In a slump.

Good morning all. I hope that you are all doing well. Well, I think I've come to the part in my journey that most people trying to lose weight hate.....the "plateau"! UGH!!!! I haven't gained any weight, thankfully, but I don't really see it coming off either. Honestly, I want to lose at least 30 more lbs. I know that plateaus are normal, but it's discouraging to work hard and see no results. Sorry for the downer post, but this is what I'm dealing with right now.

On another note, I'm getting bored with my workout routine, but I think I've figured a way around that. I've incorporated some new exercises and I plan on doing a lot more strength training. What I really want to do is RUN!I even bought a book to get me started. The weather is taking a turn now, but I'm really hoping to get this running thing going.

I would appreciate any suggestions on getting over this hump and also would love to hear what your exercise routines are like. Encouragement, inspiration, comments, etc. are all welcome. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Please know that I am very grateful for you and for your words of encouragement and inspiration.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

My scale must be WRONG!

Good morning all. WARNING: I am about to rant! First off, I am truly thankful for the progess that I have made in the last 10 months. I've lost over 100lbs and that is a huge accomplishment. Now for the rant, I think my scale is broken. The scale says one number, but my clothes indicate something different. Now I know realistically that you can't really measure clothing size by a number on a scale, but that's how I'm feeling today. I just don't think that my weight and my clothing size match. With that being said, I think I need a new scale. Maybe then I will see what I "actually" weigh and make peace with my clothing size. How does that sound? Crazy, you say? Well maybe, but sometimes you just have to do something to make yourself feel better. LOL!

Seriously, I realize that we all have different body types and that our weight is distributed differently, but I want to wear a smaller size. Is that so wrong? I'm sorry if this is not what you wanted to read, but I'm being honest and I'm sure that at least one person reading this has had the same thought. So my mission this weekend is to find a scale that works. One that says what I actually weigh, and then to find some clothes that fit. Not too small, not too big, but just right! I'll let you know how it turns out. ;)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you continue to press on your journey to health and happiness.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Happy to be me!

Good Monday morning all! I hope that everyone is well and that you are still on your incredible journey to health and well-being. People decide to lose weight for various reasons: to be healthy, to be skinny, to fit into some clothes they once could fit in, and the list goes on. I embarked on this journey of health and well-being because I needed to be healthy and happy.

I am please to say that I have learned to be happy with who I am. There is no one like me. There may be imitators, there may be those who even look or act similar to me, but there is only one "me". The same is true for you. You are unique. If you are on a journey to health or about to embark on a journey, please know that you are one of a kind. You cannot and will not be like anyone else, so don't try. There is a quote that I really like by Dr. Seuss: "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Love yourself! Celebrate yourself! Change what you need to change. Know that change is possible and that you can make changes in your life. Find what works for you and stick with it. Know that you can respect and hear the opinions of others without adopting them as your own. Be yourself.

Okay, I guess, I'm done now. Sorry to be preachy today. I hope you have a wonderful week and that you reach the goals that you have set. Love to all.

xoxoxoxoxo

The dreaded elliptical.....dun, dun, dunnnnn!

Good afternoon all. I hope that you are doing well. I may not have shared this with you, but I DO NOT like the elliptical. I understand that it is a good way to get in cardio, but it's just boring to me. I try to use it as little as possible, opting for Zumba (for wii), exercise dvd's and exercise tv.

Yesterday, I decided to try it again to see if maybe I wasn't giving it a fair shake. Well, I stayed on that thing for 50 minutes and the best thing was finishing. Yep, I still don't like it. My husband has decided that I just don't like any exercise machines, but that isn't the case. I would much rather have a treadmill. With that being said, how do you feel about the elliptical? Is there any way to make it less boring? I put on my ipod and listen to some great music, but I just can't get into it. Oh well, I guess it's no big deal. What I'm doing seems to be working and you know what they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

In other news, I tried on some pants yesterday because I told my husband that I could fit them, and guess what....I almost do!!!!! They only come as far as the middle of my butt, but hey, that's a start. So now my goal is to get into these pants (all the way). They are a 7/8. I will post a pic when I can wear these pants comfortably. :)

Welp, that's all for now. One more thing, if you are on Facebook, it would be great if you could like my new page, "New Me/Healthy Me". Thanks everyone.

Love to all. xoxoxoxoxo

How did you do it??????

Recently I posted a before and after pic of myself on Facebook. I'm happy to say that there is a HUGE difference. I'm not quite where I want to be, but I have come a loooonnnnggg way. :-) The question on everyone's mind is, "How did you do it?" I'd love to tell you that there is some magical, secret formula to my weight loss, but that would be a lie. Honestly, I just made up my mind that I didn't want to be fat and unhealthy another day and started on this journey that has now become my "new life", my "healthy life". Yes, I am a vegan. No, I haven't always been a vegan, but I am now and I love it. Yes, I workout, A LOT!!! Is this the magic formula you seek? Probably not. My advice to anyone is this, make up in your mind that you want to be healthy, set a goal (short term and long term), find a lifestyle (notice I didn't say diet) that works for you, get moving and most importantly, STICK TO IT! That's the hardest part for a lot of people, I believe. Many of us have been there. We start off with so much gusto and slowly, but surely our momentum is slowed until we finally just stop. To change your life (not just with weight, but anything) you have to have a resolve within yourself that this is what I want/need and whatever it takes, I'm going to do it and FINISH IT! I can post what I eat, when I eat, how often I workout and all of my struggles (and I probably will because I love this blog), but in the end, it's going to be up to you to do the work. No one can do it for you. I will not say, become a vegan and all of your problems will be solved. I will not say, workout twice a day and all of your problems will be solved. What I will say is, look at yourself, evaluate what you have been doing and honestly see what is wrong, how it went wrong and what you can do to change it. Then do it. The hardest part may be being honest enough with yourself to say you have a problem. Whatever that problem is, you can't get help if you don't admit that you need help. (Sound familiar?) Stop making excuses for why you can't eat healthy, why you don't have time to workout, blah, blah, blah. I don't have a gym membership, I workout in my home and outside when possible. That's it. We have an elliptical that I rarely use. Honestly, I workout with the wii and with exercise dvd's. Yep, so there is no excuse. Well, I'll stop preaching for now, but you can be sure, I'll be back. Also, look for a book some time in the future (accountability). :-) As always, thank you so much for all of your comments, encouraging words and words of wisdom. I truly do appreciate everyone who takes the time to read this blog. Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Issues.....

