What motivates you?

I have officially made it two months!! YAYA! That in and of itself is quite an accomplishment! A lot has happened since my last post and with things getting even crazier as finals and Christmas approach I am not updating this as much as I should, but hopefully after next week and finals are OVER I will have a lot more time on my hands.

On Thanksgiving I did my first 5k! It was the annual Turkey Trot that Springfield hosts every year. I fell in love that day with the adrenaline, excitement and courage that it took to even sign up! I did it with a couple of the girls from my physiology class and we had so much fun! In the next 5k that I do I want to run the whole thing and see what my time is, or even if I can run the whole time. Hopefully, with all of the exercising my hip has gotten better, a small part of me is still afraid to test it out, probably after the first of the year though, I will give it a go! After the Turkey Trot I rushed home to get ready and headed to my sisters for lunch with the family, that day the ring that my Granny gave me FINALLY fit, which was perfect timing because my Granny got to come in town for Thanksgiving! As I pulled up to my sisters house, thinking to myself how long it had been since I had seen everyone, I didn't expect anyone to notice that I had lost anymore weight since it had only been a few weeks that I seen my parents and siblings. It however, had been two months since I had seen my Granny so if anyone noticed it would be her. Much to my suprise though, as soon as my dad saw me he raved about how great I looked and how he could really tell a difference and when I walked into the house I felt like a movie star! My stepmom, sister, brother and Granny all greeted me with open arms and lots of compliments :o) I can honestly say, that I have never felt so special in my entire life! It really validates for me how my hard work is paying off when people reassure you that they can see a difference when they look at you. It was a great feeling and definitely gave me an extra little push to work even harder. I have the knowledge and determination now to be stronger and better and go harder with this! I have a goal to reach by summertime and I fully intend to crush that goal, break through any walls that stand in my way and keep climbing the mountains that try and hold me back. I've got this!

One thing I did realize over Thanksgiving though, that while one cheat day is ok....4 is not! :o) When I weighed in to check myself Monday morning I had gained three pounds! At that point I had to make a decision, was I going to continue to have cheat days every weekend like I had been and spend the week ahead fighting to undo everything that I had done the weekend before just to do it again the next weekend or was I going to do away with weekly cheats, now I mean like entire weekend cheats, and start really loosing the weight that I should have lost along time ago? It wasn't hard to make my decision and as this last weekend found me I weighed in to a 17 lb weight loss and made a decision right then and there that this weekend would be the first of no cheats! I did it, I resisted the temptations, I worked out and as of this morning I had dropped another pound! BOOM! That success encouraged me to not have another cheat day until Christmas, for me, it's worth it! I have two weeks from tomorrow until my weigh in for my HRA and two weeks from this past Saturday before my cousin and I weigh out of our competition! Unfortunately, all of these deadlines come right after the dreaded last two weeks of school but if I can make it through that with weightloss success then I am much stronger than I ever gave myself credit for!

In closing I want to ask...What motivates you? What factors get you to the gym, encourage you to eat healthier and over all choose a healthier lifestyle? Pain, fear, success, friends, family, a deadline, hurt, emotion, stress, coaches, co-workers, clothes? No matter what it is, no matter what drives you to choose a better life for yourself, let it! Let those things inspire you to accomplish the goals that you have set for yourself! Bikini body by summer 2012? Do it! Whatever you have to do to get there, just do it! No excuses. If I can do this, anyone can! Everyone has the ability to push themselves it just depends on how hard you are willing to work. Fight!

My obsession this week:

~100 calorie Wholly Guacamole Packs! These little packs of heaven are absolutely to die for! Well, if you like guacamole that is. Mix this 100 calorie pack with veggies or 8 wheat thins and you have a yummy little addition to your lunch or mid-day snack!

Have a great week everyone!

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

-- Jim Ryun

Unless you puke, faint or die....keep going!

It feels like forever since I posted even though it's only been two weeks. Last Saturday was a big day for me! I lost 4 lbs! I am now down 14.5 lbs!! I weighed in this morning and only lost a half of a pound this week but I didn't let that discourage me because I know for every "Ok" week that I have, I'll have just as many "Great" weeks!

