By the way, I've lost a total of 18 lbs. Many more to go, but happy for the ones I've lost.
Bloggin' Like I'm Fit!
My bumpy, imperfect journey to being a hot, fit Mama (and wife!)---This is NOT a blog to tell you how to lose weight. This is the blog that tells you what I'm coming up against in the midst of my own weight battle. Don't forget to follow my blog for updates by entering your email address on the right side of the page -- and thanks for joining me!
Monday, April 27, 2015
My First Race Recap
By the way, I've lost a total of 18 lbs. Many more to go, but happy for the ones I've lost.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The Deal with Spinning
Last weekend we had an awesome women's conference that our women's group attended. I have to confess, with everything going on right now with my dad's health and the busy-ness of life, I just did not want to go. But I'm so very glad I did! It was just what I needed. Funny how God sets up little things just to encourage you and keep you going. ;-)
So, as you know, I've been going to lunchtime express classes at our local Y on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are usually Spinning at lunch. It took a lot for me to walk into my first Spinning class. (And a lot to actually walk afterwards, but that's a different post...) Now, I really miss it when I'm not able to go.
I really didn't know what to expect when I went to the first Spinning class. I knew I'd be on a bike. And sweating. And I figured there'd be lots of skinny moms in there. Or skinny college girls. Or skinny anybodies.
Of course, when I got there, I realized I had assumed some things that were not particularly true. Like thinking that everyone would be staring at me wondering who I thought I was kidding, trying to spin at the size I am...
Turns out, they were all very welcoming. A lot of the group from the Lunchtime Express classes come to the lunchtime spin classes, so besides my coworkers, I still saw some familiar (and friendly) faces, so that helped.
So setting up the bike was slightly unnerving. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong and I'd wind up falling off the bike. Thankfully that didn't happen.
Here's the bikes (please excuse the pic quality - I'm not a great photog when I'm in motion. LOL)
So the most important thing I have learned is to make sure the seat is high enough so that you don't hurt your knees. For the first few weeks, my seat was lower than it should have been. I'm 5'6" and I had my seat lower than my instructor's seat -- and she's 5'3" I think. So once she noticed that and I moved it up, I was in a much better position to really enjoy the class.
I also had to figure out how to get my feet into the straps on those pedals. I wind up securing my left foot while my right is still on the ground, then I boost myself up to the seat and have to bend over from the seat to hold the straps far enough so that I can get my right foot in that pedal. I feel like I'm about to fall on my face every time I do that - I mean I'm teetering on this teeny tiny seat! But I've not fallen yet, and last time I was able just to slip my foot in without bending down to hold the straps.
The way our spin classes are, once the music starts, the lights go down and all you have are blacklights up top and rope lights around the floor. We can still see to move around and such if we need, but it's a really cool effect they offer to kind of keep you focused.
We'll start with a warm up, which usually includes sprints (pedaling REALLY fast) and standing, and stretching your arms/shoulders, and hovering. Hovering, for some reason, is still really hard for me to do. That's when you see the cyclist off the seat, but bent over and resting their upper bodies on their upper arms, which are on the handlebars.
The instructor will make sure we have some pumping playlist and she calls out when she wants us to turn the resistance knob (to increase the resistance), when she wants us up, or down, or hovering, or ...(wait for it) ... doing jumps.
I think jumps just might be a form of torture. That's where you keep your pace pedaling, pedaling, pedaling and alternate standing and sitting - about every 2-4 pedals. It's fast. I can't do it yet. My jumps are more like speed bumps. Or just REALLY, REALLY slow jumps. Like I can get up and get down ONE Time in the time it takes someone else to do 3-4 jumps. But that's better than when I started. When I started I didn't even attempt the jumps.
So usually by about 1/2-way through, I'm glancing at the clock, trying to count down the minutes until the end of the class. And I've learned I had to really keep my heart rate in check. In that class it's so easy to go, go, go and just keep going. It is fun, even though sometimes I feel like I'm going to die. (Kidding!!) But if I let my heart rate get too high and stay too high, I wind up having a killer migraine by the time I get home. So I have to back off a bit on the last half of the class.
By the time we leave, I get off that bike -- carefully, because my legs are like jelly and I REALLY don't want to face plant in front of the skinnies. I can barely walk to the disposable wipes to wipe down my bike. There's sweat literally rolling down my back, dripping off my hair onto my neck. My breathing is quick but deep. And the pride that I feel for finishing another kicking fitness class is bubbling up through all that - making the muscle fatigue and the sticky work out clothes worth it. I'm telling you, there is nothing like pushing yourself to the point that you think you won't make it, and then keeping on going a little further. There's nothing like knowing I absolutely did my best. It may not have been faster or longer than my neighbor's pace, but it was my best so far. I just feel so accomplished. So gloriously exhausted and accomplished.
