THINK yourself FIT!!! ;)

I read this on my SP website, and wanted to share. This was an article about mind over matter, and I think it's soooo true!!! This is NOT plagerism, since I have given credit to both sources of my "inspiration", so please just enjoy!! :)

How Your Thoughts Affect Your Body

-- By Jason Anderson, Certified Personal Trainer

 I love motivational quotes. One of my favorites is, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right!” I believe that there is a lot of truth to that statement. As a runner, I know that if I focus on the fatigue setting in, it seems as though everything goes downhill (or uphill, for a better euphemism). There are also times when, no matter how badly I feel, I tell myself that I am going to make it. That my legs are strong. That I am going to be OK. It's funny, but the positive thoughts are what carry me to the end. And I'm convinced that focusing on the positive instead of the negative makes all the difference.

Mind Over Body
To give you another example of the power of the mind, there were some fascinating findings from a recent study from the University of Cape Town. Researchers examined the muscle biopsies of exhausted marathon runners and found that their muscles had plenty of glycogen and ATP (fuel for muscular contraction). Their conclusion? Fatigue sets in not when muscles run out of energy, but first when the brain tells them to conserve energy. Translation? Your brain tells you to shut down before your body does.

 For the average exerciser, this means that your mind can carry you a lot farther than you think! Positive self talk can literally help you think yourself fit.

Develop a Mantra
Author and athlete Chris Bergland insists that projecting a positive attitude can reprogram your brain to enter a euphoric state while exercising, allowing you to go longer and harder. Researchers at Wake Forrest University agree, stating that feelings of pain and fatigue are a result of both immediate and expected events. The best way to fight fatigue is with positive self-affirmations such as, “I am strong. I can do this," and "I am becoming more fit and healthy.” You can develop your own mantra, which you repeat to yourself throughout your workouts. Ironman champion Mark Allen's mantra for competition was "Strong and smooth." Over and over, he would repeat his mantra while he swam, biked and ran. And in moments of great fatigue, his brain took over to push his body to greater heights.

You can develop a mantra too—something positive that you tell yourself during your workouts, to help yourself stay focused and keep your body working hard. Any word (like strong, fast, finish) or set of words will work, as long as it inspires you and is positive in nature.

 Visualize the Positive
Another tip to think yourself fit is to visualize your exercise session before you even go to work out. This is a technique used by many professional athletes. Before a game or performance, they envision how they will perform in their mind before the competition even starts. And when it's game time, their brains just replay the performance they imagined and their body follows suit.

You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to picture yourself living a healthy lifestyle, making positive choices, and reaching your goals. Take some time each day to visualize yourself exercising and enjoying it! When you imagine yourself doing well and having a good time, your thoughts will be positive and you will be more likely to do the very things (like workout regularly) that will help you reach your goals.

As in most of life, your attitude will determine how well you do. Believe in yourself and talk positively to yourself, just as you would encourage a friend or loved one. Tell yourself that you CAN do it! Visualize yourself living healthy and exercising and your body (and actions) will follow. Remember that negative talk will bring you down, but staying positive will help you to think yourself fit! 

  As I said above, I really liked the article. I can't tell you how many times I have gone into a workout, with a defeatist attitude, and totally sucked it up. I would leave the gym feeling like I didn't accomplish anything!! And, to tell you the truth - I really didn't. But the days that I get in there and tell myself I CAN do it, and I WILL do it, I do!!! It's amazing, really!! :)

 So, I hope if you are that person that thinks you can't do it, and finds yourself right...maybe try changing the way you think!! You CAN do it, and you WILL!! :)

 

BTW, stay tuned tomorrow for my month's updates!!! No pictures this time, because I don't feel as if I've made any positive changes this month - but only the tape measure will tell!!! Wish me luck!!

It's time to Re-Evaluate!!!

Well, I didn't make it to the gym this weekend, like I had EVERY intention of doing. I just literally had too much stuff happening and couldn't make it!! Sunday, I seriously would have fallen asleep on the treadmill IF I would have had a babysitter for my kids when I got home from Andrews (late). Saturday we went to bed early so we could get up early and go to Andrews. Friday, I was just lazy - I'll admit that. We went to a BBQ with some AMAZING people, and then I stayed up and watched TV - instead of going to the gym.

