New Plan

And again, I have fallen off. It seems once something comes into my life that gets me the slightest bit off my normal schedule, it takes me a week or so to get motivated again and back into my schedule. Two weekends ago I went to New Orleans with my mom and grandmother, and why I must say I am proud of myself for not over-eating all weekend, I just am having problems getting back into the working out/ cooking again.

So, its a new week. I did make it to the gym last night, even though the workout was less than what I would have liked. I didn't plan right yesterday, and by the time I made it to the gym at 7:45 all I had eaten all day was oatmeal, turkey sandwich, and some goldfish. Needless to say I had no energy by the time I got to the gym. I need to pay more attention to what I pack on Monday and Wednesday to make sure I have a good snack before my last class starts at 5:45.

Now today I'm doing alright. I have my plan for this evening, what to cook, work to get done, and when I'm going to work out. Now the goal is just to not let something keep me from my plan. Also, why this might get annoying to those reading this, I am going to start writing my daily plan down on here everyday, and then letting you all know if I meet it or not. Between that and getting back to tracking my calories I should start to see the results I want. Knowing the holidays are just around the corner, I need to get in the right mind-set before all those goodies come my way.

Today's goal: over 1 hour bike riding while watching the Biggest Loser.

Here's to healthy choices!

Guilty

So, last night I had the pleasure of going to dinner with a great friend. However, I did not think ahead about our dinner plans. She happened to be over by me last night when we both got off work, so we figured we would stay close to where we were to avoid traffic. We ended up at Carrabbas. I know I know, amazing food, but I couldn't handle looking at the menu and picking out something healthy. I had to have this ravioli's stuffed with chicken rocotta cheese and spanish. Yes, they were so good, but not so good for me. Needless to say when I got home last night and was feeling guilty, I couldn't even find anywhere online what their calorie take was on them. The sad thing was, it didn't stop there. I know that whenever you go somewhere and they bring you a bread basket you should just either (a) ask them to take it away or (b) have one piece and then have the basket removed... we didn't do either. However I did only have 2 pieces so I will count that as a small win. Then, of course, since we were having a good dinner, I had to have a glass of wine to go with in. And now, the worst part of it all, I was on my way home, already mad at myself for eating so much and knowing I wasn't going to go home and sit on the bike to watch the Biggest Loser like I told myself I would, so I decided to stop and get ice cream. The entire time I was getting it I felt guilty, but that didn't stop me from eating every last bit of it.

It was just a different feeling last night, knowing what I was suppose to be eating, but yet feeling so guilty for doing so. I guess that just goes to show me that I am finally getting into the right mind set about all of this, because before I would just eat what I wanted, be mad when I got on the scale, but it really never would sink in.

Okay, enough of me feeling bad for what I did last night. Today is a new day, with a new calorie goal to stay within and a workout to get done. I have a feeling it will be a much better day. After all, it is hump day :)

Amazed

Okay, so I have to admit I was scared going into this weekend, because that is always my downfall when it comes to food. But knowing that I would have to get on and track my calories did help out a little bit. I did eat food that wasn't the best for me, drank more than I should have, but I didn't over eat for once. When I was full, I stopped, and I tried not to eat things just because they were there. It must have paid off. I was so scared to get on the scale this morning, but I was still down 3 pounds last week! Now just to keep it up and see if I can lose another few this week.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Motivation

So, after excuse after excuse, I am forcing myself to get a hold of everything and take control. Starting on Monday I have started tracking my calories again. Before, I would track all day, while I was good, and then I would "forget" to track what I ate at night. Umm, I wonder why I wasn't losing the weight I wanted to. Well now, I have my The Daily Plate (which I highly recommend for anyone wanting to track calories) my home page. Now, every day when I get onto my internet, it is the first page I see. That way it reminds me to make sure everything in there is current and I can't cheat myself anymore.

Also, seeing Nolen's progress has been a real downer for me lately. He has been doing so good, and while the scale is not showing the progress as much as he would like, how strong he is getting and the muscle he now has is amazing. It just makes me mad to know that we both started this together earlier this year, and while I have not held up my part of it, he has and can see the results.

