One Month: Diagnosis Progress

Its been a month since starting this new journey.  A month ago I decided to change my life by exercising more and eating better.  I've made a few mistakes and a few gains along the way.

The mistakes I've made are ones that I have learned from.  The first was that I started this 'journey' a week before vacation.  The vacation was relaxing, and the idea for this was great, but I should have waited.  Its difficult to eat healthy on the road and get the exercise you need.  Luckily, I have a great aunt that had great food and we walked a lot during our vacation.  I didn't lose any weight, but didn't gain any either.

Other mistakes include the typical drawbacks, Cheesecake Factory, not feeling well, a cookie in the pantry.  Typical sabotages to any diet.  From these setbacks I've learned that they are okay and that miss stepping once in a while is okay...as long as you don't keep on that same path.  Cheesecake is good one day, but don't have that chocolate cookie the next.  Eat a bowl of fruit instead.  Myfitnesspal.com has also helped in these diet misfires.  It is making me more self conscious about what I'm putting in my mouth.  I actually stop and think...am I going to be in the red with this treat (most of the time its yes!)

I've also gained a lot from this new lifestyle and especially this blog.  The first is that I have a lot of support, which I am thankful for everyday.  Many people have said they have read or are going to read this blog, which means the world to me.  Even if they are on a different journey, them reading this means that I have to keep posting, I have to keep making progress.

I also exercise a lot more than I thought I would.  I at least go every other day now to run.  Sometimes I go two or three days in a row.  Its amazing the way I feel after a workout.  And its amazing how bad I feel if I don't workout.  Its not a guilty feeling, its a sluggish, slower starting kind of feeling.

I guess the last major thing I've gained is my diet.  As I've said before, there were a few miss steppings, but overall I've changed the way I eat.  Now in my lunch I take frozen fruit (another delectable find) and by the time I eat it, its thawed and still cold!  And when I eat unhealthy food...aka McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy's...my stomach actually hurts.  (It doesn't sound that great, but it has kept me away from those types of food).

Its only been a month and I have changed a lot about the way I eat and exercise.  But it has only been a month, which means I still have a long way to go.  I still have the urges for McDonalds, Taco Bell, and cheesecake.  And sometimes its easier to eat the cafeteria food in the hospital then it is to make myself a healthy lunch.  These are things I plan to work on in the next month (oh, and that whole drinking pop thing...we're still working on that!)

Are You Kidding?

I know this is a late post...sorry.  I had a few tire issues to work out and now here we go!


So I get on the American Eagle website the other day and find these new things in the jeans section called Jeggings.  I figure its an American Eagle thing, whatever.  Then I see on the Yahoo scrolling news on the front page, the new "in" thing is Jeggings.  Really?  I'm working my butt of to get out of tight jeans and they want me to get myself back into tight jeans?  If I wanted that I would just eat more and save the money and make the jeans I have now "jeggings."  Skin tight jeans that are suppose to look like leggings...what's next?!

This got me thinking about the other useless "fashions" that are "in" right now.  I'll admit it, I want to lose weight so I can wear some of the latest styles, but after the mini freak out I had over Jeggings, I figured I'd find out what else was out there that I'm "suppose" to wear.
1. Ruffles
Some ruffles are okay, don't get me wrong.  Its the one's that are on the neckline that block your sightline.  I don't quite understand why I need so much fabric around my neck.  And ultimately, you have to reach around those things to do anything in front of you.  Come on, we as women had to get used to our boobs being there and now we're suppose to get used to a mess of ruffles?

2.  Ass Shorts
And by ass shorts I mean the shorter than short khaki and denim shorts they sell in the malls.  The ones that have like a half-inch inseam.  The ones that barely cover your butt cheeks.  Thats honestly the last thing I want to see walking in front of me is part of someone's butt.  And even if I workout, lose all this weight, and they look good...you're not going to be seeing my butt cheeks.  Its a butt...there's nothing really special about it.

3. Bodysuits
Evidently this little trend is making a comeback because I've seen several on store websites (Forever 21, Lucky magazine's website).  I had to wear something similar in gymnastics all those years ago and that was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever worn.  If and when I get thin, a bodysuit is the last thing on my list.
4.  Mini dress
The dresses I'm talking about are like the ass shorts I described earlier.  The only difference is that this not only exposes the booty, but the frontal goodies too.  Sure losing weight means smaller clothes, but come on, do I really have to show off everything?  If I'm paying for a dress I'm gonna make sure it covers properly.

I'm not saying these trends are horrible and nobody should wear them...you just won't see me in these anytime soon.  As I lose weight I may be able to wear some of these, but its not likely.  Just like Jeggings, I'm not working out to get myself out of tight clothes only to put myself back in them.

Calling All Runners, Joggers, Walkers...etc

I NEED HELP...
The most important part to my workout...music.  I think most would agree that it is the motivational force behind a workout, and can keep you in the moment even when every muscle in your body is begging you to stop.  While I'm running, I try to keep fast-paced, in your face rock songs playing.  But that one slow, monotonous song will come on in the middle of running  and completely kill my rhythm.

Now the reasoning behind the all-caps, call for help...my music list has become stagnant.  I have a few songs that are my mainstays to my workout, but they are few in number and the rest are becoming repetitive.  I find that I am skipping songs more often throughout the workout making it very difficult to get into a rhythm.  So what I am hoping is that someone or someones out there will have some suggestions as to new songs for motivating me throughout my workout.  

