Confession time again: I didn't jog for 5 days....yep. I jogged for the first time last night since Friday. And it was fantastic. It was a wonderful 3.5 mile run that gave me that wonderful runner's high and made me feel so much better. The whole beginning of the week was kind of rough for me, I was feeling down, not eating as well as I should have, not exercising. I was happy to have the time off, but after the run last night, I feel great all over. I've had a hard time controlling my eating for the past few days and I'm not entirely sure why. I've actually added to my calories just to see if that will help me to stick to my planned food and not feel the need to snack on other things. Maybe I'll feel less hungry in between meals and planned snacks and be able to stick to the good foods. I will most definitely continue the good running for the rest of the week and I hope that it will help me push past this plateau I've been stuck on for the past month or so. I want SO badly to get into the 140s and sometimes I get very down about not getting there. But then I tell myself that it's really not about how fast I do this, it's just about doing this at all. I do want to be done, but I also want to continue doing this the right way. I refuse to give into taking supplements or anything like that. I want to accomplish this completely on my own (well, witht the help of my Mom and you guys :)
I would like to introduce all of you to an inspiration of mine. Her name is Brandi Laughlin, she's 28, lives in Dallas, has a husband, 2 kids, and a full time job. She's also lost almost 100 pounds....She's AMAZING! Her BLOG is absolutely hilarious and very informative. She writes the way I would like to hear it. She's crude, sarcastic, obscene at times, and absolutely does not sugar-coat anything. She's honest and did I mention hilarious? She's gotten pretty big in the blogging world and I've been following for a few months now. I actually emailed her earlier this week to thank her for writing it and she replied almost immediately. She told me she was happy for me and what I've done and then she told me something that I think will stick with me forever. She said "I'm glad that I've helped motivate you, but just remember that you did that all on your own. YOU accomplished this!" Reading that made me realize that I've accomplished so much. Yes, I look up to her and I look up to Shannon, both inspired me so much. BUT I did do this myself. This is something I can take pride in for the rest of my life.
If you're going through this process, I hope that I am helping you in some way and I hope that I'm motivating or inspiring you or whatever. But just remember that you are doing this. YOU. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to do this. You are the one pushing yourself, you are the one sacrificing, you are the one succeeding, YOU are the one getting things done. Believe in yourself, trust yourself, trust God to help push through the rough times. You CAN do this. But only YOU can make yourself succeed.
Size 6/8
<3 "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Rohn <3
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
"Sometimes it's ok if all you did today was breathe."
Well, I really wasn't planning to post anything today, but I was thinking about how my body almost pretty much shut down last week...yeah. I pushed way too hard and my body responded with a big middle finger in my face. Monday, I jogged about 2.5 miles, Tuesday about 4, Wednesday 4...now Thursday. Thursday is when everything started to go wrong. I woke up early before work to get in a quick jog because there was a possibility of going out that night, so in preparation, I jogged a couple of miles in the morning. However, my plans fell through so I decided to do another jog that evening. BIG mistake. I started out on my run just fine, but the longer I went, the worse it got. I only made it to a little past the 1 mile mark before I decided that I simply could not push any further...So, with my head hung in shame, I turned back and ended up walking almost all the way home. My sides were in sharp pain, I couldn't breathe, my right big toe was throbbing...Not good.
The next day, I knew I was going out to dinner with my family so I HAD to jog before-hand. Once again, my body was angry with me and I only got in about 3 miles, jogging/walking...ugh. It really is disappointing to have to give in when I KNOW I can do so much more. But sometimes, when your body is exhausted, it has nothing left to give. I should have let it rest after the horrible jog on Thursday, but no. I was dumb and tried to do too much. Also, at the beginning of the week, I could feel a cold coming on, so I immediately started a Mucinex cycle (which is literally a miracle drug). I know that having this cold coupled with pushing too hard made my body feel run down and I should have listened. All day Friday and Saturday, I was achy, sleepy, exhausted physically and mentally, and just wanted to do nothing. We went out of town for the weekend, so luckily, most of my weekened was spent sitting in a car unable to exercise, not tempted to over do it. I am so very glad that I rested for two days. My body needed it. My brain needed it. Everything in me and about needed it.
This, my friends, is a good example of why you should always listen to your body when it speaks to you. Or in my case, screams at the top of it's lungs at you. If you exhaust yourself to the point of not being able to function, not being able to do things you normally would, or like me, not getting through jogs you know you can get through, you will set yourself back. Yes, you should push. Yes, you should try hard. Yes, you should strive to be better. But don't over-exert yourself. Don't ruin yourself. Don't let yourself get so obsessed with this that you can't think about anything else. Of course this takes focus, but it does not have to completely take over your life. It is a HUGE part of my life right now, but I'm slowly learning how to let go a little bit and live my life without feeling tied down to the process. It's taken me a while to get to this point, but I'm happy I'm here and I'm happy to be figuring out what I can and cannot do. I love that I'm learning to balance everything without obsessing. I've even let up a little on my calorie counting...it's an odd and slightly liberating feeling. I feel confident in my food choices, however, because I'm so educated in foods and the calories in them. I can piece my day together now without whipping out my counting app or a calculator. I do still measure things when I can or need to because I do still want to consume the correct serving portions. BUT, I feel a little freer. A little less tied down to food. A little less married to food.
I feel sometimes that I'm walking on thin ice with losing weight because I could so easily revert back to the way I used to live and eat, but then I really think about what I've gained through all of this and remember why I did it. I remember that this has been so worth the effort and pushing. I remember all of the people who now look to me for motivation and advice and realize that I would not only let myself down, but I would let many friends down by giving up. I am not willing to let temptation shatter my new life and I will forever fight against it.
The next day, I knew I was going out to dinner with my family so I HAD to jog before-hand. Once again, my body was angry with me and I only got in about 3 miles, jogging/walking...ugh. It really is disappointing to have to give in when I KNOW I can do so much more. But sometimes, when your body is exhausted, it has nothing left to give. I should have let it rest after the horrible jog on Thursday, but no. I was dumb and tried to do too much. Also, at the beginning of the week, I could feel a cold coming on, so I immediately started a Mucinex cycle (which is literally a miracle drug). I know that having this cold coupled with pushing too hard made my body feel run down and I should have listened. All day Friday and Saturday, I was achy, sleepy, exhausted physically and mentally, and just wanted to do nothing. We went out of town for the weekend, so luckily, most of my weekened was spent sitting in a car unable to exercise, not tempted to over do it. I am so very glad that I rested for two days. My body needed it. My brain needed it. Everything in me and about needed it.
