Size 10!!!

When I started this journey, I could barely squeeze into a size 16.  So imagine my delight when today I slipped on a size 10.  An easy zip up and button and, BAM, I'm feeling great about myself.

Clothes don't lie and if you stick to a single brand of jeans, you can be assured that as you move down in size, you will be getting smaller.

My preference is Old Navy Sweetheat jeans.  A few months ago I was wearing a size 14.  Today those 14's are WAY too big.  I'm now sporting size 10's and to say I feel great is a HUGE understatement.

I also bought some "skinny" jeans today - you know, those ones with the very straight legs and very low cut. 

Losing FAT is a long road to travel, but as you make these milestones, you'll feel so good about yourself.

Size 10, baby!  8-)

Injured and Elated

This morning as I jogged around my usual loop, I pulled my left quadriceps muscle about halfway through my route.  OUCH!

I had to stop for a few minutes to allow my injured muscle to rest before continuing along my path, now hobbling in pain.  I frequently stopped as I walked the remainder of the way home and by the time I arrived, I was pretty disheartened.  It was obvious I would be in too much pain to jog tomorrow and probably the next day, too.   Queue the disappointment!  8-(

I couldn't help but think "why now when I'm enjoying this new exercise so much?"

Once home, I began the process of nursing my sore muscle: gentle stretches and self-applied massage coupled with drinking lots of water and downing a couple ibuprofen.  After that a nice, warm bath.

Just before I climbed into my bath, I stepped onto my bathroom scale to check my weight.  My last weigh in had me at 169.0 pounds.  I wasn't expecting any loss because since I started jogging I've been STARVING and eating everything in sight!  But, low and behold, the scale registered 168.5 pounds - down another half pound!!   Queue the elation!  8-)

This is definitely FAT loss as my size 12 jeans are hanging on me these days since I took up jogging.  I'm sure if I made my way to the closest Old Navy store, I could easily fit into a size 10.

So I'm injured and elated all at once and, frankly, it feels good!  Every step in this journey has brought new knowledge on how my body actually works and it's a wonderful feeling of accomplishment watching the pounds slowly melt away.  Some recent pics I took of myself indicate I still have a ways to go to lose all the unwanted and unhealthy FAT, but I'm getting there one day and one pound at a time.

I'll be walking for the next couple days as my muscle heals.  Maybe I'll walk at the mall so I can make my way into Old Navy!

-- Kristin

Jogging??

My entire life, I have always hated running and/or jogging.  All that pounding on my knees and ankles never did anything for me. So imagine my surprise when I recently woke up one morning and thought, "I think I'll go for a jog"....

What?!?

It's been almost a week now and I've headed out each morning for a walk/jog and I'm finding it amazingly comforting and invigorating.  I can't help but wonder what has changed in me?

Maybe I'm bored with my current routine and looking to jazz it up?  Or, maybe my new life in Tampa is calling to me to make other changes?  Or maybe my slimming body is more able to handle all that pounding... or... or...

Should I care about the reason for the change?  I don't think so.  I'm simply happy something has changed in me to cause this new desire to emerge.  Makes me wonder - have I been a jogger/runner all along and just didn't know it?  It also makes me wonder what else might emerge.

The best part of jogging is the impact on my legs.  Even after a short week, my legs are feeling stronger and seem to be slimming.  I've also noticed how tiring my arms get after a jog.  Who knew jogging would be great for your arms?  I surely did not.

So, I've taken up a new exercise and I'm really loving it.  I'm having to ease into it since, well, I've never jogged before, but with each passing day I'm finding I can go a little farther with less walking in between.  Cool!

Have you tried anything new lately?

-- Kristin

Another Milestone Achieved

I'm excited to share that I've achieved yet another milestone in my war against FAT.

Yesterday I stepped onto my bathroom scale and weighed in at 169.0 pounds.  I've now broken through the 170 mark and am completely motivated by this new success.

From my last weigh in on my bathroom scale, this is a loss of 2.5 pounds since December 19, 2009.  This is great news as my weight loss has slowed to the point that I can rest assured I'm losing FAT and not lean tissue.

One big pat on the back for Kristin.  8-)

How are you doing with your FAT loss efforts?  Leave me a comment to let me know... and know that I'm rooting for your success, too!

-- Kristin

Pictures Don't Lie

If you're just starting out on a FAT loss journey, I encourage you to take a beginning photo and to regularly take photos throughout the process.  Pictures can be a wonderful way to re-motivate yourself  should you lose your way and, trust me, you'll come to cherish them.  Here's my beginning pic and my latest pic and, for sure, pictures don't lie!

May 18, 2009

January 4, 2010

FAT loss is a slow road to travel, but it is well worth the effort and time.  Hang in there, you'll get there!

-- Kristin

Are You Exercising?

After several months of being a couch potato, I headed out this morning for a walk in the beautiful, crisp and sunny morning here in Florida.  It felt good just to be moving and given my last body composition test indicated I had lost more muscle than FAT, it was definitely time to get moving.

After my walk, I returned home with warm muscles and pulled out my exercise mat and ball and did a session of Pilates Mat exercises, which left me feeling fabulous.  Love those endorphins!

So I ask you, are you exercising?  If no, why not?

For me the answer was simple: I was too stressed to make it a priority.  This is a mistake on my part as exercise can have an amazing effect on your mood, not to mention it just makes you feel good all other when you don't overdue it.

The problem, though, is that most people overdue it.  The typical new year's resolution includes joining a gym and going at it with a vengeance.  This usually leaves you wiped out and not wanting to continue.  A better approach is to take it slow, but to be consistent.   A few minutes of focused exercise each day is much better than killing yourself twice a week at the gym. I have found that a 30 minute walk along with 20 minutes on the exercise mat each day has the best result for me.  It's not too much that I completely exhaust myself, but it is enough to challenge my muscles and to release those valuable endorphins.

So if you're just starting out and have made exercise your new year's resolution, I encourage you to start slow with something you can do each day.  And forget the gym membership; you don't need it.  Rather, make your way to your local Target or Walmart store and purchase a good exercise mat and exercise ball.  Couple that with a comfortable pair of sneakers and an instruction book or video that covers the basics of muscle training (I prefer Pilates and highly recommend Brooke Siler's, The Pilates Body).  This is more than enough to get you started.  Sure, a session or two with a trainer can help you learn good technique, which is important regarding the muscle training, but once you learn the basics, you are more than capable of exercising in the comfort of your own home.  With that, you're more likely to keep it up.

My hope is that you'll ease your way into a consistent exercise routine that leaves you feeling great and successfully losing FAT!

-- Kristin

New Years Resolutions

It's January 1st - have you made a resolution?  Most people chose the beginning of the year to decide to diet and lose weight.

I think this is great, but thinking in terms of a diet is not the right approach.  I've learned that through this journey I've been on since June.

Remember, permanent FAT loss is not about dieting.  It's about permanent changes in your eating and exercising habits.  Crash diets don't work!

So if you've decided to lose weight as your new years resolution, I encourage you to visit a center where you can have your body composition measured so you'll know exactly how many calories you need to be eating to lose FAT!

You can do it... I know, because I'm doing it, too!

Good luck and Happy New Year!

-- Kristin