I joined a Facebook group…mainly because it is about losing weight, and it has a military theme. Not sure why, but I have always been fascinated with the military, and if not for my fear of weakness, I probably would have joined the army when I graduated from High School. Unfortunately, I knew a woman who went into the army and got discharged, so that kind of scared me. What  different life I would have had…so there, that is the reason!

I joined this group and took the nickname Hawkeye, after my favorite character from MASH (could be part of my military fascination, MASH was popular and one of my favorite shows when I was in my young impressionable years). The military group is fun to be a part of, but the main reason I joined it, was for weightloss motivation and support. It is a challenge, and those seem to work well for me.

I think I would feel so much better if I could shed some more weight. I think about how others view me, not just people of the opposite sex, but all people. If I want to get a position as a substitute teacher, what if the hiring person has a bias? But then I saw the following article and honestly, it kind of scared me….like the people who take kids to a jail to “scare them straight”, I feel like I have been shown the real truth, and now I must face it.

http://on.mktw.net/1c68Mme

You can click on the link and read the article for yourself, but according to the study, it is apparent, if you are overweight you are less likely to get into Grad School, and less likely to get the fellowships/assistantships, I desperately need. No matter if I can keep my 4.0 GPA for my Master’s Degree, I am still viewed as lazy and not able to control myself, if I am overweight.

Are they right in this way of defining who should get into their program? I hear age is one of the less likely ways grad schools discriminate, but not sure of that either. I almost feel like I am up against the odds on this whole plan….but this would not be the first time, and ironically, this type of thing is exactly what motivates me the most!

I was working at the bowling center when I determined I wanted to work in radio. I was told then, for many reasons, including, my age, the major market we live in, my family, and my lack of (at that time) a college degree, I would not make it, and would never work in radio in Chicago. Ha! I worked for not one, but two top stations in Chicago and had a blast, so it sure was a good thing I did not just listen, look at the statistics and then give up!

So, as my Drill Sargent has informed me, I better get my act together and get on board with the plan! I have always done better with a goal, and now I really have the motivation I need. I finished up my final projects for the summer semester yesterday, so now I am ready to focus on the plan at hand.

See you all around the barracks.

PS I did pick Hawkeye, so if you come around and I have a still set up in the RV, I am just acting out my part!!

It seems like I am spending all of my time looking at displays and comparing numbers. I’m not just comparing the numbers on the solar panel, I am also looking at numbers in the gym.

The numbers I watched today were exciting to me. After spending the past two months finding a gym while traveling and putting in the time three days at a time, I have seen many changes. My body has started to change, shedding inches in every part of it. The weights I have been lifting have become lighter to me, and I have raised the weights on most machines more than once since I have started. Despite various injuries, including my shoulder, knee and foot, I have also increased the numbers I am seeing on the treadmill and elliptical.

When I started, I could only run for 3 or 4 minutes before I was panting hard. Today I spent 13 ½ minutes running before I walked at a 4 mph clip with an incline for 25 minutes, and then finished with ten minutes on the elliptical at level 20. I am sure many people can duplicate, and surpass these numbers, but when it comes to working out, it’s about doing as much as you can do, and pushing yourself to do more. Today, this was the best I could do.

The weights on the machines have slowly been raised, and I am doing two sets of ten each of various exercises, including the inclined sit up with a medicine ball, which I could not do one of on the first day I walked into a gym with Jonathan. I was going to the gym just to have something to do while Jonathan worked out. I had access to a free gym for more than two years while working, and only occasionally found the time and the energy to get to the gym which only required an elevator ride to get to. Instead, the stress caused me to eat more and exercise less. Now, I drive miles out of my way to get to the gym, and plan the whole day around that activity. It has become a priority.

The secret to my newfound enjoyment of going to the gym has to do with a few key elements:

1. There are rules
   1. I show up three days in a row, have the next day off
   2. I must run 5 minutes, elliptical 5 minutes, spend an hour total exercising
2. Jonathan asks when we are going to the gym, daily.
   1. Planning is essential

b.    showing up truly is half the battle

I give it my all every time I walk in the door, some days are just better than others, but most days I leave with exhausted muscles and a rather wet shirt from the sweat. For me, it always feels like a better workout when I see the sweat on my shirt. Its proof I worked hard.

My wardrobe has been fitting differently, and some clothes I could barely fit into just a few months ago, I can now wear comfortably. I can see a difference in how my body looks and feels. I look forward to getting into some more of the clothes I had packed away when they became too small. Now it is like going shopping, since many of the items I packed away were almost new and many items I really loved!

The number on the scale hit a new low today, marking 30 pounds I have shed since I left Chicago on this adventure. Having worked so hard, I would think the scale would have moved more, but I truly believe the hypothyroidism which I have had for 25 years, plays a part. I hate to use that as an excuse. Unfortunately for myself, and many others, including Oprah, it is a real problem, and it does make losing weight much more difficult. Aging also seems to be another obstacle in losing weight. Many women tell me how they had to eat smaller portions to maintain their weight at different points in their lives. I find this to be a bit cruel, but apparently eating less is better than the alternative. If it takes me longer, that is not an excuse to not get stronger.

So many people in RVs proclaim they gain weight as they travel, so being able to lose weight while traveling seems like quite an accomplishment.  I am hoping once Jonathan is working somewhere and I am back to traveling alone again, I will be able to continue working out on my own. I am at the point where I am missing it on the days off, and feeling better on the days I do go. Today, there was a type of elation when I saw the numbers on the scale, and realized, yet another goal has been attained. I feel like my work is paying off, slowly, but it is working.