My Weight Loss Journey + Collage: Part One

As you know I've been going to Crossfit since the end of August 2008.  It has been quite a journey, and I didn't realize how much I've changed until I saw these pictures.

In Pictures 1-4 I was at the peak of my weight - 290 pounds.  I was there for about 2 years.  Miserable.  Uncomfortable.  Always sweaty.  Always tired.  And ALWAYS eating.  My doctor put me on Cholesterol medication which was humiliating and had horrible side effects.  Two weeks after that prescription began, I started Crossfit.

In Picture 5 I am about 2 months into Crossfit, I think.  I had lost probably 10-12 pounds and even though my body was restricting my movement A LOT, I was feeling way better than I had in a long time.  2 weeks after I started Crossfit I stopped taking the Cholesterol meds, and a month after that went back to have my Cholesterol re-checked.  It was NORMAL!

Picture 6 is just before my surgery, probably February or March of this year.  I had lost almost 30 pounds and felt SO GREAT!

The last two were taken by my 7 year old son Josiah just a few hours ago.  I have lost 42 pounds - almost 60 if you count the 15 I gained back then lost again.  I feel great.  And I didn't have to take a pill, or have surgery (no disrespect to those who have).  Not only that, but I've got my mind wrapped around this for the first time in my life.  I don't need to eat to fix my problems...in fact eating just made my problems worse!  Now if I am stressed, I don't eat...I run, I walk, I read the Bible, or I cook a VERY healthy meal or drink a huge glass of water.  Ahh, freedom is sweet!

PROGRESS IS GOOD!!!

HEY! Guess what....I started Crossfit a year ago at 290. This morning I weighed 248!!! OMG, I am thrilled! Gotta love that Paleo Challenge...

Yesterday we did Cindy: I did 8-2/3 sets, 10 jumping pull ups, 10 push ups, 15 bodyweight squats.  Then onto the push press: 65 lbs max 5x5.  I feel it.  Oh yes I do.

This day is not starting out well. Can I CTRL+ALT+DELETE PLEASE?!?

Things this Fat Chick had to deal with

I know, I know....I shouldn't say things like that about myself.  But hey, when a girl hits 290, it tends to make her feel a little......I don't know......FAT!  The truth is, today I am 40 pounds lighter, and getting ready to hit the downhill slope of the other 50 pounds I intend to lose in the next year.  But not everyone can do that right now....and, no condemnation for that.

So this is in homage to all of you other fluffy sisters (and brothers).  It's the stuff we don't talk about with very many people, but we all want to share so we know that we aren't the only ones dealing with this crud.  (I dealt with it with increasing intensity over the past 20 years, but no more for me!!)  And when we face the reality of it all and finally decide whether or not these are things we want to live with for the rest of our lives (and you aren't less of a person if you decide you want to), it gives a kind of freedom.

So here is my list of things that I have hated about being fat:

• waving with the arm, and the flab waving after
• washing and wearing only one pair of pants every single day because they are the only ones that fit
• the inner thighs of those pants wearing out long before the rest of the pants
• getting told by the JC Penney's bra-woman that they don't carry plus size
• shopping for clothes. ever.
• bending over and running out of breath
• being tired before ever getting out of bed
• raw, rashy inner thighs from sweat
• raw, rashy chest from sweaty breasts (yes, even Christians say "breasts" - and even men have them)
• paying extra for plus size (and yet thong underwear cost more than regular, and there's less fabric)
• piercing looks from fellow air travelers
• knowing that you should only eat a little, but eating a lot anyways
• TRIANGLES in your SHORTS! you know what I mean...when they ride up at the crotch!
• "Just My Size"....UGH!
• plus-sized socks...really right now? REALLY??
• working out in front of ANYONE
• sabotaging yourself by "rewarding yourself" with food when you lose a couple of pounds
• the illusion of the "diet food" industry...you CAN'T eat more just because it claims to be good for you!
• realizing that the portions restaurants serve you are at least twice what you need and you can eat the whole plate, plus appetizers and cocktails!
• smelly nose grease (if you don't know what I mean, then you aren't fat)
• the medical industries total snowjob about all of these mysterious medical issues and their causes, when in reality, most of them are at least sometimes caused by being too d*** FAT! (see: sleep apnea, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, degenerative disc disease)
• ZERO sex drive, and the absolute ridiculousness of trying to make love at almost 300 pounds!
• crying every time you really REALLY look at yourself in the mirror, or see a photo of yourself
• swollen feet
• the belly roll
• the underarm roll
• the inner thigh roll
• the cankle
• the post-binge-eating food coma
• underwire HURTS!!!

