Weigh-In Wednesday

Unlike the Jeffersons...I am movin' on down folks! I'm happy to report to you that I weighed in at 219 this morning...for a total of 6 POUNDS OFF! Yay! It's been a good week! Once I finally got rid of Shamu, I felt much better and continued to eat less and move more! There was a small run-in with some Rice Krispie treats. I made them for a church event, and somehow made it home with the leftovers! Bad idea! Once I took care of those (and I don't mean that I trashed them unfortunately...I was back on track. Sorry I have not been posting pictures so far. I keep forgetting that I need to have Doug take my picture! I'll try to get on that for next week. Thanks again for your continued support! It makes such a difference in my outlook and attitude on this journey!

"Shamu"...aka My Monthly Visitor

So I feel like Shamu the killer whale today. My monthly visitor has arrived and is in full attack mode! I say Shamu the whale because I am so incredibly BLOATED. I looked like a hippo zipped up in an envelope in the pants that I wore today...the ones that just last week were fitting LOOSELY! The killer whale part comes in too because I have been unusually GRUMPY. You know that kind of grumpy where you're annoying to yourself, but you just can't stop! I think my husband was about ready to turn me in for a new model yesterday.

Why, you might ask, do I feel the need to tell you about my menstral woes? Well friends, it's because I want to notify you that I have decided to reserve one week of the month that I do not have to post my weight on here. I get discouraged pretty easily, and to see a gain that I know is just due to getting "Sham-oooed" is going to put me in the dumps. So, I'm just not gonna get on the scale when I have "the visitor".

I will tell you, though, that I have had a very good week. I have made it to the gym each day (except for Sunday) since my last weigh-in. I have been cooking our meals at home for the most part and have have not had any REAL Coke. So, it's possible that I could jump on the scale in the morning and see a good result. But given the fact that my bra almost snapped off its hinges today while I was working out, I'm pretty sure there's been a gain.

I do want you all to know, though, that this will be my only excuse. In the beginning, I promised to post my weight whether good or bad. And on normal weeks (normal meaning the weeks when I could NOT double as a flotation device), I will post! Promise! Even when there's a gain...which there will be. But, at this point to see a gain due to period bloating will not be helpful to me at all.

Thanks for your continued encouragement! I love it! I need it! So please keep it coming!!!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Well folks, the work has paid off this week! This morning, I am at 221...for a total of 4 pounds lost. Unfortunately, I'll have to post a picture later on today because Doug already left for work. But, I didn't want to leave you all in suspense until tonight! Thanks so much for the encouragement you've given to me throughout the week via email! It helps me SO MUCH!!!!

Getting close...

Well friends, it's almost "Weigh In Wednesday", but I thought I'd put a brief post about how the week has gone so far. I have to say that putting how much I weigh out there for all to see and then saying, "I'm gonna lose weight" is a HUGE motivator! The faces of those of you that are following this blog cross my mind as I'm making choices about food and exercise. And when the dreaded alarm goes off at 5am for my workout, I hear you all saying "Go girl!" And because I know you want me to succeed, it's makes me want to succeed even more...people pleaser? Yes probably. Whatever it takes folks!

I wanted to squelch any worries about my blood pressure. I'm mostly writing this for my MOM because she flipped out when she read that I heard the words high blood pressure at recent doctor's appt. Now, with my current weight it would not be surprising at all if I did have high blood pressure. But, I don't! In fact, this morning at the doctor, my bp was PERFECT! So, cool your jets Mom! I was just a little nervous at my last doctors appt. (which was when I heard those three words) because they were about to come at me with "instruments"...and I don't mean violins and cellos!

I know we'll find out a NUMBER on Wednesday as far as weight progress. But, I'll tell you this much right now...I feel motivated. I feel energized. I'm working out. I'm eating less. Hopefully it will show on the scale, but definitely it shows in my spirit! Thanks for cheering me on...I need all the help I can get!

**PS...I know many of you well, and I know you might be asking yourself, "Why two recent doctor's appointments." Nothing is wrong. Just was in the market for a new doctor and therefore had to have a couple of appts. That's all!

And we're off...

