Week 1 Down, Endless More to Go!

As you wait patiently on the edge of your seat to find out whether or not I gave up salt and sugar this week I can proudly say that I gave up ADDED salt and sugar.  It was hellacious!  No sugar in my coffee or oatmeal, no salt on my food...it was torture!  However, I did it.  What I realized was that by the end of the week, I actually craved 'healthier', 'tastier' foods and did not crave the additional salt and sugar that I usually poured onto or into my foods.  Yeah, me.  Did I eat what I wanted?  Hmmmm sometimes, but not as much.  I tested myself in the worst way and got cookies with my lunch yesterday.  Cookies are one of my all time weaknesses.  I ordered 12...one dozen cookies of all my favorite flavors and I ate two.  Under normal conditions and with no one around to tell me no, I could have and would have demolished more cookies than the Cookie Monster himself bringing him to absolute shame.  BUT, I ate TWO...and not at the same time either.  I had one with lunch and one before I went home and ended the day.  Ok, so I passed the cookie test.  *whew*

What I also did was ADD things to my daily routine such as Green Tea which I drank about 3 cups a day (this also seems to be helping me get over my coffee addiction) - Green Tea without sugar is so not tasty, but you get used to it after a few cups - by the way, I reuse my tea bags, so yes, I'm that frugal at times.  I also added more water, which I HATE, but I survived, so I guess it stays.  And...RAW VEGETABLES!  Not my absolute favorites, but I did eat more vegetables this week.

I don't feel like I've lost weight - let's face it, I'm not expecting a miracle, but I do feel better physically and I have more energy...I also noticed that I have far less swelling in my legs and hands which is a huge plus.  So this week, I'm going to add something physical while I continue to break the salt and sugar habit...WALKING.

I used to run track in elementary and Jr High (that would be Middle School for today's kids) so walking shouldn't be too difficult.  I just have to discipline myself enough to just get up and do it.  Ok, well, if you're keeping up:

Week 1:  No more ADDED Salt and Sugar (I was too weak to cut out all of it at once and I don't recommend anyone do that, either, just so we're clear).

Week 2:  START Walking!!!

See ya next week!

Two Years and Counting!

I started this blog and idead two years ago, almost to the day.  I'm now a size 8 and loving the way I look!  I stuck with my fitness classes and my eating habits, which was so difficult at first, but I did it!

Well, I wish I could be saying that, but in two years, I've done nothing.  I did however, drop down to a 14/16 (16/18 when I'm PMSing) just by eating more, since I usually only ate one meal or no meals each day.  So, here I am again, at the starting point.  How pathetic is that?!  I could be in the best shape ever, running marathons, just moving faster and stronger, but instead, I'm just two years older.  Nothing has changed in my life personally to have kept me from tackling this head on, I just didn't do it.  

So, as I sit here, with my final piece of Lemon Meringue Pie (or so I think - because well, it's one of the top three all time favorites for me along with Pumpkin and Pecan Pie), I say to you, whomever is foolish enough to be reading this instead of being out in the world making adventures and memories of their own, that as of Monday I take my first step...

Step 1:  REMOVE MY GREATEST TEMPTATIONS!!!  Salt and Sugar.  I really don't know how I'm going to handle this...will I buckle?  Will I cave?  I know people will tempt me, because well, they can and to be quite honest, I've done my share of evil deeds when people were detoxing or losing weight, so I guess I will deserve it, (even if in the middle of my psychosis I won't think that I do).  

In all fairness, I should tell you where I'm at now, so that if this does work and you are following my progress, you don't think how amazing I am to have given up soooo much and come so far.  No...my reality is that I don't have very many vices.  I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, I also don't really drink a lot of soda or eat a lot of fast food (except on lunch when I'm usually too lazy to bring my own), but I do eat horribly in the sense that I DON'T EAT ENOUGH.  As I said, I can go through life eating one or two meals each day, no snacks, no water...ah, WATER!  I don't drink WATER!  

