Took the long way

I began my weight loss journey about 5 years ago.  There were lots of up and downs and after about 2 years, I managed to lose 40 pounds. In May of 2009 I vividly remember weighing in at my weight watchers meeting at 171.0.  I'm not quite sure what happened after this, I do remember I stayed about in the same vicinity for a LONG time, I think I was even right around this weight when I first met Ricky (that was 2 years ago).  It wasn't until about Christmas of 2010 that I started putting the weight back on.  Lots of going away dinners and get togethers right before he left for the deployment didn't help my weight loss at all.  I remember stepping on the scale when Ricky left last February and I had gained 20 pounds.

I was horrified I had let myself do that.  And I said right there that I was going to lose it plus more while Ricky was gone.  I was going to be a hot 130 pound woman when Ricky got home.  Especially when we got engaged in March, I wanted to look good for my wedding! Well......that didn't happen.  My weight loss efforts had become a huge struggle and burden.  I wasn't in it 100%.  By the time he came home last October for his R&R, I had managed to lose about 10 pounds.  I was disappointed in myself.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving, I basically ate whatever I wanted.  I had already decided I was going to do one of the fab diets to lose all the weight so I didn't restrict myself at all.  Once I got back home after the holiday, I was about to start the stuff and somehow talked myself out of it.  I knew I could lose the weight on my own, I had done it before.  And I had to remind myself that it is a terribly slow process and be ok with the fact that I wouldn't be 130 pounds when Ricky got home or even for the wedding.

So December 1, my journey began again, this time with a lot more effort.  Instead of just going back to Weight Watchers which I had done so many time, I decided to give counting calories a try.  So I created a profile on My Fitness Pal.  I was still going to the bootcamp class I had joined back in September so I devoted myself to that.  I have been allowing myself treats, if I want ice cream, I get ice cream.  If I didn't have enough calories for the day for it, I knew I would need to get a workout in of some sort.

I was doing really good, Had dropped another 5 pounds, and then I got stuck.  No matter how hard I worked out or limited my sweets or cut back on carbs, I could not get off this plateau.  I was only stuck there for a month, but it seemed like an eternity.  A friend suggested I up my calories, my body could be going into starvation mode and holding onto all it can.  So that's what I did, I started eating more. I just simply ate about 250 more calories each day.  And what do ya know......the weight started come off again!

This morning I stepped on the scale and saw 171.4!!! I am finally almost back to where I weighed in at 4 years ago! I did one of those little happy dances in the bathroom haha (you know what one I'm talking about).  So I may have taken the long way, and who knows where I would be now had I not have given up 4 years ago, but that's life.  The important thing is I changed my attitude and habits back around and started making healthier choices for my life.  I simply can't wait to see the 160's on the scale and that is my pure motivation right now.

Here's to 20 pounds gone and to the next 20!

March 2012

Today is the first day of March.  I have been looking forward to this month for 12 long months.  March means Spring is about here (not that we had a terrible winter), I'm finally moving out of my apartment that I loathe most of the time, and my favorite will finally be home from this long long long deployment!

Once Ricky is finally home, things are going to be super crazy busy! We will have 2 months until the wedding, so there will be finalizing wedding plans, wedding showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, meetings with vendors, moving and getting settled into the new apartment (that I will officially live in after the wedding), and lots of date night to catch up from the year we missed.

I'm so ready to get to know my fiance again.  Sure we talk a lot, sometimes everyday, but it's different with having a phone relationship and a real person relationship.  So I'm ready to get to know him all over again :)

I have a couple of March Goals I would like to complete:
1.  Lose 5 pounds.  I have been doing really good and I'm not focused on losing as quickly as possibly anymore, just trying to eat healthy and get at least 30 min of exercise 5-6 days a week.  I currently weigh 172 and can't wait to get under 170!

2.  Make a new recipe a week.  I'm going to try very hard to make this happen.  It might be a little hectic with Ricky coming home and trying to pack to move.

3.  Sell some stuff to get some money.  We are hoping to have a garage sale of our stuff since we registered for so much new stuff.  (This might have to wait until April)

Update on Financial Peace University:
You might remember me cutting up my credit cards a few months ago, since I started FPU last September, I have paid off about $4,500!!!! I'm hoping to be debt free in 6 months.

Recent Thoughts

I haven't posted a personal post in awhile and I've had a lot of things on my mind that I just want to put into words.

Deployment:
We have approximately 42% left still of this last leg and while in months that doesn't seem long, 42% sounds long.  Ricky hasn't been going out on missions since he moved to a new base, which I'm VERY thankful for.  I'm hoping things will just coast until his return home.  And I'm SOOO glad this is the last one, no more tearful goodbye's (for this deployment), no more temporary visits, no more nights alone, and so many more things I'll be glad to not have to do again.  The thing that keeps me going is the hope of our future together, the wedding, moving in together, having my best friend by my side each and everyday, and so much more!

It's been 11 months since this deployment started and in the past 11 months I've seen the person I love most in this world a total of 26 days.  You never get used to it, it's hard every single day.  Sure some days are better than others, but I still hurt inside.

Wedding Planning:
Things are coming along really great.  All the vendors are booked and now all that is left are the DIY decorations (which some have been started) and put it all together.  I'm hoping it looks as good as it all does in my head haha.  I'm so ready for Ricky to be back though to help, I need him to be the mediator sometimes ha.

