Finally...back on track

I can finally say that I am back on track.  I got off track with my eating for a while, but I am glad to say that I am meal-prepping again and eating the right foods.  When I fall off, I fall off.  My eating habits had gone back to my old ways, but I knew I couldn't allow that to continue.  I have a goal to reach and I must do everything within my power to ensure I stay on track.  Because of my horrible eating and lack of discipline the past few weeks, I am sure that my weight has gone up and I know I am to blame.  I accept that and will move forward.  I refuse to dwell on it or have a pity-party because like I stated earlier, I did it to myself.  I take responsibility and I am implementing new activities and methods to ensure I do not fall off the wagon again. I will continue to update the blog with my progress as a way to remain accountable.

It's been a while...

Sorry it has been so long since I have last checked in.  About a week after my last post I came down with a cold and it took about two weeks for me to be back to 100%.  I tried my best to keep up with my exercise routine during that time, but I was not successful with two workouts a day or five days a week.  My eating was up and down during that time and to be honest everything was thrown off, but I did not give up.  I am happy to say that I feel normal again and I have started my five days a week workout schedule again.  I am still attempting to get back to my healthy eating and it is taking longer than I would like to admit, but I will get there.  I just wanted to let you all know I am still hanging in there and refuse to give up.  I will check in later and let you know my plans moving forward, but please know giving up is not an option.  I am still on this journey to a healthier lifestyle. 

Good news!

I am feeling very motivated and , somewhat, accomplished today so I wanted to do a quick check in.  I decided to weigh myself this morning, although I swore up and down I was not getting on the scale again for another two weeks.  But, I figured that it is important for me to know where I am, especially heading into the weekend.  Transparent moment: I tend to over-indulge on the weekend and allow myself to eat things I normally don't during the week.  I am not proud of this, but I am working on it.  I can at least say that when I do cheat on the weekend, it is for one meal of the day and not the entire day.  Either way, I felt that I needed to know where I was before allowing myself to have a cheat meal (or two)!  So to my surprise, I have lost another 2 pounds and I couldn't be happier.  I think the change in my eating, as well as, the two-a-day workouts have helped. 

This brings me to the results of week 1 for the new challenge: it was a success.  I was able to stick with my exercise plan and complete 5 days of working out ( 3 days with two-a-day and 2 days with 1 1 1/2 hour workouts).  It wasn't  easy to stay consistent daily because I was exhausted after getting home from work, but I continued to remind myself that challenge is necessary in order to see change.
That's it for now...just wanted to check in. 

Exercise Challenge Results and New Challenge

Well, month one results are in and I am down 9 pounds.  I tried my hardest to lose an additional 2 pounds last week, but I did not experience any change.  I got on the scale Friday morning and was exactly the same weight I was at the beginning of the week.  That was extremely discouraging and made me feel as though all my hard work was for nothing.  I know the weight will not come off over night, but I still feel as though I should be making consistent progress.  Considering how much I weigh at this time, it is too early to be experiencing any type of plateau.  I was hoping to be close to 20 pounds lost by this time. I guess I will just have to keep going and figure out any adjustments that need to be made in order to see changes.

With this being said, I have decided what the next challenge will be.  I mentioned this briefly in my last post, but I have decided to go with the two-a-day workouts for the next month, somewhat.   I am going to challenge myself to do two workouts a day for 3 days a week and for 2 days a week I will work out for an hour and a half.  I honestly do not know if or how I will be successful with this challenge, but the point is to push myself beyond what I think is attainable.  My plan is to go the gym for a class and then do the elliptical for an hour, either in the morning or late in the evening.  Thinking about this next challenge is already exhausting, but it is necessary to work hard for what you want in life.  And Lord knows, I want this.  I want nothing more than to be healthy again and confident with my body.  Because of this I am willing to do what I have never done before in order to achieve this goal. As difficult as my goal may seem, I am willing and ready to put in the work that is required. Every time I want to give up or cheat, I take a look in the mirror and remind myself of why it is imperative that I lose this weight.  I have really let myself go and I don't even recognize the person staring back at me, at times.  This daily reminder allows me to persist, regardless of how tired I may be.  I must fight through any deterrent during this process.

The challenge actually started this past Sunday, August 16th and I have been successful thus far.  As far as my eating, I am meal prepping and adding more veggies and protein.  Another issue I think I may have had is that I was not eating enough.  Due to the amount of exercise I do and the calories I burn, I don't think I have been taking in enough calories.  This could also be why I have not seen movement in the scale.  So, I have added more protein to assist with this and I eat about 5 to 6 small meals a day.  I am not going to weigh myself again for a couple of weeks to see if these changes make a difference. 

