Happy New Year! Weigh IN!

I realize that it's been quite a while since I have written in here and I'm sorry to say that. However it is a new year and it is definitely the year for the NEW me. I have turned a leaf and have actually done something I didn't think I could do for a long while. I finally got past that horrible 200 pound plateau I was at.

I weighed myself this morning and weighed in at 198 pounds. That's a great success for me seeing as in 2015 I could not get below 200 no matter what I was doing. I will admit I don't know if it is is because my mentality has changed or it is because I have made the choice to TRULY change, that I was able to do this.

My weight has become something I do want to continue to look at. I know it's just a "nuimber on the scale" but for me, it is THE number on the scale. I plan to see that number go down as much as it can and when it does, I shall celebrate. Even if I only lose one pound a week, that's one less pound of fat on my body holding me back.

My goal is one pound a week. I don't know how long it will take me to reach my goals but I'm ready to get one step closer with each step I take.

A friend of mine said it once and I'm keeping to this montra for the year...

"This will be your sexy 30s."

Cheers Friends.
Until next time.

My Body is a Temple

It's not been an easy road these past few weeks. I've been neglecting my weight loss blog and keeping people updated. It's not because I haven't wanted to post, I've just been avoiding what I wanted to say about things.

As of lately I've been really struggling with myself and how I feel about my body. After realizing that is one thing I do struggle with the most, I decided that it was time to stop the negative thinking and change it to positive thinking.

I've read plenty of health affirmations that are guided to keep my on track and feeling positive. I've been looking at positive posts from other weight loss blogs. I've even been talking with my friends and my family about what I want to do and my goals for fitness. The truth is, that even after all that the struggle is real. It's not something that I can change over night, and I know that. I just have to remember that I can't give up and there is hope as long as I keep up with things and keep myself going.

One of the things I've noticed is helping is that I pick out the outfit I want to wear for the next day. That day that I put it on, if I'm worried at all about how I look; I remind myself that I am beautiful and look amazing. I'm able to talk myself out of changing into something else (more than one wardrobe change happens sometimes), and kept on with what I was wearing. This seems to be helping.

Every time I look in my fridge or pantry, I remind myself that my body is a temple and what I put in it, is also what I get out of it. The more negative, bad crap foods I eat, the worse I will feel. The better I eat, the better I feel. I've been trying to eat veggies and fruits more, but I could still stand to eat more of them. Thanks to my friend Kiki, I remembered how much I love ants on a log as a healthy snack. After all, it's just some peanut butter, raisins, and celery. Can't go wrong there.

I'm also trying to remind myself that I can and will love my body as it changes. There's nothing negative about losing weight and being healthy. All it will create is a happier and healthier me, and I see nothing wrong with that. It's a struggle to stay positive during weight loss and love the body as it changes, but I am trying. All I can do is try, and not give up.

What do you do to love your body?

Success is Defined Individually

Everyone defines their success in different ways, I personally like to look at the less obvious things. I'm currently working on my weight loss journey as many of my readers already know, but I find myself struggling with it a lot of the time. I won't deny that, and I want people to truly know that there are more ways to measure success outside of the scale.

I do measure my success by things that matter to me personally. I know that while I'm working on myself I can notice the changes I've been wanting to have. Even though I've only lost a few pounds I can tell that I'm losing fat from my body. I'm able to look in the mirror at myself and feel like I look better. I know that I look better in the simple fact that my clothes are fitting better too.

I bought a pair of size 18 jeans yesterday at +Wal Mart and as much as I love them, they are still slightly tight on me. I'm thinking within the month of March I will be able to fit in to them perfectly. Which while it kind of stinks they don't fit, I'm able to use them as a goal. Fitting into a pair of jeans is a lot more healthy than trying to look at the scale every weigh in and hoping I can make the number go down.

Let's face it, those of us who are struggling with our weight often feel defeated in what the scale says. Even if we say we are fine with it and know that it will change, there will always be a part of us that wants to be that lower number right now.As true as this is, we all have to remember that we will see changes in that number too, but we may notice our body changing first.

I want everyone to stop and think about it for a moment. Do you find yourself looking at the clothes in the department store that you're dying to try on but you're so scared you won't fit in them? Do you think maybe you might weigh too much to do something? Get over those thoughts. They're harmful to your mental and physical health.

Give yourself a pep talk before, during and after a weigh in and MEAN IT. I know it's hard, I struggle with it myself but I am getting better at doing it every time. I choose to be happy with my body even as it progresses, otherwise I'll never love it when I do reach my goals.

