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Goaldigger

Hello everyone! I can't believe another week has passed so quickly. Thanksgiving is behind us and we're now into the holiday season. Lots of parties, events and gatherings, which also means more food. Food is everywhere. I'm even guilty of it because my hubby and I will be making cookie tins this weekend. Will I be able to stay away? Probably not. I'm sure I'll indulge in one oatmeal raisin walnut cookie. Matilda always makes sure to halt me at one, but I always think of the day when one won't be enough. It worries me.

After the epic Thanksgiving that resulted in hello-crazy weight loss - my largest weight loss week to date - I've been feeling differently. As a weight loss surgery patient, in the back of my mind there is this thought that maybe I'd never be small. I guess it's hard to shake those body image issues that tend to stick no matter how much I've lost. But this week, I've been thinking that I will be that smaller person. It's totally possible. I see it now. I feel it. I see changes like my knee. I have a knee, and I can see it. I can cross my legs, and that always baffled me because I couldn't understand why a person would want to sit like that. Now, I see why because it's quite comfortable. I can work with my laptop sitting on my lap - hence why it's named a laptop and not a bellytop. I've hit size 16's, and my sneakers are getting too big! That's right. My feet are getting smaller!

So, I figured if I'm feeling so great, maybe it's time to test my limits. My workouts have been going great. Actually, a little too good - which means it's time to change it up. I already had my goal of running a mile by 12/31 (and I'll get to that later), but I also wanted to challenge myself to do some high intensity Zumba. I've been doing Zumba for a very long time. I use my Wii and I also go to live classes.  The Wii is awesome, and I enjoy it very much, but there is nothing like a live class. No matter how many live classes I've attended, there is one instructor who I feel has the best class, and I went to visit her studio this past Saturday all the way in Cleveland, OH. (I live in Erie, PA).

She's amazing, and her routines are high intensity and high impact. She's an amazing instructor, which makes for an amazing class. When I arrived, I received the best sweaty hug (as she was finishing a class), and I was ready for the next one. Although she wasn't teaching, another amazing instructor was there, and I was ready!

I couldn't believe what I was able to do. I was jumping, hoping, moving and shaking. Burpee pushups in a Zumba routine?? Yes, I did that. Quick foot movements and all, and I was laughing. I was overjoyed. I was so ready for anything she gave me. Dripping in sweat and exhilarated, I knew that I would be ready to get my own Zumba Instructor certification when I'm at goal. Yes, that will be done. I can't wait until I can teach others. Working out is fun when you find what you love.

Challenge met!

On Sunday, I was still flying high on my way to Planet Fitness so I figured I'd give myself another challenge. I wondered if I could accomplish my year-end goal. I got on the treadmill and did a 5 minute warm-up walk, and preceded to smash my goal by running for 25 minutes straight at 4 mph, and completed 1.5 miles without stopping. Sure, that's slow as shit, but I don't give a HOOT! I weight 313 pound at the beginning of the year, and I just ran for 25 minutes without stopping!!!

Completely blow away and overjoyed with my progress right now. I know the scale sometimes dictates how one may feel about how well they are going, but right now, the things I can do now versus a month ago - a year ago ... there is no comparison. I feel so amazing. I feel that I can do anything, and since I've already met my year end goal every early, I'm going to focus on my goals for the next year.
  • Steadily increase my run by 5 minute increments each week. My plan is to increase my endurance and keep my heart rate strong and steady. I eventually plan to run a few 10K's in 2019 at a good pace (5 mph).
  • Get my Zumba certification in 2017.
  • Be free of all medications for blood pressure and high cholesterol.
  • Reach my goal weight in 2017 - and I'm still not sure what that is or what that means. 
What are your goals for 2017? Not resolutions.... Goals. What do you want to accomplish? Please feel free to share, and it doesn't have to be health/fitness related. Get those goals. Set them. Review them. Make them realistic and attainable. We got this.

Weight Loss Update
HW: 360
SW: 278
CW: 216.8
GW: 160-170

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