The low down about spin class

I really enjoy going to spin class!! However, I have learned a few things along the way that I really wish someone would have shared with me before I got started. So here is the low down about spin class if you are a newbie:








The first thing, is that the seat is not comfortable!! (you do start to get used to it, after awhile). Until then you have 3 options with dealing with the uncomfortable seat: 1) ignore it & soldier on (not my favorite option -I'm a wimp!) 2). Buy a pair of bike shorts. Bike shorts have extra padding built into them (however it may give the "appearance" that you may be wearing depends, if someone was not aware that you were indeed wearing bike shorts -yikes! No thank you) the 3rd option is my favorite. Invest in a padded seat cover for the bike seat. (see a picture of mine above) I carry mine back & forth from the gym. It is also a pretty inexpensive option $14.00 I believe I paid for it at Target. (worth every penny!!!)

Secondly, drink lots of water prior to class, during class & after class. (with that in mind make sure you use the restroom before class begins)

Lastly, for us females it is so, so very important that you keep your "nether" regions well groomed. During spin class you will be sliding off your seat & going into a standing position on the pedals often, then sliding back onto the seat. If you are not well groomed things could get umm.. Pulled or tugged which would make you very uncomfortable during class.
(which is what I am, as I can't believe I just blogged about this)

Last but not least, you can always modify- you are only competing with yourself. Pushing yourself to do your personal best! Not competing with your neighbor. My class is filled with people of all ages 20, 30, 40,50,60. All sizes itty bitty, to obese. As well as a triathlon competitor, regular 6 days a week bikers, to newbies. Spinning burns a lot of calories and is non impacting on your joints (knees). It is amazing how fast a class passes when you have a good trainer or instructor!

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"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

Psalm 34:8

What is your focus these days? The above is the verse I have been focusing on during this stage of my diet. What stage you might ask, well I have crossed over the half way point on my diet. I am down53.9 pounds, I have only 46.1 left to go!!! However when you have been dieting as long as I have (5 months strong as of today) You have to change your focus, I love the above verse! What satisfies my soul is not mindless eating food that offers no real nutritional value, but knowing that the Lord, nourishes my soul.

Do you have a verse, a positive motto, or picture that you look at to help inspire you to your weight loss goal, or what ever you are currently working towards (it could be a financial goal, a parenting goal, a redecorating, or even housecleaning goal)? I would love to hear what inspires you!

A great app! fooducate

Well those of you who know that I am on a weight loss journey know that I love the app, "lose it" (it can also be used on your computer at www.loseit.com to help track of your calorie intake and your weight loss goals. Well during the last 4 weeks I have been trying to educate myself on good nutrition, wise choices etc.. I have come along way baby! However, I am still a relative newbie to making the best choices at the super market when faced with a long shelf filled with similar products. It can be mind boggling! Overwhelming how different companies use descriptive phrases on the front of packaging.

I was told by a dear friend the other day about this fab app, that also has a blog that you can follow that tries to educate people about the best choices when picking out food. It is called "fooducate" you can find their blog by clicking on fooducateblog. This link will take you to their blog. The app also allows you to use your iphone camera to scan the bar code found on the food you are considering. It tells you if it is good choice or bad. It also gives you a better alternative for the food that you are looking at, if you are shocked at the bad score that the item received.

You must check out this blog, and the best news is that the app was free from the app store!

My favorite "Faux" dessert right now

Well the temperature is starting to warm up outside. I have been on a diet now for about 4 and 1/2 months. I have lost 44 pounds. (Yeah!) However, I tell you what -momma needs something sweet from time to time! This may sound so very simple (and it is!) and it is my new "fav" drink in the afternoon! I fill one large, cup with ice. Pour about a cap full of "vanilla sugar free syrup" found on the coffee aisle in the cup. Then fill glass with "diet root beer" -Ah! I tell you it taste just like a root beer float, but with none of the calories! Whew!

