Day 2

Greetings Divas,

Today was pretty good food wise. I still habent been able to get any exercise in but I will make up for that later on this week. Not my h to report today but I am super tired from working both my jobs today. Trying to stay on track for tomorrow

Peace and blessings

Day 1 (A little Late)

So this is my Day 1 summary only on day 2 LOL.

So today (yesterday now) was my official weigh-in day and will be my weigh-in day for the duration of this challenge. I also had my nutritionist take measurements to help me gauge my progress throughout.  Measurements will be taken once a month and I will weigh in for the purpose of this blog every Monday morning.

So up first is the weigh-in:

So my official starting weight is 284.6 pounds. I am not pleased with this because I have been smaller than this on several occasions before but I am starting over and this is the jumping off point. 

I also had measurements done and these are the beginning measurements:

Bust: 47.5 in
Waist: 46.5 in
Abdomen: 56.5 in
Hips: 56 in
Thigh: 34 in
Calf: 18 in
Arm: 14.5 in
Wrist: 6 in

I am not sure I wrote down some of those measurements correctly so I will edit to change those after I verify.

So day1 one was not good but it wasn't horrible either. I did follow the plan for most of the day but once I got home the snack monster took me down. I have to find some way to avoid the afternoon snack attacks. I am open to any ideas you Divas may have. Other than that food was ok. There was no exercise because I was in the process of taking out my braids and I didn't finish until 10 that night. Tomorrow (today now) will be a better day. I am determined not get this thing right and my weight moving in the right direction.

See you divas later on today.

Peace and Blessings

YOLO Healthy Living Challenge

So I am finally back and ready to do the damn thing.

If you couldn't tell by my title or the collage of beautiful pics above I am in a YOLO state of mind right now. If you don't already know YOLO means You Only Live Once!!!!! I fell in love with this saying when I found the bracelet pictured below at my local grocery store.

I have been depressed for a number of months which I believe has contributed to my lengthy plateau.  I am diligently working on some personal issues and I have decided that I should issue myself a challenge to help me get back on the healthy living train.

Sooooooo....................

I have started my own YOLO Healthy Living Challenge.  "You Only Live Once, So Make it Count" is my new motto. So here are the specs for my challenge:

Time: Oct. 1, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013

This is 92 days.

Purpose: The purpose of this challenge is to help get me back on track with my weight loss and healthy lifestyle.  I do not plan to enter into the year 2013 weighing or feeling the same way that I came into 2012.

With is challenge I have set some goals that are specific to me.  If you would like to start your own YOLO Healthy Living Challenge make sure to make your goals and all other aspects of your challenge relate able to you. There is no one set way to do anything and if you personalize it I believe that you are more likely to be successful. 

Goals

1. Lose 3-4 pounds per week

2. Incorporate exercise 3 times a week

      * Use the couch to 5K app to start jogging

      * Develop a strength training routine

3. Meditate and read the Bible DAILY!!!!! This is very important.

4. Document my journey daily here on Blogger.

5. try one new healthy recipe a week.

6. Track all food using "My Fitness Pal"

7. Stay within my calorie range of 1200-1400 cals per day

8. Reduce the amount of red meat that I consume.

     * Mini goal: reduce pork to 2 times a week and beef to once every two weeks

9. Allow myself two treat a week. They must be planned and cannot exceed 350 calories.

10. Take my vitamins daily

11. Measure and weigh everything

I have also set up a reward system to help keep me motivated and on track. I won't list those here but you get the idea.

YOLO Extras

Plan out all meals on Sunday night

Allow myself one diet soda a day

Be mindful of sodium intake

Eat out no more that 2xs a week

Follow my PHC guidelines

Stop making excuses

Be committed and determined.

Ultimate Goal

To lose 38-46 pounds by Jan. 1, 2013

So there is my challenge. It my be confusing to some but it make sense to me and that is really what matters.  I am truly committed to getting my life right and I know that I can achieve all the things that I have set out to do.

I will be back later today with my Day 1 update. Hope you Divas are staying on track and if not it's never too late to start over again.

