Yea, About That...

So, I feel like a t-total liar right about now. Why? Well, I didn’t change a dang thing from my previous post. I’ve still been eating white bread, pasta etc…I am ashamed again… so ashamed, that I started on my whole wheat and brown rice yesterday. I am slowly coming to the realization that I have a small food addiction. Why does food have to be so damn good? If there was a way to make a salad taste like a what-a-cheesburger, I’d be a size 3! I told Mike (Next Level Trainer/Owner) that I needed an intervention line to call when I make the terrible decision to go through the Taco Bell drive thru, twice in one day…two burritos in one day? No bueno.

I may have been bad a few times over the last couple weeks, but I definitely didn’t let that de-rail my progress. In the past, I would have let one day of bad eating turn into a whole week of bad eating…then a month etc. etc. That’s how this whole vicious cycle used to work for me. Overcoming after caving in has got to be one of the hardest hurdles I have been faced with so far. That’s saying a lot considering we had to do an FLR last night at bootcamp. If there is one part of me that hates me being overweight the most, it’s probably my arms. If they could talk, they’d more than likely curse me every time they have to hold allllll this bigness up off the ground for any amount of time! One day, that will no longer be the case :)

I am looking forward to see what this tweak in my carbs will do for my journey, considering I still lost while incorporating the bad bads (pasta, white bread, white rice etc) into my diet.

Last night I had my 2^nd post lifestyle change weight and measurements done. So far, in a 10wk period I have managed to stay losing approximately 1.7lbs per week for a total of 17lbs gone (including the 2 I had gained and worked back off in the beginning). I was also down 3 more inches bringing my total to 8.15 inches lost (and never to return!). I am a measly 3lbs away from my first small goal of 20lbs gone. I can do it! I have also set a pretty legit long term goal of hitting my healthy weight by my birthday (Dec 24^th ) this year. I will have to work extra hard around thanksgiving…have you had my grandmama’s cooking? You can gain 10lbs just by looking at all that thanksgivingny goodness!

Side Note: I was able to wear a pair of jeans Friday night that I haven't worn since fall of 2012. It was great. Except the part where I went to pull them up and broke my finger nail in half. #biggirlskinnyjeansprobs

Anywho, if there is a moral to this post, it would be; even if you give in, don’t give up. Giving up may be easier, but you are only doing a disservice to yourself in the long run!

 

Something’s Gotta Give

Something’s gotta give. The something is me…and the give is carbs. Let me rephrase that; bad carbs. I have been doing exceptionally well following my calorie intake and keeping it within my specified range, BUT I still eat white pasta, white bread etc. That’s about to be a thing of the past.

When I was pregnant with my son and had gestational diabetes, I followed the diabetic diet (gestational diet is a tad different than type 2 etc) and only ate multi-grain bread, brown rice etc. My body reacted very well to this, so hopefully this will be a step in the right direction for me. I have this psychological issue that makes me feel like I am sabotaging my hard work every time I eat bad carbs (but I continue to do it. I must be a glutton for punishment). Maybe it’s not really psychological…maybe it’s fo’ real.

  

I had my first “bad, bad, terrible eating” day on Tuesday and I felt so guilty and disgusted with myself. Took the kiddos to Ci Ci’s pizza…ALL you can eat buffet doesn’t exactly sound like a place someone such as myself should be going to. Welp, I did just that. I ate allllll that I could. It was glorious pretending I had the metabolism of a cheetah. Afterwards, I felt like I did a disservice to myself. And I did. Then, I did it again on Friday...this time it was a date night meal of a beef brisket sandwich, frys, a shared peach cobbler and a beer. Oh Em Gee. I almost died. I was so sick to my stomach. Another harsh lesson learned on this journey; major cheat days are not worth it, to me at least.

As I approach the 2 month mark into my journey, I feel it’s time to post some “before” pics. I should have done this in the very beginning, but if you follow me on IG or FB you’ll notice, I’m not one for selfies or pics of myself in this physical state. What is seen on the outside is not how I feel on the inside, and I am very thankful for that. 

