Can you still eat chocolate?

I had to laugh when a colleague asked me this today.  I was leaving the book store after  picking  up my chocolate fix  and she appeared mortified at my purchase.  As if I was  going to destroy all of my hard work with one candy bar. It takes far more than one candy bar to gain 89 pounds back.

However, I do eat chocolate just not the way I used to, instead of purchasing a king size candy bar and eating the entire thing.  I break it into 4 pieces and enjoy 1/4 of it a day over  4 days. This way I still get my chocolate  fix but it does not effect my waist line.  I add it into my daily points values and  forget it. I don't do this every week or everyday. Even if I did, everything in moderation is OK!

I have found that over eating is difficult for me to do now. My body show signs of being full much sooner than it did in the past.  When I am full my body shows, no interest in food and it is hard for me to consume unnecessary calories. I now look for my body to signal hunger before I eat, and this has become second nature to me.  In the past I remember eating an never feeling hunger or feeling like I was always starving.  I no longer have those uncomfortable feelings. I think that is an accomplishment, it shows  that I am in control!!!!

Don be afraid of your favorite things, find a way to eat them in moderation that work for you.

Small Changes

Working out does not have to be painful and grueling. Working out can be fun if you learn how to enjoy simple everyday things. Sunday  and  Tuesday we have a dance hour in my house, it was started to run out some of that energy that my kids have before they wind down for bed.  Not only is it fun but, it is a work out. By the time we are done everyone is sweating and  bath time is a necessary for everyone involved.  My kids love it  and they are always asking " Do we have dance hour today?" My one year old frequently walks up to the television and starts to dance and points at me.

Another thing that I now do religiously is take the stairs, it does not matter how many flights. I always take the stairs up and down.  It has been my goal for quite sometime not to be winded when I reached the top step. Currently I can do ten  flights with out breaking a sweat and that feels amazing. Shoot a lady still has to look good when she reaches her destinations. I have been known to take off my shoes and carry toiletries just in case.


Finally, we all must shop regardless of what we are shopping for. If you park in the farthest spot possible you will be sure to get a workout every time you go to the grocery store.  I usually park in the last spot available in the lot.  A few small changes will help increase your activity level slowly. Don't be afraid to change some habits,  change  will eventually  help you  Get Off The Couch!!!!

My hectic life

So my  life has been so hectic, my son plays football now. So my evening are a constant race to get to practice, make dinner, eat, work out , give baths, read stories and prep for the next day. 
I have created a checklist of what has to be done each day and for me working out is on the list. I know myself and as much as I love running outside,cold weather is deterrent. So as of tomorrow I am back in the gym in the morning. It is actually a good thing because I need  to shake up my routine and the gym will help me do that.

On a side note no one told me that my calf's would shrink so, now I have to replace all of my knee boots. I am dreading the loss of my lovely shoes :(   Oh well if getting off the couch gets me three new pairs of knee boots who am I to complain.

Goal Day!!!!

I have to thank Val for the split pictures that she did for me.  You can see the difference is crazy with these amazing pictures. I have lost close to ninety pounds of fat and I feel amazing. As you can see by the ticker on the side I still have some weight left to lose. I will continue to work toward my weight loss goal until I achieve it but I am also focusing on other  fitness goals as well.

1.  extending my daily run to 6 miles

2.  (next year)  Bikini photo with great abs!!!

3. Running a 1/2 marathon

4. Complete P90X2

5. Work on my muscle definition

6.  To actually write my food down instead of tracking on the computer. I sometimes fail to keep track when I dont have access technology. So I plan to start writing my food down because I should have no excuses

WOW  my goals are different!!!!!! I can say that I have completed all of my previous goals and I am looking forward to sharing the rest of this journey with you all.  Next goal day January 1, I should be running 6 miles a day by then. Time to get some cold weather running gear. If you have any doubt about Getting Off The Couch. I can tell you , that you wont regret  it. If you cant get off the couch, I have a solution for you to, until you can. 

This Elliptical machine has an average cost of $80.00 and you can sit on the couch and use it. That is until you can get off the couch  on your own.   You can start this journey today, it is your life!

Blessings and Love!!!!!

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!