Day 66 TSFL

Going to buy a new raincoat today since I met my 140lb weight!  I'm at 139lbs. Woo-hoo!  This may be hurting my wallet a bit but I'm so excited. My old raincoat is about 10yrs old!

Day 64 TSFL

At this point I've lost almost 28lbs! It feels great! Weighed in this morning at 140.2!  It's great but I realize that I've also sort of lost touch of the whole idea of blogging every day. I realize that this could be a disservice to otheres who may be interested in TSFL and are wondering how it's going so I will try to do better.  I initally started blogging because you can easily see your progress and look back at frustrations and then see progress again. I also wasn't quite sure how successful I would be so I kind of tried to do the scientific approach.  Now that I've changed my lifestyle and realize some of the hurdles it's harder for me to realize that blogging can still be impactful for others.

I found out today a good friend of mine has decided to start TSFL due to my progress. I was REALLY extremely excited that she decided to give it a shot. It's somewhat addicting because I want to see everyone have the same success.  Chris was asking me if I thougth she'd do well and I said yes because she's very competitive and stubborn and won't give up!  I think a lot of the reason I started this journey was for my health (blood clot scariness) but it turned into one of my obsessions where I was very aware of what I was eating and doing and putting into framework of what I want to get out of life.  

For instance, I still have 10lbs to lose. Although now that I'm so close I think I'd like to be closer to 125lbs so closer to 15lbs.  Looking at my schedule and Chris's schedule we really aren't going to see each other much the next couple of weeks and I had eaten my lean and green at lunch because of my class trip.  Instead of tell him I couldn't do dinner and be with him or go out and eat like he wanted I decided that my relationship and building on that, but doing it with health in mind. So, I went out and had a second lean and green meal with him and just got something that was a grilled Mahi at the restaurant and focused on us.  I actually didn't gain anything and lost weight the next day (rock climbing and eating healthy).  But, I also know that this isn't a diet and that there are times when I'm going to have to work outside of the parameters but I also know when that's appropriate and when it isn't now.  

Feeling happy :)

Day 50 - 52 TSFL

My Weight Loss Journey (Half way there)

I do not claim to be an expert at this "blogging" thing. In all honesty, I'm probably pretty bad at it. But I started out with the intent of doing something and being completely honest. At this point today I can say I honestly have made an impact in my life for the better.  Today is the day that I'm going to share the blog with all of my friends in celebration - not fear or anxiety.  I have lost over 20lbs in just over 50 days by making healthy choices, changing my life style and sticking to a proven system. I had a conversation today with my health coach, Teresa Trella, and really firmly believe that I am now a huge advocate for the Take Shape For Life plan and program through this experience.  Yes, I am getting supplemental meals at this time so I am eating somewhat designated food, but it feels different. I'm creating.... no..... I've created healthy habits where I eat every 2-3 hours.  I look to eat lean meals at restaurants. I don't let what I can or can't eat control me like on some diets but really try to just make good decisions as I'm trying to read a total weight loss of 35-40lbs.  

So - let's take a step back... I started this journey probably over the summer whether I admit it or not. I, at the ripe age of 28, got a blood clot in my leg from sitting down too much on a drive and for whatever other reasons were out there. I was really struggling with the fact I didn't feel physically fit for my job at a recreation sports center, and honesty was avoiding pictures with my fiancé.  I knew things had to change. I considered weight watchers (which I did successfully in college but then bounced back after being diagnosed with thyroid).  I had tried off and on to just make good decisions when it came to eating but nothing was working.  Fortunately, I had made a friend at my church in New York who led the Youth Group and had become Facebook friends with her. Every day for 30 days she posted an inspiring story about people who had followed the Take Shape For Life method and program and lost and kept the weight off.  

At some point I contacted her and said, okay, tell me more. I was inspired by the stories but skeptical to see whether I could do the same. One of the perks was that I was eating Medifast five times a day and then was responsible for another small meal on my own.  Given the fact cooking terrifies me it was a good way to kind of wean me into trying out new things... The good thing was I had set meals that I tasted good and I didn't really have to think about it that much.  

As time passed, I got more interested in what the program was about and was surprised and excited about the foundation being really to get America and the world healthy.  I didn't feel like it was a plug for the meals or anything, having a coach made it about the overall impact.  

This being said - I still have some to go.  To put it out there (which is sad and embarrassing) I weighed around 168lbs and was 5'1 a week or two before I started this program.  I now weight 143.8 and it keeps going down. My goal is to get to 130 or a little lower which is ideal for my height and age.  

I honestly don't share this to try to see anybody on anything but because it was something I promised myself I would do. It's been my goal to personally track my progress, frustrations, energy, in a blog so I could look back and see progress along the way to help with motivation or to prove the program didn't work.

