syllabelle

So much has changed in my life! I got sidetracked by…life…and had to readjust my priorities.

 I suppose the only thing that is the same is that I’m still at my job. Since my last post, I broke up with my boyfriend, moved into my own apartment, and started the long process of trying to “find” myself. I feel like I’ve changed so much, and now I’m working hard to make sure the outside me reflects the inside me.

 I joined a gym last year, and was going three or four times a week. On Mondays I was going to Belly Dancing classes, which, for the record, is a great workout. I slowly lost my motivation to go to the gym, and at the time I was living with a friend, and it was easier to sit around the house than it was to go to the gym after a long day in the office.

 One thing I loved about going to the gym was the weekly weigh-in, and monthly measurement check for my record sheet. I loved seeing those numbers slowly creep down. It made all the time sweating on the ellipticals, treadmills, bicycles, and other equipment, worth it. I did learn that my body builds muscle mass fairly quickly, so while the number on the scale wasn’t falling as rapdily as I wanted it to, I was able to see by the measuring tape that my body was replacing fat with muscle.

I’d like to say that I’ll be returning to the gym on a regular basis, but now that I’ve moved, it’s a little too far out of my way. So, last week I decided to take a new approach, and returned to Atkins diet.

I know there are pros and cons to every program, but I know that Atkins works for me. I lost a lot of weight on it before, and now that I’m living on my own, it will be a lot easier for me to control what I eat. Every night I cook myself dinner for that night, and breakfast and lunch for the next day.

I quit drinking soft drinks and eating french fries last year, and that is one thing I’ve been able to maintain (with a few slips on the french fries, but I’m totally over the soft drinks.) I drink a LOT of water, and always keep a bottle of water on my desk at work. I look at it as a sort of magic liquid that helps my body flush out fat and toxins.

In a week I’ve lost 18 pounds, pretty effortlessly. I was pretty shocked by that number, but I know that’s how Atkins starts, and that later I’ll have to put a little more thought and effort into making it work for me. I’m ready for that.

I’ve got a nice apartment with a big living room and wood floors, so when I am able to buy a DVD player, I’ll be able to use the excercise/fitness DVD’s that I’ve accumulated over the last few years. Also, my neighbors and friends and I have made a promise to each other that when the weather warms up, we’ll go walking together in the evenings. We’ve all got weight issues, and not a lot of time to hit the gym, but I think if we help keep each other motivated, we’ll be able to stick to the walking.

I can’t promise I’ll be here at BuddySlim every day, but this site was a great tool for me before, and helped keep me on track, and I haven’t forgotten that. I’ll be here as often as I can.

Happy 2008 everyone!

It’s been two weeks since I’ve been here! I can’t believe two weeks passed that quickly. I have been so busy with my job, and with responsibilities at home. After returning from my mini-vacation, I struggled with getting back on track. I was still eating 95% OP, but I indulging a little too much. We’ve been eating a lot of meals out with friends, and homemade meals with my boyfriends grandmother (and other membrs of his family.) Home cooked meals are the most difficult for me, because there usually isn’t any other choice. If there is fried chicken, you eat fried chicken. I have managed to make the best possible choice, and managed to not gain any weight.

I weighed this morning, and was happy to notice that I’ve dropped another two pounds. I won’t get my hopes up, but it looks like I might have broken through my mini-plateau.

Honestly, though, I really would hope so. I’ve been putting in 1/4 mile and 1/3 mile trips on my elliptical, and that is enough to make ANYBODY lose weight. (The machine is, not necessarily the distance. I’m a beginner, cut me a little slack!  haha.)

I bought a DVD called “Pilates For Any Body.” The exercises start with a warm up, and go through abdominals, lower body, upper body, and end with a cool-down. I’ve always disliked pilates, basically because of a bad first experience. However, this DVD changes my mind, and I have to say that I think I like it! I feel great today, like I got a great workout. My legs, especially, are very sore. (I had bad cramps in my calves and thighs all night…I probably need to up my potassium intake a bit.)

I think I’m going to start doing a little light weight lifting. Doing the pilates DVD showed me just how out of shape my upper body is, I have almost no strength in my arms. (If you do any pilates, you’ll know what I mean when I say The Bridge was almost the death of me!) I’m such a wimp!!!

