Happy “Curves”iversary to me… 25 and counting…

A year ago today, after months of avoiding the place, I went back to Curves.

On August 12, eighteen days after my first workout back, I had my first measure-in/weigh-in since that February. The news wasn’t good. At 140, I weighed more than I’d ever weighed. While I wasn’t overweight, I didn’t feel good, physically or emotionally. I also didn’t have much energy.

I knew I wasn’t going to feel better by doing nothing, so I started exercising more regularly and eating better. By “better,” I mean I still ate pretty much what I wanted, but I was more careful with my portions.

I’ve lost weight and inches consistently since then, but I was FLOORED when I really looked at the numbers. Drumroll please…

• I weigh 128 pounds.
• I’ve lost 9% of my body weight.
• I have lost 12 pounds (and 10.5 (!) pounds of fat).
• I have lost 13 inches.

I didn’t believe the numbers, even after recalculating them more than once. Then I looked at my Curves report. It’s there in black and white and consistently dropping numbers since last August.

I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of the pounds and fat lost. I’m proud of the inches lost. Mostly, though, I’m proud of the lifestyle change this has represented for me.

As best I can tell, I’ve exercised a total of about 125 times in the last year. Since May 4, when I started swimming, I’ve exercised 46 times. (That last number blows my mind, too.) Exercising is most assuredly becoming a way of life. This is a very good thing, indeed. I still don’t really LIKE exercising, but I’m seeing its value more than ever before.

So my goals for the next twelve months are to continue exercising 4 to 5 times most weeks, to maintain my weight (I don’t need to lose any more), and to keep toning.

Stay tuned for further weight butt-kicking and butt-toning updates. 🙂

I’m beautiful, darnit!

Last August I weighed 140 pounds.

This is a photo taken of me right before my August 2008 Curves weigh in, which is when I got back on the exercise horse.

I wasn’t overweight by any stretch of the imagination, but I wasn’t feeling well, physically or emotionally, at that weight. In fact, I used that photo in a post in which I shared my lament about my weight.

In April, after eight months of exercising 3 times most weeks and eating better (most of the time), I weighed 130. My weight has dipped just a smidge since then a couple of times, but my body seems to be happy at 130.

I feel GREAT!

I’m looking pretty fierce, too.

And, best of all, I’m happy.

Happy is good… Hooray for “happy”!

Proud of myself…

In March, I worked out at Curves 13 times. Twelve workouts a month averages 3 times a week, which is what Curves recommends. I can’t remember the last time I had 12 workouts in a month, though I’d *just missed* that mark the last couple of months. I don’t think I’d EVER worked out 13 times in one month. I’m proud of myself.

The kicker? I’m on vacation. Look at me working out while on vacation. WHOO HOO! 🙂

I prefer it this weigh…

I was weighed and measured at Curves for the first time since October today. Since then, I’ve lost 5 pounds and 4.25 inches.

October 11, 2008/January 10, 2009 (change)

Bust: 34 in./34.5 in. (+0.5 in.)
Waist: 29.0 in./27.5 (-1.5 in.)
Abdomen: 37.75 in./34.5 (-3.25 in.)
Hips: 40.5 in./39.25 (-1.25 in.)
Thighs: 21.0 in. each/22.0 in. each (+1.0 in. each)
Arms: 10.0 in. each/10.25 each (+0.25 in. each)
Weight: 138.0 lb/133.0 lb (-5.0 lb)
Body Fat% 31.20%/30.10% (-1.1%)

I’m sure some of the weight/inches loss (perhaps at least half) is because I’ve not been eating enough. When I’m anxious, as I have been quite a lot over the last month or so, in particular, I don’t eat. Still, I’m pleased to see a decline and will work hard not to be disappointed if I gain the next time.

For giggles, I decided to look at my numbers now compared to my numbers when I started in December 2006. Overall, I’ve lost 2 pounds and 5.5 inches.

Dec. 11, 2006/Jan. 10, 2009 (change)

Bust: 36.0 in./34.5 in. (-1.5 in.)
Waist: 28.0 in./27.5 in. (-0.5 in.)
Abdomen: 35.0 in./34.5 (-0.5 in.)
Hips: 40.50 in./39.25 (-1.25)
Thighs: 23.0 in. each/22.0 in. each (-1.0 in. each)
Arms: 11.0 in./10.25 (-0.75 in.)
Weight: 135.0 lb/133.0 (-2.0 lb)
Body Fat% 31.40%/30.10% (-1.3%)

Until I checked just a second ago, I didn’t realize I was below my starting point in all categories. However, I had been noticing how much more comfortable I am. I’m sure part of it is that I’m just more comfortable period with what is the “new normal” is for me — I’m going to weigh a bit more than when I was in my 20s. Period.

