Weight Loss | PDX MOMMA

The “too small” pile

January 14, 2013 by PdxJenn 5 Comments

Raise your hand if you keep clothing that’s too small, because “I know I’ll fit into it again”.

I never did until this past year or so. I have been sliding between gaining and losing the same damn 8lbs and those pants WILL FIT ME AGAIN. I am sure there are 100 reasons that this isn’t good for my mental well being but I stare longingly at that pile.

This morning I tried on no less than 15 outfit combinations and nothing felt right. Too tight, too big, nylons have a run… my room looks like a tornado came through it. I took a potty break and since I was in a cami and undies I decided to weigh in. What… I know I am not alone in preferring to weigh in almost naked, am I right?. Low and behold. I am .5lbs from seeing the 2nd number in my weight drop. FINALLY. Holy shit.

I promptly went to that pile and grabbed a pair of slacks. Booyah!

It’s the small things folks. Happy Monday!

(PS, my foot is at about 80% this morning)

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Injuries & General Health, Plantar Fasciitis, Weight Loss, weight watcher's

Dum Duh Dum Dum Duuuum

January 4, 2013 by PdxJenn 7 Comments

Urgh. Weigh in day after a month of being on vacation, holiday eating, and not tracking regularly. Gotta start over though and need to create a place to start from. This is exactly why I do like meetings though because I have to go show my face and man up. No online BS… if left up to me I wouldn’t be weighing in today. Doing this with friends makes all the difference. Accountability, it works.

I asked Hubs if he would mind if I hot the gym 1 or 2 mornings a week (small goals) before work, and of course he is supportive. He drops off at daycare so I do have the time in the morning. Evenings after work are not an option these days, I wouldn’t be able to get there until after 7:30 and I just won’t go. I am hoping this fucking cold starts to move on by Sunday so I can go for a swim. Hacking up a lung at the need of each lap doesn’t sound fun.

I’ll be resetting my weigh in tracker (bottom of each post) with today’s weight as my start. It will reflect my ultimate goal of 100lbs to lose. I am hoping in 2013 to get half of that done.

2 workouts a week (minimum) and 50lbs this year. Yep… I’m gonna need support, accountability, and perseverance. I’d love to know of any blogs that you follow with folks on a similar journey. Most of my folks have reached their goals (yay!) but I need to be able to relate during this life challenge. Share the love in the comments section if you would be so kind.

As a reminder this is my before picture taking a couple months ago… sadly no progress so I can just use it still.

Filed Under: Fitness Adventures, Weight Loss, weight watcher's

Honestly

November 20, 2012 by PdxJenn 7 Comments

This is my 1000th post. I have let my blog sit since last Friday when I knew that I was at 999. I wanted it to be a special post. Something containing a high level of impact… but I was at a loss. Then I realized that the best thing I could do to honor this milestone was to be honest. Something that I haven’t been so great at lately on here or in real life. Not lying at all… just holding back.

I am not my best self these days you guys. I feel like a terrible wife, a struggling mom, weight loss failure, half-assed employee, and stretched way too thin business owner. Life has not been easy since September for me y’all. Mostly I feel bad that I haven’t until very recently let myself admit that I am struggling. I have spent months “just getting by”. I just have to make it until _____. Those words have passed through my brain so many times in the past couple months that I am tired of saying and thinking them.

So what’s going on??

My feet. I cannot even explain the frustration and exhaustion I feel with my feet hurting all. the. time. I really think that my feel are probably the #1 issue that is contributing to all my other struggles. It all comes back to my damn feet. Anyone that has had chronic pain of any kind knows what a mind screw it can be.

I can’t properly keep my house clean because after an hour on my feet at home they are killing me. The last thing I want to do after working all day is to stand on my super painful feet and do the dishes or vacuum the floors. So I don’t, then I beat myself up over it. My husband is really helpful but it’s a 2 person job… this parenting, working, keeping up a house thing. A messy house constantly drives me BONKERS. I am nowhere near a super clean person, don’t let me kid you. I think you probably understand what I am saying though. I cannot think clearly with shit everywhere.

