The good and the bad.....so far!

The first week with my fitness coach went GREAT! I was working then and I was able to stay on schedule and on track all week. The 2nd week was Christmas and we were going out of town, so that was a little more difficult. So, here goes:

The GOOD:
I have lost 5 1/2 inches off my bust, thighs, hips, and waist since starting just 2 short weeks ago. I measured on Tuesday, so who knows? I probably lost more by now. I will measure again this week.
I feel better. The foods I eat give me TONS of energy and I feel energized ALMOST all the time. Christmas day when I ate off plan, I was so freakin tired. So, I know the food is helping me feel lots better.
I get to eat 5 times a day.
Coffee is my new BFF and MY BFF bought me a Keuirg for Christmas so yay! I am allowed to have it with a splash of almond milk and this new stuff I found- I will share below :)
My workouts are not nearly as long, but are intense and I love that!

The BAD:
I eat the SAME things every day. Yep, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are ALL the same every day and it can get old.
The scale has been somewhat of a biatch! I lost 5 lbs, gained a few back after Christmas, but I am seeing the scale go back down again and I am hoping this week I will see the 150s, something I haven't seen in FOREVER!
It's not always easy being the one to go out and order healthy, stick to no alcohol, no cheese, no bread.... while everyone else indulges.
I can't eat out anymore right now. My coach told me that could have been the cause of some of my weight gain. It was the holidays and we ate out several times while out with family, running errands, etc. Restaurants can put anything (butter, seasonings, etc) on your food and she said for NOW while I am trying to gain some momentum with this whole plan to stay home, prep food, bring it with me, whatever I need to do to make it happen. I love eating out but this week I am focusing on NOT doing that. I have goals, people!

Here are some of the things I have found to help me along the way:

I can take this stuff with me to sweeten things if I need to. Stevia is approved by my coach and not as tough on your body as artificial sweeteners like sweet n low.


This stuff is amazing! I can put it in my coffee or on food if you need to. It is approved and comes in a variety of flavors. I found the vanilla at my local Krogers, but I am sure if you live close to a healthy grocery store (Whole Foods or something like that) they probably have tons!





This stuff is calorie free, sugar free, gluten free, etc. It is approved and although some of it is not THAT great (Don't try the peanut butter-YUCKY), the salad dressings are pretty good and approved for my plan. My fav so far is the Thousand Island. :) I'll eat almost anything to help me reach my goal! Again, I found at Krogers.

Update- week 1!

I was planning on starting my journey with Wendy from www.cyberbodyshop.com after the holiday on New Year's day, but she convinced me to start sooner. She said I "would thank her later". I am glad I listened! I don't know how much weight I usually gain over the holidays, but I would bet somewhere between 5-10 lbs. So, I started on Monday. I sent her pictures to start and weighed in. I was 167.4 and not happy, but not completly devestated by it either. I have been between 165-170 for so LONG! I am not going to lie. I was scared. I didn't know what she was going to tell me to do or eat. She sent me my plan and I was really surprised. It didn't seem too hard and I was eager and ready to start! I wanted this time to be it!

This week:

• I ate a diet that consists of protein, complex carbs, and vegetables. I eat 5 times a day.
• I gave up my obsession with protein bars and shakes.
• I haven't ran once this week.
• I have done fasted cardio 5 times a week at 5 am! HIIT is where it's at!
• I have had shorter, but more intense workouts. I even looked at one workout and told Wendy- I think I can do more...hahaha after 3 rounds of what she told me, I was DONE. Somehow the combination she puts together BURNS and works SO MUCH better than anything I have ever done,.
• I have lifted weights 4 days- a few high intensity days and some low intensity ones.
• I drank a gallon of water a day.
• I ordered supplements and just got them today- can't wait to see my results. Did a lot of research and I trust Wendy.
• I went to happy hour and drank WATER and ordered a salad.
• I got on the scale this morning and I am 4 lbs done! ALREADY! That's a number I haven't seen in a long time.
• I feel more energized, sleep better, and feel like I am doing my body a world of good!

I cannot tell you how long I have struggled and researched to find a combination that would work for me. It has been hard. I finally feel like I am getting somewhere. Sometimes we need a professional opinion. Sometimes we need someone who has experience and has been there. I am not viewing this as a diet, but a lifestyle change. I have reached that point. I want to be in the best shape of my life, I want to exercise, eat healthy foods, and feel good.

Are you tired of struggling? I was! Look around...find a trainer, nutritionist, someone to help. You won't regret it! I sure am not! There are lots of options out there. Can't afford cyberbodyshop? Try www.ericanicolefitness.com  or look at your gym where you live. Do a quick internet search. Make the change. Don't spin your wheels like I did for FAR TOO LONG! :) Have a great weekend ladies!

My BIG decision!

If you are new to reading my blog, here is a little background info:

I was kinda a big kid growing up, but I never knew it. I was never teased, I never felt bad and when I got into middle school, I outgrew it. I was pretty thin throughout high school and even when I started college. I ate more fast food, I drank more, I did all the things you shouldn't do and the weight piled on.

I would guess to say I hit around the 190-200 mark at some point and I am only 5'7". I did not look good. I went through some hard things in life- breakups, moves, losing friends, a hurricane hitting my hometown, and much more. None of it is an excuse, but food and drinks became my crutch. I was unhealthy.