I will do my best to keep everyone updated.  Just know, I am not giving up and I am pushing myself harder every day. 

Almost done!

So, the challenge will come to a close on August 13th and I can say that I have been successful with completing at least 5 days a week of exercise.  I am loving the small changes I can see and I look forward to exercising daily (well, kind of).  I am still trying to think of what my next challenge will be.  I will continue to do at least 5 days a week but, I want to incorporate a different element; so I will get back to you with an update at the end of the week.  I can finally say I was brave enough to get on the scale this morning and I was ready to see weight gain or no change at all; so, I braced myself for this.  To my surprise, I have lost 2 pounds and that puts me at 9 pounds lost in a little less than a month.  I am extremely happy and surprised by this.  Although the process seems to be slow and steady, I feel as though I am adopting better habits and this will allow me to keep the weight off. This makes me want to go even harder, so for the remainder of the week I have decided to complete two hours of exercise per day.  I am starting to toy with the idea of making this the next challenge: two-a-days for at least five days a week.  That would definitely be a challenge for me because I hate getting up early in the morning but if I want it bad enough I will sacrifice, suck it up and do it.  I now understand that sacrifice will be a big part of this lifestyle change.  I will need to be uncomfortable for a while and sacrifice activities I love (sleeping in, going out to eat with friends, etc.) in order to obtain the results I so desperately want.  I will confirm on Friday what the next challenge will be and when it will start.  Until then...stay healthy and motivated!

Update

Checking in! Although I was extremely discouraged by my results last week, I am still progressing and doing my best to meet my weight loss goals.  To be honest, I did indulge this weekend; but, I do not feel bad about it, nor have I beaten myself up because of it.  I understand there will be ups and downs and it is up to me to keep moving forward.  I have still been consistent with my exercise and have maintained doing five days a week since I started the exercise challenge on 7/13/15.  I am happy to say that it will be over next week and I have not let anything deter me from meeting my goal.  I can honestly say, that regardless of how defeated I may feel at times, exercising is what keeps me going.  Once I have completed my hour, I feel so rejuvenated and energized. Even if the scale has not moved, I definitely am seeing small changes in my body.  No matter how small, it is still a change, so that is still success in my eyes.  Also, one of my toughest critics has said that they can see changes in my body.  This motivates me to keep going until I reach my goal. 

As far as my eating, I am not depriving myself; but, I am mindful of what I put in my body.  I will be making minor changes as this challenge comes to an end and the next one begins.  I want to continue to challenge and push myself beyond what I think is possible.

This journey is still a daily struggle and I don’t expect that to change.  This is a battle I will continue to fight and there will be many wins and losses along the way.  Keeping the end goal in mind continues to motivate me and allows me to keep pushing.  I plan to do a final weigh in and overall assessment next week when the challenge comes to a close.  I will be sure to update the final results here.  I will also discuss the next challenge at that time.  Until then, stay healthy; stay motivated!

Frustrations...

I haven't checked in all week, but I figured it would be best to check in today.  I have been frustrated this week and on the verge of just throwing in the towel, multiple times.  Again, I am attempting to rush the process and frustrations arise because I know that is not realistic.  I have to keep reminding myself that although I may not see results immediately, it will be worth it in the long run.  Rome wasn't built in a day right! Therefore, my new and improved body cannot be built in a day either.  Well, that is what I keep saying to myself to ensure that I do not fall off the wagon.  With this being said, the frustrations I have been feeling have not caused me to revert.  So far this week, I have exercised 5 times and I have been sticking to my healthier eating plan.  Oh, I almost forgot, the main reason I was so frustrated was because there was no change in the scale.  I am exactly where I was last week and I don't know how to feel about that. I did not expect to see another seven pound loss again this week, but I was at least hoping to see the number go down slightly.  It is just so upsetting for me because I know that I have so much weight to lose and for it to seem as though I hit a plateau this early in the journey is extremely discouraging.

