Journey to a healthy me

I love Maurice's. I discovered they carried fashionable plus sizes for my 20th birthday (I think). I've spent the extra money for quality clothes that are fashionable and professional. Tonight I went shopping for a new dress outfit. I went to the small store that only carries "regular" size clothing. I went in with my best friend. I grabbed a few cute things... I found a 15/16 that I didn't think I'd fit and some XL shirts... I tried the shirts on. One fit fabulously! Then I tried the pants on... THEY FIT! A little snug, but I could button them. The smile on my face probably was indescribable. This progress makes me smile.

As my clothes got too big I threw them in the bottom of my wardrobe... That pile became WAY too big and was overflowing. I gave my family some of the stuff I thought they may like, and bagged up the rest to donate. My dresser and wardrobe are very empty now... Makes me want to buy new clothes! However I have a long way to go, and can't keep buying all new clothes over and over. I'm 50 pounds lighter, and I'm not going back! My bad eating this past weekend is catching up though. I need to get back on track. I've been experimenting whether I should eat back the calories I burn, or do without. I'm going to eat them back this week, not in their entirety, but I'm going to try eating them back in fruits, whole grains, and veggies instead of junk (starting tomorrow). A retirement party at one of my favorite restaurants may spoil that tonight.

My plan when I decided to run an extra day was to just repeat week 4 again... But then I decided to try week 5 on my couch to 5k program. Initially I thought it was 5 minutes of running, walk, 8 minutes running, walk, and repeat. I was VERY hesitant. But it was actually only 5 minute increments the whole time. Somehow the app acted up, and I think I did 4-5 minute increments even though it only called for 3. I felt awesome after and my calories burned amazed me! The scale has been going up lately, but I feel its because I've been increasing my strength training, and I've eaten poorly 3 days this past week. We'll see what this extra running day will do. No school this week! But I definitely have some catching up on assignments and readings to do.

I have recently found inspiration from a blog that I stumbled upon by chance. I look at it every evening when it's updated and have even been brave enough to try a breakfast concoction of hers. Today though I realized I am an inspiration to those around me. My sister, who we have our good days and bad days, was talking about getting a gym membership today. Our local Y is so expensive, and since we adult children are living at home longer, our base for assistance includes our parents income, it makes it difficult. I have a student membership since I'm still in college, that's affordable for me. I made an agreement with her... She has to download MyFitnessPal and if she can lose 20 pounds by July 1st, I'll pay for a 6 month gym membership to a small gym near home. I don't doubt she can do it at all! I am glad to see that I am an inspiration to my sister, and hopefully my other family members.

I recently had to go for a follow-up on lab work I had done. My fasting blood sugar went from 103 to 87! I was hoping that was the case since type 2 diabetes runs in my family. My bad cholesterol is within normal ranges, my good cholesterol is low, but went up since the last lab work. My doctor was impressed, and I'm encouraged to have her see my results. I'm still Vitamin D deficient, but that is something I can work on with supplements and a little sun if it ever comes out... I was so stuck on week 3 of my couch to 5k. I think I did week 3, 3 or 4 times. I decided to try week 4 which is 16 minutes of running altogether with walking breaks. I was nervous because I struggled when I tried. I slowed the speed down. I struggled Tuesday, but finished it! Today I struggled, but nothing compared to Tuesday. I did it and am going to keep pushing myself.

Now I love the television series "Bones", but it has so many twists and turns! Yet I keep watching it week after week like my calories. I've always been overweight to the best of my knowledge. I don't remember a lot of positives about my body... And the most recent discovery as I have made with my ever changing body are my bones! After losing 40 pounds I can see bones in my hands, feet, wrists, face, neck, chest, back, knees, ankles, and I can feel my hips! It definitely feels weird, but it awesome! Running has been a struggle the past week, but I'm just repeating a week and we'll see where that takes me!

I went to the store in search of a new scale. There were quite a few to choose from. I debated over a simple one or maybe one that measured body fat, bmi, hydration, and of course weight. I found one and bought it! It is a little complicated, but once it's set up, it works. Unfortunately I can't weigh my dumbbells to see how accurate it is. It weighed me at 8 pounds less than my o lads scale, which mentally for me is nice! So when I go to the doctor, I'll compare their scale and see.

I hate weighing myself, but I know how important it is for me to do to keep myself accountable. Problem is the scale hasn't budged. I found a way to see how accurate my scale is. I took 2 ten pound dumbbells and weighed them. I'm buying a new scale...