What a fantastic weekend that was.
Believe it or not we grilled every day this weekend...and I lost weight again. :) Down another 2 pounds to total 55 pounds down. I'm excited to be here, in this place, at this time, doing this thing. Its fun to watch my life change like this.
I did alot of shopping this weekend. We have some trips coming up, for work and for fun ~ and I needed some summer and beach wear. I did the bathing suit shopping first. Ugh - I dreaded it. I started at Old Navy, mainly because it was next door to Petsmart and I had to pick up food for my dog. I have never fit well into their clothes. Never bought a pair of jeans there. I think only more recently have they even carried plus sized attire. I found a pretty swimsuit (on the hanger) and some shirts and decided to hit the fitting room. I had my little girl with me, who has no trouble being honest with me, which is normally a pretty good thing, really, when it comes to clothes shopping.
I decided to get the bathing suit trying on over with. I pulled on the plum colored suit with beautiful fabric stretched across the front horizontally - not in a dress like fashion but more like that gathered look. I stood there for a moment kind of shocked. I actually looked decent. Not amazing. And trying to figure out how to hide my thighs, but wow. The suit was really flattering. At the register I found it was on sale. Double luck!
One of the shirts I bought was a size Large. Do you know I have never really worn a large? Maybe in High school - but for most of my adult life, I've been a 1X or bigger. Its so neat to put on "normal" sized clothing.
Today I hit Ross which is one of my favorite stores. I found a dress for $9.99 with a beautiful coral, brown and white print. And...wait for it...it was a size 14. I have not worn anything in that size since I got married. Now I'm still 45 pounds away from that weight, and the dress may have been on clearance since it was "big" for its size, but I don't care. It looks lovely and was a deal. Happiness!
So why am I talking all about clothes on my blog about changing my blueprint? Because I am getting to reap the rewards of all of the sweat and the changed lifestyle. I am enjoying the fruit of my labor and dedication to changing my life. And I'm being diligent at getting rid of my "fatter" clothes - because I don't plan on ever fitting back into those clothes again.
Man, does that feel good.
I'm so glad to be here in this moment - and I feel blessed to be able to share these triumphs with you.
Let me know how I can support you in your journey!
~Clara
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
And Tumbling...and Tumbling..and Tumbling!
I think I've finally found my fat burning spot again...I hope to stay here for awhile. I am down another two pounds to total 53 pounds down! It was time to do measurements again too, and I'm down 48 inches. It feels amazing.
This past weekend we had a big company picnic at a springs location. Last year this would have been a big issue as far as what to wear. It would have been an oversized t-shirt and baggy capris. I'm excited to say I wore a cute pair of shorts and a tank top last weekend. And I looked good. Not amazing, but a way better version of my own self. At the picnic, there were all types of temptations to overeat. First of all, I had ordered 600 cookies for the event and they sat next to me at my desk at work the entire day Friday. Seriously. The entire day. At least a half dozen of those bad boys would have been casualties if the "old me" had been sitting at my desk. But instead, it was the "new me" who had broccoli with her sandwich at lunch and really wasn't that tempted by a cookie that would probably not meet my expectations anyway. The next day, we had a dessert contest at the picnic and a dozen desserts were entered. I smartly asked 3 people besides myself to be the judges so I didn't have to try everything. That went well. By the time I had totaled up the results, welcomed everyone to the event, held babies and talked to employees and their families I realized I hadn't yet eaten. I had some of the amazing fried fish that Hill's bbq does (it doesn't have much batter on it and has incredible flavor) a little bit of potato salad and baked beans. I was completely satisfied. When I left that day about two hours down the road I was hungry...so the large and yummy apple waiting in my bag was perfect and hit the spot.
I decided to get on the scale as soon as I got home and could not believe I was down another few pounds! That felt amazing - two consecutive weeks of travel and I lost weight. I think I finally have this eating/exercise thing figured out - for now. I maintained my running schedule the entire time as well.
