continuously cold!

Maybe it's just me {which I think it might be} but I am continuously cold. Like, all the time. Even in 85 degree Phoenix last month I wasn't sweating in the sunshine.

70 degrees. Long sleeves. Fire.

I just can't shake the feeling that I'm cold. As I sit here and type this isn't a Thursday evening in Washington State. The temperature in the house is a comfy 72 degrees - and I have on the fire, fleece pj pants, and fuzzy socks. No joke. I can't wait to go to bed to my electric blanket!

I have a co-worker who has lost almost 80 pounds in the past few years. She and I went on a walk the other day and I brought up my constant cold-ness. If anyone was going to understand...it was her! And she did! I knew I had to do a little research and here is a good article that I found.

How Come When you Lose Weight You Get Cold?

Lose a Fat Layer ~ This makes total sense to me. When I started this journey I weighed 220 pounds. As of this morning I weighed 153.5 pounds. That is -66.5 pounds which is equivalent to 30% body fat loss. WOWZERS. I literally just did the math {pats self on back}. I have most definitely lost the most fat around my waist/hips which is where a lot of my fat was stored and was keeping my internal organs nice and warm {wasn't that nice}!

Calorie Conservation ~ While I am most certainly not a calorie counter, I am definitely eating different foods that I used to. I do enjoy some of my favorite things that probably aren't considered "life style change food" but overall, my calorie's that I intake are much different.

It really does make sense when you think about it. Less fat {aka insulation} means colder bodies. Has anyone else who has lost a significant amount of weight experienced this? I'd love to hear from you!!

Fingers crossed (that the weight keeps coming off and my core temperature starts to catch up}...

multiple dinners...

...from one "take out box".

Do you have a New Seasons in your town? It's like a Whole Foods, basically.

There is one close to my beloved barre3 that I've been going to for about a year or so. At first I went crazy and bought everything there and that proved to be very expensive! Now, I buy meat and produce and sometimes one or two small things if I don't need to make the trek to WinCo.

One of the best things about New Seasons is their deli. They have made to order sandwiches that are SO.MUCH.BETTER than a Quiznos or Subway. But our favorite thing...the WOK bar!!! For $9 we can get a HEAPING bowl of fresh wok! I should have taken a picture of my compiled bowl before cooking. My husband is amazed every time at how much I can get in that bowl!

Portioning out the rice, noodles & veggies.

This last Sunday after my trip to barre3 I stopped by NS so I could get a portion of the wok for lunch that day and have some left over for the week! I ended up getting 4 portions from my one meal!! For you math geniuses out there that is about $2.25 per meal.

Four portions from one meal!

When eating it for lunch at work I usually pair it with veggies & hummus and a sweet treat at the end. The rice and the noodles really fill me up! It is a great way to get multiple meals for a decent price from a very delicious place.

We have out NS wok like this...

Extra chicken. Shanghai Sauce. Organic Brown Rice.

 

If you have a New Seasons I would definitely suggest getting a make-your-own wok sometime! If you don't...make your own! Someone once told me they actually sell their sauces there. I need to check that out sometime. When they make our wok I ask them to only but 4 TBSP on sauce on our wok. That helps to cut the "calories" for lack of a better word!

minus 65...

...pounds that is!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this. Well, I kind of can because I slacked for much of the month of March!

Some interesting thoughts came out of losing this 65 pounds. When I first started my journey I did not believe that I could do this but I knew I had to try. And try I have. And lose I have. There's been a few things lately {namely when thinking about whole foods and no-dairy} where I've said out loud to others and to myself - "I can't do that". Well, I instantaneously switched my words up after I said the word can't...because I can. I can try to do anything!!

 

 



I kind of can't believe this was me one year ago {and then me last week}...

left: April 2012 ~ Kauai

right: April 2013 ~ Phoenix

 

But at the same time I can believe it is me! It's weird. Before I lost all this weight I sometimes would picture myself how I look now. And sometimes now, I picture myself as I used to me. Weight loss is a long, twisted, and mind-bending journey. I'm a size 8 in almost everything now. My top is a size Medium. That in and of itself is mind-bending. When I started this journey I was almost reading to buy a size 20W and size 1X shirts where too tight. It's weird to not shop at the stores I used to. It's weird to be able to walk in lululemon or Nordstroms or even Khols and find things that fit. It's going to take some more time to get used to that!

