My Son's Plea is Giving Me Inspiration!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

As most of you know I have 7 kids. Two of them are currently in high school and basketball players. One is 15 and a sophmore, 6'9" and plays for the school's JV team. The other one is 17, a Junior, 6'8" and is on the Varsity team.

Our school, like I'm sure most, have a tradition where the mom escorts their player onto the court/field on their last home game of their senior year. Well a week ago my Sophmore son came to me and said, "Mom, you've got to lose your weight, you have one year until you have to escort T for his last home game"

I know my weight is an embarrassment to them. They both are so athletic. Not only do I know my son would be proud of me and feel more comfortable with me on his arm in front of all his friends I know I will feel so much better walking in front of everyone at a healthier weight!

So I have approximately 13.5 months until that moment. Where would I like to see myself by then? In ONEderland! I'm not planning on being at goal but even 199 would be the lowest I've weighed in 21 years.

I'm keeping that goal as inspiration but kind of in the background. This time around I'm focusing on smaller, immediate goals. Being successful with those will get me to where I want to be.


310.2lbs 1-10-12
Here is a picture with me and my two sons after last nights games. The one in the argyle sweater is the Junior the other the Sophmore.



Krista

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SIMPLE_IS_BEST 1/13/2012 10:38AM

I'm glad that your son is helping to motivate you. I hope he can keep doing it in a positive way, by encouraging you to work out and eat right, and NOT by hinting that he's embarrassed by you. I guess at least he's being honest and open with you. And just for the record, you look beautiful in that picture. You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. But, it is nice to have a specific goal to shoot for, and date to reach it by. You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHELAGETSFIT 1/11/2012 4:57PM

Wow!! what motivation! You have very handsome sons and you are a very beautiful woman yourself. You can do this. You should blow up this picture and use it as your main focal point on your motivation board and put it somewhere where you'll always see it. Maybe even have your kids write out something motivating to you like how much they love you and how much they want you to stick around. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to do it. Report Inappropriate Comment

MACMOM57 1/11/2012 4:53PM

What a great picture nice looking boy and a beautiful mom. Take it one day at a time. You can do it. Report Inappropriate Comment

NOTGIVINGUP49 1/11/2012 1:54PM

Krista, you are beautiful! While I know your kids want you to loose the weight for health, you need to do it for you! Believe me, I never thought I could come as far as I have--haven't been my current weight in 30 years so if I can do it but be realistic with your goals. Report Inappropriate Comment

KIMMAS82 1/11/2012 1:53PM

You can do this!!! That will be a terrific day!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MNGIRLIE 1/11/2012 1:48PM

I think it's good that you took it as motivation and didn't take it personally. I think it would be hard not to do that. You've got some handsome young men there - and tall! oy! Good luck in the coming 13 months! I know you've got this! Report Inappropriate Comment

LOOZINITNOW 1/11/2012 1:38PM

What a beautiful picture! You can do this!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

A Glimmer of What Threw Me Off Track

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Last year, between April and June, I was on FIRE! I was motivated, enthusiastic and DOING IT! With my crazy life in order to get my workouts in I was waking up at 4:45 and going to the gym or working out on my treadmill. Then summer hit! With the summer I had 7 kids at home with not as much structure. They were coming and going all hours of the day. The older kids didn't have curfews until 11:00 so I had to stay awake to welcome them home or bring them home. Well going to bed at 11:30 does NOT mix well with waking up at 4:45 so I quit. Quit going to the gym, Quit exercising at home, Quit eating healthy, Quit on ME!

I'm now finding the desire, enthusiasm and dedication to make this happen, to get ME healthy! Having 7 kids is crazy whether its summer or school time. I haven't made it back to the gym yet but my goal was to go today. Of course that would mean waking up at 4:45. As I was getting ready to start heading to bed (8:30, I know it's early but I was going to read for a few and hope to actually be counting sheep by 9:30) my sophmore son said, "Oh, I have a paper due tomorrow in English. Rough draft, revision and final copy. If I don't have it done I can't play in the bball game tomorrow." Really?!?!!!!! ARGH!

His solution to the problem was for me to write it for him. Uh, yeah, like that was going to happen. This is my ADHD son and school and he mix about as well as water and oil. He's thankfully been able to maintain As and Bs this year except for in English. This is a HUGE accomplishment for him. Every morning he wakes up saying he hates school and it's the first thing he says when he walks in the door 8 hours later. He has two older cousins also with ADHD and neither of them graduated from high school. I am fighting to keep him in school.

I probably should have said, "Well, get going you have a lot of work to do tonight and if you don't get it done this will be a good lesson to have to sit out of the game" I didn't do that. But I did NOT write the paper for him. I was able to help him not be stressed out, set him in a quiet room and had him brainstorm his paper. I was completely surprised when he brought a fairly thought out three page paper. I proof read it, made the corrections and because I can type 90WPM I typed the final copy for him. (also because he had to wake up at 5:30 for a basketball commitment at 6am! Who makes teenage boys wake up even earlier on an important game day!).

