She is also holding a July arm challenge on IG #assignmentamandagunshow which you all should join in!
Anyhoo, back to the link up...
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Little Things- Wednesday Link-up
I'm usually bad at this link up thing. I'm not blogger savvy by any means. However, I've been following this lady (www.assignmentamanda.blogspot.com) for a few weeks and her and I are pretty much at the same place in our weight loss journeys.
She is also holding a July arm challenge on IG #assignmentamandagunshow which you all should join in!
Anyhoo, back to the link up...
This link up (co-hosted by Candra from Camo and Lipstick) is about taking the negative situation and finding the positive.
So here goes.
Negative- I am no where near where I need to be on this weight loss journey.
Positive- I have discovered so much about myself since beginning this journey. I've found a love for going to the gym or working out with my cute workout partner. I love finding ways to make my favorite foods healthier and cleaner. I've become such a better wife and mom since I have taken time for myself. I feel rejuvenated when I get done with a workout and I no longer feel like I'm on the sidelines while life is passing me by.
Am I where I want to be, no, but am I doing things that I am supposed to be doing, absolutely! Taking time to enjoy the process because that is part of the process. As the old adage goes, take time to stop and smell the flowers.
She is also holding a July arm challenge on IG #assignmentamandagunshow which you all should join in!
Anyhoo, back to the link up...
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Forgiving Yourself
***I apologize for the absence. My brother got married on Saturday, it has been a bit chaotic***
While this journey to becoming a better me has mostly been about weight loss and getting healthier there have been other improvements along the way. Areas of myself that maybe I didn't even know I was lacking in or never even thought of improving.
One of those areas that never crossed my mind, learning to forgive myself
When I would eat foods I shouldn't (like a whole thing of Oreo's), go overboard at a buffet to the point of being uncomfortable, or simply not eat I would get mad at myself. I would criticize myself for eating foods I knew weren't healthy, for over eating on those unhealthy foods. I became mad at myself which would lead to more binge eating of crap food. It was a vicious cycle.
My unforgiving ways would also go to my workouts. If I overslept I would beat myself up all day. Like seriously, how could you not get out of bed, laziness, pure laziness. Then as I would be relaxing on the couch at night I would have this nagging voice that I needed to go do something. I needed to stop being a bum on the couch.
Yea, I was mean to myself. I was very unforgiving when I would slip-up.
I'm not sure why I beat myself up.
I obviously wasn't perfect before I started this journey.
Not sure why I thought that starting this journey I would never miss a workout or eat crap foods.
I knew I would, because I'm not perfect. If I was perfect I wouldn't be trying to lose the weight in the first place!
Here lately though I've been forgiving myself.
Now this is not to be confused with making excuses. There is a HUGE difference!
For example, this wedding and helping my mom get everything around has made for some long nights and restless sleep. There were times that I chose to sleep instead of doing my 5am workouts.
Old Megan would have beat myself up about it but not done anything on my own.
Improved Megan acknowledged that my body needed the sleep and then since I also knew that I needed to workout I pushed myself to do it. Alone. No gym. No coach. Just me and Reagan (usually). I didn't use the excuse I was tired to sit my butt on the couch at night. I used that as motivation, like hey I didn't work out this morning so now I have to use my evening to do it!
The same goes for eating.
I don't eat perfect. I try my hardest to be healthy 80-90% of the time. There's times I don't. Not beating myself up as I continue to lick the brownie batter but instead, stop eating the crap, acknowledge that I did and do some burpees to feel better!
It is just amazing to me how this journey is shaping me into the woman I always knew I was but had forgotten I could be.
While this journey to becoming a better me has mostly been about weight loss and getting healthier there have been other improvements along the way. Areas of myself that maybe I didn't even know I was lacking in or never even thought of improving.
