Food tastes good
Last December, I hit a low point - or a high point more accurately. Shortly after Thanksgiving, I weighed more than 200 lbs. The camel's back was broken.
Its very easy to ignore the weight as its going on, that slow, steady creep upwards that says "You are getting older and slower." I organized all of my school ID cards and saw my face getting wider and wider. So this year I made a commitment to myself to reverse the weight creep. Since I wasnt working This Was The Time To Get In Shape. Obviously, I was trying but-not-very-hard. (My Depression in the fall was pretty crippling.) December, I realized that I had to take it seriously, or I was going to eat myself into a grave. This is all weight that I gained during pregnancy and never came off. Those b*stards that said breast-feeding would suck off the fat - total liars.
It doesnt help that I've developed an "addiction" to Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels. Dude, how do you wake up one morning and realize you are 600 lbs? Oh wait. I woke up one morning and realized I'm 200 lbs. Hey, at least I'm a faster learner.
So far, I've lost 10 lbs. No, it hasnt been easy or fast. Food tastes good. My problem with diets in the past has been the pattern of deprivation and then gorging. I still have NO control at buffets. So I'm really trying to change my mindset more than anything. I'm making healthier choices. Eating more vegetables & salads. Putting less on the plate and leaving the pots in the kitchen. Moving more. Drink water instead of calories. I'm going to the gym regularly and have discovered Zumba.
Now, I was never the kind of person who loved going to clubs and dancing until dawn. I like dancing, but I'm not crazy-loco for it. I'm too uncoordinated and self conscious. But ever since I've started going to Zumba, I'm still a total tool, but I LIKE dancing. And for an hour I go and sweat myself crazy
And now my jeans are getting looser. I'd like to see more of a difference on the scale, but 10 lbs may mean there is more muscle on me now...so I may have actually lost 15 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs of muscle. Since I think a little muscle on a woman can be pretty sexy, that's kind of a nice idea.
I wanted to be sure that this wasnt all in my head. So over the weekend I got out a pair of brown jeans that DH gave to me. The last time I put them on, I had to take them off right away. They were so tight, I was feeling nauseous. The jeans are still tight, but definitely looser. They dont look painted on. I'm wearing a belt right now - because my other jeans are feeling looser too....and regardless of fashion standards, my underwear is my own business. Nope, its not all in my head. The proof is in the pants.
Wii Fit came into our lives for Christmas. Recently I crossed an important threshold. I'm no longer "Obese" - now I'm just "Overweight" And look at what the Easter Bunny brought:
There, on the left, next to the piles of Peeps, Wii Zumba. Did you know the Easter Bunny is sensitive to modern concerns about obesity?
Its not as good as going to the gym - particularly the Monday Class with Laura (seriously, how can this woman be having that much fun at work??) and Bernadette on Thursdays makes me realize that I can dance anytime there is a song on my iPod that I like. Child and I were going crazy loco to "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot" the other day. I have the "steps" to have at any time.
This morning, I woke up early and did 10 minutes of Zumba before the Child woke up. Again, not as good as the real thing. But better than nothing and a real jump-start on my day. After I got him off to school, then I did my 3 mile Run/walk, which is my substitute when the weather is nice or I'm too busy to make it to the gym.
The important thing, I'm doing something and its working. Now that I have tasted success (food metaphor?) I'm eager for more. I'm going to make an appointment with the trainer at the gym. She said she can peel even more off of me, but she's encouraged me to talk to my doctor first (probably mostly for her liability - I can respect that.)
I will probably NEVER be a bikini babe. I can dream, but Boriqua Babe and Cheese Cousin will have to remain the MILFs I look up to. I would hate them because they are beautiful -- but both of them are exceptionally wonderful people who I admire. They will have to wear the bikinis in the family.
I'll just be happy to be out of the "bathing suits with little skirts" and clothes with the letter W after the number.
Its very easy to ignore the weight as its going on, that slow, steady creep upwards that says "You are getting older and slower." I organized all of my school ID cards and saw my face getting wider and wider. So this year I made a commitment to myself to reverse the weight creep. Since I wasnt working This Was The Time To Get In Shape. Obviously, I was trying but-not-very-hard. (My Depression in the fall was pretty crippling.) December, I realized that I had to take it seriously, or I was going to eat myself into a grave. This is all weight that I gained during pregnancy and never came off. Those b*stards that said breast-feeding would suck off the fat - total liars.
It doesnt help that I've developed an "addiction" to Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels. Dude, how do you wake up one morning and realize you are 600 lbs? Oh wait. I woke up one morning and realized I'm 200 lbs. Hey, at least I'm a faster learner.
So far, I've lost 10 lbs. No, it hasnt been easy or fast. Food tastes good. My problem with diets in the past has been the pattern of deprivation and then gorging. I still have NO control at buffets. So I'm really trying to change my mindset more than anything. I'm making healthier choices. Eating more vegetables & salads. Putting less on the plate and leaving the pots in the kitchen. Moving more. Drink water instead of calories. I'm going to the gym regularly and have discovered Zumba.
Now, I was never the kind of person who loved going to clubs and dancing until dawn. I like dancing, but I'm not crazy-loco for it. I'm too uncoordinated and self conscious. But ever since I've started going to Zumba, I'm still a total tool, but I LIKE dancing. And for an hour I go and sweat myself crazy
And now my jeans are getting looser. I'd like to see more of a difference on the scale, but 10 lbs may mean there is more muscle on me now...so I may have actually lost 15 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs of muscle. Since I think a little muscle on a woman can be pretty sexy, that's kind of a nice idea.
I wanted to be sure that this wasnt all in my head. So over the weekend I got out a pair of brown jeans that DH gave to me. The last time I put them on, I had to take them off right away. They were so tight, I was feeling nauseous. The jeans are still tight, but definitely looser. They dont look painted on. I'm wearing a belt right now - because my other jeans are feeling looser too....and regardless of fashion standards, my underwear is my own business. Nope, its not all in my head. The proof is in the pants.
Wii Fit came into our lives for Christmas. Recently I crossed an important threshold. I'm no longer "Obese" - now I'm just "Overweight" And look at what the Easter Bunny brought:
There, on the left, next to the piles of Peeps, Wii Zumba. Did you know the Easter Bunny is sensitive to modern concerns about obesity?
Its not as good as going to the gym - particularly the Monday Class with Laura (seriously, how can this woman be having that much fun at work??) and Bernadette on Thursdays makes me realize that I can dance anytime there is a song on my iPod that I like. Child and I were going crazy loco to "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot" the other day. I have the "steps" to have at any time.
This morning, I woke up early and did 10 minutes of Zumba before the Child woke up. Again, not as good as the real thing. But better than nothing and a real jump-start on my day. After I got him off to school, then I did my 3 mile Run/walk, which is my substitute when the weather is nice or I'm too busy to make it to the gym.
The important thing, I'm doing something and its working. Now that I have tasted success (food metaphor?) I'm eager for more. I'm going to make an appointment with the trainer at the gym. She said she can peel even more off of me, but she's encouraged me to talk to my doctor first (probably mostly for her liability - I can respect that.)
I will probably NEVER be a bikini babe. I can dream, but Boriqua Babe and Cheese Cousin will have to remain the MILFs I look up to. I would hate them because they are beautiful -- but both of them are exceptionally wonderful people who I admire. They will have to wear the bikinis in the family.
I'll just be happy to be out of the "bathing suits with little skirts" and clothes with the letter W after the number.