Blogs > Lighten Up With Cathy

45-year-old Cathy Bevan, of Concord Township, is a contestant in The News-Herald's Lighten Up in 2013.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Reflection on the month gone by!

It was a challenge to really stick to strict diet and exercise routine, but in the end it paid off with over a seven pound loss. I was determined to really buckle down and loss because I have been stuck in at a plateau and weight just kept fluctuating. Well, my journey isn't over yet, I am determined to loss another couple pounds this month and by the end of the summer get down to my goal weight of 143, that would be my weight when I graduated HS. How many of us can say that? 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

What a month it's been!

So happy to be back on track. It took a lot of effort but I have finally found some time to go to the Y and get some much needed strength training in....and the scale has shown the improvement. I know I will not come in first, second or third, but that is not the point. I did not have a ton of weight to lose in the first place just another 15 pounds, which is less than 10%. Sure it is a contest but what really matters is that you are learning a way of life, by exercising and eating right. When I began my weight loss journey in 2012 I weighed over 200 pounds and it has been slow and steady but in 2 1/2 years I have lost over 50 pounds, that is 25% of my original body weight. I say that is a pretty big accomplishment. Have to say, thank goodness to Goodwill because I have dropped almost two sizes since the beginning of the contest. Not bad if I do say so myself!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Back on Track!

Now if only I can skip the wine or that Long Island Ice Tea. I do really great the entire week and then I have a tendency to graze on the weekends not realizing I am eating as much as I am, but on the upside I do try and eat the healthier snacks like whole grain Tostitos with salsa. I am determined not to gain any weight this weekend. I am finally below my April weight and don't my effort these past two weeks to be in vain.  

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Getting on track!

What a hectic summer it has been thus far. School has finally ended for both my son and me, so no more homework for a couple months. I thought things would be more relaxing but with summer comes those outdoors chores. Planting the garden, cutting the grass, weeding, chopping wood for the winter, yep, busy, busy, busy. I have finally had a chance to go to the Y and get some workout time done. I head over there right after work do an hour workout and then pick up my son and go home. It is nice to finally get outside, so many projects to finish up and it seems as if June will be here and gone before we know it. Will work toward getting to my April weight. I think many of us definitely pushed ourselves to make the 5% cut off, but I think many of us either lost to much too quick and the bodies didn't adjust or we took May off and gained a few. This will always be the case in life. It isn't difficult to lose weight the hardest challenge will come from maintaining the new weight. Learn to eat and exercise now so that this journey becomes a lifelong habit.