It's All About Going Back to Basics!

This is my bible

 Update! Going back to basics really work. I weighed in last Monday and I was down 3.5 lbs ... and I got my period! For someone my size with little to lose now, 3.5 lbs is great. I'll admit it, it wasn't easy. I'm a foodie, can't live without it. When my trainer suggested me to go down to 1500, I blatantly told her that I didn't want to become anorexic. In all honesty, 1500 is not that bad. If you eat low calorie food, it's actually a fair amount of cals.

This is now my 2nd week at 1500. I really hope to get down to 140 lbs faster than expected. I won't stop there though. My ultimate goal weight is 135. I want that 100lb mark weight loss so bad.

The time has come ...

The time has come, the dreaded plateau has arrived. I knew it was coming but it's so frustrating. After losing 90 lbs, I got so used to see "big numbers" on the scale. I ate a lot but also worked out a lot and kept losing. When I first handed in my food log to my trainer, she was shocked.

Now, the story's different. I love my sweets, that will never change. I still train 5-6 days a week but I do less cardio because I really want to build muscle. Consequence, plateau. I know I look good better but my body's not where I want it to be. I'm a 5/6 but I'd rather be a 3/4. I'm somewhat muscular but I want more muscle.

The plan now, go from 2000-2200 cals/day down to 1500 cals/day. How do I feel about that? I'm not too happy but I know it's what I need to do. The good thing is that I'm not gaining, I'm maintaining but it's not what I want.

I'm contemplating signing up for a 5K or 10K. I want to but I'm scared. I'm still afraid of failure. What if I can't do it? What if it's too much for my body to handle?

Time to put my plan is action and lose those stubborn 10-15 lbs. What the heck, I lost 90 so why couldn't I lose 10 more?

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!