Check & Go

It's time to see how we did on our October goals and post new ones for November. I know mine did not bode well, but tomorrow's a new day. It's a daily struggle and spiritual battle. There's a community on facebook called "Feeding my face faith" and I LOVE what she has to say. Today was:

Our weight & body image issues are much more than a number on a scale or a clothing size. This fight is about the war raging in our hearts that ruins the abundant life Jesus wants for us. 

You might think I'm crazy for "being all spiritual" on you, but if you struggle in this area, it absolutely, 100%, without a doubt boils down to spiritual warfare. It means we - with His power residing in us - must demolish the idol of food cravings and give God the number one spot He so rightly deserves.

We aren't dogs to be rewarded with food. If you workout, you can have one piece of chocolate, etc. I'm going to start making other rewards if I accomplish a goal ... pedicure, music downloads, etc. I'm learning and struggling. I digress - back to October goals. Here's what I did:

October Goals

1. MFP everyday

2. No dessert

3. 10-day fat blasting

4. Lose 4 lbs during fat blast

5. One day off a week

I lost 2 lbs during fat blast, which I'm still proud of. My one day off a week turned into more; ugh. Annoying.

So tonight I'm planning workouts and goals for November. November is hard for me - always. My birthday is the 15th and Thanksgiving is the week after. For November, my goals will be staying the same until I can accomplish at least half. It will be especially difficult since I'll be traveling (to Charlotte) November 14-18. However, I'm going to do the Color Run, so I'm hoping that the friend I'm staying with will have lots of active stuff for us to do! :)

November Goals

1. MFP everyday

2. No dessert

3. 10-day fat blasting

4. One day off a week

5. Eat CLEAN (no processed) 6. Daily challenge workouts

There we have it. Good luck!

Shoes and Results

Let's start with shoes. I need help choosing. I'm trying to run, but wondering if I should also just go with cross trainers.  The pair I have now, I've had for awhile... my trainer keeps telling me I need new ones, which I know I do. I can tell a difference in how I hurt.

Now... the results. In the last 10 days....

I've lost..........

2 lbs

and 3 total inches.

YEAH!!!! Like I said, I was a little concerned because I haven't been as strict this time as I was last month. The next one is right after Thanksgiving. I'll be doing that one because both my birthday and Thanksgiving are in November.

How are you all doing out there?

Bullies

For the last week I've been doing the 10-day fat blast at my gym again. I wasn't as strict with myself as I was last month, but I did ok (results coming tomorrow).

Last night my trainer taught our class and it was called STEP IT UP. First of all -- I hate the stairmaster. If I haven't said it before - I will now. I hate the stairmaster. LOATHE it.

Anyway. I went to ab class, which is also taught by my trainer. Then drove to the track where class was going to be held in 20 minutes. Trainer gets there and says come walk with me! So we walked around the track 3 times (4 times is a mile). Class starts and I quickly realize I'm going to hate the next 30 minutes.

Well. This big fat bully -- no pun intended -- was just plain rude!! I'm so glad the 10 days is over because I'm not sure I could deal with her for another 10 days. The first exercise, we have to pair up and while one of us is running stairs, the other person has to go up and down the bleachers sideways. She tells me I better not dillydally around ....  Ok - well you don't know me, so shut your mouth.

Then we all go to the same end and have to run the stairs across and down the other side. She tells me that my short legs better go last. I'm thinking, "OK Really?!?!"

One of girls says "That was mean." and another girl tells me that I can go in front of her. By the point I'm done. Spent. Then we have to walk the straights of the track, jog the curves. I do it the first time, but  my feet and legs are killing me (I need new shoes - more on that tomorrow as well).

One girl stops to wait for me. I was so thankful for her and it put a smile on my face.

Tonight in class we had to do step-ups on the weight bench. This girl again says, "Leslie, you might need the short bench with your short legs." Ok. Yes. I am aware I'm short. I've been this height since I was 15. Shut up. The teacher tonight is like, "Oh, I can get the other one..." It's fine. I made it work.

Really?? I'm 31 years old and have to deal with bullies squashing my self esteem in gym class? I'm don't generally bully people at the gym, but I'm definitely going to be a lot more thoughtful before I judge.

Being "Old Fashioned"

The more I journal my food and the further along I get in this journey, I realize the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. Add that to not eating processed foods, avoiding high fructose corn syrup, etc. etc.