Now, let's just counteract that with some positives I have finally realized since embarking on my weight loss journey...I have been working out with Crossfit for a year now, minus 2 months for surgery recovery.  I have lost a total of 40 pounds and I intend to lose at least another 60, if not more. 

• I have so much more energy, although I do still fight fatigue due to the sheer BUSYNESS of my life and lack of sleep. 
• The "rolls" are becoming smaller and smaller, and I am starting to see muscle definition in my legs (calves are HOT!) and my upper arms - SHOCKING! Even my inner thighs are starting to look like normal legs, which I NEVER thought would happen!
• I am ALMOST out of the "20's" (size, that is).  I've been in the "20's" for almost 10 years now.
• My husband has adopted my eating style and has also lost 40 pounds!  AMAZING! He can breathe again and doesn't need the apnea machine anymore!!
• Sex.  That's all I am going to say because you don't need to know anymore. 
• The complete joy that comes over me when I realize that I CAN DO THIS! I don't need food to medicate myself anymore.  I don't run to food when I am frustrated, but I do RUN!

Hats off to Santos and Megan Reyes, and especially Christine and Rudy Ybarra...you are all inspirations in my life.  You have helped me to start to become the person I always wanted to be.  I am happy and I owe it all to you and God!

Workout 10/16/2009

Okay....today we did 5 rounds of this:

5 deadlifts (145 lb) & 10 burpees.  I did it in 11:35.  It was painful!  Yes, I did 50 burpees today.  GARRRR!!!!

Relieved dinner on Paleo...I hope!

Tonight I whipped up a really tasty dinner.  I took some leftover broccoli stalks, 2 baby Zukes, 1/4 red onion and 1/2 red bell pepper and chopped it up fine in my little chopper.  Then I sauteed that in a saucepan with some olive oil, garlic and chicken broth until it was soft and the broth was gone.  Then I added a can of Trader Joe's Marinara and heated it thoroughly with about 1/4 cup of spinach.  In the meantime I had some spaghetti squash boiling.  I got some lovely Sicilian Chicken Sausages from Trader Joes....VERY cheap. I cooked those up on the Lean Mean Grillin' Machine, then added it to the simmering sauce.  A little oil on the spaghetti squash and a light sprinkle of parmesan cheese and garlic salt.  Then I spooned a sausage and some sauce over the spaghetti squash.  A side of salad, and VOILA!  I didn't miss the pasta at all and surprisingly, neither did my hubby!

Emotional Eating Lunch on Paleo

So here is lunch today.  I wanted to emotionally eat something bad, carb-laden and deep fried.  But I made this soup instead.  Remember Thai Stir Fry Soup?  This is the latest Variation....I cooked some broccoli, asparagus and red bell pepper, then I added some pre-cooked shrimp and chicken.  I then added garlic, baby bok choy, zucchini strips, chopped green onion, coconut milk, chicken broth, red curry and garlic chili paste. Simmered for about 5 minutes, added about 1 Tbsp of Blue Agave Nectar (http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/Wholesome_Sweeteners/Organic_Blue_Agave.html) and VOILA!  Yumminess in 15 minutes.  No added carbs! Yay!

Today's Workout and...

18:30
400 m Run
20 Sumo Deadlift Highpulls/55 lbs
20 Bodyweight Dips
20 Wallballs/12 lbs
200 m Run
20 SDHP
20 BWD
20 WB
400 m Run

5 rds/5 reps Body Rows

ANGRY!! Someone broke into my grandmother's apartment last night and stole her purse! SO ANGRY!!

