At a stand still again?

Well, I cannot even tell you the last time I went to the gym.  I was sick and then life got busy and and and...and I have not been there.  So I am ready to get back up on the horse.  I am trying a few new things to get my life in healthier order.

Weight Loss:
I am trying the sensa system.  I plan to give it my all, even with the possibility of embarrassment and ridicule to see if it will work for me.  Honestly, I would love to lose 50 pounds, but am at a point where 20 would send me screaming about.

Heart Health:
I plan to get more cardio in my life!  I will get in the gym no less than three times a week, and will work for at least one house.  If I can at least walk for an hour, I will feel like I have done well.  My goal with the cardio plan is to make the hour count for more each time.  Instead of only getting a half mile done in an hour, and to increase my ability to do more in less time.

Eating:
I have already starting working on this part. I will no longer shop for the whole month at one time, instead I will go to the store weekly.  my reasoning behind this is to incorporate more fresh produce and healthier meats.  I also believe this will help me reduce waste in the home.  Additionally, I will have to choose one weekly treat for my home.  I will not have both Oreos, Ice cream, and candy.  One item at a time to reduce the possibility of abuse.  I will increase my advance preparation.  I will cut and chop veggies on Sunday to get me through the week.

Drinking:
I am working to drink a TON more water daily.  I do not struggle with drinking too much juice and soda, but I struggle with drinking enough water.  My plan is to drink more water.

So far, these are my ideas that will lead me to a healthier me and a healthier lifestyle.

Long Time No Progress

So I haven't posted in a while, I have had a lot going on, everything you could imagine, except fitness.  So here I am trying to get back in the groove of things.  Today I ordered Sensa, I am going to give it a try in conjunction with the gym.  I will do weekly updates to let you know how it goes.

Fighting for the Feeling...

It has been a while since I last posted, and sadly enough, I must admit that I have not been doing so well.  I have decreased the number of days that I go to the gym.  I think it is a result of the newness wearing off, and the old mentality setting back in.

However, I have a counter weapon.  I have a 2 mile walk DVD that I use on days I do not feel like going to the gym.  I have not officially weighed myself (mixed feelings about doing so) I have been complimented several times for "slimming down".  It is always a nice compliment to hear.

So for now I will keep pushing myself...

Feeling kind of disgusted...

So I should have posted some of these pics in with earlier posts, but I didn't, so I will back track a little today.  I took the first two pictures (in the black) the day I had had enough.  February 15, 2012!  I decided on this day that I would start a journey to finding fitness that worked for me.  The first thing I did was put on one of the snuggest shirts I owned and grabbed a camera.  One of my frustrations is having such a huge belly.  For years I told myself that I wasn't "fat" because my breasts still stuck out further than my stomach.  Well, as you can see this is no longer true.

 

Front view

 

Side View

 I took these pictures to help me see my progress. I had on a tank top and pajama pants, I wanted to be as honest with myself as possible so I put on clothes that have no forgiveness.

FLASH FORWARD

I was doing well and was highly motivated to stay in the gym, until one day, I didn't go because plans changed!  Which led to another day of not going because plans changed! And yes, you know it, another day of not going because I was too lazy and out of the routine.  My excitement had not worn off, but my old self was coming back! 


To make matters worse I did a lot of eating out over the weekend, and as you can see below, I will pay the price for it.  I took a couple of updated pictures this morning.  I put on a white shirt that fits the same as the black in the previous pictures, but is far less friendly (doesn't have that slimming effect). 


I have an issues with honesty and my body, I often try to pretend things are better than they are.  I find that in order for me to be successful, I have to be honest, even when it hurts and even more so when I don't want to be.  The picture below show how I look and actually how I feel today.  I feel like a big blob that allowed her self to get sloppy fat with greasy fried food that tasted fabulous going down, but look disgusting as they sit around (my waist that is). 

 

Front View (today)

 

Side View (today)

I took these pictures as I was getting ready for work, so It looks a little more firm, but its still  hanging about as low as it was in the pictures above (in the black).

