Well I made it an entire week without a single taste of sugar. I feel really good and I have already noticed a significant decrease in my cravings. I have the hardest time right about 7p, when I just want something sweet to finish off the night. To avoid snacking, I drink a whole lot of water. Every time I get the urge to eat something sweet, I drink a glass of water and start doing some crunches. It distracts me and makes me forget about my craving.
A few months ago, I was able to go 3 1/2 weeks without any sugar. My goal is to beat that...and not just by a day or so. I would love to get through Halloween and the whole month of October without any sugar. Difficult? Yes. Doable? Definitely.
Showing posts with label weight loss journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss journey. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Breaking Free From Addiction
This post is extremely personal and can be a sensitive subject for me. But it is something I need and want to overcome, so I need support - not judgement.
I've always known I had a weakness for sugar, mainly chocolate. What girl doesn't? But while most girls eat chocolate and maybe feel a little bit better, it has the exact opposite reaction for me. Oh sure, I enjoy the 10 seconds that it takes to devour the sweets, but what happens after simply isn't worth that 10 seconds of pleasure anymore.
I have a confession to make:
I am an addict.
I have a severe addiction to sugar* that is beginning to have negative effects on my life. And you may scoff and think I'm probably exaggerating. But the effects that it has on me scares me enough that I have made the decision to avoid sugar as much as possible. I love sugar. My favorite things to eat are full of it. I love doughnuts, brownies, cookies, fudge, candy, cinnamon rolls, etc. These things will be extremely hard for me to no longer eat, so I need some support.
Every family event, every church event, every party seems to be centered around food and sugar. Unlike some other addictions, sugar is nearly impossible to avoid being around. Alcoholics can avoid going to bars or steer clear of friends that tend to drink often. If I tried to avoid every event or person that would put me around sugar, I would have no life. I realize that I will constantly be surrounded by temptations. I don't want to avoid going to things because I am afraid I'll give in to my temptation. But like I said, I need some support. I would appreciate if friends and family didn't pressure me to have dessert (or any type of food for that matter). It would be best if the option wasn't even offered to me, but if you feel you at least need to offer, just please don't pressure me when I say no. It's hard enough to turn down the temptation, but it becomes nearly impossible when people make it a big deal or continue to offer.
And you can't say, "Oh, but it's just one bite." Or "one cookie wont hurt you." Because you have no idea what that one single bite of chocolate could do to me. If you knew your friend was a recovering alcoholic, you wouldn't offer them a drink and tell them that a little sip wouldn't hurt. There are times, though very rare, that I can have a single cookie or single serving of dessert and not be affected. But more often than not, it sends me into a sugar binge.
And if you knew the amount of junk I can consume in one of my sugar binges, you'd be disgusted. You probably would never believe me unless you saw it for yourself, which wouldn't happen because I try to hide it. I'll sneak food and eat it where no one can see me and realize exactly how much I have eaten. There are times when my mouth hurts so bad because of the amount of sugar I have eaten, and I'll find myself downing more m & m's. Or I'll be so sick that I can barely sleep, and I"ll wake up with an upset stomach and severe pain still lingering from the day before. I'll promise myself that I'll never do that again cause I never want to hurt that much again, only to have a small bit of sugar a few hours later and start the cycle all over again.
Bobbi, have a little self control, will you? Don't you have enough self-restraint to just enjoy one cookie and stop after that? You must be pretty weak.
Believe me. I have tried. But once I have that taste of sugar*, it's like I lose control. If I give in, then I end up eating junk non-stop until I am so sick I can barely move. But if I try to resist, then my thoughts become consumed with it and it's all I can think about. We could be playing at the park, and the only thing I can think about it how soon we can get home so I can have something sweet. And if I am having this battle between by body telling me that it has to have sugar and my mind fighting the temptation, I tend to get extremely moody. It's exhausting and hard fighting against your body, and I can get really ornery and short tempered.
I've always known I had a weakness for sugar, mainly chocolate. What girl doesn't? But while most girls eat chocolate and maybe feel a little bit better, it has the exact opposite reaction for me. Oh sure, I enjoy the 10 seconds that it takes to devour the sweets, but what happens after simply isn't worth that 10 seconds of pleasure anymore.
I have a confession to make:
I am an addict.
I have a severe addiction to sugar* that is beginning to have negative effects on my life. And you may scoff and think I'm probably exaggerating. But the effects that it has on me scares me enough that I have made the decision to avoid sugar as much as possible. I love sugar. My favorite things to eat are full of it. I love doughnuts, brownies, cookies, fudge, candy, cinnamon rolls, etc. These things will be extremely hard for me to no longer eat, so I need some support.
Every family event, every church event, every party seems to be centered around food and sugar. Unlike some other addictions, sugar is nearly impossible to avoid being around. Alcoholics can avoid going to bars or steer clear of friends that tend to drink often. If I tried to avoid every event or person that would put me around sugar, I would have no life. I realize that I will constantly be surrounded by temptations. I don't want to avoid going to things because I am afraid I'll give in to my temptation. But like I said, I need some support. I would appreciate if friends and family didn't pressure me to have dessert (or any type of food for that matter). It would be best if the option wasn't even offered to me, but if you feel you at least need to offer, just please don't pressure me when I say no. It's hard enough to turn down the temptation, but it becomes nearly impossible when people make it a big deal or continue to offer.
