What Motivates You?

I have struggled with my weight ever since after Kayla was born.  I gained entirely too much when I was pregnant with her…70lbs to be exact.  Told you it was too much.  Anyways.  It took me forever to lose most of it.  Of course the “baby” part just fell off, but the “fat” part stayed behind. 
I finally (2 years later) had lost a total of 50 of those 70lbs.  A few more years after that I was pregnant again but also I was 20lbs heavier!
While I was pregnant with Kelsie I gained the right amount of weight 18lbs and lost it within just a few weeks after she was born.  Fast forward…I gained 15lbs and along came that awesome Spring Fitness Challenge and in a total of 8 weeks, I lost 23lbs.  It was sweet!
Now to date, I have gained 10lbs back!  Argh!  Where did I go wrong?  Well, I stopped exercising.  I mean hello working out twice a day for 8 weeks sorta gets OLD quick!  And I started eating whatever whenever…Big NO NO! 
So what do I do now?  Well, I am back where I started.  Not with the weight but with the gaining and not knowing how to start or where.  I want to start working out again, I want to stop eating junk, but it’s like I can’t.  I love food SO much!  Do you know what I mean?  Do you really know what I mean?  Cookies, I can’t eat just one…Chips, same thing…Chocolate, oh don’t even get me started! 
So if you’ve lost weight or losing it now, what motivates you to keep going or to keep it off?

I Won the Spring Fitness Challenge…

It was 8 weeks of working out, sometimes twice a day, watching what I ate…Ok, really lack of watching what I ate…I didn’t eat chips, chocolate, drink sweet tea or anything else considered high in calories or fat.  It was hard in the beginning but I soon started craving apples and oranges as opposed to my previous love for chocolate.

One of my biggest things was I kept moving.  I spend a lot of time on the computer….Too much time in fact, but I kept moving, if it wasn’t anything but bouncing a leg or foot.  I kept moving.  The more you move the more calories you burn.  The more calories you burn the more you will lose! 

I got rid of all the white stuff in the house…bread, pasta and rice, and switched it up for the healthy whole grains…I must say we don’s miss it and won’t be going back! 

Working out…Well, I started out jogging…It didn’t last long because the weather didn’t always permit, so when it rained or something I would break out the trusty Turbo Jam dvd’s and get busy.  It was a lot of work but after a while I was really getting through the workouts with a breeze. 

Now the biggest weight loss was the first two weeks…4 pounds a week for a total of 8 pounds.  This was merely a huge change to my body because I was eating right and moving! 

Anybody can do this…It wasn’t hard and it doesn’t take rocket science.  It does take will power, because you just can’t cheat!  It will set you back further then you realize.  Tasting that chocolate once will put that taste back in your brain and the apples won’t taste the same anymore. 

Don’t give up.  Giving up or thinking you can’t do it at least once will make you think twice about your goal. 

Goals…Don’t set something that can’t be reached.  I used to do that when using the Wii Fit.  I would set a goal loss of 10 pounds in 2 weeks and of course never meet this and feel like I failed.  So, this time I just didn’t set a goal except to lose 2 pounds a week.  Some weeks I met this others I didn’t.  There were a couple that I passed this goal, but I always kept my head up high!

So what do I plan on doing with my winnings??  Well, I plan on not buying new clothes.  I am only a short distance from my goal that I have now set.  And I would hate to buy clothes now and not fit them in a couple of months. 

I do plan on paying a bill (lame I am sure you think) and possibly using the rest to go to Indiana.  This is where my husband is from and the kids and I have never been! 

I feel so much better about myself.  Losing weight really changes your outlook not only on yourself but on others.  I now look at other over weight men and women and think if you’d just make this one small change, it would mean so much to your health.  And it is now ultimately about health!

Final Weigh In Spring Fitness Challenge

Well it’s officially over…8 weeks ago I weighed in at 172lbs…And pushing a size 14…My size 12’s did fit but they were tight!

Today, final weigh in…149 pounds, that is 23 pounds lost and 13.372% lost! 

I now am a comfy size 10 and medium top!  So happy…I feel so much better about myself…And Zack is pretty pleased as well.

Not to mention the fact that Kayla says “wow, you lost a lot of weight momma” every chance she gets! (thanks Kayla)

It wasn’t an easy road.  There were bumps…Like the week that I didn’t lose one pound or the week that I didn’t lose but one pound. 

