Today has been a good day! Actually, it has been a good month so far! The weather has drawn me out of my slump and the sun has been high in the sky almost daily. My weight is still under control and my waist is getting slimmer. Sometimes I look in the mirror and can't believe that I actually have curves in the right places again. I am no longer looking like the little Oompa Loompa that I had become.
My daily motivation for exercise has become my children. Carlie and David just love going to the child watch at the gym and push me to go almost daily. I find that I'm not eating as much again, something that I had sadly fallen back on in the past. Something I haven't done, however, is change the commitment to myself to get healthy. I go to the gym 5 to 6 times a week and rock out to whatever is on Pandora at the time. I feel so good afterwards that I feel as if I could just move all day without stopping. Unfortunately, my mind does not always have the same motivation that my body has.
It's funny how normally you are mentally telling yourself to get up and move but your body doesn't go anywhere. Now I find myself convincing myself it's okay to sit down for a couple minutes. I feel as if I am the energizer bunny and I can't stop moving. That isn't always good, especially when you have to go somewhere and don't want to be all sweaty and stinky. I guess, though, using the excuse that you just couldn't stop getting healthy isn't so bad.
I know that I am doing such a good thing for myself. I also know that what I do good for myself rolls over into my family. Just the other day I found McKayla ordering water to drink while we were out instead of a soda. That made me feel real good. Will drinks water but usually it's not willingly and David does't drink water at all unless he thinks he is dying of thirst. I know that I am being a positive influence on my children, even if only one of them are getting it now. Hopefully one day they will all want water and mainly water. I know that I used to be against water but now I don't go anywhere without it. It is like a lifeline now. It is so refreshing and convenient. Who doesn't have water? It's not a "pepsi" or "coke" thing. It's a water thing, something that everyone has at their fingertips.
Becoming healthy just feels so good. Sometimes I think that I can't actually feel as good as I do. However, I am also finding that I need less sleep. I love to sleep and would love to be able to do it all day sometimes, but I don't have to. I found myself leaving the house the other morning at 6:30am because I was wide awake. I knew that I couldn't sleep so I went to Walmart to get some things we needed. Amazed at myself, I still wound up going to the gym for a good workout. That is wat healthy has done for me. It has made me more active, more alert, much happier. I am feeling good all around and while one thing can only make a small difference, that small difference is what makes me wish to change many things.
My many small things have rolled into a big thing. That big thing? It's me! It's a happier, healthier me! I love my life and I am learning to love myself! You should do the same if you haven't gotten there yet. One small step at a time.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
It's been a while....
I am back! I should have never disappeared but I lost focus with what I was trying to accomplish.... I wanted to document my journey so that I could see my progress. Unfortunately, I gained all the weight back that I had lost. I had felt defeated until I realized that I didn't look larger, I just weighed more. I got to thinking. What did I do differently to gain weight? Then it hit me! I was going to the gym and lifting weights! While I had hit my plateau with my fat loss for the moment my body was gaining muscle mass, causing me to gain weight. It made perfect sense after I analyzed my daily routine and noted that nothing significant had changed, not even my diet.
Now I am back, with more confidence and self esteem than before. I have not only been weight lifting and exercising daily but now I am starting to see weight loss again. That means, to me, that I have now lifted that plateau and I can now continue with a stronger weight loss journey. I can see progress, though, in my hips and my breasts. My pecks are tightening which is lifting my breast tissue from the "Mommy" stage to a "little less Mommy" and I actually have a tiny waist again. I am so excited to finally be seeing myself in a more positive light.
I know that I normally put on a positive attitude on here but sometimes it's really hard. I don't always feel confident in what I have been doing. Dedicated, yes. Confident in the outcome, no. Either way, I'm sure everyone feels that way sometime or another so I don't think it's too bad for me to let out some frustrations in here. If I can learn to cope with them and I can help others help cope with frustrations, or we learn to cope together, this journey can be a lot easier. It's not about just me. This is a lifestyle change for my entire family.
When you see positive actions in people close to you, you are more inclined to follow. My children love running with me or swimming with me. Both are great ways to stay in shape and I love taking advantage of that. I love being able to take my children to the pool and splash around with them. Their favorite game to play is frisbee. However, they like to throw it to the other side of the pool to make me swim more. They have fun, I have fun, that's all that matters.
Sorry this is so short but I'm running out of steam tonight. Need to relax for another big day at the gym and maybe the pool.
Now I am back, with more confidence and self esteem than before. I have not only been weight lifting and exercising daily but now I am starting to see weight loss again. That means, to me, that I have now lifted that plateau and I can now continue with a stronger weight loss journey. I can see progress, though, in my hips and my breasts. My pecks are tightening which is lifting my breast tissue from the "Mommy" stage to a "little less Mommy" and I actually have a tiny waist again. I am so excited to finally be seeing myself in a more positive light.
I know that I normally put on a positive attitude on here but sometimes it's really hard. I don't always feel confident in what I have been doing. Dedicated, yes. Confident in the outcome, no. Either way, I'm sure everyone feels that way sometime or another so I don't think it's too bad for me to let out some frustrations in here. If I can learn to cope with them and I can help others help cope with frustrations, or we learn to cope together, this journey can be a lot easier. It's not about just me. This is a lifestyle change for my entire family.
When you see positive actions in people close to you, you are more inclined to follow. My children love running with me or swimming with me. Both are great ways to stay in shape and I love taking advantage of that. I love being able to take my children to the pool and splash around with them. Their favorite game to play is frisbee. However, they like to throw it to the other side of the pool to make me swim more. They have fun, I have fun, that's all that matters.
Sorry this is so short but I'm running out of steam tonight. Need to relax for another big day at the gym and maybe the pool.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Daily Bliss
Hello everyone! I must admit, today I was not motivated what so ever to do any exercising.... However, Carlie was sick all day yesterday so she was looking for a way out of the house. She was adamant that she wanted to go play so she was definitely my motivation today. As a matter of fact, she is my motivation everyday along with David, McKayla, and William. Without them and the support they have been giving me I know that I am doing the right thing.
McKayla said to me the other day that I don't have a fat belly anymore. I used to take offense to when anyone talked about my weight, now I'm looking for ways that people can compliment me. I want to look in the mirror and see the results of my hard work. I want others to look at me and notice the hard work. I know that we are our biggest critics and when I look at myself I don't always see what I have accomplished but my family and friends can. It is wonderful to have McKayla now tell me that I've lost the belly that I have carried for far too long.
Am I where I want to be??? Far from it. Actually I have gone so far backwards I'm just trying to play catch up to where I was a month ago. I know that struggling with this will pass in time but I am not looking at my weight gain again as a set back. I can see that I still have the waist that I worked hard for. I still have the flatter stomach (although not where I want it to be). I can feel that my butt is becoming more tone and my pecks are starting to build muscle. (My pecks are important to me because they are helping fight off the gravity that four children brings on.)
I have gained 7 pounds in a month. Is it because of lack of exercise? Not a chance. It may be a couple pounds of fat from adding more variety to my diet again but a lot of my weight gain I know is in muscle mass. I go to the gym 5 to 6 days a week, work out for at least an hour and a half but usually two hours (that's all the little ones can stay in child watch at a time), and I still don't eat a lot. I have fallen back to eating late, however, and that is something I need to change again. Even if I don't stop eating at 5pm I can stop at 6 or 6:30. But the late night snacks have not helped me.
So today, with Carlie as my motivation, I exercised for 2 full hours suffering through a shin splint to complete 2.12 miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes. I did another 45 minutes on the eliptical, totalling over 3 miles on that, and worked on my abs and other muscles for the remainder of the 2 hours. I felt so great after the workout I took the kids to the park, played a little tag, some hide and seek, "bear" family, and pushed the little ones on the swing (in the process showing them what an "underdog" was).
We had so much fun, laughing, running, jumping. Nothing can stand in my way when I have the love and laughter of my children. The hugs they share, the imaginations they pull me into. Between having to rescue my bear cubs to taking the dinosaurs out of jail, I have come to the conclusion that I am a magician who can change any environment into a world of wonder.
As I type my little monsters are hiding in the cave on my bed (my comforter) and trying to stay out of the rain. They make me want to move on and continue a journey. My imagination can take me to wonderful places when I reach different milestones. But I don't need a scale to tell me I'm doing good. I see it in my energy level and when I chase my little wonders through an empty field or even through our living room. I want to be active, I want to run, I want to be out doing things. I want to live and I have chosen to live actively.
So look deep within yourself. Who do you chose to be? Do you chose to sit on the sidelines? Do you chose to join the team and give it all you have? Or do you think you are more of the motivational person? Remember that motivation doesn't show up on the couch. Motivation shows up when you start on your journey; maybe not right away, but it will catch up with you. Drag yourself up out of the pit of no return. You have not hit rock bottom yet. I pulled myself up. Join me and we can move forward together!
McKayla said to me the other day that I don't have a fat belly anymore. I used to take offense to when anyone talked about my weight, now I'm looking for ways that people can compliment me. I want to look in the mirror and see the results of my hard work. I want others to look at me and notice the hard work. I know that we are our biggest critics and when I look at myself I don't always see what I have accomplished but my family and friends can. It is wonderful to have McKayla now tell me that I've lost the belly that I have carried for far too long.
Am I where I want to be??? Far from it. Actually I have gone so far backwards I'm just trying to play catch up to where I was a month ago. I know that struggling with this will pass in time but I am not looking at my weight gain again as a set back. I can see that I still have the waist that I worked hard for. I still have the flatter stomach (although not where I want it to be). I can feel that my butt is becoming more tone and my pecks are starting to build muscle. (My pecks are important to me because they are helping fight off the gravity that four children brings on.)