Tonight the PLAN is to get back into my 5K training. I will be starting week 3 this week, even though I skipped week 2 (I actually skipped week 2 during the actual week 2, because I am a genius and can't read). I will also be doing weights on my non-running days. So, I will be back to my "every day of the week except Sunday" gym routine.

I get to go buy new running shoes today!!!  My hubby gave me the green light (finally) after saying "no. you already have shoes" for like a MONTH now!! Normally, I would just go buy them myself - but since I don't work, and he works so hard to provide for us, I can't justify spending THAT much money on myself, without making sure it's okay - or making sure he doesn't need anything first.

I'll definitely update later with my new shoes, when I get them! Fingers Crossed they have them in stock!!! Here's the stock pic, but I'll have my pic later! I may change my mind once I try them on...

On the re-evaluation side of things, I am beginning to realize that when I am NOT working out regularly, I don't eat like I should. However, since I have started my journey, I have learned better about portion control, and how to eat better when I'm not the one cooking!! When we DO go out to eat or are at a BBQ, I ask myself, "what healthIER alternatives are there that I can get, but still feel satisfied?!" Honestly, there aren't a LOT, and I am still learning the art of being able to tell if I am still hungry, or just used to over eating!!

I am the person that would eat, and eat and EAT, until I was so full I felt like I was going to throw up, or I was just so miserable, I didn't want to get out of my seat! That's what I thought it meant to not be hungry, to be stuffed, instead of satisfied!! There is a difference, and I am still trying to learn, but I'm definitely more aware of things now than a few months ago. There are days when I eat, and I thought I ate enough, but 30 minutes later I am hungry again!!  Then there are days where I eat until I start getting full, and I'm good. I don't have to eat again until my next meal. But, I still have those days where it's like I loose myself "in food" and I just can't stop! I eat until I feel sick, and then I eat a little more - because it just tastes soooo good!

The other day, we ate at BK (not really a healthy choice really, but it was quick) and I remembered an article I had read that said, by getting a Whopper Jr. (no cheese), instead of a Whopper, it will save you close to 300 calories versus the FULL size one, and then not to upsize your fries - this will save you an additional 100 calories. I did this, and after I ate my burger, and my fries, I still felt hungry (or what my mind is telling me means I'm hungry). I wasn't starving, but I wasn't full. I could have still eaten, but I resisted. I told myself that if I gave it 30 minutes and I was still hungry then I could try something else, but maybe it's just that delay from my stomach telling me I'm full, to my brain realizing I'm full. Eventually I didn't feel hungry anymore, and I thought MAYBE I got it right, finally, BUT later on that night I was soooo hungry I grabbed a bag of chips, some Julios, sliced up some Colby Jack Cheese (to dip in my salsa - duh!) and pigged out! :( There has to be an easier way...I know it! I just have to find it!!! :) That's definitely my biggest struggle right now. I can do the work at the gym, I can talk all day long about how motivated I am, but in reality FOOD IS MY ENEMY!!! It's also one of my great loves!! :-/

So those are my struggles right now....FOOD! I will get past it all, and I will loose this weight!! I did revamp my goals, and they are to loose 5 pounds a month!!! This will get me down to 150-145 by Christmas!! I CAN DO IT!!! I set them that way, so I am not reaching those goals in the first week and thinking I can slack off the rest of the month, and so they aren't so unattainable that I loose focus, and my determination!

 EDIT: Obviously I did NOT proof read before I posted, and it's full of jumbled words, mis-spelled words, and just a whole lotta confusion! I wrote the darn thing, and I am confused! HAHA!! Any-who, I've corrected a few things, added a little more (above) and if you keep scrolling - here are the shoes I actually got today!!

Cute, huh? I love them, and they fit GREAT!! They didn't have the ones above...apparently THAT store doesn't keep them in stock (even though the website says they do) because they don't sell a lot of PUMA's. I ended up getting these at Academy, for $10 more. I can't WAIT to try them out tonight!! May even wear them around the house this afternoon while I'm cleaning...ya know, just to break them in!! :)

Stall in Weight Loss....