I just don't know what to do.  I mean, in some ways I feel as though I am making progress because certain shirts are fitting much looser than they were when I started this journey.  But, to see that the scale has not moved since last week really does something to me. I know the number is not important, but when your weight is as high as mine, trust me it matters.  I could understand if I was down 30 pounds already and hit this plateau, but to hit it when I am only down 7 pounds is really messing with my mind. I am going to research how to overcome plateaus and implement some of the recommended strategies to see if there is any difference.  It just discourages me to no end and I am trying not to let it defeat me.  I am so angry right now and normally this would be the time I give up. But as I stated before, giving up is not an option this time around.  Just wanted to check in , I will follow up a little later.

Week 3

Just wanted to do a quick check-in.  Today starts day three and I have done an hour of cardio.  My eating was okay this weekend.  It could have been better, but I am ready to get back on it for the week.  I did make my flat-bread pizza on Friday and it was pretty good.  So, that will be a meal option that I will be adding this week.  I am still meal prepping this week and will continue to eat lots of veggies and protein.  I am still feeling motivated and like I can successfully complete this challenge.  I will weigh in again on Friday to review my progress.  As much as I would like to lose another 7 pounds this week, I do understand that is not realistic.  I know that the first week is when you normally lose the largest amount of weight, so I am prepared to not see much movement from the scale. On the bright side, I am only 5 pounds away from the first goal I set for myself.  So, I am now working toward losing that 5 pounds.  Have a productive week and I will check in later.

Progress Report!!!

Drum roll please...I have lost 7 pounds since last week!  I know I was supposed to weigh in on Sunday, but my scale needed a new battery so I didn't record my weight.  But, I weighed myself tonight and compared it to my weight when I went to the Dr. last Wednesday and I am down 7 pounds. I am super excited about this and it goes to show that consistency works! Along with my work out challenge, I made significant changes to my eating habits and now I am reaping the benefits.  I am feeling so motivated and ready to conquer this weight issue that I have had for many years now.  I have done my five days of exercise for the week and I plan to keep going.  I just have to keep up this momentum and continue to write so I can stay on track.

The meal plan that I followed this week is below.  I am not saying this will work for everyone, but it did allow me to see the scale go down...which is always a  plus.  

Breakfast: Yogurt and fruit

Snack: trail mix, 1 serving (1/4 cup; 150 calories)

Lunch: 

a) Grilled chicken in a whole wheat pita with Parmesan cheese and a small amount of Caesar dressing and a small salad with Parmesan cheese and dressing or

b) Smart ones frozen meal with a side salad

Snack: Fruit or raw veggies

Dinner:

a)Salad with grilled chicken and Caesar dressing or

b) Smart ones frozen meal with a small salad

Snack:

If I got hungry later in the evening, I would make popcorn; but, I would only eat a small amount from the bag and place the rest in sandwich bags.  This allowed me to eat the proper amount.

Drinks:

Coffee: the only thing I added was a small amount of sugar free creamer and Water

I definitely plan to add different options next week, but this meal plan did not cause me to become bored with my food.  I didn't really have the urge to cheat, like I normally do.  I have a flat bread pizza recipe that I will be trying along with a few others.  I just wanted to provide an update with my progress.  Stay motivated and let me know the progress you have made this week!

Checking in...

Okay, I know I said I wasn’t going to write again until the end of the work out challenge, but I couldn’t stay away.  I have to continue to write because it allows me to remain accountable, while keeping me motivated.  So far, this week, I have completed three days of exercise.  Yes, I am still doing the elliptical; but, I have also added in weight training and ab exercises.  I have also been successful with my eating and I am so proud of myself for that. I always struggle with maintaining a proper diet, so baby steps make me happy and show me that I have the ability to eat healthy on a consistent basis. I even have new meal ideas that I am excited to try this weekend.  I realize, that for me, it will be about variety.  If I eat salads and chicken every day, I am going to get bored and want to eat something I have no business eating.  If I allow myself to have options, I have a better chance of staying on track. 

With this being said, it is time for an honest moment.  I started to get frustrated last night and wanted to rush the process.  I kept looking at myself, in disbelief, because I couldn’t believe that I allowed myself to get so big.  It’s funny how this works, but I really didn’t realize how big I had gotten until I became serious about this journey.  I don’t know if I was in denial or if I just didn’t feel like dealing with it, but the fact that I completely let myself go is a problem.  Now that I realize how large I really am, I wish the weight would just melt off overnight.  I have to be realistic and remind myself that I did not gain all of the weight in one day. It took time to pack on the pounds; therefore, it will take time to remove them. This is always the hardest part of the journey for me.  If I don’t see immediate results, I get frustrated and want to give up.  I have decided that giving up is no longer an option and I am willing to deal with the feelings of frustration, in order to achieve my weight loss goals. 

