Holidays can be the hardest time for a dieter. If you have ever been on a diet, whatever it was and you were trying to stick to it during the holidays it was probably very hard. I mean REALLY hard. All of the treats, delicious food, gifts in the shape of cookies and loafs of bread.
Well I love the holidays. No really I'm sort of obsessed about them. I am that crazy woman up at the pre-crack of dawn on Black Friday shopping. I start my count down of the days until I can decorate my home sometime in June. At this point I am practically counting the seconds until I can put my tree up on Friday. There are so many wonderful memories with loved ones that center around the holidays. But I also remember all of the great food, my dad's hickory smoked turkey, snacking on egg salad before the big dinner. And it doesn't hurt that I love to bake. I make a mean apple pie. Some of you might have even had some in the past and so you know it is a tasty treat.
Well my conundrum this year with my new journey is how I can stare down all of those delicious temptations and overcome my desire to dive into the stuffing, mashed potatoes and bread rolls.
So here is my plan. I am going to face those temptations in their buttery faces and say, "I'm sorry but you are not worth the extra hour in the gym or having my trainer Kevin give me me painful lunges."
I will have the right portions of turkey, green beans, and salad. I might even have a small slice of my apple pie. But I won't eat the entire thing and I won't feel bad when I do enjoy that slice.
Just make a plan for yourself but don't beat yourself up if find yourself indulging a little. Just get out and move around whether it's Friday morning ;-) or even after dinner on Thursday.
So that's my plan. Enjoy the right portion of the right foods and move afterwards.
Enjoy your journey.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Reevaluation of Giving Thanks
I have always tried to express my love and thanks for those around me through gifts. What happens though are those gifts tend to turn out to be food. While on this journey I have found that there needs to be a reevaluation of how express my love and the gifts I give. Especially if I want to have "Healthy" relationships.
I have found that when I have given gifts whether it was food or something else I have always wanted the receiver to know how I feel for them and the impact they have had on my life. I hope that I have been in some way an impact on someone else's life especially in a positive way.
For so many people today we take advantage of our friends, family and those people we "love" assuming that they know how we feel for them. We don't say the words that need to be said or take moments that need to be taken. So maybe taking advantage is a bit strong but do the people in your life know how you feel for them? Do they know you appreciate them and the impact they have had in your life?
With Thanksgiving fast approaching and all of the celebrations that come with it. Families being reunited, traditions being continued and new memories being made. I will continue on this journey reevaluating my expressions of my love and thanks. Take the time with your family and take a moment to express your love and thanks to the loved ones in your life.
Enjoy the journey.
I have found that when I have given gifts whether it was food or something else I have always wanted the receiver to know how I feel for them and the impact they have had on my life. I hope that I have been in some way an impact on someone else's life especially in a positive way.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching and all of the celebrations that come with it. Families being reunited, traditions being continued and new memories being made. I will continue on this journey reevaluating my expressions of my love and thanks. Take the time with your family and take a moment to express your love and thanks to the loved ones in your life.
Enjoy the journey.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Lights, Camera, Selfie!
When I got home from church this morning I was thinking about posting a picture for you all to see. I then quickly realized the only ones I have been taking are me in my work out pants and sports bra. I most certainly am not up to showing you those pictures. At least not yet. :-)
And since I haven't taken a selfie (in non work out clothes) in a while I figured today was a good day to start.
The hair is a little longer but you can certainly see a difference.
Here is the shot that started it all. The last selfie.
(My eyes are nearly closed because of my cheeks!)
Here I am today...
And a full body for good measure.
55 lbs. lost, 7" from my waist and 2" from my chest (I'm not sure about my legs but I am down 2 pant sizes). The fun thing about this picture is the rolls in the sweater are from it being too loose!
Well, there you have it.
Enjoy your journey.
Season of Thanks
On this crisp November Sunday morning I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks.
Thank you for all of you who have supported and cheered me on over the past months. When I hit my mile stone of 50 lbs lost I sent out a text to a few of you expressing my shock and disbelief. Those of you who responded to me weren't shocked but ecstatic! You were so excited to celebrate with me that mile stone. Reminding me that my hard work was paying off.
As I have finished my first week of training I have found myself looking back on how I was when I first started this journey. I would get so tired after just walking a mile and now I find myself wanting more when I have just finished three miles. I am so thankful for a body that has adjusted to the changes and is responding so well. This lifestyle change is just that a change in my lifestyle. I might have those cravings every once in a while (the other day I wanted a huge diet coke) but I take each of those cravings and think about what it would cost me in the end. Is it really worth it?
I am thankful for my husband who in so many ways expresses his delight in my weight loss. He is so proud of me! And I am so thankful for Spritz who just looks at me with a comical expression on his face when I parade/dance our apartment in clothes I haven't been in for so long!
