Forgive my goofy thumbs up poses, and super dorky smile -I’m just excited!
Yeah! I am super excited to tell you guys that I’ve lost 15 lbs(!) so far! I’m really feeling great, and am probably more healthy than I have ever been in my whole life. I am still walking daily (only missing 3 days since I started). I’ve upped the ante a bit walking 4.5 miles 3 days a week and 3 miles the other 4 days. My calves are cut like knives, my legs are skinny, I’ve lost my double chin, and my waist is finally starting to cinch up a bit. Plus I feel good.
Here are some stats that I am super proud of (July 1 – September 26):
Walked: 1,301,916 steps – averaging 14,663 steps per day
Gone: 613.91 miles – averaging 6.92 miles per day
Lost: 15 lbs
Worn through: 1 pair of shoes
Seen: Amazing sunrises
Listened to: Tons of cool jamz
Covered: 3 years of This American Life
I still have 5 more lbs to make my first goal of losing 20 lbs, I know that’s totally doable over the next month, I’d still ideally like to lose another 10 on top of that. After all the work I’ve put into this for the fist 15, I know that the next 15 will be really hard, and it will take most of the winter to lose it. Eventually it will be harder to walk when the temps drop in the deep winter, but I am committed to keeping with it through the fall and early winter. I even purchased some super sporty winter walking gear. The hardest part is waking up when it’s still dark out, sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming while I walk.
Here are some sunrise pics for you, I’m pretty proud of them.
You look so SO good. This is a HUGE deal! So inspirational. Mine isn’t baby weight… just regular too-much-fast-food weight. I think I am going to walk tonight. I also listen to This American Life when exercising. Last night I listened to an episode called Testosterone and I was blown away.
Hey Emily!
Thanks so much! I feel good too. I can’t blame all mine on baby weight, I’m sure there was plenty of beer weight, and chip weight in there too. I haven’t been a saint when it comes to eating or anything the last few years.
I will totally check out that episode, I love a TAL recommendation. I liked last weeks episode too, “Use only as Directed”.
Congratulations, awesome!! I know how hard it is, all too well. I have to kids, didn’t even really try to lose the weight until about 5-6 months after my daughter when I saw a picture and was so appalled at how big I looked (plus my knees started to hurt, which has never happend before!). It was about feeling healthier, better about myself, getting back to the inner “me” as cheesy as that sounds. Now 2 1/2 years later the mother f*(*in’ weight is still off and still feeling great! I think the moderate exercise is a smart choice. I swear by “eating clean” because I can never stop eating meat, enjoy it too much. Better/healthier choices when it’s meal time and better snacking was definitely key… and treating myself once or twice a week is essential to feel normal and indulge. Keep up the good work, yay!!
That is so great that you have been able to keep it off. I hope I am able to do that too. I too have changed my eating habits, I try and eat clean whenever possible, but I’m not overly strict about it. Having the CSA this summer has really helped with that, and I have a new found love of greek yogurt. Do you have any good healthy snacks to share, I still struggle with actually liking healthy snacks.
You will totally keep it off, especially since you’ve had so much progress and it’s become your new “normal” routine! CSA totally helps, as far as healthy snacking goes, I also cut out a lot of carbs and if I do eat pasta it’s brown rice pasta… and eat gluten-free as much as possible. So I guess it’s a mix of eating clean/gluten-free — but indulging a few times a week. If I have a big lunch, then I go easy on dinner, etc… So it’s always checks/balances being aware of what you eat. Now that I’ve been doing it for over 2 years I don’t even miss the bad stuff, I crave the good stuff. For snacking, always having fruit, tasty veggies, nuts, granola bars, dried peas/corn (you can get ’em in the snack aisle at Target)… wholesome is the key. You have to cheat though, otherwise you feel like you are starving yourself! Trust me, I love pizza, burgers, hot dogs, donuts, it’s just I watch it and when I do have it I compensate in other ways.
Hot Mama! You’re doing so good. Maybe I should do something like that too. Maybe :)
Oh whatever, you are the running queen! I actually thought of you when I walked, I was always inspired by your beautiful photos while out on your morning runs.
Scoops!!!!! You are doing so good! Proud of you buddy and glad you’re feeling like a million bucks cause you look it!
Thanks Cam!
“sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming while I walk.” – Beautiful!
Congratulations on getting healthy! So motivating, especially since you are doing it by walking, not through some crazy “Insanity” program or starving. Slow and steady wins the race. You are kicking ass :)
Thank you Deborah! It is for sure slow and steady, and hopefully I will win the race! I already feel like I’ve won, I really am proud of myself for adding exercise to my daily routine. Thanks for your support!
Congrats! You look great. I sooo struggle to building into my routine and keeping them there. I blame my job, but it is really my lack of discipline and commitment thus far. I’m beginning to think early mornings are the key. I better get to it before I’m not in shape and having to deal with snow. You are inspiring!
Thanks Meg! It’s really hard to make it a habit, I know. If it helps at all, I just decided I was going to do it one day and that’s all it took. It’s as simple as deciding, but I know all the logistics and discipline are really hard. If you want it, go get it, it’s right there for the taking!
Congratulations! What you have done is developed a new habit which is hard to do. Keep at it!
