I Am Still Accountable

Chad mentioned something last night that has inspired this post.

 I cleansed yesterday and was whining about being hungry (haha) and he mentioned how he hasn't received one of my Fitness Pal updates in awhile and it's true, I haven't sent any. Because there really isn't much to report.

Since hitting the 100 lb lost mark, it's been VERY slow moving. Painfully slow. Yet, I am not the least bit discouraged because it is still coming off and hopefully - at this pace, it means I will not only continue but maintain the success I've had thus far.

I also don't measure my success entirely on the scale.

But alas, to date

I have...

Lost 111.4 lbs
Lost over 84 inches
I am jogging, jumping and have more energy than I have in years.
I work out six times a week
I kicked up the work-out regime and added in a Cardio Kick boxing class (which I have a love/hate relationship with)
I eat whatever I want and rarely feel guilty. I still make good choices but I am not a prisoner to food.

So. I am happy. Progress is still happening and generally speaking I feel pretty fabulous.

I am still here. I am still accountable and I will keep going.

One thing I must comment on. People really start to notice it more now and the most common question is:

WHAT ARE YOU DOING/HOW DID YOU DO IT?

I find this such a funny question, I giggle every time because they're hoping for some magic cure or something. I think most people assume I had surgery to lose as much as I did in a relatively short period of time. I have an enormous amount of pride when I tell them it really came down to a lot of hard work at the gym and being really smart with nutrition and fueling my body with what it needs to do the job it is designed to do.

 This isn't a sprint. It's a life-long marathon and I'm still chuggin' along :)

Thank you to those of you out there who have supported me in this endeavor. It is definitely noticed AND appreciated!


 

The Scale Is Not Your Friend

I don't know if it's a fad or the direction the world is going with people reclaiming their health - but Facebook leads me to believe there is an upward trend of people saying 'Enough is Enough', kicking up their workout routine and trying to lose weight and get healthier.

One of the biggest changes is we're doing this - blogging. And our reason is public accountability.  No one wants to fail in front of 500 - 1,000 of their closest friends right?

I haven't weighed in today but I am guessing to be pretty close to the 100 lb mark still. Two weeks and I've been on the yo-yo ride of up and down. It gets so frustrating because all I want to do is keep going. But you know what I reminded myself this morning?

I AM.

 The scale is not my friend. It doesn't tell the whole story. What am I talking about? The scale has stayed the same for the most part, up 3 pounds, down 2. Up 1, down 1. But I felt like I was still losing. I felt like my pants are a little loser. So I took my measurements and in the past 2.5-3 weeks I have lost another 7 inches.  And the BEST part? It's almost all around my belly/waist/hips . I need to lose all over but that's the area I noticed the difference. 

Morale of the story is. Trust your instincts. Take your measurements. The scale, while incredibly motivating (or demotivating) doesn't tell the whole story and isn't always your friend. 

Keep pushing, keep trying - especially when you don't want to. That's when the rewards feel the best.

Major Milestone Achieved!

Since I've taken to documenting some of this journey both for reflection and accountability - I've decided to put pen to paper, so to speak and share this particular milestone.

Last week, I hit a pretty big milestone. When I weighed in at the gym, I admit - I shed a few tears. I have no ideal or goal weight in mind but losing 100 pounds was just really huge.

Physically, I definitely feel the change more than I see it. I was and still am a super-sized woman. Most people who lose 100 lbs can tell a dramatic different. Me? It's there, but I still have a long way to go. But I'm not focusing on that. I'm focusing on how far I've come, how I feel and how much of my life and confidence I've gotten back already.

I still drag at times but generally speaking;  I have energy, I have motivation and I have determination. People ask me how I do it or what I've done.

No, I did not have surgery. Not my gig.
No, I am not on a diet. Don't believe in them.
No, I have no magic pills.

I workout 6 times a week.
I eat healthy. (But I still indulge regularly, I refuse to be a prisoner to food and I'm way too lazy to food prep)
I drink 1 isagenix shake a day.
I take one scoop of ionix supreme a day.
I cleanse once or twice a month. (Isagenix, Cleanse for Life)
I try to get a good amount of protein.

That's it. It's not rocket science but it is not easy. It takes work and dedication and it requires you to leave the excuses in the past. I made myself a priority and my health and happiness my motivation.

I go to the gym and I work hard. The harder I work, the better my results. I make better choices nutritionally. But I still indulge because living on salad is not something I can maintain for the rest of my life. And I want this change to be sustainable and maintainable. I've battled weight my whole life and will continue to. Every day. It may come off a little slower with not being super strict. But my hope? Is it will last. Because there's just no way I am losing myself that much again. I just about hit rock bottom and I much prefer the view from up here. :)

 

That's it.