And you can't say, "Oh, but it's just one bite." Or "one cookie wont hurt you." Because you have no idea what that one single bite of chocolate could do to me. If you knew your friend was a recovering alcoholic, you wouldn't offer them a drink and tell them that a little sip wouldn't hurt. There are times, though very rare, that I can have a single cookie or single serving of dessert and not be affected. But more often than not, it sends me into a sugar binge.
And if you knew the amount of junk I can consume in one of my sugar binges, you'd be disgusted. You probably would never believe me unless you saw it for yourself, which wouldn't happen because I try to hide it. I'll sneak food and eat it where no one can see me and realize exactly how much I have eaten. There are times when my mouth hurts so bad because of the amount of sugar I have eaten, and I'll find myself downing more m & m's. Or I'll be so sick that I can barely sleep, and I"ll wake up with an upset stomach and severe pain still lingering from the day before. I'll promise myself that I'll never do that again cause I never want to hurt that much again, only to have a small bit of sugar a few hours later and start the cycle all over again.
Bobbi, have a little self control, will you? Don't you have enough self-restraint to just enjoy one cookie and stop after that? You must be pretty weak.
Believe me. I have tried. But once I have that taste of sugar*, it's like I lose control. If I give in, then I end up eating junk non-stop until I am so sick I can barely move. But if I try to resist, then my thoughts become consumed with it and it's all I can think about. We could be playing at the park, and the only thing I can think about it how soon we can get home so I can have something sweet. And if I am having this battle between by body telling me that it has to have sugar and my mind fighting the temptation, I tend to get extremely moody. It's exhausting and hard fighting against your body, and I can get really ornery and short tempered.
So I try to avoid sweets, but after binges I start going through withdrawals. The first day or two that I am trying to get back into a healthy routine are extremely difficult. I often get severe headaches or migraines. Or I'll get really light headed and can barely stand up without feeling like I am going to pass out. I can get pretty shaky and agitated as my thoughts for the entire day are consumed with my desire to eat sugar. If I can just get past those first 2-4 days, then it gets much easier. But getting past those few days can be pretty tough. Once I have conquered those days and more days pass without sugar, I have noticed that my desire to eat junk decreases. I no longer crave those foods. I have been at that point once before, just a few months ago, and I hope to get back.
I know, you are probably losing any respect you had for me. But this is something I had to talk about, get it out in the open. Because I need help and support. In the past year or two, I have learned a lot about my own body. In my quest to lose weight and get a bit healthier, I have learned a lot about how different foods affect me. And as hard as it is, I have learned that FOR ME, sugar is simply just best to avoid. I know that the all-or-nothing isn't a desirable approach, but it is the easiest thing for me. At least for now. And I know that there will be times that I give in and have a treat, and that's ok.
And for once, this has nothing to do with weight loss. In the past, I have tried to give up sugar in an attempt to lose weight, and it has worked. However, with that mindset I have had a tendency in the past to go back to old habits once I have lost a little weight. So this time, I am doing it a bit differently. I wrote this post to make it public. I want everyone to know that I am trying not to eat sugar so when we are together and I reach for that cookie you can remind me that I don't want it.
These are the reasons I have decided to no longer eat sweets*:
So when it comes down to it, it is really quite simple. Through careful observation, I have noticed that my mind and body reacts pretty strongly to sugar. And when I am trying hard to eat healthy and avoid junk, I sleep better, I am a better wife and mom, and I am just happier overall. Knowing this, it seems silly to give all of that up for a few seconds of enjoyment.
As a person who has always lived for dessert, this will be very difficult for me, especially with the holidays quickly approaching. But I am determined to be happy and I know that this will help me do that. Eventually I would like to slowly introduce sugar back into my life and learn how to handle having a treat every once in a while, but for now I am not interested.
Wish me luck! I'm going to need it!
*When I refer to sugar or sweets, I am referring mostly to what I would consider "junk food" like candy, chocolate, brownies, cookies, cake, doughnuts, pastries, even crackers, sugar cereal, etc. There is also a lot of sugar found in fruits; however I am not referring to those. My avoiding sugar does not mean no fruit or avoiding all processed foods, etc.
Here are a few articles about sugar addiction. I know first hand how real it is.
1- Sugar is as addictive as cocaine, and causes obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease:
2- The Truth About Sugar Addiction
3 - 7 Steps to Break Free of Sugar Addiction
And for once, this has nothing to do with weight loss. In the past, I have tried to give up sugar in an attempt to lose weight, and it has worked. However, with that mindset I have had a tendency in the past to go back to old habits once I have lost a little weight. So this time, I am doing it a bit differently. I wrote this post to make it public. I want everyone to know that I am trying not to eat sugar so when we are together and I reach for that cookie you can remind me that I don't want it.
These are the reasons I have decided to no longer eat sweets*:
- Sleep- I have noticed that what I eat has a significant effect on my sleep habits. When I am eating healthy and avoiding sugar, I sleep much better. I am able to fall asleep within minutes of getting in bed, instead of lying there awake for hours. I get into a much deeper sleep and wake up much more refreshed and rested. The mornings after eating lots of sugar, I am super groggy, have a hard time getting out of bed, and just feel sluggish the entire day.
- Mood- I have also noticed a correlation between the things I eat and my mood for the day. When I am eating tons of sugar, I tend to be grumpier. I have less patience with my kids and lose my temper a lot more. (Probably also related to sleeping worse.)
- Depression - I have been struggling with depression for a while now. Almost all of the days that I am not depressed have started with exercise first thing in the morning, and eating healthy foods throughout the day. I have noticed that my depression gets a lot worse when I am eating mostly junk.