Hello friends. Sorry I haven't been here in a while. Things have been quite hectic with the children going back to school. My little one started pre-K this morning. Very exciting. That means all of my children are officially "school-aged". Love it!

I have a question for those of you who are on this journey and have lost a significant amount of weight so far. How do you deal with loose skin? I am really struggling with this right now. It's mostly my arms and stomach. Ugh.....I know that I've come such a long way, but when I have to look at myself, I'm sometimes discouraged because I want to look different. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy about how I look now compared to how I looked 10 months ago, but I wish things were a lot "tighter". Strength training and toning aside, I am going to need surgery. Yes, I said it, SURGERY. Oh well....

Also, do you ever have days where you just feel "huge"? Well, I do and I had one of those days Friday. I'm not sure why I felt that way, but I did.
Saturday was better, especially after trying on capris in way smaller sizes and having them fit! Yay!!!!

I bought a nordic track fitness ball this weekend and I love it. I'm hoping to see results soon. I'm amazed at how many exercises I can do on that thing. We also got another set of weights so I'm incorporating that into my "ball" workouts. :-)

My diet is still veganish and I'm still loving it. I'm still incorporating raw foods into most of my day and it's going well. I hope everyone is doing well. I appreciate you reading and commenting and hope that continue to do so. You help me on this journey, more than you.

Love to all xoxoxoxo

Food, food, FOOD!

Good morning all. I hope everyone is well and that things are going well for you on your journey to health. It has been a busy month for me and I realize that I haven't posted much, but rest assured, I am still here and the journey continues.

I bought a new book a few weeks ago, "Eating in the Raw" by Carol Alt. Sounds interesting, right? Well, maybe not to everyone, but for me it has been a big help in my efforts to eat a high raw food diet. So 75-80% of what I eat consists of unprocessed raw vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit ("raw"). WHAT??????? So what do I eat? Good question.

I eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, sprouts, roots, root vegetables and squashes and fresh herbs. I have also found a love for green smoothies (I think I prefer kale to spinach). Yes, I know, you probably think I'm crazy. Oh well, it's not the first time someone has thought that, and it probably won't be the last. Trust me. :-)

That being said, if there are any raw foodist out there reading my blog, I'd love to hear from you. Looking for recipe ideas and some support. I'm not sure that I will turn into a die-hard raw foodist, as this seems a bit extreme for me (not judging, just saying for me). I will, however, continue to incorporate a ton of raw fruits and vegetables into my daily diet, because I love it!

My weight loss has been steady and I have been doing a lot more strength training. I can actually feel myself getting stronger and I have more definition in my muscles *smile* I have also been running more and I can really say that I'm getting better. I'm not winded as much and I can run for longer periods of time without feeling like I'm going to pass out.

So that's what's going on with me right now. I am really enjoying the journey and learning lots of things about nutrition, healthy eating, exercise and mostly about myself. I have a wonderful support system and am so very grateful for every reader, commenter, encourager, etc.

Let's continue to encourage one another and inspire one another to be the best we can be.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

P.S. I am working on putting up some pics (before and after). Hopefully I will get that done soon.

Fruits and Veggies

Hello good people. I hope that everyone is doing well. Things have been going quite well here. I'm loving the weights and the weight keeps falling off. :-) My food intake has changed a bit. I've been eating a high raw diet for about 2 weeks now and I'm loving it! I feel more energized, my skin is getting clearer, etc., etc., etc.

I'm not on a crusade. I just love to read, research and try what I think may work "for me". This is not an advertisement for a "raw food diet", it's just what I'm doing that is working for me. Fresh fruit and veggies have never tasted better. I'm also weaning processed foods out of my diet.

As far as exercise goes, I have incorporated weight training along with the cardio. I don't really have a schedule or a set workout, but I'm getting it done.

Lastly, my weight yesterday morning was 138. Haven't weighed myself today yet, so that's why I'm giving yesterday's number. At this point, I'm beginning to doubt my scale. The number doesn't match how I look to myself. Yea, I know that may sound crazy, but that's just how I feel. What to do? I want to buy a new one, but am scared that the numbers will be so different and I will be crushed! LOL!

For now, I'm sticking with the scale I have. I'm more healthy and happy about that. The number is important to me, but what's most important is my health. So we shall see what happens when/if I decide to buy a new scale.

Welp, that's all for now good people. I hope everyone is encouraged to continue on this beautiful journey. Remember, if I can do it, you can do it!!!!

Love to all xoxoxoxox

Weighty issues.

