Embracing My Health

This month has sped by.   We’ve had snow, ice, and sunshine.  It’s been a lovely Christmas season – and sharing it with my 4 year old daughter, has been such a gift.

I haven’t been rigid with my eating and my progress, while good, isn’t as far along as it could be.  I had goaled to be at 230.  That was a good goal, provided I had created an effective structure for achieving it.  I didn’t though – and without that, I continued progressing but not as quickly.  That said, I found these two pictures that really help me see how far I have come.

The more I think about it, the more I’m certain that having a structure will bring me the biggest results.  That will be my focus in the coming year… automating everything so that it becomes like breathing to the food that I want to, exercising, and living a fully embraced life. 

So, click more to see the numbers…

(more…)

This past week was a good one.  I’m feeling more and more of a divide from my prior eating habits and my new ones.  I haven’t completely settled into a new routine, so the time to stick to my healthy changes is every day.  I created pages that I posted in my pantry letting me know how many days to my next goal.  It’s been great having that visual reminder.

So, to the numbers…

(more…)

Weight: 246
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.4

Measurements

Neck: 14.25
Bicep: 14.5  (-.5″)
Forearm: 11 (-.5″)
Chest: 46 (-1″)
Waist: 44
Hips: 48
Thigh: 26
Calf: 18

No weight loss this week, but I’m not surprised.  I am happy to see some body “restructuring” though — with some inches lost around my upper body.  It’s interesting that my size has shrunk in regions.  My waist and hips have lost weight first, and now my upper body is seeing some results.  My neck and limbs have seen the least reduction… I’m guessing that will start to appear as I continue on.  Any loss is exciting though.

Oh, and I have to tell you.  I reconnected with a friend yesterday who I haven’t talked with for 4-5 years.  I found her blog and was so inspired by her.  She has a son, who is only a couple of weeks younger than Amira, who inspired her to transform her life to be the healthiest she can be.  Last I saw her, she was beautiful but carrying some extra pounds.  The new pictures I saw of her – she’s fit, trim and.. a TRIATHELE!  And not just a triathlete – one who wins first prize in her category!  Absolutely inspiring!  She’s definitely inspired me to get my fitness routine into gear!  More on that to come!

My question for you: What motivates and inspires you to be your healthiest?

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 246
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.4

Measurements

Neck: 14.25
Bicep: 15 (-.25″)
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 47
Waist: 44 (-1″)
Hips: 48
Thigh: 26
Calf: 18

The progress was slower this week.  I found encouragement though in looking back at some old numbers.  For example, since my highest point after Amira’s birth…

• I’ve lost 39 lbs.
• I’ve lost nearly 10 inches around my waist
• I’ve lost 6 inches around my hips and chest
• My BMI has dropped from 43.3 to 37.4

I need to get some new photos up of my progress.  I’ll try to do that today.

I’m finding that adding green juices and smoothies and eating more raw meals is making this journey to optimal health much easier.  It isn’t as difficult, physically or psychologically.  That alone is making me a fan of raw eating.

My two week challenge with Paul went really well and helped me push through 5 lbs of loss.  I’m strategizing another challenge for myself.  I’m going to do a short challenge followed by a longer one.  My first will be between now and Thanksgiving.  9 days including today.  My goal: lose 3 lbs.  My second will be from November 29th until Christmas, nearly 30 days.  Goal: lose 12 lbs.  Accomplishing both of these goals would have me at 231 lbs on Christmas morning.  That would be a Merry Christmas to me, indeed! 

Breakfast this morning was juice:

• 1/2 head romaine lettuce
• 1 large leaf of purple kale
• 1/2 a cucumber
• 1 pear
• 1 apple
• 1/2 lemon

As always, I do love my green juices.  Well, in the case of today, purple juice. 