Okay, I know I got sidetracked. So Since I didn't get to bed until 11:30 needless to say my alarm was not set for 4:45. I did get up at 5:30 to get my son out the door and then was able to get 45 minutes of the treadmill in before my daycare kiddos showed up.

I know I have to stay focused on my goal and know my reality is a CRAZY, CHAOTIC life. I need to realize that my schedule will not go as I plan, there are too many others around me to throw it awry. I need to be flexible and if my family needs my help and I can't wake up early I need to have creative options to get enough exercise done throughout the day.

Krista

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PATTYS74 1/10/2012 11:51PM

Sarah's advice is perfect...Have a plan and a back up plan and write it down...seems that when it is on paper some take it more seriously...wnatever it takes to help you stick to it....with a large framily you have to make sure you plan out time for you but always have alternates. Report Inappropriate Comment

NOTGIVINGUP49 1/10/2012 9:47PM

Perhaps you need to have an established plan and then a back up plan for how you are still going to get in your exercise in consistently. Yes your kids are important, but your health is important as well so you can be there for your kids now and in the future. Kudos to you for doing the treadmill! Keep it up! Comment edited on: 1/10/2012 9:47:58 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

IWILLICANIAM 1/10/2012 6:28PM

Why not use the daycare kids to exercise? Kids love to run around and absolutely love to take walks, etc. So if you live in a low traffic area, you could all take a nice walk together! Or if you have a van you could take them all to the park and play with them all afternoon!! :D Good luck!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSG180 1/10/2012 6:13PM

Good for you, rolling with the punches! You didn't give up! Way to go!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JCDUBEA63 1/10/2012 1:43PM

Krista just remember u are important and need to be healthy for yourself and ur family!! Most won't go as planned with so many in your household!! Just keep pushing through and don't beat urself up when it don't happen just take it day by day and it will all fall into place!! Do what u can when u can!! Achieving 10 min is exercise! and exercising with ur kids is fun and u can spend time with them!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FLUTTER-BY)L( 1/10/2012 12:27PM

You could start dancing with the daycare kids to make up the difference. The treadmill works for me too. Wanna borrow my Beach Boys tape....? Report Inappropriate Comment

FEISTYOWL 1/10/2012 12:25PM

Boy can I understand being sidetracked by your kids! I don't have 7, but the ones I have constantly mess with my schedule. I don't know if this helps or not (not that you were looking for help anyway), but I just find having exercise that can be done any time of day is a life saver for me. Plus exercise I can do even if they are interrupting/asking questions. It is just a part of life, as you know better than I do, to be interrupted many, many times. I agree with you too about having creative options. You can do it - and it's great that you're looking at these things to figure it all out! Report Inappropriate Comment

JENNSWIMS 1/10/2012 12:05PM

If you can be successful with everything you have going on, well, I have no excuses. Thanks for the reminder! Report Inappropriate Comment

THE_NEW_MELISSA 1/10/2012 12:01PM

It's so easy to get side tracked when children are part of your life. I only have 3 and I know, I can't imagine 7! I too, get up at 4:45 to get "my time" in. If i wait til evening, it'll just never happen, plain and simple. Hang in there, stay focused, it will happen. Tomorrow is a fresh start, set your alarm :) Report Inappropriate Comment

LILRED75 1/10/2012 12:00PM

Kudos for making him write his paper, even if you did type it. One of these days though, you'll actually have some "me" time. Report Inappropriate Comment

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Monday, January 09, 2012

12/29 Is when I logged a weight....317. Was I doing anything to make that number to go down? No, but I was thinking a lot about it and starting back here, on Spark People. I was still eating my bags of sweets, not eating regular meals, except dinner, and NEVER drinking an ounce of water. And forget about exercising. Everything ached, my breathing was labored after walking up the stairs and any kind of movement made me feel like a beached wale.

1/1/12 Actively participating on several Spark teams. Still no exercising. Came down with the stomach flu so wasn't doing much about my eating but DEFINITELY wasn't making a chose to choose only healthy things.

1/2/12 Still sick with the stomach flu

1/3/12 Officially going with my goals, water, movement and calorie counting including logging all that stuff on SP and staying active with my groups.

