I have made a conscience decision to stop self destructing!  I am up 17 pounds since the Subway Get Fit Challenge finale was held in January.  I refuse to continue to allow negative situations and negative people to control me emotionally, physically, and above all, SPIRITUALLY!!  Today I vow to take ownership over these things.

My parents sensed that something was not quite right with me.  They arrived in town on Saturday to come check on me and my daughter.  I have live in baby sitters for the next three weeks!!!  I have no excuse not to go to them gym as much and as long as I want.  Yesterday morning (Monday), was my first day in the gym in almost a month.  I attended the 5:45 AM cycling class.  I must admit that I was not out of shape as I thought I would be.  Afterwards I felt so proud of myself.  I had sooo much energy when I arrived at work.  That energy lasted almost until the end of my workday.  I plan to go to this class three times a week for the next three months, to do weight training at least twice a week, and to monitor my food consumption.  I will let you all know I this goes not month.

There are so many haters out there that can’t wait to say “I told you so.  I knew she was going to gain it all back.”  I had this one family member say that “Losing the weight is not the hard part; the hardest part is keeping it off once you’ve lost it.”  Oh, I forgot to mention that this is the same person that is about 5’2″ tall and weighs about 230 pounds!  Go figure .  Fortunately, I have not gained it all back and I can get my weight back under control. 

Take care of yourself and make your haters your motivators!!!!!

Tracie

July has really been a rollercoaster ride; weight up one day and down the next! I can’t say that I have hit a plateau because to be perfectly honest with you, I have not been consistent with eating healthy nor exercising. I exercise at least twice a week. I attend a water aerobics class once a week in an attempt to learn how to become an effective instructor. For whatever reason I can’t seem to come out of this slump that I am in. I pray about it, I fast about, but I continue to dwell about it.
An eye awakening event this past weekend made me do something about it. I was a model at one of those body shaping parties this weekend and it really made a BIG difference in my appearance. The host of the party, a good friend of mine, knows the weight struggles that I have been experiencing the past several years. As a token of support, she gave her hostess gift (a body shaper) to me. She said that she was so proud of me at the Subway Get Fit Challenge Finale. She said that not only my body changed, but my self image changed for the better as well and she felt that this body shaper would serve as a reminder to get back on track and one day I would not need to use the body shaper to give me the illusion of an hour glass figure because with hard work and dedication, I would have the hour glass figure all on my own! At that moment my whole mind set changed and I am ready to switch from that rollercoaster ride to smooth sailing!
Until next time, take control of your health before it takes control over you.
Best regards,
Tracie

This has really been a rewarding month.  I finally received my Aquatics Instructor Certification!  I will let you all know later how to get in contact with me to so I can help you loose weight and have fun at the same time by getting your “AQUA” Boogie on.  I will cater to all fitness levels and age groups. 

While in the process of getting certified, I was also taking a cycling class.  I have lost 4 pounds since my last BLOG.   I am still up 15 pounds since the end of the WSB-TV Subway Get Fit Challenge ended in January.  But losing those 4# motivated me to sign up for a 6 week Boot-Camp this weekend.  I have figured out that I do better with someone pushing me as opposed to me working out on my own.  I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to motivate myself.  My trainer has informed me that keeping a food journal is a requirement of this program.  I can’t seem to do that either.  He told me that for every time he asks to see my journal and I have not kept up with my entries, he ensures that it won’t happen again.  Sounds like a threat to me.  But that is the kind of motivation I need.  

Another motivating factor is that I am in my best friend’s wedding October 24 and plan on losing 30# in the next four months.  I won’t say that I will look better than the bride but I be a close second, after all, it is her day to shine :). 

I’ll keep you all up to date on my progress.  Until next month, stay healthy!

Tracie

The past month has been extremely challenging.  While getting prepped for my annual check-up, I got on the scale and was told by the nurse that I had gained 10# since my last visit about 2 months earlier!  That is a total of 18# since the Subway Get Challenge Finale in January!

