Update!

So, this has got to be the worst week I’ve had in my life…no really!
I digress.
I. WILL. Move. Forward.

On a totally different note....

Workout front: I am killing myself in the gym(in a good way). My workout partner(she’s lost over 100lbs., she’s a great motivator, she’s too skinny in my opinion, but I think she looks good) and I have been working out with DVD’s, recruited more people and now have a class full during lunch hour, sweating hard. DVD’s we’ve used are:
P90X
Insanity
Weight Watchers Full body
30 Day Shred
Zumba
Sweating to the Oldies!(my idea!)

I suggested that we do the stairs…as in running up stairs! WHY! Who the heck am I fooling, I’m not a mass machine just yet, but baby this is a wonderful workout! I feel good AFTER the workout (during, not so much) and I have decided to have my stair workout 2 days per week, its excellent strength training and I have decided to get into the Breast Cancer Awareness Marathon this summer. My work is having an American Heart Association walk this May. I will be doing a lot of stuff outside with my kids this summer and this winter, has been very productive, I feel good…I’m not there, but this is a lifestyle change…so give me some time.


On the eating front: Although, I am a stress eater, my diet has been amazing since Sunday (3 day binge after I got off of my fast last week). My official weigh in was not a gain, I stayed the same. I’ve been eating clean and lean, getting my water in. My skin looks great; I got a compliment about my skin the other day. I was told I had a glow…I haven’t heard that since I was going through the wedding planning process or prego. I know that can’t happen(my hubby took care of it), so I’m clearly eating the right things!

On the work front: I love where I work, not my job, but the organization is amazing. I can work out out on my lunch hour, it’s all about healthy living, they totally care about their people, but I have come to the realization that it’s time for me to move along. I have been working here for about 8 years, fresh out of college and the time has come to make a very important decision, if I am going to move forward and feel like I am contributing to the organization this may not be the place for me….I will keep you posted. There are some stars on the horizon with my name on it.

Keeping It Real

I can't show my face....I ought to be ashamed...I am, ok about 40% of me is.



I am mad at me for pigging out like I did, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I was so happy to eat meat, so breakfast I had real sausage(Jimmy Dean Maple), for lunch I had a salad with cheese and bacon! Bacon, really...and for dinner I went to my favorite soul food restaurant and had baked chicken, yams and cabbage oh it was good! I enjoyed every bite. Friday, I had girl scout cookies and enjoyed every bite of those Tagalong devils and then Saturday evening, I had honey chicken and crab rangoon from my favorite chinese spot. OMG, whose stomach was tore up! Not mine, got a belly of steel but when I got up and weighed myself(unofficially)on Sunday I was up 4lbs! 4lbs since Tuesday! So, yesterday, I put myself back into gear..as my sis in law says, "we fall down, but we get up" I think she got that from Donnie McClurkin, but still she said it. Anywho, this is a wake up call. I should have not done that, but because I'm human it happens....welp was on track all day yesterday and feeling better today...I'm going ice skating on my lunch with some co-workers(this should be fun as I don't know how to skate), good times! Anyway, hoping for a better week. SMH

March!!!!

Here we are 3rd month of the year and I am very happy with the results I have so far. I am, however, concerned regarding the weight loss that I have lost during this February 30 day fast. I would like to hope that losing a total of 24lbs in 2 months is a good thing, but I don’t think so. I’m moving back into a new/normal eating pattern, which will consist of:
Fruits
Vegetables
Fish
Non-dairy
Carbs twice a week
Lots of water intake

I will see what my new plan will do for me, but I am interested in keeping the weight that I lost off, but to be quite honest it’s not healthy to lose that much weight in a short period of time. I will see at my next weigh in what my new eating plan is doing for me. I am officially on day 29 today and I feel closer with God, clear mind, clear thoughts, more productive and a better overall relationship with the hubby. I really feel like this was a great experience for me and my husband to parent better and make better decisions as a couple.

I have been looking over food journals for January as well as workout schedules for the past 2 months I can say I have not been good at keeping my commitments when it comes to working out. I don’t like to spend a lot of time in the gym. I get it in 45-50 minutes (usually my lunch hour) unless work gets in the way and I shower and eat at my desk. I love the convenience and the option to do so, because its just not easy with 2 little ones at home and a husband who is always working or doing his school thing. But, I’m making it work. I think once the weather gets better I can also get my kiddies out there to partake in the fun.

I am pleased to announce that I have recently shopped at Platos Closet (goal) and Forever 21(jewelry: couldn’t wait to wear bracelets and rings!). I’m on a new mission, because my goal is to wear dresses or skirts all summer. So, my goal is to get my legs and thighs....I will be happy once I hit another 30lbs lost.

Day 20 and 25

I know I'm a little late with my Day 20 post, but I've had lots going on. My family and I traveled to see my bestie(2 hours away this weekend) and we just had so much going on that I totally forgot to post. My daughter had to have surgery on Tuesday, so I'm busy with her and it's just life. Anyway, I found junk food that I could eat. There is always somehow to sabotage yourself no matter how healthy you eat. I've had guacamole(spicy and mild) with tortilla chips and animal crackers. You can be a vegan junk food eater:( Its sad, the past 4 days have been sabotaged, by yours truly. I'm still drinking my water, but that kind of slowed me down. I'm still on full mode on my fast. I'm proud of myself because we went to a bday party and I wanted a slice of cake so bad. I just had my green smoothie and while we were on the road I had a salad packed with black beans and veggies on the ride home. I was satisfied, but I still thought about the cake. I won't say I'm going through withdrawals from my social networking but, family members have had babies, friends are getting engaged and I'm totally missing out on all of the wonderful pictures, so I am looking forward to that again. I have decided that I will continue the vegan lifestyle for another 30 days. I will see if I can maintain this lifestyle. The first time I slip up I will let you know! It's either vegan or vegatarian for me. I've found such great alternatives to beef and chicken, while on this fast, but I am missing my fish. So in the past 24 days I have lost 15lbs.! Very pleased with that, but I think in order to keep that weight off in such a short time period I will have to continue eating right. Well, I'm headed to drink more water!

