The Ups and Downs of Losing Weight

Sometimes its my weight that is up and down, up and down....I hate when I spend a week or two eating right, being very careful to have a calorie deficit while eating healthy food and I step on the scale and boom +2 pounds. Two days later -3. Its maddening!

Before you comment, I know that I should take measurements as sometimes we lose size, not necessarily weight. I know if I had a meal with a lot of sodium that it could be water weight. I know that if it is a certain time of the month, I weigh more. I know these things but at the moment I step on the scale all confident that I've dropped another pound - I DON'T CARE! I just want to see a smaller number!

And another thing is the fact that looking at a twinkie I gain a pound without even eating it...but to lose a pound I have to burn 3,500 calories, which could take a week or more. How is that even fair? I seriously look at just about everything I eat in terms of how much time I need to spend on the elliptical burning it off...suddenly the twinkie isn't quite as appetizing.

I am thankful I have friends at the gym who know and understand what it means to lose weight. They are struggling with the same issues I am, or have struggled with them. I just want to finally get at my goal weight and look in the mirror at a skinnier me. In my head I'm skinny, I just want the mirror to show what's in my head LOL :)

Almost below 170

I weighed myself today after I worked out with my trainer Greg. I was at 170 pounds...can you believe it??? 170!!!! It feels so good!

I reread my first post about what fat feels like and it helps me see how far I've come. When I first joined the gym I could barely do the elliptical at 0 resistance for 10 minutes at about 80 rpms. I walked on the treadmill because it was easier.

Now, I train 4 times a week for 30 minutes with Greg who pushes me beyond what I thought I could accomplish. I can do 100 squats, 50 lunges, throw a slam bag over a tower of steps all with a weighted vest on! I can do 2 minutes on Jacob's ladder, lift weights, do 20 mintues on the elliptical on Auto Pilot at 120-130 rpms! I do or try to do everything Greg asks me and then I go back to the gym for an hour long Zumba class or Boot Camp and this Thursday hopefully Spin Bike Class. I've lost 26 pounds!

Can you believe that now, instead of looking forward to going home and watching TV after work, I now look forward to going to the gym and being part of what's going on there whether or not I work out for the second time in a day.

I still have 50 pounds to lose and now I have new goals...I am doing the Warrior Dash in July and my goal is to complete each and every obstacle and to finish the course. I want to do a 5k whether walking or running. I want to be able to complete a Zumba or Boot Camp class without stopping and I want to wear a sexy dress and look hot!

I've lost 26 pounds, I have 50 ish more to go...I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.

Fast Forward

I really need to update more often. Fast forward to today. The gym has become an integral part of my life as I go there pretty much every day. Greg, my trainer, has become a part of the family and without him I would be lost (and the weight wouldn't be). Tony, Bekah and Jenna have all joined the gym and Tony trains with Jared 2-3 times a week, while I now train with Greg 4-5 times a week. Since January 1, 2011 I've lost 25 pounds, 4 pant sizes and am in the best shape ever.

I admittedly slowed my weight loss by not tracking what I was eating for the past month or so, but thanks to Greg's awesome training, I did not gain any weight and still lost a few pounds. I am getting back on track using Nutrimirror (www.nutrimirror.com) to track my eating once again.

I recently returned to see my family in Ohio and they couldn't believe the difference. I still have quite a ways to go (50 pounds) but I am well on my way to a fat free life. While I was in Ohio visiting, my mother and sister-in-law started telling me about a meal replacement shake they started taking. Mom had lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks by having one shake a day and my sister-in-law worked with many people who were losing weight and feeling better with these shakes so I signed up. If nothing else, if I can get the energy my mom now has and help jump-start my weight loss again...its worth it. It is Body By Vi, http://www.loseweighteasy.bodybyvi.com/ (my website).

Mom actually looked younger, had more energy and lost weight. I am doubtful it is a miracle cure. There is no cure for obesity besides eating right and exercise, I honestly relize this, but having a shake for breakfast is easy to do, gives me vitamins and nutrients I need and elminiates my quick stop at McDonalds because I got up too late to fix something. I have a mini-blender at work with frozen fruits in the freezer and it takes me 5 minutes to make a shake (if that). My boss is even trying it.

Also, life at the gym has taught me how important protein is for muscle health. I was already doing protein shakes so this is a turbo-charged protein shake due to the vitamins and minerals added. Why not try it, as I was already doing this.

I will try to keep this blog updated from now on on my success :)