Since gaining twenty extra pounds in 2006 (due to my insane hormones and PCOS diagnosis), I've had ups and downs in trying to get back to my high school weight and back in my favorite pair of jeans. I let the pounds pile on for awhile before deciding to do much about it. And when I started to care, it seemed more trouble than it was worth.
In the spring of 2007, I tried jogging on a regular basis. I didn't lose any weight. Over that next year, I tried eating a little better and going to the gym with a friend. Still nothing.
In the summer of 2008, I had a breakthrough (with the help of the bio-identical hormones getting my body slowly back in order). I spent two to three days a week at the gym and lost about six pounds. I never got into a smaller size, but I loved feeling like my body could handle the basics of living.
But my hormones took another plunge (or spike?) that fall with the start of school. I gained every pound back. My workouts were irregular and my eating habits not always the best. Needless to say, I was mad that I'd worked so hard yet put the weight back on. I couldn't feel good about my body with those extra pounds.
So 2009 brought a different resolution into my life. I decided to take different measures to lose the weight. I bought a treadmill and started jogging on a regular basis. In May, I started going to the gym on a more regular basis. And staying conscious of what I was putting in my mouth.
The treadmill helped my endurance, but I didn't lose much weight (maybe a pound or two). The gym is a different story. Since May, I've lost seven pounds and I'm still working on getting the rest off.
Today, I bought a calorie counting watch so I can keep track of how many calories I'm burning per workout plus on a regular basis. Being conscious of how much I expend will probably help me skip out on the extra calories I consume. I also bought a new fitness tool...a mini Pilates ball...to use to strengthen my abs and other muscles.
I already use a fitness ball when working at home (on top of my gym class and regular gym weight training) that helps quite a bit to tone my body. But right now, I'm looking to bump from the mark I'm at so I just want a few more things on my side. One of the major things I'm looking to control along with the calorie counter and ball is my blood sugars.
The highs and lows take a toll on my body, packing pounds on and forcing my workouts to not be at optimum. So if I can control those better, I should be able to lose another few pounds. To me, it's all about knowing what works for me and what doesn't and putting those tools to use. I just hope these new tools really do help me lose weight and maybe get my blood sugars into sync as well.
