Do You Want It?

In the last few weeks I'd lost my vigor for this lifestyle, and my "draw a line in the sand" healthy attitude had all but disappeared. Even my weight had started creeping up, but don't worry I'm not abandoning ship, and my weight is now creeping back down.  For me to lose weight it has to be a passionate belief in a way of living, eating, and exercising, or I can't be successful.  I have to believe in it to my core, and have clear guidelines to adhere to or I become tossed about like a ship in the ocean.  One of the main keys to my success, especially in the beginning was limiting starches in the evening.  In the last 6 weeks I've been experimenting with other things, which left me without clear structure in the evenings, and open to old patterns of behavior, the same ones that resulted in a weight of 190 pounds.

So now, what's a girl to do?  I could just give up.  If you read this blog regularly, you know that is not going to happen!  Or I could recommit to this lifestyle with newly defined objectives and goals, with a clear action plan of how to achieve them.  I also realize I need an updated definition of "why".  When I'm face to face with temptation, what's going to keep me out of that cookie jar at 11 P.M. when no one else is watching. The "why" can stop you in your tracks and make all of your dreams come true.  So for the sake of being transparent, I thought I'd just define all of these right here for all of my friends to see.

Why will I stay committed to living a healthy lifestyle?

• To live a long and healthy life with great quality of life
• To be a great role model for my 2 girls
• To be an inspiration and help for others to achieve a healthy life
• To feel great
• To have increased self confidence 
• To be a Hot Mama (just being honest) and feel sexy :)

Action Plan:

• Take responsibility and love myself enough to achieve it
• Base meals around protein, fruits, and vegetables (plant or animal protein)
• No/low starch after 3 P.M. 
• Eat often with a goal of every 3 hours
• No eating after 8 P.M. (For some this step won't matter, but for me late night eating is a big stumbling block!)
• If I fall short of these steps, don't give up, and recommit to this plan immediately
• Exercise 5 days per week: weight training, cardio, fitness classes

Do you want it?  I KNOW I do!  Now I know why and how to get it.  

If your weight loss has stalled, I recommend defining "your" why and how.  It just may be the extra little push needed to stick with your plan.  

Thanks for the support, it helps me more than you know.

Take care,

Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

This weekend, I did it & a new recipe

Over the weekend I tried a new healthy cookie recipe, banana oatmeal peanut butter cookies.  They were so yum!  Here's the recipe:

Banana Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies (gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, egg free)

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter
2 tablespoons organic local maple syrup
2 cup gluten free rolled oats
1/2 cup rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup no dairy chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix bananas, vanilla, peanut butter and maple syrup into a creamy consistency in a large bowl.

In another bowl combine oats, flour, baking powder and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until they are well combined, the batter should be slightly sticky.

Fold in the chocolate chips.  Place heaping tablespoon sized balls of the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 - 18 minutes.  Makes 15 cookies.

These cookies were delicious. Too delicious because there are none left. oops!

For some time I've been wanted to do something that would remind me of my new life where anything is possible, weight loss or any goal for that matter.  I decided to get my cartilage in my left ear pierced!!!!  So tonight after dropping the kids off at church, I went to the mall by myself and had it done.  I like it.  What do you think?

After this week and weekend, even though I stayed on track most of the time, I don't think my weight loss will be stellar.  That said, this weekend hubby and I went to Bonefish Grill .  It was SO DELICIOUS.  I highly recommend it.  Monday its time to get back on track and BUST this plateau baby!  I need a plan, so I developed one.  

This weeks action plan:

Nutrition:

• Eat carbohydrates (fruit, grains, etc.) at breakfast or within 2 hours of  working out.
• Other snacks and meals will consist of protein and veggies.
• Lots of H2O.  Some tea.
• Will continue gluten free and dairy free.  I'm feeling too good to stop now.  

Exercise:

• workout 5 days this week (cardio and resistance).  Probably will split my time between the two.  

Sleep:

• in bed by midnight ( I know this sounds late, but I've been known to stay up to 2 - 3 a.m.)

Still can't believe I got my ear pierced!!! Yay!!!!!!!!


Did you ever do anything to remind you of a goal or a new chapter in your life?

Daily Inspiration:

Have a wonderful week, staying healthy and fit.  

Take care,

Draw a line in the sand!

My day was going great today.  I had a dentist appointment this morning to fix a chipped tooth that went wonderfully.  I worked out completing 45 minutes of cardio, shoulder and abs strength training, and stretching.  I made good food choices.  Then it happened.

After dinner tonight instead of cleaning up the dinner dishes.  I worked on cleaning out my 4 year old's closet.  My reasoning was I can get more done, doing the closet now.  Then after the kids are in the bed I'll clean the kitchen.  I think since I've adhered to my eating plan fairly well, it didn't even cross my mind that I could have late night eating issues if I waited to clean the kitchen. WRONG!  I was loading the dishwasher, while I was exhausted & a little hungry.  I thought I'll have some Triscuits.  Then I thought well if I'm having some I might as well finish the whole box.  Don't worry I didn't do that.  I did have about a serving though.  Then, of course, I wanted something else so I poured out some Cheez-Its & ate those.  The old me would have eaten something else, probably something sweet.  I didn't.  I realized that I don't want to go back to living the old life, before I started making healthy changes.  I didn't snack on anything else.  I sat down at the computer and re-listened to failure to launch .  I knew at that moment it was time to draw a line in the sand and say enough!  I don't want to stay where I am!  It frightens me.  At that moment I knew I had to take responsibility for this behavior.  I came up with an action plan to conquer this late night eating demon!  Right now.

This is my action plan:

1. Clean the kitchen immediately after dinner.  Don't wait!  Then announce, "the kitchen is closed".
2. If I want a late night snack, drink a full glass of water AND a cup of hot tea instead.  
3. Assume responsibility!  Don't end up trading what I want for what I want right now. Just remember:  There is no try!
4. Put the past behind me.  Focus on the present and the future.  

That's it.  I feel like I have to do this, not try to do this.  I'm growing and learning so much along this journey that really will never end.  How awesome is that!  I can't believe it.  I'm actually enjoying this journey.  I'm so grateful my weight loss family is here to journey along this path with me.

Thanks for listening.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:    Psalm 94:19  "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Hope you have a wonderful evening.

Be healthy. Be strong.

Take care,