Anyway, it’s Tuesday, but I don’t have a Two-Fer this week. I’m just getting my momentum back, and I don’t want to get frustrated with my (perceived) lack of progress.

I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, I’ve obvioiusly missed a lot in my absence. I hope all is well.

~Stephanie

My fiance and I took a weekend trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to see family and friends, and to also do a little bit of business. My dad took us out to eat on Saturday evening, and I absolutely broke all the rules! I had fajitas…and I ate about 4 flour tortillas. I ate chips and queso…a LOT of that. Then, to cap things off we had dessert. We split a dessert that is a big (HUGE) ball of vanilla ice cream, rolled in coconut and nuts, then topped with whipped cream and a cherry, then drizzled with brandy sauce onto a sizzling plate. It was so rich and sweet and fattening…but it was my first SERIOUS splurge since I started this little plan.

I gave myself permission to eat what I ate. This was a celebration, I get to see my grandmother about once every couple of years, and it felt like a party. I splurged on Saturday, then Sunday it was “Business as usual.”

I can report that I’ve gained 3 pounds, but I have a feeling it’s water weight. (I forgot to take my blood pressure medication which includes a diuretic that helps me keep from swelling up like a toad in a pond.) In a couple of days I’ll be able to tell if it’s from the water weight or not. To be honest, I’m not too worried about it. I had hit a plateau, and to get over these little humps in the past I’ve had to gain a pound or two…and then it just comes off. (Dunno why that works.)

I was finally able to go pick up my Elliptical, and I’m so psyched to use it tonight! It’s soooo nice…and a GREAT buy on eBay. While we were visiting some friends, she saw the machine in our truck, asked me what it was, and then asked “Would you like another piece of equipment?” I said I’d love it…and she gave me a brand-new (or “gently used”) Ab-Doer machine, and four instructional videos to go with it. I have read a bit about them online, and it seems like the machine is a bit of a gimmick with a 10-day/2 inches promise…but hey, it was FREE!

Anyway, back to life as usual. Although, I could sure use a nap. *yawn*

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

It feels good to make good choices. When my fiance eats a big, cheesy, yummy-smelling cheeseburger and I eat my chicken salad like a good girl, it gives me this smug sense of satisfaction to know that I made a good choice. Although I’d love to have him join me in this journey. So…

I gave him a challenge. He’s going to weigh in the morning (the 28th). Then he’s going to cut out ALL sodas and sweetened drinks for the next 10 days. On Monday, August 7, he’ll weigh again, and we’ll see how much weight he’s lost. I lost 6 pounds when I quit, and it’s what gave me the jump-start and made me feel great about losing weight.

I’m excited to see what his results are, and I feel confident that he’s going to impress himself. I think that if he could lose several pounds over a few days, that he will feel motivated to join me, and keep up his progress. (I’m a sneaky one, eh?)

Anyway, I’ve been adding a little bit of abdominal exercises in the late evenings, just before bed. My belly is soft and (I hate this word) flabby, but I do have some abdominal muscles under there. I can whip out 4 reps of 25 crunches with no problem. My obliques are a little weak, and can do 2 reps of 20 on each side before I start feeling as if death is imminent. (Yeah, I exaggerate a little.)

I still (STILL!!) haven’t gotten my elliptical, so I’ve been having to use the stepper. Don’t get me wrong, I love that I have equipment, but I get a little burned out using the same thing every day. And my new treadmill…it’s in the garage…unused. Shame! It likely won’t get used any time before Sunday, either. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are my busiest days.

Speaking of Saturday. I’m going this Saturday to the YMCA to see about joining. I love working out at home, but I think it would be really fun and highly motivating to do some classes with a group. We’re on a pretty tight budget right now, so I’m hoping that they have some decent rates. Maybe a family plan would save us some money in the long run.

Just one hour until it’s time to go home, and I’m so ready. For some reason this day has seemed exceptionally long. Tomorrow is Friday though…and Fridays FLY BY! This week is almost over! YAY!

On a personal note (I’m going to rant for a minute. And I’m going to hide it just in case he reads over my shoulder.) (Scroll over the text to read it.)

I’m on my period and my breasts feel 10 times their normal size. My cramps are horrible, and ibuprofen isn’t doing a damn thing for me. I’m cranky and bitchy and moody, and I don’t want my fiance to even TOUCH me…and he says I’m just trying to be a bitch. At this point I’d trade him in for an armless and legless man…as long as he had a HEART! Men have no compassion. Grrrr!

