Resolution Update: 5 Months

If you recall my 2013 resolutions, there were only two...spiritual and physical fitness.

As with most resolutions, I started out strong...I was posting instagram pics everyday from the gym and updating weekly with Fitness Friday posts...but there hasn't been one of those since February 24th. Likewise, I was going through the scriptures and posting Project 52 posts every Tuesday...but there hasn't been one of those since January 29th. I feel like such a failure writing those dates.

So, what does that mean for me? Where do I stand with my resolutions?

Well, I am happy with my weight right now. I can fit clothes comfortably that I haven't worn in a while. Currently, I am down 12 pounds from January 1. The goal I set for myself was 25 pounds in 5 months. The goal was very doable considering that I was down to 159 in April. I've eaten healthy and worked out sporadically since April, but I'm going to get back consistent...Going to the grocery store this weekend and committing to working out four days next week like when I started. I think that goal of 25 pounds is still attainable, but just on a different timeline now.

As for my Bible reading...I have a hard time just picking up and not trying to backtrack to where I left off in my daily plan of reading through the entire Bible. But, trying to start from where I stopped will only overwhelm me more. I have to remember that my general goal was to spend time with God daily. So, I will just jump back in. I can say that I have been praying more consistently even though my time in the Word has not been consistent. Hopefully, I can get both on point at the same time. I was recently encouraged by a post from Lanesha @ We Are the Tabbs. She created a prayer journal that was inspired by the book A Woman after God's Own Heart. I have to admit that this book has been on my bookshelf for years, and I'm just now picking it up. I was so encouraged by the first chapter and haven't put it down. I'm looking forward to finishing this book and structuring my quite time according to the principles I'm learning.

Well, that's where I am...I know it's been a while. The end of the school year is always crazy...wrapping up the school year and brainstorming how to make next year better. Looking forward to the changes I'll be taking on next year as I go back to the classroom teaching 6th grade math!

And I can't stand a pictureless post, so I'll share a couple from today. Today, our students had exams and it was an early release day. Students are known for doing foolish things the last days of school, but not here. The Dallas Police Department Mounted Patrol was an excellent deterrent of bad behavior at the end of the day.

And of course, we had to get a picture with them. On the left is Gus and on the right is Zeus. Thanks, Mikayla & Elaine for entertaining me and posing for a pic with the horses!

One more day of school! WOOHOO!!!!

BTW, thanks Raytosha and Donna for asking me for an update...it's way over due!

Fitness Friday + Steamer Action

I'm a couple of days late, but better late than never. I am amazed at the weight loss I've seen in the last week. I had gone up a bit during my birthday weekend and traveling the next week...but, I added some supplements, deleted carbs, and upped the protein in my diet this week.

This week's weight is...

I love this little graph of my weight loss over the past two months...from 177.6 to 161.0!

Woot! Woot! If you remember my post about the motivation to lose weight and my 2013 Resolutions, you'll recall that I set a goal of losing 5 pounds a month for 5 months! I am well on my way to reaching that goal! I'm super excited and so motivated by the progress I see to keep going!

I've been walking around the house all day grabbing the seat of my pants because I'm so amazed that there is some fabric back there to grab. Those same pants were cutting off my circulation two months ago...and yes, I still wore them! I started to post a pic of my butt, but when I saw how they were sagging, I decided not to...not attractive, but I'm still happy! It means I need to go down a size! Woot! Woot!

My diet has been transformed this week by my latest purchase...a food steamer!

In my T-Pain voice...I'm in love with a steamer! Ha! The first day I got it, I cooked broccoli better than any that had ever been cooked in my home and salmon, which has never been cooked in my house!

The next day was tilapia and asparagus! And both were ready in about 20 minutes and required nothing from me after seasoning the food to my liking.

It was quite a chore to find the right steamer for me! My friend Misty almost had me sold on a rice cooker that had a steamer tray. It seemed like a great combo, but when I evaluated why I wanted a steamer, I decided to to go with this one instead. The steam starts immediately when you plug it in and I love how it has two levels! You place the longest cooking item on the bottom. When your top basket is done, you remove it and place the lid on the bottom basket and let it continue to cook.