One of those areas that never crossed my mind, learning to forgive myself
When I would eat foods I shouldn't (like a whole thing of Oreo's), go overboard at a buffet to the point of being uncomfortable, or simply not eat I would get mad at myself. I would criticize myself for eating foods I knew weren't healthy, for over eating on those unhealthy foods. I became mad at myself which would lead to more binge eating of crap food. It was a vicious cycle.
My unforgiving ways would also go to my workouts. If I overslept I would beat myself up all day. Like seriously, how could you not get out of bed, laziness, pure laziness. Then as I would be relaxing on the couch at night I would have this nagging voice that I needed to go do something. I needed to stop being a bum on the couch.
Yea, I was mean to myself. I was very unforgiving when I would slip-up.
I'm not sure why I beat myself up.
I obviously wasn't perfect before I started this journey.
Not sure why I thought that starting this journey I would never miss a workout or eat crap foods.
I knew I would, because I'm not perfect. If I was perfect I wouldn't be trying to lose the weight in the first place!
 |
| Source- pin.terest |
Here lately though I've been forgiving myself.
Now this is not to be confused with making excuses. There is a HUGE difference!
For example, this wedding and helping my mom get everything around has made for some long nights and restless sleep. There were times that I chose to sleep instead of doing my 5am workouts.
Old Megan would have beat myself up about it but not done anything on my own.
Improved Megan acknowledged that my body needed the sleep and then since I also knew that I needed to workout I pushed myself to do it. Alone. No gym. No coach. Just me and Reagan (usually). I didn't use the excuse I was tired to sit my butt on the couch at night. I used that as motivation, like hey I didn't work out this morning so now I have to use my evening to do it!
 |
| source- pint.terest |
The same goes for eating.
I don't eat perfect. I try my hardest to be healthy 80-90% of the time. There's times I don't. Not beating myself up as I continue to lick the brownie batter but instead, stop eating the crap, acknowledge that I did and do some burpees to feel better!
It is just amazing to me how this journey is shaping me into the woman I always knew I was but had forgotten I could be.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Boot Camp Day 2
Day 2
Breakfast-
Advocare Chocolate Shake made into a muffin with 2tbsp peanut butter
Lunch-
Leftover Ham Steak & green beans
Supper-
Hamburger (no bun)
Snacks-
Blue Diamond Strawberry Almonds
Medium Honeycrisp Apple with 2tbsp peanut butter
Water intake-149.2oz
Steps- 9,024 not quite 10k but better than the day before at 6,849
Exercise- I slept in. Did not make it to the gym and the weather was nice so Matt was spraying so no gym in the evening. I decided to make my own and went up to the Shrine park with Reagan and we walked, did tricep dips, and 2 workout programs from Instagram. Ended up with a great workout in am hour and a tired baby.
Old Megan would have just walked or said screw it, new Megan voluntarily did burpees, crazy stuff!
Breakfast-
Advocare Chocolate Shake made into a muffin with 2tbsp peanut butter
Lunch-
Leftover Ham Steak & green beans
Supper-
Hamburger (no bun)
Snacks-
Blue Diamond Strawberry Almonds
Medium Honeycrisp Apple with 2tbsp peanut butter
Water intake-149.2oz
Steps- 9,024 not quite 10k but better than the day before at 6,849
Exercise- I slept in. Did not make it to the gym and the weather was nice so Matt was spraying so no gym in the evening. I decided to make my own and went up to the Shrine park with Reagan and we walked, did tricep dips, and 2 workout programs from Instagram. Ended up with a great workout in am hour and a tired baby.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Boot Camp
Today was the first day for the buddy boot camp at the gym. I have a pretty awesome buddy and we are ready to kick butt!
In order to keep myself accountable during this 8 week boot camp I plan on blogging about my daily intakes, exercises and whatever else comes to mind. This will be pretty similar to the posts I did about the 24 day challenge (starting here).
