Friday, May 22, 2015

Working My Ass Off - literally

First of all, I finally weighed after two weeks of ignoring the scale.  And BOOM, down four pounds!! That puts me at 42 pounds of melted off fat since I restarted my weight loss attempts!  Wahoo!

Second, I have been going to classes at the gym in my office building.  I was terrified at first because I was pre-embarrassed about all the things I assumed I wouldn't be able to do. I was worried about the attention that would be drawn to me because I would be standing there while others did the activity that I wasn't able to do.  I was already dreading the questions and shunning looks from others about the sweat that would be pouring off of my face after barely doing any of the movements.

But I now admit, I was so very wrong with my assumptions.

On Mondays I go to a class called Arms and Abs.  And yes, we work on our arms and our abs.
On Tuesdays I go to 20/20 which is 20 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of strength.
On Wednesdays I go to Butts and Guts...it's all squats and crunches.
Thursdays I usually take the day off.
Fridays I go to Circuit which is where they set up 6-7 stations and you spend about 4 minutes at each station.

I LOVE the classes.  No, I cannot do all the exercises. Yes, I have to ask for alternate movements sometimes.  No, no-one else cares because they're all busy doing their own workouts with sweat pouring off all our faces.  And yes, I hurt after sometimes, but it's a good thing - it's a deserved hurt because I'm working muscles that I sometimes feel I must have never worked before.

I'm having so much fun and I've gotten to know many others at the gym.  So much so that I was chosen as Member of the Month!  I'm flattered and thrilled!  And I get to show off a picture of myself.  I haven't taken a picture since I've lost the 42lbs.  I'm glad I finally had a reason to take a picture because I'm looking FAB-u-lous!

I know you all are looking fabulous too!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Two Great Things

Hello everyone!  I apologize for being so quiet as of late.  It's not that I haven't wanted to check in, I have just been busy enjoying spring.

I set a goal in late March to take the dog and visit all the state parks within 2 hours of my home of which there are TWENTY-FIVE!    Since I made this goal I have visited four.  And I'm loving it!
It's beautiful watching the parks "green up".  It's not very wet here so the trails are dry and it's still can be chilly so there are not many people, which gives the dog and I the sense that we are out in nature alone.  And anytime I feel alone in nature is when I feel most connected to my Higher Power.
Nice.

But I know I could only be doing these hikes because I have found a deeper abstinence which is helping me shed my excess pounds.  And those shed pounds are giving me energy, stamina, and strength to go up and down bluffs along the river, to go five miles at a time, and to catch myself smiling while doing it!  What a great thing!

But I did title this TWO great things didn't I.

The other great thing...When I started regaining weight, I put all the clothes that didn't fit in a big tub.  About a month ago I went through it and tried some things on and about 1/3 of the tub mostly fit but I only took out about five items but that's all that really fit me.
But last night I got out the tub again and tried everything on and EVERY SINGLE ITEM FIT ME!!  Holy crap?!  Approximately 6 pants, 6 jeans, five skirts, about 15 shirts, and 7 dresses!  And 80% of the items are summer-wear which means I have CLOTHES that FIT again!  And I didn't have to go SHOPPING (I loathe shopping).
The clothes are timeless in the fashion sense, are cute, and show off my new figure!  What a great thing to happen at the end a week that was kind of crazy and stressful. 

What's that you ask?  I mentioned a new figure but didn't talk about it??

Well, I don't exactly know how much I've lost because I made a deal with my sponsor to stop weighing for a couple weeks.  But in October I was wearing 18W and barely wearing those.  But everything in the box was either an XL, or a misses 16 or 14!!!!  I cannot believe it!  I knew I had lost weight but since I didn't shop for new clothes I didn't understand the extend of what I'd lost.  So the jump from the "W" to a "misses" means I'm losing my hip and thigh girth, and then to drop two sizes??  Nice!

So that's what's up with me. 

I'd love to hear what's up with you???