Back from low point

I had a really bad experience at Zumba about a month ago. I have not gone back since.

Long story but it can be summed up by saying this - A rude and mean lady was telling her child to beat up mine. Another lady chimed in her bold opinion. Race was also brought up. I left in tears.

Just as I was gaining back my self confidence. Zumba toned my body and helped me lose inches so easily. Of course my muscles were killing me at times and I was sweating like a pig........but I had so much fun, it did not feel like exercise. I was down 12 pounds!!!!

I looked forward to attending the class. I did not feel like the biggest gal in the class. I felt a unity with the women that attended the class with. Military wives that lost themselves were getting their groove back. And it felt good.

Now I find myself back in a slump. I went to a friends wedding. I felt huge. I wore an unflattering shirt that I did not realize was unflattering until 2 minutes before leaving for the wedding. So there was no time to find another shirt because I was on I vaca away from my closet. Because I had to travel 8 hours to the wedding, I was also bloated and retaining water. It happens every time I travel. Unfortunately I had no time to lose the water weight before attending the wedding.

So, I went through a few weeks where I was not exercising and eating horrible processed, sugary food. I gained weight. And then I felt like all the hard work of Zumba was a waste. Then something snapped in me and said, "Hey! Get it together! Stop eating all the crap!"

So, had I blogged 2 weeks ago....... I would have said I was at a very low point. But, today I am working on getting my groove back.

So basically back to ...
Step 1. Starting with making healthier choices. And what a time to choose right? The candy month? But I am actually proud of myself. Listening to my body when I am full. And I am also working on eating healthy snacks. Now to master the portion size situation.
AND
Step 2. Working on being more active with the boys and Dan. Trips to the park and doggy park. Getting out of the house. Turning off the TV.

I am back baby

Life has been busy. But I am now officially back to blogging. I am not sure if anyone follows this blog anymore. This will at least help me to stay focused on my goal.

I am slowly becoming more comfortable in my skin. I am working on taking more full body pictures with my family. I still feel like my middle area is my most insecure area. I am working on not hiding in pictures. I think I did okay in this one. This picture was taken this past Saturday. My hubby, the boys, and I, all went to a Rodeo on the Army base we are living by. More active family outings is another goal I am trying to reach.


I am so happy to say that I am down 12 pounds since June. I have lost 6 inches off my waist. And a few more off my hips, legs, and all over.

It is about getting healthy. Bottom line. I have to find what works for me and keep working toward my goals.

Right now it is making sure I get off my tush each day(except Sunday) and exercise. Get up and do something. That is my goal each day. Cutting back on the ice cream and pizza has not hurt either. :O)

Checking in

So a few days ago, the hubby and I made a huge decision. We decided that we are going to move to a bigger place. We move on Saturday! So exercising has temporarily switched from lifting weights at the gym to lifting boxes at the house. Still trying to be as healthy as possible. For the next week, we are eating out more than I would like. But this helps us pack faster. It eliminates dishes. And we are in paper products mode right now. So, I have to work extra hard to make smart choices. But, I am still trying!

Our house is filled with fruit from Costco, and bottled waters. Mini crystal light travel packs are ready. Trying to not drink any soda. I just threw away Halloween and Christmas candy!!!! Drinking protein shakes in the morning. And the boys have healthy snacks.

Does anyone have any smart ideas or tips for staying healthy during a move?

*Megan - Good luck with Weight Watchers! Thank your for the comments. The support really helps me!

Back to life...Live the Life that is!

Wow.....September! That is the last time I was on this blog! It was probably also the last time that I had the desire to stick with healthy eating and exercising. After my stroke in September, I was told by my Neurologist, that I was not allowed to do any working out... AT ALL! Until they figured out what was going on with my body. This frustrated me big time. I was on a roll. I was down 12 pounds. And I was feeling GOOD about myself! And then fast forward to today and I am like the opposite of that feeling.

I know that when I work out, I have the desire to eat healthy, and toss the garbage/processed food out. And when I don't...well lets just say..... I gained back the weight I had worked so hard to lose and then some! Dan having surgery, the holidays, football food, and my birthday, did not help matters either! Boo! I have been so down on myself. Low point..... However, my wonderful husband has inspired me to get back and get healthy with him. He is also at a low point when it comes to self esteem. He has also gained a lot of weight from poor eating choices and not being able to work out post surgery. He helped me turn things around. A Christmas present from him to me was Your Shape for Wii. Then my birthday presents were focused on a healthy lifestyle.

