If you are new to these “Let’s Get Real” talks, you might want to check out part 1 {My weight lost journey} and part 2 {I thought I was going to die} to bring you up to speed. In a nutshell, I was crazy and announced my dirty laundry here in the public eye and almost had a nervous breakdown about it. Ha ha. Ok, not really. But, I am getting personal on you here at All Things Thrifty and I don’t do that very often due to my complete and utter lack of personal confidence in my body. So, after bearing my soul in part 1 and getting an overwhelming rush of support from YOU, I cannot deny the fact that it was the right choice to share.
I have been working out 6 days a week for almost three weeks now. When I say “work out” that phrase seems to be way too nice for what Terica the Scarica {our group trainer} has in store for us each day. Ha ha. I’m telling ya, I’ve never worked out so hard in my life. On Saturday we did 24 minutes of interval training that included “burpies” and “screamers” and those words seem to better describe what it was like. I also lifted weights and tried to do a pull up {emphasis on TRIED}. Yesterday I crawled around the track on my hands and feet in push up position and crab walked backwards. What the!?!
I’ll be honest, last week wasn’t great. I stood on the scale and the number went up. I cried. I’ve actually cried several times during this process. My brother {my personal life coach} says I should stop obsessing about that “number” because it’s not about that. So, I’ve tried not to. I know that I am doing this the “right way”.
I went to the Gateway to Wellness and they ran a RMR test that tells me where my “calorie weight loss zone” is, and you were all right. I wasn’t eating enough. I was actually in the “dangerous zone.”
The work outs are getting easier in some ways. I was able to keep pedaling for an entire spin class the other day. YAY! But, this morning I didn’t want to get up. It was a tired day, and I dragged myself out of bed. I’m always glad I went to the gym afterwards though. My ankle is having a hard time {because I had a compound fracture in a car accident ten years ago}. But, I know it will feel better when I weigh less. Plus I have this darn hernia that I got from a terrible cough during my pregnancy with Creed that is ridiculous. I should have gotten it fixed, but money sucks. I have to modify a lot of the exercises because of those two things, but I’m doing ok. I’m telling ya, I could use a NUMBER of things as my excuse to NOT do this. But, I am doing it. In fact, it is REALLY fun. My teammates are freakin’ awesome. I love working out with people that I just. plain. love. It makes it easier {fo sho}.
So, I have some dirty laundry that follows me around. PLUS I have a lot more dirty laundry {literally} because I sweat my ACE off every morning. Yesterday my clean laundry pile was as tall as me {don’t judge}. WOAH. HA HA!! So, this post has a double meaning. BAHAHAH.
I just wanted to give you all a little update and MAINLY tell you THANK YOU for all the support, the e-mails, the comments, the facebook messages…EVERYTHING. I’m quite proud of myself for doing this, I’m not going to lie. I have to just keep trudging along and remember that slowly and surely this is going to work. My pants that I haven’t done up since before Thanksgiving are not staying up anymore without a belt. YAHOOOOO!
Love you all and thanks again for the supportive messages. You ROCK.
Oh my I HATE crab walking 🙂 Worst thing ever, I had a trainer who used to make us put washcloths under our feet and we had to slide only using our arms! I too just realized I needed to eat more, keep up the hard work!!
Nice job Brooke! Keep up the good work!
We seriously sound like twinners. The best is when my hubby says to me "I've lost 20lbs and haven't even tried" thats when the tears really started coming. You got this. Keep up the good work.
Hi Brooke!
I think you are doing amazing. I too aired my "dirty laundry" on my blog. I have found that my readers are helping me stay accountable. I have been working out about 5 days a week and my number went up this week as well. It was quite discouraging, but I am holding onto the fact that I am gaining muscle. If you need some inspiration I would love to help. I write a weekly weigh in post on Mondays over at Faith, Family, and Me. Keep up the great work!!
Hang in there! It will start to come off! You are working hard and it will pay off! thanks for keeping it real! You are amazing and beautiful!
