2018 - Day 184

I’m struggling with what to set for my July goals outside of 1lb a week loss with weight watchers plan. 

•fitness goals - Strength 5x week with at least 1 deck of cards workout, Cardio 4x week with at least 1 group class

•food/drink goal - cut back on diet soda - week to week challenge. 

•sleep goal - 7hrs a night Sunday - Thursday

•water goal - need to get back to 80+ oz a day

2018 - Day 167

On my way out last night I texted this picture to my boyfriend and he replied OMG and I texted back what??? He said you look amazing. 

When I got to the restaurant one of my girlfriends said she’d never seen me look so pretty. When we were leaving the bar the DJ said I was very sexy. 

It’s so funny how other people see is so much better than we see ourselves. And even harder to accept these kinds of compliments from those we love and from those we don’t even know. Compliments are such a weird thing for me. Whenever I receive them I feel silly almost embarrassed and confused often because I just have such a hard time believing what is being said. I don’t mean just physical compliments either. When someone tells me I’m an amazing mom and that my kids are lucky to have me - I doubt myself. It’s crazy. 

Why can’t we see ourselves how everyone else does??? 

It’s a constant struggle. I hope someday to be able to conquer this obstacle along my journey. 

2018 - Day 159

So June is here with new goals and challenges. I joined a running challenge with other Weight Watchers on the Connect part of the app. 

Challenge is to run 1 mile minimum per day from Memorial Day to Independence Day - total of 38 runs. 

I’m on run number 12 today. I’m just doing the 1 mile each day trying to improve my overall pace by the end of the challenge. I’d like to end the challenge with a solid less than 12:00 mph mile. I’m fluxing between 12ish and 13ish now. 

I have also decided to focus on strength training a minimum of 15 mins a day for all 30 days in June. I have since modified my goal to 30 days of strength, stretching or yoga. Just not cardio based activities. I really want to see a change in my shape this month. 

2018 - Day #151

For the month of May I committed to do a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise everyday. I typically do 5-6 workouts a week with Saturday and/or Sunday as rest days. 

I have to be honest there were days (mostly Sundays lol) that I did NOT want to do the 30 mins BUT I did it it anyway. A couple nights I went out late after 9pm for a walk around the neighborhood just to get my damn 30 mins. 

But I have done every single day the minimum of 30 mins of activity. I’m very proud of myself for setting and keeping this goal. 

Onto the next challenge:

#1 Between Memorial Day and July 4th I will run 1 mile a day - totally 38 miles. My goal is to run all 38 miles without walking breaks. I’ve done 4 so far and am working on bettering my pace over the duration of the challenge. I’d like to be consistently under a 12:00 minute mile by the end of the challenge. Ideally I’d love less than 11:00 lol. 

#2 Every day in June I will do a minimum of 15 minutes of strength training whether it be weights, machine or body weight. I want to work on getting stronger 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 and more fit again. 

Day 1

Day 31

2018 - Day #139

Today I needed this face to face.....

I started my weight loss journey on 1/1/08 at 253.8 (3 months after my daughter was born). 

I have done Jenny Craig, biggest loser challenges, WW multiple times, counting calories. I have gotten down to 172 and was still working on getting lower. I have crept back up to the 220s and everywhere in between.

I know in my heart I will never allow myself to go back to the person I was in that first picture. I love the new life that I have established over the last 10 yrs with activity and awareness about food. I have not reached my goal weight of 165 anytime in the last 10yrs BUT I have never given up on becoming the best version of myself even with weight gain setbacks. I honestly can’t believe I’ve been working on myself for 10 yrs. Some days I get angry for wasting time going up and down and up and down BUT today I realized it’s my process. 

In order for me to reach my goal this year as planned I had to go through all this stuff to realize just how important I am. How important being healthy and fit and happy really is. In the end It’s not about the final number on the scale. It’s about your journey to get there and how you lived while you worked on you. I’m living. I’m doing what’s best for me. I finally think I’m there. I’ll make my goal. I want it to be before end of year 2018 BUT I will accept the process. It’s mine. I own it. 

2018 - Day #54

Gym Rat!!!