I have gained 7 pounds in a month. Is it because of lack of exercise? Not a chance. It may be a couple pounds of fat from adding more variety to my diet again but a lot of my weight gain I know is in muscle mass. I go to the gym 5 to 6 days a week, work out for at least an hour and a half but usually two hours (that's all the little ones can stay in child watch at a time), and I still don't eat a lot. I have fallen back to eating late, however, and that is something I need to change again. Even if I don't stop eating at 5pm I can stop at 6 or 6:30. But the late night snacks have not helped me.
So today, with Carlie as my motivation, I exercised for 2 full hours suffering through a shin splint to complete 2.12 miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes. I did another 45 minutes on the eliptical, totalling over 3 miles on that, and worked on my abs and other muscles for the remainder of the 2 hours. I felt so great after the workout I took the kids to the park, played a little tag, some hide and seek, "bear" family, and pushed the little ones on the swing (in the process showing them what an "underdog" was).
We had so much fun, laughing, running, jumping. Nothing can stand in my way when I have the love and laughter of my children. The hugs they share, the imaginations they pull me into. Between having to rescue my bear cubs to taking the dinosaurs out of jail, I have come to the conclusion that I am a magician who can change any environment into a world of wonder.
As I type my little monsters are hiding in the cave on my bed (my comforter) and trying to stay out of the rain. They make me want to move on and continue a journey. My imagination can take me to wonderful places when I reach different milestones. But I don't need a scale to tell me I'm doing good. I see it in my energy level and when I chase my little wonders through an empty field or even through our living room. I want to be active, I want to run, I want to be out doing things. I want to live and I have chosen to live actively.
So look deep within yourself. Who do you chose to be? Do you chose to sit on the sidelines? Do you chose to join the team and give it all you have? Or do you think you are more of the motivational person? Remember that motivation doesn't show up on the couch. Motivation shows up when you start on your journey; maybe not right away, but it will catch up with you. Drag yourself up out of the pit of no return. You have not hit rock bottom yet. I pulled myself up. Join me and we can move forward together!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
It's about that time....
Okay ladies, this post is all about us.... Guys, I can't relate to you on this topic so you'll have to pardon my apparent discrimination against you from lack of knowledge. Now, we are a society that flaunts our sexuality. However, we never seem to discuss what gives us that sexuality and the hormones that allow us to be sexual creatures....
Am I going to give a sermon on sex? Not exactly. However, I want to discuss how a girl's transformation into womanhood can sometimes lead to weight gain along with other times in a woman's life that can alter our bodies. Hormones play a large role in our body image, whether we want to believe it or not. During puberty girls normally enter what I call the "awkward" phase. You slender body is starting to develop breasts but yet you also start to become fuller everywhere else as well. I remember when I started to feel awkward in my body. I was in middle school. I looked in the mirror one day and realized that my face was puffy and I wasn't as tiny as I was before. Now I was becoming a woman, in the physical sense of the word, and what I saw wasn't exactly appealing.
I realized I couldn't just eat chips anymore. I had to work at staying healthy and looking lean. By the time I entered high school I was feeling much better. I had become healthier and my body was finally starting to even itself out. I had an hour glass figure and was completely happy with my self image. Once I was out of high school I had my first child, a wonderful baby girl, and that's when other hormones started to change my body. Now I couldn't just lounge around and eat healthy. Now I had to stay active and eat healthy to maintain a proper weight.
Of course staying active wasn't on the top of my list. After my wonderful McKayla I had 3 more children; William, Carlie, and Davey. I had just given up on the fact that I would never be slender again. And now to this day I'm still not sure if that will ever happen. My hormones and metabolism seem to have me at a stand still. No matter how hard I try I can never seem to lose the weight. It seems like a conspiracy sometimes.
Now I started exercising and eating healthier than I have ever done before. I had lost 11 pounds and then what happened???? I got my period! Yes, I get it every month. I have for the past 15 years. But now I have cravings for chocolate and sweets which I have never had before. I am realizing that throughout the years my body has changed and that means that my habits must change. I put on 5 pounds since the last time I wrote and it is because I gave into those cravings. It will not be easy next month trying to come up with things to do so I don't eat chocolate or cake all the time.
I am planning on building a garden box on my deck. With that I hope to be able to grow wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables. Hopefully that added activity will help deter my cravings for the unhealthy sweet foods and lead me to eating more healthy naturally sweet foods....
So what was the motto of this story??? Honestly, I don't know. Initially I was hoping to talk about a woman and menstrual cycles and how that can lead us to weight gain. Somehow I got sidetracked, though, and now I'm not sure where I went. It may be just a bunch of rambling but in my head it made perfect sense.
Ultimately, I want women to realize that as you age your body changes and the way your body responds to certain things changes as well. The world is forever changing, that makes us no different. We must find ways to cope and re-evaluate ourselves. Find your triggers and see how you can diffuse the situation before it becomes a massive explosion.
Like I said, a bunch of rambling, but I hope someone got something out of it. Keep working towards your goal, I know I am. Gym for me 6 days a week, one day for rest. Stay motivated and I will continue this journey with you.
Am I going to give a sermon on sex? Not exactly. However, I want to discuss how a girl's transformation into womanhood can sometimes lead to weight gain along with other times in a woman's life that can alter our bodies. Hormones play a large role in our body image, whether we want to believe it or not. During puberty girls normally enter what I call the "awkward" phase. You slender body is starting to develop breasts but yet you also start to become fuller everywhere else as well. I remember when I started to feel awkward in my body. I was in middle school. I looked in the mirror one day and realized that my face was puffy and I wasn't as tiny as I was before. Now I was becoming a woman, in the physical sense of the word, and what I saw wasn't exactly appealing.
I realized I couldn't just eat chips anymore. I had to work at staying healthy and looking lean. By the time I entered high school I was feeling much better. I had become healthier and my body was finally starting to even itself out. I had an hour glass figure and was completely happy with my self image. Once I was out of high school I had my first child, a wonderful baby girl, and that's when other hormones started to change my body. Now I couldn't just lounge around and eat healthy. Now I had to stay active and eat healthy to maintain a proper weight.
Of course staying active wasn't on the top of my list. After my wonderful McKayla I had 3 more children; William, Carlie, and Davey. I had just given up on the fact that I would never be slender again. And now to this day I'm still not sure if that will ever happen. My hormones and metabolism seem to have me at a stand still. No matter how hard I try I can never seem to lose the weight. It seems like a conspiracy sometimes.
Now I started exercising and eating healthier than I have ever done before. I had lost 11 pounds and then what happened???? I got my period! Yes, I get it every month. I have for the past 15 years. But now I have cravings for chocolate and sweets which I have never had before. I am realizing that throughout the years my body has changed and that means that my habits must change. I put on 5 pounds since the last time I wrote and it is because I gave into those cravings. It will not be easy next month trying to come up with things to do so I don't eat chocolate or cake all the time.
I am planning on building a garden box on my deck. With that I hope to be able to grow wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables. Hopefully that added activity will help deter my cravings for the unhealthy sweet foods and lead me to eating more healthy naturally sweet foods....
So what was the motto of this story??? Honestly, I don't know. Initially I was hoping to talk about a woman and menstrual cycles and how that can lead us to weight gain. Somehow I got sidetracked, though, and now I'm not sure where I went. It may be just a bunch of rambling but in my head it made perfect sense.
Ultimately, I want women to realize that as you age your body changes and the way your body responds to certain things changes as well. The world is forever changing, that makes us no different. We must find ways to cope and re-evaluate ourselves. Find your triggers and see how you can diffuse the situation before it becomes a massive explosion.
Like I said, a bunch of rambling, but I hope someone got something out of it. Keep working towards your goal, I know I am. Gym for me 6 days a week, one day for rest. Stay motivated and I will continue this journey with you.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Off the Wagon
Okay, so this past week I felt a little "entitled". I felt entitled to eat whatever I wanted, that is. I have not lost anymore weight but I have stayed relatively the same weight. I had taken myself off of such a strict schedule and that was a big mistake. Not only did I not lose any weight but I felt myself slipping right back into that horrible "food addiction" that I had suppressed for over a month. Disappointment settled in my gut and I have concluded that "entitlement" doesn't necessarily become a good thing.
For the past week I have done everything in my power to tell myself that what I was eating was okay because I deserved it. Wrong, Lauren! I deserve to be healthy, not gorge on empty calories or grease filled foods. Not what I had been working towards at all! I had been doing so well. Also, I kept telling myself that as long as I wasn't gaining weight and I was still working out I was doing okay. That is incorrect also.
I have worked so hard and I was going to throw it all away because of stupid excuses. I refuse to make excuses anymore. I will not eat that double cheeseburger because I ran 3 miles that morning. Instead I will eat a chicken caesar salad. I will not have that piece of cake for dessert. Instead I will reach for a fat free pudding cup. I will not have that soda that I haven't had in over a month. Instead I will have that glass of water that has given me renewed energy and life.
I am not going to become a statistic that falls off the diet wagon and doesn't get back on. I have brushed off my dirt and fixed my motivation. I am getting back on the wagon and weight loss will commence once again.
Good luck in dieting!
For the past week I have done everything in my power to tell myself that what I was eating was okay because I deserved it. Wrong, Lauren! I deserve to be healthy, not gorge on empty calories or grease filled foods. Not what I had been working towards at all! I had been doing so well. Also, I kept telling myself that as long as I wasn't gaining weight and I was still working out I was doing okay. That is incorrect also.
