How did I do through the holidays?

So, the holidays are the hardest time to be losing weight. The average person gains 3-8 lbs over the holiday season. Just before thanksgiving, I weighed 219. I now currently weigh 206! :) I am feeling really good about how I am doing. I am proud of how I have handled the last couple of days. I didn't finish either of my plates on Christmas eve or Christmas day at our family gatherings. I was plenty satisfied, and I even did things to burn it off. Saturday I worked in the morning, and after our family party that night, my hubby and I went up to Temple Square in Salt Lake City and walked around to see the Christmas lights. Then Sunday I got on the treadmill at my mother in laws and burned off some of what I ate! I feel really good about that! The hard part now is that we are going to be headed out of town later this week. Wish me luck!

Unexplained Blessings

So, to continue on my current plan, I was $150 short as of noon today. I found out that my doTERRA check was $50 short, so they will be sending that, and I also found out that my boss is giving us a little extra in our checks for Christmas. At least half of that $150 wad taken care of in a matter of 3 hours! I can squeeze another 75 out of somewhere! This is such a blessing!
I finally feel like I have a plan that is working for me, and I'm loving the personal training I am getting! I'm going to be one tough Minnie when this is over! I'm doing a lot of boxing in my training, and the inches are starting to come off of my arm! I couldn't be happier than I am at this moment!

What now?

So, my hubby still works nights, and with my plan for my program right now, once I'm done with dinner, I can only have water. Do you know how hard that is when you are home alone and lonely? I don't think my husband will understand how much I miss him, and how much I wish I didn't have to work, just so I could see him, and we could be on a similar schedule. It seems the only times we have together are his days off, (mine don't exist other than sundays) Sundays, and when either he or I are sleeping. It's nice that we don't fight, but these nights at home are really hard on me. I can't even tell you how bad I want to run to the store, by every type of cheese in sight, and have a mexican pig out. I am sitting here, crying, typing this, missing my husband. I didn't realize how bad I would let my emotions get to me with him working nights until I went on this program.
Now that I have the knowledge, what do I do now? Knowledge is power, right? Well, going out so I don't have to think about it is usually a bad idea, because that usually involves eating. I don't like to go to the gym late at night unless it is for a group workout because the gym isn't staffed after 7. Exercising at home isn't really working out for me, but sitting in front of the TV isn't either. I'm at a loss for what to do. I want to deep clean my apartment, but the neighbor below us works early in the morning, so she is in bed by 7:30-8 so that she can be up by 3.
So here I sit, in my dirty apartment, (other than clean dishes and laundry folded) crying wondering what to do. Does anyone else ever go through this? Am I weird? I have no idea. I'm going to go watch some Vampire Diaries, and hope that I can fall asleep early so that I don't have to keep thinking about this.

Progressing again

Things are looking up. It seems I am back on track to be to my goal weight by the new year as long as I am disciplined. No more cheating or slips for me, and I have to make sure I stay active! I've officially lost 10 lbs and 18.5 inches since just before Thanksgiving. I feel that is pretty impressive! I still have about 9 lbs to go to reach my goal, but I feel that if I buckle down and stick to my plan, things should go according to plan and be great! Here's to making it through the next 2 weeks!
My official competition ending weigh in is on Thursday, and I really want to blow it out of the water! :D

A little discouraged.

I'm a little discouraged right now. I'm still losing inches, but the pounds haven't been coming off. I'm following the plan how they tell me too, and I'm still worried about reaching my goal. It is still a good 10 lbs to get under that 200 mark. I really don't want to see 2012 start with a 2 anything when it comes to my weight. I'm going to have to amp things up I guess, and get more stringent on what I am eating.
The holidays are proving hard to be as successful as I want. There is so much temptation around. I've been really good about keeping it out of the house, but when you are at Christmas parties it is harder. I wish holidays didn't center around food. It makes things difficult!

Will Power

So, I have to tell you, I was so lost last night due to that craving, I honestly had no idea what to do. I didn't give in to this particular craving, because I wanted to find out what about it I was craving. Was it the cheese? Was it just bread in general? What was it about THOSE PARTICULAR ONES that I was craving. As I sat and thought about it last night, I found out it was their seasoning blend that I was craving! Their particular blend seems to be more salty than the other pizza places, so I figured I was craving the salt more than anything. That's why it wasn't just cheesy bread of any kind. So, I drank some more water thinking I was dehydrated, and I did fine the rest of the night. I even said no to the cookies I bought for my work staff meeting last night.

All in all, I think this was a good experience for me to go through! I learned that I need to know specifically what I am craving about foods I crave, and figure out what I need! :)

Craving!!!!

Ok, so I have been following my plan really well considering everything that has been going on with me in the last two weeks with my wedding anniversary and Thanksgiving. Tonight I am craving Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread. It's so specific I don't even know what to do about it!

A visit to almost 2 years ago

Last night I went back to the beginning of this blog, and remembered how vulnerable I made myself with some of those first posts. I'm really heartbroken that I really haven't made any progress from then! I don't even know what to think about it. I've started sharing this blog again, and I am scared to make myself vulnerable again. I know I need to to be more successful.
After my workout last night, I went home and had a good cry. I can't believe it's taken me almost 2 years to get more serious about this! I'm 9 pounds away from being under 200. I will NEVER spend another year in the 200s! I have to make this happen not only for my health, but for my future family.
Lately, I have been having dreams about my husband and I announcing we are pregnant to our extended family. My dreams take place in spring/summer. That means I have about 6 months to make sure my body is ready for my future family! I have a lot to do between now and then.
I hope I continue to receive the help and support I need!