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 247
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.6

Measurements

Neck: 14..25 (-.25″)
Bicep: 15.25 (-.25″)
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 47 (-1″)
Waist: 45 (-1.5″)
Hips: 48 (-1″)
Thigh: 26 (-2″)
Calf: 18 (-.5″)

I am making progress – the most I’ve made in over 4 years.  I’m excited — and yet still sober because of the 100 lb journey I still have ahead of me.  But for today, I’m celebrating!

I have to thank Paul (so THANKS PAUL! ♥)  for helping me with this latest round of weight loss and movement towards optimal health.  He took on a 2 week challenge with me.  Having him on the challenge with me was such a great support.  It is truly easier to take on difficult things in partnership with others.

Since my tooth trauma almost a month ago, and even before that, the fact that we are not covered by healthcare has been on my mind. And, if you’ve seen Sicko, you know even if you ARE covered by health insurance – it doesn’t mean all that much either (especially if you get really sick). Here in the US the only thing to do is be your own healthcare provider and provide yourself with PREVENTATIVE healthcare. For the most part, our doctors either don’t or aren’t equipped to have our best health interests at heart. I know for many it frustrates and angers them, but they are trapped in a system.

Now that I’m pushing forty, and have been feeling the effects of taking my own good health for granted… I know that’s not an option any more. I can’t foist the responsibility off on anyone or anything else. The buck stops here, as they say.

My goals are 1) to be fit enough to run, jump, and play with my daughter and be able to do whatever physical activity I want. If I want to learn to rock climb, I want to be able to do that. If I want to take a week long hiking trip through the Olympic Peninsula, I want to do that. If I want to run around the pond with my daughter at full speed, I want to do that! and 2) to eat food that brings health, healing and longevity to my body.

I think that sums it up without getting too complicated. I’ll be adding more details as we go along — but I think it covers everything in those two goals.

Fifteen years ago, just before Paul & I got married, I went on Depo-Provera. I was, at that time, somewhere between 15 and 20 lbs overweight. Three months after my first Depo-Provera injection, I had gained 40 lbs. The weight had come on so quickly that I had stretch marks. I knew I had gained weight, but didn’t connect the obvious dots back to Depo-Provera because of the stresses of getting married, moving to a new city, a new job, and so on.

When Paul & I got married, I was working as a retail store manager and was on my feet and moving 45 hours a week. After two years at this job, injuries to my feet made it necessary for me change jobs. I went from being active daily to a full-time desk job. I didn’t exercise and my lifestyle was to work hard all day and then come home and collapse on the couch in front of the TV. Paul & I ate out a lot. Being overweight was a constant source of discouragement to me… I would constantly wish and pine for being right-weighted. I began to learn more about optimal nutrition, fitness and personal health through magazines and books. I made very small changes to my diet, but nothing significant.

During these years I was dealing with a lot of depression and self-destructive behaviors… one of those behaviors was making myself feel as bad physically as I did emotionally. I would eat food that was super sugary, fatty and caloric. I didn’t think about it that way, but I was eating to make myself feel sick – and I always did. I was putting on more weight with each year.

In the fall of 2004, Amira was born. While pregnant with her, I topped the scales around 300 lbs. After she was born, I dropped to 280. I hovered there for about a year. Exercise was very difficult for me for a while after Amira’s birth – but I improved my eating habits and dropped a few pounds. All the while, I continued reading and learning about health, nutrition, and fitness.

In 2007, I went to a naturopathic doctor and found that I was indeed very unhealthy. I began regimens under my doctor’s advice to begin the healing. I’ve lost weight and made progress on my overall health. As of today, I’m at 250.

I’m putting that history completely behind me now and starting a new story, a new chapter. I have a long way to go to achieve optimal health but I’m ready. I don’t know exactly what I should weight, but I’m guessing it to be around 140 lbs. We’ll find out and fine tune when we get there. That’s a long way away yet, so I’m not going to worry about that so much as beginning the journey of transforming my lifestyle. I already know there are going to be days that I don’t feel like it – but it’s not about what I feel like. It’s about what I’m committed to, what I believe in and what I DO each day.