Jena's weight loss blurg.

Still Losing

2011-07-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile since I have posted. On Friday I weighed in for last week and I lost another 5.1 pounds. This weigh in was a shocker. I totally am happy about it, but I was not expecting such a big number.

Only 76 more pounds to go, my goal is getting closer and closer. I can't wait until I get to the point where my goal is just to maintain my weight, that will be nice. I have lost a total of 44 pounds since I have started over on my weight loss journey. I finally got over my stupid wall too which feels great.

Well, I better go to bed so I can get up for 5:30 am step class tomorrow.

I will try to blog more, I miss it.

-Jena

Sweeter than Easter Candy!

2011-04-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

I got on the scale this morning and lost 4.2 pounds!

I am so excited because I have been working my booty off at the gym, trying to get in 2 aerobics classes a day. I am glad all the hard work is finally paying off and the pounds are falling off, along with my pants!

This week I will add running back into my routine. I really love to run and so I hope that my feet will be kind and let me enjoy one of my favorite things without making me pay for it!

Happy Easter and have a great week!

Jena

Feeling Better

2011-04-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

I am feeling much better, not 100% because I still have a cough.

Looking forward to working out this week. Taking a week off was harsh.

I will weigh in tomorrow, I had to get up early this morning and go out to Eagle Mountain to work at the registration table at the Archery Golf Shoot.

On the Way home the drive shaft of our truck came off while I was going 55 mph. My 8 year old was with me, it scared me, not knowing if the truck would stop. I called my brother, he told me to drive home in 4 wheel drive. Also some awesome Army guys stopped and helped me and made sure I was safe to go. We made it home, but it was a scary 10 miles. A second piece fell off 4 miles after we left, but luckily again, nothing bad happened.

Well, here is hoping tomorrow is the start of a new and better week.

Jena

Sick

2011-04-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Last week on the 6th my oldest daughter and I woke up sick, runny nose and a cough. We stayed home and tried resting and taking it easy so that we could get better. Fast forward to this week, Monday morning we both ended up at the Doctor's office. She has a sinus infection and I was border line pneumonia with bronchitis. We both were put on antibiotics on Monday, but yesterday was our worst day yet. Coughing all day, feeling miserable. She was feeling better today and had been on antibiotics for 24+ hours so she went back to school. I am feeling a little better than yesterday but still really tired and coughing. My poor little 5 year old started up coughing yesterday and today she is pretty sick. I hate when my kids are sick but I am so glad they didn't get it as bad as I did.

I really miss working out. I was finally in a good routine of 2 weeks straight working out 6 days a week. This illness has really put a stop to that.

I have amazing friends. Monday I had 2 friends just drop by with food for my family, and yesterday I had a friend drop by with some amazing chicken and potato soup. My kids, husband and I gobbled it up, it hit the spot. Thank you for your random acts of service, it means a lot to me. I have not been able to stand up more than 5 minutes at a time so bringing my family meals has helped more than I can express. Thank You!

I hope that I will start feeling more like myself. My lungs are really being hit hard this time. I had pneumonia this time of year 4 years ago, it was the worst feeling in the world to be so sick. I had a feeling I was on my way there this time so I am glad I went in to the doctor and he got me on medicine before it progressed into pneumonia.

It is really hard for me to just sit still and not do anything. My house is seriously upside down in filth and kid mess. The dishes are piled high, the laundry that I did all last week is piled high and not folded. Nahvi keeps cutting up paper and making crafts and the mess never ends. My husband is super busy at work so he has not been able to help like I had hoped.

Mom's should not get sick, we should get a free pass until our kids are older. I just want someone to take care of me but instead I have to get the kids food, clean up spills, find something for them to watch on t.v., there is always something. I am not getting the rest I should get because my 5 year old is a busy body, she always has something she needs my help with. I don't mind so much when I am feeling well, but it is too hard when I am sick.

Sorry for the rant post, I just hate feeling like this.

Jena

Weigh-In Day!

2011-04-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning is the day I weigh in. I get up and the first thing I do is get on that scale! I am happy to announce that I lost another 2 lbs!

So far, so good!

