Still not an expert

There's this thing that happens with my dad quite a bit. He asks me how I'm doing and I usually just answer "fine" and he says "never mind I'll just go read your blog, that's the only time I ever know what you're thinking" Well what I'm thinking this time is he may get more than he wants to know with this post. :) 

Most skinny people work out. I used to see skinny girls and think "I bet they've never worked out a day in their life, they probably eat whatever they want too." It wasn't until I went to the gym that I realized all of those skinny girls who had it so "easy" were actually in my same classes. They were just going to the gym while I was still sleeping before. ;)

Your weight and confidence are closely related. I'm learning as I continue to look and feel better that my confidence continues to increase. Even sticking to my goal of working out or staying within my calorie range is boosting my confidence.

When you're consumed with weight loss and doing nothing about it, it hurts your family. Before I began this "weight loss journey" I was constantly thinking "I should find some time to work out today" "I really shouldn't be eating this" My day was entirely consumed by those thoughts leaving no room for anything else and at the end of day, feelings of guilt. Now (since I work out in the morning) my work out is finished and out of my mind and I am able to take care of other things and well as go to bed with no feelings of guilt. It's a great thing. :)

Watching the Biggest Loser does not count as exercise. Like others, I am a big fan of The Biggest Loser. I find the show very inspirational and love to watch the progress of the contestants and see the end results. (I also like the challenges and the temptations). Somehow I always found myself watching the show while eating ice cream or after running to McDonalds. I don't know what it is about the show but it always makes me hungry! haha I've learned (and already knew) that as much as the show inspires and motivates if you don't take action or do something yourself it's just another show about weight loss and not helping you lose weight.

Weight stops you from living. I think this one is pretty self explanatory. At the times when I have been my heaviest (after having kids) I find myself kind of hiding from the world. As I lose weight I being to plan activities to do with family and friends. I'm not as worried about what a camera might catch me looking like etc. It's nice as continue to become more "ok" with who I am.

October Results

I'm way behind on this! (10.11.11) I promised I would report back with my progress so here it goes. I'm hesitant to even post these results because I have a hard time believing they're real. Let's just a keep in mind that these are not professional results. These are my husband's results with a 5 year old measuring tape. There could be error, just saying.

My goal for October was 5lbs and/or 5 total inches

Here are the results:

Chest- 1/2 inch

Stomach- 6 3/4 inches!!

Hips- 1 inch

Arms- 1 inch

Thighs- 1 inch

Total Inches: 10

Weight: 1 lb

Realistically is this possible? I don't know! haha

Hope you're all having a great day, hopefully my next post is closer to actual day I "weigh in!" (11.11.11)

Pumpkin Prizes!

Even though Ryan has moved to a different department at work, he was voted to compete in the pumpkin carving contest again this year. (Probably because it won it last year :) )

These are the TOP 3 WINNERS. One of them is Ryan's.

Which pumpkin and what place??

Road Trippin'

My sisters and I took a little trip last weekend to go to a "Homecoming" of Karli's friends. We had a lot of fun, a took A LOT of pictures. Here are a few. 

Inside our "condominium"

 Ready for church!

 Alcohol rules are different when you're in Wyoming. :)

We torture the RM. It was great. :)

On the shore of Flaming Gorge

After the luncheon

a-MAIZE-ing!

 Both of my sisters were home on the same weekend so we all decided to go to the Corn MAiZE! The kids never stopped moving the whole time we were there. They were exhausted for the rest of the night!

Excuse my squinty eyes, dang sun!

Ryan with both kids at the top of the PVC slide

Jake & Dad digging in the dirt

 Tally on top of the hay maze

 Riding the cow train. I think he used us to advertise to everyone else there because we got a super long ride!

 Tally & Jake in the corn shed with Aunt Candice

Emptying Tally's shoes after the corn shed. Both kids were full of corn when they got out.

My little "Spooks," as my mom would say :)

 Candice, Mom, Karli & Dad

 Tally on the pipe swing

 and the tractor

 On top of the bridge in the corn maze

 Feeding the goats

 2 heavy pumpkins!

I do not claim to be an expert

I've started this post a million times in my head and it all comes down to this..

 "If it's important enough, you'll find a way, if it's not, you'll find an excuse"

 I found that quote on Pinterest and I've got to tell you it fits perfectly with exercise and weight loss. 

It's quite possible that you're like me. Every day I would wake up and think, "Man, I should really work out today, I'm going to have to find time." Before you know it the day as ended and you're back in your bed feeling lazy and slightly guilty. 

I've been exercising for a month now and this is what I know:

You have to MAKE time. Believe me, I know there's something about 4:30 AM that doesn't sit well with a lot of people. If your day is filled with preschool, tumbling, dance, activity days, karate and fire meetings you may come to realize it's the only way. It's not an easy thing the first week or even the first month, but I do know that I feel better about my day knowing my work out it already complete before my kids wake up and my husband's gone to work. My day is now open and not filled with guilt.

You CAN'T rely on other people. When I decided to join a gym I invited quite a few people to come with me. A lot of them said yes but things came up and schedules changed and my "quite a few" became two. That's not to say I'm not lucky to have people going with me, here's the thing.. My objective and goal is different than theirs, so how I exercise, eat and what classes I take will be different. Once they get you to the gym you have to find your own motivation.

The first month SUCKS! I have now been going to the gym faithfully (Monday-Friday twice on Wednesdays) for one month tomorrow and I have NEVER missed a day! Something I'm very proud of, but very exhausted from. The morning still comes too early and I still have to drag myself out of bed. The first couple weeks were very discouraging. I guess in my mind I had this concept that pounds just fall off as soon as you start exercising...not the case. Ryan had a friend tell him "The first month is just to get you to feel better while you gain the muscle that's going to burn the calories. After a month is when the weight loss starts" This coming from a man who was 400 lbs and is now 250! I took this to heart and decided not to focus on the weight loss and to focus on how I feel. I do feel better!

DON'T focus on the weight. I had heard from at least 3 people not to focus on the weight and Ryan and I came to this conclusion. I had him take my measurements. *GASP* (This was not something Ryan forced me to do!) We wrote down my arm, chest, stomach, thigh and hips and then took my weight. In one month we will do it again. This system may not work for everyone but it's exactly what I needed to continue to find the motivation instead of looking for daily results!

DON'T eat everything! One of the girls I go to the gym with said she hasn't seen a lot of results and she's blaming it on her eating. She said she's always hungry and until she finds a way to curb her appetite she's afraid she's not going to see the great results she wants. Just because you're "working out" doesn't mean you no longer have to watch what you eat. For me, my day is not about being completely healthy all day long. I've found that if I eat a little chocolate or treat every day I find myself less tempted to eat every unhealthy thing in sight. You just have to find what works for you and stick with it.

This post it too LONG! Alright. I'm off my soap box now and I'll see you in 3 weeks, hoping to post some great results!

Firsts!

The last couple days have been super busy for our Tally Girl. She started preschool on Tuesday AND she went back to dancin'! Today was her first day ever at tumblin'! We are going to be super busy but it looks like Tally is going to have a lot of fun!

1st day of preschool

 1st day back at dancin' after a long summer break!

 1st day of tumblin'!!