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My Weight Loss Journey: 504 Days-1 Year and 140 Days

Image result for pictures showing motivation

Image result for pictures showing motivation
       

I know that you all want to know how I have been doing since I ran my first 5k, and I have to say that I have not been doing so good with my journey.
For some reason I am mentally blocked with my workouts and my nutrition. The journey has become a chore mentally which has caused me to not want to do it anymore. So, I am finding myself eating foods that I know I should not eat, and I don’t care. But then I go to a Weight Watchers Meeting and I am up on my weight; and then I feel bad and guilty for eating the foods that I ate and for not working out which makes me want to just eat. But then I leave the meeting motivated to do better, but then I hear a voice telling me that I am never going to be able to lose the weight so why try. And the negative cycle continues. I have been feeling like this ever since I ran my 5k and I have not been able to shake it off. I am not sure what is going on with me and I am not sure why this is happening, but what I do know is that I like wearing smaller clothes, and I like being able to walk up the stairs at my complex and not get winded, and I really liked the fact that I ran a 5k. So, why have I been mentally blocked as it concerns my weight loss, and how do I get over it?

The last time I was this close to my weight loss goal I was in graduate school and I was so focused on health and being healthy that it was easy to go and workout, but then I joined the real world and my focus changed to paying bills, and becoming a grown-up. I now have a family to think about, and I want to be around a long time, so my focus is just wanting to be healthy, looking good is just a bonus. But lately my major focus (my family) has not been able to motivate me to want to stay on track, and I find myself not caring about my weight loss journey. It all just feels like a big, boring chore; it’s not fun anymore and I am not getting motivated by wearing smaller clothes, or getting compliments. What’s happening and how do I get over this obstacle, because I have come to far to just go back to how I was-depress, sad, really over weight, and just not healthy? Well, I don’t know the answer to my question but what I do know is that I plan to continue to go to my Weight Watchers meeting, tracking what I am eating, and working out, in spite of feeling like it is a chore. Maybe, just maybe, the motivation will come back and I will want to continue to workout and make better food choices and not feel like it is a chore.  

If anybody has any advice on how I can move pass this feeling I am open to suggestions, and if you are feeling the same way please know that you are not alone and it is a mental thing and we will get pass it and back on track, just don’t give up. I am telling myself the same thing too…https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5029725650024945545#editor/target=post;postID=3448776774907382198;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=4;src=postname

Until next time……

Image result for pictures showing motivation

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 464-1 Year and 99 Days

It has been a while since my last posting and I have a lot to share with you all. First let me share with you guys that I currently weigh 217.8 lbs, and I have lost a total of 36.6 lbs. For a while I was gaining weight and it was so frustrating. However, I figured out that I just needed to have some self control during the late nights and once I cut out the late night snacks (that costed points) the pounds started to come off again. I am so excited to see the numbers go down and to have figured out what I was doing wrong. But I also have another exciting update for you all; I just completed my first 5k run/walk race.

I decided to do a 5k after talking with a co-worker who has been doing them for a while, and at the beginning of the year I signed up for the 5k in my neighborhood (Super Strive For 5 given by the Mount Prospect Park District). When I submitted the application to register for the race I was excited and very nervous, so I keep it to myself for awhile. After I signed up I also began to do some research on how to train for a 5k, because I did not want to hurt myself trying to run this race. I came across a blog by Jason Fitzgerald (strengthrunning.com). He discussed different types of exercises that I would need to do in order to strengthen my core. Jason stated that he had been doing this routine since college, and he simply called it the Standard Core Routine. See below for the 6 exercises that I did based off of the advise of Jason:

  •  The Modified Bicycle
  • Plank
  • Bridge
  • Side Plank
  • Modified Bird Dog
  • Supine Leg Lift
I liked the routine because I did not need any equipment to perform them, I only needed myself and time. So, I began training for the 5k in February, and that is when it was real for me-when I began to train for it. For 6 days a week I would go work out (trying to get ready for the 5k) doing cardio training, weight training, and core strengthening. Some days I was physically tried, but I could push through that and I did. The days when I was mentally tried were harder to push through, but some how I did. I had to keep telling myself just take it one day at a time, and don’t focus on the time just know that you are getting stronger. I trained and trained and finally the day came when I was to race. I was soooooo nervous because I wanted to do good because my family was going to be there, and also because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I was soooo out of my comfort zone that it was funny. But I have to learn to step out of my comfort zone if I want to grow and move forward in life. On Saturday, June 13, 2015 I completed my first 5k run/walk race in 40:48.3 minutes, I came in 13th place for my age group, and my pace was 13.10/m. After I crossed the finish line I felt great. I felt really strong and powerful; I felt like I could do anything. I also wanted to cry because I was sooooo happy that I actually completed the race, and I completed it strong.
I really had fun and I plan on doing another 5k race, I will keep you guys posted. But if you are interested in running a 5k please check out Jason Fitzgerald’s blog to gain more information and a plan. And also know that you can do it and it is totally worth it. Until next time….
Completed My First 5k Run/Walk

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 422-1 year and 57 days

I have been on my weight lost journey for little over 1 year now, and I must say there have been a lot of ups and downs, and some eye opening moments. And all of the ups and downs and eye opening moments have helped me to begin to understand and love my body. So, of course I have to share some of the frustrations that I have encountered while on this journey, because I don’t want people to believe that it is an easy journey I want to be real with everyone that reads my blog.

Soooooo, I will start from day 1; the day I made the decision to walk into Weight Watchers and start the journey. I was so depressed and I knew I needed to change my lifestyle but all I heard (in my mind) was that it was not going to work and this would be a waste of my money. But I walked into the meeting and began my journey. A month into the journey the weight was just coming off with little activity, I was just doing what I was told to do. But as the days turned into months it began to get harder for the weight to come off, and I could not figure out why. I start working out more, but I also began to go over on my allotted points and guess what, the weight began to come back. So, I began to get mad at myself (because I was over eating) and I was mad at the program because I did not think it was working. But I continue to go to the meetings and track what I was eating. While I was tracking I began to notice that I was a late night snacker and that I had to get that under control if I was going to continue to lose weight. I cut  out certain foods and I worked out 6 days a week, and still  I was gaining weight. As the weight continue to come back, in spite of what I was doing, I began to get more frustrated. But I continued to go to the meetings and track what I was eating, in spite of my frustrations. And then one day I woke up (mentally) and made the decision to stop snacking at night. Once I made that decision I began to see it on the scale, but I don’t get too excited because I have learned that I need to stay focus on the overall goal and not just the short term goal that was accomplished. Now some of you may say that I should celebrate, but the reason why I don’t do it too big when a short term goal is met is because I go over board with it and then the achieved goal is null and void because I gained the weight back. Let me try to explain what I mean about me going over board.

I have learned, while on this journey, that I really can’t just eat whatever I want when I want because I will gain weight. Which is so frustrating because I want to be able to eat a cheese burger and ice cream (regular ice cream) and not gain weight. But during this journey when I have met a goal weight that I set for myself I would get soooo happy and tell myself that it is okay to have the ice cream and cookies (but I would have 2 bowels instead of 1 bowel) and then I would get weighted in at Weight Watchers and I would up a 1 lb or 3 lbs, and shame, angry, and frustration would come-then negative mind talk would happen-then the cycle would continue. See-overboard….

Losing weight can be sooooo frustrating because there are ups and downs, and at times there can be more downs then ups but you have to make up in your mind to continue to make the right choices (working out, being active, and making health food choices) and the weight will come off. But during the tough times( the downs) you have to be able to motive yourself, so I would suggest finding some positive quotes and putting them up where you will be sure the see them, and look at them daily. My faith in God kept me moving forward (staying active, working out 6 days a week, being mindful of what I eat) during the time when the weight was coming back. I am not out of the woods yet, but I have gain more clarity on why I ended up over weight in the first place and I am willing to work through them to reach my weight lost goal. Until next time…..

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 322 (New Year Reflection)

Well I am  a month into the New Year and I have had some time to reflect on 2014, and what I learned about myself and my weight loss journey. So, here are the 5 things that I learned about weight lost while on my weight lost journey, and I can tell you that I was a little surprise.


