Life & Inspiration

Learn about what inspires me as well as some of the random things that go through my head.

[jsutton121-blog]

Healthy Update

It's been a few months, and I'm amazed at the changes in my life.  Let me say "Thank You."  Yes, you if you are reading this.

My weight loss continues, but has slowed some.  This is not a worry, as size wise I'm getting smaller in most places, but am putting on some muscle so I'm balancing out in a healthy way.

I started a 5k running class, and my first race is less than two weeks away - June 22.  Asthma has pushed me around a little and while I may not be jogging the entire way I am totally confident I will finish and be happy with what I do.

I pretty much have all new clothes.  But things seem a bit weird still.  Before in the days of Large & Extra Large, baggy didn't bother me really.  Now when a Medium seems big I feel awkward.  I need more of an athletic/fit cut in shirts and just never considered that.

And the weight is coming off all over, but some places just seem weird.  Sure, waist/abs seem normal, but wrist and feet are places I just never considered, and it's happening.

I broke the 190 ceiling today (188lbs actually) and am now within 18lbs of my original target goal of 170 by November 2014.  Two years from when I began.  I am starting to believe I'll hit my target within a single year, which is a huge win!

I have a lot more energy.  There are days when I feel like I can go non-stop - work, cooking dinner, exercising, mowing the grass, doing some home repair... just got to be sure I don't push myself to exhaustion.

I've had encouragement from friends, family and co-workers, and that's been amazing!  Could I have done it without them, yes.  But every little thing helps push.

Again - Thanks.

[jsutton121-blog]

Healthy Me Update

Thought it is a great time for an update, especially post holidays. 

I told my personal trainer, Mo, that my goal was to be under 200 by my birthday on January 21.  That was about December 21, which gave me a month, and about 8 lbs. to drop.  Jump ahead two weeks, and I'm bouncing between 202-204 (depending on if I'm weighing in morning or night).  That means that I am totally on track, and will beat my goal, which only inspires me more.

I'm doing about 45 minutes of cardio a day (woodway treadmill & precor elliptical) plus about 10-15 minutes of strength training.

I hate the treadmill, as my shin strength is very weak.  I'm working on building it up.

I love the elliptical - it's easy.  Well, not easy, as I'm doing a warm-up, then pushing myself from a 6-7 intensity for 90 seconds to a 8-9 intensity for 60 seconds, then back to 6-7 intensity for 90 seconds, and back to 8-9...you get the picture.  But I like it, it's almost like a fun game.

Strength training - it's mostly difficult for me.  I don't hate it, but I'm not in love with it either. 

Consider that I haven't really done anything exercise/gym like since freshman year of high school, it's not horrible overall.

Food has gotten better too.  I am keeping some fruit around, and really am eating what I want.  I just don't eat all the time, and I focus on smaller portions.  I don't feel like I'm missing anything. 

I am running out of one of my favorite cooking ingredients - Marion-Kay Chicken Plus seasoning (select it on the drop down).  It's like what you get at Claudia Sanders' but I just sprinkle it directly on the chicken and pan grill it.  Tasty and healthy.

I'm also getting into pants that were a bit of a challenge before.  I'm not hopeful that I'm going to have to drop a pant size soon.  I'm not focusing on a target date, but giving it a couple months.  I think that's when my next post will be.  Look for it!

[jsutton121-blog]

Changes Begin Today

Most people change throughout life.  It seems to happen more without any realization at times.  The change I don't like (lifestyle/weight) has reached a point I'm no longer happy with.

Slow changes in diet have been happening, and starting today, exercise is really going to start playing a role in what's happening in my life.  Get ready folks - I'm going to need your support.

I graduated High School weighing approximately 120 pounds.  Today I have gained 100 pounds since that date.  It's just a few pounds a year, but at this point at least half of them are unwelcome.

My "ideal" weight for my height is 150-160.  Is that possible, without looking like I'm starving?  I don't know.  I'm personally thinking that 170 would be good, but time will tell in the end.  If I can knock 50 pounds off in the next two years, I'll feel accomplished.  That's a half-pound a week. 

And I feel it's a realistic goal.  Some weight will come off, some muscle gain will happen, so while I may feel like some plateau is happening (and it will) it's the end result that is important.

Why now?  Why not?  I don't want to end up at 250+ pounds.  When I hit 200, I was like "maybe it will stop there" but since it didn't, it's time for action.

Expect an update from time to time.  I'm not going to try to go weekly, as I don't want to become focused on stagnant times. 

Chunky me would like to say goodbye to you all. 

[jsutton121-blog]

What to do Memorial Day Weekend?  Oh yeah - start (and hopefully complete) the Bourbon Trail.  2012 will be my third year in a row.

[jsutton121-blog]

Inspiration

I tend to want to let people know what I'm thinking pretty much every day.  Not like "You've got a big booger hanging out of your nose and you smell like a stagnant creek." but more of "Hey - have you..." kind of thing.  Share some things I love and sometimes discover.

If I was more photogenic, and maybe a bit more knowledgeable on editing, I'd consider doing a vlog.  Since that's not the case (at least right now), you get the blog with photos.

Passions inspire us, be it food, music, art, literature, nature...you get the point.  And it would be crazy to try to give you everything in my head at once.  So for my start here, I'm going to focus.  

Inspiration sometimes comes in the form of a distraction.  It's that distraction I look for frequently.  At home, at work, in the car, yeah, I'm looking (sometimes right at you).

Hopefully I can post more than one photo, and show you some of the photos I've taken (most when driving) where I think to myself "WHY?"  Some have given me ideas and some just a good laugh.

The above photo was on a drive from Sams' Club in South Point, Ohio, driving back towards Huntington.  

I thought Target was a family friendly place.  They need to stop letting monkeys do in store what they do in the zoo.  I stopped going down the pet aisle in fear of flying poo.

I'm sad to say that every comment in my head is not nice.  Who's saving me a seat?

If the phone isn't working properly (or at all) how am I supposed to dial 334 to report the issue?  Really?

This sort of goes along with the "Born Again Thrift Store."  Jesus and "Hot Stuff"  Why?

I can't discuss "Breast Milk Satisfies."  Hey - Time Magazine...

Can I tell you how much I love this.  It's like when my Dad bought our first microwave, counted it as a farm expense as a "moisture tester."  It's HAY people!

Now, I'm not against conserving water, but...

Push down for solid waste.  At a urinal.  Really?  WHY?