--Jena

Jena's Running Schedule for 2011

2011-04-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Let the Races Begin!
So 2011 is going to be a year of FUN races. Here is a list of what I am running this year, won't you join me? :)

If I continue to lose 2 lbs a week for the rest of the year I will have lost 78 lbs. So my goal is to have lost 80 lbs by Jan. 1st 2012.

I really wanted to start doing Triathlons this year but do to my recent medical issue, I decided to make next year, 2012 the year of Tris and this year will be my year to drop 80-100 pounds. All these races will keep me motivated to keep working towards my goals.

April 30th 2011
5k Salt Lake Running Co.

May 14th 2011
Red Rock Relay Moab
Leg 6= 3 miles Hard
Leg 12= 7.62 Medium
Total Miles= 10.62

June 17th-18th 2011
Ragnar Wasatch Back
Leg 6= 6.9 Very Hard
Leg 18= 8.1 Very Hard
Leg 30= 3.1 Easy
Total Miles=18.1

June 25th 2011
5k Park City Mini Trail Series
www.r-u-nevents.com

July 2nd 2011
4 mile Dirty Girl Mud Run

July 9th 2011
10k Park City Mini Trail Series
www.r-u-nevents.com

Aug. 13th 2011
15k Park City Mini Trail Series
www.r-u-nevents.com

Sept. 9th-10th 2011
Red Rock Relay Zions
No Legs assigned yet.
Last year I did 18.5 miles total.

Sept. 24th 2011
10k Dirty Dash Mud Run
Still need to register.

Oct. 29th 2011
Provo Halloween Half
Still need to register.

Keep Moving!
--Jena

Solid Workout Week!

2011-04-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

So last week I was able to workout every day at 5 am Mon-Fri and at 8am on Sat. It felt great to get back to working out again.

I lost 2 more pounds which is really exciting!

I am starting to feel better when I take the metformin, still have a few side effects like I can't stand the thought of food. Hopefully that side effect goes away!

I did a fun step class at the gym today. I need lots of practice, I got a little lost!

Here is to another great week!

--Jena

Need to work out!

2011-03-16T12:19:00.001-07:00

I have had a crazy week. I have not had a chance to work out like I had planned.
No excuses, I must find time!

Jena

Weight Loss!

2011-03-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

I weighed myself Last week on Sunday for my new "Starting Weight".
I am tracking my weight loss on the right side of this blog------------------>

Sunday's will be my weigh-in days, so today I weighed myself.
Drumroll please........................................................................

Down 2.2 lbs!

This makes me happy. I wasn't able to work out last week because of the kids being sick so I am glad all my sitting around didn't punish me.

Tomorrow I am ready to start running and working out, I can't wait to get out there to hit the road again!

Thanks for reading :)

Jena

No Call Backs :(

2011-03-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

Pretty disappointing when the phone doesn't ring and then you read on facebook that the call backs are done in SLC, Utah. We did all we could do today and now we are going to submit a video to put closure on the whole experience. They didn't get to hear our stories. They only got a glimpse of our personalities.

Biggest thing we learned is that the VIP passes didn't matter. They didn't allow VIP's to come until 12:00 pm. By then they had already seen 500 people and they sent non-vip people in our casting call with us.

I just want to say thank you to all of you for all the support. It means a lot to both Amy and I. We will be submitting a video next week. We still have a chance to get on but if it doesn't happen, we both with continue on our Journey to lose the weight on our own, with the support of friends and family of course.

Amy, I love you lots. I am so glad you asked me to try out with you. It totally made our friendship and bond even stronger. We can do this girl, we can make this happen together! Thanks for texting me last week and for the daily texts and fun phone calls. I am so glad to have you in my life!

Love you all,

Goodnight!

Jena

Biggest Loser Casting Call- The experience!

2011-03-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Today, my friend Amy and I went to The Biggest Loser Casting Call Season 12 in Salt Lake City. I just thought I would share our experience while it is fresh! It wasn't very busy. They said that they were almost to 500 people seen in the normal line and that they had 200 VIP passes that also were handed out. We had numbers 79 and 80 on our VIP applications.

So, we got to the venue around 12, walked in, showed our VIP pass and they handed us an application. We filled them out and then they asked who was ready to go back so Amy said, "We are, there are two of us!" so they took us back with a group of 12.