The 5 Things That I Have Learned On My Weight Lose Journey:

 
Number 5: Food Is Not The Enemy:
-I know that we are taught from birth that fat and sugar is bad; they will kill you. Well, that is not totally true. The truth is that over eating food in general will kill you. I am learning (truly learning) how to listen to my body and when I have had enough-then that is enough. While on this journey I have eaten cheeseburgers, and ice cream (regular ice cream), cakes, and cookies and I am still losing weight. Food is not the enemy—-not listening to your body and over eating is the enemy.
 
 
 
 
Number 4: Plan For It:
-When you are over weight you always feel like you are not in control; or shall I say that is how I felt-out of control. But while on this journey I am leaning that people don’t plan on failing they just fail to plan. Having a plan of what you will or will not eat during party times, holidays, regular days, everyday is setting yourself up for success. And by not having a plan you will fail. So now I plan out what I am going to eat almost everyday, and I have found that I have more control over what I put in my mouth. I no longer just eat food mindlessly-I plan it out. But I can tell you that it was not easy to do at first, but now it has become a part of who I am. So, PLAN FOR IT…..
 
 
 
Number 3: Be Mindful Of Your Mind Talk:
-We talk to ourselves everyday all day, and we tell ourselves the most negative things that anyone can imagine. STOP IT….. I had to learn to tell myself that I can do it and that I am losing weight (even when I come to a stand still). I had to learn to tell myself I am beautiful, smart, professional, and strong. I had to learn to tell myself that, and then I have to learn to believe it. I also had to learn to stop listening to the excuses that my mind gave me for why I can’t go work out or why I should be able to eat another piece of cake. I have learned that we (you-me) are the only ones that can stop us from being successful, and it starts in the mind. So, I have to learn to say (speak out) the opposite of what my mind is telling me, that way my mind will start saying the positive instead of the negative.
 
 
 
Number 2: Take It One Day At A Time:
-When you start to lose weight it comes off quick and then your body gets use to what you are doing and eating and you have to change it up. When this occurs it is so easy for you to say why can’t I lose the weight faster or this is taking tooooo long, and then stop trying. This almost happened to me, I almost gave up on changing my life because of how long it is taking for me to lose the weight. But then I remembered that it did not take a day for me to gain the weight (it was a little easier) so that means that it is going to take time. So now, I don’t focus on the big goal of how much I want to loss I focus on the one day. I get through that day and when the next day comes I do the same all over again. God tells us not to worry about what we will eat or drink or wear because He will provide all of that for us. He also tells us to focus on the present because worrying about the future adds nothing to your life. So, I am learning how to take it one day a time.
 
 
 
Number 1: Forgive Yourself:
-We carry a lot of emotion baggage that we think we have dealt with. And most of the time we have not dealt with it, but we have gained weight. So, I have to learn how to forgive myself for some of the choices that I have made. I have to learn how to celebrate my mother’s life instead of continuous grieving for her.  By forgiving myself, and letting go, I get back power over my life. Fear does not win. We all make mistakes, but it’s those mistakes that help us to grow and become better. By holding on to the what ifs, and could haves, should haves causes us to gain weight, and it makes it difficult for it to come off. So, I am learning how to forgive myself, I haven’t yet but I am headed in the right direction. LET IT GOOOOOO…… and watch the pounds come off…….
 
 
 
So, there is still more that I need to learn but I am ready to change. Let me know what you think of what I have learned thus far, and please share some of what you have learned on your on personal journey. Until next time…….
 
 
 
 

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 285

What is the secret to losing weight? This is a question that everyone is asking and everyone is trying to answer/or claiming to have the answer too. Well, I believe that I have the best answer to this very common question, and it is you.

Well, how can you be the secret to losing weight you may ask; especially if you have yet to be successful with it? And the answer is, it is your will to want to lose weight that is the secret. Your will is your mind, and in order for you to lose weight you must be mentally ready and mentally strong in order for you to be successful (met your weight lose goal).

Society will have you thinking that there is a magic pill that you can take and the weight will go away, or that plastic surgery is the way. But this is so far from the true because what you may not know is that the magic pill will have a side effect on your body (so you lose weight but now your heart is beating too fast) or all of the money spent to get lipo and 6 months later the weight comes back. So, why is this you be be thinking and that is because the true secret is in your mind. You must be determine and focus on losing weight. And understand that there is not a quick fix to losing weight. It took years for you to gain the weight so,when done correctly, it will take years to get it off.