I'd say that the steamer has beat out the crockpot as my new favorite kitchen gadget! This week I plan to get back in the gym hard and keep up the veggie and protein full diet!

Linking up:

 

Fitness Friday | Week 6 - Hot Sweaty Mess!

This week, I concentrated on cardio. I've referred to it before, but I love the Secret Admirer Cardio routine from ToneItUp.com. I regularly burn around 700 calories in 45 minutes. I've done this workout four days this week and it doesn't get old. I can push myself harder by upping my speed or intensity. It's great! But with that comes me as a hot, sweaty mess...I guess that's not so bad...I go home drenched...no dry spots. Feels good!

My weight loss in just a month has amazed me. I cannot believe that I've gone down every week. This week is no different. This week's weight is...

I'm down another 2.6 pounds this week and a total of...

MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

MyFitnessPal has been a great help when it comes to my eating. I'm a little worried about next week though. I will no longer be fasting with my church, my birthday is this weekend, and I will be traveling at the end of the week. That's quite a few challenges to overcome this next week, but I know I can do it! I'll be all over Pinterest to find some new ideas for my weekly food prep.

Now, back to celebrating...my first DietBet ended this week.

Woot! Woot! I'm looking forward to seeing how much money I win off my $10 investment! My start weight was 177.6 pounds. My goal was to lose 4% of that weight or 7 pounds. My final weigh-in was 165.4 pounds, so I exceeded the DietBet goal by 5 pounds. There were a total of 193 people in this game for a total pot of $1,930. Everyone who meets their 4% goal gets to split the pot!

I think this added accountability was so good for me. I enjoyed the motivation! My second DietBet ends in another 4 days. I may need to start looking for another game to join because I'm sure the weight won't come off the same next month...or maybe it will...who knows?!

Linking up:

      

My New Workout Buddies

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has a gym membership, but has no idea what I should be doing at when I get there. The easy route is to jump on the treadmill, elliptical, or a bike and do some cardio. If I can make it on time, maybe I join in on a group fitness class. But all those machines and weights are intimidating. I know I should take the step and cross into that part of the gym. When I invested time and money into a personal trainer, many of our sessions only included a treadmill as a warm-up, but no cardio. My heart rate was good and sky high with strength training alone. Up until this week, I rarely crossed that line that separated the cardio equipment from the weights.

This week I got some confidence from Jamie Eason and my JEFIT app. I came across Jamie Eason in a Fitness RX magazine that I bought after seeing her perfect 10 routine. It was listed with detailed instructions and pictures.

Doesn't she look amazing?! So, I planned to put this workout into my phone and try it out for myself the next day. Well, I then started doing some online searching and ran across a blog post by Amy at Write This Down that referred to Jamie Eason's Live Fit Training Program. It's a 12 week transformation program complete with workouts for each day, meal plans, and supplements. I was interested in the workout plan. Here's a glimpse at the first day:

Each day tells you exactly what to do and links to a video to demonstrate proper form. The only guess work is the amount of weight you use for each exercise.

So, of course I'm not taking my laptop into the gym with me to follow the workout routine. There is a printable sheet with each workout for you to log it, but I don't plan on carrying around a piece of paper and pen in the gym either. I have a hard enough time carrying my keys, water, phone, and a jacket. Maybe I should invest in a locker...

Anyway, I then started to add all the workout information into a note, but thought "there's got to be an app for that" and there is...it's called JEFIT.

So, I added each exercise along with the number of reps and rest time. The database has a ridiculous amount of exercises categorized by muscle group. So, you pick your muscle group, then find the exercise to add to your workout routine. Here's a picture of my routine based on the Jamie Eason workout above.

It took a while, but when I got in the gym I was so glad I did. With the pictures and videos provided of each exercise in the app, I knew exactly which machine to look for and the proper form for the exercise. In addition, the app will time my sets and record my workouts along with the amount of weight I used.

Want to see how my first week of workouts went with my two new workout buddies? I plan to give you all the details of my week of workouts on {Fitness} Friday!

Until then, let's chat...how do you determine your routine for the gym? Do you cross that great divide between the cardio equipment and the weights?

