Category Archives: Weight Loss

Pink and Peanut Butter!

Hi everyone! I apologize for my disappearing act for the last couple of weeks. Work has been INSANE and between balancing work and everything else, the blog(s) got put on the back burner. But I’m back! And I’m happy to report that after being sick for what seems like an eternity, I’m officially back to my old self!

This week, exercise wise, was not good. In fact, all week I just craved unhealthy and bad foods. I indulged some, but tried to limit as best as I cold. Sometimes, it’s just too darn hard!

Saturday, per usual, was my barn day. I got up at 6:30, made a delicious cup of Cinnamon Hazelnut coffee and a slice of toast with peanut butter and began my day. Of course, because it’s me, I managed to set my car alarm off with my auto starter. When I went outside to disengage it, I managed to lock my keys in my car. Lucky for me, my spare was still at my parents house 15 minutes away. So I hopped in Nick’s car, hauled back to their house to retrieve the key. Thankfully, I made it back with plenty of time, unlocked my car and off to the barn I went. It was great day, except I’m totally wishing for warm weather. The cold just sunk in yesterday…

Last night, we had a glorious relaxing night. I sat and read all evening, after gorging ourselves on chinese food from up the street. I couldn’t put my book down which I thankfully finished last night. You should totally read it.

Amazing! Read it.

Amazing! Read it.

(Source)

I also enjoyed a couple of glasses of Barefoot Pink Moscato. I love wine, and am always open to try new ones! (Seriously, send recommendations!) Weekends have become my splurge times. Not so good, but hey, if it helps me stay on track, I’ll take it. Anyways, back to the Moscato. I LOVE Sauvignon Blancs, but have been recently getting back into sweeter wines. And it’s pink! If it’s pink, it’s got to be delicious right?

barefoot_pink_moscato_nv_750

(Source)

Saturday night came and went, and Sunday morning arrived bright and sunny, despite freezing! Off the gym we went. I was dressed in my favorite color (PINK!) and wore my obnoxiously pink colored Adidas Jett Breeze sneakers.

572074114p

I have them in this color too… but picture these, in hot pink.

(Source)

It felt SO good to get back to the gym. Despite being a pain in the butt to get there 99.9% of time, going today reminded me just how great I feel after I work out. And reminded me of just why I needed to make the gym part of my daily routine. 35 minutes and 2 miles on the treadmill and 10 minutes and 1 mile on the elliptical was just what I needed to start my day off right. While not much for some people, I surprised myself with what I did. I’ve done nothing in about 2 weeks, so needless to say, I was excited.

The rest of the day was filled with errands, visiting the parents and laundry. I did try my hand at making some Overnight Oats based on several people’s recipes! I hope they come out okay.

Ready to go in the fridge!

Ready to go in the fridge!

To make them I used:

1 cup of Old-Fashioned Oatmeal

6-ounce Chobani Plain Yogurt

1/2 cup of Silk Almond Milk

1 1/2 teaspoons of Cinnamon

1 teaspoon of brown sugar

I hope they are okay in the morning. Haven’t decided what I’m going to put on them, but I bought some of the Peanut Butter & CO’s The Bees Knees Peanut Butter today and I can’t wait to try it! Maybe I’ll put a little bit on that!

Stay tuned tomorrow to see how it turns out!

5 down. 35 to go.

I promise. I have not been lazy… Okay, I’m lying. I’ve totally been lazy. But only because I’ve been sick. And not just with a cold. I finally went to the doctors and yep, sinus infection. On the plus side, my voice is finally coming back. If you consider the honking and squeaking instead of words, coming back.

I have to say. Despite being sick, I’ve maintained my eating healthy and calorie counting. I’ve splurged a little bit on comfort food (grilled cheese, ramen noodles, etc.) but made sure I stayed in my daily limit. And it paid off!

I got on the scale this morning and had officially lost 5 pounds!


Yep. I totally felt as excited as that girl.

I know it doesn’t see like a lot…but I can definitely already feel my pants loosening up and just feeling overall a lot better health wise. As soon as the coughing subsides, back to to the gym I go. I mean, I need to lose another 5 before I head to DC in March!

Cue disgusting picture. I know nasty… But that’s what I lost!

Source

Okay short post today. Just be forewarned… When I lose another five, you may see the Carlton dance happen.

 

 

Just kidding. Or you’ll totally see it now :)

Tough Love and Motivation

After my previous post, I really thought long and hard about what motivates me. You would think it would be something simple; the goal is to be healthy. But sometimes that goal is just not enough for me to get off my overweight butt and hit the gym. It’s much easier said (or written in my case), then done.

After receiving a very long series of text messages from one of my closest friends and fellow blogger over at Just Your Average Athlete, I realized that seeing those around me make changes in their lives to get healthy is motivating. Not too mention, Molly’s tough love and her quest to help me get healthy is also SUPER motivating. Thanks Molly! In all honesty, while I knew in my heart it was time to get healthy, her messages truly motivated me and touched me to the core.

20130114-153852.jpg
Source

So, since my last post, I’ve thought long and hard about what is motivating me. Here it goes.

