Jan 6, 2009 | A co-worker asked if I’d be interested in joining the YMCA to enjoy the benefits of the pool. WOW OH WOW!!! What an answer to prayer. YES, YES, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Sep 22, 2009 | Pool, water aerobics – At some point during Sep or Oct, Deb was out and we had a substitute teacher. Cathy, WOW OH WOW. For three days after the workout with her, my joints noticed a distinct improvement and less pain. She teaches during the morning classes. Must start going on my Friday offs and see if she teaches then. And, talk with the Y about getting private lessons. |
Dec 12, 2009 | JOINED WW and first lesson with Cathy. Spent about 1½ hrs in pool Weighed in at 408 pounds. Oh my goodness First class with Cathy was fun!! She worked me hard. The moves she had me do really, really help my mobility and muscles. |
Feb 11, 2010 | WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!! Wore purple sweater that I haven’t worn in a long time. Found it and a green one a couple of weeks ago, tried them on. Too snug for me to feel okay in them. Tried the purple one today, felt quite nice. Wore it to work. How cool is that???!!!! |
Feb 20, 2010 25#s | Lost another 2.6 pounds for a total of 26.4. I’m liking this…..two very good weeks in a row. I certainly do pray that my body is adjusting to the food AND exercise routines and is going to keep shedding those pounds. I really want to walk, feel and look so much better at our Annual Meeting this year. I have made great strides toward that goal………..but, of course, am anxious for more. |
Feb 21, 2010 | I have noticed that my pain level has diminished tremendously when I’m walking to and from the bathroom at work. I can stand a wee bit longer without feeling extreme pain. I can walk a wee bit farther without becoming completely breathless. |
Mar 8, 2010 | Exciting thing today: Went to Flight Deck for lunch with my co-workers. One of them told me to park at the back and there was a door there that was really close to the room where they would be seating our group. Before I got out of my van and realized it was a “no entrance” door, a co-worker had already talked them into letting me enter through that door and they'd walk around. So, I entered through the back door and walked about 40 paces to where they seated us. When we went to leave, I decided to leave through the front door. I wasn't familiar with Flight Deck, so I had no idea where the front door was when I got up from the table. It's in an "L-shaped" little shopping center and there are little shops on the end between the back door and front door. One of my co-workers offered to go get my van. I told her, no, I could make it. Mind you, for the "normal" person, it wasn't a long walk. For me, three months ago, I would have NEVER even tried it. Today, I walked it and one of my co-workers said I wasn't even winded when I got to my van. Well, I wasn't heaving trying to catch my breath.....I was breathing harder, but I could definitely still talk. HUGE VICTORY!!!!!! |
Mar 17, 2010 | Call to Cathy (my trainer), left message: I’m not sure how to put this in a text. I almost just crashed my van and it has to do with the change in my body shape. Call me if you have a minute tonight or remind me when I see you next. Cathy called, “I’m afraid to ask. What have you done now??? Are you okay??” I stopped by Lizard’s Thicket on way home, decided wanted hot supper and not what I had in the refrigerator that I’d been eating for the last week. Was holding my supper in my right hand since there wasn’t anywhere to sit it in my van so that it would be flat. Turned into my subdivision and didn’t have left hand placed on the steering wheel to be able to make the turn without moving my hand and regrabbing the steering wheel. As I let go of the steering wheel, I poked my stomach out to hold the steering wheel in place…………YIKES!!!! Stomach wouldn’t reach. Van was heading toward the fence. OH MY!!!! But then, OHHHHHH MYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! How cool is that??!!!!!!!!!!! Not only does my stomach not rub the steering wheel all the time now, I couldn’t even poke it out and stabilize the wheel. COOL!!!!!! Cathy squealed with delight. I told her I wasn’t sure how far and wide I’d share that story. Many wouldn’t have a clue as to what I meant. She insisted that I’d have to share it at my next WW meeting. Even there, folks might not “get it,” but they will definitely be excited for me. |
Mar 20, 2010 | Out of town Thursday through Saturday for work-related meetings. In the past, I would use these types of “unavoidable circumstance” to be off the “diet.” Well NOT THIS TIME!!! Made good choices and resisted time when I could have chosen to eat stuff that is allowed on program, but not that beneficial to me. |
