Today I went to a Christening for one of my cousins (I'm the oldest of 19 grandkids :) my youngest cousin is one month old), and was talking with my younger cousin about how I'm working really hard to slim down and get healthier before the wedding. She and my Aunt are apparently members on an online diet site that offers tips, plans out menus etc. She offered to let me join on their account and work on the site, which I though was really sweet of her, but I politely declined the offer.
Why, do you ask? While the website would be extremely helpful to some people, I decided today that what works for some people might not for others. And I happen to be one of the others that it wouldn't really be a fit for. I can't have someone telling me what workout to do and what to eat on any given day. I need to be able to make those choices for myself, or else I won't succeed in this. Like, if I want spaghetti for dinner one night, I want to be able to cook myself some yummy whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce. I don't want to have pre-set meal list that tells me that on the night I want my pasta, I have to have salad. I just don't work like that.
So the point of this is, really, don't follow the fads if they don't fit you. Find a way to get healthy that works for you, not for someone else. If the e-diet thing isn't your thing, no worries. There's a thing out there for you, you just have to find it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I'm doing it!
So I don't want to get completely ahead of myself, but....I'M DOING IT!! I'M DOING IT!! I'M DOING IT!!!
I stepped on the scale this morning and I have lost 3 1/2 lbs. this week!! I know that some of that is probably water weight, but I really don't care. I'm working hard and I'm already starting to feel healthier and have more energy, and I think that I'm starting to shape up!
I've been really good this week about walking almost every day, and my water intake has increased tenfold. It's almost all I'm drinking anymore...other than skim milk! I cheated a bit this week and gave in to diet soda, but I got myself back on track and have started adding Crystal Light to my water any time I need a little extra flavor. I'm a big fan of the Natural Lightly Lemon flavor from the Hydration line. It's super yummy. And honestly, from drinking so much more water than usual, I'm also noticing a big difference in my skin. Seriously! I feel like my system is being flushed out and with that, I feel like my complexion is looking better and I'm not breaking out as much. Nice.
The next big thing I need to work on is taking a multivitamin every day. I recently bought a women's one day multi, but I hardly ever remember to take it! So that's definitely something I'm going to try to get on.
I don't want to get too much on a high horse here though, because that's where my downfall would normally kick in. In the past, I have had this nasty habit of giving up or slacking "slightly" when I started to feel like I was doing good and making progress. That can not be the case now. I am feeling healthier and like I'm making progress...but that's just it. Progress. I can't allow myself to slack or give up because I have made this comittment to do this. Progress isn't where I want to be, it's what's going to get me there. And I'm making progress on getting there and staying there.
Think wedding dress...
I stepped on the scale this morning and I have lost 3 1/2 lbs. this week!! I know that some of that is probably water weight, but I really don't care. I'm working hard and I'm already starting to feel healthier and have more energy, and I think that I'm starting to shape up!
I've been really good this week about walking almost every day, and my water intake has increased tenfold. It's almost all I'm drinking anymore...other than skim milk! I cheated a bit this week and gave in to diet soda, but I got myself back on track and have started adding Crystal Light to my water any time I need a little extra flavor. I'm a big fan of the Natural Lightly Lemon flavor from the Hydration line. It's super yummy. And honestly, from drinking so much more water than usual, I'm also noticing a big difference in my skin. Seriously! I feel like my system is being flushed out and with that, I feel like my complexion is looking better and I'm not breaking out as much. Nice.
The next big thing I need to work on is taking a multivitamin every day. I recently bought a women's one day multi, but I hardly ever remember to take it! So that's definitely something I'm going to try to get on.
I don't want to get too much on a high horse here though, because that's where my downfall would normally kick in. In the past, I have had this nasty habit of giving up or slacking "slightly" when I started to feel like I was doing good and making progress. That can not be the case now. I am feeling healthier and like I'm making progress...but that's just it. Progress. I can't allow myself to slack or give up because I have made this comittment to do this. Progress isn't where I want to be, it's what's going to get me there. And I'm making progress on getting there and staying there.
Think wedding dress...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tomorrow's Game Plan
So in addition to trying to eat a lot better, I'm going to start working out regularly to tone my body and hopefully help with slimming down in general. Tomorrow begins that routine.
I'm planning on waking up early each morning and walking. I have a good route planned out for myself: I'm going to walk the route I used to walk to school every day when I was in high school...it's about 3/4 of a mile from my house (I couldn't get the bus because you had to be a mile away in order to get the bus....so I walked everyday!)...from there, I am going to jump on the high school track and walk a minimum of 4 laps (1 mile) and then walk back home (3/4 of a mile). I figure that's a good start and walking the different hills and stuff will definitely add to it!
I'm super excited to start this...I've got my iPod loaded with my favorite workout jams and I'm ready!!!
I'm planning on waking up early each morning and walking. I have a good route planned out for myself: I'm going to walk the route I used to walk to school every day when I was in high school...it's about 3/4 of a mile from my house (I couldn't get the bus because you had to be a mile away in order to get the bus....so I walked everyday!)...from there, I am going to jump on the high school track and walk a minimum of 4 laps (1 mile) and then walk back home (3/4 of a mile). I figure that's a good start and walking the different hills and stuff will definitely add to it!
I'm super excited to start this...I've got my iPod loaded with my favorite workout jams and I'm ready!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Day 1...it's a start
Today was really the first day on my journey to slim down, tone up and generally get healthy. I wouldn't say that I've necessarily gone full on "gung-ho" with it, but I really think that I did well today.
Here's what I ate:
Breakfast: 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with a teaspoon of soy-nut butter (seriously, it tastes JUST like peanut butter!)