Finally about 4 years ago I took control. I started doing TaeBo with my roomie at the time and I kinda became addicted to it...well until the next weekend party came along. I still managed to lose weight. I kept losing. I felt great when I put on a pair of size 8 jeans one day. I dated someone who was healthy and he encouraged me. Even though we aren't together now, I say that was the one good thing I got from it- the desire to be healthier. I moved back home to my hometown about 2 1/2 years ago and I knew living by myself would be the key to getting to where I want to FINALLY be. I have gone up and done, I have struggled, I have binged, I have drank too much, I have lost and gained, I have completed Insanity, I lost 15 lbs, gained it all back, I bought smaller jeans, went back to my bigger ones, ran a 6K (on the treadmill)... it has been a journey. BUT I am still not where I WANT to be. Something inside me tells me there is more.

After reading about Mama Laughlin's decision to go further, to take on a new challenge, I started thinking- was I going to be stuck in this rut FOREVER??? Was I going to keep trying and failing??? What could I do? I started researching fitness coaches, workout programs, nutrition plans... I have thought about it over and over... I have contemplated the money I would spend, I have said NO, I can do it alone... I will try harder... But the truth is- I know myself. I have to go BIG or I won't SUCCEED! So, I have made a BIG decision. I am hiring a fitness coach from www.cyberbodyshop.com . I have been in contact with Wendy and I really feel good about this. Yes, it is $750.... BUT I did just buy a new iPad and that was $800 so what the heck??? It's for ME, my HEALTH, a better version of ME, the person I know I can become and the changes I know I CAN make.. It is worth every cent and I can't wait to begin! I am planning to start around New Year's. I know, cliche as it is- but I really want this to be a new beginning for me.

What changes are you making today for your future?? Doesn't have to be an expensive change, but everything you do counts! :) I look forward to sharing this journey.

Bender Fitness

I don't know if you guys have checked out Melissa Bender at Bender fitness, but you SHOULD! I mentioned her in my last post and since then I have decided to take it further. I am somewhat tired of trying to decide between Insanity, TurboFire, Jillian, etc. I think I need a break from those videos. So, the month of December is it! Here is my plan:

December 1- I did http://www.benderfitness.com/2013/11/burpee-burn-weekend-workout-challenge.html and then I ran 3.3 miles on the treadmill in intervals and a back and shoulder workout with weights.

December 2- I did http://www.benderfitness.com/2013/12/challenge-day-1-15-minute-hiit-core-fat.html  and http://www.benderfitness.com/2012/03/12-minute-ab-fat-burn-fitness-bender.html then did 2.5 miles on the bike and a leg workout with weights.

I plan to continue to follow her 30 day challenge and do as many of the workouts as possible. I am still going to get in some weight work every day and alternate the bike and running as well. Most of her workouts are quick-- 10-20 minutes.I love that she changes everything up and you don't get bored with it. The workouts burn too! I am always a hot, sweaty mess when I am done and they definitely BURN. Everything is at home, you can do it with body weight or weights. Some workouts do not require them. She has everything grouped by body area. It's really awesome! I think this is going to be a great change for this time of the year for me. I am excited to see the results.

Starting with the New Year, I am planning to follow her 3 month plan for bikini competition. Am I doing a bikini competition- HECK NO! But I figure I will commit to the 3 month plan and see what happens. I will also be attempting to do WAY BETTER with my diet during those 3 months as well.

So, go check it out if you haven't! www.benderfitness.com You won't regret it! :)

P.S. As I start lifting weights, I think I need to learn to let the number on the scale go! It is really starting to make me mad and I can't go by that anymore, because I hope I am gaining muscle (I know I am just by looking) and I am not going to let that number control me! NOOOOOO!!!!

Update!

I don't get to blog as much as I used to... It's not that I don't think about it.. it's finding time!

I have been busy with work this year and also opening my own business with a friend! If you haven't checked it out, make sure you do- www.facebook.com/southernstateofmindboutique

So, on the fitness front:

I have still been fluctuating between 165-170. I know the reason is that I splurge on weekends and I know that needs to come to an end. It's hard with the holidays, but soon it will have to happen.

I am currently rotating lots of different workouts and running. I try and do some type of cardio every day, whether it be the treadmill or bike and then I add in Insanity, TurboFire, a crossfit workout stolen from Pinterest, Bob Harper's Kettlebell workouts, etc. I change it up often. I also like to follow Melissa at www.benderfitness.com Maybe it's that we share the same name, but mostly it's because she kicks ass and has some GREAT workouts! I am going to do her most recent burpee workout today and run. http://www.benderfitness.com/2013/11/burpee-burn-weekend-workout-challenge.html

For me, it is all about changing it up a LOT so I don't stay bored. I also bought a new barbell this Friday (my best Black Friday purchase, in my opinion!) and I am starting to use it to start lifting more and try and take my fitness to the next level. I am learning not to care what the scale says, but to focus on how my body looks and I know that the weights are going to get me where I need to be. I will, however, try to do better with my diet. My fridge is stocked and ready to go. I vow not to let the holidays give me 10 lbs. Even if I maintain, it will be better than before. So, my advice- change it up-- do workouts that you LOVE to do... feel the burn... don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! You will be shocked what you can do and the changes you will see! :)

BUSY! & our boutique!

This year at work has been, quite possibly, one of the busiest years of my life. Between my new boss and the district, it has been craaaazy! I love teaching, but am sad to say that this year everything that is going on is making me reconsider professions. :( Trying to be positive and hoping it will get better.

I have still been working out. My runs are so much better after working with the running app I posted a few posts ago. It helped me run intervals and it has helped my speed and distance. On Sunday, I hopped on the treadmill and thought I would run a 3 miler, but I felt so good and ran 5! It was great! :)

I have been hovering around 165-167 for a long time and I know the reason is because of weekend splurges so I am going to try and cut that out, as much as possible. Not sure this weekend is the best time to start since my Tigers play Bama and that is the BIGGEST game of the year. I may need a drink to calm my nerves! LOL!