I've hit another plateau, and just after I got over one!! I know these are normal, but you should NOT hit a plateau after losing 2 pounds!! Well, I guess after my gain, it's more like 7 pounds - but I just feel like I should be losing more! I can't say it was a total non-loss...I lost .2 pounds!! Woooooooooh, NOT! These are those times when I try really, really hard to see the good in it - like I have everything else. But the simple fact is, I KNOW why I didn't have a loss, and to be honest, I am pretty surprised that I didn't gain anything. I worked out 1 day this week...yep, 1 DAY!!!!! I ate like crap all week, and still didn't see a gain - but I am more than positive that it'll be there next week. I just really, really don't want to see 170 again, so I am going to bust my butt next week. I say next week, and not tonight only because I litterally will NOT have time to go to the gym this weekend. I have my Scentsy Mini Convention this afternoon (which I am super excited about), then I have to get everything ready to head to Andrews tomorrow, for a Scentsy party of which I will be getting home late. I love that I have things to do this weekend, but at the same time, I wish I had time to actually go to the gym....but, would I go?! I mean, I have skipped all week, so why would I go this weekend?!

I went back and read through my last blog, and WOW! I sure can preach it, huh?! HAHA! I do need to get my butt back in gear, and STOP using excuses....So, this is my plan!!! I WILL make time to go to the gym tonight! Once everything is done, and everyone is in bed, I will do my 5K training, and weights. Sunday, I will do what I can outside of the gym, while I have time to kill before my party. I'll check back in on Monday, and let you know how I did!

Wish me luck, and until Monday I will be repeating: I <3 The Gym!!!

You are only Capable of what you Believe you can Achieve!!

How true is this quote?!? I mean, if you stop and think about it, if you believe you can do something - you will do it, no matter what it takes - right? If you go in with a defeatist attitude, and say, I can't do this - you won't!! It's that simple!!! Seriously! How many successful people have EVER said "I honestly didn't think I could do it" - I have NEVER heard of one! (I could be wrong, but to my knowledge this is true).

How many times have you started your weight loss, or healthy lifestyle journey over? How often did you start this thinking "Well, I'm going to try, but it's just so hard." I know for me, every time I would start my journey - I might TELL people that I was going to do it, I might have even written about it. But, in the back of my mind there was this nagging voice that said - you can't do it. You'll never achieve the goals you want. You will never lose the weight, you will never get over your love of fast food.

For me, this time is different. I will admit, I still had that voice when I started my final journey - but I very confidently told it to "Shut the eff up!" I've been doing really well so far. Trying to stay confident, even when I don't see the kinds of results that I wanted to, when I wanted to see them! I know that this is going to be a long, hard journey, but I BELIEVE that I will ACHIEVE the goals that I have set for myself. I will NOT let you, my family, my friends and definitely not MYSELF get in the way of achieving that (extremely) coveted goal!

I don't know why this quote spoke to me so much, but it did!!

What Clicked?!?

I've had so many people come up to me, whether on here, Facebook, my Sparkpeople website, or my own family, and say "you're doing great! I don't know how you keep it up, I would have probably quit already."

My standard response has been this: "I have tried many, many times to lose the weight, and keep it off for good, but I would either reach and goal, and revert back - or I would get discouraged and quit. This time, something just clicked, and I am going to make this change, and it's going to be permanent. If it's something that you really, I mean - REALLY, want to do you will do it not matter what obstacles or trials you go through."

Usually, that elicits a "Wow, girl, that's awesome! I'm glad you've found something to keep you motivated, and I can't wait to see the final results!"

However, I was recently asked this question instead - and it stopped me in my tracks: "What clicked? What happened in your life that it just clicked to make this change."

I really had to stop and think about it. Why did I decide to do this, and to be so serious about it. What has been the driving force behind working out 2 hours a night and trying to eat better? Why am I trying to become a better ME!?

