*Snowflakes to Sunshine* Discussion Week #11 3.18

Good morning everyone! Well I am not in good spirits today. I am up about 2 lbs because of TOM. So freaking discouraging. TOM was 2 months late because of my increase in activity I believe. No, I am not happy with where I am at the halfway mark. I've wasted so much time and could be so much closer to my goal if I could just stay on track. I've got so much going on dealing with issues with my son that is it hard to give 100% to my journey. I guess on the bright side, I have lost 10 lbs since I started tracking on MFP. Maybe I haven't done so well since I started this challenge, but at least I am 10 lbs lighter than when I first started and I have to be proud of that. Even though it seems it's taking eons to see any progress.

Morning ladies!

I am so sorry for MIA this past week, dh is on a business trip (which he will come back today - can't wait), my younger brother got engaged, and a hectic schedual..


I have finally broke through my Plateau.

IT's not where I want to be (weight wise) but This week I finally lost something
I have been @ a standstill for the past 2 months, losing the same 2 -3 pounds..and I felt annoyed because I was working out and eating my calories and every week I stayed the same.

This week, I switched it up. I just watch my calories, fats, and carbs...and I didn't exercise (hard) as previous weeks. I just did some light walking.

My plans for next week is to do the same...I am hoping to see ONEderland (again) soon.


Wish everyone positive results..

If you don't see a loss, try to find out why. My problem was I was working out way too much and that reflected the scale big time.


Laila

*BUMP* I'm off to yoga, but I will connect with everyone after I get my prana on!
Happy Friday!!

Snowflakes! We made it to the halfway mark! How do you feel?! Are you where you want to be? What have you learned so far and what are you going to do differently, if anything down the homestretch? Do you feel like your mindset has transformed? What do you need help with?

Not quite where I would like to be - since the start of the challenge and as of today's weigh in I am 15 lbs down.

All and all I am extremely happy with what I have achieved - I never expected that deciding to get rid of the extra pounds would create a lifestyle change. However, I have been lazy this week and need to kick myself back into gear.

I woke up late today and was whining to myself about how tired I was. Then had a thought - hey if you would have gotten your lazy butt out of bed early you could have worked out and had more energy! That definitely is a mindset that has been transformed.

Snowflakes! We made it to the halfway mark! How do you feel?! Are you where you want to be? What have you learned so far and what are you going to do differently, if anything down the homestretch? Do you feel like your mindset has transformed? What do you need help with?

Good morning Snowflakes. So we're at the halfway mark, I've lost a mere 5 pounds since the start of this challenge (and 3 of those in the last two weeks).. BUT, I have learned so so much about this process. A couple weeks ago, I was feeling frustrated and angry about my +2/-2 up and down. I wanted to give up and just decide to be unhealthy and fat. Then I finally had to get real with myself and ask some question--Am I snacking? Am I logging everything? Am I eating too much, not enough? I already have a very active life, so am I working out enough? Am I pushing hard enough? Along the way of getting real with myself I had to ask myself some hard question. What I mean is that I had to decide what I was dedicated to. A frank discussion with my mind, really.... I asked, Am I dedicated to fitting into X pair of pants? OR, am I dedicated to a healthy life? Like is "healthy" just a code word for my inner self really screaming, I WANT TO BE SKINNNYYYYYYYY and I want to shop anywhere! I had to admit that was working inside my head. And even though a certain size is tied to my perception of being healthy, really, more than anything I want to have a healthy relationship with food. Food is not my enemy, nor is it my friend. It is body fuel. And no doubt, it tastes good. But I don't want to be enslaved by it. I don't want the scale to determine what kind of day I am going to have.

