But the needle on the scale stopped moving...

The last few days have been a bit discouraging. I was having a pretty steady drop over the course of the previous 7 weeks, but the last few days, I'm not seeing that next "drop". It's one that I was really looking forward to, and so that makes it frustrating. Also the fact that I have really been doing well makes it hard! I've been doing my workouts daily - no skips. I've been eating smart. I even changed things up a bit...adding the weight training 2 weeks ago. Yeah, yeah, I know that probably means I am building muscle, which weighs more than fat, but I would prefer to see the fat going WHILE I build muscle!

I am sure that many people have suggestions...change up the routine (which, I'm not quite ready to do), or increase the difficulty of my workout (that's an option - there's an advanced workout on my Tae Bo DVD). Honestly, I'm not really looking for suggestions right now. I mostly want to vent for the time and I am confident I will see the changes coming in the next few days.  

Tonight, I am coming more to grips with the fact that the needle on the scale wasn't further down today. I am realizing that I probably need this "plateau" for my body to adjust to what has already taken place. Also, I need the opportunity to get my bearings and move on. I'm looking ahead, too, and planning to "shake things up" coming in September when I'll be participating in a Aqua Aerobics class twice a week.  

One thing I am pretty adamant about is that I am going to really try to do as much of this as possible without a "program" or a "diet". We've made a lifestyle change and I want to live it. I've learned a lot of discipline through these 2 months and it's been with the support and encouragement of my husband and my own faith. Some of it is just common sense (which, I am sorry to say, many many American don't have these days.) People just don't know what is reasonable.

So, do I give up today? Do I abandon what has been accomplished until now? I didn't "mess up" today. I didn't comfort myself with some treat to be a balm to my disappointment.. I donned my workout clothes, filled my mug with ice-cold water and I pushed 'play' again! Tomorrow - I'll do the same!

Premiere

We've had some questions about what we've been doing to lose weight, and I keep typing the same thing over & over in emails, FB Messages, comments on FB. Today, it occurred to me that other people (and WE) could benefit from tracking our adventure in getting healthier and more fit! So, here we go with a blog. Most likely, it will be me (Krischelle), but Scott may find that he wants to post eventually, or maybe he'll answer questions more directly related to his journey and what he's doing sometimes.

The BIG question: What are you doing to lose weight?

Well, we have completely changed our lifestyle here at the Jones household.

It started more than 18 months ago with Scott. And I will let him tell his story if he wants to, but he was "inspired" to lose some weight and eat healthier. He lost about 15 lbs by watching what he ate. Last summer, we bought a treadmill and both started walking. Scott was much more aggressive and I was left in the dust. Through the fall, Scott began lifting weights at the fitness center in his office park. He started seeing results pretty quickly. 

In May, Scott ordered the P90X program. He started right away. It is a TOUGH program. He knew, to fit it in, he'd pretty much have to get up early and do it. Some days, he was up at 5:30 to get in a 90 minute workout before getting ready and heading into work.

My adventure started May 31st. Scott had encouraged me a couple times to pull out a Tae Bo video I have had for a number of years. He said he'd even do the workout with me. I wasn't excited at all. But, on Memorial Day, something told me, now is the time. I told him on the drive home from our annual family picnic that I would do it as soon as we arrived home. But if we waited until after the girls were in bed, I wouldn't do it. "I'm not a morning workout person" I said.

I did it. It was TOUGH! 25 minutes. I cannot tell you how hard it was to do some of the elements of the routine. But, I did it...with Scott by my side. I had to stop, I couldn't get my leg up to my knee on the kicks. My arms wouldn't go THAT fast on the speed bag work. There were times when he would increase the activity to "double time" and I just had to stay with the slower pace.

For the first couple of weeks, I worked out about 4-5 times each week. I waited until Scott arrived home, he worked out right along side me. He will never know how much that meant to me. He never pushed, never criticized, he just did it. One day, it occurred to me that he was really doing this out of love, but I felt guilty. Here he was, getting up at 5-5:30 a.m., working out out for 60-90 minutes and then working all day, only to come home and do this 25 minute workout with me!

So, I got started on my own. Every day, getting up and working out. We even took our DVDs with us and worked out on vacation!

Now I am in a solid routine. I am working out at least 6 times a week. Still doing the Basic Tae Bo Routine. It's 25 minutes and I am comfortable with it now. There is an Advanced Routine on the DVD I am using and it is about 45 minutes. I hope to start that in a couple of week. There is also an 8 minute (very fast) workout that I have done a handful of times.

When we returned from vacation, I added some weight training. I really want to make sure that I am keeping up with toning as I am losing. I bought my first set of dumbbells (10lbs each) and Scott set me up with a circuit of exercises. I do those about every other day and I am feeling the changes already.

In addition to the working out, we completely overhauled our grocery list. Fresh fruits, veggies, and lean meats. We eat at least one salad a day. We're not obsessed, but we watch our calories and we plan ahead when going out to eat (takes time but it will shock you how bad even SALADS can be at restaurant! 

Our two-door, 5 shelf pantry is just about to be converted to a storage, craft and resource closet for the girls! Almost all of our food fits into a 3-shelf double door cabinet. Everything else is on the counter (apples, bananas, etc, or in the fridge/freezer. We are consuming very few processed foods.

Last week, I hit a milestone (for me). I had reached the first 25 lbs of weight lost. My clothes are fitting differently, I see and feel muscles! I FEEL better. I CRAVE good food.

I have a LONG way to go. I don't know when I will get there. I don't have a goal date yet. Might consider setting one later on. Right now, I am enjoying the day-to-day experience of this new stage of Scott & my adventure together.