Biggest Loser Year Update: Week 19 or so :)

Well, I am still moving right along on my Biggest Loser year.  When I went to the gym tonight I realized I had reached another milestone!  Woohoo!


Since I started this year, I have lost 30 pounds! That is about 1.5 pounds per week.  To look at the weekly accomplishment seems like so little, but it really does add up!  I feel really good about my new eating lifestyle and I feel I can keep this going for the rest of my life!  That is what is the most wonderful feeling!


I don't seem to feel or see the weight loss as much as I think I should, but something helped me really see it.  I have a lovely blue jacket that I wore in January to an interview at school.  I was a bit self conscious about how it looked because it was pretty tight.  Early this month, one chilly day, I pulled out the coat to wear.  Not only did it fit easily to zip but I could wrap it past itself.  It actually felt a bit large.  That was thrilling.

Here are some before pictures.

Christmas 2011

This was Resurrection Sunday 2011

Here is 2012

I don't know if you can really tell or not.  I certainly have much farther to go, but I feel so much better already!  If I can keep this up I will be down 60 pounds by my wedding anniversary in October!


Thank you again, dear friends for encouraging me and praying for me.  I am still praying for you too!


With All My Heart~

2012 Changes Update

I mentioned back in January that there would be some changes in my life and our home for 2012. 

I have wanted to be more committed to reading my Bible in the morning.  My morning devotions have been so helpful.  Having the time to pray and talk with God before I start my day is so important.  I have to admit that the last couple of years, I have enjoyed sleeping in until the girls were awake.  Then it is just too difficult to have quiet time.  We pray and study the Bible together, but it isn't the same as private prayer and study time.  I am so thankful to be developing the habit of getting up early. 

Another change I mentioned was going back to work.  Most of you know that I have been working as a substitute teacher for Montgomery County.  Since I was officially listed last week, I haven't had a day off.  I am thankful for the work, but it has been challenging!  First of all, most of the jobs have come in the morning of, or the night before, and so I am stressed waiting.  Also, the jobs are in grade levels I haven't worked with in the public school.  I am thankful for my experience working with my own children as a homeschool mom since it gives me an idea of the abilities of younger children.  This past week I have worked as a 1st grade teacher in one class, a 3rd grade teacher for 3 different teachers, and a special education teacher working with 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders.  This time has really made me appreciate the elementary grade student and I may seek to recertify in elementary, as well as middle, if that is possible.

One of the greatest challenges has been endurance.  For the last ten years I have gotten spoiled for sitting with my children as we did school.  You just can't sit when you need to check the progess of 20 students.  Needless to say I have only made it to the gym one day this week and even then I was pretty low key - no jogging for this tired girl! 

Even greater than the challenge of long hours on my feet, has been the challenge of missing my girls.  For the last 3,650+ days my time was spent with them ALL of the time.  I find myself comparing likenesses and differences between my children and my students.  Also I find myself mentioning my girls quite a bit!  Today one student was amazed that I had four children.  He said, "My mom would think that is too many!"  I told him that for some people that may be true, but not for me!  I love coming home and getting welcome hugs from the girls. :)

This new schedule has certainly made home schooling different.  I try to give the girls all my attention after I return home before they go to bed.  It is hard because I am so tired, but it is so worth it.  I still need to hear about each ones day and listen to their narrations of their readings, or answer questions about math problems that stumped them, or just enjoy as we go to the park to fly kites!

Yes, literally we flew kites.  Today, after I got home from PS, I changed clothes and took the girls to the park.  It was still in the the upper 50's and quite windy.  I was tired, but I had promised the girls that we would go.  I didn't want to fool with the kites, but they had been waiting for a windy, and not rainy day, like today.  I knew that I needed to do this with them.  Not that I have to give in and do anything they ask, out of guilt for being gone all day.  But I did need to not let my selfish desires (for a nap, mostly) disappoint them.  They had worked hard also. 

