I noticed that I had more mental issues this time around.  I found it harder to get ready to leave to town for my workouts but once I got there, I felt great working out.   I cheated with food much more than I should.  Two things happened because of that cheating; I felt horribly guilty after eating crap I shouldn’t have and my belly didn’t even like what I ate.  I felt sick after eating several things that I hadn’t eaten in a while. The highlight of the week though was getting to workout with my boys all week.  It was fun and I think they were proud to see how hard I was trying.  Oh, and I’d love for you to check out my guest posts over at the Anytime Fitness blog!  That’s been another highlight!

I think I was just going through a slump but Spring is here and I feel more positive.  Our workouts have been strong and now that cardio has been added, I know that things will only get better and I’ll continue to lose weight.   I’ve just really got to get my eating under control. Thank goodness I have Nutrisystem or it would be worse.  Here is a quick meal that I enjoyed over the week while everyone else tortillas, sweet breads, and ribs. I ate Pasta Parmesan with Broccoli, more broccoli & cauliflower, and some very lean turkey for my protein.  Great meal that filled me up completely.  My favorite so far is the Black Beans.  So good with a kick of spice!  The ice cream, cinnamon buns, and muffins are great too!

And now for my measurements.  I lost another 5 inches total.  You can see where I lost those in the chart.  I also lost another 8 pounds.  That’s about 2 pounds per week which is very healthy!  So in total, from January 14th to March, I’ve lost 17.25 inches and 15.4 pounds!! WOOOOOHOOOO!

You can read all my Operation Fatty updates to see all my progress.  See ya next update!

]]> http://acowboyswife.com/operation-fatty-march-weigh-in/feed/ 8 http://acowboyswife.com/people-that-inspire-my-weight-loss/ http://acowboyswife.com/people-that-inspire-my-weight-loss/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:31:39 +0000 A Cowboy's Wife http://acowboyswife.com/?p=4458 You know how you see those commercials with the before & afters and while they look great, I don’t know who those people are so it means a little less to me. For me, I need to changes like that from real people that I know, have hugged, and can talk to any time of day.

I’m extremely lucky to have the support system that I do. My kids & husband, my mom, and my friends are amazing when it comes to encouragement. Not everyone has that. I’m so very lucky, I really am.

But there are three people that, when I’m having a hard day and am ready to quit, I think about; Renee, Tina, and Leah.

When I first met Renee, I knew that she was a bigger girl, but I don’t think I though of her as fat.  I just remember thinking that despite being a bigger girl, she still had this incredible confidence and smile.   She’s worked so hard to reach a healthy weight and she’s very much an inspiration to me.  Her hard work has paid off in many ways but probably one of the coolest is getting to star in the EA Sports commercials.  How gratifying it must be to know what you once weighed, then see yourself on TV, looking absolutely hot.  Renee on twitter | her blog

Tina’s weigh loss is inspirational but that’s not what really inspires me.  What inspires me about her is seeing how vibrant, happy, and healthy she is.  I love to watch her ‘live life’.  Seeing the foods that she eats has helped me with my eating.  I’ve learned of a few new foods from her like Barney Butter, which I’m obsessed with, and I really like seeing what she throws on her pizza and in her salads. She’s always smiling, always positive, and love that she’s not afraid to throw one back!  When Tina’s not hanging out with friends or her pug, she’s running marathons!  Check her out.  Tina on twitter | her blog p.s. she’s got a new book coming out soon that you can preorder now! –> Carrots ‘N’ Cake: Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time

And Leah….I secretly call her crazy woman ’cause she has this enormous amount of energy ALL the time.  She’s just so positively infectious and if you’ve ever been around here, you know what I’m talking about.   She’ll make you laugh, feel special, and I love watching her do her thang!  There’s really too much to mention here about Leah and highly recommend you read her story and check out Mamavation.  She rocks!  You can find Leah on twitter | her blog | her kick ass weight loss community , Mamavation.

As I mentioned before, my family plays a big role, specifically my boys.  I love that me and my boys can compare what we did in weights for the day and I love that they’ll casually say, “you’re doing good mom”…..it makes me proud and totally inspires me to keep pushing through.

What does it take to inspire you to get moving?