Other than that, I have been continuing with my healthy eating and am now officially addicted to shakes in the morning:

 

I mix it with fruit and almond milk and it is amazing! I also have the vanilla bean flavor as well. It keeps me full til I have a small mid morning snack and it is so delicious! I drink one almost every day.

 

 

If you haven't checked out our boutique, don't forget to do so! :) We have some cute stuff, free shipping, and all you have to do is comment on what you like and we will invoice you and ship it out. Mention blogger10 in your comment and I will give you 10% off your order :) Also, make sure to let me know if you live out of state so I won't charge you sales tax! Check it out and like us! Thanks ladies!

 

www.facebook.com/southernstateofmindboutique

 



Update!! It's been too long!

I can't believe it has been so long since I have had the chance to sit down and blog! Time is flying this year! I have been super busy with work. It is very stressful this year, but it's ok because I am going to make it! :) (I hope!)

I have also been very busy with a new venture. One of my very good friends and I are starting an online clothing boutique. We are going to begin with a facebook boutique and work our way up to hopefully a website and maybe even one day a store? A girl can dream! We are so excited and think it will be really fun and we can't wait to get going. We are still in the planning phases, but our first order goes in very soon. You can find our page at

https://www.facebook.com/southernstateofmindboutique

 

Go check it out, pretty please! :)

 

 

Fitness updates:
I am still alternating weight training/DVDs with running. I have added more weight and I am already seeing my body changing. I don't worry about the number on the scale nearly as much as I used to and honestly, I am too busy to care. I know my body is changing, I am stronger. Weights that I could barely pick up are a breeze to me now. I incorporate circuit training and keep upping the weights and I think it is paying off. Yesterday, I also hopped on my aunt's Total Gym, just to see what the hype was all about and holy crap- it's hard. You use your own body weight and let me tell you, my arms are SORE today. So, I think this is true:

 

 

Today, the weather here on the coast was AMAZING! I went down to the beach and got in a run after doing the Total Gym abs and leg workouts. It felt so great to run on the beach. I loved every minute and probably could have ran forever... not sure how far I went because I wanted it to be a fun workout, not a number crunching workout. It definitely put a smile on my face.

 

 

 

We celebrated my two aunt's birthdays last night with a little Halloween party and it was fun! I'll leave you with my totally awesome 80s pic. LOL!



Signs I have changed!

Just like everyone else out there, I get discouraged. I am hard on myself. I look at the scale and get pissed. I eat a bad meal. I don't always 100% give effort to the journey of life. I don't really call it a "weight loss" journey anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am STILL trying to lose weight and get to that goal weight, BUT I know it is a life commitment. It's about making changes all the time. It's about learning more about food, fitness, and how your body works and ACTUALLY caring about being as healthy as you can be. As I looked around my house today, I saw the signs- signs that I have changed. My life is not the same. I no longer feel tired all the time, come home and flop on the couch, eat without caring if it is healthy for my body or not... I am a different person and I am proud that I try. Could I do better? Sure, we all could as some point. But I am happy with the changes for now and celebrating that today.

 

 

My workout calendar- I do one every month. It keeps my accountable and I can look back and see what all I have done! I just put away my September calendar. I worked out 22/30 days and ran 34 miles this month. I am happy with that! I can't wait to see what October will bring!

Workout stuff: Kettle bell, heart rate monitor, weights

 

Shoes by the door, ready to GO GO GO! Running shoes and others for workouts- I love Nike Free 7.0!

Workout library: Jillian, Tae Bo, Bob Harper, Insanity and TurboFire are in there too! (I don't live near a gym, so have to do my own "at home" workouts!

Workout stuff laid out and ready for tomorrow when I get home- no time to sit down, straight to the workout... If I sit down, I might not get up! :)

 

What changes do you see? Be proud!

I never have time anymore....

I never have time to blog anymore. Well, rarely. Work is crazy....been staying on top of my workouts...eating is sometimes a struggle... and it's FOOTBALL season. My absolute favorite time of the year, next to summers off. :)

I have still been rotating running days and weight/workout DVDs. Yesterday, I busted out 3.3 miles on the treadmill, did an ab workout and arms all before the LSU game at 2:30! It felt great. This morning, I wanted to try something different. I saw this workout in the October issue of Fitness magazine. It's a circuit workout with everything from running to burpees, weights and lunges... it was great. I went through it 3 times and I burned 595 calories! Score!

 

 

 

The key to success for me is to not let myself get bored with workouts and feel blah! I have to change it up and make things different constantly to keep myself going. This is a workout I will add into my rotation and do again though! The burn felt good and I was sweating my ass off! 

 

I also tried a new dish. I found this recipe on pinterest and I kinda changed it up in my own way.

 

I bought one of those sweet potatoes from Kroger that you can cook in the plastic and are fast. I cooked it in the microwave for about 5 minutes, took it out and peeled the skin and cut it into small pieces.  

I put it in a pot with a can of Simple Truth Tri Blend beans, a little Tony's, and some sun dried tomatoes. Let that all cook for about 10 minutes. I put it on a carb balance tortilla. It was delicious. A healthy version of a bean burrito with protein and a little spice. YUM! All for under 200 calories for sure.

 

Have a great week ladies :)

 

 

Life Lately....