Weight Loss Competition

So, shortly after my last post, I was invited to participate in a weight loss challenge at a local gym! I accepted, and have been doing the program for the last 2 weeks. As of this morning, I have lost 9 lbs! When I did my official weigh in last Tuesday, I had lost 7.5 inches off my body in the first week. That felt really good! I have to be honest! It doesn't seem the weight loss is as much this week, but I think it was just as many inches, because all of my clothes fit differently. I even have a pair that I can't wear anymore because they are too big!

I hope this continues to work so well for me! Week 2 was definitely harder. The temptation to cheat was much more! :( But that's in the past! This is a new week, and I am more motivated than ever to get under 200 by the new year!I have 10 more lbs to lose to get there! (I had gained some before I started this program!) But I will get there, and that's all that matters!

Set backs and Progress

So, when I first said I was going to lose that much weight by the new year, I really believed I was going to. Then, I got lazy. I'm not going to lie or sugar coat it. I just plum got lazy, and gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks instead of losing it. So, I have really been buckling down and sticking to my plan, and amping up my exercise the last 2 weeks, and I have now lost 1 lb from my starting point! I only have 12 more lbs to go! That's progress, and that's what I am thriving on! I still have a ways to go, but as long as I stick to what I am doing, I should be there by the New Year!

So, how am I going to keep my control this week?

I am going to make sure that I drink TONS of water, make sure that I get exercise in at least 5 days this week, if not 6. I am also not going to go back for seconds at Thanksgiving dinner. I usually eat my weight in mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, but not this year. I also think I won't be putting gravy on my potatoes, and making sure there are more veggies on my plate than potatoes.

In general, I have decided that I am not going to be eating fried food anymore. The only fried food I was really eating was chicken breasts at fast food places, and french fries. I can live without those. If anything, it will keep me at arms length from fast food, which won't be a bad thing.

Also, I have gotten out of control with my cheese consumption again. I'm going to really cut that back again. Last time I did that I lost 4 lbs in one month, so that will only add to my arsenal of help on this journey.

Wish me luck! I hope I still have readers!

I've set a goal

I am DONE being over 200 lbs! My goal is to weigh under 200 by Jan 1, 2012. 2011 is my last year over 200 lbs! It's only 13 lbs from where I am at now. I can do this! It is totally doable! I am really excited about this goal, and am wanting to get active as often as I can! If anyone is ever out and about, I would love to join them on a walk whenever I can! Let me know!

So today, I was on Pinterest, (My new addiction) and I found a link to a blog that I want to share with you. This gal lost 135 lbs, and she talked about what she misses about that size, and how she is both her skinny self, and her big self. It is so beautifully written, I thought I would share the link! Here it is! Look on her segment What I miss about 135 lbs ago. It's beautiful!

Gaining Control

If I have to gain something, I'm glad it's control! ;)

So, I have lost half of the weight that I had gained back, and I plan to continue to lose it. Things are a little less stressful now. It's not quite there, but it's getting there. I feel like I have a better handle on my life than I did a couple of weeks ago. I am doing everything in my power to be the happy positive Shae that I was for a really long time. I have goals and dreams now. I haven't really had them for a while and I feel like I have a reason to do everything that I am doing again.

Wish me luck!

Struggles

So, things haven't been going so well since my last post. I've had a lot of stressed added to me at work, and I haven't been handling them very well at all. I'm not sleeping as well, and I've put on weight. I'm not ready to admit how much, but I will let you know once I'm back down to what I've lost. It seems to be coming off pretty quickly now, but I still am not ready to admit how much. I am back to watching more closely what I am eating, when I am eating, and why I am eating. When I check with those things, I do much better.

I have been so stressed that I made myself sick. I'm learning the limits of my body and I am trying to stay farther away from them. Things can only go up from here. Everything except my weight, that is! ;)

NO GAIN!!!

So, today I climbed on the scale. It's been over 3 weeks of being depressed and not eating as good as I should that got me there. I needed to see where I was at before I go back to the dietitian on Tuesday...and I didn't gain anything! Wahoo! I did better than I had realized, because I was actually down another pound! I'm so stoked! I know now that if I really amp up my program, then I really will see the results that I need to and want to see!

Working out has been my struggle. And eating good things. My hubby was out of work, so we bought what was cheap or on sale for the most part. But I have really struggled with wanting to get to my workouts, just like any other human being on this planet! I always feel better when I do, but I was so far gone for a while that I just didn't even care anymore. That time has passed, and it's only caring from here on out! My health is much more important than me being a lazy woman!

Help from a friend

So, this is a picture of my friend Carrie! (This picture is old, but it's still a picture!) She and I have a lot in common, and I am so grateful for her friendship. Lately, her and I have been feeling much the same in life, and she has found her way through it. I'm not all the way through my current struggles, but I am getting better with it.

I have been feeling really guilty about a lot of things in my life that I didn't realize until about a week and a half ago when I went to the temple. Long story short, I went and had some discovery. I now need to put that plan and discovery into action. First things first, I am back on my plan as of this moment. Secondly, I need to kick things up a notch without killing myself. Thirdly, I really need to find a way to take some time off of work. I need to schedule a "stay cation" and really get my house clean and organized. It has been driving me nuts, and I haven't been home enough to do anything about it. That's all about to change!

Wish me luck, and thanks again to Carrie. I love having someone that understands me on more than one level.

Quotes that make me happy!

The always beautiful Audrey Hepburn has some quotes that I have had friends sharing them lately, and they make me happy, so I want to share them with all of you!

Nothing is impossible. The word it's self says "I'm possible."

I find that happy girls are the prettiest girls.