So we are all adjusting and thankfully it is going pretty well.  Again, I am SO thankful to Rose.  We could not do this without her and she is doing a great job!

As for the challenge to lose weight. I lost TWO pounds this week! WooHoo! :)  I am not drinking the water I want, because I can't just run to the bathroom anytime at school, but I have kept to my nutrition goals and have fought temptations of being stressed and wanting to use food for comfort!

I am thankful for the changes and how everyone has been able to handle it so far.  I trust God to continue to lead us through this year!

With All My Heart~

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 8

 
Goals

drink 60 oz of water daily (all but one day)

continue to record nutrition goals (I did)

for exercise I plan to do the gym plan from before 3 times per week and also the Jillian Shred 2 times a week. I don't think I can handle it daily right now. (I did!  I am even able to jog/run farther around the track!)

bed at 11:30PM and waking up at 7:30AM  (fail again on going to bed consistently, but I am going to keep working on it!)

 Another pound down this week.  I was really hoping to lose more.  I have been very faithful to my eating plan, and I am doing more exercise than before.  I can only say that either my metabolism is so slow it doesn't matter what I do, or maybe I am building muscle which weighs more than fat. 

Either way I can't be too disappointed.  I am losing and I am controling my food instead of giving in to temptation.  I went through my closet last night preparing for more out of the home work.  I was able to wear a couple of things that had been to small and am closer to other things.  I probably should do that at least once a week.  It really reminds me to keep going!  I have one dress that I haven't worn since Sarah was an infant.  I can't wait to get back in that dress! I will definitely post a picture when I fit that dress!

I also had a major success today.  We took the girls to ChuckECheese for Lydia and Mary's birthdays.  I wanted the pizza so bad.  It smelled sooooo good.  I ate the topping but not the bread part.  Mine was supreme so it had some yummy veggies and meat!  I also had no cake.  I was running the video camera and that helped. LOL 

Goals for this week:

• work on bedtimes again
• try to run the mile in 14min. 
• Jillian Shred 3 days this week
• 65 oz. of water daily

This week may be harder than previous.  I am hoping to be doing some substitute teaching and will need to be prepared to take lunch/snacks with me!  Carrying my water bottle helps!

***************Successes************************
I know that one of my partners lost 2 pounds this week!  Kudos to Leah for reaching 5lbs. lost!  Please be praying for her as she has surgery on the 6th.

Kena and LeeAnn, let us know how you are doing!  Do you like the new tickers I made for you?  If you don't, I can change them! :)

Keeping the other ladies that I know are trying to eat healthier and lose weight in my prayers!

With All My Heart~

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 7

So last weeks goals were:

• drink 80 oz of water each day  (It was more like 50 oz)
• record food daily to stay within nutrition goals  (I did stay within my goals! )
• walk/run 1 15min. mile; bike 5 mi.; and walk 2 mi in 25 min.or less  (After walking biking the 5 mi in 15 min. and walk/running 1 mi. in 15 min. I was way too tired to walk another 2 mi!  I did walk 1/2 mi to cool down.  I was able to do this three times this week and I did the Jillian 30-day shred today for the first time.  Very pleased my ankle was able to handle the jumping exercises. ) 
• go to bed at no later than 11:30PM and get up at 6:30AM  (Half success and half fail.  Boy I am just so out of practice at getting up early.)

I had a good week.  Since avoiding bread and other starchy vegetables for the last couple of weeks, I am really enjoying not feeling hungry all the time.  There has been a delicious sugar filled dessert in our fridge since Sunday and I have not thought about it for days.  As a matter of fact, I only thought about it tonight because I made dinner (not my jurisdiction any more) since Rose was gone to a class! ;)  Now, you might be thinking, well, she doesn't cook anymore so she wouldn't be tempted.  Oh yes I would.  When I am eating bread and starchy veggies like potatoes and corn, I am constantly thinking about eating again.  I could have just eaten an hour before and start thinking about what other items I could eat.  Now, I go much longer without even thinking about food and because I feel better (not bloated and not as tired) so I am keeping this up!  The few times when I am tempted, I have immediately prayed for strength and God has answered!

