Week: 20
Pounds Lost: 38.5
Welcome back, dear reader, to the adventures of Kath, the erstwhile weight-loss-wonder. Unfortunately for her, our heroine finds herself stalled in her steady journey of weight loss. Why, you ask, has her steady progress to date slowed to a near standstill? Ah…read on and you will find out!
Since we don’t have any family in town, my husband and I decided to take our kids to Banff for the Thanksgiving weekend – more exciting than staying home and trying to figure out what to do with all the turkey leftovers! First, of course, we attended our Saturday morning WW meeting, where I managed somehow to shave half a pound off my weight, putting me just on the border between 179 and 180 – a weight I haven’t been at since I was a university student, but still less than I had hoped for…my average 2 pounds/week loss is beginning to flatten out, and I’ve been hovering around the 180 mark for several weeks now. On the one hand, 180 is nothing to sneeze at, considering where I started. On the other, it’s still a good 25 pounds higher than my goal. So what gives? Read on, and all shall become clear in the course of my wanderings (both geographical and mental).
So, after the weigh-in, the hubster and I packed up the kids and headed out on the Trans-Canada towards Banff. (I’ve included a few gratuitous road-trip photos for your entertainment and edification.) During the drive, hub and I discussed our progress: this was the first week in the 20 we’ve been at this weight loss thing that he registered a gain: in every other week so far he has lost weight. So clearly we’re in plateausville together.
He wasn’t too upset at his gain – it was small (just over 1 pound) and he had missed his regular Saturday morning bike trainer workout this week, which would easily have placed him back in a loss position.
And that missed workout got me thinking: I NEVER work out. NEVER. I walk the kids to school (sometimes 3 times/day depending on preschool, kindergarten & lunch schedules) and I walk to the park or to friends’ houses, but I NEVER get off my lazy butt anymore to go to the gym or even down to the basement to do my "core secrets" video. 45 minutes out of life. Whoa, too much. Can’t do it.
Why? Is it a fall thing? Do I somehow feel a need to hunker down and conserve the stored energy in my body in case of famine over the winter? That seems like too easy of an excuse, doesn’t it? So what happened to the "old" me…when I started this journey, I was all about balance: I got up early to go for walks before the hubster left for work. I did Yoga regularly. I even used to just lie down while the kids played to do 50 crunches! Where is that person? How did I get so lazy?
To stand at the foot of a glacier and look down on the turquoise beauty of Lake Louise, with the white Chateau twinkling at its base and the ski resort as a backdrop – what a feeling! It was inspiring, motivational – everything I needed to kick start the second half of my weight loss journey. The journey to a thinner, fitter me.
Now that I’m back home in Calgary, I need to be held accountable for my epiphany on the mountain. That’s why I shared it here…it’s out there now…I can’t take it back…I have to increase the frequency and intensity of my workouts or admit to the whole wide world (or at least those members of it who read this blog) that I’ve failed.
It’s Tuesday now, and I’m going to make it to the gym at least three times before my next weigh-in on Saturday morning, and that’ll be the real test. My theory is this: eating poorly causes weight gain over a longer period, but high intensity exercise causes almost immediate weight loss. So let’s put that theory to the test and see if I can be down at least 2 lbs (no higher than 178) at my weigh in on Saturday.
Good web page, I just came across it and I’m already a fan. I just lost 30 pounds in thirty days, and I am excited to share my weight loss success with as many people as possible. If I can lose the weight then any one can. Whatever you do, never quit and you WILL accomplish every one of your weight loss targets!
ooooo Gandalf! LOVE!
ooooo Gandalf! LOVE!
Way to go Kath!!! I absolutely loved your post – extremely motivational. Loved the pictures & by the way – you look amazing. I don’t believe you could give a bigger gift to your family than a healthy active lifestyle.
Ack! Posted comment before Gandalf reference came into my sluggish brain. Darn, why settle for Moses when you can be compared to Gandalf?
LOL, Haley…yes, it’s my rod (or should I say rood?). I was going to part the waters of Lake Louise to “lead my people home” 😉
Actually, it’s just a walking stick. DH found it on one of our hikes after we first moved out here and carved, sanded and varnished it. I was just holding it for him ’cause he was taking the pic.
