Week 4

So I am in week 4 of my program. My main goal is to become a healthier person and example to my family. Dan and I are both doing this together. And as nice as it is to drop weight. Let me tell you how good it feels, to drop points in my cholesterol!

Back about a month and a half ago, I decided to be pro active and get a physical with my DR. I had all my numbers ran. BP, weight, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol. Everything was great.....except that my main cholesterol number was borderline high! EEK! My DR suggested that I take fish oil supplements, and eat a high fiber/low fat diet. And guess what's included in this program?? All that! And guess what? After having the stroke, I had blood tests. One of the numbers was my cholesterol. And it was down 36 points!!!!! Just in a month and a half.

So last week, I kept it mellow. I got back to the gym after a crazy week 2 and recuperation. And, I kept it mellow. At the end of the week, I was down another pound, and some more inches lost all over my body!

So now I am in week 4. I am doing the best I can. I am so proud of myself. And I am so proud of Dan. We are truly changing our lives for the better right now. And it feels great. :O)

Week 2 down - On to week 3

I stuck to eating and exercise Monday and Tuesday. Then Wednesday am ended up in the ER. I had a blood clot go to my brain and had a mild stroke.......not even kidding....seriously...not kidding. As you can imagine, last week I took it easy. I have been completely exhausted and wiped out. And on Sunday when I weighed in I only lost .5 pound. But that is okay. I am alive and I am okay.

So, tomorrow I will be getting blood tests up to wazoo to find out what is going on. And this week is week 3 of the program. And so far Dan and I are both doing great.

Here's to healthy living!!!

PS I will keep you posted on what is going on with the test results.

Week 1 completed!

Yah! I lost 4.2 pounds this past week!

And lost the following in inches:
waist - 1.5 inches
neck - .5 inches
hips - 1 inch
L thigh - 2.5 inches
R thigh - 3 inches
L arm - .5 inches
R arm - .5 inches

Total body fat percentage lost was 2.55 %! Dan has been doing this with me. He lost 5 pounds! He has been my rock. We have been able to keep each other motivated. It feels so great to be able to look back at the past week and be so proud of myself. YAH!!!! We are finally becoming that healthy family that I have always wanted us to be, but never knew how to get there.

My goal is to be at my healthy/goal weight by June 2010. But, I just might get there faster at this rate! Put your protein glass in the air and le'ts say CHEERS to health!

After the completion of 12 weeks, I will be posting my before and after picture. Then after the final goal has been completed, I will post a before and "final" after picture!

Let's try this one more time

So starting a rigorous work out and eating regime right before going on a 2 week vaca to Cali is a BAD IDEA! Prior to leaving we were doing great. We had not followed the work out part of it. But we were doing great with the eating. We had finished 4 days of clean eating. We had pre cooked our food and put it in a cooler for the road trip. And then the food went bad! :( So then we got frustrated. We ate the hotel catering food that was provided for free. Then after LA we headed to my Mom's house for a week and a half. Carne sada burritos, soda, In n Out food, Nothing bundt cake, rolled tacos with guacamole and cheese, pepperoni and mushroom giant size pizza, gyros sandwich, were some of the horrible foods I ate. I felt awful! Not guilty awful. But un-healthy awful. I was irritable, and short with the boys and Dan. I was im-patient. And worst of all, I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. I was bloated. And felt sluggish. Why did I eat like garbage? Mostly because I had this feeling of being deprived of San Diego food. I know it sounds silly. But there was a part of me that thought, if I don't eat this In N Out food or carne sada burrito then I am going to not have it for a very long time. What was I thinking? We are going back there in November.

I have to stop this mentality that I have. An all or nothing attitude.

I know that it sounds worse than it was. Because I did attempt with all my might to start the day off right each day. I would have my protein shake when waking up. I even got on my Mom's treadmill one night and jogged for 30 minutes. I resisted a shaved ice. And we did do active things while in San Diego. I walked a lot! Balboa Park and Museums, Sea World, downtown San Diego Midway ship, ect. So it wasn't all lazy and eating garbage. I just know that I could have done better.

But it is a new week. And this week back from vacation has been great! Dan and I re-started the Live the Life week this past Monday. We have worked out every day. And eaten our meal plan to the T. When my shins were hurting on the treadmill, I listened to my body and stopped. When I was full at dinner and still had food on my plate, I stopped. Major accomplishments for me! :)

I start up week 1 of Live the Life program tomorrow!

