42 to 19again in 16 weeks **OBF journey**

[19again]

When I was a kid, I swore I would NEVER look like my aunts. I love them dearly, but they were all obese women and just looked uncomfortable in their own skin. They all have type II diabetes. I am not sure when it happened (sadly, I know how) but one day I looked in the mirror and they were staring back at me! How did I let myself get this way? I can come up with many excuses, I was holding down a job while raising my kids. I was chauffer, I was maid, I was chief cook and bottle washer... not matter what I say, I should never have let myself get this heavy. So this is it for me! I am very thankful that I do NOT have type II diabetes and I NEVER WILL, if I can help it! Sadly, I have been diagnosed with osteoperosis, but with weight bearing excercise I can fix that! I am only 5'2.5", I cannot afford to get any shorter! I watched my mom and her mom shrink before my eyes with that dreaded disease! My 40's are going to be the 20's I never got to truly enjoy due to my weight! Here we go...

Saturday, March 6
I am going to be a NEW ME in 16 weeks! I will making my weekly menu and grocery list. I will charting my daily workouts. I will be posting my weekly updates. I AM READY!! LET THE FUN BEGIN!!

Monday, March 8
Here’s my update. I "officially" started yesterday. Sat down with my trainer (ossumday1) and worked out my calories (2000-2200 daily), supplements, workouts and took those horribly disgusting "before" pictures. Gotta say, if anything is going to be an incentive, it’s those pics!

Starting with HIIT 3x a week and elliptical 3x week. Weight days will be on elliptical days. Thinking Sunday is a perfect day for rest (mentally and physically!)

Biggest challenge is keeping track of the calorie counting. I made a spreadsheet though, so hopefully if it is right on the kitchen table, I will fill it out as needed.

[19again]

I'm doing it, I am really doing it! I have managed to keep my calories in my range and have completed my workouts! I am actually smiling as I type this! Who would have thought that I'd really enjoy eating healthier and excercising!?

I have one issue coming up that I am not sure how I will handle. I will be travelling BY BUS for 17 hours to Disney World in April with a bunch of marching band high school students. We will be gone for 6 days! How in the world am I going to keep up with my calorie counting and exercise. I have to say though, I am excited that I will be in better shape come April 6, just because I have started my new program :)

[ossumday1]

Word. Rock and roll!

[chubbarock]

I'm doing it, I am really doing it! I have managed to keep my calories in my range and have completed my workouts! I am actually smiling as I type this! Who would have thought that I'd really enjoy eating healthier and excercising!?

I have one issue coming up that I am not sure how I will handle. I will be travelling BY BUS for 17 hours to Disney World in April with a bunch of marching band high school students. We will be gone for 6 days! How in the world am I going to keep up with my calorie counting and exercise. I have to say though, I am excited that I will be in better shape come April 6, just because I have started my new program :)

That is awesome to hear! Keep up the good work! It's amazing how after you get through the first few days, you get excited and can't wait to get back to the gym. You don't have to count calories the whole time, just be smart with what you eat. ALWAYS counting calories can get very draining, a week off with some self control will be much needed.

[19again]

I cannot believe I am up and actually functioning at 7:30am. I have really gotten into a rut since being laid off back in July 2009. All I wanted to do was sleep. I started working out in mid-January, but wasn't watching what I was eating. So I lost ZERO weight, but I did notice I was rearranging my body. That was encouraging. Now that I have been watching the calories this week, it is AMAZING how much better I am feeling. I have not stepped on the scale since Sunday, but I just feel "lighter". I hope I am not disappointed when I weigh in this Sunday.

Time to do some HIIT on the elliptical :) Have a great day EVERYONE!!! :D

[KRAZA00]

Will be cheering you on during the challenge....

Im the challenge too and will be keeping a log, unfortunately I dont know how to put it in my signature line

[Back Double Biceps18]

I'm rooting for you! Want to see you reach your goals, 16 weeks to kick some butt! Good luck :)

[ossumday1]

Will be cheering you on during the challenge....

Im the challenge too and will be keeping a log, unfortunately I dont know how to put it in my signature line

Go to User CP at the top left, then "Edit Signature"

[2ripp3dup]

good luck!!!

[hope2bme]

Great Job!! It sounds like you are really motivated and kickin butt! Woohoo :D

Hope

[19again]

Will be cheering you on during the challenge....

Im the challenge too and will be keeping a log, unfortunately I dont know how to put it in my signature line

Thanks! Good luck to you as well! We will be looking great by summer!!

[19again]

I'm rooting for you! Want to see you reach your goals, 16 weeks to kick some butt! Good luck :)

Thanks!!! I am feeling it this time! This time it is the real thing!!!!