I have worked so hard and I was going to throw it all away because of stupid excuses. I refuse to make excuses anymore. I will not eat that double cheeseburger because I ran 3 miles that morning. Instead I will eat a chicken caesar salad. I will not have that piece of cake for dessert. Instead I will reach for a fat free pudding cup. I will not have that soda that I haven't had in over a month. Instead I will have that glass of water that has given me renewed energy and life.
I am not going to become a statistic that falls off the diet wagon and doesn't get back on. I have brushed off my dirt and fixed my motivation. I am getting back on the wagon and weight loss will commence once again.
Good luck in dieting!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine's Day
I'm not really big into Valentine's Day. I think that you should show that kind of love and affection throughout the year. Valentine's Day has become a commercial holiday and, as I still buy my hubby a card, I don't see a reason to spend one day celebrating. To me, it's a day to not only love your spouse, boyfriend/ girlfriend, children, family, etc. but a day to love the most important person of all. Love yourself!
Today I didn't eat a box of chocolates, I went to the gym and climbed a mountain on the treadmill after running 2.5 miles on the eliptical. I now feel so refreshed and, honestly, I didn't want to stop. I love the way I feel after I get done a good workout. I love the feeling of accomplishment. I love the feeling of self worth that I instill upon myself.
After the gym, feeling so wonderful inside, I played outside with the little ones since the sun was shining high and warm. We played on the swingset and Carlie found a "bug" on the slide. She called me over and had actually found a small amount of snow that had been spared melting from the shade of the playhouse. She decided to bombard me with itty bitty snowballs! Can you imagine? That little stinker tricked me! There wasn't a bug, just snowballs waiting for me to come over. With the extra energy I had acquired while at the gym I was better able to enjoy the beautiful day that was bestowed upon us.
So when you are wishing everyone around you Happy Valentine's Day, why not add that person in the mirror? That person will be with you forever, rain or shine, ups or downs. That person will never abandon you. Love that person like you would love anyone else. That person in the mirror deserves it and that person in the mirror will appreciate that you have not forgotten about them! How will you show that you love them?
Happy Valentine's Day to all of you out there! May your day be full of love and joys.
Today I didn't eat a box of chocolates, I went to the gym and climbed a mountain on the treadmill after running 2.5 miles on the eliptical. I now feel so refreshed and, honestly, I didn't want to stop. I love the way I feel after I get done a good workout. I love the feeling of accomplishment. I love the feeling of self worth that I instill upon myself.
After the gym, feeling so wonderful inside, I played outside with the little ones since the sun was shining high and warm. We played on the swingset and Carlie found a "bug" on the slide. She called me over and had actually found a small amount of snow that had been spared melting from the shade of the playhouse. She decided to bombard me with itty bitty snowballs! Can you imagine? That little stinker tricked me! There wasn't a bug, just snowballs waiting for me to come over. With the extra energy I had acquired while at the gym I was better able to enjoy the beautiful day that was bestowed upon us.
So when you are wishing everyone around you Happy Valentine's Day, why not add that person in the mirror? That person will be with you forever, rain or shine, ups or downs. That person will never abandon you. Love that person like you would love anyone else. That person in the mirror deserves it and that person in the mirror will appreciate that you have not forgotten about them! How will you show that you love them?
Happy Valentine's Day to all of you out there! May your day be full of love and joys.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Moving in the right direction
Well, I still haven't been able to beat the dreaded plateau. I was hoping that once I was under 160 I would start losing again.... Failure.... Oh well. On Friday Dave and I decided to join the local YMCA again. We took Carlie and David swimming. We had a blast! I can't wait to take McKayla and William tomorrow night!
Yesterday Dave and I went to work out for a little bit. We each did 30 minutes/ 3 miles on the eliptical and that was definitely enough. Today, since child watch isn't open on Sunday's, I will be visiting the Y alone. I will have Pandora on rocking out to Pop Hits of the 90's. It's amazing how songs from my past make me want to get moving again.... Sometimes I think and wonder what I did when I was younger to stay so fit. I moved around, a lot.
Before I had my car I used to walk almost everywhere. I remember saying that once I got my license I would still walk everywhere. Well, that didn't happen. I think, though, that I will once again start doing that on nice days. If I have to go to the store that's right across the creek, why drive? There is a sidewalk from my house to the Dollar Store or Food Lion. I can just walk there. Also, if I really want to move I can walk that mile to the gas station to get that gallon of milk... or why not 2 gallons? If I have 2 gallons I can lift weights on the way back. :)
Imagine everything you can do in a day. You really don't need a gym membership to lose weight, however it is convenient on those really cold, rainy, miserable days. I saw on tv the other day that walking 2,000 steps a day will burn 100 calories. How can you incorporate an extra 2,000 steps a day? That seems like a lot when you look at it in a whole. But what if you do it subconsciously? Do you ever take your glass to the fridge to pour your milk or juice? Why not leave the glass on the furthest part of your counter, walk to the fridge, get the milk/ juice out, walk back to your glass, then walk back to the fridge... ending with the walk back to your glass? There you added 20- 30 steps depending on how large your kitchen is. Yes, it adds time. Yes, we are a society where we try and find ways to cut corners so we can make room for other activities in the day.
Here is a challenge: Try adding 2,000 extra steps a day into your life. So what if that diminishes the amount of time you sit on the couch to only 1 hour and 50 minutes instead of 2 hours. We are an obese society and the first way to change that is in the home. As much as it is good for schools to improve habits in children's lives it is more important for parents to begin at home.
I maintain a household with very little snacks or sweets. I incorporate fun ways for my children to snack. We make ants on a log or silly faces with fruit. They like snacks but I find that at the grocery store they ask me for bananas, tomatoes, grapes, apples.... They don't ask for potato chips or cookies. This is because I started at home with teaching good habits. That's where it needs to start.
So work on the challenge, keep motivated, keep moving. I know that I will not stay down for the count. I get back up and I keep working at it. My goal is not unattainable, it is just taking me a little longer than expected to reach it. I will make it, though, and so will you. Let's continue to do this together!
Yesterday Dave and I went to work out for a little bit. We each did 30 minutes/ 3 miles on the eliptical and that was definitely enough. Today, since child watch isn't open on Sunday's, I will be visiting the Y alone. I will have Pandora on rocking out to Pop Hits of the 90's. It's amazing how songs from my past make me want to get moving again.... Sometimes I think and wonder what I did when I was younger to stay so fit. I moved around, a lot.
Before I had my car I used to walk almost everywhere. I remember saying that once I got my license I would still walk everywhere. Well, that didn't happen. I think, though, that I will once again start doing that on nice days. If I have to go to the store that's right across the creek, why drive? There is a sidewalk from my house to the Dollar Store or Food Lion. I can just walk there. Also, if I really want to move I can walk that mile to the gas station to get that gallon of milk... or why not 2 gallons? If I have 2 gallons I can lift weights on the way back. :)
Imagine everything you can do in a day. You really don't need a gym membership to lose weight, however it is convenient on those really cold, rainy, miserable days. I saw on tv the other day that walking 2,000 steps a day will burn 100 calories. How can you incorporate an extra 2,000 steps a day? That seems like a lot when you look at it in a whole. But what if you do it subconsciously? Do you ever take your glass to the fridge to pour your milk or juice? Why not leave the glass on the furthest part of your counter, walk to the fridge, get the milk/ juice out, walk back to your glass, then walk back to the fridge... ending with the walk back to your glass? There you added 20- 30 steps depending on how large your kitchen is. Yes, it adds time. Yes, we are a society where we try and find ways to cut corners so we can make room for other activities in the day.
Here is a challenge: Try adding 2,000 extra steps a day into your life. So what if that diminishes the amount of time you sit on the couch to only 1 hour and 50 minutes instead of 2 hours. We are an obese society and the first way to change that is in the home. As much as it is good for schools to improve habits in children's lives it is more important for parents to begin at home.
I maintain a household with very little snacks or sweets. I incorporate fun ways for my children to snack. We make ants on a log or silly faces with fruit. They like snacks but I find that at the grocery store they ask me for bananas, tomatoes, grapes, apples.... They don't ask for potato chips or cookies. This is because I started at home with teaching good habits. That's where it needs to start.
So work on the challenge, keep motivated, keep moving. I know that I will not stay down for the count. I get back up and I keep working at it. My goal is not unattainable, it is just taking me a little longer than expected to reach it. I will make it, though, and so will you. Let's continue to do this together!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
One Entire Month!
Today I reached my 4 week mark, aka my 1 month mark! Yay! So far this whole dieting and exercise thing has been pretty easy. However, this last week (my birthday week) I did not behave as I should have. My exercises weren't up to the standards I had been putting on myself, but they were there none the less. I haven't gone an entire day without any exercise what so ever so that is pleasing....
What else is pleasing??? My plateau has officially been surpassed! I haven't been below 160 pounds in at least 3 years and as of this morning, along with the 2 mornings prior to today, I have been 159 pounds! Now you may not think that is a big deal but when you haven't been in the 150's in at least 3 years, you can see your toes without bending over your belly, and you can run 2.2 miles in 30 minutes THAT'S an accomplishment. As of today I have lost a total of 11 pounds. 11 pounds in just 4 weeks! That's amazing!
I have become so happy with myself that I find myself looking in the mirror not in disgust but rather with a smile on my face. I am beginning to love what I see when I look in the mirror. I am not there 100% but I would say that I am 22% happier! (That 22% is the 11 pounds I have shed off of my 50 pound goal) Being happy with myself is allowing me to be happier in general, on a day to day basis. I love waking up in the morning and cooking the kid's breakfast. I haven't ever done that on school days. I normally would give them a toaster strudel or waffles and call it a morning. I find myself cooking eggs, bacon, toast, muffins from scratch. I think my kids are starting to like having a home cooked breakfast now. It's kind of a disappointment to them when I oversleep and they have to have a pop tart and banana instead of eggs and toast.
