I am back!

Sorry I have been away for so long, but I am back now. I have not given up on my weight loss journey, just the opposite. I have lost 2 weeks in a row. Isn't that nuts. I take a break from blogging and I lose weight. I lost another 1.4 at today's weigh in and I am so happy about it. My weight loss had slowed down to a crawl and now it is finally taking off again. I wish my love life was doing the same, but that is another topic all together.

Stephany

Just Too Tired

Have you ever had one of those days where you just did not feel like doing anything. Today is that day. I just feel "blah". I am kinda achy and I just feel like I am out of it. I am yawning as I type.

I don't know why I am feeling like this. I haven't had one of these days in awhile. I am just hoping I am over it by tomorrow, because I have my Zumba class and I really don't want to miss it. I missed it last week because of the doctors and I am really looking forward to it.

I am now going to get ready for work tomorrow and make it a early night.

Stef

Still on Program!

Although I haven't blogged in a long time I am still on program. Life has just gotten into the way of blogging and I am comitting to do better. We have started a Weight loss challenge at work running from September 1st until December 1st.

I am so excited about this challenge. It has really gotten me inspired. I know no one but my family really reads this blog, but even being accountable to them (I got the call from one of them to get my butt back in gear) has really helped through this whole process.

So from this day forward I will blog and let everyone know how I am feeling and how it is going.

Stef

Aha Moment!

This week I had a aha moment. I realized that I am not afraid, I am not scared. I think for the longest I was really scared of how my life is going to change when I reach my goal. My issues that my husband has was really a big factor in that. I was really wondering what would happen. Then I had a aha moment or more like a "I will endure" moment. I realize that whatever happens, life goes on.

A lady at my meeting is no longer with her husband. He left because he did not find her attractive anymore, he told her he was only attracted to fuller figured women. I really thought about that in relation to my situation and I thought if it happens it happens. This lady is surviving. She hasn't missed a meeting and hasn't gained either. She misses her former life as she calls it, but this is her new life and she is going to live it to the fullest. She is such an inspiration and you would not believe how many women are going through this same situation.

So with my head held up high and my resolve strengthened, I will endure.

Stef

Happy to be back!

Whoever thought I would say I am happy to be back exercising, but hey I am. I have not gained any weight over the last month, but I have gained inches back. My clothes don't fit as loose as they used too. My husband keeps telling me its all in my mind, but this is my body and I know who it looks.

I am getting all geared up for a "Biggest Loser" type weight loss challenge at work. It starts September 1st. All the details have not been worked out, but I am getting pumped up. I know that this is and will always be a lifetime struggle for me, so anything that can make the journey more interesting I am all for it.

Well going to a "Soul Food Fest" tomorrow, and I have already mapped out my food plan for the day and I will have no problem sticking to it. I am looking forward to the concert and believe it or not I am looking forward to weigh in on Sunday.

Until next time.

Stef

I feel Great!

It has been an awesome week. I am on track. I have really been watching what I eat. Need to kick up the exercise, but I am taking that slow with my ankle. I made the yummiest meal tonight. Cooked a lil pasta with garlic and olive oil and topped with with shrimp, chicken, corn, bell peppers and onions tossed in garlic and fat free italian dressing. It was soo good and soo point friendly. I was really proud of my lil concoction. I have included a pic for your viewing pleasure.

Here comes August!

I weighed in today and was down 1.4 pounds. This is what I am talking about. I stuck to my guns this week with my food choices and it showed up on the scale. This coming week I am kicking back up my work outs. My ankle still bothers me a bit, but I am going to have to just suck it up and work through the pain.

At my meeting today we talked a lot about exercise and how you like it in now in comparison to how you felt about it at the beginning of your weight loss journey. No one at all said they loved it from the start. Most everyone had to grow to like or love it.

This had me looking back at my journey and how I am with exercise now. How a year ago exercising or weight loss was not even on my radar and now it is a daily thought. How I actually think about what I am putting in my body and what I am doing to my body.

