Tuesday, October 23, 2012

30 lb Loss Victory!!

So I weighed myself this morning at the gym before my workout and I am right at 200!!! That means all in all I've lost 30 lbs! I am so proud of myself and happy that the results are coming! Today I had a relative ask me for advice and how I started my journey. I gotta tell you it felt awesome for someone to look to me for inspiration. So I broke it down for her. At least its what works for me:
- count your calories!
I can't stress enough how much counting calories has done for me. It has openend my eyes and allowed me to stay at my calorie goals each day. To be honest I don't do it as often as I used to when I first started, but I think its because I'm starting to rock at portion control.
- drink tons of water
Water and I used to not get along so much but ever since I gave up everything but water and 1% milk (ok and alcoholic beverages occasionally), I really don't have a choice. I suck it up and drink about 6 16oz water bottles a day. And honestly its begining to grow in me. Of course the benefits are a plus.
- work out!!
working out is an essential part of losing weight but you gotta find what workouts you enjoy and what you feel comfortable with. Some like to walk/jog, others like the Zumba craze, others enjoy bicycling, etc. My thing right now is the CrossRamp elliptical. I set it on #7 (that's the interval preset) for about 40 mins and I can burn up to 450 cals! The remaining 15 to 20 mins I incorporate weight training and about 100 crunches on the crunch machine. That's what works for me.
- have breakfast
Don't ever skip breakfast. As cliche as it sounds, it is the most important meal of the day. It helps kick start your metabolism. Choose your meals wisely though. A McBiscuit does not help with the weight loss process. If you find youself running tight on time in the mornings just blend up a shake. A cup of Greek yogurt, some milk, and your favorite fruit thrown into the blender should suffice. No need to get all Betty Crocker on a weekday morning.
- no fast food!
This one was a hard one to let go of for me cause I was a SonicWhataburgerKingTacoVilla freak. Seriously. It took all I had not to stop at one of these fast food places while I was out running errands. Occasionally I will have me some Chik-Fil-A. What? I'm only human. Moderation is key!
- You seriously have to want it.
Last, I truly believe that you have to be ready for a change. It's kinda like when a person decides to devote themselves to God and step away from all vices. It's like that but with your eating habits. You have to understand its not a temporary diet. It's a way of living. You have to give it your all and I can bet you will see results. Yes you will have your down days when you don't feel like you will ever lose the weight or you just want to give in to that bag of chips. We all do. Were only human. But we have to get ourselves together and remember the battle we are fighting. It takes 4 weeks for YOu to notice a change, 8 weeks for friends and family to notice, and 12 weeks for the rest of the world to notice. Don't give up.



Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Weekend and the Weeks Ahead.

I had an awesome weekend yall. I'm very excited cause we are finally starting with some home renovations we had been putting off for a while. We are working on the laundry room and guest bathroom. What I do hate is all the dust flying around everywhere and making itself onto the fixtures and furniture. It's a drag but I just keep my focus on the end result and know it will all be worth it once we are done. Also, I can't complain about being blessed with having a home I can call all mine and be able to renovate to my liking. There is so many people currently living in RVs, with family, storage units, and even camping tents here in the city right now because of the work boom, or simply cause they have nowhere else to go.
Changing the subject to a totally different matter, this week I have to give the deposit for the place I'm having my big boy's birthday parry at. It's in January but time flies and it'll be here before I know it. I can't believe he is already turning three. Gah, it really doesn't feel that long since the day he was born. And speaking of time going by fast, next weekend is my 5 year marriage anniversary! I'm very happy with my life right now and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Weighed myself today: 203 lbs. Getting close to those 100s!
Have an awesome Tuesday!







Friday, October 12, 2012

Haters, don't hold your breath.

Like I've mentioned before, I get tons of support from my hubby, but the rest of my immediate family and friends are also very happy with my recent transformations. As for others who I thought were friends or "family" I can't help but sense a wave of jealousy. And I may be wrong but I feel like some of these people are only waiting for me to fail. Some look me up and down and only ask, " So are you still going to the gym?" Or "You're STILL on that diet?!" (By the way I hate the "d" word. Some people don't understand its become my lifestyle) Instead of saying stuff like "You look great!" Or "I'm proud of you!" I can just feel the stares. And its uncomfortable because I want to feel reasured. I want them to praise me. Is that too much to ask? But I let them stare and wait for me to fail. I just hope they're not holding their breath cause I'm in it for the long run. Sure I may have my bad days or weeks but I know I will eventually get back on track and that my body can do whatever my brain wants it to do. I'm going to do this, with or without the haters.