Yes, I know some substitute artificial sweeteners are not the best for you. I acknowledge this. However I also acknowledge that I have been dieting for 4 & 1/2 months and I need to taste something that taste like an indulgence every once and a while without blowing all the hard work that I have accomplished, and still need to complete (44 pounds down, 54 to go!)

My weight loss journey

I made my mind up that this would be my year, to lose the weight I had gained and losed and gained back in between each pregnancy and had now became a part of who I was. I don't think that the extra weight made me "less" of a person, or not as important as someone who was not. I did however noticed how it was often the very first thing that people noticed about me, and labeled me. I was not happy with this label, but I knew where my value was found. I knew that God, loved me and thought I was precious. I knew that my husband and my daughters loved me and thought I was precious. And truthfully I did not have the energy, the time, or the desire it would take even see "if" it was attainable to lose the weight that I had gained and put on over those 13 years. (I mean 99/100 pounds seemed impossible for my brain to even begin wrapping itself around)

However in December of 2010 my heart started to race, and my blood pressure was high for the first time and it scared me! I did not want to die an early death. I had a lot to live for! It motivated me to take a long hard look in the mirror, and at the scale and pray about it and decide that I wanted to make some changes for the right reasons! After all just because I was plus size did not mean that I had given up I made sure my hair was done in a cute style, my make up was done, and looked put together when I went out. I had gained weight slowly with time, and did not think that I had given up on my self.

I knew life would not continue along the same, enjoyable pace, if my health was starting to be an issue. So I needed to make some drastic changes. I first looked at how a lady in our town that had been plus size for at least 10 years had lost weight with out surgery. I had heard that she had used some prescription medicine. I thought this might be the right place to start. So I went to the clinic and got some RX that helped with appetite suppressant. As I losted the first 5 pounds I got very excited and thought maybe, just maybe this is doable!

The 2nd month in I was excited, after I had lost the first 15-17 pounds my heart stopped racing, and my blood pressure returned to normal. However it took me being very focused to stay committed to my weight loss because during this time even though I was losing weight no one, and I do mean NOBODY noticed! When you are really overweight you have to really lose ALOT of weight before anyone begins to notice! I used pictures and stories of Alli and others that had lost the weight (above Ali had lost 112 pounds! Which is so WOW! but do you think the first 5,10,15,20 pounds people said WOW!) Ali's website is Alivincent. I located other photos and videos on youtube as encouragement to keep going!

The 3rd month into my weight loss journey someone gave me a free "visitor pass" to a local gym. This has radically changed my life. I got busy moving, joined a body pump class that taught me how to lift weights. This and the stationary bike are my favorite things to do at the gym!!! Here again if you want to be strong and in shape, you do what the people or ladies who are strong and in shape are doing! I would not be intimidated away from the gym. I was commited! I am constantly surprised at how much stronger my body is becoming - who knew that I was or had become so weak! I guess since I became weak over time I had not realized it how bad out of shape I had become-I know you would think I would not have been so shocked! (below is a photo from my stationary bike)

The 4th month people have started to realize that I am losing weight! Yeah!! It is so encouraging to hear kind words of encouragement off the lips of others! (can you tell one of my love languages is words of encouragement). I am now down 44.7 pounds. I have gone down 4 pants sizes, almost 5! I have just started to get to shop in the "regular" ladies department or section of a store! (I will update after my next shopping trip!) I have been able to really research different nutrition and weight loss books and try some of the different approaches that I have read over the last 4 months. I have implemented changes to my diet as well as my families diet. This has really been a life make over, not just a weight loss journey. I still have 55 pounds to go!

(Here is a photo of me celebrating the royal wedding, forgive the shadow that the iphone casted) (I know I can be such a dork, but hey! me and my girls made a special memory together!)

I describe this as a journey because I still have 55 pounds yet to go. However this time is my time! I am losing weight, I am getting stronger, and I am going to achieve my goals! Thanks for all who are following my weight loss journey on my blog! (my next diet update I will post my full length updated photo of myself, from January to now.) I still have a ways to go and I am excited for the journey!!!