I feel like my body is holding a grudge against me for all that I put it through this last week with not being consistent and poor eating habits.  While I am not happy about it, it is up to me to make the change!

Discouraged but not defeated

Today was a day for me.  I started off excited about working out because my mother wanted to go with me!  However, as the day progressed, my excitement began to fade and I started to feel discouraged.  My mother is an amazing one, even being paralyzed on one side of her body, still has a lot of "get up and go".  She was determined to go to the gym with me.  

The game plan was to pick her up after work and go straight to the gym.  Well there were a few pit stops before getting to the gym, and well, by the time I could see the Planet Fitness sign it was about 7:00 p.m.  Even though I was tired and a bit discouraged, I went in with great expectations.  

Took my mom over to the bike and she was not comfortable riding the bike.  We searched the gym for a few more things she could do.  Yet, she decided she would just sit this one out.  So....I decided to do the treadmill before heading out.  I was about 3 minutes in when my mother caught my eye.  Puppy dog eyes and a smile that said, "I'm hurting but willing to suffer for you."  So I ignored it for another 2 minutes or so, and finally gave up.  I was also ready to do home.

On the way out of the door, Justin, the personal trainer on staff, stopped and said, I know there is something we can order to make it more comfortable for you.  Let me talk to my manager and we will have something worked out for the next time you come in.

That was refreshing to my spirits.  We still left, but no longer feeling defeated, but looking forward to the next visit.  For me, it will be Thursday since I have church tonight.  For my mother it will be Friday.

All in all, I will say there are a lot of things that can catch you off guard and toss you off track.  The way we react to it is what matters.  I am not defeated, and am looking forward to the next day in the gym...I have a feeling for fitness...

Fitness for real...

So for months, perhaps and more realistically years, I have been trying to establish a plan that would help me live a healthier more fit life.  I know that due to health conditions in my family, being overweight is not good for me.  Much like many, for every reason I have to start living  a healthier life, I have a reason why I am not able to do so.   I need to eat healtier, but I can't afford the produce.  I need to work out, but I can't find the time.  I need to stop eating so late, but by the time I get home and cook....its late!  Whatever the reason, I can give an excuse.  However, now I am making better choices.  I have been debating joining weight watchers for months.  I set a date, February 1, 2012 I was to join weight watchers, but once again, I had an excuse.

February 11, 2012 I was at a meeting at church, and I was a part of a conversation where my best friend was being "fussed" at by a few friends for not staying on top of her blood pressure when another friend mentioned the opening of a new gym that had memberships for only $10 a month.  Planet Fitness.  This stuck in my mind for a few days.  I figured at $10 a month, I could afford to join and was at a place in my life where I had a desire to be successful at healthier living.  So I made a comparison sheet of a few local gyms and decided planet fitness was a good fit for me.

February 15, 2012 was the first day on my journey for fitness.  I joined Planet Fitness.  So, what has me so sure that I will be successful?  Not only did I join the gym, but so did a few of my closet friends.   Today, was the second day I worked out and it is not as bad as I thought it would be.  Granted I am not pushing myself as hard as I will as I get more into this fitness thing, I have been putting in a good amount of time.  The first night I was at the gym for about an hour, but after a tour and getting settled in, we worked out for about 45 minutes.

Well, today I woke up not feeling so good.  I really think it was something I ate yesterday at a church dinner.  Despite not feeling good, I was determined to make it to the gym.  Tonight, we worked out for about an hour and a half.  I used to be the person who didn't understand how people would spend so much time in the gym, however, today it was rather easy!

So I burned 45 calories at this point in the journey...12 minutes to go!

 

This is me on the treadmill on day one.  Sorry its blury, but thats what happens when you and the photographer are working out... LOL!

 

In this part of the gym are two massage chairs.  I am sitting in one as I take the picture. 

  I am excited about my journey...I really have a feeling for fitness.