy, or I will burn out and lose motivation.

Since the girls at The Sisterhood are all doing the 30-Day-Shred with Jillian Michaels from ThBiggest Loser... I decided to check out some of their other programs to see if there was a lighter one designed to ease people back into working out. So I picked up the "Biggest Loser: Cardio Max" from Target on Tuesday night and started Wednesday morning.

It's a 6-week workout... staggered in three different levels, increasing intensity every 2 weeks. Right now I'm running through the program WITHOUT weights. After the 6 weeks I'm planning on doing it again WITH weights. Then see where I am fitness-wise, and possibly pick up the "Power Sculpt" workout and alternate the two. We'll see. After each program is complete I'm going to re-evaluate where I am, how far I've come, and what I need to do to keep moving forward.

SO, I tried the Cardio Max yesterday -- boy oh boy am I glad that I did!! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I sweat, I burn, and I breathe heavy. I can FEEL it working, while not killing myself... and I have FUN while doing it!! Level 1 is run by Bob Harper -- he is motivating and inspiring. PLUS, the contestants from the show are in the background working out with you. I think it's totally motivational to have them doing it too -- because they've been where you are, and look at them now. So, you're not trying to work out with a bunch of skinny mini's who've been able to be 110 lbs their entire lives.

I did it again today and I'm really loving it. I have a blast, and feel like I'm on the show too!! I feel SOOOO great already, I can't wait to watch what happens to my body over the next 6 weeks!!!

PS -- Maybe I should start taking pictures of myself for progress... so that I can see the changes each week. (This is something that I never did the last time I lost weight... and I think had I done it, I would've been more motivated to keep it off and to keep working out...)

Wednesday Weigh-In!

2009-04-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well I JUST logged back into my blog to see that people ACTUALLY read it last week!! WOW!!! I didn't even know it!!! HAHA!! I will figure this thing out soon enough...

I'm going to have to log in more often!! (I actually thought about logging in a few times during the week to post a food diary or workout tracker or SOMETHING... we shall see. I'm just getting my feelers out at this point.)

Unrelated news -- I got laid off yesterday! I'm actually happy about it, strangely... and have a new found sense of ambition and energy!! YAY I don't have to go back to a stinky cubical and sit around and be lazy all day!!!

Anyways... I did well this week! Adding the protein powder into my diet seems to really help!! I am down another 4 lbs this week and haven't really started to exercise yet. I HAVE been out doing yardwork and have been more active. But haven't started a routine yet... Still healing from that C-Section, but I'm going to give it a try this week!

Last Week: 251.5
This Week: 247.5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SW: 256.5
CW: 247.5
GW: ????

Goal #1: Get out of the 250's (REACHED 4/29/2009)
Goal #2: Get out of the 240's

Wednesday Weigh-In

2009-04-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

I subscribed to the blog "Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans" for the support from other women who are trying to lose weight and get fit too. I was very successful the last time I joined an online "forum" type environment... and am hoping that I WILL find the support and motivation to keep me going this time around as well.

Anyways, the Sisterhood holds a Wednesday Weigh-In, so I'm going to follow the same schedule as well. Here it goes!

Last week: 256.5
This week: 251.5

I am down 5 pounds this week! Horray!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SW: 256.5
CW: 251.5
GW: ????

Goal #1: Get out of the 250's (ALMOST there!! I hope to reach this mini-goal by next weeks weigh in!!!)

It starts...

2009-04-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well, here it goes.

Two months ago I gave birth to my darling son Connor (via emergency C-Section; 8 weeks premature.) Anyways, like many women, I gained an insane amount of weight during pregnancy. But oddly enough, I continued to gain AFTER I gave birth as well. Maybe it was part of the stress of having a preemie? Either way, here I am, weighing in at the most that I've ever weighed in my entire life. Ready to start making strides to get RID of it!

I'm still healing up from my C-Section (was out on bedrest prior to giving birth), so exercise is very minimal right now... unfortunately! But I do try to get out walking, which is about all I can do at this time. I also started to shift my eating habits. All my nurses told me to eat lots of whole grain carbs in order to increase milk production. I asked, "Won't that make me GAIN weight???" And the reply I got was, "Oh no, your body uses up extra calories to produce the milk, you'll actually lose weight." Well, I am now thinking that was wayyyyy wrong!! (for me). See, carbs and I... we're not friends. We DON'T mix at all! And I am now heavier than I was when I gave birth 8 weeks ago!! I lost 35 lbs right off the bat while he was in the NICU, and then when he came home the weight piled on uncontrollably.

Bad carbs! Bad, bad, bad!!

Obviously I still need them. BUT, I am now (started yesterday) increasing my protein and trying to eat 2x as much protein as carbohydrates, and hopefully *HOPEFULLY*, that will help (along with my increasing mobility, and working up to regaining enough strength to exercise again. I AM eating a well balanced and healthy diet. I am hoping that this protein increase will do the trick.

Oh how I long to be in a size 7/8 again. *sigh* (I would even settle for a 10 or 12 right about now...)

Starting weight(SW), taken last week: 256.5 lbs (YIKES!!!!)

Goal #1: Get out of the 250's