Dave has been a wonderful support this past month. He has tried to do exercises with me on his days off but he doesn't get as motivated as I do. I don't mind, though, because he does work long days and he probably really doesn't want to exercise once he does finally get to relax. Me, I find exercising relaxing. I used to say that I did my best thinking in the shower, now I also do it while running, crunches not so much.
I like when I run in place in the mornings and David and Carlie come up and they will each hold one of my hands and run with me. We are having some quality time that they don't even realize is good for them. But they have to be careful, sometimes the monster comes out in me and I chase them around the kitchen and living room. :) McKayla has agreed to run with me when she can and William wants to start running with me as well. I like the fact that they are motivated, no compelled, to run with me. I know that one day they won't want to so I will definitely take any type of quality time with them that I can.
My children are my world and it saddens me at how fast they are growing. I have not always been a model parent but by becoming healthy I am able to become a role model that will pass on from generation to generation. Today children are planted infront of computers and video games but I don't think that should be the case. I remember having to do special testing through elementary school where we had to run a mile and do pull ups, sit ups, everything. I used to think it was torture but now I wish that they had more testing like that. Academically you can be smart but being physically smart is good as well. I don't want to have my life shortened by any amount of time because I am unhealthy. I want to be around for generations to come. I want to tell my great- great grandchildren about how it was growing up in the late 90's.
I love everyone who has been supportive in my endeavour to lose weight. I will continue and make everyone proud!
What else is pleasing??? My plateau has officially been surpassed! I haven't been below 160 pounds in at least 3 years and as of this morning, along with the 2 mornings prior to today, I have been 159 pounds! Now you may not think that is a big deal but when you haven't been in the 150's in at least 3 years, you can see your toes without bending over your belly, and you can run 2.2 miles in 30 minutes THAT'S an accomplishment. As of today I have lost a total of 11 pounds. 11 pounds in just 4 weeks! That's amazing!
I have become so happy with myself that I find myself looking in the mirror not in disgust but rather with a smile on my face. I am beginning to love what I see when I look in the mirror. I am not there 100% but I would say that I am 22% happier! (That 22% is the 11 pounds I have shed off of my 50 pound goal) Being happy with myself is allowing me to be happier in general, on a day to day basis. I love waking up in the morning and cooking the kid's breakfast. I haven't ever done that on school days. I normally would give them a toaster strudel or waffles and call it a morning. I find myself cooking eggs, bacon, toast, muffins from scratch. I think my kids are starting to like having a home cooked breakfast now. It's kind of a disappointment to them when I oversleep and they have to have a pop tart and banana instead of eggs and toast.
Dave has been a wonderful support this past month. He has tried to do exercises with me on his days off but he doesn't get as motivated as I do. I don't mind, though, because he does work long days and he probably really doesn't want to exercise once he does finally get to relax. Me, I find exercising relaxing. I used to say that I did my best thinking in the shower, now I also do it while running, crunches not so much.
I like when I run in place in the mornings and David and Carlie come up and they will each hold one of my hands and run with me. We are having some quality time that they don't even realize is good for them. But they have to be careful, sometimes the monster comes out in me and I chase them around the kitchen and living room. :) McKayla has agreed to run with me when she can and William wants to start running with me as well. I like the fact that they are motivated, no compelled, to run with me. I know that one day they won't want to so I will definitely take any type of quality time with them that I can.
My children are my world and it saddens me at how fast they are growing. I have not always been a model parent but by becoming healthy I am able to become a role model that will pass on from generation to generation. Today children are planted infront of computers and video games but I don't think that should be the case. I remember having to do special testing through elementary school where we had to run a mile and do pull ups, sit ups, everything. I used to think it was torture but now I wish that they had more testing like that. Academically you can be smart but being physically smart is good as well. I don't want to have my life shortened by any amount of time because I am unhealthy. I want to be around for generations to come. I want to tell my great- great grandchildren about how it was growing up in the late 90's.
I love everyone who has been supportive in my endeavour to lose weight. I will continue and make everyone proud!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Just a little thumbs up....
For the past couple days, thanks to my wonderful husband and children, I have been running around our little town and listening to music. I thank them because without them wanting to take a bike ride on my birthday I never would have known which ways to turn without ever travelling the same way twice. Being less repetative has helped me in wanting to run.... Even in the three days that I have been doing this I can feel a difference in the way my body is reacting to an increased need for endurance.
Yesterday, fearing that I would not stay out long if I went alone, I took Minnie (our little jack russel) with me. By the time we had only gone about half way I was literally dragging her behind me. I figured that she would enjoy being out, she likes walks, but she does NOT like runs. Today, still fearing that I would not stay gone long, I asked McKayla and William if they wanted to go with me. McKayla said that she would so off we went.
Almost immediately I had to explain to McKayla how to pace yourself so you don't make your body too tired off in the beginning. She slowed to my pace and we kept going. By the time we exited our neighborhood through the back way she was complaining about being out of breath. Trying to keep her motivated and wanting to still run with me I told her to breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, taking long slow breaths, not rapid breathing. We got a little further and we were chit chatting on how cold it was this morning and how no one else was out at 8:30 in the morning. (My children still don't realize the concept of sleeping in.)
We were still having a nice run until about 1/4 of the way through our run her side started hurting.... "Can we just stop running?".... "Why do we have to run the entire time?".... "You know that playing is exercise, too? You don't have to run!" This became an ongoing thing throughout our entire run. However, as we were jogging and I was listening to her complain about being tired, we saw a lady being dropped off by her friend at her house. When the friend backed out and drove past us she smiled, nodded her head, I waved, and she gave us a big thumbs up.
I had to explain to McKayla that a lot of people don't think to include their children in things. This was a way, even though it wasn't much fun for her, for us to bond and spend time together. Not only that but it shows that I am the kind of parent that I want to be, the kind that doesn't let their children sit inside all day and watch television or play video games. It is necessary to teach at least this value to my children.
I was always athletic when I was younger, trading it for boys when I became a teenager, but I always liked being outside. I went from being that active person to a young mom, to a young wife, and then a young mom again and again and again. Somewhere in my love of being outside I lost the active part in that for myself. I am slowly regaining that active part while trying to enforce in my children that exercise can be fun. Running can be fun. And McKayla is right, playing is exercise, too.
So I'm not going to sit on the sidelines anymore when the kids are playing outside. I am going to become more active in the lives that I thought I held a pretty firm grasp of before. Now, though, I am seeing otherwise. I can initiate that game of tag instead of waiting to be pulled into it. I can pull out their bikes more instead of them asking to go for a ride. I can change a lot and I will. I will begin to see the world through the eyes of my children and just let go. I will not be the prude that I would be sometimes. Sometimes is not good enough, never is more like it!
I saw some crocus's on our run this morning, already starting to peek their buds out of the cacoon of gras that is part of their beauty. While the buds are starting to come up early I am realizing that McKayla is starting to bloom as this beautiful, remarkable, wonderful young girl. She is getting to the age that she no longer wants to do silly stuff with Mom and Dad. Maybe running will be just what her and I need, a way to bond that isn't "embarassing" to her.
For now I will stick with the fact that I got a little thumbs up from a lady I have never met, showing her approval of the changes I am making in my life whether they be for my family or just for me. Talk another day.
Keep your head up, your smile on, and these words in your heart, "YOU CAN DO IT!"
Yesterday, fearing that I would not stay out long if I went alone, I took Minnie (our little jack russel) with me. By the time we had only gone about half way I was literally dragging her behind me. I figured that she would enjoy being out, she likes walks, but she does NOT like runs. Today, still fearing that I would not stay gone long, I asked McKayla and William if they wanted to go with me. McKayla said that she would so off we went.
Almost immediately I had to explain to McKayla how to pace yourself so you don't make your body too tired off in the beginning. She slowed to my pace and we kept going. By the time we exited our neighborhood through the back way she was complaining about being out of breath. Trying to keep her motivated and wanting to still run with me I told her to breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, taking long slow breaths, not rapid breathing. We got a little further and we were chit chatting on how cold it was this morning and how no one else was out at 8:30 in the morning. (My children still don't realize the concept of sleeping in.)
We were still having a nice run until about 1/4 of the way through our run her side started hurting.... "Can we just stop running?".... "Why do we have to run the entire time?".... "You know that playing is exercise, too? You don't have to run!" This became an ongoing thing throughout our entire run. However, as we were jogging and I was listening to her complain about being tired, we saw a lady being dropped off by her friend at her house. When the friend backed out and drove past us she smiled, nodded her head, I waved, and she gave us a big thumbs up.
I had to explain to McKayla that a lot of people don't think to include their children in things. This was a way, even though it wasn't much fun for her, for us to bond and spend time together. Not only that but it shows that I am the kind of parent that I want to be, the kind that doesn't let their children sit inside all day and watch television or play video games. It is necessary to teach at least this value to my children.
I was always athletic when I was younger, trading it for boys when I became a teenager, but I always liked being outside. I went from being that active person to a young mom, to a young wife, and then a young mom again and again and again. Somewhere in my love of being outside I lost the active part in that for myself. I am slowly regaining that active part while trying to enforce in my children that exercise can be fun. Running can be fun. And McKayla is right, playing is exercise, too.
