Because I'm Worth It!

How is it that the time goes by so quickly between my blog posts, yet days at work move like molasses? Can someone please explain that to me?

Well...between my last post and this one I've made some changes. Changes to ME.

Anyone who's seen me lately has clearly noticed how much my weight has BALLOONED. I get it, and I don't get it.

No...I haven't been watching what I eat (like I should), and I haven't been physically active (like I shoould). Yet...I've never diligently watched what I've eaten, nor exercised regularly but since February, I have really packed on the pounds. Good golly Miss Molly!

Finally, I decided that enough is enough. I can not gain another pound...not ONE. And I can not KEEP all these pounds that I have.

So...

Last Monday I started back with logging my food on My Fitness Pal. Good, bad or otherwise...if it goes in my mouth, it goes onto My Fitness Pal. Knowing my body as well as I do though, I know that logging my food simply is not enough. Some folks can lose weight simply by changing what they eat. Not this chick. I've got to MOVE if I want the numbers on the scale to MOVE.

So in order to get myself motivated, I bought a FitBit. I know...they're pricey, but I figured that I was investing in ME...and I am certainly worth such an investment. So it was money well spent.

I got it on Thursday and I'm still learning my way around. The toughest struggle has been with accepting friend requests (for some reason the requests aren't coming through), and in sending friend requests. When I try to send it looks like I am inviting them to TRY FitBit. That's not what I want at all. They already KNOW about it. I just wanna be part of their "fitness network". I'm gonna keep playing around with it until I figure it out.

Good news though is that yesterday I earned my first "Sneakers Badge" for getting in 10,000 steps, and today I am on my way to doing the same. At this moment I am at 9,324 steps. Easy to do on a weekend when I am able to freely move about. Not so easy Monday through Friday when I'm locked in a cubicle. We'll see how it goes though because I am DETERMINED to get fit and get rid of this FAT.

I've visited way too many hospitals in the past year and I've seen a WHOLE LOTTA sick folks. I don't want to be one of them, so I've gotta do all I can to keep myself in tip-top shape. As it is right now, I am not on any medication, and don't want to be...EVER. The best way to make sure that happens is to take care of this body that God blessed me with.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do you have any fitness devices that help monitor your activity? If so, which one?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Laugh!

Today is Day 2 of my 12 Week Weight Watchers Session.

I did a'ight yesterday...tracked all my points and walked 2.88 miles. Not too shabby if I must say so myself.

This morning -- determined to do better -- I woke up, made a nice healthy breakfast, and packed a "so-so" lunch. My lunches will be "so-so" until I get paid on the 15th and can go buy groceries. So for now...it's "make the best of whatever's in the fridge.

So I get to work "with my mind right" and I am anticipating our first "summer surprise". This is a treat that the company gives to the employees during the busy season (which we have entered early this year).

I go to lunch, come back and hear this loud commotion. I stand up and folks are walking through the office handing out our treats from POPCORNOPOLIS!!!

Really?!?

We got the caramel chocolate striped popcorn. I wanted to tear right into mine. Really, I did. But instead, my co-worker opened hers and allowed me to have ONE piece. That wasn't all that I wanted...but it was all that I needed.

So now, I have the bag in my desk drawer, plotting a way to enjoy it without over-indulging. I don't wanna completely deprive myself, but I don't wanna overdo it either.

LAWD, help me!

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's your biggest temptation when you are trying to eat healthy?

Talk to me!

Til next time.

P.S. - Please excuse any typos. I'm using the library's computer and they're shuttin' everything down in a few minutes. Thanks!

Day 1...Again

Today was the day that I decided to turn over a new leaf. Hmmm...what exactly does that mean??? I don't think I've ever actually turned over a leaf of any kind...new or old. I might just have to research that one.

But...what I did do was start my healthy lifestyle again. It came by way of joining "Weight Watchers at Work". For the next 12 weeks I will be working on the "new and improved" me, and my goal is to have 10% less of me to show for it.

