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Jenn Davis

Hi all, It has been a while since I have been updating how I have been doing with my accountability. I am hoping to start a new trend. My journey has been similar to so many others, with my own twits and turns.

My journey started in December 2008. I was taking my son on the polar express and I could not fit down the walk way. I was 300 lbs, and just not comfortable in my own skin. Honestly I did not know how I let myself go that much. I struggled with depression and other factors that contributed to the weight gain, and the lack of motivation to get off my butt. Looking at myself in January 2009 I knew that something had to change.

That is when I started to watch what I was eating. I started by trying to eat healthier, but it wasn't until July or August that it clicked that I need to start writing down what I was eating. I needed to do something to be accountable. That is what I did. I started to track my food. By the end of 2009 I had lost almost 100 lbs and was feeling great.

I had come far, but still had a ways to go. In February I joined Weight Watchers, I needed some more motivation to help me move. I also started running on the treadmill, which started a passion for running. In 2010 I lost an additional 30 lbs, but what amazed me more was that I became a runner.

I have accomplished a hand full of 5k races, a 10 K, a 10 miler and 2 1/2 marathons. I have accomplished so much more that the me of 2008 would have ever dreamed of accomplishing. I am taking so many positive steps.

I have struggled losing the last 25 - 30 lbs, including gaining some weight as I was going. When I started gaining was mostly when I stopped tracking what I was eating. I slowly started going back to my old eating habits, which was not what I ever wanted to happen ever again.

My goal in 2011 is simple - to reach my goal weight. In saying that I just want to continue tracking what I eat. I am also currently training for my first marathon that I am running May 15, 2011. This is just something I never thought I could do and losing this weight has made it possible. I am taking each day one step at a time. Struggling some days, and succeeding others. All in all I found a passion in running because I can use the time to clear my head, and focus on things that are pressing in my life. I find it prayer time for me, and time to not worry about my children and husband.

I am proud of where I have come, and I still have a ways to go. I am hoping using this forum to update my progress, will help me to keep moving and achieve my goal of being a healthy BMI and look and feel great.

This last picture is me and my husband from Christmas Day. I feel healthier than I have in years.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 24, 2011 at 10:38am

Thanks Cliff!!! I want to work on the early mornings, but that has been a struggle since I am struggling with getting my youngest son to stay in his bed. However I am going to work that in during Nap Time, along with my meditation.

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 24, 2011 at 10:44am

Well last week and this weekend were hard for me. I feel better now. While I was doing my long run yesterday I told my running partner that I did not fall off the wagon, I jumped off and ran the other way. I was joking, sort of. I kept up with my physical activity, and I think that is why I am getting back on my feet so much easier.

I have not tracked my food at all, and I have not made the best choices, but I have to say, that I am watching my portions, which helped out a ton. I also was not drinking enough water or even meditating.

I got the Book Reshaping it all after hearing about it so much, and I am so glad I did. I think this is going to help me get back on track. I am also focusing on breathing. I took the first step, and that was to breath. I am change some things in my routine, and follow the lead set by Cliff - Devotional Time! Yep I am going to set the time aside and have some devotional time during nap time. I am going to start by meditation to relax and open my mind up to the Holy Spirit coming in to help me, then read the bible. I honestly can say I never have sat down to read the bible, so I am going to take today to find a guide for that. I want to find a daily scripture reading, or something like that to give me direction, so I don't stress out about it.

I think that this is part of my training that I forgot.

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on January 25, 2011 at 11:18am

So encouraging to hear that you are going to make some time to read Scriptures. I hope that it gives you some needed discernment and direction in your days. It's been so helpful to me.

Permalink Reply by Jane Laurent on January 25, 2011 at 4:12am

Jenn, it's great to read your story and the success you have had with losing weight and getting fit. Although I have never really followed your story closely in the past I can remember reading your blog post when you started out and every now and again your name would crop up somewhere online. So I knew you had continued to do what you had set out to do and were being very successful. It's good to get to know you a little better at last. You are an inspiration!

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 27, 2011 at 2:01pm

I have decided to change my updates a bit. Mostly because I have been reading Reshaping it all, which has made me think twice about how I am eating. All for the good. It is going to be a difficult transition for me, but I know that I am strong enough to do it and finally achieve my goal weight.

