My weight loss story :)

Okay everyone...I am horrible about keeping this up to date, however I have had SO many people asking me lately about what I have done to lose weight, what has kept me motivated for 2 1/2 years to do it, etc. So, I thought I would write about the changes I have made to my life over the past couple years and my weight loss story. I love talking to people about it because so many of us struggle with losing weight and feel like it's a never ending battle...been there!! I have watched tons of shows, listened to tons of people, and read a pile of fitness magazines over the years..oh yes and have bought many "exercise devices" to try and get a grip on my weight. I love telling people my story because it's coming from me...a person who has done it, and is still doing it...for real. No gimics or wondering hmmm is that person telling the truth, does that really work?? I have been there and done it, and am still doing it. Believe me if I can do it..anyone can. It took me 10 years to motivate myself to do something about my weight and I'm finally doing it!! So here it is...in detail
About 2 1/2 years ago..when we moved to Florida, I woke up, tried on some clothes which I was wearing at the time a size 16-18 (a tight 16-18) and decided I felt horrible about myself and I HAD to do something. When I would drive or ride in the car my arms couldn't fit against my sides because of my huge fat roll. It felt disgusting to me and I wanted it gone. I couldn't even hardly bend over to tie my shoes. I thought, enough I have to do something. I was mad at myself for letting this happen. I was always pretty thin throughout school. Once I got married I gained most of my weight in the next 2 years. I went from a size 6 to around a size 12-14..in just 2 years!!
I knew that I couldn't be responsible for managing my portion sizes. I know this sounds ridiculous because we are all responsible for what we do but I know myself and I had tried "eating better" in the past and it never worked. I also tried every kind of workout. That would always last for a few days or weeks maybe and that was it. So, I went to Jenny Craig. I needed something where it took the guess work and the mistakes that I had made for the past 10 years out of it. I was working 45 minutes from our house and I didn't have time by the time I got home from work to cook a healthy meal. I knew I would be too tired and just eat whatever was easy. So, I knew Jenny Craig would be the best for me. The center was right by my work, I didn't have to prepare ANY food, and my portion sizes would be controlled for me. So, after a lot of thinking about it and talking with my husband we decided that would be the best option for me. It wasn't cheap so it was about a month or two from my initial consultation with them to when I actually went in to "sign up." I weighed in for my first day at 210 pounds. I was shocked!! They set a goal with me of 145 lbs. which I thought I would never get to. That seemed so far off for me at the time, but I was really willing to work at it.
Finally I was doing something about it. The food was actually good, I loved not having to think about what to make or how much I should eat. Now the fun part of exercising came into my life :)!! I have NEVER liked working out. However, I knew that in order to do this I had to start exercising. So, I started running uggggh!!! I started with just about a 1/2 mile and it took me every bit of 30 minutes at first to do that. I remember starting and thinking I looked ridiculous. Here is this BIG girl running around our neighborhood at a snails pace..if that, but I continued doing it almost everyday. I didn't do much else at first but run. Every 2 weeks I would try and run a little more...and a little faster. This was my routine for about a year. Jenny Craig food and running. I never ran more than a couple miles maybe 3 in that first year. That first year I lost about 40 pound, and I did a 5K race around Thanksgiving time and finished just under 30 minutes. I was really excited that I accomplished that.
After the first year I took almost a year off. I still ate Jenny Craig food most of the time but I really didn't do too much exercise. I did run occasionally but I had really slacked off. I was able to maintain what I had lost which was a new accomplishment for me. However, towards August of 2009 I decided I really needed to finish this. I had by this time gained about 10 lbs back and was disappointed in myself that I hadn't finished by now and I had started gaining weight back. One of my friends at work was also wanting to lose weight and we heard about a boot camp this lady was doing outside at the football field where her child played every night. She was a personal trainer with a local gym here and we thought for the price it would be great to start doing something. So we started doing bootcamp with her 3 days a week. It was brutal!! When I started she made us do pushups and on my knees I might have been able to do 3. We were really getting into it and I felt like finally I am doing something and she quit showing up. My friend and I were like great we finally got started on a routine and now it's over...now what. I didn't want to stop because I knew I would lose my motivation and it might be another year before I decided to do something else so, the gym where she used to be a trainer was pretty close to our work so we went there to check it out and joined that gym. I completely committed myself to finishing losing this weight. I had tried multiple times in the past and NEVER finished. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it but I told myself I was going to try my hardest to do it.