I’ve been back to the gym for almost 2 months now and have continued to use my membership at least 4 times a week sometimes 5 or 6. I feel so good just getting back in a regular routine of using the gym. Cardio on treadmill and elliptical. Using the free weights and the nautilus machines. Getting stronger. Feeling fit. Keeping myself off the scale and really pushing hard to get this damn body tighter and stronger!!!!

2018 - Day #43

I’m trying hard to stay focused on eating well and keeping my workouts on the schedule. 

I successfully completed the 6 week Runbet winning back my initial bet and an additional $7.20. Trying to decide if I’ll commit to another one starting on 2/19 or 2/26...Might encourage my sister to join with me.  

I would like to push harder with strength training and really start building muscle which will in turn burn fat and keep the scale moving in the right direction.  

Muscle makes me feel strong and will make me look smaller, which at the end of the day are my two goals....

💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

2018 - Day #37

Slipping....

I did really well for the first month of the year losing 9.6lbs. 

As February started I began to slip BUT I’m grabbing back ahold of my bearings and am righting myself back on track. 

52 lbs in 52 weeks is still my goal so therefore I will push myself hard to stay the course. 

I am going to focus on strength training first and cardio second for the rest of February and into March. I know the scale shouldn’t be the most important thing and so I’m going to back off the pressure of “weight loss”....

Do the work and the falling number on the scale will follow.....

January Workout Selfies

 

I’m getting back to loving my workouts. 

Running, walking, circuit training, elliptical, treadmill, stair stepper, strength training...All of it will make me strong - All of it will make me fit - All of it will help me reach my goals!!!!!!

2018 - Day #31

Today is day #31 of 2018

Successes for January...

*Ended my first DietBet of the year down 9.6 lbs 

*31 days of really focusing on better eating and more active workouts

*Up at 6am to run on the treadmill - last week I did it 4 mornings, this week I’ve done 3 so far 

*Double or triple workouts most days since early last week including cardio and strength training

*Joined Youfit gym and have consistently used at least 5 times a week

*Brought a buddy including both kids and family to the gym for workouts 

*Logged meals and snacks in MFP most days

*Drank 80+ ounces of water daily

*To bed around 11pm each night

I reviewed my losses each year since I started my journey in January 2008. It’s crazy how I had 4 straight years of losses and then it was up down up down for the next 6 years. 

I started 2018 at my highest weight since 2010 and I’m pretty pissed off about it, BUT I realized that where I am now and where I want to be is 52lbs apart. There are 52 weeks in the year so by the end of 2018 I will be at my goal weight of 169.8. 

I will adjust my new “do not go above this weight” number to 170lbs. I feel good about my plan and my goals. Getting it done is always a struggle but I’ve done it before so I know I can do it again. 

2018 - day #2

Real day #1 started off right. Took measurements and logged them. Had a good breakfast that I logged. Lunch and snacks packed in my lunch bag and logged. Workout clothes are packed to squeeze something in while at the office. Walked the dog for 10 mins before I headed to work. 

Great day with eating on point with over 100oz of water and no diet soda all day. I did have large lt iced coffee after my evening workout to ride me over until I got home to make dinner. I didn’t get to workout during the day but visited youfit by archery on a guest pass and did 25 mins cardio and 30 mins circuit. Feels so good to be working out again. Scale will start moving in the right direction this week for sure. Lunch bag is packed for tomorrow but I’m not in bed headed to sleep as early as I would like. 

Tomorrow is another day to accomplish a new goal lol. 

2018 - Day #1

Well it’s a new year but I’m not back to work yet so I didn’t officially start working towards my goals today. I ate what I wanted at Beth and David’s brunch and then I ate wonton soup for dinner left over from our NYE Chinese. 

I did take the dog for a .5mile run to start my RunBet on track and I did my official weighin for DietBet #1 which runs from 1/1-1/28. Not going to lie, I waited until the end of the day and the weighin was disgusting - 221.6lbs of yuck - but it’s done and now I have 8.9lbs to lose in the next 4 weeks to win my bet. I honestly don’t care about winning extra money - I just DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY BET!!!!

My lunchbox is packed for snacks and lunch for work tomorrow and I’ll make a healthy choice when Emma and I get dinner while Nick’s at archery tomorrow night. I’m setting an alarm to get up and bang out the .8 miles for day#2 of the RunBet BUT I’m not a morning person so no promises. 