1. My Health: I have a history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, etc. in my family. I have a lot of odds working against me. I am determined to not end up with ANY of the above, unless its the way nature intended for it to happen. I want to be a role model to my younger family members and to the kids at the barn where I ride and teach. I want people to see me posting about my latest work out adventure and say ‘Wow! How motivating is that?! If she can do it, I can too!’

2. Four Weddings: Yes – I’m not going to lie. I have FOUR weddings to attend this year and I want to look amazing for all of them. One in April, June, September and October; two of which I am a bridesmaid in. What’s motivating about this? I don’t want to look fat in my dresses!

20130114-154950.jpg
Source

3. My Wardrobe: Now, this may sound a bit conceited, maybe even a bit contrived, but I love clothes. More specifically, I love my clothes. And when I look in the closet and don’t want to wear any of my clothes because they cling in all of the wrong places or they are just too tight, it’s motivating. I REFUSE to go buy all new clothes, two sizes bigger. I REFUSE! I want my clothes to fit.

4. My Family and Friends: Corny as it may sound, it’s true. Lets be real for a second. When someone in your family or one of your closest friends is on a quest to get healthy of are in the best shape of their lives, it motivates you. Or when you see someone that needs the support to do those things; it motivates you. I want to be both of those people. I want those around me to see me getting healthy and want to join in. Molly, who was mentioned above, has been a huge motivator for me because I see how happy and healthy she is! My fiancé is also a huge motivator because we want to be healthy for each other so we can spend many happy and active years together.

I’ll be brutally honest. I had a completely unhealthy weekend. I ate a lot. I drank wine and beer and had a wonderful time. But now that its the beginning of the week, I’m lethargic and can feel just how awful all of that is affecting my body. My energy is constantly low. And I refuse to pump myself full of coffee.

So yes, I’m being that person who says ‘Start of a new week; Start of a healthier me!’ but in reality, I’m just telling myself that the rest of my life begins today. A better, healthier me. I’m saying ‘No!’ To Weight Watchers (even though it works wonders), at least to the counting points, but sticking to their values of portion control, and focusing on eating healthier. And a lot of exercise. It’s not about a fad diet. It’s about learning to live and doing it on my own.

It also helps I have to check in with Molly by 6:30 PM every night to make sure I do something active every day (Tough Love at its finest.)

Stay tuned for my first night back at the gym. It should be an adventure to say the least.

20130114-160315.jpg
Source

The Five Stages of Grief

You know that moment when something happens to you that is so profound that it literally makes your jaw drop to the floor. Have you ever had that moment happen to you after stepping on a scale? Because I have. In fact, it happened this morning. And not in a good way.

I have a FitBit Aria Scale. It doesn’t lie. It is probably the most dead on scale I have ever owned. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s too dead on.

My fantastic (and slightly evil) scale.

20130110-123758.jpg
Source

See, sometimes I like my scale to lie to me. Just a little bit. If I’ve gained 3 pounds, I want it to tell me I have only gained 2.5 lbs, just to make me feel better (I’m convinced my old scale did this. I’m also convinced it was not good for my head.)

I’ve been telling lying to myself for weeks now that I’m jumping back on the healthy wagon. And everyday something comes up, and suddenly I find myself gorging on pizza. And then I try to justify it by telling myself “It’s okay. You ate healthy the rest of the day!” Clearly I’m just lying to myself.

We just moved into a new apartment. Granted, we bought lots of healthy foods and we cook, but we also bought a lot of beer and wine. Because if friends come over, we have to be ready!

So this morning, I decided that Weight Watchers Round 10 was going to begin. I was prepared and ready to go. Last week, I had jumped on above scale and saw that I had only gained 2 pounds through the holidays. Instant win in my book, even though I was still closing in on my post-college graduation weight. Convinced that I had probably lost a pound or two since then because I was eating healthier, I hopped on the scale.

I have never seen my scale jump to a number so fast in my life!

Nor did I like the number staring back at me.

187.4 HOLY CRAP!

I think I went through every stage of grief at 6:30 this morning while looking at the scale.

1. Denial: ‘No frickin’ way! You are lying to me! I’ve been SOOOO good all week.’ (hops off scale and checks it) ‘Maybe your just off balance…’ (Good try, it’s on a tile floor). ‘Are the batteries dying?’ (Brand new!)

2. Anger: No, I wasn’t angry at the scale. Even though its totally the scales fault. I was so angry at myself for even LETTING myself get back to this point. I had promised myself I would never see that number on the scale again. And here I was, nearly 5 years later, back at that point.

3. Bargaining: ‘Now, if I get back on you, you’re going to show a MUCH lower number this time, because come on. Really? I’m not that heavy,”

For the record…. I am that heavy.

4. Depression: Yes. I cried. It SUCKED seeing that number staring back at me. It was horrible and a god awful way to start my day.

5. Acceptance: And then it hit me. This is nobody’s fault but my own. No one forced food down my throat, or told me to have one more beer. It was all me.

Source

Which means, it’s on me to conquer it.

I can officially say things can only go up from here (or hopefully down in my case)!