If I can do it... You can do it!!

Monday, December 06, 2010

hi everyone,

i am having difficulty with topics for blogs. for some reason, my creative juices are just not flowing!! i want to blog a lot more, but i don't want to be boring or repetitive either.

i was super surprised that i had a loss this week. my "friend" was with me the past few days and felt so bloated it wasn't even funny. so i was pleasantly surprised this morning to find my 1.7lb loss for the week.

this is a new week. i have 16 days to lose 7 more lbs.

on dec 28th of last year when i returned from florida i was 350lbs. my goal is to be down 150lbs on the 22nd BEFORE i leave to go to florida this year.

i am pretty positive that i can reach this goal. i'm thinking lots of fruits and veggies (fresh and low sodium of course) and hitting the gym and maybe stepping up my cardio and strength stuff. i am determined to meet this goal. i can practically taste it!

i've been working on this new 'ab crunch bench' that my gym just got. at first, i couldn't even do 1 crunch. a few days ago i did 40 and it didn't bother me in any way. i tried adding 10lbs to the bench --- couldn't even budge the thing! so, yesterday, i found a 5lb weight and added that to the bench and VOILA!! i managed to squeeze out 20 crunches with the added 5lbs! i was so excited. i won't do crunches again until wednesday... but my goal is 30 or more with the added weight.

i've also upped all my weights on my other machines too!! improvements are welcome!

i can also see muscles building in my arms but the one thing i want most of all is to get rid of my chicken arms (and legs too!) i just can't stand that floppy skin (and fat) hanging there. and no matter what i try, it seems like that stuff is here to stay. it is really depressing. if i hold my arms up -- they look wicked skinny, that is until you look at all the flab hanging underneath them. What's a girl to do with this?

now, i know there is absolutely no way to target fat loss from certain areas of the body but there has to be a way to dwindle it down so it is not so grotesque and depressing.

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here are some stats for ya.

dec 2009

350 lbs
size 32/34 pants
size 4x shirt (32/34)
size 22 neck
no exercise
waist 56
trouble on stairs
hips 64

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dec 2010

207 lbs
size 18 pants
size large shirt (14/16)
size 13.5 neck
exercise minimum of 5 days a week
waist 38
stairs easy, even without a railing
hips 48

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if i can do this ---- i can do anything!!! and so can you!!!

i hope by posting these numbers, it will help someone to realize that it can be done.
it takes belief in yourself. you need to believe that you deserve this. you need to believe that you can do it. you need to believe that you are WORTH IT!! you need to believe that NOTHING and NO ONE will stand in your way!

make this commitment to yourself. you are worth it.... AND MORE!

i believe we all have the ability to change our circumstances. no matter what our situation, if you believe in yourself -- YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

i did not always believe this when it came to my weight. everything else in my life i did believe it, but this was just one thing i could not tackle. i tried for years and years to lose this weight and i always failed. one day a light came on and i realized that this is no different. i CAN do this!! and so can YOU!!

i'm telling you... believing is the first step. yes, it takes commitment and determination, but if you do not believe it can happen -- then it won't.

you decide!! you decide that this is it! you decide you've had enough!

LET NOTHING STAND IN YOUR WAY.... TRUST ME, IT FEELS TOTALLY AWESOME!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DOWNTOWNJEN 12/7/2010 8:05AM

Thanks for posting your stats - it makes a big difference to those of us just starting our journeys and looking for success stories to keep us motivated! Report Inappropriate Comment

BOOMAC1961 12/6/2010 11:12PM

I sure hope you reach your goal before your trip! You can do it! Wow, what a difference a year can make! You are an inspiration to me to continue on my journey! Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

JRZG8R 12/6/2010 10:36PM

I am floored by your fantastic year. I just started getting on track aug 28 after my summer trip to Florida and not being able to get up on my surfboard. I hope those last few fly off! Report Inappropriate Comment

LOVENS84 12/6/2010 9:51PM

that is amazing progress!!!! Way to Go! Keep up your progress and wow everyone! Report Inappropriate Comment

Soreness is grueling!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

ok, so here's the scoop

i've been working on crunches so i can build muscle in my midsection instead of all this flab.

my gym just got these kinda cool crunch benches. i will post a picture tomorrow after i take a picture. anyway.. the first time i tried it, about 3 weeks ago.... i barely did 5 and i was sore as all heck the following day...

i tried again about a week later and it was easier, but i wasn't sore at all and i managed 10 and was not sore at all.

i tried again, days later and did 20 and again, no soreness.

yesterday i went above and beyond... i did 20 and it actually felt good so i racked up 10 more thinking 'this is great, i think i have the hang of it!" and lo and behold, today, i am sore to the max! my abs are aching... lol, it feels kinda good, like i know i did something to strengthen myself.

