Holidays... Here we come!!!

Holidays here we come!!!

It's almost that time to enjoy some sweet and savory foods.... again..

Thanksgiving was fantastic! I made some "legal" foods for the family to try and for me to enjoy. There was not a weight gain during that time, which surprised me beyond belief!

I am almost at my goal, another 5 lbs to shed and then BOOM! Done!! YES!

so.. Christmas is coming and my weakness is all the goodies!!

I love some homemade cookies, breads, peanut butter balls, and all the other delicious things that people make!

How can I choose only one or two of those to try?

I had a weakness last week for sure! I tried a Dunkin Donut (we now have one of those naughty places!!).

I made Sugar Cookie Cutouts and they were amazing!

I made Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies and those were scrumptious!

I made my grandmother's Cinnamon Roll Recipe and those were good too!

This is just ME making things, so imagine the difficulty in saying "NO or only 1" to other people's creative Christmas baking!! ahhh!!

In order to get through this time of weakness, here are my tips for you and for me:

1) Drink more water
2) Move - exercise everyday..  a couple of times a day if you find yourself craving something sweet.
3) Stay busy - idle time is the devil's playground... temptation will be beyond anything you've experienced
4) Indulge by letting yourself have 1 or 2 things during this holiday time.  It's OK!!!!

Stay strong people and know that it's all about self control and making wise choices.

Question--- Is it really worth eating 12 cookies in 1 sitting or that whole plate of treats? I really could do that you know... easily.... but I have to remember... 1 or 2 that's enough.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

It's All About Self-Control & Keeping Your Eye on the Goal

Today marks my 7th week with Nu-Energy (new me). It's a very exciting week!!!

I have lost a total of 13 lbs and gained 2 lbs of muscle..

This is a HUGE milestone for me! I KNOW I couldn't have achieved these results on my own.

In my lifetime up to starting this program, I have NEVER had self-control to say "NO" to any dessert, no matter how many calories! I loved sweets more than any other food out there. I could live on sugar alone... BUT, then I came across Nu-Energy and it has completely changed my focus, and now I am choosing healthy, beneficial foods, as opposed to the things I ate before. I would rather take just a little portion and enjoy it to the fullest, and not have a weight gain, then indulge and regret it later...

I am still buying the other foods, for the rest of the family, but they are not tempting me as they once were. I look forward to trying all of these wonderful, tasty recipes, and it's got me motivated to keep going. Don't look back... (And for the record, the family is getting used to my new way of cooking, and they are trying things, and enjoying the healthier foods too.. I just still buy the treats and make them b/c they are good.. in moderation).. LOL

It's still boggling my mind how I attended 3 THANKSGIVING DINNERS last week, and STILL HAD A LOSS today!!!

I wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday!! And remember.. it's not about the food, it's about the company.

Enjoy your loved ones.. look at them in the eye, give them extra hugs, take pictures.. the food is good too, but pick a few of your favorites and fill up on the healthy items first... :)

I'm sharing with those who want to read this, but it's not to be taken as I'm "telling" you what to do... it's all tips for health..

Have a blessed Thanksgiving to all my family & friends!!!

XO--

Discouragement vs Encouragement

It's been a rough couple of weeks with this program for me.

The first part of the week last week, I was dealing with little weight loss. By Friday, I had "maintained" weight for the week!!! What was I doing wrong I wondered...
They simply told me to increase my intake of water.... OK.. so I did...

By Monday, I had GAINED 2 lbs!!!! What???
The Nutritionist explained that while I needed to increase my intake of water, I also needed to make sure that I am measuring it each day. 80 oz per day, minimum required, but also make sure I'm drinking the "same amount" each day.

So, I started doing that... By Wednesday, guess what?? I lost 2.5 lbs... Interesting how the body works, isn't it?

It can also be discouraging when you don't see the weight loss, and you feel bloated, and you're sticking to the diet.. no sugar, no creamer for my coffee, no fattening, greasy foods.. what in the world??

It can also be encouraging to know some simple solutions that will fix the bloating and help keep your body flushing the impurities/toxins out.

The things I never knew about WATER and keeping a balance..

bottom line.. drink your water, but make sure to drink the same amount each day... or your body will retain it...

Have a great day everyone!!

What a Day..

Today, I had my first measurements taken (they do this at the 3 week mark).

To my surprise I have lost a total of 22 1/2 inches (from arms, chest, ribs, waist, hips, inner thighs, and calves).

WOO! That is reason to celebrate right there!!!

But, wait.. there's more!!!! I have lost a total of 8.5 lbs now.

I made the Cauliflower Crust Pizza the other night and it contained cheese, but I used 2% mozzarella.. and boy oh boy... It was so tasty, but I felt guilty eating it... It was so amazing!!!!

The nutritionist said it was just fine that I ate that and it's perfect for the diet. WOO!! Another reason to celebrate!! Doing this program (for life I might add), includes tasty foods that are good for you!!

All you have to do is make healthier choices and it starts with drinking more water, and exercising.

