The Biggest Loser Challenge - End Of Week One

So, it's been almost a week since I started the challenge at Omni Gym. It is a 16 week process to a new me. Not a fad diet, or surgery, but a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. That is not to say that this will be easy - I fully expect this first month to be the hardest.

At the end of this week, my progress has been good - although not neccessarily something that has shown up on the scale, yet. Katie, the personal trainer, has me doing 30-45 mins of weights 4 times a week and an hour of cardio 6 times a week. I made it everyday this week with my program. Tomorrow I reach my day off. Yeah! Last night and this morning I really had to talk myself into the gym, especially when I woke up this morning and it was pitch dark and pouring rain, but once I got there I was so proud of myself for following through.

At the end of this 16 weeks, I want to know that I have done everything I could to win this challenge. More than for the money, for myself. I completed my first spin class this week and felt like a champion already. I am super excited to see where this journey takes me. ~Kim

A 150 over 120 reality check...

Yesterday at work we had the lab come in and do our blood work. It is free for us and we get a discount on our health insurance if we participate. Among other things, they check our blood pressure. Now, I have NEVER had high blood pressure, and I admit to be a little stressed out yesterday morning, but I almost fell out of my chair when my results came back and said 150 over 120. HOLY CRAP!!! That is outstandingly high. High enought that my boss wants me to recheck today and if it is still that high call my doctor. Yikes.

On that note. I have made comments about how I am going to get healthier and it is not about losing weight....well, at this time it has become about losing weight, too. It is a proven fact that weight loss helps with those issues.

V....I seriously - for my health - need to lose about 20 pounds in the next few months. I am way TOO young to have this kind of issue.

I am worth 20 minutes a day...

This week, I can to the conclusion that I am worth 20 minutes day. Even if I can't get on the elliptical for 30 or 40 minutes, I can get up early enough to do 20...or do 20 while dinner is in the oven. I have found that if I exercise in the morning, I am more aware all day long of my choices. I also figured that as much time as I dedicate to other people during my day, 20 minutes for me really isn't a long time at all.

However, one thing that definitely hinders me is when I get up to exercise and realize that there are so many other things that need to be done around the house. Today I remedied that....I deeped cleaned. My whole place smells like lemon pinesol and I feel great! It helps me relax, but also helps me not to have my mind on what else needs to be done while I'm on the elliptical. Yea me! =)

I am going to weigh on Wednesday and after that I am going to start posting my progress weekly. Accountability is the best friend of a person trying to drop some pounds. Kim

Seeing Results

I am so excited. I am finally seeing results. From last Sunday to yesterday I have lost 2.5lbs. And overall since April 5th I have lost 4.5lbs!! I am so proud of myself!

SIZE 10 HERE I COME!!!
V

If My Body is a Temple...

What kind of temple do I have? I am currently in the bed, not feeling well. I have been fighting some allergy funk since Thursday. However, somewhere this morning I had a revelation.

My revelation is that I live my life to try and be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. I am a great mother, good co-worker, and try to be a wonderful friend. Although I am sure I fail in these areas at time, I really do try. Yet, when it comes to my weight, I'm not certain why I continue to sabotage myself. Let's be real...no one enjoys the feeling they have when they over eat, or when they eat something that is so unhealthy it sticks in your stomache like a piece of lead. No one likes feeling like they failed in their choices for good food - yet, we all do it. We all have a moment when we eat too much, or eat something not healthy for us...etc.

If I did everything like I was doing it unto the Lord, would I have such a hard time staying on track? If I'm such a great mother, would I continue to make choices for my life that negatively affect my health - therefore they could potential have a negative effect on my son?

This might sound strange, but I think I am going to start everyday with a new prayer in my heart. I am going to pray that I will have my heart sensitive to those earlier thoughts when I go to make a bad decision. To be fully aware of the decision of unhealthy eating and how that really affects my life - and to also open my eyes as to why I have been remiss in taking care of myself physically.

Yes, it is hard. Yes, it requires a lot of work. I don't really feel like I settle for mediocre in other areas of my life though, so why am I settling in this one?

Kim

Encouragement!

So I got kind of discouraged Monday morning when I got on the scale and saw that I had actually gone up 1.5lbs since the day before. Then in my distress I called Kim and she reminded me I had soy sauce on my dinner the night before that would make me retain water. ~Good thinkin, Kimmie!~

Tuesday I got up and weighed and was back down 1.5lbs to my starting weight! Then I weighed in this morning and was down another 1.5lb!!! YAY!!!

So since Sunday I have officially lost 1.5lbs! And I'm still eating plenty, actually by the end of the day I realize I need to eat more to make up my calories for the day. And on top of all that, I worked out on the elliptical and then I walked 1 mile yesterday with my 17 pound baby on the front of me!! I am very pround of myself!!

V

Oh, the things we do for love...rather weight loss...

When you really think about some of the things people try to make themselves lose weight - it is amazing. From diet pills, and surgery that removes part of your stomache and reroutes your intestines, to Thigh Masters, and Buns Of Steel videos - yep, we'll try it all. Not to mention the countless fad diets and maybe even over doses of fiber or laxatives (I've never actually tried some of these - and if y'all know how much I HATE public bathrooms, you can GUARANTEE I'm not about to OD on laxatives).

However, V and I thought we'd go get exercise DVD's that suited our personalities. Now, this was a few weeks back. I had an appointment across town, so we met at Best Buy and picked out videos. Not surprising, V picked out Latin Dancing. Then, in the midst of all these choices, the clouds parted, the angels sang, and V handed me a Line Dance Away the Pounds video. Now, why we even thought these would be cool, don't ask. We made our purchases and headed directly to Red Robin so I could eat a burger. Nice.

To say these DVD's were lame would be really giving them more credit that what they deserve. They passed lame and kept right on going into an all new category. Picture this...the two of us sitting on V's couch, laughing our behinds off at what these folks looked like...one girl complete with jean skirt to exercise in. WHAT??? Who heard of exercising in a skirt?

Anyways...I'm tired of the fads. I'm tired of starving myself, eating no carbs, eating enough citrus to turn my skin funny colors, watching infomercials on how to lose weight in JUST TEN MINUTES. I'm ready to just start treating myself right.
K