How's it going?

I finished my week long diet thing last Sunday. The soup for the last day was not that great so I ended up eating dinner at my parents' house that night but I was pretty much done with it anyways. Overall it was ok. That's about all I can say about it. I didn't lose the claimed 10 lbs but can't really say if it was something I did wrong or just the diet itself not working all that well for me. Will I do it again? Probably not. 

Benefits from doing the diet, however...

• I have not had a single Dr. Pepper or any soda since starting it (that's huge for me)
• I did lose 5 lbs
• We're drinking skim milk (also huge for me as I drink a lot of milk)
• I am more aware of my food choices
• I have broadened my health food views through Pinterest and can't wait to try some new things

I had hoped to get rid of my sweet tooth but I don't really think that happened. My craving for sweets is less but it's still there. I also haven't been able to cut my carb/bread/pasta cravings. This is going to have to be the next thing I work on. I would like to eliminate all carbs after 6pm and eat healthier carbs all together. I've tried quinoa. It wasn't terrible but I need to find a better way of seasoning it. I have some recipes that use it that I will also be trying. 

My bike has been great. I was a lot disheartened after those first two rides but I've made progress. My second ride with my husband was a 4.8 mile ride where we stopped about every mile or so to allow me to rest and catch my breath. It was exciting when I made it that far even with stopping so often. My next ride on this route was by myself. It was a bit harder without my support and there was an awful head wind coming from the northeast that made the last leg of the ride murder but I made it home. After a couple of days' rest I went out again on the same route but this time I went the whole way in 7th gear (this is an improvement because this means it took more effort on my part to peddle) and didn't make any rest stops! Now that's HUGE! I was so excited when I made it home without stopping and I was no more tired or hurting than the other rides. The next day (yesterday) I did the same route without stopping again. Had to do it in 6th gear because I was still recovering from the day before but still really good for me. Today was a rest day and tomorrow I have school but I plan to get out on Tuesday and make for two loops with stopping if necessary. 

My husband has been so great through this process and he his my loudest cheerleader. He pushes me when he sees me slacking and he motivates me through his own success with his cycling. Today he did Tour de Pink and finished his first metric century (65 miles = 105 km). I'm so excited for him and can't wait to be able to be there with him. My mom has also been great and she's always my go to when I need help getting over my lack of cooking skills or motivations. She's always been there through all of my weight loss trials and always knows how to keep the cooking interesting. I wish I had her ability and energy in the kitchen. 

Even my daughter has gotten in on the cheering. Yesterday when I get back from my ride she ran up to me screaming and gave me a big hug. This is normal for her when we come home in the evenings. I do have to say I love this age (she's 2 and half) because she is always so excited to see me or daddy and she is so open with her love and gives it often. I will miss that when she gets older. Anyways, after my hug she said "Mommy rides her bike! Good job, mommy!" She is so sweet and it's so real. I will also miss the genuineness of her as well. 

The maiden voyage.

Yesterday was the big day...I bought, picked up, and put together my orange 8C Elliptigo!

Funny thing about the color...so yesterday I read my FB horoscope. I usually don't read them because they are silly but one of my family members had posted my sign's horoscope for the day. Guess what my "lucky color" was? Orange! Also, this was part of my reading "It's also possible that you're inspired by a source different than what you're used to, and coming up with ideas that make you wonder where they're coming from." Now if that just doesn't fit my current motivations, I don't know what does. :-) Any ways, I get excited when a silly horoscope gets it right.

I spent most of the day just putting all the extra stuff on: my bags from StandUpAndRide, my bike computer, my taillight, and setting up my Camelbak and tube extension. I had taken it out but just to the end of the street and back. Today when I got home from work I decided I was going to go out on the open roads and test my new Go (and myself) out. I mapped out the shortest route I could on MapMyRide that was outside the neighborhood and it was a 4.5 mile loop. Not having ever ridden a bike more than around my neighborhood, it didn't sound like a lot. Boy was I mistaken! I only made it to the first road that I would have turned down before I started getting worried I wouldn't be able to make it back to the house. This is going to be harder than I thought. :-( So I turned around to head back home afraid I wouldn't make it...but I did. It ended up being a 10 min, 1.8 mile ride with an average speed of 10.6 mph (according to my bike computer). Not good. This realization of my inadequate fitness level is very disappointing. My husband and I were going to try to do the Tour de Pink event that is next weekend but even with the shortest distance being 12 miles, I don't have any hope of being able to do it (I was hoping to be able to at least do the 23 mile...yeah right).

Lack of endurance aside, I think it will be a fun way to get active. I did get some stares from passing cars but I knew that was going to happen. I just wish I looked more...cool riding it but I guess that will come in time. Those people were probably wondering when the chubby, red faced girl was going to fall over dead right off her crazy contraption. LMAO Oh well, I didn't actually see any one pointing and laughing, that may just be my low self esteem playing tricks on me. So I think in these types of instances...ignorance is bliss. :-) I think I'll just have to try to go early in the mornings to limit the number of eye balls and pointing fingers. I have to work this weekend so maybe I'll just stay in the neighborhood. Not that that's any better, those people are going to be the ones who know where I live. :-( I don't know. I guess I'm just going to have to suck it up, embarrass myself, and get my endurance and balance improved so I can start riding with my husband and other cyclists. I definitely will not be riding on group rides until I can make it longer and look less ridiculous.

