Dose of Reality, Part Two

Got my new photos taken, FINALLY. It's at about nine weeks into the program, after a week of what's been the beginning of a lapse on the whole "little to no starchy carbs" thing. Mostly chocolate, LOL. Still doing my workouts though. Here's the proof:

Pretty cool, I must say.

But here's the reason I titled these posts "Dose of reality." All this is really awesome, but according to the body mass index (BMI) chart, I am still obese. Let's not think about what I was at my heaviest, but it is sobering to know that even after having lost over 21 pounds, I am not even just overweight but obese.

To get myself down into the range of normal healthy weight, I have at least another 50 pounds to drop. Now you tell me, can you picture the form you see above minus 50 pounds MORE? I'll admit, it boggles my mind, and I'll say in my defense that perhaps there are some things outside the limits of a chart, but I am willing to consider that it just might be accurate... even for me, self-proclaimed "large frame","more muscle-- and you know muscle weighs more than fat" person.

Not that my goal has anything much to do with a number, not one of pounds on the scale, or waist circumference, or BMI. I want to be healthy. I want to have as much energy as is naturally possible for someone of my age and lifestyle, because after all, not only do I have to keep up with parenting these eight children plus any more the Lord might wish to send... unless Christ returns first, I will likely in ten to fifteen years be needing the energy to play with grandchildren as well as the children we will still be raising at that time.

Thanks be to God for the opportunity to make that happen. And I pray for that to continue!

p.s. stay tuned, as I still have three weeks to go of the twelve! Not to speak of the fact that it's been an unusually long break since giving birth... a whopping nearly 13 months!!

Dose of Reality, Part One

On a totally different note than my last two posts, I feel the need to share this.

I am in complete amazement at the changes that have taken place in my life, and in awe of the gracious God Who has worked them! For one thing, I am not the same person I was-- not just a year ago, which I'm not either-- but eight weeks ago!!

Remember I started a 12 week transformation program? Well, here are my before photos.

I wouldn't have shared them before, I mean, ewwww. Some of this extra weight, i.e., FAT is thanks to my thyroid imbalance. But rather than be a slave to its ebb and flow, I took charge of my physical well-being and made some serious lifestyle changes.

I started swimming six days a week. It wasn't very much at first, as it didn't take much to make me totally out of breath. But it felt good to get in the pool, even if it was just to float for a while. And of course the hot tub didn't hurt either. ;o

After two weeks of that, I started my transformation. Workouts six days a week, strength training and intervals, and rest on Sunday. Even though it's not a part of the program, I kept swimming. Getting in the pool for ten laps (it's not a big pool, btw) was my reward for having done the regular workout.

After four weeks, here are the photos my dear husband took of me. I don't look at myself very often, so it was helpful to be able to see them and compare.

I'm 15 pounds lighter here, but more importantly I am more toned and defined. Waaaay cool!