A Mental Shift Changed My Life

Here is a rant: I hate when people ask me what my "secret" is. Seriously? There is no secret. It's the same thing every single person who sees lasting results does! I don't use pills, mixes, or wraps. Honestly, the biggest and best thing that happened that can be praised for my results is a mental shift! 

I was talking to Laura before our first hike and I was completely honest as to why I wanted to lose weight. 

• Be confident
• Feel great in any piece of clothing
• Be a mom in the future
• Hike mountains & camp
• Run for cancer, not walk, but RUN 
• Inspire people

Talking to her, I knew none of those things would happen if I kept my life style and habits the same. So, from our first hike on, I let any embarrassment or reservations about self confidence aside and pushed to do what had to be done! Every small result kept me going and pushing until I reached my next one.

Now, I know that I post A LOT of pictures especially comparison pictures but yes, they keep me accountable. This is a journey that I want to document. I am gaining more than muscle and the fact that I'm losing weight. I'm gaining confidence, strength, and self esteem. 

Now here are some pictures and stories for the day! 

I cannot believe that I'm actually getting a waist line. I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm excited to see where I'll be at the end of the summer! 

L: October 31. R: Today. 

 For breakfast, I was in a hurry and ate: a string cheese, hard boiled egg, and part of a grapefruit. 

My allergies were a lot better today! 

For lunch I had a chicken salad and some broccoli. 

Afternoon snack: Apple, less than 2 tsp of natural peanut butter, a little drizzle of honey, and topped with granola with almonds. 

 I ran a mile before our actual workout. 

Our workout consisted of the following:

Each exercise Jillian demonstrates, we did 20 times X3. 
20 push ups X3
15 standing rows X3
20 squats X3
50 donkey kicks on each leg X3
20 scissors on each leg X3

For dinner: a couple pieces of deer backstrap, half of a tiliapia, lettuce, light cheese and just a drizzle of ranch, with corn. 

This is what it looks like when you're getting low on groceries. Can't wait to go shopping next week & stock up! :) Either way, I try to be as healthy as possible by not buying boxed items or processed foods. 

I'm so excited to see what this week has in store! I think I might limit to how much I post this week. If I feel the need to rant or ramble, I will, but I need to focus on my workouts and eating right. I would LOVE to have an extra 30-60 minutes a night to do nothing. Haha. But we shall see, I might end up blogging every night like usual. 

Well, I'm off to enjoy my night! 

Determined to Turn this Week Around!

So...Yesterday I felt like death warmed over a couple of times all day at work and then when I got home I could tell my body was fighting something. I was feverish, had a sore throat, pounding headache, sniffles, light cough, and nasal congestion. So, I took the day off from working out. I knew when I woke up that if I could start feeling a tad better by 3 p.m. I would workout. I woke up and felt like death warmed over yet again. I stayed home from work and took the day drinking tons of water, some tea, and breaking a fever. I slept most of the morning and into the afternoon and thankfully around 2, I was feeling much better after a broken fever (and one sweaty t-shirt). 

Because I felt a little better I decided to workout at Laura's. It was a nice burn. I feel stronger every single day. Even during the workouts I'll feel sore, but I'm surprised at how much I can do and I'm excited for the days when Laura pushes me little by little. It was nice because Jason, Laura's husband joined our workout (besides the Zumba dance). Haha! It was nice to have a circuit with three people! :) 

After our workout! Can't wait to push it further tomorrow!

 

Tonight's dinner: Chicken stirfry with broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and 3/4 cup of rice at the bottom.

Evaluate, refocus, and keep giving it your all! :)

I weighed in this morning. The scale says I gained 2 lbs since Wednesday. After rethinking all of my meals, I think the amount of starches and sodium could play a role. I don't "feel" like I gained weight this week, I honestly think it's water weight from the sodium and starches. On Wed, I weighed 227.2 (and no, I don't weigh myself daily). 

 

I didn't feel bad at all about the numbers on the scale. It wasn't the best, I admitt it, but I didn't let it get me down. Instead, I focused on the run I did the night before. Yes, I did my first EVER 30 minute run. I did intervals of sprinting, jogging, and power walking. I praised myself for accomplishing that, and also for the fact that when I went to brush my teeth I saw a little something in the mirror...

That's right: some collar bone definition!!! :) 

 

I'm really excited about the changes I'm seeing. I see definition in my arms and legs. The simple fact that I ran last night still has me on cloud nine!! :D 

This morning's breakfast: 2 veggie patties, 1/2 cup egg white with one whole egg and a kiwi. The red stuff is ketchup :/ moderation is key!

 

 

Today's lunch: I tried the Weight Water's chicken patties (4 oz each) with a lettuce bun, light cheese, and tomato slice. On the side I had a protein shake: 4 ice cubs, 1 whole banana, 1/2 a cup of organice fat free milk, and my metabolic drive banana protein powder! Yummy!!! :D 

 

 

 

For dinner I had a salad at my sister's house and literally a bite of my brother's homemade lasagna. I will NOT have starchy foods this week. I'm going to see if that makes a difference. It's all about learning about my body!

Progress picture! Today marks exactly 5 weeks since I decided to change my life! :) I can't wait to see what is to come!

 

 

After my circuit workout! :) Felt great!