Apr 24, 2010 Finally reached 10%!! | LOST 5 POUNDS!! Finally reached my 10% goal – total lost = 40.2!! WoooooooHooooooooooooo!!!!!! Feels good. Seems so slow coming, but feels so good to finally be here. Gonna keep the wheat pasta as part of daily menu and gonna focus this week on getting ALL daily points eaten and possibly even some of my weekly points. |
May 10, 2010 | People are beginning to notice my weight loss and even though they aren’t saying things to me, they are telling others. |
May 14, 2010 | Pool for both morning classes w/Cathy, 3 hrs. What a great way to end the week. I wore my new bathing suit for the first time. Previous size was a 32, new size is a 26. It is a bit snug, but hopefully in a few months or so will begin feeling loose………..Cathy came over to me right before she was beginning the stretching in the deep water class and asked if she could share with the class about my smaller suit size and weight loss. I said, of course. She did and they all enthusiastically applauded me. Several of them spoke to me as they were leaving, all sharing kind, encouraging words. A couple of them commented on how they had noticed how hard I worked and how excited they were for me and to keep up the good work. Again, at the end of the shallow water class, she shared the same thing with them. Again, they applauded and congratulated me. Several came over to me and asked how I had done it. Even an hour later, as I was leaving the lifeguard (who hadn’t really “connected” with me yet) congratulated me and chatted with me a little bit. |
May 15, 2010 | I’m in this for the long haul this time……I TRULY believe that and I’m excited about that reality. I do feel very good and “light on my feet” on most days and I’m really excited about that.
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May 28, 2010 | YAY ME!!!! Did a 5K on the recumbent bike this morning!!!! In fact, did 3.65 miles, which is a half mile over a 5K. So pleased with the progress I can see that I am making. I feel great……..until I see a picture of myself. UUGGHHH!!! Why did I ever allow myself to get this big? |
June 9, 2010 | Finally did the math.....WOW OH WOW!!!! Had taken measurements on January 20th and April 21st, I’ve lost 19.5 total inches over my body in 12 different places. Now, that’s pretty exciting!!!! |
June 12, 2010 50lbs Lost | LOST 6.6 pounds for a total of 52.2!!! EXCELLENT!!!! How exciting! I was trying my best not to anticipate a loss of 4 or more pounds because of adjusting my points by being very careful with point values when eating multiple of the same items. But I certainly was delightfully excited about these results. When our WW leader called for celebrations this morning in class, I immediately stood to my feet. Shared with the group about my loss, my total, my total inches lost, and my story about my stomach not touching the steering wheel anymore. |
June 24, 2010 | We had an ice cream fellowship at the office this afternoon. Lots of ice cream with all sorts of delightful toppings. Each team was to provide the ice cream. It was suggested because of the “journey to wellness” that some folks bring healthier choice ice creams. I asked my co-worker to get some WW items specifically for me. Gave her a list of choices since everything isn’t available at every store. She brought back the 1 pt fudge bars. I ate two of them. DELICIOUS!!! Watched others enjoying the ice cream and trimmings while I ate my WW ice cream treat. I can honestly say that I didn’t feel deprived at all!! |
July 8, 2010 | Spent three morning in the pool doing both (deep and shallow) water aerobics classes and then some time on my own. Spent at least 3 hours in the pool each morning. Imagine that………..ME, exercising and loving it!!!!!! |
July 20, 2010 | Today was a fun day at work………………because I got comments from two of the guys at the office. First one, I was headed back to my office from a trip “down the hall.” He stopped me and say “you’re losing weight.” Yep, I am, thanks for noticing. He asked what I was doing and then we talked about water aerobics a bit. He told me to keep up the good work. Said he’d noticed a couple of weeks ago and kept meaning to say something. Then, second one, I was coming back from a visit to my chiro. He was leaning against the front desk. I said as I walked by the front desk, “I love my chiro.” He said, “You’re looking GOOD. Walking without your stick and everything.” Cute. I said, “Thanks!!” It is always encouraging when people notice and say things. |