i do leg presses too. and yesterday i did 40! i usually do 30 and heel raises as well. well yesterday i started with my normal 80lbs for the first set, then moved to 85 for 2 more sets and then did a 4th set at 90 lbs. let me tell you, between the abs and thighs and the glutes and my calves ---- i am aching all over.

so i didn't realize just how achy i was until i got to the gym tonight. my plan was to do my elliptical, then some minor strength stuff (basic stuff i do 4 times a week) and then maybe jump on the treadmill to wind down.

hahahahha, i was so sore after my elliptical i had no UMPH to do anything else. it was hilarious! it wasn't a killing kind of pain... more of a dull ACHE all over me. needless to say i went home and went out to dinner with my hubby and after that i felt lots better. only mildly achy now..

by tomorrow i should be as good as new and ready to do it all over again.... hahahaha, i have to build up more stamina!

so tell me. what new exercises have you gotten into that leave you feeling totally AWESOME but somewhat achy (achy because you know it is helping you --- not necessarily pain)? did you change what you did or keep on trekking on?

thanks for your input and friendship!!

kat

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MOCUEVAS 11/28/2010 10:42AM

Sounds like you are working yourself to the max... you are amazing! I don't do enough strength training to get sore like that so I don't know what to tell you, but I do know you still inspire me and help me get focused... Smiles, Mo Report Inappropriate Comment

JRZG8R 11/28/2010 12:14AM

The only thing that has got me really sore is leg day with squats and leg press. It does not make me feel awesome but maybe one of these days. Report Inappropriate Comment

DOWNTOWNJEN 11/28/2010 12:11AM

Right now everything I do causes pain but not the kind you describe - it's pain cascade due to fibromyalgia for which there is no remedy. But as I go along, that pain seems to be getting less and less. I ordered an exercise video the other day called "Bollywood Dancing for Beginners" - I previewed it online and it looks like a lot of fun (and something I'll only be able to do 10-15% of right now) but there is a lot of shimmying and doing stuff in a half squat so I'm sure I'll have shaky quads after attempting it for months to come! Good for you doing the ab thang - was that a preacher's chair you were doing? I used to love those. Report Inappropriate Comment

ANGIESDIET2 11/27/2010 10:12PM

NO PAIN NO GAIN!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BAYBELIEVER 11/27/2010 9:49PM

The only thing so far I have done that brings me this kind of soreness--which I love too--is when I go for walks on the beach in the sand. Then my quads, glutes, and hams all are sore! But, I need to join a gym when I have some money so that I can work out more consistently to do ST. Thanks for sharing this! Report Inappropriate Comment

Thanksgiving

Monday, November 22, 2010

this is traditionally the time of year everyone gives thanks...

myself, i am thankful for having the focus and drive i have had this year to make such a drastic improvement to my health. losing 138 lbs so far is no small achievement and i realize this.

i am also thankful for my family. i have a totally awesome hubby. he is the most caring person in the world -- yes, more than me!! he is amazing. i am always amazed that he chose to be with me. 23 years married!! and looking forward to the next 23.

i also have a fantastic son. although is a grown man now, 22 years old, he is a terrific kid to me. he graduates from 'the new england institute of art' in december and he is moving to florida to work with disney as a step towards his goal of film production and writing for television. i love him dearly.

i have several awesome brothers and sisters too! we all got together last saturday just for dinner, but those are times that i really cherish. we are all grown, i am the baby, and it is wonderful to stay in touch.

i have terrific friends as well. my best friend is nearly 10 years older than me but we have been called sisters - that's how close we are.

and of course, all my spark friends. without you to vent to and to encourage me, i never would have made it this far, that is for sure. this is a wonderful outlet for all of us to gather and support each other. it is certainly something worthy of our thanks.

both my hubby and i have decent jobs and we are not 'wanting' for anything. we are certainly blessed.

not sure how to turn thanksgiving into a healthy day though. turkey, stuffing, potatoes, turnip, carrots, GRAVY!! yummy stuff and i love all of it. moderation will be the key with me, but i am not sure i am THAT STRONG! and we won't even talk about desert.

here's the question: how do you turn thanksgiving into a healthy day? tips and recipes welcome!!

kat

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANEWDAWN30 11/22/2010 9:21PM

Congrats on your weight loss, that is a HUGE deal!!!! Excellent Work!!!! For me, unbeknown to my husband, I'll be subbing any ingredients I can with light, low fat foods. Like, 98% fat free mushroom soup and skim in the Green Bean Casserole, Evaporated skim milk in the pumpkin pie, and Slenda regular and sugar blends wherever I can. I'm sure it will still be a slightly high calorie meal, but it shouldn't be too big of a deal as long as the portions stay small. Report Inappropriate Comment

DOWNTOWNJEN 11/22/2010 7:12PM

You have done an amazing job this year. AMAZING! And it sounds like you have a wonderful support system with your family and friends and virtual buddies on SP. Thank you for sharing the things we are all thankful for - especially with so many people enduring trying times. Peace, Happiness and Joy. Enjoy Thanksgiving - I'll bet you do well even if you "indulge" a little. Jen Report Inappropriate Comment

