Reality Check

Well I weighed in on National Weigh in Day, (January 2). Yep, you guessed it I did my best impression of Macaulay Culkin from "Home alone". Ah! I was back in the 200's (sob! I mean, gulp!). I weighed in at 202 pounds. However I knew what I needed to do, and got back on that horse. Remember I made it this far, I can do this. So I got back into gym class moving my body, started counting my calories again, and yesterday I weighed in at 196.6 (which is +7.6) where I was BEFORE the holidays started. I can live with that. Now I do not want to stay here! I am trying to reach 40 more pounds down, which just became 47.6 down for this year.

I can do this! So can all of you out there! This is our life! Are you happy at where you are? Are you happy at your level of physical fitness? If not, get started! Only you are stopping yourself! No more excuses, get moving! We can do this!!! So how are you all doing so far?

losing weight and step class -the low down

Well if you like to dance, if you love to shake your thing step class might just be for you. I love step class! However, It has taken me 60 pounds down to be able to really to be able to start taking step class without making my knees hurt.

The low down of losing weight and taking step class is this:

1. Try it! if it makes your knees hurt, stop!

2. When you lose 20 pounds try it again, if it still makes your knees hurt -stop, wait for another twenty pounds down and try it again.

3. you have to be comfortable with yourself to not try to keep up with aerobic barbie in your class, and just do what you are able to do. If it gets to hard, just do what everyone else is doing on the step on the ground.

(*now I will be honest with you when I first tried step class I was not at this place. So what resulted was my knees hurt, I could barely get out of bed the next day- which in the end cost me 3 days of moving my body and burning calories -ugh!)

4. Remind yourself "It is not about being perfect, It's about effort". Yes, I have to remind myself this fact oh, about 30 times about half way through class when I am sucking wind, and aerobic barbie is bouncing around like we just got started.

5. It does not matter what you look like while exercising all that matters is that you are moving your body, burning calories. You are getting stronger, and improving you!

6. If you start back up and your knees just barely ache, come home ice them while watching TV, and take a few ibuprofen and hopeful you will feel fine in the morning. That's the key, and when you know you can add something to your regiment. (Some classes I am still sore the next day, but as the day wears on the soreness works itself out then it is a good type of soreness.)

However, like the old saying goes "The best exercise is the exercise that you will do!" So if you try step class and it is not for you. Hey, it's not for you, go try something else! Just keep moving!

I spin you right round, baby right round

Well I had a horrible, horrible eating weekend!! pms struck me hard & nobody dared to get in between me & chocolate this weekend!! (trust me! I would have hurt somebody if they had even tried!) But at last today is Monday and I am back on the wagon again, striving for clean eating and I added a spin class today so............ Drumroll please .........I will be taking spin 5 days a week now!!! (dunt, dunt, Dah!!!!) (don't you just love "implied" sound effects!) So we shall see if I am still able to walk on Friday. (this has been about a month and half process to work up to). Definitely whining all the way!!

I have added step class back into my routine, and will be blogging about the low down of step class tomorrow. Now that is some fun stuff!

I am going to try to eat clean and step up my work outs for the next few weeks, I have set a "target date" to see what I can accomplish by that date of October 14th. (I have an annual party to attend on the 15th so I am going to use that as a source of motivation to keep me, keeping on. Hey! I have been on a diet since January you really have to set either different weight loss goals and/or event motivators to kick you in the bootie to kick it up a notch!). So much of this weight loss journey that I am on all starts in the mind!!! And for a large part 50% of it is fought and success is determined in the mind! What is my decision today? Will I make good eating choices today? Will I move my body today?


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Diet updates (photos)

Here I am on New Year's Eve 2011. (weighing in at 249.5)




Here I am weighing in at 222.5. ( I was hoping this time i just might be able to loose this weight. Being overweight is exhausting!)



Here I am below weighing in at 202 pounds, I have now added in exercise to the weight loss equation. Not just focusing on my diet.



Here I am below (pictured with my momma, one of my cheerleaders!). Weighing in at 198.4. (yeah! I had broke into the 100's!!)



Below is a picture of me today. (I had just won the spirit contest at spin class - you might not be able to make out the rub on tattoo on the side of my face but I am pretty sure that is why I won the contest. Go Cowboys!). Here I am weighing in at 189.2 (woo HOO!! 60 pounds down) I have crossed the half way point and am very excited to knock out the next 40 pounds until I can hit maintenance phase. It is hard to be on a diet for 9 months and counting, but I am so glad that I have gotten started and I am getting stronger, healthier everyday not just for myself but also for my family)




Here I am holding a goodie filled box for winning the spirit competition for my spin class. (it is filled with a shirt, backpack, & 3 coupon for smoothies there at Sky Gym-where I have meet so many people who offer me daily encouragement on my weight loss journey!! I am going to have to blog about them in the upcoming weeks!). You never can make a successful journey on your own you need a support system!!!

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Spinning at Sky Gym

I took my first spin class yesterday at Sky Gym in Tulsa, Ok.


I had been to intimidated to try spin class for the following reasons: 1). I heard you have to get there early to get a bike and I was unsure what early meant. 2) notice that on the spin bike you can or need to adjust 3 areas on the bike : seat height. Handlebar height, and handlebar distance. I was not sure how to do this, and if there would be enough time for a newbie like myself to figure it out. 3) I wasn't sure if I could keep up.

Wow! I know when I considered all those things, no wonder I was a little afraid of trying spin class. However I love the class "Body Pump" and I have taken it from several different trainers. I know now who my favorite trainer is. (I would encourage anyone new working out at a gym, to try different trainers or teachers that teach the same class. Not all trainers are alike. Just like you don't want to best friends with EVERYONE you meet. You are going to like different trainers better for a variety of reasons.) My favorite trainer is Leslie she is high energy, instructional, encouraging and keeps it fun. A lot of the trainers teach several different classes. So when I decided to branch out and try spin class, I looked to see if she also taught spinning. Sure enough she did, so I picked her class to be my intro into the world of spinning.

I found it fun! Low impact, aerobic. The workout is customizable like body pump through resistance you adjust on the bike and the number of rotation you pedal the bike. My fast is so not there fast -yet! I look forward to improving and having fun in this class! (by the way early is 30/40 mins prior to class starting: it allows set up of the bike adjustments, and warm up time). Also Everyone in the class was so friendly and helpful -I am not kidding. 3 different ladies came up and gave me helpful information before class began, or helped me get my bike prepped! There were all sizes and shapes in this class. The music was fun, and I really broke a sweat- I hope adding this class to my weekly work out routine will help me bust through my weight loss plateau that I have hit, the last 2 1/2 weeks. (latest update: 56.3 pounds down since January, and holding -ugh! 44 pounds left to go!)
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