Non-Scale Victory # 8

It's Thursday and it means it's time to "link up"!

It's been a couple of weeks and I'm happy to be back.

I have a few NSV's this time around to share.

1. I'm back...back to blogging....back to exercising...back to eating better.....back to TOPS
2. It was my day home yesterday and I managed to keep on track and not blow it
3. Found a great new song that I love and danced around like a fool in the playroom last night to it after everyone was in bed.

There you have it.  I'm hoping I can report equal success next week.

Do you want to link up too?  It's simple!  Just follow the link below

If you are not using Bloglovin' to follow this blog, you should check it out:



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And finally, I wanted to share that new song with you and hope you enjoy it too!  I am sure I am a bit behind in hearing this song, I usually am a bit slow to jump on ship!

** I just watched the video before I linked it up...I think I love it even more now...plus, a bit of eye candy never hurt anyone!

The Truth Of Tuesday Night

It was super nice to be back at my meetings!

One of our members (our only male) has been on a role this year with weight loss and the difference in him was STUNNING!  He has lost about 33lbs this year....almost 75lbs in 4 years.  I can't even imagine that at this point...I mean, I want to be there, but can't seem to find the drive and incentive to get there.

Looking at my book, turns out, I have not been to a TOPS meeting in 4 weeks.  Funny how easy it is to skip out.  It gets to the point where it is just as easy to NOT go as it is to go.  I have been in this situation before with the gym and for some reason, it seems so embarrassing to go.  You don't want to hear people say "wow!  forgot what you looked like, it's been so long!"

Two things stopped me from doing that:

1. I'm the leader and my group counts on me
2. TOPS needs to be a lifetime commitment for me...I already know that.

It was nice to be back and socialize with my group.  I didn't realize how much a part of my life they are and that they know so much about me and my family.

So, I vowed on the weekend that I will get back on track and that starts RIGHT NOW!

I finished a celebratory wedding anniversary blizzard (8 years married today), but I did only buy myself a mini sized.  Enough to get a good fill, but also have it done in one night.

Tomorrow I am going for a good walk with Abby and will do my best to watch what I eat.

As for the scales...well, I knew it wouldn't be great.  I had been getting on the scale at home during my TOPS absence so I had a bit of a feel for where I was.

The last time I weighted in officially was April 23, at 244.75lbs (my lowest weight to date)
This week: 247.00 lbs

A gain of 2.25 lbs

I want to be back down and my next mini goal is 240 lbs.   I know that once I get below that, I won't go over.  That is how I am with the 250lbs mark.  I will NOT allow myself to be that weight again.

Until next time,

Amy

Happy Blogiversary

I'm back from my little hiatus.  I needed it.  I needed time to reflect, to be encouraged by other blogs and to really just figure out where I am headed in this journey.  I havent' blogged, barely commented on the blogs I follow or go to my TOPS meeting.  It's not because I don't care or am disinterested, I just needed time.

I picked my "return" date as May 25, because it is also the 1 year anniversary of this blog.

So, to recap the reasons I started this blog. ( you can read my first post here)

I needed to do something...I needed to be more accountable for my actions (or lack of).  I needed to find a space where people would know my actual weight and not falsely cheer me on with comments like, "you will do better next week"  I need people to be honest, like saying "no wonder you are not losing...you didn't walk all week and ate like a pig"

It's almost the end of May and I have been in no-man's land.  I have lost and gained the same 3-4 pounds over and over again. While that is not a terrible thing, the alternative could be worse...it's not the progress I would like.  I have not changed clothing size or got into a steady routine with new habits.  Apparently though, it is not enough to spurn me into action.

My current weight is approximately 247 lbs, I am guessing because I have not been to TOPS in 3 weeks and my scale at home is not quite the same at the one used at my meetings

 

When I started my blog, my first posted weight was 263.50 lbs

 

That is a loss of 16.50 lbs.

That is not very impressive.

In January of this year, my weight was:  247.50 lbs. 

So I have basically lost NOTHING this year! 

NOTHING!

Amy Ruth!  Are you happy with those results?

 N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!

So, what is the plan?

• I am back to TOPS for my weekly weigh in.  Being a productive member and team leader!   
• I will watch what I eat and make a concerted effort to actually log my food and make sensible choices.
• I will exercise EVERYDAY!  For at least 30 minutes!  Rain or shine!
• I will blog at least 3 times a week.  My regular Tuesday report, my non-scale victory link up on Thursdays and my fitness re-cap on Fridays.
• I will comment on every weight loss blog I follow every time someone makes a post.  Even if it is a simple "good job!"  I know how much is means to me that people read my blog and I like to know that people do.  Why would the bloggers I follow not feel the same way! 
• I need to plan my meals better.  I don't plan ahead for dinner some nights and I end up grabbing something on my way home.  I also need to plan lunches better. I worry about everyone else but not me. I suffer for it by being starving when I get home and chowing down on junk.
• I will try and get back to using my "signature" of Until Next Time, Amy. I really liked it and thought it added a personal touch

In case some of my readers are asking themselves how they can help, here are a few ideas:

• Leave me a comment if you have read the post, even a simple happy face will do.
• Be honest with your comments, if you see something that is not helping my cause...call me out on it.  No hard feelings...everyone is friends here and I love and value all of you.
• Give me some blog post suggestions...what can I post about that would interest you?
• Share my blog with others...I want to increase my following, if you follow me, I will follow you!

