Under it...

So I just realized today that it has been a while since I blogged last. I am really trying to be a better blogger...it's not working out for me though...lol. Anyways...just thought I would give ya'll an update on how things are going.

I can remember being young, probably 10 or 12 (not really sure), and weighing and constantly seeing the scale read higher and higher each time I would get on it. As the years went by I just remembered getting closer and closer to being 200 pounds...and then one day...I weighed and I was 200+. I knew that I was was overweight and had always wanted to know what it would feel like to be skinny or thin, but never wanted it enough to do something about it. So my weight kept going up and up and up. I got on the scale one day..and realized that I was now about to be 300 pounds. I was 290. So I decided I had to do something about it, but once again was not determined enough to persevere through the tough times and not give in and give up when I was tempted. So after losing 30 pounds in that attempt and losing weight, I then gained 20 of it back. So months, even maybe a year or more later, I decided to once again try it for the millionth time. This time though, I really wanted it. At first I am not sure I did, and I am not sure I was doing it for myself. But when I saw that it was possible, and that I was doing it, and that I NEEDED to do it for myself, my future family, and for MY GOD, I knew I had to keep going. So here I am..I am going, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, and sometimes just in between. I don't think I would be where I am if it were not for my God, giving me the grace and strength to go on, My best friend, for constantly encouraging me and pushing me to do my best, and Suwannee Health and Fitness gym, for giving me the tools to make this happen. I have been doing there cardio classes and the muscle tone class and they have definitely made the difference for me. I appreciate and am very grateful for all Suwannee Health and Fitness has done for me and for allowing me to have a personal trainer. I will be forever grateful to you, thank you so much!!

So when I started this last journey I weighed in at 280 pounds. When I started with the Gym I as about 230 or so, and I was ready for a change and to step up what I was doing. So there have been times of ups and downs...but according to what I weigh myself in the morning time, I now weigh...198!! I am finally under 200 for the first time in many many years. I was so happy to finally be out of the 200s and on my way to my goal, which is now 38 pounds away. So It is so worth every drop of sweat and every tear that has fallen and every pain that I have felt. It is worth it all!! I look forward to the day when I blog about being at my goal, and starting the new lifelong journey of staying there!!

God has been so good to allow me to have this opportunity and I am so thankful. I give Him all the glory for where I am today and for coming this far.

Thank ya'll for continuing to support me and encourage me, it means so much!!

LoVe, Dani

Graduation...challenges...and the fight to persevere

So...once again...it's been a while!! I apologize for that. I just forget to blog like I should..I really am going to try and work on that...but I can't make any promises.. :) So anyways...there have been a few things that have gone on since the last time I updated...SO I am going to attempt to get ya'll caught up without writing a novel... :)

First off On Tuesday, May 4th, I officially became a college graduate..I obtained my AA from NFCC and am so thankful that God saw me through and allowed me this opportunity. It was a great night and I am thankful I'm done with school for a lil while.

So that week of my graduation was tough for my weightloss journey...I was unable to go to the gym a few days that week and my diet was hard to follow due to certain circumstances...by the weekend I was feeling down and discouraged!! I was tired of eating the same foods over and over again...I was tired of having to think about what I was going to eat 24/7..every meal I have to think about..I have to plan out...I got to the point to where I just wanted to not think about what I was eating..I just wanted to go in the kitchen and find something I liked to eat and eat it. It was really weighing heavy on my Saturday. I felt like instead of walking tall and conquering this mountain that seemed at one time impossible...like I had been doing...I felt like I was crawling...barely moving along...with no strength or energy to get through the day. It was a hard day for me. I was reminded by my partner that I have mentioned several times on here...that I have come so far and should be thankful that God has allowed me to get this far. And I was thankful...I am thankful...I just knew I needed a new vision...a renewed mind and a new drive to finish strong!! I have 40 to 50 pounds left to go...and while at times that seems so far away...I know that it is within my reach...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...there are days when I still feel like the fat girl that is in the background...and I feel like I haven't lost a single pound...but I am reminded of just how far I have come and how I never thought I would ever come this far or that I would ever be this close to being in a normal weight range...and yet..here I am..having lost almost 80 pounds and God has given me a new vision...I new drive...and for that I am thankful!!!