I am pretty exicted. Dan and I will both be doing this. For more information go to www.kristiapproved.com It is clean eating. It's a 12 week program. My friend Heather told me about this. She lost 10 lbs and 5.5 inches in 4 weeks. And her husband lost 17 pounds! I wanted to do something that was healthy, and would teach me how to be healthy for the rest of my life. I am so excited to have the support of Dan in starting this up! The ultimate goal is to be healthy. Eat and live a healthy lifestyle. To be examples of health to Ben and Zach. Will let you know how it goes!

One healthy habit at a time

Last time I posted, it was February! And that was around the same time that I was thinking about healthy eating. I stopped thinking about losing weight. Surgeries, bills, Dr's appts, possible move, Mom visiting, possible job change for Dan, school...they all took priority. And my health in the mean time was left in the dust. No more excuses. I can still have a busy life AND be healthy at the same time.

I need to find a balance. I am trying to start one healthy habit at a time. My main motivation to "get back on the saddle" was when Dan told me his weight. He has not been able to exercise due to his ankle injury. And we have been eating garbage! Hearing how much weight Dan had gained, made me take a look in the mirror. I then told him my weight. I then looked at my two adorable boys. I realized that I can have them eat healthy food, and eat garbage myself right now. But soon they will be mimicking our eating habits. And I want healthy eating to be a regular lifestyle for all 4 of us. Dan and I have both always struggled with our weight. We both are currently making changes to prevent that from happening to Ben and Zach.

And then my friend Heather, told me what eating changes she was making in her own life. I was so proud of her. And it lit a fire under my rear. It motivated me to go home, talk to Dan about our eating habits. And make some serious changes.

So here we are at the beginning again. Starting with a few changes at a time. And trying to make them habits.
Change 1 - No eating any food after 7 pm at night. We had a late dinner one night at 7:15. So our cut off time was 8 that night.
Change 2 - It is not all or nothing. Give yourself wiggle room to accommodate your lifestyle. Do not beat yourself up over a mess up. You are not perfect!
Change 3 - Water, crystal light, light lemonade, herbal tea, sugar free hot cocoa, juices are OK. No to any other drinks.
Change 4 - Ignore the 330 calorie ice cream bars and 230 ice cream sandwiches in the freezer. They are special treats/bribery for Ben only!

These are the strict rules for us for the first 2 weeks. Or until we feel we have turned these changes into habits. We have also been working on other things. But the main focus are the 4 changes above. I personally am trying to eat within an hour of waking up. This gets my metabolism going.

Next week, Dan and I both have appointments to speak with a nutritionist. Yet another free military perk!

It's been tough. But the pay off is SO worth it! I am down 6 pounds. And Dan is down 17 pounds now!!!!!

This past week and then some

This past week and a half I have had shingles. They are a form of chicken pox. SO NOT FUN! I haven't been able to work out. For the most part I have still been following my food plan. But to say I am discouraged or frustrated is an understatement.

For one - Dan was supposed to get to come home early. Because the shingles are a form of chicken pox, and Zach can not be vaccinated until he is 1 years old....I was told by the DR to limit my contact with my newborn! HA! Also, they put me on 3 antibiotics(one makes me dizzy) and percocet for the pain. This lovely pharmaceutical mixture makes me un-able to drive and care for my kids. So, originally Dan was approved for emergency leave, but was told he would have to return to the sandbox after he had helped me. Then he was approved for an early return and that somehow also fell through. So, THANK HEAVENS for the wonderful women in my church and here on base. They saved me. Taking the boys and allowing me to take my pain meds, grocery shopping, giving me rides, and bringing dinner. I am filled with so much gratitude at the help we have received while Dan has been gone.

For two - I honestly feel like ANYTIME I try and do something for myself, or better my body something happens that knocks down my ambition. And that my friend is quite frustrating. I find it so ironic that my post before this one was all about how proud I was of myself to have gone to the gym 6 days in a row. I guess someone is trying to humble me.....well it worked.

The good news is that I think I have managed to keep off the weight I have lost so far. And I will be starting back to the gym in a few days. My shingles are just about gone. And the pain is 99% gone. Also, my wonderful husband will be returning home for good rather soon. And that makes me happier than I can express in words.

So here's to staying healthy...and working out like crazy until the hubby returns! ;)