Then we waited in a group line for around 20 minutes where they told us what to expect, when callbacks were being made, when video submissions were due, etc... We met some nice people who were in our group and we both were feeling really confident and excited to have this opportunity.

They called us in, we sat down, and a lady in the room had a 7 minute timer to keep the ball rolling. Our casting directors name was Kerry and she was such a nice and lovely person. She asked questions and made sure we all had a chance to answer.

First she asked our name, age, weight and what we do. Then she asked where we liked to eat, a guilty pleasure, Amy and I both said In-n-out, why did it have to come to Utah, a block away! Then she asked what was something unique that she wouldn't know from looking at us. I said I was an Archer, that I shoot a bow. She really liked that and asked if I had gone hunting and I said that was one of my goals, to go on the bow hunt. Then she asked us what the first thing we would do once we lost the weight and I said Climb outside with my husband, I like to climb inside, I am scared to climb outside with him.

Our time was up and she said thanks and had us leave our applications on our chairs, we said thanks to her and that was it!

They will be doing callbacks until 8:00 pm tonight. We both felt great about how it went. We think there is a good chance we will get a call back. If we don't, we are still doing a video and sending it in.

Overall, this was a really fun experience and I am so glad Amy asked me to go with her. It was fun, we went to lunch after and now we are anxiously awaiting!

Off to see the Wizard...

2011-03-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

-Biggest Loser Casting Call for Season 12-
I am freaking out. Nerves! Can't believe it is almost time!

We have VIP passes and need to be there at 12:00.

Later Peeps!

P.S. I look amazing thanks to my dear friend Chelsea! Love ya Babe!

Biggest Loser Casting Call- Season 12

2011-03-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! So, last week my friend texted me and asked if I would try out for the Biggest Loser with her. We have been friends for 15 years and I just adore her. She is why I met the man of my dreams, she went to school with McKay and set us up and the rest is HISTORY!

She asked, I said yes and now we are getting ready to go show the casting directors why we should be on the Biggest Loser! I honestly think if the casting directors see in us what all of our friends see in us that we would be awesome for the show! A lot of you already know my story and I continue to get messages on facebook, comments on my blog and emails from friends telling me how I have inspired them.

We had a chance to win a VIP pass on KSL on facebook, so I called on my friends to help out and I am so overwhelmed by the love and support of you all! Thanks for all of your comments. My friend, Shannon was the lucky post winner. She won for me and I am so excited I get to go with my friend to this open casting call. We have a great chance to show the casting directors why we should be on the show, very exciting.

My friend and I have been gathering pictures of us before and after and it has been such a fun week and a half talking with her everyday and getting so excited and giddy on the phone. If we are on the Biggest Loser, I have to say that we are going to be the Nations favorites, what is not to love? Plus, we are adorable overweight, imagine us 100 pounds lighter! Magical!

Thank you all , I love you all and I hope we are able to get on the Biggest Loser so I can continue to inspire on a Nationwide scale! I am hoping we get a call back, but don’t expect to hear me announce it on my blog or facebook, you will just have to watch next season to see if we make it! Well, I guess if we don't make it, you might see a post on here proclaiming my disappointment! I would like to say thanks to all of you and I would like to share all the awesome posts by my very dear friends!

Enjoy the comments, I sure did!

Answers!!!

2011-02-28T15:28:00.001-08:00

Finally, some answers!

So today I went in for my Ultrasound and got the results of all my tests.

The blood tests and an Ultrasound of my Ovaries confirmed that I have PCOS- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and the blood tests and my symptoms show that along with PCOS I have insulin resistance. My body is basically fighting against my weightloss and causing me to gain weight. This is also why my cholesterol levels are slightly elevated and why I have very low energy all the time. All of my exercise and eating right is great but I had this invisible wall that was not allowing my body to burn the calories correctly. Lucky for me, my blood pressure is awesome and I am sure my heart is pretty dang healthy by now.

My doctor prescribed me a drug called Metformin which will help resolve my insulin resistance problem and help me be more sucessful with my weightloss efforts and also help get rid of all of the cysts on my ovaries. I will be working my way up to taking four of these pills a day.