Speaking of running, I'm mid-way through week 8 of the Couch to 5k running program. It calls for 28 minute runs with no walking intervals. I had done ok with the 25 minute runs last week but I really wondered, how in the world will I get the extra 3 minutes on there? I did the first one on Monday and it went fine. Then yesterday I did day 2 and when the 28 minutes was up I was not quite to 2 miles so I kept going for another 5 minutes. I ran for 33 minutes without stopping! this is incredible from the girl who tired out walking to her car a year ago. I love how the program really warms you up to running again. It makes it incredibly easy to see successful results!
Rather than stay on the 28 mins for another workout, then 30 mins next week, I plan to instead add 3 to 5 minutes each run, as far as I can go, until I'm running the 5k distance without stopping. I am a pretty slow running so far, so I know I will not be running 10 minute miles like the program expects by next week. My first race is June 12th so I need to get built up to running the distance, then I'll work on the time.
It feels so great to be where I am right now. I can really see changes in my figure and in how I feel. I feel strong, and after I run I am so drenched in sweat it feels like I truly accomplished something. Not to mention I thought at the beginning of this program I would probably not make it past week 4. I can't believe I graduate next week.
Speaking of graduating (nice transitioning, today, eh?) I finished my coursework for my Bachelors degree last week! I have my last semester exam, hopefully next week, and then I am DONE! This is an amazing feat in and of itself.
Adding it to everything else going on with me and I'm a little bit overwhelmed to be honest, but in a good way. I almost feel like I'm living outside of myself. Part of me doesn't want to trust this new, goal-oriented me. Because I might once again fail at this, right?
Absolutely not. Now that I've finished my degree no one can take that away from me. Working on my health has carried me so far - and while I am human, fallible and imperfect, I also have developed a strength in these last nine months that I am not sure I even comprehend.
And if it isn't even strength, really, its just the determination to be a better version of myself. A healthy, mature, educated, consistently supportive and loving person. It seems that when my health is in check, and I'm doing well in my nutrition and exercise, that everything else falls into place. My husband says I am happier and that makes him happy. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I look much better physically, but he's very careful about making comments about my appearance. He called me beautiful at 285 pounds - man, this guy deserves a wife that weighs less than him! He would tell you it doesn't matter. I have a great support network in him and in my six year old who is ecstatic every time I lose more weight. Who could ask for more than that?
I imagine the day of my race I will take some time that afternoon to really reflect on how far I have come. I was determined to change my blueprint but I wasn't sure what that looked like. Well, the plans are almost half done and I really like what the end result will look like.
In the meantime, what is built so far is enough to keep me motivated to continue. Glimpses of where I will end up are keeping me excited about the future.
Look ahead...does your future excite you? Can you see yourself accomplishing goals you've set? I can and I must say...the view in the wake of the great wall of plateau tumbling down is pretty scenic.
~Clara
This past weekend we had a big company picnic at a springs location. Last year this would have been a big issue as far as what to wear. It would have been an oversized t-shirt and baggy capris. I'm excited to say I wore a cute pair of shorts and a tank top last weekend. And I looked good. Not amazing, but a way better version of my own self. At the picnic, there were all types of temptations to overeat. First of all, I had ordered 600 cookies for the event and they sat next to me at my desk at work the entire day Friday. Seriously. The entire day. At least a half dozen of those bad boys would have been casualties if the "old me" had been sitting at my desk. But instead, it was the "new me" who had broccoli with her sandwich at lunch and really wasn't that tempted by a cookie that would probably not meet my expectations anyway. The next day, we had a dessert contest at the picnic and a dozen desserts were entered. I smartly asked 3 people besides myself to be the judges so I didn't have to try everything. That went well. By the time I had totaled up the results, welcomed everyone to the event, held babies and talked to employees and their families I realized I hadn't yet eaten. I had some of the amazing fried fish that Hill's bbq does (it doesn't have much batter on it and has incredible flavor) a little bit of potato salad and baked beans. I was completely satisfied. When I left that day about two hours down the road I was hungry...so the large and yummy apple waiting in my bag was perfect and hit the spot.
