Weighed In and Ready to Win

Today was the day for my weigh-in for Weigh and Win and I had no idea what to expect. It was a public weigh-in and like I’ve said before, I prefer to be invisible. And I also wasn’t sure how public it was going to be. It was at my local Kaiser, which is always busy, but it actually wasn’t too traumatizing.

First off, I went after work. I tried to go later in the day hoping it wouldn’t be busy, but there were still a lot of people in the pharmacy. It wasn’t hard to spot the kiosk because I had already done the research and found out it was located on the north side of the building. I found the cubicle and there was no one in there. Thank God.

Second, you walk up to the kiosk, sign in, put in your password, and then it tells you to go step on the scale. I was prepared for the picture that was going to be taken, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be a full body shot. The scale was about 8-10 feet away from the kiosk. You walk to the scale and the instructions on the screen tell you to remove your coat, take heavy items out of your pockets, and remove your shoes. Then the note on the screen tells you to smile, you’re weighed, and they thank you for coming in. All in all it took about three minutes. And I was NOT smiling in my picture. No one should be happy at this weight.

But, it wasn’t terrible, and it wasn’t humiliating as I’d feared. However, I’m glad I had already signed in online and completed my username and password. Having everything already filled in made the weigh-in part of it go even faster. You can complete everything you need to at a kiosk, but it would take a lot longer than the three minutes it took me, and everything I don’t have to do in public is a bonus.

So now the deal is you have to weigh-in at the kiosk every quarter and get paid on a sliding scale depending on the percentage of weight you lose. And now it’s official, I’ve weighed in and I’m ready to start winning!!!

Weigh and Win(?)

I have thought long and hard about what to do with this blog. I completely failed at losing 90 pounds in ’09 but I did lose 40. However, I gained that back and then some, and then some, and then some more. 2010 was not my year; and then halfway through 2011, I turned 40. Fat and 40 when I’d rather be 40 and flirty. So what’s my next step? I could continue to be heavy and stay like my family, struggling forever; or I could pull myself up by my boot straps and start something new. So, here we go……

I was on a conference call a few weeks ago with two other coworkers and one of them mentioned this weight loss thing she’d been doing. I’m sure it was directed to me but I did ask her about it. I work at home so I didn’t realize she needed to lose weight, but I know that I do. She sent me the link and it’s Weigh and Win. I looked at it but it requires you go somewhere and weigh in so I said, No, Thank you. I like to think that no one else realizes I’m overweight. I like to think when I go in public that I’m invisible. Like no one else thinks I have a weight problem. Yes, I’m delusional. Maybe it’s pride, I don’t know.

Two days later I’m watching the news, which I never do, and there’s a story on Weigh and Win. Apparently you earn money as you lose weight and it’s free. Did you hear that? It’s FREE!! So let me get this straight, you lose weight AND make money? That seems a little too win/win to me. But don’t forget the one set back is that you have to weigh yourself in public. Not like the town square but you have to go to a kiosk and get your picture taken, put in your stats to get started, and then go back to weigh yourself every quarter to stay qualified. But you get all kinds of tools to aid your weight loss and a gift card with actual money.

So, I did it. I signed up online and I’m going this week to weigh in, pride be damned, and I’m taking this blog along for the ride. I’m praying for some privacy at the kiosk and not too many stares.

Anyone have any tips?

Delivery and Set-up of the NordicTrack Incline Trainer

I have no excuse for the delay in getting this out.  It’s not you, NordicTrack, it’s me.  I’ve been incredibly busy but here goes.

I ordered my NordicTrack Incline Trainer in a moment of weakness on a Tuesday night.  The following Tuesday, it was delivered by UPS freight.  The driver was very nice and put it in my garage before the big snow storm so I was all set.  Now, if you remember, the NordicTrack salesman that confirmed my order told me it would take 30 to 45 minutes to set up.

I worked steadily at my second job until Saturday the 31st when I was finally able to take some time (at least 30 to 45) minutes to set it up.  So I got my other “person” (in this case my two daughters).

First thing to know is this is heavy.  Like crazy heavy.  Like we could barely scoot it across the garage floor, let alone lift it into the house to get it down five stairs to the bottom level.  But we did.  And in all fairness, it said you needed another person, but I got no one, only kids.  So I was making do with what I had.  Then the unpacking started.  The unpacking took over 45 minutes and then I took a nap.   We were not off to a good start.

Second stage was getting it all out and organizing the pieces to make it easier to find things.  It’s all stuck together for the shipping so it was kind of hard to figure out what was hooked to what in order to get it out.  But we did.  The bottom of the treadmill is definitely the heaviest part with the motor and everything. 

to be continued…….

Check Out My Order Status

I’m so excited.  I got a call from the shipping company that’s delivering my NordicTrack Incline Trainer.   And it’s coming Tuesday!  Aren’t you excited?  You know I certainly am. 

