Day 14: Reflections

So, I weighed in this morning and well... I'm right at 183 pounds. Right where I was this time last week. :o/
So, what do I do now. Reflect. What happened. What went well? What stunk? What Do I need to change or maintain. I'll compile my list and get back to you tomorrow. Oh, but the way, I measured my hips, bust, and belly yesterday. I don't know if I did it correctly, but I am going to post that information too. So, stay tuned.

Day 13: Plan Ahead

Well, yesterday the weight loss journey was challenging. I ate out twice... Breakfast at Burger King and Dinner at Harbor Inn. And that wasn't even that bad. I had one of the Burger King english muffin sandwiched, which is one of the better things on their menu, but I ate the hash browns that came with it. At Harbor Inn I had broiled flounder with california style mixed vegetables, but I ate the hush puppies that came with it. And... after all of that I went to AppleBee's with friends for drinks. I ended up ordering 2 Skinny Bee Mojitos AND snacking on other people's appetizers. Yeah... like I said, it was a tough day.
SOOOOooo... I decided to learn from it and move on. The Lesson: Plan Ahead. Breakfast out was the result of an early morning of running and taking hubby to drop off his vehicle at the shop. I'd delayed breakfast for too long. If I'd planned ahead, I would have quickly whipped up a smoothie with added protein. That smoothie would have held me over til lunch. Then when it came down to dinner, I did not plan for the side of hush puppies (my weakness). The idea thing to do would have been to ask them to hold the hush puppies or at least ask for less. And when it came to drinks at AppleBee's, I did okay. But nibbling off of other people's appetizers was a No... no... I should have planned ahead and ordered a snack of my own. My original thought process was that I didn't need to order food, I'd already eaten and there was nothing lowfat in the appetizer section. But, I now realize that if I'd have planned for my need to munch, I would have ordered a small side salad or soup. That lesson carried over into todays meals. I actually planned to make up for all of the extra calories that I consumed yesterday. And... I made my lunch for this week so I don't forget it at home and end up settling for other unhealthy options.

Stay tuned. Weigh-in tomorrow.

Day 12: Never Too Busy

So, I used to always say, " I want to workout, but I don't have the time. I've got to go to work and once I come home I get the kids settled with dinner and baths. And that's just on the nights when I don't have class. Weekends aren't much better because I have to clean house..." That was what I would say when faced with the prospect of working out.
However, now I go to work, care for the kids, make dinners, go to class during the week and I'm still house cleaning on the weekends. But in addition I exercise daily for 45 min to an hour. So, what's changed? Nothing... but the way I view myself and my outlook on life.
I used to put everyone and everything before my fitness goals. I'd attempt to go work out, but I wouldn't have a sitter. Or I didn't have the right clothes. I couldn't afford the gym membership. I needed to be at home with the kids. There was always a reason. There was any reason but me.
I have no idea when or where it happened, but I started to realize that if I was going to continue to be everything for everybody, I also needed to be someone for myself. How long can you neglect yourself, and still be worth anything to anyone else? I may have been able to keep it up for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years... but at what price? I'd be unhealthy and unhappy and so would my family. A gym membership with child care may cost me some, but constant visits to the doctor, would cost more. New workout clothes may be an added expense, but it's an expense that adds to my self esteem. I do need to spend time with the kids, and the years that living fit will add to my life are just what the doctor ordered.
So, now I make time. I take care of myself, so that I can take care of others. I am never too busy.

Day Ten: Be Proud

For ten days straight  I have workout (one way or another), monitored my caloric intake, and (for the most part) gotten 7-8 hours of sleep per night. I have not lost 20 pounds (yet!), joined a bi-athalon, or fit into a size 8, BUT I am healthier. And at the end of the day, let's face it. That's the ultimate goal. Every day I want to be healthier than the day before. It's funny, my mom and I have a saying, it's "I'm not bad as I once was, but I'm not as good as I could be." Celebrate the fact that you are better, without forgetting that there is something more. It's okay to set large rockstar goals. But gauge and refocus them using smaller short terms goals. Saying I want to lose 50 pounds by the summer is a Galiath task. But saying that you want to lose 2 pounds a week is more like Daniel. Set a goal to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, or exercise one more day a week. Try one thing at a time and stick to it. Once it becomes a habit. Try something else. And don't forget to be proud of yourself. Getting fit is not "easy". Trust me. I know it. Especially when you have work, kids, spouse, school, dog, cat, family... and for some of us, it is all of the above. Managing all of that, and still finding time to take care of yourself is a job worth aplauding. So, here's a virtual pat on the back. You deserve it.

