Food Diary

One of the most important items they say you need when attempting weightloss is a food diary.  I most certainly am not one to carry a notebook with me and write everything down so I have been religiousky using myfitnesspal.com.  I have been a member on that site for a long while and always use it on and off, but now I ned to come clean with myself and log EVERYTHING I put in my mouth on there.  It's so easy to not hold yourself accountable to what goes into your body.  No matter what the numbers are, first step is to be honest.  Log it ALL.  A journey is best traveled with friends.  If you wish to join me, morguejunkie is my user name.  Let's tell each other the truth.

Each day a new beginning and I am not making the most of them....

Well, I have been in Minnesota for almost 4 years now.  I made a promise to myself that, because I hate this place so much and NEED to get out, I would make a major change in myself while I am here.  I don't feel like I have accomplished that.  My main goal has been to make myself a healthier person inside and out but I feel as if this town and life is just sucking the life out of me.  I need to work on that.  Now is the time to make a change.  I am planning my escape and I refuse to return to Vegas in the same position I left it.  Mind-over-matter!  I am going to religiously use myfitnesspal.com and my fitbit I have.  It's time.  There is no going back and I have already brought myself past the point I ever wanted to be again.

SW:260lbs
CW:243lbs
GW:175lbs

Overall health is the goal.

It has been a week since I made the commitment to live a healthier lifestyle.  Although I have been tempted and ate an Arby's sandwich, it has been a good week.  My body is slowly adjusting, the cravings are controlable, my choices are becoming easier to make and I am feeling less bloated than I was before.  It is amazing how the body reacts depending on what you put into it without even realizing the changes until you focus on it.  My "skinny jeans" I out-grew fit again (albeit with a little muffin top yet).  

Over the last week I have lost 6lbs.  A good start to my body using energy from natural, raw foods.  I hope I can keep focused and work on the healthier me!

Five days in and feeling great!

It has been five days since Ashley and I began our change in lifestyles.  Ashley has boasted about going down a notch inn her belt, I have dropped six pounds so far and the euphoria of seeing a difference has started.  The beginning of the journey is the easy part.  You can see the changes most then, you get drawn in by losing pounds quickly but it is imperative that you remember all of that is short lived.  Everything seems to jump light years ahead in the early days.  As time moves though your body will adjust to its new routine and a plateau will follow.  That is when the "dieters" will lose their hope and motivation.  To truly change yourself and make those changes stick you must realize that this journey is not a diet.  Although you may have those pesky extra pounds you want to lose, what is happening now is simply your body adjusting to new fuel and activity.  Keep the devotion and move forward.

I work in a restaurant.  It is hard cooking great food that you use to love and not be tempted to try it, knowing full well it is poison to your body.  Fried, smothered in cheese, bathed in cream sauce and topped with bacon.  All things processed, stripped of nutrients and convenient is what we have been taught to believe will sustain our bodies.  I was raised eating it all.  My brain is telling me daily, "a bite of that gooey mozzarella stick would be amazing."  Yeah, it does seem appealing to me yet.  I crave it still, but I know it is only a setback on the road to bringing my body to health.

I am trying to go all natural.  Living about 45 minutes from the closest Walmart is not at all helpful to me in this challenge.  I would love to be able to go to the co-op 60 miles away daily to get locally grown, organic or raw foods daily but that is just out of the question for me until I am in a different situation.  For now I am settling for fresh, not necessarily organic, but raw foods.  I make the best possible choices I can with what I have to work with.

I have been eating a lot of spinach, lettuce, onion,  tomato, nuts and boiled eggs.  I did make a tomato dill soup I have been working on eating the last couple days.  I have also made the green smoothie I found in Fit2Fat2Fit.  That's really good. Cutting out all bread and refined sugars are my next step.

This blog looks like the typical American's approach to their health.  It started off strong, built a little momentum and then trailed off until it was sparse at best.  I feel embarrassed and ashamed that I let myself fall off the proverbial "wagon."  Several months later and many pounds I have found a new drive to do better, not only for myself but fot those around me.  I have watched the infomercials, seen the newest "miracle" product and know what propper nutrition should look like.  It's time I straighten up and do what I should.

The knowlege is within me to make my goals be accomplished, I simply lack the dedication and willpower to reach them.  Four days ago I began reading the book Fit2Fat2Fit.  Almost complete, I am soaking up every detail I can gain from a personal trainers experience going from peak fitness to gaining 75lbs in 6 months to see how his clients lived, to ultimately return his body to a state of health.

The wonders of the human body have always fascinated me.  I was always into anatomy and physiology.  To this day I squeel with excitement when I get a new anatomy book.  It's my time to put that knowledge to good use and make my body into a smoothly running machine.

Dedication is a must.  My father just had two more stents put into his heart last Monday and I do not want to follow in the footsteps of the genetics I have ahead of me.  I will change my lifestyle and do what my heart craves most.  I will make my body my temple and treat it as such.  We are only on this earth as long as our bodies will carry us and without the proper maintenance it can't take us far.