Haven't been here in a while, I know. Sorry guys. Rest assured, I am still alive and very well, I might add. Things are going pretty good. I think I've hit a plateau weight-wise, but I'm just going to work my way through it. I'm actually reaching my calorie goal most days and once I actually went over. :-) I've been experimenting with eating a raw diet for breakfast and lunch and having a cooked (vegan) dinner. It's actually going well and I enjoy it.

I'm really starting to enjoy cooking again. I have been baking up a storm and for those of you who know me personally, you know that's a BIG deal. In other news, I had a green smoothie the other day and I am in LOVE! Sooooo good. I can't believe it took me this long to make one. I also made black bean burgers the other day and they were delightful. I've got to cook more. I find that my food tastes so much better when it is freshly made, as opposed to prepacked, frozen, etc.

So what's up with the title of this post? Well, we bought our weights last night and began some serious strength training (well serious to me anyway). My arms feel a bit sore, but in a good way. I think I'm going to like this. Can't wait to see actual results. There is so much talk today about celebrity women being too buff. I'm not sure what all the hype is about, but I can't wait to see some definition in my arms and shoulders, some nice toned legs and glutes, and....well....you get what I'm saying. :-)

I guess I've rattled on enough. I hope everyone is doing well. Those of you on this journey with me, stay encouraged. It may get tough some days, but it is so worth it. You can do it!!!!

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Oh-Em-Gee!!!!!

Good morning everyone! I just realized something. I have only 8lbs to go and I will have lost 100lbs. WOW!!! That is AMAZING! It's overwhelming to believe that I've actually come this far without ever stepping into a gym. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have gone to a gym, but it wasn't in the budget so I did what I had to do (still doing it).

I don't really have much else to say. Just realizing that fact has me kind of giddy! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me along the way. Those of you who leave comments, those who give advice, just everyone. Keep it coming. Together we can do this. Our goals are attainable.

I'm encouraged to keep going on this journey and to keep moving forward.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Denial hinders progress.

You always hear that the first step to getting help for an addiction (problem) is to admit that you have a problem. Well this holds true for weight loss, healthy living, etc. Let's not live in denial. As long as we deny that we have a problem with overeating and as a result are overweight, we can't progress. "Hi, my name is Shontill and I am overweight." Collectively now..."Hi, Shontill."

Seriously. We overeat for various reasons: stress, grief, joy, the love of food, etc. But when we make excuses for our lack of self-control and our lack of exercise we are not helping ourselves. Figure out why the unhealthy habit is there and then work to change it. Sometimes we blame others, sometimes we say "well if I had a gym membership", or if I had more time....blah, blah, blah.

I don't have a gym membership. I work full-time and have a family (a husband and four kids). Time is precious, but my health is important to me. Yours should be too. Some of the time we spend on social networks (i.e. Facebook, Twitter) can be spent exercising and/or preparing healthy meals. Too preachy? Maybe, but there has to come a point in our lives where we stop making excuses and just do it. Nike had the right idea. Don't think about it, "JUST DO IT!"

You can change your eating habits, you can exercise, you can adapt a healthier lifestyle overall. If you want to. You can't do it for anyone else but yourself. Your motivation has to come from within, not without. If you "love" to eat and are too lazy to exercise, chances are it is reflected in your health. Admit that and change that.

Yes, I want to be "skinny". I admit it. But more than anything, I want to be healthy. I have a family and friends that I want to be around for. I don't want to have health issues related to my weight. Diabetes and high blood pressure run in my family. There is no need for me to add fuel to the flame by being unhealthy and overweight.

Do I have it all figured out? Not at all. I'm still learning everyday, making mistakes and I welcome advice all the time. But, I've spent the better part of my life making excuses, ignoring my problems and just letting life pass me by. No more of that.

I apolgoize if this is not what you wanted to read, but I believe that sometimes we need a little nudge (kick in the butt) to get going. Consider this my nudge to you. You can do it! I know you can. Let's get it!

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

New Workouts and I'm loving it!!!

Exercise TV is my new best friend. I discovered so many new and exciting workouts yesterday that I had to stop myself before overdoing it. LOL! Belly dancing, kickboxing, hip hop aerobics, and so on, and so on....

I really appreciate the comment from Nicole (Health Nut in Training) regarding weight training. We will be picking up weights this weekend and her suggestions are very helpful. If you aren't following her blog, I suggest you do. She has and continues to inspire me daily and I think you will be inspired as well.

I totally skipped dinner yesterday. #FAIL Didn't reach my calorie goal, but I still felt full after my lunch. Speaking of lunch....I had the most delicious meal with my sister yesterday. We ate at Karyn's Cooked in Chicago. A wonderful vegan restaurant. This has renewed my desire to pursue the vegan lifestyle more vigorously. The food was so delicious and of course I'm now inspired to try to recreate what I ate at home. :-)

If you have any vegan recipes that you would like to share, they are most welcome. I love cooking and don't do it very often anymore (though my wonderful husband does a great job at it). I miss cooking and try to cook as much as possible on the weekends. So send those recipes my way.

Well, since I seem to be "chatty Cathy" today, I am going to wrap it up. Stay motivated, keep moving. You can do it! I believe in you. You should believe in you too! :-)

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Today's weight: 142 1/2 (yea, I know....)

Weight Training.....

The number on the scale was 143. I'm happy with that. Slow and steady. That's my motto. I'd really like some advice on weights. I want to start lifting. Not to bulk up, but to tone up. Does anyone have a favorite brand of weights? A good weight workout (is that what it's called lol). What size weights should I start of with. I have some 2-3 pound weights, but they are not doing anything. ;-) I know I need heavier weights to accomplish my goal.