To recap, I’m working out three times a week at 2pm, for one hour and 5 minutes.  I wish I could do it earlier in the morning when your weight and all is more accurate but I just can’t.  I start by warming up on the ‘stair climber’ machine for 5 minutes.  That one hour consists of 30 minutes of circuit training, which is HARD.  We work upper, lower, abs and it’s killer.  I never knew how weak my upper body strength was.  It’s also crazy to see your legs shaking from being so weak!  The other 30 minutes is cardio.  My cardio is done usually on the stair climber, which burns a lot of calories, and/or the treadmill and elliptical.  I find that I don’t burn near as much calories on the elliptical as I do on the other two though I prefer the stair climber even though it kills my legs.  (fyi, we didn’t do cardio for the first two weeks of training. We started with trying to gain some strength since I had none.)

3x a week/1hr & 5minutes/cardio and circuit training

While I have been incorporating more healthy eating habits and water, I still do eat whatever everyone else eats, just less.  This might have something to do with a smaller pound weight loss but I’m still very happy with my loss, especially in inches.   I’m SOOOO much firmer and can tell huge differences in my stamina and strength since I first started.

So I think by having the food options that Nutrisystem is giving me, I’ll definitely be able to really lose more.  I really need that here on the ranch.

With that, here are my numbers…………..

About 8lbs lost (mostly likely gained muscle) and 12.25 inches lost from my neck, down to my calves.   Sarah tells me that 2lbs per week is a healthy weight loss, especially for me still eating “fatty” foods here and there.  She thinks I’m doing great and so do I.    We kicked it up a notch this week and I’m starting Zumba 7 the treadmill at home this week as well.  I think doing all that will really make a difference but I need that Nutrisystem FO SHO!

And that’s the update y’all.  I really appreciate the support I’ve gotten from everyone. It feels so good to have that and it truly is motivation!  Until next time……….

When I first started at the gym, I could only do 5 leg presses at 80lbs.  Recently, I was able to do a pyramid set of 230lbs (about 35 total reps).  Wow, what a difference right?  I also did 100 squats during a 30minute circuit training workout.  I never thought I’d be able to do that.  Never!   Also, when I first started, my trainer would have to give me 30 second breaks to catch my breathe in between sets.  Today, I rarely need to do that.  I’m seeing firmness in my butt and thigh area and muscles in my calves and arms.  I see my stamina building but what I’ve noticed the most is how my energy level has increased a great deal.  Even my son stated how he’s noticed that I wake up in a better mood and ready to go.  That makes me feel great that he’s noticing….and proud.

Meet my trainer Sarah – (I took a photo of the photo on the wall at Anytime Fitness) Ummm, yeah, I have to train with that! That should be motivation enough right? lol

This is our inspiration wall.  It’s where we can write what’s on our minds, what inspires us, encourage others.  I love it.  We just started it and today when I walked in, it had quite a few quotes on it.  Very motivating.

Today I teared up throughout the workout. I felt weak both physically and emotionally but I pushed threw.   I kept thinking about how I could not fail this time and how I couldn’t let my family down, who have been so encouraging.  Sarah said I’d have bad days and today was one but I know that as long as I give my all, I’ll make it through.

FOOD and SOMETHING NEW

I have made some incredible food (and beverage) changes since I started.  Sarah has been AWESOME at teaching me nutrition and while I don’t cut out all the “good stuff”, I have incorporated more of the great stuff.  I’ve even noticed that when I eat fatty foods, I can taste the “greasiness” in whatever it is.  And you know what else?  I rarely drink soda anymore.  I know right? I can see your mouth dropped.  I still will sometimes grab a fountain Dr. Pepper but I only get the small vs the 44oz like I once did.  I have also switched to Diet sodas but even still, I don’t drink them that much.  Only when I’m desperate for the carbonation.  I now drink TONS of PROPEL ZERO.  Remember how I drank Propel?  Well now they have ZERO which is NO calories.  I have a calorie budget of 1300-1500 and can now drink all that I want.  WOOOHOOO!

NUTRISYSTEM

Like I said, I have made some healthy and awesome food eating changes but I feel like, at 200lbs still, I need a little more help.  Being on the ranch with the boys, makes it awful hard to eat healthier things because they don’t really want that all the time, so I decided to apply for Nutrisystem’s Blogger program.  I rarely do things like this but I feel that this will really help me reach my goal faster and give me the boost that I need, all while still exercising and getting more sleep.