So I'm not going to sit on the sidelines anymore when the kids are playing outside. I am going to become more active in the lives that I thought I held a pretty firm grasp of before. Now, though, I am seeing otherwise. I can initiate that game of tag instead of waiting to be pulled into it. I can pull out their bikes more instead of them asking to go for a ride. I can change a lot and I will. I will begin to see the world through the eyes of my children and just let go. I will not be the prude that I would be sometimes. Sometimes is not good enough, never is more like it!
I saw some crocus's on our run this morning, already starting to peek their buds out of the cacoon of gras that is part of their beauty. While the buds are starting to come up early I am realizing that McKayla is starting to bloom as this beautiful, remarkable, wonderful young girl. She is getting to the age that she no longer wants to do silly stuff with Mom and Dad. Maybe running will be just what her and I need, a way to bond that isn't "embarassing" to her.
For now I will stick with the fact that I got a little thumbs up from a lady I have never met, showing her approval of the changes I am making in my life whether they be for my family or just for me. Talk another day.
Keep your head up, your smile on, and these words in your heart, "YOU CAN DO IT!"
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Week 3
Well, this is not going to be much. Today is my 3 week weigh in and I am so happy with my progress! As of today I weigh 160.4 pounds, down a total of 9.6 pounds in 3 weeks. I have lost 5.6% of my body weight so far and only have 40.4 pounds to go before reaching my goal! I am super duper excited to share this with everyone! I was so excited that I starting jogging first thing this morning! I knew it was going to be a good day!
So many exclamation points uptop.... That is ALWAYS a good thing to be that excited in what you have accomplished. So, Happy Birthday to me for getting to that 10 pound mark (if you round up but close enough for me!). I figured that today I wouldn't share a weight loss excersise or technique that I use. I would really like to share my new favorite bread recipe..... It's "Delicious Pumpkin Bread" and the name does not do justice to just how delicate and decadant this bread actually is. So here it is, hope you enjoy as much as my family and I did!
5 eggs
1-1/4 cups vegetable oil (use unsweetened apple sauce for reduced fat)
1 can (15 ounces) solid- pack pumpkin (I used puree)
2 cups all- purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 packages (3 ounces each) cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix (I used instant)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine all of the remaining ingredients; gradually beat into the pumpkin mixture.
2. Pour into 5 greased 5-3/4-in. x 3-in x 2-in loaf pans (or make them into muffins which I did and that was the perfect portion size!). Bake at 325 for 50-55 minutes for loaf, 20-25 minutes for muffins, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
Yield: 5 mini loaves (8 slices each)
Nutrition Facts: 1 slice equals 150 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 96 mg sodium, 20 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein
(Source: The Tast of Home Cookbook)
I like to serve mine warm but next time I think I may let them cool and mix up a cream cheese frosting to put on the top. Added calories but also added yummy!
So many exclamation points uptop.... That is ALWAYS a good thing to be that excited in what you have accomplished. So, Happy Birthday to me for getting to that 10 pound mark (if you round up but close enough for me!). I figured that today I wouldn't share a weight loss excersise or technique that I use. I would really like to share my new favorite bread recipe..... It's "Delicious Pumpkin Bread" and the name does not do justice to just how delicate and decadant this bread actually is. So here it is, hope you enjoy as much as my family and I did!
5 eggs
1-1/4 cups vegetable oil (use unsweetened apple sauce for reduced fat)
1 can (15 ounces) solid- pack pumpkin (I used puree)
2 cups all- purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 packages (3 ounces each) cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix (I used instant)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine all of the remaining ingredients; gradually beat into the pumpkin mixture.
2. Pour into 5 greased 5-3/4-in. x 3-in x 2-in loaf pans (or make them into muffins which I did and that was the perfect portion size!). Bake at 325 for 50-55 minutes for loaf, 20-25 minutes for muffins, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
Yield: 5 mini loaves (8 slices each)
Nutrition Facts: 1 slice equals 150 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 96 mg sodium, 20 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein
(Source: The Tast of Home Cookbook)
I like to serve mine warm but next time I think I may let them cool and mix up a cream cheese frosting to put on the top. Added calories but also added yummy!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Move it!
Okay so last night and tonight I tried a different way of exercising.... I turned on McKayla's CD player and just started dancing with the kids. Not only did I get to get my body moving and working off some weight but I got to do it while enjoying the smiles and hearing the laughter of my children. It was so much fun that we didn't even turn on the tv last night and tonight it didn't get turned on until 8:15. So I've been multi-tasking lately. Not only am I exercising but I am doing it while spending quality time with my children, and tonight my husband, AND I am saving on electricity because we are only dancing in one room so there's no need for lights or electronics to be on anywhere else.
There are so many ways that you can exercise without you knowing it and I would like to share some that I have just thought of recently and have begun to apply in my life.
1. Don't look for the closest parking space at a store. Instead park in the furthest parking space and walk the extra distance to the store and back.
2. Dance- whether it's with your children, your loved one, or just alone. Let yourself move to the rhythm of the music and you will get a work out that you didn't expect to get.
3. Take the stairs, not the elevator. It's easy to go for the elevator but going up and down stairs when you are able will work your calves, thighs, and buttocks. (All these areas I am seeing a wonderful transformation already)
4. Pick up your pace- Walk a little faster than you normally would. Leave a couple minutes later than usual so you have to pick up your speed while walking if that's how you can get motivated. Eventually your body will just automatically walk at a faster pace, increasing your heart rate and in turn boosting your metabolism.
I am not saying that these are ideal for everyone to do, but they are just small suggestions that have helped me in trying to get exercise when I really don't feel like doing it anymore. Jogging in place can get so boring so I had to look for other ways to do my exercising. My favorite one, though, is dancing. I am a HORRIBLE dancer and an even more HORRIBLE singer, but I absolutely LOVE doing both! I don't care if anyone hears me, as long as I'm having fun and moving it doesn't matter. There are times when Carlie looks at me and says "Mom, please don't sing.... You're hurting my ears!"... or William will tell me that I look goofy dancing... or McKayla tells me that I embarace her. That's when I turn it up a notch and sing and dance even worse. I tell McKayla that I have to practice for when her friends come over. I normally then get the evil eye and she storms into her room and locks the door behind her. Oh well....
I guess the point of this is to show that you can still have fun while exercising. Don't make it into a chore. If you do, you will probably not stick to it very long. Now don't get me wrong, I do still jog infront of my favorite tv shows or run up and down my stairs in my house. I still do all of my normal exercises but I know that if I do other things in the process I won't feel guilty if I take it easy on myself one day.
My metabolism is finally starting to kick back into high gear again. That is a motivation in itself. I can feel my body warm and I start to sweat with just the slightest tasks now. I know now that all of my hard work is starting to pay off and my body is starting to burn more calories in the resting phases of my day.
What really motivates me, besides my metabolism and the fact that numbers are starting to once again come off the scale, is the love and support I have from my husband and children. I have never felt alone in this journey so far. If I'm exercising Carlie and David run with me, Dave runs with me, the kids lift weights with me. My positive attitude is rubbing off on everyone in my household and that makes me feel good. I am showing that a healthy lifestyle is key to a happy you. I know that in order to fully love others you must first learn to fully love yourself. I am starting to feel that, I am starting to see that.
I want to thank everyone who reads this because without you reading it I would have an even harder time on this endeavor. Thanks and I hope to tell you the next time that I write I am under 160 pounds. Only 2.5 to go and I will be out of the dreadful 160's. Keep working hard and I promise that I will continue in my journey as well.
There are so many ways that you can exercise without you knowing it and I would like to share some that I have just thought of recently and have begun to apply in my life.
1. Don't look for the closest parking space at a store. Instead park in the furthest parking space and walk the extra distance to the store and back.
2. Dance- whether it's with your children, your loved one, or just alone. Let yourself move to the rhythm of the music and you will get a work out that you didn't expect to get.
3. Take the stairs, not the elevator. It's easy to go for the elevator but going up and down stairs when you are able will work your calves, thighs, and buttocks. (All these areas I am seeing a wonderful transformation already)
4. Pick up your pace- Walk a little faster than you normally would. Leave a couple minutes later than usual so you have to pick up your speed while walking if that's how you can get motivated. Eventually your body will just automatically walk at a faster pace, increasing your heart rate and in turn boosting your metabolism.
I am not saying that these are ideal for everyone to do, but they are just small suggestions that have helped me in trying to get exercise when I really don't feel like doing it anymore. Jogging in place can get so boring so I had to look for other ways to do my exercising. My favorite one, though, is dancing. I am a HORRIBLE dancer and an even more HORRIBLE singer, but I absolutely LOVE doing both! I don't care if anyone hears me, as long as I'm having fun and moving it doesn't matter. There are times when Carlie looks at me and says "Mom, please don't sing.... You're hurting my ears!"... or William will tell me that I look goofy dancing... or McKayla tells me that I embarace her. That's when I turn it up a notch and sing and dance even worse. I tell McKayla that I have to practice for when her friends come over. I normally then get the evil eye and she storms into her room and locks the door behind her. Oh well....
I guess the point of this is to show that you can still have fun while exercising. Don't make it into a chore. If you do, you will probably not stick to it very long. Now don't get me wrong, I do still jog infront of my favorite tv shows or run up and down my stairs in my house. I still do all of my normal exercises but I know that if I do other things in the process I won't feel guilty if I take it easy on myself one day.
My metabolism is finally starting to kick back into high gear again. That is a motivation in itself. I can feel my body warm and I start to sweat with just the slightest tasks now. I know now that all of my hard work is starting to pay off and my body is starting to burn more calories in the resting phases of my day.
