Good news: I got to Curves tonight as planned. Once more this week and I'll have finally made my mini-goal! Bad news: I earned enough points doing the Curves Summer Challenge to land on a square with a pink elephant. The pink elephant means I would've had to go back to the very beginning.
Thank goodness for nice Curves employees though. After she looked up the meaning of the elephant, the Curves girl agreed that it royally sucked and that I should just move my marker forward a spot. So I moved it back a spot with much gratitude.
After all the effort I've put in so far, it would've seriously blowed if I had to go back to the beginning!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tipping Points
I've reached a couple of tipping points.
The first is water. I was told that by dutifully drinking my 8 glasses of water every day, eventually I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom so much. It took almost five months for that to happen and I've only recently come to this realization. Dearest bathroom, sorry I haven't been visiting you as much, but we had some good times, didn't we?
The second is my wardrobe. It used to be that a few things here and there started being too big for me. Now it seems like 60% of my wardrobe no longer fits well. It's either too big or out-of-date. Even my "skinny" jeans are getting baggy. My clothes are dropping off like flies. Dearest wardrobe, I think we've grown apart, let's go shopping one of these days!
The first is water. I was told that by dutifully drinking my 8 glasses of water every day, eventually I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom so much. It took almost five months for that to happen and I've only recently come to this realization. Dearest bathroom, sorry I haven't been visiting you as much, but we had some good times, didn't we?
The second is my wardrobe. It used to be that a few things here and there started being too big for me. Now it seems like 60% of my wardrobe no longer fits well. It's either too big or out-of-date. Even my "skinny" jeans are getting baggy. My clothes are dropping off like flies. Dearest wardrobe, I think we've grown apart, let's go shopping one of these days!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Curves Summer Challenge
Why'd I walk to Curves in the 30 degree heat? For five points of course! My Curves has started a board game called the Summer Challenge. When you do (or not do) one of the items on the list, you get to move your game piece X number of spaces along the board. There's prizes and pitfalls along the way depending on the square you land on. The board game is up on the wall and it's themed after a summer camp.
Being the sort of person who loves board games and prizes, I've taken up the Summer Challenge. Among other things, one of the items on the list that earns you points is walking to Curves. Other items include:
Being the sort of person who loves board games and prizes, I've taken up the Summer Challenge. Among other things, one of the items on the list that earns you points is walking to Curves. Other items include:
- Walking to work
- Biking to work
- Walking around a local park
- Not going to McDonalds for a week
- Wearing sunscreen for outdoor activities
- Lose 2 lbs or 2 inches on your weigh-in
Curves Monthly Measurement – July
I've started the week out right by going to Curves last night. It wasn't hard to convince myself to go as I always like my weigh and measure day.
Since starting Curves, I've lost:
That said, the inches lost aren't very much compared to last month. But I think I know why. I made the mistake of walking to Curves. The distance wasn't all that far (3.5k) but it was the lack of shade and the 30 degree weather that did me in. I guzzled water all the way there, but still arrived red faced, headache-y and extremely hot. I spent a good 20 minutes in the change room trying to cool down enough to be able to stand without passing out. Even still, I felt extremely puffy when I went for the weigh-in. Like a popcorn bag, I expand exponentially when I get hot.
I took it very easy on the circuit, too as I felt like I'd pass out whenever I worked a bit too hard. This morning I still have a headache so I'm thinking I might've given myself a bit of heatstroke. So why on earth did I walk to Curves? That's another post I'm afraid!
Since starting Curves, I've lost:
- 25.75 inches
- 26.0 pounds
- 5.2% body fat
That said, the inches lost aren't very much compared to last month. But I think I know why. I made the mistake of walking to Curves. The distance wasn't all that far (3.5k) but it was the lack of shade and the 30 degree weather that did me in. I guzzled water all the way there, but still arrived red faced, headache-y and extremely hot. I spent a good 20 minutes in the change room trying to cool down enough to be able to stand without passing out. Even still, I felt extremely puffy when I went for the weigh-in. Like a popcorn bag, I expand exponentially when I get hot.