When I get off, I think I’m going to go home and take a nap for an hour. I think I deserve it.

Happy Thursday Ladies!

The first really good thing is that I reached my first mini-goal over the weekend! YAY!!!! It felt SO GOOD to step on the scale and see that number…and know that there are 20 pounds gone from my body that will NEVER be back!

I technically started this journey on June 10th, so I’m at 44 days. I know I’m losing a little faster than I should, but the first 6 or 8 pounds was totally water weight. I used to have edema in my ankles SO BAD! I’ve got normal ankles now, and only occasionally do I have any edema at all. So…although I’ve lost 20 pounds, I don’t need a speech about “slow down, you’re going too fast”…because I’m really not.

The second really good thing is…TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! I’m 32 today. I used to think I’d never make it past 21. I was just such an unhappy little soul…but every year I just keep plucking on, and I’ve got my chin up and a smile on my face.

I did go this weekend and get a haircut, and I bought some new clothes. I had my fiance take pictures this morning, and I’ll try to get those posted tonight. I may still look the same to most people, but inside…I feel like a million bucks.

I’m setting a new 20-pound mini-goal…and then I think I’ll put my weight ticker on my signature. One of my birthday presents is going to help me get to my goal faster…my fiance got me a treadmill!!! It’s really nice. It’s a used one, but it’s got variable speeds and inclines, and so you can do the whole “Country stroll”, “Mountain Hike” thing. wOot! We haven’t set it up yet, so I haven’t gotten a chance to use it. It’s starting to look like I’ll be using it in the garage…with no a/c! (*sweat*)

I had an appointment with my new Dr. this morning. He put me on some meds to help lower my heart rate, and it’s supposed to help with some heart palpatations I’ve been having. He also put me on a birth control pill that will cause me to only have a period once every 3 months. (*happy dance!*) I’m going to cross my fingers that it doesn’t cause me to gain weight…but if it does I’ll just have to work THAT MUCH HARDER!

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great weekend. Happy Monday!

I don’t know how I missed it, but somehow or another I never saw the Handbook on the Home page. I downloaded it this morning, and I’ve been reading it. I started the first section, and the first group of questions had me thinking about my feelings about weight and weight loss in general. I am so grateful for BuddySlim because I don’t have a strong support system at home. As a matter of fact, sometimes I feel as if I am being sabotaged at home, and I just have to keep saying no and maintaining “unwavering and absolute dedication” to this lifestyle change.

I haven’t yet reached a point where anyone has said “Are you losing weight?”…but I know it’s coming. I’m just happy to be changing my body and my attitude about why and how to lose weight. I don’t need external validation to know that I’m doing something good. The weight that I’m losing is lowering my BMI bit by bit, and decreasing my chances for diabetes, and helping me lower my high blood pressure.

I tell everyone I know about BuddySlim, but I think people have to be in the right place before they decide to take a step like joining a website to help them lose weight. The first thought is “Why do I need a website to help me lose weight?”…but after you’ve been here a while the thought is “How did I lose weight before BuddySlim?”

New pictures coming soon. I don’t care if nobody else can see my loss…I know it’s gone, and I’ll be able to see the difference.

Have a great weekend everybody, stay cool and DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

-Stephanie

Wow! I got up this morning, took a shower, and stepped out for my morning weigh-in. I was flabbergasted. 15 pounds! I know it’s not just about a number, but that number feels good. Every pound is a victory, every 5 pounds feels like cause for celebration, and this feels like a huge milestone. I’m within 5 pounds of my first mini-goal!

I’ve been thinking about what I’ll do when I hit my mini-goal.

-First, I’m going to set a new mini-goal. That way I don’t forget that this lifestyle change doesn’t stop just because I dropped 20 pounds. A new goal will remind me that I’ve still got a lot of hard work ahead of me.

-Second, I’m going to reward myself. I’m thinking I’ll go to the bookstore and buy something juicy to read. I love books!

-Last, I’ll probably go buy myself a new outfit. My pants are starting to fit a little loose, and my butt looks like I’m wearing a diaper, so it’s time to “size-down” a bit. I’m not going to go buy a whole new wardrobe, but a few key pieces are necesseties.