My doctor said that my cells were retaining the sugar molecules and not releasing them when I would exercise. This medicine will help release the sugar so that when I exercise it's burned by my muscles.

After talking to my Doctor and to my Pharmacist I feel confident that I recieved the the best care and the right answers to what is going on with my body. Even my Pharmacist said that I was going to be very happy with the results.

Along with taking Metformin I will also be following a Low GI diet and so I purchased the book: The Low GI Guide to Managing PCOS by Jennie Brand-Miller also called The Low GI Guide to Living Well with PCOS by Jennie Brand-Miller. I got the e-book version for my nook but it is also available in paperback. Even though I was eating a healthy diet, it wasn't right for someone with PCOS.

I am very glad that I got answers and that my other blood tests ruled out many other problems that I could have had but thankfully I do not.

PCOS is a lifelong condition but is very managable as long as I take my medicine and change my diet.

I have family and friends with PCOS and I hope that you all find the answers you need to help you in your journey to a healthier, happier life.

Now that I am aware that I have PCOS I hope that I can help others suffering with this syndrome and I hope that by sharing my story, someone else with similar symptoms can go get the hormone testing done and the answers they need.

My doctor said if you watch women athletes and olympians, sometimes you will notice women with bigger bone structure, big muscles and a more masculine look to them, he said there is a good chance they also suffer from PCOS because those are some of the visual signs of PCOS.

Thank you all for your support and love. I am printing out all your kind and awesome comments, emails and messages you sent me and hanging them up for motivation.

I hate that I have to start all over with this weight-loss journey but I am so glad that this time I will be successful thanks to these new findings.

I am so ready to get rid of this fat suit, that is what it feels like, a giant fat suit. The normal sized healthy me is dying to get out of it!

Thanks for reading!

Love you all,

Jena

Frustrations!!!

2011-02-18T18:06:00.001-08:00

For the last 3 and 1/2 years I have dedicated myself to eat right, exercise and try my hardest to be a healthy and happy ME. I have worked with three personal trainers, tracked my food, used a body bugg, raced in 5 half marathons, a number of 5k, 10k and 15k races, ran 18.5 miles for my relay team, worked out almost every morning in an intense bootcamp class for 7 months. You would think I would be at my goal weight, but no, I am almost back to what I weighed when Nahvi was born 5 years ago. If you added up all the weight I have lost and then gained back again, we are talking at least 150 lbs, maybe more. I feel like I am swimming up a really intense river with lots of rocks, mud and rapids and when I stop to hold onto a branch just so I can catch my breathe it snaps and I get washed down the river back to my starting point. I am so sick of swimming up this endless river that is doing nothing for me but weighing me down, making me waterlogged, making me tired.

So I decided to go into my Doctor last week to figure out what the heck is wrong with me because I am sorry, something is not right. I gain weight for no reason. I can't remember anything lately. I don't feel like myself. I cut a lady off on the road the other day because she wouldn't let me over and didn't even care, not one ounce of guilt. When people ask me questions, I can't give them the answer because I can't think straight. I AM A MESS!

My Doctor ordered 10+ blood tests to see if we could figure it out. We also remembered I have a tumor on my pituitary gland and I should be on medicine for that but he wanted to do a blood test for that again to see what my levels are like now. I went in on Monday for my blood tests and they told me 3-4 days and I would have results. I gave them until today and heard nothing so I called and left a message. I finally got a call back from his nurse, not him like he said it would be. She told me my tests came back. She said that a few of the hormone tests didn't look good. She told me I needed to be on Vitamin D for 2 months. She told me that my cholesterol was bad so I needed to cut out the FATTY FOODS and LOSE WEIGHT. She told me he wanted to do 2 more blood tests tomorrow morning and he wants to do an Ultrasound next Monday. I asked her what hormone levels were not looking good, she had a hard time explaining them to me and didn't give me any answers. She also didn't tell me what the Ultrasound was for. By the time I got off the phone with her I was even more frustrated than I was before talking with her. I called her back and asked her to have the Doctor call me and explain my results. I really want to know what is going on and she didn't tell me anything. She also was really insensitive about the weight thing. HELLO, the reason I went in was because I AM FAT AND CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT! She should have at least looked at my chart but instead I get told I need to lose weight and cut out the fatty foods.