I am really glad I started this journey. I really am.

August!

OMG until I logged on, I did not realize I was MIA on my blog for the second half of the month. I am going to have to do better, and you know what, it shows in my weight loss. I haven't lost a pound more since July 15th. Gained yes, lost no.

So here I am again recomitting myself to this thing. I try not to get too down on myself. It has taken me a long time to lose the little weight that I have and I have so much more to lose. But I am confident that I am going to lose it.

I know what I need to do and I will do it.

Stef

Back On Track!

I was down another .2 at last weeks weigh in. I have 3.8 pounds to lose to meet my July goal. I am going full steam ahead to meet this.

I am not where I want to be exercise wise. My ankle is still not up to full strength so I can't get back to exercising the way I want to.

Notice how you take little things for granted. All the days when I was able to exercise and I blew it off, whoever thought I would turn into a person who misses it as much as I do.

Well here is hoping that the scale is good to me for the rest of the month.

Stef

Just My Luck!

I am starting to get really frustrated with this process. I am facing one setback after another. Okay I sprung my ankle Friday and it really only hurted a lil bit, woke up on Saturday and it was on fire. Why me I say.

I signed up to take the 21 day challenge and I was well on my way and now this comes along.

But you know what, I am not letting it stop me. I am really watching what I am eating and I am thinking I should only be down for about a week. If it still hurts I am still going to go to gym in my building and ride the bike. I have to do something. I feel like a lazy slob if I don't.

Does anybody else face this feeling when they don't exercise?

Stef

Trying Something New!

Me and my boss had a conversation this week about me starting to go from a brisk walk to a slow jog (real slow) and how I was going to attempt it one day.

Well today was the day. I did it. I walked for 25 minutes and slow jogged for 5. I know that might not sound like much, but it was a big accomplishment for me. This time last year, I could not do this and I was not even thinking about it. I am so proud of myself. In a earlier post, I wrote about me pushing myself and this is what I am trying to do this month. One day at a time.

Stef

July Goals!

Well, overslept my WI again. I guess I really needed the rest or it might be some type of psychological thing going on.

I have set my July goals. My goal is to exercise 930 minutes (30 minutes a day) and lose 5 pounds. I had a co-worker of mine(thanks Dave) make me some graphs for my refrigerator so that I could track my progress on a daily/weekly basis. I think the visual will really help me

Well starting the month off right, walked 30 minutes and stayed OP.


Stef

What??

I am about tired of my health issues. I really am. I went see my cardiologist yesterday and was informed now my protien is real low. I am like what??? I already can't eat red meat or pork and now she is saying I need to lay off the carbs.

I am slowly dwindling down to eating nothing. I will have no choice but to lose weight as I will be existing on nothing but air. I was so depressed yesterday, I came home and went to bed. Just when you think you are doing all the right things, now I have to deal with this.

I wish I could turn back time and go back to when I had nothing wrong with me. I remember I used to brag, b/c I am the only overweight sibling and all the rest of my siblings have high blood pressure. I would long to have just that now.

Stef

Feeling Great!

Yes, I am feeling great today. I went for a 45 minute brisk walk after dinner. For dinner I had 6 turkey meatballs, a cup of egg noodles and heinz fat free gravy with peppers and onions. Awesome meal and low in points. The meatballs were only 4 points. I was just in the grocery store and it just came in my head to cook this. I have been eating tuna fish everyday for lunch and sometime of seafood every other day for dinner. I realize after looking at my past menus I don't eat much fish or shrimp. So I am trying to incorporate more of that in my diet. Not doing it to see results on the scale, but making a lifestyle change for me.

I learn something new everyday in this journey. I am going through this with an open mind. I don't know everything. If I did, I would not be obese.

Stef

I missed It!

