Week 5: Day Seven - Oh boy...

Ok so scrolling down I just realized how many stomach pictures I have on here.  People must be thinking I'm obsessed with my abs... the truth is, I am a little... but let me explain - ONLY because it is the place where I usually see a noticeable difference in dieting.  I promise I won't be posting another picture of them.   I hope that next time there will be a noticeable difference in my hips.  They are measuring 44 inches right now.  I want them to measure 41 again.  That's only 3 inches! That's totally doable.  

It's FRIDAY, and I just wanted to come on here to remind myself that even though it's FRIDAY, it doesn't give me the right to pig-out.  And to apologize for all the belly pictures!!

Have a good and healthy weekend everyone!

Week 5: Day Four - One Month Down!

I was going to post my ONE MONTH D-DAY ANNIVERSARY!! But, instead I thought I'd focus on something that might be helpful to you if you happen to experience this during YOUR journey.

Okay, remember my last post when I said I have to prepare myself for the weeks where I go up or I don't see change?  So for some reason I weighed in at 177.3 again.  Not sure why, because yesterday morning when I stepped on the scale I was 175.9, but you know what, you really can't always go by the numbers... your weight fluctuates so much on a daily basis all it takes is for you to drink a glass of water and be up 1/2 a pound.  It's the overall journey/goal that really matters.

So I was okay with this lack of change.  I had a hard weekend coping with the fact that I went back to work and adjusting to my new life.  I probably ate more this weekend than I normally do, still making better choices than the old me.  The old me would have dialed up Pizza Hut and had a field day, but luckily the new me was in charge and I had my usual alternative to stave me off.

The stupid jerk who weighed me in tonight, looked at me with glaring eyes and said, "oh..... no change this week..." In a "oh my, you suck" kind of tone. WTF.  I have never had a WW person lack so much positivity than this lady.  I literally had to tell her, "I'm okay with this!"  I mean, how does she know what went on during my week?  I've had only loss so far, I think a week where I stayed the same was due! (Hence the fact that I posted this exact thing literally last week!!)  She has always been a jerk though, I'm going to avoid her at weigh-ins.  That, or switch locations or days.  I can't have Negative Nelly hinder my journey!

So, I stayed the same, so what?  I'm not giving up! Why would I now?  After all my hard work, I don't deserve that!  In fact, it made me rethink my strategy - I'm going to start running after Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - clearly I need a change to rev up my metabolism.  Strangely enough, the meeting was about "sticking with it" and "positive thinking/reinforcement" tonight.  I had to chuckle under my breath - how can I have positive thinking when I'm stepping on the scale with such judgement?  Heck yes I'm going to  STICK WITH IT!  I'm not going to let some negative jerk stand in my way!  My body deserves me to stick with it.  It went through hell last year, having a baby and all.  It deserves this exercise, and better food choices.

If I wasn't so wiped, I would have complained.  But honestly, if she pulls a stunt like that again, I'm going to speak up further.  If she's doing that to me, she's probably doing it to everyone.  And I'm stronger than some/most people.  That type of attitude might put someone who is really struggling right off.  I'm lucky I prepared myself, or I might just have walked out the door.  Those people are there to help motivate you.  Why am I reassuring myself? I give her the Jerk of the Week award. ;)

Anyways, I promised it, so here are some pictures! I'm not ready for the full view - there really isn't a drastic enough change to post anyways.  But I will show you my beloved abs.  They're slowly making a comeback!

Jan 1st - Front View

Feb 1st - Front View

Jan 1st - Side View

Feb 1st - Side View

So I think it's safe to say that my abs are well on their way.  This month, I'm going to focus on my hips.  That's where the running comes in.  I plan to do 30 mins 4 times a week as well as keeping up with Jillian (I'm going to look into getting her fat blaster video)

And I'd like to end the post with - I MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST MONTH!!!!

Week 4: Day 6 - Superwoman

Oh my goodness, being back at work is a whole new ballgame.  Dropping off the baby, the husband, the dog, doing a full day of work, coming back home getting in a workout, picking up the baby and dog, and waiting for the husband to come home and help take on some duties... all in the meantime, eating healthy and drinking water..... I feel like Superwoman.

Being a wife, mom, daughter, friend and now an employee... wow, it is definitely NOT easy to juggle everything and also keep up this healthy lifestyle.  Don't worry, this is not a post to tell you I'm throwing in the towel.  I just wanted to express that I got through my first week of my new life. 

So I weighed-in at Weight Watcher's on Tuesday at 177.3 lbs! Yeah! It's only 1 pound down, but I have decided that this time, I'm not letting myself be disappointed if there is a loss, no matter how small.  Why would I be?  I am doing everything I can to make this happen so if there's a loss, it's because I earned it, not because I starved myself.  So far, the scale has been decent to me, only going down.  But I have to prepare myself for the days where I don't see a change, or I go up.  Those are the days where I'm more likely to say, "screw it, what's the number for Pizza Hut?"  I have to be prepared, not just physically, but mentally.  I have to remind myself over and over that an off-week on the scale does NOT have to equal an off-week for eating. 