This, my friends, is a good example of why you should always listen to your body when it speaks to you. Or in my case, screams at the top of it's lungs at you. If you exhaust yourself to the point of not being able to function, not being able to do things you normally would, or like me, not getting through jogs you know you can get through, you will set yourself back. Yes, you should push. Yes, you should try hard. Yes, you should strive to be better. But don't over-exert yourself. Don't ruin yourself. Don't let yourself get so obsessed with this that you can't think about anything else. Of course this takes focus, but it does not have to completely take over your life. It is a HUGE part of my life right now, but I'm slowly learning how to let go a little bit and live my life without feeling tied down to the process. It's taken me a while to get to this point, but I'm happy I'm here and I'm happy to be figuring out what I can and cannot do. I love that I'm learning to balance everything without obsessing. I've even let up a little on my calorie counting...it's an odd and slightly liberating feeling. I feel confident in my food choices, however, because I'm so educated in foods and the calories in them. I can piece my day together now without whipping out my counting app or a calculator. I do still measure things when I can or need to because I do still want to consume the correct serving portions. BUT, I feel a little freer. A little less tied down to food. A little less married to food.
I feel sometimes that I'm walking on thin ice with losing weight because I could so easily revert back to the way I used to live and eat, but then I really think about what I've gained through all of this and remember why I did it. I remember that this has been so worth the effort and pushing. I remember all of the people who now look to me for motivation and advice and realize that I would not only let myself down, but I would let many friends down by giving up. I am not willing to let temptation shatter my new life and I will forever fight against it.
Monday, September 24, 2012
"You better chase all your blues away.."
A lot of people ask me how I stay so positive. The answer to this is that I choose to be. Simple as that. I could easily give up when I hit a plateau or feel sorry for myself for not progressing like I want to, but I've chosen not to. Being a Negative Nancy when you're not seeing results is a good way to continue not seeing results. In my experience, I've found that staying optimistic through the harder times has helped me push past them and get to where I want to be. I know, I know, I sound like a Hallmark card or something, but I promise you it's truly the best way to be! I post motivational/inspirational quotes on Facebook almost everyday because it not only keeps me from being all BooBoo Kitty about the stuff I'm not liking, but it helps other people. I've received several kind comments and messages from friends expressing their gratitude for my quotes. If it annoys all the Debbie Downers and they "hide" my status updates, that's their choice, but my goal is to get these people to think about the quotes and maybe make changes in their own lives.
I've said it before and I'll say it again; I am a former perpetual pessimist. I never looked on the brightside of ANYTHING! Ever. If something was going wrong, that's just the way it was. Period. There was no changing it or trying to turn it around, I just accepted failure or defeat. I now know that is absolutely NOT the way to live life. Not even close. Sure, I fail, I make mistakes, I slip up, but do I let it defeat me? Absolutely not. I may run 4 1/2 miles one day and feel on top of the world and then then the next day, barely make it throught 3.
I finally found a before shot that actually shows my body (I had untagged it...of course..) and compared to my most recent picture makes me feel so good :) It's still hard for me to believe that I actually look like that now..No complaints, though ;)
I've said it before and I'll say it again; I am a former perpetual pessimist. I never looked on the brightside of ANYTHING! Ever. If something was going wrong, that's just the way it was. Period. There was no changing it or trying to turn it around, I just accepted failure or defeat. I now know that is absolutely NOT the way to live life. Not even close. Sure, I fail, I make mistakes, I slip up, but do I let it defeat me? Absolutely not. I may run 4 1/2 miles one day and feel on top of the world and then then the next day, barely make it throught 3.
As
crappy as it may make me feel to not accomplish something I know for a fact
that I can actually do, I can accept that the fact that I tried and put in the
effort is sometimes good enough. I can now accept that if I eat something I'm
not supposed to eat, I won't somehow magically gain all 63 pounds back because
of one little slip up. Sure, I usually feel guilty, but I know that I can do
better as soon as I'm given the opportunity. It's just not the end of the
world
Changing the way I look has changed the way I feel, the way I look at life, the way I think, the way I act, the way I see myself, the way I see the world. It has literally changed my life and has saved my life. My emotional state has done a complete turn-around and I feel like a different person. I feel like I AM a different person. I still complain about things, I still get down about things, but that's because I'm human. Disappointments happen, failures happen, bad things do happen sometimes. However, none of those things constitute pessimism. Look at your life and realize that it's wonderful. Realize that you deserve happiness. Believe that you have a blessed life. You are alive, therefore you're blessed. You may not have the life you want or the life you thought you would have, but you have a life and you have opportunities that many people in this world do not. Yes, we all have "first world problems" sometimes, and sometimes we feel we deserve more than we have, but just know that you have the life you were meant to have and you should live it the way you want to live it.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
"Beware of monotony; it's the mother of all the deadly sins." -Edith Wharton
I'm still going strong this week. I jogged a solid 4 miles last night, 2.5 the night before. I have figured out that my body is responding more positively to running 2.5 one night and kicking up the next night, alternating between the two. When I take it a little easier one night, my body is better prepared for a longer run the next night. Also, I have figured out (the hard way, on several occasions) that I have to wait at least 2 hours after eating a meal to run...Yeah...If I go too soon, my sides hurt unbearably bad and I can't breathe. So, by trial and error, I think I have finally figured out a good routine with my newly increased running habits. I've upped my calories a bit again because of the increased activity and its just wonderful :) There's nothing better than adding food to my day. I know, it's the little things...haha. I hope all of you are doing well with your progress and I would love to hear from you! If you're having success, tell me about it! If you're still struggling, I'm here for you!
I'd like to leave you with a couple of recipes if ya wanna give 'em a try:
Pumpkin Chili in a Crockpot (me and mom had this last night and it is DIVINE!)
Calories: approximately 390 for 2 cups
-2 pounds ground beef
-1 large onion, diced
-2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
-1 (46 fluid ounce) can tomato juice
-1 (28 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice
-3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
-1 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
-1 tsp cinnamon
-2 tsp chili powder
-a few scoops of sugar substitute (the kind you can bake with in the big bags)
-Combine all ingredients in crockpot EXCEPT for the beef. In the morning, turn crockpot on low and let cook all day.
-When ready to eat, brown the beef in skillet and add to pot. Let cook for a few minutes, serve.
I added 2 tbsp of non-fat plain yogurt in place of sour cream..but only because we were out of sour cream...It was still good :)
Apple and Swiss Grilled Cheese
Calories: 275
-2 slices reduced calorie white bread (we get Publix brand which is 80 cals/serving)
-3 slices Sargento Ultra-Thin Sliced Swiss Cheese
-1 medium, peeled and sliced apple
-2 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" (in the squirt bottle)
-cinnamon and sugar substitute to taste
-In a saucepan, combine apple slices, "Butter!", cinnamon, sugar sub, and a little bit of water. Cover and let cook through until softened.
