Weight Loss Stats Update!

This past July 1st not only marked the 146th Birthday of my fair county Canada, but it almost marked the two year anniversary of my commitment to losing weight. It has been quite a journey and I have learned so much about myself, about health, and about fitness. I truly feel these issues and my experiences have affected me so deeply that my future will be greatly shaped by them.

If you'd like to catch up on a bit of my weight loss story you can check out last year's stats , or some of these posts on my weight loss experiences.

So where am I now? 95lbs light that's where! Can I get a woot woot??

I have seriously never felt better in my life. I am healthy and fit. I have muscles!

As a family we are eating a nourishing diet and fuelling our bodies with the right foods. We are able to enjoy life, and nature, and fitness all together.

Here are my stats from last year:

Start Pant Size: 22/24       Current Pant Size: 14/16
Start Top Size: XL/XXL Current Top Size: L

Start Weight: 247.4    Current Weight: 186    Total Loss: 61.4 lbs

Start Hips: 54"           Current Hips: 46.5"      Inches Lost: 7.5"

Start Bust: 45.5"        Current Bust: 39"         Inches Lost: 6.5"

Start Waist: 45"         Current Waist: 38"       Inches Lost: 7"

                            TOTAL INCHES LOST: 21"

Start BMI: 36.53 - which they say is Obese 2, that sounds really mean :(

Current BMI: 27.46 -still considered overweight but nearing the lower end.

Today:
Pant Size: 10/12 (total size loss of 10/12 sizes)
Top Size: S/M
Current Weight: 155 (total loss from all time high of 250 is 95lbs)
Hips: 42.5"(11.5" loss)
Bust: 37"(7.5" loss)
Waist: 33"(12" loss)

Total Inches Lost: 28" 
Current BMI: 22.9 (nicely in the zone of HEALTHY)

Over this past year I really did a lot of strength training as well and it is starting to show. I am so proud of the positive changes I have made in my life. 

Before I close I'll put on a few pix as reference: 

How about a behind shot first :) 
Top two were taken July 2011 and July 2012
Bottom two were both taken end of June 2013

This dress was a HUGE deal for me. It was a size seven and the shrug was a size small. NEVER have I EVER fit into those sizes. PS. I like flexing in change room mirrors apparently :)

 

 This was my "start" picture on July 1st 2011

 And this was me July 2012

And now here I am July 1st 2013

Sorry no swimsuit pic this time, but I may get one soon. I need to buy a new one as last year's is too big (#firstworldproblem) and we have yet to go on a trip to the beach. YIKES!

If there is ONE thing that I hope my weight loss can do, is inspire others and to let them know that it IS possible. You CAN Change your life. For Good. If someone in your life is in need of weight loss inspiration they can check out my weight loss site Guide To Healthy Weight Loss. There are big things happening in my future which has all come to me from my amazing experience and success. I hope to share all with you soon. 

One Week Left

Last week I turned out being not as high as I thought and this week I accomplished a nice loss (my gain and then some).

There is only one week left. I am biting my fingernails. I am so close but there are a few others that are so close as well. I am going to work hard this week and whatever happens happens. Those that worked hard deserve to win. It is not an indication on how hard I worked. I know for myself where I really pulled through and I know where I wavered a bit.

I'm putting the hammer down on myself even further. Do not fear I am not doing anything crazy. I'm not seriously restricting calories. I'm not expending myself more than what is safe. I'm just being very obedient and disciplined to the plan. It is good practice really because what I am doing now I really think is what I'll have to do to maintain once I hit goal. I also have to pretty much say buh bye to my weekly points and really only EVER use them for special occasions. I am at the point of making healthy enough choices and planning choices in advance that even if I HAVE to get something while out I am more than prepared for it. 

Overall though I'm pretty happy. I'm down to 170.4. The major push for the last 20 lbs is certainly on. By the end of April I plan to be at the 150 I am aiming for. Can't wait to get there. I am feeling very confident about the next two months.

Day Before Weigh In

Tomorrow is weigh in day and I know I am not going to be surprised. I am a devoted weigh myself every morning type of person. While I know that isn't recommended I know that for me personally I need daily affirmation or daily guilt to keep me on track. Therefore I am not going to be surprised when I see the numbers this week higher than last week.

So all this week despite being 90% on target with everything I am still up. What is up with that?? It will be a big shocker to me tomorrow if I am actually down. And I'm not just going to be up a little bit, I'm going to be up by at least a few lbs. Perhaps my scale needs a smack, it has been acting drunk lately. Either that or a new battery.

