Walking Group

I have had a lot of requests from friends to go walking since moving down to Spanish Fork. Believe me I need the exercise. I decied that I want to go walking twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. So I set up a walking group...sort of. So far the group consists of Me. I know a few of you have said you want to come a long, and I really hope you will.

Time: Monday-Friday 6:30am

Monday-Thursday 8pm

Place: the walking trail down by the new ball parks in Spanish Fork.

Come walk with me!!

The Difference

Last Sunday Danny moved down to Spanish Fork (I won't be moving down until April 30th because of school). So I was by myself til Friday evening and I'll tell you what I learned in those 5 days without him.....I eat healthier and a lot less. I know, I know....I can't blame the weight gain of the past 2 years on him completely but it is true, it is mimic the eating habits of those you live with. Maybe it is not so much the eating habits of Danny because, He really does eat pretty healthy and doesn't tend to over eat. It is more of the eating habits of us as a couple. When we are together we like to go out to dinner or out to lunch. Sadly it is something to for us to do together and sometimes it is faster and cheaper.

While he was gone, I rarely ate out. I think I did once, to grab a quick lunch as I rushed from work to school (Quiznos...yum). Plus who eats out by themselves....ok, maybe some of you....but I just don't have the guts to do it alone. Sure, drive thrus are more friendly for the single eater but for those who know me, I don't really like fast food unless it is Barrys Drive Inn and Logan hasn't been graced with one of those yet. So I ate at home.

For those 5 days I cooked healthy lunches and dinners using lots of veggies, and fruits and stuck with fish or beans for my protein. I did good to not over eat. I didn't eat after 8. I had no candy, sugar or pop. I stayed under 1800 calories. I went for at least a 2 mile walk each day...one day I did 4 miles. I felt so good. I didn't feel lazy or overly tired. I slept great a night. My stomach didn't hate me. I lost 2 pounds. I was feeling great.

Then came Saturday. McDonald's for breakfast. Arbys for lunch. Cafe Sabor for dinner. A Pepsi at lunch. No walk. And a long time spent in the bathroom. My stomach really hates when I eat such junk. I went from feeling fab to feeling flab. My body felt sluggish, tired, stuffed, bloated and uncomfortable.

There IS a difference you feel when you fill your body with healthy items that are prepared at home by you. I have felt it.

I'm Back!

Yeah. I know. Your shocked to see a post. It has been awhile. No. I have not given up. Yes. I have not tried as hard as I could have the past, what three weeks. Has it been that long? But I will say...I have not gained any weight...I have not lost any weight. I will not list excuses as to why I have not been posting each day. None of them are justified. I've just been a little lazy. But I am back. I will do my best to redeem myself. Anyone else fall off the band wagon (as Oprah, puts it)?



My Goal:
Eat 1500 calories a day.

My Workout:
2 mile walk.

What I Ate Today

Breakfast:
Slim Fast drink= 170 cals
(No. I am not doing the Slim Fast diet, these are just easy to grab in the morning to take to school/work)

Snack:

Fiber One Bar= 140 cals
Spicy Tomato Juice= 30 cals

Lunch:

Tortilla chips= 300 cals
Homemade salsa
1 cup black beans= 150 cals
Half a small avocado= 140 cals
1 cup skim milk= 100 cals

Dinner:

Lemon pepper salmon= 300
Asparagus= 30 cals
1 small red potatoes= 100 cals
Garlic butter= 100 cals

Total Calories: 1560

Down 5 LB's

Yeah!!! I am down 5 pounds! Only 95 to go! It feels good to see some progress on the scale, just wish I felt it more in my clothing. I cant wait until I fit in some of my old jeans! Nothing gives me more motivation than seeing the numbers lower as I step on the scale.
I am also measuring my chest, arms, stomach, hips thighs, and calves. I will only be measuring these every two weeks, whereas I am weighing in each week. I think it is important to do both. I am hoping to gain some muscle and tone up my body. Fact is, muscle weights more than fat so the scale is not always going to be the best measurement of my success.
To help me continue to see more success I have decided to make some more long term goals. I am still doing my daily goals but I think these longer term goals will help me progress some more. Here they are

• No Sugar: cake, ice cream, candy, soda, etc. (except on holidays, such as this Easter)
• No Eating After 8
• Stop eating when I start to feel full

Each of these goals will be hard for me. I have set them as a daily goal before but didn't set them as a goal the next day and went back to them. I am not a big sugar eater, I crave salty things more but lately I have been wanting a Pepsi everyday or something sweet after I eat. And that has to stop. I am a late night eater. Mostly because I stay up late. And I love cereal at night. That is my midnight snack of choice. It will be hard to give up. I love food and I really love good tasting food. I also eat out a lot and when I do, I feel like I have to eat it all heck I paid 10 bucks for it. This has to stop as well. Whenever I eat out I end up getting way too full and feel sick. I need to stop when I start to feel full.

