Starting a journey..hope I can make it!

DevonLigotti

Hello all,
My name is Devon, and ive always been chubby. Upon recently going to a water park and having to see myself in a bathing suit, I was appalled at how big I actually have become when I am forced to look into that mirror I dread so much.

184 pounds, the biggest I've been, I got on a scale and cried. I am only 5'1.
I want to get down to the 120s, and I want to get there by next summer. I know I am going to have to commit.

The things on my side:
1.I am a vegetarian
2.I have some spending cash to buy equipment and videos

My enemies:
1.I love fried foods (I have been fried food free for a week and a half now!!)
2. I am a night-shift NICU nurse and when i get home after a 12.5 hour shift i am BEAT. But i want to work out
every day.

I have never been skinny and have never come close to loving my body the way I should. I want to be healthy and I want to look good and be proud of my physical condition (and reduce my cancer and heart disease risk). I recently bought Power 90 and I am GOING to do this.

Heres the bad part, I bought 2 Jillian Micheals DVDs (30 day shred and banish fat-boost metabolism) and I just cant get through them yet, my butt and legs hurt really bad and I get winded after about 15 minutes . I am really gonna try and push myself, but I am so un-toned and out of shape I'm afraid I wont be able to do Power 90 even if I am giving it my all....
anyone else start off really slow and weak?

I appreciate any support, and I hope that I can soon have a success story too!

TessaL221

A couple of things: If you have a fryer... throw it out! Then you will only eat fried when you are out. That being said, pack your lunch when you go to work. It will quell the temptation to eat cafe food or takeout. Not to say you can't have ANY junk, just put yourself (and not your stomach) in control of when, how and how much. Another thing, Don't stress about the norms in timetables. When you get home from work and fall into bed is your night. You wake up, and it's morning. Get out and exercise then. After exercise come in and eat breakfast. You'll need to figure out what works best for you, but I think everyone else's dinner hour which would be your lunch hour may be the best time for your big meal of the day (unless you are the type to spread your meals out to like 5 small, equal cal intake sessions), and then take a light lunch (sandwich, salad, veggies with cheese sticks, etc). I am not too far into this myself and have also been overweight for much of my life. I have a total of 90 lbs I want to lose still and sometimes that seems like a daunting task. Being a mother of 4 though, I am taking my weight loss 1 child at a time. 10 lbs till this one is gone, 10 more till the next, then 20 till 200, 20 more till the next child, and then 30 till the last. Then I will have 15 to my goal. doesn't seem so difficult when I set those small milestones. One last tid-bit I leave you with: Don't rely on a scale. Use it, yes, but also measure and track your loss by measurements as well. Especially when you are toning you will gain muscle and therefore not show a loss, when in fact you are far leaner. As for Jillian Michaels, don't despair. start off small and work your way. Just like on the show, she will have to bring it if she's going to make you puke after a while! Drop me a line if you need anything. I hope this helps.

boniekatie

I started out with a short 10 minute walk once a day, then I added another 10 minute walk, and then I increased it to 15 minutes. I walk faster now than when I started. I still can't do more than 5 minutes of an exercise video, but I try to walk at least 30 minutes a day. Sometimes I can only do 5 minutes at a time, but I keep at it.
Don't try to do more than you can. You need to start slow and do what you can. Consistancy is more important than intensity right now.
You can also walk at work during your lunch break.
This is a great place for help and support. Feel free to add me as a freind if you would like. We can take this journey together.

mollyelliott

im a night shift nurse too i think that works against us! i work out daily BEFORE i go to work. it actually gives me more energy to get thru the night. also, ive started packing my snacks and meals for work, that way i dont depend on mcd's or the vending machine. i also find myself doing little mini-exercises at the nurse's stattion.. (just do some curls with those 4 lb-ers. just kidding like squats , and calf raises. when and if i get a break, i usually walk up and down the stairs, and i always eat breakfast (number two) before bed (usually when im still at work) so im not starved when i wake up hope you find it helpful!

nursee67

This journey you are about to embark on is a good one! Congrats on taking the first step. I am a junk food, fried food, and anything unhealthy junkie. It has been hard readjusting but I am trying. I have found the salads at McDonalds and the turkey sub at Subway have helped. I have chosen grilled chicken over crispy...only eat a few fries. Lots more vegie snacks and fruit. Don't get me wrong, I still have food that should be limited but this is a work in progress. I hahve been walking on my treadmill or outside. I have been back on my bike...doing 4-6 miles between walking and biking. I couldn't go 4 blocks before!
So, keep up the good work...don't worry about falling...just get back up and rock it!
BTW...sometimes I don't feel like working out after my 12 hr shift so I just do 1/2 hr on the treadmill...I do take walks at work, walking on a "office" floor which wraps around in a circle. I take the stairs...can only do four flights up right now...but it's better than it was.