My buddy A and I are planning on heading to the store together on Saturday morning and we are going to be texting each other throughout the day to keep us in check. We both are usually at the gym in the mornings and we both want to get some 2 a days in. With the boot camp we get personal trainings and our hope is to be able to do them on Sunday mornings. That way I don't have to worry about a sitter for Reagan. Plus, I will get a good start to my Sunday which usually according to my fitbit is my laziest day.
Day 1
Breakfast-
Advocare Berry Shake
Lunch-
Modified "stir fry"- veggies and chicken no rice
Blue Diamond Strawberry Almonds
Supper-
Ham steak and a veggie
Snacks-
Best Life Peanut Butter Extreme Protein Bar
Medium Honeycrisp Apple with 2tbsp peanut butter
Water intake- So far today I am at 129.5. My goal is at very least a gallon but more along the lines of 150oz.
Steps- 10,000 so far today I am at 3,602
Exercise- I woke up late but still managed to get a 45 minute spin/lift in.
Goals for the bootcamp-
1. 30lbs total.
2. I'm bad at figuring out inches lost but lets shoot for 10 inches.
3. Run a mile without stopping
4. Full out burpee
Week 1 goal- 3lbs
Rewards-
1. Shopping for 2 new pair of jeans
2. Massage
3. Pedicure
There it is, all laid out for the world to see.
Bring it boot camp, you ain't got nothin on me!
In order to keep myself accountable during this 8 week boot camp I plan on blogging about my daily intakes, exercises and whatever else comes to mind. This will be pretty similar to the posts I did about the 24 day challenge (starting here).
My buddy A and I are planning on heading to the store together on Saturday morning and we are going to be texting each other throughout the day to keep us in check. We both are usually at the gym in the mornings and we both want to get some 2 a days in. With the boot camp we get personal trainings and our hope is to be able to do them on Sunday mornings. That way I don't have to worry about a sitter for Reagan. Plus, I will get a good start to my Sunday which usually according to my fitbit is my laziest day.
Day 1
Breakfast-
Advocare Berry Shake
Lunch-
Modified "stir fry"- veggies and chicken no rice
Blue Diamond Strawberry Almonds
Supper-
Ham steak and a veggie
Snacks-
Best Life Peanut Butter Extreme Protein Bar
Medium Honeycrisp Apple with 2tbsp peanut butter
Water intake- So far today I am at 129.5. My goal is at very least a gallon but more along the lines of 150oz.
Steps- 10,000 so far today I am at 3,602
Exercise- I woke up late but still managed to get a 45 minute spin/lift in.
Goals for the bootcamp-
1. 30lbs total.
2. I'm bad at figuring out inches lost but lets shoot for 10 inches.
3. Run a mile without stopping
4. Full out burpee
Week 1 goal- 3lbs
Rewards-
1. Shopping for 2 new pair of jeans
2. Massage
3. Pedicure
There it is, all laid out for the world to see.
Bring it boot camp, you ain't got nothin on me!
Friday, May 9, 2014
Goals and Rewards
Goal- the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.
Reward- something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.
(source- www.dictionary.com)
I have goals. Non-fitness related such as paying off debt, finishing my kitchen, decluttering rooms and my life basically. Then I have health/fitness ones. Such as, weight goals, endurance goals, weight lifting goals and some days, running goals. The running one tends to sway some days but it is still there (it just isn't a priority at the moment and not exactly sure when it will become a priority).
Having goals is so important in anything you want to accomplish. Having goals in your head is one thing, but when you write them down and look at them every day, for me it makes them real. They are tangible. You read it every single time you walk by it.
So my big goal that I have written down right now is to lose 50lbs so I can buy me a pair of legit Sperry shoes. I have a pair of the Kohl's knockoffs and they are fine but I want to reward myself and spending $$$$ on shoes (other than boots because that is always justified!) is a great way.
I have a picture of the shoes on my mirror that I pull out of the drawer and look at while I brush my teeth/do my make-up/and do my hair (and by do my hair I mean usually throw it back).