So here is to the next 5 pounds!!!

Working Out

My workouts these past few days have been great. I really enjoy working out. It makes me feel good. Don't get me wrong...it's not like I am always jumping to go, it just feels really great when I do. I like to go to the gym. I know some people hate it but I really love it. I like the atmosphere of a gym. Everyone is there trying to better themselves. OK. Almost everyone. The other night at the gym I saw two guys (oh and these guys did not have a six pack, by any means) talking about how they could get the girl over in the corner (the one wearing the skimpy shorts that happened to showcase her but cheeks hanging out) to look at them. I almost wanted to puke. But for the most part people who go to the gym are there for the same or similar reason, to get healthy. I like being a part of that. I like when my muscles feel worked. I like the burn in my chest when I push a little too hard. I like the accomplished feeling I get when I push through a tough workout. I like the adrenaline high, that makes me feel like I could go forever, I get about 15 minutes into my workout. I like the motivation I get when I see someone else running faster than me. I like the primetime tv I get to watch silently(we dont have it at home) while I listen to my music, its a good distraction. Needless to say, I like working out.

What I dont always like, eating healthy. I like to eat. I like to taste really good food. And I will admit, I do eat when I am bored. And that is a big problem. One I am trying to work on. One I haven't been too successful at yet. But I am not giving up. I'm staying positive. While I get my bad eating habits under control...I will just do what I like best. Workout. Plus working out usually makes me want to eat better.

Moral for the day: when your not successful at one thing...dont give up on the rest!!

What's on my workout playlist this week?

• Take a Chance on Me (ABBA)
• Mama Mia (ABBA)
• S.O.S (ABBA)
• Girls (Beastie Boys)
• Santa Monica (Everclear)
• I Will Buy You a New Life (Everclear)
• Everything to Everyone (Everclear)
• Hypnotize (The Notorirous B.I.G)
• Going Back to Cali (The Notorirous B.I.G)
• What's My Age Again (Blink-182)

What are you best at? Eating healthy, workingout or other?

What is your favorite workout song? I need more to add to my list.

Graduation

Today's Reason

• To not look like a giant blue berry when I walk across the stage at graduation on May 8th

Yesterday's Accomplishments

• Walked to and from all my classes
• Almost No sweets/treats...we made ice cream in my food science lab and I had to take a tablespoon sample to be able to evaluate it....I dont count it as a failure.
• Cooked and ate all meals at home
• Did not eat after 8pm

Today's Goals

• Go to the gym
• No sweets/treats
• Eat 5 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit
• Cook and eat all meals at home

Thoughts

I am graduating May 8th. I am so stinkin excited to walk across that stage and get my diploma. It has been a long time coming. What I am not so excited about it wearing a navy blue graduation gown. Those things make the average person look like a giant puff pastry. I dont want to imagine what I will look like if I dont drop a few. So here is to my new reason.

Life Change

My Reason

• To buy new or fit into old summer clothes....it's almost here

Today's Accomplishments

• Went on a walk when I got bored instead of eating, like I would normally do
• Went to the gym even when no one (Danny) wouldn't go with me
• Measured and recorded my chest, arms, stomach, hips, thighs and Calves
• Ate every meal at home

Tomorrows Goals

• No sweets/treats
• No eating after 8pm
• Workout at the gym
• Walk as much as possible (this means walking to class and back)
• Eat every meal at home

Thoughts About Today

Stress does not bring out the "go getter" in me. When I'm stressed, I need an outlet. You know, something to take the mind off the stress. Say, a to drive the gas station to get a cold fountain Pepsi or a really yummy Cafe Rio salad for dinner. Two things that are not best for someone who is trying to watch what she eats. When I'm stressed I don't like to think about how I need to go to the gym or I can only eat this or only eat that. I'm stressed and I want to do whatever my non-motivated self wants to do (like eat and be lazy). That is how I felt today. Stressed. But happy I didn't give in (at least not too much, I did have some of those Cadbury mini chocolate eggs). A little background information might help....

