New Year, New Goals!

Happy New Year to anyone left out there reading this.  I vanished for the later part of 2011.  After a crazy summer of renovations and family drama.  I finally took the huge step to get a therapist and get my emotional self in order before attempting any further weight loss.  I have to say it was the best decision I made during 2011.  I am more positive, more focus and far less anxious.  All is all things ended on a pretty good note in 2012.

2012 is going to be a big year for me.  I will turn 30 in the later half of 2012 and I would love to hit this milestone feeling healthier and happier then I have been in a long time.  So my goal, not resolution for a variety of reason, my goal is to be CONSISTENT in what I do.  It applies to many areas of my life and certainly applies to my health and weight.   For example, I will consistently take the time to do things that make me, me.  I will consistently exercise 3 days a week.  I will consistently do my dishes everyday.  You see it applies all over the place.   And I will consistently blog at least once a week but not on a specific day, just when the mood strikes me. 

This is quickly becoming my motto for the year!

So January 1st I weighed in at 265lbs so that is my starting point for this wonderful year which is already just flying by.   Hope 2012 is off to a great start for everyone.  It most certainly is here!

Cheers!

Weigh-In Friday!

Friday has finally arrived and in fact is almost over.   This week has been NUTS but my eating has been bang on.  My exercise, well I made it to the gym 1 day.  I'll strive for 3 next week!  My weight is down 1.3lbs this week.  Bringing me down to 261.5lbs.  I am happy with the progress considering I only got to the gym once, which is completely my own fault I have no excuse.  AND that I only started tracking my eating again on Monday.  I was away last weekend and ate everything in site.  I am sure if I had weighed myself on Monday it would have been scary.

One thing I learned this week for sure is that I need to start paying attention to how I feel after I eat certain foods.  I am seeing a pattern that I have to even admit I see.  Anytime, I eat a meal with high dairy content, my stomach is not well afterwards.  Particularly if it is rich, such as a full fat latte, or cheese cake, or even just cream instead of 1% milk in my coffee.  I am going to pay much closer attention to how I feel with I eat dairy and maybe it's time to a break (dare I say permanently) from dairy.  Sigh.  All I know is I need to not feel like crap-o-la after I eat a meal!

On the agenda of this weekend, lots of painting, cleaning, and installing one last section of railing on my deck.  Wish me luck!

Cheers!
Leah

Day 2!

So today went really well foodwise.  I ate well within my calorie range and did not eat any of the leftover snacks from the staff meeting.  However, I also picked today to lock myself out of my house and consequently lock my gym stuff in my house....ooops!  Oh well! I still have 5 days left in the week to get in 2 more workouts.  Should be easy.  No more excuses here.  

Hope everyone is having a great week!
Cheers!
Leah

Day 1: Back on Track

Well today was day 1 of getting back on track and I have to say I am very pleased with myself.  I tracked all my food using sparkpeople and got to the gym for my Yoga class that I adore.  I feel really good right now, I had forgotten for a minute how good I feel when I don't over eat and when I get off my butt and move!  Here is looking forward to some positive results on Friday! 

Cheers!
Leah

Ouch!

So I weighed in the afternoon.  First step in getting back on track.  Weigh myself.  The verdict is not good, it's downright horrible.  262.8lbs....ugh. Up almost 20lbs.   I am disappointed but truly not surprised.  How could I be?  I have been moving less and eating more.  And the longer I pretend that I haven't slipped the further I fall.  Well, ladies and gentleman:

I HAVE SLIPPED!  

But don't count me out just yet!  I am back with a renewed sense of control.  I will ease back into this which I know some will say.  Go big or go home.  But for me the best has always been slowly but surely.  This week I will track my food.  I will write it all down.  I will get to the gym 3 times.  No excuses!  Weigh in Friday, afternoon when I get home from work! 

For now I am off to meet my brand new niece.

Cheers!
Leah

Ready to get back at it.

Hello everyone, 

I would have to say that although I hate to admit, my weight loss came to a stand still the moment I stopped blogging.  Although I continued to go to the gym daily until June, I was just not seeing the results.  This summer I chose to allow myself to get derailed.  I would love to blame my busy schedule, the insane amount of traveling I did, life in general could be blamed but the reality is I made my choice.  As they say, I made my bed and now I have to lay in it.  Last post I weighed 246lbs, I was finally back into it.  Seeing results again.  What happened I am not sure.  I really think the best strategy here is just to get back on the horse.  Put one foot in front of the other and be grateful that I did not get back up to my all time high of 292lbs.  I likely sit today close to 260lbs, although I have not weighed myself in WEEKS.  I promise a weigh in on Friday morning.  I promise I will have a plan in place and implement it on Monday September 19th.  

I will blog.  I will track. I will move. I will be healthy!
Cheers!
Leah

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

Hello readers,

As I head into what is going to be a crazy busy holiday season, I have decided that this will be my last post of 2010.  I will weigh in on January 2nd and take it from there.  It's done me a lot of good to take a break from the blogging not weight wise, nothing has changed at 252 and holding, but mentally.  I am really looking forward to the New Year and all it represents.  Taking some time to look at my goals and plan a route to get there has been wonderful.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Cheers!
Leah

Sorry about the Hiatus! I have no excuses to offer you.