I love that these quotes really aren't based on anything vain. She is such a beautiful person inside and out. I only hope that I can take on her amazing spirit and be able to inspire people to love and believe in themselves.

Have a fabulous Friday everyone!

WoW!

So, I have been getting to bed early lately! It is not in my nature to be asleep and dead to the world by 10:30! Maybe I am finally adjusting to my early morning schedule! All I know, is that I am sleeping more deeply, but still feeling exhausted! I am so ready to just sleep for a week to catch up!

I have been napping as well. Should I be worried that something is going on with having to sleep so much? Is it stress related? I don't know! I guess I will just have to "ride it out" and see!

Emotional Roller Coaster!

So, I have been on a major emotional roller coaster this week! I have been fine one minute, bawling my eyes out the next, happy and laughing about that the next, and then furious the next. All for no real reason! I'm thinking stress is the biggest factor in this! My "Monthly Visitor" is here as well, and I know that doesn't help anything. I guess a lot of it is the fact that I feel like my hubby doesn't appreciate everything I've been doing for him. I come home, he doesn't have anything done at the house, and when I ask him about it, I get jumped on. I then get defensive, because I haven't done anything wrong, and that makes me emotional, because I don't like to fight with my husband! I am ready for him to find a job. If he was working all day, and I came home to a house that needed a little bit of a clean up, I wouldn't mind. It's when he's home all day, and has the time to do it, and he doesn't, that it's hard on me. Blah! I want to get off the roller coaster and go back to real life! I have no desire to work out. I should take all my frustrations out at the gym, but I don't have any motivation to go right now.
I did go to the temple last night, and I left feeling very at peace, and was much more myself last night. Hopefully that feeling will continue throughout today!

The results are in!

So, I went to the dietitian yesterday, and now I can relax! According to her scale, just like mine I lost 4 lbs in the last 4 weeks! That is exactly the pace I want to be going! Part of me was secretly hoping it was going to be more, but it's ok! I am happy with that amount off of my body for good! I feel great! I feel healthy, and that's about all I could ask for!
After everything was done yesterday, before I had to go into work, I took a nap! (Hence the choice in picture!) It was so nice to catch a nap! I have been running myself ragged, and I need to slow down a little!

Getting a little nervous.....

Ok, so I have my 3rd meeting with the dietitian tomorrow. I feel like I have been doing great this month! Let's hope that her scale shows it! I have been trying to eat good, but I have to admit that I haven't been doing very well the last week or so. I've been doing a bit of stress eating, due to everything that has been going on. I've not eaten as bad as I know I have in the past, so here's to hoping that it turns out better than I think it will! I am ready to feel good about going to the dietitian again, not nervous. I haven't been following my plan quite as closely the last week, but I hope I did enough working out to counter balance it.

EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!!

So, this picture is how I feel right now! It seems that I just can't get enough sleep, and I run myself ragged! My poor hubby doesn't know what to do, because I am so tired when I am at home. He keeps thinking I am mad at him! I'm really not, I am just exhausted, trying to wind down so I can get some sleep! My way of escaping lately has been to read. It's been nice to do that, but my hubby feels like I am shutting him out. I'm not intentionally trying to do that. I felt so bad, because I got home a little after 10 last night from my long day, and one of the first things I do as I come through the door is jump at him over something stupid. I felt SO BAD!!! I really don't do that! Bottom line, I need to make sleep more of a priority in my life again!

T-Tapp

So, my friend Carrie introduced me to the at home workout T-Tapp. The Basic Workout is a 15 minute workout meant to detox your system. It was designed for people without thyroids. Teressa Tapp has a Dr. degree, and she designed this system herself, because a lot of people with thyroid problems are very overweight. It is truly fabulous! In the 15 minutes it takes to do this workout, I am pouring with sweat! Check it out! I am a huge fan! t-tapp.com

Article Time!

So, being that my husband lost his job, I have been looking for ways to make healthy meals fairly inexpensively. I found an article about rice and beans, and thought that I would share it with you all! I think my brother and his family who live in Brazil will enjoy it!

(NaturalNews) Failing economies and rising food prices are getting a bit scary. Then there is the talk of food shortages looming, which is scarier. It is time to discuss beans and rice again for inexpensive, tasty, filling, and nutritious food staples, which can also be easily stored for extended periods.

Buy Bulk

Avoid packaged rice and canned beans. The least expensive and most nutritious way to buy and store rice and beans is to buy organic from the bulk bins. Indian basmati rice can also be purchased in large sacks from specialty stores or online. Ironically, Ayurvedic (India's traditional medicine) doctors recommend white basmati rice over brown because it's easier to digest and almost as nutritious.

All the dry beans you buy bulk will require soaking before cooking, which is a good thing if you're concerned about phytic acid. Phytic acid (phytates) is in most grains and legumes (beans) to varying degrees, which is why some oppose a diet of mostly grains, beans, seeds, and nuts. Phytic acid tends to block minerals from being easily absorbed. (Source 1 below).

But the other side of this controversy claims that concern is exaggerated. Phytic acid helps block radiation, which is now more of a pressing issue than ever. (Source 2 below) Either way, soaking beans or rice for several hours prior to cooking does reduce phytates sufficiently, but not completely.

And it just so happens that most beans worth eating need to be soaked the night before cooking. This also results in a much shorter cooking time, a half hour or so. Brown rice can be soaked through the night also, but basmati white rice needs only to be thoroughly rinsed until the water is completely clear prior to cooking.

Lentils don't need to be soaked prior to cooking unless you're very concerned about phytic acid or phytates. In any event, whatever is soaked should not be cooked in the same water. Remove grains or beans from the soaking water and replace that water for cooking. Of course, we're talking pure water with most of the chlorine and sodium fluoride removed.