What really motivates me, besides my metabolism and the fact that numbers are starting to once again come off the scale, is the love and support I have from my husband and children. I have never felt alone in this journey so far. If I'm exercising Carlie and David run with me, Dave runs with me, the kids lift weights with me. My positive attitude is rubbing off on everyone in my household and that makes me feel good. I am showing that a healthy lifestyle is key to a happy you. I know that in order to fully love others you must first learn to fully love yourself. I am starting to feel that, I am starting to see that.
I want to thank everyone who reads this because without you reading it I would have an even harder time on this endeavor. Thanks and I hope to tell you the next time that I write I am under 160 pounds. Only 2.5 to go and I will be out of the dreadful 160's. Keep working hard and I promise that I will continue in my journey as well.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Hitting the Plateau
It happens to the best of us, the dreadful plateau.... Dun, Dun, Dunnnnnn.... I have reached the flat spot that is normally the end to many diets. Here are my personal thoughts on my own plateau and dieting....
Well, I haven't suceeded in my endeavor to lose 5 pounds a week for my first 2 weeks, instead I have lost 5.6 pounds. Yesterday was my 2 week mark and even though 5.6 pounds seems good to most, it is a little disappointing when you had been down to 7.8 pounds lost and somehow, without eating any more than you had been, you gain 2.2 pounds. I know I shouldn't be that disappointed but I have been working really hard and I always seem to only be able to go so far.
What is my problem? Well, I honestly believe that my body doesn't understand what it will feel like to be under 160 pounds. I haven't been able to get below that in years. Everytime I get close I seem to always gain weight, somehow. It feels like my body is constantly conspiring against me and I guess in ways it is. Physically my metabolism has slowed so much that even the slightest bit of nourishment I give my body is stored as fat. Physically my body isn't used to exercise anymore so it is taking my metabolism longer than most to jump start again and begin to regain momentum. Mentally, it's HARD to stay on a diet and control what you put into your body when, for so long, you have been indulging in every little craving you have had.
When I break down my individual problems I am more likely going to stay on the path to weight loss. I'm not going to be able to get overwhelmed when I take it one step at a time and focus on one problem I am encountering. The first problem I am facing is the fact that my plateau is 160- 165 pounds and I CAN still lose weight, it's just going to take a little more effort.
With that being acknowleged I am then going to focus on how I can up my effort in my weight loss. I can add new exercises to my regular routine that I have been doing religiously for the past 2 weeks. Instead of jogging in place for an hour I will jog in place but throw in 30 jumping jacks every 15 minutes. I will do this 2 times a day instead of only one hour and then a half hour at lunch. I have decided to add running up and down my steps in my house during my lunch exercise routine so that I can add a little more pep into my step (no pun intended). I still do my weight lifting while jogging and then my crunches afterwards, but sometimes I decide it's important for my body to stop and do crunches to break things up a little bit. I'm not overdoing my exercises but rather telling my body it needs to start cooperating with me.
My food intake is still staying the same, a decent breakfast followed by a larger lunch and then just a small portion for supper. Also, I have stopped eating past 5pm. If I need something after that I will drink some juice or water, something that will satisfy my hunger (probably not an actual craving) but will get me through until morning. I have found that I don't get hungry like I used to now that I am portioning my food and only eating single servings without seconds. I take vitamins daily to try and compensate for what I may be lacking since now I am eating fewer things than normal (not like a big box of macaroni and cheese had many vitamins to start with).
I am determined to continue this weight loss journey. I, however, know that it is going to take longer than anticipated. I know that I won't be down to my goal weight when I go on vacation but I can keep working towards it and who knows, I may lose some weight while we are away. Always a nice thing to think and look forward to.
This is a little out of nowhere but I just remembered part of an article I read the other day online. I don't remember where it came from so I apologize for not citing it now but it got me thinking about my plateau and maybe it will be able to help someone else. I read that as you begin to exercise on a regular basis your body burns calories. After exercising on a regular basis for a couple months your body's internal temperature will stay raised longer, even in a resting state, and continue to burn a good amount of calories. I was amazed when I read that. Can I really at one point sit on my couch and burn more calories picking up the remote than I did today???? It makes sense when you think about it but just remember that even when your metabolism kicks back into high gear you have to continue to feed it with healthy foods and a healthy exercise routine.
In the long run, all these thoughts keep me going even though I have reached what has always been my plateau. I know that one day I will reach another one and then another one, maybe with every 5 to 10 pounds lost, but I know that I must persevere so I can become the person that my husband, children, family, and MYSELF deserve. I will be that happy, active, bubbly person that is ready to take on the world. I'm already some of that stuff but having a good image of yourself is always a good way to keep up being happy, healthy, and BUBBLY!!!
Hope everyone has a good week. I know I will try and I would LOVE to hear about how you plan to change your life to make yourself happier and healthier.
Well, I haven't suceeded in my endeavor to lose 5 pounds a week for my first 2 weeks, instead I have lost 5.6 pounds. Yesterday was my 2 week mark and even though 5.6 pounds seems good to most, it is a little disappointing when you had been down to 7.8 pounds lost and somehow, without eating any more than you had been, you gain 2.2 pounds. I know I shouldn't be that disappointed but I have been working really hard and I always seem to only be able to go so far.
What is my problem? Well, I honestly believe that my body doesn't understand what it will feel like to be under 160 pounds. I haven't been able to get below that in years. Everytime I get close I seem to always gain weight, somehow. It feels like my body is constantly conspiring against me and I guess in ways it is. Physically my metabolism has slowed so much that even the slightest bit of nourishment I give my body is stored as fat. Physically my body isn't used to exercise anymore so it is taking my metabolism longer than most to jump start again and begin to regain momentum. Mentally, it's HARD to stay on a diet and control what you put into your body when, for so long, you have been indulging in every little craving you have had.
When I break down my individual problems I am more likely going to stay on the path to weight loss. I'm not going to be able to get overwhelmed when I take it one step at a time and focus on one problem I am encountering. The first problem I am facing is the fact that my plateau is 160- 165 pounds and I CAN still lose weight, it's just going to take a little more effort.
With that being acknowleged I am then going to focus on how I can up my effort in my weight loss. I can add new exercises to my regular routine that I have been doing religiously for the past 2 weeks. Instead of jogging in place for an hour I will jog in place but throw in 30 jumping jacks every 15 minutes. I will do this 2 times a day instead of only one hour and then a half hour at lunch. I have decided to add running up and down my steps in my house during my lunch exercise routine so that I can add a little more pep into my step (no pun intended). I still do my weight lifting while jogging and then my crunches afterwards, but sometimes I decide it's important for my body to stop and do crunches to break things up a little bit. I'm not overdoing my exercises but rather telling my body it needs to start cooperating with me.
My food intake is still staying the same, a decent breakfast followed by a larger lunch and then just a small portion for supper. Also, I have stopped eating past 5pm. If I need something after that I will drink some juice or water, something that will satisfy my hunger (probably not an actual craving) but will get me through until morning. I have found that I don't get hungry like I used to now that I am portioning my food and only eating single servings without seconds. I take vitamins daily to try and compensate for what I may be lacking since now I am eating fewer things than normal (not like a big box of macaroni and cheese had many vitamins to start with).
I am determined to continue this weight loss journey. I, however, know that it is going to take longer than anticipated. I know that I won't be down to my goal weight when I go on vacation but I can keep working towards it and who knows, I may lose some weight while we are away. Always a nice thing to think and look forward to.
This is a little out of nowhere but I just remembered part of an article I read the other day online. I don't remember where it came from so I apologize for not citing it now but it got me thinking about my plateau and maybe it will be able to help someone else. I read that as you begin to exercise on a regular basis your body burns calories. After exercising on a regular basis for a couple months your body's internal temperature will stay raised longer, even in a resting state, and continue to burn a good amount of calories. I was amazed when I read that. Can I really at one point sit on my couch and burn more calories picking up the remote than I did today???? It makes sense when you think about it but just remember that even when your metabolism kicks back into high gear you have to continue to feed it with healthy foods and a healthy exercise routine.
In the long run, all these thoughts keep me going even though I have reached what has always been my plateau. I know that one day I will reach another one and then another one, maybe with every 5 to 10 pounds lost, but I know that I must persevere so I can become the person that my husband, children, family, and MYSELF deserve. I will be that happy, active, bubbly person that is ready to take on the world. I'm already some of that stuff but having a good image of yourself is always a good way to keep up being happy, healthy, and BUBBLY!!!
Hope everyone has a good week. I know I will try and I would LOVE to hear about how you plan to change your life to make yourself happier and healthier.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Portion Control
Today was a big milestone for me in my dieting advenute.... Today I was able to put on my jeans and actually button them! Yes, I will admit that they were still snug, but I was able to get them all the way up and button them and STILL be able to breath. I didn't have to suck in my stomach to get such satisfaction, either. Before I began my weight loss journey, and the thing that was the beginning of this dieting ripple effect in my life, I couldn't even come close to buttoning my jeans. I actually went to put them on one day before heading out to supper with the family so I wouldn't look like a royal mess and still wound up having to wear my athletic pants because putting jeans on just wasn't an option. That was a wake up call for me and I am so glad that I have began this journey to better understand and love myself.
I never realized how much I ate, I knew it was a lot, but I wasn't sure exactly how much. When I pulled out a pack of poptarts from my cabinet I ate both of them, so thankful that they tasted so good. But how many people actually look at the box to see the portion size? I decided to do it one day and guess what? 1 serving of poptarts is only 1 pastry. Why would they package them in 2 serving portions???? That makes no sense to me. So when I think I'm only eating 200 calories with my 2 pastries I am in reality eating 400 calories! Same thing with peanut butter bars. They are packaged with 2 waffer bars together but only 1 waffer bar is a single serving. So the 140 calories you believe to be eating is actually 280 calories.
