Busy Busy Busy making POWER MOVES!

Well the start of this week was a tad bit rough. I have been going to the gym on schedule which is good but the diet has been a wee bit hinky. Example, caramel ice cream over top fried tater totes are NOT considered health food! Oh and ah Wawa will be the death of me yet! I swear I only went to pull money out of the ATM but I just had to get coffee, ice tea, and fried cheesecake bites! I didn't even want any of it, but here I was riding down the road back to work munching on these damn cheesecake bites thinking that 4 of these suckers are 390 calories! As bit into the second cheesecake bite I all at once had an eureka moment of "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" and threw the rest of the cheesecake bites out the window (aimed for a dumpster near by but to be honest I think I missed it, in fact I'm pretty sure I did - sorry). I never did drink the coffee, but the ice tea that (which was all natural and 50 calories per severing) really hit the spot.

The rest of the week went much better. Tuesday Yoga class kicked ass, Beth really worked us good and Tuesday nights are fast becoming my favorite night of the week. I have also been trying out new smoothie recipes...

This smoothie/shake has one whole banana, 1 cup of vanilla (sweetened) Almond milk, and about a palm size (1/2 a cup of strawberries), with half an avocado. For those of you who just went eeeewww for the add in of the avocado, well it's flipping great! I for one love avocados so in truth I was hoping to be able to taste this one a bit but you really don't taste it at all. 

I made another one last night (no picture - wish I took one, was a pretty purple) almost the same recipe just without avocados, 1/4 cup a strawberries (about 3 or 4 small) and add black berries and some sort if berry yogurt (I used a store brand "Bottom Dollar" blueberry & pomegranate)...this one is my favorite so far.

I'm really trying to stay away from all starchy carbs, like breads, pastas, rice, & grains. This is going to be so hard because basically am a carbohydrate addict.  

Now Friday was a interesting productive day. Had may first Reiki session, which in short was a bit therapy session, physic/ tarot (angel messages) card reading, with some energy message stuff. I went to Seeds for the Soul in Thorndale, PA and met with Jennifer who was super nice and easy to talk to. My only problem was 2 things which were of my own doing, 1) time, we were a bit pressed - I did more talking then I thought I would and that ate a lot time. 2) lying on my back for the actually Reiki session killed the left side of my lower back. I couldn't stay comfortable so I couldn't really stay relaxed.  All in all in though it was worth the 40 bucks I senp on Groupon and I'm sure I will be going back for at least a second session or message or heck even a card reading which I found eerily on point with somethings that I have going on presently.  

Later on that day I went to see Dr. Marcus Williams at his practice (New Path at 80 W. Welsh Pool Road in Exton, PA). He is a primary doctor but specializes in weight loss, which thank good is covered by my health insurance. Great visit, great staff, & great doctor. I really felt when I left the doctors office that this is going to be it, this is finally good bye to Ms Fat Girl, the final nail in her coffin! I just need to stay away from the carbs, up the high protein, keep the cals at 1200 and light to mod. exercise along with the medication Dr. Williams prescribed, and not to mention stay in touch with Kathy my Certified Health Coach and I will be the skinny healthy self I always knew I was. 

Below I'm going to leave you with a post I made last night from my Facebook page, which pretty much sums up my feelings.

Really took care of myself today and I'm not talking the outside (hair/nails/etc.) I'm talking the inside. For the first time I am not trying to "cover up" to make myself feel better (which only last until I take it off). You can only hide under clothes, make up , etc for so long. There comes a time you have to concentrate on the inside and getting it right so your insides and your outside are all on the same side...get it. If you feel good you look good.  I've seen my future, I have to get it together to be happy and healthy for my family...and me  — feeling beautiful.


I can't tell you the last time I felt this good about myself. I can look at myself even now not at where I wanna be yet and say "Don't worry Kitten, you're gonna get there but in the mean time you looking pretty kick ass!"

Gotta love Pinterst...

I don't know about you folks but I have must recently falling in love with PINTEREST

I've collected some of my favorite "diet" and healthy living tips and ideas, here are a few and please check out the Healthier & Happier Me board on Pinterest.

                                                 WEIGHT LOSS MANTRA

                                                 

                              Crunches...Leg Raises...and Planks OH MY!!!

• Great Weight Loss / Detox Drink

To boost weight loss (and it's just yummy) - 2L water, 1 medium cucumber, 1 lemon, 10-12 mint leaves. steep overnight in fridge and drink every day. Also great for general detox--including clear skin!