Preparation

There are several ways to boil rice that is not sticky. You can Google those methods or simply invest in a steamer that doesn't use aluminum. Beans, except for lentils, need to be soaked for eight or more hours. Overnight is efficient. You can tell when they're ready to cook because you can bite through them easily after sufficient soaking.

After you change the water, bring the beans to a boil then simmer until soft. Usually this takes a half-hour to 45 minutes max. The rice needs to simmer with a lid on it for some time, whether using a pan, rice steamer, or cooker.

This writer likes to use black beans, chick peas (garbanzo), or lentils. Basmati white rice is used most often with the black beans while garbanzos and lentils are used with brown or white basmati. Basmati rice is a long grain rice developed in India and South Asia, but grown in the USA now as well.

Parboiled white basmati is an excellent choice. Parboiling is a process of removing the husks efficiently while retaining most of the nutrition and divesting a lot of phytates. Don't confuse parboiled rice with processed instant rice. Parboiled rice takes just as long to cook as any other, 30 to 45 minutes on average. (Source 3 below)

Rice and beans combined offer a lot of nutrients, including protein, along with a healthy, high fiber content. There are many ways to put together fulfilling, tasty rice and beans dishes. (Source 4 below)

Sources for more information:

(1)http://www.westonaprice.org/food-fe...
(2)http://www.naturalnews.com/031902_g...
(3)http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-par...
(4) http://www.naturalnews.com/028007_f...
http://www.livestrong.com/article/2...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032396_beans_rice.html#ixzz1VrCMR28O

Good, cheap food! I'm all over it! Time to get our stock back up, and we can live off of it for a while! :D Good thing my hubby likes beans and rice!

Stress Level

So, my stress levels were SKY HIGH this last weekend. Friday night, we find out that my hubby has lost his job. We are without his income, and all of the finances have now fallen on my shoulders until he can find something. He's going to try a couple of temp agencies to try to help and see if he can bring enough in to help with our rent.
Saturday, I had a lot of stress going on at my work. I'm a manager, and I had two employees who weren't getting along. I'm not going to go into the details of what and why on that subject, but I came home from work on Saturday, and my hubby didn't know what to do to help me. He is a good man, and he let me have a moment in his arms, and then I was so exhausted from all of the stress of the previous couple of days, that he let me take a small nap. Once the work stuff was all resolved, I felt much better about things, but I still wasn't eating a lot, so I'm glad that I was too exhausted to work out all weekend. I ate like a bird, just kind of picking at my food. Usually in this situation, I would have eaten everything I could get my hands on.
So, even though my stress was high, I didn't emotionally eat, which makes me proud of myself. I know I need to be careful with that, and make sure that I am eating enough. I know better than to intentionally starve myself and kill my metabolism.
So, here's to a week where I can handle stress better! (And find ways of extra income!)

EXCITED!!!!!!!!!

I am happy to announce that I have lost another pound! I'm really chipping away at this extra weight that I have been carrying around! It makes me very excited to see that on the scale. The more exciting thing, is that I am feeling it in my clothes! I'm about ready to buy new pants for work, because I have been wearing skirts all summer! A couple more pounds, and I should have to buy a new pair of pants! :)

Rice Cakes

Ok, so lately I have totally been craving rice cakes! My hubby spotted his favorite ones at the store this last week, so we picked those up, plus a bag of my favorites. I took some for breakfast the next day, and it was so tasty! I could hardly believe it had been that long since I had bought them! They are a wonderful calorie controlled meal/snack for me on my plan, so believe me when I say I will be buying them fairly often! My hubby devoured his in the first night! I could hardly believe it! He usually takes a couple of days with them at least, but he scarfed them down! It was crazy! I guess my healthier food choices are starting to rub off on him...but now we need to work on his portion control! ;)

Costa Vida

Dear Costa Vida,
I'm sorry to inform you, but we have to break up. When I eat one of your delicious Smothered Sweet Pork Burrito's, I can't stop myself in enough time to have portion control. When I eat all of it, I am consuming 1100 calories in one sitting, and 113 carbs, which is insane! I can't succeed on my journey, and continue to eat you on a regular basis. Once I get a little smaller, I may be able to come and visit you again, but for now we must part ways, and move on with our lives. I hope you can handle it better than me. Don't Cry for me Costa Vida, I will be back further along my journey.
Lots of love,
Shae the Fat Minnie

Weekends

So, I have to say the weekends are the hardest for me to stay on track with my eating and everything. It just seems to be so hectic when it comes to my schedule, that I don't know what to do to stay on track! We also usually eat dinner with my parents or my in laws on Sundays. I'm not always in control of what is offered for the meal, so I try my best to not pig out on anything, but sometimes I don't have enough of what I should.
What are your tricks to staying on track over the weekend? I always feel so sluggish and flabby on Monday morning when I do my workout...

WAHOO!!!!!

I am so proud of myself! I jumped on the scale this morning at work, and I realized that I had lost another 3 lbs! YaY! I couldn't be happier! That makes my total weight loss 30 lbs so far, and I couldn't feel better about getting there! It's been a long 2 years of losing weight, but it has been worth it, and will continue to be so!

Cruelty

This morning, I found out what a couple of people on my facebook really thought of me, and it was heartbreaking. I can't believe that I thought they cared about me, and they thought other things of me. Maybe I always look for the best in people, but I have never truly felt that I was better than anyone, or that someone would ever say the things these people said. I'm still in shock over it as I type this post.
The first thing I wanted to do was run across the street to Burger King, and not care what I ordered. I realized that I have done that a lot in my life when I felt someone was being cruel to me. So I stopped myself, and instead of running over there, I did 2 things. First, I blocked these cruel people from my facebook so that I would never have to know anything else their cruelty would ever want to tell me. Second, I wrote this post. I feel like I don't want to pig out on Burger King anymore, so that's a good thing. I'm also glad to get their negativity out of my life. I can't have the negativity if I want to be successful on my journey!
So, here's to a better rest of the day! It's only 6am, and I have a long great day ahead of me!