 

I have been up since 4 am.... tossing and turning in bed... finally I decided to give up and get up. That's why I am getting the chance to write a blog post for the first time in over a week :(

 

Last spring, we got a new boss at my school. Let's just say I feel like the woman in the picture. I feel like all I do is WORK... she definitely does not understand the work/life balance and I think work is her life, day in and out, weekends and everything... it is who she is! I find that sad... I am not that person. I love my job as a teacher, but I do not plan to make it WHO I AM. There is so much more to life. I have so many other things on my plate- my family being #1, along with time for my faith, friends, and fun! It's so important to have a balance and I am hoping that eventually my boss will learn to chill out and relax before we all quit. I have already been job hunting and reconsidering my direction in life. How did you know you were meant to do what you are doing? Have you had a boss like that?

 

On top of all that, my friend and I have been working on a business idea. We have been looking into opening an online boutique. We both love to shop and think it would be a fun new adventure for us and possibly, one day, a great source of income. So, be looking for more to come on that.

 

In the fitness and food world- I have lost 5 lbs since we weighed in at work on September 2 for our biggest loser contest. That's 5 lbs in 18 days. I can live with that. I will admit the stress has gotten to me several times and I haven't eaten :( I have still been alternating running days and my DVD workouts. I did Bob Harper's Body Sculpt kettle bell workout the other day and the past two days it has been torture to walk and def a challenge to sit on the toilet. If you haven't tried it out, do it! It burns so good! lol

 

 

Days that shape our life....

Today, my kids (students, I call them my kids) heard on the announcements about 9-11 and they all had questions.... some of them had seen it on the news that morning or heard their parents talking about it, but they were all confused as to what it was. They are only 7, so they weren't alive when that horrible day happened. I thought about what I should do or if I should even mention it, then I decided I definitely should. That day changed our world, our every day life, and the lives of all those that were lost. We talked, I answered questions, we watched a short, approved video on 9-11 and that was it. They all seemed to understand and wanted to know- why did they bad guys do that? I told them that we weren't sure, but someday they would understand more. I did the best I could given that they are young and vulnerable and scared.

I remember that day- I woke up to frantic phone calls from one of my best friends and my mom. They were panicked and freakin out. I was groggy and had no idea why they were screaming at me "TURN ON THE TV" and then I did... all I could do, like most, was stare in disbelief... then start dialing my friend who lived in New York... it was a day before I heard she was ok with all the chaos going on. I went on to college that day, I was in my first year at a local community college with all my friends. We stood in the lobby at the college and watched the TV... it was as if everything was frozen in time and it didn't matter about class or the store or financial aide or anything.

That day changed our lives, it was a day that helped shape the lives of those who were old enough to experience it and understand what was going on. It showed us that it CAN happen to us. It showed us that the world is not a fair place, innocent people are killed every day, and just because we live in the greatest country in the world- we are not protected from it all.

Today, I am thankful I live here. I am happy to be a citizen of the USA. I am happy to be able to have the freedoms that so many others don't. Today, I know God blessed us all, each and every one of us. Just because some people exercise their free will to the max and go down the wrong paths, it does not change what we know in our hearts to be right and today we should pray for those who were affected, those who lost their lives, and those who are still out there protecting us from more horrific events like that from happening.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

I think I am breaking up again....

I think it is time to break up with the scale again. I have been working hard and it still hasn't moved. Granted, I have been on my period this past week (sorry, TMI) and I know that is probably why, but still! I am not going to let it dictate my mood and what I do that day. I was reading Mama Laughlin's blog yesterday and what she said is so true! I look at the scale and it tells me how I am going to feel about myself, what I am going to eat, and I am tired of it! So, I think I will put it away and wait a while to weigh myself and just focus on being healthy and working out again. The scale tends to stress me out, so maybe it will help me relax and lose some weight finally!

Here is what I have been doing lately:
Every other day, I run on the treadmill- I am still using my "run to lose weight" app and I am up to the point where I only walk about 10 minutes of 45, which is to warm up and cool down. My runs average abut 3-3.5 miles. On running days I work my arms and abs also.

On the other days, I alternate workout videos: Insanity, TurboFire, Jillian Michaels, Bob Harper Kettlebell workouts...I have a lot of videos :) On those days I try and do a good leg workout, although I am bored with some of mine, so I searched pinterest yesterday and found some new ones. Do you have a favorite leg workout you can share? I want to FEEL the PAIN! lol


So, here's to a great week of working out and making good choices.... :)

Just keep going....

I can't tell you how many times I just want to quit. My mom and I joke all the time while working out (I work out at her house/my gym because she has a treadmill, bike, weight bench and all that.) So, as we are sweating it out together, we turn to each other and say "maybe we should just quit! be fat and eat EVERYTHING we want". That comes out of our mouth quite often, but we DON'T quit. We know why we keep going.

 

We want to be healthy. Diabetes and heart disease run in our family. Both of my mom's parents died at a young age. She doesn't want to repeat that and neither do I.

We want to look good, who doesnt?

We know it is the best way to live life. It makes us feel better physically and mentally. Sweat is our drug.

 

So, I did a pretty good job last year of losing some weight and maintaining. This summer after vacation, I feel off the "I care" train. I hopped back on about a month or so ago and really have been trying. The scale hasn't been budging much, but I am not going to stop. I know it will move. I know I am going to get there and this time I am more motivated than I have ever been. I AM going to get where I want to be, come hell or high water. So, when you feel like giving up- DON'T... when you think you have gone back too far, you HAVEN'T... when you are tired, DO IT ANYWAYS... we will get there! :)

Weekend update and weight loss contest!