By not watching what I put into my body I was doubling my caloric intake and not even realizing it. I have put myself on notice that I must look at every package and every bag before I consume anything so I know that I am only getting one serving. Just like bread, did you know that only 1 slice is a single serving? But in order to make a sandwich we use 2. What we should be doing is eating one serving and then pairing it with a healthy side like a salad or a fruit. The food industry is making it to where it is easy and convenient to over eat. I have become aware of that with everything I eat.
When I eat a bowl of cereal I actually measure out the 3/4 cup and the 1/3 cup of milk before eating. And guess what? It actually filled me up. We always eat with our eyes. It's just like the saying "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach". Yes, they are. So if you only put what you should be eating infront of your eyes than you will be so much more satisfied. And don't eat anything fast, eat is slow and enjoy every bite you put in your mouth. That way your body will be satisfied with taste as well.
Portioning food is a hassle sometimes but when you are dedicated and can see the positive outcome you have it all becomes worth it. Even if you decide not to exercise at all just lower the amount of food you are putting into your body. Go from eating those 400 calories worth of poptarts to only the 200 you should be eating. Your body will still feel full if you take twice the time to eat that single poptart and enjoy every minute of it. Or pair it with orange juice (one serving) or a big glass of water. Water is the calorie free way of helping with the portion control while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Just log one day what you normally eat and then the next day eat the same thing but only eat a single serving of that. Then compare what you logged for those 2 days. How many fewer calories did you consume on day 2 than on day 1? Did you feel any better? Did you drink plenty of water to balance out the fact that you are consuming less (yet still a healthy amount of your daily needs)?
I challenge everyone to consume only a single serving of every food you put into your body for one week. Did you weigh any less? Did you feel less hungry at the end of the week? Starting to do this will lead to a healthier you and a happier life.
I never realized how much I ate, I knew it was a lot, but I wasn't sure exactly how much. When I pulled out a pack of poptarts from my cabinet I ate both of them, so thankful that they tasted so good. But how many people actually look at the box to see the portion size? I decided to do it one day and guess what? 1 serving of poptarts is only 1 pastry. Why would they package them in 2 serving portions???? That makes no sense to me. So when I think I'm only eating 200 calories with my 2 pastries I am in reality eating 400 calories! Same thing with peanut butter bars. They are packaged with 2 waffer bars together but only 1 waffer bar is a single serving. So the 140 calories you believe to be eating is actually 280 calories.
By not watching what I put into my body I was doubling my caloric intake and not even realizing it. I have put myself on notice that I must look at every package and every bag before I consume anything so I know that I am only getting one serving. Just like bread, did you know that only 1 slice is a single serving? But in order to make a sandwich we use 2. What we should be doing is eating one serving and then pairing it with a healthy side like a salad or a fruit. The food industry is making it to where it is easy and convenient to over eat. I have become aware of that with everything I eat.
When I eat a bowl of cereal I actually measure out the 3/4 cup and the 1/3 cup of milk before eating. And guess what? It actually filled me up. We always eat with our eyes. It's just like the saying "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach". Yes, they are. So if you only put what you should be eating infront of your eyes than you will be so much more satisfied. And don't eat anything fast, eat is slow and enjoy every bite you put in your mouth. That way your body will be satisfied with taste as well.
Portioning food is a hassle sometimes but when you are dedicated and can see the positive outcome you have it all becomes worth it. Even if you decide not to exercise at all just lower the amount of food you are putting into your body. Go from eating those 400 calories worth of poptarts to only the 200 you should be eating. Your body will still feel full if you take twice the time to eat that single poptart and enjoy every minute of it. Or pair it with orange juice (one serving) or a big glass of water. Water is the calorie free way of helping with the portion control while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Just log one day what you normally eat and then the next day eat the same thing but only eat a single serving of that. Then compare what you logged for those 2 days. How many fewer calories did you consume on day 2 than on day 1? Did you feel any better? Did you drink plenty of water to balance out the fact that you are consuming less (yet still a healthy amount of your daily needs)?
I challenge everyone to consume only a single serving of every food you put into your body for one week. Did you weigh any less? Did you feel less hungry at the end of the week? Starting to do this will lead to a healthier you and a happier life.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
1 Week Down- Addicted to Food
Good Morning everyone! This morning I did my first week weigh in and boy do the numbers feel good to see! I started last week at 170 pounds with a BMI of 29.9 (one point away from obese) and today I have dropped 6.2 pounds, a total of 3.6% of my body weight, and now I have a BMI of 29. I am still 43.8 pounds away from my goal but the motivation I have is so empowering! I actually look forward to waking up in the mornings and starting off with a nice jog, followed by a healthy breakfast.
Water has become my true friend. I never thought I would say this but I LOVE water! I used to argue that as long as I was drinking something I would get my daily fill of water but now my body wants water. As I jog infront of my television shows and enjoy sharing my exercises with my children I don't feel like it's a chore anymore. I found a productive way of managing my time and energy during my "relaxation" periods. I feel inclined to exercise, to burn off some calories, to get my heart pumping. I haven't felt like this in many years.
When I quit smoking I picked up an addiction that I thought wasn't even possible. Food. I took the need for comfort that I once got with a cigarette and substituted food for it instead. I ate myself into obesity. I became the person I never wanted to be, the mom who would rather sit on a bench than run through the park with her kids. What's interesting, though, is that I didn't overeat with junk food or stuff that, in moderation, wasn't bad for you. I love carbs and I could eat and entire Lipton Noodles side packet, serving for 4, in one sitting... for a SNACK! But now, I look to other alternatives. I look to something that I can eat slowly and still satisfy that need for food. I know that my need for food won't go away but my control over how much I indulge can be controlled. I find that if you eat yogurt and only dip your spoon in just so there is enough to taste, you can make that I container of yogurt last 30 to 45 minutes while you snack on the couch. Even something like ice cream can be controlled like that. It's not the amount you put in your bowl, it's the size of the bite you put into your mouth.
I like to eat a lot. If I sit for those 30 minutes and eat only one container of yogurt or only one bowl of ice cream my "need" for food will be satisfied yet I wouldn't have had as many calories/ fat as I would if I ate fast and continued to refill my bowl or get more containers of yogurt. I also know that once you finish a plate of food you should wait 15 minutes to have seconds. It takes your body at least that amount of time to send a signal from your stomach to your brain telling you that you are full. I also know that if you drink water before a meal you will start filling your stomach and be more inclined to eat less. These are techniques that I have been trying and they really work. It's amazing at how much lighter I already feel knowing that I am beginning to control my own life.
I have the power to control what I do with my life. I deserve to do good not only for my family, but more importantly than myself. If I let myself go then I will let everyone around me down, along with myself. I don't want to be that couch potato that I have become. I am finally ready to step willingly and happily into womanhood and embrace the person that I am going to become, the person that I know I am, the person I have been hiding from myself and from the world for so long now.
Take the time out to look at yourself in the mirror, I did. What do you see? Who will look back at you when this journey starts? My reflection said it all. She said "Thank you".
Water has become my true friend. I never thought I would say this but I LOVE water! I used to argue that as long as I was drinking something I would get my daily fill of water but now my body wants water. As I jog infront of my television shows and enjoy sharing my exercises with my children I don't feel like it's a chore anymore. I found a productive way of managing my time and energy during my "relaxation" periods. I feel inclined to exercise, to burn off some calories, to get my heart pumping. I haven't felt like this in many years.
When I quit smoking I picked up an addiction that I thought wasn't even possible. Food. I took the need for comfort that I once got with a cigarette and substituted food for it instead. I ate myself into obesity. I became the person I never wanted to be, the mom who would rather sit on a bench than run through the park with her kids. What's interesting, though, is that I didn't overeat with junk food or stuff that, in moderation, wasn't bad for you. I love carbs and I could eat and entire Lipton Noodles side packet, serving for 4, in one sitting... for a SNACK! But now, I look to other alternatives. I look to something that I can eat slowly and still satisfy that need for food. I know that my need for food won't go away but my control over how much I indulge can be controlled. I find that if you eat yogurt and only dip your spoon in just so there is enough to taste, you can make that I container of yogurt last 30 to 45 minutes while you snack on the couch. Even something like ice cream can be controlled like that. It's not the amount you put in your bowl, it's the size of the bite you put into your mouth.
I like to eat a lot. If I sit for those 30 minutes and eat only one container of yogurt or only one bowl of ice cream my "need" for food will be satisfied yet I wouldn't have had as many calories/ fat as I would if I ate fast and continued to refill my bowl or get more containers of yogurt. I also know that once you finish a plate of food you should wait 15 minutes to have seconds. It takes your body at least that amount of time to send a signal from your stomach to your brain telling you that you are full. I also know that if you drink water before a meal you will start filling your stomach and be more inclined to eat less. These are techniques that I have been trying and they really work. It's amazing at how much lighter I already feel knowing that I am beginning to control my own life.
I have the power to control what I do with my life. I deserve to do good not only for my family, but more importantly than myself. If I let myself go then I will let everyone around me down, along with myself. I don't want to be that couch potato that I have become. I am finally ready to step willingly and happily into womanhood and embrace the person that I am going to become, the person that I know I am, the person I have been hiding from myself and from the world for so long now.
Take the time out to look at yourself in the mirror, I did. What do you see? Who will look back at you when this journey starts? My reflection said it all. She said "Thank you".
Monday, January 16, 2012
The First Days
Welcome everyone. I am definitely excited to start this journey. Perhaps if I log my experiences I will be more inclined to follow through. Disappointment is not something I like to instill upon myself so I'm hoping that by sharing my experiences with others I will be able to keep strong and move into a healthier light.