I am looking forward to the changes that will occur during this journey. I view this process as a journey because it will lead me to living a healthier lifestyle.  I no longer use the term diet because when I do, it is short term and the results are not permanent.  

What are you looking forward to while on this journey?  What have your struggles been thus far and how do you cope with them?  What do you do to remain accountable?

Week 2 Work out Challenge

So far, so good.  I am feeling very motivated going in to week 2 of this workout challenge.  I ended up doing 6 days of exercise last week, which was amazing!  I also did a work out on Sunday night; so, I already have a day in the hole.  I also did some grocery shopping to ensure I am eating healthy and even meal prepped a few items last night.  I purchased protein, veggies, fruits and yogurt to eat for the week. I have realized that moderation will be key when it comes to my eating.  I am hoping that the meal prep will assist me with staying on track with eating.

I have decided that I will not post again probably until the end of the challenge, not like it will make a difference…lol.  But, I realize that people like results when discussing weight loss journeys. Results are motivating and, at this point, talk is cheap.  So I will post an update along with pictures at the end of the challenge so everyone can see any results or changes that have occurred.  I will still do a personal journal, so I can remain accountable.  Good luck and feel free to update me as you continue your journey.

Week 1: Workout Challenge

Well, week 1 has been successful so far.  I have worked out six days this week and I feel great.  It's funny because everyday before it was time for me to work out, I really did not want to do it.  But, once the work out was over I felt so energized and rejuvenated.  I am very proud of myself for being consistent with my exercise this week and I can say, with confidence, that I will successfully complete this challenge. My routine this week consisted of the elliptical.  There is just something about that elliptical that makes me feel so accomplished once my work out is complete.  The dripping sweat and pounding heart beat, makes me feel as if I completed a marathon!  I am becoming addicted to that feeling...and I hope I continue to feel this way during this journey.

During the second week of the challenge, I plan to incorporate different work outs.  I don't think I will be able to walk away from my elliptical, but I will definitely add weights to the routine. Eventually, I would like to get a few exercise dvd's that I heard were challenging, but produce results if you remain  consistent. Another element that I will be adding this week, is my weigh ins.  I tried to hold off as long as I could without revealing my weight, but I must be completely transparent while on this journey. So, I have decided to make Sundays my weigh in days, for now.  As I get further on this journey, I understand that the scale may not go down consistently due to losing inches or gaining muscle. I don't want this to discourage me, but I will cross that bridge when it comes. So for now, I will weigh in every Sunday in an effort to track my progress.

I will also begin meal prepping this week because I know that an area I continue to struggle with is clean eating.  I have been doing research and getting ideas on how and what to meal prep.  So, I will also begin this on Sunday and I will provide updates during the week.

Week 1 was a success and I am positive that the remaining weeks will be the same. Stay healthy and motivated!

Day 1 Overview

Day 1 was a success.  I was extremely tired after getting off work and going to the grocery store, but I still committed and did what I said I would do.  As much as I didn’t want to, I got on the elliptical at 8:01 and finished at 9:01.  I worked up a great sweat and felt rejuvenated once the workout was complete.  I had a small salad and baked chicken the size of the palm of my hand for dinner.  I feel great and hope to be successful with this workout challenge.

Another challenge I will have is ensuring that I am eating healthy meals throughout the day.  It is very hard for me to eat breakfast in the morning.  I find that I am not hungry in the morning, so it is hard for me to force myself to eat.  I have been attempting to make myself eat at work, around 9:00 or 9:30, but that doesn’t always work.  While doing the workout challenge I will do my best to make sure I have a healthy breakfast daily.

Another thing I will need to do during this challenge is to include variety in my workouts.  I tend to get complacent with doing the same type of workout.  Lately, I have been addicted to the elliptical because I work up such a good sweat and burn so many calories.  But, from what I have seen during others’ journeys; it is important to switch up your routine to ensure the entire body is getting a work out.  I am a cardio addict, but I hear there are benefits to weight lifting also.  I plan to do research and come up with different methods of exercising so I can see results.

Also, I know one important aspect that is missing from this journey is before pictures.  I promise to upload pictures soon so you can see my starting weight and the changes that my body will endure during this journey.

What do you hope to accomplish during the challenge?  What types of work outs do you enjoy?