This weekend was fun! I enjoyed dinner with a friend Friday night. Saturday, I watched the LSU game (football season- oh yea!). Sunday and Monday I hung out around the pool. I felt like since going back to work I was fading. I need my tan. I had a few drinks over the weekend but I was very good! They had skinny girl products at BWW so that was awesome!

Me and the friends watching the game :) 

I have been doing great eating and keeping things within moderation. I'm still stuck around 169 though, but I'm ok with that. My body usually does that when i get back to diet/exercise (stubborn far i guess!) and lately I've been having some bloating and stuff so my body feels a little outta wack right now. All will be well soon. 

So... I am encouraging all the people at work to join the biggest loser weight loss contest I created. Weigh in day was today and everyone put in $10. 8 people signed up, so I am happy! We go Til Christmas break and the team with the highest percentage weight loss wins the pot! I am so going to beat everyone! (I hope!) Tomorrow I find out who is on my team! I am so excited and this kinda thing makes it fun and gets everyone else motivated. Score! Stayed tuned for more details!

Do you do contests with people you know?

 

Sunshine Award and update!

Melissa over at My Life as a Folz nominated me for the Sunshine Award :) Thanks!

Questions she asked:1. What is your favorite "skinny" recipe? I recently made turkey chili and I love love love it! Lean ground turkey, organic stewed tomatoes, spinach, tomato sauce, and I put it over shiritaki tofu noodles... yum!

2. What is your favorite exercise? I love the way I feel after I run. Getting myself to do it is hard,  but once I do I feel awesome!

3. Where did you meet your spouse/significant other? Don't have one, currently taking applications :)

4. Do you have pets? If so what kinds? No pets, I feel like I am never home and it wouldn't be fair :(

5. What advice would you give to someone running their first half marathon? Ha! The furthest I have ever gotten is a 10k... and I really didn't like it, to be honest. I am much better with shorter distances. BUT I guess my advice would be you can do anything! and I mean ANYTHING! Just say you are going to DO IT!

6. Weight lifting or cardio? Cardio

7. Whats your favorite cardio? Insanity kicks my butt!

8. Whats your favorite TV show right now? there are lots- I love Duck Dynasty but one that I cannot miss is Scandal.. so ready for it to be back on!

9. How many times a week do you workout? I aim for 5-6

10. Do you have cheat meals? If so, whats your favorite? I have been cheating too much lately and the scale is showing :( but I guess my fav cheat is Mexican food- chips, queso, enchiladas, beans, rice...yummy!

Sorry I have been MIA... it has been a very busy week back to work. Teaching is so exhausting!

 

I have been doing GREAT with my diet and have worked out every day. I have not been eating or eating minimal carbs. AND the scale IS NOT moving. I am wondering what to do because I am getting frustrated. Maybe it just takes time. I am going to try and make it through the weekend with this plan and then if the scale doesn't change by next week, I will have to reassess. Maybe my body is starving? Even though I don't feel hungry? Any advice?

Wednesday... New thoughts

This morning I woke up and all I could think about was how bad I wanted a bowl of cereal. I don't mean captain crunch or fruity pebbles, just a good old bowl of frosted mini wheats! I thought about it and I have gone 10 days with pretty great eating, no carbs hardly, and I feel good. I wanted that cereal and guess what I had it! I started thinking and I think about every 10 days I will let myself have some freedom but not go overboard... What is that? 10% of the month? That is my so what Wednesday! Lol

Workout:

45 min TurboFire 

2.8 miles on treadmill

It was a serious cardio day!

Food:

Breakfast:

Small bowl of frosted mini wheats

Strawberries

Light grapefruit juice 4 oz

Snack: almonds and raisins

Lunch: we went out- I got a side salad and two avocado tacos, ate one and then the filling of the other but not the tortilla

No afternoon snack, I wasn't hungry

Dinner: sloppy joe- one on wheat bread that was only 140 calories

I counted out 13 chips and had little cheese dip. 

Glass of milk

Salad (had to have some veggies)

Tomorrow it is back to the grind and 10 days Til I let loose again.

We all have to take our own journey, there are no clear defined rules and I'm ok making it up as I go! So what!!

Leave you with a quote I put on my brothers board... Gotta love uncle Si! Duck dynasty day- woo hoo!

Day 2....

It's pretty hard to get back in the swing of things but I am doing ok here... Not too traumatized by 6:00 am wake up alarms lol...BUT I have to admit, I'd much rather be:

Workout: Bob Harper kettlebell sculpt DVD 

5 miles bike

Arms

Food:

Breakfast: 2 eggs with mushroom, low sodium bacon and a few cinnamon apples

Snack: peanut/raisin mix

Lunch: avocado with pico and boiled chicken, strawberries, larabar

Snack: mix again

Dinner: brisket, peas, a salad

Protein shake 

Tomorrow is hump day!! Heeeeeey!

First day back at work... Exhausted!

Today was my first official day back at work. I am tired! Guess that's what will happen if you are off for 10 weeks and then all the sudden have to wake up to an alarm... Lol! Did great today though!

Workout:

Jillian Ripped in 30

2.5 miles run/walk on treadmill. Still doing the "running to lose weight app".

3 miles on bike

Ab/ leg workout

Food:

Breakfast- oatmeal with cinnamon apples

I cut up a bunch of apples and put them in the crockpot the other day with cinnamon. It smelt like apple pie in my house :) they are great for "dessert", snacks, etc.

Snack: almonds

Lunch: went to a mexican place- no chips!!! Woo hoo! Chicken fajita salad, went easy on dressing.

