6 Years!

Link to a video about my 6 year check up.  :)  How has it been that long already?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155933437063000&id=514672999

4 Pounds Down --- 12 To Go!

SO...the last time I weighed myself it was at night, when you aren't supposed to weigh yourself since you have eaten all day, and I saw the number that was unacceptable. 171 pounds. HELL NO!!!! So... on the exercise/calorie watching bandwagon I went. Weight loss surgery is a great tool, but it's hard work and I had been slacking off for too long. So that was about 12 days ago and last night I weighed myself again, yep, at night to keep with the trend, and I was at 167. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heading in the right direction. Back on the treadmill today, walking and trying to run a bit too. Counting calories, fat, and protein as I am supposed to. Of course I got on this same bandwagon in April, (as is obvious by a couple blog posts prior) and I am hopeful that this time I will maintain my motivation and over all determination. Anything worth having, like your health, is worth working hard for. And I certainly can't let all these surgeries go to waste right? lol P.S. If you are a regular reader of my blog this kind of post is familiar. I go through stages of doing great and maintaining the weight I like, and then struggling. It's an on going issue when you have a food problem. Mentally it is a HUGE struggle and I wish there was a pill I could simply take that made me only want to eat when actually hungry. Thank you to all of those who have supported me and lifted me when they see me about to snack and call me out on it. It always helps and is always appreciated. My goal of 155 pounds is getting closer!

REAL Bikini Bottom

Today marked a milestone.  Since losing weight and having my reconstructive surgeries I have greatly enjoyed wearing a two piece swimsuit...however; I have strictly only worn a bikini bottom with an attached skirt.  I have always felt that my inner thighs were way too flabby and unattractive due to excess skin from the weight loss to really look good in a regular bikini bottom.

Currently I'm on a mini vacation with James for our anniversary and we were in a gift ship looking around.  I came across a cute bikini bottom with no skirt and decided to try it on.  Normally I wouldn't haver bothered, but I had just experienced a bit of an epiphany in regards to what I should aollow myself to feel comfortable in when wearing swim wear...so I gave it a go.

I put it on...and decided that although I may not be a super model, I certainly don't look awful...and actually probably look good.  I need to stop worrying and just LIVE. I bought it.

And to top it off...James and I went swimming in the hotel pool and I wore it with confidence.  A bit nervous...but more confidence than not. I'm proud...excited...and feeling good about myself.  Moral of the story?  Stop worrying about how you look to everyone else and just be happy with you.  :)

30 Day Activity Challenge

In an effort to help the kids develop better eating habits that they can take into adulthood, I decided that the whole family will do a 30 Day Activity Challenge.  Being physically active in some way everyday for 30 days.  ALSO, eating as little added sugar as we can.  So far we are half way through, with our finishing day being July 24th.  Everyone is doing great.  Evelyn normally walks on our new/used treadmill, Isaiah works out with weights and the punching bag, James either walks or does a video, and I do one of a few things.  Ride my bike, walk 2 miles, or do a work out video.

I am really proud of our effort.  James has lost a few pounds already.  I have struggled (as you all know) to lose this annoying 10 pounds and I am hoping this will further help me to that goal.  I am doing well still monitoring my food/caloric intake and although I do go over sometimes, I am at least maintaining this weight, and not gaining.  That is good.  I need to do better of course and cut back on my snacking still, so it's less calories and thus I will lose weight.

So frustrating how weight loss surgery can help so much when it comes to losing weight, yet it can do nothing to help your mental issues with food.  BUT, I have known that for years now, as do you since I mention it often. lol  Nonetheless I am still proud of myself for at the very least maintaining my current weight.  It may be 10 pounds more than I would like, but I still look great and must remember that.  Even though it is hard, very hard.

Yet I will continue to try to lose this 10 pounds and regain my personal comfort level.  Knowing I look fine, doesn't change the fact that I simply don't feel as comfortable as I would like in my skin at this weight.  So onward I will go with it, as we all should when we have goals to reach.  Never stop trying!!  That is what must done.