I took it very easy on the circuit, too as I felt like I'd pass out whenever I worked a bit too hard. This morning I still have a headache so I'm thinking I might've given myself a bit of heatstroke. So why on earth did I walk to Curves? That's another post I'm afraid!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Update: doctor's appointment
I just got back from my appointment. In hindsight, I didn't wear the most flattering thing today. I only realized it at work when I saw myself in a full-length mirror. My favourite shirt is too big for me now and the skirt I wore no better. And because they're both dark, you can't make out my outline let alone see any definition. I looked big because my clothes are too big!
Needless to say, my doctor didn't notice right away but you can bet your bottom dollar that I mentioned it! Ha! She's very happy for me and excited at my progress. She said she could really see it in my face but couldn't tell because of my clothes. She became even more excited when I asked what I weighed at my last physical. I had a sneaking suspicion that I weighed more than when I started Weight Watchers and I was right. I was 211 lbs last summer. This means I've actually lost over 35 lbs (she rounded it up to "almost 40 lbs" which I like better, haha).
Wow. Although I could've taken that and thought, "OMG I WAS FATTER THAN I THOUGHT, I SUCK!" I'm taking it more along the lines of, "wow, I'm doing awesomer than I thought!!!!" Plus, it explains why I look a lot bigger in my before pic compared to my progress pic.
As tempting as it is, I'm not going to change my stats though. I lost those seven extra pounds somehow but it certainly wasn't with Weight Watchers. Anyways, I know this post is technically scale-related, but because of my clothes and my doctor's kudos, I'm labeling this one a solid NSV!
Needless to say, my doctor didn't notice right away but you can bet your bottom dollar that I mentioned it! Ha! She's very happy for me and excited at my progress. She said she could really see it in my face but couldn't tell because of my clothes. She became even more excited when I asked what I weighed at my last physical. I had a sneaking suspicion that I weighed more than when I started Weight Watchers and I was right. I was 211 lbs last summer. This means I've actually lost over 35 lbs (she rounded it up to "almost 40 lbs" which I like better, haha).
Wow. Although I could've taken that and thought, "OMG I WAS FATTER THAN I THOUGHT, I SUCK!" I'm taking it more along the lines of, "wow, I'm doing awesomer than I thought!!!!" Plus, it explains why I look a lot bigger in my before pic compared to my progress pic.
As tempting as it is, I'm not going to change my stats though. I lost those seven extra pounds somehow but it certainly wasn't with Weight Watchers. Anyways, I know this post is technically scale-related, but because of my clothes and my doctor's kudos, I'm labeling this one a solid NSV!
Going to see my doctor
The last time I went to my doctor's, I had just started Weight Watchers. I told her that I had finally joined (she'd been gently nagging me to maybe start thinking about my weight) and she was very excited for me and said she couldn't wait to see what I looked like in a few months when I came back for my prescription refill. I remember thinking at the time, "haha, so no pressure, right?"
So it's about five months later and I'm a little nervous and excited about going to see her this afternoon. With my new haircut, glasses, and weight loss, I hardly recognize myself! Here's hoping she'll notice, too.
So it's about five months later and I'm a little nervous and excited about going to see her this afternoon. With my new haircut, glasses, and weight loss, I hardly recognize myself! Here's hoping she'll notice, too.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Family Baggage
This week's meeting was about the baggage we've inherited from our family. Our meeting leader warned us that it'd be a sensitive subject and wow, was it ever! I didn't think I had any family baggage around food but I was wrong. It isn't just about loving people with food, it's about other things including stress, over-eating, exercise (or lack thereof), genetics, sibling competition, sabotage, and other things our families may have taught us as we were growing up that have shaped our eating patterns more than we thought was possible.
