A Month of Change

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 216.8
Goal Weight: 145 lbs 
Weight to lose: 71.8 lbs

So, it's been a little over a month since I blogged last (oops!). But here are the things that have changed in the last month...

1. I started working out with a personal trainer once a week. And she's helping me be more consistent with my diet and exercise (mostly because I fear letting someone else down and I need someone to get upset with me when I don't do what I'm supposed to). Basically, she's the best!

2. I've started running.. err.. jogging/walking again.

3. Ya know those crazy sit ups where you throw a ball to someone else, or the squats where you throw the ball and catch it? The ones you watch on the biggest loser and think "HA. yeah right. nobody actually does those." I've got news for you. PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THAT! I did that on Tuesday..

4. Previously I LOVED potato chips and french fries, do you know what I discovered last week? THEY DON'T TASTE GOOD ANYMORE!

Okay. end of learning things... at least, for now. :)

Revelations

Today, I ate like I was supposed to.. success.

Today, I went down one size at Target... success.

Today... I went to zumba (even though I didn't want to, but my best friend talked me into it) and had the biggest and best revelation:

I can actually do this. 

Before I always talked the talk, but I didn't walk the walk. Today, I felt like I actually could do this. I felt like I had control over this and I wasn't going to let it defeat me again. 

Today I realized that I can actually do this... success. 

New Motivation

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 218
Goal Weight: 145 lbs by Christmas
Weight to lose: 73 lbs in 167 days.


So, after a week of hard work I've kinda not been the best at counting calories and exercising.. actually, I have sucked at it. I haven't done it at all. However, one of my best friends got engaged last weekend... and thus, asked me to be a bridesmaid and the wedding is in the next few months. New motivation to get into shape faster? oh heck yes.

I found these blogs today on pinterest. The first one is about losing weight and being dedicated. She says to make your goal attainable. Yup, check. got that. Do it because I want to, not for others.. check. Eat breakfast: check. Things to be done: make a goal chart (easily done since Liz & I have made some goals for ourselves), schedule my workouts like I schedule work and class (things that I can't skip), keep up with my diet and workout journal.

The next blog is called "The College Girl Diet". First thing that I love that she said: This is a lifestyle, NOT A DIET. You can't just diet and get to your goal weight and then let everything go. You have to eat like that and exercise like that for the rest of your life. It's not just a "one and done" deal. It's an ALL of the time deal. The no's that she talks about that I'm implimenting starting right now:
1) No soda... yes, I know I started drinking it again after not having it since October. My bad. But it's gone now.
2) No fast food. This one is probably going to be the most difficult. This is America.. where we practically live on fast food. My family practically does. But, I'll have to pass on that now. If I want this, that's what I'm going to do.
3) No alcohol. It's a waste of calories. It really is. Those calories that you spend on that drink, are so much better spent on something else.
4) No ordering Large or Extra Large or Biggie.. that's so not needed. Order the half order of everything.
5) Drink more water. Hunger pains are often a sign of dehydration. I wonder if everyone in the country knew this how much healthier our country would be.
6) MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! no more sitting on the couch while a beautiful day passes by.. or even nasty ones. I have 4 workout games for the Kinect, and how often do I play them? uh.. never. Plus, I discovered On-Demand workouts yesterday. I have no excuses for not working out.
7) No mindless eating. No eating while watching TV or on the computer. If I must eat, pick fruits, veggies or healthy items.
8) Allow moments of cheating. Without tiny moments of chocolate or the like, I'd only feel more deprived and it would make that awful binge eating worse.

So.. ready? I am! ....I think.

I'm sorry.. it's what day, again?

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 216
Goal Weight: 145 lbs by Christmas
Weight to lose: 71 in 170 days.

I know.. I know.. I haven't blogged in a week and 2 days. but in that week and 2 days, I've worked... 56 hours, I think. If it weren't for the fact that my family just left all together, I wouldn't know it was Sunday morning because the only time they ride together is to go to church. Seriously, I'm surprised that I'm still functioning.

Okay, so that whole thing that I blogged about last time. It failed right away. BUT.. I did lose 1.4 pounds in the last week and 2 days. I attribute this to eating right (per my new plan on myfitnesspal. (see profile). This works well for me because they have a free app for my phone.. so I can take it everywhere! It's so much easier than when I was using livestrong because I had to wait until I got home and sometimes I forgot.. so, now I can work on it when I'm out and about.. without making excuses.

I also attribute my weight loss to working at a pizza place in 100 degree weather. With 2-3 pizza ovens on, an air conditioner that wasn't built for handling the ovens, and it being 100+ degrees outside, we got very.... toasty. No.. toasty isn't the word.. sweaty? I'm telling you... I was sweating, my sweat was sweating, and my sweat's sweat was sweating. It was a bit ridiculous.. but I'm alive with no damage!

Also, with having been so busy with working I neglected working out this week. Next week will be better. 