Working out is even harder than it ever was to stay motivated to do because again… I cannot do anything on my feet. The bike doesn’t do it for me. Swimming takes prep and more time than running or using a machine. Time that I am having a very hard time finding these days. I was a spoiled runner. It’s so easy to strap on shoes and just go. I started Weight Watchers and have been SUPER half assed about it. I know I am worth it and am so fucking tired of being fat… yet you bet your ass I ate a cookie at 8:30 this morning… just because they were there in the break room. Urgh. Emotional eating you can go to hell.

Before this turns into complete rant I’ll stop and move on. I am making a conscious decision to stop the insanity. 2013 is the year I am taking back my life. I am not making crazy resolutions or promising anything other than I plan to make informed and planned decisions. I will not over book my life to the point of exhaustion. I will make time for my relationship with my husband. I will speak up before I let things get to the point of utter frustration both at work and personally. I will learn to say no and stick to it. I will turn off the TV and read or imagine with my son more. I will schedule in work and stick to that schedule.

What about the rest of 2012 you ask? Well I have obligations that I have to finish. Mostly work (photography) related and of course our vacation. I think baby steps into this new way of thinking will make getting going in 2013 an easier transition.

Thanks for reading now and for any of you around since the beginning… thanks always.

Filed Under: Being a grown up is hard, Fitness Adventures, Injuries & General Health, Marriage, Our Home, Parenthood, Weight Loss, weight watcher's, Working Momma

I’m about to be one of “those people”

October 30, 2012 by PdxJenn 5 Comments

I have spent many a snarky comment on the people in these:

Until now…

If you have been following this blog for the past few years you know of my battle with Plantar Fasciitis. I have tried insoles, physical therapy, stretching, sleeping with splints, complete rest… nothing has helped. If anything the insoles made my feet hurt worse! The stretching before I step down in the morning does help, but inevitably by the end of the day I am in major pain again.

When my friend Kat mentioned why I should read Born to Run I was intrigued. The concept behind the “barefoot running” really hit me and made perfect sense. The concept is that the Plantar Fasciitis issues that so many people (runner and non runners alike) have started seeing is precisely due to our modern shoes being TOO supportive. This causes our feet and legs to weaken. Weak feet means injury.

After reading many many testimonials about the Vibram Five Fingers and their “cure” for PF… I am buying in.

(Read some of the articles here, here, here, and here)

One of the thing I know I’ll have to do is transition slowly into these shoes. The pain will get worse before it gets better I am told. Makes sense… like working out a muscle you haven’t before. My plan is to wear them at home whenever I can. I will not be running in them or wearing them to work. As I transition and start to get strength in my feet and calves I’ll start wearing them more and more. Never to work though!!

It was kismet when Zulily had them on sale today for half off! if you have ever been tempted to try them now would be a great opportunity! I ordered these and am so excited to get them! (Too bad Zulily take for freakin ever to ship things…)

I’ll be sure to give you an update at the beginning of the year after I have had some time to transition!

Filed Under: Fashion & Beauty, Fitness Adventures, Injuries & General Health, Product Review, Weight Loss

Wake Up Call

October 24, 2012 by PdxJenn 3 Comments

We received a sneak peek of our family photos a couple days ago and I am feeling conflicted. The photos are wonderful and I am totally please by the images… except for one thing. Wow… I finally REALLY see how much weight I need to lose. I feel like for the first time I really saw myself for what I am. Having someone else behind the camera will do that to you!

I started going back into my blog when I had been successful at weight loss. It occurred to me that Weight Watcher’s is what worked. Not just online. Weighing in with someone (good or bad) and the meetings. So today I re-joined. I found a meeting right by my office at lunchtime. I am excited to get back on the wagon and hopefully see some results!

Have you ever been a Weight Watcher’s member?