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,

blogger is really irritating

Blogger is really irritating today.  I can't comment on anyone's blogs.  It keeps giving me a message that I don't have access with my account?  What's up with that?  Anyone  else having this problem?

Week 4 update, 2 days early

Since we left for vacation today, I decided to go ahead and weighin today and count it as a week.  Then I'll restart Monday weighins when I return from the beach.  I love to weighin on Mondays because it helps keep me accountable on the weekend.  So in the last 5 days I lost..........1 pound, which I am SO HAPPY to report.  Yea! Woo-hoo! I'll take every little bit.

Tonight I did have some oh so not good for me snacks:  some boy scout caramel popcorn, then some peanuts.  I actually felt sick after the popcorn.  I learned my lesson.  I don't ever want any more.  After I ate it, I looked at the ingredients....these are the 1st three:  SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSE!!!! It's bad  enough to have sugar as a 1st ingredient, but to have it as the 1st three.  Geees.  Get this! The side of the bag says this:  Better flavor. Better for you.  What? I think they're on crack!  Then I had a few peanuts and felt better.  Since we were travelling, we had an early dinner and I became too hungry.  Anyway, my husband laughed like a sinister laugh cause I fell off the wagon.  Sometimes I think he wants me to fail.  I think because he eats a lot of junk, he wants me right there with him.  Any of y'all run into that with friends and family?

I'm going to put this behind me and not let it derail my healthy efforts.  My husband does support me and help with the kids so I can exercise, but sometimes makes fun of my not being able to do it at the same time.  So does he really support me?  Maybe. Maybe not? 

Bottom line....I'm celebrating my victory over the 1 pound and putting my bad snacking choice behind me.  I think I'm going to the grocery store tomorrow and buy some yummy tea.  Which leads to my question of the day....

QUESTION OF THE DAY:  What's your favorite low or no sugar hot tea?  I love the cinnamon spicy ones.

Thanks for reading and listening.

Be healthy. Be strong.

Have a great weekend.

Quick update

Today I had some more spa appointments.  You know there's no such thing as natural beauty ;).  I had an eyebrow wax and bikini wax.  The bikini wax was a first for me.  Now I feel ready to go to the beach, with my new improved self.

Since we're going on vacation for a week, leaving tomorrow, I'm going to have my official weekly weigh-in in the morning instead of Monday.  Then I'll resume weighing in on every Monday like I have been.  I'm hoping for another pound loss, especially since it's only been 5 days.  I should be posting regularly next week, if we can get Internet service, which has never been a problem in the past.  It's super slow though.  I actually considered taking my scale with me, but I don't want to be obsessed with my weight.  I am a little scared I'll come back 4 pounds up, cause I don't have my scale to keep me in check.  I'm really going to try not to worry about that & just make healthy choices 95% of the time get in some extra movement.

VIDEO OF THE DAY:  I just love this video, especially the passion they once had.  One of my goals in this journey is to feel as sexy as they look.  I used to feel sexy like that and I want it back, baby.



My husband is super tech savvy, so I wanted to show off my mad blogging skills.  O.K., so I don't REALLY don't have mad blogging skills.  He just walked in & I said, "hey do you wanna see me embed?"  I started laughing my butt off, almost fell out of my chair.  He didn't think it was so funny.

WHAT I ATE TODAY:  
Breakfast:  peanut butter Balance Bar and 2 bites of banana
Lunch:  Scandinavian crisp bread  with ham and mustard, and a small apple 
Snack:  popcorn at Target and 3 sips of an icee
Dinner:  salad with red bell pepper (out of our garden...yum!), carrots, deli ham, Italian dressing.  My family had pizza & bread sticks.  I almost caved & had a bread stick, but by the time I finished my salad I was satisfied and able to just say NO to the bread stick.  To drink I had a vitamin water zero (acai-blueberry-pomegranate).

Then I made a huge find at Target tonight....vitamin water zero drive!  I bought 10.  Ever since Jorge mentioned it on facebook, it's always sold out.

I didn't have time to workout today & I TOTALLY missed it. So much so in fact that I found a workout video on YouTube to watch.  I think I'm gonna try this at the end of my workout on the day I'm working biceps.


O.K. this was supposed to be a quick update....Hopefully I have some great news for you in the morning!

Have a great weekend!

Be healthy. Be strong.

Take care,

Sassy Kinda Day

I had a better day today.  Got a sassy new do!  Well, it made me feel sassy. ;)

Excuse the no makeup.

I had a nap,  then a great 1.5 hour workout.  My exercise routine tonight was elliptical trainer 30 minutes, leg strength training, abs, and stretching.  I really enjoyed every minute of it.  Who am I?  I never liked exercise before and now I'm like this workout freak.  Who knew? 

TODAY'S MENU:  

Breakfast:  CLIFF kid zbar (chocolate brownie)

Snack:  handful of CHEEZ-ITS

Lunch:  2 SCANDINAVIAN bran crisp, no sugar peanut butter, grape jelly, and an apple

Before workout snack:  CLIFF energy bar, 100 calorie size

Dinner:

Subway Roast beef sub (whole wheat bread, lettuce, banana peppers - super yum!, black olives, mustard) and ice water

VIDEO OF THE DAY:  I always see trainers at the gym working with people on this machine, but I never know what to do.  I might try this.



Hope you have a great evening.

Be healthy. Be strong.

Take care,

Some People React That Way. Really?!

Well girlfriends, let me tell you, yesterday was not the best day for me.  I woke up a pound less today...O.K. that was good. Yesterday I went to the doctor to get my IUD.  I had no idea that I should have not driven myself.  Well the procedure was taking a little too long & she was having trouble getting thru my cervix.  Then the clamp on my cervix fell off, yeah, ouch.  Then I started to feel dizzy & passed out, so she had to stop the procedure.  She said some people react that way.  Really?!  Anyway I rested there, drank water & ate some nabs.  I did learn a few lessons from the whole ordeal.  1) my blood sugar tends to run low, so I should have eaten lunch.  2) I should have taken Advil.  Next time I try it I'll make sure to do both.  So I am gonna try it one more time next month.  I could barely drive home...probably shouldn't have because I was feeling week & nauseous. Do any of you have problems with a vasovagal response?

I was done for the rest of the day.  Came home & went straight to bed, after having a Pepsi, that is...I know, I know.  It did help me feel better and I slept for about 1.5 hours. I did follow it up with a healthy dinner, turkey breast and baby lima beans with Crystal Light pure fitness .  The rest of my family had toast as well.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:  Do you like Crystal Light pure fitness?  If so, what's your favorite flavor?

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Be healthy. Be strong.

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,