New Start

Ok, ok. So I have not been good at keeping up with 2 blogs. Woops! However, I decided it was time to start again.

I must be honest, we completely failed the last attempt at weight loss. Mainly because I was trying to get Brandon to do it with me, but he wasn't feeling it, so I gave up, again.

However, we are now BOTH on track and more determined than ever, thanks to some new friends who are incredibly health-minded and encouraging. Brandon initiated it this time, and he is doing so great. I'm really proud of him.

We both downloaded the "My Fitness Pal" app on our phones, and we use that every single day. I am currently on a goal of 1500 calories per day, which seems to work well for me. I lost 2.5lbs last week. 1500 calories is challenging, and takes a lot of pre-planning, and I do sometimes feel hungry, but not like I thought I would. As long as I eat the right foods I feel satisfied most of the time.

My current obsession is fruit. Last week, I bought strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and THREE watermelons. I fix myself a mixed fruit bowl every morning to take to work, and I eat on it for snacks and with my lunch, and it has been a saving grace for me! I have not had one single major craving for sweets in almost TWO WEEKS! That's crazy for me people. I have an absurd sweet tooth! But snacking on fruit greatly diminishes my cravings.

Today is going to be somewhat challenging. It's Wednesday, which means church night. I go to church straight from work, so I have to pick up dinner on my way. The only thing nearby is a McDonald's. Last week, I discovered a new meal. A grilled chicken sandwich, remove bun and toppings (so, a small piece of chicken), a side salad, and apple dippers (for that sweet tooth!). It worked pretty well, but takes some discipline to actually order it when that picture of a big, melty cheeseburger is screaming at me from the menu.

Famous Dave's Citrus Grill

We went to Famous Dave's tonight for my parents' 51st wedding anniversary. FD's is one of my all time favorite restaurants, but they have pretty much nothing on their menu that is diet friendly. According to livestrong.com, their corn muffins have 600 calories. Yikes! But they now have a Citrus Grill. They have several meals for under 600 calories. I had the naked ribs. 4 ribs, steamed broccoli, and grilled pineapple. It was absolutely delicious! And I didn't feel bad about it afterward! :)

Little Wins

I got up first thing this morning and went straight to the gym...on a Saturday! Typically, I would still be laying on the couch watching TV. But I knew if I didn't work out first thing, that I wouldn't do it. I went to the gym, and then I had the energy to go to Walmart, and come home and clean the house. And I feel GREAT! I've accomplished so much today and it's only 11am! I am absolutely amazed at how much better I feel already since joining the gym (and actually going).

I missed my workout yesterday, and I felt really bad about it. Traffic was ridiculous. It took me 1.5 hours just to get to Hickory Hollow, so I called Brandon to meet me for dinner because I was starving. Then I was so tired and frustrated that I didn't want to even think about the gym. I'll have to handle that better next time.

While at the gym this morning, I bumped up the speed on the treadmill and made my mile in 18:43!!!! I was so proud of myself. The first day at the gym, it took me 20:06 to complete a mile, so I am seeing improvement! I actually find it exciting to go to the gym and see how many seconds I can shave off my mile. Have I mentioned that I LOVE LOVE LOVE that gym?

There was only 1 other person in the gym with me this morning, and she talked to me after we finished and asked me how long I had been there. She told me she started 2 years ago and lost 80 pounds! She was so sweet and encouraging. I love the people there. I feel like I actually belong in that gym. I've never felt that before!

Kashi Granola Bars

I tried these things for the first time this morning. YUMMY! They are so incredibly good. And the definitely don't taste healthy :)

I need some motivation!

One of my BIGGEST problems in losing weight is motivation. I'm always motivated for the first week or two. Determined even. But then, after that, I begin dreading exercise. I lose that motivation. I know, it's perfectly common. Everyone struggles with it. But, I have the worst time fighting through it.

I really don't want to work out today. I'm pooped. I want to go home and be a couch potato!

But I won't. I'm going to the gym.

How do you stay motivated?

Afraid of Success? (and a HUGE goal)

I've come to the realization that one of my biggest fears is success. On one hand, it seems like I've always known that, but either it was subconscious knowledge or I just never wanted to admit it. But I am. I am terrified of succeeding, of losing weight. Why? Why am I afraid of the thing I want (almost) more than anything?

I came to this realization as I've started toying with the idea of doing the Race for the Cure 5K in October. I really want to do this 5K, and I love the cause, but I'm completely mortified about actually setting it as a goal. I've been trying to decide if I want to do the walk or the run. The walk I know I can do. It'll take some getting used to walking that far, but it's a pretty safe goal. I can do it fairly easily. But running it? I was ecstatic to walk at 3.0mph for 20 minutes straight yesterday that running 3.2 miles seems...well....NUTS! And impossible. In my head, I know I could probably do it with some serious focus between now and then, and some intense training. But that's just the thing. I'm afraid of giving up. I'm afraid of not pushing myself hard enough and then not being able to do it. I'm afraid of being the last to cross the finish line. October seems like plenty of time away, but in reality it is only 7 months. I weigh almost 300lbs. In 7 months, can I really lose enough weight and build up enough stamina to RUN 3.2miles? Well, can I? I don't know.

But, as I sit here writing this, I am thinking about my precious grandmother. She didn't die of breast cancer, but she did battle it 3 times and survived it. It wasn't the cancer that took her, but she still fought. My aunt Donna did lose the fight to breast cancer. And I know that this runs in my family, and that there is an increased chance that I may have it some day.

So, right now, I am setting a goal. I am terrified. I am afraid I'll quit. I'm afraid I won't follow through. I'm afraid that in a month or 2 I'll lose my motivation to do it. But I kind of think I have to. For my Aunt Donna. For my Grandmother. For me.

I will complete the 5K. I won't set a time goal until later, but I will push myself. I will do my absolute best. I will finish. I can't guarantee I'll run the whole way, but even if I am humiliatingly the last person to cross that finish line, I. Will. Finish.

If you would like to join me and do this with me, I would be happy to start a team for this race. I'll need all the support I can get!

Feel the Burn

I was pretty happy with myself today. I got up and headed straight to the gym, where I completed a mile in 19:47! I actually surpassed my goal of a 20 minute mile! WOOHOO! Feels good!