Lunch: Elios pizza...I realize this might not have been the absolute wisest choice, but it's not that terrible for you, and there is no lunch meat in the house...once the mamma goes shopping this week, I'm going to have her pick up some turkey for me so I can start having turkey on whole wheat with a little Miracle Whip for lunch. However, I was seriously proud of myself at this meal...while my mom and younger brother also munched on chips with their lunch, I filled up on water and didn't sit around at the table, staring at the food I could have been eating. It's a small but helpful step, I think!!
Snack: I started to get a little hungry kinda late in the day, and I didn't want to fill up before dinner, so I had a glass of lowfat milk with a teaspoon of lite chocolate syrup. I thought this was pretty creative! The milk coated my stomach and filled me up for a while, and the little bit of chocolate totally satisfied my sweet tooth!
Dinner: Tacos...yummmm. I used minimal amount of taco meat, a tiny bit of cheese and lots of homemade salsa, which I figured was pretty healthy!
Throughout the day, other than the glass of milk, I drank nothing but water...no soda, nothing carbonated.
All in all, I think today was a small step to success in what is going to be a big challenge. I really think that if I keep this up, I can do it!
Here's what I ate:
Breakfast: 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with a teaspoon of soy-nut butter (seriously, it tastes JUST like peanut butter!)
Lunch: Elios pizza...I realize this might not have been the absolute wisest choice, but it's not that terrible for you, and there is no lunch meat in the house...once the mamma goes shopping this week, I'm going to have her pick up some turkey for me so I can start having turkey on whole wheat with a little Miracle Whip for lunch. However, I was seriously proud of myself at this meal...while my mom and younger brother also munched on chips with their lunch, I filled up on water and didn't sit around at the table, staring at the food I could have been eating. It's a small but helpful step, I think!!
Snack: I started to get a little hungry kinda late in the day, and I didn't want to fill up before dinner, so I had a glass of lowfat milk with a teaspoon of lite chocolate syrup. I thought this was pretty creative! The milk coated my stomach and filled me up for a while, and the little bit of chocolate totally satisfied my sweet tooth!
Dinner: Tacos...yummmm. I used minimal amount of taco meat, a tiny bit of cheese and lots of homemade salsa, which I figured was pretty healthy!
Throughout the day, other than the glass of milk, I drank nothing but water...no soda, nothing carbonated.
All in all, I think today was a small step to success in what is going to be a big challenge. I really think that if I keep this up, I can do it!
My Sudden Realization
I was that teeny tiny little kid in the cute little bikini who could eat whatever I wanted...about 12 years ago. I'm 22 now and when I see that cute little girl in the polka dot bikini, I envy her to no end.
My issues with weight and my body started the summer before I entered eight grade. You know the time...when everything changes and suddenly instead of shopping for those sneakers with the lights in the heels, you're fitting into the juniors section of clothes and your stuck buying bras with your mom. At that point, I wasn't particularly chubby. I just had a little baby fat...that never went away.
Throughout high school, I had a period where I was actually a little chubby. And somehow the Christmas of my sophomore year, I managed to lose the weight and I was pretty healthy looking, and happy with myself. I like to think I was pretty cute at that point...oooh what happened?
So now here I am. A recent college graduate, engaged to the most wonderful man who happens to be a Soldier, just got hired for a new job...and that baby fat that never went away? It's still here. And that freshman 15? Yeah, I gained the freshman 10...4 years in a row.
It's not a particularly nice feeling to look in the mirror and be disgusted with what you see. In fact, it flat out sucks. The worst of it though, is when you take a look at pictures of yourself from your recent family vacation, and they make you cry. No one wants to hate their body. No one likes to feel this way. But in a way, those pictures that make you cry, can inspire you too.
So here I am today, the day after my vacation picture meltdown. And what have I decided to do? Blog, of all things. I've decided that I am going to share my weightloss journey with anyone who wants to read about it. I'm making a change in my life, and I think the best way to do it is to share it...and hopefully inspire others to join me.
Stick around if you want. Who knows what will happen? (well, truthfully, a lot of weightloss will be happening...but life is full of other suprises too!)
My issues with weight and my body started the summer before I entered eight grade. You know the time...when everything changes and suddenly instead of shopping for those sneakers with the lights in the heels, you're fitting into the juniors section of clothes and your stuck buying bras with your mom. At that point, I wasn't particularly chubby. I just had a little baby fat...that never went away.
Throughout high school, I had a period where I was actually a little chubby. And somehow the Christmas of my sophomore year, I managed to lose the weight and I was pretty healthy looking, and happy with myself. I like to think I was pretty cute at that point...oooh what happened?
So now here I am. A recent college graduate, engaged to the most wonderful man who happens to be a Soldier, just got hired for a new job...and that baby fat that never went away? It's still here. And that freshman 15? Yeah, I gained the freshman 10...4 years in a row.
It's not a particularly nice feeling to look in the mirror and be disgusted with what you see. In fact, it flat out sucks. The worst of it though, is when you take a look at pictures of yourself from your recent family vacation, and they make you cry. No one wants to hate their body. No one likes to feel this way. But in a way, those pictures that make you cry, can inspire you too.
So here I am today, the day after my vacation picture meltdown. And what have I decided to do? Blog, of all things. I've decided that I am going to share my weightloss journey with anyone who wants to read about it. I'm making a change in my life, and I think the best way to do it is to share it...and hopefully inspire others to join me.
Stick around if you want. Who knows what will happen? (well, truthfully, a lot of weightloss will be happening...but life is full of other suprises too!)
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