Also, kettlebells...anyone have any experience with them? I'd like to give them a try, but would love to hear your experiences. Not much going on with me. Just trying to stay on the right track, eating right (and eating enough), exercising (cardio and strength training) and getting enough rest (easier said than done).

I've been under the weather the last couple of days and my eating, exercising and sleeping has suffered in the process. Not feeling 100% today, but I will press. I actually slept a lot yesterday because I just didn't feel right. Didn't work out this morning because I was sleeping (and enjoying it). I'm hoping I feel better so that I can get a good workout in this evening. Zumba is on the menu for today. :-)

Hope everyone is well and that you are continuing on your journey to a healthier you. I look forward to your comments, advice and encouragement. Keep up the good work. We are in this for the long haul. :-)

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Still here....

I know I haven't blogged in a while. Sorry for that. Rest assured, I'm still here and still on my journey to a new and healthy me. This morning's weight was 145! Very excited about that. I haven't been 145 for some years now. OAN: I bought a size 11 pair of pants yesterday!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Haven't seen size 11 in some years as well.

I need to invest in a treadmill. I have this overwhelming desire to run on it! LOL! I'm going to start pricing them so that I can get my "run" on. Overall, working out has been going well. I'm starting to crave more though. Really trying to figure out how to get to the next level. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have been eating quite well, thankfully. Actually getting really close to my calorie goal the last couple of days (which is a big deal for me).

Jillian Michaels is still kicking my butt and I love it! Can't wait to see the 30 day results. One thing I want to say to anyone who is reading this who is on this journey or thinking about starting: make up in your mind that this is what you want and need to do for yourself. Don't try to do this for anyone but you. There is no magic formula. You get out of it what you put in. Fad diets DON'T work. Believe me when I tell you this. I've tried every diet under the sun and always ended up right back in the same boat.

This is about changing your life for the better. Find what works for you and stick with it. It's hard work, but I know that if I can do it, anyone can. It's worth it. Trust me. I believe in you. You should believe in you as well.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Steady she goes....

The last couple of days have been uneventful weight-wise. I'm still holding steady at 150lbs. I'm not complaining because the number didn't go up, but I'm looking forward to it going down.

I started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred on Monday and I absolutely love it! I can't wait for the 30 days to be up so that I can be shredded! ;-) I'm still tossing around the idea of joining the gym at my job. I guess I've gotten so used to working out in the comfort and security of my own home that the thought of actually going into a gym with other people seems a little daunting. I hope to make a concrete decision this weekend though.

In other news, I have a family reunion coming up this weekend (my husband's side) and I have no idea what I'm going to eat. Hope they have salad. LOL! Seriously, it will be nice to see everyone I haven't seen in a while and meet those I've never met. Food will be secondary.

I need to set another goal, but I'm not sure what yet. Check back later or give me some ideas. Thank you for reading, commenting, encouraging and advising.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Good morning all! My birthday was Saturday and it was wonderful! I spent Friday night and most of Saturday morning and early afternoon cooking and cleaning for my birthday bbq. I am happy to say that it was a success. Many of my family and friends came to help me celebrate. We had a great time. The food was good (or so I am told), the people were awesome and I got some great gifts. Best of all I got to spend time with the people I love on my special day.

Needless to say, my workout schedule was totally thrown off due to partying, but I did manage to get some cardio in (with all of the cleaning, moving boxes, tables, etc), but of course that's not good enough for me. So I've vowed to step it up this week to make up for the weekend. My eating was HORRIBLE!!!! I barely ate at all the whole weekend, and that my friends is a major #FAIL!

On to some other news.....drumroll please.......yesterday's weight was......150 lbs!!!!! Yes! I didn't have time to weigh myself on my birthday, but I'm counting this as a goal reached! Time for me to step up my game. Work harder, eat right and not give in to temptation. It was hard getting up this morning, but I'm so glad I got up and got my workout in. 50 minutes of kickboxing and it felt GREAT!!!

My bff got me Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for my birthday. Hubby and I will be starting our 30 days today. Can't wait to get started.

Welp, that's all for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week!

Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Getting there....

Just checking in to say that the scale said 153 this morning! Yay!!!!! 2 more days until my birthday and 3 lbs to go to reach my short-term goal of 150 lbs. Awesome!  I'm not too excited about my party though. It's 2 days away and there is minimal excitement. Maybe once I start shopping and cooking I will get excited. I hope so. ;-)

OAN: I've been reading up on this whole excess skin problem and it's kind of depressing. I mean to work so hard only to have extra weight and to not have that "smoking hot body" you've worked for because of loose skin. Ugh!!!  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not giving up by any means. I will do what I have to do to get to my healthy, ideal weight and deal with the loose skin issue when I have to.

I think maybe I need to start a "loose skin" fund. That way, by the time I am ready for the surgery, I will have the money saved up to get it done.  Good idea, right? We shall see. Ta ta for now. :-)

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

3 more days....

Hello all. Well my birthday is 3 days away. I set a goal for myself to be 150 lbs by then. This morning the scale was holding steady at 155. Oh well, I will keep working. It ain't over until it's over, right?

In other news, had a great workout this morning. Zumba in the morning is a perfect way to get your heart pumping and energize you for the day ahead. Do I sound like a commercial? I love ZUMBA!

The more weight I lose, the more I seem to notice this ugly loose skin. Ugh! This has to go! I don't see myself being able to afford skin removal surgery any time soon, so I am going to work my butt off (literally) to tighten up this skin.

