Yay

The hotel has a gym so I'm still getting in my daily workouts. Physically I feel good. Emotionally I am completely spent...when does the pain of a broken heart heal?

sigh....

Still Pushin'

I've still been going hard on this lifestyle change. I mean to make it last this time. The problem is that my weight loss has slowed down because I'm not taking in enough calories. I think part of the problem is that I'm afraid to eat. I can't figure out how to eat more calories without increasing fat and carb intake. I've got to figure this thing out. But I'm going to make it happen. I love me enough to do my best.

A New Me

Yesterday I bought a cute wrap sweater dress that hugs my hips, accentuates my waist and hides my rolls. I look pretty sexy in it if I must say so myself. It feels good to like the way I look again. That's just a little extra motivation.

The clean eating and daily workouts are really making a difference in not just how I look, but how I feel mentally, physically, and spiritually. My skin is clearing up, and so are my thoughts. I love me!

Still...

I'm still working on me. I'm growing in a lot of ways. I'm learning to truly exercise faith and to commit myself to me. This feels good.

Unfamiliar Eyes

I got a chance to see an ex of mine this weekend. He hasn't seen me in over a year. Though I had told him about my weight loss, he was completely surprised when he saw me. It felt good for him to tell me that he could see a difference. It felt good for him to tell me that he always appreciated my beauty and that I was still beautiful. It felt good for him to hold my waist and spin me around....but it wasn't enough. It didn't go any farther than that b/c this body, this heart, and this soul still belong to my man.

victory

Right now I'm on the road. I used to use the excuse that I was on vacay to eat whatever I want. This time, I only ate yogurt in the airport and as soon as I landed I went to Publix and got fresh fruit and cereal to keep in my hotel room. I am determined to make healthy choices all of the time--no more excuses!!!

Still moving

I'm still moving forward. Thank God for discipline and dedication.

Still pushing....

For the past 2 weeks, I have worked out consistently...I have made healthy life choices consistently....I am finished with my Inferential Stats class...I am still hurting, but learning to accept that God is control....Is this what growth feels like?

Clean Eating

I have eaten clean for the past 9 or so days. I can't describe how good it feels to be making the right choices. I'm 7 more lbs down and I'm really seeing a difference in myself. I HAVE COLLAR BONES AGAIN!!! LMAO; It's amazing how the little things matter.

Beyond the aesthetic purposes, I really want to take charge of my total person. I have always taken good care of other people, but I have mistakenly always made them the priority. I cook things I think they want to eat, I dress the way I think they want to see me, I tailor my hair to what they think is cute (although I will never straighten it again). Soooo, me making these healthy choices has been easy as long as I have decided to take as good of care of myself as I do of other folks.

Because I'm currently alone (romantically)--though I'm praying things work out--I have had to understand that being alone does not necessarily equate with loneliness. After all, if I spend time preparing and cooking my meals, being more active, and working out regularly, I really don't have time to dwell on the reality of my love life.

Healthy eating and living has become the world's best anti-depressant....Who'd a thunk it?!

Abs Sore

The thing about spending extra time on abs in the gym is that I can't tell if the soreness in my belly is from my heartbreak or from 200 crunches....Is that a good thing?

wow

I lost 6 lbs last week and actually RAN on the treadmill yesterday....Yay Me!

I Am Sacred

I believe in myself....

I think I can....I know I can....I'm sure I can break these chains.

And hallelujah it has been an entire week with healthy eating choices. Only water and herbal teas to drink. The only sweets I have had are fresh fruits...My heart is hurting from a recent hardship in my relationship but I will not allow that or anything else to keep me from saving myself.

I deserve to be healthy, I deserve to be healed, I deserve to grow, I deserve the best of everything including what I choose to put in my body. It's wonderful that as my eating habits have changed, so too have my television habits (it hasn't been on since Wednesday except to watch a comedy a sista-friend loaned me to cheer me up).

I am working this body that the Creator gave me so that I can earn all of the blessings it and my ancestors have chosen to give me.