Day Nine: Eating Out

So, tonight the family went to Applebee's. (Kids eat for 99 cents on Wednesdays) I love going out and spending time with the family, but there is always a challenge when it comes to what to eat. On most occasions I just go for a salad, but at times a plain salad leave you unfulfilled. Other times your salad is more fattening than the buffalo wings and fries you were eyeballing in the first place (that's thanks to the full fat dressing, bacon, crutons, and cheese... among other things). So, tonight I actually took a look at the weight watchers selections on the menu labeled under 550 calories. I ended up getting the Teriyaki Shrimp pasta. The pasta was made out of whole wheat and it was served with lots of veggies. It was a good meal and it filled me up. I also enjoyed a skinnybee margarita. It was just 100 calories and it fill that desire for my favorite drink. This meal tipped the scales as far as my current meals are concerned, but for a night out with the family... it was a health wise choice. Paired with the 30 minute workout I got after work tonight, I'd say it was a meal fit for a "lean" queen.

Day 8: Expect the Unexpected

So, yesterday, monday was my weigh-in day and as fate would have it, the alarm did not go off, so I did not get up and go to the gym. So instead I traded my elliptical workout for an at home booty shaking session. I actually blogged about it last night but then my computer got a mind of it's own, erased everything i'd typed, and sent me to bed early... So this morning I am blogging about yesterday, in hopes of getting on track again tonight. I also did my weigh-in today, one day later. But I am glad tod say that I am sitting pretty at 183. That's near they weight I was when I had my set back....

ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

Day Seven: Dress the Part

So, let me tell you. I used to go to the gym wearing sweat pants and a bag t-shirt. I never wore makeup or perfume. It was like I was going to do some yard work or something. Didn't matter what I looked like cause I was working.
Not anymore! I actually own coordinating exercise clothing. Cute pink tops and slim fit pants. My sports bra actually works more like a bra and less like an ace bandage to provide lift. I put on lip gloss and spray on bath and body works.
I've read on fitness.com and in Shape magazine that looking good while you workout improves your workout attitude. And I can tell you that from personal experience, it does. It's no wonder why. Gyms have tons of mirrors. During my workout I'm continuously checking myself out. When I look bummy it's depressing. I don't want to work harder. I want to leave. I hate that everyone at the gym sees me looking like. But when i look good. I feel good. I'm like awh yeah... I'm bringing sexy back. If I look this good now, imagine what I'll look like at the end of my journey. It's motivation to keep going and push harder.
**Official Weigh-in tomorrow.**

Day Six: Indulge... (read first, then indulge)

So, indulging is something many dieters shy away from. They fear the splurge will lead to a binge. Not so! Trust me, I've done the research. Why? Because I love to indulge. HOWEVER, there are a few tips I have picked about treating yourself. # 1. Try lowfat alternatives to your usual treats. If you usualy have hostess cream filled cakes try the Weight Watchers brand. # 2. Splurge occasionally. If you are doing it everyday, it is no longer a splurge. It's a habit. Enjoying that special treat once a week or once a month allows you to saver it. #3 When you know you are going to indulge on dessert, eat a healthier meal. Work your splurge into your calorie count. That way, even when you're wrong, you're right. :) # 4. Chocolate is your friend (depending on the kind and quantity). The higher the percentage of cocoa, the higher the amounts of healthy antioxidents it contains. These would be your dark chocolates. Plus, endorphins are released when you eat chocolate. These endorphines act as natural pain relievers. Thing is you should only eat about 1- 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day. And... because dark chocolate isn't as sweet as milk chocolate, you won't want to eat more than 1-1.5 onces. # 5. If you don't indulge every once in a while, you are setting yourself up for future failure. Denying yourself of every craving will only lead to binging in the long run.

I chose this post today because today I went grocery shopping. I saw all of the little debbies, cookies, and loaded ice cream bars, but I was not swayed. That's because with my new food knowledge, I have options. I browsed the weight watchers 1 point cream cakes and muffins, but I settled on the Mini Sneakers Ice Cream Bars. Each one is only 90 calories, but it satisfies the craving for chocolate, sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy. It doesn't get my better than that. I also picked up some plain dark chocolate for those days when I just need to quick pick me up without all of the extra frills.