Looking forward I know I can do this and I know that I have so much more energy and feel so much better about myself.  Bringing all of my friends and family into this journey is a bit scary but you are all a part of my life. I promise I will not post links every day to Facebook or wherever about my blog for the day because I honestly don't think a lot of times it's that interesting. I will try to share milestones with happy events in my life.

With Love,

Mo 

Day 49 TSFL

Excited for my official weigh in tomorrow. I'm getting closer to 145 and feeling so much better in my clothing!  It's amazing how much more confidence I have.  Tomorrow I also go back to work which means I start my formal workout... I did take dogs for a walk today but nothing else too intensive.

Monday = weights

Tuesday = swimming

Wednesday = weights

Thursday = running

Friday = off

Saturday = Ropes Course

Sunday = Ropes Course

Day 48 TSFL

Hard to keep this up to date nowadays just because all I have to say is positive. I keep seeing my weight decrease and I'm not incredibly hungry or anything like that. Today was definitely a very lazy day though. It was a football watching day so I actually took a couple of naps and just was sitting around.  I think the fact I wasn't up and moving made me tired to be honest.  

I plan to be more active tomorrow but definitely kick it into higher gear when I'm at work since that is when I have the ability to use the services at the recreation sports center. 

Day 45 TSFL

Today was another healthy day. I was able to swim 1000m without any real issues. It felt great! I also got a call from my health coach and was excited to talk to her. I've been really making great progress and feeling great.  I'm moving and grooving.  Not much else to post. Staying very busy with teaching classes and work which is GREAT. I wish I could be home more often but with a 40 minute commute, working out prior to work, I'm away from home for nearly 12 hours every day. I couldn't do any of this without the love and support of my fiancé. He's making this a truly wonderful experience. 

Day 44 TSFL

Today was great as far as my journey to a healthier me. I woke up at 545 am with a decent amount of energy and got on the road. I got to the rec center with plenty of time so I walked for 15 minutes and then did weights.  I really enjoy getting my workout in the AM done and over. I then spent the rest of the day working around campus. I got to teach 2 beginning rock climbing classes and 1 EDL 100 course.  So Much Fun!  I really enjoy teaching and doing this with college kids. It makes the fact I've been gone for 12 hours a day really doable.  

I have been able to keep to the plan pretty well. I had a DELICIOUS salad around 3pm with a thing of tuna.  There was spinach, tomatoes, egg, fish, onion, and a little bit of some sort of apple vinegorette in there. It was not very huge but it tasted delicious and I knew that a lot of it was very good for me.  I didn't eat all of my tuna so I figured it was still a very lean and green meal overall.  

Happy & excited to do it all over again Thursday! Tomorrow is my swimming day :) 

Day 43

Happy Labor Day everyone!  I did my weigh in this morning and I only lost a half a pound so I weighed in at 149.  Trying not to get discouraged since I know that doing cake testing the other day did not help but I think it's pretty great that I can do cake testing and still lose something right?! As I mentioned very excited to earn my 150 goal of going to the zoo and doing something a little bit more active.  Maybe I'll try to post some pics later. Trying to update early so I don't feel bad later on today when I forget to post.  

Looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow and my routine of exercising in the AM.  Tomorrow I plan to do weights. 

Day 42

Today was another lazy day but Chris and I got a lot of house projects done which includes putting together one of our guest rooms.  This required me to go through a lot of old pictures of when I was younger or in high school. It was very fun to go through. It always amazes me how insecure I felt at that age about my looks and how fat I felt but yet looking back I was quite pretty and skinny.  Oh to have perspective and confidence I guess. It was great looking back and seeing pictures of all of my old friends too. Makes me want to purchase one of those scanner things that automatically uploads pics.  I have some great ones!  

I found myself getting some extra sleep yesterday so I was a bit off with meals.  After cake testing yesterday I'm not quite sure how tomorrow will go with weigh in but I'm excited to go to the zoo tomorrow and get some exercise in the next few days to jump start!

Day 41

Yesterday was not a great day for me making healthy choices.  I did try to eat healthy things but really felt like I was very lazy (physically).  I didn't really do anything other than drive around for appointments and didn't do any chores or anything so for the most part I was a lazy bum in a lot of ways. It didn't help that it rained and poured in the evening when I was hoping to go for a walk.  I wish we had an exercise room in our house but we don't so therefore I just sort of hung around. One of the bad things about commuting 40 minutes to work every day and working at a Rec Center is I don't have a gym nearby and driving 40 minutes to go to work just seems like a waste of gas especially if ti's just one day. Hopefully the weather will hold off a bit more today so I can at least go for a walk around the block or something. Still hoping for tomorrow's trip to the zoo which will be a a lot of walking as well. 

Oh well - every day can't be a success I guess.