Bad weather day and off work= time to write!

I am not even going to sugarcoat it- I have been TIRED! Training takes a lot of energy and I am exhausted most days!

Here is what has been happening lately:

• I am still sticking to my eating plan that my coach originally put me on. Lots of protein, complex carbs, green vegetables, no carbs after lunch. I eat a LOT though!
• About a week and a half ago, she added 15 minutes of cardio to my fasted morning cardio, so I am up at 4:50 A.M. and doing cardio for 45 minutes! (YAWN!) It really does give me energy for the day :) I do this 5 days a week, 4 days of weight training in the afternoons, and cardio on Saturday! Sunday is a rest day for me. This Sunday I had so much energy that I couldn't help getting in a little workout. I think days after cheat meals I have MORE ENERGY than EVER!
• I get one cheat meal a week! WOO FREAKIN HOO! LOL! My first one was sushi (Rainbow roll) and this past weekend I was really craving a salad with chicken, wanted cheese and REAL dressing ( I am only allowed Balsamic vinegar, not vinaigrette or Walden Farms 0 calorie stuff)- so that's what I had. (weak, I know but the more you eat healthy the more you CRAVE healthy!)
• I am still seeing changes in my body (more info below) but there are still days that I want to throw the damn scale out the window. I just continue to trust the process and keep telling myself if it was easy everyone would be fit!

I am happy with the way things are going. I am not perfect. Every once in a while I HAVE TO HAVE  spoon of peanut butter or a handful of raisins, just to keep me sane. I don't do it often. I find myself making healthier choices every day. I find myself happier with eating, feeling SO MUCH BETTER, and just in a better mood in general. The fit lifestyle is definitely something I LOVE. It has finally happened- I am making this a lifestyle change! Someone asked me yesterday- so how long are you going to do this diet thing? First, I had to explain that I was changing my lifestyle, NOT dieting. Then, I said I will probably always do this. I won't do it the extreme that I am now and when I get to a point that I feel REALLY satisfied with my progress, I will allow myself a little room to breathe. BUT I am going to find healthy alternatives to things I used to love. I will not go back to eating unhealthy things, eating out all the time, drinking every weekend,etc. That is just not me anymore. For example, I made "pancakes" with things that I can have on my plan this week and they were amazing. A healthy version. Try them: 4 egg whites, 1/2 cup oatmeal ground to flour consistency (I used my little smoothie blender and it worked great!), you can add cinnamon and I added some of the sweet drops I have. Brown in a pan. I top with cinnamon. I also take a cup of frozen strawberries and heat them up in the microwave and pour on top. (that is my syrup!). They are SO GOOD and not at all bad for you. When I get back to normal eating, that is my plan- to find healthier ways to make the things I enjoy!

So, here is my progress so far, 6 weeks in:

Down 8 lbs ( I thought it would be more by now but I worked HARD for those 8 lbs and I am in the 150s now- something I haven't seen in YEARS!)

Measurements:
Beginning:
L arm: 12 1/2
R arm: 12
Bust 40 1/2
Waist: 34
Hips: 37
R leg (I measure 6 inches up and 10 inches up) 22 and 24
L leg: 21 1/2 and 23 1/2

Now:
L arm: 12 (-1/2)
R arm: 12
Bust: 38 (-2 1/2)
Waist: 31 (-3)
Hips: 35 (-2)
R leg: 20 and 23 (-2 and -1)
L leg: 21 and 23 (-1/2 and -1/2)

That's 12 inches LOST total! I can definitely tell in my clothes! My pants are falling off. Everything is loose and I can't wait to get to a point where I can shop for new stuff.

For now, I am just going to keep on going. I know there are great things ahead!