I have to work, but hopefully Tuesday night I’ll be assembling and using my awesome new weight loss miracle.  I’ll let you know!

Where You Been?

I thought I might share a little of what I’ve been doing since my last post in April.  Not counting my NordicTrack meltdown posted yesterday.

In April I completed a 10K for March of Dimes.  My friend Heather and I finished it in an hour and 45 minutes.  It was exhausting.  Then at the beginning of August we did a sprint triathlon.  We swam a half mile, biked 12 miles, and ran/walked 3 miles.  Talk about exhausting.  I didn’t even get to the first buoy when I thought, “My God, what have I done?”  I really thought I was going to drown.  But as I’ve said before: slow and steady wins the race.  Oh, believe me, I didn’t win any race, but I also wasn’t last and I didn’t die.  All accomplishments in themselves.

Twelve weeks ago we decided that we needed to kick start our workout and instead of fighting to fit it in at night, we were just going to start doing it in the morning.  At 5:50 in the morning to be exact.  I get a one week reprieve as Heather’s on vacation next week so I get to sleep in, and I can’t wait.  A better person would continue to work out in the mornings while her training partner is gone.  I’m not a better person.  However, if I get my NordicTrack sometime next week, I’ll definitely be doing that in the mornings once it’s put together.  Hurry up, NT, let’s get my weight loss jump-started!!

Stupid or Genius? You Be the Judge

I’ve done something very stupid, or genius.  You have no idea how many times those two things are closely intertwined.  I have bad credit.  If you’ve read my other blog then you know that because of a series of unfortunate events, I actually have awful credit.  I don’t qualify for anything and I normally don’t even try.

 So I was online the other night and I was looking at Jillian Michael’s Incline Trainer from NordicTrack.  Have you seen it?  It’s beautiful.  During a brief lapse in judgement I decided to apply for the $27.00 a month financing KNOWING that I wouldn’t get it.  Guess what?  (I’m sure you see what’s coming)  It said “Congratulations, you’re qualified.  Hit submit to complete your order.”  Hmmm……okay.   And I did.  I hit submit and for $27.00 a month for the rest of my life, I’m getting a NordicTrack Incline Trainer and 16 iFit workouts from the one and only Jillian Michaels. 

I already have some concerns.  For instance, there was an option to have someone professionally assemble it, but it was like $300.  I thought for that amount I’d do it myself, I’m good with stuff like that.  Then when I got the phone call to confirm my order, the guy told me it would only take 30 to 45 minutes.  That doesn’t seem right.  Who makes $300 for 30 to 45 minutes of work, and how do I sign up?  I’ll give you all the assembly information next week when I get the Incline Trainer and put it together.  I’ll be on the clock, and I can guarantee it’s going to take longer than 30 to 45 minutes.

Oh, and if anyone’s keeping track.  I’m at 239.  I said good-bye to the 240′s for good.

Sunday, April 5th

My sister said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”.   She must not remember what our mom’s chocolate cake tastes like.  I gained four pounds on my trip to Oklahoma.  AAAAAGH!  Time to get back on the wagon.

Good-bye, Love

In addition to saying good-bye to cookies, cake, candy and all the trappings that have made me overweight, I’d like to also say good-bye to the 270s.  Yes, that’s right, I’ve finally gotten away from that horrible number.  And just like an opposite version of The Jefferson’s theme song, I’m movin’ on down.  Good-bye, 270s.  I will NEVER see you again!

Hiking Much?

We went 45 minutes from our house and there’s a canyon that you can hike around and down into to make for a pretty good workout. I’m not a hiker exactly, but I thought I’d give it a try to do something new.

I loved it, however, it was freezing and windy and there was still snow. The trail down into the canyon was icy and it took about 10 minutes for one of my kids to slip and fall in the mud. So we ended up staying on the upper trail. We walked far, but want to go back when it’s warmer to get down in there.

I decided I love hiking so we’re definitely going back.

How Am I Doing?

You may be asking, my 1.5 readers. I’m still hanging in there. I bought My Fitness Coach for my Wii and I LOVE it. It’s so awesome and has a new workout for you every time you do it. My girls and I can do group workouts and it’s so cool. Just 45 minutes.

So today was two workouts day and I did MFC on Wii and then walked a shorter walk so it was about 35 minutes. Tomorrow we’re hiking and I’m so excited. I’ll let you know how it goes, 1.5 readers.  I haven’t weighed again, but I’m doing much better on my portions.  I still haven’t decided on Nutrisystem as my taxes haven’t come back and my bonus was considerably smaller than wished for. 

Anyhow, I’m still plugging away.  Oh, and I think I have three more people for my sprint-tri team!  I’m very excited about that!  My friend that I work out with and I are going to start biking to a track and then jogging and we’ll eventually work in the swimming.