We only have three weigh ins to go (including tomorrow) to finish up this latest biggest loser challenge and this is so not the time for some kind of silly yoyo plateau (rolling hills if you will). Really. It frustrates me because I have worked hard for every challenge and yet never win. If I weren't stagnating right now I could win. At this point though I really don't know. As of the latest numbers the leader is at about 9% loss for the round while I am sitting at 7.82. In order for me to win I need to knock off 6-8 lbs in the next two weeks which well, really isn't realistic. Maybe I can hope my biggest competitor has a slip up week or plateaus herself. Wishful thinking.

It has been difficult for me mentally as well because I am working out hard every day. I am for the most part being very diligent with my eating. I go off track sometimes regarding food choices but even then I still religiously stay within my points ranges. At this point my working out is actually working against me. What I lose in fat I am gaining in muscle which is a big part of why the numbers get funny. Too bad the competition wasn't based on inches lost as opposed to weight lost.

As it stands now I have only 25 lbs left to go to reach my overall goal. I am vey proud of the progress I have made. After this challenge I really will only have one more round to go and that one may prove to be the hardest as I get closer to my goal.

I am reminding myself that biggest loser challenges will come and go. I am in this for the fitness and healthy eating lifestyle long haul. Heck, I've even started drinking veggie fruit shakes in the evening. Still it would be nice to win, I really do need to buy some new runners.

But biggest loser challenge aside I still say I am doing very well. My choices get better every day. My body is getting toned more and more each workout I do. I am coming up to that last 25 lb push and I am really going to push. I have a plan and I am implementing it every day.

2013: Onward and Upward

While Christmas was awesome the very end of 2012 and the very beginning of 2013 has been slightly less than stellar. A nasty cold bug has claimed all of us. We came home from the farm to find our basement sewer drain is broken. The coffee maker inexplicably doesn't work. Then yesterday morning, new years day, my plans of making waffles was thwarted by plugged up sinks. But I say whatevs. Those are all still first world problems. We can buy medicine for our colds, I can drink tea instead of coffee, and as long as I don't let out much water at a time we can temporarily see past the sewer drain problem.

Thus I say ONWARD AND UPWARD. I see a many great things coming our way. If we focus on our plans and dreams then any other road blocks just become bumps in the grand scheme of things.

Here are my predictions for 2013...

-A lot of craftiness coming down the pipe. With my new found love of knitting and rekindled relationship with my sewing machine and my addiction to Pinterest I see so many projects. Where sewing is concerned there is potential for  curtains, slipcovers for the sofa, cute outfits for Evelyn (a great use for my stash of fat clothes), and quilts for all. Then there is the knitting of scarves and leg warmers, and gloves oh my. I put love into my cooking so why not throw some love into the things we wear and also dress our house with.

-Continued progress on my health and fitness goals. I started the new year at 179. I took my measurements today as well (Bust 39.5, Waist 37.5, Hips 45.5). I kicked off 2013 yesterday by starting the 30 Day Shred over again but this time with my new 8 lb dumbbells. With my workout DVD collection and the Sworkit and C25K apps there is no excuse for getting bored. My inlaws also moved into a new condo with a pool...hello free lap swimming. Don't forget about what fuels the body too. While we don't consume a lot of processed food there is still a lot of progress to made in the clean eating department. This will be an ongoing challenge for the future.

-More consistent blogging. I have so many posts that I don't finish and don't publish. I have a lot of ideas of things I want to blog on. I am thinking a lot on how to narrow down what topics I speak on. I want to provide more information from things I have learned. The trouble is fitting in when to write. That brings me to the next point.

-More organized living. We need to purge so much from this house. We need to bring less and less into this house. I already pitched a few bags of junk yesterday. Thankfully the Ikea opened a month and a bit ago so I am making plans on how all of this will happen. I also want to have our time more organized. In general I want to organize our lives so that there is less time wasted and more time spent just being together and doing the things we enjoy (such as blogging).

-MUSIC!! The tribute act that Daddy is in has garnered a lot of interest. So far they are signed to an agency already with other agencies on the horizon. We could potentially be looking at some big life changes come March. I also would like to further my musical education, work on my technique and theory to the point where I could do RCM grade 9 practical and harmony exams. That is just something in the back of my mind.

-Potty Training for Evelyn. She is showing some definite signs of readiness. Perhaps in another few months we will order up some cloth trainers and get that ball rolling.