I will get a workout in tomorrow during lunch especially if I don’t do the am thing since we have archery tomorrow night. 

Onto a smaller and tighter year for Denise Keeley in 2018!!!!

2018 is right around the corner!!!

So another year is starting and I’m still working on reaching my goal weight. That number has changed so many times over the years as I go up and down and back up again. I’m starting another year over 200 and it pissed me off. I know eating well and working out go hand and hand for me. I haven’t been pushing myself with workouts so I haven’t been eating well so I haven’t been pushing myself with workouts. It’s a vicious vicious cycle that must be broken.

So I joined a DietBet and a StepBet starting January 1st. I think I’m going to join a second DietBet to really put the pressure on. If I’m going to lose the weight I might as be in 2 challenges and reap the financial rewards when I win at the end of both!!!

I’m also thinking about paying for a membership at the  gym I go with Beth. Debating on doing lime membership so I can take 1 kid and go to any branch. It’s an extra $15 a month - not sure if it’s necessary but I like the idea of the kids being able to workout and going to any location. We’ll see. 

When I finally reach my goal weight, I want to get a small butterfly tattoo on my hip, so this is meant to happen in 2018 right??? Just look at the sign!!!!

6 weeks post op update with pics....

Okay so today i'm 6 weeks post op and i guess it's time for more picture comparisons and an update...
i went back to the YMCA last night for my first "real" workout. i did 3 miles on the elliptical in just under 28 mins and then took renee's spin class i used to take every thurs night....it felt amazing to push myself and not have any pain or worry of pain...it felt even better to see a 3000+ calorie burn on my BMF readout too :)

i would say that i am 90% healed with no more swelling. i've stopped wearing the compression garments including the spanx and am back to wearing just my regular underwear under my clothes...it feels weird with the fabric on my skin since i dont have all my feeling back in my midsection (it may never come back completely)....my scar is completely healed and flat....i asked about using the scarguard cream the dr recommends prior to the surgery and he said it's not necessary as my scar more than likely wont look any better than it does right now (meaning it looks pretty damn good and flat)....my bottoms fit but not "right"....my butt and thighs gained while i was not working out the last 6 wks so things feel tight there but are loose around my waist making things not feel quite right yet...i'm holding off on buying any new clothes until i feel like everything i have now doesnt fit right anymore cause they are too loose everywhere.....

this morning i put 5 workouts on my weekly calendar with 2 short runs, 1 long run, 2 cross training days with either spin class, zumba and/or lifting weights and 2 rest days......i'm going to "officially" start a 12wk training program for the 2013 disney princess 1/2 marathon on dec 2nd but until then i'm pretty much following the workout schedule, just doing 4 miles on my "long run" days with no build up so when i hit 12/2 and i have to do a 4 mile long run i will be able to and then build from there.....my friend kara has decided to join me in the princess race and i'm very excited to train and plan on running the entire event with her versus doing run/walk intervals like my past 2 races....

pre-op compared to 3 weeks compared to 6 weeks

2007-2012 Halloween Comparison Pic

Halloween Pics from 2007-2012

Update after 3rd aspiration (3wks 4days post op)

More fluid aspirated today but less than the two times last week. This is promising. We are hoping just one more time on friday and then I should be done with this nonsense. It's not painful but pretty uncomfortable. This pocket was higher than the last two so maybe I'm healing down in the lower area where most of the work was done???

I have a small "pull" feeling in the muscles on my left lower abdominal side area. He said it's normal due to the repair he did and it should fade but other pulls may pop up as I heal.

Incision is looking awesome, all scabbing is gone and I'm pretty much all healed up on the outside anyway. Just need to be patient with the inside stuff I guess.

Hoping to start back walking next week a few days and then the following week start a month of slow building up of my running do I can hit the ground running - hehe pun intended ;-) November 26th with a 12 wk training program for the Princess 1/2 marathon on February 24, 2013.
I miss Zumba and spin classes as well as weight lifting so those will be added back in slowly over the coming weeks.

I promise I will not overdo it.

3 wks post op w/pics...