So This week...I am setting out to step it up..to really work hard and to fight for what I know I have to do!!

So this is my update for now...I am going to try and update again before to much time passes.... :)

Thanks for supporting me ya'll,

Dani

Hello my trusty followers...

Hello all,

So I think it's about time for an update!! :) So since my last update a few things have happened. One being the Tues. of last week I sang in the talent show at the fair and was not able to do the cardio class with Jennifer that night, and then I got through to the next round which was friday so I couldn't work out at all that day...and Saturday I did some laps in the pool and then did one of my Jillian dvds..Oh boy does she work you out...lol..if you can't afford a membership at the gym the Biggest Loser DVD's or Jillian dvds are great. They would also be a great addition to your workout routine if you do have a membership. They will definitely burn those calories. :) So anyways...then Sunday I walked 3 miles around the track but Monday I had a HORRIBLE headache all day and also had a lot of school to do for the next day so I didn't work out that day either. So it started out kind of difficult this week. Tuesday I worked with Mrs. Lynn my trainer and had the cardio class that night. So I was starting to get back in the swing of things...

Tuesday as I sat and watched the show Biggest Loser (which btw is such an encouragement to me and a great show), I started asking myself some questions. As Danny, last years winner, came back and was talking to some contestants he was telling them how for a while at the Ranch he was there and doing it for His wife and kids. And it wasn't until he started really doing it for himself that he really saw the results and got the most out of it. So I started asking myself....am I doing this for me?? Am I doing this because I want it?? I thought about those questions for a while and I started realizing that while most of the time I do want it and am doing it for me...I think there are times I do it for other people. I think there are times that I work hard because I don't want to let anyone down. I don't want to disappoint anyone. I want people to be proud of me. I realized that if i don't want it...if I am not doing this for myself...then it won't last. But as I thought about it and this whole journey so far....I realized I DO WANT IT...I AM DOING IT FOR ME...I'm not the only one I am doing this for though...I am doing it for my future husband...my kids...my family...but most importantly for my God. I want a body that is going to glorify Him...I want to be in good shape so that I am ready and able to do anything He calls me to do. So...while at times I just feel like I am barely hanging on and I don't want to workout that day...I am encouraged and motivated by those who love me. And while it's okay to workout or not eat something you know you shouldn't just because you know someone is going to ask you about it. You just have to know...deep down inside..when you look at the full picture and the light that is at the end of what may seem like a long long tunnel, or hey...maybe you don't even see the light...I didn't for so long..but I do now...somedays it seems faint and barely shinning...and other days it seems like I can see the light bulb...but I've just gotta keep going...and you've just gotta keep going!! Cause it will be worth it!!! Every bit of it!!


So anyways...I was a little down tuesday..about everything...but I have the most awesome friend in the whole wide world and she encouraged me and uplifted me and helped me to see that I can do this and I am doing this and I will continue to do this!!!

I am so very thankful for all that Suwannee Health and Fitness and the I live in Live Oak Page on facebook has done for me. This is beyond what I could have ever imagined. I just wanted to say thank you...for taking this journey with me and making it all possible. I will be forever grateful!!

I think this is long enough...so I am gonna sign off!!

LoVe, Dani

Big Update...with a video... :)

So...Just thought it was about time for another update. Last week was a very encouraging week for me. I was feeling on lil down on my self the week before and was just feeling like I was working my behind off and wasn't really seeing the results like I wanted....or so I thought anyway...I am always harder on myself. So anyways...I continued to work really hard and it finally paid off for me...I weighed in today and have lost 17 pounds in 4 weeks..I was soo happy when that scale read 215...I am only 16 pounds away from being under 200 pounds and that is very exciting to me!!So since I started "The Dani Project" I have lost a total of 24 pounds in 7 weeks and about 7 inches total. These past four weeks I have averaged about 4.5 pounds a week...so that's exciting!! :) Just goes to prove that hard work really does pay off...so keep working hard!!! :) and now Here is a lil video update about my progress with some pics of where I started and where I am now! Enjoy!!

