A little of this and a little bit of that…

#1

You might want to sit down for this.

I haven’t consumed a carbonated beverage since Feb. 1. Yep, this little coke lover, has avoided coke, pop, soft drinks, whatever the hell you call it for 36 days. Not like I’m counting or anything.

They said it would be easy. They said you wouldn’t miss them after a few days or weeks. WRONG. BIG FAT WRONG.

I think about Coca Cola constantly. How it would make my pizza taste better. How it would make a crappy day better. My body just wants it.

But… I haven’t given in, with the exception of a teeny tiny sip of my brother’s Big Red Slushie.

So, where do cokes and I stand? How have I been feeling?

Let’s start with the latter. I feel great. My clothes fit better. I’m not bloated. For those reasons alone, I may just give them up forever. I’d rather eat my calories anyway. I still drink tea and lemonade occasionally, but I’m also drinking a ton of water.

Will I really NEVER ever drink another beloved can of coke? Probably not. I’ve created this little contest in my head. If I can lose the last 5 pounds of baby weight, I get to celebrate with a coke. 5 more=another coke until I’m down to pre wedding weight from almost 7 years ago.

Isn’t it weird how I aspire to be that weight again? I think I want to be that weight because that’s the last time I remember not weighing myself. Just liking my size and not caring what the number said.

So, how’s that for motivation? And shorts. Most definitely, shorts!

#2

I’ve started reading again. We’ve had several snow days in the last month which in turn I get to stay at home. I have been so lazy and it’s been great. I needed to be lazy. Teaching is rough. My class is rough. We are busy. We don’t spend much time at home during the week so its been nice to be forced to be home. Actually, it’s been wonderful!

I’ve updated the READ WITH ME tab with the books I have been reading! Enjoy!

Almost 30 days!

I've been doing the 30 Day Shred on and off since 8/20. I had initally started it wanting to do it every day but quickly realized that I didn't want to just do a workout for 30 days. I want to start a routine of working out on a regular basis and make it be a routine I can live with. For me that means working our 4-5 times a week. So that it what I have been doing.
I am starting to see some definition in my body which really motivates me. I have lost a total of 8.5 inches in my arms, chest, waist, hips and thighs. That motivates me too.

The scale... I'm not seeing a lot of movement there. I know I am gaining muscle and I have lost 3 pounds so that is better than 0.

In the scale's defense... I haven't been doing great with my diet. I stopped tracking last week and need to get better about that. I have skipped meals and then ate bigger, fattening meals to make up for it. And until this morning when I weighed and worked out, I hadn't worked out since Thursday morning.

So I need to step it up if I want to get those other 23 pounds off before my 27th birthday (December 22).
Here's what I'm planning to do...

• Drink MORE water... I need to drink more water. I have been only drinking a glass or two at work and then it's not until bedtime that I realize I want some more water.
• More cardio. I plan on keeping up with the Shred 4-5 times a week. I love the workout and I can really see it working. It's quick and something I can do in the mornings. BUT I think I need a little more so I downloaded the Get Running app (C25K) on my phone last night. It's 3 days a week so I can do this and the Shred.
• Eat better. I need to stay focused and not just eat what's in my calories, but what is good for me.

How are your weight loss goals going? Have you done the C25K?

Discouraged

Strike 1

I weighed myself this morning and it was 1.5 lbs higher than I was on Monday. I’ve done everything right. 1200 calories, exercised every single day and I’ve gained????

Strike 2

Fruit and cheerios for breakfast, subway for lunch… but why can’t I have a cherry coke and cookie from subway? Will I even be able to enjoy the sweet things in life again???

Strike 3

I came home in a bad mood, discouraged that I am doing everything right (I think?) and I can’t even tell a difference in my body. I fixed dinner and told Chris I wanted to take a nap.

Take another Swing!

As I was laying in bed trying to sleep while holding Kendall’s hand as she watched Little Einstein’s, it dawned on me that I was doing the exact thing I didn’t want to do anymore.  Give up.

Yes, I’m mad I’ve been doing this for over two weeks and I’m not seeing a big difference, but I have to believe I am doing the best I can and the results will come.

So I got out of bed and exercised.

I will get there.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Happy Labor Day! I hope you have the pleasure of sitting at home today thanks to paid holidays!
I am living it up in my sweat pants and doing school and house work. :)

I woke up this morning and did Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred ( I love/hate you Jillian) and took my weekly stats all before breakfast. I try to only weigh myself once a week but let's be honest, I step on the scale every morning "just to see".

2 weeks ago when I started exercising/counting calories I had a goal weight loss of 27 pounds. For more information, you can click on the "Weight Loss" tab at the top of the blog.

Here are my two weeks stats.
-3.2 pounds
-5 inches

Clearly, exercise is helping! I haven't noticed a big difference in the way my clothes are fitting but the proof is in the pudding and/or measuring tape! I think this is where I will see the biggest difference in my body because I have gone from no exercise to exercising almost daily.

 Now I wish I could sit here and say I'm okay with losing more inches than pounds, but I'm not. I had really hoped the weight would be melting off. To be honest, I know it's my diet. I am still eating a lot of crap! It's ok if it's in my daily calories, right? MyFitnessPal does not judge me if I had a 210 calorie Kit Kat bar for breakfast! I feel my best when I plan my meals ahead of time and stay away from temptation.

So... I think I might try and make sure I'm consuming calories that count. Instead of a candy bar for breakfast or a small fry at lunch because I have the calories to spare, I should eat more nutritional and "better for me" meals. I think these food decisions will help the pounds melt away.

My first goal is 10 pounds and I plan on taking progress pictures at that point to share with my blog friends!
Are you trying to lose weight?
What has helped you?

30 Day Shred

On Monday I started doing the 30 Day Shred. With the exception of Wednesday, I have done it every night this week. I can already feel myself getting stronger. I took some BEFORE pictures and I’m too embarrassed to show them right now. I have a weight loss goal I want to reach by my 27th birthday. I have been eating better and it really feels different this time.

I am very proud that I lost all of my baby weight after I had Kendall, however, it’s not enough. I weigh exactly what I weighed when I got pregnant but my body is so different now. I’m even wearing a size 10 and mediums which is what I wore when I got married and was 15 pounds lighter. More than any weight loss, I want to tone my body and have more energy.

Also…I made sure to look extra awful in my BEFORE picture because when I do show them my AFTER pictures are going to be HOT, HOT, HOT!

So until you get to see my pasty, flabby body and all my inches information… here is a glimpse of what it is like to work out with a toddler. :)

I was working out in a sports bra and shorts ( which is why I am blacked out) and Kendall wanted to be like me so she raised her shirt. LOL Love this kid!