So I started thinking about my inner dreams. The things I daydream about when I think of my body doing things. I want to do push-ups. I want to be able to calm my nerves and nourish my spirit with yoga. But deep deep down inside, I have always wanted to be a runner. I love the way runners look---even when they are sweaty and gross, they just LOOK dedicated. They look strong. They look like they have grit. I want some of that. So this week, I started Couch 2 5K. And Its hard. I mean, really hard. But I said to myself, Its hard, so what. Do it anyway. I have decided to commit my LIFE to exercise 5 days a week. Not just to get to onederland. Not just for the snowflakes to sunshine challenge. This is my whole life and I know exercise improves my mood. It makes me feel good afterwards. It makes me feel better about myself when I feel bad about myself, so I just have to tell myself to get over "not feeling like it"...I have not seen onederland since I was 13 years old. That was TWENTY years ago..I reset my weight goal to a healthy range, rather than to what I could imagine myself pulling off. I never set it at my real weight goal because I never believed I could get there. This challenge has shown me that I can and that I will. What size will I be? I have no idea. I will know when I get there. I am going to work hard, because this IS hard. Being in this challenge has made me realize that. I am not not alone in thinking about how tough this all is. But so what, I'm going to do it anyway!

Snowflakes! We made it to the halfway mark! How do you feel?! Are you where you want to be? What have you learned so far and what are you going to do differently, if anything down the homestretch? Do you feel like your mindset has transformed? What do you need help with?

Good morning Snowflakes. So we're at the halfway mark, I've lost a mere 5 pounds since the start of this challenge (and 3 of those in the last two weeks).. BUT, I have learned so so much about this process. A couple weeks ago, I was feeling frustrated and angry about my +2/-2 up and down. I wanted to give up and just decide to be unhealthy and fat. Then I finally had to get real with myself and ask some question--Am I snacking? Am I logging everything? Am I eating too much, not enough? I already have a very active life, so am I working out enough? Am I pushing hard enough? Along the way of getting real with myself I had to ask myself some hard question. What I mean is that I had to decide what I was dedicated to. A frank discussion with my mind, really.... I asked, Am I dedicated to fitting into X pair of pants? OR, am I dedicated to a healthy life? Like is "healthy" just a code word for my inner self really screaming, I WANT TO BE SKINNNYYYYYYYY and I want to shop anywhere! I had to admit that was working inside my head. And even though a certain size is tied to my perception of being healthy, really, more than anything I want to have a healthy relationship with food. Food is not my enemy, nor is it my friend. It is body fuel. And no doubt, it tastes good. But I don't want to be enslaved by it. I don't want the scale to determine what kind of day I am going to have.

So I started thinking about my inner dreams. The things I daydream about when I think of my body doing things. I want to do push-ups. I want to be able to calm my nerves and nourish my spirit with yoga. But deep deep down inside, I have always wanted to be a runner. I love the way runners look---even when they are sweaty and gross, they just LOOK dedicated. They look strong. They look like they have grit. I want some of that. So this week, I started Couch 2 5K. And Its hard. I mean, really hard. But I said to myself, Its hard, so what. Do it anyway. I have decided to commit my LIFE to exercise 5 days a week. Not just to get to onederland. Not just for the snowflakes to sunshine challenge. This is my whole life and I know exercise improves my mood. It makes me feel good afterwards. It makes me feel better about myself when I feel bad about myself, so I just have to tell myself to get over "not feeling like it"...I have not seen onederland since I was 13 years old. That was TWENTY years ago..I reset my weight goal to a healthy range, rather than to what I could imagine myself pulling off. I never set it at my real weight goal because I never believed I could get there. This challenge has shown me that I can and that I will. What size will I be? I have no idea. I will know when I get there. I am going to work hard, because this IS hard. Being in this challenge has made me realize that. I am not not alone in thinking about how tough this all is. But so what, I'm going to do it anyway!

I love this!!! That's a great mindset to have. I use to run track many years ago and I loved it. I keep seeing this couch to 5K but I don't know exactly what it is.

Ok, so I am not where I was hoping to be! I'm usually pretty good about being under 2000 sodium, however; it seems that I go high on the sodium just before weigh in - how dumb is that!?

Got a new HRM so I could see calories burned when I walk around the neighborhood and do the work that keeps me on my feet all day, and it seems pretty accurate. This week I actually did "real" workouts at the gym - logged more exercise calories burned in one week since I started and the scale went up 1.3 pounds - a bit of a bummer. I eat some of my exercise calories, but not very many of them, still sticking pretty close to the 1200 calories MFP has calculated. Not sure if the sodium plays in from yesterday, so I'll be re-weigh tomorrow. Have been drinking lots of water (96 - 128 oz), and some days I definitely feel smaller (today not being one of them).