This allows me to see the end result while also looking in the mirror and seeing the progress I am making towards that goal. Now I know I said not to get hung up on the number on the scale but in reality my number needs to go down and pushing myself to get that number down with a goal is what I need to do. However, that number will not define progress that I am making in other areas.
That one is a more long term goal. Currently my short term goal is 10lbs for the month of May. Watch me rock it and when I do, I'm getting a massage! Again, a number goal but easily measured.
This leads to another point, rewarding yourself for accomplishing your goals.
I am all about rewards that are things I normally wouldn't buy for myself. Such as Sperry's, a massage etc. I've seen cool things like people putting money in a jar every time they work out and using that money to pay for their reward. However, I never have cash on me so I feel like I would always be owing the jar money. It will just be easier to go out and buy whatever it may be that I deem necessary.
So basically, have a goal, write it down, read it every day and reward yourself (however you deem necessary) when you achieve it!
Reward- something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.
(source- www.dictionary.com)
I have goals. Non-fitness related such as paying off debt, finishing my kitchen, decluttering rooms and my life basically. Then I have health/fitness ones. Such as, weight goals, endurance goals, weight lifting goals and some days, running goals. The running one tends to sway some days but it is still there (it just isn't a priority at the moment and not exactly sure when it will become a priority).
Having goals is so important in anything you want to accomplish. Having goals in your head is one thing, but when you write them down and look at them every day, for me it makes them real. They are tangible. You read it every single time you walk by it.
So my big goal that I have written down right now is to lose 50lbs so I can buy me a pair of legit Sperry shoes. I have a pair of the Kohl's knockoffs and they are fine but I want to reward myself and spending $$$$ on shoes (other than boots because that is always justified!) is a great way.
I have a picture of the shoes on my mirror that I pull out of the drawer and look at while I brush my teeth/do my make-up/and do my hair (and by do my hair I mean usually throw it back).
 |
| Source-Pinterest |
That one is a more long term goal. Currently my short term goal is 10lbs for the month of May. Watch me rock it and when I do, I'm getting a massage! Again, a number goal but easily measured.
 |
| Source-Pinterest |
This leads to another point, rewarding yourself for accomplishing your goals.
I am all about rewards that are things I normally wouldn't buy for myself. Such as Sperry's, a massage etc. I've seen cool things like people putting money in a jar every time they work out and using that money to pay for their reward. However, I never have cash on me so I feel like I would always be owing the jar money. It will just be easier to go out and buy whatever it may be that I deem necessary.
So basically, have a goal, write it down, read it every day and reward yourself (however you deem necessary) when you achieve it!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
#transformationtuesday
Oh IG and twitter and your numerous hashtags. Some that I don't even
understand and have to google for an explanation (yup I am that pathetic
at times). Well this one, #transformationtuesday has intimidated me for
a long time. Why you ask, would a silly hashtag bother me? Well....
I was scared.
I was scared that my transformation wasn't good enough to use the hashtag. Lame yes but self-confidence issues don't just vanish overnight? Seriously, past self-esteem and self-confidence and stuff doesn't just go away. I still see the Megan who was at her heaviest and I need to work on that. But that's another post for another day, maybe another hashtag????
But it's the truth.
That old feeling of what I have accomplished doesn't compare to what others have.
That's not the point though.
The point is, I am darn proud of what I have accomplished as well as the friends I've made along the way and what they have accomplished.
So without further ado, my first post for #transformationtuesday
These pictures are about a year apart exactly. The one on the left, April 2013 at Reagan's baptism. I was about 4 1/2 months postpartum. The one on the right, taken this morning at 4:50am. Yup I look hot going to the gym.
Put these side by side and I am simply amazed at the progress I have made. I am no where near finished but seeing this gives me the motivation to keep going!
I was scared.
I was scared that my transformation wasn't good enough to use the hashtag. Lame yes but self-confidence issues don't just vanish overnight? Seriously, past self-esteem and self-confidence and stuff doesn't just go away. I still see the Megan who was at her heaviest and I need to work on that. But that's another post for another day, maybe another hashtag????