Throughout the past year I have been dealt some pretty hard blows to my potential health. I had been diagnosed with Lyme Disease and treated for that for 6 weeks and then I was told that I potentially had Lupus ontop of it. Luckily, the Lyme Disease was what showed a false positive for Lupus and I do not have it. However, symptoms persisted and I was then diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both of my wrists. I was given wrist splints to use at night but when they stopped working I then chose to endure cortisone shots in both of my wrists. That worked for about a month and now my wrists are acting up again but with having 4 young children I am not willing to have surgery to repair it because that would be a total of 12 weeks recovery and limited mobility in my hands. That will just have to wait.
We had a scare of me having MS mixed in with everything else so my physician scheduled an MRI of my brain. Luckily, once again, there were no signs of MS but there was a cyst found on my Pineal Gland which was potentially causing my symptoms. So I was then sent to a neurologist and it became another waiting game until I saw him. I was nervous, naturally, to see him because I had something in my brain that was larger than most found. The neurologist, however, told me not to worry and said that he believed that I still had the Lyme Disease. His diagnosis was "possible Lyme Disease with Fibromyalgia". So he prescribed me 6 weeks of heavy antibiotics which I knew would make me violently ill if it was Lyme Disease and medication for chronic pain to control the Fibromyalgia.
After 3 days on the antibiotics my body wasn't reacting the way it should for Lyme Disease so I knew deep down that Lyme Disease wasn't the cause of my symptoms or of my pain. I continued to take the medication, which is NOT a pain reliever but actually an antidepressant that physicians have found to work on nerve pain. I take this every single night as prescribed and have found that my symptoms have all faded away to another place and time. I hardly remember what it feels like to have my feet feel like they are burning or my head to hurt so bad that I want to throw up.
Why was that information important to tell on a first introduction? Well I find it very important to know someone's history and what exactly brought them to the point of being overweight or even obese. I got to the point that I ate to comfort myself from all of the things that were going on with my body. I chose not to exercise because I was so tired and felt drained by mid afternoon. I ate whatever I wanted, mainly eating out and overeating, because that's what made me feel better. I couldn't control what was happening to my body so I chose to control what I put in it, and I was putting a lot in it.
Nothing that I was doing, however, was making me happy. I got to 180 pounds and, while only being 5 foot 3 inches, found that to be in the early stages of obesity. I have since lost 10 pounds, putting myself in the "overweight" range but that is still far from where I want to be. Minimizing what I put into my body doesn't do any good when there is no diet or exercise routine. So I only ate 4 pieces of pizza instead of the 6 I normally would. Yes, I would lose weight that way but I was still putting tons of calories and fat into my diet.
So, for the past 5 days I have eaten nothing but foods high in protein, low in calories and fat, and no artificial flavoring. My drinks consist of home brewed iced tea, water, or Crystal Light. I have chosen to eat nothing but proteins, unfried foods, an very few carbs. My first week feels like a starvation period for my stomach but really it's not. My stomach just isn't used to "feeling" hungry. And the more I think about it, most people in the United States don't know what hunger really is.
We eat because we're supposed to eat 3 square meals a day. We don't necessarily eat because our body is hungry. Yes, a hunger pang can hit and you run for a candy bar to hold yourself over but actually being hungry and feeling that hunger for an extended period of time is something we as a society forget about. When we eat too much or when our body is not hungry we store fat and we all know that for women that usually goes into the butt and thighs. But did you know that when you are hungry your body burns off that fat and turns it into energy? Yes, that is good to eat when you are hungry but NOT when you are starving yourself. Fasting and then eating when your body is so nutrition deprived is just as bad as eating when you're not hungry at all. Your body stores everything that you have eaten and deprived it of so that it can make sure you survive another day. Your body has it's own fight or flight mechanism built in when it comes to food. Finding that medium between eating because it's the right thing to do and eating because of starvation is something that's hard to find.
I am going to put my best foot forward to find that happy medium. How long should I really be hungry before indulging in a small, healthy meal? Well, we shall see. It's not going to be easy but I know that by talking about it is going to really help me out. I started this week at 170 pounds and I'm hoping that by my birthday I will be down to 150 pounds. Yes, the first couple weeks are the weeks were you lose the most. Right now my body is losing all the fat I have stored up but soon I will be adding on muscle. I know my weight loss will decline and not be so drastic towards the end of my journey but I know that I will only be adding weight in muscle, not fat.
I challenge everyone to take a day and just eat when you are hungry, not to snack. What will you do with the rest of your day when you are normally eating chips infront of your favorite show? Jog in place, do crunches, lift weights.... Get your body moving. Keep it moving for an hour and see how you feel afterwards. Don't overdo it, just go slow. Walk if that's easier. But everytime you move you put more oxygen in your blood and you get a little bit more exercise than you started out with.
Good luck in your challenge and I hope that other's will follow me in my journey.
Throughout the past year I have been dealt some pretty hard blows to my potential health. I had been diagnosed with Lyme Disease and treated for that for 6 weeks and then I was told that I potentially had Lupus ontop of it. Luckily, the Lyme Disease was what showed a false positive for Lupus and I do not have it. However, symptoms persisted and I was then diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both of my wrists. I was given wrist splints to use at night but when they stopped working I then chose to endure cortisone shots in both of my wrists. That worked for about a month and now my wrists are acting up again but with having 4 young children I am not willing to have surgery to repair it because that would be a total of 12 weeks recovery and limited mobility in my hands. That will just have to wait.
We had a scare of me having MS mixed in with everything else so my physician scheduled an MRI of my brain. Luckily, once again, there were no signs of MS but there was a cyst found on my Pineal Gland which was potentially causing my symptoms. So I was then sent to a neurologist and it became another waiting game until I saw him. I was nervous, naturally, to see him because I had something in my brain that was larger than most found. The neurologist, however, told me not to worry and said that he believed that I still had the Lyme Disease. His diagnosis was "possible Lyme Disease with Fibromyalgia". So he prescribed me 6 weeks of heavy antibiotics which I knew would make me violently ill if it was Lyme Disease and medication for chronic pain to control the Fibromyalgia.
After 3 days on the antibiotics my body wasn't reacting the way it should for Lyme Disease so I knew deep down that Lyme Disease wasn't the cause of my symptoms or of my pain. I continued to take the medication, which is NOT a pain reliever but actually an antidepressant that physicians have found to work on nerve pain. I take this every single night as prescribed and have found that my symptoms have all faded away to another place and time. I hardly remember what it feels like to have my feet feel like they are burning or my head to hurt so bad that I want to throw up.
Why was that information important to tell on a first introduction? Well I find it very important to know someone's history and what exactly brought them to the point of being overweight or even obese. I got to the point that I ate to comfort myself from all of the things that were going on with my body. I chose not to exercise because I was so tired and felt drained by mid afternoon. I ate whatever I wanted, mainly eating out and overeating, because that's what made me feel better. I couldn't control what was happening to my body so I chose to control what I put in it, and I was putting a lot in it.
Nothing that I was doing, however, was making me happy. I got to 180 pounds and, while only being 5 foot 3 inches, found that to be in the early stages of obesity. I have since lost 10 pounds, putting myself in the "overweight" range but that is still far from where I want to be. Minimizing what I put into my body doesn't do any good when there is no diet or exercise routine. So I only ate 4 pieces of pizza instead of the 6 I normally would. Yes, I would lose weight that way but I was still putting tons of calories and fat into my diet.
So, for the past 5 days I have eaten nothing but foods high in protein, low in calories and fat, and no artificial flavoring. My drinks consist of home brewed iced tea, water, or Crystal Light. I have chosen to eat nothing but proteins, unfried foods, an very few carbs. My first week feels like a starvation period for my stomach but really it's not. My stomach just isn't used to "feeling" hungry. And the more I think about it, most people in the United States don't know what hunger really is.
We eat because we're supposed to eat 3 square meals a day. We don't necessarily eat because our body is hungry. Yes, a hunger pang can hit and you run for a candy bar to hold yourself over but actually being hungry and feeling that hunger for an extended period of time is something we as a society forget about. When we eat too much or when our body is not hungry we store fat and we all know that for women that usually goes into the butt and thighs. But did you know that when you are hungry your body burns off that fat and turns it into energy? Yes, that is good to eat when you are hungry but NOT when you are starving yourself. Fasting and then eating when your body is so nutrition deprived is just as bad as eating when you're not hungry at all. Your body stores everything that you have eaten and deprived it of so that it can make sure you survive another day. Your body has it's own fight or flight mechanism built in when it comes to food. Finding that medium between eating because it's the right thing to do and eating because of starvation is something that's hard to find.
I am going to put my best foot forward to find that happy medium. How long should I really be hungry before indulging in a small, healthy meal? Well, we shall see. It's not going to be easy but I know that by talking about it is going to really help me out. I started this week at 170 pounds and I'm hoping that by my birthday I will be down to 150 pounds. Yes, the first couple weeks are the weeks were you lose the most. Right now my body is losing all the fat I have stored up but soon I will be adding on muscle. I know my weight loss will decline and not be so drastic towards the end of my journey but I know that I will only be adding weight in muscle, not fat.
I challenge everyone to take a day and just eat when you are hungry, not to snack. What will you do with the rest of your day when you are normally eating chips infront of your favorite show? Jog in place, do crunches, lift weights.... Get your body moving. Keep it moving for an hour and see how you feel afterwards. Don't overdo it, just go slow. Walk if that's easier. But everytime you move you put more oxygen in your blood and you get a little bit more exercise than you started out with.
Good luck in your challenge and I hope that other's will follow me in my journey.
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