Incorporate more veggies, and salads, and high proteins.

I'm motivated and I hope to stay this way... it's one day at a time..

The key is this:

• Stay focused... Focus on the foods you CAN have. 
• Stay committed... Stick to the healthy regiment. Drinking water, daily exercise, and healthy choices.. no matter what!! 
• Stay strong.... If you do have to eat out, know what you will order BEFORE  you get to the restaurant!!! That is definitely helping me!!!

I'm nervous about Thanksgiving because we are supposed to go out of town to visit family. I won't be in my kitchen with my tools, so maybe i need to prepare my foods in advance, so they are ready the day before we leave...

I can't believe how close we are to the holidays......

19 Days and counting on....

It's been 19 full days since I joined Nu-Energy Weightloss Group.

I have lost a total of 7.5 lbs in this timeframe.

-Drinking lots of water
-Exercising 30 minutes each day
-Avoiding sugar
-Avoiding high fat content foods

I feel great!

This has been a challenge to say the least, but very rewarding.

I tried on a dress I purchased after I had my 4th child. It was snug at the time, and I just KNEW I would lose the weight and fit into it one day.

That ONE DAY was yesterday. I went to try it on, and to my surprise, it FIT!! I get to wear it to a wedding tomorrow evening. I am SO excited!!!

Still have several weeks / pounds to go, but to even see results this quickly, and drastically, is just amazing!!

Keep on keepin' on.... slow and steady... will win!!

Tips for a Worn-Out Mom (or Dad)

TIPS FOR A WORN-OUT MOM

1. Lower your standards for cleanliness and order.
2. Did that? Lower them even more.
3. Your house will never look like a magazine spread, period. Embrace that.
4. No matter how many baskets you buy to contain toys, they will always be visible. Embrace the Toys ‘R Us/ frat house-chic decor.
5. You can never have too many Popsicle in the freezer. How many bad moods have been fixed by a simple Popsicle?
6. If you can’t change them, change your perspective. For example I read recently – probably on Satan’s website Pinterest – that toothpaste is great for cleaning things like faucets. So now when I go into the bathroom every day and see toothpaste splatter all over the bathroom faucet I think about how my children have done half the chore of cleaning for me. How considerate of them! Then I wipe it off while cursing.
7. Those chores that no one ever wants to do. Decide if you would rather do it yourself, badger your child to it, or let it go. If you are confused about what to do, see Number 1 on this list.
8. No one cares what is stuffed under your child’s bed, why should you. Unless it is old food. In that case, you should get a dog.
9. If you have boys, your bathroom will always faintly stink like pee. Invest in some Febreeze and count down the days until they move out and you can go visit them and pee on their bathroom floor.
10. Don’t buy white furniture. Unless you enjoy screaming at your children every time they go near it.
11. However bad a situation might seem, one day it will be funny. I have a few for which I am eagerly awaiting for the funny to kick in. Any time now….
12. When your child is a young teen there will be nothing more embarrassing than your very existence. Use this to your advantage. Start planning early.
13. Do not paint any walls in your house with flat paint.
14. Be okay with letting your kids stumble sometimes. Whether that is turning in an assignment late because they didn’t do it or wearing an outfit so hideous you have trouble looking at them without laughing.
15. Noise cancelling headphones are great for blocking out whining, bickering and the endless episodes of Sponge Bob.
16. Socks do not have to match. Every day is Crazy Sock Day at my house, which is infinitely better than Crazy Mom Day.
17. The crayons will break and it is okay to throw them away rather then save them to make some sort of craft that involves the hair dryer. In fact, I give you permission to not feel guilty about all the crafts you know you will never do.
18. Your children will not die from eating the occasional hot dog or frozen pizza. And by occasional I mean more than you are really willing to admit.
19. If your children are driving you crazy arguing with each other, start an argument with them. Then your children will bond over their mutual hatred of you and be quiet.
20. Children do not appreciate top sheets or high thread counts. Buy neither.
21. Homework time is the worst time of the day. Help your kids and yourself by having a designated time and a quiet place to do homework. Preferably in a neighbor’s home.
22. Just say No to ironing.
23. Last, but not least, some chocolate and some really bad TV makes everything seem a little better.

Nu-Energy (New Me)

So... I finally decided it's time to take some real action and real fast...

I joined Nu-Energy a week ago today..

The goal is to lose weight in a healthy way, but keep it off also.

My starting weight: 143
My goal weight: 121

# of weeks to achieve this goal: 10

By Dec 31st I should have lost all of the weight, and be in a much healthier state.

My body fat % was 33%

Unbelievable I tell myself!!!

I am one week in and I feel GREAT. I am not craving any of those snack foods that I used to just see and EAT, no matter the time of day.

1) I drink a TON of water
2) I eat a TON of green vegetables
3) I walk for 20 minutes a day on an incline of 3 on the treadmill at a brisk pace everyday!!!!
4) I avoid sugar

This is a complete new thing for me, but I can feel the difference and it is life changing!!!