Day 15

The hubby was on a mission to find vanilla chai for me and guess what!!! Bolthouse Farms has a Vanilla Chai Tea, made with SoyMilk. I had to get used to the taste, but I am a fan of it. The past 5 days have been easier. I went to the grocer and spent quite a bit of time there. I found a cookie that I can eat…excited about that. They are normal cookies (Barnum & Bailey’s Animal cookies). I was very pleased; because I really needed something sweet and it hit it right on the spot. I love the Bolthouse Farm Brands they are delicious, my absolute favorite is Green Juice, it looks gross, so yummy and so good for you. I have been eating lots of steamed vegetables, cabbage, some chipotle sweet potato fries, that I want to scarf down more than 12-15, but I am also eating without trying to get full or pigging out. This is a sacrifice, very pleased that the past 5 days were better than the 10th-15th day. I have been drinking 110 oz. of water each day for the past 5 days and I will say I have been to the bathroom A LOT! I can barely sleep because the bladder is going crazy all night. I feel good and I feel like I really HAVE to get the water in. I like that I am not as hungry because I am full with drinking my water.

I had to go bra shopping this weekend. My bras are too big for me. I’ve lost 2 inches up top and went down a cup. My wedding band no longer fits; it slid off of my finger last week, which scared me. I went to JC Penney and picked up a little ring and decided to wear it until I’m finished with my journey. Wrist bones are popping out and I can see ankles and feel hip bones! I cannot wait to see my collar bones! I will SHOUT from the mountain top! Baby steps, I tell you, Baby Steps! I can say that I am extremely pleased with my energy level and what this fast is doing for me.

My husband is looking really slim in the face and his belly is much smaller and all of his dress shirts and slacks are way too big! Looks like we will have some shopping to do. I won’t purchase new winter clothes, but I threw everything out last fall so, I will have to lose weight and buy new spring/summer clothes! And what do you know; I’m well on my way. Keeping it off and learning how to make better choices is where the true work comes in. I am at the half way point and I need to start thinking of what my permanent changes will be. Spiritually, I am growing, physically I am getting stronger. I really am keeping a firm hand on this. I will say this is the first time I was really serious about something and didn’t cheat or not follow thru on it. I think the fact that its accountability to God is what’s keeping me on track. I want to be pleasing and I want to have a clear mind to really focus on what I’m putting in my body and what I’m taking out. Weigh in today had me down another 3lbs. That’s another incentive to pull through the last 2 weeks of this month on a high note.

I have a pretty busy week. My children and I are going to Sesame Street Live and then the weekend we are traveling 2 hours to see my godchildren for their bdays. Whenever my kids and god kids get together you better watch out! Have a good weekend on tap!

Day 10

Keeping it real....

I am craving a Low Fat Vanilla Chai Latte, Skinny Cow Swiss Cheese and something sweet. I did cave on the sweet portion, I had juice last night. About 4 oz. of it. I'm trying hard to make good choices. I would like some fish as well. Ok, anyway, I'm praying for strength to make it through. It's ok to have the juice, I thought I could give up meat, sweets, soda, dairy and white carbs and it not be much of a struggle(Insert "Silly Me" Here). My goal is to keep this up. I can do this!

I have been eating tons of veggies, putting together some really spicy stir fry. I've been into the shirataki noodles(tofu noodles), tofu and I've decided to try some Morningstar Brand freezer foods. The salads and leftover stir fry at lunch are starting to bore me. I'm a little concerned with my sodium intake, but let's see.

My energy level is not bad at all. I'm up, my thinking is not cloudy and I get a lot done during the day and well into the evening. I've been feeling like I'm coming down with the colds my little ones have. But, I'm able to push through it.

I'm trying not to count down the days for this to be over. I need to embrace this experience but the past couple days have been a challenge.

Today will be workout day 3. Couch to 5K week 1 Day 3. Working out has been great, I have been getting in 45 minutes on my lunch hour.

Weighty Wednesday

After dropping my first 15lbs. I was really proud of myself! I decided that I would start wearing makeup and had a little more confidence about myself.

I was working out, 2 days per week for an half hour and just basically watching what I ate during the day, the afternoons I would binge. I didn't make healthy choices. So, I was stuck on the scale. Plus, while in th gym I didn't push myself as hard as I could have and it was winter time so I still indulged in the comfort foods that I loved. As you can see, in my pictures I am starting to like who I am and I was trying to get comfortable with the person I was becoming.

I weighed 215 in the above pictures. I wore a size 1x shirt, size 16 jeans and I was winded while playing with my children. I was a couch potato and didn't want to spend too much time in the gym. The hubs would encourage me to go and I would leave in my gym wear and go to Target to shop....oh how time has changed. I needed to post this today to motivate myself to workout this morning.

Much love,

Jen