I'm celebrating 2 years on this wonderful journey. I never would've imagined that I, little old me, would be where I am today. After years of yoyo dieting, I finally discovered the secret behind being healthy.

The fifth season of the Biggest Loser was a catalyst to me. "Believe it, be it". After Ali won, I told myself that it was possible. We were the same height and had the same starting weight, 235 lbs on a 5'5" frame. If she could do it, why couldn't I? I was miserable at 235 lbs. I tried and experimented different things to feel better about myself but nothing really worked. Everything was a struggle. I didn't like myself. Every year, I'd have the same resolution but never stuck to it.

On a hot summer day, I was driving around and saw that my old gym (which is now my current gym) was advertising a special. I signed up knowing deep down that I'd fail. I think I did that to prove myself right, once again. The first day there was such a daunting experience. I quickly enlisted the help of a trainer and that's how I got started. It was extremely hard at first. I wanted to be able to do so many things but my body couldn't. When my trainer noticed my first 10 lbs weight loss, I knew I wanted more. And here I am, 90 lbs lighter & 10 more lbs to go before reaching goal.

What I've learned ... believe in yourself and in the ability to do things. It's crazy how we underestimate ourselves. It's crazy how we have no concept of how strong we are. Take baby steps and educate yourself. Make sure to have a support network around you, you don't need to do this alone 'cuz you're not alone in this. Do it the healthy way, do it in a way that is going to be sustainable for you. There are no quick fixes. Anyhow, many of us have dieted and lost & gained those same stubborn pounds over and over again. Why? Because it wasn't a lifestyle change. I don't want to hear "I've eliminated carbs", "I'm eating one meal per day", etc. It doesn't work. There are no quick fixes.

What's the equation to weight loss? Calorie counting, eating clean, exercise (cardio and weight training) + believing in yourself. You can't go wrong with that!

I'm Worth It !

It's not an easy journey but it's sincerely the most rewarding one. I cannot believe how far I've come in the past 2 years. As a sit in my room thinking about the old me and knowing what the new me is capable of now, I'm stunned.

Not too long ago, I was your typical sedentary overweight obese young woman. I was constantly tired, depressed and miserable. I found comfort in food. I was still am your typical loner, never had many friends. I literally watched my body gain each pound over the years but I did nothing to stop it. The typical "start tomorrow diet" and that tomorrow never came ... until May 2008, that is.

I thought I successful at hiding the extra pounds from everybody. I was the only human being on the planet wearing turtlenecks in July convincing people that I was cold. I always made sure to eat less when I was around friends only to binge when I'd get home. I'd eat myself to sleep, I'd eat so much that breathing was nearly impossible. Exercise was not part of my vocabulary. Why did I let myself get so big? I thought it was genetic, I thought I was destined to be fat. Don't get me wrong, I dieted and manage to lose weight ... but by starving myself and the weight always came back with a vengeance.


What's different now? I decided to do something about it. I'm 90 lbs lighter. I'm mentally and physically much stronger. I'm working towards getting a personal training certification & I'd also like to become an aerobics instructor. I'm inspiring people around me, the feeling is great. I've lost a few friends here and there but made tons of new friendships.

Yay, the holidays are finally over! Getting back on track.

Is it just me or is anyone out there glad that the holidays are finally over. I mean, who needs 2 weeks of eating crap and getting thrown off their exercise routine. I was stuck working more than usual, the gym had their crappy holiday schedule hence modified open hours and I was not able to make it regularly. I actually did not work out 5 days in a row, a very first for me.

Don't ask me how I did it, I managed to lose 2 lbs during Christmas. I was surprised and felt on top of the world. Who loses weight during the holidays. Comes New Year which is also my birthday and my monthly little friend and I'm up 2 lbs! Disappointed, shocked but I blamed it on having my period. Today, a week later, I'm still at the same weight. Frustrating! To make matters worse, I'm told by my brother that my face looks bigger and he asks me whether or not I've put on weight. To confuse me even more, my mother begged me to stop losing because she finds me too small. Confused much?

I go in a state of panic wondering whether my face did really get bigger from gaining those 2 measly pounds. Are my new size 8 pants getting tight? Do I really look that big? Even after losing all this weight (80 something), I sometimes still see & feel the old me.

Luckily for me, I signed up for a few personal training sessions. I'm determined to get rid of those 2 freakin' lbs and get below 150 by the end of the month (I'm 154). I'm going to keep planning my meals, logging my food and push myself even harder at the gym (as if what I'm doing now is not enough). So frustrating!

The plan

•  Not to leave the gym until I see a calorie burn of at least 1000 cals on my HRM.
• 2 liters of water minimum per day.
• Be out of the 150s by the end of the month, no excuses!

As frustrating as it can be, I need to look at the bigger picture which is ...

• A starting weight of 235 lbs.
• My current weight of 154 lbs
• A total weight loss of 81 lbs.

Recap

I'm definitely not the best blogger out there but at least, I'm back to business. I have not fallen out of the weight loss wagon. Things have been going great. Losing the weight has not cured all my problems, at one point I thought it would, it has strengthen me.

It's crazy to think that a year and a half has gone by already. It's still unreal for me to realize that I was 80-something lbs heavier not too long ago. I was a mess, I was depressed.

Haha Moment
Season 5 of the "Biggest Loser". I had enough of watching people change their lives for the better while I was getting bigger and more miserable by the minute.

