Wordy Wednesday {I see progress!}

When you are on a weight loss journey, some days are easier than others. There are days that I feel I am the same as I was a year ago and then there are days in which I feel accomplished and proud. Losing weight and making lifestyle changes is definitely not easy, there are daily decisions to be made and with so many choices that can make you lose focus on what you are working towards. At least in my case I've had my ups and downs. The scale sometimes doesn't move and that makes me feel sad or frustrated, then there are moments when I realize how far I've come.

This past weekend I felt happy to wake up on Saturday, prepare a nice breakfast for my family and then head out for a nice walk. A nice walk that turned into 2.5 miles, that resulted in me burning 385 calories and what made me happier was that my daughter joined me. :D This made me feel accomplished as it was her choice to stay home with dad and brother but she wanted to join in on the walk so off we went. 

As I got home I realized that my top felt different from what I remembered it feeling it snug. It's no longer snug. In fact while walking I felt the wind move it a bit, that is one of the best feelings for me! It meant I've been doing something right and that maybe I have been making progress in the last 2 weeks. I sat down at my desk and searched for the first time I wore this shirt and all I could see was progress. It may be a year difference in the photos, however I see progress! 

Then going through more pictures from the last couple of months and I'm beyond myself excited! I didn't realize I had let go so much when we were moving! The one in the middle was taken the day after we landed in Costa Rica and whoa! not a good image. But then look at the most recent one in August, I'd say I've turned it around pretty good! 

I see a happier, healthier me. A more confident and active me... and that is awesome! 

This past week I began journaling what I eat, this time I'm using My Fitness Pal app. I've also been walking the last 3 weeks at least 3 times a week anywhere from 2.5 miles to 5 miles a day{my total miles walked to date in August only are 26.6 miles!}. Most recently I've been in contact with the amazing Diana who blogs and has a design shop called Livy Love, I found her on Instagram through other friends I follow and she is keeping me inspired. She's lost 60+ pounds in 6 months by watching what she eats and exercising daily! If you are on instagram I highly suggest you follow her for inspiration, she is super sweet! Thank you Diana, for all the communication we've had and all the support and encouragement you've been giving me and others. 

Another big supporter of my journey has been my friend Melissa who blogs over at The ValentineRD, she is amazing and always finding new ways to workout. I love her dearly because not a week goes by in which she is cheering me on! Thank you my dear friend! 

So here's to progress, even if it was choosing to eat fruit instead of chips. Drinking water instead of a sugary drink. Cheers! ;-)

It's been a year!

It's been a year! A few weeks ago I celebrated a year after I began my weight loss journey, as with every journey it has not been easy. I've had my ups and downs -more downs for sure {as in lowering my weight} ;-) something I am very proud of. Last year in June I joined a team of 50 bloggers working our way to lose weight, get healthier and drop inches all with the help of Shaklee Corporation.

I was ecstatic and surprised when I was chosen and I worked hard towards getting back on track. As we worked on changing our lifestyle we also supported each other something I am very grateful for. We made friendships that are still there and we celebrated each loss be it in weight or in inches or defeating daily challenges.

Last time I updated you on my weight loss was in Spring, I talked about how someone was trying to tell me something and I was certainly listening. I even managed to get my lowest weight since 2002! I was motivated and documenting my meals, counting calories and staying active. I rode my bike, danced at home with the help of my workout DVDs and even used Pinterest to help me stay focused. I was so inspired I shared with you my new playlist.

I know I shouldn't focus so much on my weight, but this also meant that I was shrinking a little in my measurements. I was watching my portions, drinking lots of water, making time to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and my confidence level was at its highest in a longest time. 

Determination, you decide you want to achieve a goal and you begin making changes in your life to reach it. You map out all the resources you'll need to succeed and get to work on it. You set your mind to it and each and every day you take little or big steps towards achieving it. The mind, is quite powerful. It guides us towards what we want. 

You set your goals, you work on it by exercising and watching what you eat a few weeks later you begin to notice differences sometimes within a day or two you start to notice that your clothes fit differently, that you sleep better, you are in a better mood. 

For the past 2 months I have been focusing on our move, no this is not an excuse but this is me being responsible about my actions. About my choices, the last 3 months have been extremely busy. We first traveled to visit family in Southern California and Mexico then began packing up our home and preparing for our big move. It took over our daily activities and some days I felt frustrated because I wasn't making time or taking out time out of my day to workout, to prepare a home cooked meal or watch my portions. 

What makes it worst is that on some days I barely drank any water. I don't consider this a failure in my weight loss journey,  in fact I consider it a test of what I learned over the course of 10 months. 

My clothes still fit, but I know and feel I've gone up a little. This is about to change. Because this week, I'm ready to take back my health. I'm ready to make better choices. I'm ready to drink water. This week I've been watching my portions, I've been increasing my water intake and I'm already up to 48 ounces a day. I'm slowly but surely getting back up.

Although I ate my emotions, I managed to not gain too much 5 pounds total. I am not a robot who can program her mind, I am a human being and this is definitely a journey with  its own set of challenges, curved roads, detours and such.

