Tuesday, April 19, 2011

100 Reasons

Yesterday, I Ashley, reached my 200th day of my new healthy lifestyle.  I have had many hurdles, and many successes, but isn't that what life is about?  Wouldn't life be grand if you had the desire every day to exercise, no temptations with eating, and the pounds would just fall off?  Yeah that would be the life...except it wouldn't be life at all, because you wouldn't be living.  In the past 200 days I have lost 48.5 inches off my body from head to toe and seen the 50 lbs weight loss on the scale.  I have more energy.  I have dropped soda completely and don't even take a double look at it, but have learned to love my water bottle that goes everywhere with me.  Not every day in the past 200 days have been perfect, I have had ups and downs especially with moving, but every meal is a new meal, every day is a new day.  I have a long way to go, but I am learning to crave after God instead of food.  I highly recommend everyone to read the book "Made to Crave".  I have a ton of reasons on why I want to lose weight.  Last night I came across these 100 reasons, can you relate to any?  Sadly I can, but I am working on eliminating those one off the list one by one.

100 Reasons…

1. To feel good about ourselves.
2. To have GREAT sex! :)
3. So we won’t think people are laughing or talking about us.
4. To buy clothes in a “normal store” and actually get clothes with some style to them that fit correctly.
5. To have more energy!
6. To be able to tie your shoes/paint toenails.
7. To be able to sit on a floor and get up gracefully.
8. To wear a bathing suit.
9. To cross your legs or sit with them crossed.
10. To fit into an airline/theater/bus/whatever seat without spilling over and without having to see “that look” from the person who has to sit beside you.
11. So our ankles won’t swell.
12. To fit into a booth at any restaurant.
13. To not need an extension to a seat belt on an airplane and to have the tray table not balance on our bellies.
14. To not worry about being decapitated in our cars with our seat belts on if we should be in an accident.
15. To not turn beet red after moderate exertion.
16. To be able to pick something up off the floor.
17. Pantyhose that fit!
18. To go to an amusement park and ride the rides.
19. To be able to sit in any chair without worry of breakage.
20. To not have to apologize when caught in a narrow aisle and have someone need to get by.
21. To go dancing, sky diving, bungee jumping…
22. To be able to go horseback riding or ride a bike.
23. To not worry about rashes and sweating.
24. To not have to listen to “caring” people ask why you don’t diet or worse still to hear… “gee you have such a pretty face”.
25. To not worry about spilling food, sauces or gravy down the front of your blouse/dress/shirt when eating.
26. To not have to think up some excuse for not doing something because you know your weight will impede you.
27. To not have your belly hit the steering wheel and to be able to fit comfortably in the driver’s seat.
28. To have a bra fit comfortably and to be able to buy underwear at Victoria’s Secret rather than at “Tubby the Underwear Guy”.
29. To not have to worry about the weight limit of step stools, ladders, motorcycle, exercise equipment, etc.
30. To not get stuck in a turn style.
31. To not wake up feeling achy in the back..or to have ache free legs and feet.
32. So the bathroom scale won’t creak and groan when you step on it.