I decided to get on the scale as soon as I got home and could not believe I was down another few pounds! That felt amazing - two consecutive weeks of travel and I lost weight. I think I finally have this eating/exercise thing figured out - for now. I maintained my running schedule the entire time as well.
Speaking of running, I'm mid-way through week 8 of the Couch to 5k running program. It calls for 28 minute runs with no walking intervals. I had done ok with the 25 minute runs last week but I really wondered, how in the world will I get the extra 3 minutes on there? I did the first one on Monday and it went fine. Then yesterday I did day 2 and when the 28 minutes was up I was not quite to 2 miles so I kept going for another 5 minutes. I ran for 33 minutes without stopping! this is incredible from the girl who tired out walking to her car a year ago. I love how the program really warms you up to running again. It makes it incredibly easy to see successful results!
Rather than stay on the 28 mins for another workout, then 30 mins next week, I plan to instead add 3 to 5 minutes each run, as far as I can go, until I'm running the 5k distance without stopping. I am a pretty slow running so far, so I know I will not be running 10 minute miles like the program expects by next week. My first race is June 12th so I need to get built up to running the distance, then I'll work on the time.
It feels so great to be where I am right now. I can really see changes in my figure and in how I feel. I feel strong, and after I run I am so drenched in sweat it feels like I truly accomplished something. Not to mention I thought at the beginning of this program I would probably not make it past week 4. I can't believe I graduate next week.
Speaking of graduating (nice transitioning, today, eh?) I finished my coursework for my Bachelors degree last week! I have my last semester exam, hopefully next week, and then I am DONE! This is an amazing feat in and of itself.
Adding it to everything else going on with me and I'm a little bit overwhelmed to be honest, but in a good way. I almost feel like I'm living outside of myself. Part of me doesn't want to trust this new, goal-oriented me. Because I might once again fail at this, right?
Absolutely not. Now that I've finished my degree no one can take that away from me. Working on my health has carried me so far - and while I am human, fallible and imperfect, I also have developed a strength in these last nine months that I am not sure I even comprehend.
And if it isn't even strength, really, its just the determination to be a better version of myself. A healthy, mature, educated, consistently supportive and loving person. It seems that when my health is in check, and I'm doing well in my nutrition and exercise, that everything else falls into place. My husband says I am happier and that makes him happy. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I look much better physically, but he's very careful about making comments about my appearance. He called me beautiful at 285 pounds - man, this guy deserves a wife that weighs less than him! He would tell you it doesn't matter. I have a great support network in him and in my six year old who is ecstatic every time I lose more weight. Who could ask for more than that?
I imagine the day of my race I will take some time that afternoon to really reflect on how far I have come. I was determined to change my blueprint but I wasn't sure what that looked like. Well, the plans are almost half done and I really like what the end result will look like.
In the meantime, what is built so far is enough to keep me motivated to continue. Glimpses of where I will end up are keeping me excited about the future.
Look ahead...does your future excite you? Can you see yourself accomplishing goals you've set? I can and I must say...the view in the wake of the great wall of plateau tumbling down is pretty scenic.
~Clara
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Great Wall of Plateau Came Tumbling Down...
Exciting news! Have finally broken the plateau I've been on for what seems like forever...and now I'm down 51 pounds! Woohoo! Very exciting times. It feels amazing.
I know what did it - a series of good choices. Every good choice you make is calories saved in the bank. Or burned if the choice includes exercise.
A very recent choice, just today we had a church supper - you know how dangerous those can be! I am excited to say I did not get a 2nd plate (even though its almost offensive in the south not to) and kept my calories in check. I felt satisfied and not gross after eating. That is the way to go folks!
On the way home I mentioned cooking dinner and everyone else in the car was like, how can we eat dinner, we just ate a huge meal, we won't need dinner! I had my non offensive chance to say, well, I didn't overeat, so I will be having dinner tonight. Might be just me eating, but I need to cook one more meal to leave some for my family anyway since I leave town again tomorrow.
