The big 5-0!

So I weighed in the other day (Obviously) and I've hit 50 pounds of total weight loss since I started losing weight! I tried on my Senior Homecoming dress just to make myself feel a little better :)

Here's the result!

I have collar bones!! Whoop! Yay! I'm so excited!

Here's to 50 more!

Slow Changes and Little Victories

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time that I've attempted to lose weight. I'm sure when I have kids I'll be attempting to lose some sort of weight, such as baby weight or what have you. However, I used to look for the big victories. 

When I first started to change my lifestyle the weight came off so fast that I thought that was what it would be like until I reached my goal weight. Not exactly. The pounds come off slower now, if they even come off at all. But I've learned that it's also the little victories that make it all worth it. The fact that I could do the majority of the Insanity work out tape with Sean T was a victory that I celebrated today. 

Also, when I pulled on my shorts this morning (That were a little snug at the beginning of the summer) , they went straight up and even higher than they usually went. It's those little victories that I've learned mean the most because it means larger victories are on the way. 

Wow, Shakily Climbing Back onto The Bandwagon

So, needless to say I have definitely fallen off of the bandwagon. However, I've been attempting to climb back on ever since I graduated from my Master's program. I went back to being vegetarian, I joined a gym at home, and when I don't feel like going to the gym I make sure I do SOMETHING at home. Lately that something has been Insanity.

This work out series REALLY kicks your butt. I couldn't walk for the first couple of days afterwards but it really helps to jumpstart a workout. Sean T, the coach, motivator or what ever you want to call him does a fantastic job at engaging his audience. Even when you feel like you are ready to give up, him constantly encouraging you from the TV screen is enough to make you push through.

The best thing about Insanity however is that it doesn't require any outside equipment. It's just you and your body racing each other to the finish line. The workouts usually last about a half an hour to forty-five minutes but each of those minutes is spent working your butt off.

I highly recommend these workouts to anyone!

Starting Weight: 220
Current Weight: 219
Goal Weight : 195
Pounds to go: 24
Pounds lost: 1

Falling Off the Bandwagon

I will be the first one to admit that I am a stress eater. Well, to put it simply I'm an "anytime" eater. Whenever I feel like I "deserve" a treat I have one. My biggest problem is saying no to the second piece or the third piece or the fourth-I-should-never-have-even-started piece. After that my small reward to myself becomes a huge regret.

For example this afternoon I decided to have a beer, a nice beer too one packed with empty calories in it's hoppy goodness. But, then I decided to make a s'more in the microwave, and another and before I knew what was happening, I was sitting on the couch feeling guilty about the food events that had occurred during the previous twenty minutes.

Self-control is a learned process, which is something I'm well aware of. I definitely have more self-control than I've had in the past, but at the same time, there's moments when I fall into old habits that lead into a downwards spiral of guilty thoughts and woulda-coulda-sho

ula moments.

In other news, this morning I tried a smoothie from a blog I found called Iowa Girl Eats, in this specific blog post she describes eating veggies for lunch in what she calls the Green Monster Spinach Smoothie , which is....DELICIOUS! I had it for breakfast this morning and needless to say I will be having it again! You can barely taste the spinach and I put at least a cup and a half of spinach into my blender this morning. It was fantastic! A must try!

Are there any other veggie tricks I should try out there?

Weight Loss Hurdles

I think that since I found my love for beer in England, it has been the largest hurdle that I've had to overcome. I'm well aware that beers are just empty calories, but there is nothing more satisfying than an IPA or Witbier that perfectly compliments a meal. And unfortunately, one beer never stays one beer, especially when I'm relaxing in the living room with my roommate. One beer turns into two and sometimes three beers which leave me feeling full and guilty.

Sweets are also a problem. I have a killer sweet tooth that's rarely satiated with one piece of chocolate or a bite of cheesecake. For me, I use the rationalization that regardless, I'm eating a dessert, so why deny myself something I want. I know if I eat a little now, I'll eat more later, overcompensating for what I feel is a lost opportunity to indulge.

One of the biggest hurdles I'll have to overcome along my weight loss journey will definitely be high calorie, hoppy beers, and desserts that are jam-packed with sugar and empty calories. However, with this new me, I will attempt to become more cognizant of how many beers I am drinking, and when I've had enough sugar during the day.

Weight

Weight has always been an issue for me, ever since I was a little kid. However, in the past couple of years I've been taking my body back one day at a time. When I started losing weight I was at my highest weight ever at 265 pounds. At my lowest, in 2011 I was 210, but since starting my Master's program, I've fallen back into my old habits of eating out and eating while I'm stressed.

But, I'm going to stick to it this time to lose that last 20 pounds and hopefully more to become a happier me. To me losing is a bonus, but getting fit is the goal. Being happy and comfortable in my own skin is also a plus.

So, here's to my first post and a happy, healthier me.