Here are my current stats as well as a picture of my body now. My camera on the phone I have right now isn't great, so that's why it's a little grainy. I'll have my digital camera up and running soon hopefully, and then I'll be able to take a clearer shot. Until then!

 Picture & Stats

Weight: 209

Pant Size: 18/20

Weigh In Day + Picture!

"I can tell you've lost weight."

These are the words I've been waiting for someone to say to me for a while. It's one thing for me to notice that I've lost some inches and weight off my body, but it's another to hear it from someone else. 

One of my closest friends has told me that he noticed I've lost weight, and I'm so happy about that. Besides my doctor and my scale, nobody else has said anything about it as of late. I'm glad that other people are noticing as well, especially since I'm able to fit into clothes that I haven't fit in to in over a year. While the pants are still in the 18-20 range, I'm okay with that. I'm feeling better and I know that soon I'll be down another pant size. It's just going to take time. 

I'm seeing results, and I'm not using excuses much like the graphic above dictates. I'm not going to be having excuses anymore, because I want to see RESULTS. So far, I am.

28 Days

It's been 28 days since I had a soda, and I have to say, I'm starting to not even miss it or want one. I mean sure there are some moments where I would really like to give in and have a tasty beverage, but I'm feeling good about my decision not to. At some point next month, I may have one can of soda, but I will not feel defeated or let it bring me down. My goal was to go 30 days (or in the case of January 31) without one, and I've almost made it!

My doctor and I have discussed it, and it is okay to drink soda pop every now and again, just not all the time like I was for a while there. My doctor also informed me that since the last time I saw her, I have lost 6 pounds! Right now I weigh in at 210 lbs, and that's okay with me. My next appointment with her is in late March, and I'm hoping that I will at that time be 200lbs. If I can beat the 200 mark I'm going to feel even more confident that I can make it further down the rabbit hole of weight loss.

I've got a long way to go, but I'm headed there. I've recently updated a tracker to the top of my blog as well so that you can also see how my progress is moving along. Have you ever used Ticker Factory? I find that it has a lot of different tickers that are great for many things. I use to use this a long time ago on LiveJournal, but now it's time to use it here for my weight loss! Here is another view of my ticker as well. I started this ticket at 210, and I ended it at 135lbs. So, I've got about 75 pounds to go, but I'm not afraid. I can do it.


I'm proud of myself for making it this far and I'm glad that I'm doing my best to keep myself active and moving as much as I can. It's hard, I won't lie to you all, but I'm doing it. Whether I make my ultimate goal of 135lbs by the end of the year or not, I know every pound I lose is one step closer to where I want to be in my healthy life.

How are you staying on track this year?

two-one-one

Today is a weigh in day and I am okay with what the scale said. Today I weighed in at 211 pounds. It's still a little high, but I have a feeling by the end of February I'll be able to reach my goal of 205 pounds. I would like to reach 200 but I am going to be confidant and say I KNOW I can do this no matter what. 

It's hard to believe that I'm going to be reaching my goals this year. I've given up so many times I almost forgot what it felt like to succeed. The picture above expresses exactly how I feel about this journey. I'm so tired of giving up, so it's time to stop. Giving myself the belief that I can do this, is half of my own battle. The other half is getting myself to do it. 

Luckily with the help of my doctor I've been learning a lot about what is good for me and what should be kept in and out of my diet. With this new found knowledge (and some I already knew) I've been able to stay on track and really keep making the right choices. Not to mention all the help from fellow bloggers who have been posting.

Speaking of, here are some of the recipes I've come across that I'm very excited to try soon. Feel free to make them yourselves too!

Grilled Zucchini Nachos

Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Mostly Cabbage Soup

No Soda Challenge: 15 Days

 

I'm so proud of myself for going this long without giving in and having a soda pop. My goal as mentioned in the original post, is to not have a soda for at LEAST 30 days. So far I've got to say I'm doing really well. Sometimes I'm tempted when I'm out and about, but I've been doing pretty well by myself. 

I purchased some flavor singles and a MIO that seem to truly be taking the edge off. It's making it easier to drink more water, and not get bored of the taste. I try not to use them so often either, but my doctor said every now and again is okay. For the most part, I use tea. I'm hoping that I can get some Matcha tea soon, seeing as it is rather delicious.

Either way, this is a great thing I've done for myself and to be truthful, I'm starting not to miss the taste at all. I bet if I picked up a soda after the 30 days, it would be too sweet for me. I am proud of myself. 

15 days down 15 to go!