Anyway, if that made any sense to you, I'm just a normal person who is doing nothing more than eating better and (possibly) working out.  My exercise of choice...ZUMBA.  Why?  Not a clue as I have no rhythm, but it's fun, so I'll give it a go.

The THREE things I've learned about myself in just writing this blog:

1)  I need to eat more - 3 meals and just as many snacks.

2)  I need to exercise - As someone who used to run track and as a former Band Geek, this is a no brainer.

3)  I need to drink water - Not flavored water...just water.

So, that's it for this first of my many second tries...Let's see where this takes us.  If you want to join in this quest with me, feel free to create your own blog or comment on mine and let me know how you're doing, either way, I know I'm not the only one taking this first step, again.

Time to Get Serious & STAY Serious!

After a discussion with my husband about how much I want to get into shape, (because for one, I can no longer claim 'it's baby weight' when our child is already over a year old).  We decided that we're going to change our eating habits beginning today.  This day was decided over 3 weeks ago in order for us to have the 3 weeks to get our junk food and bad eating habits out of our system.  I love that he's in this with me, because it makes me feel a lot less alone in this struggle and for that I have to send a HUGE 'Thank You' to my AWESOME Husband!

From this point on, you will read about my journey, so try not to fall asleep, if you have happened upon this blog and if you have any suggestions or see that I might be doing something that's going to hinder my progress then please, LET ME KNOW!  Also, if you want to share your experiences as well, please do so!

This morning, I woke up, ate breakfast and then a couple hours later had a snack.  So far so good.  However, I noticed that immediately I tried to talk myself out of that snack because I didn't have time.  I mean, really, who am I kidding...I don't have time to eat a piece of fruit or a few crackers and cheese?

Strike 1!

Ok, ok, I'm a failure.  I lasted MAYBE 72 hours, then I caved.  It's been two months since I blogged and that's purely out of shame for myself.  I know I should just do this and be done, period.  I really don't know where to begin or how to start.  It was so simple to put the weight on, but taking it off is driving me insane just thinking about it!

Anyway, here I go again...

My Weight, Amplified - The Beginning

My 'weight', amplified...that's where I'm at, it's me bigger than I ever thought I would become.  I reconsidered renaming this blog to make it more 'appealing', but to be honest, me physically...not so appealing, so why sugar coat it?  So, the name stays.

About two weeks ago, I decided to start eating better not because I want to get into a bikini or to look like someone I'm not, but because at one point, I had a nice, athletic figure and I want that person back.  The person with energy to chase around our little 1 year old and also to have the ability to live as long as I can for each of my kids and my Husband, because let's face it, life without me would be boring!  I've given birth to all the children I want to bring into this world, so now it's time to get my body back into shape.  No excuses.

In the last couple weeks I've stopped drinking soda, I think I might have had one or two, I don't add salt to my food (I think I slipped up once or twice), and have had maybe two candy bars.  You might think that by that statement that I eat nothing but junk, but in reality, I used to eat maybe one meal a day and snack here and there which of course, that would consist of fast food or some junk food quick fix.

I've tried and have mostly succeeded in eating better since the beginning of this new found me.  I have to say that I've really noticed an improvement not only financially (imagine how much we save by not eating out or eating so much junk!), but in that I can hardly handle to look at a fast food menu without thinking, 'I used to eat that crap?!'.  My mind can't seem to comprehend that a greasy burger is actually appetizing, however, put a salad in front of me and it's devoured just as fast as a chocolate bar used to be. 

This evening, I had dinner with my Husband at a local BBQ joint that makes amazing ribs and it was during our meal that we both realized that we would have demolished that meal in the past, but we actually ended up bringing home approximately 3/4 of it.  That's huge!  I'll admit though, that I followed good ol' Alton Brown when he said that it's ok to have a dessert once a week and if you're going to have one, then do it up right, so I ordered the Pecan Pie :)