In strength and Victory,
dasweetstcypha

ReMotivated

I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago. I just wish isn't too late to save the best thing that ever happened to me.

Last Night

30 minutes on treadmill and an hour leisurely walk with my sweetie.

Tonite, not so good. I'm blaming it on the headache I've had the last several days and on the stress of writing. However, tomorrow is a new day.

"You can't stop my go." (Mos Def)

Finally Back!

1 hour with trainer:
Intervals on treadmill (speed and incline)
lunge kicks (2 sets of 20)
90 basic crunches
25 sit-ups on incline bench
plie (sp?) squats with 5 lb weights (2 sets of 20)
crab kicks (2 sets of 20)

My diet is improving; I'm planning a detox beginning Monday so wish me luck on this weekend's eating. Part of me is wanting to get in as much junk as possible as a last hurrah--let's hope logic wins out.

Medical Hiatus

Don't think I've given up or fallen off the wagon (again--LOL). I had a minor medical procedure that has put me out for about two weeks. Even though my two weeks aren't up I'm going to start doing about 15-20 mins on the treadmill starting tomorrow so that i can remain in the habit of moving my body. Wish me well.

doing better

My eating was in line today! Yay me!!! I still need to improve on the fiber. I need to eat more fruits and veggies. I had 2 cups of cabbage today but no fruit. In fact the apples I intended to use for snacks were spoiled because they had been in the fridge too long. I need to make getting fresh produce in as a habit. But tomorrow is a new day and I'll do even better! It is motivating that when I went to the dr today I had lost 2lbs since last week!!! That's motivation in and of itself.

Worked out today:

50 crunches including 2 sets with a 6lb medicine ball
20 minutes of strength training
45 mins treadmill (20 min/mile)

back on track

jillian michael's 30 day shred; I don't want to talk about the poor eating choices. If I can't get this under control in the next few weeks I'm going to let them put some saline back in my band.

uuuggghhh

I ate 10 oreo cookies today! I cannot believe I did that. I still have no willpower when it comes to food. I think that I'm going to eventually have the saline put back in this lapband. (It's currently empty and offering no restriction). Even though my eating was off and I'm feeling a little under the weather, I still did 50 crunches, 20 mins of strength training, and 45 mins on the treadmill.

back from a break

I had gone home for a few days so my eating/working out suffered. The good news is that my mother took me clothing shopping. I cannot believe that I'm 3 dress sizes down since Jan!!! I was so elated to finally be able to shop in departments other than the plus size (usually fuddy duddy) clothing. That in and of itself was enough to get myself back on track. Soooooo....

10 min pilates solutions arm sculpt
40 min treadmill (20min/ mile)

steady

slow and steady wins the race.

40 mins treadmill 20/min mile (2% incline)

ain't no stoppin....

today was a good day.

Classes began again and I was prepared with my snacks. I packed a bag of a single serving of sun chips (garden salsa), a single serving of raw almonds, and a bag of fresh cherries. I also took along a lean cuisine lunch (cheese lasagna with chicken scallopini) since I had a long day. I think I made pretty good choices. I also came home and prepared my dinner for tomorrow. All I will need to do tomorrow is quickly saute my spinach to go along with the turkey patties and roasted potatoes that I cooked this evening. If push comes to shove and my day runs later than planned tomorrow, I also cooked an extra pattie to take along to lunch with me. I think I'm now planning for myself as if I would plan for a loved one. It's about time I learned to take care of myself at LEAST as well as I take care of others!

20 min strength and resistance training
40 mins treadmill/ 20 min mile

still pushin'

I ate far too few calories today (only 990). I have to find a way to up the calorie and protein intake without eating the wrong things. I'm really having to re-learn the right ways to eat. Having lapband surgery is something that I do not regret, but I really wish I had maintained healthy eating habits through out.