Now I have to admit...my eating wasn't the BEST today, but going forward, it will be.

Oh, and in addition to joining "WW" I also rejoined my Black Girls RUN! crew and got in 2.88 miles. Felt like the toughest 2.88 miles I've ever don

e, but I got 'em in. There was once a time when I would've kept going until that distance read 3.00 miles, but tonight was NOT the night for that.

So...I'm excited about where these next 12 weeks will lead me. Hopefully into a more confident me. Hopefully.

How 'bout you...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What steps are you currently taking toward your health and wellness?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Sweetness is My Weakness

Since my 26 pound weight loss in 2012, I have gained back ALL 26 pounds PLUS 7 more. THAT my friends, is a damn shame.

After watching the numbers on the scale creep up week after week, I finally decided that SOMETHING has to to change.

If I remember nothing else from the weight loss challenge that I was in, I remember this: Weight loss is 80% what goes into your mouth and 20% exercise.

So I had to ask myself...WHAT'S been going in my mouth.

The answer...LOTS of stuff.

But I thing the major culprit is SUGAR. So much so, that I think I'm ADDICTED.

I have been having sugar EVERYDAY. Most mornings start off with sugar...pan dulce with a hot cup of tea. 270 calories worth of Mexican Sweet Bread. Delicioso!!!

Once I told myself that I'd stop having the pan dulce everyday, someone bought a Mississippi Mud Cake to work. So of course, I've been having a slice of THAT in the morning.

Thennn...A co-worker was selling Girl Scout Cookies and yes...I bought a box.

So as you can see...I have been OUT OF CONTROL.

Until today.

Today was my 1st SUGAR-FREE day. I did NOT have pan dulce. I did NOT have Mississippi Mud Cake. I did NOT have Girl Scout Cookies. In fact...I gave those away.

What I DID have, was a horrible headache.

I don't know if it was my body missing sugar or a hormonal thing, but man...it was nothin' nice.

Nevertheless...I didn't give in and I got through Day 1. My goal is to get through 7 days without sugar and see if I notice any changes.

Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: How are you with SUGAR? Are you addicted as well, or is it just not your thing?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Monday Monday

So today is Monday, "Move Monday" from what I could tell based on my FB newsfeed. Unfortunately, I didn't move much. I moved a bit, but not enough to make up for all that I ate today.

Sometime SOON, I'm gonna have to find another way (besides food) to get over my "Monday Blues". I know, I know...most people have the "Monday Blues" and they don't eat their way through the day, so what makes me special. The answer...NOTHING.

Nothing makes me special. I just haven't found a way to overcome that which becomes worse and worse each week. I've said this a zillion times before, yet anytime I say anything that even remotely sounds like me complaining about my job, I make absolutely sure to say the following:

I appreciate my job.

I understand that THOUSANDS would love to have my job.

If I don't like my job, I should find another.

Yes, yes, and yes...I get all that. However, it doesn't negate what I feel. And so...today (as I do most days), I ate through my feelings of being ungratified, unfulfilled, and simply outside of my purpose. For me, it's a struggle. And although I am making efforts daily to change my situation, nothing has changed yet. So here we are.

Bottom line...if it wasn't tied down, I ate it. Yes, I feel awful because I know better, but I don't think about what I know at those moments. I just think about quelling the feeling. Chocolate (and lots of it) does that for me, at least until I find another method to cope.

Yes, there's prayer, and I pray often throughout the day. Most days, my prayer is simply, "Lord, please let me have ONE good day." I feel that if I can have just ONE good day with regard to food, then it's possible to have two, and then three, etc. Today though, wasn't that day.

So...back to "Move Monday". I moved some. I did 20 minutes of Zumba Express.
Yes, I understand that 20 minutes of Zumba can not out-do 23 hours and 40 minutes of bad eating.
Yes, I understand that weight loss is 80% what I eat and 20% excersice.
Yes, I understand that I can not out run my fork.
Yes, yes, yes...I get it. And until I "get my mind right" on Mondays, I fully understand that the cycle will simply continue.