-Take one slice of "buttered" bread and place "butter" down in pan, place one slice of cheese then a few slices of apple, repeat with remaining cheese and apples until stacked up. Place other slice of bread on top. Proceed to grill like regular grilled cheese.
This sandwich is absolutely AMAZING!!! I could literally eat it every single day....
I'd like to leave you with a couple of recipes if ya wanna give 'em a try:
Pumpkin Chili in a Crockpot (me and mom had this last night and it is DIVINE!)
Calories: approximately 390 for 2 cups
-2 pounds ground beef
-1 large onion, diced
-2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
-1 (46 fluid ounce) can tomato juice
-1 (28 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice
-3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
-1 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
-1 tsp cinnamon
-2 tsp chili powder
-a few scoops of sugar substitute (the kind you can bake with in the big bags)
-Combine all ingredients in crockpot EXCEPT for the beef. In the morning, turn crockpot on low and let cook all day.
-When ready to eat, brown the beef in skillet and add to pot. Let cook for a few minutes, serve.
I added 2 tbsp of non-fat plain yogurt in place of sour cream..but only because we were out of sour cream...It was still good :)
Apple and Swiss Grilled Cheese
Calories: 275
-2 slices reduced calorie white bread (we get Publix brand which is 80 cals/serving)
-3 slices Sargento Ultra-Thin Sliced Swiss Cheese
-1 medium, peeled and sliced apple
-2 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" (in the squirt bottle)
-cinnamon and sugar substitute to taste
-In a saucepan, combine apple slices, "Butter!", cinnamon, sugar sub, and a little bit of water. Cover and let cook through until softened.
-Take one slice of "buttered" bread and place "butter" down in pan, place one slice of cheese then a few slices of apple, repeat with remaining cheese and apples until stacked up. Place other slice of bread on top. Proceed to grill like regular grilled cheese.
This sandwich is absolutely AMAZING!!! I could literally eat it every single day....
Monday, September 17, 2012
A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way." -Allen Klein
I've come to the conclusion that the better I feel, the more I want to write :)
I measured myself today for the first time since I'd lost 50 pounds and what I found made me quite happy. In losing just 13 pounds from that time, I've shaved off another 8 inches from my body. This includes my waist (my natural waist, not what most people for some reason consider to be their waist..), bust, hips, thighs, and arms. Since the beginning, I've lost 43 inches overall. It hadn't really dawned on me to measure for some reason, I usually do every 10 pounds. And apparently, it's true that the smaller you get the farther a few pounds lost goes. This is the most inches I've lost in that many pounds so far.
I encourage all of you to measure! Not only does it help keep you on track, it helps you to keep the journey in perspective! I had been feeling a little down lately for not seeing much happening in the way of pounds and scale readings, but after seeing this I'm feeling so much more confident! I always have to take into consideration that I'm also gaining muscle as I continue working out and jogging, and I sometimes focus too hard on the number on the scale. I can tell in my clothing and in my appearance that I have trimmed down some in the past couple of months even though I've only lost a few pounds. This just goes to show you that you shouldn't focus solely on the scale. Don't become obsessed with it. Focus on the fact that you're getting healthy, that you're making yourself better. Focus on the fact that you're changing your life and taking control of it! Keep those measurements on hand to remind yourself that you're succeeding, keep them to remind yourself of where you were and how far you've come. Use them to compare to the new you and how much better you feel about yourself!
I measured myself today for the first time since I'd lost 50 pounds and what I found made me quite happy. In losing just 13 pounds from that time, I've shaved off another 8 inches from my body. This includes my waist (my natural waist, not what most people for some reason consider to be their waist..), bust, hips, thighs, and arms. Since the beginning, I've lost 43 inches overall. It hadn't really dawned on me to measure for some reason, I usually do every 10 pounds. And apparently, it's true that the smaller you get the farther a few pounds lost goes. This is the most inches I've lost in that many pounds so far.
I encourage all of you to measure! Not only does it help keep you on track, it helps you to keep the journey in perspective! I had been feeling a little down lately for not seeing much happening in the way of pounds and scale readings, but after seeing this I'm feeling so much more confident! I always have to take into consideration that I'm also gaining muscle as I continue working out and jogging, and I sometimes focus too hard on the number on the scale. I can tell in my clothing and in my appearance that I have trimmed down some in the past couple of months even though I've only lost a few pounds. This just goes to show you that you shouldn't focus solely on the scale. Don't become obsessed with it. Focus on the fact that you're getting healthy, that you're making yourself better. Focus on the fact that you're changing your life and taking control of it! Keep those measurements on hand to remind yourself that you're succeeding, keep them to remind yourself of where you were and how far you've come. Use them to compare to the new you and how much better you feel about yourself!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
"Where attention goes, energy flows and results show." -T. Harv Eker
So...not to toot my own horn or anything, but....I'm so proud of myself this week and weekend! First of all, I have kept my eating under crazy control all weekend (weekends are usually an issue). Friday is usually our 'out to dinner' night of the week, so I always prepare my day around that event. I ate very minimally all day in preparation, and it paid off because I was able to enjoy a wonderful yet healthy dinner without any guilt or regret. I even had some of the appetizer. Right?! I rarely do that. The appetizer was spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips, then I had honey lime grilled chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. It was absolutely delicious and so satisfying. After adding up the calories, I was right on target. I also, of course, jogged earlier that day. As long as I know I'm going to be eating a big meal, I will ALWAYS exercise in preparation..
Yesterday, I stuck to my food plan for the day and then I jogged the best jog of my life, almost 5 miles! Approximately 4.8! I'm so happy that my body is finally agreeing with me again. All week long my body was just angry with all of the work I had been forcing on it. Not to the point of shutting down, but it was mad enough to make my jogs absolutely miserable...like, seriously terrible. However, by pushing past this, giving my body a small break (I jogged Friday morning and then waited until Saturday night to jog again), I was able to accomplish something great. Not only did I push to a new distance, it was surprisingly pleasant. I wasn't in pain, I wasn't ridiculously out of breath, I was completely drenched in sweat (which honestly feels great to me :)), and upon finishing this jog, I smiled. I was so happy with what I had done and with the fact that I had pushed past this week of crappy exercise, mediocre eating control, and bad moods.
Alright, I ate a lot of really delicious things (some of which I had never tried before this weekend), so I'm going to share with you all of the yummy recipes :)
Here's what I ate on Saturday:
Breakfast: Slept late, so I got up and made myself an Apple Pie Latte:
-1 tbsp apple butter (the kind we buy is from Whole Foods and is 20 calories per tbsp)
-1tsp cinnamon
-1tsp ground cloves
-sugar substitute to taste (I usually use about 3 tbsp of the sugar sub in the big bags)
-1 c unsweetened original almond milk
-1 tbsp vanilla extract
-1/2 c strongly brewed coffee
In a small pot, combine apple butter, sugar sub, and milk over medium heat. Stir continuously until well combined and steamed. Brew the coffee while doing this. Once the mixture is steamed, take off heat and add vanilla, cinnamon, and clove. Transfer to blender and blend for a few seconds until foamy. Pour into mug and add coffee, stir, and enjoy!