Have an awesome Saturday!



Thursday, October 11, 2012

Instagram saved my life.

I sit back and wonder sometimes what it is that keeps me motivated to keep making healthy decisions and what has really brought me to where I am today. And honestly I have to say that Instagram has truly played a big part in my life and has changed my mindset completely about accomplishing weight goals. Especially for an average gal like me. Everyday that I log into my Instagram account I see progress pictures, healthy recipes, and motivational quotes from other girls that have been through or are currently going through a weight loss journey. I try to "Follow" other women who work out and eat healthy to keep my motivation on point. I owe a lot of these women my sucxess, and many of them don't even know I exist, but they are a big part of this stage in my life. I remember when I used to see "Before and After" pics and wished someday I could accomplish something so grand. But I only wished, and never did absolutely nothing about it. And now, I'm actually becoming a success story. Little by little with the help of an app on my phone! I wish I could thank each and every person that I've come across on Instagram personally. They have pushed me a little farther, just by looking at their pictures and reading their stories. Blessings and miracles come in the strangest ways, and I truly believe Instagram couldn't have come into my life at a better time. These people on this app were put in my path for a reason, and I'm taking it and running with it. So to those of you I follow and happen to come across my blog...Thank You. You have done much more than you know.


My breaking point.

I started my weight loss journey April 30, 2012 (and I remember the date cause its when I truly felt I hit rock bottom). It was a Monday and that Sunday before, we had been playing softball at the park (me at 230 lbs, mind you), and I remember feeling embarrased to run to the bases cause everything jiggled and I felt too tired to even swing the bat. That night, my hubbs suggested I join the gym and I burst into tears. Not because I was upset with him(we had been having that discussion very often those days) but because I felt it was my breaking point. That's the day I truly realized it wasn't fair to me or my hubby for "Skinny Me" to be hiding under all those layers of fat. And it sure wasn't where I needed to be. When my hubby met me I was a mere 150 ish lbs. That's when he fell in love with me, not only physically but with the personality and confidence that a thinner me oozed with. So the next day I joined the gym. I remember getting on the treadmill for 10 minutes and feeling completely drained out. I was ashamed with myself and how far I had let myself come. Some days I even felt like just giving up and going back to my selfish habits of eating and drinking whatever unhealthy things I could get my hands on. But then my thoughts would go back to that Sunday night.
So far I have lost about 25 lbs- almost to my 30 lb mini goal yall! I can tell you that evenvthough I'm still a little over 200 lbs, I can feel a change in many things that I missed out on or didn't care for when I was heavier. For instance, shopping for clothes is fun again. For a long time it wasn't that great cause I dreaded that those size 18s would start getting tight and I would have to move up to a 20! And honestly, nothing even looked flattering on my body anymore. Also, I do my hair and get dressed up during the week for the hubbs- Something that had gone down the drain before I started to lose weight. I lived in oversized tee shirts and my hair up in a bun. Another change is my confidence levels when we go out in public are getting back to how they once were. Before I started losing weight, when the hubby wanted to go out dancing or to a dinner and a movie I would immediately squash the idea by saying I didn't have anything to wear, which was in part true, but really because I felt ashamed and embarrased for HIM to be seen with me. He has always been very thin and my self esteem shattered when we'd be out in public and people would give us weird looks. Sometimes I felt people thought we were little brother and big sister or something far from the couple we are.
Through all of this, my husband has never made rude remarks about my weight, even though he may say them in hid head, he has never bashed me to my face, but he does push me to keep going on my low days. He tells me to not give up and I am truly appreciative of his cheering me on. I feel like our relationship is the remains of a house after a fire, and little by little we are mending every room one by one and salvaging everything we can. I owe my husband a lot and I'm thankful that he is behind me every step of the way. The good and the bad. Because of him I'm finding myself again. And that's what he deserves...His wife that he fell in love with, not the one who let herself go and is always in a sour mood cause she has let her weight take control of her life.

Te amo mi amor. Esto es solo el comienzo De nuestro cuento de Adas.

I love you my love. This is only the beginning of our Happily Ever After.