Let the Battle Begin

My new cyber friend Amber is hosting a weight loss challenge-"Battle of the Bulge".

I've been struggling with getting back down to where I want to be for about a year and a half now so I'm ready to get fighting!

About 3 years or so ago I lost about 20 lbs. It was tough but I felt so good about myself. BUT in all honesty I think I was a bit lower than I really should have been. I was back down to where I had been when I got married.

I did really well for a while and kept the weight off. Then it started creeping back up again and now about 15 pounds of it is back and I'm not a happy camper. I'm telling you-turning 40 does a real number on your body!! It's like my metabolism hit a wall!

So, now that Amber has thrown down the challenge I'm ready to pick it up and run!

Here are my goals:

1. lose 7 pounds
2. drink lots of water- that's my biggest downfall right now-really helps with the metabolism issue
3. exercise 5 times a week- cardio and some type of strengthening workout
4. comfortably fit in all of my long pants for the winter. Not have to constantly suck in my stomach and be in agony when I sit down!

And because Amber was willing to post her before pictures, I'll do the same. And like Amber- I carry my extra weight in my backside (and evidently I carry my phone back there too-forgot to take it out of my pocket-LOL) and in my face (wow what a combination huh?).

Everyone participating in the challenge will post an update each Monday- so be sure to check back and see how I'm doing. I may need a little kick in the rear every now and then! Accountability is HUGE in weight loss!

Thanks for the challenge Amber!

Tales from the Scales - Weeks 3 & 4

And once again I'm late checking in! A whole week plus one day late. So I'll post what happened those two weeks. In week 3 I was up another 2 pounds. Then in week three I dropped 3.8 pounds. I'm so glad to see the scale moving down instead of up. I can also feel such a difference in my clothes with just that little bit of change. Hoping the numbers will continue to decrease.

I did change my medication so I'm thinking that had something to do with the loss. Plus I've really upped by water intake and my exercise.

So here's to seeing myself continue as a loser!!!

Go see how others are doing on their journey to looking great in 2008!

Tales from the Scales - Week 2

Ok, I'm late checking in again- but this time it's because the number was not good.- No that's really not why I'm late-just forgot to post yesterday- but the number really was not good. I was up 2 lbs. UGLY!! I'm still not convinced that the meds are part of the problem because I really did better with WW but I didn't have the energy to exercise like I normally do.

I did go see the Dr. on Monday and we're changing from Cymbalta to Wellbutrin. I start the new stuff today. Maybe my body will get back in burning gear!!!

Want to check out how others did this week? go to Tales from the Scales!!

Tales From the Scales- the beginning!

Well, I posted here about new beginnings and today I started one of them. I have joined the new Look Great in 2008 challenge at Tales From the Scales! I'm really excited about becoming a part of this challenge.

I already participate in weight loss challenges on the Thirties board at Dotti's Weight Loss Zone and they are super supporters so I decided what more could I ask for than more supporters and cheerleaders.

I started my weight loss journey in Jan. 2006. In all honesty, I had never really had to struggle with my weight before. I was always small- when I married in 1990 I was 122 pounds and stayed around that until I had kids. Then the weight did start climbing. When I decided to do something about it in 2006 I was at 146. I know that may not seem like lot to some, but to me it was more than I wanted to be and I wasn't happy with the way my body looked or felt. So I stared watching what I ate and started exercising! I lost a total of 20 pounds by June of 2006. It was great but then the weight started climbing back up again.

On Jan. 1, 2007 I was up to 137 and I signed up for Weight Watchers and was amazed at what I was learning. I started eating so much better and worked really hard to keep track of my points and water intake- things went great and I dropped almost all of the weight I'd gained. Then I got slack again this summer and started gaining again. This time the numbers kept climbing again and this time they didn't stop. The highest that I reached was 140- I was shocked but knew I had to buckle down and watch myself. I wanted to blame the weight gain on medication I was taking and maybe that did have something to do with it. But I stopped taking the medicine on Sunday so we'll see if that makes any difference. But really it wasn't so much that the weight was up but it was more I knew all of the bad things I was putting into my body and I needed it to STOP!!!

So that brings me to today! I'm ready to make a change and make a difference. My "official" weigh in day is currently on Fridays but I'm trying to decide if I want to change that. The main reason is that puts me right into the weekend and typically I end up using lots of flex points on weekends and often I'm left with nothing "extra" to get me through the week if I need it! So I may change to Tuesdays- to go along with post day for the challenge!

I'm going to post my beginning weight based on what I weighed last Friday because I didn't weigh this morning!

Beginning weight- 136
Goal Weight- 125

I already exercise at least 5 days a week but I'm making some changes in the type of exercise I'm doing. I'm adding more weight bearing workouts. Nothing major but it's more than what I was doing. So my plan is weight work 3 days a week with cardio added into one of those days (Wednesdays) and then cardio the other three days!

So, it's time to start making changes! It's not to late for you to sign up here if you're interested- or if you'd like to read about other people's weight loss challenges!!