- Confidence - I feel so much better about myself and have more confidence when I am feeling good and eating healthy.I feel so guilty, worthless, and like I have no control over myself when I have my sugar binges. I withdraw from others because I am so ashamed and simple want to hide from everyone. On the other hand, when I am in situations where my temptations are present and I am able to withstand them and say no, I feel very empowered and great about myself.
So when it comes down to it, it is really quite simple. Through careful observation, I have noticed that my mind and body reacts pretty strongly to sugar. And when I am trying hard to eat healthy and avoid junk, I sleep better, I am a better wife and mom, and I am just happier overall. Knowing this, it seems silly to give all of that up for a few seconds of enjoyment.
As a person who has always lived for dessert, this will be very difficult for me, especially with the holidays quickly approaching. But I am determined to be happy and I know that this will help me do that. Eventually I would like to slowly introduce sugar back into my life and learn how to handle having a treat every once in a while, but for now I am not interested.
Wish me luck! I'm going to need it!
*When I refer to sugar or sweets, I am referring mostly to what I would consider "junk food" like candy, chocolate, brownies, cookies, cake, doughnuts, pastries, even crackers, sugar cereal, etc. There is also a lot of sugar found in fruits; however I am not referring to those. My avoiding sugar does not mean no fruit or avoiding all processed foods, etc.
Here are a few articles about sugar addiction. I know first hand how real it is.
1- Sugar is as addictive as cocaine, and causes obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease:
2- The Truth About Sugar Addiction
3 - 7 Steps to Break Free of Sugar Addiction
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
13.1 Miles
One of my New Years resolutions was to run a half marathon. In January, I started training. At the time I could run about 0.25 miles straight. After a few weeks, I worked my way up to a full mile, and I was probably at about a 13 min mile pace. Over the next few months, I increased my mileage and decreased my time until I ran a 10K in June in just over an hour. Each week, my time would drop and I would feel better and better. My original goal to run the half marathon was two and a half hours. But as my time started dropping, I changed my goal to two hours and twenty minutes.
But then a "little complication" came up. A little thing called pregnancy. For the first few weeks, nothing really changed and I was feeling really good. But then I started feeling really sick and the last thing I wanted to do was go running. On days that I was feeling good, I would run, but it took far more energy than normal. Instead of coming home and feeling great after a run, I would come home exhausted and barely able to function for the rest of the day.
Needless to say, it took a serious toll on my running. Instead of running 5-7 miles per day, I was only doing 2-3 miles once or twice a week.
The closer the race got, the more nervous I became. But even though I felt very unprepared, dropping out was not even an option. But I definitely needed to alter my goals a little bit. Instead of shooting for 2:20 finish time, my goal became simply to finish....without having to crawl over the finish line.
A week before the race, I did a long 7 mile run (without stopping to walk/take breaks). It took me about 1.5 hours. Somehow it made me feel slightly better about the race, but at the same time slightly worse. That was barely over half the distance and I felt like I could barely walk afterwards.
A girl in my ward was also running it, so we went together, We had to wake up by 5am to go catch the bus to the start line.
The line was insanely long and we didn't get up the canyon until after 6:30am. And it was quite cold up there. You could tell who had experience running races by how creative and prepared some people were. Like several were smart and wore garbage bags to keep them warm, so when you got hot, you just took them off and threw it away (don't have to worry about losing nice clothes). Some wore socks over hands, and again just discard as needed.
The race started and I was feeling pretty good. I was happy for the cooler temperatues because I knew I would be sweating in no time. There were restrooms/water stops every 3 miles or so. I almost stopped at the first one, but made the mistake and decided to wait until the next one at mile 6. Well apparently so did EVERYONE else. There was a HUGE line and only 4 restrooms. But I didn't think I could go another 3 miles, so I jumped in line. No exaggeration, I waited about 13-15 minutes just to use the restroom! It was painful watching so many people pass while I was just standing there thinking about how much it time was passing.
About mile 8 I was really starting to feel it and had to start walking every once in a while. I tried to walk for 1 song (or less), then run for 3 songs straight. It helped, and somehow, I kept going. About mile 10, I was ready to die. My ankles hurt, my knees ached, and I wasn't sure I could take another step. I was so ready to just sit down and give up, but I didn't want to face everyone if I didn't finish. So I continued on. I was almost in tears for the last 2 miles, I was hurting so bad. And it hurt just as much to walk as it did to jog, so I tried to jog as much as possible to avoid prolonging the agony.
At last the finish line was in sight. It seemed like it took me forever to get to it, but I did. I was even able to push a little the last bit and make it just under 3 hours. My "official" finish time was 2:59, though I hate to admit that. I was tracking the whole thing on my phone also, and I paused it for that long wait for the bathroom. My phone said I finished 2:47...so that is what I am going by. It's not nearly as well as I wanted to do, but it's not terrible for being 14 weeks pregnant and having the last 2 months of training disrupted. Plus, it'll make it easier to beat next time, right?
But perhaps the very worst part of the entire thing was walking back to
the car once the race was over. Lance had to park about a mile away (it
was probably less, but seemed like 10 at the time) and my legs were not
cooperating.
Unfortunately Lance didn't make in time for when I crossed the finish line. I don't think he was expecting how far away he would have to park. He got there shortly afterwards though. And he made up for it when we got home by having a bouquet of beautiful flowers waiting, plus he bought me a bike trailor!