Don't worry...I'm putting my list of songs that I love to workout to, so if you would like to try them out you can!!!  I would love any suggestions you have...please and thank you!

Atreyu - Falling Down

Bullet for My Valentine - Heart Burst Into Fire

A Change of Pace - Weekend Warriors

Chevelle - I Get It

The Classic Crime - Grave Digging

Daddy Yankee - Rompe; Gasolina 

Destiny's Child - Lose My Breath

Flight 409 - The Street, The Sound

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

Likin Park - Bleed It Out

Mayday Parade - When I Grow Up (Punk goes Pop - cover of the Pussycat Dolls)

Rise Against - From Heads Unworthy; Behind Closed Doors; Re-Education (Through Labor)

Shinedown - Devour; Sound of Maddness

Sick City - Antoinette

Road Tripping and Dieting

The test to my dieting and exercising plan...a road trip to Ohio the second week of my new lifestyle.  And I would say under the circumstances it hasn't been too bad.  We've walked around both days we've  been here, I've tried to watch what I eat, and gotten plenty of sleep.  I would say somewhat a success.

The one thing that has kept me on track...myfitnesspal.com.  Its this fantastic website that my aunt turned me onto that makes watching your calories easy.  When you first sign up and create your page, it asks you your current weight and what you want your goal weight to be.  It then asks you how much you want to lose a week (i.e. 1 lb, 1.5 lbs, 2lbs...it only lets you go up to 2 lbs for health reasons).  After that it gives you a target calorie intake.  It will also ask you how much exercise you want to do in a week and then show you your daily goals and your weekly goals to show you how close you are to meeting your exercise goals.  Plus, what calories you burn are added back into your calorie intake, essentially allowing you to eat more calories and still being able to lose weight.

This website makes the daunting task of calorie counting a little easier and much more fun.  You start off in the "green" with how many calories you get in a day.  Then as you move through your day and add your food, it will subtract from your daily total.  If you go over, you calorie intake moves into the "red."  Its a fun challenge to keep yourself in the green, and really makes you think about what you are eating. 

While it is very difficult to truly know what you are eating, for me it has been about eating fewer calories a day.  Last week I would go over by 400 or 500 calories, but as the week progressed I would eat 10 fewer this day, or 15 fewer that day.  Its little steps, and as I get more used to this program I will be able to eat fewer calories and get within my goal.  Its all about learning how to eat better.

Ahhhhhhhh!

Okay, now that I've got that out of my system...my first official post (the introduction doesn't count.)  Basically I started Monday, yesterday, really working out.  I've been doing it here and there for a while and eating healthy only rarely, but as of yesterday I'm two days in.  I've decided that its not really called a diet, its more like a life change, and typing this blog to you guys will hold me accountable each week.  (Because it might be quite embarrassing to start such a blog and then just stop...I mean this is permanent internet stuff, it doesn't go away...haha!)

So I originally decided on one big goal...lose xx amount of weight (you don't really think I'd put the actual amount...that's taboo!)  Once I hit that goal weight I would reward myself...and the reward...a really cute bomber jacket from Fossil.  Now I know its expensive, but I figure if I reach my goal and really lose all that weight, I've earned it.  (Click on the link to see it!!!  PS...its from www.fossil.com)

Then I decided that may take a while.  So I set these little goals for myself.  For every ten pounds I lose I'll buy myself a little something...a cute shirt, a pair of shoes, scrubs...or anything of the like.  This should make it a little more fun and easier to meet a goal right?  Well we shall see.

I've also hit some hurdles.  Not this week per-say, but in the last couple of months while trying to find time to work out (also one of the motivational things behind this blog).  I've been working third shift and, while I thought I would acclimate to it just fine, it seems I was wrong.  It was hard getting enough sleep, and sometimes I wouldn't sleep at all.  The last thing I wanted to do after work was go workout.  But like some intervention, I was moved to second shift.  More normal hours, and maybe some more sleep.  (Lets just say I moved to second yesterday and have already worked out twice this week, more than some weeks I was on third shift).

And then came the hardest part...diet.  I love my sugar...so giving it all up cold turkey isn't going to work.  That's why I'm doing it a step at a time.  I'll conquer one sweet at a time and then move on, eventually only eating sweets on special occasions.  First...soda.  Its my go to when I get tired at work or don't think I can make it through the night because I haven't slept all day.  Its easy not to drink it on my day off because if I get tired I can take a nap or go to bed earlier.  Its being at work I have to watch.

Alright, that is enough for post number 1.  Hopefully in next week's post there will be more good news, more success.  Until then, be safe, have fun, and live life on the edge!

Introduction

Welcome one and all!  My intention is to make this a weekly blog about the trials and tribulations of losing weight and working out.  Of course, if any of you know me, it will probably get way off subject at some point, but I think that brings a fun, unexpected element to things!  Anyhow, I will try to post every Tuesday (my day off, more time to write!) and make it fun and exciting!  Well, here we go...

The link page also has some of the things I'm wanting to try food wise and exercise wise.  I've done some of the exercise and made some of the food, but if you find something you like and try it, let me know what you think!