Serves: 1
Calories: 50
For lunch, I had Pumpkin Oatmeal: (and it was absolutely amazing and so very filling..)
-3/4 c (dry) instant oats
-1/4 c Libby's canned pumpkin puree
-1/2 c Silk original unsweetened almond milk
-3/4 c water
-3 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!"
-2 tsp brown sugar
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-1 tbsp chopped walnuts
-sugar substitute to taste
In a bowl, combine oats and water. Microwave until water is absorbed. Add in milk and 2 tbsp of "Butter!", microwave a few more second to absorb. Remove, add in pumpkin and stir well. In a smaller bowl, combine walnuts, brown sugar, sugar sub, cinnamon, pie spice, and remaining tbsp of "Butter!". Pour mixture into oatmeal and stir. Enjoy!
Serves: 1
Calories: 350
For my snack, I had Chocolate "Ice Cream":
-3/4 c Stoneyfield Farms organic plain non-fat yogurt
-3/4 c Silk unsweetened original almond milk
-1 tbsp Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 scoop EAS Lean Protein Powder- Chocolate
Blend in blender, pour into bowl and freeze 3-4 hours. I freeze over night and defrost in microwave for a few minutes until some of it has liquified a little. Then I kinda chop into it and stir it up until it has more of an ice cream-ish texture.
Serves: 1
Calories: 165
For dinner, mom cooked us some steak and sweet potatoes. There was nothing especially amazing to share as far as recipes, but it was absolutely delicious :) I'm always up for steak and potatoes! As long as you mind the serving sizes, of course. It was about 4oz of steak and a small sweet potato, probably around 5-6 inches long. Thanks Mom! It really was delicious and something I didn't have to cook myself!
Today (Sunday), I've done absolutely nothing...and it has been amazing. I almost always use Sunday as a re-fuel day, a day to let my body truly rest and relax. You should always do this at least one day a week. I slept through breakfast time, so after my morning coffee, for lunch I cooked me and my parents pumpkin pancakes that are absolutely amazing. They're approximately 320 calories per batch...yeah, about 5 in a batch...no lie. With Smucker's Sugar-Free Breakfast syrup and "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!", they come out to be around 345 calories. You can find the recipe HERE
For my snack I had pumpkin ice cream (I really, really love pumpkin...)
-1/2 c Silk original unsweetened Almond Milk
-1/2 c Stoneyfield Farms organic plain non-fat yogurt
-1/2 c Libby's canned pumpkin puree
-1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-sugar substitute
Blend it all in blender, pour in to bowl and freeze at least 3-4 hours. I do the same for this as I did with the chocolate.
Serves: 1
Calories:120
Then for dinner I had loaded hash brown casserole. This one I made up myself:
-1 1/2 c Publix Country style frozen shredded hash browns
-1/2 c Kraft Shredded Fat-free Cheddar cheese
-2 tbsp Great Value Fat-free sour cream
-2 tbsp Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits
-1 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!"
-Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Place in small baking dish and bake approximately 30 minutes.
Serves: 1
Calories: 335
So there's my weekend :) Proof that you don't necessarily have to sacrifice yummy food to be healthy. Doing this well all weekend makes me want to keep going, keep sticking to my plans, keeping myself motivated! Improvement is my motivation! Just 2 weeks ago I was only jogging between one and one and a half miles non-stop. I'm now up to almost 5 non-stop. Seeing myself accomplishing these things makes me want to keep going and continue getting better in this quest to be healthy. But, what I'm realizing as I'm going is that being healthy really isn't my destination, being healthy is the process. I've already achieved being healthy just by changing the way I live. I'm still in the process of becoming fit and in shape, but as for healthy, I'm there. I've lost 63 pounds, I jog almost everyday, and I'm no longer in the double digit jean sizes. I'd say that could qualify me as healthy. I may still not be at my goal weight or size, but the first time I moved down a size was the moment I truly believed that I could do this. Getting past those first few weeks of eating right and exercise is the true test in my opinion. Once you start feeling the results, whether it be feeling your clothes fitting more loosely, feeling less winded walking up some stairs, or even some numbers on a scale, seeing and feeling results is the most positive way to motivate yourself. If you can just get past those first days of fighting yourself to eat the right thing or kicking your butt off of a couch, you'll be just fine. Push yourself into results. Ignore the urge to quit, KEEP GOING!
Yesterday, I stuck to my food plan for the day and then I jogged the best jog of my life, almost 5 miles! Approximately 4.8! I'm so happy that my body is finally agreeing with me again. All week long my body was just angry with all of the work I had been forcing on it. Not to the point of shutting down, but it was mad enough to make my jogs absolutely miserable...like, seriously terrible. However, by pushing past this, giving my body a small break (I jogged Friday morning and then waited until Saturday night to jog again), I was able to accomplish something great. Not only did I push to a new distance, it was surprisingly pleasant. I wasn't in pain, I wasn't ridiculously out of breath, I was completely drenched in sweat (which honestly feels great to me :)), and upon finishing this jog, I smiled. I was so happy with what I had done and with the fact that I had pushed past this week of crappy exercise, mediocre eating control, and bad moods.
Alright, I ate a lot of really delicious things (some of which I had never tried before this weekend), so I'm going to share with you all of the yummy recipes :)
Here's what I ate on Saturday:
Breakfast: Slept late, so I got up and made myself an Apple Pie Latte:
-1 tbsp apple butter (the kind we buy is from Whole Foods and is 20 calories per tbsp)
-1tsp cinnamon
-1tsp ground cloves
-sugar substitute to taste (I usually use about 3 tbsp of the sugar sub in the big bags)
-1 c unsweetened original almond milk
-1 tbsp vanilla extract
-1/2 c strongly brewed coffee
In a small pot, combine apple butter, sugar sub, and milk over medium heat. Stir continuously until well combined and steamed. Brew the coffee while doing this. Once the mixture is steamed, take off heat and add vanilla, cinnamon, and clove. Transfer to blender and blend for a few seconds until foamy. Pour into mug and add coffee, stir, and enjoy!
Serves: 1
Calories: 50
For lunch, I had Pumpkin Oatmeal: (and it was absolutely amazing and so very filling..)
-3/4 c (dry) instant oats
-1/4 c Libby's canned pumpkin puree
-1/2 c Silk original unsweetened almond milk
-3/4 c water
-3 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!"
