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)

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!

Get Fit 2011

Ryan is competing in his work's Biggest Loser competition. Only this year it's been changed to a "Get Fit" competition. There will still be a prize for the most weight loss but you can also choose to compete in: most curls in 2 min. (20 lb dumb bells), most sit ups in 2 min., most push ups in 2 min., fastest mile and fast walk. The catch is that it is most improved, not who can do the most. My over achiever husband has chosen to compete in all categories. There is a 30,  60 & 90 day check in so I won't be updating his improvement as often as last time. 

Weight- 215.2

Curls: 40

Push ups- 39

Sit ups- 26 

Walk- 14.01

Run- 8.01

Biggest Loser Finale- Final Weigh in Results

The Biggest Loser ended on April 28th making Ryan 5th place and $200 richer!

 STATS

Weight at highest- 219.2

Weight at lowest- 188.6

Total percentage- 13.95%

Most lost in a week- 7.6 lbs

Weigh in #13

FINAL WEIGH IN!

It's such a great thing that this final weigh in landed when Ryan was working because he always loses more weight on his 8 days. Today he weighed in at... dun dun dun

188.6!

We have to wait until tomorrow to find out if he placed but we are crossing our fingers for at least 6th!

Because he weighed in every week Ryan also received "Eat This, Not This : The Restaurant Survival Guide.

Ryan was grateful that the competition ended today because his company provided a big barbeque before their annual "clean up the highway day." I'm sure he treated himself very well. ;)

Weigh in #12

Ryan gained slightly this week, 191.4 and he's not very happy about it! He is looking so great though. If you haven't seen him in a while you would absolutely think he was wasting away and yet he's still not in the weight range that's "healthy" for him.

Competition ends April 28th so we've got one more week to go. Wish us luck!

Weigh in #11

Today's weigh in showed obvious progress! Ryan weighed in at 190.2!! I know without his heavy boots and work clothes he weighs closer to 186 but we really can't count that as far as the competition goes. Let's hope he can keep losing on these next days off! He says it's always harder when he doesn't have to work because the fridge is right there and he finds himself sitting in front of the tv a lot instead of finding the motivation to go work out. His job his basically walking and stairs with a limited amount of food so it's easy to stay in shape for those 8 days.

He's worried he dropped to 5th place this week though. Not losing last week really hurt his standings. It's still a money prize, but not what he's hoping for.

6 more weeks and I can join him!!

Weigh in #10

Easter candy + birthday weekend + weigh in =  a slight gain.

This week Ryan weighed in at 195.2. I don't know if that keeps him in 3rd or not but considering what he was tempted with this last weekend it's pretty amazing!

Weigh in #9

After a couple of tough weeks Ryan weighed in today at 194.6, so he is back to losing weight! I'm sure not that tests and funerals are over he is feeling a lot less stressed. I hope things will continue to stay less stressful for him, the contest ends on April 28th so he's almost done. Last week the poster showed him as 3rd place! It still puts him in a "money making" situation, which is always good. ;) Hopefully he doesn't overdue it this weekend on birthday treats!

Weigh in #8

This week was not a good one as far as weight loss for Ryan. Between traveling for the funeral, sitting, eating, stress from his test etc. He ended up at 202.2. So still not bad, but a slight gain, nothing he can't get rid of. He's also been tempted by his wife with Easter candy for the past 2 weeks. ;) I think when he gets back to his old routine of good food portions and working out he's going to do great. He's determined to do better next week!

Weigh in #7

Ryan weighed in at 195.8 today. Which doesn't look like much when I just told you that he weighed in at 196.8 a week ago. However, today is partner, who only sees him on Wednesdays, told him that he looks like he's losing too much weight! I thought that was funny considering he is not even in the "weight range" that charts, or the wii fit, consider healthy for him. He is looking really good though. He's lost weight in his face, feet and legs. I think his arms will come next and his stomach will be the last to go. FINALLY something I can relate to him with! ;)

Weigh in #6

Ryan was a slacker the days before last Wednesday. He discovered a new restaraunt that in his eyes has the best burgers and dessert. Needless to say that night he did not stick to his normal portion size. He's also found that he misses his sugar intake and getting seconds. However, because he is a guy he continues to lose weight! He didn't lose his 5 lbs like his goal in the past but he still managed to weigh in at 196.8.

I continue to weigh more.....