So I’m proud & excited to announce that Nutrisystem has chosen me and will be sending me food to get this weight loss party rockin’!!!    I’ll be honest, with the fees I’m paying for the gym (and personal trainer), this will really help my pocketbook so I’m extremely appreciative of the opportunity.

If you’ve tried Nutrisystem, I’d love to know your favorites.  I know what mine were from way back then but don’t know if it has changed since so I’ll have to start over at finding my favorites.

And that’s my update for this week.  I’m really really proud of myself.  I must tell you though, all of you who encourage me are what drive me to push threw. I think about all your comments and realize how lucky I am to have that support and it just makes me rock on through!  So thank you very much for that.

Me, breathing during the Pow Wow

Along with taking baby steps to eating healthier, I’m also exercising a little bit every day, depending on the agenda for the day. If nothing else, I walk for at least 15 minutes. Every little bit helps right?  I know I’ve mentioned it here several times about how I’m one of those that needs my hand held.  Well, I’m getting that and the accountability that I crave from some new kids on the block over at Community of Movement.  What I love is that even though they aren’t here in my home to make me exercise and get moving, we have a follow up call that asks what we did during the assigned time frame.  This is how it works:

• You call in on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9am.
• You have a 5 minute pow wow; maybe a little breathing and letting the folks know what you’ll be doing for your exercise.
• You hang up, go exercise for 5-55 minutes, whatever you are comfortable with.
• Call back at 9:55am and share how you feel, what you did, etc.

It may not seem like much but the fact that I had to call back in, was that accountability that I needed. Of course I could lie and say I did the exercise when I perhaps hadn’t but why do that?  Why not just do it, take the time for myself and then be able to share with others about it, whether your exercise workout was a good or bad experience. It’s giving you a community, that is doing the same thing you are, where you can encourage and receive support.   It’s exactly what I need.

Community of Movement on Facebook | on Twitter

What are you doing to create positive mental and physical wellness?

If you’d like to know more and perhaps win some prizes, please join the Community of Movement for a fabulous and fun twitter party!  Here are the deets and I hope to see you there!

October 28th (Thursday) at 6:30 PT, 7:30 MT 8:30 central and 9:30 eastern and the hashtag is #UpliftingMoms So if you could please mention that in your posts. There is no RSVP, everyone can just show up.We will have a ton of prizes including:

• – Kindle and Amazon gift card
• - Ipod Nano
• - Nike+ Sportband
• - Luluemon gift card (workout clothes)
• - and more!

Disclosure: I was not approached for this campaign.  I actually saw it at a forum and decided to sign up and hope that I ‘d get chosen.  I did obviously.  I also learned that I’d be compensated for participating in the program, HOWEVER, please know that I truly needed something like this to keep me accountable and I was happy to do it just to have that community of support.  All opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

Okay, letting that last bit of negativity out is done and over.

Right here and now, I pledge to NOT talk down to myself anymore. Not make fun of my own weight anymore but instead, to see the positives and focus on making myself healthy in body and soul.

You all know how I talk about the Nintendo Wii right? How bad I want one and how I truly feel it will help me?  I actually love workouts but easily get bored with the same one over and over again. This is where the Wii comes in. You’ve seen the Wii Fit, now the Wii Fit Plus and how they offer variety, something I need to stay motivated every day.  And I’ve always heard it’s good to not have repetition so that your body doesn’t expect the same thing.  Is that accurate or am I just making stuff up??  Maybe one of you will know.

I’ve heard some amazing stories from women using the Wii to help them on their road to a healthier lifestyle.  It’s inspirational.  Did you know that 11 million females in the U.S.—one out of every four system owners—is  considered the “primary player” on those home systems?  And a full 80 percent of those female primary players own the Wii console. WOW! I had no idea so I was surprised when I found that. I knew it had to be a big number because it seems like everyone I know has one and is using it for weight loss and casual gaming.

