Almost 20% Off! No, Not a Great Sale-20% off of ME!

Last week wasn't so great for me. I was bloated, got food poisoning, and was stressed to the max.
I had some good and bad days as far as the eating goes. I did not track my food or activity, yet somehow managed to lose 4.6 pounds. I'm happy, yet I'm a little ticked at myself for not staying on plan and tracking everything. I was doing a lot of estimating in my head as far as how many points I was consuming. I think the weight loss is lucky, to be honest. 

Today I just realized 2 things. I am just a half pound away from a 40 pound weight loss and I am 5.2 pounds away from having lost 20% of my starting weight. A goal of mine is to get certified to become a Zumba instructor once I've lost 20%. I'm excited. It may take some time to get certified, because the classes cost money and they fill up quickly. There are 2 classes available in September. One is September 8th and still has space, but I won't have the $225 in time. The other class is September 22nd and is already sold out. I hope that more open up very soon! 

I admit that I've slacked off quite a bit, but today when I realized I'm so close to another milestone I had a talk with myself, and said that all that slacking off, mindless snacking, and laziness ends today! I'm going to plan out my week, which will include exercise and meals. I should have been at 20% long ago. However, I'm still a happy girl. I have more energy, I can wear smaller clothes, and I have more confidence as I've mentioned in other blogs. 

I'm off to do a walk now. It's kind of warm out there but I am NOT letting that get in my way. I've let too many things get in the way of my success. Mainly myself! Not today and not ever again. I DO deserve the very best and damn it I'm going to get it!

A New and Improved Tamara

This morning I couldn't make it to my Weight Watchers meeting because my child is ill, so I decided to go this evening. I was going to chicken out and skip the scale and just go to meeting, but decided to face the music and put my big girl panties on and deal with it.(FYI, them "big girl panties" aren't so big anymore!) I gained 2.4 pounds last week. Now my leader said that a person's weight can fluctuate somewhere between 2 and 3 pounds before morning and evening, but I know I gained something. I was not tracking everything last week. There were a couple days when I really was a chowhound. Take yesterday for example. Yesterday was the last day of tax season, which meant it was my last day until next year at H&R Block. Our office had a potluck. There was pizza, tater tot casserole, chips, dips, hummus, and Baklava. Every chance I could get I was running back to the break room to munch on something. Today the scale reflected that. 


The old Tamara would have been pissing and moaning about it. The new Tamara, however, knows where I went wrong. I knew what was coming. I didn't even have the nerve to be disappointed because I KNEW I had gained those 2.4 pounds with no one else's help but my own. That was my moment today. I didn't get upset, didn't call myself a failure, I didn't get down on myself. I just said, "Oh well". I'm proud of myself for accepting this little setback and not making a huge deal of it. I know I will do better next week. And in a couple of weeks I'll have lost 30 pounds. Stay tuned!

Another Little Milestone Reached!

Today I got my award for losing 25 pounds. Well, it's actually 26.4 pounds now! I was so excited to get my key chain last week, and it was awesome to be able to add my first charm to it this week. That thing is going with me every where. When I feel myself about ready to cave and eat a big fat juicy burger, or some french fries with cheese, I'm going to reach into my pocket, and touch my key chain. It's going to be there to remind me that I've come so far, and there is no looking back. I'm tired of being the fat girl. I'm tired of shopping in the plus size section. Shoot, I'm tired of being tired! 


I admit, it feels great to get recognized for achieving my goals, but lately I've gotten comments from friends that meant more to me than these weight loss awards I've received. I've been told that seeing my posts (on Facebook) motivates one friend to want to do better, and another said that she's sure I'll "push her over the edge soon" to start dieting. Of course I mentioned to her that what I'm doing is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Another friend of mine joined Weight Watchers just last week. She's full of questions, and I'm there to answer when I can. I feel kind of like a mentor. THAT is rewarding to me-to be able to inspire and motivate others to make positive changes in their lives. One reason I talk so much about my journey and successes along the way is not to just get some recognition and encouragement, but to motivate others who might be struggling with weight loss or who need that little push. 


Just a little update on where I am towards reaching my goals. I have to lose 7 pounds to have a 15% weight loss and 17 pounds to reach 20%. Once I reach 15% I'm either getting a tattoo or nose piercing. When I reach 20% I'll take a Zumba certification course. As usual I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reading!

Time to Celebrate! Before and After Pics and Updated Stats!