LoVe, Dani

***for some reason...it doesn't show the whole video..so you may have to click on it to see the whole screen...it should take you to youtube. if not just click Here!!

Spring Break...

So...as you can see..once again it's been a lil while since I last posted. *smiles* Sorry about that...I am being a bad blogger. Well anyways..part of the reason why it has taken me so long is because last week was my spring break from school...I had already planned a trip during this week before this project began, so I decided I would keep my plans and still go out of town for it. I felt I just needed to get away for a lil while from all the stress of work, and school, etc. I had the BEST time with some great friends...THe Cartmills...I went to Alabama and stayed with this great family! They are like my own family and one of them is my best friend and has been my partner through this whole journey. She has encouraged me and supported me way more than I thought anyone could...and I am so thankful for her! I firmly believe that God gave her to me to help push me on this journey to do things I never thought I could do, to accomplish things I didn't think I could ever do all the while being the bestest friend anyone could ask for. So...I want to encourage you to find someone who is going to encourage you on your journey to lose weight and get healthy. It is very important to have a support system and have someone that will hold you accountable! Many times I thought I could give up...when it seemed that what I was doing was pointless...my friend (her name is Michelle...in case you were wondering :) ) was there to remind me that it was worth it and it wasn't pointless and I was doing this for a reason...and that was number one, to have a body that glorifies God and number two to have a body that is healthy!! So...take this journey with someone who will be with you all they way!! Maybe it's your wife or husband or mom or sister...or in my case..maybe it's your best friend! No matter what...always know...YOU CAN DO IT!!!

So this week was by no means a break from workouts or eating right. We tried to do a good workout every day...whether it was walking several miles or doing a cardio dvd or sometimes we went to a gym and worked out for a while! We also ate good...staying healthy while enjoying some personal favorite like strawberries... :) So...I am living proof that it is possible to go on vacation and still stay the course. Just STAY STRONG!!!! :)

There was one very encouraging thing that happened while I was gone...one day during the week me and one of the girls in the family ( Hannah :) ), went shopping!! This was the first time I have really gone shopping since losing the weight I've lost so far. She helped me find some new shirts..which were much needed, because all my other shirts were getting to big. It was so nice to be able to shop at the "normal" stores...like Forever 21 and American Eagle! I have never been able to fit into any of their clothes...until now!! :) I was able to get shirts that were a size large! The first time I have worn that size in a very long time! I got several shirts and can't wait to wear them all! :) Just one more thing that makes me see that it is paying off and it is so worth it!! No matter how hard it may be!

So anyways...as far as my workouts here...i've been doing some of the fitness classes at night! They are a great addition to my regular workout and although they are tough and sometimes I don't feel like going to them because I'm just so tired or I would rather do stuff on my own...i do them! They have a little bit of everything in them and they will burn those calories and work those muscles! I encourage you to come out and do them with me! Trevita and Jennifer are great instructors and they really want you to get the best out of the hours they work with you!! If you dont already come to some classes...you definitely should check them out!! :)

Well...I guess this is long enough...I worked on the about me section last week but am not sure if it saved it or not...blogger was having issues that day. :) I'll check and try and get it on there within a few days if it's not!!

We are working on getting a video up soon so be looking for that!!

I guess that's all for now...

LoVe,
Dani

Making the Impossible Possible...

That is what I am setting out to do. They are so many things that I have always feared doing..simply because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do them. I felt the were impossible to do. I am learning and seeing that these things are not impossible...because for one thing...with God..ALL things are possible. He has given me strength I never knew I had and He has given me the grace to get thru each day...even when I felt like I was going to pass out. Since starting this new journey with my trainer and working out I have accomplished some things I never thought I could do!