Peace and Blessings

I'm Still Here

Hey there Divas,

I am still alive just not posting much these days. I am seriously trying to get my life together and that means I spend a lot of time thinking. I am also participating in a boot camp workout type thing so don't think that I have fallen off the weight loss bandwagon  I am just not writing about it. I hope to get back to regular post soon. 

Peace and Blessings

Day 10 - Blog Challenge

Greetings Divas,

This is the Day 10 post from my blog challenge.  Topic is:

Short Term goals for this month and why

Seeing how this month is practically over I will be making some short term goals for the month of May.  How about we do this bullet style.

• Stop eating junk food.
  WHY: Because it is not helping me to loose weight.  I am an admitted emotional eater.  It is always worse when I am stressed or sad. I usually turn to junk food because it is quick and easy to get to and tastes good.  I know that I will never reach my goal if I keep on eating this crap so it has to stop.
• Track my food intake accurately DAILY!!!!
  WHY: This is a requirement for my weight loss program. In addititon I have found it to help me curve the about of calories I eat in a day if I know where I stand throughout the day.  I also need to make sure that it is accurate. I have gotten in the habit of guessing and not measuring anything.  I am sure that I am going over my daily allotted calories but I just keep on doing it.  This must change.
• Commit to a 6-week boot camp at my weight loss center
  WHY: I HATE!!!!!! to exercise. Especially by myself.  I lack the self motivation over long periods of time to keep up with a routine on my own.  I know that to keep my weight loss going that I need to exercise more frequently and at a greater intensity than I have been.  Plain and simple I need to move my buns to loose my buns. 
• Loose 15-20 lbs in the next 6 weeks
  WHY: My 10 year High School class reunion is coming up in about 7 weeks. I told my husband when I found out about it that I wanted to be so smoking hot that steam would rise form my foot steps.  Yeah I know that was a bit much but I meant it. So I need to get it cracking so the hotness can come forth.
• Stop stressing
  WHY: See the first bullet point.  When I'm stressed I eat so this is not helpful when you want to loose weight. Also stress is mentally draining and make me not a happy camper. I have to learn to let things happen as they will and not try to control everything.  

So what are your goals for the next few weeks. Please feel free to share Divas.

Peace and Blessings

Day 9 - Blog Challenge

Greetings Divas,

Its Day 9!!!!! (Not really but pretend with me OK!!! Thanks).  So I am trying diligently to catch up with this blog challenge. Here is the topic from day 9.

A picture of somewhere you have been

So the pictures that I am showing are not my own but I have been here and I did take pic but never got them developed.  LOL.

So the place that I have been is LONDON!!!!!!

I visited London my freshman year in college. I was in the Concert Chorale and we went on tour in Europe.  We visited several countries and sang at some of the most beautiful venues that I have ever seen.  It truly was a chance of a life time. 

Where have you divas been that has inspired you?

Peace and Blessings

Day 22 - Blog Challenge

Hey there lovely Divas,

So here continues the make up of my blog challenge topics.  Day 22's topic is:

10 things about you people don't really expect

So I am just going to make a list and add explanations where necessary.

1. I have broken 10 bones.  I am super klutzy and I keep breaking the same bones over and over again.
2. I have texture issues with food.  I.E. I don't like things that are slimy or squishy.  Such as pudding, jello, okra (boiled), yogurt, etc.
3. I sing in a Gospel group and I love it!  We recently won an Urban Inspiration Award for Rhythm and Praise Group of the year. Whooo Hoooooo
4. I want tattoos but I am too scared to get them. 
5. I have an obsession with all things makeup related.  I literally have a whole desk covered in makeup and do free lance makeup for weddings and the such.
6. I HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my job.  I am not working in my career field and it really sucks donkey balls.  But I love most of the people that I work with. LOL
7. I want to have 4 or 5 kids and adopt at least one.  I love children and I always wanted a large family. My hubby is on board so we are trying to make it happen.
8. I used to eat my salads dry. Like with no dressing at all just salt.  Now I couldn't live life without Fat Free Caesar Italian dressing.
9. I loath tardiness. Like I get upset waiting to go places. I like to be early and when I'm late it pisses me off.
10. I like to write but I am not a good speller.  That's what spell check is for, right?

That's it.  Feel free to join me.

Peace and Blessings