Happy Memorial Day!  I did a 1 mile fun run and 5k with my family this morning to celebrate the holiday. So grateful for all those who had fought for our freedom. I hope you did something fitness-wise to honor our armed forces!

Adios Another 6.1 lbs.

Today I met with my trainer and was weighed.  I lost 6.1 pounds from the last time I saw my trainer, which was  two weeks ago. That's pretty good considering I think I lost the majority of it in the past week.  Then I got a new strength training routine for the week.  We discussed the goal I have set  for myself regarding my birthday, and I have a plan. Also, I got new cardio this week!!!

It's an arc trainer like this one. I had to leave a little early after our appointment so I couldn't finish my routine, but went back this evening to do my other reps.  To begin I did 15 minutes on the new cardio and it was a bum kicker!!!  Yikes it's going to be rough to do this for 45 minutes tomorrow.  However, the harder the burn, the more sweat, the higher number of calories burned and pounds lost.  So it's definitely worth it.

Motivational Monday: Remember

Sometimes it's easy to get distracted by the difficulty of a task.  However, it's important to think back as to what motivated you to start in the first place.  For me it's mainly the desire to be healthier, happier and hotter.  For me these things build upon each other.

Healthier

I want to be healthier because I love my family and want to be around and enjoy a long full life with them. I don't want my knees to hurt at age 30 because of my weight. I want to run a marathon! I want to go to the doctor and not have anything mentioned to me about my weight.  I want to set a healthy example for my kids so hopefully they don't do this to themselves.  I want to set a healthy example for others so they can learn from my experience.

Happier

I know that when I'm healthier, I'm happier. I want to happily enjoy activities with my kids rather than worrying about how uncomfortable I am.  I want to look at myself in the mirror and be happy with what I see rather than quickly hurrying by so I don't catch a glimpse of myself.  I know that when I'm happier it will affect the relationships I have with my kids and husband because I'll feel better about myself.

Hotter

Who the heck doesn't want to be hot?!?!  I know my husband loves no matter what shape or size but I want to be his hot wife.  I want to buy clothes that I look good in rather than what hides what I don't like.  For me, I think it's hot to be healthy and a happy, positive personality is sexy.

These are the things I think of when I want to quit.  Also, I've noticed that when I feel like quitting, if I'll just push a  little longer, I'll see something good happen.  The feeling to quit is just an indication that something good is coming around the bend.

I Could Never Be A Vegetarian

I remember when I was 18 and living in Las Vegas for the summer at my Aunt's house that she said to me one dinner, "What did your mom do to get you to eat your vegetables? You (meaning my brothers and I) guys always eat your vegetables first."  I've noticed as I track what I eat that I'm not a big vegetable eater.  Of course, I make my kids eat their veggies, but me not so much.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I ate how I have my children eat, I wouldn't be in this situation.  So now that I've mastered Oatmeal, I need to focus on increasing my vegetable intake.  One of the ways I'm doing this is by eating a salad every day at lunch.  Right now my calorie budget for the day is 1850.  It's reasonable and I'm comfortable with it.  However, sometimes I wonder how will I exist on 1400 calories a day?!?!  With salads!!!  Currently the salad I eat at lunch is only 360 calories.  That includes the chicken I eat with it for protein.  IT IS A TON OF SALAD!  Seriously!!! Its 5 cups of leafy greens!!!  No wonder vegetarians are mostly so skinny.  

The point is though that I want to get to the point where I look forward to my salad.  After mastering oatmeal (which I know sounds ridiculous to some) I now look forward to that warm bowl of delicious grains.  I know that whenever I eat it that I'm going to make good dietary and fitness choices that day.  I once heard a talk that mentioned there are three levels of doing things: have to, need to, want to.  At first I had to eat my oatmeal because I knew it would help achieve my goals.  Then I needed to because I needed to start my day off right.  NOW I want to eat the oatmeal.  BTW I promise this will be the last reference to oatmeal for a while.  Anyhow that is my desire with salad/veggies in general.  I will notify when I reach that point.  

Plan of Attack

I feel like I've lost my way a little.  I still go to the gym (well I didn't Monday and Tuesday because I have a double ear and sinus infection, but when my antibiotics start working I'll go this afternoon) but I'm not as aggressive in attacking my goals.  I think mostly I got disappointed when I couldn't get out of my regular pants by the time I had set and started slacking.  So this morning I have come up with a plan of attack!

***Let me just say that I know 5 lbs. a week is a lot, but I'm big and this is not unacceptable for the first month.  I know after this is will go down to 2-3 lbs. per week.  Which is fine.

Plan of Attack!!!

Before you eat something:

·         Check the schedule

·         Drink a bottle of water

·         Look up something motivational on the internet

·         Look for clothes you want to be able to fit into on the internet

·         Pray to have strength to reach your goal

7:00 AM – Eat Oatmeal for breakfast

10:00 AM – Have snack of fruit and cheese stick

12:00 PM – Eat a salad with chicken strips for lunch (EVERY DAY)

2:45 PM – Have a snack of nuts and fruit

6:00 PM – Eat dinner with the family, but watch your portions and always eat a vegetable

8:45 PM – Sugar free pudding or yogurt for dessert! 

9:00 PM – No more eating for the night!  Drink water!

Daily Goal:

·         Drink 6 bottles of water

·         Stick to eating schedule

·         Eat less than 1600 calories

Weekly Goal:

·         Lose 5 lbs. per week

Monthly Goal:

·         Lose 20 lbs. by 31^st birthday on 6/12 (EXACTLY 4 weeks!)

·         Be able to wear non maternity clothes by end of the month!

May 1st Photos

I had these pictures taken at the first of the month in May.  At this point I'd lost 25 lbs.  It's hard to tell when you're this big but it's a start.  Since then I've lost 2 more pounds.  It's important to have these photos so that I remember where I came from and where I never want to be again.  Because I like to keep it real, blunt, and honest, I'll say that the backside picture was the most upsetting.  Even if you don't like how you look you at yourself in mirror when your brushing your teeth or doing your hair or whatever.  Even if you don't acknowledge it.  However, I rarely look at my backside.  I was shocked to see how boxy it is.  Sad actually.  I will say I'd just come back from the gym when I took these.  I'm going to take these every month on the 1st so that eventually I can create a slideshow and watch myself shrink!