I haven't ordered a pizza in 27 days.  That has got to be a record for me. I love, love, love pizza. I could eat pizza morning, noon and night.  It's got all my favorites: meat, cheese, veggies, tomato sauce and bread.  That was my number one idea of how I would gauge this diet.  Pizza was my archilles heel.  I haven't given it up, I've just....modified it.

Next post I'm taking pictures, so stay tuned!!

Week 4: Day 2 - How to get through a night of appetizers....

So, last night I went to a wedding shower, and there was FOOD GALORE! The bride-to-be is Ukrainian, so they had table full of the most amazing, fattening foods you could think of.  Before I went, I gave myself a game-plan: I ate a nice healthy turkey wrap at home before the shower and allowed myself to have 3 appetizers and unlimited fruit and veggies.  I also allowed myself to linger on 1 glass of wine. That was my plan and I was sticking to it.

I am extremely proud to say that I stuck to my plan! I stuck to it, and I didn't feel like I was missing out, no one looked at me weirdly, AND, most importantly, I felt ......get this......satisfied!  No. Way.  I had no idea that's all it took to feel "satisfied."  I thought stuffing your face because "it's there" was the only way to feel that satisfaction.  I can't tell you how amazing I felt this morning when I woke up and realized how good I was at a social event that was weighing (literally!) on my mind ever since I received the invitation.

So it IS possible to go to a social event and be on a "diet". You just need to PLAN for it.  This is the first time I had planned for something like this.  I was able to enjoy my time there, and not worry about blowing it.  I keep pinching myself every time I see the lower number on the scale.  Sure it's only 1 lb and is done only once a week, but I am still in awe.  Is this even for real?  How is it possible that I am able to go to a social event, be included in everything including food and drink? What an epiphany.

Weigh-in is on Tuesday and I guess it will prove how well my "planning" really went. I am actually excited!  Who knew this month was going to be this great?  And I thought I had to lose 10 lbs fast before I felt any sort of entitlement.  I was so wrong. 

Summary:

Week 1: 181.2 lbs

Week 2: 179.8 lbs

Week 3: 178.3 lbs

Week 3: Day 6 - Loose!

So I've noticed my pants are feeling loose! The scale isn't down significantly - I weighed in at WW on Tuesday and I am officially 178.3 lbs... And I know that doesn't sound like much but 3 pounds in 3 weeks, well I can't complain really.  As long as I am noticing the changes, I don't think the number on the scale has that much of a significance. 

So here are more results:
 

I guess it's time to mention that I have been doing the 30 day shred.  I am on day 17... level 2 is much harder than level 1 but, after having done it 7 times, I am seeing a significant improvement in my stamina.  The first day I did it, I thought I was going to die.  Now, I don't dread it as much.  You really just need to work past your inner demons.  

But like I said, I didn't want this blog to be about every little detail.  You can't keep up with a blog if you plan to go into too much detail.  And I thought this place was going to be my "venting" station, but it really hasn't been as bad as I had set it up to be. So far, seeing these results after eating REAL food, just NORMAL portion sizes, I feel like this is something I can carry on for a long time.  Of course this time I am being diligent in adding fruit and vegetables to the mix, oh and drinking my water, but honestly I haven't made THAT much of a sacrifice.  I am not depriving myself this time, I refuse. 

Hope everyone's journey is going well!

Week Two: Day 7 - Water

Water! I am craving water.  Last night, when we were lounging around my husband got up to grab something and I asked him if he could fill up my water bottle for me.  He looked at me funny and said, "don't you just want a diet soda?"  I told him no I was craving water.  he shrugged his shoulders.  Then asked me how HE could crave water too.

What a great feeling to crave something that is natural for your body.  I never knew how it affected me until I missed drinking it by 2 hours.  It was like my body was telling me, "Look, I'm missing something here."  All the diet pops that I had been drinking were silencing my body.  I can just picture the soda can in a slick, low, gangster voice saying, "Hey hey hey, it's okay, you don't need that plain 'ole, boring 'ole water. Just drink me.  I'm just as cold..." 

My skin is nicer, my nails are nicer, and when I pee it feels delightful.

So the water has been helping a lot.  There have been many times when I was dieting without drinking my water out of laziness.  Usually those diets didn't last long.  So my lesson for the day is, you can eat as well as you like, and exercise as long as you like.  But you're not doing anything unless you're drink lots of water.  Your body NEEDS it!  That "craving"  is NORMAL - and yet it feels so foreign to me.  How sad is that?

So DRINK UP! It's important.  We really don't give water it's due diligence...

Week Two: Day 4 - F-ABS-ulous!

11 days in and I took some pictures and I could not believe the difference.  I just had to share in my progress.  After all, this is what the blog is for, right?

January 1st: Side view

January 11th: Side view

January 1st: Front view

January 11th: Front view

Pardon the ever-lingering stretch-marks.  Okay, it's not perfect, but it is giving me hope that this IS possible.  I know that I mentioned I used to see a difference in my stomach if I just go one day without eating a carb, but this time I am actually eating carbs (in a healthy way) and it took a little long but it is still working.  I wonder if there's a difference in the "staying power" too.  Maybe it is loss of fat, rather than loss of water? 

Weight Watchers tonight! Wish me luck!