But I am not giving up! I will not give up, it is a learning process and although I may have the occasional drive-thru meal it does not mean I am stopping. :-) This number will soon change to a smaller one and with working out regularly, eating balanced meals, controlling my portions and drinking much more water I will soon reach my lowest weight in the past year. I'm confident because I know I can do this.

We now have steps to climb to get to the bedrooms which means I am moving more than before at home. I climb those steps up and down roughly 20 times on any given day. I'm going for short walks as I get more and more comfortable on doing so here {there aren't any sidewalks! yikes! and there is a river nearby with many trees which equals to wildlife something I'm not very comfortable with -God forbid a snake falls on me! EEEEEKS!}.

I am also preparing our meals at home, we didn't have a kitchen to cook in for a couple of weeks so eating out was the only option... Now I can prepare and cook meals at home and it is making it easier in fact my family is very happy about eating homemade meals :D

Each day represents new challenges and of course I try to find new inspiration and motivation everywhere. The key is to keep going, keep moving forward and learn from yesterday. I do keep reminding myself that I've come a long way from last year and yes I am still a work in progress. :-)

Someone's trying to tell me something!

Over the course of the last 6 months of 2012 I changed my lifestyle, eating habits and overall my well being. Not only that but my story, weekday challenges and triumphs were documented on this blog and other social media platforms.

The past couple of weeks I've found myself at a crossroads where one road leads me to continue on the journey and go well beyond what I thought was my ultimate goal and the other one that leaves me where I'm currently at and just stop here. It's funny how life has a way of letting us know what we are meant to do. Where we are meant to walk towards.

Last week was full of reminders and motivational encounters to let me know to continue on my journey and not to stop. The reminders were in different settings, in different ways. All of them were a kind reminder of how far I've come and how much I want to continue even if sometimes I lose my focus.

Yes family and friends' support mean a lot and keep me encouraged but sometimes we still need a little pat on the back or someone to tell us "continue on your path, you're doing great!". 

The first reminder was while shopping for groceries, a lovely lady reached out for a bag of Lavash Bread as I was trying to figure out between pita bread and Lavash. As I looked at her I asked what she did with the Lavash Bread as I'd never used it in my recipes. While sharing ideas she explained about ingredients and nutritional value, how this ingredient is terrible for your metabolism and that ingredient is easier to digest. She taught me in just less than 5 minutes a little about nutrition and how to read labels. Thank you to this kind woman for her words of encouragement. I am sure you might be reading this, so I hope you know you are in my thoughts. :)

My second reminder was completely unexpected, I've shared all about my pinterest board to keep me motivated and where I share all I've written about my weight loss journey. For the past 3 years I have enjoyed going on bike rides with my family, just last week I was on a 5 mile bike ride on my own while everyone was at work/school and I couldn't stop smiling even as I was pushing myself to go up a hill. The only distraction I had was my old helmet that kept jiggling and pulling on my hair. Which led me to search online for my future helmet, one I would like to get before our big move. As I pinned it to my board I did not think much about it, however a day later I received a comment on that pin that made my day and again reminded me to keep going! So I am still going, stronger and even more focused.

The last reminder was Friday morning as I logged onto instagram I got a notification about a comment on an image I shared over summer. It was none other than the star of my favorite workout video. She was so sweet and we even chatted over on instagram. How special you made me feel and excited to continue doing the samba to your routine. Thank you! :D

Documenting what I ate or what I did was not only intended to hold me accountable but also to perhaps inspire and motivate others. It was also a way to remind myself to keep going and when that going got tough, well I could/can just go to my iPhone and see images of what I ate, what I did, how much water I drank, how I exercised and other changes I've done.

I decided to continue documenting what I eat and shared how I'm exercising even when I can't do it as "me time", because even when the kids are home I can workout. I can certainly make it work. I just have to do it.

The most important reminder I am having is that if I trip or fall I can still get up, dust myself and continue on my journey because I want to and need to continue on this road. 

It's hard to believe how much one can accomplish by sticking to their plan and keeping their focus. I myself am amazed of all I've done and plan to continue on my journey as I'm halfway there. It's all about balance and knowing what to chose. It is not easy, my lifestyle had stayed the same for the past 11 years. But I am certainly willing and wanting to take it one step at a time. I can't say I won't eat something or chose wrongly because it would be a lie. The fact that I am giving it my best shot is the best I can do, focusing on what I've done and what I'm doing not on how much I still have to do. 

Still going!

I know it's been two months since last I shared an update on my weight loss journey, I have been receiving emails asking me to continue to share and well I have to admit sharing my weight loss was therapeutic for me and helped keep me focused.

It has been great feeling this energetic, wearing my new size in jeans :D and eating healthier. I have had my ups and downs just like everyone when they are turning around their lifestyle. However I feel great and whenever I lose my focus I go back to reading about my journey and find my inspiration and motivation. 

The Holiday season is behind  us and yes I have had some rough patches here and there, like getting sick with the flu or caring for little ones with the flu with sleepless nights and feeling beyond exhaustion I chose to go with the flow and if I didn't feel up to it I did not exercise. 