So if you're thinking about trying something new - do it! Don't let your preconceived notions about other people keep you from doing what YOU want to do. Think about it - I spent most of my time before this class (and most any other time going to work out) judging the people who were going to be there because I thought they were going to judge me. I started judging them first! LOL
Well, thank God some co-workers talked me into going that first time. It was well worth it.
Now, for an update. I've lost 10 pounds! That seems such a small amount to me still (my weight loss journey began 1/12/15, so 10 lbs in 2 months doesn't seem like much for a woman like me), BUT I know I've lost inches. Check out the difference in my face (stepping WAAAAAY outside my comfort zone now!). The first pic is in mid-December with my beautiful prayer daughter K. The second pic is last weekend with my other precious prayer daughter H. You can just barely see a difference in my face - not as swollen, I guess. And clothes are fitting better. As much fun as it is to embrace this new fit life and enjoy working out as much as I do, I still struggle to keep my focus and not get discouraged when I see those numbers. So I keep looking for things like this to kind of prove to myself that I am doing something right, I guess.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
25 Things - My 2015 Version
- Sticking with our new lifestyle has been challenging at times, but overall, it's been easier than I thought.
- I am really enjoying exercising at lunch. Gets me out of the grind and makes my days even better.
- Sweating at lunch doesn't bother me as much as I used to think it would. I'd much rather be sweaty and losing than smell pretty and keep gaining.
- I've noticed the last few weeks my plantar fasciitis has pretty much gone away!
- I used to think that tensing up while I was exercising (running, couch-to-5K, etc) was what caused my after-work-out migraines, but now I believe it was getting my heart rate too high for too long. The Lunchtime Express class I go to 3x/week has enough varied exercises that I can keep it from going too high for too long, but I really have to watch it in the Spin class I do 2x/week.
- My knees sound like maracas when I'm bending, climbing or squatting, and I'm praying that I can somehow reverse the damage by getting this weight off.
- My Dad has stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to his liver. We're waiting to hear from his most recent PET scan, but I've never been more scared of losing someone than I've been the last few weeks.
- I love watching Downton Abbey. A lot.
- I am also a bit addicted to Fixer Upper on HGTV.
- I (thankfully) haven't really WANTED a Mountain Dew in weeks, so that MUST be a major miracle!
- If I didn't have a job I'd have a much cleaner house and be able to craft a LOT more. I miss having time to craft, but I'd miss my paycheck more. LOL
- I can't wait till I can get a heart rate monitor to start using when I'm working out.
- I post A LOT of fitness and weight loss related things on instragram so follow me if you don't already. My user name is tabrewis.
- Also, add me on myfitnesspal.com - again, username is tabrewis.
- My son is so smart! He understands that flipping a house means you buy a house, remodel it and then sell it at a profit! How many 11-year-olds get that?? (Probably because his mommy watches so stinkin' much HGTV)
- I received a great compliment last week about my writing.
- I owe any writing greatness to my high school Lit teacher, Mrs. James. (She taught me for 3 years in Honors Lit.)
- In another life, I would have been a band director, following after another of my mentors, Ms. Deborah Bradley.
- My first speeding ticket was earned on my wedding day. My dad "took care of it" as a wedding present. LOL
- My husband and I get to go see the Blue Man Group for the first time in a couple weeks! So excited!
- I love going to youtube and listening to playlists from WorshipMob. If you haven't heard of them, you should check them out.
- My husband has lost 20+ lbs in the same amount of time I struggled to lose 6. I'm happy for him....really!
- One of my absolute favorite things is when we tuck Col in at night and pray with him. He's growing so fast!
- I get distracted way too easily.
- I'm feeling cruise fever again. You should probably pray. Or donate $$$ so we can take another cruise soon. LOL
Have a blessed week everyone!
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
No Longer Hiding
Several months ago, Jerry and I applied for a casting call with a major network for a weight loss show. (Not the Biggest Loser) We made it through several cuts and were flown to LA for the final cut - only 16 couples had made it that far and we were so excited! We just knew that our chance had finally come! We'd be able to have access to trainers and therapists and nutritionists and FINALLY lose weight and be healthy!
