Day 58: Picture Day!

Day 58: Weigh-in 170.6

That's right folks, it says 1-7-0. That means it's time to put up a new picture! Keep in mind, pictures never turn out great when you're taking them with a timer and a tripod, but here's the best I could do...

So 170 marks a little over 15 lbs I've lost since Jeff left. I'm really trying for 5 more before he comes home. I really think it can happen!

Day 53: Getting closer

Day 53: Weigh-in 171.2

Ok so it took me about a week to lose a lb and a half. If I can keep that up, I will have lost 20 lbs before Jeff comes home. I don't know if 20lbs in six months is completely fantastic when I was hoping to lose 30 in three and a half months, but my knees are happier! =) 1.2 more lbs and I'll put up that new picture!

Progress maker: I can see definition in my calves!!! I flex and they look toned, trim, and strong. If the rest of my body looked like the part below my knees, I'd be in a Victoria's Secret catalogue. Well, maybe not, but I'd have no qualms about wearing one of their swimsuits to the beach.

This morning I had a session with my trainer, and things are definitely getting tougher. I can get on the Bosu ball all by myself now though (and if you don't know what that is, be thankful you don't)! I was feeling a little winded today, but I was able to push through it because I'm getting stronger. He's upping the reps, shortening the breaks (or cutting them out!) between exercises, and my form is getting better through it all. Most times I'm just about to work to failure, which is when I go til I just physically can't, and manage to finish. I have three more sessions with him left, but I'm not sure if I'll purchase more or not. I have soccer coming up, Jeff is coming home, and we're getting ready to move. But I'm going to try to get the most out of what I have left.

Day 45: Back in the saddle again

Day 45: Weigh-in 172.4

Yes! It's Me! I have in fact posted once again. I'm not going to lie, I got discouraged. I was posting the same numbers day after day, and frankly it was disheartening to keep this up until something changed. Since my last post on Feb. 11th, I have bounced back and forth between 174-176 lbs. The day before yesterday I broke through with a 173.9. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke before picking this up again.

I had a very frank talk with my husband about how frustrated I was that I wasn't losing weight (on the scale), despite my best efforts. He told me matter-of-factly that we women put too much emphasis on weight, and I should be looking for other indicators that I was improving. So I did:

1. The belt I wear everyday: When I was working I had to buy it because all my other ones were too small, and even this one I could only get on the first hole. I'm now on the 4th, borderline 5th (and final) hole. I can actually fit into most of my other belts again, but I continue to wear this one to measure my progress.

2. My clothes from last summer: Last year I was 195 lbs and refused to buy clothes in size XL or pants bigger than a 12 or maybe 14. As a result I know I didn't look as good as I could have, and clothing was often tight in unflattering places. I can now wear all of those comfortably, even loosely, and am working my way back into my old size 10 clothing.

3. My run time: When I first got on the treadmill, I was unable to finish a full 1.5 miles without slowing down and walking. I couldn't continue a 5mph pace without stopping, and the 1.5 miles took 18-19 minutes. To finish 2 miles took almost 28 minutes. I can now do a continuous 5.5mph pace without stopping, and my mile and a half time is about 16 minutes. Two miles takes 23, but that's just speed walking the last half mile (5.5 still takes the wind out of me, even if i can finish it)

4. Seated leg press: I started with 10 reps at 115 lbs. I can now do 15 reps at 175lbs.

5. All my other weights and reps have gone up as well.

6. I have more energy for every day activities, and my knees and shins aren't bothering me anymore.

I'm still working with my trainer, and in fact have a session with him tomorrow. Every time I work with him, he says I did a lot better than he thought I would, and makes the next workout even harder. One of our workouts was a circuit of 8 exercises that I was to complete 3 times without stopping. He thought it would take me about 45 minutes, and I finished in 29:57. The last exercise of the circuit was a 1/4 mile on an incline, and I finished it a few seconds faster each time.

I am going to try to keep this up better than I have been, but instead of daily posts, I will probably only post when I have reached a new low weight. I know I just went on about how I have made progress in other areas, but I still step on that scale everyday, and that's the number that follows me. The number I'm still fighting to change.

P.S. Only 2.4 lbs before I post a new picture of myself =)