Snack: larabar

Dinner: sweet potato with a little king ranch casserole stuff

Almost lights out here. Have another early day! Eyes are heavy 😴

Success :) Thursday... Not sure why this posted so late

Today was a success! Let me just be honest and say when I am at home, I do great with eating but usually going out is a REAL struggle. I always somehow fall into temptation. Well, today I didn't! I totally rocked that shit! 👏

Breakfast: oatmeal with a cup of triple berry blend (Kroger)

Snack: clif bar (I felt the hungry monster while out shopping and grabbed this at shoe carnival instead of m&m's- that was a score, in my opinion. If I wouldn't have gotten it- I would have def made a bad decision at lunch.)

Lunch: tilapia and shrimp with broccoli and carrots at cheddars. I also had a salad and did not eat the croissant or the croutons! 

 Snack: turkey jerky

Dinner: chicken stuffed with spinach and covered with artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes, sweet potato, and salad with no croutons or cheese.

I ate out 2 times today, had to buy my snacks on the go (forgot mine at home) and I still made good choices!!! I am on a roll here... Goal weight- watch your ass, I am coming for you!!! 

Saturday and Sunday

It's officially been a week since I really buckled down and decided to move forward instead of continuing to go back again and again. I've been making better choices with eating and sticking to my workouts.

Saturday-

Workout:

5 mile bike

2.82 running/walking on treadmill

Arm workout

Food:

Breakfast:

Oatmeal with a spoon of almond butter and some raisins

Lunch: kinda had a variety of snacks-- banana, Luna bar, 100 calorie wholly guac with sweet peppers as chips, grapes 

Snack: small salad and almonds

Dinner: we went out to eat and I ordered fish tacos and didn't eat the tortillas. I had a few sweet potato fries and a couple margaritas so it wasn't perfect but  I never said I would be :)

Sunday:

This was my last day before officially returning to work so I took an off day. I needed to relax, chill out, and just enjoy my couch for a day. I rarely do this at all!

Breakfast: didn't eat Til after 11, so more like brunch. Again, my friends and I went out to eat. I ordered a mexican omelet. I took the cheese off, ate a little beans, and a side of oatmeal. I didn't touch the hash browns or the chips and salsa they brought. That is HUGE for me! It doesn't even bother me which is a BIG change. Baby steps people, I am getting there!

Snacks: apples with cinnamon, Luna bar, and a couple almonds.

 

Dinner:

Steak, salad, grapes for dessert

I am back to work tomorrow. This will be a hard week because we will be eating out quite a bit so I have to try and watch it. I know I can!

Fabulous Friday :)

Time is running out for summer and yesterday I decided to have a little "treat myself" day and relax and enjoy some good, but healthy food and get a pedicure.

 

Workout:

Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance... I swear, I love Shaun T! Always a good workout!

3 miles on the bike

Leg and Ab workout

 

Food:

Breakfast:

2 eggs with a little salsa on top

Raisins and strawberries

 

Snack: Larabar

 

Lunch:Salad with tuna fish, pepperocinis, olives, tomatoes, and vinegarette dressing. I had a spoon of almond butter for dessert.

 

Dinner: We went to one of my favorite restaurants- Yamato's... if you are EVER in the Galveston area and you like sushi or hibachi, you will not regret going here! It is AMAZING! They recently got  a new roll on their menu and so we tried it out. Low carb and has no rice, but wrapped in cucumber. It was good, but expensive. Why are healthy options always so much more expensive?Anyways, we ate that, some sushimi, and then got one more roll which I scrapped the rice off of and ate.

 

Afterwards, we drove around the island for a while and my friend wanted to hang out a bit longer, so we headed to another restaurant and sat outside. It was raining, but nice out. We ended up ordering these AMAZING oysters to share. They were covered with chorizo, blue cheese crumbles, and corn. Not the best clean eating wise, but not too bad either. She ordered a pizza to take home and I said NO! I did have a few glasses of wine yesterday while getting a pedicure and a couple at dinner, but my weight is holding steady this morning and I am back to my water. About to head out to workout and enjoy this day! :)

 

Here is a pic of my cute toes!

 



Back to work...

It is that time again....

Yep, here we go again! I am no "officially" back to work until Monday, but as any of you teachers out there know, you need time to put your room back together. It takes more than a day and I went up Tuesday for 1/2 a day and then yesterday again for the whole day. I feel like I have gotten a lot accomplished and feel ready, well as ready as any teacher who LOVES summer can be.... the waking up part is going to SUCK big time because I have been sleeping til 9...10....11 sometimes... I know, smh!

So, I got busy yesterday and forgot to post about my day.

Workout:
Went old school and did Tae Bo Cardio Shred, still makes me sweat! whew! 45 minutes long.
Did my "running for weight loss" app and ran/walked 2.8 miles on the treadmill.
Stationary bike for 5 miles.
Arm workout with weights.

Food:
Breakfast:Oatmeal with raisins
Snack: Almonds and raisins
Lunch: Grilled shrimp and mixed veggies
Snack: Luna bar (I am getting rid of them and replacing with lara bars)
Dinner: my mom mad this bean and meat mix- no bread, sugar or dairy so I ate it... beans are not recommended on The Whole 30, but guess what? Who cares? It wasn't a loaf of bread so I am glad.
Protein shake before bed.

The scale is steadily moving down. Started at 174.8 on Monday morning and down to 169.2 this morning, so over 5 lbs... some of which is water weight from the weekend.

Today is a test- I am going shopping to finish getting things for work, going out to eat possibly twice, and going to the grocery store.