Mmmmmmm…shopping!

We’re going this evening to pick fresh blackberries. A handful of fresh blackberries, with a little dab of cool-whip light…yummmy snack! We might try to pick up some sand plums, too. I LOVE fresh-picked fruit! (Fresh-fruit smoothies. Fresh-fruit slushes. Frozen fruit pieces. Fresh fruit in plain yogurt. Mmmm. I think I’m hungry.)

yAy for humpday!

My weight is still dropping…about 1-2 pounds a week. I’d love to drop 20 pounds by my birthday (July 24th)…but this is reality (not Atkins *cough cough*). The most amazing thing is that even though the pounds aren’t falling away…I think it’s more about inches lost.

Today I realized that I don’t even have to unzip my jeans to pull them down. I also noticed that I can grab a handful of denim on each of my thighs and hips…these clothes are getting too big!

WOW!

I’ve been doing the stepper every evening for 15-20 minutes…which is about all I can take. My legs would keep going…but my heart won’t keep up. I’m really not supposed to be even DOING any exercise until I see a cardiologist…but I just can’t help it. I want to do good things for my body, and I know my limits. I know when my heart isn’t pumping enough blood to fuel my body…and I just have to stop.

My elliptical should be here this evening…(I bought it on ebay!) I really can’t wait to use it. I feel like I’ll be able to do more with less stress on my heart.

Anyway, 5:00 has crept up on me faster than I expected…and it’s time to go home. Have a great weekend everyone!

~Stephanie

Boy, I don’t know why, but for some reason I just can’t seem to get my Tuesdays worked out so that I get the Two-fer entry done before the end of the day. I usually write it up in my email and then save it as a draft so that all I have to do is come here, paste it and submit. It sounds simple…but I just can’t seem to get it done. Anyway, here’s my entry from yesterday.

It’s Tuesday again, and time for me two pick two more things I’m going to alter about my daily life that will help me continue with my lifestyle change. I’ve put quite a bit of thought into this, and every week I have to look a little deeper to make a decision. My new two changes are going to be:

*I’m going to stop eating after 8:00 p.m. I know they recommend 7, but we’re night people and I’m rarely in bed before midnight. If I stop eating at 7, I’ll be hungry by bedtime, and then I’ll want to do something bad…which leads me to the second thing which is..

*I’m going to reduce snacking. I know that SOME snacking is good, as long as it’s the right foods. However, if I open a TWINKIE and take a bite and then give the rest to my fiance’…that’s not classified as healthy snacking. (darn)

I’ve got some other unhealthy habits that I need to work on as well…but hey it’s one step at a time, right?

It’s taken a week…but I finally feel recuperated from the 4th of July. It’s also taken a week for me to get my weight back under control. You see, on the 4th, when I had sworn I was NOT going to be good…I wasn’t. At all! I was horrible! I Ate like a little piggy…and OH the homemade vanilla ice cream! Mmmmm!

I guess I can say that I wasn’t 100% off my program…because I didn’t drink any pop. I didn’t eat any fries. I ate breakfast. I ate a light, and healthy lunch. But boy, dinner…I really went OP.

Eating a lot of food isn’t a reason to need to recover…but what I did AFTER I ate all that food IS! We got in the pool and played water volleyball for about 3 1/2 hours. Oh. My. Lord! The punishment! My arms hurt so bad for about 5 days afterwards. I have to say though, I had SO MUCH FUN!!! They started calling me TURBO because every time I served the ball I was shooting the ball at TURBO speed into the other teams side. My team won the first two games, got creamed on the third game, and the last game was a very close win for my team at 21/20! Talk about a workout.

When I went back to work on Wednesday, it hurt to answer the phone, it hurt to open the filing cabinet, it hurt to do ANYTHING. The next day was even worse, and even by Friday my arms still felt like Jell-O. Ask me if I’d do it again? Heck yeah! In a heartbeat. Probably every day.

Anyway, my weight did go up by 4 pounds. It took 6 days to get back to where I started. (All this AFTER my speech about eating too much salt and retaining water.) *sigh*

So…back to where I was last Monday, and tomorrow is Two-fer Tuesday. I’ve got some thinking to do tonight, and since there’s a REALLY bad storm moving in as I type this, it’s probably a good time for me to say goodnight.

Until tomorrow. -Stephanie