My motivation this week stems from knowing that each pound or half a pound I loose that I will never have to see that number again. I'll never weigh that amount again. By this point, anytime before, I probably would have given up already or gone back to the way that I was eating before but this time, over and over again, has proved to be so different than any other time before. This time I'm not just on a diet I'm making a significant lifestyle change and I refuse to ever go back to the way that I was. I definitely think it helps knowing that I have plenty of time to reach my goal also. All of the times before I would start in January or only a few months before the time that I wanted to be "perfect" and the pressure and stress of the time restraint definitely won over the so called "determination" I had. I never knew what determination was until I started this whole thing back in October, I will not let myself fail at this and no lack of progress from time to time will change that. I know at some point my weight will plateau and there may be a few weeks that go by that I don't loose anything until I figure out how to tweek things, those will be the times that my patience, strength and ability to bust through that plateau will really be tested. This weeks 1/2 lb weight loss is just a test leading up to that point.

This week we are coming up on Thanksgiving and although I doubtfully will reach my goal of 20 lbs lost by Thursday any number lost by that day, to me, is a good number. At least it's something right? At least I haven't given up and at least I'm not stressed about it. I'm also doing the Turkey Trot Thursday morning with my lab group from my Physiology class. I'm really excited because this is my first race to ever participate in! I wasn't planning on running because of the continuing issue with my hip but I think I have decided to at least try and run to see if, 1. I can do it and 2. to see if my hip is bothered. It's been about two months since I have tried running and while I haven't been working as hard as I should of on the therapy exercises for my hip I want to see if what I have done so far has helped at all. Plus, the race will burn some extra calories for my major day of cheating ahead :o) I won't go overboard on eating that day but I won't limit myself to what I can have either.

This week the changes that I plan on making are going to be at the gym! While I have gone to the gym more this past week than I have in the weeks prior I wasn't working as hard as I could have been. I do cardio for 45 minutes and then I'm done, not good enough! I have the ability to work harder so I definitely need to! I made a workout plan for myself to start doing after cardio and I will definitely be adding that to my workouts this week! Changing the way you eat will only benefit you on the scale for so long, I have reached that point and now it's time to step it up in the gym! I'm going with Jillian Michael's quote this week that, "Unless you puke, faint or die...keep going!!" I'm sure there will be many times throughout this week at the gym where I want to quit or be done before I have done all of the exercises that I have planned, but I have to refuse to let myself quit. Just like I have refused to let myself quit on the diet up to this point. Besides, in a month from today I will be weighing out for the competition with my cousin and while I'm currently in the lead, if I end up winning I want to win big!

My obsession this week:

~Smoothies! They are super yum and sooo good for you! Yesterday I had a Strawberry/Kiwi smoothie and this morning a Blueberry/Banana smoothie. The beauty of smoothies is that you can pretty much combine any fruit that you like and also if you put 2-3 fruits in each smoothie that you drink that right there is your daily recommended intake of fruit all in your breakfast or lunch or whenever you decide to have it. I also recommend adding a handful of spinach or kale to your smoothie, it changes the color to make it look really unappetizing but trust me you can't taste it! I did it with both smoothies that I had and I couldn't tell it was in there, not even a little bit.

Strawberry/Kiwi Smoothie

I know, I know it looks gross and yes it is green but it's so good! Definitely give it a try if you can!

1 Banana

3 Kiwis

1 cup Strawberries

A handful of Spinach

1/2 cup of Pineapple juice (This is optional. I've had it with and without and it's good both ways, because of the crazy content of sugar in most juices though I usually leave it out.)

1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt

Ice

~You can also add a half of a cup of oats for added protein and fiber if you want.

Standing back up

I've officially made it a month! November 1st marked a month since I started this journey for myself. Instead of welcoming that day with the feeling of accomplishment though, I instead felt defeat. On the 29th I went out to celebrate Halloween with my friends, I had the most amazing time but I definitely felt it the week following that night. I was disappointed in myself, knowing that I had potentially un-done everything good that I had done that week. I didn't feel well at the beginning of the week either I felt like I needed lots of carbs and bad food. For some reason I felt like that was the only thing that would take the dizziness away. My normal diet wasn't enough for my body following Saturday night. Instead of choosing to eat healthier food in larger portions I made the bad decision of fatty, fast food.

As of Tuesday I finally started feeling better and went back to eating the way that I should have been all along. Although, I ate better starting Tuesday I lost my drive to workout. However, at the end of the week I only managed to gain one pound as of this morning after everything was said and done. While gaining a pound isn't a good thing, considering the week I had I was really suprised. My dad encouraged me this morning to not give up just because I had a bad week, but instead to take that and work harder this week. I will definitely take his advice and remember the goal that I have set for myself, I refuse to give up on this, I refuse to give up on myself.

