How This Adventure Got Started

So what has started this new "adventure" of me losing weight? About 10 months ago while pregnant with my second baby, I developed gestational diabetes (GD). With my first baby, I did not get this so this was an eye-opener! I think it was God's way of getting my attention. Before conceiving our second child, I was considered slightly overweight at a size 12 (I'm 5'7"). It wasn't enough of a concern but my doctors wanted me to keep my weight gain under control, which I did only gaining 12 pounds the entire pregnancy. However, when I developed GD it made me realize that this disease is a reality for me, especially after giving birth. You see-- diabetes runs very strongly in my family. My dad has it, my uncle had it, a cousin of mine died due to complications from the disease, another cousin and uncle has it. I've been fortunate that I've dodged this disease for this long! So, it's time to get healthy and some weight off!!!!

What's my goal? I would like to be a size 8 again (the size I was when I met my husband and in college). I'm not so much concerned about the actual weight as I am my size. Since I'm doing some weight training, muscle weighs more than fat so as long as my body fat percentage is in the healthy range (right now, I'm slightly above it) and I'm fitting into size 8 clothes, I'll be happy. The key right now is to exercise, which regulates blood sugar better than diet alone. That's hard for me because I really don't like exercise. But I'm doing a combo of walking/jogging, Tae Bo Advanced, and Krav Maga (self-defense). Right now, I'm doing each 1 day a week for 3 days of exercise. But keep in mind, this is pretty intense exercise, especially the Tae Bo which burns 800 calories for an hour (I do 45 minutes).

So what kind of progress have I made so far? Well, I've been keeping a food diary for 3 1/2 weeks and limiting my calories to 1800 per day. I've also exercised 3 times/week for the past 3 weeks. I've lost 4 pounds so far! Yeah! Progress! I've at least got 30 more to go so I've got to stay motivated. C helps with that. He harasses me when he thinks I'm eating too much. But I know I have to eat a minimum of 1600 calories per day so my body won't go into starvation mode and actually GAIN weight! Since I'm still nursing, I'm really supposed to eat 2000 calories per day minimum, so the 1800 per day is low enough. So, that's where the food diary actually helps. C has also lost a good amount of weight, over 30 pounds a couple of years ago. He's also much healthier now, especially since heart disease runs in his family. If he's going to be living a long time, I want to be right along there with him! And if by exercising to get healthy and losing weight, I can prolong getting diabetes (it's probably inevitable at some point I'll get it), then it's worth it. When I had GD during my pregnancy, it gave me a glimpse of what that lifestyle was like. Not that diabetes is bad or anything, but it certainly has its inconveniences (pricking your finger 4-5x per day), and keeping track of your exchanges. I didn't have to take insulin shots so I can't even imagine doing that with everything else! I'm hoping that by posting my progress on this blog, it will keep me motivated and accountable!