To have a solid support group is manditory.  Without help from those you care about you will simply fall back into your old habits that left you in the state you are in now.  Realign the stars in your favor.  Nothing great comes to those who are not willing to work for it.

Today is a new day.  I gathered the help of one of my amazing friends, Ashley, and together we are set out to make ourselves a healthier life.  Constant texts of what we eat or drink buzz, moments of weakness or needed support will be given and most of all, someone who is willing to join me on my journey to keep me accountable for what I do to my body.

SW:236
GW:175

Wow.... Where does the time go?!

Yup.  I did it again.  I let life get in the way of what I was trying to achieve.  There have been quite a few setbacks on my path but I vow to get back on track and kick ass while taking names!  Since March I have been in Vegas, Chicago, started working 7 days a week with only one other employee, given up on exercise and started eating crap!  I am back up to 227lbs and that's as high as I will ever go again.  There is no excuse to allowing myself to eat whatever I want and let my body pay for it.  I am only cutting the valuable time I have left in this place short and making the things I want to do that much harder.  Change your mind to change your body to cleanse your soul.

Birthday Month!!!

Well, March is my birthday month... the 25th to be exact and it has had me reflecting on my journey thus far.  Since March of 2012 I have lost a total of 50lbs now!  WOOHOO!!!  From 260lbs down to 210lbs is an amazing accomplishment.  I look at myself in the mirror though and don't see that great of a difference.  Yeah, my face is less round, my stomach is quite flatter but I am still round and jiggly.  Lol.  I have got most of my diet cleaned up, except for the chocolate... I can't give up my chocolate.  Moderation is the key to that though.  Instead of eating one or two candy bars at a time maybe I will only eat one fun size or half even.  My tastes have changed and I am beginning to enjoy exercise.  I feel better when I keep myself moving.  There is no better feeling than to look at my fitbit and see that I have traveled farther today than any other previous day.  Heath and fitness is a way of life.  Diet is a no-no word.  My "diet" making healthier choices than I did before.  Any one can do this and I hope after reading this someone may find the glimmer of hope that tells them they can do it too!

SLACKER!!!

I know, I know... I'm so horrible about keeping up with things.  Some days I swear if my body weren't all attached I would forget a piece somewhere.  Nothing exciting to report though.  I am still doing really good with my new lifestyle diet.  I haven't had any pop since I can't even remember when, I don't eat any fried foods... well, I ate some wonton skins in a bowl of wonton soup the other day that were fried... but I have been doing very well.  I have started shopping at the Harmony Co-Op market here lately and they have a lot of really delicious organic and raw foods.  Now I just need to buckle down on my workouts and I think I can kickstart this thing again.  I am going to start a new regimen next month... A set diet (7-grain hot cereal with soy milk for breakfast, a protein/fresh fruit & veggie smoothie for lunch and slim fast for dinner), and two days of treadmill per week as well as two days of strength training per week starting Feb. 1st!  I have held steady at 215lbs since November and those last 15lbs need to go away!  My next goal is 200lbs by April.  I haven't been as worried about weight-loss since before the holidays but I really need to get back on track and make this happen.  I have just fell into a comfortable spot with myself now and maintained.  I now that I can safely maintain my current weight for months at a time now so its time!  Send me some motivation universe!  Lol.  Hope everyone is having a productive new year thus far!

Happy New Year!

Well the holidays are over and it was a busy one, for me at least.  I didn't stick to my healthy diet at all during December.  With all of the cookie baking, candy making and delicious cooking my mom and I do during that time I was too tempted.  I went from 215lbs back to 220lbs in the month of December.  If you gain 5lbs a month for a year do you know that would equal 60lbs a year!  That would be 2/3rds of what I have lost last year!  I cannot keep that diet.  I have a new found respect for my body this year.  Everything I use to know about a "diet" is out the window.  I know now what I need to keep my body working in good condition.  Your body cannot tolerate sugary, highly processed or greasy food.  The human body was built on hunting and gathering.  The closest you can get to natural, raw foods is what is best for your body.  I am starting anew this year and working toward changing my diet even more Not only am I continuing to cutting out/avoiding fried, over processed, high-fat or sugary foods and all beverages with any of the same but I am going to try to only eat fresh fruits and veggies, whole grain and drink tons of water.  I want to make my diet as close to a raw diet as possible.  I haven't eaten any red meats for a long time and I am going to continue that path.  I do eat turkey and fish yet, but I have slowly been cutting back on my meat intake.  I want to include more meat substitutes like beans, quinoa, tofu and the such.  I need to feed my body what is going to make it run efficiently and keep it running for many years to come.  I don't have a weight loss resolution this year, but a healthy eating resolution instead.  Let's do this!  This year is the lucky 13!  All you dreams can come true if you believe and work to make them happen!