Weight Loss:
Here is finally once aspect that I feel I have somewhat control of. Since July I've lost 15 pounds.  However, I didn't really get serious and step up my game until after Thanksgiving.  So I've lost the majority of that since then.  I joined Fit Body Bootcamp in Tulsa and it's the best thing I've ever done in the workout department.  I'm not a fan of monotony in exercise and everyday you go to bootcamp, it's completely different.  I've built so much muscle and toned up in areas I didn't know I could ha.  I've also been using My Fitness Pal to keep track of everything I put into my body.  I have been trying to eat 1200 calories a day and get a good 400-500 calorie workout 5-6 days a week.  No I haven't been eating lots of chicken and veggies (although those are quick easy meals).  I've been trying new healthy versions of some of my favorites to curb my cravings.  And even if I do want to splurge on that pizza or hamburger, I do, just in moderation.  So there ya go, I am aiming to lose another 10 by the end of February for my dress fitting.  I still have about 35 to get to my ultimate goal but I'm in no rush. I'm really starting to love my body again and feel good about myself.  Slow and steady win the race :)

Issues:
I had this whole long thing typed out about issues that have been on my chest and bothering me, but I'm trying really hard to see the good in situations and not focus so much on the bad.  So I'm just going to talk to God about it and pray he will help me though it.

129 days until I get to marry my man!!!

First Down and Ten!

Haha like my football reference? No, this post isn't really about football (even thought the first game of the season is tomorrow!) This post is to honor the fact that I have lost my first 10 pounds! It was quite a struggle getting started and I was getting very frustrated, but I stuck with it and kept going, reminding myself that I was making my body healthier even though the scale wasn't showing it.

I'm sticking with Weight Watchers, because that really works for me.  A couple days a week I also input my food to see how many calories I am consuming to compare them.  Eating out is still a struggle for me, but I'm working on it.  I've also been doing a wide range of workouts.  In the past couple months I've gone from DVD's at home, to kickboxing, to strength training with a group at a gym, to now bootcamp.  I think I have benefited from them all but I've seen the most results on the scale in the strength training group and bootcamp.

So here's to those 10 lbs, may I never see you again! And here's to the next 10!

Thankful Thursday - Health

This week I have been very thankful for my health.  Even though I have been overweight since about 9th grade and on (off and on, I'd gain then lose, then gain again), I have still always been pretty healthy.  I haven't had any major medical problems, no hospital stays (except for when I had pneumonia in the 2nd grade), and no need for prescription medicine.  So today I am extremely thankful.

I will continue to do my best to stay healthy and keep my body happy.  I do that by trying my hardest to feed it healthy foods that it needs, and limit the processed candy and foods.  And also by regular exercise.

This week I started a bootcamp class here in Tulsa (bought it through Living Social) and it's been so great!  I'm excited to see what my results are at the end of my month long session.

March/April Goals

It's that time, the end of the month where I need to reflect on my previous months' goals and look onto what I would like to achieve the next month.

Review of March goals:
Menu Planning - I did ok at this, I did 2 new recipes I think.  I should have time to do more now that Ricky has left again.

Get down to 180 - yep, totally didn't even get close, well I guess I got down to 186 then Ricky came home and all my healthy eating went down the drain.  So I'm basically starting over again.

Study for LEED exam - yep, didn't start this either.  Man I did a terrible job at my goals this month.

Continue Project 365 - Complete!  (or in progress and up to date) Finally one I did do really good at!!!

Looking back I didn't really work very hard on these goals, so I need to put a little more effort into each of them.

April Goals: 
Menu Planning - I am going to pre-plan my menu for the week each Sunday.  I already have this week planned out.  I also still want to try one new recipe a week.  This week's look really good :)

Get to 185 - this is a more realistic goal.  That's about a pound a week.  I want to lose about 30 lbs before I even go try on any wedding dresses, I have about 6 months until I will have to order one so I should be able to make it if I focus.

Study for LEED exam - this one is still staying on there, I'm not going to be ready for the exam on the 30th (when my testing period is over) but I can re-apply in three months to take it and I hope to be ready for it by then.

Save money - I need to really start focusing on saving money and setting a better budget for myself.  I would like to be close to debt free when Ricky gets back and have saved money for our wedding and lives together.

March Goals

I seriously can't believe March is already here.  It seems like it was just Christmas!  But in the light of new beginnings and the start of new things, I decided to make some goals for myself for the month of March.

1.  Menu planning - this will go hand in hand with #2, but I want to do a blog at least once a week giving step by step instructions on a new recipe that I try.  It will also help me manage my food better

2.  Get down to 180 - here we go again with me putting my weight issues for the whole world to see.  I still have mixed feelings about it, but it helps me to be more accountable.  I started back at the gym yesterday and am looking forward to getting this weight off.

3.  Start studying for my LEED exam - I have until April 30th to take the exam, and well I haven't even started studying for this.  I told myself once Ricky left I would start, well now he's gone so I need to keep my word.

4.  Continue Project 365 - I have already started and am already on day 3! woo-hoo!  You can check out those pics ON FACEBOOK HERE.

That's all I can think of right now.  Weight loss is my main concern at the present time.  Getting into a good routine without Ricky here.  Although it will be disturbed for a few days when he comes home March 24th :)  Can't wait to see that man :) I miss him already!

In a new update!  I purchased my very first bedroom suite Saturday and am in the process of getting it all put together.  I'll update pics soon.