So what's it gonna take for me to "get my mind right?" A new job...yes, please. Non-profit, Education, Social Service, Writing...YES, PLEASE!!! Are you listening out there? I sure hope so.

But until then...what?

At this moment, I really don't know. Prayer? Sure. Changing my attitude? Sure. Continuing to be grateful? Sure.

All of that sounds great until I pick up that phone and start telemarketing all over again. Then I'm right back where I started. So I guess as with all things...nothing will really change until I get sick and tired of what is. As much as I think I'm there, clearly, I'm not.

So...enough about me.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What did you move today on "Move Monday"?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Beyond the Eyes

Today's post is gonna be short, sweet and to the point.

I saw this picture and said YES...Exactly!!! And all of a sudden I realized that I am BEAUTIFUL right now...just as I am.

If I lose weight. Fine. If I don't. Fine. Heck, even if I get bigger...I am STILL BEAUTIFUL.

I am so much more, and BETTER than the size of my clothes. And if people can't see that by getting to know me, then it truly is their loss, 'cause I think I'm a pretty okay kinda gal.

So anywhoo...this is for all of the women AND men who think that they are "less than" because their clothing size is a 2 digit number. I want to tell YOU today that YOU TOO ARE BEAUTIFUL...RIGHT NOW...JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

If you don't feel that way and want to change how you look for YOU, then by all means, please do. If you need to do it for health reasons, I get that too and would encourage you to make that change. But if you're ever doing it so that others will approve of you (this is where the finger comes right through the screen and points DIRECTLY at ME), STOP! That's not the right reason and it'll be that much harder for you to be successful.

So love yourself for who you are, 'cause I bet you're pretty cool. And always remember that "BEAUTY ISN'T A SIZE"

.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Think of THREE beautiful qualities about yourself that can NOT be SEEN, yet they make up the BEST part of who you are.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

My "WHYs"

So I've recently joined this group of AMAZING women called "Black Girls Run". I've only been in the group for about 3 weeks and my outlook on healthy nutrition and fitness have comepletely changed. I now walk 2.5 - 3.5 miles 3x a week, and I do aqua aerobics 2x a week. The group's purpose is to show the world that Black girls ARE healthy and fit, unllike the sterotypes that depict us as fat, lazy, and unhealthy. These women are SO supportive and encouraging. It's absolutely mind-boggling. To see Black women come together on one accord and uplift one another is beyond words. So, in addition to promoting fitness (running/walking/jogging/wogging), we're also honing in on healthy living overall. So there are a group of us who will be embarking on a weight-loss journey like no other on August 21st. To "get our minds right", today we had to answer the question of WHY we want to be a part of this group...WHY we want to lose the weight and become healthier. THIS was my answer: Wow! My "why" goes all the way back to childhood. I've always been overweight and as a child that meant ALWAYS picked LAST...for sports teams, and/or pretty much anything else. It hasn't gotten any better as an adult. I'm tired of being "invisible" (as big as I am) and I'm ready for people to actually SEE me. I want my weight to begin with a 1 instead of a 2. I want my clothing size to begin with a 1, instead of a 2. I want to be able to buy my clothes at ANY store, instead of only Lane Bryant and The Avenue. Thankfully, my weight has not resulted in any health issues, and I'm not on any medication. Surprisingly, my annual physical results have always been "normal". I'd like to keep it that way. I have 3 children and I want to be an example of good health and fitness for them. I want to be more confident and less self-conscious. Finally, I want God to know that I appreciate this body that He's given me (fully functioning) and I want to take better care of it as my way of saying THANK YOU to Him. Those are my "WHYs". Looking forward to the journey. I know that it won't be easy. There will probably be tears at times (publicly and privately), but I'm in this 100%. So grateful for this opportunity! So there you have it folks. I am ready! August 21st can't come soon enough for me. Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: What weight loss programs have you tried, and how successful were you? Talk to me! Til next time...