It was a great experience and I am glad I did it. Yes, it was very difficult, but I set out to accomplish my goal and I did- I finished. I had some GU packs to eat throughout the race, but they were so gross I couldn't stand it. Next time, I need to find something to eat/drink throughout the race to restore my energy and keep me going better. Believe it or not, I do plan on running it again. But not while pregnant.
Needless to say, it took a serious toll on my running. Instead of running 5-7 miles per day, I was only doing 2-3 miles once or twice a week.
The closer the race got, the more nervous I became. But even though I felt very unprepared, dropping out was not even an option. But I definitely needed to alter my goals a little bit. Instead of shooting for 2:20 finish time, my goal became simply to finish....without having to crawl over the finish line.
A week before the race, I did a long 7 mile run (without stopping to walk/take breaks). It took me about 1.5 hours. Somehow it made me feel slightly better about the race, but at the same time slightly worse. That was barely over half the distance and I felt like I could barely walk afterwards.
A girl in my ward was also running it, so we went together, We had to wake up by 5am to go catch the bus to the start line.
 |
| Keep in mind this is 5am. And yes, I look scary. |
 |
| I was exactly 14 weeks pregnant. |
About mile 8 I was really starting to feel it and had to start walking every once in a while. I tried to walk for 1 song (or less), then run for 3 songs straight. It helped, and somehow, I kept going. About mile 10, I was ready to die. My ankles hurt, my knees ached, and I wasn't sure I could take another step. I was so ready to just sit down and give up, but I didn't want to face everyone if I didn't finish. So I continued on. I was almost in tears for the last 2 miles, I was hurting so bad. And it hurt just as much to walk as it did to jog, so I tried to jog as much as possible to avoid prolonging the agony.
At last the finish line was in sight. It seemed like it took me forever to get to it, but I did. I was even able to push a little the last bit and make it just under 3 hours. My "official" finish time was 2:59, though I hate to admit that. I was tracking the whole thing on my phone also, and I paused it for that long wait for the bathroom. My phone said I finished 2:47...so that is what I am going by. It's not nearly as well as I wanted to do, but it's not terrible for being 14 weeks pregnant and having the last 2 months of training disrupted. Plus, it'll make it easier to beat next time, right?
Unfortunately Lance didn't make in time for when I crossed the finish line. I don't think he was expecting how far away he would have to park. He got there shortly afterwards though. And he made up for it when we got home by having a bouquet of beautiful flowers waiting, plus he bought me a bike trailor!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Utah Valley 10K
One of my New Year's resolutions was to run a half marathon. I've been running and trying to get in shape for the last 5 months, trying to get ready for a race. Today I completed a 10K down in Utah Valley. It's only about half the distance of a half marathon, but I am on my way. I have signed up for the Top of Utah Half Marathon in August.
For more details and pictures from my 10k race, click here.
For more details and pictures from my 10k race, click here.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Weight Loss Update
I decided that I want to do a lot more detailed updates dealing with my weight loss. I want to keep detailed accounts of my workouts, and other things that I am doing. I want to talk about how I'm feeling, or going through a rough time, or when I accomplish something I'm really proud of. However, I didn't want that to become what this blog was about. This blog is about The Hinton's and us as a family...not Bobbi and her workouts. So in order to prevent this blog from being taken over, I have made a new blog completely dedicated to my exercise.
I will be talking about what I am doing for exercise. I will post healthy recipes that I enjoy. I have progress pictures, personal goals, when my races are, etc.
Because of some personal information (such as weight and measurements), my new blog is private. So if you would like to read it, please send me your e-mail.
My new blog is: http://runningbobbi.blogspot.com/
I will be talking about what I am doing for exercise. I will post healthy recipes that I enjoy. I have progress pictures, personal goals, when my races are, etc.
Because of some personal information (such as weight and measurements), my new blog is private. So if you would like to read it, please send me your e-mail.
My new blog is: http://runningbobbi.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Running update
I am finally beginning to feel like a runner, and not just a runner wanna-be. I honestly enjoy running now and am quickly becoming addicted. My day just doesn't feel quite right without some exercise in it. For that reason, Sunday's are hard sometimes. I just want to get out and do something!It is amazing how quickly your body can change and adapt. Just a few short months ago, I could barely run a quarter mile without dying. And yesterday, I ran 4.0 mile without stopping or taking any breaks.
To go from where I was to now baffles me. I expected it to take longer, but I am seeing progress every single week. I am definitely going to be ready for my 10K in June. Instead of focusing so much on distance for the next month, I'm really going to try working on my speed. It has a LOT of room for improvement.
These are the two most recent pictures I've taken. Sorry the one on the right is so blurry, but it gives you an idea. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am happy with my progress so far.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Vacation Time!
The time has come: Lance and I are heading to Hawaii in the morning. My mom and sister came a few days ago to spend some time with Will and they took him back to Boise, ID yesterday. By the time we get back, it will have been around 9 days since we've seen him. We have never been a night without him, so it will be interesting. I think it will be much harder for us than for him. He's surrounded by cousins and aunts and grandma to spoil him. Everything seems fine so far and he slept great for them last night. Just hope it continues.
On a completely different tangent, today I ran 2.75 miles in 33 minutes. That is pretty close to a 5k which means I am almost half way to my goal of a 10k. I have no doubt that if I keep this training up that I will be ready for my race in June.
Well, just wanted to do a quick update. I'm sure the next post will be long and will with lots of beautiful pictures of Hawaii and our tanned selves (hopefully tanned and not burned!)
Everyone have a great week!
On a completely different tangent, today I ran 2.75 miles in 33 minutes. That is pretty close to a 5k which means I am almost half way to my goal of a 10k. I have no doubt that if I keep this training up that I will be ready for my race in June.