So now I get to play the waiting game again. I have to wait for my Doctor to call. I have to wait 1 week for tomorrows test results to come back. I have to wait 10 days before my mystery Ultrasound.

I just feel helpless. I feel like I have done all I can do to be healthy but I still am overweight and it is making me so very tired. The weight is stopping me from doing all the things I love to do. I hate waiting for the Doctor to call. I hate feeling like an idiot when I ask the nurse for answers and she just isn't giving them to me.

I am sharing this story with you all, my friends, because I need your support. I need to keep hearing my friends cheer me on because I am affraid I will quit. I am to the point where I don't care anymore and that is not me. I am not a quitter, I don't give up, but I have been fighting this battle for what seems like forever and it is wearing me down. I don't see myself as an overweight person because I work out, I try to eat right and I don't let it stop me from doing the things I love, but it is starting to get to me because all this weight is holding me back. I am getting older and my body is not cooperating with me at all. So please, keep me in your thoughts, keep cheering me on. Keep honking and waving when you see me running my fat butt down the road. I need you friends, much Love!

Thanks for reading,

Jena

Week 8

2010-07-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not been posting, life has been super busy with school out. I have still been going to bootcamp. I am really enjoying it because I feel strong and healthy and I am losing inches but the weight just is not dropping yet.

I ran a 10k trail run race on Saturday. It was a great run and I felt really good when I finished. I am now hooked to trail running!

Today at bootcamp we ran lots of stairs and a lot of sweat was dripping off all of us!

Thanks for stopping by, I will try to post more than I have been!

---Jena

Week 3 wrap up.

2010-06-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not been posting. I have my little brother staying with us so we have been keeping busy this week.

Monday was a great workout with Laura, we have a huge class of around 18 people now so she had to get creative.

Tuesday our other trainer was out of town so a friend and I met up at the gym and worked out for 45 minutes.

Yesterday we did bootcamp outside on the grass. By the time we were done I have red hives up and down my arms and legs. When I got home I took Benedryl and that knocked me out from 6:30-10:30. It was horrible.

Today our trainer is out of town still so I was going to meet up with my friend again, but she was unable to make it. So, I still got myself over to the gym and worked my butt off for 42 minutes. I ran 10 laps on the indoor track. I ran 10 staircase loops which is up the stairs, down the hall, down the other stairs, down the hall and back up the stairs again, 10 times. After a quick drink I ran up and down one set of stairs 5 times and then to end the workout I went outside and ran 5 laps in the rain. I felt like I got a pretty good workout in for doing it myself, but I think I would still prefer my trainers to be the ones pushing me and kicking my butt. Also, I noticed, it is a lot harder doing it on my own. If you can get a friend to workout with you, do it, time goes by a lot faster and it is nice to have someone there for support.

Tomorrow is the last day of week 3. I look forward to a great workout in the morning and a climb at the gym with friends tomorrow night. Saturday, if the weather is nice I will be joining my relay team group for a trail run early in the morning and then I look forward to some climbing at the gym later with McKay.

My next post will be Sunday for my weigh-in.

Thanks for stopping by!

--Jena

Weigh-In Day! Week 2

2010-06-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

I weighed in today and lost 2.4 lbs for week two!

Very exciting :)

---Jena

Week 2 Complete!

2010-06-04T06:04:00.001-07:00

Well, I have completed 2 weeks of boot camp and I am feeling great. I can already tell a big difference in my clothes and in my energy levels. I love the routine of waking up, getting ready, and completing my workout for the day by 6:30 am.

Everyone in our class is doing great. I am really enjoying this class, it feels good to be pushed to your limits and sometimes go beyond what you think you can do!

On a side note, today is my Husband's birthday, so, it looks like I get to enjoy some Indian food tonight!

Happy Birthday McKay!

---Jena

June Body Transformation Contest

2010-06-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

So, I know I already took a before picture last Monday and posted it. Well, this June, our bootcamp is having a contest for the biggest body transformation in the month of June. The winner gets a 2 night hotel stay.

I would like to win this, I always love a challenge!

