G's Story and Plans for the New Year

So I’ve tried to be pretty honest with the fact that December has been a bad month for me all around.

I’m not beating myself up about it, but I’m really amazed at how generally bad I feel right now…I can’t sleep at night, I have heartburn, my stomach has been a mess (obviously the Crohn’s has a lot to do with this), I’m tired all the time, I’ve had a massive headache for a week, and I have no energy.

This is what happens when I eat crap food and don’t exercise…it’s crazy how quickly it happens too!

I’m allowing myself to just let things be through the holidays, but come the New Year, I’m hitting it hard again, and it looks like I’ll have 5-10 pounds of holiday gain to work off on top of the rest of the weight I wanted to lose.

I’m starting a new T25 group on January 6^th, and there’s still time to order and get yours in time to start the New Year off with a bang.

 

New Year's resolutions often fail because they’re such lofty goals or huge changes from our regular lifestyle that it’s too hard to maintain…T25 is only 25 minutes of exercise people! This is the PERFECT program if you’re trying to build good habits! I wanted to share an email with you that I received from one of my accountability groups...this woman is simply incredible and I'm so honored to have worked with her, I know she'll reach her goals in no time…here’s the story of “G”:

I have never been a skinny or heavy person; I am just in the middle which I would call an apple with 4 toothpicks that are my arms and legs. I'm short at 5"1 , and  I have three kids and a full-time job. Not too long ago I joined the 40's birthday club... I was told the older you get, the harder it is to lose weight. I was in denial. When I finally stepped on the scale, I had never seen this number; it was the highest weight since my pregnancies! So I decided to do something about it.

I heard about T25 and was curious. I knew I was tight with money, but I knew I had to do something for me to get healthy again and feel good again in my clothes.  I hated getting dressed in the morning and I would stare at my closest not knowing what to wear because almost all of them don't fit me.  So I saved some money aside and bought the T25 package with Shakelogy.  I knew this would fit my schedule because I am very busy during the weekdays with my kids but I can do 25 minutes! I did feel a little bad because it was expensive and I kept thinking this money I could use to pay my kids' needs, but I have always provided them everything and it's my turn to give me something.

On my first day of T25, I did not work out alone! My husband joined me as my buddy and supporter.  He is still working out with me today. One time we missed a workout because I was sick…. I felt so guilty for not working out that I made myself to do double workout the next day! OMG! Seriously? That told me I was serious about my commitment to this program.

That day before I started, I weighed in at 162 and now 10 weeks later, I weigh 147. I lost 15 pounds. I also lost 4 inches off on my waist, bust and hip. I have lost 2 dress sizes. I feel so much better in my clothes and I feel so great!

Now that I have completed the Alpha and Beta program and we are still working out with mixed workout. I continue to run 2 to 3 times a week and keep attending my Folklorico Group practice for two hour once a week.

So I have not reach my goal weight, 130, yet, but I only have 17lbs to go!

 

I’m so very proud of G and all the progress she made, and I hope her story encourages you to make a change too…I think the most powerful point in her email was this “I have always provided them everything, and it’s my turn to give ME something”!!

I LOVE this! Give yourself something this new year; put your health first!

2013 was my best year yet, and I’m committed to making 2014 even better, so who’s with me?

Email me at babebeforebaby@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining me!

Moderation

Moderation is something I just can’t seem to do.
I can’t control myself around things I know are “bad” for me.
I never have just one cookie.
I can’t stop eating an open bag of popcorn (or chips) until the bag is empty.
If there’s pizza, I won’t stop eating until it’s gone.
Even when my stomach hurts.  Even when I know I’m not hungry anymore.  Even when I’m totally and utterly full, having a dish of m&ms in front of me pretty much guarantees I’m going to eat some (scratch that…eat them ALL).

 

 

I have had this problem forever, and it’s one I can’t seem to shake.

I’m addicted to food….bad food that is (I don’t seem to run into this problem with broccoli). 
Alcoholics can’t have just one drink, or they’ll go off the deep end and re-kindle their problem.  I'm not trying to trivialize that issue, it's a serious one...and I think I am the same way with junk food.  I’m ok as long as I don’t give in and have a bite, because once I have that first bite, I can’t stop myself until the temptation is gone.  I always have the mentality too, that if I “just finish the bag and get it out of the house it won’t be there tomorrow to tempt me”.  Obviously this is not working.

People say that moderation is the key to longevity when it comes to dieting. 

I can’t do moderation. 

I’m not sure if I ever will be able to.  I have one bad food, and I keep going for the whole day….that day turns into a week, and that week has turned into a full month before I know it.  I’m not going to shame myself for this.  I’m actually sort of proud of myself for being so aware at this point in my journey that I’m now realizing what my triggers are.  I'm starting to think that I may suffer from a binge eating disorder, but that's a whole other post for a whole other day.

