Round Two Update

Well, round two of the biggest loser has not gone as planned. And I don't like it when things do not go as planned, but I've had to let something go, and unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how I look at it) it has been this summer contest. I has an idea that the summer was going to be difficult to focus as intensely and I was right. I started off pretty well, then was plagued by some minor set-backs such as a slightly sprained ankle and a husband gone for three weeks...and then a few major ones. Without going into too much detail I've had some emotional issues spring up, seemingly out of the blue and then some intense extended family events which has led to some strain for my parents and the entire family. It's really hard to stay focused on myself when things are happening that seem out of my control. I've wanted instead to spend a lot of time with my family and go on fun outings or stay at home and hang out rather than go to the gym. Here we are at the botanical garden by the Ballard Locks and Wyatt and Paul on the Fremont Troll.

It's fun to explore your own city. For example, we'd never been to the Olympic Sculpture Park down by the waterfront near the Pacific Science Center. It's amazing and someplace we will come to again and again, I'm sure. 

To top everything off, I got a text from my trainer a few weeks ago that said he'd gotten a promotion and was going to be heading the training team at another gym. I am so happy for him, of course, but also pretty devastated to basically start over with someone new. It took me a few weeks to deal with that and finally show my face at the gym again. I told the training leader I was not going to finish the contest and he seemed genuinely hurt (honestly I wish I could have taken a picture of his facial expression), but I just feel it is the right thing to do at this point. He set me up with a new trainer, Carmen. She is a gorgeous woman of 45, and has just started a modeling career as well as a training career and calls herself a "late-bloomer". What an inspiration! And she honestly looks like this on a regular day with a little less make-up and hair product.

I think she will be a good trainer for me. She only trains women and we talked a lot about some of my emotional things and how those can effect me physically. I suppose the good news is that I hadn't gained much weight...a few pounds from my last weigh-in, so I was happy about that.

I don't want to let my summer choices seem like an excuse. I made the choice to go to the gym only a few times and to eat more sugar and less healthy. But, I'm feeling good about the next few months. I'd like to get back on a routine with my eating plan and exercise and work on losing about 20 pounds before my 41st birthday in October.

Someone Special

Wyatt's first grade teacher graciously made a copy of his end-of-year writing assessment for me a few days ago, just in time to give to his "someone special" on Father's Day. Paul didn't even mention his grammar mistakes or the fact that is next to last sentence begins with, "First of all...", although I'm sure the writing teacher in him was cringing just a bit. The content is definitely the most important part of this essay. I'm grateful to have such a great kid and that he has such an awesome dad.

Validation

An interesting thing happened at the gym today that helped to validate the last 6 months of hard work I've done there. As some of you who read this blog may remember, the woman who won our club's biggest loser was taking pregnancy hormone injections, doing huge amounts of cardio and sweating out her excess fluids in the sauna. She ended up losing 29% of her body weight or something like that. Anyway, today I was alone in the "ball room". It has a bunch of those huge exercise balls and other things as well as a back door to the club. She came up to the glass and asked me to let her in. She showed me her key tag, but I said, "I know who you are," and smiled. She hurriedly told me, "Yes, I won the biggest loser last time, but I've gained it all back and I don't want the people at the front desk to see." I was speechless and she rushed past and went into the locker room.

OK, I will admit, keeping the weight off is tough and I also but back on a few pounds after the results last round, but ALL OF IT? She lost 47 pounds! She needs some muscles:)

I know that changing my body is the result of changing my life, my habits and my thinking. I know that gaining muscle and eating right are the keys to my success, as well as sweating on a daily basis (and NOT just in the sauna). I hope that this woman is able to make some life changes. I guess the good news is that she took the first step to come to the gym rather than just quiting.

Freedom

I am feeling really grateful this Memorial Day for many things, but freedom is on the top of my list. I visited many former Communist countries in the last year and while the people of, say Poland and the Czech Republic are enjoying their relatively new freedom, there is a noticeable aftermath of Communism in the older generations especially. I recall going to a museum in Prague that was guarded by many in the over 60 age group and they were very stern to our group and not afraid to shout at the students should one of them wandered too close to a work of art or sit down on a step.
http://theplankthree.blogspot.com/2011/06/central-europe-trip-day-one.html



This Czech memorial to victims of the Communist regime consists of a line of crumbling statues representing different phases of a human figure’s destruction.

I also felt truly humbled after my visit to Auschwitz/Birkenau. I couldn't imagine living under Nazi rule and doubt I could have survived it.
http://theplankthree.blogspot.com/2011/06/central-europe-trip-day-six.html

Original fence (no longer electrified) and watch tower at Birkenau work prison, Poland.

I am grateful for the men and women who have fought and given their lives to keep my freedom in place. I am grateful for those who continue to serve.
Thank you.

Round Two?



Ready for Paul's sister's wedding!