--Jena

Here are my before pictures for the June Contest:

Feeling good...

2010-06-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

For the last 3 days we have been sweating like no other! The workouts have been very intense. I wake up hungry every morning, ready to eat and workout. I can't wait to see my results Sunday morning.

I can't believe week 2 is almost over, only one more day left. Another one of my friends joined yesterday, so now I get to workout with 4 of my friends, plus I have made a few new friends over the last two weeks!

I am so glad I took this opportunity to make some serious changes, mentally and physically.

---Jena

What keeps me going Wednesdays...

2010-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a scheduled post every Wednesday and the topic will be "What keeps me going". I will be focusing on the types of food I eat to keep my motor running while I am doing boot camp, running, climbing and training for the Red Rock relay race.

This week my post is about LUNA bars. I love Luna bars for my pre-workout snack or post-workout snack and they come in handy when I am on the road or out of town because they fill me up and it is better than snacking on a candy bar that is full of bad calories.

The calories vary between 170-190 depending on the flavor and type. Luna bars are made specifically for woman and made with 70% organic ingredients. The normal bars have between 8 and 9 grams of protein depending on the flavor and the new Luna protein bars have 12 grams of protein. They taste so good that you forget you are eating a fitness bar.

The price of Luna bars depends on where you go to get them. I have found them for under a dollar a piece at Target and Walmart. At Harmons and REI they run about 1.25 a piece.

I am going to list the flavors I have tried and what I think about them:

Lemon Zest- This is my favorite bar. It has a nice lemon touch to it and I never get board of it.
S'mores- No explanation needed, yummy!
Chocolate Peppermint Stick- This is my second favorite flavor, the peppermint and chocolate are great together.
Iced Oatmeal Raisin - Good but a lot of cinnamon so I got sick due to my sensitivity to cinnamon.
Nutz over Chocolate- Yummy
Peanut Butter Cookie- Also Yummy
Caramel Nut Brownie- I tried it once but didn't buy it again, I am assuming it was because it was okay but not great!
LUNA Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter- My favorite in the new Luna Protein line.
LUNA Protein Cookie Dough- Pretty good, almost tastes like cookie dough.

***LUNA Protein Bar Note*** These are a chewy nougat bar, and they are a little hard to eat first thing in the morning. I will be saving mine for after workouts and will not be eating them during a run.

Today I found these 4 new flavors I will be trying this week and I will post an update on how they tasted:

Blueberry Bliss
Toaste Nuts 'n Cranberry
Cookies 'n Cream Delight
Dulce de Leche

If you need a healthy snack, or something sweet and healthy to keep on hand pick some up and give them a try, they keep me going!

---Jena

Week 2: Day 6 & 7

2010-06-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

This week has been great so far. Yesterday we went in on Memorial Day at 7:00 am instead of 5:30 am and worked our butts off. It was nice to sleep in a little, but I prefer to get up at 5:00 am and get it done for the day.

Today was great, our trainer really pushed us to the point of sweating every last drop we had. It went by so fast. He has a contest going for the month of June. The prize is a two free night stay for the person with the best body transformation. He wants us to take another picture today and then we are doing measurements on Thursday. I have to say, I am shooting for this prize, I think I have a good chance if I can keep up the energy and strength!

In one week I have seen amazing changes. Clothes are getting loose, and I am getting stronger. We went climbing yesterday at the climbing gym with family for Memorial Day. The climbs have difficulties on them starting at a 5.4 all the way up to 5.11 and beyond. The only one I have been able to get to the top on is a 5.4 until yesterday when I climbed a 5.6 and 3/4's of a 5.7. I have tried both of those climbs a few times and could only make it 1/4 of the way up on both of them. I was so excited that I was able to actually do some hard and challenging climbs.

Anything is possible if you just try, and keep trying until to accomplish whatever your goal or goals may be.

Well, that is it for today. I will probably be back on Thursday. Have a great week!

---Jena

Weigh-In Day!

2010-05-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so today I weighed in and here are the results of week one of boot camp:

-4.2 pounds!

This is very exciting! The hard work pays off and watching my calories paid off too. I am looking forward to week two. This week four of my friends are joining boot camp so it will be great to have friends along side of me.