So choices is my focus today. Everything that comes into your path gives you a chance to make a choice. I know for many years I didn't make good choices most of the time - and paid for those consequences later...like excessive weight gain, feeling horrible and inactive, pain in all of my joints, stretch marks in places there should not be stretch marks. Were all of those fried chicken sandwiches worth it? Today I say no - then I said yes. Now when I eat food of "my past" it tastes bland and hollow to me. I much prefer healthy, real food. I never thought I would say that. But the choices I have made for the last 8 months have completely changed my own future blueprint of health, and fortunately my taste buds have changed for the positive too!
I choose to stay active. I choose to run a 5k race on June 12th. I choose to eat healthy at least 90% of the time (the other 10% includes indulgences like chocolate, cookies or whatever else strikes my fancy - in moderation of course!).
In doing these things...its like I am choosing to live. That's huge.
Here's to another week of great choices. Let me know if you have been able to do the same - lets keep one another motivated to live healthy!
~Clara
I know what did it - a series of good choices. Every good choice you make is calories saved in the bank. Or burned if the choice includes exercise.
A very recent choice, just today we had a church supper - you know how dangerous those can be! I am excited to say I did not get a 2nd plate (even though its almost offensive in the south not to) and kept my calories in check. I felt satisfied and not gross after eating. That is the way to go folks!
On the way home I mentioned cooking dinner and everyone else in the car was like, how can we eat dinner, we just ate a huge meal, we won't need dinner! I had my non offensive chance to say, well, I didn't overeat, so I will be having dinner tonight. Might be just me eating, but I need to cook one more meal to leave some for my family anyway since I leave town again tomorrow.
So choices is my focus today. Everything that comes into your path gives you a chance to make a choice. I know for many years I didn't make good choices most of the time - and paid for those consequences later...like excessive weight gain, feeling horrible and inactive, pain in all of my joints, stretch marks in places there should not be stretch marks. Were all of those fried chicken sandwiches worth it? Today I say no - then I said yes. Now when I eat food of "my past" it tastes bland and hollow to me. I much prefer healthy, real food. I never thought I would say that. But the choices I have made for the last 8 months have completely changed my own future blueprint of health, and fortunately my taste buds have changed for the positive too!
I choose to stay active. I choose to run a 5k race on June 12th. I choose to eat healthy at least 90% of the time (the other 10% includes indulgences like chocolate, cookies or whatever else strikes my fancy - in moderation of course!).
In doing these things...its like I am choosing to live. That's huge.
Here's to another week of great choices. Let me know if you have been able to do the same - lets keep one another motivated to live healthy!
~Clara
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Breaking the plateau, one good choice at a time!
So, the plateau started getting to me. It isn't technically a plateau but I'm not losing like I was...and I've been in the 47-49 pounds lost range for about 4 weeks which I was SO over. :) I decided to break the plateau...but realized quickly that it was going to take a series of good choices to get me there.
One example would be tonight. My mom and I went shopping, then to dinner. Usually we would go to my former favorite place, TX Roadhouse, where I would be tempted with yeast rolls and cinnamon butter, uncountable peanuts and fried chicken tenders. I wasn't extremely hungry as I had a very satisfying lunch, so we went to Chick-fil-a where I had a chargrilled chicken sandwich and fruit. It was awesome! And just right. I came in just in my calorie 'range' for the day on SparkPeople. That feels good. This is supposed to be the weekend I lose a few pounds due to where my cycle is...and I'm trying to do everything right to be sure it actually happens!
Another great choice today...sticking to my running program! I completed Day 3 of Week 6 in the Couch to 5k running program (www.coolrunning.com). I actually ran...wait for it...for 25 minutes without stopping! I still am not sure I believe I actually did it. I truly feel accomplished at this moment in time. I'm not "there" yet. I can't run 3 miles without stopping. But I'm close - almost 2 miles today. I'm sooooo excited!
This will be a few weeks of great accomplishment for me - finishing my Bachelors in Marketing in a few weeks...breaking the plateau...running my first 5k on June 12th. Very exciting times. And each of these things has started with a series of good choices and decisions to believe enough in and care enough about myself to succeed.
Never in my life have the achievement of goals tasted so sweet as when they were challenging to accomplish and I wondered if I ever would at the onset.