I'm slowly learning that you have to do what works for you, but it cannot be short term. It has to be a lifestyle change. There are no quick fixes in becoming healthy. I admit, I've tried some of them. I'll admit it. I will also admit that I couldn't stick with them.

As I look around seeing some of my friends 'pushing' their weight loss products, I wonder what happened to being old fashioned with our food? When I was growing up, we always had a meat, a vegetable, and usually potatoes and rice at dinner. I would snack on fruit. Not drink shakes that replace entire meals and making myself go hungry.

I've made a pact with myself that I'm doing it this time the natural way. So do many of the blogs and such that I follow. It gives me good motivation to see this and get help from others.

A Race Day First

Today I experienced a race day first for me.

My first DNS. For those that are unfamiliar with the term -- DNS means Did Not Start.

I went to bed early enough so I could be ready for my alarm at 5:15am. My goal was to be out of the house by 5:30, giving me an hour to get to downtown KC, and another hour before race time.

I woke up at 5:30 and ended up not leaving the house until 5:45 - which I didn't think was a big delay. Then I had to stop and get gas in the car. Then I had to get cash to park. I arrived at Union Station around 7:05. The 5k portion was set to start at 7:30. I was rushing a little but thought I'd be ok.

Got to where I thought I was supposed to be... and it wasn't. Then I saw runners... which were the marathoners. Walked up the street a little ways and saw that wasn't right either. Finally I walked across the skywalk to the other side... and there.... was the start line... with no runners. All portions had started and I was officially sunk.

I walked back to my car and thought long and hard. Drove home.. and cried.

I felt like a failure.

A disappointment.

I wanted to go home and hibernate from the world all day long. Have you ever experienced a DNS? How did you overcome the funk? I have the feeling of not wanting to try. The Color Run in Charlotte is in one month, so I do need to get ready. 

Small success - I'm two days free of candy and desserts. :)

I saw this on facebook and it reminded me of my awful race day a couple weeks ago. Trying to wrap my mind around positive thoughts. Keep at it, friends! We can win this together!

Denial

This is a very hard - open - post to write. It's about that moment when you've been living in denial. Yes, I've been eating better and exercising to help me get healthier. What I've also been doing is living in denial about myself. Yes - I'm sick. I'm a type 2 diabetic. Have I been living completely honestly?


No.


"I feel fine, so I must be ok."
"I no longer feel sick so I must be getting better, so I don't need my medicine."


I test my sugar only when I feel sick - which isn't often. I'm supposed to check it every morning before I eat.


I rarely take my the medicine prescribed to me. For so long, it made me sick. One of the side effects. I was tired of feeling sick... it wasn't helping me.

I eat more carbs than I'm allowed. After a year, the honeymoon stage has ended. It actually ended quite awhile ago. In the beginning I didn't want to screw it up. Since my a1c has gone down by as much as it has, I figured I had it under control. 


That's all about to change. Tonight I took all of my medicine. Wrapping my mind around doing it right. Putting it ALL together -- medicine, eating right, exercising.
I'm giving it all to God -- my food choices, my schedule. I'm ready to see changes in the scale as well as my body image.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." --Hebrews 12:1, NLT

Zumba!

Last week I did Zumba for the second time. It had been several months since I did it, and it was interesting. :) I'm so not coordinated... and I don't have much rhythm. I went again this week and it wasn't much better. Last week I was late, so I ended up being in front. Egads!!! Last night I made sure I was in the back. I had done Core class with my trainer before that, so I worked out for 90 minutes total. Whew!

I've still been wanting to do kickboxing, but I haven't worked up the nerve to go by myself. When was the last time you tried something new to rev your workouts? What was it and have you done it since?

I'll probably keep trying zumba. It's fun and burns tons of calories - which is always a bonus!

October Goals

Here it goes. A new month that's normally full of candy and sweets. September wasn't bad, but ended on a not so high note, but nonetheless, here are my goals for October


1. No dessert
2. 10-day fat blasting again (schedule for 10/15-10/26)
3. Lose 4 lbs during fat blast
4. Only one day off a week -- including eating and gym


How do you curb your sweet tooth? I made my first pinterest recipe tonight. I'll let you know how it tastes. It's fruit dip with greek yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon.

What are your goals for the next month. Keep me up to date on how you're doing and we can motivate and help each other!! :)