Smoothies, Diets, and lbs...Oh my!

I started my diet today. I'm doing a diet I found on Pinterest. It's called the "Eat Your Heart Out!" diet.

Today was day one, so it's been nothing but fruit. It hasn't been too bad. I'm not starving but it's weird not eating normal types of food for lunch or dinner. Oh well. 

I did weigh myself this morning. I wasn't really doing anything "dietetic" this weekend, especially since I went to Olive Garden with my family and my best friend and her husband, but I did make/drink the oatmeal/chia seed smoothies. I had one for breakfast Saturday and one for Dinner Sunday (since I went to Olive Garden for lunch). I didn't really eat much else which is saying a lot since my normal weekend diet consists of grazing on anything and everything all day long. Plus, it was a very productive weekend which is another amazement as my weekend activities usually consist of laying in bed all day and watching t.v. 

Anyways, back to my weight. So my last post stated that I was 255.something. I would also like to say that this was an evening weigh with clothes on. My scale buddies know why that's significant. :-) This morning, right after getting out of bed and emptying my bladder (again, scale buddies know the importance of this), I was at 251.6. I got a little excited until my brain kicked in and remembered that my original weight was an evening weight. But still nice to see the number come down after only changing up my weekend routine a bit. But then I decided to go ahead a weigh again when I got home from work this afternoon and the scale read out 252.2. Now I feel better! Also, this was after only eating fruit for breakfast and lunch today. So not a huge drop but something I can see...3 lbs less on the scale! :-)

I'll be checking in again this weekend because this is the week I get my Elliptigo! Super excited and can't wait to get out on the road.

The numbers are in...and it's not pretty. :(

I am about to do what every woman avoids doing her whole life. I am publishing all of my measurements.

That's right. While I usually guard this information with my life, I feel it's the only way to keep me accountable. Now, if I don't improve my numbers, the failure is public and not just my own person shame.

I'm not asking for people to discuss this information during normal conversation or constantly bring them up to me as we pass in the hall. I simply want to illustrate where I am and give reference points as my numbers change (for better or for worse).

See...now I'm just stalling. LOL. Ok, here it goes. The follow are my starting numbers...

Weight: 255.2 lbs
Percent body fat: 45.1% (This is from my home scale so I'm not sure how accurate it is but I'm sure it's close enough.)
BMI: 40 - Obese category
Chest: 49.5"
Waist: 45.5"
Hips: 53.5"
Thigh: 30"
Calf: 18.5"
Upper arm: 15.5"
Cholesterol: 210 (optimal <200) It's not too high but heart issues run in my family so I need to watch it.
LDL (bad cholesterol): 152 (optimal <100)
HDL (good cholesterol): 46 (optimal >60)

There it is. It's going to hurt but I am past caring if the world says I'm fat or not. I know what I am. I know who I am. And one has nothing to do with the other.

I am going to be getting my Elliptigo next week and I start my new shift at work (8am to 4:30pm) tomorrow. This week I will be getting organized and will be starting my new life next week. Ok, so "new life" is a little dramatic. I guess I should say the journey to the new me. I like my life, just not the body that's living it. :-)

Why am I here? (Blogging, I mean)

So. Here I am. I'm no blogger and don't really think I have anything to say that other people would want to hear but I needed a place of my own as I am about to start a journey that I've started a hundred times...

Loosing weight and getting into shape.

Really? How many times have I said that? So why is this time different? Why does it matter now?

To be honest...I don't really know myself, however, I have some theories as to my new found motivation...

1. I'm tired.
2. I'm tired of being tired.
3. I hate every picture I end up end.
4. I hate what I see in the mirror.
5. Oh and I am going to be 30 in a couple of years and I swore to myself that my 30s were going to be better than my 20s.
6. Well, let's just say I could keep going...

But I do have some positive theories...

1. I have 2 years before I turn 30 and my 30s will be my best years
2. I am almost done with my Master's and then I'm done with school
3. I'm about to get my Elliptigo and I can't wait!
4. I want to be more for my husband who has given me everything.
5. And then there's the most important reason of all...Alyssa (Squeaky McGee) Brown!

So needless to say there is an endless list of why the time is now. However, today at work was the last push. I am moving to the 8am shift at work and I was talking about it with a co-worker. She is one of the sweetest people there and I know she meant no harm by it but when I mentioned that I was planning on getting some exercise in before work now, she said "I've noticed your weight wasn't the same from when I started here." The weird part...I didn't get upset, embarrassed, or anything. Because it was an honest comment made by an honest person who was truly only making an observation that was accurate. It didn't hurt my feelings like I expected it to. 

So I decided that I needed a place to get my thoughts out. A place to talk out my feelings because I tend to see them clearer when I rationally think about them. A place where I can track and look back at what I've done (or haven't done). A place that would help keep me accountable. A place where my motivations can be permanent and not just a flash in the dark.