I am pleased to say that I lost 1 pound which makes my total lost 10 pounds! :)
It doesn't sound like much, but after not losing for two weeks, I was just happy to see a move in the right direction.  I look forward to a greater loss next week as I continue to increase the intensity of workouts. 

I am going to keep the same goals with minor adjustments:

• drink 60 oz of water daily
• continue to record nutrition goals
• for exercise I plan to do the gym plan from before 3 times per week and also the Jillian Shred 2 times a week.  I don't think I can handle it daily right now.
• bed at 11:30PM and waking up at 7:30AM

Thanks again for praying for me dear friends and sending encouraging messages.  This accountability really does help.  Is there anyone else that wants me to be praying for you?  Any other suggestions about losing weight?  A dear friend was telling me about Dr. Stork (from the Drs. show) who suggests drinking water at certain intervals through the day.  I kind of already did that but I have tried more diligenly to follow the guidelines she mentioned and it has really helped!  Has anyone read his new book?  I am wondering if it would be worth buying.

  I also have two friends that both lost weight this week and am so glad for them!  Are you losing?  Share with me so I can celebrate with you!

With All My Heart~

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 6

     

Life is such a roller coaster sometimes.  You are going along getting in your workout, recording your food, anticipating weight loss and then suddenly, zoom.... the bottom falls out.  Now you are having kidney stone surgery and interviewing for jobs and life just gets crazy busy with things interferring with your workouts and eating plans.  Last week I gave myself immunity, so that is why you won't see a weekly report for week 5.

As for Week 6 it was Valentines week and I feel that over all I did pretty well.  I didn't lose any more, but at leat I maintained.  I also used greater self-control at the two dinners out and a candy filled kid's party!  I was very pleased with that.  Doing what is good for the long term success, instead of immediate satisfaction, is my definition of self-control.  I thank God for helping me to keep my head and do what I need to do instead of what I want.  The one area this past week where I didn't keep my goal was in exercise.  I was very unmotivated when I had time, which wasn't very often. 

But we enjoyed visits with Mamaw in Culpeper (and all the Atkins crew) and a visit with the Lillydell Short crew!  Those were time well spent and I don't regret them. 

On Thursdays I have been going to the healthy eating/cooking class and we weigh in there as well, so I think I will postpone these updates until Friday from now on.  This way I will only be weighing in once a week.  Ironically our class last night was actually about exercise.  The instructors wanted to take a night to focus on this side of healthy living.  We all felt really motivated and challenged to try some of the exercises and equipment they demonstrated.

So for our first day of the new week, Rose and I added strength training with weights.  We want to eventually get the stretch bands, but this was already handy at home so we used it.  I am so proud of Rose.  She is really doing great!  Since neither of us lost last week, we are both looking forward to a loss for next week.   Today, I tried to walk my first mile in 15 minutes.  I don't have a stop watch but it looked like it was a bit over 15 but less than 16 min.  I was very pleased.  I was even able to jog part of the mile, and my foot didn't hurt!  WooHoo!  That feels so good.  I can't tell you how thankful I am for two good feet and knees and legs!  I really liked lapping all those walkers that used to lap me as I was recovering from the broken ankle! LOL

So this coming week's goals are

• drink 80 oz of water each day
• record food daily to stay within nutrition goals
• walk/run 1 15min. mile; bike 5 mi.; and walk 2 mi in 25 min.or less
• go to bed at no later than 11:30PM and get up at 6:30AM

Thanks dear family and friends who have been keeping me in your prayers.  There is a reason this is my biggest loser YEAR.  It is going to take that long at least and I appreciate those who are there to encourage me for the long haul! :)

I have some success stories that the people want to remain anonymous, but congrats to two of my dearest friends who have lost 10 pounds in the last two to three weeks.  Keep going ladies!  I love you!