[19again]

HOLY COW! I lost 4.6 pounds this week! I have been working out since mid-January and never lost an ounce! I guess you all aren't kidding when you say calorie counting is necessary to help actually lose the weight. I actually danced off the scale :D Who knew I could do it!? Not me, that's for sure! You want to know the weirdest part about all this??? I actually enjoyed counting the calores and finding new foods to try this week. Today is my off day and I am loving the fact that I can R-E-L-A-X!!

Hope everyone else is having a great first week too!!!!

[19again]

Ok, why do I feel guilty about having that Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream today?
Don't get me wrong, it was DEEEEE-LICIOUS! But wow, I am kind of sad that I ate it.
Oh well, tomorrow I am back on the calorie watch!!!

[19again]

good luck!!!


Great Job!! It sounds like you are really motivated and kickin butt! Woohoo :D

Hope

Thanks!

[Michaelsean09]

dont beat yourself up over having a little ice cream. everyone cheats once in a while.

[19again]

This is MY WEEK! I FINALLY, after 8 months of unemployment, got hired today! I start Monday! Ok, now I need the help with... what do I take in for lunch and snacks? I was always a nibbler at work. And the workout thing... going to have to figure out how not to be too exhausted to do it in the evenings. I am definitely not a morning person, so getting up at 5am for a workout is out of the question :)

[19again]

We are coming up on the weekend and I am totally psyched to get on the scale Sunday morning. When I was waking up this morning, I put my hand on my rib cage and ACTUALLY felt a rib! OMG!!! Can't tell you the last time I felt a rib! Makes me want to jump on my workout now! Hmmm... maybe I will ;)

Have a rockin' day!!!

[vw_dubgal]

We are coming up on the weekend and I am totally psyched to get on the scale Sunday morning. When I was waking up this morning, I put my hand on my rib cage and ACTUALLY felt a rib! OMG!!! Can't tell you the last time I felt a rib! Makes me want to jump on my workout now! Hmmm... maybe I will ;)

Have a rockin' day!!!

Good on ya!!! Keep it up!

[19again]

Ok, so I may sound like a geek, but I am pretty proud of myself this morning. Not only did I drop the car off for a brake check up and WALK back home (about 1.5 miles), I did my 20 minute cardio on the elliptical and then did my workout. BUT what I am most proud about is that I actually took the last ounce of glucosamine from a 33oz. bottle. I very rarely finish any vitamin or supplement that I buy. So to actually drink that last ounce made my day! :)

What are YOU proud of today?

[chubbarock]

Congrats on the job! And on the walk, and feeling so good in general!

[19again]

So, I totally walked my tucas off today. I run a craft show that had 107 vendors and I walked and walked and walked and walked and even as I sit here, I feel like my feet are still walking! Wow! But I am proud of the fact that I DID NOT pig out at the concessions stand. I took a PB&J Tortilla rollup, banana and dark chocolate treat and ate only that today! And went through 3 bottles of water. The Chik-fil-A was calling my name, but I told it to SHUT UP & LEAVE ME ALONE! :)

I was at the school at 5:45 this morning and just got home at 4:30pm. My eyes are starting to close all on their own. As much as I want to do my weight training today, I am not sure my body will let me. It is amazing how standing/walking all day wears a body out.

I am totally psyched to weigh in tomorrow morning!

Hope everyone had a great 2nd week and that you all are getting healthy!

KEEP SMILING! :D

[19again]

DOWN 2 pounds this week!!
WOO HOO!!!

This stuff really works ;)

[19again]

I managed to stick to my diet today, but workouts are going to be tough this week. I got home at 5:15, had a meeting at 7 and now I am EXHAUSTED! I forgot how tiring going to work can be! Tomorrow and Thursday, I won't be home until after 10pm. I have a class that runs 6-9:30 and no time to drive home in between. Got to definitely plan meals ahead!! Maybe, just maybe I can get a workout in on Wed, Fri & Sat. I will do my best.

[19again]

Will someone please tell the chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen area downstairs to SHUT UP!??!!??!! This is day 4 of the new job and very unfortunately there is one lady here that feels compelled to bring in sweet stuff, almost daily! It is very hard and it is killing me not to go down there and wolf down those stupid cookies! I have been doing very well packing my lunch this week, but FOR PETE'S SAKE!!! There's CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES CALLING MY NAME!!

SOMEONE SAVE ME !!

And then there's the LACK of workouts this week! Thankfully the class that I am taking ends tonight, so I can finally get home at reasonable hours next week! I did my cardio yesterday and worked off those stupid pretzels... I ATTEMPTED to do a little workout this morning, but not nearly my regular workout. I figure a little is better than none... I am almost afraid to get on the scale on Sunday for weigh-in. BUT I will do it! I am determined to make 16 weeks....

Whoever said it takes 3 weeks to form a habit and 3 days to break it wasn't kidding!!!