How am I doing?

So, I was worried about how I would do with my eating and such while my hubby was gone. I did really well yesterday! I am so proud of myself! No major snacking, and no overeating at my meals! It was GREAT!! I felt like I had enough energy as well!
The best thing about yesterday, I got quality time with my kitty! It was so nice to get some one on one time with her again. She gets really cuddly when my hubby isn't around, and it's so fun for me! This isn't a picture of my kitty, but it's a good picture depicting how we both felt last night! Here's to another good day!

TRAINING GOAL

So, this year, I have a goal that I want to do. I AM GOING TO RUN A 5K ON THANKSGIVING DAY!! I am really excited to do this! I've got a group of friends that are going to do it, and I really want to do it with them! I know I can walk a 5K distance, so I want to get to the point that I can jog the whole thing. :) I'm really excited to do this, and I hope that I can get in great enough shape that it won't be a big deal to do! :)
Wish me luck! I'm going to start adding jogging to the walking right away!

What to do?

Ok, so my hubby is going to be out of town for 4 days for a funeral, and we can't afford for both of us to go. I'm kind of dreading it. I'm afraid that I will slip back into bad habits while he is gone. We have been doing this new diet thing together, and he helps keep me accountable, because he reminds me to track my foods the way I need to. He also reminds me not to bake treats and make super cheesy dinners. I don't know how I'm going to do while he is gone. I hope I can stick with my new habits. I've been doing them over a month now, so I hope that I can stick with them! We will see! This will be a true test of my will power, without my diet buddy.
Any suggestions on what I should do? Anyone? Oh, it's a good thing we are poor, so that I won't eat out the whole time he's gone too! That's helpful this time!

Zumba Today

Ok, so I need to do Zumba more on Saturdays! I love the new instructor we have, Ana. She's adorable! She has this great smile on her face all the time, and she keeps her routine the same at Curves, so that the ladies are always comfortable with her. We only had 4 people besides her today, but it was still so fun! I can't wait for more people to come and experience it! I'm going to have to make it as often as I can!
I am totally sweaty and exhausted right now from that workout, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Zumba+Curves= Happy Shae!

Not feeling well

So, for the last 3 days I have had a pretty severe headache, and I've been nauseated when I eat. My first thought after 2 days of it, "Maybe I'm pregnant." So, I took a pregnancy test last night, and as I always expect, it came up negative. So, why am I not feeling well? I wish I knew. I eat just enough to get me by. Not enough to where I throw up what I have eaten, but enough that I am not starving. I haven't even reached my 1500 calories the last 2 days because I haven't felt well.
Because I haven't been feeling well, I haven't really been working out. I need to get better so I can get back to working out! I feel flabby!

Success and Changes

So, I feel good after my visit with the dietitian! I have lost 2 lbs and 2 inches off of my belly in the last month on this program! I feel pretty good about that! I have no complaints whatsoever!

We decided that since I didn't have the results I was really looking for..(I want to lost 1 lb a week, which is 4 lbs in a month,) we decided to slightly decrease my calorie intake, and have my meals be a little smaller, since I felt like they were huge. I'm now eating closer to 1500 calories a day instead of 1700. I think I will be able to achieve my goals a little more closely this way. She said that if I have worked out a lot that day, and my body is still hungry, to eat a little bit more, but to make sure it's not too late at night.

I'm really happy with this plan. It's quite structured, but it's still flexible at the same time. Wednesday is my "On The Run" day, as I will be working all over the place tomorrow. So, I have to plan ahead.

Well, I am off to bed! Have a fabulous night and Wednesday everyone!

Birthday Cupcakes!

Ok, so my weakness this weekend was CUPCAKES! It was my 26th birthday, and I was thinking it would be better to get a cupcake rather than a piece of cake! In theory it's great, because it's a one time temptation. But I really should have been better about how I handled myself!

Sunday night, my parents had gone to the local bakery Flour Girls and Dough Boys to pick up my cupcake. IT WAS HUGE!!!!! I should have only eaten half! They got me the "Princess Cupcake" which had an extra tier of frosting on it. I really shouldn't have eaten the whole thing!

Then yesterday, my in-laws went to Cupcake Chic, which is another local cupcake place. I had 1 and a half cupcakes from there! I ate the whole Key Lime Pie one, and then a little more than half of the Red Velvet one!

Good thing today is a new day! The bad thing, I am going to see the dietitian in about 4 hours....wish me luck! I will report back in the morning!

Measurements!

So, I realized it's been a long time since I posted my measurements, so I figured I would take them this morning, and post them. But First, let's post what they were the last time I posted them here....
2/16/11
Bust: 45.40"
Waist: 39.25"
Abs: 43.75"
Hips: 50.90"
Thigh: 30.75"
Arm: 16"
Weight: 212 lbs

7/29/11
Bust: 43.0"
Waist: 38.5"
Abs: 41.0"
Hips: 50.5"
Thigh: 28.0"
Arms: 15.75"
Weight: 209 lbs

So, here's the difference since Feb
Bust: -2.40"
Waist: -0.75
Abs: -2.75"
Hips: -0.40
Thigh: -2.75"
Arms: -0.25
Weight: -3.0 lbs

I feel pretty good about that. It's not the pace I want to be going of course, but it's progress, so I am not discouraged! It can only get better from here!

