RISING ABOVE, 14 Day Health Challenge Update and Weekly Weigh In

Since Mondays are my weigh in days and I'm on day 5 of the challenge, I thought it would be a great time to communicate how I'm doing with the challenge and weight loss numbers to date. Yesterday was a difficult day for me because it was my Dad's birthday.  If you're a regular reader you know he passed away in August and I thought he was the greatest Dad ever!  On top of the emotions pertaining to the day, I had other personal stresses I was dealing with as well and had every excuse to emotionally eat.  I had to summon the kind of strength that only comes from God.  I definitely felt as if I was being tested and in that moment thought, "if on this day of great emotional strife, I am able to rise above and resist my desire to emotionally eat, then I can do it every other day of my life!  In fact there will be nothing I can't do."  It was that important to me.  I did it!  I made it through with no junk food or late night snacking.  I was successful today as well.

Since I've been successful with obtaining the daily goals I set, I was excited to weigh this morning to find out the results of my hard work. I weighed 157, a 3 pound weight loss!  I was very happy to see those numbers at this stage of my journey.

Since I'm new to my current gym I had the 1st of two free personal training sessions with Dane, my personal trainer.  My body fat percentage calculated today was 36%, so I still have a long way to go.  I think I'd like to see that number at about 25%. We talked for about 30 minutes and trained for about 30 minutes.  The training was intense!  I was doing heavier weights than I ever thought I could do.  For example on the shoulder press machine we started at 40 pounds for 12 reps, then 55 pounds for 10 reps, then 70 pounds for 8 reps.  Afterwards he said 40 pounds was too easy for me, so next time we'd start heavier.  O.K., maybe it was, but 8 reps was all I could squeak out at 70 pounds for sure!  He gave me a choice a time or two for doing more, but said if we start training together there would be no choices.  O.K. cool!! I love to be pushed like that in the gym!  If I couldn't complete a set, quitting was not an option, he was there to help me through it instead.  I know working with a personal trainer will give me better results than working out alone, so I really hope I'm going to be able to afford to keep him.  Fingers crossed.

Thought for the day:

(from Positive Outlooks)

Reading this brought this scripture to mind:


Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


We are braver, stronger, smarter, and more beautiful than we imagined. So true.

I want to encourage you to set your goals high because you can attain them.  Anythings possible! I never thought I could overcome emotional eating and I have.  Just set your goals and establish the steps you will take to achieve them and stick with them.  If you "fall off the wagon" just jump back on immediately.  Forgive yourself and start again right then, don't wait!  This is what I've implemented and it works beautifully!  You can do it. 

I hope everyone has a fabulous, healthy Tuesday.

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

What I Ate Wednesday! AND Week 11 Results AND more secrets revealed!

If you like fabulous food, pics, and recipes from other bloggers, check out Peas and Crayons.

Breakfast:

Super yum oatmeal:  gf oats, fuji apple, Justin's maple almond butta, Sun Crystals, Garden of Life Super Seed.  Delicious.

Lunch:

+ PLUS+

= TRUE LOVE

Really.  These two together in a sandwich = happy me.  I usually pair it with an apple or raw carrots.  Chocolate almond butter sandwich - That's whats for lunch!

Dinner:  Glazed sesame pork with green beans

Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper over both sides of 5 center cut pork chops.

Heat 2 tsp. dark sesame oil in large skillet over medium heat.

Add pork and cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned.

Mix:

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. low sodium chicken broth

2 Tbsp. sesame seeds, toasted (I didn't have time to toast them)

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Add to the pork chops. 

Cover. Reduce heat and simmer an additional 20 minutes or until tender.  Serve pork with sauce.

Voila!  Dinner is served.

These pork chops are really delicious, excellent flavor, salty & sweet.  Love meat with a little bit of sweet.  

Even my 4 year old loved them:

My 8 year old wanted to act like she loved them.  She wasn't interested in trying them.  Just wanted her picture taken ;).

and dessert, gluten free, milk free chocolate chip cookie!

I spoke a little of my weight loss secrets in the last post .  I mentioned developing a nutrition plan that resonates with your belief system, well this is a glimpse into mine.  Sometimes I vary it depending on the goals I need to obtain for the week, but this day is a good snapshot of a typical day, well minus the cookie.  Ideally I add treats about twice a week  I concentrate on eating real food and minimizing junk.  I try to balance carbs for the day by allowing high carb meals in the beginning to middle of the day if I like.  However, by mid-afternoon to evening I minimize starch greatly and eat nothing after dinner, even if I'm hungry.  I believe we don't need heavy carb meals at night and more protein helps to keep me full longer, so I can avoid snacking at night. I firmly believe most of my weight loss is due to how I eat in the evenings, which is so different from how I used to eat. Heavy nighttime snacking consumed me, resulting in an extra 500-1000 calories consumed after dinner 4 to 5 times per week.  I would become stressed, anxious and run to food for comfort.  That's not me anymore and I'm not going back!

The secret to remaining joyful eating this way, when others around you are eating a more stimulating unhealthy diet, is to remain content.  If dining out and your friend is eating a slice of cake the size of your head, don't whine and think why can't I eat that or I'm so miserable, why can they eat cake & I can't.  Instead remain content. Just think of your goals and how skipping this dessert will place you that much closer to them.  Doesn't that feel better than that slice of cake!

Philippians 4:11

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Oh, I almost forgot weigh in numbers for the week!  I lost 3 pounds!  Now I'm only 3 pounds away from reaching my 40 day challenge weight loss goal by my birthday, November 20th!  I'm not going to accept failure.

Take care everyone and make it a healthy day.

P.S. Make sure to check out the new Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook page.  Link to the right ->

Success Is Worth The Sacrifice

 It was great to get back in the gym today.  The picture on the left is my heart rate, which normally I don't let get that high but it felt great so I just went with it.

I decided to do cardio today until I burned 500 calories.  Sometimes I'll do that if I have a little more time.

Then I worked chest and abs:  chest press, cable chest press, dumbbell chest flies, Britney Spears abs workout .  Followed by stretching.

 Today was an emotional day between taking care of closing out a business and all of the decisions and work it entails as well as other personal stuff too.  I still struggle with emotional eating, after all I would eat only healthy food all of the time if it were not an issue.  Tonight my emotions got the best of me and self control was low.  It was not a binge though, I don't do that.  I had some of the kid's candy, some Frito's, and some sierra mist.  The positive in all of this...yes there is a positive, is I didn't finish eating the candy I opened, nor the Frito's, nor the sierra mist.  I gained control.  I forgave myself.  Now I'm back on track even stronger than before.

When I began this post I wasn't going to mention the snacking, but as I typed I felt the need for transparency in the hopes this post will help others.  I think most people fail with weight loss because they fail to do what Dr. Oz calls a U turn (at the next available moment get back on track).  If left unchecked hours can turn into days and days into weeks, then you look around, weight has been regained and feelings of  self defeat surface.  It becomes even more difficult to start again.

This journey is such a learning process, not so much learning about weight loss, but learning about myself.  I will be successful or not based on my choices.  I can choose success or failure.  After experiencing some success, although I have so far to go, I can testify to this fact.  SUCCESS IS SO WORTH THE SACRIFICE TO GET THERE. 

I feel so blessed to have such great blog friends who send me positive, encouraging comments everyday and correcting comments as well.  Some very encouraging ones made my day today!  Thanks so much.  Hopefully I'm an encourager to you as well.  :)

I started this post to talk about working out today...man did it turn into something else. 

I'm back on track and ready for tomorrow.  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

Take care,