One thing I have always said was that I don't run...not because I didn't want to, although I think that was part of the issue, but because I didn't think I could. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to. Prior to starting this journey I had only run for less than a minute at a time. Well...as you read in the last post...I started running a lil at the end of last week. But yesterday...I RAN A WHOLE MILE WITHOUT STOPPING!!! It was a HUGE accomplishment for me! I never thought I could run a half a mile...let alone a mile. I am going to run again tomorrow and hope to keep going further and further. It's these milestones and accomplishments that make it all worth it!! I was so proud of myself and was so Thankful for this opportunity. God is so good and I am just overwhelmed with the grace He has shown me and I know He will continue to show me! It's amazing...HE is amazing!!

The other accomplishment is for a few months...prior to starting this new phase I have been stuck in the 230's. It was something that was bothering me. At times I thought it was nearly impossible for me to get into the 220's. However...I now weigh 228!!!! It was so encouraging to see that number under 230...this is not easy at all...really tough at times..but it's proving to be all worth the sacrifice!!

One more thing that was encouraging this week was on Saturday I decided to go get some new jeans cause I only had one pair that fit me without falling down. I am happy to say that I went down another size and am now wearing a size 14 jeans!! I haven't been in this size in so long and it feels great! I am so happy and can't wait to be even smaller. I have this super cute black dress that is a size 12 and I can't wait to be able to wear it. I will be sure to post a pic of myself in it when I wear it for the first time.

I am now two weeks into to and going on my third...sometime next week I will be weighing in again and doing my measurements...so stay tuned for the results after a month!!

Thank ya'll for supporting me!!

~Dani

Recap of the first two weeks...

Sooo...as you can see...it's been a while since I've updated last..sorry about that! I have been exhausted lately and haven't really had the energy to blog. So here it is Friday..and I am feeling pretty good. This week seemed harder at times and easier at times.

I am the type of person that likes to have things planned out...to know what I am expecting when I am going into something. Well, with this project...I have no idea what I am going to be doing. I don't know what to expect when I walk in the doors of the gym. I have this fear...this fear that I am going to fail. It's not just with this..but with a lot of things I embark on. Sometimes I think it holds me back from pursuing some things I would have pursued had I not feared of failing at it. I don't know why I have that fear...because, I always have God to get me thru anything I set out to do. So this is a big step for me. To just push myself to do thing that I would otherwise never do because I would be to afraid to fail. One of the major things is running. I have never ran...and felt as if I couldn't, but today I was on my own for workout and I got on that treadmill and decided that today...I was going to run. Maybe not a lot but I was going to run! And run I did...I ran a total of 1 mile...not at one time...I walked in between each 1/4 but I ran! I was so proud of myself..and to my surprise..I COULD DO IT!!! I didn't feel like I was going to die and I didn't quit...I kept going..and the after that...I pushed myself some more...I got on the Eliptical (which btw...I call the evil machine...because it is not my favorite...it is definitely a workout!! :) ) for 10 minutes..when previously I had done it for 5 minutes the first time and 6 minutes the next...and then I did the Bike (which is my personal favorite machine) for 45 minutes working out for a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes! It felt great and I actually enjoyed it!! It wasn't that way everyday this week...on Tuesday I had to work out with Mrs. Lynn and then that night was the boot camp and I was just plain exhausted. I didn't really wanna go to the boot camp, but knew I needed it and that I needed to go...so I did. But it was hard. I had very little energy and just felt beat. I did the class and went home and went to bed. It was a hard day...but I made it through...and then I did the class Thursday after working out with Mrs. Lynn and enjoyed it! I had a great time at it and plan to take more classes starting next week! Well..it's getting late...and I am tired...so I am gonna get in bed! I will try not to let time go by so much next time! :)

~Dani