-2 tsp brown sugar
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-1 tbsp chopped walnuts
-sugar substitute to taste
In a bowl, combine oats and water. Microwave until water is absorbed. Add in milk and 2 tbsp of "Butter!", microwave a few more second to absorb. Remove, add in pumpkin and stir well. In a smaller bowl, combine walnuts, brown sugar, sugar sub, cinnamon, pie spice, and remaining tbsp of "Butter!". Pour mixture into oatmeal and stir. Enjoy!
Serves: 1
Calories: 350
For my snack, I had Chocolate "Ice Cream":
-3/4 c Stoneyfield Farms organic plain non-fat yogurt
-3/4 c Silk unsweetened original almond milk
-1 tbsp Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 scoop EAS Lean Protein Powder- Chocolate
Blend in blender, pour into bowl and freeze 3-4 hours. I freeze over night and defrost in microwave for a few minutes until some of it has liquified a little. Then I kinda chop into it and stir it up until it has more of an ice cream-ish texture.
Serves: 1
Calories: 165
For dinner, mom cooked us some steak and sweet potatoes. There was nothing especially amazing to share as far as recipes, but it was absolutely delicious :) I'm always up for steak and potatoes! As long as you mind the serving sizes, of course. It was about 4oz of steak and a small sweet potato, probably around 5-6 inches long. Thanks Mom! It really was delicious and something I didn't have to cook myself!
Today (Sunday), I've done absolutely nothing...and it has been amazing. I almost always use Sunday as a re-fuel day, a day to let my body truly rest and relax. You should always do this at least one day a week. I slept through breakfast time, so after my morning coffee, for lunch I cooked me and my parents pumpkin pancakes that are absolutely amazing. They're approximately 320 calories per batch...yeah, about 5 in a batch...no lie. With Smucker's Sugar-Free Breakfast syrup and "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!", they come out to be around 345 calories. You can find the recipe HERE
For my snack I had pumpkin ice cream (I really, really love pumpkin...)
-1/2 c Silk original unsweetened Almond Milk
-1/2 c Stoneyfield Farms organic plain non-fat yogurt
-1/2 c Libby's canned pumpkin puree
-1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-sugar substitute
Blend it all in blender, pour in to bowl and freeze at least 3-4 hours. I do the same for this as I did with the chocolate.
Serves: 1
Calories:120
Then for dinner I had loaded hash brown casserole. This one I made up myself:
-1 1/2 c Publix Country style frozen shredded hash browns
-1/2 c Kraft Shredded Fat-free Cheddar cheese
-2 tbsp Great Value Fat-free sour cream
-2 tbsp Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits
-1 tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!"
-Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Place in small baking dish and bake approximately 30 minutes.
Serves: 1
Calories: 335
So there's my weekend :) Proof that you don't necessarily have to sacrifice yummy food to be healthy. Doing this well all weekend makes me want to keep going, keep sticking to my plans, keeping myself motivated! Improvement is my motivation! Just 2 weeks ago I was only jogging between one and one and a half miles non-stop. I'm now up to almost 5 non-stop. Seeing myself accomplishing these things makes me want to keep going and continue getting better in this quest to be healthy. But, what I'm realizing as I'm going is that being healthy really isn't my destination, being healthy is the process. I've already achieved being healthy just by changing the way I live. I'm still in the process of becoming fit and in shape, but as for healthy, I'm there. I've lost 63 pounds, I jog almost everyday, and I'm no longer in the double digit jean sizes. I'd say that could qualify me as healthy. I may still not be at my goal weight or size, but the first time I moved down a size was the moment I truly believed that I could do this. Getting past those first few weeks of eating right and exercise is the true test in my opinion. Once you start feeling the results, whether it be feeling your clothes fitting more loosely, feeling less winded walking up some stairs, or even some numbers on a scale, seeing and feeling results is the most positive way to motivate yourself. If you can just get past those first days of fighting yourself to eat the right thing or kicking your butt off of a couch, you'll be just fine. Push yourself into results. Ignore the urge to quit, KEEP GOING!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." -Mike Murdock
I decided to do another "Day in the Life" post for ya. Keeping a daily routine has helped me to keep track of myself, keep track of my food, and keep myself active. Because of routine, I don't view things like jogging as a choice. It is part of the schedule, therefore it is not optional in my mind! As far as I can tell, that's the only way to look at it...Eating right should not be viewed as optional, either. Sure, you can veer away from time to time to indulge, which is what you should view as optional. Eating healthy should be considered your norm. I know, I went off on a tangent :) It was something I needed to remind myself as well!
Once again, starting with breakfast after I get to work.
7:30 -3 servings Egg Beaters (1/2 cup + 1 tbsp) Cooked like an omelette.
-3 slices Publix brand fully cooked Bacon- fried in "I Can't Believe It's Not
Butter!" which has 0 calories (completely fake butter, I'm sure it's slowly
killing me...Don't care, it's delicious ;)
-Coffee with 1 tbsp CoffeeMate sugar-free Hazlenut Creamer and a dash of
pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon
10:00= Coffee, black with sugar substitute
11:30-11:45= Tuna Patties and Green beans
-1 large can Tuna
-1 serving Egg Beaters (3 tbsp)
-Mix the tuna with the egg beaters which makes the tuna keep
together and cook like burger patties.
-1 cup green beans
2:00-2:30= Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
-1/2 cup Stoneyfield Farms Fat-Free Plain Yogurt
-1/2 cup Original Unsweetened Almond Milk
-1/2 cup Canned Pumpkin Puree
-1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
-Sugar substitute to your liking
I blend mine together in blender then freeze overnight, let it thaw a
bit when I'm getting close to snack time and eat like ice cream!
3:30-4:00= Coffee, black with sugar substitute
6:00= Mexican Chicken Salad
-5 ounces cooked skinless chicken breast
-1/4 cup black beans
-2/3 cup corn
-2 tsp taco seasoning
-2 tbsp sour cream
-1/4 cup Kraft Shredded Fat-Free Cheddar Cheese
Once again, starting with breakfast after I get to work.
7:30 -3 servings Egg Beaters (1/2 cup + 1 tbsp) Cooked like an omelette.
-3 slices Publix brand fully cooked Bacon- fried in "I Can't Believe It's Not
Butter!" which has 0 calories (completely fake butter, I'm sure it's slowly
killing me...Don't care, it's delicious ;)
-Coffee with 1 tbsp CoffeeMate sugar-free Hazlenut Creamer and a dash of
pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon
10:00= Coffee, black with sugar substitute
11:30-11:45= Tuna Patties and Green beans
-1 large can Tuna
-1 serving Egg Beaters (3 tbsp)
-Mix the tuna with the egg beaters which makes the tuna keep
together and cook like burger patties.
