Well, I decided that I would jot down some of my feelings of my current lifestyle change. Mostly because it has made me feel so good and I want to remember these feelings. Especially for when it gets hard and I have to remind myself of why I needed a change!
I haven't exactly been in a "normal" weight for the last several years. And it of course has to do with several reasons. Four children in 7 years, living a somewhat sedentary life, not really caring what I ate. I could probably list more, but those are the biggest.
So, I have known for a while that I need to lose weight. I needed to start exercising and I need to eat a better diet. But 1- I hate exercise. Especially those classes and videos that seem so long! It is almost torture for me. 2- I love Dr Pepper. I love dessert. Dr Pepper has been my drink of choice and dessert has been my favorite food group! So those were my issues. No exercise and eating a less than stellar diet.
But I was comfortable. Sure, I didn't look like I had in years past, but I could live with that........maybe! Well, several weeks ago, I was no longer comfortable. I didn't quite like what I was seeing and feeling. I didn't quite like that going up and down the stairs was tiresome. I didn't quite like that bending over to put on socks was getting harder! And this may sound awful but it is the truth, I was to the point where I hated to even look at myself! I could get my hair and makeup on, but beyond that I couldn't stand to see myself in the mirror. Sad, I know!
They say you have to hit rock bottom to make a change. Well, I suppose you can say that this was my rock bottom.
New Year's Day was my last day of soda consumption and I promised myself that I would start there. Then it was my diet in general. .
No more sweets. No more runs to Kneaders after 7:00 pm for half price desserts (yes they have such a thing on Saturday night!) I would start sending Kelly to Dunford's on Monday for bread, so I wouldn't be tempted to buy donuts! In my last two pregnancies I had gestational diabetes and had to make drastic changes to what I ate. So, I decided to go back to that diet. I had huge success with it while being pregnant. In fact, being on that diet during those pregnancies, I lost an average of 1 1/2 pounds per week! I figured if it worked then, it would work now
And then I remembered a friend telling me about a workout video that she liked. It was only 20 minutes long and since she had success with it, I thought I would try it out. I started Jillian Michaels' "Shred" and I have loved every minute of it. Remember, I hated to exercise. I didn't love videos because they were long and hard and my kids always got in the way. I didn't like to go to the gym because I am easily intimidated by others and I used the excuse of what to do with my kids.....again! But this video is perfect for me. 20 minutes of intense interval training. I have stuck with it and haven't missed a day since I started it 3 1/2 weeks ago.
I have lost 13 pounds since my last drip of soda and my last day of non exercising! Some of my clothes are starting to fit differently (in a good way!) and I can run up the stairs and not feel out of breath afterwords! Oh, and putting on my shoes and socks is no longer a chore!
So there you have it. A once miserable me is turning into a person who is determined to get fit. I have made some lifestyle changes and so far so good! I know it might get hard. I might wake up one morning and really not want to work out. I might go out for dinner and really want a sweet treat for dessert. And I have not become "Miss Super Fitness" who doesn't let a trace of sugar touch her lips! I have enjoyed a "treat" from time to time, but I am learning to not over indulge myself! I know that I am not going to be perfect. I just want to get back to a point where I enjoy being me and I think I am well on my way!
