21 Day Fix: Update

Update: June 22, 2016

Note the dates: I've been working on this post for a few weeks.

Here's a 21 Day Fix update!

Over Memorial Day, my friend Marilyn and I decided to book a last minute cruise to Alaska.  We will be departing in just a few days.  One of the first thoughts I had when thinking about the cruise was a concern that I wouldn't know what to wear because I've put on a few pounds. 

I hate to call my experience "yo yo dieting", but it's probably the best description for me.  I first identified myself as being overweight when I was about seven or eight years old.  I was just a heavy kid until I graduated high school (I weighed about 155 pounds during all of high school). Like a lot of kids, I gained a lot of weight my first year in college. I did not live on campus, but I remember stopping and getting chocolate milk shakes several times a week when I drove to college in the morning. By the end of my first year of college, I weighed over 180 pounds.  That summer, something clicked and I went on a really strict diet and I began exercising.  By the time I started my second year of college, and moved into the dorm, I had lost so much weight, people did not even recognize me.  My lowest weight during my second year of college was 114 pounds and I was horribly thin, very unhealthy, and really obsessed with maintaining that weight.  Back at home during the summer between my second and third year of college, I gained it all back and then some.  My weight loss was such a huge part of my identity back at school, that I couldn't bear go back after gaining so much weight back. I ended up switching colleges, a decision that was also based upon the fact that I still had not declared a major and it really did not make a difference where I went to school. 

I made it through college and got a degree in four years time despite switching schools and switching majors.  I graduated in June 1990, and started my career on July 1, 1990.  I had to have a Physical Exam for the job I got.  When they weighed me, I refused to look at the scale.  Several months later, I was reassigned to work in the Personnel Department. I snuck a peek at my Physical to see how much I weighed at the time of my employment interview; 173 pounds.

I got married, had kids, and my pattern has been... hit 160 pounds, get upset with myself, get serious, get down to about 145 pounds.  Up and down, up and down, up and down.  I felt so great at 145 pounds; healthy, trim, and grateful to have my clothes fitting comfortably. 

But slowly, the weight would creep back up and I would start the cycle over.  For years I told myself, "when I retire I'll have the time to get into better shape... I'll do it then!"

I retired October 31, 2015, and over Memorial Day Weekend I found I'd actually gained a few pounds since retiring.  Once again I was 160 plus pounds.  I was not getting it done on my own and I realized I needed to get serious... AGAIN! 

Sometime in May this year, I bumped into a gal I had met a few times at work before I retired.  Angela is a very professional gal, a bundle of energy, positive and upbeat, someone you instantly like when you meet her.  We "friended" each other on Facebook and I quickly saw she was a Coach for the Beachbody Program and encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle through regular, vigorous exercise and healthy eating.  Her enthusiasm was infectious.  I decided to purchase the Beachbody Program called "21 Day Fix".  I started the exercise plan and the eating plan on June 6, 2016, when my weight was about 158 or 159 pounds, and by June 22, 2016, I was down to 151 pounds as you can see above.

Yippee!

July 5, 2016

I am back from my cruise. I tried to eat healthy on the cruise and I went to the gym on the ship a few times. I am not feeling as fit as I felt when I departed on the cruise.  I missed the 21 Day Fix exercise videos. I know the exercise is good for me.  I was hesitant to step on the scale upon my return, but it turns out I lost a pound or two while on the cruise. How about that!

July 16, 2016

Check it out!  I feel like I have a new wardrobe.  All the clothes in my closet fit and that's a very good feeling.  I love that my upper body strength and my core strength is increasing. The work outs are not getting easier per se, but I am improving how well I am doing the workouts. There was one work out in particular called "Dirty Thirty"; I remember how deflated I felt the very first time I did that work out. I was so horrible in my attempts to do the exercises that I felt I did not get a good work out at all. Now I've done this one particular work out maybe five times and I am doing the exercises more and more effectively. It's fun to see improvements in my fitness, on the scale, and how my clothes fit. 

July 19, 2016

Okay, so this being on the 21 Day Fix Program has gotten on my nerves this week!  The cartoon above really sums it up for me.  I had one day where I was just wanting to eat carbs and I kept thinking about this container of peanut butter filled pretzels in the cupboard.  We started buying them a few months ago at Sam's Club, so you know the container is big!  Zach likes them so I did not throw them out when I started the 21 Day Fix Program, but those pretzels... they've been calling my name.  I was just feeling hungry. So I had a handful of them, and then another handful of them, and then a small bowlful of them.  Craving satisfied.  I am over it now.

I told my Coach that I was thinking of STOPPING trying to LOSE weight and just STARTING to MAINTAIN the weight loss I've had.  To maintain your weight on the 21 Day Fix Program, you re-calculate what your caloric intake should be in order MAINTAIN your weight, as opposed to what your caloric intake needs to be to LOSE weight.  In a nutshell, when you get to your goal weight, you add in portions of food. For me, I would be able to eat another portion of carbs, fruits, and veggies. The day after I talked to my Coach, I was over feeling deprived and it made me feel good to know I was in the "driver's seat" and I could chose how I wanted to proceed.  I decided to keep with the plan I am on until this 21 Day cycle is complete. The scale is NOT BUDGING one bit. I've been hovering right around 145 pounds, so I am saying I've lost right around 15 pounds.  But I have to remind myself to not always focus on the number on the scale. Old habits die hard!  I have gained so much more.  I have a closet full of clothes that fit nicely and I feel good in them.  I know my fitness level is increasing each day and it feels good to see my improvement when I do my workouts.  You CAN accomplish a lot just exercising 30 minutes a day... and who doesn't have time for 30 minutes a day!?! 

July 22, 2016

Well, that scale... she's just not BUDGING. I was right around 160 pounds when I started this program on June 6, 2016.  I am really happy with my weight and fitness level now and I plan to finish up my 21 Day Cycle. Today is Day 18 of 21, so just a few more days to go.  I have not missed a work out since July 5, 2016, when I returned from vacation.   When I finish up this cycle, I plan to post my before and after photos, so stay tuned for that!  I am looking forward to seeing those photos myself.  Why, I might even go shopping for a tank top to show off my strong arms!  Ha, ha!  I have to constantly remind myself to not focus on the scale; I need to focus more on the great things I am doing for my health.  I am eating healthy and clean, I am eating more fruits and vegetables than ever, and I am exercising more vigorously each and every day.  I bet my blood pressure and cholesterol levels have improved.  I know I am getting a stronger core, which I am sure is good for my back; I know my flexibility has been increasing, too.  It's all GOOD!

Here are a few tidbits:  

• Today is my 30 year High School reunion (nope, not going).  I weigh at least 10 pounds less than I did in High School.
• Today the weight listed on my Driver's License is actually accurate! 
• Today I weigh 30 pounds less than I did when I started my career in July 1990.
• Today I weight 40 pounds less than I did when I finished my first year of college in June 1987.
• Today my GOAL is to maintain this healthy weight by my 50th birthday (September 2018).  Hopefully this blog will still be going strong and I'll post about it then.

So that's my 21 Day Fix Program update. This has been a long post, so if you've read through all of this, thanks for sharing in my journey over the past several weeks.  My aim is to continue to share about my experiences and to continue to post about the NEW recipes I make to help keep me on track.