Start Writing Your Story...

Good Evening Everyone!!!  I hope that everyone’s week is going well.  I’ve kinda of had a rough week this week however; it’s going to be Friday and as the song says “…I’m working for the weekend!”

So let’s get to the heart of this post shall we.  So I weighed in at Weight Watchers this Tuesday.  I was down exactly 2 lbs.  So what does this mean…(drum roll please)  I am 1.2 lbs away from a total weight loss of 90 lbs.  I cannot believe that I have made it this far.  Man, prayer and that jaw wiring procedure was so worth it (just joking about that last part).  So my current weight is 164.6.  I have a few more pounds (about 14) until I’m at Weight Watchers goal weight.  I’m not too sure if I want to get that low but I’m saying now, where ever my body decides to take me then I will follow.  So I wanted to discuss something that recently came up during conversation with a fellow Weight Watcherer (I’m not too sure how to spell or say that but I like how is sounds).  We were discussing weight loss and the struggles that go with it etc etc.

So this is what I have determined is the root of my struggle with weight.  I am addicted to feeling full or being stuffed to the brim.  I love that sensation of constantly feeling full, like I can’t eat one more bite or I am going to be sick kinda of feeling.  I’m not too sure if this makes any sense to anyone else or if anyone has or is struggling with this.

A few years ago, I was going through some self discovery and I was trying to figure out the root of my overweightness and it hit me like a ton of bricks one night.  I was eating to the point of being sick and then as soon as the feeling or sensation passed, I was going back to the kitchen and getting something else to bring back that feeling.  I would eat whatever it was and then a half an hour or hour later I was back up going into the kitchen finding whatever else I could find to bring back that feeling.  I was and still am addicted to feeling full/stuffed. 

So recently (this past week) I was realizing that I was still doing the same thing.  Even though it might not be with horrible, fatting foods, I am still doing it.  I notice that the night time is the worst for me, probably out of boredom or just trying to deal with the stress of what the day has brought me.  My hope and prayer is that I am trying to recognize this more in so that I can start getting this part of my life under control.  I have the working out, the right food choice etc under control, but I surely do not have this part under control.   At times it can be so frustrating and make me so angry because I can not understand why I can’t control this aspect of my life.  I sometimes am yelling at myself as I am eating “Kim, get a grip, take control, you don’t need this!!  You are ruining all the hard work that you have accomplished.” 

So why am I bringing this up to you guys.  Well of course, my hope is that if I am open and honest about my weight loss and struggles that it might help someone with whatever situation that they are currently going through.  I used to tell people that I was addicted to food or I really liked eating (wasn’t it obvious) but I really didn’t take time to look at what was really going on; what the root of the problem really was.

So this is what I ask of my fellow readers and friends.  Take a moment when you have some time to yourself (my best time is when I am driving) and start examining your life.  If you are struggling with eating and weight loss or weight gain or whatever other aspect of your life that you don’t like and try to figure out what is the root of the problem.  This might take a while to come up with.  It is so hard for us to do self examination but I firmly believe that once you can get to the root of the problem, then your struggle will become so much more manageable and you can become so much more successful with whatever your struggle is.    Don’t just state the obvious…”oh my weight gain is because I really like food, duh!”  It might be but everyone that I have talked that has struggled with weight there has always been something more to the story.  Well, take some time and start writing that story and see what you come up with.  You are sooooo worth it, believe me.  Just try and start today or tomorrow and see what you come up with.  You might think it is pointless or who cares.  Well, again you are not pointless, you were made for a purpose and I do care!!  Start writing it down and see what happens. 

So enough of the mushy stuff, I hope that each and every one of you is doing well.  Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or any feedback would be great.  I hope that you guys like what I’m posting.  Please feel free to comment any ideas or suggestions that you are looking for.  I’m hoping to have a dear friend of mine guest blog soon.  She is fabulous and someone that I really look up to about weight loss and life in general. 

Oh, this weekend I will be posting a recipe that came from my dear friend’s mother.  It is a low point breakfast item that is fabulous and sure to please anyone.

Wishing you well,

Kim   

Run for Your Life...

So a little birdie who shall remain nameless approached me that I didn't mention her in my blog last week when i was talking about my weight loss. So this one is for you J

But first things first. Weigh in...lost 0.2 lbs. not what I was expecting but what I was excepting. I really worked my butt off as far as workout was concerned but and there is a big but I kinda of sabotaged my week with the food choices that I made. So I decided that this week I'm going to really focus on eating within my points and not over indulging. I think soon I will write about my weight loss sabotage. I have done it and I know a lot of other people have done it or felt like they have. But on to the topic at hand.

