I like me!

Just wondering...what inspires you?  What discourages you?  How do you deal with those people in your life that probably mean well but through words, looks or actions are not supportive or skeptical of your progress?  I realize that I have been on a million diets over the years and I think that I have become jaded in a sense, I'd become less likely to tell anybody I'm on a diet because I knew that I would probably fail...with that in mind I think that's why I decided to go public and post my dieting life on a fricking blog!!!  I think it was a serious attempt at being transparent and honest but also being held accountable to a point...it certianly has helped me just to write it all out and put it out there. 

Yesterday and today I have found myself a little discouraged by some people in my life and greatly encouraged by some others...adjusting and figuring out how I will let that affect me and my progress is what I'm currently dealing with.  Sure I've said before that I would 'finally reach my goal' and ended up not doing so but I've got to succeed one of these days, right? 
I suppose bottom line is, it doesn't really matter what anybody else thinks or expects me to do...it's what I believe about myself because ultimately I am in charge of what goes in my mouth, how much I move my booty and how deeply I believe in myself.  I love myself right now and I'm determined to attain this goal if it takes me the rest of my life. 

Next thought...I'm working on how I can encourage other women to have a healthy body image, I have a Master's degree in which I studied Body Image and the American woman for 3 years I think I need to really do something with all those hours of research and passion and put my brain to work!  So, if anybody is out there reading, what is your body image question, conundrum, angst?  How could somebody help you or help you help yourself?  I'd love to hear your input, questions and rants!  If you don't want to leave a comment for the general public than send me a private email via facebook.

Picture of me March 10th

Throw Down

So, over the weekend I received a throw down, a challenge, an "I bet you can't". It came from a well meaning friend and I know he believes in me but he is stubborn and believes that if I don't go about my journey the way HE thinks than I am certain to fail...funny, I have had several men in my life who hold to this way of thinking...and being the 'stubborn' girl that I am I have to prove this dude W-R-O-N-G!!! But, it's advantageous for me because it simply puts fuel in my already lit fire, a light under my already lit ass, and on his part it was a foolish thing to say.

Can I lose 100lbs in 5 months? For the ability to say "I did it" and $1000 that I plan on spending on new matching bras and panties and other cute clothes from Victoria's Secret? You betcha ass I can!!!

I've already lost 28lbs since January and each day I am more motivated to see this through...this health change and weight loss journey may have started as a New Year's resolution but it's gone on two and a half months longer than most resolutions ever last. It's stuck through traveling and working away from home, vacation, and bad days and sad news...but with every single set back, I assess how I can stay motivated and keep on keeping on!

All I really have to say to my challenger in the sweetest way possible is "THANKS for the motivation Sucka!"

Kettle Balls? Yes Please!

I decided that I could save a lot of money by getting my work out on at home and outside rather than in the gym. I had a 21 day trial membership at the local gym, and as nice as it is I prefer to walk and run outside than on a treadmill and as I'm trying to NOT spend a bunch of money I figured for the price of one months membership price I could get a few new tools for making my workouts at home more productive and it could carry me into the fall...then I will re-assess my financial situation and see if I need the membership for the winter months!

So...I bought a kettleball, it was a 10 lb Danskin brand and it came with a dvd that included three workouts. It also gives you a warm up and cool down as well as instructions on how to use it without hurting yourself or somebody else! I went on my 3mile this morning and afterwards I popped the dvd in and got my kettleball on! he he...I loved it, I will probably not be able to move tomorrow but I think this is going to be a great new thing for me! And at under 20 dollars it's much cheaper than a month at the gym. I'm off for now but I will try and keep up to date notes on my kb experience!

Have a rockin' St. Patty's Day!

One Week Down

I'm going to try and make it through this blog post with limited typos and grammatical errors but I'm on a different computer that is giving me grief!

Anyway...It's been one week that I have been doing the low carb life and I just need to check in. I feel pretty good, pretty dang good actually. I have lost 5lbs and my blood sugars are way down. I'm also having no issues, in the past when I have cut carbs drastically sometimes it just seems like such a struggle for the first few weeks, getting used to it all...but thankfully not this time! I am very happy about that! I didn't have any nasty withdrawal headaches and I really don't have an appetite, so my calories have significantly decreased as well. The other night I was having dinner with family and they were all about to have a bunch of carb laden foods and honestly I could feel how soft it would be to sink my teeth into a big bun but I ate some olives, celery and cherry tomatoes with a little blue cheese and I was good to go!

One of my favorite things to treat myself is a mock rootbeer float. It's A&W diet rootbeer with a little 1/2&1/2 and a little whip cream...it's cold creamy and delicious and very little carbs!

I'm hoping that by summer I will be in a much better place for dating, that I will be half way to my goal and looking cute enough to nab me a few cute boys (men) to enjoy summer with! I'm done hiding behind my fat and I'm ready to navigate the crazy waters of dating in your 40's again!

An outfit I am going to rock this summer? A cute pair of khaki shorts and a white blousy short sleeved mexican poet shirt, a nice tan and a cherry red pedicure! I'm also going to make myself a few cute summer dresses...which leads me to my new mantra "Men are much better than Carbs"

Have a Great Big Wonderful day!!!

Trying a New Approach

So, at this point I have lost 21lbs. which is only 3lbs under my goal for Jan./Feb., but here it is the 8th of March and I have a 12 lb goal to reach in the next four weeks. I know that my progress is pretty good for somebody my age and with the three weeks I spent in the south, traveling and breaking out of the norm are hard on life style changes...however the problem is my blood sugar numbers. They are good after meals but my fasting numbers aren't good, or at least they aren't where my diab/ed lady and I want them. So, in order to lose weight and see how it affects my fasting numbers I am going to go low carb for 12 weeks. This is only a short term change so those of you against that diet need not fret! With the 40+ lbs I will probably lose doing low carb the hope is my blood sugar numbers will drop because of the extra weight off my body and then I can transition into more of a South Beach type eating plan for the rest of my life. For those of you who aren't familiar with South Beach, it's very livable, it's a Mediterrean lower carb/lower fat heart healthy diet that allows for special occasions and people like me who love a glass of wine. As much as I really hate to "diet" I feel that this will be a good thing for me! Progress notes to follow!

I also am posting a picture of myself taken at 21 lbs down! On another note I've joined Club 24 a local athletic club and I am working on getting my workouts back up to the level I was before going to MS...so far so good! Need to get some strength training and weights going because right now it's just cardio! Muscle helps burn calories!