This time around I have found the determination that I have been searching for, for a long time. Although, I had a bad week I was encouraged by my ability to stand back up and fight harder to reach my goal. Anytime before that I would eat badly, not workout and gain weight I was like, "Eh, I don't wanna do this anymore, bad food is too good!" I am also encouraged by watching the biggest loser, my favorite contestant is Sunny! I just love her! She had a bad week two weeks ago and gained 5 lbs but then last week she lost 9! I remember her saying that she was discouraged from the week before because she hadn't done anything to make herself gain that weight so she did have that feeling of, "Will doing this even work for me?" Instead of giving into that feeling though she just powered through the week ahead and pulled out a big number! Her journey has inspired me and I feel like I'm doing this whole thing right along with her.

So my goal ahead is to loose 20 lbs by Thanksgiving. I know that may seem a little unrealistic, but believe me, I will not take any unhealthy route in reaching that goal. Ultimately, whatever I end up weighing on that Thursday is an accomplishment because I'll know that I did everything I possibly could have. I just want to set the 20lb goal for something to aim for. I also intend to work my tookus off this week at the gym! I can do this, I've got this. I may have times of failure still ahead but the important thing is, I will still be able to get back up. Also, I don't plan on drinking again for a VERY long time!

My obsession this week:

FiberOne brownies! Those little buggers are 90 calories of heaven! They also have 5 grams of fiber in them. They are super delicious and assist in that little umpth to get you until your next meal.

Celebrate the small things!

Here's to another week down! I'm coming up on a month since my weight loss journey has started and I feel great! I'm noticing that I have more energy during the day and I just feel all around healthier. I weighed in this morning and I am 11lbs down!! That means I have lost 5% of my body weight so far!

I've realized that throughout this I have to be sure and celebrate the small accomplishments. Like, loosing 5% of my body weight, or my rings fitting better that dug into my fingers before. One of my best friends refers to the skin between his bottom knuckle and his hand, where your rings sit, his finger bellies. :o) Mine are finally shrinking! I still have one more ring, that fits snuggly but hopefully by Thanksgiving it'll fit perfectly-just in time to see the person who gave it to me, my Granny. :o)

Throughout this past week I worked out everyday that I wanted to except one. I did great on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but on Tuesday and Thursday I struggled. It's so easy for me to get out of class and go home eat dinner and watch tv, instead of getting up and working out. Since Tuesdays and Thursdays are my late days it's even harder for me to get motivated on those days. There in lies my struggle as of now. I need to find a way to just do it, no excuses, just do it and I know I wouldn't regret it. On the days that you make every excuse not to workout are the days that you really should just set all of that aside and do it, because climbing those mountains show that you have really changed and improved and you are becoming stronger in your fight to a healthier person. You will never regret working out. My co-worker Teresa reminded me that every time before that I tried becoming a healthier person, I had the most random excuses for not working out or wanting to eat better, like I had been stressed with school, or I'd start tomorrow, or I was too tired! Now I say, when I'm stressed workout, when I'm tired workout out and there is no option to start tomorrow!

One of my biggest accomplishments this week has been being sore! I know that sounds strange, but to me that means that I'm working hard enough to make a difference. When it hurts you have to keep going-I heard a quote the other day that said, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." I think that definitely applies and for me when I feel like I can't do it anymore, usually I'm too tired, I just fight harder and finish strong. Another accomplishment has been knowing when to stop or making healthier food choices. I don't go back for seconds anymore and when I eat something that is a "healthier option" I make sure and really check the label. This week I ate off the Fresco Menu from Taco Bell, as most of you know Taco Bell is my addiction so to be able to actually choose the Fresco Menu was a tiny accomplishment in and of itself! I had the fresco menu in diets before but I never looked closely at each item and its nutrition label. I just thought, "whatver it's healthier than what I got before". Which is true but that is also probably why I didn't have much luck loosing weight before because I would get the same amount of food just the fresco menu. Bad Idea! The fresco bean burrito has 350 calories and over 900 mg of sodium! Which calorie wise isn't terrible but when you get one of those and 2 soft tacos that's bad news bears. So instead I chose 2 of the chicken soft tacos which are 150 calories each and two of those equal the same amount of sodium for one of the fresco bean burritos which isn't great but for a little cheat treat it's A LOT better. My wellness coach would be proud that I chose the Fresco Menu :o) - even though I didn't check in on FB when I went like he said to, sorry Daniel! (Just another way that my coach is awesome! And another way for him to keep me accountable!)

This week has come with accomplishments and struggles but the whole point of this is to again, celebrate the small things and work harder to conquer those struggles in the weeks ahead!