One of the ways I am also keeping myself motivated with a Pinterest board I created called "I'm a work in progress" this board has my weight loss journey story and my favorite routines in addition to inspirational quotes or stories of others to keep reminding myself that I have, I can and I will continue on this. 

There are days that I don't feel like exercising and on those days I have managed to push myself and my will to doing at least two routines from my board or 25 ab crunches + 30 jumping jacks + 30 squats. After that I feel a little more motivated and end up doing more. That is quite an improvement from last June when I could barely do a jumping jack without gasping for air!

I have also been doing walks on the treadmill {whenever possible} and am proud to share that after the 8 months since my journey began I can now run a full minute easily on speed setting 6. :D Yes I feel so proud about that! My dream is to run for 20 minutes non-stop! I'm a minute closer.

If you are following me on Instagram you have noticed that I am enjoying cheese omelets for breakfast along with some chipotle chiles on top it is delicious and keeps me satisfied until noon. I use just one egg and a hand full of shredded cheese in it. 

For lunch I have a new found love: One can of drained tuna in water with a bowl of lettuce, some kalamata olives and some days I will add dressing others I will eat it as is others I will add some rosemary crackers just 3 to add more texture. 

Dinners are a bit of the same, my recipes and on weekends we usually do take out. But one thing is for sure I am not eating 4 slices of pizza! Only 1 - 2 and they are usually the ones with less bread in it, we have found one that also has less fat and 2 slices equal to 1 of the regular pizzas. We have also found a new love for Thai food and it is now brown rice and less on the amounts :D

Working on getting healthier and making better choices is now easier, there are still times when I crave the other foods and I will allow myself to try them. Portions are key and drinking water is key. 

Although I have not measured myself recently, I did weigh myself and here is what numbers I'm currently on:

Which means I am 24.2 lbs lighter. 

Oh and I finally got a new pair of jeans in my present size! Goodbye size 18!

Also cleared out my closet of clothes that were up to 4 sizes too big!

 I hope you enjoyed my update and keep supporting me, your comments encourage me and help keep me inspired :D

Wear It Again Wednesday {week 4}

It's been two weeks since I last shared a "Wear It Again Wednesday" post, I've lost 20 lbs total since my birthday last June and am still continuing to lose weight and inches. 

This past weekend I was at Bloggy Boot Camp my first ever blogging conference, for it I shopped in my closet and found these black dressy pants. Would you believe I hadn't worn them in 9 years?? Last time I wore them they were to tight to zip up, this past weekend not only did they zip up but also they were comfortable. :D

This picture was taken a few days before. 

Well, what do you think? Am I rocking it? 

After this picture was taken I decided I didn't like the top that much as it was too loose... So I paired it with another top. Yay me! and Yay you for supporting and cheering me on! :D

Wear It Again Wednesday {Week 3}

So this week I shopped in my closet again and was pleasantly surprised to be able to wear this:

It had been 8 years, yes! 8 years since I last wore this denim jacket! 

Not only does it fit, I can easily button the top buttons!! 

and...

Was comfortable in it :D

What do you think?

Wear It Again Wednesday {week 2}

When losing weight, what is your biggest fear?

Mine?

Well it is going shopping in my new size, I know I need new jeans and maybe new shoes but have I made an effort to go shopping? Not really, I am holding onto my size 20 jeans and wearing them with pride that they are loose, I'm also still wearing my size 18 jeans. Odd right?

So this week as I shopped in my very own closet I found this top that I had not worn in a couple of months due to people asking me if I was pregnant. No, I was not nor am I pregnant. But I guess with the weight I had I did look pregnant {7 months maybe?} 

Either way, today I am wearing my loose jeans with a cute top and heels! cork wedges to be exact that are 3" high!!!

What do you think? 

Should I just go get new jeans?? 

Wear It Again Wednesday

I have to be honest, I have been a little nervous and let's just say it... afraid to try on clothes in my very own closet or at a store. 

Why? you ask, well it is simple. 

Even though I am losing weight and loving it, there is still a small part of me that thinks I am still 231 lbs. That I am still a size 20/22.  

That I am still not small enough to fit into a specific size. 

Have you ever felt this way? 

I strongly believe that the worst critics in our life are our own self... US! 

We judge ourselves so harshly and are our best enemy. We know ourselves so well, yet we are fearful of trusting ourself. Why???

Well this past weekend I took that fear and turned it into courage. I faced one of my biggest fears and tried on clothes in my closet, clothes I had not worn in a loooooong looong loong time! and some of them fit, others were too loose and then there were the trophy jeans that weren't even close to fitting me. 

However I did not get discouraged, I did not feel sad, upset or depressed. Instead I used it as my motivation for this week and on Monday even though it was a day off {a holiday} and a day of rest, I hit the gym... did my 30 minute walk and watched diligently what I ate! 

So this will be a weekly post, one that other bloggers will be linking to and maybe we can inspire you to move, to make healthier choices, to drink more water, to watch your portions and to "shop" in your very own closet. You might be surprised at what fits! 

Here is my first Wear It Again Wednesday picture, my outfit one I had not worn in at least 3 years! 

My pants are size and top are size 16 and I'm wearing 3" heels along with my biggest smile! 

Have you shopped in your own closet lately?

How did you feel?