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| This is the picture that really got to me. I'm 205 lbs here. 10/30/2012 |
Six months ago, I was diagnosed with GERD, had been in the ER because of severe stomach pain, and my self confidence was non-existent. I looked like crap and I felt like crap.
Finally something inside my brain clicked. I started making dinner instead of ordering out or going through the drive thru. I started C25K and then Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I had so many sore and pulled muscles. I could hardly move some days. I huffed and puffed through 2 minutes of running at 4.0 on the treadmill. I never thought I'd actually lose weight.
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| This is me at 195. 12/2012 |
When I look back at everything I have accomplished in 180 days, I am amazed, but most importantly, I'm very proud of myself. I've given up on so many things in the past two years but I'm glad I haven't given up on myself and my running. Running is hard. I've broken up with running so many times. I've sworn I would never go back to it and just be a walker, but I can't stay away.
Yesterday I set a personal best pace. My wonderful husband took me to the lake path close to our house to run. He kept up with me and then I lost him on the second half of the run. It was such a perfect Saturday morning. The sun was shining, it was a cool 60 degrees, and the lake was beautiful. Also, I got to use my runkeeper app to track my mileage and pace since I have a smartphone now. I completed the first mile and the runkeeper app announced that I had completed 1 mile and my pace was something over 12 minutes. I was floored! When I finished the 2 mile lap, I looked down at the app and had to double take. I had run an average pace of 12 minutes and 18 seconds. WOW. My hope is to have a 12 minute mile by November. The 12:18 I ran yesterday wasn't too comfortable but it wasn't overly challenging either. Here's hoping it gets easier as time goes on.
Well this morning I took some progress pictures. Here is me in the shorts that I was wearing in the two previous pictures. These shorts were REALLY tight back in October/November.
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| From the front. |
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| Where'd the stomach go?! I'm not sucking it in either. :-P 182 lbs |
Insanity has been working well. Even though I sat at a plateau of 183 for a few weeks, I think I look damn good for 182 pounds. There is still PLENTY of work to do, but today is a day to celebrate. Oh and did I mention I eat 1700-2300 calories a day? I eat, lose weight, and hopefully keep it off for good this time.
So here's 6 weight loss and novice running tips that I've learned these 6 months:
1. Don't be afraid to eat.- Use a TDEE calculator to determine the correct calorie intake for your activity and then reduce that by 10-20% to lose weight. It might seem like a lot but just EAT IT. You want a body of lean muscle not flub right?
2. Go slow!- Whether it is running or any other kind of exercise, start off slow and build up your time. I started with 3 days a week and now I am exercising 6 days a week. I tried to exercise 5 days a week when I started and just got really sick. Go slow and increase when your body can handle it.
3. Don't compare yourself to other people.- I do this all the time. I get so angry when people can lose 50 pounds in 3 months. You have to look at your own body and circumstances. As a very wise MFP friend says, "Jux do wat werkz 4 u."
4. Eat more fruits and veggies!- Seriously. I have the biggest sweet tooth at nights, but I'm trying to replace ice cream and cookies with oranges and baked apples. I still have fudge bars and ice cream, but not as often. I add more veggies to my meals and less cheeses. Veggies are tasty when prepared correctly. I love roasted asparagus!
5. Cook your own meals.- Learning to cook was rewarding and also helped shrink my waist line. I love to look at a dinner I completed rather than one someone else made for me. The husband knows to stay out of the kitchen. I love the kitchen. I love cooking. I love being a traditional wife. I love feeding my body good things and knowing exactly what went into my meal. Control freak? Yes and I'd like to keep it that way.
6. Never, never, never give up.- I can't tell you how many times I've given up. There are posts on here about me giving up. I've worked through anxiety, muscle pulls, aching feet and lots of sore muscles. Losing weight and learning to run is hard and anyone who says otherwise is LYING or not doing it right. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at what your body can do.
These 6 months have been a ride! Here's to the next 6 and hopefully some more amazing accomplishments!
1800 Minute May Challenge: 1036/1800
(We'll see where we end up and then increase it by 100 for June!)
1. Don't be afraid to eat.- Use a TDEE calculator to determine the correct calorie intake for your activity and then reduce that by 10-20% to lose weight. It might seem like a lot but just EAT IT. You want a body of lean muscle not flub right?
2. Go slow!- Whether it is running or any other kind of exercise, start off slow and build up your time. I started with 3 days a week and now I am exercising 6 days a week. I tried to exercise 5 days a week when I started and just got really sick. Go slow and increase when your body can handle it.
3. Don't compare yourself to other people.- I do this all the time. I get so angry when people can lose 50 pounds in 3 months. You have to look at your own body and circumstances. As a very wise MFP friend says, "Jux do wat werkz 4 u."
4. Eat more fruits and veggies!- Seriously. I have the biggest sweet tooth at nights, but I'm trying to replace ice cream and cookies with oranges and baked apples. I still have fudge bars and ice cream, but not as often. I add more veggies to my meals and less cheeses. Veggies are tasty when prepared correctly. I love roasted asparagus!
5. Cook your own meals.- Learning to cook was rewarding and also helped shrink my waist line. I love to look at a dinner I completed rather than one someone else made for me. The husband knows to stay out of the kitchen. I love the kitchen. I love cooking. I love being a traditional wife. I love feeding my body good things and knowing exactly what went into my meal. Control freak? Yes and I'd like to keep it that way.
6. Never, never, never give up.- I can't tell you how many times I've given up. There are posts on here about me giving up. I've worked through anxiety, muscle pulls, aching feet and lots of sore muscles. Losing weight and learning to run is hard and anyone who says otherwise is LYING or not doing it right. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at what your body can do.
These 6 months have been a ride! Here's to the next 6 and hopefully some more amazing accomplishments!
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| Courtesy of www.inspirationalquotes.asia |
1800 Minute May Challenge: 1036/1800
(We'll see where we end up and then increase it by 100 for June!)
You look fantastic! Great job! I love your tips and #3 is so important. I'm not a novice by an means but I still get so caught up in comparing my progress to other's. Just before I started reading your tips I was thinking to myself that you look so skinny and I wish my stomach was as flat as yours. I try to remind myself that we all have our own progress and achievements and it's important to make sure you're proud of what YOU can do.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! My stomach is flat in the mornings and it was very photogenic this morning. I had to ask my husband if I really looked like my photos, lol. I still have rolls when I sit down and my lower belly is weird looking at the bottom (like two U's stuck together! lol), but I'm coming to love it all the same. It's hard not to get caught up in comparing yourself to other people. I beat myself up every other day and need days like this to look back on where I was and what I have become. :) Glad you enjoyed the post and never give up! We'll be running 10 min miles in no time. ;)
DeleteYou look so good girl! I'm so proud of you!
ReplyDelete