Day 3: Goals and Recommitment

Sunday, November 21, 2010

ok, today is day 3 of my recommitment to blogging and being active.

my goal is to try to respond to each and every person that comments on my blog (and others as well)

i also have the goal of blogging every day, because even if i have nothing important to blog about - even if i am just rattling on about nothing - it helps ME to stay connected and active and focused.

i have decided on a new food goal.... sodium. i seriously need to lower mine. i was reading a friend's blog (thanks kim) and figured i would check out my sodium as well. i was absolutely MORTIFIED!! it turns out, i had no idea what the hell kind of stuff i was eating -- the sodium levels were incredible. i was pretty much wasting all the water, fruits and veggies that i eat because the sodium in the other stuff i ate was tipping the scale in the wrong way.

not sure how i'm gonna meet that sodium goal, but it is a work in progress: just like me!

as for exercise: gym minimum of 5 days.... zumba and wii 2 days.... and on the days i do strength training things, i will sandwich those with my elliptical in the beginning and the treadmill to wind down.

lol i went grocery shopping today and read every label for sodium. man, it took forever to shop today. i tried looking for a pie or something to have or make for desert on thanksgiving..... i was not satisfied with any of the calories or ingredients on anything. i am at a loss for this. maybe i will make some fruit parfaits..... but my son loves pie so i'm not sure what to do.

have a great night one and all.....

ps..... i start a new challenge tomorrow... i am on the team "Gaudy Baubles"
any team mates out there?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MOCUEVAS 11/22/2010 9:18PM

You are amazing, you go girl! Sounds like you have a great plan to conquer each and every piece you need to work on. I'm glad our challenge started agian today, I need it. Like you it helps me to check in and read and post and the challenges help me to do that. Hope you're having a great day! Smiles, Mo Report Inappropriate Comment

BOOMAC1961 11/21/2010 11:00PM

Good luck with cutting the Sodium, I know it can really affect your weight loss! I am a fellow Gaudy Bauble and I look forward to being in the BL Challenge with you! Report Inappropriate Comment

JRZG8R 11/21/2010 9:58PM

You really have a good exercise plan. That sodium can really trip you up especially is you are a sodium sensitive person. It is a prime culprit for high blood pressure . The doc decided soduim does not impart my bp since I cut my sodium by a huge margin and there was no impact to my bp. Maybe get the pie for everyone else and make yourself a parfait. Keep up the good work. Report Inappropriate Comment

so now what?

Saturday, November 20, 2010

ok

just got back from dinner with the siblings...it was fun as usual. i really wish i got to see them more often than i do. we met at an italian brick oven ristorante... yummy. i managed ziti with maranara sauce and grilled chicken.... ok, ok, ok.... i confess!!! i also indulged with 3 glasses of white zinfandel.... this is surprising, especially since i am not much of a wine drinker.... i should be proud of myself, though... hubby finished the whole bottle (it was a double sized bottle) except for my 3 little glasses.

guess it was good that i was driving.. lol... on top of that, we both had our eyes checked today and hubby had to get his eyes dialated.... so he had blurred vision to begin with.. hahahahhaha, it was funny.

my son graduates from college in december. he had applied for a job in florida working for disney, he was hoping to get in on their producing team in some kind of fashion.... knowing full well he'd have to start at the bottom of the ladder in the parks and such. today he infomed me that he got accepted and he just had to give them a date of arrival. needless to say i cried and cried and cried. i'm happy for him to be expanding his horizons and trying to get closer to his dreams of working in television production. but i feel like i am losing my only child. he lives an hour away now and i barely see him what will it be like when he lives 2,000 miles away? i can't stand it. he's my baby and i miss him now!! he just can't move further away!! what am i going to do? yeah yeah, i know, i should be proud of him and happy that he wants to make it on his own, but i feel cheated and depressed about it. now what do i do?

ok, now i am crying again and have to go.

good nite

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MOCUEVAS 11/21/2010 1:06PM

I'm thinking of you as you dela with this Kat. MY kids are younger so I haven't had to deal with it yet, but I can imagine that it is so hard. Hang in there... And yes, your story about your husband and the wine was funny... glad you were driving! Smiles, Mo Report Inappropriate Comment

DOWNTOWNJEN 11/21/2010 12:51AM

You're doing so well with your food and WL! Congrats!! (and I did have a little giggle at your hubby's expense - wine and pupil dilation probably don't mix well!) I know it will be hard at first when your son moves away - my thoughts are with you. Just think though that he is following his dreams which is what we should all wish for our loved ones! Night! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHANNONMOMOF7 11/20/2010 10:35PM

I know my oldest son lives an hour away and some days I miss him so much. I wlll keep you in my prayers that it gets a little easier for you and I think it is great that he was accepted and it gives you an excuse to go to disney. Report Inappropriate Comment