Weight Loss - Week 8

Last week after my Weight Watchers meeting I was 99% sure that I would be cancelling it. (In case you missed that post, read it here)  

On Saturday while Andrew, Connor and I ran some errands, I picked up a Weight Watchers scale from Target. As soon as I got home I weighed myself because I wanted to see how it compared to what I weighed at my meeting. It said 190 and at my last meeting I weighed 189.6 so I'm excited and confident that the scales are so close that I won't have to adjust for weighing in on a different scale. I had no idea how I was going to figure it out if the new scale said I weighed 5 pounds more. Would that count as true gain or??? Luckily I don't have to think about that! Yay for accurate scales! HA! 

So these posts will be a little different now. Since I'm not truly counting points because I'm not tracking, I won't be writing how many points I used and how many points I earned. But I'm still using all the skills they taught me and eating healthy portions.

So here's how week 8 went...

Start Date:  Jan. 5, 2012

Starting Weight: 198

Today's Date: Mar. 1, 2012

Current Weight: 188.1

Week 8: Lost 1.5

Total Loss: 9.9 lost!!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am! The last 3 weeks I was getting really discouraged after not seeing results. This is just confirmation that I can do this and even better, I can do it by myself!! It's also exciting because I feel like everything I lose from here on is real weight and not water weight. 

So here is what I did this week...

Friday - worked out 1.5 hours. 

Monday - worked out 1.5 hours.

Wednesday - worked out 1.5 hours. 

When I go to the gym I do 15-30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical. But the elliptical I use is one like this that can also be used as a stair climber.  

Then I do 120 sit ups on the exercise ball. (side and front ones) Then Jayme and I will do a few of the following: squats on the balance ball, kettle bell squats, walking lunges, planks, free weights, we throw a 10 lbs medicine ball back and forth, ride the bike, play basketball, swim laps, and sometimes we do some of the machines. I'm finding that I like free weights better than the machines. With the machines I don't feel like I'm working as hard, it's like the machine is doing some of the work for me. But with free weights, I'm using my whole body instead of just the one muscle. (thanks Jayme for teaching me!) 

This was my 3rd week working out at the gym. I always go on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Depending how I feel on Tuesday, sometimes I will go and do some extra cardio. 

Because I had a pretty big loss this week I expect next week won't be as big. But I'm hoping to still see a loss!  

Wordless Wednesday #16

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Goodbye Weight Watchers

 When I decided to start this journey to lose weight, I chose Weight Watchers. I had heard nothing but great things about it, and still do. 

 I've been on the program now for 7 weeks and lost a total of 8.4 pounds. However, Weight Watchers is not cheap. It's $45 a month and that of course does not include food.

Losing 8.4 pounds in 7 weeks isn't bad. But considering my age (27) and overall fitness level, 8.4 pounds isn't that great either. I try really hard and just haven't seen the results I want, which are very realistic goals. I'm not trying to lose 5 pounds a week or anything crazy like that.

So since I'm not losing as fast as I think I should, I joined 24Hour Fitness 3 weeks ago and have been going at least 3 times a week and I LOVE IT. I feel fantastic. I can feel my body changing and getting stronger. I leave the gym feeling so accomplished.

You may be wondering why I chose 24Hour Fitness. There are a few other gyms in my town that are much cheaper than 24Hour Fitness is, however they don't offer childcare. I tried a gym that was only $10 a month, and although it didn't have half the amenities that 24Hour offers it was a nice gym, clean and had plenty of machines. So I tried working out there at 8pm after Connor went to bed. A couple times of doing that and I realized it was a losing battle. I'm exhausted at the end of the day, after taking care of Connor all day, household chores, errands, cooking dinner etc. I have 0 energy left for the gym.

So I had to find a gym that offered childcare. There are only 3 gyms in my town that do. And the monthly dues are all about the same. So I picked the one that fit my needs the best. However that came with a hefty price tag. You see, the monthly dues aren't that crazy, I got a great deal and only pay $44 a month! Not bad!! There's only one tiny problem, that is not including childcare. Childcare is almost as much as my monthly dues. OUCH.

So you add the gym + Weight Watchers = outrageous for this family living on one income. (Quick shout out to my AMAZING husband who works so hard so that I can stay home and raise our son!)  So, I had to make a decision....

Give up Weight Watchers or give up the gym?

Well it was a no brainer for me.

I cancelled my Weight Watchers membership. I have learned SO much from the program over these 7 weeks that I am confident I can continue following the program on my own. The gym however gives me much much more than Weight Watchers. I am getting stronger and healthier. The gym isn't just about weight loss, it's about being a better me. Working out is good for everything, your heart, your brain, your muscles, etc. It's also amazing for anxiety which I suffer from.

So in my eyes, I do not see this as quitting or giving up, it's a sacrifice I have to make for my family. If I could afford both I would. But diapers aren't cheap people!!! 

So you will no longer see me at Weight Watcher meetings but you can bet your ass you'll see my ass in the gym. :)

I'll continue to weigh-in on Thursdays and keep writing about what is, and what's isn't working.

March of Dimes

Most of you reading this know my son Connor was born 6 weeks premature.

But for those who don't...

Connor was born at 34 weeks gestation (a normal pregnancy is 40 weeks). He weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 inches long. He was immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to complications related to his prematurity. He stayed there for 11 long days until he was strong enough to come. Which happened to be Christmas morning, what an amazing gift we'll never forget.

Connor is now 14 months old and is an absolute joy. He was hospitalized for 6 days when he was 7 weeks old because he contracted RSV. (Respiratory syncytial virus is a very common virus that can become serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups, like those born premature.) Other than that and a few colds here and there, he has been healthy and shows no health issues related to his prematurity. We are thankful everyday that he is healthy.

