I hate new years resolutions. I think they are a set up for people to fail.
But I'm also the type of person that needs a date to start a lifestyle change. It can't be on a weird date, like March 23rd or something. And even if August 1st is a Tuesday, it's still too odd of a day for me. Maybe that's just me making excuses...
However, Wednesday, January 1st 2014 I can deal with. And that's the day I buckle down.
I've always had issues with weight. And it's not even like I sit around stuffing my face with chocolate all day. I eat decent, I live an active life and I am an overall healthy person. But I've always been able to gain weight with ease. If ever I need to pack on weight to get into the next category for the UFC, I know it will be simple. However, trying to lose the baby weight (and *my* baby weight) has not been simple.
When I was 7 years old, I weighed as much as my 9 year old sister. When I was 12 years old, I weighed the same as an average 20 year old man.
In August of 2009, at my highest weight, I decided to change that. I lost 80lbs in 26 months. I was at my lowest weight since I was a child. No, not a teen or a pre-teen. A child. I was starting to feel comfortable with myself and liking what I saw in the mirror (weight issues with self-confidence issues? big surprise, right?)
Then I got married. And I let it all go. Actually, I got pregnant. Like two weeks after we married. And I went from being on a diet for two and a half years to not dieting at all. Remember when I said I gain weight easy? I stopped eating reduced fat and minimal calories to eating what an average woman my age and weight, who wasn't pregnant, should eat and I gained 10lbs in the first week.
Overall, I gained 50lbs during my pregnancy. And I blame that entirely to the two bags of Skittles I ate during my second trimester (No, not the single serving size... I went full out with the giant big bulk bag of Skittles - and I hate Skittles!)
Baby was born and I lost 30lbs instantly. But somehow between being a mom of a newborn who was overly demanding at night for the first few months and just life, I gained those 30lbs back.
So here I am, only 30lbs less than my highest weight and 50lbs from my lowest adult weight, looking to get back on track. It's time to revamp my lifestyle. I don't want to just diet. I want a lifestyle overhaul that will help me reach a healthy weight and fitness level.
I was 15lbs away from my goal weight when I got pregnant so I am aiming to lose anywhere between 55-70lbs total. I'm not exactly looking for a certain number on the scale but a certain size and shape so I could find that I am completely happy with just a 50lbs loss, or I may need to aim a little higher. I'll figure this out on the way.
I don't want to lose the weight because of my body. I want to lose it because I don't want it to lead to health issues. I want to lose it because I want to be able to keep up with my son when he starts running and playing soccer (more than he already does, since there are times it's already hard enough to keep up with him because he's learned to zigzag when he runs, haha!) And I want to feel good about myself because I never want my son to hear myself make a negative comment about my "flub". I can't hope for him to have self-confidence if he doesn't have it role modeled.
We are changing out eating habits around the house. No more junk in the house. And we are going to try eating better foods, not just lower fat and low calorie, but whole foods. Real food. I am hoping to get back into running and going to the gym. I am going to go back to the "Couch to 5k" program and work on how long and how far I can run. And maybe, just maybe, I will grow to like running. Or at least tolerate it. (Though I don't mind it when I am with someone, I *hate* it when I am doing it alone!)
But I'm also the type of person that needs a date to start a lifestyle change. It can't be on a weird date, like March 23rd or something. And even if August 1st is a Tuesday, it's still too odd of a day for me. Maybe that's just me making excuses...
However, Wednesday, January 1st 2014 I can deal with. And that's the day I buckle down.
I've always had issues with weight. And it's not even like I sit around stuffing my face with chocolate all day. I eat decent, I live an active life and I am an overall healthy person. But I've always been able to gain weight with ease. If ever I need to pack on weight to get into the next category for the UFC, I know it will be simple. However, trying to lose the baby weight (and *my* baby weight) has not been simple.
When I was 7 years old, I weighed as much as my 9 year old sister. When I was 12 years old, I weighed the same as an average 20 year old man.
In August of 2009, at my highest weight, I decided to change that. I lost 80lbs in 26 months. I was at my lowest weight since I was a child. No, not a teen or a pre-teen. A child. I was starting to feel comfortable with myself and liking what I saw in the mirror (weight issues with self-confidence issues? big surprise, right?)
Then I got married. And I let it all go. Actually, I got pregnant. Like two weeks after we married. And I went from being on a diet for two and a half years to not dieting at all. Remember when I said I gain weight easy? I stopped eating reduced fat and minimal calories to eating what an average woman my age and weight, who wasn't pregnant, should eat and I gained 10lbs in the first week.
Overall, I gained 50lbs during my pregnancy. And I blame that entirely to the two bags of Skittles I ate during my second trimester (No, not the single serving size... I went full out with the giant big bulk bag of Skittles - and I hate Skittles!)
Baby was born and I lost 30lbs instantly. But somehow between being a mom of a newborn who was overly demanding at night for the first few months and just life, I gained those 30lbs back.
So here I am, only 30lbs less than my highest weight and 50lbs from my lowest adult weight, looking to get back on track. It's time to revamp my lifestyle. I don't want to just diet. I want a lifestyle overhaul that will help me reach a healthy weight and fitness level.
I was 15lbs away from my goal weight when I got pregnant so I am aiming to lose anywhere between 55-70lbs total. I'm not exactly looking for a certain number on the scale but a certain size and shape so I could find that I am completely happy with just a 50lbs loss, or I may need to aim a little higher. I'll figure this out on the way.
I don't want to lose the weight because of my body. I want to lose it because I don't want it to lead to health issues. I want to lose it because I want to be able to keep up with my son when he starts running and playing soccer (more than he already does, since there are times it's already hard enough to keep up with him because he's learned to zigzag when he runs, haha!) And I want to feel good about myself because I never want my son to hear myself make a negative comment about my "flub". I can't hope for him to have self-confidence if he doesn't have it role modeled.
We are changing out eating habits around the house. No more junk in the house. And we are going to try eating better foods, not just lower fat and low calorie, but whole foods. Real food. I am hoping to get back into running and going to the gym. I am going to go back to the "Couch to 5k" program and work on how long and how far I can run. And maybe, just maybe, I will grow to like running. Or at least tolerate it. (Though I don't mind it when I am with someone, I *hate* it when I am doing it alone!)
For the past four years I have wanted to do the Sun Run. In 2010, I didn't start training early enough. In 2011, I was in Europe. In 2012, I was pregnant (I was totally ready to walk/run it but the idea of being five months pregnant in the swarms of people just didn't seem pleasant. Then last year, I was "too busy" being a mom. I know, they are all lame excuses. This year, there is no excuse. I am going to walk it if I have to. But I will be there. With my Sun Run number proudly pinned to my chest. And a smile on my face.