July 26, 2010 | Went into the “big room” at the Y where all the machines and buffed bodies are. I struggled and struggled. Rain continued to POUR outside, thunder shaking the building and lightening seemed to be coming through the windows/doors. UUGGGHHHH!!!! Not able to leave in this weather, so I sat and struggled with following the instructions of my trainer. UUUGGGHHHH!!!!! OK…..I did it!! Don’t like that room….u sweat in there and can’t go under water to cool off!!! Road something called SciFit….like recumbent…..for 15 minutes, 2 miles! Legs and arms r shaking and feel like jelly!! Still POURING here. |
July 27, 2010 | For weeks/months now, Cathy (my trainer) has been encouraging me to put the stick down. I made a commitment several weeks ago to leave it in the van at least one time during the day when I was out and about. I have slowly increased those times of leaving it in the van and basically have only been taking it in at work and in when going to be using the scooters to shop so I can reach stuff on upper shelves. TODAY, however, for the second day in a row, I left my cane in the van at work. Then today, I left it in the van when I went to the dentist, into Belk’s to make an exchange, and then in the van at McAlisters. |
Aug 1, 2010 | I changed a few of the measurements that I’m tracking which changed the first 19.5 inches to only 17 inches lost from January 20th until April 21st. So, with the “new” measurement points, I’ve lost an additional 10.5 inches on 13 places on my body for a new total inches of 27.5 inches lost since January 20th. That’s over two feet of less space that my body now needs. That’s pretty stinking good!!! Waist -4.5 Hips -3 Bust -3 Neck -1.5 Thigh left -3.5 Thigh right -2 Upper arm left -1.5 Upper arm right -2 |
Aug 3, 2010 | Saw someone this evening that I had not seen since several months before beginning my weight loss journey. She had to take a double look before she realized it was me. Oh how I wish I had a video camera on her. She “flipped out.” WOW OH WOW!!!! Was almost all she could say!! So encouraging! |
Aug 4, 2010 | More comments from co-workers throughout the building where I work. I was working in the mailroom a few minutes this morning. Someone from the building walked in there and his comment was that he had to look twice before realizing it was me sitting there. I’m sure that’s because he assumed it was a volunteer. So encouraging to get comments from folks!! |
Aug 26, 2010 | Jewelry party at a house where I had never been or seen. Realized after I left the office that I hadn’t asked anyone about the layout of the house—steps, sturdy chairs, etc. Had NOT even thought about it. WOW, how cool is that??!!!!! Apparently, I am feeling more comfortable about my ability to deal with the unknown. Could it be???? |
Aug 31, 2010 | Walked from and to my car at the hospital without stopping to rest. Wasn’t able to find a handicap parking place. Was parked on the end of the front row. My goodness what an improvement over last year when I had to do this same walk when my sister had her knee surgeries. I could NOT have walked this distance a year ago without experiencing great “exhaustion” and pain. Today, I did use my cane, but was able to walk it without resting halfway. YAY ME!!!!!!! |
Sept 6, 2010 | Walked around the yard showing a friend what to do; worked in the house cleaning out my pantry. I would NOT have been able to do these things several months ago. |
Sept 7-10, 2010 | Spent 3 hrs in pool doing both water aerobic classes then some time on my own. Loving water aerobics--exercise!!! |
Sept 9, 2010 | Stopped by Stein Mart on the way home and spent an hour or so wandering around the store. FIRST time in a very long time at a store without an electric scooter. Yes, I did find a chair and sit and rest a couple of times. But still, I DID IT!!!! I tackled going into a store to shop knowing there was no scooter. |
Sept 16, 2010 | NO MORE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION!!!!! Went back to the doctor for my 3-month follow up after halfing my BP meds at my last visit. Blood pressure was EXCELLENT!!!! So, the doctor agreed to stop prescribing the BP meds!! I was sooooooooo excited. Even though the scales haven’t been my best buddy over recent months, my body is still reaping the benefits of the healthier choices (food, water and exercise) that I am making. |
Sept 27, 2010 | ZUMBA class for the first time. The instructor got me a chair out and I did several of the songs standing behind the chair and holding on to it. It was fun. Wasn’t able to do much of it, but I did do enough to get my heart-rate up several times, worked up a sweat and “stinked” when I left. I’ll be back for it, but it will NOT replace my pool time!!!! |
Milestones
