Feeling Amazing is all the Reward I Need ♥

Things are really moving along for me. I have finally figured out that the scale does not rule my life. I'm finally only weighing on Wednesdays,  and really the number doesn't matter any more. I kept thinking when I get to a certain weight I'd be happy, or feel accomplished.  But instead I am feeling that by my workout accomplishments.  I am running more and more of my daily jogs and I have bumped it up to 6 miles most days. Some days I am more pressed for time so I am only able to go 4 miles on those days. 3 miles feels like a walk in the park now and THAT IS AWESOME!   I am down 28 lbs as of last Wednesday.  I am so proud of the revelations I have made in my life. I feel like a whole new person is being born.  

Learning to cope without food

Well here's my update! ! Down 22 pounds since my "restart" on December 18th, 41lbs overall... I am feeling so good already.  I'm still walking/ running three miles as often as I can. I try to get in 5 days a week. Its challenging but I love it so much. Its a new amazing outlet.  Instead of reaching for food, I want to go run.  I'm not without fail though. I've had some bad cheat days, I really hate how addicted to the comfort I get from food. But the important part is I'm changing that now... I'm hoping to lose another 20 lbs before our trip in March to Idaho so I can wear some of my nicer, smaller clothes :)  

They're all liars!!!!

At least that's what I used to think about people who say they love to get up and workout.. Not anymore! =) crazy as it sounds, I'm that person now! After 34 years of avoiding any amount of physical activity possible, I am now arranging my days to make sure I get my walks in.. I love the feeling I get when I come home and I'm drenched with sweat and shaking from pushing my self so hard! And its paying off so quick! I'm seriously losing a pound a day, and I'm not starving myself! I'm eating my good healthy meals everyday. I'm having a really easy time not cheating, and I know its due to exercise because after working so hard to burn calories, the LAST thing I want to do is eat or drink calories that don't offer nourishment to my body!!

Get out there and get moving you guys!! Just do it! You're not getting any younger and if I can do it YOU CAN TOO!!!!

My motivation is spreading!

After so many emails, texts, and facebook messages I decided to create a group on facebook called "Sara's Fitness Challenge"  (as suggested from a friend)  It has been exactly what I wanted it for.  A group of us, all with the same goal to encourage each other, and support each other.  Without any fear of being judged, or belittled..   Weight loss is such an emotional experience.  Speaking for myself, I have a horrible relationship with food. I eat to comfort my self, I eat if I'm stressed, I eat if I'm bored, I eat if I am sad, and often we all eat to celebrate. 

I am working hard to change my relationship with food and do it right.  My lap-band is helping me a lot right now.  But more than that, is my daily walks/jogs.  After I work my butt off, I have absolutely no desire to eat in 1 minutes what just took an hour to burn off!  

Between this blog, and this new group I am feeling confident that this is a lifestyle change that will continue forever..  

Saw this the other day, and I love it..  it's so true..  

Just keeps getting better & better!!

     Well, I am as motivated as I'll ever get this week!  On top of adding quite a bit of jogging to my 3 mile walks, I am also seeing some amazing numbers on the scale!! I know that won't last forever, and plateau's will come so I am going to enjoy it while its here!  I know I promised myself to only weigh once a week (I chose Wednesdays) but I have felt so good I had to weigh today. I am down two full pounds since Wednesday! That's a pound a day.  Down 16 pounds total since December 18th!!

     I know it's my exercise, because when I first got my Lap-Band 3 years ago only thing I changed was portions and what I was eating..  Adding fitness to my life has made all the difference in the world!  I am seeing daily results, and not just in numbers.  My clothes are fitting better, and I have so much more energy than I've ever had before.  

    I do feel blessed that I have a motivated family always up to doing the three miles a day with me.  They make my success so much easier, and they are benefiting too!  My husband has lost 7 pounds and son has lost 5!  We are getting healthy as a family.   

     Here are a few photos I've taken on our walks, living up here in the Northwest keeps me in constant appreciation of our planet, and creator.  

 Literally, I walk out my front door into this..  We are very blessed :)

This morning, it was pretty foggy, but we gott'er done! :)

The road to a better life!!

Made some changes for the better!

A few good things.. today I went to a running store and got fitted for some awesome running shoes. Yey!  No more fighting blisters for me.  I also start back to school tomorrow.  I live about 100 miles from my school so the two days a week I'm at school will have to sacrifice my walks.  That's ok, 5 days a week isn't failing. Maybe some day I'll have the courage to use the gym at school. I do have a 90 minute break in between classes... maybe someday...  As of now I still feel like I'm the fat girl that people assume won't be in there long, and doesn't belong there... not the most healthy thoughts, but unfortunately they are real.  Off to get my zzzz... until next time.

Something finally clicked

I am emotional eater. I am a food addict. I, like most people who have grown up obese turn to food for comfort.  Last night I had a break through!  I had a VERY (as in sobbing) emotional night that involve a huge family fight.  After crying for hours, I walked to the fridge opened the door.. nothing in there because I won't buy junk food!  Curse you healthy side!! Then I thought, maybe a glass of wine would be good.. crap, have none.  But want to know my first thought? Lets go for a good intense walk!  This is the first time I haven't appreciated living 20 miles out in the country lol.  With the wild animals out here, walking alone after dark isn't smart. But I'm heading out now. Skipped one day because of my awful blisters but was back at it yesrerday and they are feeling so much better. The cause was my shoes.. glad thats taken care of.

off to go on my walk and clear my mind..and hopefully my sinuses!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!!! I started my new year off bad, made sugar cookies last night and went over my calories intake by 132.. (I LOVE the app "Lose It") but thats ok because this morning I walked three miles in the freezing cold and shaved 3 minutes off my total time.  And I even stopped to take pictures ♥ I feel so blessed to live in a place that I can just walk out my front door and walk into a beautiful environment...   

Every month on the first of the month I am going to post a progress photo :)  Here's my first one, as shameful as I feel posting it.