Well, today we are fresh and ready to go! Today is day 1, week 1 of our Live the Life program. Dan has also purchased his Men's Health big book of exercises. He will be following the work outs from that book. I will be following the exercises from the Live the Life book in moderation. (Until I get the EEG, I am being smart about not over-doing it.) And as for food, well I am on meal 3/day 1.... and clean food never tasted better! Sugar makes my stomach hurt. Fried and greasy foods just make me feel yuck. Clean eating gives me energy and a desire to be healthier!

So happy that Dan got me a new IPOD for my birthday! My old one broke a few months back. Oh, how I missed you hot pink IPod! Dan and I are hitting the free family gym on base in a few minutes. The boys can play in the play area. And Dan and I can work out! And when Dan is at work, I can use Your Shape Wii fitness work out and dumbbells.

5 pound dumbbells - another birthday present from my wonderful hubby! So to anyone who feels down and is tired of starting over AGAIN and AGAIN. I say that I feel your pain! But, the fact is that if I want to be that healthy example to my boys and active person that I miss......then I need to get my booty in gear! Let's get it in gear together!

What works and What does not

Things to work on next week (week 6) -

Getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier

Drinking most of my water earlier in the day

Remembering to take Glutamine after work out and before bed time

Take it easy and do not over do it with working out(until DR gives okay)

Have food made ahead of time

Next time I go on a mini vaca -

Weigh in day will be Friday prior to leaving as opposed to usual Sunday.

Pick 1 treat for the weekend. Incorporate it with healthy food.

Lose the all or nothing attitude!

Last weekend my hubby, 2 boys, and I went on a camping trip with a few people from our church. I was feeling really great about myself. I was wearing clothes that were fitting loosely. My track suit that Dan got me as a anniversary present was quite flattering.

My mistake was going to Costco the day before we left and getting "campy food". Tried to keep it healthy, but still got off track. Trail mix with m/m's, beef jerky, Costco cookies, gummy bears, items to make Smores. I didn't go crazy when camping. I had 1 smore. A few handfuls of trail mix and gummy bears. The cookies were the biggest mistake. They are my weakness. When returning home I ate like 4 in 1 day! Awful!

Dan and I went into the weekend with the mind set that we would not be following the meal plan on the weekend. So when returning from camping Saturday night, I was in the mind set that we were not doing the meal plan that weekend......so we could order pizza. Naughty me! :) We felt totally gross after eating the pizza. Sunday we were so ready to make a healthy dinner. And we were SO very ready to get back on the plan Monday. And I am proud to say we did. Yah us! We also got a new scale. It reads Body Fat percentage, weight, and H2O. And as of today, I am now officially down - 11.8 pounds in 5 weeks! That is totally a healthy loss ratio.

On Tuesday when working out, I was having chest pains. I was also having chest pains on the drive up to the mountains last Friday. I have a DR appt on Monday. And a neurologist appt on the Monday after that. I am trying to really follow the food plan. But I am not focusing on the exercise until I figure out what is going on with my body. I still do not know the reason for having the stroke a month back. Hopefully I will find something out soon.

REWARDS

So Dan and I have decided to reward ourselves. Each week that we finish a week, we each get a $20 or lower prize.

My rewards have been:
Week 1 - Eyebrow Wax, nail polish, and a polka dot make up bag
Week 2 - Puffy vest from Costco
And this week after finishing week 3, I got a Fall wreath! I have wanted one of these for SO long. And Costco had one on sale! YAH!
Dan's week 1 reward was this work out jacket! Looking good Dan! Our goal is to complete this 12 week program. November 22nd is the last day of week 12! At the end we will be rewarding ourselves with getting a family picture to hang on the wall. And my personal reward, is if I lose the weight I have set my goal for, then I get a full spa day! Either way I am getting new jeans at the end of 12 weeks!

* Final Goal * After 29 weeks, I should be at my goal weight. If I hit that goal, then I will be buying a bikini. And Dan and I will be going on a cruise! This should be around June 2010! So that is motivation!

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)