My friend and I met with Jake a personal trainer at the gym and started training with him 2 days a week and going to the gym 5 days a week. Joining the gym and training with him is what has finally helped me to reach my goal. When I first met with him I weighed 167 so I had lost a lot of weight but he set a goal with me of 135. I thought he was crazy. I thought that would take forever and I would never get there. I didn't even remember the last time I weighed that. So, I said okay, completely not believing that I would ever make it to that. So everyday other than Wednesday's and Sunday's I was at the gym for about 2 hours a day. I had also stopped eating Jenny Craig altogether by this point. It did really help me lose weight but I was so tired of eating the same things for the past year + so I was actually making my own food or my new favorite thing for dinner was a protein shake after the gym. I took classes, started really running again, and training with Jake. I ran a 5K about a month ago and finished right around 25 minutes and I just finished a 15 K a few weeks ago and finished in 1 hour 25 minutes. I NEVER thought I would be able to run that far. I run pretty much every day with at least a 6-9 mile run one day a week. I still can't believe running is so much easier for me now. I'm not saying I enjoy it because I don't. Some people that run love it....I don't. I do it because I know it's one of the best ways to burn calories. I do however like doing races I've found. There is just something about running in a race that is exciting. So, I'm training now for a half marathon. I actually did 6 miles of sprint running today :)!!
I'm now down to 134, I've lost 33 lbs since I've started training, which is just under my goal but my trainer and I have set a new goal of around 125-127 so a few more lbs to go. I'm a size 2 (sometimes a 4 depending on the cut of pants ) and I do get a little discouraged because the weight doesn't come off as fast as it did but I will get there...eventually. I've lost 76 lbs as of right now which is AMAZING to me. I see people on the Biggest Loser or on the Jenny Craig commercials that have lost 40 lbs or so and I think wow I've lost that much and more. I am proud of myself and I continue working out 5 days a week about 2 hours a day. I train 1-2 days a week and do several classes. Eating is my struggle. I always like sweets and hamburgers and fries, etc. That has never changed so I just have them in moderation. 1 day a week for 1 meal only I allow myself to eat whatever food I want plus dessert. I am thankful that I started Jenny Craig and along with my consultant there, it helped me in the beginning to lose over 40 lbs, I'm glad that I started a boot camp...even though she quit showing up..at least it gave me motivation to get re-started exercising. Thanks to my husband who puts up with me being gone from home 5 nights a week until around 8:00-8:30 pm since September '09. I know he would rather me be home but I'm thankful he allows me to work hard towards my goal. I'm grateful for having a workout partner at work where we push each other to go to the gym everyday, and when I want to eat something bad I tell her, and she says NO :) !!! I'm very thankful that I have an awesome trainer who as many times as I complain and get down about my weight or don't want to be at the gym..which is often, always keeps me motivated and always lets me know that he knows that I can and will finish. I appreciate him helping me get to my goal.
So, this is my story. It is a daily battle for me. I really try and take it 1 day at a time, and not look where I want to be months from now. I do set future goals but I try hard to work on just today..when it comes to diet and exercise anyway :)!! Everyday when I get up I think..okay today I'm going to eat good ALL day, I'm not going to have any junk, and I'm going to go to the gym after work. Believe me it doesn't always happen and I do get discouraged. Life..and those of you who know me well... cake... gets in the way but I really try and make it happen everyday. I have a busy schedule but I try very hard not to let anything interfere with my workout time unless it has to be done. I know if I let that happen too many times I will become very lazy about working out and once I get off track it's hard to get myself back on. It has been a long struggle and a long journey. It's not over yet. It never will be. Once I reach my goal then I have to maintain it for the rest of my life. I never want to allow myself to be in that position again and that alone keeps me motivated. I am really proud of myself. I am thankful for everyone's interest and nice comments. I can't believe I've lost that much weight. For awhile when I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize myself. It's been a long 2 1/2 years but I'm so happy with what I've accomplished and I can't wait until I'm finished!!