Join The Community!

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 Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on January 18, 2011 at 2:40pm

Jenn,

You're story is such an inspiration. I've enjoyed following you on it. I'm so glad that you joined the Health, Fitness, & Accountability Group here. I look forward to posting my results weekly and hope to come here and be an encouragement to you as well.

Permalink Reply by Fred Firestine on January 18, 2011 at 3:02pm

It's great to see you here! I'm looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store for you. Keep up the good work!

Permalink Reply by Crissy Maier on January 18, 2011 at 6:22pm

Jen, you're looking soooo much better! You've done great work, I know you can reach your goal weight by the end of the year.

Permalink Reply by Mark Jones Jr. on January 18, 2011 at 6:46pm

Good luck with your first marathon...it will be brutal. Just know that and gut it out anyway.

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 19, 2011 at 9:59am

Well I decided to post every day looking back on the day before.

Eating:

The first part of the day went well. I stayed with in my points. I ate healthy and drank all of the water that I needed to drink during the day. After dinner my children started to act up, and my stress level started to go up. The one thing I struggle is managing stress and not eating sweets when I am in a stressful situation. So my wonderful husband went up and got me a sundae from Baskin Robins. I don't feel guilty about it. I chose to eat it, and I chose to make that choice. There are going to be days I am going to live and eat things like that, so I must move on. I will not allow that to change my way of thinking for the rest of the week.

Physical Activity

I did a good job at the gym. I decided to back down on speed but still ran for an hour on the treadmill. I also worked in my weight training. This is one of my newest activities to help me tone up and prepare my body for future runs. I also decided to get the ice off of my driveway since we were due freezing rain, so that is another physical activity that I did.

Mediation

One of the newest part of my physical activity, I am working on focusing on breathing and clearing my head of everything negative, and that is what I did. It felt good. Why I did not do this when I was stressed, I am not sure. It was new to me. I did 15 minutes of meditation.

Over all Grade:

Over all the day was not bad, I would give myself a C+ or a B- for the day. I hope to learn from that to move forward and be successful.

Permalink Reply by Fred Firestine on January 19, 2011 at 10:12am

Sounds like you coped pretty well with a stressful situation. By the way, our friend Tony Horton recommends 15 minutes of quiet time daily, too. ;-) He says you can use that in whatever way you choose, whether it is prayer, meditation, etc. I need to get back into that habit.

Please forgive us husbands for making mistakes when trying to do a good deed. I know I have done the same to my wife. Well, there are certain "times" when chocolate ANYTHING is called for, of course, but in general maybe a different form of comfort would be a healthier choice. Enjoy it for what it was, and move on. Today is a new day, and that's what matters.

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 19, 2011 at 10:20am

I am not upset with my husband for getting the sundae for me. I just wish I would have made a better choice. I did enjoy it however, so that is a step in the right direction. If I am going to have something like that I need to enjoy it:)

Permalink Reply by Rachel Jurado on January 19, 2011 at 4:23pm

What a great story. I loved that your whole transformation started with something as simple as tracking your food. Good luck with your marathon training!

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 20, 2011 at 1:41pm

Eating:

Today was another stress eating day. I do well, and then out of nowhere I am hit with stress, and there goes the eating and making healthy choices. I need to figure out another way to handle stress.

Physical Activity

I set two goals as I walked into the gym today 1- 45 minutes on the elliptical, 2-4miles. Well I did it. I worked hard, but did achieve my goals. I felt good.

Mediation

Today I did 5 minutes in the morning with the intentions of doing another 10 later in the day, but I let it get away from me. I need to focus more on this.

Over all Grade:

The day did not go bad, but the stress eating is becoming a problem. I need to figure out how to over come that.

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on January 21, 2011 at 7:34am

I think being mindful of the stress eating is the first step. Congrats on meeting your workout goals!

Permalink Reply by jenn2davis on January 21, 2011 at 10:53am

Well yesterday was hard. I agree with Cliff that I know my tendency to "stress eat" however now I must tackle how to over come this. I am not sure how, but more I hear about Candace Cameron Bure's book from Stephanie, how I want it for my iPad. I am planning on getting that soon. I think that might help. I go through this every so often.

I don't know if I have shared before, but I have suffered from sever depression at times, and it comes and goes. When I stay with my eating and exercise I feel better, but sometimes it just gets the best of me. However since I have lost the weight it is few and far between. I know that is part of my problem.

With that being said, I am proud that even through the struggles I am facing right now, I am still getting in my daily work outs. I am not the best with the food, but I am making better decisions, but still over eating. I am focusing on eating better, and trying very hard.

I am hoping to get over this in the next few days. It is a constant struggle in my life, that one day I am praying that I am able to fully overcome, and not worry about.

I did not meditate yesterday or drink my water. But I did think more, and started to focus on the root of the problem. I pray that that helps me work out my problems and move forward.

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on January 22, 2011 at 7:10pm

Jenn, I'm sorry to hear about the struggles you've shared. I typically deal with a bit of depression about twice a year. It sometimes lasts a day or two or as long as two weeks. I've, also noticed that this happening less since loosing weight. Though I did have a week or so that got me in December. ;)

I've found my early mornings of devotional time have been very helpful to me, since then.

I pray that you get back into the swing of things soon.