Do you know what's REALLY fun?



Getting RID of clothes that are too big!

 Of course, they have all been sorted and donated.

So, I'm now down three pants sizes and one shirt size (height has a lot to do with the shirts, don't need to wear a belly shirt to work). That's pretty exciting.

Don't forget, I'm doing all of this through a medically supervised weight loss. No celebrity endorsed diets or magic pills here. It's working out and eating right that make the difference. Less intake, more output!! And, I can't wait to start the "Couch to 5k" program this fall. I'd like to get another 30 pounds off before I start to make it easier on the joints, ligaments and bones. I'm excited about being healthy and the changes we've made in our house. Now, if healthy food was just cheaper that would be great!!

Goodbye big clothes, hello healthy me!!

I Graduated!

Well, I graduated to a larger menu for 6 weeks. I met with Dr. Bauer last Thursday and it went pretty well. My weight loss has slowed down (totally normal) and I've kicked up the exercising. Dr. Bauer has given me a guideline of 7 days a week for 45 minutes, that is a big change for me but I'm thinking I can handle it. Some positive changes are in store for the next 6 weeks as well, I don't have to have the Green's Today and I can add in whole wheat options such as pasta and bread in moderation. I can also now have light beer and wine. No processed foods like chips, cookies or any crap like that (which is ok by me!), nice big change!



To be honest, I asked him if I could still have my green stuff. I've gotten so used to having it for lunch and its really convenient. He said only if I really wanted to. So, a new 6 week routine and then I go back mid June. If the scale hasn't moved a lot, we go back to the start.

That's where I'm at right now, time to get up and get moving!

It happened...

Yep, I cheated. Sure did. And I don't feel guilty. I'm back on track and that is what matters.

One night last week I was exhausted and grumpy and found myself digging into a small bowl of lasagna. I let my discipline falter, felt like crap right after and then hit up an hour and a half of Zumba after I was done. I'm not kidding when I say this, it wasn't worth it. Not that it wasn't good, but it was just lasagna. Nothing major about that at all. And no, I didn't cheat and then go eat my normal meal. So, it happened and I've moved on.

Daniel and I also went down to the beach this past weekend, just an overnight trip courtesy of his Grandparents. We were staying in a condo with a full kitchen and I had brought stuff to cook our usual meals with. Together, Daniel and I decided to go out to eat instead. We were on vacation, probably one of the only times we will really be able to get away (other than a camping trip or two) this year. Together, we decided that having one cheat meal on vacation wasn't that bad. That indulging on vacation is not a horrible thing. We agreed that it would only be a vacation thing or an extremely special occasion thing (I will be eating a piece of our wedding cake on our 1 year anniversary), not a once a month thing or a holiday, birthday, random celebration thing. I'll of course have to talk to Dr. Bauer about this on Thursday, but that's that. I didn't even eat my entire meal as I was stuffed after eating a portion that a 10 year old could chow down. I got my real craving out of the way and I've moved on.

All you naysayers STOP RIGHT THERE!
If you're not a naysayer, skip this part and read the next bit...
I'll agree, "normal" meals shouldn't be allowed until you've reached your goal and have been there for a bit. I agree completely. 30 pounds lost in a month and I had lasagna and Mexican in one week- what was she thinking?? Well get over yourself! You're not me and I'm not doing this for you. I don't want your advice or your pity. I don't want to hear it. I don't care if you're not going to leave a comment and just think it all in your head. Please save your non-professional advice for some fool who thinks Hydroxicut is going to help them lose 100 pounds all by itself. Two cheats in a month is much better than someone eating a Snicker's bar a day while saying that they are "trying" to lose weight. I've said my peace, so take that and shove it in your pocket.

For those of you who are interested in what my cheat was...
1/2 of a chicken burrito, about a 1/8th cup of black beans, whole wheat chips with salsa, about 2 tablespoons of Spanish rice and 2 ice cold margaritas on the rocks. It was DELICIOUS!

Funny thing... I'm a lightweight now, a serious lightweight. I'm pretty sure Daniel hasn't laughed that hard at me in a loooong time. Singing, dancing, couldn't pour the pitcher of Margarita to save my life... there was more ice on that table than anything else. Wish you could have been there to see it! Went to bed that night with a headache and a stomach ache. Guess that my body doesn't handle cheating very well... probably a good thing.

So it happened, and I'll move on like any other day. 1.5 hours of Zumba tonight, anyone wanna join??

Short and Sweet!