 

I buy myself rewards at the major weight loss milestones. In the past I haven't considered a -5 from a 10's weight loss {like -65} to be worthy of a reward but then I saw something I really wanted and wanted an excuse to buy it. Plus, when I hit the -60 pound mark I figured I'd plateau, but I didn't. I have kept on losing and couldn't be happier or more proud of myself! My very fashionable best friend told me this top was a good choice. She write a fashion blog...she should know! And just after I purchased this top {with the snazzy zipper in the back} she wore one on her blog ;-) See, now I'm starting fashion trends! Oh, and just to tip this adorable shirt over the edge - it's a size small. Yes, small.

 

reward top from LOFT

wearing my top in sunny Phoenix with my cousin!

 

All in all, losing 65 pounds has been amazing experience. How could it not be?? Can't wait to see where I go from here! I don't "think" I will lose a bunch more weight but I do believe I will become more and more toned. I told my best friend yesterday "Maybe next year I'll wear a 2 piece suit in public". And you know...I hope I will!!

Fingers crossed {that I'll be bikini ready next summer. Heehee}...

it's the little things...

...that add up to big things!

I've been trying to continue to make small, subtle changes in our lifestyle. To get where we've gotten we've certainly changed a lot but it is time to start turning it up a notch!

Getting food ready...
Getting exercise clothes ready...

Here's a few things I did this weekend. I'll share more as I do them :)

Roasting Vegetables. I estimate this will last us about 6 or so servings. We had it for dinner 2 nights in a row and have about 2 more helpings left. I roasted them in a 9 x 13 pan with some water and the oven at 350 degrees. I stirred them about every 15 minutes. At about 30 minutes in I added 1 TBSP of organic coconut oil, salt, and pepper. I cooked the veggies for about 1 hour 15 minutes total. Next time I will wait to put the asparagus in because it was so soggy! We will definitely be doing this a few times a month. It's great for leftover dinner or lunches!

Dinner with the veggies as a side!

 

 

 

Today I met one of my bestie for lunch in downtown Portland! I parked in a garage because I don't like to deal with the headache of street parking/meters. The garage was so full that I ended up having to park on the 9th floor, which would also be known as the top floor. I decided to use this to my advantage and take the stairs...both ways! I was super proud of myself!!

 

10 minutes at a time!

 

I also did a 10 minute barre3 online video {please don't mind the PJs}! I've been trying to get up and so something during commercials! It is way more easy to sit for hours at a time and watch TV. Just even getting up in between shows would be a good start to the change.

 

These are a few little changes/cognizant decisions I've made in the past few days!! Have you made any? Will you make any now?

 

Fingers crossed {that I can find a few more ways to inspire myself and hopefully you, too}...

happy {barre3} 30th birthday to me!

My birthday is officially my favorite holiday. Who doesn't like a day all about you?!?! And, according to HolidayInsights.com, March 16th is "Everything you do is right day". Um...can you say coincidence!!!

This year I truly wanted to spend time with people who truly love me and will be in my life for a long, long time to come! I also wanted to say thank you to all the people who helped me get where I am today. This last year, year and a half, has been a battle and a blessing.

I decided to spend the day with the people I love the most, at the place I love the most, barre3.

before.

 

Standing: Jason {husband}, Diane {acupuncturist}, Angela {massage therapist}, Megan {college roommate/friend}, Danielle {coworker and 1/2 of the "tipping point"}, Sam {Sabrina's BF}, Chris {BIL}, Kathy {family friend}, Allison {My Mom}, Mike {FIL}, Bree {Best Friend - 19.5 years}, Matt {BIL}, Brooke {Physical Therapist}.

 

Kneeling: ME, Robyn {Best friend - 18 years}, Kim {college friend}, Sabrina {Best Friend}, Penny {Step-MIL}, Katie {coworker/friend}, Salina {barre3 instructor}

 

There were a few more people invited but couldn't attend that are certainly missing from the picture of my support group!! Oh, incase you've noticed, they are wearing name tags. I wanted Salina to be able to know who they all were. Also, I think it helped some of them know each other. Many of them had met each other only once or so.

As a surprise to the group I decided to lead the instruction. I was SSSOOO nervous but as Salina reminded me, everyone who was there loved me and supported me! My favorite part was her advise just before we started - "Don't look at anyone in the eyes, especially the boys. They will mess up your rhythm". It was so true!!