Today's Workout and Food

So today was stressful, and I had to fight to prevent emotional eating!  I thik it began last night.  I was wiped from a busy day.  We drove home at almost 6:30 P.M. only to find that we had NO HOUSE KEY!!  So we ended up driving BACK to town (we live 10 miles outside of town) and decided to eat at Applebee's.  All eating was fine until then, and even then it was good - except for the boneless bbq chicken wings.  I ate 4 nuggets.  Then I ate 3 ounces of steak and 5 little grilled shrimp; salad and steamed veggies. All of my other eating was fine yesterday.  Today I ate pretty good.  Tonight was grilled Turkey Breast Patty, Roasted Butternut Squash, and Broccoli. I only had one BAD thing...a beverage.  That's it.

But my workout was a BLAST!  We had a 15 minute workout....rounds in 15.  I did 5 rounds: Dbell press (I think?) at 15 lbs, which was a little light; 10 box jumps; 200 meter run.  I set another PR: 5x3 back squats maxxing at 131 lbs.  It was a great workout!  I haven't weighed myself in a couple of days and I am pretty sure I don't want to.  But I am going to try to workout tomorrow too.  I like to throw in at least 1-2 extra workouts on my off-days.

Does anyone read this?  It doesn't matter. I read it!  And I'm looking forward to reading it 6 months from now when I have lost another 35 pounds!  I hope....

When you hear "I don't think it's leukemia" from your 4 year old sons Dr when nobody suggested it you get suspicious.

Dinner Tonight

Dinner 2nite was roasted eggplant and boneless skinless chicken breast with veggie marinara and salad. Couldn't finish again!

Paleo Challenge Days 2-3

So days 2-3 of the Paleo Challenge have left me VERY HAPPY!  My intense hunger has completely left me.  I am FULL at every meal, which is not like me at all.  In fact, I'm not finishing MOST meals.  Last night, and lunch today I had what I am calling Thai Stir Fry Soup.  It is an assortment of veggies, including baby bok choy, green beans (boo, but I love them), bell pepper, broccoli, red onion and garlic.  Then I added some chicken breast and made a broth with Red Curry, Coconut Milk, Soy Sauce, and Chicken Broth.  It is SOOO good!

Breakfast today was a Turkey Breast Patty on the Grillin' Machine with Collards and Spinach, half a banana, half a bell pepper and 8 baby carrots.  I couldn't finish it.

Workout today was INTENSE!  But GREAT!  After warmup we did 3 rounds of 400 m run, 10 pull-ups (I did 20 jumping pull-ups), 10 front squats (65 lbs for me), and 10 burpees.  It took me almost 23 minutes, but by GOD I DID IT!!!  Yes, I did 30 burpees today! YAY!

Paleo Challenge Day One

Today was interesting!  But first some backstory...Because I felt so guilty about not making it to Friday's workout I decided to do the 50/40/30/20/10 lunges/situps workout on the front yard.  I only did 50 and 20 because my son found it impossible to leave me alone while I worked out!  But I also did some burpees and was pleased to find that I could do 5 straight without stopping!

So I get to L10XF today, and GUESS WHAT THE WORKOUT IS!?? 50/40/30/20/10 lunges/situps!!!  GAHH!!!  I will have massive lungebutt tomorrow.

Tomorrow was also the start of the Paleo Challenge for me.  Got weighed, measured and photoed.  It's on now.

Here was my dinner tonight. Mahi Mahi with Caper Sauce, Roasted Butternut Squash and Sauteed Kale & Chard.  Yummy in my tummy.  Now time for an Ibuprofen and bed!

This is what my son Jeremiah's gland under his chin looks like today. (A little young for an Adams Apple, don't you think? Mono? Don't know. I'm going to call for the blood test results right now!

Workout?

Today is the start of the Paleo Challenge and I am not there because my little guy may have Mono!  So I'll have to workout at home today.  Creativity, come to me!

Later Addition: I didn't workout on Friday but I did on Sunday...I did a 50/20 lunge/situp workout...then did the 50/40/30/20/10 lunge/situp workout the NEXT DAY at Crossfit....MURRR!!!