I really need to do better with eating. I'm eating good, healthy food, just not enough of it. I don't want my weight loss to stall so I have to get my calories in everyday. Encouragement and advice would be helpful.

I found a recipe for eggless mayonnaise last night and I'm so eager to try it. I will be making some this Friday. It says it should keep for 2 weeks. I hope it turns out alright. It will be a whole lot cheaper than buying it from the local health food store.

Well, I'm kinda chatty this morning, but I need to get some work done.  I'll be back.....

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Fell of the map....sort of.

Good morning. I haven't blogged in a few days, but rest assured all is well. Just been kind of busy with my son's birthday and the holiday weekend. I'm happy to report that I did not overindulge this weekend. Yay!!! I didn't get to workout like I usually do, but I'm back on the grind today.

Weighed in at 155 this morning and feeling ok about it. Realizing that I really need more weight training. So my goal is to get some free weights and start at it. I also noticed that after this is all over, I'm going to need a tummy tuck. For all of you who are against cosmetic surgery, sorry, but......I'm hoping I can tone up my arms and other areas, but the tummy is another story. I am going to need professional help in that area.

OAN: Saturday is my 38th birthday. Yes I am telling my age. I mean I put my weight on here, right? If I can share that, sharing my age is nothing. :-)  I am having a bbq for my birthday. Now while I don't eat meat, I have plenty of family and friends who do and I enjoy cooking for them. With that being said, my hubby will be handling the grill for the big items (ribs, chicken, etc). I will handle hot dogs, burgers and veggies.  I'm really looking forward to seeing and hanging out with everyone.

Well, I'm rambling now so I will get going. Just wanted to check in. Hope everyone is doing well.

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

Addicted????

Had another great morning workout. 45 minutes of Zumba and a ton of calories burned. Feeling great! I realized last night that I may be addicted to working out. Maybe I'm just addicted to being healthy and feeling great. Who knows, but I don't want to overdo it.

How much is too much? I seriously try to workout at least 90 minutes everyday. This is cardio. It's more when I add strength training. Is this too much? I've noticed that my chest muscles are sore. It's probably from all of those push ups. What to do? I'm trying to slow down, but I feel bad when I don't workout. Is that weird or is this just all a part of the "new me"?

I was stressing about working out this weekend as the family plans a mini-vaca for my son's birthday. I had to see if the resort had a fitness center. This is definitely something new. I'm not complaining, but I would like to hear your opinions.

As far as food is concerned, I am getting closer to being completely vegan. I feel really good too. I've become a label reader (very necessary) and I love it.  I've found so many websites, recipes and books to help me on this part of my journey. Any vegans/vegetarians, feel free to chime in with help as to how to fully transition, etc. I find myself wanting to cook more because I want fresh food, and I'm enjoying trying out all of the new recipes I'm finding.

OAN: the scale said 159 this morning. Can this be? 3 pounds since yesterday? Probably water weight, but I'm logging it anyway. :-) Hope everyone has a great day and a wonderful holiday weekend. Don't overindulge too much!

Love to all xoxoxoxoxo

11/10 - 235lbs
6/29/11 -162lbs
6/30/11 - 159lbs :-)

XL!

Today started out great. Got up for my morning workout. Upper body and running. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle this day. I've also decided to start logging my weight. I started this journey at 235 lbs. This was back in November. This morning I weighed in at 162 lbs. I've lost 73 lbs so far. Yay!!!!

Guess you're wondering why this post is titled XL. Well that's because that's what size shirt I have on today. That may not seem like a big deal to some but I was wearing a 3x so this is a big deal to me! My husband told me this morning, "clothes don't lie". I'm excited to be sharing this journey with so many wonderful people and I hope that we all continue to do what's best for ourselves.

Well, that's all for now.

Love to all xoxoxoxo

11/10 - 235lbs
6/29/11 -162lbs

My weight?????

So it has come to my attention that many of my fellow healthy journey bloggers are posting their weight. I think I need to do that as well, but I am ashamed and afraid. That's the honest truth. Yes, I have lost over 70 lbs, but the fact is, I don't even want to see the number on the scale, let alone share it with the blog-o-verse (is that a word?)

I will think about this one and maybe come to a conclusion by the end of the week. Nicole (Health Nut in Training) weighs in daily. I do that as well, but to log it.....well......we shall see.

Victory!!!

*happy dance* I got up and worked out this morning!!!! Yay! Celebrating this small victory. I'm trying really hard to get back to doing this. I find that I feel so much better after I've worked out in the morning. Plus it lets me get to bed at a decent hour at night because I've already completed half of my daily workout.

I'm really excited to start introducting weights into my workout routine. I'm so ready to get rid of these jiggly arms. LOL! I know that weight training is a necessary part of any good workout routine and it's time to get started. I've been using the bands, but I need more.

Another victory is that I have been getting very close to my calorie goal these last few days. *smile* It's hard, but I find that if I have healthy snacks in between meals it helps me to reach my goal.  That being said, I need to make a trip to the grocery store to stock up on snacks.

My birthday is fast approaching and I'm excited. I'm having a bbq and having friends and family over. I love a good party. I'm in search of a vegan bakery in Chicago though. If anyone knows of a good one, I appreciate some help.

Well, time to get some more work done. Hope everyone has a great day!!!

Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Random.....

Haven't blogged in a couple of days. I've kind of been off the radar so to speak. Not really doing much of anything except working out and trying to eat right. I've fallen off the early morning workout wagon. Which means that I am now attempting to get my hour and a half to two hours in at night which is brutal!