• Brain Power Smoothie (Blueberry Avocado Smoothie)

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 2 minutes

Yield: About 4 cups

Ingredients

• 2 cups blueberries
• 1 cup pomegranate juice (or any berry juice)
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 ripe banana, peeled
• half of an avocado, peeled and pitted

Method

Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until combined and smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more juice. If the smoothie is too thin, add more ice.

•  This bottom one YogaGlo is awesome! Great site, you get a free 30 day trail and then it's like $15 bucks a month. Totally worth it, the classes are really in depth and detailed and plus they have all types of yoga.

 

My 3 week Exercise Program

3 week Exercise Program

• 5 min. ~ Warm up

Core Training:

1.) Superman 12 reps 3x each

2.) Pelvic 12 reps 3x each

3.) Plank 3x each hold for as long as you can *goal is seconds

• 15 min ~ Cardio*

*I was told by my trainer that the Arch Trainer at Planet Fitness is the best cardio workout because it pretty much works everything

• Strength Training

Repetition Range: 10 / 12

Set Range: 3 / 4

Rest Period: 60 seconds 

             ~LEGS~

Leg Press (seat 2 / weight 80)

Leg Curl (seat 2 / weight 20)

Leg Extension (seat 2 /weight 20)

             ~CHEST~

Chest Press (seat 1 / weight 10)

              ~BACK~

Lat Pulldown (seat 0 / weight 55)

Seated Row (arm 3 / weight 40)

              ~ARMS~

Bicep Curl (Arm Curl) (seat 2 / weight 20)

Arm Extension (seat 2 / weight 15)

          ~SHOULDERS~

Overhead Press (seat 2 / weight 20)

Is your perceived appearance holding you back? You can be your worst enemy.

Excellent morning...

Went to workout for the very first time ("official" full workout routine) and it was, well...excellent. It's funny, I seem to have a whole new outlook. Before I would stress that people were staring at me and thinking "Wow look at that heffer try and work out!" Now understand that on a normal bases I could care less, or so I thought. I've kinda had an epiphany as it were. Thinking back every time I go shopping for clothes for example I'm conscious of what I look like, the favorite line "Does this make me look fat?" is a pretty spot on statement. See we all do it, every one. I don't care if you are as thin as a rail, slender hourglass figure, or as big as a freaking house! You are aware of what you look like and how others view you. I mean if I really didn't care I wouldn't wear makeup or again worry if an outfit doesn't look right. Appearances matter whether we like or not. And I don't care who you are you want to "fit in" it's human nature. It's what we as humans have done for centuries, we needed to fit into survive. I could go on but I will leave that for another time...but I digress, back to the workout.

What I'm getting at is for all this time I've be so worried that there is someone somewhere laughing at me. I don't know why this is, maybe it's from all the years growing up being bullied and well laughed at.  Whatever it was deep in my psyche (and at times still) was holding me back. I was stuck in this rut of, okay yeah I could probably workout at home but am I sure that I know what I'm doing? Plus I don't have the room, the money for equipment, etc...etc...etc... excuses, excuses, & more excuses.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

For the first time, in my tight workout gear (which is not forgiven at all) I went to the gym and could care less if anyone was looking and laughing (I'm pretty sure no one cared and if they were well, fuck 'em - excuse my French). When those feelings and self doubt would creep up, I would think of how kick ass I'm going to look and feel real soon. I mean if I get to where I want to be (final goal 135/140 lbs) I want to run a marathon for children's cancer research or I don't know something meaningful, I want to show my children that if you don't like something change it! Don't wait for it, go out and do it! For them to understand at times your greatest enemy is your own self doubt about yourself and what you are capable of doing.

Now I just hope I can keep it up, and take my own advice. Feeling oh so fabulous!


*Side note: If anyone is interested I will be posting my work routine that trainer Kevin from Planet Fitness came up with for me. This way I can hold myself accountable and record my progress.

Throw back...

Here is a picture of me February 2010 at 175 lbs. Still heavy but looking and feeling better than I am now.

I'm gonna get there again and then some!

Having one of those days...

                                                        BUSTED!

Having one of those days were I just want to stuff my face with everything and anything! I hate these days, I found that I eat more when my kids are home not to mention that my monthly visitor will be arriving soon. UGH I swear I only feel "normal" for around 2 weeks a month!

I need to find a way to substitute my food addiction with exercise.