Well, I must be a glutton for punishment. I've had a few rough weeks with too many parties and celebrations messing with my healthy eating plan and it's amazing how crappy I feel. I've put back on a few pounds and am SOOOO tired from the sugar I've been eating. I'll have a few great days, then something comes up...usually involving a restaurant, a party or a celebration, and I lose it for a few days. It's so hard! I've slacked a bit in my work outs too, but I've kept up with the knee/hip work and am trying to take more bike rides outside. I enjoy that immensely. I got a new-to-me used bike for Mother's Day and have taken it out a few times with the family and once on my own. Pretty fun to get "back in the saddle" after 15+ years. It's real-life spinning class!

After a talk with my trainer today and a bit of incentive with some free training sessions, I decided to sign up for another round of biggest loser, starting tomorrow night. It's another three months, this time through the summer which should be interesting with less of a structure and more vacations. I have a more modest goal this time, though. I'd like to lose 25 pounds in 3 months and mostly just get back to feeling healthy and on track. Here I go again!

Biggest Loser Finale

Thanks to all of you that have supported me through this three month process. Sometimes, because I see myself in the mirror daily and live in this body, I don’t really realize that I have changed much physically, but putting before and after photos together then taking my measurements has helped me see that, yes, I’ve changed!

Jan 17, 2012

Apr 17, 2012

I’m happy to say that the end of the contest arrived last night and I had some pretty darn good results. In three months I lost 36 pounds, went from “obese” to “overweight” according to the charts, I had two cases of the sniffles that lasted about 2-3 days; I exercised consistently and over my goal numbers each week; I changed my eating habits drastically; I went down three clothing sizes and no longer shop in the Plus or Women's departments; I have increased energy and desire to spend time doing physical activity; I recently rode a bike for the first time in 15 years and am loving taking long bike rides with Wyatt; I went shopping in my closet and found some cute things that will tide me over until I am at my goal and can do a true shopping spree; I lost many inches of fat and gained some muscle. Here's some of the numbers since Jan:  Chest: lost 3 inches; Waist: lost 5 inches; Hip: lost 4 inches; Thigh: lost 2.5 inches; Calf: lost 2 inches; Upper Arm: lost 1.5 inches;

I started out the contest wanting to finish "on the sheet" which means the top 25, but I quickly realized I had a chance at the top ten and just made it! Woo-Hoo! (As did 3 other team J.C. members!) And over 15% of my body-weight in three months is a great number.

With all those great results, I know I am not "done". Here are some things I am still working on:

Rehabbing my knees and hip due to years of couch potato-ing (pain is such a vicious cycle—I sit because it hurts, it hurts because I sit…); increasing my endurance so that I am able to walk, and then run without pain, decreasing my immuno-suppressant drugs and eventually being drug-free, continuing personal training for my knees, hips and overall strength training, continuing to eat healthy for life with a few free meals and days thrown in, focusing on healthy family eating and making sure I am not passing poor habits on to Wyatt.



Jan 17, 2012

Apr 17, 2012

Since my highest weight I have lost one Wyatt…75 pounds. It is hard to believe I was that heavy, but I have the jeans to prove it! I’d like to try to lose about 25-30 more pounds, move the “average” part of the BMI chart, and stay at/around that weight for life.

Some of the best ways I’ve changed are not physical. I had a friend comment recently that I am more confident and carrying myself differently. I spent a lot of years trying to hide inside so that I wasn’t noticed, I stopped doing many things I loved. I knew that my true self was inside and if I found a way to zip my fat body away and emerge, I would be my true self. Each link of that zipper is a pound of sweat and tears, a food craving denied, a challenge met. I am almost ready to shed that fat suit entirely.

Watch out, world, here I am!

Keep checking back for periodic updates about my health and wellness and, as always, news about the Plank family.

The Final Stretch

I have two weeks left in the contest. I'm obviously not going to meet my goal of 50 lbs gone in 91 days and I'm having a hard time staying motivated this week. I'm still struggling a bit with the insomnia, but it's getting better because I'm on spring break and able to sleep in a bit in the mornings. I found this list today and I'm going to try to work on a few of these things for the next two weeks.

Step 1

"Find small ways to reward yourself. Brainstorm ways to reward yourself when meeting your goals. For example, purchase a new outfit when you are half-way to your goal weight. Or, treat yourself to a movie when you continue to work out, despite a stressful week at the office."
I'm looking forward to a new haircut/color and maybe a mani-pedi is in the mix...we'll see!!!

 

Step 2

"Set aside a small amount of calories for a daily "treat". MayoClinic.com recommends limiting consumption of sweets. However, if you never have sweets again, you might feel deprived, leading to loss of motivation. Set aside 75 calories or less for a treat daily. Pre-measure the serving size to avoid overeating."
I LOVE sugar-free dark chocolate jello pudding cups and I've been avoiding them! Not this week!

I am avoiding setting another weight loss number goal, but my goal for the next two weeks is to stick to my eating plan and to exercise 5-6 days a week. If I can do those things, I will be happy at the final weigh-in, no matter what the scale says.