Today was a major success for my run. I have never been "fast" but today I decided to push myself hard. Most of the time I am great at telling myself that I can't do it, or changing my mind at the last minute. I did not do that today. I pushed myself hard and finished my 3 miles in 27 minutes. What a great feeling. That is the fastest time I have ever ran 3 miles on a treadmill. Then I headed over to do my weights. That felt great.

I have added into this prayer time. I was able to get in 10 minutes of meditation to clear my mind and allow go to open my heart where it needed to go. As soon as I was done, I needed to write an entry into my blog. Then I was inspired to come here. I am going to go get my books to finish up prayer time soon.

The biggest change for me is that I decided that weight watchers was to hard to follow with the amount and types of training I was doing. I could not figure out how much food I need to eat. With the inspiration of Reshaping It All I have decided to reshape my eating plan. I am terrible about counting calories, however having to be accountable to myself has worked, but then I would get discouraged when I could not record or forgot. So I am going to focus on eating when I am hungry and stopping when I am satisfied. I am going to learn these signals and stop over eating. I know that this is the most important step for me right now.

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on January 28, 2011 at 7:26am

So excited to see your renewed energy in this area.

We are going to be interviewing Candace next Friday at 5pm ET. If you would like to call in at question or comment on our feedback hotline, I'll try to get it included in the interview.

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 30, 2011 at 4:43pm

Thanks for letting me know. I will have to do that.

Permalink Reply by Donna S on January 29, 2011 at 4:57pm

Wow! your story is so encouraging to me! I have between 70-90lbs to lose and I love hearing that it's possible. Sometimes I really wonder how I'll do this. I'm excited to hear that you've become a runner too. I've always wanted to be able to run but weight, bad knees and bad ankles have kept me back... I think once the weight starts to fall off I'll be able to try to run again.

Keep up the great job! I'm excited to follow along in your journey!

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 30, 2011 at 4:43pm

Thanks so much Donna. It has not been an easy, and I have gained weight back and lost it again. It is not perfect, but I am so much healthier than I have been in a long time. Thanks. Donna I started slowly with running, and each pound that came off the running became easier.

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 30, 2011 at 4:41pm

I am loving this community and all of the support. Trying to get here daily is becoming more difficult, so a weekly recap sounds good to me!

This week I failed to track my calories. With lots of consideration I choose to cancel my Weight Watchers membership. I did not want to do that, but with the Marathon Training, I was so confused on how much I should eat. I decided to go back to Lose It. So I know that this will help me to get back on track!

Meditation was better this week. Every day but the weekend I was able to meditate, and spend some quiet alone time with God. This helped me to feel strong this week. It was an amazing feeling. I found that this week mass was so much more touching on my heart.

Physical activity is not a problem. I was able to challenge myself on the treadmill this week. Both Tuesday and Thursday I did speed work. I love that I went so fast, and was able to get the speed on the treadmill up faster than I have ever done before. I also have been obsessed with shoveling this year. My wonderful husband has a pinched nerve in his back so I am taking that on so that he does not hurt himself more. I also worked on weight training 2 days this week. I feel good about my physical activity.

I have not been working too hard on my water, and I can see a difference. I have been getting more headaches. I need to start working again on drinking my water.

Over all my week went well. I know that I will continue going strong. There is always something that I can work on.

Permalink Reply by Fred Firestine on January 30, 2011 at 7:23pm

Looks like a good week. I would suggest finding a meal plan for marathon training, as previously noted. I have heard that a good rule of thumb is to eat as clean as possible, then if you feel you need extra calories, add seeds, nuts, healthy fats like avocado, sweet potatoes, stuff like that. Not junk! :-)

Permalink Reply by Fred Firestine on January 31, 2011 at 2:41pm

I'm back! It just so happens I was catching up on Ben Greenfield's podcast, and I had left this episode alone because it's a conference call with two other triathlon coaches. I am not a triathlete, but maybe someday... So I listen when I can. Anyway, in the last 10 minutes, they talk about the question of how to manage weight loss when training for a marathon or triathlon. You might want to listen to that part, at least. This is not the usual format of the podcast, but the topics discussed are pretty common to the triathlon community.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2010/12/a-bonus-free-audio-call...