Elf Boot Camp

This year I am participating in the Elf4Health Challenge again. I had a great time doing it last year and I was so excited to be doing it again. We started 2 weeks ago but since I have been slacking with my blogging... I am sure you can fill in the rest ;).

These two weeks I am going to try my best to blog about my experiences. Yesterday's challenge was a circuit workout. Normally I just find one online and do what it says. I was feeling particularly "elfy" and creative yesterday so I put a little twist on it. I decided to call it "Elf Boot Camp". I don't know if there is any particular requirements for a circuit workout so I just did my best. I made this one up all on my own. I'm not going to lie... I am pretty proud of myself.

I did 3 sets of the workout last night before I started cough. I hope this cold goes away ASAP! I am over it. It is a pretty decent little workout.
 

50/50 Plan: Update

Week 50 has come and gone. I did not meet my weight loss goal in that time.

Strangley, I am OK with that. It was a goal, yes but it won't break me. I have lost over 38 pounds so far and I am still going strong. I've learned so much on this journey and I will continue it until I meet or beat my goal.

In the last year I have run 2 half marathons, multiple 5Ks, a 15K and a 10K. My mile time has dropped from about 11:20-12:00 min/miles to about 1045-11:15/min miles. A few seconds or even a minute may not seem like much but it means a lot to a runner. A PR (personal record) can be missed by 1 second. It is frustrating, trust me.

I've definitely learned the balance of eating healthy but enjoying what I eat. Most days I eat really well. I definitely have my days where all I want are cookies, crackers, chips etc. Occasionally I give in. I don't even feel bad about it. I work hard and I allow myself some freedom in what foods I eat.

The holidays were OK. I think I gained around 3-4 pounds. Honestly, I wasn't paying too close attention to it. I knew I could gain and I was ok with that, too. This is a life journey. I plan on eating well and working out for as long as I can. This means I can make those splurges and not feel guilty about it.

So, the journey continues. I am excited for what 2013 holds!

Ragnar Relay Series and 2013 Race Plans

I have an addiction... to running. I planned my 2013 vacation calendar around races. Yeah, that happened. In 2012 I conquered a half marathon. I never thought I would do that! So I needed a new goal for 2013.

Lucky for me I have friends like Abby, Kari, Missi, Michelle and Katie that push me to bigger goals. The newest racing adventure coming up in 2013 in the Ragnar Relay So Cal.

Q: What is a Ragnar Relay?
A: "Ragnar is the overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport. A team is made up of 6-12 individuals; each individual runs 3 legs. The legs of the race vary in difficulty and distance, from 3-8 miles, allowing elite and novice runners to run together. Over 2 days and 1 night, teams run across 200 miles of the country’s most scenic terrain. Pair that with crazy costumes, inside jokes, a great finish line party and unforgettable stories. Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it Ragnar." -from www.ragnarrelay.com We will start in Huntington Beach, Ca and end in Downtown San Diego.

There you have it folks! I am doing an overnight relay race. We are doing a 12 person team. This will be the first race Abby, Katie, Missi and I will do together. We went to high school together and each of us have had our own journeys in weight loss and running. I rarely use this word but I find it appropriate to say; this race will be EPIC! I am nervous but excited.

Other races on the Menu for 2013:

Jan 20: Tinkerbell Half Marathon
Jan 25 : Runs For Cookies Virtual 5K
March 2: Chelsea's Run
March 24: Hot Chocolate 15K
April 19-20 : Ragnar Relay
May 11: Girls on the Go 10K (maybe)
June 2: Rock N Roll San Diego Half Marathon
November 28: Lake Murray 10K Turkey Trot
December 26: Bumble Bee 5K

Wow. I didn't know I had so many lined up for 2013. There's a possibility I will do the Las Vegas Half Marathon with Kari and Abby in December but I will have to see how much it will cost and if I can work some overtime to cover the cost.