Yes, I missed Weigh In. I overslept. I really overslept. My WI is not until 10:00am and I did not wake up until 11:15 and that is only b/c my daughter got a phone call and was laughing real loud. My hubby said I needed the rest. I guess I did. I did not go to bed late, yet I rested and to be honest I still am tired. It is time for my period, maybe that is it.

I guess I better do like I said, and listen to my body. I have devoted the rest of the day to pampering myself. I gave myself a pedicure and manicure. Later I am going to deep condition my hair and set it on some rollers.

I am sitting her yawning as we speak, so off to lay it down.

Stef

It's Me!

Several days ago, I posted the topic that was in my WW meeting. It was Roadblock and distractions. MZFIT asked me to give a little bit more insight into that. Well I have thought about it for and thought about it and my main roadblock and distraction is "ME". I control my weight loss destiny. I control what goes in my mouth and wether or not I excercise. This said I got my butt into gear today and pushed myself when I worked out this morning. MZFIT, I would like to say thanks for making look at this issue a little more closely than I was.

I watch the tv show, I lost it and it amazes me at how some of these people are on WW and how quickly they lost the weight, but when I think back on it, they all went about it the same way.
They made losing weight a priority and they did not go about it half ass. They exercised daily (and still do) and are very conscious about what they eat. They were fed up and put themselves first. I realize I have not done this. Yes, I am in the game, but I am not in the game fully. As of today, I am putting myself first and I am getting into the game completely.

I will exercise daily, I will make better food choices and I will stop the excuses. I have 64 more pounds to lose until I reach my goal. I vow to do everything in my power to make better lifestyle decisions to bring myself closer to where I want to be.

Stef

Busy Week!

Whew, I have been really busy this week. My hubby's bday was Wednesday and I have been running all week. I took a couple of days off of work to spend with him and I am paying for it. I have kept up with my exercise, but did not make the best food choices this week. I recognize that and I am moving on from it.

Well I am exhausted until next time.

Stef

Second WI

I was down another .4 at weigh in this week. I am happy with that. I am happy with anything the scale says, only because it is not my main focus anymore.

I can fit into XL shirts and I can't fit size 24's anymore, that is progress. I am on my way to my summer goal. My goal for the summer is to be in a size 18 by Labor Day and I am pushing for that.

Had a awesome meeting. The leader talked about roadblocks and distractions and such. It really got me to thinking about my eating habits in the evening. I am going to have to get better control of them. A lady made lifetime today and brought in her before picture, I was amazed and inspired at the same time. She was roughly my size and she is like a size 8 now. She looks like a complete different person. I am soo looking forward to that.

Well off to finish dinner (chops and green beans) and to workout.

Stef

Pushing Myself!

Well I have been doing good exercise wise, not so good with the food. I have been pushing myself. I realize that I try and hold back, so this week I am not taking my second water aerobis class and I am going to hit the treadmill. I need a better workout and this will do it. I actually did something called the 10 10 10 workout last night. I liked it. It really pushed me. My abs were screaming and shaking (lol). My body is probably like what is she doing to me.

I am going to try and do better on the food. I have 3 days until weigh in. I had a compliment yesterday. One of co-workers told me that "The working out is really paying off". In my mind I was like "yeah" that is what I am talking about. It feels so good to finally see a payoff on this.

It has a been a long journey and I am not even halfway there. I have a long way to go, but I will get there. I am not stopping until I get there and even then I will always be on WW. I will always attend meetings ( I just won't have to pay). That itself is pushing me. $39.95 is not breaking the bank, but to not have to pay it. I can't wait.

Stef

1st June WI!

I lost. Yes I lost. I lost 1.6 pounds! Yaa for me. It seems if I take my focus off the scale and onto exercise and staying OP the weight comes off. I was really good yesterday. Matter of fact I was good all week. I have a plan with my exercise and with my eating plan and its going to be alright.


Stef

Trainer Day!

