What the @#$% am I doing wrong!!!!

That is how I felt a bit last month when I felt like I hit a Plataea . I really had to look at what I was doing and make sure I was really on plan.  On the Surface it appeared that was, I was running every morning, eating fairly well. I would treat myself occasionally but nothing to extravagant or high in calories.

So I decided to sit down and look at a few things:
1. My food diary
2. My fitness journal and run keeper
3. My attitude

1. Food Diary:
I realized that I failed to complete some of  meal entries and that I had  over indulged in some meals then skipped others. I also realized that I was eating almost the same thing every week. Shoot i got bored just reading it. That would explain why I am finding my self, uninterested in food more and more.

2. Fitness Journal:
My journal showed that I was consistent with working out but in the intensity column I was checking moderate. Which means to me that I was not working as hard as could be working out during some of my workouts. I also saw that I was doing some of the same workout consistently and I was getting bored with them. Running was consistent I did it six days a week but my distance was not progressing, I was consistently at 3.5 miles.

3. Attitude:
Hmmmm what can I say, I have been a bit annoyed with everything lately. So I am sort of being ruled by emotions and it is time for me to let my brain take control.

After reviewing all of that I realize that I need to get out the cook book or my stack of cooking light magazines and do some meal planning.  I really need to make sure that I write down everything that I eat as well.   Enjoying what I eat is important to me, I did not gain 110 extra pounds eating boring food. So I am not going to lose the weight eating boring food!! I also have to get back the intensity in my workouts, find my hunger again. Running will always be a part of my life so, I need to increase my distance. Finally my attitude, I have to stop worrying about things I can not control and stop letting emotions rule me.

I think I have said this time and time again, this journey is a very difficult one. I am learning about my self more and more each day. Even though this road is a narrow one, I am so glad I decided to Get off The Couch!!!!!

Vacation complexities

I am so sorry that I have been MIA but vacation has made it difficult to blog. So vacation was great, I maintained my running schedule although to be honest I had to stop working out twice a day for a week.  Eating was a challenge, we were gone for like three weeks.  So I did eat a few meals that I would not consider part of my plan. However I am ok with it, I did not gain but I only loss a 1/2 a pound in three weeks. So I guess you can say I did OK, considering living in hotels, spare rooms and traveling non stop for three weeks.

Where am I now?, well I am working on getting back to my 6am running schedule. The summer was awesome because I was able to run at 8am but since I need to be at work at 8 that is out of the question. I am also participating in 10lbs challenge with my husband. I am don't want to lose that bet so I am focused!!!

So I am in the max interval part of Insanity and it is indeed insane!!!!!!  So I am back from vacation and still grinding toward my goal. I wont stop even whenI get there!!!

BMI Category

I have officially left the obese category, according to my BMI I am now in the overweight category.  This is a major goal completion for me. I have been working  so hard to get out of that high risk category and  I am so proud to have reduced my health risks. 

If you look to the right you will see  I have reduced my BMI by 16 points and lost 86.4 pounds, in the eleven months since starting this journey. I turned 32 on Sunday and I was in the best shape of my life. I am truly amazed at the things my body can do!!! From running, to P90x to Insanity I am pushing my limits now.

My children notice that I am changing my habits, my oldest son now asks to run with me and tries to lift weights. My newly one year old, routinely breaks into downward dog. He also loves my yoga mat and claps while I work out.

I know I say this all the time but my life has changed drastically because of this journey. If you are considering starting a journey that will improve your health. Don't wait!!! Get Off The Couch!

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!!!