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I have to say, I am kind of on a roll. I knew this weight loss journey wouldn't be easy but I have so much support, it almost seems easy. I have to do the work myself but it is great having others around me that are on a similar path.

This month I started a 6 week health challenge called "Elf For Health". Every 2 weeks we are paired with an "elf". During those two weeks we encourage each other, send recipes and work outs etc. My current elf is Amanda. She's just the sweetest! I love getting emails from her and hearing about her two littles! ( 6 weeks and 2 1/2 yrs). It always amazes me how moms have time to eat healthy and/or work out. I can barely find the time and I have no kids. hehe.

We also have daily challenges. So far we've had these challenges:

Day 1: Go meatleass monday
Day 2: Send a handwritten card or note to someone
Day 3: Try a new workout
Day 4: Get up 15 minutes earlier to meditate/reflect/pray
Day 5: How many different colors can you eat today
Day6/7: Clean out your closet1 Fill a bag and donate it
Day 8: Track your fiber intake. Shoot for 30g
Day 9: Have a salad today and make your own dressing

Today was the day we made our own salad dressing. I was pretty impressed with myself for making one. It was incredibly easy. Here's the recipe for you! I only made a small amount but it can be doubled or tripled even.

Apple Balsamic Dressing:
1 Tbsp Apple Butter
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
3 1/2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
fresh ground/cracked pepper to taste

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl or cup with a lid. Shake it up and serve!

I paired this with a salad that had: Mixed greens, pomegranate arils, shredded carrots, apple, walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles. It. Was. Delicious.

I don't know why I don't eat more salads like this. They are so incredibly tasty, good for your and very easy to make.

I don't know if I am 100 % on track to meet my 50lb goal in 50 weeks but I am getting SO close! I don't care if it takes me 55 weeks, I just want to get there. Running has been great lately. I ran my first 10K race on Thanksgiving day and did better than I had hoped. The Tinkerbell Half Marathon is in about 6 weeks. I feel mostly ready. I just need to get a few more long runs under my belt.

So here's where I am at right now:
Current weight: 158.8 lbs
Total loss: 37.2 lbs
Current size: 10

I cannot even explain how good I feel these days!

The 50/50 Plan: Update

Can you believe it is already October? Where has this year gone?

Honestly fall and winter are the toughest food months from me. Delicious pumpkin flavored breads, pastries, muffins, bagels. Apple muffins, scones, pie etc. Holy yumminess. Peanut butter blossoms, sugar cookies, ginger snaps, pumpkin pie...

The thing is, you can still indulge in the goodness of fall and winter foods. Just sparingly. I've also started to make them myself instead of buying premade foods. 1) no preservatives 2) I know exactly is going into the recipes 3) I can cut back on sugars and fattening oils etc.

Just today I made jumbo banana nut muffins. I just tweaked it some so there's less sugar, egg whites only and unsweetened applesauce instead of oil. I haven't tried one yet but if they taste half as good as they smelled while baking, I am going to have one happy tummy!

I also just found an apple spice scone recipe on www.skinnytaste.com. Only 163 calories per scone! I cannot wait to try out this recipe!! Brew a cup of good coffee, add some warm cinnamon sugar cookie coffee creamer and we've got one amazing breakfast!

I've been in a kind of funk lately. I haven't given up or lost steam. I just have a "whatever" kind of attitude where this is all concerned. I feel great though. I know it will pass. A few of my friends have been in a similar funk lately so at least I know it's not just me.