-1 cup green beans
2:00-2:30= Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
-1/2 cup Stoneyfield Farms Fat-Free Plain Yogurt
-1/2 cup Original Unsweetened Almond Milk
-1/2 cup Canned Pumpkin Puree
-1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
-Sugar substitute to your liking
I blend mine together in blender then freeze overnight, let it thaw a
bit when I'm getting close to snack time and eat like ice cream!
3:30-4:00= Coffee, black with sugar substitute
6:00= Mexican Chicken Salad
-5 ounces cooked skinless chicken breast
-1/4 cup black beans
-2/3 cup corn
-2 tsp taco seasoning
-2 tbsp sour cream
-1/4 cup Kraft Shredded Fat-Free Cheddar Cheese
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
"In union there is strength." -Aesop
A couple of nights ago, I had a friend text me saying that she was in need of some motivation because she was feeling down about her progress and felt that she was close to her breaking point. Receiving this request really made me think about my own situation because it took me a minute to really think of what to say to her....I've been going through a bit of a rough patch myself with my journey and having someone look to me for motivation right now made me realize that I needed to kick myself in the butt and get back on track. I told her to keep going. I know, that sounds like an obvious piece of advice, but it's the best I could come up with. Keep going, keep pushing, have faith in yourself and in God that you can get through whatever you're going through. It also made me realize that everyone needs a support system. This isn't just true about the journey of getting healthy, but in all aspects of life. If you're going through a tough time, of course you can look to God for help and put your faith in him, but that's not always enough. Everyone needs support and love from other humans. As for me, I could not have gotten this far without my Mom by my side. She has always been there for me no matter what I'm going through. Having her go through this process with me has helped me keep going and in turn taught me to how to support others in a more positive way. I've always tried to show support to others, but it was always sort of forced. Through this journey, I've learned how to truly care for others and want to see them succeed! And I really do! When people ask me for advice, I do my best to inform and support in a way that will truly help them. I honestly want to see everyone succeed who asks for my help!
Seriously, though. Just keep going. If you're going to exercise, don't think too hard about it, just get up and do it. If you're having trouble sticking to healthy eating habits, just do better! If you mess up at one meal, don't say 'I'll get it right tomorrow', say 'I'll get it right at the next meal'. Don't wait to get it right, get back on track as soon as you possibly can! That doesn't mean you should mess up all the time, but let's be honest, you can't be perfect either. If I had never messed up, I would have reached my goal months ago..but I'm human and make mistakes. Having this blog and having people hold me accountable makes me want to do better and set an example. I thank all of you for helping me get so far :)
The moral of this story is that everyone should have a support system. Whether it's someone you see on a daily basis or if it's someone you only are able to talk to through text or even Facebook, someone who lives with you, down the street, or even in a different state, you need to find someone who will give you words of encouragement. You need to find someone who will tell it to you like it is, someone who won't sugar coat things for you. This person needs to be able to tell you when you're doing the wrong thing and help you get back on track. They need to tell you how proud of you they are when you reach a goal or achieve something great. I am so grateful to live with mine, but I know that each of you who have spoken words of encouragement to me have helped me immensly. If any of you are struggling to find someone like this, just know that I'm here for you and you can always come to me for help if you need it. I will always try to help in any way that I possibly can. You can talk to me on Facebook or you can even text or call me. I will be happy to answer :) (205)966-5018.
Seriously, though. Just keep going. If you're going to exercise, don't think too hard about it, just get up and do it. If you're having trouble sticking to healthy eating habits, just do better! If you mess up at one meal, don't say 'I'll get it right tomorrow', say 'I'll get it right at the next meal'. Don't wait to get it right, get back on track as soon as you possibly can! That doesn't mean you should mess up all the time, but let's be honest, you can't be perfect either. If I had never messed up, I would have reached my goal months ago..but I'm human and make mistakes. Having this blog and having people hold me accountable makes me want to do better and set an example. I thank all of you for helping me get so far :)
The moral of this story is that everyone should have a support system. Whether it's someone you see on a daily basis or if it's someone you only are able to talk to through text or even Facebook, someone who lives with you, down the street, or even in a different state, you need to find someone who will give you words of encouragement. You need to find someone who will tell it to you like it is, someone who won't sugar coat things for you. This person needs to be able to tell you when you're doing the wrong thing and help you get back on track. They need to tell you how proud of you they are when you reach a goal or achieve something great. I am so grateful to live with mine, but I know that each of you who have spoken words of encouragement to me have helped me immensly. If any of you are struggling to find someone like this, just know that I'm here for you and you can always come to me for help if you need it. I will always try to help in any way that I possibly can. You can talk to me on Facebook or you can even text or call me. I will be happy to answer :) (205)966-5018.
Monday, September 10, 2012
A Day In The Life..
As I've been writing this journal, I've received nothing but positive feedback. But it has recently been brought to my attention that I have yet to post about a day in my life. And I thought that's actually a really good idea! A lot of people ask what I eat, how often I eat, and about my exercise. So, today I will share with you every item that I eat, when I eat it, and when/how much I'm going to exercise.
Today is a little bit different for me, though. I usually eat a lot of smoothies, but this week I'm going to be eating a whole lotta protein. My mom and dad have both done this recently and have seen very nice results. So, today, there's a lot of meat and protein.
I wake up at 6:30 pretty much every day, but I always wait until I get to work to eat because that allows me to sleep longer... So, I'll begin the log with breakfast :)
7:30- Coffee with 1 tbsp sugar-free Coffeemate brand Hazelnut Creamer
2 servings egg beaters (1/4 c + 2 tbsp) I cook it like an omelette.
2 Old Wisconsin brand Turkey Jerky sticks (pan seared)
10:00- Coffee, black with sweetener
12:00- Chicken and Pineapple Salad:
1/2 cup shredded chicken breast (from pre-cooked rotisseri chicken)
2 cups spinach
1 tbsp Kraft Fat-Free Caesar Italian dressing
1/4 cup Kraft Shredded Fat-Free Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
I usually drink Coke Zero, water, or unsweet tea with sweetener
2:00- 3 Jimmy Dean fully cooked turkey sausage patties
1 slice Sargento Ultra-Thin Cheddar Cheese
(Pan sear the patties and melt pieces of the cheese on top)
3:30 or 4- coffee, black with sweetener
6:00- Tuna Salad:
1 cup Tuna (1 whole can, the big can!)
3 cups spinach
1/2 cup Kraft Fat-Free Cheddar Cheese
2 tbsp Kraft Fat-Free Caesar Italian Dressing
1/2 cup Blue Bell No Sugar Added Vanilla ice cream- so delicious at
only 90 calories per 1/2 cup
1/2 Banana (I microwave it a bit and chop it up, eat with ice cream)
Sweetened unsweet tea or water
Around 7, I'll go out for my jog. I've now worked my way up to 4 miles jogging nonstop, which takes me around an hour.