Well, just wanted to do a quick update. I'm sure the next post will be long and will with lots of beautiful pictures of Hawaii and our tanned selves (hopefully tanned and not burned!)
Everyone have a great week!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
My First Race
Running has NEVER been my thing. You'd think that I'd be a decent runner after playing soccer for 7+ years, but no. Even with daily practices, I somehow managed to never get in shape. Don't ask me how that is even possible.
But I've always wanted to be a runner. The few times in my life where I was actually in decent shape to be running, I actually quite enjoyed it. One of my New Year's resolutions was to start running and build my endurance with the intent of running a half marathon sometime this year.
I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it really is. I'm still a long way off the half marathon, but I can feel my endurance building each week.
So I entered my first race. I signed up for the Utah Valley 10k on June 9th. I knew that by actually registering and paying the money would be a great motivation for me and force me to see this thing through. I'm actually quite excited for it..and if anyone wants to join me...please do! I run at a VERY slow pace, so you may not want to actually run with me, but I'd love for anyone to join me.
But I've always wanted to be a runner. The few times in my life where I was actually in decent shape to be running, I actually quite enjoyed it. One of my New Year's resolutions was to start running and build my endurance with the intent of running a half marathon sometime this year.
As embarrassing as it is to admit, at the beginning of the year, I would get tired after a quarter of a mile. A half marathon seemed SO FAR out of reach and like it would take YEARS to get to that point. Then I started running...just a little bit each day. Suddenly, I was running half a mile a day. And then one day, I finally ran a full mile. Then I started the Couch to 5K program. And yesterday, I found myself running 1.80 miles and not feeling like I was about to die.
I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it really is. I'm still a long way off the half marathon, but I can feel my endurance building each week.
So I entered my first race. I signed up for the Utah Valley 10k on June 9th. I knew that by actually registering and paying the money would be a great motivation for me and force me to see this thing through. I'm actually quite excited for it..and if anyone wants to join me...please do! I run at a VERY slow pace, so you may not want to actually run with me, but I'd love for anyone to join me.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Success
Today marks the official end of my 30 Day Challenge to lose 10 pounds. It's hard to believe that it has already been 30 days. Part of me feels like I just started, and yet it's become such a routine that I feel like I've been doing it forever.
I honestly feel like my life has changed...for the better. I get excited to work out, and I enjoy eating healthy food. I have more energy throughout the day to take care of Will and to be productive around the house. I feel much happier, and I am starting to feel a little better about my appearance.
This last Sunday, I had a bit of a rough time because I just didn't like what I was seeing in the mirror. I felt like I was seeing the numbers drop on the scale, but not much change in my appearance or how my clothes fit. I got kind of down and discouraged. Finally I just had to tell myself to be patient and that it would take time. And while being patient is definitely NOT EASY, I'm going to try being better and celebrate the small victories. (Such as having to tighten my belt.)
While most of the time, I can't really see or notice a difference in my body, I know that it is changing. It became especially apparent after looking at these before/after pictures taken today. Yes, it's not a HUGE difference, but I think it's not too bad for 30 days.
Weight loss in 30 Days: 17 lbs
Guess who is $10 richer!! Woot woot! Obviously, I am very happy with that number. Plus I have also dropped my body fat percentage by over 4%. I'm excited to continue this journey and prove to myself that I have enough self discipline to be a healthy person.
Stay tuned to see further results from 30 Day Shred!
I honestly feel like my life has changed...for the better. I get excited to work out, and I enjoy eating healthy food. I have more energy throughout the day to take care of Will and to be productive around the house. I feel much happier, and I am starting to feel a little better about my appearance.
This last Sunday, I had a bit of a rough time because I just didn't like what I was seeing in the mirror. I felt like I was seeing the numbers drop on the scale, but not much change in my appearance or how my clothes fit. I got kind of down and discouraged. Finally I just had to tell myself to be patient and that it would take time. And while being patient is definitely NOT EASY, I'm going to try being better and celebrate the small victories. (Such as having to tighten my belt.)
While most of the time, I can't really see or notice a difference in my body, I know that it is changing. It became especially apparent after looking at these before/after pictures taken today. Yes, it's not a HUGE difference, but I think it's not too bad for 30 days.
January 16th -February 15th
I had my official weigh in at the sports academy and I dominated the scale today. The promotion was that if you lose 10 pounds in 30 days, then they give you $10. The goal I set for myself was 15 pounds. Now are you ready to hear the results?Weight loss in 30 Days: 17 lbs
Guess who is $10 richer!! Woot woot! Obviously, I am very happy with that number. Plus I have also dropped my body fat percentage by over 4%. I'm excited to continue this journey and prove to myself that I have enough self discipline to be a healthy person.
Stay tuned to see further results from 30 Day Shred!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Motivation
Aloha!
That is something that Lance and I will get to hear exactly one month from today. Yes, you heard right. A month from now, Lance and I will be in paradise and I couldn't be more excited!
If you know ANYTHING about me at all, then you know I LOVE to travel, and Iwant need vacation time. I have been trying to plan a nice vacation pretty much since the day we got married. We went the cheap route for our Honeymoon, and while it was nice, it wasn't extravagant by any means.
We have been really good with budgeting and being frugal, so I decided it was time to splurge a bit. My aunt is currently living in Hawaii and has offered her home as a place to stay. She even plans on feeding us most of our meals. With an offer like that, we just couldn't refuse. I mean, how could you say no to this place?