When I was growing up, we didn't have much. My mom was a single mother and she worked very hard to put very basic food on our plates. When she had extra money or it was a special occasion, we'd get treats in the form of fattening food. "Good" food quickly became intertwined with happiness and feelings of well-being. As the years went on and finances became more stable, "good" food became more common. It got to the point where if I didn't have good food around, those feelings of despair and deprivation would surface - as it was when I was growing up. A recipe for future disaster? You bet.
The other thing that struck home to me was family habits around exercise. Our leader spoke of some families not encouraging exercise or to get moving. My family had a Jekyll/Hyde approach to it. We'd get taken out on long hikes which, for the most part, I hated because my family is rather dysfunctional. Hikes were just another outlet to be criticized and yelled at. My mom would also never let me sign up for extra-curricular sports because she didn't have time to devote to driving me around. I learned that exercise was a thing to be avoided because you'd be made to feel inferior and also because it was too much of an inconvenience. Another recipe for future disaster? You bet.
Here I am at the meeting, having all this wash over me, and finally understanding another piece to the puzzle that is the fat me. No wonder I didn't like exercise! No wonder I liked fattening food! But hey, you know what? I've been overcoming all of this. Exercise can be FUN! You can have good tasting food all the time without emotionally depriving yourself. Imagine that. And you know what? I've been overcoming this for months now. Now THAT's progress.
For anyone still reading along take some time to really think about what your family might have taught you about food and exercise. It's surprising how much family dynamics can have an impact on your health. If the brave members at the meeting who shared their stories are anything to go by, I wouldn't be surprised if it's affected every one of us on this journey to some extent. Some members spoke of sabotage from parents. Others, dealing with some form of abuse. And some spoke of old-fashioned being loved to fatness with food.
Our leader closed by telling us in a voice that almost brought me to tears that she is proud of us, each and every one of us for having the courage to be there. And from me to you, I'm passing along the same message. I'm proud of you all. For having the courage to meet challenges head on, not accept defeat, and go on, in spite of everything that you may have had to endure or that you are continuing to endure.
You can overcome and I believe in you all.
When I was growing up, we didn't have much. My mom was a single mother and she worked very hard to put very basic food on our plates. When she had extra money or it was a special occasion, we'd get treats in the form of fattening food. "Good" food quickly became intertwined with happiness and feelings of well-being. As the years went on and finances became more stable, "good" food became more common. It got to the point where if I didn't have good food around, those feelings of despair and deprivation would surface - as it was when I was growing up. A recipe for future disaster? You bet.
The other thing that struck home to me was family habits around exercise. Our leader spoke of some families not encouraging exercise or to get moving. My family had a Jekyll/Hyde approach to it. We'd get taken out on long hikes which, for the most part, I hated because my family is rather dysfunctional. Hikes were just another outlet to be criticized and yelled at. My mom would also never let me sign up for extra-curricular sports because she didn't have time to devote to driving me around. I learned that exercise was a thing to be avoided because you'd be made to feel inferior and also because it was too much of an inconvenience. Another recipe for future disaster? You bet.
Here I am at the meeting, having all this wash over me, and finally understanding another piece to the puzzle that is the fat me. No wonder I didn't like exercise! No wonder I liked fattening food! But hey, you know what? I've been overcoming all of this. Exercise can be FUN! You can have good tasting food all the time without emotionally depriving yourself. Imagine that. And you know what? I've been overcoming this for months now. Now THAT's progress.
For anyone still reading along take some time to really think about what your family might have taught you about food and exercise. It's surprising how much family dynamics can have an impact on your health. If the brave members at the meeting who shared their stories are anything to go by, I wouldn't be surprised if it's affected every one of us on this journey to some extent. Some members spoke of sabotage from parents. Others, dealing with some form of abuse. And some spoke of old-fashioned being loved to fatness with food.
Our leader closed by telling us in a voice that almost brought me to tears that she is proud of us, each and every one of us for having the courage to be there. And from me to you, I'm passing along the same message. I'm proud of you all. For having the courage to meet challenges head on, not accept defeat, and go on, in spite of everything that you may have had to endure or that you are continuing to endure.
You can overcome and I believe in you all.
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