Some of the things on my list today:
LOTS of fruits and veggies
Chicken, fish, and turkey
Oatmeal
Almond Butter
and so much more!!!

Gotta get stuff together for my healthy meals. Have a great day ladies!

Tired Tuesday

Let me start off by saying that this morning as soon as I woke up I felt IT and by IT I mean pain! Yesterday's workout kicked my butt! I couldn't sit on toilet without pain, walking up stairs hurt, you know the drill... Means its working! Oh yea!

Today's workout: 

Jillian Michael's 6 week 6 pack

1.88 miles on treadmill, increased incline in 2-3 min spurts from .5 to 3.0 and back again.

3.0 miles on stationary bike

Leg weight workout

Plus I worked in my class for nearly 4 hours today setting it up and you teachers know that's lifting, up and down on a chair, and all that jazz.

Food:

Breakfast: 2 eggs with pico and mushrooms, 2 slices low sodium bacon

Snack:

I snacked on grapes and almonds while working in my room

Lunch:

Salad with olives, tomato, and artichoke, vinegarette dressing, Luna bar (I know I shouldn't but I am going to be buying more larabars soon because they have nothing but natural ingredients in them.. I wanted something sweet, coulda been worse) 

Dinner: my mom cooked my brothers Fav: stuffed manicotti ... I didn't eat it!!! Score for me! I had a sweet potato with a little of the meat sauce she made on it and a big salad, grapes for dessert. 

Now I'm finishing the day with this: 

:) 

Back at it again...

What can you do when you fail? Pick yourself up, dust your butt off and go for it again! So here we go:

Workout today: 

Bob Harper's cardio shred kettlebell workout

2.5 run/walk on treadmill.. I got a new app that is supposed to be "running to lose weight" and I have been doing it for the past week. I like it and feel it is helping me get my stride back.

5 miles on stationary bike with resistance.

Arm workout with weights.

Plus, I cleaned my car inside and out! 

I sweated a lot today and rocked the workout section of the day!!

Food:

I have been reading this book:

It's really interesting and has opened my eyes to some things about eating. I am attempting to try it out for a while and see how it works. So today I ate:

Organic oatmeal with almonds for breakfast. I sprinkled a little aria protein powder in as well.

Lunch:

Grilled pork, grilled shrimp, tomato, and a banana. 

Snack:

Apple and some organic raisins.

Dinner: I pretty much ate what I had for lunch but had a salad instead of tomato and had grapes instead of a banana.

Clean eating day!!! 

Just finished it off with an Advocare shake and I am done for the day. I feel satisfied and happy with my choices today. One day at a time, one step in the right direction. :) 

I do well, then I FAIL!

I have been avoiding this post for DAYS... because I am so disappointed in myself. I am sad, depressed, feel like a failure ONCE AGAIN! It is really hard for me to write this.

Sunday, July 28 I started the 10 day Advocare cleanse and I was so excited to start it again. I have had pretty good success with it before. It helped me start my weight loss again and helped me curb those cravings that I just couldn't manage to get rid of.Well, the cleanse went great for 6 days and then the weekend hit, friends came down, we went out, I drank, I ate, I let go and didn't look back. I had fun, I said "who cares?". I am sick to my stomach over it all.  

I have had a goal for YEARS... 150 and I have never reached that goal. I have come close- 158, but never made it. I always always ALWAYS slip up and go back. I want to cry as I write these words. IT is a struggle. I know I am not in the obese category or anything (even though I feel like I look in the mirror and see that)... I am overweight and have been for pretty much as long as I remember. I don't feel great in my skin. I am SO CLOSE to where I want to be and I just CAN'T get there.

Today, I went shopping with a friend of mine. She is a little 5'3", 110 lb girl. I am at 5'7" and currently 172, which is a number I haven't seen in forever. So, as she is trying on her size 0 pants, I struggled to button an 8. I was disappointed in myself. HOW DID I GET BACK HERE?! I know it isn't good to compare yourself to others. We are all shaped differently, we are all different sizes, and we are all BEAUTIFUL in our own way. It just made me sad to see how big I was compared to her and I know what I am capable of. WHY CAN'T I DO IT? Mind over matter. I need to figure out what it is that I NEED to do.

So, for lunch we went to Chili's. I ordered off the light menu and got the chicken with rice and broccoli (580 calories). I was proud. AFTER a day of shopping.... what did I do? Drank a margarita, chips and salsa/dip, quesadilla, rice and beans. REALLY?! I just tried on clothes and couldn't fit in them and still I am eating my emotions. So, as I sit here.. I am sad, bloated, disgusted, mad at myself.  I am tired of struggling, I want to feel good, I want to be healthy. I can picture it in my mind. I NEED to get there. I just hope I can.

When did you hit rock bottom? What did you do to make it better? How do you self talk to get there?

Day 6 of cleanse! (yesterday)

Workout:
1.75 on treadmill
3 mile bike
Legs, Abs
30 minutes of Bob Haper Cardio Shred Kettlebell workout

Breakfast:
Mushroom omelet with pico de gallo, low sodium bacon

Snack: Luna Bar

Again, got up late so had no lunch or anything

Dinner: OLIVE GARDEN! UGH! How do you eat on a cleanse there? LOL
I had salad, I ordered off the low calorie menu- lasagna primavera with grilled chicken... it was stuffed with veggies and had chicken on top, the worst part was one piece of lasagna noodle. My fail for the week- spinach and artichoke dip :( Again, I am not perfect, but I am doing a LOT better... I also drank tea again! So, one fail and many successes. I will take it!

