Month #2 August-September

Wow! This has been quite a month! I finally finished my externship and my masters program! I began at my new school and was welcomed with a caseload of 91! Needless to say, I have been very busy! I have somehow managed to continue to make it to the gym 5-6 days per week sometimes 7, but it hasn't been easy!

I have been alternating upper and lower body with an ab and cardio workout each day. I never realized how weak my core is and how uncoordinated I am-haha!

Well, no more stalling...here are my measurements for this month!

Weight: 215 (down down from 219, originally 223)
BMI: 35.3 (down from 36, originally 36.6)
Body Fat %: 39.7 (down from 40.8, originally 41.4)

Neck: 15 1/2 (same)
Chest: 42 (down from 42 1/2, originally 43)
Shoulders: 47 (down from 49)
Waist: 37 (down from 39, originally 39 3/4)
Hips: 46 (down from 47 1/2, originally 48 1/2)
Right Bicep: 14 (same, originally 13 3/4)
Left Bicep: 14 (down from 14 3/4, originally 13 3/4)
Right Thigh: 25 (same)
Left Thigh: 25 1/2 (down from 26, originally 25)
Right Calf: 17 1/2 (up from 17, originally 16)
Left Calf: 17 1/2 (up from 17)

I was happy, but would've liked to have seen more in my legs! After all the soreness I felt like there should've been more results there! I'll be taking it up a notch this month and starting a new meal plan!

More to come next month...

Month #1 July 6-August 5

During this month, I went to the gym at least 6 days a week. I went to see my personal trainer 3-4 times. On August 5th I went in and had my first month's measurements taken.

Body Fat %: 40.8 (down from 41.4)
Weight: 219 (down from 223)
BMI: 36 (down from 36.6)
Neck: 15 1/2 (same)
Chest: 42 1/2 (down from 43)
Shoulders: 49 (same)
Waist: 39 (down from 39 3/4)
Hips: 47 1/2 (down from 48 1/2)
Right Bicep: 14 (up from 13 3/4)
Left Bicep: 14 3/4 (up from 14)
Right Thigh: 25 (same)
Left Thigh: 26 (same)
Right Calf: 17 (up from 16)
Left Calf: 17 (same)

I was excited to see these results! I lost 3 pounds, 0.6% body fat, 0.6 in my BMI and 2.75 inches on my body. While I have gained inches in my thighs and calves, it is muscle not fat! It hasn't been easy, but I am loving this! I am beginning to think it is possible!!!

More to come in September : )

The truth hurts...

So as I began my workouts on July 8th, I received a free fitness assessment from one of the trainers. At the beginning of this session the trainer takes your measurements and weight to be used as a baseline. I was very nervous going into this because I would have to face the reality of my body. As I started this blog, I was hesitant to share these, but I am going to anyways. That being said, here it goes...

BMI: 36.6
Body fat: 41.4%
Weight: 223

My thoughts were WOW this is TERRIBLE! Immediately I knew I had made the right decision to make this change! These made me want to vomit if I'm being honest!

Now onto the measurements...
Neck: 15 1/2
Chest: 43
Shoulders: 49
Waist: 39 3/4
Hips: 48 1/2
Bicep (R): 13 3/4
Bicep (L): 14
Thigh (R): 25
Thigh (L): 26
Calf (R): 16
Calf (L): 17

After hearing these numbers, I said yet another WOW!

Going forth, I have set the following goals...

*Long-term: lose 80 pounds over a year.

*Short-term: lose 40 pounds by Christmas.

I will update these each month as I weigh in and have my measurements taken.

Changes with 27

On July 1st of this year, I celebrated my 27th birthday. As this birthday approached, I decided that this year would be the year of change for me. For starters, this would be the last birthday I would celebrate as "Lindsey Maxwell". Next year when my birthday rolls around, I will officially be "Mrs. Lindsey Dyer". Wow. That's the first time I've actually put those name together in print! Along with becoming a misses, I will also have completed my masters degree in Speech-language Pathology after a long 3 years of an intense graduate program online. Let's begin here. In 2009 I began my masters program online while continuing to work full time in the public schools. Between classes and work that left little time for anything else. My free time was pretty nonexistent. I had very little time to hang out with family and friends, meet new people, and travel, let alone exercise and eat right. With the stress of my schedule, I gained 30+ pounds. I dieted here and there, but would slip back into old habits and gain back whatever I had lost plus additional pounds. I was not happy with the way my body was changing, but didn't have the time or energy to make the change I needed to. This year at my physical, I found out I have hypothyroidism. I began taking medication to regulate my levels. This is something that continues to be a struggle at this time. So, this brings us back to my birthday. As the day rolled around, I gave myself a gift for the first time ever-a membership to the gym and a year of sessions with a personal trainer.

This blog will document my progress and struggles in my journey to lose the weight and get fit. After all, I refuse to be a fat bride.