Making little changes

Of all of the times I’ve “dieted” before, I was most successful when I low-carbed and let’s face it successful isn’t really true is it…since I’m right back here on a mission of weight-loss again!

I’ve been as heavy as 225 when I found out I was allergic to wheat and I slowly lost down to 185.  I met my husband-to-be who mistakenly encouraged me to drink Diet Coke instead of the real thing and I quickly got addicted and my doctor told me the diet soda was a quick train to diabetes (go figure!).  It agitated my hypoglycemia fierce.  So I’ve struggled over the years but I’m finally free of diet soda.  Did I mention my addictive personality?

During the last few years there has been progress with gluten-free bread being widely available and isn’t it ironic that once I stated eating it I got wider?  Darn carbs.  But I had dreamed of eating bread again and for the most part it was tasty – dry but tasty.

The yo-yo scale went down to as low as 172.  I’m just sad looking back at that because it was hard work and I let it go.  It gradually creeped back up again to where I am now because I was sad and depressed so I used potato chips and lots of sandwiches to numb the pain.

So back to these little changes…I’m walking (every day is my goal) to strengthen my back and to get my metabolism going again.  I’ve been trying to swipe fries for salad or coleslaw.  I’m trying to not eat an entire bag of chips but just put a few on my plate.  I’m not following a diet plan right now – just trying to eat healthier.

These little changes are significant for me because I’m trying to think long range (for life) instead of short term (big loss on the scale).

So I’m heading down to the treadmill for 27+ minutes now.

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Thanks WRR for mentioning Bill Phillips site:)

 

Good day and bad day all in one

When I got out of bed this morning, I told my husband that my back was certainly feeling better lately.  I even told him he could say I told you so since he pushes me to walk to strengthen my back and improve my health.  You know how it is to say something – put it out in the universe and then think maybe you shouldn’t have…yep my back decided to act up.

I am happy to report that I walked on the treadmill anyway.  So I was slower and walked for less time but I still walked.  It’s even feeling better now too.  Crazy huh!

My inspiration

Two years ago I had a successful weight loss and I did several things.  I kept a food log, weighed daily, walked on the treadmill at least 3 times a week, measured monthly AND took photos of myself during the process.  This year, this journey I’m doing it all a little differently but I know that the pictures are really important to me.  Last night I scrapbooked some that I put on here recently but I included a photo of myself and journaling.

Monthly journal page

I am a proud Digital Project Life scrapbooker so it makes sense for me to put my story in my scrapbook (for inspiration and documentation).  If you are interested in the supplies used, please comment and I will share.

“I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING HEALTHIER” is my mantra from “Don’t let an old person move into your body”

July Recap

Goal:     to lose 2.7 pounds

Result:   gained 1 pound (girlie disclosure on my period right now). Obviously not dieting – more about working out and getting new, better, HEALTHIER habits.

Goal:     to walk on treadmill every day – increase time/distance weekly

Result:   walked 16 days this month – beginning 20 minutes/now 26 minutes

I already posted my goal to walk more in August and start utilizing the stairs.  The book that I’m reading encourages visualization for my goals so I’m going to rehang my motivation board.  It used to hang above my own treadmill but now that I’m using the community fitness center I will hang it in my bathroom.

Here’s my visual for today!

The number I want to see – on or before my 50th birthday!

Shaking off discouragement

I have had some highs and lows this month.  I dread getting on the scale tomorrow but I’m going to face that evil beast.

The Highs – I walked on the treadmill every day for 2 straight weeks!  Then 2 days last week and I walked again today.  My back didn’t hurt as bad during my period as it did last month and I have to believe that’s because of walking.

The Lows – I didn’t walk every day for the entire month.  I became discouraged with the scale and gave up the idea of my food plan.  I’ve been back on “the soda kick.”

My goal for August is to walk EVERY DAY!  I want to increase my time on the treadmill every week!  By the end of the month I want to add walking up the stairs several times a week!  This makes me cringe that I’m writing that out but I have been a slug for so long now that I have to push myself to move my body more.

 

I’m also going to read Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body by Jim Donovan.

Exercising with a 92 yr old

I live in a senior community that has a pretty nice fitness room.  Today is day 9 of me walking on the treadmill, yay.  Every morning so far it’s just been me with my mp3 player but today a gentleman came in.  He got on the recumbent exercise bike and engaged me in conversation.  Turns out he is 92 years old!  I was amazed and wouldn’t have guess him over 80.  He said he bikes several times a week for 20 minutes but can’t manage too much time on the treadmill.  I laughed and told him I probably couldn’t do 20 minutes on that bike!

