Cautiously Celebrating.

So my scale this morning......... WOW.......... 245.2lbs.  I am thrilled but cautious that this may not be true weight loss.  I have been sick for the last week with a wicked head cold.  I even took a few days off work mid week.  That being said.  I ate normally on Thursday and Friday I even had dessert after dinner so I am not sure what to make of this.  I'll celebrate and work to keep it there. 

Things have been going fairly well with me lately.  I am finally listening to my body again.  Twice in the last two weeks I've stopped eating a dessert mid way through and thought, "I really don't want this anymore"   That to me is amazing success.  Even more so then the number I saw this morning.  Last Friday I was about to binge on candy when I decided to stop, after only 3 pieces, put the candy down and go get something with more nutritional value.  I think things will start to fall into place again.  I have been stagnant lately, and I guess that's ok.  We don't constantly need to be losing, although it's nice, to be successful.  Every pound I lose, that I keep off, is better for my body.  I'm not chasing a specific end date here, just looking for overall health.  For a while, I had forgotten that and was getting down on myself.  This is not a diet, this is a lifestyle change.  And for me anyways, if this lifestyle change is going to last a lifetime, it's going to be a slow change.  All the small little changes add up in the end.   

Have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Leah

What a week!

This week it just seemed to never end!  But alas here is the glorious weekend I have been waiting for.  I hit the gym 3 days so far this week and will squeeze in another workout today or tomorrow.  I also ate really well this week and was rewarded with a 1.5lbs loss!   I was so sore on Thursday that a workout was just not possible.  This boot camp class is literally kicking my ass and although it is so painful it is giving me something to work towards and I am always so proud when I finish the class!  

Today really showed me how far I have come since June.  In June, I remember being baby crazy, my hormones where out of whack severely.  Thankfully with the weight loss and exercise things have settled and I am back to my normal self.  I know in June, if I had received the news I got today, someone we are very close with announced they are expecting, I would have been green with envy.  Today when my husband told me the news I was blissfully happy for the couple.  What a welcomed changed.  And a reminder that not all my success come on the scale.  My life is so much fuller and richer then it was in June.

I am looking forward to breaking into the 240s at some point soon.  I am just gonna keep on plugging away at this and I know that I will be successful.

Cheers!
Leah  

Overwhelmed

I have been overwhelmed lately by the things in my life requiring my attention.  From my school work to my job, from the gym to my house work.  All of it seems to be overwhelming.  I know this feeling will pass and that I must keep plugging away at my weight loss no matter how slow it is.  Alright, enough with the pouting onto bigger and better things.

I started taking a boot-camp class and I must admit it is kicking my very large ass. I do feel a little self conscious in there as I easily outweigh the girls in the class by at least 70lbs.  However, I am so proud that I did not quit.   This week and last week girls have just up and left part way through class.  I have stuck it out.  My goal for next week is not to whine while I am there.  I want to be there. I need to be there.  It's really good for me.  I really need to focus on my self talk while I am there and ignore what the other women are doing.  I can do this!  No one is judging me.  

Although, my post have grown sparse know that I am still plugging away at this journey.  I still read everyone's blogs and will still post about my progress when I get a minute.  I hope life is treating you all well.

Cheers!
Leah

Wow where did the time go!

Hello,

My posting has gotten sparse due to my life getting a little more crazy.  I am taking an on-line teaching course and it's eating up a lot of my time.  In any case, lets take a quick look at what I've been up to.  I have been successfully getting my butt to the gym 4 days a week.  I was sore this week after a fabulous power yoga session.  Felt great.  My big challenge with my January focus has been the eating well part.  I find myself reaching for quick fixes, nutritionally void, calorie dense foods.  In this last week of January, can you believe it already, I will really be putting all my focus into my eating.  I will jot down everything

I put into my mouth, not necessarily count the calories just write it down.  I have a huge problem with stress eating, so it's time to get that in check.  The next 10 days are supremely stressful but I know that eating crap is not going to make that better.  I need to focus, keep my goals at the front of my mind.  I have been losing slowly this month but really feel like I am just spinning my wheels.  Time to get to work again. 

Well, I am off to do homework and write report cards!  Hope life is treating you all well.

Cheers!
Leah

Weigh In Saturday; a week in review.