Met with the trainer for this first time today. She is awesome. Not too pushy and gave me a lot of kudos on what I have accomplished so far. It was just what I needed. My hubby is still not happy with my decision to get the weight off and it is being hard just being around him. He makes a comment about it on a daily basis now. At first I thought he was joking, but I see that he is not. I really think it comes from him being insecure. But not my problem, its his. I don't think he realizes that he really is pushing me. When he gets on his soapbox, I leave and go to the gym or go walking and that is just bringing me closer to my goal.

Back to my trainer, did I say she was awesome. She said I need to workout 5 days a week. I will do water aerobics for two days and the other three I will do cardio and abdominal exercises. She put me on the machine and it kicked my butt. I have to do 3 sets of twelve. I did it and I now feel it. I have to that every other day.

I am so excited now. She told me not to be discouraged about the scale, focus on my body and how that looks and that is what I am going to do.

Well weigh in is tomorrow and I am not nervous or anything. I might be down, I might be up, but I will be okay with either one. I know that I am following the program and I am exercising and I am wearing smaller clothes and overall that will keep me motivated.

Stef

Another Day!

Well here we are 3 days into the month and I can tell you, I was really getting fustrated. They have canceled my water aerobics two days in a row. At this point I am supposed to be at 110 minutes of excercise instead of just 60. I was really ready to throw in the towel on trying to get in 45 minutes today and I said "Stef" what are you doing? This is not you. You have come so far. So I went to exercise on demand and did a 3 mile brisk walk and I feel so much better now.

I guess when they I hear people saying how hard it is to keep the weight off, I understand. I have at least 70 more pounds to goal and I am already having self induced setbacks. I realize I have to be stronger, I have to reach my goal.

Stef

At Least I tried!

First of all I missed Sunday's WI. Just couldn't get it together. That is all I am going to say on the subject. Well I had this brillant idea to try Beginner's Step Aerobics. Well it kicked my ass. I only last roughly 15-20 minutes. Come to find out it wasn't even Beginners at all. It was intermediate. I will not be meeting my goal of loosing whatever it was this month, but I am not beating myself up about it.

I have set my goals for June already and I am focused, focused, focused. I am meeting with a trainer at the "Y" to start a 12 week fitness program. I want to make sure I am doing the right things to get to me to my goal. My ultimate goal for the summer is to leave women's clothing behind and get into ladies.

My goals for June are:

exercise more
drink more water
lose 1 inch off my waist
lose 1 inch off my thighs

I am not setting any weight loss related goals. Because of my meds I am leaving that one alone.

Stef

Third May WI!

I lost another pound at Sunday's weigh in. I have to lose another 3.40 to lose the 5 pounds I wanted to lose this month. I have two weeks to get it done and I am pushing myself. I have joined a couple of weight loss groups in the WW website to help me along this journey and it has really helped.

Here is hoping I meet my goal.

Until next week.

Stef

Second May WI!

I am down another .6 this week. Overall I am quite happy with that. I am noticing other changes outside the scale and that's keeping me going. Our leader told us today our homework was to come up with a goal for this summer and have it ready to share next week. My goal for the summer is to get into a size 18 comfortably. I know that is a big goal, but they say you lose a dress size for every 10-15 pounds you lose so this is a good goal for me. So I have from know until Labor Day to get there. My anniversay date with WW is October 6th by the way. So here goes.

Stef

First May Weigh In.

Well I weighed in this morning and I was up .2, so basically I maintained. I am happy with that. My girlfriend showed up Thursday so I knew it was going to show up on the scale. I did exercise more last week and I pushed myself.

Until next week.

Stef

Last weight and Last Post!

I have changed my weigh in day to Sunday. Me and Saturday morning was not getting along. At my last WI I was done another .6. This has been the month from hell. I am so looking forward to May. I was not in the best health at all this month and it took a toll on my weight loss.