But it's the truth.
That old feeling of what I have accomplished doesn't compare to what others have.
That's not the point though.
The point is, I am darn proud of what I have accomplished as well as the friends I've made along the way and what they have accomplished.
So without further ado, my first post for #transformationtuesday
Put these side by side and I am simply amazed at the progress I have made. I am no where near finished but seeing this gives me the motivation to keep going!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Non Scale Victories
The scale and I are not friends. I mean if we really want to get down to it, we hate each other. Almost as much as I hate burpees. I like burpees a little bit more than the scale because burpees make me feel good when I get them done. Like heck yea I just did 25 burpees. I never feel that way after getting off the scale. Even when it goes down I don't jump off and say heck yea scale I like you today. I think hmm what could I have done better to make that number even smaller?
Lately though, I haven't given a crap what the scale read. I've been more focused on other victories.
For example, pants that have been in the back of my closet that I couldn't get past my knees now go over my thighs and almost past my hips. Jeans that are getting too big. Shirts that look sloppy. I love all these clothes that aren't fitting, except, I gave up shopping for non necessities for Lent. So even more reason to keep pushing myself so I can have a good shopping spree this spring!
Another non scale victory is my energy. No longer am I trying to get as much sleep as possible. Well, except for the nights when Reagan doesn't feel the need to stay asleep all night. Or like the other night when we went on a drive to get her to fall asleep. So when she is back to being the great sleeper I can go to bed around 10 and get up around 4:30-5:00 go workout and then go about my day without getting the mid morning yawns or mid afternoon slump. I will say that spark has helped with that too. Eating better and getting all my vitamins and minerals from my MNS packets is also key. I know having more energy makes me a better mom, wife and person in general. No longer do I need my diet coke before I wake up and am functional. My early morning workouts are way better than that diet coke ever was!
Another victory is how much stronger I am getting every day. I've always been strong but now it is apparent. When I started working out I was grabbing 7's for my heavy weights. Now it is 10's sometimes 15's depending on what we are doing. I'm not afraid to lift heavy (no woman should be afraid to lift heavy, ever!), it is so empowering. I've done hanging leg raises, full out push-ups and wall sits for over 2 minutes. The strength I've gained isn't just in my muscles, I've also gained strength in myself. I know that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
No longer am I afraid of failing. I know that this time, I've made the change for good.
Lately though, I haven't given a crap what the scale read. I've been more focused on other victories.
For example, pants that have been in the back of my closet that I couldn't get past my knees now go over my thighs and almost past my hips. Jeans that are getting too big. Shirts that look sloppy. I love all these clothes that aren't fitting, except, I gave up shopping for non necessities for Lent. So even more reason to keep pushing myself so I can have a good shopping spree this spring!
Another non scale victory is my energy. No longer am I trying to get as much sleep as possible. Well, except for the nights when Reagan doesn't feel the need to stay asleep all night. Or like the other night when we went on a drive to get her to fall asleep. So when she is back to being the great sleeper I can go to bed around 10 and get up around 4:30-5:00 go workout and then go about my day without getting the mid morning yawns or mid afternoon slump. I will say that spark has helped with that too. Eating better and getting all my vitamins and minerals from my MNS packets is also key. I know having more energy makes me a better mom, wife and person in general. No longer do I need my diet coke before I wake up and am functional. My early morning workouts are way better than that diet coke ever was!
Another victory is how much stronger I am getting every day. I've always been strong but now it is apparent. When I started working out I was grabbing 7's for my heavy weights. Now it is 10's sometimes 15's depending on what we are doing. I'm not afraid to lift heavy (no woman should be afraid to lift heavy, ever!), it is so empowering. I've done hanging leg raises, full out push-ups and wall sits for over 2 minutes. The strength I've gained isn't just in my muscles, I've also gained strength in myself. I know that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
No longer am I afraid of failing. I know that this time, I've made the change for good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)