MY UPDATE

I’ve gained weight even since that fatter picture of me. Over 10lbs to be exact.  I’m now at 198. Wow..I’m so ashamed to say that, especially since I know friends and family read my blog.  I’ve asked a few people to hold me accountable. To call me and make sure I’ve exercised. To support me.  I’ve asked you before and you probably think I’m a total loser by now but hopefully you’ll keep on supporting me.  Maybe I could use a prayer too….is it wrong to ask for prayers to help me lose weight? Something so selfish like that?

YOUR STORIES

I want to hear from you. I want to hear your weight loss stories of success  and your stories of,  what i like to call,  falling off the wagon. I want to hear if the Wii Fit has helped you, what goals did you set for yourself, how often did you use it….everything. Pour your heart out.

I noticed that when people were rooting each other (me) on, I was doing great!  I felt not so much obligated anymore but motivated.  And then the encouragement dwindled down….and then so did I which means that I NEED to have people surrounding me, telling me I’m doing great, forcing me to exercise, and pointing a finger saying “Don’t eat that!”. I NEED it.  Seeing my picture with the apron on made me realize that I’ve gained weight and it sickens me.  I don’t know how it can be so hard for me to lose weight when I want to lose it so bad.  Frustrating.

Biggest Loser starts tonight and I know that they inspire me and I’ll get back on that horse and start again.  Even so, I also know that I need more than that.  I need help from a program and I need you. I hate to ask you to be there for me when I’m not always there for you all but I need you.

I am looking at weight programs to see what might work best for me. Every one of them has had success and failures but I want to know what you have tried and why it did or didn’t work for you.

I’ll continue my workout routine but I need you to make sure I do it–to remind me to do it every chance you get.

I got my treadmill the other day from Walmart and I have to say, it’s wonderful!  I really enjoy working out on it. I put my TV on Food Network (ironic huh!) and then go!  I keep a water bottle close by so that I can stay hydrated throughout my workout.

The treadmill has the essential features that I wanted which was a fan and the incline.  It runs smooth and folds up for easy storage but I leave my down and right where it is so that I can hop on it daily! It’s a Gold’s Gym and was inexpensive compared to many other treadmills I saw.

The video is basically a whole bunch of rambling sadly.  I went on and on and on. And sorry about the bra strap. GAH!

I’m walking on the treadmill at least once a day, doing a 30 minute workout.  I’m going about 1.51 miles and burning just over 200 calories.  I’m stepping it up tomorrow!

• Starting Weight: 189
• Current Weight: 187
• Goal Weight: 145

Watch at your own risk of boredom;)

I have already begun my treadmill workouts so this will fit right in with that and at the BeeWell website, you can actually log your miles, calories, and even your meals. I’ll be wearing a pedometer to keep track of my steps and encourage you to do the same. The website is jam packed with information to help you succeed in beeing well. From getting valuable information from healthy living experts to healthy eating to having a community forum so that you can share your experiences, ask for help, or get a little support.

MY GOALS

When you  sign up, you can put what your goals are.  I will strive to walk 2 miles, 3 times a week.  It’s not much but I’m new at walking like this so I feel it’s appropriate for me.  I will log my miles to keep track, to help money get donated towards the cause and because  each day you log miles or game codes from pink label Bumble Bee cans,  you could instantly win one of 15,000 prizes!

My goal is lose weight, not just for vanity issues but also to make sure I’m here long enough to see  and run around with my future grandchildren.

With the beautiful weather around the corner, it would be a great time to start walking, even if it’s just around the block!  My kids are joining in with me and I will be reporting back to you how I’m doing so keep checking back and maybe we can unite to be healthier and make a difference!

YOUR GOALS

So what about you?  Would you be willing to partake in the BeeWell Miles campaign by taking steps for a cause?  What steps are you taking to BeeWell and live better?

And by the way, that’s my fake smile….that’s a smile that is trying to cover up the fact that I am cringing inside because she’s taking a fully body picture.  Cringing because she’ll probably show the family that picture and they’ll see that I really am fat..not they don’t already know but a picture is so much more real.

So, because I’ve been working hard on my weight here lately, I want to do a little more.  I’m already doing the 10-minute trainer but I think I need some cardio and I think a treadmill will be perfect for me.  I’ve had one, loved it, it died.

YOUR INPUT NEEDED

I’m asking YOU for your recommendations on a good–cost friendly treadmill.  Something that I can fold up to move into my room out of the way so that it doesn’t crowd my living room.  Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!