Moving

Alrighty, so this week my hubby and I have been moving into a new apartment. It's a better situation for us, and the people we were previously renting from, so even though this is the 3rd time we have moved in the last 2 years, it is what is best for everyone in the situation. But each time we have moved, I have forgotten how much of a workout it is! In this move, there are 2 flights of stairs involved, and we have less help than we have with any of our other moves. Needless to say, I am SO SORE today! We still have a few things to move over to the new place, but we are settled in enough over there to start staying at the new place.
The sleep I got last night was so restful! I'm not nearly as tired today as I have been lately! It might have been all that moving, but I sure enjoyed waking up this morning not nearly as tired as I usually am!
So, I will be doing my regular workout today, plus moving! So many calories burnt! WooT!

Workout Music

So, I need to create a workout mix again. I need one that has upbeat music, but is motivating at the same time. I am drawing a blank this time on making one. Any suggestions?

Where I want to be...

So, when it comes to looks, there are a few women out there that my husband has shared he thinks are beautiful. Here's the list.

Jennifer Love Hewitt
Kristen Stewart

and Shakira

These women are all strikingly beautiful. They have a few things in common. They all have a womanly shape, they have long hair, and 2 of the 3 on here are brunette. So, from what my husband is saying to me, he wants me to keep my shape, grow my hair a little longer, and keep it dark. I can live with those things.

Will I ever look EXACTLY like these women? NO! I'm not going to starve myself to look like these women. Can I get closer to their figures on my journey? OF COURSE!

So, where I want to ultimately be when I finish my journey, is a shapely woman with long brown hair. I think I can handle that! I hope you can all find a picture on your journey to shoot for. I have many. I am also realistic with where I will be at the end of this! Find your realistic goal, and do what you can to reach it!

Love you all!

Emotions and Weight Loss

It's amazing to notice how much our emotions play into our weight loss journey. When I feel upbeat and optimistic, my weight just seems to drop off of me. But when I am upset or stressed about anything in my life, my weight won't budge. Lately I have had some family things going on that cause me to worry and stress for loved ones in my life. I am still trying to be optimistic about everything in my life, but I have my moments where I just break down because of it.
Yesterday was a break down day. I got some news that I didn't want to hear, and I didn't see my husband all day long because of the way our schedules were. The one day I needed to see him, I didn't. It was really hard on me for a good share of yesterday. Then, I went to go help a friend with some planning for her wedding, and then she and her sweetie treated me to dinner. I didn't pig out, but it was nice to get out and have someone to talk to. I didn't realize how much of a shut in I had turned into until a moment at dinner!
I didn't clear my plate at all, but I ate more than I probably should have. I can't let that moment keep me down though. I really just want to start over today, and know that it will be better! My husband doesn't work the rest of the weekend due to a local holiday, so I know I will get to see him!

BURPEES

Ok, doing burpees is the most PAINFUL workout I have done in a long time! I was thinking about them today, and I thought I would blog about it.
What is a burpee?
Well, a burpee is essentially jumping down into a push up and then jumping back up to a standing position. Doesn't sound that hard right? Well, IT IS! They are so crazy tough to do! Once you have done 4-5 you are really feeling it!
If you need something to really give results though, try burpees. For full instructions, check out a tutorial on youtube. There are several!

Having a rough day

Today has been a rough day for me. I got a good look at myself in a full length mirror, and I wasn't ok with what I saw. I did everything in my power not to cry in that moment, because my husband was right there telling me how beautiful he finds me. Him telling me that warmed my heart, but it didn't change what I saw in the mirror. I want to be happy with me.
I am seriously one of the luckiest women alive to have a husband that loves me when I'm not sure that I love myself, and I love that he tells me how beautiful he finds me. It keeps me motivated because I think, "If you think I'm beautiful now, you just wait until I'm back to a healthy weight!"
I just needed to share what I was feeling. Sorry that this was a little personal. I try not to get too personal for people. I just want you to see the human side of me too.

Water

According to Caloriesperhour.com, water is very important to weight loss. Here is the article I found.

There are many reasons why it is important to drink water, especially if you are dieting:

• Initial weight loss is largely due to loss of water, and you need to drink an adequate amount of water in order to avoid dehydration.
• The process of burning calories requires an adequate supply of water in order to function efficiently; dehydration slows down the fat-burning process.
• Burning calories creates toxins (think of the exhaust coming out of your car), and water plays a vital role in flushing them out of your body.
• Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume; a reduction in blood volume causes a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles; and a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles can make you feel tired.
• Water helps maintain muscle tone by assisting muscles in their ability to contract, and it lubricates your joints. Proper hydration can help reduce muscle and joint soreness when exercising.
• A healthy (weight loss) diet includes a good amount of fiber. But while fiber is normally helpful to your digestive system, without adequate fluids it can cause constipation instead of helping to eliminate it.
• Drinking water with a meal may make you feel full sooner and therefore satisfied eating less. Note, however, that drinking water alone may not have this effect. In order to feel satiated (not hungry), our bodies need bulk, calories and nutrients.

How Much Water Should I Drink?

You have probably heard that you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. How much water you actually need depends on your weight, level of activity, the temperature and humidity of your environment, and your diet. Your diet makes a difference because if you eat plenty of water-dense foods like fruits and vegetables your need to drink water will be diminished.

You can do some research and use a calculator and measuring cup if you like, but nature's pretty good at letting you know the right amount to drink. When you drink enough water, your urine will usually be pale yellow, though vitamin supplements and antibiotics can discolor it. On the other hand, you shouldn't need to run to the bathroom too frequently. When in doubt, drink a little more.

