Soo last night I left us with me moving to North Carolina. I wanted to play softball with all my heart, and I wanted to play for a college even though my two years in California were rocky. I had earned all conference honors my sophmore year, and all though I was not a stand out I certainly was good enough to play at a small school. BUT no one in this area had a fast pitch college team but Shaw, and my husband nixed that. He was glad I was done going to school in Compton and in his opinion Shaw was in a rough neigborhood.
Anyway, it was time to grow up and with no money to pay out of state tuition I took a full time job where he worked at Sam's Club. Although I worked in a physical job (stocking tires, automotive, and ticket writing in the tire shop), I put on about 20 pounds in the first year and a half. At this point we got married, and the weight continued to pile on. I do not recall being lazy, best I can tell I just consumed too much of the wrong foods. I played slow pitch softball some when I found a team, but I felt out of place. All those girls knew each other, and played together for a while and I knew none of them. I still stuck with it because I loved the chance to play, just like when I was young, even if I was not friends with the girls.
Things spiraled out of control and when I hit 200 pounds I decided to do Weight Watchers. In a year I lost 60 pounds and had my life back on track, but I had to be dilligent to maintain it. I gained confidence and found a new job with my current employer (so this was a little over 10 years ago). First issues to encounter- this was a desk job. Productivity was you at your desk and keying away. Second issue- these people loved to eat. The first potluck came within weeks of me working there. Third issue- I guess being skinny and having a new job got hubby and I a little "excited" and one month on the new job I was pregnant. I was hungry and ate with avengence and sat on my butt at work all day long. Bad combo!!
What happens next- well life happened next. I gained back the 60 pounds with my pregnancy. As soon as I had worked there for a year (shortly after my son was born), I went back to school on top of being a new Mom. I was determined to make a future my self and family. Thrown in there finances got tough, a new child, 7 years of living on a Sam's Club salary and paying for my husband's school off and on all began to catch up. I took on a part time job at Sam's because the manager was generous and agreed to pay me well. I teetered back in forth on the weight front, but between working two jobs and school it was tough. At one point I got back down to 160 but I could not hold onto it when I was forced to have my gallbladder removed and started a big work project with extra hours (Sam's I worked off and on as needed at this point). Each time I lost weight and I put it pack on it seemed I gained a little bit more than the last.
Two years ago I moved to a new more flexible position, school was completed, and finances where under control. A gym opened up in the building my company owned. The first year they had a fitness challenge and gave free memberships for a year to anyone that completed it. I lost about 8 pounds (I was up to about 240 @ this point) during the challange and another 5 or so working out off and on with a trainer and on my own. When I started this year my Dr. was glad to see me down 13 pounds, but I still weighed 227. So i signed up for another fitness challenge and some more training but really just kept teetering back in fourth. Could I tell a difference, yes. My legs were back in great shape and my arms looking good. But despite me giving up the eating out the weight loss eluded me ( I really think now I was gaining muscle), but I still wanted to lose weight. I took off 5 or so pounds just by eating better (notice I did not say good) and hitting the gym on a regular basis. Then a fire lit under me and I started eating right and exercising twice a week with a trainer and doing @ least 3 other days on my own. Finally my body has responded and I have lost 16 pounds in 8 weeks. I have tried to push myself to be at the gym 7 days a week, but realistically it is more like 5. I joined a gym with my son near our home when my husband was getting ready for deployment. We needed some place we could do things together (they have a basketball court, and a indoor and outdoor pool), and a place we could find some time alone. Well they had child care and classes for him. Now he begs me to go to the gym, and pushes me to get there. He does swim lessons and is in a level 3 class when he could not even swim in May when we joined. Gym time was more slack in the summer when we spent a couple of hours both days on the weekend playing in the pool. When hubby came home, it still has worked out for giving me time with Ty, and giving me some Mom time.
I have come a long way, and I am determined to make it this time. My son is very active and while it takes time for me to get him to and from his activities I still have that gym next door to work to fall back on at lunches. It keeps me from eating out (which saves money too), and it gives me no excuse for not doing something, even if it is just a walk on the treadmill.
I have to admit those years of playing catcher have taken it's toll on my body. My knees and hips are quick to ache, but so far I have been able to push through it. Another advantage to the trainer work outs? I sleep REALLY good on those nights. So with that my stiff body is going to go park it in front of the TV. I have done my work out for the day. Was too tired to cook, so they had a DiGiorno Pizza and I had a bananna and a granola bar.