I realize that all of the years that I’ve been a couch potato have hurt me is so many ways.  I’m glad to have that fitness center nearby and I am happy that I am making walking a new habit that I want to keep for my lifetime!

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

Do the walk of life

Good morning and I hope you had a great weekend!

I’m happy to report that I have walked every day since last Monday!  Woot!  I want this to become a daily habit and I’m even shrugging off the little voice that said “take off on Sunday.”  Did you know that there are tons of songs with walk(ing) in the title?  I didn’t until I just googled for an inspirational post title today.  You can check it out here.

I’m walking 25 minutes right now and hope to get to 30 minutes by next Monday.

Hope you have a great Monday!

1st Week Success

Obviously the days of a big whoosh of weight-loss for my first week is over since I “only” lost 1.6 pounds.  I’m not going to complain at all because I’m THRILLED with any loss at all.  

That was yesterday’s results and I may shock you by telling you that I went out and ate “normal” food without modifying it for my diet.  I’ve just posted my meals on my spreadsheet along with my .6 gain today.  But I proved that this method worked for me 2 years ago and I’m doing it again this phase.  

You may be shaking your head and wondering why since I gained a bit back today – well it keeps me from getting bored with my food and I believe it keeps me from plateauing.  A lot of changes have happened in my hormones in these last two years but I’m getting my head together to accept small weigh-loss each week (hopefully).  I have to keep my eye on the prize and it all adds up in the end.

Now I’m going to eat breakfast and go walk on my friend The Treadmill.  Atleast, I can report success for my first week.  I’m on “way” to being a skinnier sister.  

Have a Happy Saturday!

My blog header gives me ideas

Happy Friday everyone!

I love the header of this blog – an elephant, giraffe, a hippo and a zebra.  Since my title is The Fat Sister and I am one of 4 girls in my family that means one animal for each of us, lol.

I started to wonder which animal represents me and I had to google the obvious question:

Which is heavier, a hippo or an elephant? – Yahoo! Answers

Oct 4, 2007 – The elephant… 1. Elephant (up to 6800 k) 2. Hippopotamus (up to 3600 k)

So I’m the elephant or pachyderm as I like to call them, my sister Judy would be the giraffe, I’m sorry Bren but you have to be the hippo since you are next to the heaviest and Debbie would be the zebra.  Bren is the sister that I am closest to and she’s the one that brought the fat sister comment to my attention a few years ago.

This is what happened: I was on “my plan” and told Bren that I was losing weight.  Meanwhile, she had started gaining a lot of weight and would eventually be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  She said “oh no, if you lose weight then I will be the fat sister.”  It’s not like she meant to hurt my feelings or piss me off.  She did both but I forgave her.  But it has stuck obviously.

The truth hurts obviously.  I am still the fat sister after all of these years.  It’s been about 4 years since she said it but  I am finally doing something about it!

Enjoying music while walking

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I’m lucky that Thursday is really my Friday with my job:)  Tomorrow I will be off and visiting my family and friends back home. But I will walk on that treadmill again in the morning before I drive away.

Tomorrow will be a week that I’ve been eating “on plan” and I’m skeptical that I will see any results on the scale just yet.  I have used my calculator and determined that I can lose 2.7 pounds a month to reach my goal of 50 pounds by age 50.  I remember many other weight-loss “attempts” that I tried in the past that gave me a huge loss the first week.  I realize that I will not see the same results tomorrow.

I’m not being down about it but I know that I have hormonal challenges now that I didn’t have before.  I also eat dinner later on the days that I work because I don’t come home until after 8.  But 2.7 pounds monthly is realistic and sets a really low bar that I can hopefully lose more than that once I crank up my metabolism.

It’s ok to be the turtle in this race.  Ultimately, I want to keep the weight off for good.  So I will be incorporating more good habits as I go along.

Just like this morning, I forced breakfast down and grabbed my phone and earplugs and went downstairs to the fitness room. I started my Amazon Music Player and enjoyed some great music while I walked my 23 minutes (walking a minute more everyday so far).  Some songs just make me feel more energetic and I’m glad that they are on my player.  Do you have any favorite songs that really help you keep the momentum going?  Please share so I can download them:)

The Fat Sister is signing off for now.  Hope you have a wonderful day!