I have also tried to think of why I feel this need to lose weight and get in shape. I know it has to be more than just wanting to look good, because if that is all it is then I will just continue to fail myself. So, I sat down and came up with some other reasons, hoping these will be more of a motivating factor. (1) Knowing we live in a country where obesity is running wild, I know I need to get a hold of my eating habits and learn to make better decisions. I am afraid that too many wrong decisions can lead me in that direction. (2) While this is still a good few years down the line, I want to ensure that when the time comes for Nolen and I to start our family, I am as healthy as I can be, for both myself and our future baby. (3) Along those same lines, I want to go though the hard time of making the life style changes now while it is just me and Nolen before our life gets more complicated and busy.

So, lets see how it goes. I hoping this is going to give myself a big kick in the arse and help me get it back in gear. I'll keep you all updated more often on my progress. Until then, healthy choices and good workouts!

Keeping it Up

Hey guys. So, again as usual the weekend is my downfall. Nolen's brother and girlfriend were in town this weekend, so we ate well. Not well in the healthy way, well as in a lot of good good food. But I know me, and if I kept myself from eating the things I love, then there would be a higher chance that I would eat a big bowl of ice cream or something like that later. So, while I didn't get the workouts in over the weekend and didn't eat as well as I should have, I still seem to have lost weight! Looks like that working out thing is working.

Nolen and I did get back in the gym last night and it felt great. Yesterday was the last free session we had with the trainer at the gym :( I have really enjoyed working out with him this past week or so. If nothing else I learned some new exercises and how many reps/ sets I need to be doing of each in order to really work my muscles out. He told me that so many people just do 3 sets of 12 at one set weight. I've learned that by doing that you are only working your surface muscles and not getting down deep to the core of your muscles. He said you should be doing about 5 sets of each exercise. The first two sets should be of your normal weight, about 12 reps. The next two sets should be of increased weight, pretty hard for you do accomplish, and about 8 reps. The last set should be lighter weight then what you started with, but do about 20 reps. By doing this, he said you are truly pushing your muscles to their limit, getting a better workout, which in turn will create more muscle and increase your ability to burn fat.

Sorry, just thought I'd pass along my newly found info. I've heard this, but never really applied it because I wasn't sure how to personally. But now that I've done it, and been in so much pain from it for the past week, I'm a believer that it works. Nolen can agree as well. He is sore in places he never thought he would be, and is surprising himself with how strong he really is :)

So I guess that's all for now. 10 days for me and I'm on my way to beach #1! I know I wont be anywhere near my goal, but at least I'm getting to the point where I feel more comfortable because I know I am actively doing something to make it better :) Oh, and shopping tonight with Jen for the beach, cannot wait!!!!

Getting There

So I love having a gym to go to. We join last Wednesday, and since then I've been 4 other times. Didn't make it Friday or Saturday due to people being over, etc, but otherwise I've been every day! It just amazes me how much better I feel already and how great I sleep at night.

Less than 4 weeks to the beach, so let's see how much progress I can really make! I know nothing major will change in that amount of time, but some minor changes would be nice :)

Not to much else to report. Another busy week as usual, but hopefully I'll keep getting the workouts in because I know this weekend will be difficult again.

Have a great week :)

Why Haven't I Been Working Out

Okay, so we broke down last night and joined a gym. I don't think Nolen is excited about it as I am, but then again he hasn't been having any problems working out every day like I have. I really like the gym, its smaller than most, but still has all the machines that we both need/ want. Also it has some awesome workout classes that I am looking forward to trying out and it came with 3 free trainer sessions, so we will see how that goes.

Just doing cardio for 35 mins last night and I feel so much better today. I slept amazing, had the energy to get up this morning, get fully ready, and even clean up the house a little bit. Such a good feeling. Now, just to keep it going. I brought my workout clothes with me to work today, so I will go straight to the gym on my way home so I can't come up with an excuse not to!