I sat down, and thought about it, and the biggest one had to be my daughter, Kyleah. She's almost 5, and she has seen mommy at her highest, and at her lowest, both weight wise and emotional wise. She's seen me look at myself in the mirror and comment how fat I am, or I wish I could just loose a few pounds. Recently, she's started to mimic me. Do you know how HARD that is to see your little girl, pinching her (flat as a board) stomach, and saying she's fat. I tell her "No baby, you're not fat at all, don't say that." and she grabs her tummy and says "look at this mommy, I'm fat I just need to loose some weight!" or she shakes her thigh and says "see that mommy, it jiggles - that's fat." It breaks my heart because she is doing this because of ME, because I was so hard on myself - in front of her. I know I should NEVER do that, but I really didn't realize I was doing that in front of her at all until she started copying me. No little girl should grow up thinking they are fat, or worrying about a little leg jiggle. Right now, I am setting my daughter up for health issues, and possible eating disorders. I couldn't take it. I realized that if I wasn't happy with myself, and setting a good example for my daughter NOW, then we were going to have some real issues when she got older.

That's definitely NOT the only thing that cause me to "click" but it's really a BIG part of it. I'm doing this so I can set a good example for my little girl about healthy eating, exercising and living. I figure if I start now, then I can maybe undo a lot of the damage I have already caused by my own negative body image.

So, I ask you this - have you had that "click"? If so, why?

Weightloss Update (With Pictures!!!)

Well, today it's been about a month since I took my first set of pictures in my journey to a new me. I've shown all of you more of my body than anyone other than husband and myself have ever seen. I'm not one to flaunt around my imperfections, or stretchmarks...so this is still a big deal for me. BUT I must say, even though the differences are very slight - the fact is, they are still there, and I CAN SEE THEM!!! I am finally approaching that time where they say your close family and friends will notice the changes you've made - and I hope that's true. while 7 lbs doesn't seem like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things - it's amazing how much 7lbs can mean in the changes your body goes through!! As you go through my pictures, I will comment on where I see the differences...I hope you can see them too!!! :) 

 Picture #1 - Comparing Front views 1 month apart: 

 So, right off, I've noticed that my skin looks so much healthier - I have a "glow" about my skin (no, I am NOT pregnant - I attribute this to a workout glow, I honestly never thought working out would make my skin look better) I am also NOT tanning - I haven't stepped foot in the tanning area of my gym since my last post about a month ago. (YAY!!), I also noticed that my double chin has gotten smaller! Praise Jesus!!!!! 

Picture #2 - Comparing Side Views 1 month apart:

 I know these are opposite sides, so it's not really the same comparing - but regardless, my tummy looks smaller!!!! I think it looks significantly smaller than before - but that's just me. Please Note: I AM NOT SUCKING IN, NOR TRYING TO POSE TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK SMALLER IN ANY WAY - I want this to be as accurate as possible! :) I also notice that my posture has improved, tremendously! I'm a big sloucher, and to see my shoulders setting back, and straighter makes me happy!!!! 

Finally, Picture 3 - The dreaded Back Gills!!!

 I ONLY HAVE ONE SET OF GILLS!!!!! PRAISE GOD, HALLELUIAH!!!!! This is another of my biggest issues, my gills, and they are noticeably smaller!!! You have no idea how happy this makes me to see those gone!!!

Now, I will admit, I think my starting weight when I took these first sets of photos, was actually 170 lbs, and then I gained about 5 pounds more right after starting this journey. So, in all reality, there is only a 2 pound difference between the two photos!! What a difference 2 pounds can make!!! I am pretty positive, I have lost more than that in body FAT, but gained muscles underneath as I am doing my exercises!!

This is definitely the motivation I have needed to get my brain out of the funk I've been in, and to get over the illusion of worrying about what others think about me running (I chickened out on the treadmill the other day when I saw everyone running for long distances, and all I was going to do was job at intervals), and getting my run on!!! :) 

As I've said before, if you are thinking about starting a journey of your own, I highly recommend you head over to Sparkpeople, and join their site!!! It's great, and you won't be disappointed!! Just follow the link on my home page to sign up - it's free! :) 

Those Who Succeed...

I LOVE THIS QUOTE!!!! It's so true!!! I can't tell you how many times I look at myself in the mirror, and see NO CHANGE! It kills me, and hundreds of times in the past - this is the point where I quit! I give up! I get discouraged and think I am never going to get to where I want to go. But this time is different. I'm going to make that change, and I am going to keep going - and I know that in time I WILL GET THERE!!!

I was browsing through so many inspirational quotes, and I just can't believe how many are sooo true for me. I posted a few on Facebook, but so many more I kept to myself. I'm thinking of making a collage, and hanging it by my mirror in the bathroom, so it's the first thing I read in the morning.