I can’t have peanut butter in the house anymore…if there’s something to dip into it or spread it on, I’ll eat the whole jar if I’m not careful.

I can’t bring treats into my house, I binge on the whole package at once.

If you keep treats outside of your home, it’s a lot easier to resist them.  This time of year is so difficult because what I can’t control is the treats in the office, or the packages of cookies my clients send to me, or the chocolate candies my husband brought home from his job.

 I will not stress about it, but I will acknowledge this issue, and I will be more diligent about it in the New Year.

Give yourself some Grace people, it’s all you can do.

The truth

The truth is, I’m struggling this month.

I’m in the midst of one of the worst Crohn’s flare-ups I’ve had in years, and I’m finding it very hard to do anything physically active.

I just don’t have the energy…I’m tired all the time, I just want to sleep, and when I am up and moving around, I’m nervous if I do anything more than walk I’ll “aggravate” my condition.

But I can walk.  And so I decided today that that’s exactly what I’m going to do.  Instead of making excuses and not feeling up to doing T25, I’m going to try to walk on my treadmill for at least a half hour each day.  I’m not feeling great, but it’s better than nothing.

As for my diet, well that’s touch and go.

I’m following a “Low residue” diet now per doctor’s orders, which pretty much means carb cycling right now is impossible.
I’m not worried about the scale right now, I’m worried about getting my intestines healed, and if that means I have to stick to eating non-fibrous foods and carbs for a while then so be it.

Life happens sometimes, and you have to re-evaluate your priorities.

Priority number one right now is getting healthy.

When that happens, I’ll refocus on weight loss.

I hate that I won’t be following along with my challenge group this month, but I’ll still be there to support them even though I’m not doing the workouts myself. 

Sometimes you just have to listen to your body, and right now, mine is telling me to slow down.

I’ll get back at in in no time I’m sure, I am stronger than this disease!

 

New Year's Resolution

What would you say to your best friend if they told you they felt guilty for indulging in their favorite holiday meal last weekend? Or if they told you they had one too many glasses of wine while they were enjoying time with friends they rarely see?  Or if they told you they missed a few workouts because they stayed up too late at a holiday party the night before?

You wouldn’t call them fat and tell them that they better be perfect today or else, would you? 

You would tell them to go easy on themselves, right? 
You would tell them, one day at a time, wouldn’t you? 

So why don’t we do the same when it comes to ourselves? Why are we so cruel and wicked when we have a slip-up, or decide to just let the night turn into what it will without obsessing over every little thing we put in our mouths?  Why do we beat ourselves up when we aren’t perfect and the scale goes up a few numbers?  Why do we hold such unrealistic expectations for ourselves through one of the most trying times of the year?  Why do we have such an all or nothing attitude when it comes to our own journey, when we’re the first to tell others that it’s ok to fall?

 

 

I’m human, and I’ve been falling down a lot lately.  The draw of time with family and friends that I rarely get to spend quality time with is too strong, and while I make good choices some of the time, a lot of my food choices lately have been poor ones, and the scale is showing it. 

Every day I wake up with resolve to make the next day better.  Sometimes I succeed.  Sometimes I fail.  It seems lately that my MO has been to do great during the day and then throw it all away at dinner.

But there it is again…

”Throw it all away”….Throw what all away? Did my bad decision at dinner really throw away all the good decisions I made during the day? Absolutely not! Would you tell your friend that had pizza for dinner that her Greek yogurt for breakfast didn’t matter? NO! You would applaud her for doing good 2/3rds of the day and tell her tomorrow is a new day, right?

So with that being said, I already know what my resolution for this coming new year will be, and it’s very different than any resolution I’ve had in my life.  Up until now, my resolutions have always involved weight loss, in some way, shape or form. 

This year is different. 

This year is going to be about learning to love myself, to treat myself the same way I would my best friend.

To stop fat shaming and comparing myself to others.
To stop picking apart my flaws and start focusing in on the things I DO like. 

This year my resolution is simple: Give yourself some Grace.

 

We all have bad days.  That doesn’t undo the good ones, it just adds character to your journey. 

So what the scale went up? You’ve seen it go down by almost 60 pounds, give yourself some grace! So what you had a glass (or bottle) of wine? You’ve avoided alcohol for months to reach your goals!  So what you’re not at your “goal” weight? You’ve run 3 half marathons! So what you’ve got bumpy thighs? You’re a size 8 for the first time in your life!!

So what I’m not perfect? You probably wouldn’t read this blog if I was, right?

 

You are so much more than that bad food choice you just made.  You're so much more than that skipped work out that you can't stop thinking about.