I have to listen to my body and my doctor. My focus should be on me per say and not the weight loss. If I am too tired to walk then I have to listen to my body and not do it. It is hard because I have gotten used to doing some form of exercise almost everyday.

Well here goes a better May, and Daniel, I promise to post something at least once a week. Most likely it will be on Sunday after WI.

I will also post a pic on June 1.

Stef

Halfway Point!

Well I did not make it to weigh in Saturday. I did not get up in time. I really need to get there this Saturday. I am honestly say I am starting to feel much better since last week. I have stayed OP all this week and I am back walking. Not briskly just moderately.

Well here goes for the rest of the month.

Stef

Home Sick!

Well I have been home sick for a couple of days and I am getting really worried about Saturday's WI. I know that is the last thing that I should be worried about, but I am. I have been told no exercise for a while. I can walk just not briskly. So I guess starting tommorrow I will be a walking sensation. I just do not want to gain any of the weight back. I have come so far. I think I will be okay as long as I maintain. So I figure if I walk everday and only eat my dailies and no flexies I should maintain until I am able to start back really exercising.

Stef

First April WI

Well I am down another .4 and I am extremly pleased. It is that time of the month and I am really bloated. I am on a journey to acheive a healthy lifestyle, lose 100 pounds and wear a size 10/12. I will not stop until all of these goals are acheived. This blog and all the support I have really help me to stay focused and on track.

I have started back walking outside which I love. I believe between the resistance training and walking I will acheive all my goals.

Stef

Final March Totals!

I am so glad that March is over. I did not meet any of my goals. I actually gained .8 this month. At my final weigh in I lost 1.2 of the 2 pounds I gained this month.

I am taking a breather on the goals for April. I am noticing that I am being hard on myself with this and need to take a step backwords. I know that I am not on a diet this is a lifestyle for me and I need to treat it as such. I don't want to get so caught in beating myself up if I don't meet certain goals.

Yes, I am going to lose this weight. I have not doubt about that, but I have to be realistic and when I see myself stretching myself beyond my limits mentally.

Until Saturday and April's first weigh in.

Stef

Comparison!

I can't really see a difference.

30 Pounds Gone Forever!

3/This is a updated pic of me taken 3/23/08 by my DH!/08 by my DH.

March 23, WI!

Well lo and behold I gained again. I am up .8. My leader says its because I am not eating enough. I thought I would never hear anybody say that to me in life. She says that by me going back to strength training and not eating all my daily flext points that my body is holding on to everything. It thinks I am starving it.

Until next week and the final WI.

Stef

Mistake!

Okay I am only up 1.2 not 1.8, but up all the same. I feel a little better, but I am striving to have a better second half of the month.

Until 3/22.

Stef

No Weigh In!

Well no weigh in this week, had a big snow storm here and was basically on lockdown. Hard to get around. We got over a foot of snow. I have made a decision to go back to the gym. It is starting to warm up a lil bit and I am not seeing the same results I saw when I was going on a regular basis.

I am not liking the treadmill anymore and I am really getting lax on exercise. I really need to refocus.

Well here's to getting through this month. Only 3 more weigh ins to go.

Stef

New Challenges!

Today at work ( because there is 4 of us on WW) and we all support each other along with our great coach, we have decided to have weekly challenges. This week's challenge starting today is to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

This should be really easy, but I am so stoked about this new aspect in this journey. This time around I have so much support and I am truly being honest with myself. Of course I have days that I have eaten something I should haven't, but that is just it. It always stops at one day and progresses no further.

Getting back to the challenges, I can't wait to see what lies ahead. I look at it as a way of keeping me on my toes and being held accountable.

Until Saturday,

Stef

My March Goals!

Here they are:

Lose 7 pounds! ( yes I added one)

Lose 1 inch off my hips.

Lose 1 inch off my thighs.

Lose 1 inch of my waist.

Lose 1 inch off the biggest part of stomach.

Do Cardio at least 3 times a week.