So, little update on me while you're here....I have not lost any more weight, nor have I measured again. I will try to measure again on September 1 to see how far I have come since last week. I am starting to train to be a runner! EEK!! If any of you have ever seen me run - you know I am NOT a runner!! I think I could be mistaken for a smoker by the way I breathe when I take more than 5 steps at a run. But, I want to RUN a 5K - not walk, not job - RUN!!! Today, I started my "training." I am following a training program on Sparkpeople.com that is called the 5K your way Challenge. It is a 5 week program that uses jogging intervals for those who are not seasoned runners to get their body used to the extra exertion of running/jogging. I did 30 minutes of alternating walking/jogging today. Obviously it was more walking than jogging, but that's okay! I did what I was supposed to, and I finished it!! I actually took my kiddos with me, and Kyleah is the reason I finished. She was there every step encouraging me! How crazy is that!!!! My 5 year old daughter was encouraging ME!!! She wasn't going to let me quit - and I wasn't going to let her see me quit! It was exhilarating!!! I can't wait to get out there again tomorrow!!!

So, now that you have my little update, I am off to finish my Plans for the Day - which include cleaning, Wii Fit, and Wii Zumba before the hubby gets home this evening! Oh, and of course finding time to play with my kids!! :) Have a Blessed week everyone!!!

Weigh in/Measurments (early)

 So, I went ahead and measured early after weighing in the morning, and not seeing a loss on the scale. I swear that 170 is mocking me!!!! I think I may have retained some water though - I haven't been drinking as much water as I had been - and then (GASP) hubby brought me home a coke (which I NEVER drink, so why he brought it home still has me stumped) but I gave in and drank it last night. So, I'm thinking maybe my body is retaining the water I did drink to counter act all that sugar and caffeine I just dumped into my body!?

 Anyway, I wasn't going to do it, but DARN IT, I've worked my butt off for those few pounds that I wanted to loose, and it's still sooooo elusive! So, I decided to measure myself instead....

Well anyway, here are my "stats" as of today:
Starting               VS.                 NOW!
Weight:  175 lbs                         170 lbs (5 lbs lost!)
Neck: 14 inch                            13.75 (.25 inches lost)
Chest: 38.5 inch                         38 (.5 inches lost - BOOOO)
Waist: 35.5 inch (bb)                 35.5 (0 inches lost - double boooo)
Waist: 40 inch (at lp)                 39 (1 inch lost)
Hips: 43.25 inch                        43 (.25 inches lost)
r. arm: 12.5 inch                        12.5 (0 inches lost)
l. arm: 13 inch                           12.75 (.25 inches lost)
r thigh: 25 inch                          24.25 (.75 inches lost)
l thigh: 24.5 inch                        24.25 (.25 inches lost)
r calf: 15.25 inch                      14.75 (.5 inches lost)
l calf: 14.75 inch                       14.75 (0 inches lost)


So, my biggest "loss" would be in my waist (it's the bulgy part under my belly button or the largest part of my waist that I am measuring. I wanted to be sure I was losing weight, so I opted for this instead of a little higher up at my "natural waist". That's is why there are 2 waist measurements...my belly button, and my fattest part! :) But, I guess "total" inches if I do this right is...3.5 inches?! Pretty good for my first month I think!!! :) I'll take it regardless because (in the {twisted} words of Dr. Seuss) "A loss is a loss, no matter how small!"

Anyway, even though they aren't significant numbers, I am still pretty proud. I am starting to tell a difference in the way my clothes fit. I do think it's odd that my legs are starting to even out in size now, as well as my arms, when they did have about an inch difference between the 2! As longs as I can keep them the same, I think I will be happy!!

Today, I have a new course of action!!! NO MORE COKES - EVER!!!! That one yesterday really messed me up. I mean, I felt like I had less energy after I drank it, and it just didn't taste as good as I was hoping. I've never really been a coke drinker, but after yesterday - I am NOT a coke drinker...at all!!! :)

Keep Your Ey-Eyes, Open!!!!

