I went in this morning to get measured and weighed. All weekend I played head games with myself knowing I was getting measured this morning.

It sounded something like this…”Even if I don’t lose anything, I’ve gained confidence, and a great mental attitude about all of this….”

I knew things were shifting a little, but was holding out to see what those numbers looked like. Remember, I’m a big time slow loser, and I’ve been frustrated in the past. I was walking regularly (3 miles/4x a week/up and down hills), and nothing was doing. Don’t get me wrong, my stamina was better, and the strength in my legs was up. I just couldn’t see a difference.

I’ve read some great stuff like The Fat Loss Bible (see my full review, chapter by chapter here) and some motivational stuff.

In the end, this is what’s changed in the last 8 weeks.

I’ve lost 10 pounds.

I’ve lost 20 inches over all.

I lost a boat load in my hips, rear, and thighs. I lost some around my knees and calves. My arms are like rock under my layer of fat over it.

I’m feeling strong, relieved and happy.

I’ve signed up for 8 more weeks, as it will be a year long journey for me. Let’s face it, when you have 100 pounds to lose, you need to do it slowly and safely.

For once I’ve given myself the gift of time. It’s been an incredible change in me, allowing myself months, not weeks to see changes. Mentally, it’s opened a different playing field, and I don’t feel the panic or need to see those changes quickly.

I know I’m part of a team now, and she knows what she is doing. I’m grateful to have such a fun trainer to visit. It makes going even better.

I look forward to watching my body change as time creeps forward. I’ll keep you updated as I go. I’m booked until the last week in December, at which time I’ll be measured again. I plan on continuing with her until next September, God willing. I’ve worn this extra weight for 20 years, and I’ve committed an entire year to changing my body, my mind, my habits and my goals inch by inch.

Truly, this has been the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I’m smiling.

I’m down 10 pounds, and I’ll be getting my assessment on Monday. That means she’ll(my trainer) measure me, and check my body fat percentage as well. I have to say, I’m blown away in the differences that only 8 weeks can make. The strength I’m finding, and my endurance is pretty cool. I’m watching myself slowly improve and get stronger each day. We did these squat things yesterday, different than usual, and I watched her first, thinking….man, I hope I can do them! Guess what, I not only did them, I did them the full amount of time. Sure they hurt, but I had the strength in my legs to do them all!

I think a lot of it becomes a mental game. When you tell yourself, “I can’t do that”…you start to believe it. When I’m at that point where I don’t think I can do another rep on something, I tell myself, “You’re strong, you can do this, you’ve got it.”…and I do. It’s believing it when you tell it to yourself.

I’m no little girl, I’ve still got 100 pounds of weight to lose, but if I can do it, you can. All it takes is getting up and keeping at it. I’m booked until the end of the year now, and I plan on going straight through until June. Does it cost me a lot? Money wise, yes, health wise, no. It’s a bargain in my eyes. If I can reclaim a healthy body, strong and fit, than it’s well worth the income I’m putting out to get someone to help me. I waited 20 years trying this and that, looking for a magic quick answer. I kept avoiding the hard work part. I’ll be honest, I just didn’t want to sweat, push myself hard enough, and feel sore and not see results the next day. I now am understanding…my body isn’t stagnant….and it can change in a good way, or a bad way, the choice is mine.

The mental changes going on are incredible. I’m breaking through so many barriers, and set patterns and problems I’ve faced. I get a little OCD, and it’s helping there. I have many bad habits, and I’m relooking at all of them, and easy walking past problems of the past. It all comes down to the confidence I’m gaining. It’s not arrogance, don’t get me wrong, I’m not that type of person, it’s truly inner confidence. You just can’t do this, and NOT feel good. I look in the mirror and still see 240 pounds in the mirror, but I also see a woman who is working harder than she ever had physically, someone who is moving a lot of weights, and someone who isn’t ready to quit. I’m someone who finally understands…results take time. I’ve got plenty of time to offer, I’ll wait…I’m not stopping now! I’ve been overweight for 20 years. I had 20 years to wait…not anymore. I’m a powerhouse of energy that is ready to work. I’ll work hard, I’ll press ahead, changes or not that I can see…and I’ll win in the end.

My body is changing. I’m not losing weight on the scale so much, and the inches aren’t falling off…and yet they are.

I don’t know how to explain this, but I can tell my body is changing. I look in the mirror and I know it’s different. It’s such a tiny thing, but things are happening inside of me. I went to scratch my arm the other day, and it caught me off guard because there was the form of a taught muscle starting. Take in mind, I have 100 pounds of extra weight on me. This is no small task I’m on…any changes are going to take time, but something is happening.

I started walking in June, and started with my trainer in September. Nothing happened that I could sense walking the 3miles a day, 4x a week. My body got stronger, healthier, but I didn’t feel any shifting. It was all adding up…and when I kicked it into higher gear adding the weight training, a light switch went on…something happened.

I’m feeling positive inside, which is a huge motivator. I’m making better choices daily. I’m thinking before I decide on putting something in my mouth. It’s happening automatically now. I don’t want to undo the hard work I’m putting in. I think I’m on my way…I don’t expect to reach the end of my journey until next year. By then the habits will be ingrained in me. Today I went out of my way to try a new protein shake that my trainer had made for her clients. She has some of her protein shake recipes at a local cafe, and we can go in and order from the 6 smoothies she has on a special menu for her clients. I wouldn’t have given it a shot before, but I was pleased…and it made for a great lunch. Anyway, I feel good….I still have a long way to go, but mentally I’m ready for the long haul. That’s a nice thing to feel and say.

I just want to have a visual of workouts this week…

Walked: Monday and Wednesday so far…
Trainer: Tuesday and Thursday (tomorrow)…30 mins cardio/30 mins weight training

Today, it’s all about the turkey.

I’m trying to make better choices. I don’t get lunch meat often, but when I do, it’s usually roast beef. I also want mayo on my sandwiches.

Today, I’m having oven-roasted turkey, with honey mustard, and it’s fabulous. 6 slices of the turkey are only costing me 45 calories. I re checked the container to make sure I wasn’t reading that wrong! They aren’t big slices, but they are more than enough to satisfy me.

I also tried turkey in my omelet today, in place of bacon or sausage, which I usually use with cheese.

I’m seeing that by making the effort, and trying other things, I’ll enjoy them just as much, but all the tiny changes I make will add up. I think I stopped “thinking” about what I was actually eating. I’m planning ahead, and thinking about what my lunches will be this week, or what my snacks will be. Rather than having a grab and go mentality, I’m planning ahead…if I’m in the mood for something salty, I have this safe option, or if I want something crunchy, I have this safe option.

Anyway, just pleased with my lack of mayo today, and my creative omelet this morning!

Adding this in to help keep track and have a visual
This started at 250 here…as I update the tracker, it changes all of them..