6 months...

It's been 6 months since we started our journey to this new destination. I can't believe the changes that have taken place in both my mentality & my body. Never before have I felt more capable of achieving a goal. Are there days or weeks that are more challenging than others? Absolutely. Is it worth the effort and sacrifice. No doubt. I welcome it.

As of this past weekend, I have dropped 58 pounds. I'm only 9 pounds away from my halfway mark! Who knew 6 months ago, a handshake with my husband in the living room would lead to this? Speaking of which, he has reached the 65 pound mark! I cannot tell you how proud I am of him! He is very inspiring to me. 

My daily calorie intake currently is 1230. Most people's reactions to that are "OMG, aren't you starving?!" Nope. Food is no longer my focus. My focus is everything else going on in life. Do I still love going out to eat? lol If only you could see my grin when I sit down at a restaurant. But there's portion control & better choices involved. 

Along with that, activity!! It is a must if you want to see results. Daily movement. Walking, jogging, spinning, aerobics, dancing...anything to get your metabolism burning. We only take 1 day a week to rest. Other than that, I can't afford to make excuses. I want this too bad to give up or sacrifice the work I've done. 

Never think that you can't reach this goal. I don't care if your goal is 10 pounds or 150. Give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen...you just may surprise yourself. :)

Oh Cupid...

Is it just me, or are most holidays centered around food?
The 2 most obvious ones are Thanksgiving & Christmas, with pies, cookies, and big meals.
Halloween makes our teeth hurt with bags of candy...even after we grow up.
Easter is celebrated with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow birds...or the glorious egg gum that I love. (adorable lil egg crates!)
And then there is Valentine's Day.
Ah, yes. The day that chocolate is consumed in terrifying amounts & diets are nowhere to be found. I indulged a little and split a cupcake with my hubby. It was very, very tasty! :)

I wanted to share some smart sweet treats that you can enjoy on regular days that you can't afford to waste precious calories on a piece of candy.

These are a great replacement for you coconut lovers out there! It's only 160 calories for 3 pieces! (one satisfies my sweet tooth!)   Don't let the "suger free" part scare you off. They are delish!

Caramel is addictive, isn't it? For 28 calories a piece, you can savor the rich flavor of gooey goodness. No guilt, I promise. 

Happy Valentine's Day friends! Make small steps for big results! xo 

50!

We've been on this journey for 5 months now, and I can now say I've lost 50 pounds! I cannot express how ecstatic I was this morning when I saw my new weight! My sweet husband was so excited for me too! About an hour afterwards, it hit me how far I've come. Being the girly-girl I am, I let the tears flow. All the focus, determination, and work has amounted to a huge accomplishment, and it didn't really take that long to do it either. I thought back to every treat I have turned down, every walk I've taken, and every smarter choice I have made. It has truly been worth it. There may be days where it's not as easy, but overall, I can honestly say it has become our new life.
Someone asked me the other day if I missed good food. It made me wonder, do people think that people who are losing weight eat only tofu & grass? My reply was that I don't miss good food...because I still eat it! Before we started this, I knew that it was a portion problem. My mantra is that you can eat what you want, but in moderation. I still enjoy pizza, wings, enchiladas, and even dessert! Instead of gorging myself, I pace myself and enjoy the flavors and make sure I don't over indulge. In the past, I could easily put down half of a pizza. Could I still do it if I wanted to? Absolutely. But my mental state wouldn't allow me to now. I've come too far. (and my stomach has shrunk!)
During the week, I try to not indulge too much. There are days where we'll go out to eat if we're too tired to cook dinner. We make smarter choices, and they have to be within our daily calorie goal. Even on the weekend, we try not to have cheat days. Instead, we have cheat meals. That way you don't undo all the effort you've made!
Happy February! What steps and goals are you making for yourself this month?

Dethroned

What importance does food play in your daily routine? How much attention do you give to what you're going to eat? Most people will answer quite a bit. Depending on your diet, this could easily take up to about 60% of your planning throughout your day, especially for those who eat 6 small meals a day. Usually, not an hour goes by without our mind wandering to food, whether it be a snack or a meal. For some, it may become an obsession. It becomes the high point of our day, what we look forward to the most. Sometimes, we may not even be aware of how much importance we have given food. Unintentionally, we may have put food up on a pedestal. It has power over us.

My belief is that this is what leads to obesity. We chase the feeling of satisfaction that we get from food, often to the point of feeling stuffed. Until we feel that "full" feeling, we won't stop. This is especially true if we have a craving. We won't truly be satisfied unless we get that specific taste we are looking for. 

It's time to kick food off the pedestal on which we have placed it. That doesn't mean that you don't look forward to a tasty meal, or enjoy good food. We were given these tastebuds for a reason! Here are some tips to help you dethrone food.

1. Train Your Mind

When you catch yourself daydreaming about your next meal, shift your attention to something more beneficial.  In these moments, I stop myself from focusing on how good it will taste and instead, I start thinking about what benefits that meal will bring me. What veggies are included? What proteins? How will this affect my day and fitness plan?