So there you have it....it's my anniversary and I will NOT be celebrating it with cake! 

Until next time,

Amy

No Blogging Notice

I just wanted to take a quick moment to let everyone know that I am putting my blog on hiatus until May 25.

With Brian being away and my lull, I need a little break to get myself back in line.

This single parent/running a household thing is hard.

It's only a week and a bit, I won't be going to my TOPS meeting before the 25th, but will continue to do my squats.  I am not checking out of my new lifestyle, I just don't have the time to devote to this blog like I want to for the next week or so.

I'm here if anyone needs me and I am continuing to read blogs that I follow.

I love you all and really do appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read about mine.

Non-Scale Victory #7

WOW!

I honestly cannot believe it's Thursday.  For me, this week has zipped by.  I didn't go to work on Tuesday (or Wednesday), plus my husband is away for work, so I have been doing it all solo.

I have been trying to think about some victories. 

For me, the biggest victory would be that I am still doing my 30-Day Squat challenge.  Despite setbacks and my squatting partner being away, I have not given up.

It is usually very easy for me to just say "hell with it"

It's now on to my next struggle of actually getting focused and getting everything else in order...I am still failing miserably with that.

How about you?  Join the link up and inspire others!

30-Day Squat Challenge - Week 1 Review

Disclaimer:  all opinions and actions are mine...not endorsed or approved by any medical or fitness professional.  Consult a professional if you are unsure...you should always do that before you start a new fitness regime.

So, it has been a week since I started the 30-Day Squat Challenge...need a refresher?

 

Here is also a breakdown of participants (as of last week), please help encourage them on


Bonnie (Empress of Pounds)
Dani (TDKchick Staying Skinny)
Miss Ashley (Picking Up The Pieces)
Amy (Diary of a Fat Girl)
Teri
Shelly
Brian
Jennifer
Julie
Sharri
Chris

The challenge started out the day after we returned from Niagara.  It was just what I needed.  Brian joined me and together, we held hands and squatted.  (Cheesy yes, but not very often do we exercise together)  I ran into problems at Day 2.  I am just 4 weeks out of surgery and on Day 2, the largest of my incision sites was giving me grief.  It was very red, sore, itchy and once again, oozing a bit.  Brian told me that perhaps we should take a night off from the squats to see if there was any improvement.  He reasoned (correctly) that the squats are putting a fair bit of force on my lower half.  So, I took day 3 off and then followed that up with my rest day on Day 4.  There was no difference with my navel, so I jumped back in for Day 5. 

There had been a bit of debate as to whether you could/should break the squats up into sets.  I felt that doing them in sets would defeat the purpose of challenging yourself.  Being unsure of how I would make out, I jumped right in for all 50.  It was surprisingly easy.  The next night wasn't much different.  That doesn't mean it didn't get my heart rate up or make my legs feel a bit rubbery, what I mean was that come the last squat...I wasn't forcing myself upright.  I felt it just above my knees each day afterwards.

Since Day 5, I have continued on with the plan.  I am a bit out of breath, but so far, my legs don't hurt like I expected.  It could be that I am not squatting low enough or using proper form, I don't know really.  But the fact of the matter is, I am doing them and it's something.  Beats sitting on the couch and it doesn't take long to complete.  Only a couple minutes, so it can be done during a commercial break.

I will continue to do them in one set until the day comes that I cannot get my legs underneath me and hoist this frame up.

See you in review next week....HAPPY SQUATTING!

The Truth Of Tuesday Night

It's another Tuesday and another Tuesday that I am not going to TOPS.

Hubby got called away to work at the last minute today and Abby wasn't feeling quite up to snuff tonight.  I could have toted the kids down for weigh in, but I chose not to.

A couple reasons.  First, I am still up from our trip to Niagara.  Not as much as I would have been last week, but still enough to disappoint me.  Secondly, I was just thinking today that I needed a break from TOPS for a  couple of weeks.  Not to let loose and go crazy, but more to get myself back in line and focused.

So, I'm going to focus....I am going to walk my little butt off, eat less crap and keep doing my squats.

This post is short and sweet.  Hope you are having a great week!