Weigh in #5

First let me just say that I can't believe Ryan's been doing this for amonth now! It is going by so fast! Today he weighed in at 198.2 which he deems to be a total of 21 lbs in a month! I wish I could do that. My record is 10. While we were in Orem over the weekend we also picked up a treadmill. He got to run on it last night and he's already convinced it's going to be a big help in the next 2 months getting down to his weight goal. Now we just have to go get him some running shoes. Once again he filled up on water, I believe last night he weighed 194ish on our scale. I'm hoping all of this water weight is an advantage in the end like he's hoping, we'll see! Whether he wins or not I know he feels better and his happy with how he looks and that's really all that matters. But $500 would be nice. ;)

Weigh in #4

I can't believe how fast Wednesdays keep coming! Or how fast Ryan keeps losing weight! This week he was afraid that he was going to have a harder time. He didn't work out as much as he would've liked, and he was tempted with high calorie, very delicous food. ;) Somehow he still managed to weigh in at 202.6 full of water! He is now technically under 200 when he's not water logged and officially weighs less than he has in nearly 4 years!

Weigh in #3

Ryan's weighed in today at 206.2! He's off to great start. Still full of water of course. Last night he weighed himself and was under 200 lbs, he can't remember the last time he was under 200 lbs so whether he wins or not he is feeling great about himself and his weight right now, which is a great thing. He's found it harder to workout on his 8 days on because so much of his day is spent at work that he tends to be pretty tired when he get home and is trying to fit in time with Tally and I. Today is his last day on and then he can go back to having the day to exercise. I think he's really looking forward to that.

Weigh in #2

Today Ryan had is 2nd weigh in. Of course he drank lots of water, but he still weighed in at 213.8 so he is losing weight! Losing 5 lbs a week is Ryan's goal to be able to lose 50 lbs in 12 weeks so with 6 lbs gone he is off to a great start! We still didn't get around to taking pictures and we aren't sure of anyone else's results either. Hopefully they let us know everyone's progress so this isn't a 12 week mystery! The Biggest Loser says that Week 2 is always the hardest with any work out routine so we will see how this week goes!

Weigh in #1

Ryan started his "Biggest Loser" competition today. He's very excited and motivated to get started. His goal is to lose 50 lbs in 12 weeks. The competition started out yesterday with "The Last Supper." His company provided cookies, doughnuts and junkfood for the contestants to have one last day of eating those kind of things. We also went out for shakes last night. ;) This morning Ryan drank as much water as he could be the weigh in. (he's a cheater, I know) and weighed in at 219.2. Which just happens to be 9 lbs heavier than we he weighed himself the day before! He's really excited for this competition to start. He's agreed to have before and after pictures posted but I haven't seen him today so I will have take them and get them up.
Wish us luck!!

The Biggest Loser

Ryan has decided to enter a "Biggest Loser" contest at work. It starts on February 3rd and goes until April 28th. The prize is $500 and an extra vacation day, so VERY worth his time! He's pretty excited to get started! I think I'm going to post his progress so everyone knows how it's going. Hopefully he wins!! I might be able to talk him into before and after pictures as well. Wish him luck!!

Updating

This week seems crazy to me but not a lot really happened we were just busy.

Natalya has become completely attached to her "babies" she puts them "night night," rocks them, feeds them (they even have to be in her high chair with her) and she has to take at least one whenever we leave the house.

A couple days ago I asked Tally what she wanted to wear. She usually comes out with something that doesn't match or "Dora" and today it was "Princess." We bought her a Princess dress last November as part of Christmas when we went to Disney on Ice and this is the first time she's worn it since. Funny girl!

My days are all confused.. but a day before or after Tally was a Princess she decided she didn't want to wear clothes. She chose to lay on them instead. She brought her hamper out from her room. (Yes they were clean I just hadn't gotten around to folding them yet) and got into it and laid down to watch some TV.

I went crazy with all the new ribbon that I got and made lots of bows that are just sitting at my house. If anyone knows a store that sells consignments let me know! More on this later..

Ryan was dying to catch up on the movie scene. He wanted to go to Harry Potter, but he worked in the morning and the movie looked like a long one so we went to RedBox at McDonalds and picked up 3 that we had missed from the past. More on this later too..

Last night we went to a birthday party for my cousin Zach, he's 3 now! I can't believe it. I remember the day he was born. I was working at the hospital in admitting while his mom was in labor and then after my shift went to entertain her. (My shift got over at 11:00) I was engaged, but not married yet and we didn't have Tally (obviously). It just seems like such a long time ago and it's really not.

I have officially lost 30 lbs! I'm so excited about that! It really seemed like such a long ways away but it's only been since October and I feel great!!

Ryan and I are trying to decide what to do for our anniversary. Do we stay, do we go? We would love to go somewhere but then there comes the babysitting issue. We've gotten nowhere. Anybody have any ideas?