New Beginning

So today started my new beginning. Ever since Taylor and I got married almost a year ago I have done nothing but GAIN weight. Since the wedding I have gained 30+ pounds. So now I am finally doing something about the fact that I have put so much weight on. I think that I am no longer healthy, and am starting too look like my birth mother, and I do not really want her to be my role model.

I think something that will help is if I tell people about what I am going to do. My brother-in-law (M.S.) has helped set me up with some goals and what I need to do on a daily basis. I am really appreciative of him.


These are all the things that he has set up for me:

As far as exercise, assuming you have not been exercising at all, start by performing aerobic exercise activities (treadmill, walking, jogging, swimming, biking, aerobics videos, etc.) 3 days during the first week for 30-45 minutes each day. Exercise at a moderate intensity. I can calculate a heart rate range for you if you want, but I think you will be fine if you work up a good sweat and are breathing harder than normal (but not gasping) toward the end of your workout. I would mix the activities up often to keep from getting bored. Follow this schedule for aerobic exercise:

Week 1: 3 Days
Week 2: 4 Days
Week 3: 5 Days
Week 4 and beyond: 6 or 7 days

So He was right I haven't exercised at all since the wedding, actually I haven't even exercised that much since like July of last year..

M.S. continued on to say
"For toning your muscles, I recommend the at-home workout featured by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) on their website. Here is the link: . This link has pictures, videos, and written descriptions of each exercise. This is a good full-body workout and will help tone all the muscles you mentioned in your goals. The only change I would make is for push-ups. I recommend doing push-ups from your knees instead of your toes, especially at first, and doing them with your hands close together (narrower than shoulder width). This will emphasize your triceps. I would also add bent-over rows to this workout, because it does not have a great exercise for the upper back. To do bent-over rows, stand upright with your feet about shoulder width apart, holding dumbbells in your hands. Bend forward at the waist until your upper body is about parallel to the ground. Let your arms hand below your chest with your palms facing your legs. Keeping your upper body steady, bend your elbows and raise them sideways away from your body until the weights are even with your ribs (you should feel the scapula bones in your upper back squeeze together. Then slowly lower back down and repeat. Follow this schedule for resistance exercise:

Week 1: 1 set of 10 reps on 2 non-consecutive days
Week 2: 1 set of 12 reps on 2 non-consecutive days
Week 3: 1 set of 14 reps on 2 non-consecutive days
Week 4: 1 set of 16 reps on 2 non-consecutive days
Week 5: 1 set of 10 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 6: 1 set of 12 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 7: 1 set of 14 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 8: 1 set of 16 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 9: 2 sets of 10 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 10: 2 sets of 12 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 11: 3 sets of 10 reps on 3 non-consecutive days
Week 12 and beyond: 3 sets of 10 reps on 3 non-consecutive days

I'm really excited about what is going to happen in the next few months of my life.

My current weight is 168 lbs, and my goal weight is 125 (this was the weight I used to be in H.S., and I loved it). I'm really excited to see the transformation from someone who is overweight for my height to someone who is right on par for my height.

The next thing I ask for from all of you is please pray for me while I push myself to really step up and take care of myself. Also, any advice or support you can give me would be amazing and I would really appreciate it.

-Beth <3

Before...