Running!!!! Yeah!!!!

So I thought I would never ever say this but I'm a Runner. Last week I was able to run over 5 miles without losing a lung or losing one of my legs J Never in a million years did I ever think that I could ever run a mile let alone 5 miles. So this is how it all happened…
When I first started losing the weight I had so much energy I had to burn it somehow. I wanted to start working out but I didn't know if I wanted to join a gym for fear of being stuck in a membership and paying huge bucks and never using it (been there, done that). So I was looking around at different places and then my brilliant mother in law said I should look into our local recreation center. I had never thought about it before. Long story short. I joined and for $27 a month I get use of the fitness center and I get to choose one free class per session.
So I started working out. All of this was so new to me. I finally came up with a good cardio routine with the help of one of the fitness staff, Gina (atthem). Let me know if you are interested and I can post about that later. Anyways, she was starting a new class and suggested that I join. The class was "How to Run a 5k". So after much back and forth in my mind I finally decided to take the class. I loved the class and after 6 weeks I ran in a 5k race and did it in less than 36 minutes!!! So this is what I learned about running…
First - get some really good sneakers. Please go to a running/walking store. Have them measure your feet and suggest what kind of shoes would be best. I think it's best going to a store that specializes in this vs. just any store that sells sneakers. You really need to make sure that you are getting the best for your feet.
Second – when you start running, it's all about pace. You are not trying to win a race (yet). When I first started out, my mile time was around 15-16 minutes. You honestly want to almost be walking but with a running/jogging stride. You will think that you are running at a snails pace and you’re not going anywhere but you are and you are getting somewhere. It takes time, don't worry!!!! There are a lot of great resources online about learning how to run your first 5k etc. they have a lot of great ideas.
Third - make sure that you are stretching and foam rolling before and afterwards. I don't do it enough but when I do I see the rewards. One day I will post about foam rolling etc. but the benefits are so great. I know of people that stopped going to a chiropractor once they started foam rolling.
Fourth - when you are starting out, Don't Over Do It. I was running upwards of 6 days a week. I was killing myself. I enjoyed the fact that the weight was coming off fast but I was getting to the point that I hated everything about working out and I really didn't want to run anymore. Learn from my mistake. Running and working out can suck especially when it’s warm outside, when it’s raining, when it’s cold, when it’s (please insert any excuse here). Sometimes I really have to throw myself into it but the rewards are great. But please don't over do it. You don't want to get to the point where you are sick of it and you just give it up all together.
Bottom line...
Working out and running take time but the rewards are so awesome. Eventually you will get that "high" from running. I just experienced it the other night and I have been hooked since. Also, go at your own pace-try your best. Do something, do anything-who cares what you look like when you’re doing it J I heard this at one of my meetings and it makes perfect since...remember any work out you do (running, walking or crawling) you are running circles around those that are just sitting on their couch!!

Gina (my running coach) and I after my first 5k

So get out there and run for your life!!!




Any questions, comments or feedback are greatly appreciated. Just an FYI, I'm hoping to have some guest post from some inspiring people who have lost weight and have kept it off. So please look out for that!!

Happy running,
Kim
P.S. Wish me luck, I'm running another 5k at the end of this month with some ladies from work. It should be a blast J

Light it Up!!

Good Morning and Happy Columbus Day to Everyone!!  The weather around here has started to turn fallish and I am loving it; the colder weather, warm blankets and of course everything pumpkin.  Fall…here we come J

Lighting, everyone loves it and needs it (except for my husband, he loves being in the dark literally not figuratively).  I have been crushing on some new floor lamps for my downstairs for a long time.  This DIY is a combo of two of my favorite lights smashed into one.  I spotted this light in the Pottery Barn Catalog and I totally fell in love but at over $200 I totally couldn’t afford it.

I found a cheaper version at Hobby Lobby for $99.00 and even with 50% off it still is out of my budget. 

 

The other floor lamp that I have been crushing on is this one.  I saw it on one of my favorite shows, Suits, and fell in love with the lamp and maybe Harvey Specter played by Gabriel Macht.  He is really, really, really good looking.  I love the easel type base of the lamp with the dome shaped lamp shade. 