 

 

 

I hope this post helps you realize that it’s ok to stumble on this journey.  It’s ok to fall down.  The important thing is that you focus on the positives.  Appreciate what your body has done for you.  Be thankful you have the strength to make it through a tough workout class or run a 5k.  Give yourself some Grace.  You’ll thank yourself for it someday.

Motivation Monday: Back on track

This morning was a humbling experience.

I basically took the last 2 weeks off from my healthy lifestyle, and only got in one day of exercise since Thanksgiving.

Boy did I feel that this morning when I got back to T25; I was amazed at how much harder the workout felt!  It wasn’t just the workout though…for the past week I’ve been feeling bloated, tired, lethargic, and just down right crappy.  It’s amazing what unhealthy food and no exercise does to your body, even for just a short time!

I weighed in this morning, and it wasn’t pretty…I took a picture but I’m keep that to myself for now, and I’ll let you know how I’m doing at the end of the week when I’m hoping that I magically drop 8 pounds of water weight (what!? Isn’t that normal!?!)

I spent the majority of last week with my beautiful nieces and made some pretty awesome memories with them, so I don’t regret that at all, but I certainly could have made better choices with my eating, and I do regret snacking on all their candy and teddy grahams all week!

So, this week I will be back on point with carb cycling and T25; I’m going to be honest here though…I’ve been doing T25 on and off since July and I’m thinking I might need a change soon.

I LOVE the 25 minute workouts, and it’s definitely what keeps me pushing play, but Beachbody is releasing a new P90X3 TOMORROW that is a 30 minute workout series!

 

 

I’m really tempted to try this, especially since the challenge pack is on sale through the end of this month....and I've always been so impressed with the P90X results, but honestly the time commitment kept me away.  Now that Tony Horton has this 30 minute series, I'm thinking I might be ready to try it....

So I want to know…if I had a new P90X3 support and accountability group that started with the new year, would you join me?? Comment below or shoot me an email at babebeforebaby@gmail.com!

 

 

Oh and don’t forget to vote today!

http://www.healthline.com/health/best-health-blogs-contest-id?id=297

Confessions of a fat girl: Holiday Edition

So much to talk about, where to begin??

Let’s start with Thanksgiving, and how very proud I am of my 2 Aunties for running their first 5k ever!

It was bitterly cold, colder than any 5k I’ve ever done (even last year’s Thanksgiving race), so it wasn’t an easy race to start with for them, but they did it! My Aunt Lesly ran the entire time, I was so proud of her, but she was feeling bad about leaving my Aunt Linda behind, who had started doing run/walk intervals pretty early.  About half way through, I told A. Lesly to keep going and I’d go back for A. Linda, and I ran the second half of the race with her.  She’s from Virginia, so the cold was really hard on her lungs, and her asthma was giving her a hard time; I coached her through, telling her to just run to the next light post then we could walk again, then run to the street sign, etc. At the end of the race, she started crying and said “You didn’t have to do this, stay back with me, but I’m so so grateful you did” and gave me a huge hug J

I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my Thanksgiving morning! (My 2 cousins ran too, though they steamed ahead way faster than my Aunts!)

Now…on to my holi-weekend bingefest.

Confessions of a fat girl: I’m human.  I fell down this weekend.  And I stayed there for 4 days.  I ate whatever I wanted, I drank a ridiculous amount of wine, and I didn’t track anything I put in my mouth.  Aside from my Thanksgiving morning 5k, I got absolutely no exercise in this weekend (unless you count cleaning the house as cardio!?)

I almost cried when I got on the scale this morning.  A month’s worth of hard work, all gone from one weekend!? This is absurd, and I know (or at least I hope) that some/most of this is water weight because I didn’t come close to getting enough water this weekend, and I know I ate lots of salty foods.  Aside from that, after 4 consecutive days of bad eating, I’m in the midst of a full blown Crohn’s flare up L

This hasn’t happened to me in months, and even though they say diet has nothing to do with it, I’m convinced that my crappy eating is connected to this one.  My stomach is so bloated I’ve gone up a pants size (not uncommon during a flare-up) and making it through a workout is difficult to say the least.  This complicates getting back on track a bit, but makes it all the more important.

Today I’ll go back to carb cycling, and I’m re-doing another round of T25 with my challenge group that starts today.  I’m actually going to wait until this weekend to take my “Before” measurements, I feel like the bloating and water weight from Thanksgiving/Crohn’s will give me an unfair start point and I don’t want anyone to feel like I skewed my progress!

 

I'm sure a few of you out there fell off the wagon this weekend.  We all fall; it's getting back up that sets you apart from the crowd.

 

 

Don't let falling turn into failing, you got this!
Oh and don't forget to vote today!!!
http://www.healthline.com/health/best-health-blogs-contest-id?id=297