"You must eat for the body you want, not the body you have."-unknown

November Challenge Over

Well, the last couple weeks of the month got crazy busy for me. Had a deadline for crafts I had to meet. Took a 3 day trip to Duluth for Thanksgiving (and ate bad). Then, I went on a job interview to Seattle (where I ate bad and didn't pass the interview). All of those things together cut into my normal schedule so I didn't make my 10lb goal, but I did manage to drop 6.4lbs either way! December is here and I'm going to start it all over again!

SW:221.6
CW: 215.2
GW: 211.6
Total November weight lost: 6.4lbs

Day 13 is looking bright!

Slowly but surely I am going to get there! I have worked out steadily after work each day. I have my first mile out in 13:48. I walk for a minute to start at 3.7mph, then every minute and thirty seconds I alternate jogging at 5mph to walking back at 3.7. I do that for the first 15 minutes of my workout and then the next 15 I only walk at 3.7mph. For my 5 minute "cool down" I slow it down gradually by half a mph and make sure I do knee highs. Those burn but maybe it will tighten up my thighs! I can notice my weight loss everywhere except my lets/butt. I need to kick that butt into tip top shape! Lol. Anyways.... I'm still trucking along. I hope whoever is trying it with me is keeping up their motivation too!

SW: 221.6
CW: 216.8
GW: 211.6
Day: 13

10 days down, 20 more to go...

Well, I weighed in again today and didn't get too far. I have been working out steady the last three days after work. Every little bit lost though is just that much closer to where I want to be. It can get so discouraging though when you don't see the scale changing. That's alright though. Your body is changing whether you see it or not. You also have to look at how far you have come. I have lost 43lbs! That's crazy! That's a kid I was carrying around with me! On with the good fight!

SW:221.6
CW: 217.2
GW: 211.6
Day: 11

Still kicking...

Wooo! It's been a busy week at work with opening hunting season here. That's good because I walk a lot at work and it keeps me moving during the day but then that also poops me out at the end of my work day. I have been slacking on the workout department because of that. My weight hasn't changed any and I have been having a sweet tooth lately so I need to drop the bad habits and get back on track here. I ain't gonna reach my goal by slacking off! Last night I got back on the treadmill and walked/jogged for 45 minutes. I am going to do the same tonight. I am going to cut out those sweet things I have been substituting into my diet for the nutritious stuff I cut out to make room for the crap. This is crunch time! There is only a month an a half about left of this year and I have big hopes for it! I will get my mind back into the game so my body will follow. Don't get discouraged by the bad days, make up for them with more good days. Lets do this!

Another one bites the dust

Day 6 is here and gone. Stayed the same today. Busy week at work this far. I haven't exercised after work the last 2 days again. Yesterday had dr. apts after work and tonight I'm pooped. Hitting the hay and bringing it tomorrow again. Nighty night lovely people.

Hot damn day 5!

I am kicking ass so far this month! My morning weigh-in made me very happy. I haven't been starving myself at all. I am averaging 1150-1200 calories per day and drinking plenty of water but I am down again this morning! I will reach my goal a week early at this rate and have the last week of the month to slow it down and maintain that weight. I don't want to drop the weight too rapidly. You can cause serious adverse reactions if it comes off too fast... And I don't want to gain any of it back. Forging on.... I hope everyone is doing great out there and reach their goals!

SW: 221.6
CW: 217.4
GW: 211.6
Day: 5

(That's 4lbs off!!!!)

Day 4 is over

Well, eating right has been going amazing. Exercise.... In 50/50 but when I do I push myself harder. I can now complete a mile in 14:20. Yup, I am doing a little bit better everyday I workout on my treadmill. I have been drinking tons more water too. I let myself get down to only 2-4 glasses of plain water a day and the rest was flavored (zero calorie of course) water or tea. I have bumped my intake up to atleast 8 cups per day and its making a difference. It's a new day.

SW:221.6
CW: 218.2
GW: 211.6
Day: 4

Day 3!

Yesterday we were really busy at work with opening deer season. (Yay). I didn't workout after work but I did have a good day eating so I didn't gain any. Sitting the same this morning.

SW: 221.6
CW: 219.6
GW: 211.6
Day: 3

Day 2

This mornings weigh in- 219.6! I kept it down from last nights workout! I am under 220... I haven't seen that since I can't even remember when! When you start seeing the weight come off it really does push you to want to do better. We can do this together people! Bring on day 2!

SW: 221.6
CW: 219.6
GW: 211.6
Day: 2

First day gone

Well, the day went according to plan. My meals stayed on track.... Minus a pull and peel twizzlers Halloween candy I had... And I got in a 35 minute workout at the end of my work day. Post workout weigh in: 219.6. Lets see what the scale says in the a.m. after my supper. Bring on another day!

Alright, 30 day challenge starts now!

Today is November 1st, that means its day 1 of trying to lose 10lbs in 30 days. I hate waking up in the dark on these cold days but we will struggle through. My day is planned: quinoa for breakfast, turkey burger for lunch and a quinoa stir fry for supper. Work 6am-3pm, do my afternoon treadmill workout and then hit the hay to start again tomorrow. Lets do this people!

SW: 221.6
GW: 211.6
Day: 1