[xXJennyXx]

You tell those cookies who's boss!!!!

[19again]

You tell those cookies who's boss!!!!

I DID Jenny! I was so proud when I walked out of the office without touching them !

Thanks for the encouragement!

[19again]

First of all, I am exhausted. I forgot how draining work could be... I had gotten so used to NO schedule. I did manage to make it to work ON TIME and packed my lunch EVERY DAY! I have to calculate my calorie totals for each day yet, but I did keep track of what I ate. I am pretty sure I stayed within (or close to) my cal totals.

Did some HIIIT on the elliptical yesterday and felt really good when I finished. Today I get to do my regular workout routine! I am actually looking forward to it.

Still a little nervous about weigh-in tomorrow, but I won't let it discourage me if not working out made me stay the same...or gain:(

Week 3 is past us and WE FORMED OUR HABIT(see previous entry)

Let's all hit WEEK 4 on the ground and RUNNING!!!

[19again]

I am so excited!!! I lost 3.6 pounds this week! That is a total of 10.2 for the challenge!! Yippee! Yahoo!! Yeah!! Woo hoo!!!

[19again]

I am pretty happy with my 4 week results.

Bust (-1 3/4")
Waist (-1 7/8")
Hips (-1 3/4")
Weight (-11.2 pounds)

I am noticing the rolls in my back are turning into waves and my shoulders are finally getting defined. I am waiting for the day when I can hang my purse handles on my shoulder and they don't slide off! Nothing irritates me more :)

I am not ready to take pictures again yet. I am thinking I will at the half way mark in four more weeks.

Heading to Florida with 100 high school kids on a charter bus this week (15 hour ride!). I hope I can stick to healthy food! I think the hotel has a gym, so I might be utilizing that if I can sneak away for a little while.

[19again]

Leaving for a 17 our bus trip to Orlando in 4 hours! I am not doing well with the diet today. Stressing out about making sure we don't forget anything! I hope I can keep it under control this week!!

[19again]

I am not a happy camper this week! I blew the diet at Disney and now I am sick as a dog! I have a head cold and hacking cough! I did manage to walk all over creation and made it to the gym in the hotel twice. I put on a few pounds, but thankfully, I am losing them already. It is amazing how eating healthy food can actually help you lose weight. Science! Go figure!

[19again]

I am down 12.4 pounds for the challenge so far! My next short term goal is 12.6 more pounds by June 5. That is the day my daughter graduates from high school. I would like to make it 23.6 pounds and break 200, but I don't want to frustrate myself. So I will be patient and aim for breaking 200 by the end of the challenge.

The past two weeks were pretty much write-offs for me. Being in Florida for the week may have improved my legs by walking a bazillion miles (give or take a few:) ) but really did nothing for my weight and strength training. Then I was lucky enough to catch the chest/head cold the kids were passing around to each other in Florida on the bus ride home. So this entire week I have spent hacking and sneezing and feeling like... well you know... Today I am finally feeling like I can tolerate being upright for more than a couple minutes. The diet stayed in check all week, but the workouts were non-existant. I am really not looking forward to my HIIT tomorrow or weights on Tuesday.

I am still taking today off and basically feel like I am starting the challenge from scratch, but starting at a lower weight ;)

Good Luck to all in Week 7... Almost to the half way mark! GO US!

[19again]

So week 7 was not very lucky for me... I put on just over a half pound and sadly I know why! I could not keep myself away from the carbs this week! I was right on track for workouts, which I am very thankful for... I would hate to think what I would have gained with no workouts.

With this week marking the half way point, I am bound and determined to be back on track 100%! The power rack will be here this week, so my trainer will be updating my workout YEAH!!!!!

Good luck to all to the half way mark!

[19again]

Hmmm... well obviously, by my numbers, April was not a good month for me! The measurements, at least, went in the right direction, but not by much. Here's the scoop:

From the start of the challenge:
Bust (-1 7/8")
Waist (-2 3/4")
Hips (-2 1/4")
Weight (-11.8 pounds)

I like seeing the numbers over 2"

Is there a way to measure facial cheeks? They don't seem to be moving at all!

May is my birthday month, so my birthday present to myself is a lean lighter body! We got the power rack equipment in this weekend. My new workout program will be starting TOMORROW!

My goal for May is to lose 10 more pounds. My daughter graduates June 5. I want it to be a noticable diffference for the family members that haven't seen me since Christmas!

Good luck to all in the second half!

[19again]

well... the new equipment is in and I used it this week :) Didn't see much weight loss... only .2 but I am feeling different in my clothes, so I will take that ! I am loving having the gym in the house. My hubby set up a surround sound stereo system so we can crank the tunes while we workout! LOVING IT!!!!!

[MsTropix]

Hey Chica- REPPED and Rated your thread!