2013 Resolutions

I know I'm not the only person who absolutely hates making New Year's Resolutions. Ihaven't made resolutions for the past few years. I feel like every single time, I just set myself up to fail. Two questions that have been bugging me lately about making resolutions are:
1. Why do I need to wait until the beginning of the year to make changes?
2. What makes me think that all of a sudden, all the things I've struggled with will magically change?

Even though I feel this way, I know I need to make some changes and the new year is a perfect time for a fresh start. And as I read the #SheReadsTruth devotional this morning, I was encouraged knowing that God makes all things new.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  ~ Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

So, my two resolutions are for spiritual and physical fitness. It was not hard at all to narrow down to just two. I feel that from spiritual fitness, all my relationships are enhanced. I considered saying be a better wife, but I know that my interactions with my husband are better when I am in constant communion with God. As far as physical fitness, I think there are two mistakes we make as Christians: not being concerned with it at all or being obsessed with it. I hope to find a balance between the two.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." ~ Ephesians 6:1-12 (ESV)

So, how will I achieve spiritual fitness? I've decided to join my friend, Angela, in her Project 52: Through the Scriptures in 365. Our goal is to read through the entire Bible this year, following a daily reading plan. This is somewhat intimidating, and I feel so bad admitting that it is so hard to spend daily unhurried time with God. I know, though, that my relationship with God has to be a priority.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."  ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

How will I achieve physical fitness? I've blogged about that here, but in a nutshell...I'm hoping that setting a goal, having some accountability, and working hard at eating healthy and working out will make the difference.

So, what are your New Year's Resolutions?

Time to Change this Number...

Wow! I can't believe I just posted my weight (and my feet) for all to see. It's not that number so much that bothers me, though; it's this one (or should I say these)...

And again, I guess it's still really not the number, but the fact that as I continue to shop and buy clothes, I'm starting to get to the point where the highest of these numbers will not do anymore. I'm at the point where I can't comfortably wear clothes that are in my closet anymore.

I've usually maintained around 145 - 150, without much effort. Over the pass three years, that number has slowly increased. I was okay as long as I could fit my clothes though. I  guess I've been doing too much of this...

Source

Other than the clothes, there's this one other motivator...my husband and I are considering kids in the near future. (Did I just write that? Woah!) Anyway, I think the average woman gains about 30 pounds during pregnancy. I would much rather add that 30 to a lower weight than the weight I'm at right now. I also imagine that if I get in a healthy habit now, it will be easier to lose the weight after pregnancy.

So, what am I going to do about it is the question...

1. Set a goal! My goal is to lose at least 5 pounds each month for the next five months. That's 25 pounds total by the end of the school year...Done!

2. Accountability...Done! I just posted my weight for the world to see. I hope to continue to update my blog with my progress...maybe join a weekly blog hop. Another measure of accountability will be the DietBet that my co-workers have decided to join. You can read more about DietBet here. My co-wrkers and I plan to start our first DietBet on January 8th. Click this link if you'd like to join us! The more who join, the bigger the pot! (Angie, I hope you're ready! No more excuses!) I also joined a Dietbet with Desirae over a Going with the Flow since I found about Dietbet from following her blog.

3. Work Hard! I'll have to work hard to eat healthier and to exercise more. I don't think I'll be joining any fancy diet programs or exercise regimens. Actually, I need to cancel my membership to Weight Watchers while I'm thinking about it. I know what works for me:

• In the past, I've followed Michael Thurmond's Six Week Body Makeover. It worked for me and both my parents. The results were amazing. There wasn't anything new or amazingly different...just healthy, small meals throughout the day, cooking without salt, and drinking plenty of water (The picture above was a result of this eating plan.)
• I already have a gym membership (which has hardly been used in the past six months). Recently I ran across Les Mills Pump on Beachbody.com. I remember doing this as a class at Gold's Gym for years. I used to love it and saw great results. The gym I'm currently a member of does not offer the class, so I'm considering buying it for my toning and sticking to doing my cardio at the gym. This low weight, high repetition toning workout, paired with cardio has worked for me in the past. I don't know for sure that I'll invest in this, but I do know that I need to do toning as well as cardio to get results.

So, instead of looking for some silver bullet or diet pill, I think I'll just stick to what I know has worked for me in the past. I hope blogging about it will help keep me accountable and constantly remind me of my weight loss goals.

Linking up: