No post since November????

I all but forgot about my own blog.  I love doing the blog, but I feel like people "hear" enough about my weight loss journey via Facebook.  I will try to do a better job at updating this, if nothing else for myself to have a better record of my journey. 

I don't even know where to start.

I guess first I should say I am still not at my first major goal of being at 300 pounds yet.  It's not from lack of trying.  I still have been working out and watching what I eat.  With that said, the latest news in my journey is that I visited a weight loss doctor last week.  She was amazing.  She spent over an hour with me and really got into what my issues may be.  She really thinks it is mainly hormones causing my slow weight loss.  She said that not only do I have the issues of PCOS, but that I am taking hormones to stop my period which are known to cause weight gain.  THE GREAT NEWS is that I haven't taken that medication in over a week!  So far, NO PERIOD.  I know TMI, but I figure if you are here to read about my journey, you want to know the entire story.  She also increased my Metformin, which is the medication I take for insulin.  My primary care doctor was supposed to increase that same medication and never did.  I think she honestly forgot.  The weight loss specialist even said the low dose I was taking was only to get my body used to the medication.  The doctor gave me meal plans to follow and I have to keep a diary of my foods (which I already do on MyFitnessPal if you want to follow me my username is:  van8ive).  I have to follow up with her once a month.  She did an EKG and said my heart was cleared to work out at the highest intensity available :)  Which is good news, because I have to tell you all about my new work outs :)

I loved Fit Energy, and honestly without Lori, I would not be where I am today.  She knew how to break me in, and encourage me that I could do the things that I thought I couldn't.  I went to Fit Energy from August to December.  In December I came in 2nd place in a weight loss competition.  One of my awesome prizes was a gift card to Fit Energy (which could not have come at a better time).  Then a friend reached out to me and told me I should try Vent Fitness.  I had heard of it, and had seen people post on Facebook about it, but that was the extent of it.  With Rob landing a new job in December, I was able to have a little more freedom with what I could spend on fitness memberships.  I had wanted to try Focus Master for some time, and a Focus Master gym is located in Troy... I saw on FB that they had a one week free pass and I wanted to try it.... but somehow someway I wound up joining at Vent where they offer Focus Master for a much better price.  From the first time I tried it I was HOOKED.  Literally.  It involves boxing which I love, but it is such high intensity for only 30 minutes.  Not only do I get to do things like Focus Master with this membership, I also get to take advantage of what Vent calls "NXT..."  These SMALL GROUP TRAININGS are AMAZING.  They cap out at 5 participants for each session, so you get that one on one attention that in most places you would not get.  So now each week I take Focus Master, Stabalyz, Kinetix and Gravity.  If you are local, I strongly suggest checking it out.  GREAT PROGRAM!

Two weeks ago I took the plunge and now have a personal trainer.  After taking the NXT sessions, I have come to know the trainers at Vent a little better and I can honestly say I am surrounded by the people I need to be.  I decided I wanted to take it to the next level and now have one of those trainers as my personal trainer.  She has lost weight herself, so I knew she would understand me probably the best.  She is tough but knows when to be nice too.  :) 

Right now I have  NO EXCUSES.  I can go to the gym at 5 a.m. if I need to, or at 9 p.m. if I need to...... NO EXCUSES.  It's a great feeling.  I am still going to Schott's, but only 1-2x a week because of scheduling. 

The future: 
-I have an ultra sound scheduled on my heart Tuesday morning.  The doctor said it is NOTHING to be alarmed about, like I said, she cleared me for the highest level of intensity exercising.... but she said my heart is slightly enlarged so she just wants to have it looked at. 
-I am part of the GREEN team at the Latham location of Vent Fitness.  This is a body transformation contest that I am determined to win :)  I want to show people that no matter what your starting point is, it is NEVER to late!  EVER!  No matter how slow your progress is... just keep going. 


I have met some amazing people on this journey.  I would start to name names, but I would surely leave some out that would be unintentional.  So just know, if you have helped me in anyway on this journey THANK YOU.  And THANK YOU to the old Tracy for saying enough is enough. 