Starting the morning with a shake and getting ready to go run, run, run... I will check back in later for Day 7. It's a beautiful summer day, friends coming down, bands playing...pray for me that I can make good choices :)

Day 5

Workout:

1.5 miles on treadmill

5 miles bike

Insanity plyometric circuit

Arms

Breakfast: 

Oatmeal, almonds

Snack: larabar

Lunch:

Salad with chicken

Dinner: pork loin, salad and a baked potato (I know I cheated but I was starving after my long workout) 

I have been pretty good on the cleanse. I feel good. I haven't had one drink. Can't be perfect all the time but I feel like this is a great start :) 

Also, I am super excited that my favorite sushi place is going low carb! I can't wait to try this ;) will help me in the sushi department since I love it!

Day 4 advocare

Workout:

TurboFire 55

5 miles bike

1.25 run

Abs and legs

I've been waking up really late so my breakfast is more like brunch.

Breakfast: 2 eggs, low sodium bacon, fruit

Snack: banana, broccoli slaw (wanted to try it)

I was starving after my final workout so I snacked on a salad and some turkey before dinner

Dinner: sweet potato with pork loin

I realized after putting my calories in that I hadn't even hit 1000 calories so I added in an advocare protein shake after dinner. We will see what the scale thinks of that :) 

Tomorrow, I actually have to go to a meeting for work so I will be up early and hopefully get in a better calorie count. 

Advocare day 3 and acid reflux update!

So, I have really been struggling with my acid reflux lately. Today I got a call and they had a cancellation so I could get in to see a gastro doctor and I took the appointment. I went in and they prescribed me Nexium. Anyone taken that? Good or bad reviews? I know it is dang expensive and I am going to try and switch to a generic version of something ASAP. They also tested my blood for some bacteria... Pylori something... Long doctorish name. Anyways, I didn't put two and two together until I got out and started thinking about my recent trip to Mexico. I hope I didn't pick it up there. Anyways, I should know in a few days and it can be treated with antibiotics easily. It may be the reason why my acid reflux has been so bad lately or maybe I am just getting old lol. Either way, glad I went and hope the meds work!

Didn't get in a workout cause of doctor appt and then went grocery shopping. Will get back to it tomorrow. 

Breakfast: fiber drink

Ezekiel toast, scrambled eggs, almonds

Snack: larabar

Got up late so no lunch and I was running around busy in town. 

Dinner: Greek salad with gyro meat from one of my Fav restaurants! Met the girls for happy hour and I drank tea- big score!!!

Day 4 tomorrow :) feeling good! I stocked up on healthy stuff today at the store: ground turkey, chicken breasts, frozen veggies, lettuce, mushrooms, bananas, avocado, grapes, organic pasta, almond milk, organic eggs, and more! I stayed away from sugar, dairy, and carbs ... Getting back on track!

Here's a pic of my fantasy husband during training! I can't wait for football! Love me some Drew Brees :) 

Advocare Day 2

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, so here it is. I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and had already lost 2 lbs. I know some of that is water weight, so I am not getting overly excited, but a loss is a loss, right?

Yesterday's workout:
Jillian Michaels Extreme Shred and Shed Level 1
1.5 miles on the treadmill
5 miles on the bike
Arm workout

Food:

Breakfast:
Fiber drink, oatmeal with flax seed, grapes

Snack:
Banana

Lunch:
Salad with ham

Dinner:
Ribs and a salad with cucumber, grapes

It may not be perfect, but I am cutting out carbs and dairy as much as possible which is super hard for me! Today I stepped on the scale and another pound is gone, so it must be working! Will update later today on Day 3!

Advocare Cleanse, Round 2 Day 1

OK, let me first start off by saying that I went out last night for a friend's 50th birthday and had some drinks, so I know part of my weight is water weight and will go away, but more importantly I understand the choices I have made lately have put me where I am today. I am not perfect, I don't pretend to be. I screw up from time to time and that is that. Summer is hard for me. I am out of routine. I eat out more. I don't exercise as often. I drink more. BUT, I am not giving up. This cleanse is the beginning of getting back on track for me.


Measurements this morning:

Arm: 12
Thigh: 21
Hips: 37
Waist: 34

Weight: 172 :( I haven't seen that in a LONG time.

So today's workout was:

 

I ordered 2 of his DVDs from a website for about $4 each. I bought the kettlebell at Target for $35 (they are so expensive!) I decided to start with the 12 lb bell until I get used to using it, then I will move up. I really like the workouts and they definitely get you sweating.

I completed that workout, did 4 miles on the bike, about 1 mile on the treadmill, worked my legs and did an ab workout. I feel great! I burned about 750 calories. :)

 

Food today:

 

Breakfast:

I drank the Advocare fiber drink and ate a banana. (I wasn't really hungry)

 

Lunch:

Leftovers from dinner I cooked yesterday: chicken stuffed with roasted corn salsa and wholly guac and mixed vegetables. I also had a larabar.

Snack: Apple and natural PB and a few almonds

Dinner: I have spaghetti in the crockpot. I used Simple Truth (Kroger) Tomato Basil spaghetti sauce, Simple Truth diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, ground turkey and I will put them over Shiritaki tofu noodles. YUM and healthy!

 

Last, but not least..here they are! My before shots :( I am so sad to look in the mirror right now, but I know I can do it (again!)

If you think you can't, you can.
If you eat right and exercise, you will feel SO MUCH BETTER! Lately I have been struggling with my acid reflux, which I know is totally under control when my diet and exercise regimen are under control.

Let's do this ladies! :)