I took a day off from formal exercise yesterday. (I did clean and purge three closets though)
Tonight: strength and resistance training 20 mins
40 min treadmill 20/mile 2% incline

had a bad day

emotionally, my day sucked. But I didn't let the negatively affect my eating. I kept all my nutritional levels and calorie counts in the optimal zones. Instead of formal cardio I purged all of the closets in my house. I think it helped me purge some negative emotions too (or at least stirred them up so that I can deal with them directly).

Peace Love & Light

another good day

Today was a pretty good day. I have to really stick to an eating schedule. I was fine for a while but skipped lunch. Then I ended up eating way too many calories in one meal (but I still stayed within my daily allotment).

Exercise: Jillian Michael's 20 day shred Level 1

feeling good

It is amazing how quickly your body can become addicted to some form of daily workout. I feel really good...sort of like I'm in a healing space. I have been diligent with my exercise regimen. Now, I need to change some of my eating habits and I'll be totally on track with becoming a healthier me. The good thing is that I have stuck to my water only challenge and have really done well. The only other liquid I take in is the skim milk I've eaten in my corn flakes.

My exercise for today: 20 mins strength training (crunches, push-ups, squats, tricep dips, etc.)
35 mins treadmill (incline 2% 20/min mile)

My cal count: 1170

Motivation (It's not just for him)

Recent reactions to Mo'nique's latest weight loss have been interesting to me. Being a plus-size woman, I can definitely understand how many plus-size women feel betrayed in this weight loss. For some, it may be a subconscious feeling of betrayal that is making us uncomfortable. She was able to do what many of us long to do--she buckled up and made the weight-release happen.

It is also very interesting to me that people are "hearing" her say that she's losing it because of her husband. This is something that I've been asked about as well. Because a SO may encourage our weight loss does not really mean that we are losing it for them. In my own experience having someone that I love hold me accountable for my choices definitely makes it easier. I have someone to serve as my checks and balances. Is this is a bad thing? I definitely think not. On the contrary, I think it is a healthy relationship when both parties take interest in the health of the other person.

Is my SO my sole motivation in losing weight? Heck no!!! Is he why I want to feel sexier? Perhaps in part. After all, who among us doesn't want our partner to find us attractive? As for me, its critical that I am the one who sees my sexiness first. I want to look in the mirror and envy my own curves, relish in my own strength, and revel in my own beauty. If he sees the same thing, that's just an added plus.

Peace Love & Light.

Feeling Good

I just finished 20 mins of strength training (using sparkpeople) and 30 mins of cardio.....When I finished I was hot, sweaty, and tired. After my shower--I feel GREAT! This makes four straight days of doing at least cardio. My diet continues to need work (lapband surgery does help me control the portions, but its up to me to get the mental part--and therefore the choices of foods--in check).

I feel like I'm making real lifestyle changes and not just temporary fixes. To help me, I'm feeding my mind and not just my body. I've been reading fitness and wellness articles ALL DAY. I want to really confront this journey armed with as much information and motivation as possible. So far--so good!!!


Peace Love & Light

Its Been a Long Time!

It's been a really long time since I've taken my health into my own hands (and even longer since I've written about it). Well, times are a-changin'. For the last several days I have consistently worked out and made good, conscious eating choices.

Today I am committing to journaling about my continued effort at a healthy lifestyle. I will record my feelings about weight loss and my progress on this blog on a more consistent basis. So far, since my lap band surgery I have lost 60lbs. Unfortunately because I was not as active as I should have been I have wings! But I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm simply going to try to attack them by lowering my BMI and increasing my muscle mass.

I will be monitoring my progress here and on sparkpeople.com (which is a super tool).

I'm in a really good place and wishing the same for you.

Eating Log

Yesterday:

Breakfast:
Protein Shake
Lunch:
Split Pea Soup (w/okra) and a piece of turkey sausage
Dinner:
Chicken breast
Roasted Potatoes
Snack:
100 cal pk of Lornadoones

_________________________
TODAY:

Breakfast:
Oatmeal w/blueberries and Green tea
Lunch:
Home-made wrap with 1/2 chicken breast and a cup of veggies
Dinner:
haven't had it yet
Snack:
Protein Shake