To be on the more positive side, I have lost inches:
- .75 inches Neck
- 1 inch Upper arm
- 2.5 inches Bust ;-(
- 2.5 inches Upper Ab (fat roll)
- 2 inches Waist
- 2.5 inches Lower Ab (lower roll)
- 2 inches Hips
- 1.5 inches Thighs

So I do see the progress, feel it in my clothing - would just like for it to be coming off faster ;-) I want to be at a considerably lower weight for our daughter's High School Graduation May 21, and even lower for an Alaskan cruise (no bathing suits thank heaven) end of June. So I need to get cracking (none of my awesome trail mix can pass these lips!!!!).

So I am just wondering should I actually post my midway pics, since i have only lost 5lbs???

BUMP!

I love this!!! That's a great mindset to have. I use to run track many years ago and I loved it. I keep seeing this couch to 5K but I don't know exactly what it is.

@Bettyboop: Couch to 5K is a program @ http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml. I didn't sign up to pay for it since there are so many interesting groups online that are already tapping into this idea. But the basic principle is that it will get you off the "couch" to being able to run 5K in about 9 weeks. You walk/run three times a week (not back to back days), alternating between walking and running for time intervals. For instance, in week one, after your warm up, you walk for 90 seconds, and jog for 60 seconds for 20 minutes and then cool down. Each weeks it builds up. I just finished week 1. There are a couple of other people in snowflake to sunshine who are doing this program each of us at different weeks. There are also a couple of threads on MFP of people who are doing the program as well. Check it out.

I'm not close to where I want to be. but I will get there. I will not get discouraged. I plan on taking my picture over the weekend.

Snowflakes! We made it to the halfway mark! How do you feel?! Are you where you want to be? What have you learned so far and what are you going to do differently, if anything down the homestretch? Do you feel like your mindset has transformed? What do you need help with?

Well guys... I can't believe I am still here and haven't given up yet. I've had a rough time of it and I am definitely not where I want to be at this point. However, I am down some, which is better than up some! I have learned that I don't eat so many calories at night if I snack throughout the day, I have found that I enjoy exercise and I feel better and sleep better now than I did before. In those respects I would say my mindset has changed. However, I am still addicted to the scale. Watching those numbers bounce up and down all week does drive me crazy and upset me at times and yet...every time I walk past the stupid thing I'm weighing myself. I may have my husband hide it from me until weigh in day. Other than those things, I hope I see a bigger difference between now and the end picture than this last one. Ugh.

I love this!!! That's a great mindset to have. I use to run track many years ago and I loved it. I keep seeing this couch to 5K but I don't know exactly what it is.

If you google couch to 5K you can find a treadmill version and a regular version. It is basically a program to get you off the couch and prepared to run a 5K. Its hard, but I have seen a huge improvement in my fitness level.

Half way through and I'm down 15 pounds. I'm still big and uncomfortable, but I feel a lot better now that I'm down to something a little more manageable. Its too bad "manageable" for me is 186 pounds on a 5'3" frame. My goal is another 40-50 pounds so I'm somewhere around 140-130. It is going to be a long road, but I'm ready for it.

For me, this half of the journey has been more about changing my internal self and that change has resulted in external changes. While I'm not perfect, my eating is better and I'm getting off my butt and moving my body. I'm meditating and taking better care of myself in every regard - physically, emotionally, mentally. It has been an amazing few months for me, personally.

That being said, now it is time to kick it up a notch and really focus on dropping the numbers. With Spring finally here I'm making plans to start running and I want to begin lifting weights. I'm going to sign up for a 5K and my son and I have plans to do a "hiking challenge" this year where we track the miles we hike. I'm also going to learn how to play golf - my son is a huge golfer and I think it would be a good family thing to do it together.

All these ideas are wonderful, but I know that they don't mean much unless I actually DO them. Which is why groups like this are so fabulous - they keep you connected to your goals.

I am hoping to lose another 15-20 pounds before the end of this challenge!