Thanks to everyone for your incredibly sweet comments on here and emails. There's nothing better than encouragement from sweet friends and family. So, I've busted out with this blog...and I really don't know for sure what form it's going to take. I've read many weightloss blogs. Some are daily rantings about how much it sucks to be fat. Some are all about how you can make typical fatty foods really healthy. Well I'm sorry, but no cupcake I eat is going to incorporate broccoli. I'm pretty sure that's not the direction this blog is headed.

I think I'm looking at a weekly "Weigh In Wednesday" to track progress, and probably some comments about how things are going for me along the way. Also, I'm going to choose one outfit that I'll wear for the weekly picture. And no...it's not going to be as one person suggested the bikini I'd like to be able to fit into someday. "You can shrink into it!", I was told. Yeah, and scare the crap out of my readers. So, I guess you can definitely expect at least one update a week...fully clothed I promise. And yes,I will post whether I lose, gain or stay the same.
Thanks again for being such great support for me!

The proof is in the pictures...

I had some technical difficulties with my photos, so I just made them into a post of their own. Sorry for the confusion on that...
So, here's me in May 2003...155lbs...size 8/10
 
 

  May 2008...225lbs...size 18/20
 

Personal GROWTH...and not the good kind!

If you follow my other blog, you saw that I posted a little video that was truly an inspiration to me. If you didn't see it, check it out here. I decided to post that video as a little prelude to my latest blog, "Are you there waistline? It's me Holly". The purpose of this blog is to track what I HOPE will be my journey back to better health. As you can see above, the past 5 years have not been too kind to this girl. Also, it's possible that I ate too much. But, I'd rather blame it on the years not being kind to me!

More seriously, in 2003 I was in the best health of my life to date. At that time, I was running between 4-5 miles a day (about 5 times a week). What's amazing about running (and living in a then 26 year-old body) is that it doesn't really seem to matter what you eat. The running takes care of it!

Now, I'm in a 31 year-old body and in the worst physical shape of my life to date! And I'd love to blame it ALL on my sciatic nerve problems that now keep me from being able to haul off and run 4 miles. Or, like the funny girl in the video, blame it on my prostate. But I guess we all know that wouldn't be the truth.

The TRUTH is that I still like to eat like the 26 year-old runner, but not MOVE like she did! In the little video clip, I heard the girl say, "It's all about eating LESS and moving MORE". And to think of all the millions of dollars people (myself included) spend on Weight Watchers and other weight-loss programs. The fact is, MANY people have INCREDIBLE success with those programs. I, however, have not.

So, here I am, living LARGE (again, not in the good way). It's been way too long since I was able to darken the doors of Ann Taylor, my absolute favorite store! I'm tired, exhausted and wiped out most of the time. For the first time, I heard the nurse at my last doctor's appointment utter three terrifying words...high blood pressure. What? That's nuts. The only high blood pressure I want is the kind you get from wedded bliss. :)

As for other big girls out there...my heart goes out to you. I KNOW how you feel. Some of you might claim that you're happy the way you are, and that may be true. But I doubt it. Happy is NOT paying $25 extra for plus-sized clothing. Happy is NOT getting winded when your husband chases you around the house. Happy is NOT aches, pains, moans and groans as you do simple tasks like walking up the stairs.

So because I am NOT HAPPY in this obese body, I have resolved to make some changes. And don't expect me to be talking about counting points or tracking carbs because I'm NOT going to do that. I'm going to EAT LESS AND MOVE MORE...that's it.

This blog is mostly for me. I want to be able to track my journey. It would be great if those of you that care about me want to keep your eye on this blog. I will welcome your ENCOURAGEMENT. That's really all I need. I don't need/want to hear that I'm pretty just the way I am, because you wouldn't say that if you could look inside my arteries right now! I don't want to hear all about how your sister's neighbor's dog lost 112 pounds by eating styrofoam. I just need encouragement (ie "Yay!" "Keep it up!" "Who's that sexy babe of a woman?" and the like...) I am NOT HEALTHY, and the goal here is to GET HEALTHY...not THIN, not more GORGEOUS (I mean really, is that even possible? HA!) But, if you have encouragement for me, I'll take it and treasure it! Thanks for coming along on this journey to a healthier me.