Now, how does this all relate to my journey you may be wondering? And it relates because today I have gained 3 lbs after losing 25 lbs, and I have to understand that during this journey I will go up and down, but I must continue to put one foot in front of the other and continue to focus on my over all goal. It is soooooooooo easy to lose focus especially when you have people coming up to you and tell you that it looks like you have lost weight. You began to look at yourself in the mirror and say, yeah, I can see it because my clothes are much bigger. And then you start to lose focus on the bigger picture–the weight lost goal that you set at the beginner of the year, month, week, etc, and think that it is okay to eat that doughnut (2 doughnuts), the piece of cake (2 pieces of cake) and before you know it the scale is moving up, and your self esteem is going down. The next thing that happens is that you just stop trying because what is the point you have already gained 5 lbs, and your journey is over (yet again).

Can you see why I say that the secret to weight lost is you???? 

Because if you aren’t ready to go through the ups and downs of weight lost, the compliments, the baggy clothes, your other inner voice then you will fall off the wagon and gain all of the weight back and then some. And I must admit, it almost happened to me this time around, but I chose to join Weight Watchers, and going to those meetings are honestly helping me remain focus on my weight lost goal (to lost 64 lbs). This time I will accomplish my weight lost goal because through all of my trials with my weight I have gotten mentally tough and wise. I am wise enough to know that it took time to gain the weight, it will take time to lose it, and that I need help. If you have the WILL there is A WAY, I have the WILL and by seeking out help I am  finding the WAY……

Share your ups and downs because you never know who will be inspired by your story, and you can also share any advice for me that you may have (or what you think thus far). Until next time……

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 260

Well, I made it through Thanksgiving and I did not gain any weight. I lost 0.8lbs and I was soooooooo happy to see a decrease in my weight that it did not matter that it was only 0.8lbs. I bet you are wondering what I did this Thanksgiving that was different from the last thanksgiving, and I would have to say a little more control of myself is what I did different.

I cooked the same food that I cooked last Thanksgiving, but I did substitute some ingredients. Instead of me using whole cheese and milk, I used reduced fat dairy products. For my dressing I used corn bread made from wheat flour. And I made 3 sweet potatoe pies, 2 regular pies and 1 reduced fat. I must say that I was little skeptical about the pie that I made for myself, but it turned out really good; even my husband said it was good and that made me feel great.

The food that was made was not the only thing that was different this Thanksgiving, my inner man was a little different as well. I will admit that I have been a little sad this holiday season but I know that everything will work out for me best, and I just have to focus on the things that God has given me stewardship over (which includes my purpose). I cannot continue to worry about the what ifs in life, because God has already figured it all out for me I just have to trust and believe in God ONLY, and everything will work out for my good. SO, I guess I can say that my inner man was a little stronger this year than last, so I had more self control because of it.

If you take nothing from this posting but 1 thing, I hope that it is this- focus on your inner man, and listen to her(him). That still small voice will never lead you in the wrong direction. We need to all stop worrying about the what-ifs of this life and be thankful for what God has given us stewardship over, and lets focus on groooooowwwwwwing it. The every day stressors of this life will make you lost focus on what you need to focus on until you really think you are doing what you are meant to do. JUST STOP………Listen   to that small voice and go with it.

This Thanksgiving I had many things to be thankful for and if I did not stop to hear my still small voice tell me just that I would have been really sad and depress. How was your Thanksgiving? What did you eat or better yet what did you learn this Thanksgiving? Please share. Until next time……

Low Fat Sweet Potatoe Pie (Only 3pts per slice)

Low Fat Sweet Potatoe Pie (Only 3pts per slice)

Part of what I am thankful for……

Lee V

Lee III and Lee V

Lee III and Lee V

 

My Weight Loss Journey: Day 252

During the holiday season we are suppose to be happy and joyous. This is the time of the year when families come together to eat, give present to each other, be thankful for each other, and just plain old love on each other. Well, at least that is what the media tells us that we should be doing. But my question is, how do you do all of this and still stay on track with your weight lost plans? Great question, and I have been asking myself that question every day of this month thus far.