Ch-ch-changes

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 217.4
Goal Weight: 145 lbs
Weight to lose: 72.4

So, I gave up facebook for a week.. and that has been my excuse as to why I haven't written anything.

*insert imitation of my own voice* I can't tell people I blogged, what's the point?

I did however weigh myself... My partner in crime, Liz, and I agreed on weighing ourselves every Wednesday morning. So, that weight up there, my friends, is this weeks weight. 

Also.. Liz discovered this website on pinterest (our favorite place to waste time haha). It's about how different body types need different foods and exercises.. which seems like a no-brainer.. but honestly, it was a new revelation for me.

So, I looked at all the different body types and realized that I'm a endomorph. Which means.. I store fat a heck of a lot easier than other body types. Which totally makes sense.. because while I don't eat a lot, I sure look like I do. So, I'm going to try to follow their eating plan.. I'll do a couple of weeks of it because we all know one week isn't enough. and if it's working, then the plan stays.. if not, then I change it up!

So, here's the plan for the next few weeks:

1. avoid all sugars (including fruits, except berries)
2. avoid simple carbohydrates (sweets, white flour products, pasta, white rice, potatoes)
3. Eat starchy vegetables, brown rice, whole grains
4. Eat quality protein (chicken, turkey, lean beef, whey protein)
5. Eat healthy fats: Omega 3 sources (fish, seafood), and coconut oil.
6. Eat smaller portions, and have food handy every 2-3 hours. 
7. Tone up muscle mass 3-4 times a week (my absolute favorite kind of exercise.. no joke)
8. Aerobic exercises 5-6 times a week (**this may be hard right now as I'm fighting being sick.. but I can try)

Don't Quit

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 218.4
Goal Weight: 145 lbs
Weight to lose: 73.4 lbs

Don't Quit. That has been my motto today through everything. Through class: don't quit listening.. maybe he'll say something important (please note: he didn't). Through work: don't quit smiling. customers like smiley people. Through zumba: don't quit unless you faint or throw up. It was so hot in there! Through walking with Kari: okay.. actually, that was fun and I didn't have to tell myself not to quit.

My eating today... was weird. Like, I went over my calories a little... but I also worked out.. A LOT. plus it was about 94* today. Which made working out BEASTLY. but I did it. No quitting. Not today. Not ever. I'm not a quitter. and I can do this.

Every excuse in the book.

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 219.4 lbs
Goal Weight: 145 lbs
Weight to lose: 74.4 lbs


I don't have time.
I don't feel well.
I just don't care.
God made me this way, why even try?
It's too hard.
I don't want to work out.
There isn't healthy food in this house.

These and many others which I cannot think of right now are the reasons why I have basically sucked at changing my life this week. And I know it's hypocritical to say that I made excuses because I am so annoyed by people who do that. So, label me a hypocrite.

I woke up and decided to do what I know I should do today. Eat well, exercise. Did I do those things? Eat well.. yes.. until about 3 p.m. and then it went down hill. And exercise? nope. Didn't happen. I'm all out of excuses. I can't do this to myself anymore. I want to be better. I am better than this.

I was thinking the other day that changing how you eat, or having an addiction to food is one of the hardest addictions to overcome. Think about it. You NEED food to survive. all the other addictions are things that you can live without. They won't kill you to not have those things. Food, on the other hand... well, you kinda need that. The people who fight this battle and win are truly strong. People who overcome addictions of any kind are. It makes me want to be that strong person.

So tomorrow I'll be a little less like this:

and more like this:

Oops

So, I really did mean to post on Tuesday.. but here it is Thursday.. and I haven't posted anything. Oops.

Tuesday I did really well. Ate right, went to Zumba.. felt like this after zumba:

Then Wednesday rolled around.. and I felt sick all day. Headache, sore throat, no appetite.. needless to say, when I actually ate I wasn't paying attention to what I was eating. I also didn't exercise. But, I feel like this is excusable since I was legitimately not feeling well.

Today, however, was inexcusable. What I chose to eat, was not what I should have chosen. I know this because when I eat food that I shouldn't eat, I start feeling bad. When I eat good food, I feel good. Makes sense, right? So then why on earth would I choose to eat bad food? Well, because it's there. My house is filled with food that I should choose not to eat. Somedays I do awesome... and other days, well.. I suck at making good choices. Today was one of those sucky days. 

Tomorrow, I will do better. Because, tomorrow is a new day.

What will you ACTUALLY do?

Starting Weight: 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 215.6 lbs
Difference: -3 lbs!
Goal Weight: 145 lbs
Weight to lose: 70.6 lbs

The past few days have been really good eating wise. Exercising? CONFESSION: I haven't done anything since Saturday. Sunday I didn't because honestly.. Sunday is my day of "rest" from exercise. Plus, I'm not really home on Sundays to exercise. I consider being a youth leader enough. haha

And today.. well, today was just laziness. I stayed in my room all day watching House, telling myself that I would work out after work. Then I worked, and got home pretty darn close to midnight. and my legs hurt so bad, that I have convinced myself that walking and making pizzas is exercise enough.

