Holiday Weight Gain

No no no Tiger not those kind of gains. I'm talking about the candy jar, candy platter, cookie and fudge kind of gains.

Ahh yes, the holidays. An absolutely amazing time of year where food flows like lava from a volcano and if grandma doesn't think you have eaten enough she will stack more on your plate amazing time of year.

But what do you do if you are on a weight loss journey?

Can we all go to an island where we avoid the holiday food stuffings and keep on going with out journeys?

Anybody out there have an island we can borrow? No, well there goes that idea.

So how do you make it through the holidays and not lose all the work you have put in the other 9 months?

MODERATION MODERATION MODERATION MODERATION

Oh and don't quit your meal plan and your work out schedule.

If you are looking for a structured plan the Advocare 24 Day Challenge is a great way to keep your meals in check and continues with the structure you have the other 9 months out of the year.  Shoot me an e-mail if you want more info, I would love to help you not have post holiday blues.

I'm participating in the boot camp at our gym. It is a you vs you challenge. No better competition than yourself.

So I will leave you with this parting thought.

Fitness Friday- 24 Day Challenge Completed

Fitness Friday Link Up with Aubrey

My challenge is over. Quite frankly I can of forget that I am on a challenge during the max phase because it is my normal routine. Once the cleanse is over I fall back into my routine of normal supplements. That isn't a bad thing by any means. The cleanse is where I see the most change because I tend to become lax in my eating and it jump starts me back on the train.

www.advocare.com/130638487

I haven't had a chance to do any measurements this week. Harvest has started so my nights and mornings are a tad more hectic. Plus being done with the challenge means I can get back on the scale.

Now that is a double edge sword...

I've done so good not obsessing over the scales movements up and down. The couple ounces here, a pound or two there. It was an obsession and quite frankly not one I am too excited about getting back on. However, I do want to check in and see where it is at. But I'm afraid if I step on it once it is all down hill from there. Kind of like when I have that one cookie...

I'm working tomorrow (yay harvest) and Sunday will be catch up day. Hope you all have a fabulous Friday!

How Did We Get Here

This morning at the gym, A and I were having a conversation about how we got to be where we were in our relationship with food, our bodies, weight loss etc.

On my way home then I thought more about it.

I thought about how I felt as a kid growing up. 

My relationships with food.

My relationship with my body.

They all stunk.

Sometimes they still stink.

I was overweight growing up. And it wasn't as common then to see an overweight kid (especially in my small town) as it is now (sad fact but true). I was always in sports but was still the big girl. I actually remember other coaches referring to me as "the big girl." Grown men calling me that. This is also where I learned to smile even though I knew it was true. I would be the typical girl who would be smiling on the outside while on the inside I was cursing myself for eating that extra cookie or drinking that can of pop. Talk about an unhealthy relationship.

Now though, I "try" not to beat myself up if I slip. Most days I can brush it off. Own up to it, and move on. As long as I acknowledge my slip up and don't allow myself to start down that slipper slope again I'm better than I used to be.

Do I beat myself up at times, absolutely.

Does it undo the bad choices, nope.

So does it pay to beat myself up, nope.

 Baby steps people baby steps. I celebrate the good choices, acknowledge the bad and continue to put one foot in front of the other. Because at the end of the day, sometimes that is an accomplishment all on its own.

Happy Friday! 

Weigh in Wednesday- GYSTS14

Seriously we are back at Wednesday already?!?! This month is flying by.  I'm going to venture and guess that working out 5 days a week keeps the week moving.

Slowly but surely, harvest is starting and my life becomes crazy so I have to make sure I budget the time to get my meals prepped so I am not relying on quick meals like fast food and pizza. I love using my crock pot during this time of year. I can throw something in and know that dinner is made when I get home.

Measurement check in

Right Arm- 16.5-    Same
Left Arm- 16.5-  +.5

Chest- 44-           -.5

Waist- 42-             -2.5

Hips- 54.5-            -1.5

Right Leg- 31.5-       Same

Left Leg- 29.5-     -1

So another 5 inches gone! I can definitely tell that I have been losing in my hips. I have been able to go to my closet and pull out 2 pairs of jeans that fit in the spring but as summer went on they haven't fit. The one pair is an old pair that I have kept around because I love how they fit and for the longest time didn't fit. Now they are part of my rotation of jeans! I can't wait till they can go in the too big pile.