But this is it…We find out who wins tonight!  I am super excited.  I can’t wait!

My before pictures….Excuse them…No makeup and I was on my way out for my first jog (plus Zack can’t take good pictures!)…This was weigh in day 8 weeks ago…

After:  Today!

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 8

This is the final week coming up.  I am sad to see this is coming to an end, but I’m also glad that it is too.  Working out twice a day is killer and not eating certain foods is so very hard. 

I am used to no sugar….Truvia is just as good.  Fruits and veggies are a big part of my diet now as well. 

So for this weeks weigh in:

Start Weight: 172

Current Weight: 155

% Lost: 9.884%

So two more pounds down!  Yay!  I’m only 15 pounds to my personal goal.  This really makes me happy!!

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 7

Ok, so better late then never right!?  Anyways.  This weight is from Monday morning.  I logged it in over at our Spring Fitness site, but forgot to do it here.  This is just for my own personal thing now, I suppose.

This was the first full week of my nutrition plan.  I ate only what I was allowed.  Ok wait…I take that back.  I can’t have sugar.  Not really even supposed to have the fake stuff, but it wasn’t entirely off limits.  And since I can’t drink coffee without sweetner.  I caved and bought the new Truvia.  I can’t stand Nutra whatever or Splenda so I thought I’d give this a try.  Glad I did, it’s good.  It doesn’t leave that after taste like the others.  Anyways.  I don’t use by two packets in one cup of coffee and I’m only doing one cup of coffee now.  So it can’t be that bad! 

Not the weight loss I was hoping for…But here are my results…

Start weight: 172

Current weight: 157

% Lost:  8.721%

I can say now that since I have logged in that I am in 3rd place.  Not where I want or not where I need to be!  Next week is the last week.  June 1st is our last weigh in.  I will continue to stick to my nutrition plan to a T (except for my one cup of coffee with Truvia).  And I have kicked up my workouts…totalling at at least 2 hours a day.  My legs are aching but I can’t stop.  I just can’t think about what could have been.  So, I will endure the strenuous workouts until June 1st. 

But I will not stop….I want to reach my goal of 140lbs.  Now that I think about it.  The last 10 to 15lbs is the hardest to get rid of…Maybe since I only have 17 more to lose this is the reason it’s not coming off so easy anymore!

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 6

 

Wow…Did I write 6 there?  Where did the time go?  I really thought that this was going to be a rough 8 weeks.  I mean no, it hasn’t been an easy task, but it’s not been a struggle like I expected either.

I have really been stepping it up this past week even though the scale doesn’t read that way.  Working out twice a day (morning and night) and continuing on my normal menu, except I did have to kick up the calories.  I was staying hungry all day long and during my workouts my stomach was growling.  That was the sign that I needed professional help…So I decided to hire a nutritionist.  I won’t mention her name at the moment, because well, there is still 2 weeks remaining and I don’t want any added competition by others going and getting their own personal menu either. *smiles*

I start today eating according to my menu plan.  I am stoked!  It’s food that I like, which I am super picky so I can’t just look at any old books or magazines and eat their so called “diets”.  I can’t wait to start seeing my hunger halting and my weight dropping! 

So for this weeks weigh in….

Start weight: 172

Current weight: 159

% Lost:  7.558%

Like I said I didn’t lose that much this week, but I can tell a major difference in clothes.  I had to get a new swimsuit in a smaller size!!  There are also two pair of shorts that I bought last year that I couldn’t wear and now can…Oh and I can no longer wear one pair of my shorts either!  Yay!  I am giving these next two weeks 110% of my effort! 

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 5

Wow, it’s really hard to believe that there are only 3 weeks remaining.  This week was super hard for me.  I bumped up my workouts and I am even eating more.  My loss was minimum this week but that is because the visitor was coming up.  Which I can’t stand with this going on because you can’t get a true weigh in.  It’s just plain frustrating.