I was working out last night, and this song came on my Ipod. Not sure why it got stuck in my Killer Workout Mix - but it did, and I'm actually kind of glad it did. Surprised?! Me too. While Taylor Swift isn't typically good workout music, I actually LISTENED to the words. (I find this to be a re-occurring theme when I work out!) I LOVE the words, and how they can be interpreted into different things/walks of life. I understand that this song is to the soundtrack for the Hunger Games (still on my list to read, but haven't made it that far..) Any ways, it really spoke to me. Lately it seems like everyone is waiting, and watching for me to break down - and fail! What I heard in that song is to keep my eyes open - and keep focused on what I want to accomplish! It might not be what she meant her song to say - but that's what I wanted it to say last night!! LOL

Well, in closing here are the lyrics to her song - I hope you can find some inspiration in there somewhere as well!! :)   OH, tomorrow I weigh in, again!!! Fingers Crossed for me please!!!!!

Everybody's waiting
Everybody's watching
Even when you're sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open

The tricky thing
Is yesterday we were just children
Playing soldiers
Just pretending
Dreaming dreams with happy endings
In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords
But now we've stepped into a cruel world
Where everybody stands and keeps score

Keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard
Every lesson forms a new scar
They never thought you'd make it this far
But turn around (turn around), oh they've surrounded you
It's a showdown (showdown) and nobody comes to save you now
But you've got something they don't
Yeah you've got something they don't
You've just gotta keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes

Keep your feet ready
Heartbeat steady
Keep your eyes open
Keep your aim locked
The night goes dark
Keep your eyes open

(Keep your eyes open [4x])

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping

Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open

Oh No!! I GAINED...

...CONFIDENCE!!!! Yup, that's right, I gained confidence!!! I know I haven't lost much - and 5 pounds isn't really enough for me to see a difference in my body - But in a weird kind of way, I see it. For the first time in a while (like 6-9 months) I fixed my hair!! Yes, I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but for a while now, if I did fix my hair, it ended up in a pony tail immediately after I finished straightening it. I just hated the way my face looked. It might have something to do with the shock of chopping off about 11 inches of hair, but still. It was still something that was a self image thing...Somehow my brain translated me pulling my hair back into "your face looks thinner when we can see all your chubby chin." I guess in turn that made me feel fatter, and less attractive. It's really been tough on me - especially since I always said that I would NEVER "let myself go" and that my husband would always have a wife that took care of herself....and I wasn't - I had really let myself go. I also was still delusional, thinking that a large would fit me, when in all reality an XL probably would have been better...but I just couldn't stomach putting that X in front of the L.  And today, I slipped on a large shirt, and it fits the way it's supposed to!!! :) May add pictures later to show - I'm THAT excited!!!

Today, however, something clicked. I was staring at myself in the mirror before I got in the shower (don't judge - you know you do it too!!) and noticed (or thought I did) that my "gills" didn't look as pronounced, and that I didn't have as big of a pudge in my tummy as I did a few weeks ago. I'm still trying NOT to measure myself even though I am more than curious to know how much, if any I have actually lost. (I think to see that I didn't loose any inches would devastate my new-found confidence). BUT, I feel like I have made improvements, and that in turn boosted my confidence. I put on clothes today and didn't cringe at the fat I saw at every angle. I fixed my hair (and DIDN'T put it up) and put on makeup (which is also a first in a while) and I FELT GREAT!!! I'm not sure where the new confidence came from, but I don't want it to go away any time soon. I like the newly confident me!! ***And if any of you reading know the past me - I've never really been a confident person***

So, this is my "Yay, ME" moment for the day, and I can't wait for the next 2 weeks to fly by so I can measure and see if I've lost as much as I hope I have!!! :)

Here's some Pictures from today!! :)

Baby Steps, They can make a Difference!!!

If you've been reading my blog over the last few weeks...I've been more than upbeat in my journey. I'm still trying to stay that way, even after not seeing the scale move, seeing it go down, then back up, and now I'm STUCK. Yep. That one major milestone that I want to pass, just isn't happening. I keep thinking, well maybe the scale is broken - and it won't go past 170. But the truth of the matter is, I've hit a plateau. Already. This is one of those moments that can make or break a weight loss journey. 9 times out of 10, it breaks a person. They think, I can't loose that 1 pound that I want to loose when I want to loose it, so what's the point. I bust my butt every day in the gym, and it's NOT making a difference.