I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged.  I started using Facebook and Instagram more for my journey and the blog took the back burner.  As of last week I am down 37 pounds from my highest weight.  I thought I would be out of the 300's by now, but I'm not.  I still have 27 pounds to go.  A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with PCOS which is polysistic ovary syndrome.  Basically I have cysts on my ovaries and my hormones are out of whack.  The effects of this on me: irregular period, infertility, and slowed weight loss.  The PCOS made me insulin resistant.  I am now on medication to stop my period and for the insulin issue.  I also had a biopsy done the day before Thanksgiving.  They must do this to rule out anything cancer related.  The doctor does not seem to be alarmed, so I am not either.  I really hate how expensive my health has become.  Between trainers, work out classes, co-pays and medication costs.  With Rob being unemployed currently I feel like this is a strain on our family.  I know my health is important, but this is just yet another reason I hope people look at my story and correct their health EARLY!  Do NOT wait until you are over 300 lbs to do something!  It's not just about weight.... It's about health.  GET HEALTHY NOW!!!!!

Boxing

Okay, EVERYONE knows how much I LOVE Fit Energy.  To me, it is the best thing that has happened to my life.  Lori (the owner and trainer) is amazing and helps you not only physically but also mentally.  I still think she provides me with the BEST workout of my life. 

With that said, an item on my "bucket list" has been to try boxing.  Well, guess what?  I DID IT!  I mentioned at work that I wanted to try boxing and someone told me that a couple of people at work went to a place called Schott's Boxing.  I looked into it and decided I wanted to go there.  Several people at work decided to try it too. 

Let me just say, I am HOOKED.  I feel like when I go there I leave all my stress right there in the ring.  It literally lifts weight off of my shoulders. 

People have asked me for advice lately... on what 'works' for me.  It is finding things I like to do and sticking to it.  I finally invested in myself.  Yes, at glance the amount of money I spend a month on Fit Energy and Schott's may seem a little steep when comparing it to people $10 a month gym memberships.  But guess what?  I tried that... It didn't work for me.  If it works for you, GREAT!  If not, don't be afraid to invest in yourself.  Stop eating out.  Stop buying coffee at DD.  Stop going to the grocery store blind.  Stop going to the mall.  USE THAT MONEY TO INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH!  You won't be sorry. 


This picture was taken after boxing class last week.  Note the messy hair!  LOL!  LOVE IT!

Group Effort

So on Thursday, October 24th 9 people joined me at Fit Energy to try it.  I couldn't help but look around and smile.  I still have to pinch myself to believe that people are trying work outs because I inspired them or suggested it to them.  I have a hard time saying "I inspired someone" because it just doesn't seem real.  I am just a person, who had enough, and decided to get healthy... and am LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

I am so thankful for those who came out to Fit Energy to try it.  I wish I had taken a group photo that night.  I hope you guys are reading this and know I loved it! 


Hope to see you back there!

Obsessed

I am obsessed with taking pictures of myself now.  Not because I am vain (I am far from that).  I love being able to "prove to myself" that I am changing.  I am determined to NOT obsess over the scale, because it's such a slow process.  Shows like Biggest Loser and Extreme Weight Loss are AWESOME.... but they don't show "real people" results.  We don't see the behind the scenes... the part where people leave their normal lives and work out as a full time job.  They have food available to them that they didn't have to pay for.... that they didn't have to work for.  They have trainers which they didn't have to find or pay for.... it's just NOT REAL LIFE.  But guess what?  My life is real! 

This picture shows me after 75 days of deciding to change my life.  The picture on the left was taken on October 24th.  The middle picture was taken after just two classes at Fit Energy.  The weekend following my start there I went to the beach with my friends.  The picture on the right was taken at the end of The Package Tour (NKOTB) at Niagara Falls.  This shows (left picture) me down 25 pounds from my highest weight.  The highest I saw the scale before I started at Fit Energy was 360.  As of October 26th I am officially 335 pounds.  I still have a long journey ahead of me.  But I am loving it!