 Something you may not know is my best friend Jayme also has a son who was born prematurely. 

Zackary was born at 33 weeks, 7 weeks early. He weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces. He was also very fortunate and only had to stay in the hospital for 6 days. Zack is now 11 years old and one of the sweetest kids you'll ever meet. He was also fortunate enough not to have any lasting health issues related to his prematurity. Jayme went on to have 2 more children and she carried both of them to full term (40 weeks). That gives me hope that I too can carry baby #2 (who we will be trying to conceive this summer) to full term.
:::FINGERS CROSSED:::

The doctors do not have any explanation for why Zack and Connor were born early. Neither Jayme or I went into preterm labor. Both of our waters (the amniotic sac the baby is in) ruptured spontaneously. 

Jayme and I are so grateful, our boys are happy and healthy. Unfortunately, a lot of babies are not as lucky as they were, they either have lifelong health issues or don't make it home at all.

Jayme and I are walking in our local March of Dimes fundraiser. We started the '4Zack&Connor' team in honor of our amazing sons. We hope to raise at least $500. 

Here's a little about March of Dimes...


 ...Every year in the United States, more than half a million babies are born too soon, 53,000 of them right here in California....

In one year in the California Bay Area:

68,482 babies are born
7,002 babies are born prematurely - 10.1% of all births in the Bay Area
10,463 pregnant women receive late or no prenatal care
4,746 babies are born at a low birth weight
2,105 babies are born with a birth defect
326 babies don't live to see their first birthday

What:

March of Dimes March for Babies is the longest-running and most widely recognized walking event in the nation, generating more than $1.5 billion for the March of Dimes over its 42-year history. The fundraiser incorporated thousands of volunteers participating in a fun-filled day of walking to raise money to support lifesaving research and programs to make sure every baby gets a chance for healthy start in life. Each walker raises money from friends, family, and business associates, and then enjoys the festivities at one of our many California locations. Marches range from 1 to 10 miles, most are about 6 miles.

Who:

More than 53,000 participants throughout California are expected to raise over $9 million. Participants represent more than 900 companies, organizations, and schools.

Why:

Money raised through March for Babies enables the March of Dimes to continue its ongoing investment in lifesaving research and programs so that every parent will know the joy of a healthy newborn. Seventy-eight percent of every dollar raised goes directly to support the mission of March of Dimes.

(Source March of Dimes)

Here's how you can help...

1. If you're in our area, join our team and walk with us! It's a beautiful 4 mile walk around Spring Lake. Enjoy the festivities after the walk with us!

2. Donate to this amazing cause in honor of Zack and Connor, or in honor of someone you know born prematurely.

3. Tell your friends, family, co-workers to join and donate.

THANK YOU!!!

Weight Watchers - Week 7

 Start Date:  Jan. 5, 2012

Starting Weight: 198

Today's Date: Feb. 23, 2012

Current Weight: 189.6

Week 7: Lost .2

Total Loss: Back to 8.4

 

Well I lost the .2 pounds that I gained last week although I expected a little more. Even though I used a lot of my 49 extra for my birthday, I worked out really hard at the gym, so I expected at least a pound. I have to admit, I almost cried. But my amazing husband reminded me that it took years to put the weight on and even though 7 weeks sounds like a lot, in reality, it isn't. It's going to take my body time but with some perseverance the weight will come off.

 

Note: My Daily Point Limit is now 31 points down from 32 because I've lost 8.4 pounds. You also get an additional 49 points a week to use however you want (a little everyday, all at once, or not at all). You also earn points for the activity that you do. 

 Day 1: Used 33 points. (Used 2 of my 49 extra)

Earned 4 points for 45 minutes on the stationary bike 

Earned 1 point for 15 minutes on the elliptical  

Day 2: Used 59 points. (Used 28 of my 49 extra ~ Hubby took me out for dinner and drinks for my birthday)

 
Day 3: Used 30 points. (1 point remaining) 
 
Day 4: Used 31 points points. (0 points remaining)

Earned 1 point for 20 minutes of misc. weight machines

Earned 2 points for 25 minutes on the elliptical
 
Day 5: Used 33 points. (Used 2 of my 49 extra)

Earned 3 points for 30 minutes on the stationary bike

Earned 2 points for 20 minutes on the elliptical

Earned 5 points for 60 minutes of spin class. (This was so hard and I was so proud when I made it through the 60 minutes!)

 
Day 6: Used 32 points. (Used 1 of my 49 extra)

Earned 2 points for 20 minutes on the elliptical

Earned 2 points for 30 minutes of weights, squats, sit-ups

 

 Day 7: Used 33 points. (Used 2 of my 49 extra)

49 Extra Weekly Points Used: 35

Activity Points Earned: 22 VERY proud of this number. (Didn't use these for food)

  
 Week 8 Goal: Same as last week: Drink more water a day, go to the gym at least twice, STOP SKIPPING BREAKFAST (which I didn't AT ALL this week) and I'm adding stay positive and keep going despite the scale! 

Breaking Up

Dear Coffee Table,

I'm sorry but I have to break up with you. You've been so good to me. Always there when I need to rest my tired feet, helping me organize and fold the laundry, and the countless games we've played on you.

However you are too big a threat to my sweet boy. You see...he recently learned how to climb onto the couch but hasn't yet learned how to get down. Today he fell off the couch and was this close to cracking his head open on your corner. I know it wasn't your fault and you didn't mean it.

I promise we'll meet again one day and I will again treat you to things like Clorox Wipes and Pledge. But for now your new home will be the storage closet in the backyard with all the other dangerous household items. Don't worry, I'll make sure Andrew makes a nice spot for you so you don't get damaged.

I'll miss you.

 

Wordless Wednesday #15

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