Keeping that in mind I’m really worried about this weeks workouts.  I can keep my chocolate cravings at bay,but the workouts….I don’t think I can make them.  I have a hard time and end up taking tons of Motrin and snuggled up on the couch with the heating pad.  So we shall see!
Start Weight: 172
Current Weight: 160
% Lost: 6.97
I am sure that everyone is fixing to be super competitive if they haven’t been already.  Everyone will probably kick up their workouts and even double watch what they’ve been eating.  We are coming down to the end.  I am super excited.  But yet, I wished that it were longer.  I am worried that if I haven’t gotten close enough to my goal that I won’t make it on my own.  I have finally chosen a goal to get to.  Of course I know that I won’t get there with just 3 weeks remaining but I could get a lot closer then what I am now.  My goal is 145.  So I feel like if I could get to where I needed to lose 10lbs or less I could make it.  I just don’t want to fail out this time.  This is the most that I have lost…The longest that I haven’t cheated….the only time that I have worked out and put forth 110% effort.  I know that at the moment money is the motivator, but what’s the motivator when it’s all over?  This is now my concern.

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 4

Wow, I can’t believe we only have just a few more weeks left.  I thought for sure I would have failed miserably by now and I wouldn’t even stand a chance.  But nope, last week I was in 2nd place!  Let’s hope this week I am in first.  *smiles*

Start Weight: 172

Current Weight: 161

% Lost: 6.4%

It seems that my switch up last week really helped me out.  I won’t make the same mistake twice.  I will keep with the same routine this week as well.  Rotating….Turbo Jam and the Wii Fit.  Next week though….Who Knows!

What I am loving about this is….My clothes are starting to fit me rather then be tight.  I detest muffin top and I normally have at least  a little bit of it and there close to the end it was more then I wanted to see.  I even went down in shirt size!  Woo Hooo!  Now if my pants size will drop a couple.  *smiles*

Spring Fitness Challenge Week 3

This is a disappointing week for me.   I have had no weight loss. Zero, zilch, nada!  I didn’t think you could hit a plateau so quickly.  Only after 8lbs??  I guess my body has grown accustomed to my jogging and the couple of days that I did weight lifting.  So….This week I am switching things up, working new muscle groups…I am going to get out of this slump.  My upcoming plans…

M-Wii Fit
T-Turbo Jam
W-Wii
Thr-Turbo Jam
Fri-Wii Fit
Sat-Turbo Jam
Sun-Wii Fit

I will probably throw in an off day this week, but I’m not sure which day…It may be tonight…I am sunburned in the same area around my neck where a sports bra will hit.  ouch!

Start Weight- 172

Current Weight- 164

% Lost- 5%

Only 5 more weeks remain!  I gotta kick it up and get out off of this plateau!!

Spring Fitness Challenge…My Plan

So, I had an email (from a fellow participant) this morning asking me how I have lost 8lbs in two weeks and how it’s just not healthy, and I must be starving myself.  (thank you for your concern)  To be quiet honest, I didn’t plan on losing this much a week.  My plan was to lose the healthy 2lbs a week. 

So before this started on March 30th, I was not exercising at all.  The only movement I would get was to and from my computer or couch.  Yes, I cleaned house, washed clothes, the normal house work and mother stuff, but other then that, I didn’t do anything.  To top it off, I was not drinking water, just sweet tea, all day and coffee.  My eating habits..Let’s just say that I ate everything junk related and my portions were more then what they should have been.  I was always munching on something.  I am quiet surprised that I wasn’t heavier then that to start with.

When day one started, I stopped eating anything junk related.  Chips went from normal to baked, and I don’t even eat the serving size that it says on the bag!  My best friend is apple and peanut butter, because for one I can eat peanut butter from a spoon and apples are good for you.  Yogurt is like my sister…Always there for me.  I feel sinful eating some of the flavors that Yoplait has made…Boston Creme Pie, White Chocolate Covered Strawberries…the list goes on.  I don’t snack plain and simple and if I do, it’s a cheese stick and some peanuts or grapes, or something else that is healthy.  I eat popsicles, the sugar free ones because they are tasty and I need something when the kids are eating ice cream.   When I eat lunch or dinner it’s usually chicken or tuna fish, veggies and rice…I will eat hamburgers without the bun thanks!  We had hotdogs the other night…I didn’t eat a bun. 

So you see, I do eat.  I am not hungry at all except before bed, but that is because it’s almost midnight and I haven’t eaten since dinner (which is at 5pm).  Water is always with me.  I am constantly drinking it.  I am now finding my body craving it when I am thirsty.  I drink at least 64oz a day…More on the days I go jogging.

I am no longer craving the junk that I once was.  The Easter Bunny came and I didn’t even try to go after the chocolate in the kids baskets, I just didn’t want it. 