 

The picture below shows changes in my face (about a 30 day difference).  The picture on the left was before the Light the Night walk (September 30th) and the picture on the right was from October 26th.  No strange camera angles to try to hide the chins... LOL!  This is me.  And I am getting healthier every day :)

 

 

Thank y'all so much for your kind words on instagram (van8ive) and on Facebook.  I look forward to hearing from all of you and love to hear YOUR STORIES.  We are all in this together!

 

8 Weeks

I can't believe 8 weeks have passed since I started going to Fit Energy.  WOW!  I had my final measurements done on Saturday.  I am officially down NINE INCHES!  Holy smokes!  I can't believe it.  What is even harder for me to wrap my head around is the fact that I am down 3 sizes in pants.  I went through my closet today and got rid of stuff I didn't wear/or didn't fit.  I also took the tags off of many clothes that I wouldn't wear before because I didn't like the way they fit.  Next week will be full of new outfits because I AM DOWN NINE INCHES!  OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Someone pinch me!  Okay, don't really pinch me....

Life has been a little hectic lately.  I just got a 2nd job.  I made sure to find something that still allowed me to work full time, go to school full time and STILL be able to go to Fit Energy.  SCORE!  I am super excited. 

I am also taking a boxing class on Tuesday.  I don't expect that I will be able to keep up with everyone in the class, and I may not be able to do everything that everyone else does... but guess what?  I AM GOING TO TRY ANYWAYS!  It's been something that has been on my "bucket list" for a while... and I feel ready to do it.  I am thankful that a bunch of people from work are going also.  It should be a fun thing!  I will keep you guys posted.

In other news, I had a doctor appointment for October 18th, but the doctor's office called to cancel.  I have been unable to reschedule, but I need to get in soon.  I have some stuff I need/want to talk to the doctor about... so I may be switching primary doctors next week. 

I booked my NKOTB Cruise 2014 and am super excited (hence the reason for the 2nd job).  I find myself even more excited because of my weight loss journey.  Danny (one of the members of the band) is a health nut.  He is also very happy/supportive of people who get healthy.  So I am eager to show him the results of #livinghealthy (his hashtag he uses quite often on Twitter).

Kyle and I have completed a few 5K run/walks over the past few weeks.  I am so happy that he has been running in the 5K's and improving his times.  I don't run (one day I will), but I do enjoy doing them.  We have done the Color Me Rad, Light the Night, Walk/Run for the Cure and have the MS walk coming up.  Kyle also wants to do the Zombie run.  Busy busy busy :)  But I love it.

Well, I have to go.  Taking an extra Fit Energy class tomorrow since I don't have class or work tomorrow.  WOOHOO! 

Thank you again to EACH of you who read this, text me, call me etc etc.... Being very open and public with my journey has kept me 100% honest with myself through this journey.  Thank you for being part of it :)

Timeline

• August 14, 2013:  I weighed 356 lbs.;
• August 20, 2013:  I started going to Fit Energy;
• October 5, 2012:   I weighed in at 336.8

I HAVE LOST 19.2 POUNDS and I am HAPPIER than I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE.  I am doing this for ME.  For the first time I understand what that means.  I am competing against MYSELF.  I don't compare what others can do to what I can do.  I started comparing what I can do as of TODAY October 5, 2013 compared to TRACY of August 14, 2013.  And guess what?????  I am STRONGER, I am LIGHTHER, and I am HAPPIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


When I started this journey I took a quick before picture.  I didn't want anyone to know I took a picture (hence why it is a dark picture).  I took it myself before bed one night.  Thinking as I took it... "I will never change, I will always be this size..." Little did I know my life was changed from that day forward.  I am going to get Rob to take a better picture of me, so that my next before and after picture will be better.  But HERE IT IS :) 

Not huge changes, but to me this is monumental.  I have never really been one to think "I can do this..." and now I do.  I still don't THINK I can.  I KNOW I CAN :)