25%

So I started this weight loss competition 5 weeks ago with a few other girls I work with. At weigh-in today I was down 3 more pounds, for a total of 16.8! Only 3.2 more pounds and I'll hopefully win the money pot! :)

BUT, my journey definitely does not end there! I have a long way to go, but I'm making progress... After today's weigh-in I have officially lost 25% of my total weight that I intend to lose... In fact, I'm a little over 25% :).

I'm actually going by my start weight (after I had my baby in May, I started losing weight, prior to starting the competition).

I am on my way, slow and steady. Although this has definitely NOT been easy, it's also not been quite as difficult as I imagined it would be. With the encouragement from others along with my weekly progress on the scale, it is getting easier and easier to turn down temptation!

Yes, things still look diabolically delicious :). Yes, I still fight cravings, yes it's still hard to get up early every morning and hit the gym, BUT I'm doing it, thanks to everyone's support, and a little determination!

It's exciting! Not only because I am seeing the scale consistently move, but because I am hitting small goals along the way... This is the "thinnest" I have been in nearly 5 years!! And my clothes are starting to feel pretty loose, even fresh out of the dryer!! :)

I know this sounds cliche, but trust me... If I can do it, YOU can do it!! No one knows quite how incredibly strong my food addiction was, but I am overcoming it, one day at a time.

Thanks again, everyone, for your incredible support and positive feedback!

Weigh-In #5

I'm a few days late in posting this, seeing as my weigh-in days are on Wednesday, but life is busy!!

Anyway, I weighed in Wednesday morning and I was down another 3.6 lbs.... that makes for a total of 13.8 lbs so far!! I wish it was more, but hey... it's a good start, and supposedly a "healthy pace" to be losing the weight.

So this last week has been really challenging, but in a good way. The eating and working out has been going great, but I really wanted to figure out a good routine...switch things up, so to speak. I kind of got in a routine of doing the same exact thing every time I go to the gym. I'm guessing that's part of the reason why I had a plateau of no weight loss last week.

One of my ultimate goals is to run a marathon with my sister next June, since I should be at my goal weight by then. So I figured I would start my training now. I'm using a running guide that I found on the internet... first you train for a 5K, then 10K, then 1/2 marathon, etc.

I've been running quite a bit on the treadmill anyway, so hopefully the transition will be relatively easy. I started it last night...we'll see how it goes! :)

Either way, I am back in the swing of things...the weight is coming off again, and my strength is renewed.

Insanity

It has been a looooong week! First of all, I never posted my last weigh in. I didn't lose any weight, but I also didn't gain any.

Still... It was very discouraging to work so hard and not see results! In the past, typically I would have gone on a binge... Stuffed myself until I was sick. Believe me, I wanted to! But I also knew that if I did, not only would I regret it, I would also have that much more weight to lose!

For those of you who have struggled/are struggling with your weight, you can maybe relate to what I'm about to write. If you haven't, then you will think I'm crazy, and will understand why I titled this post the way I did.

Last night was probably the worst night yet! I was so incredibly frustrated with not losing any weight! I was so angry that I have to work out everyday and watch what I eat, while everyone around me was eating whatever they wanted! I wanted to eat everything in sight! I knew there were cookies on the table, chips in the cupboard, pizza in the freezer, etc, and I wanted it... ALL of it! I wanted to stuff my face! I thought "you know what? Screw this!! I'm working too hard and not seeing results... Why the hell am I doing this??"

I was absolutely having a moment of insanity! It took everything in me to not eat it... I knew that if I took even one bite, I would binge! I would take one nibble, and I would not stop until the pizza, chips, cookies, and whatever else I could find were GONE!

I literally battled my thoughts for about 4 hours until I couldn't take it anymore... I had to leave! I got in my car and drove away... Away from the food... Away from the temptation to overeat... Away from the regret I knew binging would bring me.

So when I woke up this morning, I thought "okay, it's a new day... Start fresh"... And guess what?? When I got on the scale, I had lost more weight!!!

Now most of you know I believe in God... With my whole heart. And I honestly feel like He is trying to set me free from my addiction to food... My constant battle of insanity. And to me, it felt like this whole last week, especially last night, was a test of my will. A test to see if I could overcome... And because I DID overcome, I was rewarded by a much needed weight change on the scale!

I was amazed at how I instantly felt better! I feel back in the swing of things... My will and drive are renewed and I am ready to fight again!

This insanity will not win... I am stronger than it! I'm sure there are more days/weeks like that to come, but I'm praying they will only become easier and easier to get through!

Bad day...

Well... I knew there would be good days and bad days...and this was a bad one. Thankfully the past 3 weeks have gone incredibly well, but for some reason I blew it today.

I ate like a pig! Well... At dinner anyway. And I forgot how awful it feels to overstuff myself :(. I'm under a lot of pressure with school, and I let it get the best of me today.

BUT... Tomorrow's a new day. Rather than giving up and throwing away all my progress, I just have to jump back on the wagon! I know this lifestyle change is going to take a while to really be ingrained in me, so I have to remember that even if I fail one day, does NOT give me a right or reason to go off the deep end!

So.... Chelsea... I forgive you... Now get your shit together and start fresh in the morning! :)

Rewards

Since I seem to be in somewhat of a slow spot, I decided to start thinking about ways to reward myself for losing weight... Things to give me incentive to keep on going. I definitely plan on doing something big for my halfway mark, and of course when I reach my goal, but I figured there should be a few things along the way as well :)

So today I splurged and bought my first pair of good running shoes! And I love them! I was sooo excited to use them after work, only to find out that the gym is closed until the 7th for remodeling! It figures... Anyway, instead I did my elliptical at home, then went for a quick run outside. (which, by the way, is NOT as easy as the treadmill!)

Regardless... I'm excited to put some miles on my new shoes :). I have a long ways to go, yet, to reach my goal weight... Even to reach my halfway mark. But with little incentives like this to spur me on, hopefully I'll get there in no time!

Weigh-In #3

Wow... Yesterday simply got away from me... I weigh in every Wednesday morning , and intended on writing about it afterwards, but the day flew by!

So this was my 3 week weigh in, and I am down 2 more pounds... 10.2 overall!! It's a good start... This week was tough... And I was definitely hoping for a larger number than 2, it at least it's still a loss, right?? :)

And so my journey continues... One day at a time... One meal at a time... One step on the treadmill at a time. I will keep on doing my part, and hopefully my body will do IT'S part by melting away! :)

I've been thinking about how to tell everyone how many pounds I have left to lose without giving away my current weight... And I decided that you'll just have to wait! Until I reach my halfway mark, I don't want to discuss my starting weight! LOL. Once I get a good handle on things and have made it halfway to my goal weight then I'll feel more comfortable sharing my start weight... Until then, enjoy the wondering :)