Do not worry that drinking water will give your body a bloated look. There are a number of causes of water retention, including consuming too much salt. But drinking water is not one of them.

It is possible to harm yourself by drinking too much water, but it takes quite an effort. Either through obsessive-compulsive behavior or extended athletic activity, drinking large amounts of water can dilute the electrolytes (sodium and potassium) in your blood to the point that it interferes with brain, heart and muscle function. Athletes compound the problem with the loss of sodium (salt) through sweating, but can drink electrolyte replacement drinks like Gatorade Endurance Formula to help keep things in balance.

Tips on Drinking Water

• Drinking other liquids also provides your body with a source of water, but note that diuretics cause your body to expel water. Diuretics include caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea and soda) and alcohol. When drinking diuretics, drink more water to compensate.

When drinking alcohol, drinking water along with it as well as before and afterward may eliminate a hangover headache and feeling of tiredness. The water is optional; driving is not.

• When you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Try to avoid this situation by drinking in advance. Be especially careful when participating in activities where you won't be able to stop to get caught up.
• You've heard countless advertisements telling you what product to start your day with. We recommend a couple of glasses of water to rehydrate your body. No charge.

I know how important getting enough water so you stay hydrated is when you are working out, and getting healthy. You may visit the restroom more, but I think it will be worth it to you when you see the results! WATER ROCKS!

RETURN TO ZUMBA!!!

Today is my official return to doing ZUMBA since my surgery! I am really excited! I am ready to dance my booty off! I can't even tell you how happy I am about this! It will be perfect! I've really missed it!

Slim and Sassy Results

So, for me, Slim and Sassy wasn't a success the 3 weeks that I used it. The lb that I had lost after the 4th? It's back, and I was even ingesting the Slim and Sassy. I had it with every meal in a capsule, because I couldn't stand the taste to have it in my water.
This is a great product for a lot of people, but for me personally, it isn't as effective with my body and lifestyle. I know many women who have seen amazing results with it. I would recommend to anyone who is curious to go ahead and try it. I did a 3 week trial with it. Maybe that wasn't long enough? I am not sure.
So, I will not be continuing use of it, and just sticking with my dietitian plan as well as working out as hard and as often as I can.

Progress?

So, since I have started blogging my journey, how is my progress? Well, in all honesty, since I started the blog, I have only lost about 6 lbs. But the thing I have lost, is inches. I am losing inches like crazy! I will have to take a picture again, and put it side by side with my first picture I took. (Look at like the 2nd or 3rd post of the blog from last year to see the picture I am referring to.) I still have quite a ways to go, but I can get there! Thanks to all who support me!

Looking in the mirror

So lately, when I have looked in the mirror, I like what I see better than I did 25 lbs ago, but I still don't love what I see. I don't know that I ever have. I know that what I see in the mirror is bigger than what anyone else sees, but I know that I'm not skinny by any means. The whole reason why I started this, is because I wanted to like how I look in a mirror. To me, not to anyone else, except maybe my husband.
There are so many poems and stories about looking in mirrors or through them. Why are we so interested in what we see in the mirror? Why do we care so much? Being a cosmetologist, I am in front of a mirror 90% of my work day, and I don't like it. I nit pick myself apart. I think I want to change careers, so I don't have as many opportunities to tear myself down.

Curves Smart Tag

Ok, so I haven't used my Curves Smart Tag with my workouts for almost a year, and I felt like I wasn't getting enough out of my Curves workouts anymore, so I dusted it off and used it. I FELT SO WEAK! The smart tag kicks my bum every time I use it, and I forgot how much I love the feeling after a good workout! Needless to say, I won't be putting it away anytime soon now! It's still trying to balance itself out, but within the week I should be back in the right range with it! Wish me luck!
For those of you who don't know what Curves is all about, or what a Smart Tag is, let me inform you! Curves is a 30 minute workout for women with resistance training and cardio integrated together. The Smart Tag is like your own little personal trainer, pushing you harder and harder with each workout. We never like to give a tag to someone unless they have been coming regularly for at least a month.
Curves is really such a fabulous place! If you have any questions about Curves, or would like to sign up, just let me know!

How's it going so far?

Well, today is my day I am supposed to give you my results of using Slim and Sassy for the last 2 weeks. Well, "Aunt Flo" came for a visit, so I am going to give it another week before I give you my real results with it.
But when it comes to my new diet, I am loving it so far! It is very easy to eat, and I have already lost 1 lb of what I had gained back over the 4th, so I am excited about that so far! There will be more weeks like that to come, and I am excited!
Next step, bumping up the exercise!

My New Plan to Eat Healthier

Ok everyone! I officially have my new diet plan from my dietitian! I am on day 2 today, and I have yet to feel starving! I get a little bit of hunger, and I can eat! It's so nice! One of my fears is that they wouldn't think I need as many calories as I thought I did. Well, they told me I need 200 more than I thought I did!
So, roughly what my plan is for me, is that I am allowed about 1700 calories a day, and I have a certain number of servings for carbs, protien, and fats. (Carbs include my fruits, veggies, and most of my dairy.) Yesterday, even though I hadn't been grocery shopping yet, I ate within my plan and didnt really feel hungry! It was really nice!
This plan is very liveable, and I think it will be one of my biggest tools to keep me going!

Diet Tips from Chris Powell

So, for those who don't know who Chris Powell is, he is the new "it" trainer in TV. He is the hunky trainer helping with the amazing transformations on Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition. (Yes, I am admitting that I have a bit of a crush on him. My hubby doesn't travel all over the nation though, so I would rather have my hubby! ) So, he gives 3 main diet tips, and here they are.