33. To be able to leave the tablecloth on the table at a restaurant instead of dragging it with you when you get up.
34. So you won't look the other way when you see yourself in a monitor where they have security cameras.
35. To never be embarrassed about your size.
36. To not count tying shoes as daily exercise.
37. To not have to wait for the handicap stall when there are plenty of other stalls available.
38. To not be more out of shape than seniors.
39. To not break toilet seat when leaning to one side.
40. To be able to put on wedding rings again.
41. To try to make a double chin and fail!
42. Buy clothing bargains to fit the next year ... and they do!
43. Not to have to worry about plastic zippers or having your pants bust open.
44. Normal waistbands rather than elastic!
45. To wear knee socks correctly instead of worn like slouches!
46. To look good in a tee shirt!
47. To try on slacks or jeans and have the pant leg actually fit over leg!
48. To be able to get close to sink and not come away with a wet belly!
49. To get out of a stuffed chair GRACEFULLY and not look down to see if the chair has come up with you!
50. To not worry if the hairdresser's smock will fit!
51. To not be self-conscious about eating in front of others!
52. To not be afraid to ask which hairstyle suits your face.
53. To not have people checking you out after looking in your grocery cart.
54. To not feel (and look) like a sausage in stirrup pants.
55. To have your friends NOT be embarrassed to be seen with you.
56. To get promotions/hired or close that sale.
57. Pants that stay up because your waist is smaller than your butt!
58. No more boobs! (this is for the guys!)
59. Wearing shorts or tank tops without fear of arrest or grossing out others!
60. To not have the fear of being rejected.
61. To successfully flirt!
62. To not worry about how to get in and out of the back seat in a two door car!
63. One size fits all and it fits you!
64. To have a lap.
65. To not have the car you are ride in slant in your direction.
66. To be able to use toilet paper as it was meant to be used and not to have to invent ways to "get the job done".
67. To not have to watch TV news reports on fat people in hopes that you haven't been caught on camera!
68. To be able to get between cars in a parking lot without wiping the dust off with your belly and your butt.
69. No more heat rashes and chafing in the upper thighs.
70. So that the cloth in the thigh area doesn't wear away long before the rest of the slacks do!
71. To meet a friend online and not be horrified to have to send a picture of yourself.
72. To not take fat references and fat jokes personally.
73. To know you can go anywhere because wherever you sit you CAN be comfortable and look at ease.
74. To shop at the mall and not have your back ache from lugging your huge butt and stomach around!
75. To be able to stand still, carrying nothing and still look poised.
76. To be able to cross your arms across your chest without them resting on your stomach!
77. To have your feet get smaller.
78. Using your mouth to taste and chew food rather than as just a route to get the food from your lips to your stomach.
79. Blood pressure returns to normal.
80. To avoid other health complications from being overweight.
81. To be able to borrow a co-worker's jacket for an important meeting.
82. To meet someone for the first time and their eyes don't pop out of their head with amazement...because they never knew you're fat!
83. To see your reflection in a mirror or store window without turning away!
84. To wear a watch with a regular length watch band.
85. To look in the mirror when getting your hair cut without thinking you have the biggest face in the world.
86. To not mind getting your picture taken.
87. To not avoid going to the doctor because you have to get "weighed" in.
88. To wake up each morning feeling energized and ready to go.
89. To not even worry about squeezing into small spaces.
90. To not have to enter an elevator and check the weight limit.
91. To look in your closet and have problems deciding which stylish outfit to work since you have so many that look good and fit well.
92. To not have to lie perfectly still in bed at night for fear of breaking the bed!
93. To buy tie shoes instead of slip ons!
94. To be able to walk any distance without looking for a bench to sit on.
95. To look forward to shopping and just trying on clothes!
96. To be able to drive by any fast food place without salivating!
97. To be able to shop at the same store for food instead of having to remember where you shopped last night for the junk food so you can avoid that store for a few days!
98. To not feel lower than low when an innocent child remarks about your size!
99. To not constantly be thinking of where your next morsel of food is coming from.
100. And the 100th reason to lose 100 pounds..... I'M WORTH IT!
- Author Of List Unknown

Monday, April 18, 2011

Progress!!!

Hey Yall,
Just wanted to give you a progress report. As stated in an earlier blog, I have a chart to note my weight loss progress, with the hopes of being to 180 by Sept 3. So far I am off to an okay start. I lost 1.5 lbs the first week, and maintained the second week (this is actually good considering the week I had). I must say though, today has been a pretty good day. My eating has been on point and I have done a lot of exercising. So far I have done some dancing, I went for a walk/jog- and even jogged my farthest yet, did pilates/yoga, and will end the night doing a dance workout. Today I can truly say I have put forth the effort I should and can go to sleep a happy woman. However, the true test comes next week. I am going on a "vacation" with work to Florida. This means I have a lot less control over what I get to eat because we will have a lot of group meals. We are staying at a resort, so hopefully they will have some sort of a work out facility. I believe my goal will be to wake up early each day (or at least schedule time each day) to work out for an hour. It may be doing laps in the pool, or an all out workout in the gym, but either way I am going to work out while on vacation. Hopefully between this, all the walking I will be doing visiting the different theme parks, and watching what I eat, I will be able to survive this trip and maybe lose some weight in the process. Be praying for me that I stay strong. How is everyone else doing with their weight loss? Any triumphs? Any struggles? Let me know!

Caitlin

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Ideas

Hey yall,
Caitlin here: So as my last post stated, I have set myself up a goal to lose about 25 lbs by the end of August. It has already been a struggle, but I am working on it. One idea I had to keep myself motivated was to think of some reward to treat myself with should I reach my goal. This is where I need some help. Anyone have any ideas on some decent rewards that aren't too expensive? One idea I had is going to Ocean City, Md. Now, some of yall might be thinking- how in the world is that not expensive?!? Well, every September my company takes a beach trip to Ocean City around the 2nd week of September. This would be right after I have met my goal. We usually go in two groups. One group goes for the first few days of the week and the second group goes the last few days of the week. What I would do is see if I could take some time off and just go with both groups. I believe my group is in the first part of the week, so I would just see if I could stay with the second group. This would allow me to be able to stay and not have hotel/food costs, unless I wanted to eat out. That would significantly reduce costs of going. However, I am not sure if this will work or not. That being said, does anyone have any other feasible reward ideas? If so comment and let me know! Thanks!

Caitlin