-Continued homeschooling. Fall somewhat came and left and seemed like it was one long big sick day. Sadly we got nowhere in terms of what I had planned. The new year though gives us an opportunity to change some ideas, scrap a few things, and focus on a few others.

-Renovations and upgrades for the home. Our house is old. Over 100 years old. It is in much need of a makeover and not just a mani pedi either. The insides needs some upgrading, specifically the furnace and the finicky hot water tank (which likes to leak pour from the pressure valve every so often). Carpets need to be ripped up and floors either refinished or painted. Walls need to be painted. The back room has been on hiatus for almost two years. The bathroom could use some renovating. Then there is the kitchen. None of this comes cheap either so we will chip away at things as best we can. I envision a much nicer and more comfortable living space near the end of 2013.

So those are all the BIG things that I see coming up. There are also some smaller things I would like. More trips to the bulk food store. More tea. A new coffee maker. A new book series to read (specifically the Lily Bard Series by Charlaine Harris). A new printer (to replace the broken one). Bunk beds for the boys and a toddler bed for baby girl. Possibly throw in a some new bedroom and school room furniture (again woot woot for the newly opened Ikea).

In the immediate future we have Max's 4th birthday coming up and on Monday we will be "back to school". Oh yeah and that pesky basement plumbing issue to take care of.

 It is going to be a big year for sure. Onward and upward I say. Wishing the best to all of you in 2013.

Peak 313 Challenge Check In #4

This won't be a long post today. Last week was a VERY laid back kind of exercise week for me. I think sometimes everyone just loses a bit of gusto and you have to allow yourself that. It is what keeps you from mentally and physically burning out. It is NOT something that I overly feel good about however it isn't like I can do anything about last week now.

I only got physical activity 4X last week. Well, maybe 4.5X is more accurate. I got in a couple walks with the kids. We also had a couple very fun dance parties. Now THAT is cardio. They love it, especially when the get picked up and spun and flipped around. On the Monday evening I was also able to fit in a run through of some strength intervals (that is where the 0.5 comes in).

I am coming up on the last week of this challenge. It is a bittersweet feeling really. I have thoroughly enjoyed the push, the spiritual aspect, and also blogging about and sharing it. I hope to finish this last week strong in both heart and spirit.

Speaking about strength of heart...that brings me to last week's verse which I will share and leave you with today...

"Above all else, guard you heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Proverbs 4:23

Peak 313 Challenge Checkpoint #3

I was somewhat under the weather this past week which really threw a wrench into many of my plans. One thing I neglected to do was cut and paste up my Soul Food verse as I did in the first two weeks. If I had done that I am without a doubt positive that I would have been much better prepared to withstand all the horrible food cravings I caved to last week.

See, last week's verse was all about cravings. Today cravings are around us everywhere. Every day we have more and more thrown at us. This applies not just to food but to things, belongings, and even people. "The cravings in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world." 1 John 2:16. It is amazing what some little visual reinforcement can do especially when that reinforcement is coming from the Word of God.

However, while I felt horrible all week and made poor food choices I STILL EXERCISED!! I pulled through. I picked up my socks, pulled myself off the couch and got up and at it 4X this week. Not my usual five or six but all things considered that four times isn't too shabby.

Monday- 1/2 hour interval jog (pushing that stroller again)

Tuesday-Yoga Meltdown DVD

Wednesday- OFF

Thursday-Music Video Exercise
This was a particularly fun thing to do. I just didn't feel like popping in the same old DVD and I am quite familiar with the majority of the moves so I made up my own circuits. The music video that Daddy made has three band mashups for a total of 5 minutes. This pretty much matched up perfectly with the interval system I am already familiar with. I chose my own cardio and strength and ab moves and worked through the video six times for a total of 30 minutes including my warm up and cool down. It was a lot of fun. I think I will do this a lot more often now.

Friday- OFF

Saturday- OFF

Sunday- 70 minute walk + 15 minutes strength

This week marks checkpoint three for the challenge. I can't believe it is already over half over. I hope it doesn't take long for another challenge to pop up. I love the additional motivation and accountability that it provides. I have a new verse to print off and I am praying to knock off five workouts this week.

Time to get Living And Active!