Most days I make it with the 90 minutes, but it is a battle. I need to incorporate more strength/weight training into my routine. I think I'm on track with my cardio, but I need more....Time to buy some weights! :-)

On another note, I lost another 2 lbs. Yay!!!! I'm actually starting to see the difference and not just in pictures. I would love to lose 10 lbs by my birthday which is July 9th. That's 12 days away. Do you think I can do it? It would be nice and I'm definitely going to try, but I won't beat myself up about it if I don't because I will continue to work hard no matter what.

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog and leaves comments. I really appreciate you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.

Love to all.....xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A new outlook

Yesterday ended pretty well despite my morning slacker episode. I slacked today as well on the morning workout, opting instead to workout tonight, just as I did last night and guess what.... I'm ok with it.  I will try to do better tomorrow.  Last night's workout was very intense and I burned a ton of calories. Very encouraging and productive.

I'm learning that I can't measure my success by the success of others. Today I am struggling with pants size. I believe that my pants size should be smaller based on my weight because when I see others who weigh the same and are around my height, they wear a smaller size. Silly isn't it? Oh well, I have to realize that everyone has a different body type, shape, etc. and, most importantly, I need to stop comparing myself with other people. This takes me back to celebrating the small victories. I am 2 pants sizes down from where I started and that is an accomplishment. *insert happy dance here*

On a lighter note, my water consumption has been excellent. :-) I feel so much better knowing that I am drinking the right thing. No sodas, minimal juices, mainly H2O.  Love it!

So today I vow to have a new outlook. No more comparisons. Just do what I know to do to get the results I am hoping for.  Have a great day everyone.

Love to all. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Slacker....

Well I did not workout this morning. I totally feel like a slacker today. I was just really tired and decided it was best to sleep in. Oh well, I guess that just means I will work extra hard tonight. I'm doing better on my calorie consumption, but still not great. I'll have to keep working at it.

On another note, I'm supposed to be running/walking a 5k with my boss in July. I'm kind of excited, but mostly very nervous about it. I mean, can I really do it? Will I give up and then be ashamed? I hope I go through with it and finish it.  Pray for me.

Nothing really new to report. I made vegan cupcakes again last night. They turned out well I think. I had one and only one. Hoping to try out some more vegan/vegetarian recipes this weekend.

Love you all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Celebrating the small victories!

Got up about 10 minutes late for my morning workout, but still accomplished a lot. I ran for 10 minutes this morning! 10 MINUTES!!!! And I survived. I can't believe it. Now to some people that may not be a big deal, but this is coming from someone who felt like the world was going to end after running 1 minute.

I also worked on my lower body today (squats, jump squats, lunges, etc). I think I've been focusing too much on upper body and I definitely don't want to do that. Balance is the key. I'm looking for some serious core exercises. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, hubby and I have decided to go to the local park (which has a track) and start walking/jogging about twice a week at first and then building up.  This gets us out of the house, gives the kids a chance to play and us a great workout! :-)

Well, there's my small victory for today. Very exciting stuff.
Love to all xoxoxoxoxoxo

Slow and steady

This morning was great! I woke up (slowly) and got a good workout in (cardio and running, with a little boxing). Loved it!!!! I then had to face the dreaded scale. Well, guess what, it was good to me.....I lost 5 pounds. :-) My total weight loss so far is 70 lbs. I still want to lose about 50 lbs, but I am well on my way to my goal.

Celebrating the small victories is important. I am doing well with my eating and motivated to exercise. That's a victory! My husband keeps me motivated with eating right, working out and not speaking negative. He went off on me the other day because I keep calling myself fat. I really needed that. I am determined now to see myself differently and to stop being a "Negative Nancy".

Hope everyone has a great day. More later......

Monday, Monday.....

Well it's Monday. It's raining and I'm a bit tired. I was up this morning, but didn't get my workout in because I had a sick child. Oh well, I will have to work extra hard tonight. On another note, today is my dad's birthday. He passed away almost 2 years ago and I miss him terribly. The whole weekend was kind of a downer and I don't like feeling down. So today, I'm going to honor my dad's memory by picking myself up, dusting myself off and getting back to business.

I'm having coffee with Silk french vanilla creamer right now and I'm loving it! This journey has really helped me to understand some things about myself. I'm an overachiever, I like a challenge and I want to finish what I start. :-) With that being said, I will become a healthier version of myself, I will reach my goal weight and I will maintain it! There, I've said it, I've declared it and, with God's help, I will achieve it!

Another thing I learned this weekend is that dairy is a migraine trigger. I've suffered from migraines since high school and never really paid attention to why I get them other than stress. This weekend I tested a theory and noticed that when I tried to introduce dairy into my system I got a migraine. So I have to stay away from dairy, not only because of my lactose issues but because migraines SUCK!

I still hate the scale, but it's necessary, I guess. I am noticing how different I look in pictures. That's kind of my way to gauge my success. Yes, I know it's weird, but right now that's the only way I can "see" the weight loss. I do feel better, healthier, have more energy and can do things I didn't think I could do (like run), but my eyes need the pictures right now. Don't judge me! ;-)

Hoping for a great week of eating right, exercising and learning more about myself. Hope you have a great week as well.

Grateful for another day.

Yesterday was not one of my best days. This weekend is Father's Day and Monday is my dad's birthday. My dad passed away and I miss him terribly. I spent the day yesterday thinking about him and how great he was. Needless to say, there was no evening workout. Too stressed and tired.