Life is good.
~Clara
One example would be tonight. My mom and I went shopping, then to dinner. Usually we would go to my former favorite place, TX Roadhouse, where I would be tempted with yeast rolls and cinnamon butter, uncountable peanuts and fried chicken tenders. I wasn't extremely hungry as I had a very satisfying lunch, so we went to Chick-fil-a where I had a chargrilled chicken sandwich and fruit. It was awesome! And just right. I came in just in my calorie 'range' for the day on SparkPeople. That feels good. This is supposed to be the weekend I lose a few pounds due to where my cycle is...and I'm trying to do everything right to be sure it actually happens!
Another great choice today...sticking to my running program! I completed Day 3 of Week 6 in the Couch to 5k running program (www.coolrunning.com). I actually ran...wait for it...for 25 minutes without stopping! I still am not sure I believe I actually did it. I truly feel accomplished at this moment in time. I'm not "there" yet. I can't run 3 miles without stopping. But I'm close - almost 2 miles today. I'm sooooo excited!
This will be a few weeks of great accomplishment for me - finishing my Bachelors in Marketing in a few weeks...breaking the plateau...running my first 5k on June 12th. Very exciting times. And each of these things has started with a series of good choices and decisions to believe enough in and care enough about myself to succeed.
Never in my life have the achievement of goals tasted so sweet as when they were challenging to accomplish and I wondered if I ever would at the onset.
Life is good.
~Clara
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Can't rain on my parade...
It's been a busy and crazy few weeks in my world. Lots of work travel (every other week) and general craziness of trying to catch up on the house and family time while I'm at home. Sigh. Only a few more weeks of school left and our summer will begin. I really can't wait.
Somehow in the midst of this craziness, I have still managed to keep up with my running program! I can't believe I am in the middle of week 5 of the Counch to 5k running program. Instead of running 3 times a week, I am running every other day, which is putting me on a fast track for the 9 week program. Get it, fast track? :D
Anyway my ankle is doing very well. I splurged and got some great running shoes, the Asics Gel Nimbus. They are way comfortable and super light. I can definitely tell a difference running in them as compared to my cheap not well fitted for me shoes I began running in. :) You get what you pay for!
Speaking of running gear, I decided that running in baggy pants and long huge tshirts wasn't cutting it. First of all, it is getting crazy warm outside and the bigger the clothes, the warmer I get. I need all the air I can get out there! So I got brave and bought a few racer back tank tops to wear with these very comfy but not baggy capri running pants. I'm not doing the shorts thing...yet, anyway. I can't tell you how great it feels to run in these clothes. Do I look perfect? Not hardly. But I feel great. And its much much cooler. Plus, I feel more like an athlete. And the tank tops have a "media pocket" for my mp3 player. Functional and cute...love it! Anyway, believe it or not, I feel way better about myself dressed this way then before. I'll have to post a comparison picture so you can see the difference clothes that fit makes. :)
I got excited when I found a "new" muscle on the front of my leg, my tibialis anterior. It is becoming really defined thanks to carrying 236 pounds at a faster pace. It was a nice realization and further comfort that my body is changing for the positive even if the scale isn't moving fast.
Good thing is the scale IS moving. At it's own pace...so now we're at 236 pounds, I've lost one more pound. 49 total! That is very exciting and motivating. I'll tell you, hitting a plateau right before you hit a huge milestone really stinks, but that will make hitting the 50 pound mark that much more exciting!
I joined sparkpeople today - its a website (http://www.sparkpeople.com/) created by a couple who worked for ebay in its early days and have found themselves retired and rich - so they created this website to help people become more healthy. It has all kinds of cool features that I'm just learning. I can track my food there, my activity, my weight, everything. There are boards and forums, so similar to Facebook you can sort of "friend" people and encourage others as well as receive encouragement. I need all the help I can get, so I'm glad to have found this website. Will keep you posted as I work on my profile more. Oh - and one of my favorite parts is that there is a place to map routes - so I was able today to make a route around town that will be my 5k route!
