Catch Up and Next Week

Sunday night. The moment you realize the weekend is officially over and a new week starts. I spent most of the weekend relaxing and doing nothing. I didn't sleep that great last week so it was nice to just do a quick cleaning, some errands, and then sit down, watch tv, and take naps.

Abby was very happy about the relaxing and taking naps portion of the weekend
I love snuggling with her

I did go to my friends' house Saturday night for dinner and a movie. It's so nice having friends who respect my lifestyle choices and have even started their own health journey!! Although we all had a good laugh when I busted out my food scale. What not everyone travels with their food scale?? Ha. I love my friends who get me! They made chicken breast, veggies, and salad.  I did also bring my own dressing for the salad.They have both recently started following a low carb diet lifestyle. I am so proud of them and the healthy changes they are learning to incorporate into their daily lives.Jerry, was told he was pre-diabetic a couple of months ago and decided then it was time to change. We talked about different meals and things he could do and now his wife is also following the plan. It's really fun watching them do it as a couple and they are both losing weight and feeling healthier and better about themselves!!

Scale and dressing packed and ready to go.
Good thing my parents got me a beautiful big bag for my birthday.

Last week at my Weight Watchers meeting I was so excited because I lost the .8 I gained the week before and I took off an additional 1.2lbs! Woohoo! Although I admit at one point I went, ugh so much more to go and can I do it. Well yes I can I reminded myself! I'm following weight watchers, I am working out, and the support I have received from my friends makes me feel like the impossible can be accomplished. This time I am losing the weight the healthy way. I am making peace with eating and food choices. It may take longer to lose it but at least I know this time it will stay lost!!

Feeling good.
Beachbody workout at 5 am is how I start my day.

So as the weekend comes to an end I sit here and think what can I improve or do better next week...

Set the goals, write them down, and achieve them!

1) less nighttime snacking. Even though I may have points I believe nighttime snacking isn't great for my body's digestion

2) try and add in 1 or 2 days extra of cardio. Hoping the weather improves so I can get out walking again. I'm even hoping my dad will teach me how to bike ride! 

3) drink more water! 

4) speak kindly to myself and know that on days when maybe getting dressed because nothing fits right is a challenge I remind myself I am on the right path and to stay strong! Soon those clothes will fit better than ever. 

What are your healthy, either mentally or physically, for the upcoming week? 

21 Day Fix and Weight Watchers

Today I officially started my second round of 21 Day Fix, and I also restarted with Weight Watchers. I was originally planning on starting my second round of 21 2 weeks ago, but decided to take a week off and then one week turned into two. No good. I was starting to miss the baby muscles I had begun to see after the first round.

21 Day Fix Calendar..Bring it on!

The new program focuses on more than just the number on the scale

I got up a 5:00 a.m. this morning with determination and by 5:30 a.m. I was sweating and feeling really proud of myself. It amazing how much of a difference 2 weeks makes; exercises that I was actually upping weights on were now causing me to get out of breath quicker. Good thing I didn't let it go past 2 weeks.

This was after round 1 of 21 Day Fix...
Can't wait to see 2nd round results!

My decision to start Weight Watchers was a pretty easy one as well. I had success in the past, when I actually followed the program and my bestie Debbie is a lifer. I hear her stories and see her success and know it works. I love that Weight Watchers allows me a little freedom to eat regular food, have some fun, and more than anything it will keep me accountable for my eating actions. I am mentally in a great place right now which helps, I know life will have stressful moments but if I start to incorporate good habits now, I am hoping they will stick during the difficult times.

This week I have 2 eating out events, ugh, eating my own food is always easier because I can pick it and know it and control it, eating out brings a whole other set of challenges and that does even include is the food gluten free, rice free, potato free and lactose free....

Caution..Food I didn't make ahead!  Beware of unknown ingredients!

Tomorrow is the first event, a golf outing for work. No I don't play, but I do get to ride around in the golf course and take pictures. My day will start with my 21 Day Fix workout, "Upper Fix". Then off to the country club. I will eat my own breakfast before going, most likely a paleo shake with almond butter. Yum! Then later in the afternoon we stop for lunch at the halfway house, last year I got a turkey wrap with cheese...that will not work this year. No to wrap and no to cheese...hmmm. I could take the turkey off the wrap but how filing is that. Anyway...after golf there is a dinner reception, this is the hard one because there is sooo much delicious food. So my plan....try my best to make the best choices I can and most importantly TRACK everything I eat. That is the best I can do, maybe I will be hungry if I have small portions of good but not low point foods, but that is a chance I have to take. I am committed to making this program work for my life.