2. Choose Wisely
I don't know about you, but when I plant myself on the couch, I suddenly am starving! Thoughts of popcorn, ice cream, and junk food start flying at me! I now keep smarter food choices on hand. Air-popped popcorn is quite filling and tastes wonderful, especially lightly salted. Also, there are plenty of low calorie chips if you're looking for a salty snack. My favorite is Light Pringles, or Light Ruffles. As far as dessert goes, frozen yogurt and light ice cream are great alternatives to the real things. Flavorwise, you cannot tell the difference with most of them.

3. Keep it Movin'!
One of our worst enemies is boredom. This can lead to mindless eating and binging. When you find yourself in this common situation, get up and MOVE! Go for a walk, read a book, start a project...whatever will keep you busy and not munching!

Let's make this week a GREAT one. :)

Cue the Food Coma

The obligatory Food Coma has become the symbol of the Thanksgiving holiday. We mainly blame it on Tryptophan, but usually the main culprit behind this food induced slumber is overeating. Throwing caution to the wind,  we act as though we will never again have the opportunity to sample mashed potatoes with (extra) gravy. Our plates loaded, we practice the art of testing to see how many sides we can fit onto the plate. Topping it with a dinner roll and some cranberry sauce, we marvel at our creation before devouring it...and then we go back for more.

Can I be honest? There is nothing more uncomfortable to me then being too full. Ironically, I felt that way before we changed how we eat...but I did it anyway. After eating too much, I am dying to unbutton my pants, or change into my stretchy pants. How sexy is that? To want to get out of these clothes...because my stomach is too big! I prefer the feeling of being satisfied now. Not overflowing with food, but content. When you have a tasty meal in front of you, it is hard not to overindulge. To avoid it, here are some steps you can take.

Split the meal with someone

This always helps reduce the impact of the calories. It takes some adjustment to adapt to this idea. We're all used to having our own. If you want to have a nice meal but not the calories, this is an easy way to enjoy the taste but not sacrifice your goal.

Eat slowly

Sometimes we act as though someone will steal our plate if we don't act fast and eat our food. Inhaling our meals can result in mindless eating. Savor each bite you take. Soon, you will find how much you enjoy the flavor instead of enjoying the act of eating.

Drink a glass of water prior to your meal

This will cause you to feel more full then just eating on an empty stomach. Combined with eating slowly, you will enjoy the meal, but stop earlier once you feel satisfied.

Ask yourself at the end of each day..."What steps have I taken today towards my goal?"

If we consistently remind ourselves of our goal and plan, that will help us not cheat or go overboard. Holding yourself accountable and being real with yourself is key. You can ask this question throughout the day too...especially when you feel the temptation to binge. It brings you back to reality.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, let's get focused on getting back to fitness and eating right! Tomorrow is a new day! 

Just Do What?

They make it sound so easy, don't they? That motto is  short & sweet, and the lure of the advertisement promising. So, as long as I "just do it", will I look like that?  Tiffany blue sneakers, glistening skin, and cellulite free legs? Will I effortlessly glide to and fro on the gym floor with confidence?

We all know that answer. I can just see the smirk on your face now. 

More often than not, when overweight people see those ads, we may react in a few different ways. Either we:

• Ignore it
• Make excuses
• Respond with... "Just do what?" 

Well, I'll tell you.

Those that have the last response usually don't know where to start. They may have never stepped foot in a gym. Maybe they have tried all the trendy diets with no luck. Wherever they are coming from, the answer to their question is just as simple as the motto. 

The first step is making a commitment to yourself. A vow to stay on the path regardless of how you feel from day to day. A promise to not waver when you smell a coworkers tasty double cheeseburger from two desks over. Hold yourself accountable.

The second step is to be realistic. Most of us want fast results, a miracle. Instead of searching for something that will take the weight off quickly without much work, focus that energy on your plan of attack. It will take time for the weight to come off. Be patient.

The third step is to develop a support system. None of us can do this alone. Whether it be family, friends, or an online group, determine who you will lean on and look to for support. 

Now that you have set a solid foundation, what's next?

Change.

I know, it's a terrifying word. People flee at the sound of it. But stick with me.

The following changes are the steps I have taken, and whats worked for me! 

Count Calories

This is a big part of accountability. Until you write down what you eat on a daily basis, you will not be truly aware of the amount of calories you're consuming. This is the wake-up call we need.

The website I use is www.myfitnesspal.com. They also have a handy app too with a newsfeed like Facebook.  You can search for meals at restaurants, add & calculate your own recipes, and add in exercise. 

After you enter in your information (height, weight, etc), it will estimate what your daily calorie intake should be. For example, mine was originally 1560. It will adjust based on your weight changes to ensure you continue dropping weight. Currently, mine is 1440. 

Exercise

I know, I know. Bad word. But it's necessary to see results. We must burn some of those calories we are tracking! Now, this doesn't mean you have to slave over a hot treadmill all day. 

I walk 40-45 minutes a day, 6 days a week. We have a park near our house and we love walking out there. A good tip that my friend Kenny gave me is to walk 30 minutes in one general direction, and that way, you have to walk another 30 minutes to get home, no shortcuts. It's like tricking yourself. 

There will be days where you feel like taking a break, or need one. Allow yourself the rest. Ultimately, you should be active 3-5 days a week to see results.

I will end on that note for the evening. Tomorrow I will post my recipe for my Skinny Sour Cream Enchiladas! Sleep well!