So, let me start by saying that I have gain almost 1lb (0.6lbs), and I am soooooo disappointed with myself. I know what some of you are thinking, come on it is not even a pound. But for someone that has been on this journey for years 0.6lbs up is a big thing, because that could start a downward spiral and cause a person to collapse and just gain all the weight back.

Now, I am not saying that is what has happened but I am saying that it has caused me to lose some focus. So, being who I am I began to question why am I losing focus now? And I think it is because of the holiday season. This was the time when I would go home and lay under my family (my mother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc.), but I haven’t been home in years. And the reason that I have not been home in years is because my mother, my best friend in this whole world, is no longer here in the flesh with me. I grieve her every day, and it gets worst during the holiday season. During this time of the year I just fell alone and lost. And all I want to do is eat. So, I do and I feel better for a moment but that moment quickly goes away. So, instead of me doing what I would normally do I decided to search within myself for the answer.   And this week I have really been trying to listen to my body and hear what it is trying to tell me, and what I believe that I am hearing is that I still miss my mother. I miss her and it is having an affect on my weight loss journey.


Don’t be fooled to think that grieve for something or someone will not affect you in your life, because you would be lying to yourself. Like I stated in my previous post about grieving, it never truly goes away. It will get better, and you will be able to deal with it but it will also affect you. And when we all recognized that and accept it we can grow from what the grieve has to teach us. I am not happy that my mother, my best friend, had to leave me so soon. But what I am thankful for is that I have the opportunity to have a mother that loved me unconditionally. She was proud of me even when I made mistakes. She was my biggest supporter and my toughest critique. But I knew and know she loved me no matter what.


Yes, I am disappointed that the scale went up instead of down, but I am not going to quit and throw in the towel on this journey. My mommy would not like that, she would say the winners never quit and quitter never win; so which one are you. She would also say that she is proud of me for even attempting to lose weight, to acknowledge that I have a weakness for cakes and cookies, sweets in general because most people would lie to themselves and continue to do what they have been doing.


I ask my self that question everyday, which one am I? So, now I am asking you; which one are you? There are something in this life that we must fight for, and right now I am fight to lose weight; which will lead to something bigger. Which one are you? And what are you fighting for? I am up now but I will be down, and I will reach my weight lost goal…..


Please share your own personal stories of lost and triumph. Until next time…


 

My Weight Lost Journey: Day 233

The weight loss process is said to be an up and down process, and I am here to tell you that the statement is soooooo very true. Since I have been doing Weight Watchers my weight has gone up and down, but mostly down (which is what I want), but when it goes up I question myself, I question what am I doing wrong and what should I change. Of course when I lose weight I am motivated to keep up the hard work, to keep pressing forward and remain focus on my weight lost goals. The up and down process of losing weight brings about different emotions and thoughts that I really did not pay attention until I started Weight Watchers, which I think is a good thing because I am more aware of my thoughts now. But when you hit a plateau what do you do?

Plateau is defined as a period when something does not increase or advance any further; an when this happens to someone losing weight it can be very frustrating and disappointing. Well, at least for me it has been very frustrating and disappointing because I feel that I am working hard to lose this weight. Even though I am frustrated, I am also looking within because it is something that I am doing or not doing that has caused me to hit a plateau. And you know what I uncovered-that I am fearful of what is going to happen when I lose all of the weight. And with that aha moment that I realized that sometimes we sabbotage ourselves because we maybe fearful of what’s coming, fearful of change.
So, the question on hand is what do you do? How do you over come the plateau phase of weight lost? And the only answer that I have for you, as well as myself, is to stay focus on your goals. From going to the meetings I have learned that this phase is all apart of weight lost because your body begins to become use to what you are doing and makes adjustments. I must remain focus, so that means that I must workout on the scheduled days (no excuses), and I must manage my points better and make better food choices. Because the reality is that it is up to me to make the Weight Watchers program work for me, and if I don’t reach my weight lost goal that it is my fault. There will be ups, downs, and plateaus but if I stay focus on my goals they will come true.
In short, being in the plateau phase sucks, but I am in the plateau phase and a while ago I was just in he depression phase. I am doing something about what I don’t like and don’t want so I am proud of myself for that. And this to shall pass…..Please share your own story of overcoming a difficult situation or just let me know what you think. Until next time……

The feeling that I will feel when I reach my goals….