 

This was taken the other day. I am going to go ahead and say it...I have a boobie-do (my stomach sticks out further than my boobies-do) HAHA and I am ashamed.  This ain't cute and is only considered to be ok if you are pregnant or have a medical condition that is out of your control. I mean, I do have a medical condition but it won't cause this kinda stomach. This is called the "ive given birth to 3 chaps and two of those were 10lbs or more." I have to find something to blame it on, because lack of physical activity and laziness just doesn't cut it...right? no? ok, I was lazy.

These were taken the year before I became pregnant with my first child. After having her I pretty much got back down to this size for a short time. Please excuse the poor picture quality and odd choice of Halloween costume...so it's not just when I'm overweight, i've never really been one for photos of myself.

In a way, I feel like I am starting over, but not actually starting over...just adjusting my intake. On top of the awesome butt-kicking I receive at Next Level 3-4 times a week, I will be adding in walking to my daily routine. This NC weather is working in my favor for this to happen. I draw the line at trekking around the block in cold temps...my lungs can only take so much! Of you see me laid up in a ditch in my neighborhood, just leave me there...I'll probably need a lil nap before it's all said and done. Here goes nothing...

-Erica

Kids Say the Darndest Things

It’s always nice to hear that people notice you are losing weight…really, it’s flattering…but it also makes you wonder if those that already know you are taking the necessary steps needed to shed pounds are just saying it to help boost your confidence? Yea, yea…I know, shut up and take the dang compliment. But you see, I’m somewhat of a skeptic when it comes to what comes out of adults mouths (no offense my friends…you allllll know you are the same way) BUT, if a child compliments you then you better KNOW it’s for real. Let’s take my 7yr old for instance; one day after church a few months (pre-journey) back she overheard the conversation I was having and heard me say “Yea, I’ve just gotta run to such-n-such blah blah blah”. She, in turn, whips her little head around and says “yea mom, you need to do some running to lose some weight”. Rude. 

Now some people would take offense and pop their kid upside the head. Not me…I listened to her. Why you might ask? She has absolutely no reason to sugarcoat my size or her feelings about how my size hinders my ability to be the mom that can ride rides at the fair with her or go down the water slide with her etc. It absolutely SUCKS to be the mom that says “no honey, I’m so sorry I’m too big to do that with you…maybe one day!” or you know some moms be like “they should make rides available for us bigger moms”. Uh, no. it’s not their fault we don’t know when to push our seat back from the table or strap on a pair of tennis shoes and put them to work. Any who…the moral of this story is that a kid’s compliment trumps an adult’s any day of the week (in my eyes).

With that being said, I received my first compliment of this process from my 7yr old the other day. It went a little something like this…”mom, I can tell you are getting a little smaller…you don’t look so much like this (bows her arms out to her sides as if she’s showing me I use to be shaped like a pregnant woman)”. I’ll take it! That just makes me want to strive THAT much harder and do THAT much better. Her one little comment had more of an impact on me than 20 friendly “I can tell you’ve lost some weight” ones even though I know I have lost weight…wanna know how much? I sure did when I went in to boot camp earlier than normal yesterday. In a 6 week span of working out 3-4 times a week (with the exception of the snow-blizzard-snowpocalypse thing that occurred last week) and staying at or a little below my goal calorie intake I have managed to:  

-Lose 11lbs (yesterday I thought it was 12 but I obviously can’t count)

-Lose 5in (2 of which were in the one area most women lose in first but wish it wouldn’t leave from)

-Drop my BMI down by 1%

I am exactly on track with where I want to be…losing 1-2lbs per week! Even though by this amount of time doing the fad diets I did in the past, I’d have already lost close to 30lbs, I’m proud of what I have accomplished thus far.

When I first started working out 6wks ago I could not hold a plank, do a box jump, do a sit up or a “girl” push up…now I can do them all (not for long or many, but I can do them). I still can’t properly do a burpee, but I’m getting there. My body is just not down with the whole “thrust-your-body-on-the-ground-then-thrust-your-body-off-the-ground-by-doing-a-push-up” thing yet. Baby steps here…baby steps…

-Erica

Happy "Eat Your Body Weight in Candy and Chocolates" Day!

So, I've been a tad bit quiet here lately. I do apologize. I've just been trucking along my path to smaller-dom. Not too much excitement or stories to tell for the past few weeks; except my children got to see the most snow they've ever seen in their little lifetimes. Two snow days and numerous memories made were well worth the two days off work. Not to mention, they got to witness their hot mess of a momma sledding.