If you know ANYTHING about me at all, then you know I LOVE to travel, and I
We have been really good with budgeting and being frugal, so I decided it was time to splurge a bit. My aunt is currently living in Hawaii and has offered her home as a place to stay. She even plans on feeding us most of our meals. With an offer like that, we just couldn't refuse. I mean, how could you say no to this place?
We got a decent deal on airline tickets and are for sure going. No backing out now! We will be leaving on a Tuesday and coming back the next Wednesday. The bitter/sweet part is that we are leaving Will behind with my mom. There is NO WAY that I could handle taking him on such a long flight, and it would really limit what we could do. Plus, this vacation is a chance for Lance and I to spend some quality time together. Time without the pressures of school, work, or children. Those with children know how precious time alone with your spouse is, and how rare it is. So I am going to take full advantage of this and enjoy the week with Lance. Yes, we will miss Will terribly, but I think a little separation will be good, and it will help us to refocus.
I am SO incredibly appreciative of my mom for being willing to take him for so long. We'll probably have to drop him off in Boise a few days before we go, so we'll end up not seeing him for about 9 days! That sounds like forever! I'm trying not to think about that part, but just focus on the fact that we'll be in Hawaii, and he will be having fun with his cousins.
Isn't that just beautiful? I have actually been fortunate enough to have already been to Hawaii. However, I was pretty young and I only remember certain details. So I am super excited to take Lance and for us to have this adventure together. We're still trying to figure out exactly what we want to do....some options include: surf lessons, hiking, snorkeling, temple, Pearl Harbor, etc. I want to do things, but at the same time, I'd love to just sit at the beach and relax. Guess we'll have to have a healthy portion of both!
Want to know another great thing about Hawaii??? It is an amazing motivator. My "weight loss journey" has been going great and I am even more motivated to continue knowing that I'll be spending a week in a bathing suit. So in order to prepare for that, I have added another workout to my day. I'll still be going to the gym daily, but I wanted to add something else as well. So today I started the 30 Day Shred workout video. I've heard a lot about it and seen so many people get great results in 30 days. I'm hoping that I can see some results as well and that I can go to Hawaii feeling more confident about myself. My goal is to drop at least 8 more pounds before we leave, and to keep it off while we are there. That will be the real test.
Want to know another great thing about Hawaii??? It is an amazing motivator. My "weight loss journey" has been going great and I am even more motivated to continue knowing that I'll be spending a week in a bathing suit. So in order to prepare for that, I have added another workout to my day. I'll still be going to the gym daily, but I wanted to add something else as well. So today I started the 30 Day Shred workout video. I've heard a lot about it and seen so many people get great results in 30 days. I'm hoping that I can see some results as well and that I can go to Hawaii feeling more confident about myself. My goal is to drop at least 8 more pounds before we leave, and to keep it off while we are there. That will be the real test.
Anyways, just wanted to share this exciting news with all of you. And I'll still be doing updates about the 30 Day Shred and how that progresses as well.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week 3 Update
Time is just flying by. My 30 day challenge officially ends next Wednesday. So I will hold off next week's post until after my official weigh in.
I can tell my body is getting in better shape. I am staying a little longer at the gym, and I am going at a faster pace. It feels really good. On an average day, I walk about 3 miles, then run for half of a mile. On Saturday, I was feeling great and decided it was time to push myself more and see if I could run a full mile. And I did. It took me 12 minutes, but I ran a full mile without stopping. Now I know this may not sound very impressive, but keep in mind that this was AFTER 50 minutes of cardio. Still not very impressive, but it was a big milestone for me. My goal is to eventually get it down to less than 10 minutes.
I was pleasantly surprised that I still lost as much weight as I did this week, considering my birthday and the Super Bowl. We had Pita Pit on my birthday and afterwards went out for frozen yogurt. Because I was cautious at both places, I was able to keep the calories down and still have a good day. And even though I didn't "full out" splurge, it was delicious! Seriously, it was perfect.
Yesterday was a little different story though. It was fast Sunday and that just about killed me. By the time we got home from church at 4pm, I was starving and not feeling well. I hurried and grabbed a snack. Then Lance's friends showed up for the Super Bowl game and all the treats/food came out. And...I caved in a bit. I was planning on only having a few bites, but because I was so hungry, I ended up eating more than I intended. But it still wasn't terrible and I was able to keep it under control.
Looking forward to this next week and to getting my $10! (Hopefully.)
Weight loss for Week 3: 4.0 lbs
I am now officially less than I was when I got pregnant, though not by much.
I can tell my body is getting in better shape. I am staying a little longer at the gym, and I am going at a faster pace. It feels really good. On an average day, I walk about 3 miles, then run for half of a mile. On Saturday, I was feeling great and decided it was time to push myself more and see if I could run a full mile. And I did. It took me 12 minutes, but I ran a full mile without stopping. Now I know this may not sound very impressive, but keep in mind that this was AFTER 50 minutes of cardio. Still not very impressive, but it was a big milestone for me. My goal is to eventually get it down to less than 10 minutes.
I was pleasantly surprised that I still lost as much weight as I did this week, considering my birthday and the Super Bowl. We had Pita Pit on my birthday and afterwards went out for frozen yogurt. Because I was cautious at both places, I was able to keep the calories down and still have a good day. And even though I didn't "full out" splurge, it was delicious! Seriously, it was perfect.