So, one day I was out in my shed and I stumbled upon this awesome artist easel.  The previous owners left behind some really great stuff and I have been finding random places to use them within my home.  I discovered the easel a few months ago and I have been trying to come up with some way to create this into a lamp.  I googled and found a few different options.  All of the options required a lamp kit and installing it into the easel.  I was going to totally do this when I got the time however; the other day I came across these contractor lights that my father gave me before they moved.  Have you ever walked by something a thousand times and then on the thousand one time you discover the greatest idea.  I absolutely love when that happens!!  So this is what I came up with!!  What do you think…

The step by step instructions are so easy anyone can do this and this project takes less than 2 minutes to complete.  All you need to do is set up the easel into the position and height that you would like it to be.  This is probably the most difficult part.  The second part is then to undo the clamp around the light and re-clamp it around the top of the easel.  So simple, right!! This nice thing about this lamp is that you can have it at any height you want and you can always adjust the "lamp" portion to any position that you want.  So this project cost me nothing and I have an industrial/modern lamp for my basement, which is totally what I’m going with for downstairs. 

So I took the time to help you guys out because I’m assuming that not everyone has an artist easel in their shed and their father hasn’t given them contractor lights.  So with that being said…you can purchase the easel at Hobby Lobby.  They have a great option for $14.99 and with the 40% off coupon, the cost is $8.99.  They also have sturdier one that is black and that was $29.99 and again with 40% off it is $17.99.  You could always take the cheaper option and of course spray paint it to whatever will match your décor.  You can also check out a local art store and see what they carry.  The biggest thing is that you need to make sure that the top of the easel has a base for you to clamp the light on to.

The contractor lights I found at Lowes.  They were actually cheaper than what I thought that they would be.  For the 8 ½ inch one they were $7.48.  They had a smaller option but they weren’t in stock.  It was 6 inches.  You might want to use this for a table lamp.  You can take one of those tabletop easels and then one of those smaller lights.  This lamp would then be even cheaper. 

So for $16.50 you can have an industrial/modern light.  I am so in love with it!!

So what do you think…I would love to hear your comments, questions or feedback. 

Go light it up,

Kim  

I'm Linking Up To...

The Shabby Nest

"Weighing" In

Good Morning Everyone!!  Sorry that I haven’t written in a while.  My daughter started school last month and with that comes her many activities etc.  My apologies…I hope you forgive me J

As some of my readers know I joined Weight Watchers a few months ago.  This all started in January after a little competion with my co-workers.  As with many people that have struggled with weight loss, I have tried every diet plan and have never been successful.  I was semi-successful with Weight Watchers in the past so decided that I would give them a whorl.  The most I had to lose was $13.  My intentions with joining were to get the material, stay for the first meeting and then never return and try this on my own.  But thankfully with the Lord's help and encouragement from my friend/co-worker, I have continued with this journey. 

So once the competion began, I forced one of my friends/co-workers to join with me.  Now over 75 lbs and 8 pants sizes later, I continue to attend the weekly meetings.  I feel that this is the only way that I can be accountable for what I am doing.  Let me tell you, the scale never lies. My friend has also continued on his weight loss journey and he has also been very successful.  He has really been my rock and motivation through this whole process.   

So I have decided that every Wednesday I will post about my weight loss journey.  Last night I lost exactly 1 lb.  My current weight is 166.8 (I think, I will have to double check later).  When I started Weight Watchers, I was at an unhappy, miserable weight of 243 lbs. 

Here are some before and after pictures of me…

The before was taken at a Christmas Party 2011 and the After was taken right before summer 2012

Summer 2011

Summer 2012

Please let me know if you have any questions concerning my weight loss journey or about Weight Watchers.  I love educating people and I am very open and honest of my weight loss struggle.  My hope is to give you encouragement if you are also struggling with weight loss.  This has been a life long journey ever since I was young and last year I resolved myself to being overweight but something changed this year (more to come about that) and I finally weigh less than what I weighed in high school.  Again, please let me know if you have any questions.  If you don’t want to comment/question on the blog, please feel free to e-mail me at imaboutthislife@gmail.com.

My motivational quote for today:

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

So after I wrote this post this morning, I was wondering on Facebook and I saw a link to one of our local anchor woman.  She was addressing a letter that she received from a viewer.  Many of you have seen this but some haven't.  Her words were what my heart has been longing to say for years.  These words need to be on the forefront of everyones mind especially with our children.  Please take the 4 minutes to watch.  Thank you!!

To your future success,

Kim