Amy - Gym Day 1

Well, I did it - I'm up. Well, I have actually been up since about 1 am with insomnia. Not about going to the gym, work stress.

Anyway, I took a few Day 1 pics- they aren't the best quality since the lighting is low.



Okay, now it's time to leave. Wish me luck!

Well, I'm back - today was arms. Pretty much 45 minutes straight of arm work. I can barely lift my arms, but I survived. The trainer was personable but tough. When the three of us newbies were quiet in the beginning, he made us go out in the freezing cold and run. I learned to be more vocal after coming inside. The trainer is not a fan of Slim 4 Life - in fact that's his nickname for me. He told me I could not have my Slim 4 Life drinks anymore and also told me no more coffee. He did say it didn't look like I had lost over 100 pounds which was nice. It's def. like boot camp. I am hoping I can survive tomorrow.

The Gym - Signing Up

Well, I did it - went to the gym and signed up. Now every M-F at 4:30 am that's where I will be.

I am nervous, but at the same time confident. I know I can do this. I know that in April when I contract is up, I will look back and feel on top of the world.

I wasn't in love with the trainer/owner who signed me up, but I had already prepared myself for that. The only thing that truly shocked me was when he asked me if I had had any surgery after losing 110 pounds. I told him no; then he asked me if I needed it for loose skin.

Here was my response. "Well, I am not going to be a Victoria's Secret Model anytime soon, but no, I don't have sheets of loose skin hanging off me either."

Starting Point - Amy

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. I did pretty well. I only indulged on Thanksgiving instead of the whole week. I am still up 2-3 lbs but it should flush out soon.

Tonight I go to the gym to sign up. I am not looking forward to the 4:30 am workouts, but I am looking forward to seeing how strong I can get.

Here is a pic of me from Thanksgiving - not too bad for a girl who lost over 100 pounds.... I hate the tattoo, but it's half way done with laser removal, so I am working on getting rid of it!

Here is a pic from the same week looking a little less washed out.....


For anyone out there who might actually read this, here's a little history of my struggle with weight.....

I totally grew up as the fat kid. I was normal/thin till about 3rd/4th grade when I started getting chubby. By middle school I was fat. By high school - huge! Senior year I weighed 240 pounds.

No one really ever told me I was fat. Well, the kids at school made fun of me and the girls in middle school were viscous. Adults though, no. They told me I was beautiful....... I knew I really wasn't, but I lived in a house with two very overweight parents and eating bad food and too much bad food was normal. It wasn't till right before I got married in early 2000 that I started a diet. It wasn't actually for my wedding. I went for an OBGYN checkup and the doctor was brutally honest about my weight. I remember going home and crying my eyes out. But her honesty was my wake-up call.

I started reading all kinds of diet books and Dr. Atkin's book really hit home with me. I also found great support on a low-carb site (see links).

On our honeymoon, already down to 200 - I don't have pics of myself at 240.

A year later, I was down 80 lbs. I was a normal-sized woman. Not skinny, but normal. Then, I started watching my calories and fat and working out - woosh down to 140 and a size 4/6 a few months later.... I even went on the Montel Show and was in FIRST.... Then came the babies and baby weight. I did pretty good with my son, but I had a really hard time getting the weight off after my daughter. Along with a cross-country move that didn't sit well with me, I packed on about 50 pounds. Stuck somewhere in between thin and fat, I found Slim 4 Life... It appealed to my lowcarb beliefs and gave me a WW type accountability due to the weekly weigh-ins. I started in March 2010. Now I am at 135 and a size 4. So now comes the fitness journey. It's time to tone up and get lean.