Peak 313 Challenge Check in #2

Today is check in #2 for the Peak 313 LivingActive challenge. I exercised 5/7 days last week with a mix of cardio and weights. So far I am feeling stronger both physically and spiritually. I really enjoy the "Soul Food" that goes along with each week. Last week's verse was,

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

 Each day has enough trouble of its own"

Matthew 6:34

How true is that!??!?! So each day I focused on the exercise/workout/jog at hand. I didn't worry about what I couldn't do the day before. I didn't worry about how I would fit in fitness the next day. I even took the verse to heart for every moment. If I had to drop weights in Rep 1 I didn't worry about it and when Rep 2 came up I gave it even more. I have been learning lately to really let go of worry and to put myself into God's hands more. Amazing things happen when I am in God's hands.

As far as exercise went here is a quick breakdown:

Monday- Level One Extreme Shed & Shred

Tuesday - Level Two 30 Day Shred

Wednesday- 1/2 hour fast walk (pushing stroller)

Thursday- 1/2 hour interval jog (pushing stroller)

Friday- OFF

Saturday- Level Four Ripped in 30

Sunday- OFF

As you can see I took two OFF days this past week. Not so much intentionally but because I was literally OFF on both those days. My schedule and routine were whacked and I didn't get make the opportunities. This week I am really going to try to hit up six days again. Today feels like a jog kind of day, I may possibly round it out with some arms work. 

I have a new verse for this week too, it's a good one. It's about cravings (as I eat my square of chocolate). I look forward to sharing it with you next week. 

Peak 313 Challenge Check In #1

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken". Ecc 4:12

How true those words are in my life. I may have made significant changes in my health and fitness. I may have lost a significant amount of weight so far. But I have not done this alone. I have the support of family and friends. I have an online network that gives me ALL my accountability. I HAVE to weigh in every Friday. I have people who are even now looking to me for advice and inspiration on their weight loss journey (talk about pressure eh?). Just as the words say, if I were alone in this I would have been overpowered long ago by temptation. If it were just me with one supporter I could maybe have a good defence but what of my offence? With the multi levels of support I have nothing can stand in my way.

I would also like to take this verse one step further. A cord of three strands can refer to many things. Not only does it refer to the connection of people but it means something even deeper. It is the connection between mind, body, and soul. Strength of mind and strength of soul are contributing to my strength of body. There is so much to be said for will power and motivation and determination. Bind these together and you have yet another cord of three strands.

I feel very good about this past week's challenge. The challenge goal is to exercise four times this week. I did it six days. Here is a look at my fitness accomplishments this week:

Monday- Extreme Shed and Shred Level 1
Normally this workout takes 45 minutes including warmup and cool down. I was only able to make it through the warm up and 2 1/2 circuits. I believe that would put me at about 20-25 minutes of heavy exercise. If Evelyn hadn't woken early from her nap that day I would have completed the entire level. Yes, I am blaming the baby, and her incoming molars.

Tuesday-Ripped in 30 Level 4
This is a half hour workout. I can describe it in one word. Intense.

Wednesday-Extreme Shed and Shred Level 2
This time I got through the entire 45 minutes of Level 2.

Thursday-Shred It with Weights
This is a 25 minute kettle bell workout. I <3 the kettle bell workout. This is a lower impact workout but still heavy exercise. So far I am using a 5 lb dumbell but I hope that I can upgrade to an 8 or 10 lb kettle bell soon.

Friday-40 minute walk X 2
The first walk was an afternoon trip with the kids to the grocery store. I could have taken the van but decided to walk instead. The second walk was a family evening walk. Usually our full family route takes us an hour and a half but Daddy had a long day so we cut the walk shorter than usual.

Saturday-OFF DAY

Sunday-Interval Jog/Walk 30 minutes
I am now up to 3 minute jog intervals. I was actually surprised at how easily I breezed through the 3 minutes each time. I started to really feel as if I was creating a decent stride. My eldest often will go jog with me but at age 6 he just can't keep up (and I don't get the jog I want). We came up with a fantastic solution. He rides his bike alongside me as I jog. I loved it and he loved it. Chasing a bike sure helps get that stride gong too.

Exercise aside I did very well following and journaling my weight watchers points. I only used half my weekly flex points and I didn't eat any of my earned exercise points. Those have been goals of mine for a quite a while.

All my hard work this past week though did really pay off. Between diet and exercise I dropped 2.6 lbs. Woot Woot!

Since it is Monday again I have a new verse to print out and I am working up the ambition to do a workout. Not sure which one to do. The boys just finished watching some Power Rangers so maybe I'll fire up the Shed and Shred Level 1 again. Get in some kick boxing :)