Weighing in at...

This is were I'm at Now. It feels good to be making some headway. I still have 25 lbs to lose on my mental weight loss meter. Of course, if I get there and go... Oh, my goodness I need to make a change, I will. But I'm soooo optimistic. I've lost 34lbs already, I can lose it again.

Back and Better Than Ever

So, I was gone for a minute, but I'm back now.

For those of you who don't know I moved back to Florida to be closer to my family. I've been here for about a month and half. And it's taken some getting used to. Initially I was eating what they were eating, staying at home trying to get things in order, and rest from the hectic days of traveling and unpacking. I wasn't getting my regular workouts in. I was also eating out with my husband alot (trying out all of the fine Keys cuisine and a few cocktails as well). And, the beat all, they don't have a Family Y within 20 miles of here. :o(

So, last Sunday morning I got up and stepped on the scale. It read 190.7lbs. Back in the 190's... Oh, Heck No! That was the turning point. I went shopping for all the healthy fair I needed to get myself back on track... fresh fruits and veggies, chicken breasts, tofu, salmon, rice cakes, and almonds. Every morning I have a Shakeology Shake (a healthy meal replacement or snack provided by my Beach Body Coach) for breakfast. I started taking salads and grilled chicken for lunch everyday. Dinners are much of the same: steamed or raw veggies; chicken, tofu, or fish; and some complexed carbohydrate like brown rice. I have 2 snacks a day and 1 dessert is allowed (I Love Weight Watcher's ice creams).  And that's my diet. Oh... I almost forgot... Lots and Lots of water.

And as for exercise, I had been walking/jogging about 3 times a week for the past 3 weeks, but this week I turned it up a knotch. I've gone to Karate and worked myself into a wrestling training session on a couple of evenings. That's all due to the fact that my brother is a martial arts instructor and has his own dojo. Plus I still do my walk/ jogs and throw in a little dance fitness in the morning when I wanna switch it up. I feel so much better after I work out. That's why I love working out right when I wake up. It helps set the tone for my entire day.

Well, folks, there you have it. That's me getting it back together... Relocated.

On Vacation

So folks, I've been in and out of Augusta since the 20th of June. I spent time in Florida and now I'm in VA. I've been doing. Great with working out... better when I'm out of town than when I'm at home actually. While in Florida, I usually worked out this my sister. We did kickboxing, walked/jogged around the park, and did more crunches/sittups than I like to recall. Here in VA I'm up every morning walking around the lake in Danielle's subdivision. It's pretty, aside from the hissing geese and the occasional loose dog. However, I'm eating much better here in VA than I did in FL. Something about home makes me feel like I can each what everyone else is eating and not worry about it. Ha! Here, I'm back on fruits, veggies, nuts, and chicken. Diet Green Tea, Protein Drinks, and water. Speaking of water... I'm gonna go grab a glass. Buh-bye

Keeping it Real

So, folks, here's what's been going on. I've been working the Elimination Diet since Monday. It's been going good. Usually it's fruit or a smoothie for breakfast. Lunch and dinner is all about fish or poultry with veggies. Snacks come before and after lunch and were usual fruit or triscuits. For the past 2 days I've had a mini dark chocolate bar with a banana for my sweet fix.

However...

Last night was... less than perfect. Shonda came over for a visit (which I truly enjoyed) and I stayed up super late... which lead to some late night snacking on cookies and milk. Still, I'm not going to beat myself up or look at this as a diet downfall. Because good eating is all about a lifestyle change, I will make allowances for indulges like Oreo cookies with milk. The key it to limit these indulges. My sister days that per Karen, her Beach Body Coach, she has one splurge meal a week. Now, I don't know the science of it all, but it's all about keeping up her body's fat busting potential.

And...

Today is back to normal. A smoothie for breakfast, apple for a snack, a salad with grilled fish for lunch, and a light veggie stir fry with grilled fish for dinner.

Oh, and working out has been going swimmingly. I've walked/jogged everyday this week. And that was while I was in class. Now, there's no class and I'll be on the go for the summer. So, I think next up, you'll be hearing about my eating on the go and on vacation. Wish me luck. :)

Recovery

I titled this post Recovery because I have come to the conclusion that up until yesterday, I had Relapsed. And the clear sign of my relapse was getting on the scale and seeing 189... 189... are you serious? That was 10 lbs up from my lowest. NO WAY! Uh, yes way. And so... I was brought to the crushing reality that, YES, I had relapsed. I'd slipped back into the habits that put me on this journey to begin with. So, now... as of Sunday afternoon, I'm back on track... again. My exercise, my eatting, and my mindset. It's not easy... especially with the class I'm in. Everyday 2 or 3 people are responsible for bringing in snacks and everyday the snacks are a 1 or a 2 on the healthy scale of 0-10. So, today, I brought my own snacks. I only have 2 days left of this class and I could waited to get back on track, but why... so I could be 13 lbs heavier. I think not... Already the scale is changing for the better. It now shows 186.6... Water weight sure... but it's still weight. And... what am I doing exactly... Here's a list:

1. The elimination diet... Fruits, veggies (low carb), fish, poultry.
2. Lots more water
3. Diet drinks (cola and green tea)
4. Almond milk
5. Exercise 20-30 minutes everyday of something you enjoy and mix it up.
6. Relaxation and meditation
7. Gauge your hunger (Ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?")
8. Don't go long stretches without eating anything (2-3 hours max)
9. Portion control. Less really is more... More healthy, that is. 
10. And the one I'm not quite following right now... go to bed on time (but I just had to write this all down)

Well, folks... that's about it. Stay tuned.

Fake it til you make it

So, I really wasn't feeling working out after being in class from 8:30- 3:15. )Now I know how my students feel at the end of the day.) I just wanted to go home and crash out. Problem was I'd told a friend we'd work out today and I told the kids I'd take them swimming. Well, the friend texted, "Are you still going?" That small text was just the nudge I needed. I got to the gym and though my friend wasnt there yet, I worked out for 15 minutes on the thredmill doing walk 2 min and run 2 min alternating. Once she got there we went to zumba for 30 min. After that I took the kids to the pool. I even got in and played around a bit in the water. It was great. By the end I was telling Shonda (who joined us out there) that I'd had fun. I was glad I'd went... though I had to drag my butt out there. Like my daddy always says, fake it til you make it.

I Have Been Convicted

So, my sister says to me today, "I was catching up on your blog and I've noticed you haven't weighed-in in a while." Ohhhh... you got me... Yep... she called me on it. Put it out there when other people were probably thinking it, but just didn't say it. That's what sisters are for, right? Yeah, at least MY sister. So, this is what I told her... Friday, I will weigh-in. Come hell or high water... I will put it out there. I hadn't been because I hadn't been showing any progress. But... oh well, gotta pay the piper. This journey wasn't meant to be easy and you were meant to see my successes and my failures (well, not failures... lessons). But anyway, stay tuned...  I'm working out regularly... AGAIN. I went to the gym with one friend at 5pm and did 40 minutes of elliptical and some weight machines. I left there and a bit later met Shonda to do a Cardio Dance class. I aint good for breakfast and lunch. But dinner was chinese. I was semi-healthy with that, but I've got to do better. I'm going to start my elimination diet again on Monday. That's what jump started my weight loss the first go round. Time to do it, and do it right... again. Well, that's if for now. Supposed to hit the Y tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday... it's on the schedule. And I think I'm going to get back into my Kick butt sunday class. Join me if you like.