weight loss

That picture literally has nothing to do with this post. But I love a good selfie as much as the next person. This post is an update about my weight loss journey so far. DUN DUN DUN!!!

The first week I rocked it. I was an animal! I was so disciplined. That discipline payed off in a big way. I lost 11 pounds and 9 total inches. What?! The second week not so much. I gained 2 pounds. Wah wah! You know what was weird though? I still lost another 2.75 inches. Explain that science.

So what changed from the first week to the second? In short I got lazy. I went from being strict and on my diet to lax. I went back to work and didn't prepare my food before hand. Before heading out the door I would try and scramble to get something together but it never really happened. Which then forced me to get take-out. Yeah I was forced. I stopped drinking the water like I should. I could go on but really I cheated. I am a cheater! UGH! The sad thing is that I just cheated myself. I traded in my long term goal and happiness for a tiny moment of fake happiness.  

You would think that after the success of the first week I would be so pumped and rock my second week. What was the difference? What can I say? Old habits die hard. Real hard. I have learned already that weight loss is an extremely emotional thing for me. There have already been many feelings that have come up. Anger at myself and at others! Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Joy! Happiness! But mostly anger. HA! There are things that I clearly need to work out. I am not sure how to work through them but I will figure it out. My hope is that the sweat and tears will be cathartic and help me to wrap my head around the emotions. The funny thing is that I think I deserve better than the body that I have created for myself. I deserve to be able to chase my kids around the yard. I deserve to go on hikes, walks and runs. I deserve to be strong and healthy! That has to be a step in the right direction! The next step is knowing that I deserve more. I need to know it deep down in my heart.

Any helpful and kind tips and advice are so welcome! 

8 weeks

This is going to be one of those posts about weight loss and feelings and stuff. Just warning you! Yesterday I started a 8 week weight loss program with a personal trainer. She also happens to be my friend which makes it super awesome. This has been a long time coming. I don't want to get too into the details and the emotions that brought me to this place but I will say that it got to the point where something had to give. I was clearly unhappy with my health. I haven't felt good for a long while. I had my heart checked and had a super basic physical. There was nothing wrong but my weight. Nothing wrong but the way I have been treating my body. I have yo-yo dieted for my whole adult life. Up, down, up, down but never really making any real changes. 

So I am committing to 8 weeks. 8 weeks of making the right choices for me. It should be awesome, right?! I am still trying to convince myself. Something has changed in me though. Something has clicked. Usually when I start a weight loss program I get antsy. I start worrying about what I can't eat. That is a bad place to be! This time is different. I feel calm.  

You know the craziest part? I am less worried about my weight and more worried about how I am going to feel. I want to feel good physically at the end of this. That is not to say that I don't intend to weigh myself. I am going to be weighing myself once a week and doing my measurements the entire 8 weeks. There is something about having the number on the scale go down that is super motivating when you really want to give up. Not too mention that when you send your weight and measurements to a good friend you want those numbers to go down every week. Holy motivation yo! 

Would anyone be interested in updates? I love reading about peoples weight loss journeys!

Peace out!  -AnneMarie

I am hopping on the bandwagon

This blurry picture was taken by my son. I am sad to say that it is one of the ONLY pictures taken of me in the last few months. Literally. I like to be behind the camera not in front of it.  

Emily's post yesterday about DietBet made me think. It reminded me of the one pull up goal I made and then promptly threw aside. Well in all fairness I did do the upper arm workout once. ONCE! Ugh. I am here to recommit to my cause! No more waiting around for it to be cooler, hotter, morning, night, after dinner, before breakfast etc... I have an excuse for any time of day. The only time I have is now. I intend to use it more wisely.

As a family we have decided that it is time to stop eating sugar and fast food. Solidarity! We decided to do that mostly because my husband and son have sensitive stomachs that can't handle it. Really though we all need to lay off the sugar and fast food. Their poor stomachs are a great reason for us to make better health choices. None of us really feel well and that is largely due to what we put in our bodies. I am excited for the challenge of not having sugar. I am also scared shitless! The inevitable weight loss will be an excellent side effect but really I just don't want to feel like crap anymore. I feel like I need to say that we will not be giving up sugar entirely. Our plan is to cut it way back so when we have a special dessert it is a treat instead of an everyday occurrence.

Plus also as well! The time has come to recommit to my one pull up challenge. At the very least I need to be doing some kind of workout. So yoga with an emphasis on planks, lots of push ups, dumb bell rows, bananas and reverse bananas and inverted rows. I want to feel strong. Of course some cardio thrown in there too. Probably walking and jumping rope.

It feels empowering to take back your life. I have a long row to hoe. There are going to be times that I want to quit but I am hoping I can keep the enthusiasm up! Or at least fake it until I make it.

What do you do for workouts? Do you have any good recipes? Help a sister out!

-AnneMarie

 

Is this it?? YES!! I can do hard things and I am going to prove it! Weight loss journey happening here!!

So...I need to lose weight. Boo. Actually I am officially down 23 lbs but by basic accident. I have been trying LOTS of different programs, I mean LOTS and I think I have finally (I sure hope so this time)found what is working for me. I am drinking lots of water, avoiding carbs, attempting to keep them under 50-100 max a day, increasing fruits and veggies, limiting sugar (back to the carbs thing) and exercise.4 days a week. I have promised myself that I will stop eating when I am full, at the first inkling even. You'd think that would be an obvious thing but it hasn't always been that way for me. I also promised myself if there is anything I really want to have I will just have it. No denial. Starting with 3 bites. I am finding that usually after 3 bites of that naughty food thing, it sometimes wasn't all my mind had it cracked up to be so I can leave it and if it is I eat it. Hopefully avoiding the spiral into binge land when I can't stand it anymore and eat far beyond what I should to satisfy the craving.

ALSO...

I found a rad new game weight loss website!! You can click here to go check it out. Its called diet bet and the concept is that everyone playing puts in $30 and all who lose 4% in 28 days gets to split the pot!! HOW FUN?! They also have 6 month games if you are interested. Go check it out!! You can even start your own game if you want with your friends and family!! 

PS I am not being compensated by diet bet..I just think its cool and want to share.  They have a game that just started today so go and have some fun!! Lets do this together!! 

LOVES!!

Em

One Pull Up

via

I have decided that by end of this summer I want to be able to complete one pull up. Lofty goal, eh? IN all actuality it is a lofty goal for me. I have never been one to do a serious workout routine or really have a major fitness goal. I'm always saying I want to lose weight and be healthier but I have been wondering lately if that is not specific enough. There needs to be one particular thing I am shooting for. Really specific. So here we are. Doing one pull up encompasses two different things in my mind.

1. I need to lose weight. The less you weigh the easier the pull up

2. I need to workout my back, arms or chest everyday to accomplish this goal

I found two articles that I like about doing pull ups. This one here explains the difference between pull-ups and chin ups and gives exercises to help accomplish. This one here give advice and awesome exercises with video for getting it done as well. Also I have chosen to work on weight loss but you don't have to to do a pull up! If you are strong enough then you don't need to lose weight. That is my personal choice. 

This whole goal comes down to one thing for me: I want to be healthier so that I can live the life I want. I want to be able to keep up with my kids. They need a mom that will be around for a long time. At the rate I am going now that won't happen. I want to be strong and healthy and right now I am not. SO here I go! Wish me luck!

I am thinking of doing an instagram hashtag. Would anyone be interested in following along? Or interested in joining me? You can follow us at ramonaavenue on twitter and insta. Keep in mind that I am no expert and I will probably make plenty of mistakes.

I am off to do as many push ups as I possibly can!