Good job! Always think about how much muscle weighs compared to fat, too. They have these nasty models of 5 lbs of fat and 10 lbs of muscle (muscle is still smaller in size) that I always keep in mind. It is SO hard when the scale is not reflecting your hard work!
I enjoyed reading this post, but before I even started in my head I had composed the response "there is no way I'm showing my laundry room". So glad I don't have too and who doesn't have piles with kids? Wait, that sounds like a medical condition huh?
~Bliss~
Good job! Keep working hard, that is awesome
Keep working!!!
Keep at it!! Your brother is right….don't focus on the numbers because muscle weighs more than fat.
I'm working out at home because we can't afford a gym membership right now and it has been a challenge but I'm trying to stick to it. Feels good when I do work out.
Keep going!
I just wrote about the dang numbers last week on my blog. 🙂 you are doing awesome! Keep it up!
Big payoffs (for anything in life) require hard work. Losing weight and getting in shape are no different. I could say: You can do it! But the truth is: you ARE doing it! Keep going!
it's all in the jeans baby!!! good for you Brooke! you SHOULD be proud of yourself, especially for getting up at the buttcrack of dawn to work out. you are inspirational! i hope you get a whole new wardrobe because everything starts falling off!
You rock! I don't know how you fit in exercise 6 days a week with with four kids. I am happy to get a shower and a few crunches in and that isn't every day! Good luck, and stay focused on the positive! Just think how much healthier you are becoming, it doesn't have to be about the numbers.
YAAAAAAY!!! on the pants thing 🙂
keep up the good work!! you will make it!!
Keep going!!! Remember also that muscles weigh lots more than fat, so as long as you feel your shrinking (like in your everyday clothes), you're doing good!
Your brother is right, it is NOT about a number. If you want to base it on a number, try how many days/weeks you'll be able to workout without stopping. You go girl! You can do this!
You are a rock star!!! Those workouts sound like torture. It's true that if you aren't eating enough your body will try protecting itself by storing more fat. Everything in balance! Keep up the great work.
Brooke,
As a fellow mom looking to whip my arse into shape, I can soooo relate to how you feel!! I am actually obsessed now with eating clean and lifting heavy. Why?? Because I have lost 20 lbs of FAT and gained 10 lbs of muscle. Honest. I started back in July but didn't really "start" until October. I had an epiphany… maybe because I turned 31 and had my 3rd baby and lost myself in the process. But here I am. I will share my secrets with you:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/livefit
http://www.skinnytaste.com/
http://www.eatcleandiet.com/
You can do it, sista!!! There is an entire network of women out there just waiting to offer support!!!
If you want to see my progress (haven't updated in a while), check out my blog:
http://desilet.blogspot.com
GOOD LUCK!!!
Don't forget, muscle wieghts more than fat.. so your brother is right, don't get hung up on that number…. the INCHES you lose are what make you feel good. I mean really, do you care if what you weight if you are healthy and feel good? You are doing a heck of a good job. It's not easy and your perserverence WILL pay off!!!
I had tried and tried AND TRIED to drop weight and then talked with my doc. He ran a hormone screen and said that since I had just had a baby that year, my hormones whacked out, but didn't return to normal. He said that no matter how hard I tried because my hormones were wonky, I'd never lose weight. Not only that, but my HUGE food cravings and never ending appetite were another result of the hormone craziness. Oh. Well. That could've been helpful a couple elipticals ago. Talking meds to bring those darn hormones back to normal allowed my body to act normal again. Gosh I love the fuss of being a girl. :o)
Stupid scales. Keep going Brooke, this is for your health, your husband, your life, your kids, for us so you can keep seeing you create awesomeness until you are 97! It's such a battle…one that I'm fighting as well. You are awesome!! Thanks for sharing your story.
Ignore the scales – start measuring your body.
Sometimes when the scales go up, it's because you're building muscle and muscle is heavier than fat.
But the measuring tape doesn't fall for that. Start by measuring your upper arms, thighs, chest, waist and hips. You'll be surprised about how that drops – even when the scales tell you tales.