A Change in the Water

I'm happy to report that I am maintaining my loss of 16 pounds! We've had a crazy month here on the east coast and I am so glad that November is almost over. Between Hurricane Sandy and me getting extremely sick with a cold from hell I haven't worked out all month! This has been bad because ever since I stopped taking my anti-depressant medication working out has been my medicine. So needless to say I find myself somewhat depressed this month and some days have been a real struggle.

It has also been an emotionally challenging month as people are trying to put their homes back in order and many people have lost everything. I've had the opportunity to volunteer in the Helping Hands Command Center which is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Not a shift goes by that I don't hear some of the saddest phone calls. At the Command Center, I take calls from people that were devastated by Sandy and put in work orders for the volunteers to complete. I am humbled by this experience and I constantly walk away counting every single one of my blessings.

One thing I am very thankful for is water. I know this sounds ironic since the hurricane brought powerful surges of water that caused so much damage-but bare with me. I am thankful that I have safe water to drink. I am thankful that I have hot water to shower with (for four days we were without power and I was unable to take a hot shower). I know that there are many in the world without these two luxuries. Drinking more water has become my healthy change of the month! I have always liked water, but sometimes it is difficult to get in all of the water that we should be drinking on a daily basis. I have found a wonderful mix to help with my water consumption. I found this awesome recipe here for mango ginger water. It has proven that it boosts my metabolism and makes me feel great! Check out that blog! The blog is written by a woman that changed her life by changing how she ate. In one year she lost 150 pounds! One of the tools she recommends is a cookbook by Candice Kumai . I have checked this one out from the library and it is full of healthy, simple and delicious recipes. I also bought Kumai's most recent cookbook, Cook Yourself Sexy. I love Cook Yourself Sexy! I have already made several recipes from the book and I am finding that in drinking the water and cooking healthy recipes I'm feeling so good.

I'd like to point out that by eating healthy, and drinking lots of water I lost the stress weight that I gained from going through Sandy, and I've kept it off even though I started a new business venture. My business venture is a cookie business. ha ha I know what you're thinking! How can I possibly bake cookies and lose weight? Well... its hard. But-I am determined. I think part of losing weight is learning to take all things in moderation. You can't deprive yourself from all cookies and treats or you will definitely have a big binge one day. I also hope to be able to eventually learn some healthy cookie recipes that will taste almost as good as the  originals.

Bottoms up! Drink your water!

Help!!! I've fallen.... only a little....

Man oh man! Losing weight is hard to do! The second that life handed me a box of lemons I slipped off the wagon and looked for comfort in my old stand-by: food. I've decided to forgive myself for this past indiscretion-after all I had a really emotional/bad kind of weekend. This realization that I had while I watched myself slip back into this old pattern will help me in my journey. It reminded me that I have to find another way to cope with life and its ups and downs without using food.

Ironically enough that was kind of the topic in weight watchers this week. Everyone was listing ways that you can enjoy your friends/family without food (which is basically the same as getting through the "bads" in life without using food to cope). Some of the suggestions were absolutely absurd-go canoeing, go sailing, etc. but honestly it is so true! I was so bummed out on Saturday so I went and helped a dear friend of mine get her home ready to put on the market. It was a great distraction and I got to spend time with people that I love-all without food!

The good news is that today-when I got news that my Grandma was in the ICU, I didn't reach for food. I actually took a nap and did a work out. This was a great reaction to dealing with the stress and fear and sadness of my Grandma being in the hospital. It also hit me in another way... it got me thinking about my Grandma's health and about my own.

I want to be healthy. I want to be able to run and jump and fly with my children. I want to laugh and shop and play games with my grand kids. I want to be around. I want to have a good life, I want an active life. The best news is that I have the power to give this gift to myself.


So today I was upward and onward- I jumped back on the health wagon. I'm going to start running. I keep saying this-and it is about time I make it happen. I really need to clear my head and I know that running will help me to do this in a very healthy way. I'm still working out with Bob and occasionally Jillian cause I need the weight training. I love the style of their workouts as I don't get as bored doing circuit training. I am really missing Bob's cross fit workouts from his website-but I just can't justify spending the $10/month on being in his club when I don't have a job and I have like 30 work out dvd's.

I have the tools to give myself a healthy life. I just need to remember to use them.

I've Lost Ten Dozen Large Eggs!