Front comparison

Side comparison

Well I'm officially 3wks post as of right about now :)

I had the drain taken out last Thursday afternoon (10/4) and all was fine until Monday afternoon (10/8) when I noticed that there was some fluid starting to collect on my left side and just below my incision above my pubic area. I called the Dr's office and they said to keep an eye on it but more than likely I'd have to come up to have it aspirated (needle stuck thru my skin into the fluid pocket and then suck the fluid out with a syringe). It continued to swell on my left side thru Tuesday so I went up Wednesday on my lunch break and had 80ccs removed. He was quite surprised by the amount and said we would more than likely have to do that at least one more time, maybe up to 2. To keep an eye on it again and come Friday if I noticed more swelling and if not wait until Monday. I noticed the swelling starting up again yesterday so I'm headed up there on my lunch again today and hopefully this will be it. My plan is to lay low this weekend as best i can so I can get this skin inside to completely reattach/heal so the fluid stops building up. the needle doesn't really hurt since he numbs the area with another smaller needle full of lidocain lol and I'm still very numb all over down there since the surgery BUT it did feel pretty gross and weird with the needle in there poking around.

Clothes are fitting again for the most part but I do feel like my ass and thighs are getting bigger cause those are the only parts of my pants that are fitting tighter....No worries, I'll get back down once I start working out again. Hoping I can get back to working out sometime after 4 weeks post op....

Anyway, tomorrow is my 40th birthday and I have no idea if we have any plans. Not one person in my family has even acknowledged that tomorrow is my birthday let alone my 40th except my mom who made plans to go out of town to meet her husband who is working in Texas for the weekend. So like I said my plan is to rest up so that the fluid can stop accumulating....

2wks post op pic with clothes....

so i still haven't taken 2wk post op pics undressed but i did have mike take one last night in a new body hugging dress i grabbed from kohl's thurs night....i was a bit self conscious when i left the house but let it go by the time i got to to work....i dont have the horrible lower belly roll or the under my boobs bump anymore and i'm wearing a compression garment and i also had on spanx to make my hips smooth BUT i felt pretty...i even mussed up my hair, added eyeliner, lipstick and perfume for the day....2 more weeks with compression garment and of light walking and then 4wks post op i'm back to working out.....i CAN NOT go longer than a month without working out....it's just not in me anymore.....so i'll start light walking this week for the next 2 and then back to my regularly scheduled program, well within reason, no core work what so ever....gonna have to do some research to figure out which lifting movements will not "hurt" my core....anyway, i'll take "nekkid" pics later today and post comparisons from pre, 3days, 7days and 14day i promise....

13 days post-op

Wooohoooo. I'm 13 days post-op today and was able to have the drain removed. I have to keep an eye on my abdominal area to make sure I'm not building up fluid since the drain is out now.

I have to wear the compression garment another 2 weeks to help with the healing process. Dr. said I can start light exercise now including lighter lifting with more reps if I want BUT nothing with my core - no crunches, no squats or lunges, no deadlifts. I can do walking and/or elliptical/stair master too. He even said I could have sex tonight, just not more than two times.
;-)

I don't go back for another month unless there is a problem with the fluid or my incisions and at that point I'll be 6wks post-op. Scheduled next appt for 11/1 (9yr wedding anniversary).

I feel awesome and am so very happy I decided to go ahead with the surgery. I'll be even happier when I'm all back to "normal".

I'll do 2 wk post-op pics tomorrow night when I get home from work or if I run out of time this weekend for sure.

7 days post op update with pics

update from my 7day post op appt. 

Sorry I forgot to post yesterday after my appt. I took pics but was not on computer to do comparison post.

I got sutures and surgical tape removed. 

I did not have my drain removed as I am still putting out to much fluid to it each day. As soon as 

I'm down to 30cc output each day it can come out. Hoping for Monday if I lay low this weekend it should go down. 

I got a new compression garment - like underwear/spanx with a side zipper/hook thingy. Its like wearing the bottom half of a onsie for grownups lol. 

Another dose of the antibiotic since I still have the drain in. 

He is very happy with my progress and so am I. 

So this weekend will be lots of lounging around so I can get this fluid down and heal up on the inside which is what is causing the draining. 

Oh and I slept in my own bed last night. Mike fell asleep watching tv and I snuck up alone to our bed until like 6 when his snoring ass joined me. It was not as comfortable as I have dreamed about over the last week but I know it will be better when I can lay on both sides - with the drain I'm pretty uncomfortable on my right side still.)