Today is a new day and though I still miss my dad I know that bs wouldn't want me wallowing in sorrow so I've picked myself up, dusted myself off and gotten back on the horse. Had a great workout this morning and looking forward to some more tonight. We are going to Red Robin for dinner. I'm thinking a salad since I am craving fresh veggies!

Thanks for reading everyone. Looking forward to more weight loss and an overall healthy life.

Love to all. xoxoxoxo

Learning.....

Well I worked out again this morning. Awesome workout too. 1 hour of Zumba and I ran again for 5 minutes. Not sure when I'm going to add time to the running, but I'm enjoying the fact that I can run at all so we shall see.

I'm learning a lot about myself and my body which is a good thing. This morning I had an egg white omelette with veggies and a bit of cheese. BIG mistake. I'm not sure if it was the omelette or the cheese, but now I'm sick. Threw up and everything. Won't be doing that again.  I think I'll stick to vegan cheese and lay off the egg whites for now.

I'm working on this 3000 push up challenge with a friend and it's pretty exciting. I'm doing 100 push ups a day for 30 days. Needless to say my arms HURT! I'm going to finish though. When this is done I'm going to have killer arms. YES!!!! I'm also still doing 200 crunches a night (another challenge). My abs hurt, but not as bad as my arms.  Hope I start to see results soon.

I'm still struggling with eating enough calories. I've amped up my workouts, but I know I'm not eating enough and I am sabotaging my weight loss. I'm not happy about that at all. I seem to be at a holding pattern which kind of depresses me. I've got to get out of this slump. So I'm determined to find out EXACTLY how many calories I need to eat to maximize weight loss and then eat.

Thanks again for all of your words of encouragement and support.  I truly do appreciate it. This blog helps me to be accountable and that is a huge deal.

xoxoxox Love to all.....

Thinking....

The other day my boss told me that I was looking "skinny". A compliment, right? Of course it is, but because I'm a thinker, I started to analyze what he said. I know that he meant it in the best possible way, but after saying thank you, I started to think....wait a minute....technically, I am still obese (yep I said it). So, if at this point in my journey I am looking skinny but I'm obese, how BIG was I before???

Don't get me wrong people, I appreciate all of the compliments, encouraging words and reports of my looking "skinny", but after thinking, I looked at some old photos and WOW!!! I was huge. This decision to get healthy and lose weight was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I don't ever want to go back to the person in those before photos again.

I'm loving the new me and look forward to seeing all of the changes that will come. One day I truly will be "skinny". :-)

New things.....

As I shared excitedly last night, I've started running slowly. I'm very happy that I am doing this as I've never been one to run. I get winded so easily, but I've noticed that I'm learning to breathe and as the weight comes off it's getting easier. I ran again this morning for 5 minutes. Now that may not seem like a lot to some of you, but for me, that is huge. Baby steps......Also did some cardio and strength training. This morning workout thing just may be my "new thing".

Also, I bought a book "Living Vegan for Dummies". Now I don't consider myself a dummy by any means (smile), but when it comes to being vegan, there are a few things I can learn. Also the book has several recipes that I can't wait to try.  I still haven't committed to being fully vegan (as I sit here eating my Honey Nut Cheerios, with Silk), but I am certainly committed to doing the best I can. Dairy is not my friend, that is for sure, so introducing dairy back into my diet would be a major #FAIL. I may just end up being a "dairy-free" vegetarian, but we shall see. Titles don't really matter. What matters is I am doing what is best for my body. I'm eating healthy, exercising and feeling FABULOUS!

Until later my friends......

Super excited!!!!

Today I accomplished two things that I really wanted to do. 1. I got up early and worked out for an hour before work; and 2. I ran!!!!! It was only 5 minutes but I'm so stoked! I really want to be a runner. I pushed myself and I did it. The plan is to try to increase my time slowly but steadily.

Well I just wanted to share that. Time for bed. Early morning workout tomorrow....

It's a neeewwww day (in my Jennifer Hudson voice)

Good morning all! Well today was the first day that I got up to workout before work and guess what......I love it! I did an hour of Zumba and burned a ton of calories all before the sun came up! I can really get into this. I'm getting such good feedback from this blog and so much encouragement. Thank you again.

However, I am having a struggle. I'm having a hard time eating enough calories. I know that I need to eat the proper amount of calories to lose weight, but I just can't seem to get them all in. Any thoughts or suggestions would be most helpful.  On another note, I've just about had it with people who are telling me not to focus on weight loss. Now I know the goal is for me to be healthy, but in order for me to do that I need to lose WEIGHT! I am obese. Not thick, big-boned or any other cliche one may use to avoid the term OBESE. My bmi is well over what it should be so in order for me to be the new and healthy me,  I have to worry about my weight.

I've changed my eating habits, I've changed my exercise habits and my goal is in sight. I won't stop eating right and exercising after I reach my goal weight because this is my life now. It's not a passing phase or a "diet", this is my LIFE.

So for those of you who don't have to worry about your weight, "hats off to you", but for me, weight is an issue and it's blocking me from being the best me I can be. So I will continue this journey and strive to be the best me that I can be.

xoxoxoxoxo

Happy Dance....

The scale was kind to me today. Lost 3 more pounds. Today I actually feel thinner lol! Seriously, I've decided to amp up my workout plan and workout morning and evening (with short bursts in between while I'm at work). Trust me this is not going to be easy, but I'm determined.  The hardest part is going to be letting the bed go at 4:00 a.m. to workout. But hey, no pain, no gain, right?