I have been on a little hiatus and I apologize.  It seems I have lost my drive lately.  All the excuses can't excuse what I've been up to.  Bottom line, I've just been not keeping my priorities strait.  I am down a ridiculous 0.6lbs after a month off of my routine.  I find myself regularly self sabotaging and coming up with stupid excuses for not getting my butt to the gym.  It seems that the more people notice the change, the more my progress slows.  I need to do some internal work over the next few weeks and figure out why I keep doing this to myself.  The main difference between this time and every other time I have worked on my weight is that I am recognizing it before my journey is derailed.  Now the digging must begin.....

Lazy Week

This week was a lazy week.  I ate well but skipped the gym everyday except for Wednesday and I have to admit, I feel better.  I needed some me time, away from the gym, to re-energize and focus.  I did managed to lose almost a pound.  I weighed in at 252.6lbs this morning giving me a 0.9lbs loss for the week.. I'll take it.  So close to a 40lbs loss!  Next week?   

At work, I finally managed to get my core french program running the way I want it to.  Kids wrapped up a dance unit that I was getting bored with.  And I almost have a class website sorted out.  I just feel like I got a lot done.  Oh and I got my class cleaned up last night, most specifically my desk, which had become a mountain of papers and things that I could not find room for.  

Most exciting news all week though came on Wednesday night, my very best friend in the whole world, she's like the sister I never had, told me that she got the call that he agency had a child for her.  I got to find out that she will be getting a beautiful 3 year old boy before Christmas.  Words simply could not express my happiness for her and her husband.  After years of struggling with infertility she is finally becoming a mother in just a few short weeks.  I, as the honourary aunt, look forward to spoiling this little boy like crazy! A trip back to my hometown in December will be necessary to help welcome him to the family. 

Next week I'll be back to my regular routine of hitting the gym and eating well.  Oh and as a side note, I have become addicted in a very short time frame to Tim Horton's Oatmeal.  It's delicious and it's good for you.  Gotta love that! 

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheers!
Leah

Saying Goodbye to Morbid Obesity

At my highest weight earlier this year of 292lbs my BMI was at 45.7, it put me right into the morbidly obese category.  When I put my info into the calculator and it spit out the number I was horrified.  I was so over weight that my health and life were in serious jeopardy.  It was time for action but I honestly didn't really get moving until we got started over at A Nu(de) Motivation.  My weigh in yesterday nudges me into the obese category, which is still horrifying, but I have to admit I welcome the dropping of the word morbid.  My BMI as of yesterday is 39.7!  Still not a great number but what an improvement. In just under 6 months my life has changed so much!  I can't imagine going back now.  I will be working my weight down to the overweight category over the next several months.  63lbs from now, that will happen.  I know now that, it's just a matter of time before I get there.  No longer an IF but a WHEN. 

Have a great day everyone!
Leah

Weigh In Saturday!

Hello everyone!

Things have been really busy this week for me but they have also been very good.  I weighed in this morning at 253.5lbs!  Woohoo!  A great loss.  I am so happy.  I really gave it my all during my workouts this week and didn't treat myself with food. I am very happy with the progress.  I have lost 2.9lbs this week which is amazing!  What a great way to get things moving again.  

I have to admit that after tracking every morsel of food for a week I knew exactly what needed to be done to get that scale going in the right direction again.  I guess I had gotten a little lax, ok a lot lax, but I am glad to see that the scales didn't head up up and up like they would have before.  The check in over a A Nu(de) Motivation really got me thinking about my commitment again.  I made a commitment to myself that I would treat my body with respect, that I would feed it fuel not crap and that I would work on my personal issues that keep weight on.  I have kind of abandoned that since school got back into full swing.  I think it's really important especially heading into the Christmas season to be cautious of stepping off the path. I am really going to have to focus and keep my goal at the front of my mind.  It is so easy to forget that not having that treat laid out in front of you is not going to kill you.  I find myself thinking lately, this is not the last time you will ever see (insert food), have just a little and move on.  My friends who are trim and fit do this with ease.  They don't deprive, they just eat reasonable portions of their favourite indulgences.  That's is what I will try to do as we head into the season of treats.  I will indulge in reasonable portions.  No need to eat 5 cookies when 1 will do.  It's a great concept.  Let's see if I can put it into practice. 

Well my husband and I are going to bask in a gloriously relaxed day.  Maybe read a book, watch a movie.

Enjoy the day!
Cheers!
Leah  

A New Post over at A (Nu)de Motivation!

Just stopping into say that our progress pictures have been posted over at A Nu(de) Motivation.  Hop on over and take a look! 

Cheers!
Leah

So this weekend kinda got away on me. We have been crazy busy getting organized to start the 2nd part of our renovation. Things were going well till my husband put a rusty nail in his foot. Needless to say we've been sitting at emerge for almost 3 hours now and it dawns on me that I can blog from my new iPhone. Hooray!!!

This week was ok my snacking is still out of control and there are simply no excises for it. I want this and I need to start acting like it. Groceries are done and meals planned out for next week so all I do is stay out of restaurants and this will all work out. I also think my body has gotten use to my workouts. I must add the weight lifting back in and ramp up my effort during my classes.

Oh yeah weight this week is 256.4. Here's hoping next week goes better.

Leah