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

A Glimpse Into Part of What Changed My Life a Few Months Ago

Candace Cameron Bure - Dominican Republic from Compassion International on Vimeo.

Day 3 of my 14 Day Health Challenge went well, I obtained my goals with no cravings for unhealthy food.  Yea, but I have something else on my heart to talk about tonight, part of the key to what changed my life a few months ago, the heart of this lady, Candace Cameron Bure.  The video above is a glimpse into her heart and passion, which runs all through the weight loss book to the left as well.  I would LOVE to one day hear her speak and meet her.  She really truly changed my life.

I've adopted much of her eating philosophy and I'll let you in on a little secret......It's not that hard.  Nothing has to be cut out of your life forever.  She eats this way and maintains a trim healthy body and you can too!  It does however require faith, perseverance, and discipline, all needed in any successful endeavor, don't you think.

A few days ago I heard about an online magazine community she started called roomag.com.  I've just started to browse the site, and it looks amazing!  Check it out as it looks like an amazing resource for women in all areas of life.

I know most of my readers have heard me say most of this before, but the video above moved me to tears and I just had to share!

Tell me:


How does your faith impact your health and weight loss decisions?


Have a wonderful, healthy Sunday.

Take care,

Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

Challenge Day 2, Feelings Pass

Just wanted to do a quick update before heading off to bed.  I met my challenge goals today, even though I have a nasty cold and I worked today and have other stresses in my life.  I am passionate about finishing this challenge strong and empowered.  I'll do what it takes.  I was struggling last night with emotional eating, not giving in but struggling with stress and the feelings of wanting to run to food for comfort.  A friend said, "don't eat. Feelings pass."  I thought yeah, so true.  It helped. It worked!

Doesn't it feel great to flex that discipline muscle and feel it getting stronger and stronger!  I love Hebrews 12:11!

Well onward and upward! 

Have a safe, fun, and healthy weekend.

Take care,

Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

14 Day Health Challenge, Day 1. This Accountability Rocks!

I met all of my goals today!  It's all due to this challenge and the support from all of you.  I have been floundering for the past few weeks.  Maybe floundering is too strong of a word here, but I haven't been my normal healthy self.  Sometimes I think we start to backslide and don't even realize it until it results in a marked change enough to grab our attention.  I know that's true for me.  I desperately needed something to bring me back in line with my health and wellness goals.  I've worked too hard to turn back now!

I've received lots of questions as to what this challenge means to me.  These are my daily goals for the next 14 days:

1. No snacking after dinner.  
2. No junk food.  I realize this is open to interpretation somewhat. For me if I can understand the ingredients and nothing is refined, I don't consider it junk.
3. No gluten.
4. No dairy.  

That's it.  Pretty simple.  Nothing to count or track.  I do plan to take pictures or keep a list of what I'm eating during the day to keep me accountable.  Now my goals may not be your goals.  Just decide on your daily goals, know that you can do it, and have the discipline to see it through.  

Today's meals:

Breakfast: strawberry Glutino bar & a prune

Snack:  Cranberry Almond Kind Bar

My buddy for the day & a healthy thumbs up from her

Lunch:  tuna with mustard, Yah's best, and rice vinegar with sugar snap peas and raw baby carrots

I had a couple of handfuls of these and Julia ate the rest.  Sugar snap peas only last a few minutes in our house.

Snack:  Trader Joe's Teriyaki Natural Turkey Jerky with grape tomatoes.  I had a little more jerky than what's in the pic ~  couldn't resist a little pre-picture snacking ;). Yum.

Before dinner took Ashleigh to a gymnastics photo shoot.  She's quite the poser.

pre-dinner snack: handful of peanuts

Dinner:  Chicken stir fry with broccoli, onions, mushrooms, carrots.  

Dessert: organic red seedless grapes

I was supposed to meet with my trainer today, but I'm sick again. Boo.  I may not feel like making it to the gym, but I did follow through on the 12 Days of Fitness Christmas Challenge by performing 100 jumping jacks.  I'm hoping to feel better tomorrow because I'm going to work in the Hardware Store tomorrow and Saturday.

Tell me:


How was day 1 of the Challenge?  Did you obtain your daily goals?

Goodnight friends, I'm falling asleep on my laptop.

