Late Night Changes

Wow where do I start, I realized today that my late night habits have changed. In the past when I could not sleep I would eat. Lately I press play on my insanity dvds  then take a hot shower.
This is a change I am so proud of.  Who would have thought, me working out instead of eating.
My goals seem attainable and every day I am closer to where I want to be.

Goal Day Change

I have to admit I was convinced that I would make it to goal in 9 months but reality has hit me in the face. That with a few weeks left 26 pounds will not vanish in that time. So I pushed it back and I am OK with it, part of this journey is adapting and changing. I am off for the summer, so I start my day, 6 days a week with a run. I actually look forward to it and wake up in the morning pumped!!!In the evening, I was doing P90X and now I am doing Insanity. I find that I can do so much more than I ever thought I could.  I am physically strong now, with muscles forming and visible.

 I completed the  P90X lean program and that program changed my life.  I can do pull ups, chin ups and push ups!!Theses are things that I used to watch other people do and never thought I woud be phsyically able. Now I pump them in out in sets of 25!! Yes SETS OF 25!!!!  I am also taking swimming lessons again, so that I can be comfortable swimming laps.  If you remember one of my earlier blogs, I said that one of my goals was to wear shorts. Well I own several pairs now and wear them on a daily basis!!!

When I started this blog, I did it to keep myself motivated. I have since met some amazing people that are on the same journey. It amazes me, how magnificent the men and women  are that I have encountered on this journey.  They are also a wealth of information, I blog jump looking for recipes and dinner ideas. I have also joined  two groups on face book, with  two very different groups of people. Each group keeps me motivated in a different way. I must just say "WOW" this journey has changed my life. I am a different person physically, mentally and emotionally. Everyone around me can see that I am brighter(lighter) every day.

If you are contemplating a change, don't think about it one more day. DO IT!! Get Off The Couch!

Unsolicitated Advice

I have hit a point in my weight loss where I am being barraged with advice. I am sure that most of it is from people who love me. I am also convinced that they are not educated on the process that I am going through.
Comments such as "You look good now but if you keep losing weight you will look like a crack head" ,"Don't get too skinny" , " Ooh you have lost enough weight", " Why are you still working out?", " Do you eat, you cant be on a diet forever"   and the infamous " You know men like a woman with some meat their bones".

Now I have been a big girl my entire life. No one told me when I was fat and that I needed to lose weight. Now that I am on a journey to be healthy they have a lot to say. I understand that people may mean well but if you are a friend or family member of a person a weight loss journey. You need to know those are  horrible things to say to a person.  If you are eating right and exercising  there is no way you will end up looking like  a"Crack Head".  "Crack Heads don't eat, they take drugs and do horrendous things to their bodies.

In reality if a person has been over weight their entire life , when they lose weight they will look different. In time you will get used to their new look and it wont be so shocking.  Right now I look fabulous with clothes on but my goal it to look good naked. My husband brought me back a bikini from Miami and I plan to model it for him on the beach. Looking fabulous in it!!!

All jokes aside, someone who is on the verge of loosing their willpower might be affected by those comments. So if you have someone in your life going through a weight loss journey be supportive.  Positivity is the best support because this is not an easy journey!!!

The Kindness of Strangers

As many of you know we have been dealing with record heat here in the North East. I am still running in the morning with a water bottle strapped to my hip. I don't know if you remember my post a while back about how I scout out my routes. Like looking for mom with small children and introducing my self to regulars I see.   Well, you never know who is watching you.

When I run early in the morning I always see a nice elderly lady on her porch drinking coffee and rocking in her chair. I always wave at her and say "Hi", she always yells "Keep up the good work!." Recently as I turned on her corner, I circle her block twice. I reached for my water bottle to find it empty , disappointed with my self, I said whatever and kept running.  As I circled her block for the second time, she was standing at the corner with a ice cold bottle of water. She passed it off to me and said " Keep Going!".  I thanked her and kept in stride because that is what she told me to do.   

What a wonderful person , who with out a thought decided to help a stranger. Today I dropped a plant off on her porch with a card that said" Keep Going". Someone you don't even know is pulling for you to succeed on your journey. So KEEP GOING!!! 

Rain Rain Go Away!!!!!!!!

The rain is really messing up my workout plans lately! So I had to make some decision, I mean am I going to let the rain stop me from hitting the pavement. Since we are going on week two of constant rain, the answer had to be NO. I  have dodged the torrential downpours so far but I knew my luck would run out.

So today  I packed my poncho and after work today, I headed out for my run. Half way through my route, it started to rain and I pulled out my poncho.  It actually was not that  bad, the rain cooled me down and I felt my stride increase.  I made in home in record time, in fact as I turned the corner on my street the rain stopped.  I of course had to wash and blow dry my hair but that  was not a real issue since I am natural.

I am very proud o f myself for removing a roadblock, getting of the couch is getting easier each day.

Small victories

 I have a list of small victories that I want to share:

1. I broke into the 170"s 

2.  I ran 3 miles in 29 minutes today

3. I went 7 days without chocolate

4. My dress size is officially a 10

5. I can do 35 push up without stopping

6. I have only 2 processed food product in my pantry, so my pantry 97% clean

7. In the past 6 months I've ran 678miles

Some people might look at this list and think these things are insignificant. To me they are my small victories and every victory counts!!!  Sometimes I get so caught in my overall goal that I forget to celebrate the small victories. This week I made a conscious decision to look at some of the immediate accomplishments I have made. So if you haven't done so today CELEBRATE!!!!

Reving up for summer

I am so in love with the sunshine!!! With gas prices so high I really  had to put getting fit in perspective. The most basic tools you can use are your legs. My job is a few miles from my home, by car it takes me literally 10 minutes to get to work.  I decided that I would run home from work 2 days a week. I started this venture about two weeks ago. The first day I did a combination of walking and running, I think more so because I needed to scope out my surroundings.

The first time I take a new route, I feel it is necessary to scope out your surroundings for safety. Look at the buildings and residences in the area.  I make myself  aware of the people that are hanging around on a regular basis. In fact I always make sure to look out for mom's with children that I see on a regular basis. I make it a point to speak to them regularly. Mothers are very observant , even more so when they are outside with their children. In the event that you are ever in trouble that will be the person to remember you and what  happened .

The next thing I pay attention to  are the small business's in the area and what time they open and close. Most small business's have loyal customers and maintain consistent hours and employees. I make it a point to stop in and patronize one of them to make myself familiar with owner and so that have another safe zone. Finally I scope out the terrain and the traffic pattern. 

I  have cut my commute home down to 30 minutes and it is actually refreshing to  burn off all the stress of work  before I get home.  Did I tell you all that I am doing P90X, I will be completing my first 90 days in the second week of june. I will post my results then, Thanks again for all your support and encouragement!!!!