Today I have lost a total of 6.2lbs!
* I actually got out of bed at 5:30 so I could get 30min of exercise in before my kids woke up.
* I took my kids to the park for 90 min on Saturday and actively walked around with them not sitting down once (the old me would have sat the whole time)
* I didn't have the ice cream and brownies my family did but instead had sugar-free pudding with fat free coolwhip.
* I don't ask my kids to do my errands upstairs, I want to go do them to add more steps to my pedometer.
* I don't sit and read all day, which was my way of "getting away from it all"
* I am getting my house clean, my kids played with, my family cared for PLUS have time for SP and shorter periods of reading.
* I feel stronger
* I like myself better
* I grasping all the possibilities that are out there waiting for me instead of thinking.."this is just how I am and how my life will be"

I could write so much more but WOW, have things changed in EVERY aspect of my life...It Feels GREAT! And that's only after 6lbs!


Krista

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IWILLICANIAM 1/10/2012 12:42AM

YAY!! Congrats on your loss!! It is amazing how just a few days can make one heck of a difference isn't it? :D I hope to also be losing at the end of this week!! :) Keep up the fantastic work!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JCDUBEA63 1/9/2012 8:35PM

Krista I am so glad for u!! Wow keep pushing see what a difference a month will make!! Fantastic Job on ur weight loss!! U rock!!! We are doing this!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FLASH_AAH 1/9/2012 7:48PM

Wow! What an inspirational post! Report Inappropriate Comment

LOOZINITNOW 1/9/2012 7:44PM

Good for you! So proud of you for making the best choices for yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

MARIE405 1/9/2012 4:39PM

You Rock. Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSG180 1/9/2012 3:35PM

Ouutstanding!! Report Inappropriate Comment

THE_NEW_MELISSA 1/9/2012 2:26PM

Awesome! Keep on rocking! Report Inappropriate Comment

FEISTYOWL 1/9/2012 2:25PM

Awesome Krista - you're doing great! Report Inappropriate Comment

KARENDEE4 1/9/2012 2:23PM

Great!! You are doing a great job!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Old Habits...I could Smell it!

Friday, January 06, 2012

One of my old habits (as in one-week-old) was to sit up in my room, curled up in bed, reading a good book and eating CHOCOLATE! There were lots of different types of chocolate, Hershey Nuggest with almonds, boxes of chocolate, Snickers bar, Milk Duds, Hot Cocoa, and....PEANUT M&M's! Those were my usual stand by, my reading buddy. I'd pour a pile from a LARGE sized bag. I'd take one at a time and bit it in half trying to keep the peanut intact and, if I was successfull, I'd pull the peanut out of the yummy chocolate shell, eat that, then eat the chocolate deliciousness.

I wouldn't eat the entire LARGE bag in one sitting but it would definitely be gone in 1.5 to 2 days. I used to buy those about 2-3 times a week.

Today I went into my room to get something. The item was located near my bedside table. I was I walked towards it I got an OVERWHELMING smell of peanut M&Ms. Oh, my STARS! My mouth started watering and I actually paused for a moment. It's a good thing I have no chocolate in my house because I probably would have eaten some right then.

I know I will eat some of those chocolate goodies again but I CANNOT do it under the same circumstances! I've got to break that terrible habit and lose the connection of junk food and reading!

I've been doing great! After having the stomach flu on Sunday and Monday I was truly able to kick off my new healthy plan (exercising 6 days a week and eating within calorie range set by SP, 1200-1550) Of course it's only be 4 days but I've been 100% on goal.

The exercising has been a struggle! I'm no where in the same shape I was when I left SP back in June. I don't even feel like I'm in the same shape I was when I started in April. It just shows me that if I don't stay on track I lose not only what I gained but even what I already had, especially since I'm getting older. This time HAS TO BE the time that it clicks, no more yo-yo dieting, each time my body (and psychy) pays for it


Krista

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JCDUBEA63 1/9/2012 8:40PM

on making better choices!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NOTGIVINGUP49 1/8/2012 9:56PM

May I suggest while reading to chew the new gum out: Extra comes in mint chocolate chip, They also have strawberry shortcake, and apple pie (I have been told this one is the best, but have not tried it). I love the mint chocolate chip and it tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream! I know you will come up with some strategics that work for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

MACMOM57 1/8/2012 5:33PM

I know you can do it. Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSG180 1/8/2012 11:46AM

Man, I hear you on how fast we lose our conditioning now that we're older. I have to keep it up or seriously fall behind. Report Inappropriate Comment

OVERHAULING-ME 1/7/2012 11:17AM

Pam, WOW!!! I'm surprised you remembered the story about my son with his arms stretched out across the candy aisle! Thanks for bringing it back to my memory, I went back and read my post about it! It's made me stronger for today and hopefully I'll keep it with me every time I pass a candy aisle and smile as I visualize my son (now 6'9" with a wing span of almost 7') with his arms spread wide keeping me from getting to any of it. Here's the post about my son from last June: http://www.sparkpeople.com /mypage_public_journal_individu al.asp?blog_id=4269762 Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBLYNN323 1/7/2012 11:13AM