Lesson from today: Know what you'll actually do. Are you really going to work out after you get home from work? No, you're not. you're procrastinating. so, get off your butt and exercise now!  << I say this for my benefit, more than yours.

So, what am I going to do tomorrow? get off my butt and exercise!

No more excuses

I've said that so many times. So, why is this time different?

To tell you the truth... There's a real chance that I've developed some health problems because of my weight. I don't want that to be the reason that I have diseases. If the weight comes off, and those issues are still there, then so be it. But I'm not going to let having a weight problem .. let's call it what it is.. obesity, get the best of me.

One of my closest friends, Liz, is also blogging about her journey. And every time I read her blog I think, "I used to do that." So, why did I stop? Laziness.

So, here I go.. blogging about my journey to being healthy again. Because what do I have?
Hardwork. Dedication. Sass. 


The goal is to be at a healthy weight. The goal is also to tell you all what's going on.. hopefully every day. This might get difficult with me working 2 jobs, but I'll make it work.

So.. here's my stats:
Starting Weight (today): 218.6 lbs
Current Weight: 218.6 lbs
Goal Weight: 145 lbs
Weight to lose: 73.6 lbs

This morning to work out, I went to kickboxing class at my church. Kicked my butt! To warm up we ran and did kicks and legs in between laps around the parking lot. Then we went upstairs and did the boxing. We also did sit ups with punches and snow angels (both of these are dreadful, but I still do them). Stretching.. and BOOM. workout done.

I'm hoping to get in a workout every day. Whether it's Zumba, kickboxing, running around my neighborhood, or lifting weights and doing ab exercises in my room. I can do this! :)

Sodium

My trainer from the Biggest Loser just called me to tell me that I'm doing a great job with my torching, but I need to watch my sodium levels.

Sodium is my weakness. I love salty things. Guess I need to work on things. I need to not only look at calories, but also sodium.

This. Starts. Tomorrow.

Day 6 [excuses.. excuses..]

So if you read my first post, you know that my parents and I signed up for the Biggest Loser competition at church. What you don't know... I'm the only one doing it. 

Dad's reasoning: He can't do it because he's going to miss 3 of the weeks because he'll be out of town with Boy Scouts. Okay, that's kind of legitimate. But I know he's been dreading this since the beginning. 

Mom's reasoning: adding one more thing to her life, is giving her anxiety attacks. She feels like anything more than weight watchers, is overdoing it. 

Honestly, I feel like these are just excuses. I feel like they aren't going to change. There going to just sit wherever they are and not change. I've seen them do it so many times. They told me that me doing this will give them motivation. I shouldn't have to be that for them. 

When they told me this morning.. right before we were supposed to leave for the first Biggest Loser meeting.. that they weren't going. That they were quitting before they started.. honestly, I was mad. I wanted to yell at them. Tell them that they're never going to get anywhere if they don't persevere and act now. I didn't actually do that.. but I did in my head.

I'm still reeling from it. We were supposed to do this all together. We were going to support each other. Go through the same things. And now.. I'm alone in my house, trying to follow this program. I know I can do it. It just sucks not to have support, ya know? Because even though they're "trying".. they're not. 

I'm just angry today. 

Day 2

This morning I woke up at 6:30 to go work out with one of my mentors. Our work out began at 7:20 a.m. Besides this, I didn't have to be anywhere until 10:15 a.m. We were working out in the atrium at church, when the new youth pastor walked in and said we were up really early.

He knows I don't get up that early, so he said something directly to me and asked me why. I responded with, Tiffany needed someone to work out with." But it doesn't stop there. Yes, Tiffany needed someone to work out with. But I also know that if I have someone keeping me accountable, then I'm more likely to work out.

Something else that I thought of on my way home was this:
I'm not changing my exercise and eating habits to have the "perfect" body. That's not even obtainable. I'm changing my exercise and eating habits because I've seen what it's like when you don't. I have seen family members struggle with health issues. Doctors have told them that if they lost weight, the likeliness of having the same problems would be very slim. Do these family members lose weight to become healthier? No. Why not? because it's hard.

I'm going to kick these problems in the butt before they get me.
High blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol...
I am not going to have to struggle with these because of my weight.

This is why I'm trying to be healthier. I want better for my future.

Day 1

Today is the start of something new. My new mantra:

Hard work. Dedication. Sass.

Yesterday, I signed up for the Biggest Loser program at my church. This morning I woke up motivated to take on the world. I woke up with motivation to work out and count all the calories I'm eating today. I'm still in that mood. I want to do this. No more failing. No more quitting. That's where my mantra comes in. I have to work hard, stay dedicate to it.. and have sass to do it. 

I know there will be days that I won't want to do it anymore. But that's what this is for. I just have to look at this:

I don't want to stay this way. I want to be different. Imagine how much healthier and happier I could be. This isn't about being the world's definition of "thin". This is about being healthy. Living my life the way God intended it. 

I'm going to try to blog about my whole experience. Hopefully this will help me.