Over those several months, we had to provide a ton of pictures and videos of us. It was exciting at first, but after about the third time of them requesting even MORE pics, it was growing pretty thin. "We need some full-body shots of you," they said. I mean, don't they realize fat people don't like the camera? That's why I take the pictures - I don't like to be in them!! ;-)
But somehow they still wanted us to come to the finals and meet with some big-wigs so they could find the best couples for their show. So, of course we had to stay quiet in case we were chosen.
The flights were pretty cool. It's been a while since I've flown (like 15 years!) and I kept taking pics of EVERYTHING to show our boy when we got back. (Some great friends were taking care of him while we were gone. Man, I missed that handsome little trouble-maker!)
Long story short, they did not choose us to be a part of this show. I believe the words they used were they "decided to go in a different direction". I was heart-broken. And when I say heart-broken, I mean faith-shaking, mind-numbing desperation.
You see, in the interviews we had, I'm pretty sure we had two major strikes against us. One: the producers thought Jerry couldn't live without me for any length of time (putting a kink in the show plans). LOL And/Or Two: They didn't think that once I lost the weight I'd be able to keep it off.
How many times have I been down this road, where I start to lose weight, start getting healthier and then just fizzle out? Slowly returning to bad habits and gaining all my weight back and then some?
How could I go back home knowing that someone who had the power to give me every tool, every support person, every therapy session I'd need to be successful --- that person(s) didn't even believe I was worth the effort, because I'd probably just gain the weight back anyway.
Very few people knew where we were and what we were doing. But how could I come home and face them, and face my son, and tell them that I/we failed in this most recent attempt to be a normal, healthy family? I'd proven to myself time and time again that I can't do this on my own. Why were we brought across the country just to be told we didn't have what it takes....again?
I was beginning to think it would have been better for me to come home in a coffin.
Then I started thinking about the poor guys who'd have to carry the coffin and started crying again because I'd still be a burden dead.
I can honestly say I have never been in as dark a place as I was that weekend.
But the show must go on, right? I came back to a new job/promotion, so that was a good thing. And we have a church to lead, and a sweet son to raise, so I kept putting one foot in front of the other. Left, right, left, right....
We had talked quite a bit before flying out to LA about what we would do if we were chosen, if we were not chosen, etc. We both agreed that no matter what, this HAS to be the year of change for us. We joined the Y a couple months before flying out, although we hadn't really made full use of our membership (something one of the producers took great joy in pointing out -- "well, you have to use it, for it to do any good." That was right before the casting director interrupted me to say, "You're done. Time to leave." Joyful banter, no?)
Jerry, I have to say, seemed unshaken. He was my rock through this. Always telling me, "we have this. We know what to do. We have a plan, we just need to work the plan."
And so we have. Jerry was fully on-board with making a lifestyle change as soon as we got back. I honestly just went through the motions that first week. I really didn't want to disappoint Jerry again, so I just kept going to the Y with my coworkers and ditched Mountain Dews (no Mountain Dews for me since 1/11/15!) and choosing better meals.
Since that first week, my mindset has done a complete 180! Praise God, because that depression mess is exhausting!
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I go to Lunchtime Express Class (full-body work out during your lunch break) and recently have added Spinning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Once I figured out my calorie intake needs (I wasn't eating enough for all the exercising, can you believe it?), I've been losing an average of 2-3 lbs per week. Which is what we want to do.
Jerry goes to the Y every morning to work out alone. He says the "social work-out" is my thing, not his. LOL
The best thing is this plan that we're on seems totally doable for the rest of...forever. We're cooking more at home (saving the $$$, PTL!) and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Another thing that makes this feel so different and still so successful is that we (I) don't completely melt down if I eat too much or don't have my "healthy" lunch or dinner. Because I know that the next meal will be back to our new normal.
So that's where I've been. It's not something every pastor's wife might admit, but I'm not every pastor's wife. I'm learning not to hide my faults as much. It's exhausting to do that.
What have you been hiding that holds you back? Talk to me!
PS>> For those who use myfitnesspal.com for tracking food and calories, look me up! My username is tabrewis. Find my workout posts on Instragram under the same username (tabrewis).
Friday, September 12, 2014
Stand!
Life is funny. When you think you have everything planned out, you will soon realize how "funny" life really is. Sometimes I think God's two favorite words are "Oh, really???"
I have made plans, changed plans, forgotten plans, gave up on plans, and made plans again.
The last couple weeks have been weeks WITHOUT plans. I haven't been able to post like I wanted and things have been sooo busy! There are things I want to share but I just can't, so I had a bit of writer's block. And while I haven't done that great-- really I've been beating myself up over my choices lately --somehow the scale has remained the same. Which is actually a surprise. I thought I would have gained more than the 0.6 pounds I did, but maybe my choices weren't so bad after all?