Cat

Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

Take A Risk, Take A Chance, Make A Change

Taking a risk, taking a chance, and making a change is certainly one of the hardest things I've had to do in my life!  Sitting in the darkness and continuing a comfortable existence, whatever that is for you or me, is certainly easier than taking a risk and making a change.  It may even take more courage and strength than you ever imagined possible.  Fear may creep in and hinder your efforts for as long as you allow it to do so; however, fear can and needs to be conquered.  I was encouraged by this verse this weekend:

2 Timothy 1:7  "For God gave us not a spirit or fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline."


God gave us a spirit of POWER and LOVE and DISCIPLINE! So I can do this, conquer my fear and take the first step to change.  For me the first step is always the hardest, going from stuck in a state of fear to an empowered first step to lasting positive change.  My advice is to take the first step, don't worry about the 2nd, 3rd, or 31st step.  Just start moving in the direction of positive change.  Then after conquering the 1st step, feeling strong and empowered, keep moving, go to the second step.

Today I conquered a major fear in my life and I definitely feel like an empowered, strong woman.  I'm reminded of some of the lyrics in the song "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson:

"Gotta keep movin' on, movin on

Fly away, breakaway."

  

"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

And I'll make a wish

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway."

Next start flexing your discipline muscle to keep the momentum going for positive change.  After all God gave us a spirit of discipline and we need to use it!  Like all muscles, it is a muscle that with use can be strengthened.  I remember not being able to stick with a healthy eating plan for more than a few hours, now I live a healthy lifestyle.  It started with making a change, followed by the discipline to maintain the lifestyle.  

So take a risk, take a chance, and make a change and achieve the life of your dreams.  It's all possible.

Tell me:

What change did you make in your life recently?

Did it make you feel empowered?

Me as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

Just a quick post to let you know of a non scale victory....

....I think of non scale victories as gifts to brighten the day.  A few days ago when the weather turned chilly, chilly enough for a jacket, I pulled out my down vest that has always been too snug to button.  I didn't even think about it when I put it on, but after I buttoned it and it was PLENTY big, I thought "OMG, it's buttoned and roomy."  It made my day!

Don't you love how these moments just "sneak up" on us?

I almost didn't share this photo because I thought I looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!  Ha. Ha.  
Then I thought, no I need to be more transparent with my readers in case it may help someone.

To my blog girlfriends, thanks for all of the support helping me avoid eating Halloween candy today.  I was successful: no candy or dessert at church tonight!  You guys totally rock!

It would LOVE to hear of your non-scale victories.  Tell me about them.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great Sunday.

Life's a Beach

Life's a beach, today anyway.  We're at topsail taking our family vacation and other than a leaky hot water heater that's not working properly we're having a great time.  This morning I took an hour long brisk walk on the beach, followed by push ups, abs, squats, and stretching.  I was surprised that walking on the sand was a really good workout, all of the extra calf work involved was amazing.  I was totally wiped out afterwards.  I think on my future vacation workout days I'll just do 30 minutes for the cardio portion. 

After my workout I fixed lunch.


Vitamin Water Zero Drive (love this & it has caffeine!)



Super yum-o...Scandinavian crisp bread, peanut butter, sliced apples, cinnamon

 

I announced to my family that I was closed for 30 minutes.  It almost worked...It always works for my husband.  So I sat and read and texted friends and only got up to help the kids 1 time.  I was still worn out, so I took a 30 minute nap, if you wanna call it that because my kids woke me up twice.  I felt a little regenerated though, so it was off to the beach...

This is an Inspiration Notebook that I've put together.  It's an inexpensive brag book I purchased from Target.  I've included note cards that inspire me and keep me on track, from action plans to conquer late night eating, motivational truths, scripture, nutrition plan, and fitness plan, etc.  I refer to it often when I want a late night snack or want a junky sugary snack or don't want to exercise, whatever the case may be.  It really helps me stay on track. Really.  I wanted to pass it along in case it would help someone else that may be struggling in any area in their lives.  I just happen to be using it for health purposes. 

This is an example of a couple of pages out of my motivational notebook

Dinner tonight was Brunswick stew left over from our trip to Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q .  I ate a pint and had a few baby carrots.  If you love Brunswick stew, make sure to try theirs cause it's the bomb.  Really.

Tonight I really wanted to snack, but I'm not going to let myself do it.  Just like the note says in my book, I'll end up trading what I want for what I want right now.  I'm also reminded of something Candace Cameron Bure says.  I'm paraphrasing this from memory, but she basically says discipline is like a muscle. Every time you use it, it gets stronger, so the next time you go to use it, the discipline gets easier and easier.  If you're a christian I HIGHLY recommend her book, it's life changing. 

So that's my day and my thoughts.

And while I was uploading the beach pictures and looking at the beautiful Carolina sky a song kept playing in my mind.   Here it is.  Hopefully you love JT.

Hope everyone has a great Monday, well as great as a Monday can be, right.

Be healthy. Be strong.

Take care,