Well folks the moment I was waiting for finally arrived-I finally have lost 10% of my starting weight. It was awesome.

When my leader weighed me I learned that I not only reached my 10% weight loss goal, I was for the first time in years under 200 pounds. It was an emotional moment. I cried a little, did a happy dance and hugged my leader. I got recognition in front of the rest of the group at meeting. It felt so good to get cheered on for my accomplishments. That was more rewarding than the nice charm holder I got. 

My leader set my next goal, which is 20% of my starting weight. I have 19 pounds to get there. I've mentioned it before, and it's worth mentioning again: Once I reach 20% I WILL take the Zumba certification class. I want to be an instructor. I WILL be an instructor!

I'm feeling pretty good, and I know that things will get even better if I keep doing what I've been doing. 

Updated stats and pics below:

Starting weight: 222.8

Today's weight: 198.4

Starting waist measurement: 43 inches

Today's measurement: 39 inches

Starting hip measurement: 53 inches

Today's measurement: 49 inches

These are before and after. The pictures on the left in each set are from January 17, 2012. The pictures on the right are from March 27, 2012. I see a difference, and FEEL a difference as well. I'm so thankful to have Weight Watchers! 

I'm THISCLOSE to 10%-Up to Date Stats

I feel like I'm one of the runners up here!

Yesterday I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and weighed in, and to my dismay, I feel short of my 10% goal by a pound and a half, though I did lose 2.5 pounds. I said, "But I was so good!" Was I really, though? I exercised almost daily, was sticking to the plan, BUT wasn't totally honest when it came to tracking. I have a scale, and try my best to measure out my portions exactly as they should be served. However, my idea of leveling off that half cup, for example, was to eat the little extra bit. I didn't track those points. It really does add up! I can track till I'm blue in the face, but if I'm not counting that taste here and there, that piece of candy, that sip of soda, or whatever it is, I'm not being honest, and therefore should not be surprised if the scale shows that.


The upside to all of this is I've lost 20 pounds since January 4th. I'm in the 10th week of the program so that's not too bad. It's a slow, yet safe weight loss. I've seen people lose weight too quickly, only to gain it back. I want to do this the right way. I didn't put all this weight on overnight, so I can't expect to lose it overnight either.


I'm not going to be alone in my weight loss journey either. My other half has decided to go to a meeting tomorrow. He knows he needs it. He's not doing it for me, he's doing it for himself. He has some health issues, and I truly believe that if he starts shedding pounds he'll feel better emotionally as well as physically. I'm proud of him for taking that first step.


Now for some up-to-date stats:

Starting weight: 222.8
Current weight: 202.6


Starting waist size: 43 inches
Current waist size: 40 inches


Starting hips size: 53 inches
Current hips size 49.5 inches


I have just a bit over a pound until I've reached a 10% loss of my starting weight, and I have a long way to go. I'm going forward, however, with optimism. 

Now THAT'S the Way to Do It!

I am so relieved! I had another day or two this past week where I overindulged and was afraid to get on the scale today. To my delight I had lost 1.2 pounds. That may not seem like a lot, but if you consider that I'm retaining water AND had gained .4 pounds the previous week it's something to get excited about. Another great thing is I lost another 1/2 inch from my waist and hips. :-)


I had wanted to participate in the stair climb event in March to help raise money for Leukemia, but I was too late registering, so now I am working on another event. It's called Everybody's On a Roll to Fight Diabetes. It will be at the roller skating rink on June 24, 2012. I plan on skating that day and close to that time will be asking for pledges. My dad has Type 2 diabetes, and I know other that have juvenile diabetes. I think it's a good cause. 


http://www.dapc.info/fundraisers.htm


Besides weight loss, I have 2 major goals. One is to become a Zumba instructor. I don't have to be at my goal weight to be an instructor, however, I'd like to get down to a weight where I'm able to keep up with the class I'm teaching. I love Zumba because it's fun and burns lot of calories. You don't have to know how to dance, you just need to move! The cost is around $285 for the Basic Instructor class. I have a fear of public speaking, so if I can get this certification, I will have to get over that fear. I know I can do this!


My other goal is to work at Weight Watchers. I'd love to be one of the team members in the reception area, or even a team leader someday. In order to work there, however, I have to reach my goal. How rewarding would it be to help people reach their goals and celebrate their success? I'd love that!


I feel like I'm back on track to success in my weight loss. I have to remember that everyone messes up now and then and NOT beat myself up so much. I WILL do this!