Speaking of 5k, another fun and awesome milestone today - hitting day 2 of week 5 of the couch to 5k program! That was awesome. I can't believe I ran for 8 minutes straight - TWICE! Do you really understand what that's like? OK, if you aren't an athlete, get up, and jog in place for about a minute. Are you tired? Crazy, huh? The Couch to 5k program (http://www.coolrunning.com/) is amazing and I LOVE the fan page on Facebook, its incredibly insightful and helpful. I can go on there at any time and find someone who just completed the day I face tomorrow (running-wise) or encourage someone who is a week behind me. It is so helpful.
Friday I face a new challenge - the dreaded week 5/20 minute run. I'm really excited about it.
My first race is June 12th - the Tomato Trot in Slocomb, AL. I am getting excited...and will be way more excited after I kick this 20 minute run in the tail on Friday!
Happy Living!
~Clara
Somehow in the midst of this craziness, I have still managed to keep up with my running program! I can't believe I am in the middle of week 5 of the Counch to 5k running program. Instead of running 3 times a week, I am running every other day, which is putting me on a fast track for the 9 week program. Get it, fast track? :D
Anyway my ankle is doing very well. I splurged and got some great running shoes, the Asics Gel Nimbus. They are way comfortable and super light. I can definitely tell a difference running in them as compared to my cheap not well fitted for me shoes I began running in. :) You get what you pay for!
Speaking of running gear, I decided that running in baggy pants and long huge tshirts wasn't cutting it. First of all, it is getting crazy warm outside and the bigger the clothes, the warmer I get. I need all the air I can get out there! So I got brave and bought a few racer back tank tops to wear with these very comfy but not baggy capri running pants. I'm not doing the shorts thing...yet, anyway. I can't tell you how great it feels to run in these clothes. Do I look perfect? Not hardly. But I feel great. And its much much cooler. Plus, I feel more like an athlete. And the tank tops have a "media pocket" for my mp3 player. Functional and cute...love it! Anyway, believe it or not, I feel way better about myself dressed this way then before. I'll have to post a comparison picture so you can see the difference clothes that fit makes. :)
I got excited when I found a "new" muscle on the front of my leg, my tibialis anterior. It is becoming really defined thanks to carrying 236 pounds at a faster pace. It was a nice realization and further comfort that my body is changing for the positive even if the scale isn't moving fast.
Good thing is the scale IS moving. At it's own pace...so now we're at 236 pounds, I've lost one more pound. 49 total! That is very exciting and motivating. I'll tell you, hitting a plateau right before you hit a huge milestone really stinks, but that will make hitting the 50 pound mark that much more exciting!
I joined sparkpeople today - its a website (http://www.sparkpeople.com/) created by a couple who worked for ebay in its early days and have found themselves retired and rich - so they created this website to help people become more healthy. It has all kinds of cool features that I'm just learning. I can track my food there, my activity, my weight, everything. There are boards and forums, so similar to Facebook you can sort of "friend" people and encourage others as well as receive encouragement. I need all the help I can get, so I'm glad to have found this website. Will keep you posted as I work on my profile more. Oh - and one of my favorite parts is that there is a place to map routes - so I was able today to make a route around town that will be my 5k route!
Speaking of 5k, another fun and awesome milestone today - hitting day 2 of week 5 of the couch to 5k program! That was awesome. I can't believe I ran for 8 minutes straight - TWICE! Do you really understand what that's like? OK, if you aren't an athlete, get up, and jog in place for about a minute. Are you tired? Crazy, huh? The Couch to 5k program (http://www.coolrunning.com/) is amazing and I LOVE the fan page on Facebook, its incredibly insightful and helpful. I can go on there at any time and find someone who just completed the day I face tomorrow (running-wise) or encourage someone who is a week behind me. It is so helpful.
Friday I face a new challenge - the dreaded week 5/20 minute run. I'm really excited about it.
My first race is June 12th - the Tomato Trot in Slocomb, AL. I am getting excited...and will be way more excited after I kick this 20 minute run in the tail on Friday!
Happy Living!
~Clara
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