 That went a little something like this...

I also made AND ate some Rice Krispy treats during the great Kannapolis Blizzard of 2014...you know how healthy those are! My sister in-law threatened to tell Paige (Next Level Fitness) on me since I was being bad. I mean, I had enough time to bake and eat a whole cake, but I didn't! I kept it within the means of marshmellowy and rice crispy-goodness.

It felt a little something like this...

Speaking of food, here is a list of things to NOT buy your "healthy lifestyle attempting" significant other/friend on Valentine's day:

1) A whole bag/box of chocolate/cookies/candies etc. This is just wrong on so many levels.
2) Conversation hearts. Not because they are unhealthy, because they are gross.
3) A Cheesecake Factory gift card. Need I say more?
4) Victoria's Secret Gift card (unless you know for a FACT that she can wear their sizes)

Here are some safe alternatives:

1) Flowers. Unless they are bacon roses, then we may have a prob.
2) Gift card to where you know they shop.
3) Edible Fruit arrangement.
4) Jewelry. Unless they are like me and could careless about the bling...but if you are buying them a gift, you better know them well enough to know if they like jewelry. Just sayin'.
5) Something they've continuously talked about wanting but never go get themselves.

You're a smart cookie, you'll figure something out :)

Ok, back on track here...

I was going to have my second set of measurements done yesterday, but the snowmageddon deterred that from happening. Maybe tomorrow? We will see! I am anxious to see the progress I've made in a little over a month. I know I've lessened my load some, but has it started to visibly shrink?

Until next time..

-Erica

A Little Off Course...

This has absolutely nothing to do with my journey, but everything to do with my friends...

My beautiful cousin Kendra's love, mr. Josh Sanders, has made it to the 2nd round of The Voice auditions in Nashville. He is super talented and deserves this, not only for himself, but for his family as well. He lost his father unexpectedly in 2013 and it was a huge tragedy for his entire family. I did not know him personally but everyone that did know him will tell you his ministry and talents were a blessing to all. I hear Josh's gorgeous mother, Renee, speak about her husband often at church...you cant help but tear up hearing the conviction in her voice when she speaks about him...it's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, if that's possible.

Josh, his mother, sister and Kendra are all in Nashville waiting for Tuesday to roll around so he can go through the 2nd round to get to the live show! They are all away from children, grandchildren, family, loved ones and work but all are pushing through to help see Josh's dream fulfilled...

This journey of his is not one without a price tag. there is a Go Fund Me account made for any contributions that can me made to assist in the process. Small or big, each contribution will be appreciated from the bottom their hearts. You will never see me promote anything, or anyone that is not fully deserving. Thank you all in advance!

You can donate by following this link: http://www.gofundme.com/the-voice-round-2

All is Quiet on the Homefront

The past week has been a tad quiet in terms of my journey, but not in the madness region.

The noro-she-devil-virus-sickness laid claim to not one, but 3 people in my house…myself included. That was a hell I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. My ribs, stomach and chest muscles took the brunt of the pain from the evil that is the noro-virus. My daughters and I inadvertently spread the devil virus love to a few family members that do not dwell in our house (sorry guys!). Crossing my fingers that it stays far away from my hubs and 9mth old son. So far, so good!

Tomorrow marks the 25th day of my lifestyle change. Here’s a short list of changes that I have noticed thus far:

• I have so much more energy than I did before I started…it’s strange, but a good strange.
• I do not feel like I am starving to death.
• My mental clarity is a little better.
• And my favorite…my pants are getting too big. This is a slight problem, but it’s a great problem to have if I do say so myself.

I know there are many more changes that I will notice in the next few months and I’m excited!

On another note, I found this picture on Pinterest (ericame3, if you want to follow me) with the caption: 5lbs of fat next to 5lbs of muscle! This is why you should never allow a scale to determine your fitness progress…

If you are like me, then visualizations like this will speak volumes to you. Just because the scales aren’t screaming huge weight loss numbers, it doesn’t mean you aren’t doing the right thing. Keep on keep’n on.

Until next time…

-Erica