So thank you. I have passed through some rough times and there will be more but for now I just want to celebrate and say thanks!
Enjoy your journey.
Thank you for all of you who have supported and cheered me on over the past months. When I hit my mile stone of 50 lbs lost I sent out a text to a few of you expressing my shock and disbelief. Those of you who responded to me weren't shocked but ecstatic! You were so excited to celebrate with me that mile stone. Reminding me that my hard work was paying off.
As I have finished my first week of training I have found myself looking back on how I was when I first started this journey. I would get so tired after just walking a mile and now I find myself wanting more when I have just finished three miles. I am so thankful for a body that has adjusted to the changes and is responding so well. This lifestyle change is just that a change in my lifestyle. I might have those cravings every once in a while (the other day I wanted a huge diet coke) but I take each of those cravings and think about what it would cost me in the end. Is it really worth it?
I am thankful for my husband who in so many ways expresses his delight in my weight loss. He is so proud of me! And I am so thankful for Spritz who just looks at me with a comical expression on his face when I parade/dance our apartment in clothes I haven't been in for so long!
So thank you. I have passed through some rough times and there will be more but for now I just want to celebrate and say thanks!
Enjoy your journey.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
I am what I am...
Have you ever tried to convince yourself that you are something you have never been before?
Well that has been the next piece of this journey. Telling myself that I will be a runner. I am a runner. I want to be a runner.
Here is an interesting point to make, I have never had any interest in running before. Those of you who have known me from the beginning know I would rather take a leisurely stroll than run. My brother is the runner in my family. My word he played soccer practically his entire life! I was content playing catcher or right field in softball (slow pitch) or I would put my whole heart into cheering others on. As long as I never had to run. So this whole challenge of a half marathon is just that, a challenge.
So are you telling me you have never seen anyone strolling along during a marathon? No.
Why? Because marathons are designed for runners or even sort of runners.
So that is what I will be, a sort of runner! I have started my training this week and thankfully I have only had to do 3 miles on the first and third days of training. Now I have been walking some of those 3 miles but pushing myself to jog parts of them. At some point over the next 20 weeks I will work up to running. It will be a challenge simply because of my size but that will change over the next 20 weeks which us good to know.
At this point I have lost over 50 pounds. Which in itself is a big piece as to why I can easily walk/jog 3 miles. When I first started this journey I was glad to get around my building. But all of those small steps are leading to big steps in March.
So I am going to put this out there. If you are in the Dallas area on March 23 and would like to cheer me on, I would love the support!!
Enjoy the journey.
(I might post a pic soon)
Well that has been the next piece of this journey. Telling myself that I will be a runner. I am a runner. I want to be a runner.
Here is an interesting point to make, I have never had any interest in running before. Those of you who have known me from the beginning know I would rather take a leisurely stroll than run. My brother is the runner in my family. My word he played soccer practically his entire life! I was content playing catcher or right field in softball (slow pitch) or I would put my whole heart into cheering others on. As long as I never had to run. So this whole challenge of a half marathon is just that, a challenge.
So are you telling me you have never seen anyone strolling along during a marathon? No.
Why? Because marathons are designed for runners or even sort of runners.
So that is what I will be, a sort of runner! I have started my training this week and thankfully I have only had to do 3 miles on the first and third days of training. Now I have been walking some of those 3 miles but pushing myself to jog parts of them. At some point over the next 20 weeks I will work up to running. It will be a challenge simply because of my size but that will change over the next 20 weeks which us good to know.
At this point I have lost over 50 pounds. Which in itself is a big piece as to why I can easily walk/jog 3 miles. When I first started this journey I was glad to get around my building. But all of those small steps are leading to big steps in March.
So I am going to put this out there. If you are in the Dallas area on March 23 and would like to cheer me on, I would love the support!!
Enjoy the journey.
(I might post a pic soon)
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Transparency...
I have received several message and emails talking about how I have inspired so many folks with my journey. I have been thanked for being so transparent when it has come to my honesty with this entire process. Well in order to continue with this honest and transparent journey, I need to share some road blocks I have encountered.
First of all I need to mention that I really struggled with putting that commitment of doing the half marathon in March out there into the great unknown. Why? Because now I really had to do it. I had to get out there and work my butt off for something that the only reward I could see was the weeks of hard work ahead of me. And to be honest that doesn't seem like much of a reward. But I went ahead and put that commitment out there.
But as for my road blocks they came in two forms, first a weight loss plateau and second a mental road I have been down before, one too many times.
