Gettin' in the Groove

Since my last post, I have kept with the yoga. I've actually successfully completed a yoga exercise everyday this week. And I must say, that while I definitely feel the burn, I can also see improvement. Even after just four "practices" (that's what a yoga session is apparently called), I can see that some parts are not as terrible as they were the day before (although some are still pretty awful). I'm able to hold positions for longer and even though I did have to modify some of the poses because of all the extra weight, I didn't give up. I was pouring sweat by the end and my whole body was jello. But I'll take it.
But I think I am going to have to work out in the morning instead of at night, because after each practice, I've had so much energy, I haven't been able to sleep. Granted, I've gone to work way into the night and had to sleep late into the morning after I take the boys to school, but I'm not sure that that is all it is.
Also, I haven't told anyone that I'm actively trying to get healthy and lose weight. Derek knows because he sees what I'm doing. He sees the better food choices I'm making. He knows about the yoga and pilates. He sees the gallons of water I'm drinking daily. Okay, probably not gallons, but A LOT. And I told him I am not telling anyone. He says that's probably smart and that I don't need the added pressure of anyone being there to see me fail. This way, I only have myself to answer to, and really, that should be the only one that matters at this point.
A few years ago, I started running. And although I did it religiously for about six months (and lost weight) and then sporadically since then, I never really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the "runner's high" that I would get after it was over, but I hated the actual running part. Yoga and pilates, on the other hand, I LOVE.  I love how it's all about personal strength and stamina. I love the increase in flexibility. I love that it's pretty low impact. And I love the calm and peace I get from it. I get to block everything out and just focus on the position and breathing (and not falling over!). With running, I would typically just think about anything and everything (but the running) just to get my mind off of the miles. But with yoga, I have to be present in order just to get the pose right. It really makes me pay attention to my body and how it's working. I can definitely tell I'm going to be majorly sore tomorrow, but it's totally worth it.

Yoga: A love and hate relationship

I did a half-hour of yoga yesterday. I haven't done anything like that in over a year. I forgot how much I love it, but boy, am I paying for it today. I can barely move! I feel like I have been hit by a truck. I did some stretching this evening to loosen things back up and I really think it helped. I am going to do another workout in the morning after I take the boys to school. Just go ahead and get it over with. That way, I don't have to think about it for the rest of the day. It sets the tone for everything, I've found. I have found that I tend to drink more water, make better food choices, and have more energy throughout the whole rest of the day, just by making the simple decision to exercise for 30 minutes. I really did love it, I don't want to give it up again. I won't give it up again!

Day 1

Today is the first day of the rest of your life... Or, so they say. And I guess it is for me. I have began and ended this journey SO many times in the past. But yesterday, I looked on the scale and saw a number I've never seen before. And I'll say it, because you don't know me and right now, I can be completely anonymous (and there are no pictures to prove this!). I saw 262 lbs. I've hit my rock bottom. This is officially the most I've ever weighed in my whole life (including when I was full-term pregnant with my kids). And despite what, I feel, has been a good "effort" on my part to not go overboard with snacking and junk food, it seems as though I have done just that. I know what I need to do. I've done it before. It's time for me to get off the couch, lace up my shoes and get to work. It's a long, hard road, but it works. And I know I can do it. And this time, I really want it. I am tired of being so tired and feeling like crap all the time. All I want to do is sleep. And tonight, I have heartburn for the first time in about five years. I used to get it all the time, but lost some weight and ate healthier and it went away. Now it's back and I think it has added to my wake up call.  I know my best bet to cut a significant amount of weight in a pretty short amount of time is to cut out sugar. Plain and simple, it's my biggest weakness. I'm going to try to take it a day at a time cutting out sugar. It will be SUPER hard, but I will try.

Plan for Day 2:
* Have a smoothie for breakfast. Banana, blueberry, strawberry, spinach, oatmeal, and chia.
* Complete 30 minutes of cardio (or 2 episodes of Friends!)
* Drink water all day. Sorry, coffee, you're gonna have to go :(

Non-health related goals:
* Do 3 loads of laundry
* Give the dog a bath
* Make love to my husband (although, I guess this one could count as health related...)
* Make a dent in the kitchen mess