So there you have it, a day in my life. I, of course, measure everything out because I want my calorie count to be as exact as possible. I'm a little obsessive with counting calories, but I know that if I stray a little, its not going to kill the whole day. I just try to keep myself under control. And yes, I do drink that much coffee.....I only have creamer in it once as to not add any unecessary calories, and I have found that black with sweetener is surprisingly pretty good. Coffee actually helps me ward off hunger in between food. It gives me something to curb an empty stomach and helps occupy my mouth. A lot of the time I'm not actually hungry, I just want to eat for the sake of eating. Drinking coffee or water really helps to satisfy that feeling.
On my days off from exercise, which are usually Saturday and Sunday, sometimes just Sunday, I consume less calories. Gotta balance it all out. Lately, because I've upped my activity so much, I'm trying to eat more calories because, obviously, I'm burning a lot! It's always hard for me to do that, though, because I'm always afraid I'm going to over-eat. I know I shouldn't be worried about that so much when I'm jogging 3.5-4 miles a day, but after being to strict about it for so long, it's hard to ease up on it...
I hope this helps give you a little insight into what it might take to get where I am! If you think you can do it, DO IT! Try using this day's food as a template for your own eating habits! I'll share other "A Day In the Life" posts to show my variations and different items and such, and I hope you'll check back to see what I do!
Today is a little bit different for me, though. I usually eat a lot of smoothies, but this week I'm going to be eating a whole lotta protein. My mom and dad have both done this recently and have seen very nice results. So, today, there's a lot of meat and protein.
I wake up at 6:30 pretty much every day, but I always wait until I get to work to eat because that allows me to sleep longer... So, I'll begin the log with breakfast :)
7:30- Coffee with 1 tbsp sugar-free Coffeemate brand Hazelnut Creamer
2 servings egg beaters (1/4 c + 2 tbsp) I cook it like an omelette.
2 Old Wisconsin brand Turkey Jerky sticks (pan seared)
10:00- Coffee, black with sweetener
12:00- Chicken and Pineapple Salad:
1/2 cup shredded chicken breast (from pre-cooked rotisseri chicken)
2 cups spinach
1 tbsp Kraft Fat-Free Caesar Italian dressing
1/4 cup Kraft Shredded Fat-Free Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
I usually drink Coke Zero, water, or unsweet tea with sweetener
2:00- 3 Jimmy Dean fully cooked turkey sausage patties
1 slice Sargento Ultra-Thin Cheddar Cheese
(Pan sear the patties and melt pieces of the cheese on top)
3:30 or 4- coffee, black with sweetener
6:00- Tuna Salad:
1 cup Tuna (1 whole can, the big can!)
3 cups spinach
1/2 cup Kraft Fat-Free Cheddar Cheese
2 tbsp Kraft Fat-Free Caesar Italian Dressing
1/2 cup Blue Bell No Sugar Added Vanilla ice cream- so delicious at
only 90 calories per 1/2 cup
1/2 Banana (I microwave it a bit and chop it up, eat with ice cream)
Sweetened unsweet tea or water
Around 7, I'll go out for my jog. I've now worked my way up to 4 miles jogging nonstop, which takes me around an hour.
So there you have it, a day in my life. I, of course, measure everything out because I want my calorie count to be as exact as possible. I'm a little obsessive with counting calories, but I know that if I stray a little, its not going to kill the whole day. I just try to keep myself under control. And yes, I do drink that much coffee.....I only have creamer in it once as to not add any unecessary calories, and I have found that black with sweetener is surprisingly pretty good. Coffee actually helps me ward off hunger in between food. It gives me something to curb an empty stomach and helps occupy my mouth. A lot of the time I'm not actually hungry, I just want to eat for the sake of eating. Drinking coffee or water really helps to satisfy that feeling.
On my days off from exercise, which are usually Saturday and Sunday, sometimes just Sunday, I consume less calories. Gotta balance it all out. Lately, because I've upped my activity so much, I'm trying to eat more calories because, obviously, I'm burning a lot! It's always hard for me to do that, though, because I'm always afraid I'm going to over-eat. I know I shouldn't be worried about that so much when I'm jogging 3.5-4 miles a day, but after being to strict about it for so long, it's hard to ease up on it...
I hope this helps give you a little insight into what it might take to get where I am! If you think you can do it, DO IT! Try using this day's food as a template for your own eating habits! I'll share other "A Day In the Life" posts to show my variations and different items and such, and I hope you'll check back to see what I do!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
"Only by going too far can one possibly find out how far one can go."
Confession time: I've eaten horribly for the past 2 days. Everytime I go in the kitchen of the house I nanny in, my weakness rears its ugly head and I just haven't been able to tell it no. I've tried to make up for it by eating less in my meals, but there's only so much I can do! I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's almost that time of the month, but I can't blame it all on that. I go through that every month and don't give in like this everytime....This is why I've gone back on the 3 day diet starting today...I was gonna wait, but let's be honest; one more day with temptation around me was not going to go well without a set plan. So here I am, eating incredibly lightly. I feel I have no choice :-/
I feel terrible about how I've been eating, BUT I have upped my jogging greatly! As of last night, I'm now jogging 3 MILES nonstop! I've never been so proud of myself for anything before! Before this, I couldn't jog even a lap, even 3/4 of a lap around a jogging track..Like, for real. I know, sad. But now, I'm jogging all over my neighborhood, not stopping, ignoring any pain or exhaustion, and achieving my goals. Honestly, if I hadn't been eating so terribly the past couple of days, I'm not sure that I would have pushed myself so intensely in my jogging. As sad as that fact is, it is indeed truth. I felt so horrible about food that I knew I had to try to counter-act it and jogging was my answer.
I've never been one to push myself for anything. I've always been lazy physically and mentally. I've always been a terrible student because I didn't care enough to really try. I feel now, with all of this limit-pushing, that I will truly be able to succeed in whatever I want to do. It really is all connected. If you feel good about yourself and what you're doing in one department, chances are, you're going to feel more confident in other areas! Oh ,the things I wish I had known before now....If there's one thing I've gained from losing, it's probably the ability to push myself and test myself. I hate that it took poor decision-making to get me to a point where I realize how much I can actually accomplish, but hey, I got there and that's all that matters.
If you feel that you can do more, DO IT!!! Don't waste time thinking "I'll just wait and see how it goes." No. Jump in, push yourself. Not too hard, mind you. If you feel that your body is telling you to slow down, i.e. you're feeling dizzy, faint, racing heart, listen to it and take it a little easier. But until you push yourself, you won't know what your limits are.