Exercise…I posted this the other day…Fitness Magazine Training.  This is my plan and I am sticking to it.  I have modified it as I get to the day because some days I can’t go 3 miles…And to be honest, I haven’t done more than 3 days a week.  But I do come home sweating like a pig after I go jogging.  I have noticed a huge difference in my recovery from when I jog to walk…I am not so out of breath and my sides aren’t aching.  I use the Wii Fit as well.  Not as much as I need too, but I do turn it on from time to time.  Weight lifting is another thing I do at least once a week.  This is key to revving up the metabolism. 

So you see dear emailer, I am fine..I am not starving myself, it is the tried and true way of dieting…Burning more calories then I have consumed.  It just so happens that my body has taken a liking to what changes that are going on.  It went from nothing to something.  Plain and simple. 

Week 2 Spring Fitness Challenge

Wooo Hooo!  Week 2 down, only 6 more to go!  This is the longest I have not cheated, this is the longest I have stuck to a plan..I am super excited.  Plus, on Saturday my MIL actually said to me (while walking behind me in Lowe’s), “you can tell you’ve lost weight!”.  (YES!)

oK….Here we go….

Start Weight: 172

Current Weight: 164

% Lost: 5%

I did great this week.  I really really watched what I ate because I knew on Sunday that I was baking  a cake, goodies and even making an ice cream pie!  I had to be able to eat some so I didn’t eat my bread until Easter.  I also did very well with my portions on Sunday and even felt sorta guilty for eating a slice of cake, pie, birds nest (recipe coming), and a cookie. 

I didn’t even try to get into the goodies that the bunny left the kids…I am just not craving these junk things like I was before.  I feel that the hardest part is behind me and that it’s smooth sailing from here on out.  I just have to focus on making sure I stick to working out. 

I only made 3 days this week.  Monday and Wednesday jogging 2 miles…(I am noticing I recover a lot quicker now) and lifting weights on Tuesday.  This week I am going to go for my 3 nights of jogging! 

Fitness Magazine Training

This is the 8 week training for a mini marathon that I am currently doing.  (I am not running a marathon in 8 weeks, I am doing this for the Spring Fitness Challenge) I figured that if anybody was in shape it was runners!
I am on week two….I am not doing the exact same thing, only my rest day is Sunday instead of Monday. 

Spring Fitness Challenge Week One

So, today is the day, the day to step up on the scale and see where I stand.  1 week down, 7 more to go. 

My info for today…

-weight (168) down from 172  (ok, so why not put my weight out there, who cares!)

-2% weight lost  (this is what matters, it’s what counts)

So, losing 4lbs wasn’t easy.  I didn’t aim to lose 4, I was aiming for 2.  But, I will in no way complain! 

What did I eat/not eat?

Well, I stopped all sweet tea.  I will wait for the cries of shock and horror to stop.

All finished?  Ok.

The only thing that I drink is water, water, water, and more water.  (yes, it does get boring, but I have found that by the end of the week, I finally started craving it.)

I do have my 2 cups of coffee every morning, with all the cream and sugar as before.  (gotta feel like I am getting something extra special from some where)

Bread…Pasta….It’s limited to twice a week.  Chips, well I still eat um!  Yep, but we switched to the baked ones.  Which are way tastier and better for your body.

An apple a day, with peanut butter, thank you! 

Lot’s of yogurt…Which let me tell you, Yoplait (in the blue containers), make these flavors that I swear aren’t really yogurt at all.  they just tell you it’s yogurt to get you to buy it because your dieting and yogurt is healthy  The flavors…Boston Crème Pie, Apple Turnover I promise these are just really the real thing shoved into a yogurt container!!  White chocolate covered strawberries, yes, you read that right.  They make this yogurt…Oh my!!

Turkey and cheese…Salads, chicken and rice, I do not skimp on the condiments because you need some sort of fat in a diet.  It’s just healthy that way.

That of course isn’t all I eat…I eat dinner most of the time (instead of a chicken breast) but I just modify it for myself.  Last night hamburgers and fries…Well, I ate a burger with all the fixings without the bun..No fries, just chips and my pico.  I didn’t miss the bun at all!

Working out….

Well, with all that rain, I wasn’t able to get in what I had planned, which means this week (since no rain) I am going to have to kick it into high gear!  I am following this Fitness magazine plan…I am planning on scanning this into my computer so you’ll see it.  I can’t seem to locate it on the Fitness website.  (gotta get the new magazine too)  This is an awesome magazine!