Workout Challenge: Week 1

 I decided to do, somewhat, of a workout challenge to ensure I stay on task with my workouts.  Working out is not really an issue for me, but I am finding that consistency is an issue.  When I am working out, I love it; I feel great and see it as a way to relieve stress.  The problem is: I will workout for 4 days one week and by the next week I may do two days.  So, I figured if I do some sort of challenge, I may stay motivated.  I am going to challenge myself to work out for five days a week for a  month.  Hopefully, this will assist with making this a habit for me.  The dates of this challenge will be July 13^th, 2015 – August 13^th, 2015.  I will check in periodically to discuss my progress.  Feel free to join me!!!!

Weaknesses

Weaknesses, I am sure we all have them.  So, I figured I would be honest about the types of food that continue to be a constant problem when I am serious about getting healthy.  For starters, I love (and I mean LOVE) bread; honestly, it is an unhealthy obsession.  I can eat bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week. For as far back as I can remember, I have always loved bread.  I don't know why I love it so much, but it just makes me feel so good inside while I am eating it.  Sad, I know...but true.

What kind of bread do I prefer?  I have no preference; I do not discriminate when it comes to my bread! I enjoy bagels or toast in the morning and any type of sandwich for lunch.  When I go to restaurants that serve bread before the meal, it feels as though I am in heaven.  My favorite restaurants that do this are: Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Carrabba’s, Outback Steakhouse, Longhorn and the list goes on. It is so bad, I will actually fill up on so much bread that by the time my meal comes I am stuffed. 

Other foods that tend to be my weakness are: Hamburgers, Pizza (absolute favorite) and fried foods.  Pizza is my all-time favorite food and it is a major weakness.  I would honestly eat pizza for every meal of the day, daily, if I could.  That is how much I enjoy pizza.  It is also the main reason that I am in the predicament I am in.  I have no self-control when I order pizza; I can never eat just one or two slices.  I have to turn away from pizza altogether or find a healthy alternative, so I can satisfy that craving.

I just wanted to share the weaknesses I have and continue to struggle with on a daily basis.  I realize that these particular foods are weaknesses for me because I have allowed myself to overindulge on them, so much so, that they have become a part of my diet. It is my hope that during this journey, I will be able to develop some self-control or find healthy alternatives for the foods I deem as weaknesses. 

What foods would you consider your weakness?  What do you do to ensure you don’t over indulge?  Any helpful tips you can provide are greatly appreciated!

4th of July

I know I haven’t updated since last week, but I wanted to make sure I wrote about my holiday weekend.  So, let me start by saying I was very successful last week.  I stuck to eating healthy and I did an hour of exercise every night.  I felt great and very motivated.  With this being said, I knew that the 4^th of July holiday was coming up; which, for me, meant an excessive amount of eating and drinking.  I tried my best to keep my goal in mind and try to create a plan to ensure that I stayed on track, even though it was a holiday weekend.  So, how did I do?

Well, let’s just say, I failed miserably! I have learned that I must be honest with myself and others if I intend on being successful during this journey.  I ate and ate and ate this weekend and did not feel bad about it.  I was still able to meet my goal of exercising 5 days per week, but my diet was the problem.  But, I admitted that I overate and now I am moving forward and continuing to work on the goal. 

I have learned that there will be many ups and downs on this journey, but the most important thing I can do is to continue to push forward.  Regardless of how many days I may mess up, I know that I have a goal in mind and that is to become the healthiest I have ever been in my life.  I will not let minor setbacks get in the way of me reaching my fitness goals.  I vowed to have a healthier lifestyle and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that goal is met.

So, if you mess up at anytime during this journey, please remember to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and keep pressing forward!

Have a healthy and fulfilling day!

Checking in...

Wanted to provide a quick update.  I have been doing well with my eating...lots of veggies and protein. I have also been doing one hour of exercise daily and so far I feel great!

Am I here again?

So, it has clearly been years since I have updated this blog.  Needless to say, things have not gone as planned; hence the title of the blog.  As I stated in my previous blogs, maintaining a healthy weight has been a struggle for me for pretty much my whole life. Well, I am now the heaviest I have ever been and I can honestly say I am not sure what to do next.  I need to lose this weight for health reasons, most of all, and to get my confidence back.  I know that when I was writing this blog, although I was not consistent, it did cause me to be accountable.  So I am hoping that re-opening this blog and allowing others to follow this journey, I will remain consistent and on track with my weight loss goals.  Feel free to join me and let's be sure to keep one another motivated.  I will check back in this week, to update you on my meals as well as exercise routine.  Good luck everyone!