My goal for this week is to find a way to conquer those Tuesday and Thursday nights and in some way make those workouts just as good as the other ones. No excuses!

My obession this week:

~WATER! I haven't been drinking as much water as I should but it's time to step it up! According to lifehack.org water can flush the toxins in your body which in turn helps beautify your complextion and can also assist in burning more fat and building more muscle! Yes please!

You have to start somewhere if you are going to get anywhere..

In the summer of 2010 I started training for a half marathon. I was able to train for about 3 months before a hip injury knocked me down for the count. Up to this point I was doing amazing with my diet and exercise and had managed to loose 18 lbs. After the injury I couldn't train anymore and because I developed a love and devotion to running I became slightly depressed in not being able to do that any longer. I was told that I could cross-train to build up whatever I had injured in my hip, but unfortunately I lost all motivation. I rested for about a month here and there. The injury wouldn't bother me at first but eventually would come back with a vengeance everytime, after about a week of running again. I refused to go to the doctor thinking that it would just get better on its own.

Over a year later I still had not gotten back to running or any physical activity for that matter. I gained back everything that I lost plus some and was still upset about not being able to run. I had every oppurtunity available to me to get healthy again. I was given incentive by my parents, had 3 different gyms available for me to use-one being at my own apt-I had encouraging coworkers, friends and family-many of which offered to workout with me and keep me accountable. I was even in the wellness program at work-with a super encouraging coach! So what was my problem?
What exactly was the cause of me not being able to find my motivation or drive? I even had a friend that was training virtually with me for the half marathon-he came, he ran and he conquered! He looks great now and I fell off the band wagon along time ago!

I was unhappy with the way I had let myself become and not taking the initiative to get healthy.
I kept telling myself everyday, that I would start tomorrow. Days past and still nothing-until I went to visit my family in Mississippi. I hadn't been to visit them in almost two years. I had seen most of them since then, when they would come up here but there were a few family members that i hadn't seen since my last time in Mississippi. I know my family loves me and that they would never think badly of me because I had gained weight but I couldn't help but be self-conscious. I decided then that this was it, I was no longer going to feel that way-there would continue to be times ahead of me when I would see people that I hadn't seen in years and I refused to feel self-conscious about how I looked anymore. So I made a bet with one of my cousins. We both wanted to get healthy and loose weight so we decided that whoever could loose the most weight by Christmas would win $50 from the loser. It doesn't sound like much but it was enough to get us both started.

We started that on October 1st and since then things have been going well! I have had a few cheat meals here and there but I can feel that this time is going to be different. I always do better when I am competing with someone and so far so good. I even went to a sports injury doctor a few weeks back and started physical therapy for my hip injury, they aren't sure what is causing the pain, but if physical therapy and cross-training don't work the doctor suggested an MRI. I still can't run but going to the doctor was the first step to recovery, which is a step that I was too lazy to take before!

So each week I'll write my new finds, experiences and goals after I weigh in every Saturday. At the end of all of this I will reveal what my starting weight was and what my ending weight is. It won't end in December either, that's just when our competition is up and I'm sure a new one starts. Hopefully by next summer I will be exactly where I want to be.

More than not wanting to feel bad about myself when I see family and friends that I haven't seen in awhile anymore, it's about doing this for myself. The only way that I will succeed is to make the decision that I am the only one who can make myself eat better and exercise. My tookus is only going to shrink because I make myself get on that elliptical! So this is it...it's been almost a month now that this has been going and I can't wait to see how both my cousin and I look at the end of all of this.

This morning I weighed myself and I am down 9lbs since October 1st. It should be more than that, but my biggest struggle so far has been making myself workout. Once I can commit to that then I know I will see better results. For my goal this week, I will make it to the gym 6/7 days. I will work hard and I will win this competition!

In doing this, this time around and for the last time, I am thankful to still have my friend who was training with me for the half marathon to keep me accountable, encouraging family, friends and coworkers, incentive, an amazing wellness coach, gym memberships and access to healthy food...so...let's do this!

My strategy:

~Eat no more than 1500 calories a day. I won't count raw fruits and veggies as calories because they are so good for you and some of them have negative calories, which means it burns more calories to eat and digest them than they actually have.

~Working out 5-6 times a week. Including: 45-60 minutes of cardio and 30-45 minutes of strength training.

My obsessions this week:

~Bigelow's Peach Herbal Tea! Herbal and green teas are amazingly good for you in so many ways, they are super yummy and no calories!

~The elliptical! I burned 781 calories in one 45 min session! Yes, please!