Have a great Sunday!

---Jena

Don't get rid of it, just don't go overboard!

2010-05-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

These last couple of days I have been thinking about a new way to tackle soda and sweets. A few posts ago I said I was not going to do Soda or sweets or unhealthy snacks until September. After thinking a lot this week I have decided to change my plan of action.

The sweets and soda and unhealthy snacks are not the problem. The problem is going overboard when these temptations are around. Let's face it, these naughty temptations are everywhere. Now I know that I am totally capable of getting rid of these things and staying away, but I was thinking back to every time I do this, when my time restraint of staying away from treats is up, I go crazy overboard and eat way more than I normally would.

Here is my new goal:

If I am going to have a treat or sweets because I decide to, then I need to be aware and accountable for the calories I take in. I have started keeping a food journal again, Monday-Friday and it is a great habit for me because it shows me where I go wrong during the day if my calories are a little high. Now, this doesn't mean I am going to go crazy. When I go out to my weekly late night movie with a friend, I am still going to take some home popped popcorn and some pickled veggies, and maybe something sweet that I have already counted the calories out for. I just want to enjoy life, and I don't want to have so many restrictions that I go crazy. So this is my new plan, and I will report my progress and my struggles when I feel like I need to share.

Today I already tested it. I had a huge box of Junior Mints in the freezer, which is one of my favorite treats. I could have downed the whole box but instead I ate 12, which at 10 calories a piece was 120 calories. It could have been 510 calories if I had decide to down the box, but I chose not to.

It is time for me to stop hiding from treats, realize they are always going to be around, and learn to live with them by enjoying them in small portions every once in awhile. I think doing this plan will in the long run, make me more successful at not going crazy on the treats!

---Jena

On a side note, this weekend has been great. I have gone to the climbing gym twice and I have done some amazing climbs. I already feel stronger and more confident in my climbing.

Day five: Week one of Boot Camp Complete!

2010-05-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it, I completed a full week (5 days) of boot camp at 5:30 am and I survived. I feel so good about the hard work I have put in and I can't wait to start seeing results. I just want to say that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and just do it. No excuses, just get out there and start doing the work. There are some amazing people in our class and it is great to have them to work out with everyday. We all push each other and it is nice to hear their cheers and words of encouragement. Our two trainers are awesome and encourage us to push ourselves beyond what we think we are capable of.

I look forward to next week. Even though Monday is a holiday, we are still going in on Monday. We do get to sleep in a little bit, since the gym doesn't open until 7:00 am on Monday due to the holiday.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am looking forward to going climbing at the gym tonight, a nice run in the morning, a break on Sunday, and boot camp and a climb outside on the mountain on Monday.

I will be weighing in on Sunday morning and I will be doing my first update on my weight loss then.

---Jena

Day four: Outdoors and Friends!

2010-05-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

Day four I had a little surprise. When I pulled up to the community center, three cute ladies came up to the back of my car. I hopped out and it was three of my friends from the neighborhood that I live in. I was so excited to have some people that I knew come to Boot Camp. They did awesome for their first day, Marcus really pushed us hard, but they were troopers! We had to strap on a sled that weighed over 100 pounds and pull it across a field and back. It was rough, it took all the strength you had inside to do pull that sled. We all did it and it felt great to accomplish such a big task.

We did a lot of workouts outside while the sun was rising in the east. I was a beautiful morning to be outside working out with friends while our families were still sleeping in their beds.

Day five, here I come!

---Jena

Day three: Different Trainer

2010-05-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, can I say that I am sore from the stairs yesterday!? Sore in places I did not know I had muscles! That aside, today was a great workout. We had a different trainer today, she was awesome and pushed us hard.

It is nice having two different trainers that work you till you drop. They have different styles so I think it is great to get pushed in different ways and work different muscles.

I am starting to get to know some of the people in the class, all very nice. Day 3 was great, I am starting to feel really good. Last night my sleep wasn't the greatest, I kept waking up every hour thinking I would not get up in time and miss my alarm.

My soreness levels: Monday's workout I could feel today and was about a 3 out of 10 in soreness. Tuesday's workout I would say was around a 7 or 8 out of 10 mostly in my legs.