Finally on the right track.... to something GREAT!!

Uhoh...

Well, this isn't good...

It's been about a month since I attended a workout class.

When I started out with this blog, it was to help motivate me to keep track of progress, and stay committed and focused on my goal...

Oops!

I will have to start again...

NEXT WEEK!!!

Stay tuned..........................

New Week... New Teacher... New Routine...

This week marks a bunch of "News" in the workout world for me.

1)  A New Week - the start of the next week for me.. will I work out on my lunch, or will I decide to do something else with my 1 hour free from the office? What did I choose? TO WORKOUT!!! I have to stay on task and motivated. It's much too easy to stray away from the things that are good for you in life. Always keep your eye on the goal, or the positive things in life. Like staying healthy, making those good habit forming choices.

2) A New Teacher - you never know what you will get with a new teacher at the gym. Will she be intense enough? (It's crazy that I am asking this question, right?) But, I really do want to get the most out of my workouts, in that 1 hour. I need to push myself to the fullest. Get the biggest bang for my buck, ya know? This teacher was GREAT. I got an all over workout.

3) A New Routine - New teachers change things up a bit. GREAT NEWS for me... They will be starting a new class called "INSANITY" starting next week. I say.... BRING IT ON....Just what I need..

So... moral of this week's story... stay on task, don't stray away from what you know is good for you.

Drink lots of water (until you float away)
Eat the healthy foods to help your body
Avoid highly processed foods

Another Day, Another Workout!

"Another Day Another Workout" is the title of this post b/c it was just that... it felt great going, and I feel like I'm in the groove.... It's all good!! I don't dread going, quite the contrary actually. I look forward to going so much, in fact, that I actually missed out on going to The Flying Fish with my co-workers today. My absolute FAVORITE place to eat lunch!!

The instructor who has been "subbing" all summer taught for the last time today. I really enjoyed her style and hope that the next instructor keeps it similar to what we have been doing.

It's an "all-over" workout and every single muscle gets sore (and I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE).
It's a good thing though!!!

I still feel great and have results already from simply attending 4 classes now. It's AWESOME!!

Gotta keep on keepin' on....

Week #2 (Workout Three)

This is a fine afternoon... now that the third workout is behind me.

When I'm in the class, I keep thinking the following:

1) I will keep burning calories the rest of the day, when this is over. BENEFIT
2) This will be over eventually, so I should push myself. POSITIVE
3) Maybe this is the last round of this routine. WISHFUL THINKING
4) Maybe abs are next AGAIN, WISHFUL THINKING
5) I need to slow my heart rate down b/c it feels like it's going to pop out of my chest NOT POSSIBLE
6) I need to take it easy on the water b/c I don't want to get sick. Sometimes I start feeling nauseous if I drink too much too quickly. TRUE!!!!!
7) How much longer is this class anyway? I have to get back to work.. surely the teacher won't go over on time. SHE WON'T LOSE TRACK OF TIME.. SHE HAS THE CLOCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!!!

Overall, I do feel myself being able to do more, challenge myself a little more, and take it to the slightly next level.

It is getting easier, and this is only the 3rd time. so.. I keep on...

Workout Number 2.. Not as bad

I survived workout number 2.... imagine that!

Attended another noon class that involved different moves than what I encountered on Monday, which was MUCH better.

I actually survived and stayed until class was finished.

I thought if I told the teacher before the class started, that I had a baby (1 1/2 years ago) and that it had been over 2 years since I really worked out, that she would go easy on me, and have sympathy.
She just said start slow, and work my way up. That gave me confidence to get through the class. She might have even had some sympathy b/c she was not as intense... or so it seemed.

She also teaches a spin class on Friday, so I plan to attend that as well.

I just need to get my bootie in gear and get in shape.

No pain, no gain, right??

Til next time...

My First Workout... Again

It's been at least 5 months since I last worked out at the gym and participated in the Aerobics Class.

I was nervous as I quickly changed my clothes before the 12:00 class began.
I now understand why...

I get in there, and the instructor says, we are only going to need a mat. I thought ok.. no weights, no step, what am I in for?
She then said, we are going to do 30 second intervals for 45 minutes. Every time you hear the whistle, we will change it up. She said there won't even be a warm-up. OK...
Jumping Jacks first, and I was out of breath half way through those. They went on for a minute, (not the 30 seconds I was expecting). And I am thinking, only another 44 minutes to go in this class. Can I make it? Then, she had us do burpies, mountain climbers, kick boxing moves, planks, back up on our feet for some kicks and jump rope, and then, again with the burpies. Those burpies give me such heart-burn. But that wasn't the only thing burning. My ears were burning, and I felt ill. I had to take it slow, low impact, and I was feeling just how out of shape I really am.

It was worth it, but I had to stop with 20 minutes of class time remaining.

I definitely feel out of shape and know that I have a long way to go to getting back in shape.

Let's hope it gets better and I get stronger. It can only happen if you go and stay committed.

You have to start somewhere. And I started here....again...