That was the hardest part, when I started someone told me that it takes 28 days to make a habit. I just focused on that every morning when I woke up and I didn’t want to get out of bed. Now mornings are dark, and all I want to do is keep sleeping – but the routine takes over. I just roll out of bed and start getting ready for my walk. It’s almost like brushing my teeth now, and I know in the end I will feel good having started the day out on the right foot.
You look incredible! I am really proud of you. It’s so nice to get past that hump and feel the “runner’s” or for your case “walker’s high.” Once you find that motivation and the extra benefits of happy endorphins flying through your brain it’s so much easier to exercise and keep with it. I’m feeling that right there with ya!
Keep it up lady. Winter is tough but the sunrises are even more spectacular for some magical winter reason.
Thanks Laura!
Yeah, those endorphins sure do make it easier don’t they? I will try so hard to keep it up this winter. I actually was walking last winter a few times a week, not as often, or as far in distance, but I was pretty good about getting out there. It’s only the worst when day time highs are near 0º. What do you recommend for winter gear, you old pro, you.
Hope you are still doing awesome, we miss you over here!
You look amazing, super congrats! I was wondering if you were going to do an update soon. Good luck this winter, hopefully it won’t be as bad as last year in the twin cities!
Thank You Lacy! I will die if this winter is as bad as last, seriously, die.
Talk about a body change!!!!! Job well done!!!you should be proud of all your hard work. What an inspiration to all your blog readers myself included. I love before and after pics!!! That’s great that you’ve stuck to it and walked every day!! Couple q’s for u
How the hell do you get yourself out of bed when it’s so dark out? I struggle with that myself. I know from following your blog happenings you’ve got two little ones.
From one mom to another… How are you able to keep up your routine and still be super mom? Are you not just exhausted and in bed by 10? Btwn my 40+ hr work weeks, juggling my husbands busy work hours and my 2kids it’s hard to find time for me. It seems like there are never enough hours in the day.
Is it a whole family approach that you’ve taken? Any other tips or advice would be appreciated!! You seem to have unlocked a secret to success here. Getting that body after babies back is so hard for some moms, I wonder if dads truly understand the huge change that happens to our bodies when we decide to enter the mommy club. thks again for being so honest and open to helping others.
Wow Hayley! Thank you!
I won’t claim to having figured out any major secrets but I can tell you I swear by a schedule and to-do lists. I have a weekly schedule where I get certain chores done on certain days, and I have a daily schedule. I can’t tell you how much I love my schedule.
I have no idea how I get out of bed, I just do because I know I have to. I think I have set a bar of major self disappointment if I don’t do get my butt out of the door and go on a walk, I get up because deep down in there, I know I want to. I leave the house 1 hour before the kids wake up and while my husband is still snoozing. A morning walk was the only time I could go where I didn’t feel like I was taking away time from my family.
As soon as I get home from my walk, I have a cup of coffee and I sit down with a notebook to plan out the rest of the day, sometimes down to the quarter hour. It’s obsessive but that’s how I do it.
I feel fortunate to be able to be home, it allows me to get things done (like the laundry). I’m guessing you probably have to do household chores on weeknights and weekends and I’m sure that eats up some of your fam time. I’m would imagine that’s a really hard schedule to keep up with.
I also have the kids on a schedule too, it’s good for all of us. They seem to find comfort in knowing the day-to-day routine and expecting the same thing. Nap time (for my little one) /afternoon preschool (for my older) is a highly coveted 2 hours where I kick ass and get as many things done as I possibly can, I surprise myself with how much I can do in such little time. Currently this is my cabinet painting time, but usually I blog or do something like that. The kids are also in bed by 7:30 every night, that allows the old man and I to have alone time without the kids, it’s the best time of the day.
Honestly, I probably don’t get enough sleep, my average bedtime is usually close to midnight, but I guess it’s just one of those things. We call it “what would piss you off more?” Usually the question is, “would you rather hang out and have some quality mom and dad time, or would you rather go to sleep”. I’m sure it will catch up to me at some point, but right now I’m surviving.
Hang in there, I don’t know how old your kids are but I do think that getting the youngest to that 2 year mark changes everything.
Thanks again!
Fantastic! You look really happy in your after pic. That’s what matters most. Also, you are setting a great example for your boys. Congrats!
Thanks Jessica! I am really happy, it feels good!
You go, girl! You look so great! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Keri!
Whoa, that is so awesome!! Nice work!!
Thanks Anne!
You look so amazing! Seriously, rad job, and such an inspiration!! (Also, that workout hoodie is ridonk cute.) I need to get back into shape, and this is such a good motivator. Your stomach! So flat!
Thanks Laura! Go do it!, then you can wear a cool workout hoodie too :) My stomach looks cool in that pic, but still has that gross baby pocket that is hidden by my shirt, not much you can do about that… learning to accept it.
Fantastic! I thought the first photos were pretty good but those side on shots are impressive! I’m not a morning person and there is no way I could do what you’ve done. Also my kids often wake at 5am so I’d have to get up at 4am! Eeek!!! Big congrats, your commitment and effort have really paid off. :)
Thanks Belinda! Yeah, I’m not really a morning person either, but I guess I have made myself one… Someday when my kids are old – I’m gonna sleep the day away, it’ll be great!
5am kid wake ups sound rough, hang in there!