Both of these pictures were taken the 2nd weekend of December in their respective years.
My journey to getting fit and healthy started with a Wellness Challenge at my work. The goal was to improve your health in a number of areas, including blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and blood sugar, so I joined with 56 of my fellow employees. (The company paid for the blood work from AMC Community Wellness) I had also just become a grandmother (at 46, a very, VERY young grandmother), and I want to see the cutest granddaughter in the world grow up!
During this February to September challenge, I lost 6% of my body weight (17 lbs), and dropped my cholesterol by over 25 points and my glucose by 10 points. I started out by simply entering what I normally ate on a free food-tracking website called Sparkpeople.com, and using my Wii-Fit (yes, REALLY!) for exercise. I won a prize (but not the grand prize) . . . but after seeing results, and feeling better, I chose to keep on going.
Now. Considering I weighed 272 when I began, I wasn’t able to do a lot exercise at once or for long, but eventually using the Wii-Fit wasn’t enough. I added walking 10 minutes at a time. It’s hilly where I live, so 10 minutes was a challenge. Once I started moving, I focused on moving MORE. I’d walk 10 minutes, then take a break (an hour or two) and walk 10 more minutes. It added up. Some days I’d walk as much as 60 minutes (total). I was eating about 2000-2200 calories per day, and I was getting stronger, and healthier and the weight was disappearing. I added in videos I could do in the privacy of home. I was still very self-conscious about my weight and working out in front of other people.
By January, 2009, I’d lost over 55 lbs by myself (and still faithfully logging my food on Sparkpeople.com), walking, working out to videos and using my Wii-Fit. I decided I was ready to try something different. I was ready to change my routine up. So I joined AMC Lifetime Fitness. I cannot tell you how excited I was to be able to try all the different classes.
• I tried Zumba—I’m a wanna-be ballroom dancer, so this was PERFECT for me, and it’s a work-at-your-own-level type of class. I could DO it!!!
• I tried spinning—I love that spinning is something anybody can do! Everybody can spin at their own level. I could DO it!
• I tried kickboxing—I loved that because after all the punching and kicking, I was relaxed and every trace of frustration was gone (I do have two teenagers at home). I could DO it!
• I tried Yoga – I love that class because it improved my balance and my ability to focus and listen to my body. It made me feel STRONG and serene. AND I could DO it!
• I tried BodyPump and Kettlebell classes—I loved how strong I felt and I love seeing the definition my muscles gain from those classes. And I could DO it!!
As I logged my food, I began to see where I could make painless changes. I’m all about eating. I LOVE to eat. But when I realized I was eating 1500+ calories per meal, I KNEW it was time to make some changes to how I ate. My only rules were “No deprivation” and “No hunger” . . . If I wanted something, I ate it, logged it and moved on. I added more vegetables to my diet, both fresh and frozen. (I avoided canned except in an emergency due to sodium content) I added more fiber-rich foods, which helped me feel fuller with less calories. I tried to make sure I ate enough protein (that was and still is a struggle).
During my journey, in fact, just one month after I started, my Mother was diagnosed with cancer. I was amazed that all I had read about exercise relieving stress was TRUE. While we were at the hospital waiting for Mom to come out of surgery, I was walking the stairs. When she had a second surgery, I was walking the stairs even faster. I’m sure the nurses and doctors that saw me wondered a little (if you are reading this, now you know—by the way, you guys are AWESOME!) what on earth I was doing. I kept moving. Dad had a surgery, then Mom another one . . . and I kept moving.
And you know what? Last summer, I was able to keep my Mom’s yard up for her, when she wasn’t able. That gave me more pleasure than anything I’ve ever done (not to say she wasn’t out there, sitting in a chair, HOEING the vegetable bed…). Being strong and fit enough to be able to do the work. (And it’s FABULOUS exercise!!) This past winter when we got our ‘record breaking snow’ I was able to dig the car out . . . and I had enough energy to help neighbors dig out, too! It was awesome, and excellent exercise when I couldn’t get to the gym. Right after one storm, I even WALKED to work so I didn’t have to risk driving. Because I could.
I’ve discovered that there are a lot of things in life that are out of my control. I gave up trying to control everything, and just controlled what I could . . . moving my body, and eating healthy food. It’s not always 100%, and I’m okay with that. Because there’s no way I will missed birthday cake.
I’ve started doing a lot of new things. I was in a play. Two, actually. I was scared, but I had a blast. I hiked to Humpback rock, for the first time in over 25 years. I bought a bike. I hadn’t ridden a bike in 30 years (a real one—not spinning—and yes I got a helmet!)
I have now lost 103 pounds. I’ve lost over two inches off my neck, 16 inches (over a FOOT!!) around my waist and 17 inches around my hips. My BMI is 29, down from 39. I am strong and I can do ANYTHING.
Just remember, on your life journey, you have only failed once you quit trying. All else is a needed life-lesson. I mean, if you are walking up a flight of stairs and you trip on the way up, do you turn around and throw yourself back down the stairs? No.
You keep going. NEVER stop!