Stay tuned. Weigh-in is Monday morning at the Y.

Day Five: Sleep

I broke one of my number one weight loss rules today... Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Last night I stayed up late... until 11:30, which is now amazingly late. Then I woke up at 5:00am for my daily workout. First off, I didn't want to get up. I was dragging on my way to the gym. I woke up for a bit once I was there, but by the time I got to work I was exhausted. That doesn't usually happen. Usually my workout rejuvenates me. So, I can just say... If this blog sounds incoherent... realize I need sleep and you do to. Good night.

Day 4: The Support

This week in weight loss has been fantastic. Because I have publized my new weight loss goals on blogger.com and facebook for the world to see, I am receiving so much praise and support. My sister offers support over the phone. Danielle is supporting me from Korea. Tasha and Karen offered their praise from Sunny Florida. Even my battle buddy Roper whom I went through basic training has come along to share her weight loss success with me. Old schoolmate Sherri has offered the advice of spin class for fast results. And I can't forget the loving "Gems" that I work with on a daily basis. I have a feeling they'll be gaining me soon. It's becoming clearer to me why posting your journey is a successful weightloss tool. I have my very own cheering section. It's an amazing feeling. And I don't want to let those people down. I want to show them what I am made of... and trust me... It's not supposed to be 29.4% fat. So, to those of you who support me, keep doing it. It's inspiring. And trust me, I'll support you.

Day Three: Strength Training

This morning decided to so some strength training before my workout. All of the research that I've read in Shape magazine and on places like WebMD talks about the importance of strength training coupled with cardio. With greater muscle mass you burn more calories during your workout and anything I can do to burn more calories sounds like a plan to me. Ideally you should lift weights 3-4 times a week with day between strength training dates. You should also alternate between legs and arms, working your core muscle with each workout. Today I did arms. Bicep curls, tricep press, rows, pull downs, and chest press were all done today. And when I finished I managed to get in 20 minutes of cardio. So, tomorrow is simply cardio. On Friday, I'll do some strength training for my legs.
If you are into strength training, tell me all about it and give me some pointers. If you are not into weight training, tell me why and maybe we can motivate each other. I more the merry.

Day Two: Occupy Your Mind

So, I was back in the gym this morning at 5:30 am. My visit at the Y contisted of watching the news while working out on this elliptical type trainer for 40 minutes. I think I've found the best way to stay current. At that time of the morning there's really not much else on TV and it really does help time fly. That's one of the keys to working out for me. I have to find something that occupies my mind while I'm getting fit. Be it talking to a friend, listening to tunes on my MP3 player, or watching TV (The Biggest Loser is the best for motivation during a workout); taking the focus off of the task makes time fly by. And depending on the movie or music, it may motivate you to workout even harder. So, to those of you who are bored by your workout, add your favorite tunes or tube... you'll be glad you did.

Back in the Gym

So, According to Shape.com, I burned 473 more calories today than I ate. It's a fine balance between the calories I eat, the amount of calories my body burns naturally, and the calories I burn from exercise.  Well, I got the first two components down. But the exercise piece... was lacking today. But I'll be back in the gym tomorrow morning at 5:30. Working out in the morning is the best way to get in exercise. You're less likely to put it off with excuses at that point. Plus you up your metabolism for the rest of the morning. So, if you're at all able. Get up, get out, and work out, too. I'd love to hear how you are doing.

Day One: Resources

So, I started tracking the calories for the food I ate yesterday. I'd journaled my eatting by hand in the past, but it was an off and on thing. It didn't last more than a month... tops. But this time I went on Shape. com and started using their Virtual Trainer. The website includes resources for much more than calorie counting though. You can track your weight loss and exercise. There are articles, recipes, and blogs. You can end find and chat with friends with similar goals.
I really don't mean to sound like an ambassador for Shape, though I am a fan. I get Shape Magizine every month and it helps to keep me motivated. They provide good tips and their stories about real people inspire me. Still, it doesn't matter what your resources are, it just matters that you find some. Since March, I have realized that you need to continue to be rejuvenated and reassured daily. Feed the healthy you the mental food you need to be successful.
(Just between you and I) I currently weigh 190 lbs. My pant size is 14.  I am married with 3 kids. I am a school teacher, a student, and now a blogger. Welcome to my Journey... Step One.