Or maybe I was so intently focused on what I considered to be bad, that I didn't notice the good?
So this week I'm working on focusing better. And just when I think I'm messing this up again I'm going to remind myself of a favorite scripture: When you have done all that you can to stand, keep standing! (My paraphrase)
Monday, August 25, 2014
Taking the BAD with the GOOD
So today was probably the first time since I started living like I'm fit that my stress and depression took such a front row seat that I TOTALLY acted out with my food decisions. Some plans I made - BIG plans - fell through and it absolutely crushed me. So bad, in fact, that I went and had not one, but TWO pieces of birthday cake!
Sometimes things happen and you just get to the point where you're like, "I don't care - whatever - just give me the______________" (fill in the blank with chocolate, cake, ice cream, chips...whatever your go-to food item is).
One of the things I've read and tried my best to implement is the advice I got from one of my favorite podcasts, Half Size Me. The host, Heather, recommends that when you feel a binge coming on (and let's be real --- that was a binge for me even if I didn't take the whole cake at one time), to say to yourself, "This is not going to help me reach my end goal."
My end goal, of course is to lose weight and get healthier. And honestly, I think I thought about that little phrase, but I just didn't care. I was in full-blown pity party mode.
So far into that party mode, that when I came home, I had full intentions of putting my jammies on (which I did) and staying in bed the rest of the day.
But then I remembered my end goal. And I remembered those two pieces of cake I'd had today. And I remembered that I could still burn some calories, even if I did 'mess up' earlier.
So the happy ending is, I did my T25 cardio workout - nearly puked again - and feel a little less guilty about my actions today. (Side note: just for the record, I'm less concerned about the fact that I had birthday cake, and WAY MORE concerned about WHY I had birthday cake. It was a completely emotional decision. Not an "I want cake" decision, but more of a "I want to drown my sorrows in this yummy sugary icing" decision.)
But here's the thing. I'm totally aware that there will be (honestly, there have already been) days where I'm just not going to have the time or the get-up-and-go to correct something that I messed up on earlier. There may be days that I just cave and become the unfit Tabatha I was a few months ago.
The question then becomes "Can I recover from that point?"
Today---right now, I feel confident that I could. So maybe that will help with the next time. Since we're still human, still stuck here on planet earth, I'm pretty sure this won't be the last time.
So now I have to ask myself if it's enough to know I'm not going to do this thing - this living fit - perfectly and just do what I can, when I can? It's so hard to put up with imperfection coming from myself. But I guess that's part of this journey...accepting the good and the bad and doing the best I can with both.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Was I crazy? - First A.M. workout with my man!
Our morning workouts (thanks to a good friend who blessed us with this program) will actually consist of the T25 program.
For those of you familiar with Shaun T or the beachbody family of products, T25 is a shortened, more "focused" version of Insanity. The great thing is it has a modifier for every move, so for people like me and the hubster, we can still keep up even though we're not bouncing and moving around like Shaun T. We'll eventually be able to do the regular moves and the results will speak for themselves in the coming weeks.
Jerry's actually pretty excited about it - I haven't really seen him excited about exercising before. To be fair, though, while cardio is my thing, he HATES cardio --he'd much rather weight train. So of course he wasn't excited about exercising in the last few months - all I suggested was cardio, LOL! But he's excited, which makes me even more excited!
We got up this morning and dragged ourselves into the living room to do the first work out: Alpha: Cardio. Within the first 30 seconds , we were both "feeling it" in our hips and legs! We pressed on through it, and at about 13-minutes in, didn't think we'd make it. At about 23 minutes in, I thought I was going to vomit, but I guess since I didn't have breakfast yet, I would up being OK. Jerry had do some deep breathing, too - but we made it!! We finished it!! I wouldn't say we nailed it, but bless God we finished it!!
I've been feeling good pretty much all day from it. The hips and legs (and for some reason my right knee) are definitely feeling it as the day/night wears on, but we will be getting up again tomorrow to do Alpha: Speed.
It's a very interesting thing to work out with a buddy, though. I've definitely got a little bit of a competitive streak in me, so I wind up pushing myself, but Jerry and I know each other well enough that we're looking out for each other too. We were constantly telling each other, "watch your hip on that move" or "make sure your feet are facing forward when you go down"....just so we don't get hurt. Or maybe so that we don't have to take care of each other if we do get hurt! - LOL
We did take some "before" pics last night, but of course those are going to stay hidden away until they can be compared to our AWESOME "after" pics ...coming in a few months.
Make it an awesome week, friends!