Yesterday was a little different story though. It was fast Sunday and that just about killed me. By the time we got home from church at 4pm, I was starving and not feeling well. I hurried and grabbed a snack. Then Lance's friends showed up for the Super Bowl game and all the treats/food came out. And...I caved in a bit. I was planning on only having a few bites, but because I was so hungry, I ended up eating more than I intended. But it still wasn't terrible and I was able to keep it under control.
Looking forward to this next week and to getting my $10! (Hopefully.)
Weight loss for Week 3: 4.0 lbs
I am now officially less than I was when I got pregnant, though not by much.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Week 2 Update
Another fantastic week! I went to they gym every day except Sunday, and I haven't had a single oz of sugar since I started two weeks ago. While my body often feels sore from my workouts, I am feeling great!
One of the hardest things with this process is meal times. I used to cook almost every meal for Lance and I. But now that I'm trying to eat healthier, I usually eat my standard meals, while leaving him fending for himself. I've tried really hard to still have meals together and to make him what he wants, but I know that he feels guilty if I cook something for him, knowing I'm not going to eat it also. It honestly doesn't bother me, and I LIKE to cook for him. I just wish that he would let me more.
I met someone at the gym this week who is a real inspiration for me. I see her there every single day, and she runs the ENTIRE time I'm there. And it's not just a light little jog, it's a full on run at a speed that I'd be lucky to maintain for more than 20 seconds. After seeing her there so often, I finally decided to talk to her. I was curious how far she usually ran every day. She said she probably averages around 8 miles a day! Wow! She is amazing, and I would love to be in that kind of shape one day. Well, maybe not 8 miles a day, but I'd love to be running 5 miles per day.
This week, I was also introduced to My Fitness Pal. It is by far my new favorite website. You can keep track of how many calories you burn at the gym, plus how many calories you are consuming throughout the day. It gives recommendations on how much you should eat if you want to get to your goal weight, as well as many other cool things. It is seriously the greatest, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is trying to lose weight, or just be healthier.
My birthday is this week and we will be going out to eat. It will be my first time cheating and splurging a little. But I plan on doing good all week, and getting a really good workout in that morning so help make up for those calories at dinner.
Weight loss for Week 2: 4.6 lbs
Half way done with the 30 day challenge!
One of the hardest things with this process is meal times. I used to cook almost every meal for Lance and I. But now that I'm trying to eat healthier, I usually eat my standard meals, while leaving him fending for himself. I've tried really hard to still have meals together and to make him what he wants, but I know that he feels guilty if I cook something for him, knowing I'm not going to eat it also. It honestly doesn't bother me, and I LIKE to cook for him. I just wish that he would let me more.
I met someone at the gym this week who is a real inspiration for me. I see her there every single day, and she runs the ENTIRE time I'm there. And it's not just a light little jog, it's a full on run at a speed that I'd be lucky to maintain for more than 20 seconds. After seeing her there so often, I finally decided to talk to her. I was curious how far she usually ran every day. She said she probably averages around 8 miles a day! Wow! She is amazing, and I would love to be in that kind of shape one day. Well, maybe not 8 miles a day, but I'd love to be running 5 miles per day.
This week, I was also introduced to My Fitness Pal. It is by far my new favorite website. You can keep track of how many calories you burn at the gym, plus how many calories you are consuming throughout the day. It gives recommendations on how much you should eat if you want to get to your goal weight, as well as many other cool things. It is seriously the greatest, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is trying to lose weight, or just be healthier.
My birthday is this week and we will be going out to eat. It will be my first time cheating and splurging a little. But I plan on doing good all week, and getting a really good workout in that morning so help make up for those calories at dinner.
Weight loss for Week 2: 4.6 lbs
Half way done with the 30 day challenge!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Week 1 Update
This past week was fantastic. I went to the gym 6 out of 7 days and I ate extremely healthy all seven days. I didn't cheat once, which is a miracle considering the fact that I made cookies, pancakes, and other yummy things for Lance. That's right, I tried an entirely new chocolate chip cookie recipe and I didn't have a single bite. If that's not self control, I don't know what is. Lance even made one of my favorite chip dips for the football games, but I didn't give in. I thought it would be more difficult, especially having to smell and see the things that Lance eats, but I've been surprised at the lack of temptation. Usually the tiniest piece of chocolate would last about...2.5 seconds in my apartment, but I find it doesn't it sound that great right now. (Thank goodness!) And if you know me at all, you know that is a miracle!
I think a big part of why I'm not craving junk is because of how good I am feeling without it. I used to feel sick and gross after most meals because I had eaten too much, or the food was so unhealthy. Now, I never feel sick or guilty or bad in any way after a meal. In fact, I usually feel really good about myself.
After I get a good workout in at the gym, my day is so much smoother. I have so much more energy and feel way more productive. Heck, on Wednesday I spent about 3 hours cleaning our bathroom alone...reorganizing everything, scrubbing every nook and cranny. And I enjoyed it!
Of course the biggest perk of all is feeling good about myself and the way I look. I can already tell a difference in how my shirts are fitting me and I love it! I even had to tighten my belt the other day because it just wasn't doing the job anymore.
I'm exciting to continue working hard this week and striving to be healthy.
Weight loss for week one: 5.2 lbs
I know this next week will be even harder to lose the weight, but I'm very motivated and determined to keep it up. Look below for details off my workout and eating regiment.
Workout: I prefer going to the gym first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. And as of now, I am focusing mostly on cardio to burn as many calories as I can. Eventually I will incorporate some weight training, but for now I am going to stick with the treadmill.