If you have been on any kind of weight loss program or had any kind of weight loss in your life, you know what I mean when I say I hit that plateau. I have bouncing between two pounds for the past week or so. I seem to lose them only to find them shortly after. I was doing really well when it came to holding off on weighing myself so I didn't drive myself crazy. Only to fall into that horrible trap where I would want to weigh myself almost every morning to see the difference. I know that this is the first of possibly several plateaus I guess I just figured I was motivated enough to knock it out of the way pretty quickly. I do know I have made some progress this past week because I have lost another inch on my waist. But for someone trying to not be ruled by the scale, that inch just didn't seem to lift my spirits.
The second road block I am dealing with is all in my head. Literally! I have walked on this mental path of feeling that I am not good enough for a very long time. The discussion I tend to have is, "Well Jenna you probably won't do very well at that so why start? True but what if this time is different. But we know it isn't different it is going to be the same line, you will say I am up for this challenge and once it starts to get a little bit too hard you will give in. Only to laugh it off (cry inside) that it wasn't for you and somebody else can have a go." I can't continue these thoughts anymore.
Here is the turning point for me and it came to me during my Life Group this evening. I know that this time is different because for all of my life, well for most of my life my struggles I have kept private. I have only shared of them once they have past or I am so deep in the pain I can't even see a way out so I ask for help. This time I have laid it out before you. All of you. You can see the journey. You can be a part of my journey. This is something new. You all know me and love me (I hope) and have been a part of my life. For me sharing this journey with you will get ME out of my head. And I NEED to be out of my head.
I have seen for so many including myself that when our thoughts are private and not shared with those who love us, especially when we are in need. Then Satan will use them against us. He will infiltrate our thoughts and use our doubts and negative feelings to bring us further down than we ever need to be. By getting out of my head and being transparent with you then I remove the power he has over me. I give back the control to who should be in control from the very beginning. The only one who can truly meet me in those dark moments and show me the way out. God. I have put my life in his hands and was reminded tonight that "For with God nothing is impossible." Luke 1:37
So to this journey, this inner dialogue, this training for a half marathon. This entire experience. I will do it with God with all of the transparency I can muster.
And please,
Enjoy your journey.
First of all I need to mention that I really struggled with putting that commitment of doing the half marathon in March out there into the great unknown. Why? Because now I really had to do it. I had to get out there and work my butt off for something that the only reward I could see was the weeks of hard work ahead of me. And to be honest that doesn't seem like much of a reward. But I went ahead and put that commitment out there.
But as for my road blocks they came in two forms, first a weight loss plateau and second a mental road I have been down before, one too many times.
If you have been on any kind of weight loss program or had any kind of weight loss in your life, you know what I mean when I say I hit that plateau. I have bouncing between two pounds for the past week or so. I seem to lose them only to find them shortly after. I was doing really well when it came to holding off on weighing myself so I didn't drive myself crazy. Only to fall into that horrible trap where I would want to weigh myself almost every morning to see the difference. I know that this is the first of possibly several plateaus I guess I just figured I was motivated enough to knock it out of the way pretty quickly. I do know I have made some progress this past week because I have lost another inch on my waist. But for someone trying to not be ruled by the scale, that inch just didn't seem to lift my spirits.
The second road block I am dealing with is all in my head. Literally! I have walked on this mental path of feeling that I am not good enough for a very long time. The discussion I tend to have is, "Well Jenna you probably won't do very well at that so why start? True but what if this time is different. But we know it isn't different it is going to be the same line, you will say I am up for this challenge and once it starts to get a little bit too hard you will give in. Only to laugh it off (cry inside) that it wasn't for you and somebody else can have a go." I can't continue these thoughts anymore.
Here is the turning point for me and it came to me during my Life Group this evening. I know that this time is different because for all of my life, well for most of my life my struggles I have kept private. I have only shared of them once they have past or I am so deep in the pain I can't even see a way out so I ask for help. This time I have laid it out before you. All of you. You can see the journey. You can be a part of my journey. This is something new. You all know me and love me (I hope) and have been a part of my life. For me sharing this journey with you will get ME out of my head. And I NEED to be out of my head.
I have seen for so many including myself that when our thoughts are private and not shared with those who love us, especially when we are in need. Then Satan will use them against us. He will infiltrate our thoughts and use our doubts and negative feelings to bring us further down than we ever need to be. By getting out of my head and being transparent with you then I remove the power he has over me. I give back the control to who should be in control from the very beginning. The only one who can truly meet me in those dark moments and show me the way out. God. I have put my life in his hands and was reminded tonight that "For with God nothing is impossible." Luke 1:37
So to this journey, this inner dialogue, this training for a half marathon. This entire experience. I will do it with God with all of the transparency I can muster.
And please,
Enjoy your journey.
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