I really appreciate the feedback that I am getting and am so grateful for all of your support. This journey would be a lot harder without wonderful people who support and encourage me. In about two weeks I will be putting on a bathing suit for the first time in a very long time. GASP!!! My son's birthday party is at a water park. Although I'm not at my goal weight, I will wear that suit with my head held high, because last year this time, I wouldn't have dreamed of putting on a bathing suit.

I've been looking at some old pictures of myself and I can't believe how out of control I was! Yes, people, it was bad. Thank God for the change of mind and heart to get healthy. That is no way to live. Overweight, tired, depressed.

At the end of the day I'm doing this for me. Sure, the compliments are nice, but having a new outlook on life, knowing that I am doing what's best for me and seeing the results not only physically, but mentally and emotionally, that's WINNING!

Bikini Body????

Well not quite, but I'm working on it! I hope to wear a bikini sometime next year, somewhere....

Seriously, I am really enjoying the whole healthy journey. I love reading other blogs about becoming fit and healthy and I've become a research queen and a label reading junkie. It's all good though. I've encountered some negativity along the way, but I keep pressing because I've decided that I have to do this for me. Not for anyone else. I've tried to lose weight before because I thought that people would like me better if I were skinny. Well those days are over. Like me or not, this journey is about me.

I'm disappointed that the belly dance class I wanted to take was canceled, but I'm just going to look for another class. I'm really hoping to find a kickboxing class I can take without actually having to join a gym. Also, I will be joining the gym at my job very soon. My boss will be my personal trainer and I'm glad because I know it'll be great (hard, but great)

Losing my vegan powers

I don't know how many of you have seen "Scott Pilgrim" but there is a scene in the movie where one of the villians drinks coffee with milk and subsequently loses his "vegan powers". Funny scene, but not so funny in my life. Yes, I am embarking on a vegan journey, no I am not perfect and I may just lose my vegan powers. It's kind of hard cutting out "all" dairy and eggs. Now for you hard-core vegans, I know you may say it's not, but let me just keep it real right now and say YES IT IS! In no way am I going back to meat, but cutting out dairy and eggs is harder than I expected. I'm not going to give up though. Just slowly weening my way out of it.

Also, has anyone else noticed how expensive it is to buy non-dairy, vegan products. I know, no pain, no gain right??? Ok, but I'm going to need a second job. LOL. Seriously, I will eat vegan as much as possible, and stay vegetarian forever. Once, I am completly dairy and egg free (if ever), I will certainly blog about it.

On another note, I'm down another 3 pounds. YAY!!!!! This journey is a hard one, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy right? I'm committed and thankful for the support and encouragement I get from my family and friends. Today's another day and it may just be a vegan day (who knows). It will certainly be a healthy day!

Love you all!!!

A not so great day.....

Yesterday was not one of my better days. I felt, for lack of a better word "FAT". Now don't get me wrong, I am doing well in my journey, but there are some days when I get discouraged with the number on the scale. I guess that's why they say you shouldn't weigh yourself everyday. Well I had been doing that and the number was not going down. BOOO!!!! But, today is a new day and I have to get over yesterday and move forward into my today.

I've decided to kick up my exercise routine and try to work out an hour or two a day. Impossible you say???? Well, it will be hard and I don't know exactly how I'm going to do it yet, but at least I'm thinking about it right? ;-)  This is going to require me getting up early (ugh) and working out before work and then staying up late to work out before bed.  Dedication and determination is what this is going to take. Pray for me.

I need to post some before and after pics soon. I am so excited to have a place to jot down my thoughts and just talk about my journey. I hope it's not too boring.  I subscribe to several blogs now about healthy eating, veganism and exercise. They are very enlightening, entertaining and informative.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to leave comments and give helpful advice. I appreciate it.

More of my story

So here I am trying to find out how to get to this new me. Trying to figure out how to become the me I was meant to be (in my body). You know the "skinny girl" inside of me? I'd dabbled with being vegetarian during college and was happy with the way it made me feel, but I wanted/needed more. Thank God for Wii. I started "working out" with the Wii and found that I liked it. First, Wii Fit, then Wii Active, etc.  I began to change my eating habits (i.e. no fried foods, less bread, no soda, etc) and noticed a difference in the way I felt as well as the way I looked.

About 3 months ago (I think) I decided to go vegetarian and also took a 30 day vegan challenge from PETA. After the 30 days I tried to go back to strictly vegetarian, but realized my body couldn't handle it. Eggs were ok, but dairy did a number on me. Sooooo.......I'm slowly phasing eggs and dairy out of my diet. Of course there are the occasional slip ups, but my body lets me know when it's not happy. I'm determined to be happy, healthy and fit.

This pretty much sums up the beginning (well mostly) and brings me to today. From here on out I will be blogging my journey to a healthier me. Thanks for coming along with me. :-)

New to this blogging & this journey....my story

I have been overweight and unhealthy most of my life. I was an overweight kid who became obsessed with dieting because everyone around me was thin. I've been on probably every diet you can name and a few you can't but nothing really lasted. This obsession with dieting and being thin led me to an eating disorder in high school (anorexia/bulimia) which spiraled out of control and eventually led me to ballooning back up to my starting weight with some extra weight thrown in.

Fast forward some years, I become a Christian, get delivered from low self-esteem, rejection, etc, but still struggle with my weight. I needed to learn to be happy with myself as I was before I could tackle my weight issues. Being happy to be me, has led me to this place I'm at right now. Married with four children of course packed on the pounds. Was I happy about it? No, but I hadn't made up my mind to do anything about it. I dieted of course, but there was no firm decision in my mind that being healthy was more important than being "skinny" (which of course I want to be lol)

............more to come