*Side note: just downloaded a new app for my phone to help remind me to drink plenty of water. I don't think I have drunk even one glass, well if you don't count the tea I had this morning. The app is called Hydro, you can find it on Google Play under apps. :-)

Core & Lower Stomach Exercises | Boot Camp Workout

How to Do a Squat | Boot Camp Workout

Doing theses tonight....

By the numbers

This will be a biography of my process on getting healthy and happy. This fat girl is being suffocated by her own body. I have only just recently taken the blinders off of my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm fat. I'm 5'3 and almost 210lbs over weight, scratch that. Let's not sugar coat it, I'm obese. According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Humans Service my BMI (Body Mass Index) is at 36.7...let me repeat 36.7! Normal range is 18.5 - 24.9  ~  Overweight is 25 - 29.9  ~  Obesity is a BMI of 30 or greater. So again I repeat...36.7!!!

Now that being said I have looked at the numbers for years and looked at my ever growing girth for years but it is only when I saw THE picture that I felt the sting like a slap on the face.

My ever so loving soon to husband (who is crazy about me - still can't seem to figure out why) thought it would be cute to take a photo of me sleeping. Problem, I sleep naked. Now I too do this from time to time, getting him while he is asleep or just random photos, but when he loving (all the while telling me how sexy I am - and in his world he means every word of it) shows me the photo I want to vomit.
I look like a blob of white fatty flesh. I can't get it outta my head, not unlike a grizzly scene from a horror flick I can't seem to shake.

Please understand some woman can totally rock the big bold sexy look, I though can not! I don't have the features for it. I'm not tall, I'm so pale that I could probably get a part in the Walking Dead series, as a zombie (no make-up required) and to top it off from my side profile I have a very prominent nose (Barbra Streisand eat your heart).

Please understand that I'm all for loving yourself and all, and I am sure as hell not looking for pity. I'm honest, you can say I'm a realist I suppose at least when it comes to the way I look and feel. I have some decent qualities, I love my eyes and the curve in my back just before my rump. Hell even my boobies look pretty fab for have 5 children, the don't look as happy as they once did but none the less my girls have held up very well.

It's everything else too, the being of short breath, the bad knees, sleep issues and the list goes on.

                                                                    

I have decided to use this blog to keep track of my progress and I guess a bit of a person diary as well.

I have just started going to some Yoga class offered by my job every Tuesday night after work. I love it!
I also joined the "local" Planet Fitness...again (paid, get my free shirt and key card and never went back). Funny thing is I've been a member for about 2 months now today was my first day of really going and you know, actually working out (with a trainer and everything).  So glad I decided to get a program set with a trainer, not I have a goal I have to met and I really feel like I can do it.

This coming Friday I have an appointment with a licensed doctor in near my job that specializes in weight management.

After all the yo-yo dieting, fad diets, pills, shakes, and just trying to do it on my own I really feel like I'm on the right path. Crossing my fingers.

So I'm going to try and track my progress, calculate my exercise and weight. Now I've tried the food tracking but I find myself getting frustrated easily so I will what on that one or see what the doc says.

Here it goes:


April 4th 2014 Friday / 206.8 lbs / BMI 36.7 / Clothing size 16/18 XL / Age 37

Scary right! Yuck! Believe it or not I use to dance, wanted to go to Broadway (never happened obviously)...I was even a stripper for a very brief time in my youth. That's a whole other story....

Anyway...

The crazy thing seeing these pics is that in my mind I envision a skinny healthy chick, so these pictures are helpful in snapping me back to the real world. But there is a skinny girl in there that is dying to get free!

*Please not when I say skinny I mean realistically skinny. I want to get down to a size 8/10 and 135/145lbs is my goal, but that;s my long term right now I have my eyes set to 175 and a size 12/14. Baby steps.

My goal for exercise is work out with the routine giving to me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to start and still going to my Yoga class every Tuesday night and practicing at home. I will wait to tackle the food issues when I see the doc, I already have a good idea so I'm going with that. Just really trying to focus on what and how much I'm consuming.

I believe my over eating has a lot to do with mental health as well which in the next few months I want to explore.

Today Fri. April 4th 2014 I exercised on the elliptical machine for 15 mins.

First 5 with an incline of 30 then the rest of the time down to 15.
By the end of the 15mins I thought I was gonna die! When I first got on I was like "oh yeah I can do 15 mins on here no sweat!" After the first 5 I was like "oh hell no, I think I should stop"..."but just 5 more"...then when I've done 10, maybe I should quit now"..."What no way, it only 5 more!" "Stop being a pansy ass!"..."You can't stop now!"
 Gotta say, my legs felt like jelly but I was proud of myself. Felt good.