Also, the scale this morning was the lowest it has been in 6 weeks. Now, I know part of it is water weight, but it still makes me so happy to see :)

Thought I would just share my good news. 4 weeks from today we leave for Cancun! Let's see if I can workout and eat right enough between now and then to see any difference :)

Back on Track

So it has been awhile yet again, but at least I can report nothing bad has happened since last post. I am staying right where I have been, and considering I haven't been working out at all I take that as a win. I have been trying to be more aware of what I am eating, which is good. I am still not keeping myself from enjoying the things I love, just making sure that when I am eating alone I am making very healthy decisions.

Tomorrow Nolen and I are going to go "test out" a new gym. I just love gyms and all the different workout options they give you. So, hopefully it will go well, not be crazy expensive, and that will help get me back in gear. Because, honestly, we leave a month from yesterday for Cancun. I have given up hope on getting anywhere near by goal at this point, but there is still enough time for me to loss a little, gain a little muscle, and be happy where I am :)

Here's to a healthy week.

I've been bad...

So, it has been two weeks since I have updated... and I think it is because I haven't done so well. Once I missed a few days, then the weekend came on, and I haven't really been working out, so I think I just felt bad about posting anything up there because it wasn't going to be what it needed to be. So, today I am overcoming that feeling. Why today, I have no idea. I already know I wont have time for a workout, and probably wont eat all that great because we are going to the Astros game tonight, but oh well. If I don't start now, who knows how long I will put it off again.

My weight hasn't changed at all in the past two weeks. So I guess its good it hasn't gone up either since I haven't been doing to hot. However, the beach is just a little over 6 weeks away. It is time to get serious if I want to lose anything and feel a little better about myself in my swimsuit. So any words of encouragement and pushes along are welcomed.

Heres to a much better week!

Dragging....

I don't know why, but I am worn out this morning. Just cant seem to get awake. I don't know if that is due to my lack of exercise yesterday or what, but I just cannot seem to get going this morning.

Not much change since yesterday. Didn't eat all that great, nor workout, but also the scale didn't change an ounce, so I guess that's good. Today should have a lot less destractions from the plan of eating right and exercising so hopefully it will be a good day. Now if I could only wake up! Come on coffee, time for you to kick in :)

Bad Weekend

Well, I knew it was going to happen, and it did. The weekend was not my waists friend, but my tummy loved it all. Friday night was Thai food and lots of champaign! I was proud of myself for not over eating since it was done family style, however I know I drank way more than I should have.

Saturday wasn't too bad of a day starting out. Got a good workout in Saturday morning, spent most of the day by the pool, but then came the Melting Pot. OMG, I love that place. I don't think I have ever been fuller in my entire life though. Dinner was amazing, and since we were out celebrating our one year anniversay I didn't really care.

Sunday was my bad day all the way around. Woke up to breakfast in bed pretty much. The works too, eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc. It was all amazing, I have such a wonderful husband. Then we went to the Astros game, where all I ate was popcorn and a HUGE frozen margarita! Then to the bar for a couple of beers until back to our house for pizza and some wine. The pizza was really where I hit bottom. I should have stuck with my original plate of food and not gone back, but I did. Booooo self control :(

So now it's Monday morning. The scale wasn't as mean to me as I had prepared myself for, but I know a lot of my hard work from last week has already been undone. So, now to start the week off on a good foot and stay that way because looking ahead I know this upcoming weekend will not be easy either with making the right food choices. Hope you all did better than I did this weekend, until later :)

Here comes the weekend....

So, right around the corner is the weekend, not so good for my waist-line usually. But first let talk about the positives. Yesterday was a good day. Ate pretty well all day, other then my large lunch, but got a run in at Memorial Park, which was so nice. I must admit it was on hell of a run, hurt like hell, but at least I did it. Then just a lean cuisine for dinner and my splurge (grapefruit juice and vodka). At least that was better than a beer.

Now it's Friday! Woo hoo. I must say I am pretty worried going into the weekend thought. Tonight we are going to FFF with some friends at a Thai place and drinking "bubbly". The goal for that is to not eat something fried and swimming in grease. Then maybe out for drinks with some friends. I know how many empty calories alcoholic drinks have in them, but I just cant "cut" them out of my life. Goal for tonight--- less beer, better choices.

