The Story I've Never Told

Actually, I told it through FB NOTES on 20 August 2010 but apparently that's news to some people.

I decided in February 2010 that I'd had enough of being so heavy. I had no excuse to be 10lbs heavier than my low weight after Henry was born and only 15 pounds below my max weight, which was when I was HEAVY with child. I was a product of laziness and gluttony.

 This is a picture of me and my second son sometime in Fall '09.

I was further spurred to action by the awareness that, in a short time, son #2 would be walking and that over time both kids would only get faster. I was also being actively drafted to a friend's soccer team. I use the word 'drafted' loosely as I am not a good player but a LOYAL female player who could be counted on to show up to prevent forfeiture of coed games.

In the beginning, I walked on the treadmill, played with some weights and, in a short time, jogged a bit. All the while, not losing any weight but feeling a bit better. The jogging aggravated a back injury I obtained while pregnant with son #2 and that was very discouraging. After talking to the doctor, we decided I should try the elliptical despite my previous displeasure with the unnatural, forced stride of those machines. I found the right style elliptical for me in the back 2 rows at the YMCA.  I quickly realized the elliptical burns calories fast and, mixed with 80s rock music, was a great motivating workout for me.

Around April 2010 I thought about calories and how, maybe, I eat too much. Deep down, I'd known that was the real problem, but wasn't ready to limit myself.

 This is a picture of me and that same second son and a friend's baby in April 2010.

I searched iTunes store and found the FREE MyFitnessPal app. Here I will add: I found it in April and Crystal did not.

I started tracking my calories and realized I eat WAY TOO MUCH! This app lets you choose a goal and sets a calorie limit based on your weight and lifestyle. You enter the food you eat which is super easy because they have almost everything in their database. If you exercise it adds back those calories your burned so you can eat more. Or you can choose not to eat more and lose more weight faster. I like food, so many times my only motivation on the elliptical was the thought of a yummy treat of the same calorie count.

I committed to, at least, 4 workouts a week which then moved to 5 because the boys really enjoy the routine of going to the gym to play each morning. Unless there is a real pressing conflict, we go.  I mean a serious, can't be changed like a fasting blood draw or sick person doctor visit, kinda conflict. If one of us is sick, we walk at a park or on the streets using the double stroller. It IS part or our M-F lives.

My workouts have gone from 20-30 minutes of a slow/moderate pace to 45-60 minutes of a high-energy pace. I can't tell you enough how much rocking out helps keep a fat-burn/cardio pace. I have also increased the resistance setting because it burns more calories per stride and I can really feel my muscles getting stronger. I am more than happy to be heavier than 'ideal' in exchange for feeling strong and powerful. A certain number on the scale or the clothes tag is not why I am doing this. But it is nice not to wear plus sizes anymore.

That's it folks. It isn't hard or revolutionary and not at all costly. BTW if you don't have a smartphone MyFitnessPal has a website with even more features than the app.

I will end with a disclaimer though:  I think the BMI is a terrible tool to judge health but for a reference I still have to lose a few pounds to be out of the obese category. I don't feel obese and I don't think the BMI takes into account that I have shoulders like a linebacker or that I have a bone density rivaling the rock-man from The Never Ending Story

 My triumphant poses after the 2010 Turkey Trot.

UPDATE:  I wrote this when I had lost fewer that 40lbs.  By October 2010 I had lost a round 40lbs.  I have now lost 65lbs and I am in single digit sizes for the first time since I can remember.  And when I say that I don't mean in my adult life.  I mean I can't remember because I was in elementary school.  I would like to lose another 5lbs but it is truly more important to me to be healthy and happy.  I'd like to start having athletic goals that are non-weight-loss related but since my knees and back don't like the impact of frequent running that limits my possibilities.

These are pics of me wearing single digit sized clothing July 2011.