Yeah not happening this year... And that's not a lot of turkey to take off the wrap

The second eating out event is dinner with Debbie. The good news is, it's with Debbie, my lifetime WW bestie. We are going to Applebees so I will just check the menu before dinner and see the points. The WW app is super easy to use and look up points.

My bestie!!  And WW lifetimer

I am so excited to start seeing results from using both programs. I want my baby muscles back! I like them a lot and I wouldn't mind my size smaller pants fitting again :)

Stay tunes for more updates!

21 Day Fix....Week 2 Done

I survived week 2 of 21 Day Fix and I have to admit, I love the workouts!  Well I don't love them while doing it, but I love the feeling I get after the workout. I'm out of breath and sweating and feeling so good about myself. I even enjoy the next day when my muscles are slightly sore. Sometimes I am sore in places I didn't even know muscles existed. I'm even thinking I might have to increase my weights soon. Ha, didn't see that happening any time soon.  

My current weights...I think it's time to up the numbers

However, it is time to step up my game. When I started 2 weeks ago I decided to not do the eating plan. I thought eh I got the eating stuff handled. Turns out, I don't really. Feel free to read back to my post about peanut butter. So I have decided to do the full program including meal plan. The plan is actually pretty neat and seems easy enough to follow. 

So excited to start this meal plan...and no counting calories! 

You get colors containers and each container goes with a good group...Green is for vegetables, red is for protein..etc. Depending on your weight you are allowed to have a certain number of each contain a day. I have already discovered my portions were a little out of whack, and that is with only trying it for a day.  This could be very eye opening. I also like that it is teaching me how to eventually be able to eyeball portions without containers, measuring, or scales!

My container friends for 21 Day Fix
No counting calories and well rounded meals and snacks.

I am super excited to see how amazing my body does putting the workouts and the meal plan together. The goal is always to  better my health for now and the long term and to feel good, but come on let's be honest...warm weather, shorts, and bathing suit season is around the corner! I would like very much to look amazing in those shorts and feel confident in my bathing suits. 

Bring it on 21 Day Fix!! I got this! 

21 Day Fix...Week 1 Done

I am very excited to announce I finished my first week of 21 Day Fix. What is 21 Day Fix you ask... It is a Beachbody home workout program.  Over the last few months I have been trying to get back into working out. As you know from past posts I used to go to the gym and also loved walking outside. I didn't really go to the gym at all last year. I tried to go back to it, I really did, but when I started driving there one day after work I got halfway there and made a turn and went home instead. As for walking outside, well since being bit by a dog in the park (Time to Heal), walking outside doesn't really appeal to me. I needed to find a routine that would work.

Yup that sounds about right for me

I love naps...maybe I should start scheduling them too

I also discovered that unless I get up at 5:00 a.m. to workout it most likely isn't going to happen. I tried a couple of home DVDs that were good, but just not giving me the results I wanted. I had purchased and started...well barely started...21 Day Fix last year and decided to give it another shot.

Every day is a new workout and new muscles get called into action

Last Monday was my first workout (Total Body Cardio), I hated it and loved it at the same time! My muscles were screaming, sweat was dripping off me, and I knew come Tuesday I was going to be sore. I was not wrong, I was so sore but in a good way.

After my first workout, do you see the sweat!
I don't usually sweat, especially working out at home.
Such a good workout!

If I didn't have a meeting Tuesday,
I would have put my hair in a bun and called it a day.

21 Day Fix is a set of workouts that are 30 minutes long. Each day is a different workout and each workout brings new muscles into play. I love that every workout offers modifications, this allows me to go at my own pace and grow. It also allows me to not jump and hop around too much. I live on the second floor of a condo building. I don't think my downstairs neighbors would appreciate me doing jumping jacks at 5 am. Speaking of condo living, I don't have a lot of space to workout, these workouts don't need a lot of space, it's perfect!

Condo living doesn't offer a lot of workout space, but ...

 when I move the coffee table I have just enough for a good workout!

I am so excited to keep you all updated of my progress during the next 21 Days. There is a link on the side my blog if you want to check it out. If I have to wake up at 5 am to workout I might as well enjoy it and know I am going to get results.

Beginning Stats:

Chest: 33"
R. Arm: 12"
L. Arm: 11"
Waist: 28"
Hips: 36"
R. Thigh: 21"
L. Thigh: 22"
R. Calf: 13"
L. Calf: 13"

Weight: 128"
Total Inches: 18

Next measurement update in 21 Days!