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!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"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!

Size 16 baby! Down 51.1 pounds!!

You know what this is a picture of? You guessed it! It is a photo of me in a pair of size 16 jeans - zipped up!!! Woo Hoo!!! I hit my 2nd mini goal ! I am below 200 pounds!! Woo Hoo!!

I have to tell you I had 2 milestone moments this week! The first I have lost 51.1 pounds which has put me at 198.4 which being below 200 was the 2nd mini goal heading towards that large goal of 100 pound weight loss. The 2nd milestone that I hit this week was fitting into size 16 pants!! I almost cried I was so happy! This means that I can go shop at ANY store! be it Gap, Limited, Ann Taylor Loft. All the stores I have dreamed of shopping at, but could not because of my size. This really has been such a happy, happy milestone to hit.

Also it does seem like LOTS of people are noticing that I am losing weight. Yeah! That is such a positive thing since I have been dieting, and exercising and on this weight loss journey since January. I just can't believe it! I have 48.9 pounds left to go. So I am excited about continuing on down this road. My daughter and me were talking after I was able to buy some new pants, and some new tops! (did I mention that I bought tops in a size Large Woo Hoo! no, 2Xl, 3Xl, not even a Xl, but a L!!!!) about what size did I hope to end up. I told her if you had asked me in January all I would of hoped and dreamed for was a size 14. However I am in a size 16 with 48.9 left to go. They say that every 10-12 pounds is a dress size. I have found that pretty accurate. So Who knows I told her, we shall see where I am when I get there! The reality of this weight loss journey is becoming much bigger, than I had every allowed myself to hope for! (also I did 16 push up's in a row today in class!! Have I mentioned that when I started classes in March I could only do about 2 push up's in a row. I am definitely getting stronger!)

down 47.5 pounds

So the journey began with one step. Stepping out in faith that I could accomplish what seemed impossible: lose weight. I have been on this journey for about 5 months now. This far down the road I do think I will be able to now reach my destination.

Above is a picture of me on New Year's Eve (my heaviest 249)

Above is a picture of me weighing 222. (going down!)

Above is a picture of me weighing in at 202 pounds.

Well here I am this week getting ready for my body pump class. (sorry the picture is not my best) I am down a total of 47.5 as of today. Yeah! I am closely approaching my second goal which is 199, (I am 3 pounds away from reaching this goal).

I have decided to break my total weight loss down into mini goals to help me stay focused and positive. My first goal was reaching 215. My second goal is 199. The third goal I have set is 175. That is as far as I can focus "out" on the future, right now. Anything further just starts to seem unreal. Which is why I decided to focus on mini goals, instead of the huge end number of losing a 100 pounds. My mind just can't wrap itself around that number or what that might look like right now. (my momma always told me "how do you eat an elephant? bite, by bite, by bite". So here's to taking small bites out of my weight loss journey!)

I hit a plateau this last 2 weeks. I have tried to stay positive, and just keep moving. I added a step aerobics class this last 2 weeks. (The first week I could barely move the next day.) I was very sore, but the class was so much fun. I went back for my second week yesterday. I am happy to report that I am not nearly as sore as I was last week - yeah! This is such an accomplishment for me. I do not think I would have been capable of doing an hour long step class in January when I started my weight loss journey. I feel that I have grown stronger, increased my stamina, and it is just easier to move being 47.5 pounds lighter. So with all this in mind, I will continue on, walking down the road towards my weight loss goal!

Well I hope everyone has a great Memorial day weekend! Stay safe & have fun!

What are you drinking?

Well if you have been following my post you will know that I have started a weight loss journey to get into better shape. I did not try to do everything at once I have been doing this for about 8 weeks now, and I have been trying to add baby steps each week.
week one: started to watch my calorie intake
week tw0: started exercising
week three: started to drink 4 glasses of water a day
week four: started to take 2 baby aspirin a week
week 5: started to change up my work out routine
week 6: ordered a bunch of books on dieting, and exercising from the Library
week 7: spring break!

and week 8 (drum roll -please!) I am starting to add 4 glasses of green tea to my diet a day.

Did you know that a Dutch study showed that drinking green tea helped individuals lose weight and inches around their stomach. A japan study also showed that drinking green tea helped in lowering LDL cholesterol-want to read more, check out these sites: Suite101, Livestrong, liftorlife.

So what are you drinking today? Do you have a favorite green tea you love to drink -if so please share!!

weight loss update

Well this is my weight update for the week. I have decided to take the advice of Keelie from RealFat and take photos of my weight loss journey. The below picture was taken on New Years Eve this year. I knew I had gained weight after breaking my arm in the fall, but I was really not prepared to see the below photo of myself. I was a lot, I mean A LOT wider on the bottom than I had even realized that I was. I guess I was hanging out in denial!

weight: 249.5

current weight: 222.5

down 27 pounds

Keelie recommends taking pictures of your weight loss journey so that even when other people do not notice your weight loss, you have record and confirmation that your body is changing. Whew! This was an emotional post today!

This week my weight did not change -Ahh! However, it was my birthday week I turned 41 this past week. So I had ate out for dinner (did I mention I ate my weight in chips and salsa, and had birthday cake and I did not gain! So I will take that as a victory of some sorts.)

How did I manage that you ask, well my weekly report was emailed to me for LoseIt! and it told me my totals for the week were:

walking: 5 hours and 30 Min's

Stationary bike: 1 hour and 55 Min's

I am making healthy changes, and I am taking better care of myself. I am starting this week to add free weights into the equation and see if that helps make a difference in my weight loss for next week.