Oh and the most important thing…I spend lot’s of time at the computer (more then I should), but I know that this has helped me put some of my weight on.  Well, keep moving…..I constantly bounce my leg or twitch my foot…Zack says I will develop a tick that won’t stop, but you know what, I am moving and that’s what matters!

So, here I come week 2!!!

Where Have I Been?

Wow, this week has really just gone haywire.  I hardly posted at all and accomplished not much of anything…
This week was Kayla’s spring break and we sat in the house every single day!!  Yes, you read that right.  It was by far the worst spring break ever.  Don’t you know that when you sit inside and look at the tv, computer and walls for 5 whole days that you go CRAZY!  The kids were arguing daily after the third day…Why didn’t we go outside?
Because if you looked outside all you could see was this….
Sorry about the screen folks, but I was not going out with the thundering and lighting.  I think that the state of Florida has more people killed by lighting strikes then any other state.  And look at the ditch!!  It’s level with our yard, because of so much rain.  They were forecasting 2.5 inches an hour in some areas.

This is the small step off my front porch, and as you can see the water is almost level with it.  We were quite worried scared to death about the possibility of flooding. 

Check out those dark skies…We had so many tornado threats throughout the week. 

And since all this yucky weather was amongst us, I only managed to get in my exercise on Monday night for my Spring Fitness Challenge.  So I had 2 miles under my belt, that’s it.  Tuesday night I lifted some weights and did some strength training for 20 mins.  Wednesday night I did happen to break out that Wii Fit I got for Christmas and  did some aerobics for 20 minutes.  And I guess you could count going grocery shopping on Monday night at the Super Center.  I mean I walked around in there a lot! 
Today Kayla and I (Kelsie wanted to stay home with daddy) went to Home Depot to get the paint for that project I am doing in Kelsie’s bedroom and to Hobby Lobby (for something else in her room).  I also picked up some herbs and tomato plants for some container gardening.  I was smart at choosing a certain herb (Cilantro), because after I came home and planted everything I was able to make yummy pico de gallo. 

It’s sitting in our fridge and getting all yumofied so that I can eat it tomorrow!  I can’t wait. 
Pico De Gallo
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 tbsp. diced (seeded) jalapeno
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. minced cilantro
Juice of 2 limes
salt and pepper to taste
Mix together in bowl and refrigerate.
I forgot to take a picture of what I planted so I will do that this week.
Finally before and afters of Kelsie’s room are coming as well. 
Don’t forget if your wanting to spring clean your blog, I am having a giveaway, posted here.

It’s Time to Get Serious!

I think I have posted this before, as a matter of fact I know that I have…Dieting, it’s no fun and it’s tough.

But I have found my calling, I have found my motivation….Money!  What am I talking about?  Well, a few days ago I was doing my blog hoping and found where a fellow blog friend is competing in the Spring Fitness Challenge over at A Feathered Nest.  

Being nosey, haha (*smiles*), I hopped over to read up on this Spring Fitness Challenge.  There is a jackpot!  You sign up for $10.00, and then for 8 weeks you work your hardest trying to beat the other competitors.   Oh and before I signed up the jackpot was up to $200.00!!  Yes, you read that right.  What better motivator then money, to buy some new clothes for the weight you lose!

So, I signed up Monday, which was day 1, just in time, I hadn’t ate breakfast yet, so I could make my choices wisely!  Now, she isn’t going with who loses the most weight, it’s who ever loses the biggest %, so it’s anybody’s game!

I didn’t set a goal for this 8 week challenge, I just wanted to join because I needed to lose weight, I am over my target weight for my height. 

So every Monday, you will be subjected to read my stats, what fun, huh!?  Not that I want to share with you all what I weigh, so I’ll just go with what % I lose. 

For my training, I am using the Guide from Fitness magazine to running Half a Marathon in 8 weeks.  I figured that this was the structure I needed.  Monday night I ran/walked 2 miles.  Let’s just say, ok, so I walked, very fast, 2 miles.  I couldn’t have even tried running, I would have passed out for sure.  Last night I worked out for 20 minutes, lifting weights, and strength training.  My biggest priority right now is sticking to drinking 8 glasses of water a day.

I chose a baked chicken breast on Monday night as opposed to Hamburger Helper that I fixed Zack and the girls.  Oh do not act like you don’t fix Hamburger Helper!  It’s fast and easy and tasty to boot!

So wish me luck I want that money!!