I've been at this for 9 months already. It feels normal now, the counting calories and watching what I eat. It doesn't feel as labor intensive as it did at the beginning. I just strated training for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon coming up on January 20. I am really looking forward to the race. I am also looking forward to my 10K (6.2 miles) race on Thanksgiving Day and the Bumble Bee 5K (3.1 miles) on my birthday! Having races to do helps me stay consistent with running and working out. I have so much fun at the races. I am competitive but mostly with myself. So here are the most recent stats:

Weight as of 9/14/12: 165.7
                    9/21/12: 163.7
                    Difference: -2.0
Weight as of 9/29/12: 165.7
                    Difference: +2
Weight as of: 10/7/12: 163.4
                    Difference: -2.3 lbs
Total loss to date: 32.6 lbs

Yep, I gained 2 pounds one week. I don't sweat that though. If it starts happening multiple weeks in a row, I will take a look at what I am doing then tweak it. But one gain, no big deal. You have to accept that you will have weeks where you gain and you will have weeks where you lose 1/10th of a pound or lose 3 pounds. You have to keep pressing on. Look at the number, accept it, and move on. If  you gained, check how much water you drank that week. Maybe you didn't drink enough. Or maybe you had too much sugar or not enough fruits and vegetables. Change stuff around and be more careful the next week. You can't take back or change that gain. What's done is done so move forward. It is a life long journey so there will be peaks and valleys. Stay motivated, friends.

The 50/50 Plan: Update

In just about 2 weeks I will be training for my second half marathon! The Tinker Bell half Marathon is in Anaheim on January 20, 2013. I am so excited for my next big race!

I can't even tell you how much I have been learning on this journey. A couple weeks ago I gained a pound at my weekly weigh-in. You know what my reaction was? "OH well.. on to next week!" What a huge improvement. A couple year ago the one pound gain would have crushed me. I am learning more and more than this has to go slowly. It has to be a permanent lifestyle change.

Trust me, it isn't easy. I IS , however, totaly worth it. If you think you can't do it then you can't. It is just as much a mental game as it is a physical game. Counting calories isn't always fun but you get into a rythm and figure it out.

If you need some motivation to get moving and shed some pounds, let me know! I KNOW you can do this! If I can, you can. Here are my latest stats:

Weight as of 8/24/12: 167.4
Weight as of 9/14/12: 165.7

Difference: 1.7 lbs
Total loss to date: 30.3 lbs!

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I hope you're not bored with these updates. They are more for my benefit and a reminder of the journey I am on. I do hope you find it interesting and inspiring.

I am learning SO much on this journey. Thankfully I am not alone in this. My good friends Ali, Melissa, Michelle, Kristen, Crystal and Suzy are also on a journey of healthier living and shedding a few LBs. The nice thing is that we are all doing things differently but 100% supportive of each other.

There are so many ways to lose weight. Healthy ways. I , personally, don't believe in no carb diets, diet supplements etc. I don't believe those are all together healthy. Rapid weight loss shouldn't be a goal. One thing a lot of us talk about is how this is a lifestyle change. It is slow and steady, daily changes and awareness.

I haven't changed my eating in any dramatic way. I cut the number of calories I consume and I make smarter choices. One mini york peppermint patty is 50 calories. That is not going to fill me up. Not even come close. A medium apple is around 80 calories. So for 30 more calories I get something that tastes good, is nutritious and it fills me up for a while. I choose leaner cuts of meat, whole grain /wheat breads and pastas. You know what I also do? Allow myself a cheat day. *GASP* I know.. cheating goes against so many "dieting rules". But guess what.. I am not on a diet. I am changing my lifestyle. The thing is, I love food. I am not going to stop living and just chew on lettuce all day. I am going to cook fresh, good tasting and healthy food. I give myself a little bit of wiggle room though.

On Friday night, Jared and I had plans to go to a new burger place in Poway. "The Burger Joint". Knowing I would be pigging out on burgers, fries and onion rings, I ran 6 miles Friday morning. Even though it was my "cheat" day, I tried to at least exercise enough to counter some of what I would be eating. Believe me... it was SOOOO worth the calories consumed. The only problem was that I ate half the burger, 2 onion rings and a few french fries and I was full. I eat multiple times a day so my portions are small. Therefore my stomach can't hold as much as it used to. How I wish I could have expanded it that night. The unbelievable rosemary garlic fries would have been enough incentive to expand my stomach for an evening.