Other difficult choices coming up this weekend, Melting Pot dinner on Saturday night, Astros Game on Sunday (yeah ballpark food and beer), and probably a good amount of drinking to celebrate Nolen and I's one year anniversary! WOW, that is just nuts to even think about. So, knowing this is my weekend, my goal is to at least get up early and get a good cardio workout in both mornings. That way, while I know I might slip and make some "not so good" choices, at least I will have exercised to offset it a little bit.

So, here is to heathly thoughts all weekend, and hopefully they will lead me to making a few better choices than normal! Happy Friday :P

Portion Control

Wow, my tummy is full. Probably ate way to much at lunch. The boss left for the whole afternoon today, yeppie, so it has been pretty slow. Right about time for me to grab my lunch I brought from home out of the fridge (mixture of rice and veggies) a co-worker says lets get Chicken Kitchen delivered. My thought, yummy. So, this all just goes to show how crazy portion sizes are. We get our "Chop Chops" and three people could have eaten what was just "for one person." So, instead of putting it into a normal size bowl like I should have, I just ate and ate until my tummy was full, which was probably about half of what I ate too much. It was so good, and not too bad for me. Yellow rice, grilled chicken, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa, but still too much of it is bad.

Sorry, just had to share my thought since my tummy is still currently talking to me an hour later. This should make my run this evening very interesting.

Here's to healthy choices :)

Boo Scale

So what I was talking about yesterday came true today. Yesterday I did really good. Ate right all day, except for maybe a glass of chocolate milk but I can't give up all my chocolate, went for a three mile run/walk at Memorial Park, and the scale this morning went up. Oh well, I feel much better today and that's all that matters.

My goal today is to do some weights along with my cardio. I don't want to bulk up or anything nuts like that, I just know how your body will burn more calories naturally throughout the day if you have more muscle.

Nolen is still doing awesome with his working out every day. I'll ask him and see if I can put a tracker up for him on here! Okay, time to get ready for work. Here's to another healthy day :)

June 3rd

So it is day two. I didn't work out last night :( The rain got in my way and therefore I used that as an excuse not to do anything. I did eat pretty well last night. Well, minus eating some Ben and Jerry's frozen yougart ice cream! Yummy!

One thing Nolen and I did do last night was take our measurements. This way, I wont get upset if I don't see the number on the scale going down as much as I want if I am able to see myself losing inches elsewhere. I'm not saying I want to be this rail thin person, I think Nolen would flip if I lost too much weight and my boobs started to shrink. (Gotta keep the hubby happy.) I just want to feel good in a swimsuit and in my daily clothes.

So, here are some actual goals.

1. Have at least 4 servings of fruits/ veggies a day.
2. Work out regurally. 4 times a week is the goal.
3. Look HOT in my swimsuit in August! (Reward for meeting this goal is a new suit!)
4. Give myself an overall healthier lifestyle so I can pass it along to others.

Problem areas: I know right off the back my biggest problem will be the weekends. Nolen and I are usually pretty good during the week, but come Friday I like my beer/wine and good food. I just need to learn to control my protions a bit more with my food intake on the weekends. I am not going to deprive myself of the things I love because then I will never succeed, but if I can just make the healtier choices here in there, then that should help in the long run.

Random note, the scale says I have lost close to 5 pounds this week. I say most of this is actually water weight. I have really uped my water intake because I know how much that helps in the overall process. So while it is nice to see that number dropping, I know its not due to my working out yet.

It's Go Time!

So, I have decided to make a blog to help motivate me with my exercising and eating right. This way I have someone, or lots of them, to help keep me accountable for my daily choices. My goal, is to tell yall daily about my exercising as well as my eating habits. Not necessarily a full account of every detail, but of when I do good, and when I have that bowl of ice cream. Yes, ice cream is my downfall.

Any help, ideas, advice, etc is always welcomed. My goal is just to get back into shape. I'd like to lose about 25 pounds, but I'm not set on that number. I would rather have the muscle and my clothes feel good, and if that means I don't make that 25 pounds then I'm okay with that.

Thanks in advance for your support :)