Diet Tips:
Cut sugar, flour and fried foods
Always eat breakfast
Drink a gallon of water a day

Now personally, I agree with most of these. I think cutting flour is a little extreme. I would opt for whole wheat flour instead of white flour, and I would definitely try to cut out your refined sugars, and rely on our natural resources such as fruit for your sweet fix.
I am headed to the dietitian today, so I will let you know what she and I set up for me! I am committed to making this work!

Holiday Weekend

So, this holiday weekend wasn't a great one for me health wise. It was great emotionally though. My hubby and I were able to talk some things out that we hadn't before, and we made some great strides in making our relationship better. But sadly, I've gained 2 lbs since the last time I weighed. That is so heartbreaking for me. I have been making really good strides at being healthier, but I blew it this weekend.
But, I'm not going to be too hard on myself. My goal that I posted last week is starting over as of this moment, and it's only good choices from now on! I will be going to see the dietitian tomorrow, so I will let you know how that goes!

My new favorite fruit!

So, this lovely fruit here is an Asian Pear. I bought a couple of these at the grocery store, and I have devoured them already! They are really delicious! I have always enjoyed pears, but usually bottled. I love these ones fresh from my refrigerator! Give them a try the next time you are in the produce section! You won't be sorry!

Supersize vs. Superskinny

Ok, this show is my latest weight loss show that I am in love with! It's a british show, and it is very blunt and to the point. It takes someone who is morbidly obese, and someone who is borderline anorexic, and they swap diets. (They go through thorough medical tests to make sure they are both up to it before starting.) They only do that for a week, and then they leave "The Feeding Clinic" and are on their own for 3 months, armed with their diet plans from the on site dietitian. They come back after the 3 months to evaluate their progress.
I enjoy this, because it teaches the bigger person to have some control, and the smaller one to let go of some of their control, so that they can enjoy their life again. It's really great! I watch it on youtube after my hubby has gone to work! ;) Give it a try! It helps keep me motivated to keep going the right direction!

I am setting a personal goal!

So, I have decided to put this goal on my physical blog, because it will make me much more accountable to myself, and I also have someone other than my husband, (who is so supportive of me) to have to show my progress to.
I AM GOING TO LOSE 50 LBS THIS YEAR!! I AM GOING TO LOSE AT LEAST 1 LB A WEEK TO REACH THIS GOAL! I WILL WEIGH 160 BY THE LATEST OF NEXT SUMMER!
There! I have said it, and now I am accountable for it! Any help to get me to these goals will be super helpful! Please leave comments or start following me, so that I know I am not alone.
That has been the hardest part of this journey for me. I know my husband is there for me, and I know my family is there for me, but they have lives, and can't be with me all the time. Having this blog is really a way for me to always be accountable for the decisions I make. I am sure someone is reading this that I don't even really know, but I would love to know who you are! I know it will help me reach my goal that much faster!
I love all of the readers that have either left a comment for me, or have talked with me in person. I think of you all often, and that really helps motivate me!

Slim and Sassy Challenge

So, at the Curves I work at, a lot of the ladies have been having success with the Slim and Sassy essential oil. Here's the definition of what it does from the company that makes it, doTerra.
dōTERRA®'s Slim & Sassy® Metabolic Blend is a proprietary formula of 100% pure CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils designed to help manage appetite between meals. Slim & Sassy includes a blend of grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon essential oils. Just add 8 drops to 16 oz. of water (regular size bottle of water) and drink between your healthy meals throughout the day to help manage hunger, calm your stomach, and lift your mood. For aromatic, topical, and internal use.
So, my boss has given me a 2 week challenge to see if it works for me. I don't meet with the dietitian until next week, so I should be able to give it a fair go. For me, I really don't like the taste of it, so they told me to mask it with the Lime essential oil. It kind of just gives everything a more bland taste, but it mellows out the "just brushed my teeth" feeling. I can also use it topically, so I think that's the route that I will really go! ;)
So, we will see if this curbs my appetite like everyone claims it does. I feel it probably works, because I've seen many of the ladies here love it! I tried it yesterday as the first day, so here we go! I will give a full report on July 11th!

It finally happened to me!

So, you know how you hear on TV shows about people my size not getting talked to in a department store? Well, that happened to me Friday night.
I was out shopping for myself, and I was so happy! I was fitting into clothes I didn't think I would fit into! (YAY!) I was on such a high, feeling like all of the hard work I have been putting into my workouts was actually paying off! So, I passed by a store I would normally not go into, and saw something that my cute sister in law would love. (Pink and lacey!) She is much smaller than I am, so I never thought it would be a problem.
As I entered the store, no one acknowledged that I came in. My first thought was, "Oh, they must all be helping customers and must not have noticed me come in." Well, to make a longer story short, I was in the store for 15 minutes, and even picked up and expensive pair of jeans for my husband, and no one talked to me at all.
The kicker? The associates talked to EVERYONE ELSE in the store, and I stood next to an associate for almost 5 minutes, and I still wasn't talked to. I was absolutely mortified, put back my clothes I had picked out, and walked out of the store.
I am proud of how I handled myself. Rather than running to the food court for something to eat like I would have done 2 years ago, I very calmly walked out of the mall, and went on my way for the night. I did not comfort eat! I called a friend, (because my hubby was already at work for the night,) and went and got distracted with them, and it still didn't involve food. I did post on Facebook about it to get some of those feelings off my chest, but I am feeling ok about it today. I did have a moment in my car where I shed a few tears about it. But now, I can move on with my life.
I will say that even when I do skinny up, I will never be shopping at that store. I'm not going to name the store, but I will let you know I have filed a complaint with their corporate office.