Jared has been so amazing during this process. Supportive , patient and encouraging. He doesn't even bat an eyelash when I am scanning bar codes or checking nutrition facts. He's trying to eat healthier as well. Maybe I have been a good influence on him?

I've become so comfortable with my weight and body.I am no longer afraid of the number. I have embraced it. I cannot even tell you how liberating it is. I am not longer embarrassed. I am happy with how I am doing, how I look and feel. So down to the nitty gritty:

Weight as of 8/3/12: 169.9
Weight as of 8/24/12: 167.4
Difference: 2.5 lbs
Total loss to date : 28.6 lbs
Current size: 12!!!!

Next month I start training for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon... I can't wait!

The 50/50 Plan: Update

This has definitely been a journey. One that I didn't know if I could stick with. I am a bit stubborn sometimes so I have never been willing to give up. Sometimes I think my scale is lying to me. It is hard to look in the mirror and think I look exactly the same as I did 5 , 6 months ago. Don't get me wrong, I know I look different. I certainly feel different. But sometimes I see the same old me in the mirror.

When I put on a running shirt that I've had for a while and I notice it is loose, that's when I realize my body is changing.

I know I am tracking my calories and what I am eating. You know what is awesome about my journey? I eat whatever I want!! I'm serious. Cereal, hamburgers, fries etc. The difference is I make good choices. Leaner meats, whole wheat buns, baked sweet potato fries. I also only eat those things on occasion. I like me some food but there is a balance between eating healthy and eating what you want. I incorporate more fruits and vegetables, more fiber and grains.

Most people think dieting is a death sentence to your taste buds. It doesn't have to be that way. You can have great food while eating healthy. One of my most favorite websites is Skinny Taste. She takes normal, every day recipes and tweaks them so they are healthier. She also gives the calorie amount and weight watchers points.

The fact of the matter is, you have to fuel your body. You can't live off fruits and vegetables alone. You can't go without carbs. Most of those fad diets are the quick fix. Shortly after you stop their diet, you slip back into your old ways and gain weight again. It has to be a lifestyle change. It is work at first but eventually you will get into a good groove and it will just happen.

I also don't deprive myself. Jared and I go out to eat a couple times a month. Most of the time I make good choices but sometimes I want a big ole cheddar bacon burger and a milkshake. And I have it. *gasp*. I also know that means I probably need a really good workout the next day or within a couple of days of that.

You also have to do what works for you. My friend, Melissa, is also on a weight loss journey but she is doing Weight Watchers. She has a fabulous blog and every Wednesday she has "Weight Watchers Wednesday". Hop on over there are read her post from last week then go back tomorrow to see her latest post!

Here's my newest stats:
Weight as of 7/27/12: 172.2

Weight as of 8/3/12: 169.9

Difference: -2.3lbs!

HALF WAY!!!!!

The 50/50 Plan: Update

It occured to me today that I haven't posted ANY updates of my progress during the month of July...oops!!

As of 6/24/12 I was 175.3 lbs

As of 7/27/12 I was 172.2 lbs

Difference: -3.1 lbs.

That may not seem like a lot but it is right on course with what my goals are. It has been slow going but I know that is I keep with it, it will be worth it. My body will continue to do what it is supposed to do. Will I hit my 50 pound goal by December 22? I don't know. I am not too worried about that though. I am happy with my progress thus far. My running has improved and I feel stronger and more fit. My clothes are loose and I feel a confidence that I haven't had in a long time.

So here I am, still trucking along in this weight loss journey. I must say, I am enjoying every step. Even the frustrating ones because they make me stronger and remind me that I have a fantastic support system. 1.2 pounds until I hit my half way mark!!! I can't wait :)

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I've been trying to space out the updates so I don't bore my readers to tears. I'm sure one of the last things you want to read are my ramblings about weight loss and fitness. This is mostly a journal for myself so I can look back on my journey. If I inspire people along the way, even better!