Do Strength traning 3 times a week.

Here goes will check back in one week!

Mz Stef

Final Weigh In!

Okay people (or whomever is reading) I am down another 2.2 pounds. I think I miscalculated on an earlier blog and said I was down 5.8 when I was only down 5.6.

I have only met on goal this month and that is with the weight lost. I lost a total of 8.2 pounds.
Went to my meeting today and had a great time, it was really inspirational. To see people who used to be as big as I am who are now a size 8 or 10 is amazing. You would look at these people and think they never had a weight problem.

My husband has his ups and downs with this. I think he is just scared that somehow I am going to change and be a different person once I reach goal. I have to constantly reassure him, I am and will always be the Stef he fell in love with. He has always been a toucher now he touches me even more and says encouraging things like "when did this curve get here" or "when did this get so smooth" meaning where did the fat role go. So I have a feeling he is liking it more then he lets on.

So here I am welcoming in another month and another set of goals.

Stef

On My Way!

Today is my last weigh in. I kinda feel like I haven't lost anymore weight. But whatever the scale tells me I will take it in stride.

Until later with my monthly results.

Stef

One more weigh in to go!

I have one more weigh in to go. I weighed in yesterday and I am down another .4. So I have met my monthly goal and exceeded it by .2 so far.

Here is making the best of the last month.

Until next week.

Stef

Halfway Through!

I am now halfway through the month and I am having outstanding results.

I have two great weigh ins one for 3.2 and one for 2.4. So far this month I have lost a total of 5.8 pounds just .2 away from my monthly goal of 6.

I am so motivated right now and I have so much support. I think that has made a really big difference. Along with the fact that I am just tired of being morbily obese. My ultimate goal is just to be fat. I know I will never be a size 8 or weigh 120 pounds, but I can be a size 12 and weigh 160 pounds. That is my ulitmate goal and it is in sight.

One month, one pound, and one inch at a time.

Stef

February Goals!

Okay here they are:

Lose 6 pounds

Lose 1 inch off my thighs

Lose 1 inch off my hips (now 50)

Lose 1 inch off my waist (did not happen last month)

Lose 1 inch off my the biggest part of my stomach.

Exercise 5 days a week.

Here we go!

Stef

January Results!

Okay here are my results:

I lost 6 pounds.

The biggest part of my stomach is now 40 instead of 41.

My thighs are still 31 inches.

I did not exercise everday.

Stef

6 More Days!

I have 6 more days until the end of the month. I am hoping I made my goals that I set for myself, but I won't be too disappointed if I don't. I can't be hard on myself. This is a lifestyle for me, so I realize if it don't happen one day, it will happen someday. I say this because exercise and eating right have become a daily part of my life.

So I have learned something called "patience". I know at this time I might not like how slow its going, but hey its going.

Stef

My thoughts

I am loving me some Stef. I am so proud of myself. I just want to hug myself sometimes. I have stayed committed to this journey for almost 4 months now and my level of commitment has not changed.

I have challenged myself yet again. I tried the elliptical today. I only did 2 minutes. I am challenging myself to work my way up to 30 minutes.

I know I will do it.

Stef

January 12th WI!

I am down another 2.8 pounds. That means I have lost over 20 pounds.

Exercise is now a part of my life. I am still a work in progess, but I am so much closer to my goal than just last month and that alone is a major accomplishment.

Until next month.

Stef

My measurements!

Hey All,

I forgot to write my measurements down as of today:

my waist is 38 inches down from 42.

the biggest part of my stomache is 41 inches down from 44

my thighs are still 31 inches

Okay that is it.

My first January WI!

I am down another 2.2lbs. Yes, I am still sticking to this. I am so amazed. I had a conversation with my mom today and we both came to the same conclusion. You can lose weight without being on a very strict diet. The key is portion control and exercise. You have to move sometime. So far I have exercised everyday but yesterday.

Till next weigh in.

Stef