Leading the warm-up!! I'm in the orange.

Step Taps.

Almost perfect synchronization.

Planking!!

 

Carousel Horse.

Look at the view! I wanted to face them all at some point. I definitely shed a tear. I have an amazing group of people in my life.

Making our booties look good.

The Mom-A-Ratzi getting Jason and I during core work.

I love this place and I love these people.

Teaching my hubby the in's and out's of b3.

Salina, our instructor. She is simply amazing!!!

My father-in-law. He cracked me up. Such a good support to do this for me!

My Mom!! She's been one of my biggest supporters.

 

After. No one is passed out laying down so I consider that a success!

 

I cannot say it enough, I love my family and friends. They have molded and shaped my life in so many ways over time. Barre3 has also changed my life. It couldn't have been a better day, combining the people I love with the place I loved. I get the chills just thinking about it.

 

The best part...my husband could barely walk for 3 days after because he was so sore. I definitely did not evilly laugh at him whenever he got up from the recliner. I swear.

 

Fingers crossed {that we do this again next year}!!!

the conundrum of clothes...

I know...another post about clothes.

But right now they are what is on my mind.

In the past 16 months I've gone from a size 18W to a size 8-10-12. So not only do I look different but different clothes fit. Old styles that used to fit my obese body curves no longer fit. I could walk into Lane Bryant and know I was a 2 Red Square. Now, I can't even go in there and find anything. Not even undies. That's right...my undies don't fit. I need a new brand but I've worn LB undies for oh, 8 years and I LOVE them but they just.don't.fit anymore!

Many of my 1X and 18/16 size clothes I have donated or sold to consignment shops. But now I have to decide what to do with the 14/12 clothes. Do I keep them? I don't WANT to go back to that size but life happens. And if life negatively happens and I have to wear those sizes again I sure as hell don't want to be buying bigger sizes again.

BUT...It is my sincere hope that life doesn't happen {or if it does I can handle it}. So....do I alter my clothes that I have now that are too big but I only wore for a few months? Last fall I bought some nice 3/4 sleeve shirts for work. I only wore them for a month or so until it just got too cold and I had to wear long sleeves. Now they are way too big but I want to wear them. I've thought about getting them altered {taken in} so that I can wear them through this summer. But once I alter them, I cannot go back.

Another part of this is how I look in clothes...but maybe I'll save that for another post ;-)

Alterations are certainly a cheaper alternative to buying a whole new top wardrobe. I have a wonderful lady who altered some of my 1X/XL shirts into Large's last summer and now I want them smaller! Is this normal?? I even had my swim suit altered!!!

Then there's the thing of swim suits. We bought tickets last night to go to Arizona for a few nights over spring break!! Then I realized I needed to go swimsuit shopping. I know my chest is still rather large and needs supports so "regular" swimsuits won't work. The most supportive suits are plus sized suits {they have the padding and shelf bra}. I guess I just need to BUCK UP and do it this weekend...but I am dredding it. I found the BEST suit last year on LB and I should have just bought 5!!! Then I could alter them to all different sizes. I swear if I find "the suit" this summer that's what I'm going to do!!!

Clothes really are tricky! I don't want all these nice, new clothes I bought last year to sit in my closet for a few years until I decide to get rid of them. I want to wear them...that's why I bought them. For the most part I think I am going to alter many of my tops but buy some new bottoms.

Fingers crossed {that swimsuit and undie shopping goes good this weekend}...

one year check up!!

I had my endocrinology appointment a few weeks back and got some rave reviews. My doctor was so proud of me {and I with myself}. With Metformin, my glucose and insulin levels are in the average range!!! My bad cholesterol came down into the average range!! It was just the results I'd been working for, hoping for, and waiting for!!

I've decided to, for now, stay on Metformin. Part of me is really, really nervous to take it away. While it is not a weight loss drug - it is an insulin stabilizer and I feel has to have had some result to me losing weight. Granted - I put a LOT of work into this journey...but I'm still nervous.

I am going to see a Naturopath at the end of this month and maybe then, or soon, I will change to an "all natural" insulin stabelizer. I haven't decided yet. Metformin has been shown to have some good results with ovulation...if we go down that path!

Fingers crossed {that my levels stay in the average range}...