I haven't really done much running since the half marathon. I think I have gone twice. I've done my best to let me knee injuy rest and heal. I am happy to say it felt great while I was on the stair stepper tonight at work! I am ready to hit the pavement again.

The weight loss has been slow but consistent. Overall I am very happy with the numbers.

Starting weight 5/25/12: 179.5
Weight as of 5/31: 180
                    Difference: + .50 lbs
Weight as of 6/9: 179.3
                    Difference: -.70 lbs
Weight as of 6/15: 177. 5
                    Difference: -1.8 lbs
Weight as of 6/22: 175.3
                    Difference: -2.2 lbs

Total Weight Loss overall: 20.7 lbs!

I'm almost half way and I am about 3 pounds away from the weight I was when I met Jared. Feels great to be back!
           

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I am pretty happy with this week's results. I've been a good girl all week. Eating right, tracking my food/calories and continuing my running. One more week until the Half Marathon... holy crap!

Starting weight: 182.8
New weight: 179.5
Weekly loss: 3.3 lbs!!!!!
Total loss: 16.5 lbs.

Yes.. I'm stoked!

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I can't believe how quickly the month of May has gone by! Or that it has been 3 weeks since I posted an update.

At he beginning of the month Imentioned doing a few challenges like The Shred and The Arms Challenge from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I started out the month pretty good but as Half Marathon training increased, my dedication to those challenges decreased.

I decided to forget about the challenges for this month and focus on my running and my training plan. I don't feel one bit guilty because I am still working out. I've been doing great on tracking my food though. Honestly I am pretty proud of that fact. Tracking calories and logging your food can be pretty tiresome. I started using MyFitnessPal to track my food and I love it. The App on my phone makes it super easy to quickly add your food. The data base seems to be pretty big too. I've found just about everything on there.

So here's where I am at:

Starting Weight as of 5/11 :184.2
Current Weight: 182.8
Difference: -1.4
Total loss: 13.2

It is going a lot slower than I had hoped and I am not quite averaging a pound per week yet but I am losin gand that is the most important thing! I will remain positive and stay focused on my goal Here's to another fantastic week!

The 50/50 Plan: Update & May Challenge

Happy May Day everyone! It is a new month and I am ready for a new challenge. Let's recap on April though...

At the beginning of April I set out on a couple different challenges. You can read about that here.

I didn't do great. I made it through about half the month before I started slacking off and not making the time. I was busy, worked a lot, focused on my running. BUT, those are just excuses. I didn't make the time I needed to.

This will not be the case in May. My work partner, Ali, and I have teamed up. We are going to do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. We were going to do it for 30 days straight but agreed that a rest day is super important. We are also going to faithfully log our food for 30 days. We both downloaded the My Fitness Pal App on our Blackberry phones.

Our reward: NEW PURSES!!!!! I've had my eye on a new purse for a while. What's been stopping me? It is $100. I n.e.v.e.r. spend that kind of money on a purse. I usually stick around the $20 mark. Unfortunately they haven't been lasting that long. I've had my current purse for maybe 3 months and the seems are already stressed and frayed. So this will be my rewards. If we miss one day, we are out. Talk about incentive to get the job done right!

So here are my updated #s:

April 14: Starting Weight: 183.8
              New Weight: 184.0
              Difference: +.20 lbs

April 21 Starting Weight: 184.0
             New Weight: 185.7
             Difference: +1.7lbs

April 28 Starting Weight: 185.7
             Current Weight: 184.7
             Difference: -1.0 lbs

Total Weight loss: 11.3 lbs

As you can see, not a stellar weight loss month but that is totally ok! I still had accomplishments during the month and I am happy with that!

This month I will start taking measurements so I can track how many inches I am losing. The scale may not be going down but my clothes are definitely fitting better. I know I am behind on the 1 pound a week but I am confident I will catch up.