My Weight Loss Journey: Day 191

I am happy to announce to you all that as of yesterday I lost 25lbs (lost 10% of my body fat);  which means that I achieved my 4th personal weight lost goal. I am currently in a size 16, so I am down 2 pants sizes and I am so happy about my accomplishments thus far. I have a birthday coming up and I am so happy that I am the size I use to be, but I don’t want to stay this size for the rest of my life and with Weight Watchers I actually believe that I can reach my weight lost goal. I my previous posting I stated that this month I would be answering questions that were given to me by Weight Watchers in an attempt to go deeper, and I have been doing just that. So far, I have realized that I am causing my weight gain because I don’t believe that I should be smaller, and that is probably because I have always been a big girl. Me being overweight is a mind thing (I see myself as being over weight). What’s funny is that every person that is over weight always say the same thing-I have always been a big girl/boy so this is just who I am. They come to accept their unhealthy self as how it is suppose to be. And this is so far from the truth. The reality is I am overweight (225lbs at a height of 5’7″), but the truth is I am born to prosper even as my soul prospers-meaning my soul has to know the truth in order for the truth to become reality. 
Question posed by Weight Watchers: What’s limiting your belief that you can be successful? My answer is that I think that I don’t have self control concerning certain foods (sweets), so therefore I don’t think that I will be successful in losing weight. 
Question posed by Weight Watchers: How will you change it to an Empowering Belief? My answer is that I will find a scripture that tells me the truth about self-control and mediate on it until the word is embedded into my heart and changes the reality. The scripture that I chose is Galatians 5:22-26. This scripture talks about the fruit of the spirit and temperament (self-control) is one of the fruit of the spirit that believers have within. So, the truth is that I have self-control but because of years not knowing the truth about my spirit I believed that I had no self-control, so I gained weight. 
My ah ha moment for weight lost and gain is that it is all in the mind, and what you believe in your heart will become your reality-so I need to know the truth because it will make me free. I have to continue to dig deeper into the why behind my weight gain because I don’t want to ever be this big again. Please share your thoughts and advice, or share your own ah ha moments that you have uncovered on your own personal journey. Until next time……  

Gift from Weight Watchers for losing 25lbs

One of my motivating factors-Lee A. Smth, V

My Weight Loss Journey: Day 177

I want to begin this entry off by saying that all it takes is one step in the right direction to get the momentum needed to continue to move forward, but taking the first step is the hardest part of the journey. One hundred and seventy-seven days ago I took my first step on my weight lost journey and I must say that I was a little skeptical about Weight Watchers because I consider myself a serial dieter (I have always been on a diet), and I thought that this was just another diet plan. But I can honestly say that I was wrong about Weight Watchers. It’s not just another diet plan, it’s a plan for transforming your life one day at a time. I currently weigh 226.8lb and I met my third personal weight lost goal back in July. I am now working on meeting my fourth personal weight lost goal which is to loose 10% of body fat ( down 25 lbs).
So, some may ask me how do you stay motivated to state on the plan, and I would have to say that my family and my God given purpose are the two major motivating factors for me. When I start feeling down I think about my family and God’s purpose and how both need me, and in order for me to be around for a long time I have to be in the best possible health; and this will keep me focus on what I need to do. But those motivating factors are a part of my long term plans. When I need an immediate motivating factor I look to a personal goal that I set for myself, and that will push me to get up at that moment and go work out. That is why I set small personal weight lost goals for myself, because it helps me state focus and once met it allows me to reward myself and gain some gratification for the hard work that I am doing.
In this past Weight Watchers meeting we were given calendars for the month and on the calender there are questions and suggestions  that they want the participants to ask themselves or do. This month I think I will actually post the calendar and answer the questions and try some of the suggestions. I think that by me doing this it will help me go deeper into the way I gained weight. Please share your own personal journeys or give advise. Until next time…..

Reward for meeting my 3rd personal weight lost goal…