Thanksgiving 2011 Picture

Picture from today

Here are a few pictures taken today. I still look at myself and cringe. I know I have lost weight, but I have so much further to go!! I have been very lazy and my self control is non-existent lately. The thing is that I know that no one else can do it for me. I have to do it myself.

New Challenge

Well, I have been pretty stagnant as of lately. So. . . I am giving myself another challenge. My goal is to lose at LEAST 5 pounds before we leave for Thanksgiving! If I lose more, I would be a very happy camper. But, at least 5!! If I have to, I will use Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet to help! :)

So, what does that mean for me on a daily basis?

1. Back to water and just ONE diet drink a day!!

2. Back to EXERCISE on a regular basis!!

3. Using self-control when around food.

4. Work to find an outlet for stress that does include consuming food.

Holy crap! Just looking at all of that makes me feel overwhelmed. But I will try my hardest to meet this goal!!

Stinks!!

Well, I have maintained my weight for several weeks now. The problem is that I do NOT want to maintain! I want to lose. I know that while I am eating better and exercising, I could still be better. I need to quit the excuses - I am on vacation this doesn't count. etc.

So here we go - hardcore again! I know I can do it. I have lost 10% of my body weight and I wasn't hungry when I did it. I just got out of the habit and it is time to get cracking again. I can't handle stepping on the scale and seeing the same number again!

Day six with no fast food!

Back to School 2011

I let Brian take my picture with the kids today before school. I was disappointed in how I looked. Seriously?!? I have been working sooo hard and I still look disgusting. I am trying not to let it get me down. I will keep on working.

I started the ORIGINAL P90 this week. You alternate days of cardio and sculpt. Today, since I aqua-jogged in the pool, I didn't do it. This will be my free day. I will be back on it again tomorrow.

So far, we have four days down in our 30 days without fast food.

Where I Came From - Where I Am Now

This journey to be healthy is FAR from being over. However, it helps me a little to see where I was and where I am now. Kind of depressing to see there has not been that much change. But... I certainly did get unhealthy in a few days so I am not going to get healthy in a few day!

Church directory picture - Summer 2011

Easter 2011

Christmas 2010

Fall 2009 - Just prior to my MS diagnosis. I was trying to work out, but mentally and emotionally, I fell to food for comfort. Not knowing why I was sick and numb in places completely threw me into a depression that I "medicated" with food.

Fall 2007

Still Working It Off

I am still working on getting healthy. Shew. . . some of these learned behaviors are VERY hard to unlearn.

I just started the P90 this week. It is the original/older version of px90. I am doing it along with following the Weight Watchers guidelines to help me monitor my food intake and portion control.

I have also set a new goal for myself: No fast food for 30 days! This is something that a lot of people have been doing recently. I used to think they were nuts. But, now I am going to be one of those nuts! I do this for a few reasons:

1. It is just not healthy.

2. It is too easy to "cheat" and end up with a hamburger instead of the salad you had planned on.

3. I want to set a good example for my children.

4. I want to see just how much money I save by doing this. I think I am going to be amazed at how much I spent on fast food.

We have decided that an occasional birthday meal/date night meal at a set down restaurant is acceptable and does not count towards this goal. Also, we decided that pizza once every two weeks is ok as well.

This is going to be a HARD goal for me to keep. At this time of the year, it is so easy to just "run through" and grab something for lunch or after school for a snack or dinner. BUT, we will all be better for this.

I soooo hope I can make this goal.

Slowly But Surely

Several members of my family are participating in a family version of The Biggest Loser. Basically, whomever has lost the largest percentage of weight by October 31st wins. I am slowly but surely doing it. I have lost 9.8% of my body weight.

I had two very rough weeks during which I ate everything in sight. I am hoping that I can kick it back in gear now and start dropping some pounds again!

You must unlearn what you have learned

Vampires Strike Again

Well, on Friday, I visited the "vampires." They attempted to draw my blood for some tests. I say attempted because it took them FOUR tries to get enough.

Today, I got a call from my doctor. My A1C, a test that measures your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months, went from 6 (which is considered early diabetic) to 5.5 (which is considered COMPLETELY within normal limits)!!!

That is one of those things that I referred to in my earlier post. I did not want to have to fight diabetes as well as MS. Through diet and exercise, I was able to bring it down!

It hasn't been easy, but it is working. And I am not done yet. I will continue. I HAVE to do so. I have to stay as healthy as possible for my family! I have learned a lot of unhealthy habits throughout my life. I am trying hard to unlearn them. That is not an easy task.

AND - 21 pounds gone!!

Goal: Met or Failed?

FIRST POSTED AS A NOTE ON FACEBOOK:

I have been saying for over a year now, that I may have MS, but it doesn't have me. For many aspects of my life, that is true. But, I realize that there is at least one area in which MS was controlling me. Since I was diagnosed, I let my physical limitations (or perceived limitations) keep me from physical exercise.

In February, after a doctor's visit, I realized that I wasn't taking shots every week for my MS just so I could kill myself in other ways. So, I set a goal. I was going to train and walk/jog the Illinois Marathon 5K. I was doing well but my left foot started dropping as my leg became fatigued. I started using kinesio-tape to help with that. While it helped, I had to quit jogging. But I kept on walking. Being outside in the humidity is not good for my MS, and some days I did an indoor walking program. Not knowing what the weather would bring during the Illinois 5K and not knowing how my foot would be doing, I did not register. I was in quite a mood yesterday. I felt like I failed. I did not reach the goal I had set. But, then I realized, that I really had met that goal. I can walk 3.3 miles in the time I set as my goal. So, I may not have the bib and medal, but I DID IT!! I went from being a couch potato in February to power walking and meeting my goal time. What now? I am setting a new goal time, and I am going to keep walking until the weather forces me inside for good. On those days, I will use the indoor walking program.