The 50/50 Plan: Update

I am completely slacking in these updates. I am about a week behind. Forgive me? Thanks!

April is full of new Challenges and I am excited! The first week went great and I am happy with my progress. I love having a small group of women on a facebook page to talk to and ecourage eachother in our journey. We are all doing different things to lose weight and be healthy. No one is right and no one is wrong. We are simply there to support each other. Love it!

Weight as of March 31: 185.7
Weight as of April 6: 183.8
Loss: 1.9lbs
Total loss as of April 6: 12.2 lbs

Next weigh in: April 14. We'll see how this week goes. Between 2 Family Easter celebration, easter dinner at work and a baby shower... I could be in trouble. But you know what? That's ok! because I am still doing this and I am not giving up.

The 50/50 Plan: Update

In March my goals were to lay off the sweets and not weigh myself every.waking.moment. I also wanted to loose 10 lbs.

I did ok. I wasn't perfect at it but I was proud of myself for what I DID do. I choose to look at the victories rather than the short comings.

Startting weight March 1: 191
Ending weight March 31: 185.7
Total loss: 5.3 lbs
Overall loss: 10.3 lbs

It wasn't 10 pounds but it was 5!! That's perfectly fine by me!

The BEST Triple Chocolate Muffins!

I have an addiction... to chocolate. Triple Chocolate muffins are at the top of my "favorite foods" list. Stater Bros has some seriously amazing chocolate muffins. I don't want to even think about how many calories and grams of fat are in each of those!

I found a great recipe, compliments of Pinterest!

Here's the link to the Original Recipe: Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffins

I was skeptical at first because there was no flour etc. Let me tell you... these muffins did NOT dissapoint.

Here's the recipe with my (slight) modifications:
1 3/4 c oats

3 egg whites
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup vanilla fat free Greek Yogurt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar (or 1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar)
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water
1/2 C Sugar (original recipe calls for sugar substitute. I'm not a fan of those plus didn't have it on hand. I will probably reduce this to about 1/3 C next time)
•1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or use white chocolate or peanut butter chips!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with foil cupcake liners, or spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a blender, (or food processor), mix all of the ingredients together, except for the chocolate chips. Blend until oats are ground and mixture is smooth. *Next time I think I will blend the dry ingredients more before adding wet ingredients*

Pour batter into each cupcake liner (mine filled about 20 liners).

Place muffins tins in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove muffins from the oven (but don’t shut oven off), and distribute chocolate chips on top of each muffin.

Place the muffins back into the oven and bake for an additional 2-5 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. *Note, you could skip this step by putting all of the chips in the batter, and baking the muffins for 12-15 min straight, but this method gives the muffins the traditional ‘VitaTop Muffin’ look with the chocolate chips on top!

Cool muffins before removing from pan. ENJOY!!!

Servings: 20-24 Smaller Muffins

58 Calories Per Muffin



The original recipe says to put half of the chocolate chips in the batter then bake for a bit then top with remaining chocolate chips and bake the final 5 minutes. I just chose to put them all on the top after the forst 10 minutes in the oven.
This is such a yummy, easy and healthy snack when you're on the go or for the kids!

April Challenges!

How in the world is March almost over? I'm not quite sure where it went.

The planner in me is already mapping out the month of April. My biggest focus lately is my 50/50 Plan and training for the "Rock N Roll" Half Marathon.

This morning I stumbled upon this blog. It was so encouraging and a great reminder of Who needs to come first instead of what comes first. By shifting my focus more on God, I will be renewed in my mind and in my body. By God's strength, I will achieve my goals for April and meet the challenges I am about to lay out.

If you're wanting to lose weight, get in shape, continue to lose weight, maintain  your weight, eat healthier or just read something motivational and humorous, I encourage you to check out The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans blog.

So who is up for a little challenge? I know I am!