Committed and Feeling Good!

My calf muscles are SO sore from two straight days of jogging and other workouts. Taking a break today, and back at it tomorrow. BUT, I am doing consistently great with my caloric intake which is also a huge part of not only losing the weight I want, but also maintaining the weight I want once I get there again. What is my goal weight you ask?? 150-155 pounds. Right now I am 166 pounds. I got this!!! At one point after my reconstructive surgery I weighed 145 pounds. Which although I loved seeing a number that low (I mean what former obese girl wouldn't?) James and a few friends all expressed that I looked too thin... so I am thinking 150-155 is the better range to shoot for.

I can honestly say I am feeling a much stronger sense of commitment and determination right now than I have in over a year. Not sure what "clicked"... but glad it did. Maybe it was a certain number on the scale... or maybe it was seeing that the weight I put on was visible to me in my face and arms... but whatever it is I was NOT ok with it. All that hard work and also all the pain from surgeries will never be for nothing! I have a pic of "fat Eva" as my wallpaper on my phone just so I have a constant reminder. One day at a time people.. one day at a time.

Diligence

Trying to exercise more often (Gotta get rid of this excess 15 pounds that has been around for almost 2 years now). Last night I did a new intense workout that I found on YouTube. I definitely worked up a sweat. Tonight I am gonna go for a short run with Evelyn... and then do that same workout again. Feeling more determined lately and ready to be back in the game of diligence!! Weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, and it can give you confidence... but it can't fix the way you think about food. All things considered, I am doing great though... which my doctors also say. I am proud of the weight I lost, and will be proud when I lose this annoying 15 pounds too. I CAN do it... and I WILL do it.

New Years Resolutions and Healthy Choices

Here we are in 2017.  For 2016 I made my first New Year’s Resolution (To read the entire Bible in a year) and successfully completed it.  This made me feel so excited and proud that I decided to create another one for 2017.  I have 3 resolutions, but the one that is the most important is that I have decided to do some form of exercises, mainly planks and crunches, every single day.  Because of my tummy tuck and my surgeon stitching together my stomach muscles I know I have the potential to have a tight and firm stomach, possibly even a six pack.  (At least that is what the surgeon told me.)  I am on day 4 right now and doing great.  I printed up a monthly exercise program that takes me just a few minutes a day and then on top of that I plan to randomly do planks throughout the day hopefully… but at a minimum, at least once a day.  I started off being able to do a 45 second plank, and already have added an extra 5 seconds on to that.  SWEEEET!!

I am excited to see the transition that this will bring over the course of a year.  I should probably take a before pic, just in case there is some actual visual difference when December 2017 rolls around.  I am also trying very hard to strictly maintain the calorie intake goals I have set for myself for each day.  As you all know I have struggled to get this annoying 10-15 pounds off of me that I put on over the course of two years.  It isn’t noticeable to anyone else really, but it certainly is to me and of course it’s visible on the scale.  So the combo of doing that with the exercise should be interesting.

Lastly, I am happy to report that I have been great about cutting back on my bad habit of eating WAY too many protein bars all day.  I finally made a promise to James that I would go cold turkey for a while to get myself out of the habit of eating them.  It’s never a good thing to have too much of anything, and when you are eating those for every meal and snack… well…. That just isn’t healthy.  So… I was able to finally break free and now I only have them once a month.  And it’s just the one bar.  Feels good to have broken that bad habit.  I suppose you could say I have been accomplishing a lot in 2016.  LOL.  

I will try to keep random updates on here about how my resolution is going and if I can feel or see any progress.  Also if I lose that pesky weight.  Everything else is still going great, taking my vitamins every day, trying to stay hydrated, and despite feeling tired often I am keeping busy.  Too bad my Sleep Apnea never went away… that would have been nice.  Anyway… Happy New Year to you all… ttyl.