I cannot say that I was surprised but rather disappointed in myself because I have been an emotional wreck for the past 2 months.  I have allowed situations and people to stress me out.  And how do I handle stress?  I EAT! & I EAT! & I EAT some more!!!  The consequences have just caught up with my actions.  GAINING 18# in 4 months!

Since the beginning of April I have been taking a cycling class twice a week.  The class is an hour long but my endurance (commitment or lack of) would only let me do 30 minutes.  My doctor informed me of something I already knew, “That is not enough!”  I was putting more calories in my body than I was burning.  My attitude was, “It’s a start.”  That is the wrong attitude to have.   So with that said, I went to the gym with a new mentality, I completed the entire class this past Saturday!  I was so overjoyed and proud of myself that I a couple of tears fell from my eyes! 

My self -destructive ways are not going to beat me this time!  I need to start utilizing the valuable tools that I was given by the nutritionist, trainer, & Subway during the challenge to get back on track again.  I WILL lose the 18# I gained back PLUS the extra 40# I vowed to lose by the end of the year for a total of 58!

Next time I BLOG, I will have better results to give.  I just like to keep it real because losing weight and keeping it off, is not an easy thing to do! 

Take care of yourself,

Tracie

Well, my BIG 40 was recently celebrated! I had a great time and looked even better!  I didn’t loose as much weight as I had hoped; however, the 30+ pounds that I did loose were really noticed!!! 

Before I decided to enter the Subway Get Fit Challenge I tried many fade diets and exercise programs.  It was not until I was informed by my doctor that I was borderline diabetic that I took losing weight more seriously!  Had it not been for this challenge, I don’t think I would have been as successful losing the weight and lowering my risk for becoming a diabetic.  

Even though WSB-TV, Subway, Northside Hospital, & The Forum Athletic Club provided me with the tools I needed in order to be successful at the end of the challenge, since the challenge ended, I struggle with going to the gym and making the right food choices.  I am currently 8 pounds heavier than when the challenge ended in January.  I am focusing on getting back on track.  I recently enrolled my 3-years old daughter in swim lessons twice a week and after her lesson, I go directly to the gym to get my workout on.  I am still making bad food choices on occassions and stuggling with working out at least 4 times a week.  I am aware that I need to burn more calories than I consume.  Some days my emotional eating just gets the best of me.  I carrying a photograph of me in my purse, one on the dash of my car, one on my desk at work, & one taped to my refrigerator at home when I weighed at least 284 lbs , as a constant reminder of the place I never want to be again; overweight with low self esteem!

I hope all is going well for the current get fit challengers and those of you in cyber- space.  Remember, never give up, you are worth the effort!

Tracie

thick in the waist & cute in the face. My weight lose journey began at 294 lbs. Stay tuned...

get Fit Season II Finale 01/2009

Hey all:

First let me start off by congratulating the Season III Subway get Fit  Challangers!  I am not sure if you are truely aware of what a I feel is the greatest opportunity of a lifetime.  I advise you all to take advantage of all the wonderful tools that Subway, WSB-TV, and all the sponsors have to offer you. 

Well, it has been almost two months since the airing of Season II’s finale.  Now, the real challenge begins; maintaing success after the Subway Get Fit Challenge ended.  I have done pretty well keeping the weight off.  I have gained 10 pounds due to LIFE.   I am an emotional eater and needless to say I am on a roller coaster ride right now.  Up one day and down the next; however, I refuse to let my hard work over the past year go in vein due to circumstances beyond my control!  I will get back on track.

I registered for the Peachtree Road Race on Sunday, March 7.  The event is scheduled to be held on July 4th; and I am enrolled in a course to become certified as a water aerobics instructor!  FOCUSE is the key.  Just want to let you all know that should you have a day in which your eating habits and/or exercise route does not go the way you plained, it’s ok, start again at the next meal or the next day. 

Do not give up.  Take full advantage of this opportunity, learn from your nutritionist and trainer, and learn from your mistakes.  The definition of STUPIDITY is doing things the same way expecting different results!  Change your stinking thinking and that way you’re bound to have results.  Good luck to you all in your weight lose journey.

Tracie