On my 1 month life change anniversary, I'm 27 pounds down. Awesome.

A locally sponsored blog...

I've been reading a weight loss blog sponsored by our local paper, The Charlotte Observer. You can read it here. It was actually part of the reason I started blogging on my weight loss journey instead of day to day activites or stories. The blog profiles 3 wanna be healthy people and they each blog twice a week. One of the bloggers is having a really tough time keeping her promises to herself, exercising and just being healthy in general. Her readers comments are constantly full of ridicule and judgement. I typically root for the underdog, but I don't think this blogger gets it. She dines out at places such as Chima (Brazilian steakhouse), has ice cream and then boasts about gorging herself at Easter dinner and how amazing it was.

 I can't root for her anymore, I can't leave her encouraging comments. I think of all that I have done and am doing to achieve my goal of a forever healthy lifestyle and she just makes me angry. She still says she is trying but is obviously not. I don't know why I'm so mad at someone I don't know or why her lack of willpower bothers me. I really want to see her succeed like the other two bloggers. I really wanted her to get on track and do it. Now I just don't know if she can or if she even wanted to in the first place. She's cut her blogging down to once per week and I don't want to read her excuses anymore. However, I really hope she surprises all of the readers for the sake of her health and emotional well-being.

I also feel sorry for her, I think of my amazing support system and how my family has changed things for me so that I am able to still sit down and enjoy a meal with them. I know I could do it without them, but it's much easier with them. I think of my husband, who was used to getting pizza at least 3 times a month and hasn't had any since I started on my journey. He was also used to other fun foods that no longer exist in our home, I know myself and if I get tempted by one thing it will lead to another (I do make dinner for him nightly, he gets sides that I don't, steamed carrots, potatoes, whole grain pasta, etc...). Some people will say that my family shouldn't have to change because of me. To those people, I say try to overcome something without full support and see where you go.

Getting closer to 30 lbs gone and its worth every green gunk drink in the world.
Nothing can taste as good as skinny and healthy is going to feel.
And I have my family to thank in helping me get there.

I survived my first holiday!

Usually my family does the typical Easter dinner, ham, mashed potatoes, carrot casserole, crescent rolls, and of course veggies followed by my Mom's delicious carrot cake... this year was different. My ENTIRE family is behind me in my goals and they switched the typical high calorie and tempting Easter dinner for an Easter brunch. While my family feasted on my dad's famous pancakes, a sausage breakfast casserole and fruit salad, my mom and dad made me a delicious roasted chicken salad with almonds and balsamic. Delicious and it was so nice and supportive of them to make a change for me this year. Seeing results and having an awesome family led to me wearing a pencil skirt to see the Blue Man Group (hilarious!) yesterday and to work today. I feel sexy and sassy for the first time in a long time... that's freaking awesome.

My exercise heaven

I've never loved exercise, growing up I was on the swim team from the age of 8 to the age of 18, managed pools, life guarded, coached and taught swim lessons until I was 25 and I loved all of that. So all I've ever known was swimming, I never got comfortable with an actual gym and I honestly do not want to wear a swim suit right now. My wonderful older brother is a huge gym buff, he's been in great shape for as long as I can remember and I've always envied him for that and his love for the gym. He hasn't struggled with weight like I have, I like to think he got the skinny genes. I do envy him but I've never wanted to spend hours everyday in the gym like he has (Yes, I know you have to put in the effort to take away results... ), I just never found my exercise heaven like he has.

But, what I've realized is that exercise can be fun and I don't have to even go to the gym! I just had to find my own exercise heaven. The 30 minutes of Zumba everyday get my heart going, the sweat dripping and my hips swinging. I find myself singing along in Spanish and I have no idea what the heck I am even saying. I'm hip thrusting, booty popping, clapping along and it's perfect for me! I constantly dance in the kitchen, I'm a seat dancer in the car and I love music. It's not the same routine every time and you use EVERY part of your body, even my arms are sore after some sessions. And guess what... I do it right upstairs in the bonus room. I don't have to go to the gym and wait for a stinking human hamster wheel to open up. Sure, you still have to make yourself do it when you don't want to, but the plus side is if you love it, it is easier to get off your butt and do it. I've found my exercise heaven and it's fabulous.

Everyone deserves to find their exercise heaven. If you love to dance and you haven't found yours, TRY it! I don't hit every step and I'm sure I look like a big fool, but who cares! And besides, the cool down belly dance might even come in handy some day (wink wink)...