-Treadmill: Walk at pace 3.8 mph, incline 12% for about 2.5 miles. Then I jogged 0.5 miles at 5.0-5.5mph. Then do a little cool down. This usually takes between 45-55 minutes. Each week I plan on increasing the distance that I run.
Diet:
Breakfast: Protein fruit smoothie right after my workout.
Lunch/Dinner: Several options: Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, cucumber, peas, salsa on either a tortilla or bread. Or occasionally I'll make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to have with a bowl of vegetables.
Well I think that about covers my update! Didn't plan on it being this long, sorry! Stay tuned for the weigh in next Monday! Hope everyone has a great week!
I think a big part of why I'm not craving junk is because of how good I am feeling without it. I used to feel sick and gross after most meals because I had eaten too much, or the food was so unhealthy. Now, I never feel sick or guilty or bad in any way after a meal. In fact, I usually feel really good about myself.
After I get a good workout in at the gym, my day is so much smoother. I have so much more energy and feel way more productive. Heck, on Wednesday I spent about 3 hours cleaning our bathroom alone...reorganizing everything, scrubbing every nook and cranny. And I enjoyed it!
Of course the biggest perk of all is feeling good about myself and the way I look. I can already tell a difference in how my shirts are fitting me and I love it! I even had to tighten my belt the other day because it just wasn't doing the job anymore.
I'm exciting to continue working hard this week and striving to be healthy.
Weight loss for week one: 5.2 lbs
I know this next week will be even harder to lose the weight, but I'm very motivated and determined to keep it up. Look below for details off my workout and eating regiment.
Workout: I prefer going to the gym first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. And as of now, I am focusing mostly on cardio to burn as many calories as I can. Eventually I will incorporate some weight training, but for now I am going to stick with the treadmill.
-Treadmill: Walk at pace 3.8 mph, incline 12% for about 2.5 miles. Then I jogged 0.5 miles at 5.0-5.5mph. Then do a little cool down. This usually takes between 45-55 minutes. Each week I plan on increasing the distance that I run.
Diet:
Breakfast: Protein fruit smoothie right after my workout.
My favorite find this week are these flat bread/bun things. They are great for making sandwiches! They have half the calories as a normal piece of bread, half the amount of carbs, and taste great! I'm a huge fan!
Monday, January 16, 2012
30 Day Challenge
Once the holidays were over, I honestly felt like crap. I spent the entire month of December loading my body with chocolate, cookies, and everything else I should probably avoid and my waistline was feeling it. My pants were feeling tighter, and my shirts aren't fitting quite how I want them to. I decided that I want to live a healthier lifestyle. Yes I know that losing weight is one of the most common New Year's resolutions and the one that people probably fail the most at. Luckily, my New Year's resolution is not to lose weight. One of my resolutions is to run a half marathon sometime this summer. I will probably either run the one up at Bear Lake in June or one down in Cedar City at the end of the summer. Still haven't decided yet.
At the start of the year, I started forming the habit of going to the gym. It is amazing how much can change in just two short weeks. I already feel healthier and like my endurance is improving. I feel great and am excited to keep getting better. I am so much more productive during the day after I get home from the gym.
Last week, I noticed a sign-up for a 30 Day Challenge at the Sports Academy. If you can lose 10 lbs in 30 days, then you get $10 on your account. I know $10 doesn't sound like much, but it was enough to motivate me that much more.
So today I met with a personal trainer who weighed me in and measured my body fat percentage. Sorry, but I'm not quite ready to disclose that information. Then we talked a little bit about some goals. While I only need to lose 10 lbs to complete the challenge and get the money, I want to challenge myself even more. My goal is to lose 15 lbs over the next 30 days. My weigh in date is Feb. 15th.
I will be doing weekly (if not more) updates on how I am doing. This is mostly to hold me accountable. I feel like by posting this and announcing it to the world I will be more likely to actually follow through. Plus I need the support of family and friends. If you offer me something to eat, and I decline...please don't pressure me to eat it. And don't be offended; it has nothing to do with you.
I decided to do before and after pictures. I'm not sure you'll even be able to see much change with only 10-15 lbs, but we'll see. Also, this picture is terrible/embarrassing and it is going to help motivate me.
At the start of the year, I started forming the habit of going to the gym. It is amazing how much can change in just two short weeks. I already feel healthier and like my endurance is improving. I feel great and am excited to keep getting better. I am so much more productive during the day after I get home from the gym.
Last week, I noticed a sign-up for a 30 Day Challenge at the Sports Academy. If you can lose 10 lbs in 30 days, then you get $10 on your account. I know $10 doesn't sound like much, but it was enough to motivate me that much more.
So today I met with a personal trainer who weighed me in and measured my body fat percentage. Sorry, but I'm not quite ready to disclose that information. Then we talked a little bit about some goals. While I only need to lose 10 lbs to complete the challenge and get the money, I want to challenge myself even more. My goal is to lose 15 lbs over the next 30 days. My weigh in date is Feb. 15th.
I will be doing weekly (if not more) updates on how I am doing. This is mostly to hold me accountable. I feel like by posting this and announcing it to the world I will be more likely to actually follow through. Plus I need the support of family and friends. If you offer me something to eat, and I decline...please don't pressure me to eat it. And don't be offended; it has nothing to do with you.
I decided to do before and after pictures. I'm not sure you'll even be able to see much change with only 10-15 lbs, but we'll see. Also, this picture is terrible/embarrassing and it is going to help motivate me.
Ick, those are worse than I thought. Well, say goodbye to that Bobbi. I'm really hoping she'll go away and not come back. Wish me luck!
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