To my B.L. partners - time to let me know how you did this week, ladies! I have been praying for you!

With All My Heart~

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 4

 

      Goals for Week 4

• Drink at least 80 oz of water/clear liquids per day. Record food and keep calories @ 1,200.
• This week is crazy with doctor's appointments, 2 nursing home music sessions, and a birthday party for my mom, so I am not making an exercise goal except to do it as possible.
• Go to bed by 11PM each night.
• Lose 3 lbs. I am hoping to lose the 2 I gained plus at least 1 more.

This has been one of the those weeks.  I did drink at least 70 oz for the first 4 days of the week.  As for the rest, it was around 50.  I also didn't keep my food calories.  I really need to enter it on the website before I eat it.  I always think, "Oh, I will enter this in a few minutes.  Several hours later I am having a hard time remembering what I ate, or regetting eating something unplanned.  Bed time has also been hard.  I am such a night person.  I have been able to sleep in though so I have gotten at least 7hours sleep. So are you wondering how I did on the scale?

I met my goal! Woohoo! I lost the 2 I had gained and 1 more!  I know this seems kind of trivial to celebrate, but I am looking at the big picture.  Even if I gain 2 and lose 3 every other week, in a year I will have lost 26 pounds! LOL  I haven't lost that much in several years.  Also I know that many weeks I will do better than that. 

One of my down falls with eating has been emotional eating.  I want to eat when I am happy or something particulary nice is happening, and I want to eat when life is stressful or sad.  Learning to control those urges and pray, read my Bible, play piano or just talk about the emotions with someone are some of  the ways I break the snacking habit.

This week has been one of those weeks.  My mom had a birthday party on Friday and we had a wonderful day celebrating with her.  I did pretty well curbing my appetite, but I was sure glad I didn't bring home any of that butterfinger cake. I would have continued a party of one!

Then on Saturday I get a notice in the mail about substituting for the local schools.  We have been seeking God over our finances and feel that now is the time for me to go back to work outside the home in order to get out of our debt, but it has been stressful waiting for all the events to unfold.  Now I have a list of items I have to complete and more forms to fill out and the stress of it makes me want to calm myself with food. 

Typing here or writing in my journal helps me get a better grip on those urges, but I can't always write when I have the urge to eat.  I find that at least thinking about writing this down helps me fight those urges. Praying has also been so helpful.  I know that it sounds cliche but God does want me to remember to lean on His strength for all things.  The girls and I are reading Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.  One of the parts that resonates with me is how long Much-Afraid suffers from her fears and those trying to lead her away from the Good Shepherd before she finally calls on him.  She knows He will come immediately.  She has called on Him before, but she always waits longer than she should to call him.  She begins to be plagued with her doubts and fears.  I relate to that.  When I am tempted to eat or skip exercise,  I often try to rationalize it.  Really, I just need to immediately seek God's help in prayer.  I am too weak.  I fail to easily.  I need the One who is so much greater than I am.

So my goals for Week 5:

• Pray every time I have the urge to eat. Ask for guidance and help.  Pray for help to mortify my fleshly desires.  Pray for peace to enjoy that which is good for me.  Food is not bad.  Eating to take away fear or even to make the joyful feelings of a celebration last longer is wrong.  My peace and joy must come from God.  Anything else is just false, won't last, and has terrible side effects!
• Write down my food before eating.
• Drink 80-96 oz of clear liquids.

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 3

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 3

Goals for Week 3:

Drink more water and measure it for an average of 40 oz. per day.
Walk 2.5mi each day and bike 5 mi on 2 of the 4 days.
Go to bed by 11PM each night.
Lose 3lbs.

I did well on the first two goals.  I also made it to bed by 12AM at the latest.  However, I certainly did not make the 3lb loss.  As a matter of fact, I gained 2 pounds this week.  That really stinks.  I don't know if it was from the medicine from the kidney stones or not.  I hope so.  I didn't even eat for nearly 24 hours and have been trying to eat less all week.  I didn't take the time to record it though.

