It is Onward and Upward!

Usually when I don't post it is because I have been bad. That is not the case this time. I have lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks and feeling so good. Feeling good about myself too. My friend Jacqueline Hummill
has worked me hard. We meet 5 times a week and she inspires, motivates, encourages like there is no tomorrow. I cannot thank her enough for what she is doing for me. While we walk on the treadmill or elliptical or even riding bikes she explains what we are doing, why we are doing it and then she discusses nutrition. She has me so excited I can't wait for my next workout. Before I dreaded going to the gym, whereas now I can't wait. If you go to her facebook page through the link above you can follow her daily routine. She gives tips and tricks and logs her activity and food intake.

I am going to start posting pictures so you can see the change. This may not be for the faint of heart and it is quite embarrassing for me. Oh, looking at these pictures makes me realize how horrible I look. But, I can't wait to see the changes.

The Roller Coaster Ride is Over!

That's right! I am not going on that ride any more. The past six months have been disappointment after disappointment. While I have had a few good moments of weight loss, the majority of the time I have been adding back all that hard earned weight loss from last year. Talk about disappointing.

I was on such a high last year as I succeeded to lose weight and feel good about myself. I just don't know what got into me. Day after day I would have that discussion with myself about all the hard work and energy that went into losing the weight and how I had to get back on track. But, I never heard myself talk. I couldn't seem to get on the right train. Then I got on a damned roller coaster that went down more than up. Or is it up more than down?

Yesterday I woke up and tried to think of how to get off the roller coaster while it was still moving. I was gaining more rapidly and I knew I had to Jump off. I did and I am feeling so good. The first thing I did was tell my husband no more alcohol for me. I can't have another drink until I lose 20 pounds. That will be my reward--maybe. The next thing I did was contact a good friend who had a rigorous workout schedule and asked for her help. She lives near by and I knew I needed someone who could motivate me and work out with me. She jumped on it. Last night we went for a very brisk 5 mile walk. We are going to do it again Wednesday. She said she was going to go grocery shopping with me to make sure I prepared food in advance and made better food choices. I am going to quit the gym I currently belong to and join the one where she belongs. It is around the corner instead of 20 minutes away so I think that will help. She said she would take it easy on me and I told her not to do that. I said be tough on me, I really need it.

I woke up feeling so good about getting started and I have been eating better just because I feel good. Life style change--her I come!!

Up and Down and Up and Down

This roller coaster ride has got to end with a major downslide. While I am not at my best I am slowly getting it. Very slowly, getting it. I and trying to be better about planning--which just doesn't happen when I work on the farm. There are few breaks and honestly I am so tired I don't want to eat. I know I have to have my 5 meals but I just can't seem to work them in on the farm. I have lost about 5 pounds so I am happy but I know I need to be better about eating more and making better choices.

The other day everyone wanted subs and fortunately I really don't care for subs so, I picked up a Quinoa Salad. OMG it was so good. And quite filling. I need to learn how to make that.

Well I am off to work on the farm and sweat a little fat off my backside!

First Week Back with Losing Victory

Hmmmm, I have been back on track for a week and happy to say I am down 6 pounds! I am so happy to be back on track. It has not been as difficult as I thought it would be but, I am having trouble getting my walks in each day. I really can't handle the cold--because I don't want to. By the time it warms up enough for me to take a walk, I have to go to work. Then by the time I finish work, get home and have dinner it is dark and cold again. Luckily we are moving the clocks ahead this weekend and it will be lighter later. I am really excited about that. I love the lighter nights.

Shame On Me!

Shame on me for not blogging. Y'all know why. I was not good. I wanted to be good but just couldn't seem to do it. I shot up to 186. OMG! I can't go that way. I have got to get on board. Well I had a little "Come to Jesus" meeting with myself and had a total attitude adjustment. It seems to have worked. I am already down to 181.5. I am getting there and finally feeling good about myself. I am so happy to be on a losing streak again. These past months of gaining were really bothering me and I just don't know why I can't get a grip. I can't tell you why that last conversation with myself worked. It's not like I told myself anything different. What ever the case may be, I am just happy I finally listened to myself. It has made a difference even in my attitude at work.

My next hurdle is to get walking every day. I want to but it is cold. I really don't know how people do it. I really hate the cold. Well, I don't mind it when I am sitting next to a fire with a little glass of Port but walking in it? No way. I just don't want to do it. It was so nice being in Florida for the weekend and getting up early and walking. Love it! Well that is my next challenge now that I am on board with the diet.