I feel terrible about how I've been eating, BUT I have upped my jogging greatly! As of last night, I'm now jogging 3 MILES nonstop! I've never been so proud of myself for anything before! Before this, I couldn't jog even a lap, even 3/4 of a lap around a jogging track..Like, for real. I know, sad. But now, I'm jogging all over my neighborhood, not stopping, ignoring any pain or exhaustion, and achieving my goals. Honestly, if I hadn't been eating so terribly the past couple of days, I'm not sure that I would have pushed myself so intensely in my jogging. As sad as that fact is, it is indeed truth. I felt so horrible about food that I knew I had to try to counter-act it and jogging was my answer.
I've never been one to push myself for anything. I've always been lazy physically and mentally. I've always been a terrible student because I didn't care enough to really try. I feel now, with all of this limit-pushing, that I will truly be able to succeed in whatever I want to do. It really is all connected. If you feel good about yourself and what you're doing in one department, chances are, you're going to feel more confident in other areas! Oh ,the things I wish I had known before now....If there's one thing I've gained from losing, it's probably the ability to push myself and test myself. I hate that it took poor decision-making to get me to a point where I realize how much I can actually accomplish, but hey, I got there and that's all that matters.
If you feel that you can do more, DO IT!!! Don't waste time thinking "I'll just wait and see how it goes." No. Jump in, push yourself. Not too hard, mind you. If you feel that your body is telling you to slow down, i.e. you're feeling dizzy, faint, racing heart, listen to it and take it a little easier. But until you push yourself, you won't know what your limits are.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice." -Napolean Hill
So. I finished that 3 day diet on Thursday. I only lost about 4ish pounds (not quite 4). Was it worth the 3 days of deprevation? I'm not really sure...Sure, 3 point something pounds is OK, but I'm not sure if that small of a result is worth what I had to go through for those 3 days. I know, I know. I'm making it sound like it was absolute torture...it wasn't that bad, it just wasn't that great either. It was a super healthy diet and I like all of the items I ate, but it just didn't feel like enough food at each individual meal, and I HATED not having an afternoon snack! Oh well, lost pounds are lost pounds. Maybe it is worth it..
It may sound ridiculous to some that I consider all I do a sacrifice, but it is to some extent. Yes, I enjoy everything I eat. Yes, I eat a lot of the things I loved before I started this. But I have given up so much more than just food to get where I am today. I have given up time, effort, and focus to this way of life... And some foods that I love (brownies, cake, pie, brownies, bread, chocolate in most forms, brownies...). I hate that it's almost all I can think about and that I can't really eat without thinking about what I'm doing, but being healthy has made it all completely worth it. It is a huge sacrifice to change the way you live and the way you think, but what I've gained throughout this process has seriously out-weighed what I've given up. Once I'm done losing and moving on to just maintaining, I'll be able to relax a little more, breathe a little more easily, not feel so attached to food. For now, however, I will continue to sacrifice myself to become a better me.
I'll just be honest with you, I went out of town this past weekend and probably gained at least 2 of those pounds back. I didn't over-eat or eat often, but the things that I did eat were not necessarily the best options. I didn't go crazy, I just didn't care nearly enough and I ate several items that I normally wouldn't even consider ordering (hamburger, sandwiches, way more bread than I normally eat). I don't really regret it because it was an awesome weekend and it was an entire weekend (4 days, actually) that I didn't have to cook a single thing. That right there was a vacation in itself. I also didn't exercise one bit the whole time. Also quite a vacation. Of course I'm going back to normal today. I'm eating like I normally do and when I get home, I'll jog. My workout will still occur during Addie's nap today. Prime example of getting back on the horse. Just because you falter for a day, 2 days, a week, whatever; It's NEVER too late to jump back on and get it right again!
I'll probably do the diet Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This will at least maybe allow me to get back to where I was before I left this past weekend. I'm so close to another milestone: going from the 150s to the 140s! I can't believe it! Before I left, I weighed in at 153! I'm so excited to be so close to my goal. Once I get back to that, I'll only have about 13ish pounds left! I'll probably ultimately get down to 135ish or maybe even 130, but my goal is 140. It depends on how I feel about myself once I get down there. SO. FREAKING. CLOSE. I might consider doing to the 3 day diet once a week just until I do get down to my goal, but I haven't decided yet. We'll see after I finish the next round. And of course, I'll keep you updated and let you know how the diet is going and what effects it has on me. I can tell you right now, though, that second and third day without caffeine = cranky Rachel. Not fun, but hey, losing a few extra pounds? Sure why not?
It may sound ridiculous to some that I consider all I do a sacrifice, but it is to some extent. Yes, I enjoy everything I eat. Yes, I eat a lot of the things I loved before I started this. But I have given up so much more than just food to get where I am today. I have given up time, effort, and focus to this way of life... And some foods that I love (brownies, cake, pie, brownies, bread, chocolate in most forms, brownies...). I hate that it's almost all I can think about and that I can't really eat without thinking about what I'm doing, but being healthy has made it all completely worth it. It is a huge sacrifice to change the way you live and the way you think, but what I've gained throughout this process has seriously out-weighed what I've given up. Once I'm done losing and moving on to just maintaining, I'll be able to relax a little more, breathe a little more easily, not feel so attached to food. For now, however, I will continue to sacrifice myself to become a better me.
I'll just be honest with you, I went out of town this past weekend and probably gained at least 2 of those pounds back. I didn't over-eat or eat often, but the things that I did eat were not necessarily the best options. I didn't go crazy, I just didn't care nearly enough and I ate several items that I normally wouldn't even consider ordering (hamburger, sandwiches, way more bread than I normally eat). I don't really regret it because it was an awesome weekend and it was an entire weekend (4 days, actually) that I didn't have to cook a single thing. That right there was a vacation in itself. I also didn't exercise one bit the whole time. Also quite a vacation. Of course I'm going back to normal today. I'm eating like I normally do and when I get home, I'll jog. My workout will still occur during Addie's nap today. Prime example of getting back on the horse. Just because you falter for a day, 2 days, a week, whatever; It's NEVER too late to jump back on and get it right again!
I'll probably do the diet Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This will at least maybe allow me to get back to where I was before I left this past weekend. I'm so close to another milestone: going from the 150s to the 140s! I can't believe it! Before I left, I weighed in at 153! I'm so excited to be so close to my goal. Once I get back to that, I'll only have about 13ish pounds left! I'll probably ultimately get down to 135ish or maybe even 130, but my goal is 140. It depends on how I feel about myself once I get down there. SO. FREAKING. CLOSE. I might consider doing to the 3 day diet once a week just until I do get down to my goal, but I haven't decided yet. We'll see after I finish the next round. And of course, I'll keep you updated and let you know how the diet is going and what effects it has on me. I can tell you right now, though, that second and third day without caffeine = cranky Rachel. Not fun, but hey, losing a few extra pounds? Sure why not?
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