Goals for Week 4:
Drink at least 80 oz of water/clear liquids per day. Record food and keep calories @ 1,200.
This week is crazy with doctor's appointments, 2 nursing home music sessions, and a birthday party for my mom, so I am not making an exercise goal except to do it as possible.
Go to bed by 11PM each night.
Lose 3 lbs.  I am hoping to lose the 2 I gained plus at least 1 more.

I appreciate your prayers for me.  I know stress can make you gain weight or at least not lose it.  I am just trying to remember that this is only 1 week out of a entire year.  It will get better!

Congrats to Leah for losing 2 pounds this week!  I haven't heard from partner 3 and 4 this week!  Let me know how you are doing ladies and I will update your ticker! :)
 
With All My Heart~

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 2

My motivations for this week are God, my family and friends encouraging me, and a special little encouragement from my baby girl, Lydia.  She brought me a note on a hello kitty paper that Memaw wrote as she dictated it.  This is what it said:

Welcome

to Biggest Loser!

You can get your hair fixed.

To get your hair fixed

you have to go the room

with the door with the castle on it, Eva

Lydia

She said I could turn it in whenever I was ready!  I told her Makeover week is usually week 12 or so! :)

Goal:  Average of 1,100 calories per day
Tuesday = 1503
Wednesday = 1161
Thursday= 1258
Friday= 1544
Saturday= 1423
Sunday= 1466
Monday=1455
Average per day = 1,401

I feel better about this after I read an article on finding your Active Metabolic Rate.  An average of 1300 calories per day should result in 2lbs. lost a week, at least.  I am happy with this for this week.  I am setting my goal for next week at 1300 and want to be more consistent. 

I also did better with exercising this week.  I am able to walk longer and faster and I even biked 5 miles one day when I had already walked 2mi.  This is what I was hoping to do after I got my cast off!  I am so thankful that God has helped me to heal and get better day. 

So I was very pleased when I lost 3 pounds this week! 

Goals for Week 3: 
Drink more water and measure it for an average of 40 oz. per day. 
Walk 2.5mi each day and bike 5 mi on 2 of the 4 days.
Go to bed by 11PM each night.
Lose 3lbs.

Eva's Biggest Loser Year: Week 1

I had some specific goals for this week.
* No soda at home. 
* 50% of my plate at church dinner would be vegetables
* Exercise at least 4 days of the week. 
* Spend more time standing and walking around during the day.

So how did I do?
* I only had 12 oz one day while we were out running errands.
*I did eat small servings of everything that wasn't vegetable and I had a large salad. 
  I also only ate half servings of dessert, though I did have two types. 
* Walked 1.8 miles on Tuesday and Wednesday, pool on Thursday, and walked 2 mi on Monday
* I made at least twice as many trips up the stairs per day and am trying to do more housework and standing during school time as well.
* I lost 5 lbs. this week !!!




My sister-in-law, Leah, is working on things with me.  She has agreed to a weight loss tracking ticker on my sidebar.  Maybe she will let me put an update picture with it in a month or so!  Also working on some others to join me!  If you want to be a part of my Biggest Loser Circle just let me know your stats and I will be happy to celebrate with you!


Next week I plan to record what I eat and the calories.  My goal is an average of 1,100 calories per day.
http://www.sparkpeople.com
This is where I can record and calculate certain factors.  This should result in at least a 2 pound loss this week.  Hoping I can burn more off since I am getting better with my walking.  On Tuesday when I walked it took me an hour to limp around the track for 1.8 miles.  Monday I did the whole 2 mi. in 50 minutes.  Hoping to go longer this week!

Thanks for reading my blog to help hold me accountable.  If you want to leave a message for me here I would appreciate the encouragement!  I thank God and all my family and friends for helping me!

With All My Heart~