So my friends out there-(and my enemies too I suppose)... I've lost 15 pounds! According to a chart I found on Pinterest, that means I've lost Ten Dozen Large Eggs! Isn't that fun?! So how much weight have you lost? I can't wait until I lose a small pony. ha ha ha

This journey has not been easy, but every time I get on the scale and I see a lower number I am reminded that all of my hard work is worth it. I am also reminded that I have a longgg way to go!

I am so thankful for the support that I have from my wonderful husband and family and friends. I am also extremely grateful that I lost my job. I have been able to get my life back in order. I've been able to take control of my mental and physical health. I've been able to see that I matter. While on this journey of weight loss, I'm also hoping to find myself as a mother. I feel as if the body I am building and changing is preparing me to be a better mother, wife and friend. I haven't felt this strong in years. I feel like there is nothing that I can't do. I used to avoid taking stairs so that I wouldn't be out of breath and embarrassed-now I take them with no fear!

Part of me was hoping that I would be seeing more drastic weight losses on the scale each week, but honestly I think that the gradual way in which I'm losing the weight will just help me to keep it off. I keep dreaming of my 50 pounds of weight loss prize and I'm working so hard to get it!

Let me sing praises to MyFitnessPal!

Who ever created this ap deserves all of my love and adoration! If you are trying to lose weight this can be one of the best tools. I'd heard about this ap from many people before I finally jumped on the bandwagon. I thought I didn't need it-I thought... eh, I am on weight watchers and I have a hard enough time tracking my food there-so how could this ap be any different.

Well people somehow this ap is different. I think its partly because the food database is so large (which makes it easy to track my calories) and partly because my friends and family are using it so it motivates me to keep tracking because they are.

I really have to dedicate at least part of my weight loss to this little gem of an ap! So far I have lost 14 pounds! I am so thrilled about this. My clothing is fitting looser and looking better. I have more energy and I feel stronger. I still have a long ass way to go-but at least I am moving in the right direction. Did I tell you that I am getting my groove back? I'm a flirt and it feels great to be back in my groove.

I do have to add a small disclaimer.... MyFitnessPal alone will not solve your weight issues. You actually have to watch your calories, you actually have to work out-and not just park far away in the parking lot-you have to sweat, you have to move and you have to do it 4-6 times a week. I have worked hard for those 14 pounds. Not one of them just melted off of me-but, it is so worth it!

Happy Monday! Lets have a healthy week!

Fat is whack-not PHAT!

This sh*t is working! I'm sorry for the swear-but to me it is the only way I can completely express my excitement without being there in front of your face. For the past two years I have literally been the same weight. No matter how well I tracked my weight watchers points, no matter how much exercise I did (even training for and running a 5K) the number on the scale wouldn't budge. I can't even describe the disappointment and discouragement that I felt from being stuck on stupid. Thanks to some very significant life changes (losing my job) I have been given a gift to change my life.

I started really focusing on my weight about nine weeks ago. My family's Biggest Loser competition has helped me to break my two year slump and to actually start losing weight! I have tormented my body in so many ways (yes I consider putting so much extra weight on to be torment)-but the best torture that I've ever put it through is to push myself through Bob Harper's Inside-Out Method workouts. After three weeks of my intense focus I have lost 12 pounds and several inches, I feel stronger, look better naked and have more energy!

I have always described myself as a skinny girl trapped in a fat girl's body. I love to flirt! I flirt with everyone. Well the saddest part about my weight gain was that I really lost my confidence to flirt. This weight has held me back, stopped me from feeling comfortable in my own skin and has completely blocked me from being me. Well no more! Look out! I am finally getting me back. My husband is getting the wife that he fell in love with. I feel good. I've been flirting and smiling and just feeling so happy. I encourage all of you skinny girls that are trapped in a fat girl's body to get up and do something about it.

I got some backlash (even a smack on the head from Soph) from a comment that I made in my Weight Watchers meeting on Saturday-but I absolutely believe its true. I said, "Get addicted to working out." My wonderful leader-Leanore-was leading the group through a discussion about our "self-sabotaging" behaviors. As I sat there and listened to people listing their behaviors that landed them in weight watchers it occurred to me that all of the behaviors involved an addiction to food. I have fought that addiction for most of my life. I used food as a celebration, I used food to make me feel good, I used food as a way to be "sneaky", I used food to cheer me up when I was sad or feeling rejected. Well now-I'm starting to use exercise instead of food. I say starting because I feel like I still have a long way to go. I still don't think my eating is that great-I'm just tracking my calories better. But that's what this is all about. Life is a journey, life is a dance and life is fun!

