Day 1, Week 1
Today is the day! September 10th. The day that I committed to begin eagerly (and I’m sure sometimes not so eagerly) trying to lose weight and attain a more healthy body! I’m making a commitment to you and to my fellow bloggers that I will work hard for 12 straight weeks. Each Monday I will give you a special update letting you know how I did that week. I will share my inches lost, my pounds lost and exercise that I did that week. I will also share my obstacles as well as my successes! You know what? I’m kind of scared. Why would I be scared?? Well….this is something that I have only ever had temporary success at. I am good at dropping 5 pounds here and 5 pounds there….but never have I lost much and kept it off. I’ve never been in it for the long haul. I give up too soon.
A couple weeks ago, I was lying in bed, thinking about how fat I am. I started to think through the different ways that maybe, just maybe, I could be successful at losing this weight. Suddenly, I got an idea. I thought to myself, “If you host a series and invite several bloggers to join you, you will be forced to try to lose weight”. I know, some of you may have your doubts. You’re thinking, “yeah…but….you quit several times before, why will this time be different?” I know you’re thinking that because I thought it, too. My answer? It’s because I don’t want to disappoint my fellow bloggers who I made this commitment with. How can I quit if I’m the host? How can I quit if my picture is at the bottom of each of these other bloggers’ posts, telling the world what I’m doing? I’m in this thing for 12 weeks no matter what!! It is entirely possible that I won’t lose much weight, but it won’t be because I didn’t try. I’ll just be fat and fit if that happens. 😉 I have a feeling that won’t happen though.
This is me. I don’t usually like to share pictures of my full body with you, so I’m going out on a limb here. I turned 36 yesterday and I am not getting any younger. My feet ache. My back hurts. I worry that my thyroid is low or that my blood pressure is high because my energy is low. I’m too young to feel like this! I’ve been overweight for too long! This is something that plagues me daily. I go to bed with high hopes of “doing better” tomorrow, only to wake up hungry, busy and sometimes stressed out. Who has time to think about weight loss in the midst of a busy day? Guess what? I do! I just have to CHOOSE to make those hard decisions. They WILL get easier.
Now for my plan. No one is successful without a plan!
- Regular prayer & Bible time to spur myself towards the right decisions, especially the decision of self control!
- Drink green smoothies for breakfast 4x a week
- Eat a soup or saladfor lunches 4x a week
- Eat a regular, sensible dinner with normal portions. (probably using Weight Watchers online plan)
- Increase vegetable and fruit intake
- Decrease sugar and soda consumption
- Use my 15 minute T-tapp Exercise DVD 5x a week
- Slowly add in the 55 minute T-tapp Exercise program as time permits
- Walk, Bicycle and/or go to the gym as time permits
- Use my DAILY PRINTABLE CHECKLIST to encourage healthy habits.
- Weigh & Measure each week & report the increases or decreases here on my blog.
What do I hope to gain by doing this?
- a closer relationship with Jesus as I lean on Him in the hard times
- a smaller body – I hope to lose 15-20 pounds in the next 12 weeks
- a healthier body – I hope my aches and pains will begin to minimize
- a more energetic body – I hope to be able to have more energy to get things done, so everything doesn’t feel so hard!
Please pray for me as I embark on this journey. And if you can, join me! I have 18 other bloggers joining me, it would be fun to have more!! Also, if you’re interested in reading the other bloggers plans and succeses, click on the picture below.
Marg says
Hi…..I'm foiiowing you and a few other bloggers for the next 12 weeks. I've lost 10 by cutting out sugar, but need to lose another 20 or so. I've also started running and burst training. If you can, read The Blood Sugar Solution byt Mark Hyman. (You can google his website for more info.) All the best!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Thanks for the advice Marg. I'll look into getting the book. I wonder if my library has it?
Valerie says
Good for you, Sarah!
I too committed myself to getting fit and healthy this past summer. It's been a long and hard battle, but to date I have lost 43 lbs!!! I have never lost more than 20 at any given time. I began my weight loss journey on May 29, 2012. Just recently I started running, but I've walked consistently every day for an hour since May 29th. My greatest suggestion….cut out the sugar as best as you can. According to the American Heart Association, all American women (regardless of weight) should take in no more than 25 grams of sugar per day. It feels brutal at first, but you will find an incredible increase in energy when you stop the wild sugar swings. Honestly, I probably consume closer to 15 g. or less a day of sugar. I know it's what has made the difference for me!
Feel free to drop by my blog if you would like to see my latest picture update from May to this past weekend!
Blessings,
Valerie https://www.kueterfamilyblog.blogspot.com
Sidetracked Sarah says
That is so awesome Valerie! I just saw your pictures and you are doing absolutely amazing! I'm excited to have some of those pictures to share in the future!
Dianna says
This was exactly the kick in the pants I needed, Sarah!
Let's do this!
Sidetracked Sarah says
I'm kind of head achey from the lack of sugar & caffeine at this point…..but I'm so excited to see what we all will do together!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Andrea – I am so sold on T-tapp because of the experience I had with it. I once did a 14 day boot camp and lost 9 inches in that amount of time. I truly believe that it is the only exercise program that I need. For some reason, I quit doing it. My biggest problem with exercise and diet is consistency. I get tired of thinking about it. I love that they have the message boards where there are lots of real people sharing their very real results. If you had a hard time feeling like you were actually working yourself…..you may need to tweak your form. Amazingly the exercises are much more noticably harder when done in the correct way.
tracy says
I feel the same exact way!! Always tired all the time! I basically have to force myself to do things. 🙁 I will lose 15 lbs….and thn I find them! 🙂 good luck, I will promise U that I will start exercising TODAY! I can’t break my promise….:) thanks for the motivation!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Awesome Tracy….can't wait to hear your results!!
KimH says
Awesome!! Im in!! Im not a blogger but I am a follower. Im 51 in a few days and Im feeling the same way you do. I often think if I had the day to prepare good foods & such, it'd sure be a lot easier.
Im planning on making a bunch of foods that I can put in the freezer and then just grab & go every morning.
I love T-Tapp! I havent done it in a couple years.. I should get myself back to doing it too. I always enjoyed it & it does make a HUGE difference!!
Thanks for being an Inspiration! 🙂
Sidetracked Sarah says
So glad to have you joining me, Kim and that you're a fellow T-tapp lover! Let me know how you're progressing! I love to hear T-tapp results!
Lynn S. says
I'm excited for you, Sarah! And I am going to try to join you! I'm going to try to at least do one thing! I'm thinking I'll try the green smoothies first!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Yay Lynn. It'll be nice to have a local joining me!!
Andrea says
Do you have a lot of experience with Ttapp Sarah? I did it about 7 years ago…I actually felt like my fitness level went backward because I wasn't getting any aerobic activity. I know some folks have reported amazing results, but I don't know anyone personally who has. When I look at Teresa Tapp, I have a hard time believing she really could understand what us plus size gals need, though I think she's a great lady. I'd be happy to "meet" a real lady who had success with that, who was closer to my size. 🙂
laurie says
Cheering you on Sarah!!
Jeri Lynn says
I am excited about this 12 weeks! "This time" is going to be different, I just know it. Remember we have a helper who sticks closer than a brother. He will lead and guide.