I have recently been making a lot of changes in my lifestyle and decided that if it is really going to work I am going to have to journal pretty much everything I do towards reaching my 145 pound goal, to keep myself on track.So to remind myself, and to let anyone else interested know, here is an overview of the last year of my life and the choices I have made to start living a better life.
In May of 2004 I was offered a fulltime job in Ottawa. Being from a little town in New Brunswick, I was timid at first to accept the job and move to "the big city", although it really isn't all that big in hindsight. But I did it and decided at the same time it was going to be a life changing decision for me. I was going to start changing things to become the person that I have always wanted to be, both on the inside and on the outside. Once I got moved to Ottawa, I wasted no time and joined a gym...best decision I had made up to that point in my life. I had joined gym's a thousand time's before, but this time it felt different, because it was becoming a part of my new life. It helped lots that a girl I just met through work was willing to bring me to her gym and show me around, help me get signed up, and go with me as much as she possibly could. I owe a lot to her for helping me that way, although she probably has no idea how much it meant to me...I think I should let her know. I had a personal trainer show me how to use all of the equipment at the gym, and set up a program for me, Three days a week of strength training and 4 days of cardio is what I was aiming for.
After being at the gym for 1 month, I found out I had to go away for 2 months to a pretty rural area for work...no gym. I was scared that the routine I was just getting into was about to be destroyed...and it was actually;) While away I really did not do any exercise or watch what I ate, but as soon as I got back, I got into the swing of things again. I was doing my cardio on an eliptical machine for about 20 minutes at a time, and forcing myslef through the strength training (but hating it). The girl that originally got me signed up was also going to classes with me 1 or 2 times a week (step and kickboixing), and it was feeling good, I had lots of energy, it was amazing.
After about 4 months of this routine I had seen little results in the pounds department, or the inches department for that matter. I had not dropped at all from my 245 that I was when I started at the gym, and my size 20 pants were still a size 20 (this is january now). I decided I had to evaulate my program and change something...but I wasn't really sure what. I thought about it and decided that my cardio routine was a bit too easy...I didn't really sweat on the elliptical, and the only person I was fooling was myself. So I jumped on to the internet and found me a learn to run program. A walk/run program, that would get me running for 30 minutes in about 3 months. I also started watching in on some of the classes at the gym, and saw one that I think has changed the way I view weight training. I hated using the machines, they were so boring to me...this class is with great instructors and fabulous music, using free weights works most of your major muscle groups. I tried for 3 weeks to get someone to go with me, but the class did look intimidating and no one else was up for it. I bit the bullet and did something for myslef...went to the class. I fell in love with it instantly and new that it would now me my weight training program.
At the same time as all this was going on some girls at work let me know about the weight watchers program and how they were following it (although they were teeny tiny, but whatever), so I hopped on the bandwagon with them and starting couting points....woooooo this is where the structure was missing. Within the first week I lost 6 pounds, and the next week 3 more, it was fabulous! Then the girls started going for cheesburgers and fries and my suport system was gone, so I wasn't as motivated to follow the plan, and I was back in a rut.
3 weeks ago I decided to joing weight wacthers officially, and go to their meetings, see what it was all about. Now I look at this as being the best decision I have ever made. In my first week I lost 2 pounds. Not great I thought, but it is a loss. The next week I was down 4 pounds, for a total of 6. Getting that 5 pound star felt fabulous!!! I am currently at 222 pounds, and a size 18.So now we are up to date. I am still following my 30 minute running program a few days a week and my Pump class (the weight lifting one) 3 days a week. I also joined a message board healthdiscovery.net to have some supporters along the way. For the first time in my life I feel like my weight is in my control, and I will be the great looking girl that has always lived inside, on the outside!
One of the girls on the Health Discovery page has a saying..."nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"... I am hoping to find that out for sure in the next phase of my life!I am going to use this blog as a sounding board for myself, to write down my daily and long term goals, my progress, and perhaps some pictures along to the way. Anyone who stumbles upon this blog, feel free to add any words of advice, encouragement, or experiences you have had along the way , or just say hi and let me know you stopped by.
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