Well, I decided that I needed some retail therapy (which usually isn't the best thing to do when you ARE trying to loose weight) But, I figured....why not. I'm probably going to be stuck here for a while, and spending $30 on a pair of jeans instead of my usual $90-$100 isn't so bad, right? Right. (to me) So, I went to the store, and decided to try on jeans. I know each brand of jeans fits/sizes differently than the next - and depending on what brand you get even the actual pair will fit differently than the exact same pair. But, I'm usually spot on the same sizes, no matter where I got in the waist - it's the butt and thigh areas that change the most for me....so anyway. I grabbed a pair of 13/14's because that's where I have been for a while (I NEVER thought I would be there BTW) tried them on, and they were SUPER baggy, even in the waist!!!! I tried on a pair of 11/12 and they were a little baggy, but the waist "fit" it was still a little loose, but it was better than squeezing into the jeans like I was doing in the past (I would stretch them out before I left the house - and skipped the dryer since it shrinks denim). I decided to forgo pushing my luck with the 9/10's because I was already sooo excited to be able to drop down to the smaller size, I didn't want to ruin that by trying on an even smaller size, and they not fit. Even though if they DID fit, I would probably have been laying in the floor crying!! LOL

I guess my point is, I have hit a plateau, but that doesn't mean that I am NOT making progress!! The scale doesn't always reflect how you are doing....I tell people that all the time, but it's hard to translate that to myself. Seriously, it's easier said than done!!! So, even though I do have weight goals in mind, and I know where I need to be to technically be healthy, I am no longer going to be run by the scale....if my clothes don't fit....that means I am loosing weight, even if they scale doesn't reflect it.

Remember: Muscle weighs more than Fat!!!! :) So, if you are incorporating strength training (or lifting weights) into your work outs, you are going to gain muscle - even if you don't see it right away, and THIS can account for your "plateau". :)


OH! Weight update....I have lost 5 pounds since starting my journey on the 19th!!

Getting Back into a Routine!!

Well, my 2 days away from the gym ended up being a WEEK away from the gym!! In that time, I gained back 2 pounds of the 4 pounds I had lost the week before. BUMMER!!!

Last night was my first day back at the gym, and it felt Wonderful! It was like seeing a good friend for the first time in a long time! LOL Crazy, I know, but I felt.....Happy! It was like as soon as I pulled out of my driveway and headed towards the gym, my brain kicked into "happy mode" and things were slowing getting better. I got to the gym, and went straight for the elliptical. Of course I picked it because it was the only machine that I was brave enough to use, and was right in front of the T.V. with the Olympics on! :) The other machine scares me a bit - it's like a ski/elliptical?! It don't know. I got on it one time, and my legs were killing me after like 2 minutes, so I've kind of stayed away from it ever since....maybe I should give it another try?!

Anyway, I set my timer for 20 minutes, on a hill setting and started going. I was watching gymnastics, and of course I was glued to the tv. All of a sudden, the sound shut off!!! I looked down, and I had blown right through my 20 minutes, PLUS the 5 minute cool down - doing a half way sprint!!!! I was sweating so bad, and breathing hard, but I was so into the tv that I didn't even notice!

So, then I went to the 30 minute workout area, and did my interval training and finished up with a 25 minute walk on the treadmill using the hill settings at 3.5 mph. SAME THING, only this time I was watching swimming. I think the guy beside me was laughing at one point because I was almost running, and trying REALLY hard not to yet all the TV to tell Ryan Lochte to hurry his (very nice) little butt up!! Then yelling at Phelps to get his butt in gear, because if they lost that relay because of him I was going to be one pissed off person!! LOL

Anyway, I guess my point is, I had a really, really great workout. I was sweating, breathing hard, and thoroughly enjoying myself. When I left I had the biggest grin on my face, and decided to bust out some old school jams (yeah, yeah all the way back to 2005 - WHAT?!)  "We is the carrrr, we ride slow, we doin' things that the boys don't dooooo. The boys stare, we smile back. All my girls in the rainbow Cadillac - Yeah" LOL!!!

See, workouts CAN be fun - if you make them that way!!!! :)