Midweek Confessions

Make sure you visit ASHLEY and E to see their midweek confessions!

I confess:

• I have researched EVERY diet strategy over the last week when I should have been doing grad work.
• I was super excited to do something different on Tuesday (go to work!) and drop my kids off at the babysitter.
• I am secretly liking working out again.  uhoh.
• Shouldn't I be working out instead of pinning?
• I secretly love cleaning/organizing my kids' closets.
• If my body wouldn't be COMPLETELY destroyed, I'd totally consider getting pregnant again- SERIOUSLY did I just say that?!?!?  My husband will KILL me if he knew this.

•  I love pinning food that is bad for you just as much as I pin exercise quotes and workouts. 

You Ate WHAT?!

After seeing some birthday photos yesterday, I had a little come to Jesus meeting with myself.  Yup, it's time.  I realize I said it was time three weeks ago, and I did sugar detox for four days, and it was HELL!!!!  Ironically, I did feel better health wise, but EVERYTHING has sugar.  To give up sugar completely was VERY hard.  So, I've modified it to an easier version that will work for me.  I have cut out processed sugar.  I REALLY like fruit, and I don't think it's bad to eat natural sugars, so I'm okay with that.  I'm really trying to stay away from refined sugar.  I realize that since sugar is in SO many things, I will not be able to do this completely, but I can stop eating Skittles like it's my job, and cut out the box of chocolate chip cookies.  I can add Stevia when baking instead of white sugar.  There are lots of small changes that will help.  I really want to do this.  REALLY. REALLY. REALLY.  So, being that yesterday was my birthday, I was realistic and knew that it would be pretty damn hard to not have a drink, or a slice of cake.  This morning, I started it right.  

Peach and strawberries for breakfast.

Chicken salad on wheat bread for lunch. 

Grilled chicken with tomatoes, baked potato and one piece of french bread dipped in olive oil for dinner.

And three M&Ms (don't. judge. me.)

Please tell me someone else has thought of this before as the perk to being sick!

I didn't snack all day!  I ate those damn M&Ms when I got back from my run (yup, you heard, I ate right AND ran- who'd of thought?!!?)

Think I can make it two days?  Perhaps- the real test will be if I can make it two days WITHOUT killing my kids!  :)

No... my kid doesn't REALLY wear glasses- she's totally rockin' my four-eyes like she belongs! 

Sugar Detox Begins Tomorrow!

Well, here we go.  Tomorrow, I will begin my sugar detox.  I gave up caffeine a week ago.  Day 1 was absolutely, positively AWFUL.  Not only was it the final three days of school, but I was up most of the night preparing gifts and my end of the year movie for my students.  Not fun.  My migraine lasted most of the day and evening.  By Day 2, thankfully, the headache had gone, but I was dragging, after two nights without much sleep, I really needed coffee or a Diet Coke.  By Day 4, I really didn't miss it.  I know that caffeine is going to be much easier to cut out than all of the other crap I eat.  I also was able to get by not indulging in a soda by eating something else, especially sweets.  I don't know what I'll do without both.  So, here goes nothing.  I'm sure there will be many posts about how miserable I am, but hopefully it will jump start some healthy eating!!!!

Baby Weight....

While I've been EXTREMELY lucky that we have a well-adjusted, easy baby (she's the angel baby in the Baby Whisper's explanation!), I can't say that losing the baby weight has been easy. I breast fed for three months, and stopped when I had to go back to work. I was thankful for the time that I had, but didn't see the weight "fall off" like people told me it would if I breast fed. It also didn't help that I kept feeling hungry all the time when I was breast-feeding. I had an unbelievable appetite and could always eat! It was nice while it lasted, and although I wasn't gaining weight, I certainly wasn't losing.

Around May, I joined Weight Watchers. I was sick of my body looking the way it did and decided I needed to do something for me. Although it's another bill and financial commitment, I know it's important for my health. So far, I've lost 8 lbs. It's okay, and I know a lot of people would be happy, but I wasn't giving it an honest effort in the beginning. I was tracking, but I was using the extra point available every week, just to get through my daily allotment.

As I got more desperate, I was approached by a friend on Facebook to talk with a trainer, Ty Turner. Ty is a nationally certified trainer and used to be a manager of a fitness club. He has a vision of an online training/nutrition program, and is hoping to work with more than just his clients in Oregon. Ty took me under his wing because I was one of the initial 100 people needed for him to show his success. He has been so motivating and helpful. His advice about food, working out and commitment to the goal have been awesome. I email him frequently with questions and he always gets back to me with a well-justified answer. His support has been invaluable.

Lastly, I know that a lot of what I put in my body has been less than par. I try to eat healthy, but we are always tempted with other things. I need to work on my will power to say no when we are out, and knowing that every occasion is not a special occasion. I wanted to do something easy that would help me "start over" with my eating. I tried an Isagenix cleanse. I used the 9-day cleanse, and found that it helped me think about what I was putting in my mouth. I signed up to be an associate so I could get a discount, but that means that I can sell it to myself now too!!!

In the last two weeks, I've lost an additional 6 lbs. Between Ty and Isagenix, I feel that was the difference. Ty provided the support and Isagenix got me back on track. My goal is to be back in my "old clothes" by my friends wedding on November 6. That's about 23lbs left. My ultimate goal is to be in my "bikini form" by next January, when we go to Puerto Rico. That's about 31 lbs. I know I can do it, if I just put my mind to it. I'm hoping that the school year will put me back into a nice pattern again and packing my meals will take the guessing game out of bad choices... what about you? Do (did) you have trouble losing the baby weight??