But the BIGGEST thing that’s changed over the last two years is that I’m now more fit. Even if I gain back all of those two pounds and some of those inches (from 2006), I can deal with it, because those “extra” inches will have more tone. For instance, my thighs are bigger now than they were in October, but they feel — and look — great (if I do say so myself).

Photo from October

All that said, I’m glad to be back around 135. I am MUCH more comfortable there than at 140 (where I was in August), not just emotionally, but physically.

And I plan to stay at 135, give or take a couple of pounds. Just stayin’.

October 2008 Curves update

In the last month, I lost 0.5 lb and 1.5 in. For a total of 2 pounds and 4.25 inches since my August weigh-in.

Here’s the rundown.

September 12, 2008/October 11, 2008 (change from Sept. 12 to Oct. 11)

Bust: 34 in./34 in. (0.0 in.)
Waist: 29.75 in./29.0 in. (-0.75 in.)
Abdomen: 38.0 in./37.75 in. (-0.25 in.)
Hips: 40.5 in./40.5 in. (-0.0 in.)
Thighs: 21.0 in. each/21.0 in. each (-0.0 in. each)
Arms: 10.5 in. each/10.0 in. (-0.5 in.)
Weight: 138.5 lb/138.0 lb (-0.5 lb)
Body Fat% 31.60%/31.20% (-0.40%)

Fascinating, right? 😉

Now THAT’s more like it…

As opposed to last month’s sad story, this month at Curves I lost 1.5 pounds and 3.25 inches.

Not that you want (or need) to know all the details, but if I write them down I’LL have them when I want them again. 🙂

So for “the record,” here goes.

August 11, 2008/September 12, 2008 (total gained or lost)

Bust: 34.5 in./34 in (-0.5 in.)
Waist: 31.5 in./29.75 (-1.75 in.)
Abdomen: 38.0 in./38.0 in. (-0.0 in.)
Hips: 41.0 in./40.5 (-0.5 in.)
Thighs: 22.0 in. each/21.0 in. each (-0.0 in. each)
Arms: 11 in. each/10.5 in. each (-0.5 in.)
Weight: 140.0 lb/138.5 lb (-1.5 lb)
Body Fat% 32.90%/31.60 (-1.3%)

I can’t take these numbers as absolute truth, because different people do the measuring each month, depending on who is working. But I’m pleased to be going in the right direction.

Exercise…

It is so much easier to make myself go the gym when I feel human…

Seriously, I think a lot of my Curves “issues” had to do with some health stuff… not just acute stuff, such as my recent sinus/double ear infection that kept me out of the gym for 12 days, but also some other stuff that just left me more tired/lethargic than I should have been for the last several months.

Thankfully, the acute infection and the “other stuff” have been resolved. Today when I contemplated going to the gym, I didn’t really HAVE to contemplate it. I just went. It’s been a LONG time since I felt that “free” about going… close to a year, I’d say.

Ahhh…

Hey! I lost weight!

Last Monday at the gym, I weighed 140.

Today at the gym, I weighed 139.5.

And I am fairly certain I’ve lost fractions of inches in a few places. My abdomen and waist feel and look different than they did even a week ago.

Yay me! 🙂

Any way you slice it, the Curves report isn’t good…

When I went back to Curves last month, I knew I was basically starting over.

Monday I learned just what “starting over” means. Between my February 23 workout (when I THOUGHT I was starting over but wasn’t really) and today’s workout, I gained 6 inches and 7 pounds (a total of 13 inches/pounds gained).

When I compare my December 11, 2006, stats (before I worked out the first time) with Monday’s, the news isn’t quite as grim.

Dec. 11, 2006/August 11, 2008 (total gained or lost)
Bust: 36.0 in./34.5 in. (-1.5 in.)
Waist: 28.0 in./31.5 in. (+3.5 in.)
Abdomen: 35.0 in./38.0 in. (+3.0 in.)
Hips: 40.50 in./41.0 in. (+0.50 in.)
Thighs: 23.0 in. each/22.0 in. each (-1.0 in. each)
Arms: 11.0 in./11 in. (0 in.)
Weight: 135.0 lb/140.0 lb (+5 lb)
Body Fat% 31.40%/32.90% (+1.5%)

Actually, it’s almost as grim… 6 inches and 5 pounds gained for 11 total inches/pound gained.

Heavy sigh…

I know. I know. Many people would kill to weigh what I do. Blah, blah, blah.

But I’M not used to weighing 140 pounds.

On Friday, I looked at the picture of Ed and me that a fellow Stone Mountain visitor took of us earlier that day. I could see my STOMACH through the shirt, even if you might not.

I HATE that. I don’t mean to sound pitiful, but I wanted to keep it real.

Thank you for listening.

The fitness bug? It’s catching.

Hot on the heels of my triumphant return to Curves, my husband joined a gym yesterday. Today he went. He did cardio and three weight machines… Yay for Ed! 🙂

Now I really don’t have an excuse not to work out. And that’s a GOOD thing!