This week has come with big ups and downs!  As I sit here looking back over my week I am proud of all that I have accomplished even though there were some pretty big road blocks along the way this week.  I weighed in this morning down 3lbs, sitting at 256lbs.  I still have 4lbs to lose to get back to my pre-holiday weight but I am very happy with this progress. 

When I look back at my goals for this month

Sleep.  Eat well. Be active.

I think I did a pretty good job working towards that this week.  With the exception of Thursday, I followed through on my plan.  Thursday we went out for Mexican and I slept horribly because my brain was just filled with thoughts, it was also the day of the memorial so I am going to give myself a little slack for that one.  

Last weekend after, I wrote up my post I took the time to plan out our meals for the week.  This was great for both my husband and I.  We didn't have to worry about what to make for dinner it was already planned.  It made it easier for us to get dinner assembled.  It also allowed me to see before we went shopping how many days I would need to plan a lunch and how many could just be leftovers.  Planning meals was a great success.  

Being active has been pretty easy, we enjoy going to the gym.  That part has seem to come more naturally for us which is fantastic!  Its a stress reliever for both of us.  My attitude and outlook are always better after a good workout! 

Sleep - this one is a little more challenging then you would think given the fact that I love to sleep.  But aiming to get enough sleep and actually being able to get to sleep are two very different things.  I am working my way back into a routine, where I read for 20 minutes and then go to bed.  It usually helps me fall asleep fast but some nights this week I was sleeping but just not restful sleep if you know what I mean.  

Next week I have more of the same in plan.  Getting up for work will be easier since I am back into my routine.  

How was your week?  Do you take regular count of where you are at with your goals?  

Cheers! 

Leah

Sorry I changed the font colour to black and then you couldn't see it.  Oooops!

Grief and Food

I didn't want to be a 'debbie downer' on the first day back but still feel I should share this detail with you all and maybe get some advice along the way.  As the holiday season started, my very first principal suddenly passed away.  I am truly heartbroken over the loss of such a great man.  Today, I was given permission to go to my old school for a memorial that was being held.  It was great comfort to be there with my friends and celebrate such a great life.  However, as I grieve this loss, I am finding that the healthy things that normally relieve my stress, such as exercising are not helping.  I find myself reaching for food more frequently then I was before.  Anyone, have tips for kicking this comfort food habit to the curb?  I know as time passes I will get back to 'normal' and hopefully with the memorial being done now,  I can begin to have some closure.  

Leah

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope that 2011 with bring you good health and plenty of happiness. I am so glad to be back here and ready to get on with living the best life I possibly can.  But first lets talk about my holidays......

Over the holidays I had the chance to visit with family and friends and just enjoy being together.  I spent 10 days away from my house and routine, eating other peoples cooking and foods.  Way to many carbs, not enough veg and way way way to many cookies!!!  If I am being completely honest I still did better then I do most years. Not that that excuses the over indulging I did.  In the end, totally not beating myself up for these 7lbs that I gained.  I know they will be gone again in no time.  On to the new year!

I feel like 2011 is going to be awesome!  I am coming off a great high from the holidays.  My heart is filled with love after spending so much time with my family and friends.  I feel so very blessed for the changes that occurred in 2010 and I am exciting about what the future holds.  I am not a New Years resolution kinda girl.  Instead I usually reflect about what I want for myself.  This year most of my reflection revolved around my desire to be happier.  So with that in mind, I brainstormed the things I thought I needed to work on in order to be happier.  I came up with 10 areas of focus: health, finances, marriage, organization, attitude, gratitude, moments, documenting, faith and friendship.  Now I realize some of these are huge topics on their own and others may only make sense to me.  But I am going to focus on one of those areas each month.  Picking small measurable changes that will make me happier.  All this is inspired by the book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben.  I read it last year and was happier just reading about what she had done.  So how does all the above have anything to do with me losing weight.  Well everything actually!  I am more successful at losing weight when I am happy.  I huge part of my baggage is that I am an emotional eater.  I really feel like this will treat the root of the problem as oppose the symptoms.

 In January, I will be focusing on Health, I have made 3 goals:

Sleep.  Eat well. Be active.  

Get enough to sleep to function without being stressed.  Eat well by putting wholesome food that are prepared at home in my mouth. Plan my meals out. Being active, get back to the gym at least 4 days a week. 

Well I am off to start this year on the right foot.  Meal planning and groceries await!

Cheers!
Leah