Bob will push you and your muscles farther than you ever thought possible...

Damn straight! I can barely even move my arms right now and my inner thighs burn when I walk. I stopped getting the results I wanted the last two weeks so I decided that I needed to step up my workouts. I pulled my Bob Harper Inside Out Method dvd's out and wiped off the dust this week. I started yesterday off with the Body Rev Cardio Conditioning and I plan on being even more sore tomorrow from that work out. I'm convinced that it should be renamed "Squatters Hell", it would be much more appropriate-although I will tell you this... it worked! I was already down a pound from doing this workout yesterday so I'm looking forward to my results at the end of the week.

I have always been a Bob Harper fan, he never disappoints! I am always happy with the workout that I get from him. I think its very important to revisit your health goals on a weekly basis as you sometimes need to make changes here and there to keep challenging yourself. If I can move my arms tomorrow I'm going to do Bob's Yoga Warrior workout and I will totally have earned it! Yoga has been a huge part of my fitness journey this time around. Yoga makes me feel stronger and more alive. If you haven't tried yoga in a while I absolutely think you should give it a try again. There is something so incredible about yoga that I don't think I'll ever be able to explain.

My goal for this week is to limit my carb intake. I was looking back at my past couple of weeks and it seems that I was almost on a carb overload! I was staying within my caloric intake goals but not all calories are created equal. Ouch! I just readjusted myself to become more comfortable and my legs are not happy about it.

I hope that you are all having a great week! Its only Tuesday so if you haven't gotten in any good workouts this week you still have time to get your burn in!

Finally Making Progress

Have you ever watched the Biggest Loser and thought... damn, I could be on that show! Well I have thought that several times--so I packed up my fat a$$ after some coxing from my husband and other loved ones and went to Philly. I didn't really think that I would be chosen as a contestant and I was right. However going to the audition showed me how lucky I am to have the support of my family and friends on this journey.

Not being picked to be on the show actually motivated me to get my act together. I called on my family to participate in the Biggest Loser Competition with me. I'm so freaking lucky because my family seriously rocks. We are all at different places in our "healthy" journey-but they were all so quick to jump on board with my challenge and support me. Since I'm currently out of work I am the game master... I get the weekly weigh in numbers from everyone and pass it along to the group. We all signed up on MyFitnessPal which I have found to be one of the most helpful things in my weight loss journey.

For me the key to success has been tracking my calories in and out. So far I've lost 7.5 pounds and I am already feeling so much better. I truly believe that God has a plan for my life and since I've been out of work I've really had the opportunity to get my life back and to take my health into my own hands. When I was working, I was so miserable that not matter how hard I tried I couldn't lose the weight. With the extra time on my hands I'm able to devote more time to exercise and I've even been able to get back in to yoga-which makes me feel incredible!

No big secrets on this weight loss journey... just not giving up and really tracking the ins and outs of my daily calorie intake. How are you doing on your weight loss journey?

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution

Well here we go again-the thing that is different this time is that I am going to do this. I got my Body Revolution DVD's in the mail on Saturday and after reading over all of the information included in the program I was ready to begin my serious journey.

I started Phase 1 with workout 1 & cardio 1 today. I felt awesome all day-more energy, more positive and hopeful. I know I will be sore tomorrow but this is what it is going to take in order for me to change my life for once and for all!

Jillian is one of my all time favorite trainers. She is so tough! But the thing I love about her is that you can see how much she really cares. I saw a funny pin on pinterest  that reminded me why I love/fear her so much.

Source: fuckyeahfitspo.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I try and think of this every time I'm doing one of her workouts.

John absolutely loves Jillian. He used to get so pumped when she was beating up the fat people on the Biggest Loser. I secretly think he wishes she would come to our house and whip us both in to shape. This would be one of my biggest nightmares... but that is exactly why I went and purchased her new program. I believe in her. I have seen her formula work and I am hoping it will work for me.

Ok so besides doing Jillian Michaels Body Revolution which is a 90 day program (similar to P90X I'm assuming) in which you go through phases of dvd's which contain strength and cardio workouts I am also using Weight Watchers to get a handle on my eating. There is a suggested diet included in Jillian's program... but it isn't super realistic for me to eat exactly what I'm told every single day.

I have my "Before" pictures taken but I will not be posting them until the end of phase 1 so that I have something better to post in comparison. I'll keep you posted!