May 18th, 2008 ... I got off the couch, went to my local gym and signed up for a year. I had gone there when I was younger so I knew one of the instructors. I'll never forget the look in her face when she saw me after a few years, disappointed. I had put on a good 30-40 lbs.

I still mustered up my courage and asked her to design me a program. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. What the heck was weight training? What the heck is a set? I was totally clueless.


The journey
She has been there every step of the way. She has seen me lose each and every pound I have lost so far. She keeps me going. I honestly don't think I'd be where I am today had it not been for her.

A year and a half later, I've dropped 82 lbs. I went from wearing snug 22s to comfy 8s ... and I'm not done yet. There are so many things my body can do. I'm inspiring many, reaching out to friends & strangers, working on getting certified. My life has completely changed.

Rock On!

I stepped on the scale this morning and I lost another pound! I'm so excited and so proud of myself. Weighing in at 178 today I can honestly say that I never stepped on a scale weighing that little. I think I was about 180-something in seventh grade and 2 inches shorter and then again, it could've been more.

I feel great knowing that I'm losing the weight the right way by incorporating good & healthy habits. I'm so close to my 1st goal, it's scary. I've become such a perfectionist that I probably won't want to stop there, I want & need to see 150 lbs on that damn scale.

WEIGHT LOST IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!
No, it is NOT! Eat less, move more.

Workout plans for the week? The usual stairmaster, treadmill, spin bike, aerobics & step class and weight training of course. I don't know how much more I'll be able to up the intensity but ...

Oh, and I'm leaving for LA in 12 days!

Goodbye 180s ...

ShrinkingDiva is back and needs to blog some more.

What's new? I'm no longer in the 180s. Who would've thought? Certainly not me. Yup, I weighed in today despite the fact that I'm probably +2 lbs because I got my period. Anyhow, I'm still very satisfied with the result, 179 lbs. I also weighed in on another scale and the result was the same, 179 lbs. Amazing!

That's a huge milestone for me. I don't recall ever ever weighing in under 180 lbs. At 26 years old, it's the first time that I see something below 180 which means that I'm getting closer to goal. Yay!

This whole diet & exercise thing really works after all. After being overweight my whole life, I thought I was destined to be fat. I really believed that I was destined to be overweight for the rest of my life. Yo-yo diets, South Beach, restricting my calorie intake, eating a meal per day ... been there, done that.

I'm overwhelmed by all the attention I've been getting because I've lost the weight & because society's perception of me has changed. I might be stupid for saying this but I feel like a celebrity. The people at the gym know me, strangers know me, guys are checking me out for the first time in my life. So many changes ...

I'm 19 lbs short from my goal weight and 29 lbs short from my ultimate goal weight. What's the plan? I'ma keep on doing what I've been doing.

Spinning 101

The Scoop on Spinning
Spinning was created by world-class cyclist "Jonny G." Goldberg as a convenient and quick way to train for races. In 1989, he and John Baudhuin opened the first spinning center in Santa Monica, California and then developed a program to certify other spinning instructors. Curious to know about this spinning thing? The following info will help you decide if it's for you:

What is it?

Spinning is an aerobic exercise that takes place on a specially designed stationary bicycle called (obviously enough) a spinning bike. As you pedal, motivating music plays and the instructor talks you through a visualization of an outdoor cycling workout: "You're going up a long hill now, you can't see the top yet.…" During the class you vary your pace -- sometimes pedaling as fast as you can, other times cranking up the tension and pedaling slowly from a standing position. This helps you to focus inwardly and work on your mind as well as your body.

Why we love it

Spinning burns serious calories (about 450 in 45 minutes) and offers an awesome aerobic workout that makes your heart pump fast. It also tones your quadriceps (front thigh muscles) and outer thigh muscles like nobody's business! Because you stay in one place with the same basic movement throughout, Spinning doesn't involve a lot of coordination; it's easier to concentrate on your form than in other types of aerobic classes. And although you follow the general instructions of the spinning teacher, you are in control when it comes to your pace. You can finish a spin class, regardless of your fitness level, simply by adjusting your pace or the tension knob on the bike.

Drawbacks

Spinning does not work all leg muscles equally, so if you spin without doing some cross training activities, you may develop muscle imbalances. Spinning every day can also be too much of a good thing -- real spin enthusiasts have to watch out for overuse injuries in their knees, hips and lower backs. If Spinning is your main source of exercise, we recommend doing some resistance training workouts that include hamstring (back of thigh), buttock and inner thigh exercises.

Equipment Needed

Other than the bike, here's what you need for a safe, comfortable ride:a stiff-soled shoe with good ventilation. (Running and aerobic shoes, which are soft-soled, may leave your feet numb by the end of the class.)

Two towels, one for wiping away sweat and one for draping over the handlebars so your hands won't slide out of position.

A full water bottle, because you're definitely going to sweat. Most spinning bikes are equipped with a water bottle cage so you can place your H2O within easy reach.

Insider information

Riding with an incorrect seat setting can also lead to injury. Set your seat height so your knee is slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Set the handlebars so that they are level with the seat. When you lean forward and place your hands on the bars, there should be a slight bend at your elbows.

Hot Tip
Arrive five minutes early for your first class so your instructor can answer any questions and help you with bike adjustments. Make sure you let her know about any injuries that you have so she can help you modify some of the moves. During class, be sure to let your instructor know if you are having trouble with the resistance knob or the general technique. If the class is too intense, just pedal more slowly or take the tension down.

_______
Source: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/diet-fitness/spinning-101.html?pageNum=1