The Good News and the Bad News

Ok, ok, I know, it's the same old same old. I have no excuses but, I can make some up. Today I hit the 183.3 mark. What the hell is up with that? I actually was down .1 yesterday. I was doing good--not great but good. Then I started planning, that's a good thing. I go to the grocery store and they are wiped out. I mean wiped out. I couldn't buy much of anything. Apparently the 2 inches of snow that hit Atlanta not only made people crazy with fear of dying of starvation in a matter of 48 hours, but no deliveries could come into the store. It was crazy! So my plan was tarnished. I wanted to be good but Atlanta kept me from being good. I think I can sue the government for not salting the roads and allowing me to purchase the right foods therefore forcing me to eat bad.

Anyway, I decided to go out for Chinese since it was the start of Chinese New Year. Well that just leads to more bad decisions. On the way home John asked if I wanted dessert. I said, "No, I really don't need it." He wanted Oreos which is fine by me because I honestly don't care for them. So we stop at Publix. Of course on our way, my mind was thinking of Publix Bakery and all the little goodies. My thoughts were, "I'll just get one slice of something." Seriously how bad is a little slice? It's not like I'm going to buy an entire cake or pie. So, instead of sitting in the car while John ran in to get his Oreos, I went in with him. I did not get a little piece of cake. I bought the monster slice of cheesecake that is dipped in chocolate and adorned with whipped cream. Heaven in a box.

Today I got up feeling all bloated and fat--because I am bloated and fat! So I decided to start the Plump Glutes Circuit that I have been thinking of starting to do for about a month or two.

50 Squats
30 Walking Lunges
20 Jump Squats
30 Side Lunges
50 Bridges
50 Glute Kickbacks
Repeat 3 Times (I am sure this means 3 times a week) (jk)

Now there is NO WAY I can do that, but I had to start somewhere. Today I did half of one set. This might seem lame to most fitness gurus but it is a start for me. In fact it was a real work out for me. It tore me up. Oh, and if you are not aware--make sure you are wearing a bra when you do this. Oh, I was still in my pjs and let me tell you those jump squats are killers on the boobs. I had to hold them down--but tomorrow I will put my bra on first.

Enough is Enough

My lack of posting is probably evidence enough to show I am not doing the right thing. While I have not added on lots of weight, I am up to 181.9. Not going to 182! No way! I don't know why I can't seem to get my head into the game. I know I don't want to continue with the Medi-fast--at least not totally. I may have to go there if I don't get my game on soon. I start the days off right but by the end of just one day I can't even think about eating right. I want everything, both good and bad.

I have not been going to the gym unless I am seeing the trainer. Every day I tell myself I need to get busy and get started. I think I have myself convinced and all syked and then I get up the next day and think, "I'll start tomorrow." I am actually struggling to get 4-6k steps on my Up band. Really? This lazy attitude has got to go.

So here I am writing a post in hopes it will inspire or embarrass me to get going. I am going to the grocery store and picking up fresh fruits, veggies and some meat so I can prepare meals for the next week. I can't change my attitude without preparation. Tomorrow is the first day of Chinese New Year and I think I will make some Chicken Lettuce Wraps and maybe, just maybe I will bake some eggrolls.

I have been drinking my Port nearly every night and I finished my last bottle Monday. I am not replacing it so I will not have it here. I think that is one of the things that has helped me maintain this week. It's not like I need to drink--I just want it. And I seem to want it more when I know it is there. I don't miss it when it isn't there.

Maybe I will start posting pictures of my food, me exercising (ha ha) me before and then me after. This has been a rather boring blog without pictures. Maybe I will be more inspired if I make it more interesting. Let's face it, when it comes to photography I am always more willing to cooperate just so I can take a picture.

Game on!!

A New Beginning!

OMG! I was a little disappointed this morning when I got on the scale. I jumped to 181.4. It's my own fault. I wanted to continue celebrating right through the first day of the year. I should have quit while I was ahead. No big deal. Game on as of today.
I am not quite sure how I am going to go about the dieting this year. I will probably get back to medi-fast at the end of January. I still have a lot of meals I need to use up before I go ahead full force. In the mean time I am going to go with 2 or three lean and green meals a day with my medi-fast meals in between or maybe a piece of fruit. I know from past experience I need to eat 5 meals a day. (Even a  fruit constitutes a meal.) If this continues to work I may just keep it at that since I have to learn to eat that way. My biggest problem is being prepared. It's always been my problem. I have to work really hard on that.
In addition to learning to eat right I have got to increase my exercise. With my Jawbone Up I should be getting a minimum of 10,000 steps a day and I very seldom reach that minimum. Looks like I have got to work a lot harder at that.
I have a lot of work to do and it will take a year of improving my eating habits, exercise habits and routine habits. Less computer time is going to be one of my biggest obstacles this year. But, it has to be done.
Here's looking forward to a great 2014, better health and a better attitude will make it happen!!!