That is AWESOME. Awesome post, awesome adventure, awesome outlook. I love what you say about doing a boring video — “45 minutes out of life.” It is too much. Looks like you solved that problem by going hiking. How AWESOME of you! That’s exactly why I enjoy doing classes at the gym. And, classes where the music is good (like latin dance), or where I can dance (like latin dance and NIA); or else the TV has to be good (if I have to use an eliptical at the gym — i.e., when I’m LATE for the class I want to take).
This post was beautiful. Great writing, great pics. Thanks for sharing your epiphanic experience with us. You look AMAZING in the pic, by the way! But were you hiking with a stick? A rod? What is that thing? How very Mosesish of you…. 😉
That is AWESOME. Awesome post, awesome adventure, awesome outlook. I love what you say about doing a boring video — “45 minutes out of life.” It is too much. Looks like you solved that problem by going hiking. How AWESOME of you! That’s exactly why I enjoy doing classes at the gym. And, classes where the music is good (like latin dance), or where I can dance (like latin dance and NIA); or else the TV has to be good (if I have to use an eliptical at the gym — i.e., when I’m LATE for the class I want to take).
This post was beautiful. Great writing, great pics. Thanks for sharing your epiphanic experience with us. You look AMAZING in the pic, by the way! But were you hiking with a stick? A rod? What is that thing? How very Mosesish of you…. 😉
When I lost weight, I did a similar running program. It worked wonders for me – it was tough – but wow did I feel amazing. The best part was the feeling that I COULD do it. I did my first five k after six weeks in 28 minutes. I’ve never been prouder of myself. I guess the main thing is to do SOMETHING… And, I’m so guilty of this – I sprained my ankle this summer and got out of the habit of being active… Yet – I still find it hard to fit exercise into my life. Time to get motivated – and reading your posts is the best motivation I’ve found in a long while! Good luck!
Beautiful pics! The mountains as well as you and your hubby! What a difference!
Kath said – My theory is this: eating poorly causes weight gain over a longer period, but high intensity exercise causes almost immediate weight loss.
I totally agree. I have not changed much in my diet over the last few months but I went from “active lifestyle” (lots of walking, skiing, swimming, etc.) to running 30-60 minutes 3-4 times per week. I have lost almost 20lbs and my body has completely changed. I have never been an athlete or run more than a block in my life! My husband and I used this book, The Beginning Runners Handbook (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/item/books-978155365087/1553650875/Beginning+Runners+Handbook+The+The+Proven+13Week+WalkRun+Pro?ref=Search+Books%3a+'the+beginning+runners+handbook‘). It is a 13 week program that starts slow (4.5 minutes walk, 30 seconds run) and gets you to 10k by the end. It took me a bit more than 13 weeks but I will do my first 5k this weekend and my first 10k in 2 weeks!
The thing is, I like the way I feel. Not just about my body but I really do feel healthy and strong. I know you are right, Kath, and I know you can do it!!!
Great suggestions, bearsmom! In fact I DID go to the gym today, but my 3 year-old barfed 3X just as we pulled into the parking lot. Even though she seemed better after geting it out, I didn’t feel right about leaving her in the daycare. Workout thwarted! Oh well, it’s okay. She slept for a few hours but isn’t feeling much better now, so better I didn’t expose her germs to all the other kids. Hubster volunteered to do the bedtime routine tonight so I can hit the gym later. LIFE! It has such a way of getting in the way, LOL. 😉
What a difference a mountain can make! and look at that beautiful, smiling face! Congratulations to you. Just keep remembering the feeling on the mountain, moving your body under your own power with greater ease. If you are looking for a new workout at home I wanted to suggest “The Biggest Loser” workout DVD. It has one of the trainers (Bob) and some of the competitors from a past show and it is great. It has 4 workouts each about 45-50 mins in length (warm-up 5 min, workout 20-25 min and cool down 20 min). I purchased mine online from Chapters and I do it with my husband. Easy to follow and we sweat buckets each time and then it’s over before we know it. Also if you have a wee bit of room in the basement perhaps an eliptical machine. We bought a plain jane eliptical from Sears last Xmas for around $400 and because it didn’t have all the bells and whistles of a gym machine, I thought it would never be effective but it kicks my butt everytime. If I’m going to be watching tv in the family room then I get on it. Some things to mull over. Good luck and keep on movin’.