Happy Wednesday!

Weekend Recap- GYSTS14

I've written a post before, about how I struggle with the weekends. You can read it here. They tend to throw me off track, I don't have the structure like I do during the week. That being said, keeping on track during the weekend is a goal of mine during this #GYSTS14

The first weekend, I did good. I stayed on track food wise, went to a Saturday morning workout and got my steps in.

This weekend...not so much...

Friday night Matt and I had a sitter. We didn't do anything wild and crazy, just some quality alone time. I love my daughter with all my being but it was nice to have a normal conversation and eat a hot dinner.

Obligatory Date Night Selfie

Saturday we went to the fair. Last fair of the season. Nothing crazy food wise but I did have some french fries and a milkshake. Well let me rephrase that, Reagan had a milkshake and I got some of it.

Then Sunday came... I was running around like a mad woman. So fast food for breakfast happened. Subway and a cookie for lunch happened. Oreo bomb cake for dessert happened.

Yea...

Then I remembered though, Monday I get a new day. A fresh start to the week. Today I kicked butt. I had a great workout. A good protein packed breakfast. My lunch was awesome. I don't have dinner planned but I know I have the choice to make it a god choice. So regardless of my weekend, I started fresh today. And I will win today. And tomorrow and heck the rest of the week. Then come next weekend, I won't slide down the slippery slope. Happy Monday!

A Day Late-Wednesday Weigh In- GYSTS14

Well I'm a day late and this isn't even technically a weigh-in. You could call it a measure in or a measure check-up. No weigh in yet, I have 2 weeks to go and it is getting easier to avoid the scale. However, you can bet your bottom dollar when the 24 days is up I will be hopping on the scale.

So I measured a day later as well which still I am darn proud of these results, in 8 days!

                                                                 Right Arm- 16.5
                                              Left Arm- 16
                                               Chest- 44.5
                                               Waist- 44.5
                                                   Hips- 3
                                            Right Leg- 31.5
                                             Left Leg- 30.5

 Now I will say I think my leg measurements were skewed and may have been measured too high up on my leg. However, even if you take those numbers out I still lost 8.5 inches! Gosh, it is crazy what eating good food, working out and drinking my water.

Why I ever got off track when I know what my body is capable of beats me (oh wait, smore's, adult beverages, fair food, snacking...)

This picture spoke to me this morning. Read it and let it sink in then go out have a great day!

The Scale Struggle- GYSTS14

I've linked up with ALG, Uniterrupted For her Fitness Friday. Amanda from Assignment Amanda had this and it fit in line with the theme I had in mind for today's post.




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So remember back oh a few days ago when I mentioned how I was only going to measure once a week and weigh in at the end of the challenge. In case you forget, Go Here. 

Well let me tell you, as a former scale addict this is HARD!

I feel like my scale just looks at me from under the storage rack, taunting me, encouraging me to pull it out and see the little blue screen light up.

Yup pretty sure I've lost it!

However, I have remained vigilant. Even when I see the scale at the gym just begging me to step on it. I turn and walk away. Kudos to me I say.

I know that number does not define me. That number is simply gravity pushing down on me or something along those lines. I watch enough Big Bang Theory I should get it #amiright!

Yet that number on the scale still has such a hold on me. I get excitement when I see it go down, and disappointment when it doesn't move or worse, goes up! Even when I tell myself that it really doesn't matter. Even when I know I lost inches. Even when I know that my clothes fit better.

It still has a hold on me...

So I am going to break the addiction. I am not going to let myself live and die by what the scale says.

(Pinky Promise)

Speaking of pinky promises. 

My gym buddy and I made a pinky promise. And you don't dare break a pinky promise right A!

We are going hard 6 days a week (unless kids or work interfere) for the month of September. When we reach our goal we are getting a girls night!

Quick Checkin

Wednesday
Spin/lift

Steps- 8,212

Water- 158.6

Thursday
Circuit Training
Steps- 9,993 (seriously I didn't get 7 more steps!)

Water- 151.3

Tomorrow is a big day for our family, please say a prayer for us that our dream that we have worked hard for comes true!