Biggest loser was great last night, go Mike! We had biggest loser party at my friends house with healthy snacks and food. Good times!

I can't believe week 1 out of 13 is almost over!

---Jena

Day two

2010-05-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Today was crazy hard! We started out with running 2 sets of stairs 25 times. Up and down counted as one, I got to 21 before he stopped me and we moved to the next thing. I am so glad I signed up for boot camp, this first week is a little rough but I am glad he is pushing us, it feels good.

To give you an idea of how hard it was, the most in shape people there were complaining!

I am predicting that day 3 will be the day I am really feeling it. We also get a different trainer tomorrow, I am sure she will push us just as hard!

---Jena

Day one and Before Picture

2010-05-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Today was day one at Bootcamp and it kicked my butt! I feel good after working out hard. There were a few times where I almost felt like I was going to throw up and I was sweating so I know I got a good workout.

I weighed myself yesterday and Moab took a "Before" picture of me this morning. I can't wait to see the end results. I hope to be in the best shape of my life in 3 months. I will weigh every Sunday morning and Post my results here. Thanks for following my weight loss Journey, love the support!

The trainer did give me a compliment, he asked where I normally work out and I said on my own at home. I was able to keep up for the most part with people who had been going for awhile. It felt good to know I am not totally out of shape.

I will post my soreness level when it kicks in! Today we were heavy on the arms, I am sore just typing!

---Jena

BEFORE and never again:

I'm back! For Realzies!

2010-05-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it is time I am serious about posting my progress.

This year I have lost a lot, but gained it right back as soon as I stopped moving. I got into bad habits with eating and sleeping and now I regret not keeping up with the workouts and healthy eating habits, even though I was burnt out, it was not worth gaining it back. It comes on faster than it goes, now the hard work starts over again. Someday I will learn, I hope...

I am, however, proud to list my accomplishments:

3 5ks so far
1 10 k
1 15 k
2 half marathons so far

On Sept. 11th I will be running in my first relay race. I am very excited but I have 3 legs to run in 24 hours:

Leg 1= 6.5
Leg 2= 6.3
Leg 3= 3.9

I also plan on running at least 2 more half marathons this year.

My new adventure in weight loss starts on Monday, May 24th. I joined a local Boot Camp for 3 months, so by Aug. 23rd I Will be looking good. I will be working out 5 days a week at 5:30 am. Yeah, crazy I know!

I really want to push myself and I am so glad I have a very supportive husband. I also added climbing to my list of things I do and I want to get stronger and smaller so I can climb like a pro.

On Sunday I will be posting a before picture of me and I will try to post an update picture every 2 weeks to show my progress. I hope my Journey in weight loss can inspire you to get out there and take control of your life. It feels real great to be in control. Please, don't be shy, ask questions, post your comments, I would love the support! Sometimes a good sports bra isn't quite enough ;)

--Jena

Some Goals I set today and told my girls to have them remind me of my goals.

As of tomorrow until September:

No more sweets
No more soda
No more unhealthy snacks

Why only 4 months? Baby steps, baby steps....

So Far...

2009-10-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago I started training with my friend who is a personal trainer and nutritionist. I was feeling like I needed a little more motivation to shed more pounds, 80-100 more lbs to be exact. Over the last 3 years I have lost and kept off 30 lbs or so and lost an additional 20 lbs and then gained the 20 back. Two weeks ago I was back to only 30 lbs of weight loss instead of 50. For some reason I hit a certain weight, and then the weight starts climbing back up instead of falling.

Since I started two weeks ago, I have lost 9 lbs and 6 inches total, 3 of those inches were my stomach. I feel great, and I feel motivated! I know that with my trainer/friend I can do this, I just need to stick to her plan and believe that I can do it!

I am running a 10k next weekend so I will be posting how that goes.

Thanks for stopping by!
-Jena

Welcome!

2009-10-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I started a blurg to help me set and keep my weight loss goals. Here I will post my progress, my ups and downs, and everything in-between! I would love to see your comments with tips and tricks you may know of and of course, positive uplifting feedback is always welcome.

When I have a little more time later this evening, I will catch you all up on my Journey so far.

--Jena