We, Danny and I, have decided to move the business down south to Spanish Fork. In order to do this we have to leave some weekly clients behind. Doing this will cause us to take almost a $2000.00 cut a month. Ouch. So when money is involved, stress is involved. At least for me. We will be moving into my parents home until we can find new clients to make up for some of the clients we will leave behind. So for the next month or so we will be scrimping and saving every little thing we have. We will not have the luxury of spending, like we did before. We will need to not go grocery shopping but try and come up with meals and recipes to make out of the food we have so that we don't have to pack food in the move. And the list goes on.

Long story short. Stress is getting to me. Making me want to give up on this journey until the move and everything is out of the way and then try it when life calms down.....

But I know and I think we all know that is not how to live life. Life comes at us. Stress weighs us down. But if I can stick to my plan through all of this, then I know I am making life changes and not just losing weight. I am sticking to a plan even when it is hard. I am learning to eat healthy and stay active even when life is stressful. And in times past, I have done the exact opposite. I'm pretty sure that is how I gained this 100 back in the first place. I put off for tomorrow what I should have done today. Not any more. I am doing this despite what comes my way. This is a life change.

Sorry

Ok. Everyone. I know I am a slacker and I need not make excuses. I will be posting everyday from here on out. I needed to put my thoughts together and really decide how I am going to make my way on this journey and how I am going to organize this blog. But now that I have figured it out, you will be blessed with a post everyday and I will be well on my journey!
I'll be posting again later today...just wanted to give you a heads up!

What's Your Reason(s)?

Most women I know have a desire to lose weight whether it be 5 or 100 pounds and most of these women, I'm sure, could give at least one reason why they want to lose weight. Here are some of my reason (in no given order)....

• to not feel so tired
• to not have to fidget with my shirt, pants, any clothing article really
• to be able to walk into any store and try anything I want on
• to be able to wake up and look forward to getting dressed, not dread it
• to be able to wear more than half the clothes I own
• to be able to wear a swim suit in public without cringing
• to be able to wrap those stupid small hotel swimming pool towels around my lower half
• to not dread taking the stairs
• to not think about losing weight
• to feel sexy for my husband
• to be content with my self
• to not have back fat
• to feel healthy and strong
• to run for exercise
• to run the Speedy Spaniard
• to get pregnant

Now these are just a few. In my daily posts you will see one of these reasons or one I have not listed yet. For that day or even for that week I will be focusing on that reason. Whenever a temptation comes or whenever I am feeling down I will think of that reason for the day and have a constant reminder of why I am doing this. I think I'll even buy me some colorful post it notes today and write my reason for the day/week on it and post it on my mirror and fridge.

So What are your reasons? Go ahead make a list, you will be surprised at how many reasons you can think of. Be specific down to every little detail (like the small swimming pool towels that don't come close to wrapping around my lower half). Post your list or post a daily reason. Lets see how much motivation and reasoning this gives us.

Let me know how it works for you and how many reasons you can come up with.

Until tomorrow!

Figuring This Out

Well since I have decided to blog about my weight loss journey...I now have to decide how I am going to do it. There has to be some kind of order to it, right? The whole purpose behind this blog is to give me daily motivation, to be acountable to something. I have spent the past few days contemplating how I could organize this blog to benefit me and those who read it. I have decided one thing, for sure. I must post everyday. To know that I have to log on each day and "report" will definatly help when the desire to cheat comes a callin'. Plus if I post everyday, all you lovely readers will have something to look forward to!
So, it's istablished, I will post everyday. Now what will I post about? That is the part that has got me confused. I think I am going to have to think about that one for a little bit longer. Here are a few of my thoughts....

• post a daily, weekly or monthly goal and report each day if and how I accomplished it
  
• list the foods I eat and their calorie content as well as list the type of exercise I do that day (kind of like a food/exercise journal)
  
• write about my feelings, struggles and successes for that day
  

Those are just a few of my (favorite) ideas so far. Tell me what you think. Which one should I do? Should I do all three? Do you have any other ideas?