...I'm the same during football season (wings). You've come a long way....to identify your triggers and find ways around them. Report Inappropriate Comment

FLAMINGOMAMA66 1/7/2012 7:57AM

It is amazing the rituals we have the surround food! Football is not football to me without pizza, wings and coke. Today I need to change it up and it will be 8" boboli whole wheat pizza and coke zero. Maybe next season I will be able to watch a game and NOT eat! That would be amazing. I am on the same calorie plan and am finding it is not so bad at all. Strange after eating over 4000 calories some days that I am satisfied with under 1550. Report Inappropriate Comment

FLUTTER-BY)L( 1/7/2012 12:58AM

Many times I have smiled and passed up the candy. I pictured a young man with his arms stretched across the end of the isle. Remember that and all your reasons you want to do this. Keep moving forward. We will do this together. Report Inappropriate Comment

KARENDEE4 1/7/2012 12:08AM

I know how that feels too! Good for you realizing you need to break the habit!! Maybe while reading you can find something else to occupy your hands... I keep thinking of one of those stress balls you could squeeze... Report Inappropriate Comment

FENWAYGIRL18 1/6/2012 10:55PM

god i know how u feel, i'm like that with reese's peanut butter cups... the way i'd eat them , i'd make them last in my mouth and then move on to the next one... biting around the cup and then biting in half and put one side on my tongue and the other on the roof of my mouth and just enjoy the way he peanut butter melted first and then enter the chocolate.... omg it was like eating a lil piece of heaven, like fireworks going off in my mouth, like christmas morning, like everything is right in the world omg is it getting hot in here? hahahaha all that from having a reese's peanut butter cup hahahaha and that is why they are not allowed in the house anymore!!!!! Comment edited on: 1/6/2012 10:57:25 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

Checking In

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Here it is, the 5th day of a new year and I'm still sparking! My eating is going great, staying in my calorie range and eating healthy! It's amazing how I'm really getting more flavor and variety now that I'm making better food choices.

Exercise is happening. I've actually been able to get 50min in a day, not all at once however. It's nothing strenuous yet but, HEY, I'm moving. I need to start incorporating strength training. I have SO much flab! I'm a little worried once I start getting the weight off how much more flab I'll have. I feel, in the 6 months I was gone from SP, my body has changed for the worse as I've gained weight. I am flabbier now at 315 than I was at 325.

I'm having scale frustations! After stepping on it three times I got THREE different numbers! I think it's time for a new scale. Doing so will change my weight but I'd rather do it now, at the beginning, than have to do it further along the weight loss journey.

Still haven't written down my goals for 2012. I do know I have the goal to lose 100lbs for the year! I don't want to focus on that large span of time or impossible sounding number. So I'm going to break that down and focus on losing 10lbs a month. That sounds more doable...It IS doable!


Krista

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FLUTTER-BY)L( 1/5/2012 8:13PM

Life has been busy. I have been unable to take the time to write out all my goals. I think it would be better to make action goals and not weight goals. If you think you can lose 10 pounds a month that would be good. I will be as supportive as I can. I took a church sponsored Overcoming Self Defeating Behavior class. You are being your best self when you do better than you have done before. I am celebrating my 50 pounds last year even though I wanted 100. Whatever you do Keep moving forward. Report Inappropriate Comment

LOOZINITNOW 1/5/2012 6:14PM

Great job staying the course! Strength training is my weak area too. Start small and add as you feel comfortable. Report Inappropriate Comment

JCDUBEA63 1/5/2012 2:02PM

Krista eating healthy and exercising always makes me feel better about myself too!! So why do we stop? LOL I have a lot of Flab to worry about too!! I want a tummy tuck after I lose weight I know there is no way I will be able to do anything about it cause my stomach hangs down! :( Report Inappropriate Comment

HEALTHYASHLEY 1/5/2012 1:51PM

I started feeling concerned about my body shrinking too but it does start to tighten. It just takes longer than we would probably like! Keep up the good work. Report Inappropriate Comment

SONORANARIZONAN 1/5/2012 1:43PM

Yeah, I got to tackle my flab too. Go away, flab! Report Inappropriate Comment

MNGIRLIE 1/5/2012 1:39PM

My scale is usually flaky like that too. I just take whatever number I get the 3 times (not in a row). 10 pounds a month is totally doable. I liked setting 1.2 to 2 pounds per week goals back when I started and then I broke my overall WL goal into 3 sections. It really helps me manage things better than having to look at the GIANT big picture all the time. Report Inappropriate Comment

CHRIMSONFYRE 1/5/2012 12:53PM

Sounds like you have the motivation you need to keep going :) Losing weight slowly will help some of the skin shrink with the loss of weight, but depending how much you want to lose, you will have some left, but over time it will go back to normal from what I've been told. So just keep being healthy and you will see results you desire :) Report Inappropriate Comment