#1: Remain Focused: God, Calorie Counting, Fitness... in that order.

#2 : Abs in April. On the shrinking jeans blog they had challenges in February and March that worked your abs. Because I am late to the party, I decided to do the challenge in April instead. I know this says March... just go with it.

#3 Kick Ass in April. This is the actual April Challenge on Shrinking jeans:

*If the pictures don't enlarge so you can read the text, simply follow the link. They also have tabs to print the challenges from the link.

You don't have to do both physical challenges like I am but commit to one or the other. They take less than 5 minutes a day. To keep track of what I need to do daily, I have written each workout on my dry erase calendar that hangs in the kitchen.

So... who is in? Commit to it. Let me know about it and let your other friends/family know about it. Share the links on your blog and challenge others to do it. Give it a whirl and see what happens.

The 50/50 Plan: Update

Well folks, I haven't been doing so hot with this. But it is a new month and I have a new plan.

I've become too focused on the weight number and haven't thought enough about how I am feeling. The weight number does matter but feeling healthier and more energetic is important too. My clothes are fitting better despite the scales' refusal to go to a lower number.

That number though.. it just won't move. I'm stuck at 191. So, my new plan...

1) No sweets. Atleast until Easter. Probably not after that either. My friend, Melissa, has been keeping me accountable. She even gave me "consequences" for eating said sweets.
   * Carry a bag of sugar with me while I run
   * Call my mom and tell her to come over and take the sweets away
       or
   * Write " I will not eat sweets" 300 times and mail it to her within 2 days. (Can you tell she's a teacher?)
  I love the accountability though!! She even made me a graphic to put on my cell phone. It has come in handy more than once.

2) No weighing myself. I've become too obsessed with it. Like if I weigh myself 6 times in one day, the number will magically go down. It won't. I need to focus on what I am doing, not that stinkin number.

3) Keeping track. I'm back to my old ways... logging my calorie intake and my exercise. It is important and I need to get back into the habit of it.

So... current weight: 191.
Total loss so far: 5 lbs.

I am not giving up! I will do this!!!

The 50/50 Plan Update: Week 4

This week was much better. I did ok with the no sweets policy. The one thing I am not giving up is my coffee creamer. I don't like the sugar free stuff... yuck!

I did "oops" one night with the no sweets. I sat down on the couch with an It's It and enjoyed every bite. Literally the minute I finished the ice cream it hit me.. duh Shannon! no sugars. Woopsie Daisy! Oh well.

Overall I had a great week. Logged some miles at the gym and on the road, drank more water and looked to God for strength in getting fit.

Starting weight: 191.3
Final weight: 188.8
Total Loss: 2.5 lbs (cue happy dance!)

Total lost so far: 7.2lbs!!

Focused in February

I am happy in my life. So happy, in fact, that sometimes I can't believe this is my life. God is so good! That's not to say that there aren't daily struggles or trials etc. but I am remembering more and more that we have a Lord and Savior that holds us in his hands every single day. He knows what He is doing, even if we can't figure out what is going on.

In February I want to focus on a few particular things. Things that are important to me and that I feel need a little more attention than I have been giving them. It's like I know I should be giving it more attention but I am waiting for it to happen on its own. It is said that after 3 weeks (or 21 days), something becomes habit. I want better habits in my life.

*God: reading daily devotions and spending more time in prayer
*Jared: praying for him daily and encouraging him as much as I can
*Nutrition: Saying goodbye to processed sugars. i.e. cookies, candy, cakes etc.
*Cross Training: working out 6 days a week. Whether it is push ups and sit ups at home, a long run or hitting the weights at the gym

What are some things in your life that need more of your attention than you've previously been willing to give? I challenge you to focus on those things during the month of February.

To remin myself of what I need to focus on in the coming month, I've written myself little notes. One to put by my bedside , one in my wallet, one on my fridge and one in my bathroom on the mirror.