I went shopping at Trader Joe’s last night with the hubby and baby J.  We asked his mother to come by and watch the 3 older kids for an hour. There’s something about shopping without kids that is quite refreshing.  Josiah is only 3 months old, so he’s still mom’s little buddy and goes with me everywhere, he was an angel at the store and slept for most of our meanderings.

As we were shopping I saw these:

They looked good, sitting so lovely and all alone on the freezer shelf of Trader Joe’s.

I was very tempted to buy 2 boxes, which is what the old me would have done. Being pregnant for so long, it’s become quite natural for me to give into every craving I’ve had. I would justify it when I was with child, and rightfully so.  Even now (45+ pounds later) I don’t regret giving-in to those pregnant cravings for ice cream, Taco Bell or xLarge french fries! For me, it was part of the experience and helped get me through those long months of being uncomfortable.

So even though I still look round and with child, I’m happy to say I’m not pregnant.  Nothing makes a girl want to loose weight than having strangers ask her when her due date is. (yes this has happend to me 3 times over the last few weeks!)

I’m reading the book Made to Crave and it’s really REALLY awesome!  Here are the Top Ten Things I’m learning from this book.

1. God made us to crave.  The object of our craving was never supposed to be food.

2. I need to use my cravings for unhealthy food as a prompting to pray.

3. Instead of wallowing in what I can’t have, I’m making the choice to celebrate what I can have.

4. If I’m determine to get healthy, I will have to give up certain things and change my habits.

5. Accountability is crucial.

6. I was made for more than being ruled by my taste buds.

7. Living in victory tastes sweeter than any unhealthy delicacy.

8. The deeper reason for choosing to get healthy is to help me grow closer to God.

9. Issues with food can hold me back from my calling and commitment to Christ.

10.  Being ruled by anything other thing God is something God takes seriously, and so should I.

Happy Monday guys!

I’ve begun week 3 on my 7 week roadtrip to no more pudge, and I’m off to a great start. This morning I worked out, drank a smoothie for breakfast and had only 1 cup of coffee (so far – haha)! I feel really good today, I think this is going to be a fantastic week.

I began today with a green smoothie, a workout to Jillian Michaels and a whole lot of water. 

As of now I’m working out every 3 days, I plan to increase my frequency after this week to every other day and then eventually every day.  Currently, I’m using Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD, it’s 20 minutes but the workout I get is incredible, I suggest you pick up a copy next time you’re at Target, it’s only $9.00.  This DVD is challenging for all levels: beginners to advanced, I guarantee you’ll get your heart rate up!

In this DVD, Jillian says “If you want results, they’re not coming for free.” 

So it made me think: what results do I want?

• A healthier body
• Stronger muscles
• Healthy eating habits
• A love for water and green tea (over coffee and soda)

These results are not coming for free.  I must work out.  I must drink water.  I must say no to foods that are not good for me.  It’s requiring work, but I’m staying focused.

Getting healthy is a process, but I’m learning and growing stronger every day.

As I’m reading through the book Made To Crave, it’s encouraging to follow Made to Crave on Twitter.  Here is a tweet from a few days ago:

I’m learning to turn to the Lord and pray when I’m tempted to eat more than I need to or when I want to fill my body with junk food.

I weighed myself this morning and I’m down 5 pounds from 185 down to 180. WOOOOHOOO!  Positive results are a sure fire way to motivate me to keep going.

Happy Monday everyone!

Yikes.

I’ve been so nervous about this post because, well frankly, seeing those photos of myself is scary and a bit humbling; but, I knew I needed to write this post for the mere fact that it brings accountability.

And accountability is exactly what I need to finish this task.

For those of you that may not know, I have four amazing little munchkins in my life: 5, 3, 1 and an 11 week old and I love them dearly, I do!  But, I don’t love what 5 years of pregnancy has done to my body.

I know what you’re thinking….you just had a baby….yes, yes I did, all the more reason to get back into shape.  I have a lot of little ones that need me, therefore I must be strong and healthy for my task.

If you watched my video from Monday, you know that I’m serious this time about losing weight.

For myself.
For my family.
For my future.

I’ve been reading Made To Crave and it is piercing through some deep issues in my heart.  For example, the verse in 1st Corinthians 10:23 says, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.”  The fact that Lysa applied this verse to her eating habits, has dramatically changed my approach toward food.

Everything is permissible:  I can eat cheese puffs, oreos, cheese burgers, fries, soda and ice cream and still live.
BUT, not everything is beneficial.  Those foods do not benefit me, they do not nourish me the way God intended food to.

You’re probably thinking DUH, everyone knows that.  I too know that truth about food, and I’ve also read that verse hundreds of times, however, it took Lysa writing it in her book and applying it to food that caused a little lightbulb in my head to turn on!

I need to crave the right thing.  I need to choose foods that benefit me, and lately that means eating a piece of fruit instead of 3-4 packages of fruit snacks.  Or making a smoothie instead of drinking soda when I need that mid day pick-me-up.  Instead of wallowing in what I can’t have, I’m learning to enjoy and be content with what I CAN have! (pg. 30)

I’m on a seven week journey towards change, and it’s not easy, I’m having to force myself to make wise choices when it comes to food and exercise.  But I know in the end I will be happier and healthier if I stay focused.

{Sigh}

Okay, time for more humbling info. about myself.

My currently measurements are:

Weight: 185.6
Waist: 41″
Chest & arms combined 46″
Butt: 47″
Arms: 12.5″
Upper thigh: 30″

Each week I will post my current stats to see the change taking place, again, this helps keep me accountable and say no to those blueberry muffins staring me in the face right now.

This is an exciting journey I’m embarking on, I’m using 2 books to help me out: Made to Crave and Making the Cut.  I’m also journaling and praying a lot.  This change in me is only made possible by Jesus and my dependence on and obedience to HIM.

Well, I’m off to work out and then make myself a smoothie.  Wish me luck!

Can you believe we’re already into the second week of 2012? I can tell that this is going to be a GREAT year, not just for me but for you too!

Right now, I’m about to embark on a seven week journey that will change me inside and out.

Watch:

Stay tuned for more tomorrow…..

I’m amazed at how well I feel now that I’m eating to my body type. I have energy and I don’t have a sluggish time of the day where I’m lethargic. It’s truly amazing to think that food affects us all so differently, eating the right foods makes SUCH a difference.

I’ve been doing Jillian’s 30 Day Book for a week now and I’m already seeing results – 6 pounds lost!!

It may seem like a lot of thinking, and to be honest it is more than I’m used to, but it’s worth it. And I figure if I stick with it for the full 30 days I will have a general idea of what I should be eating. It’s so motivating to see results from my hard work, there’s no way I’m stopping now!

So I had intended to start my new diet the beginning of this month, but things came up, money was tight, and I wasn’t diligent in working out every day….so let’s just say I got lazy.

But I’m back, today’s the first day and my mind is made up! I did level 3 of the 30 Day Shred and began the book, Making the Cut.

Basically in the book, you do a bit of reading and take a test to determine your BMR and your Metobolic Type.

Your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is “the number of calories that your body needs to function at the most basic level-it’s what you’d burn if you sat on the couch all day and didn’t move a muscle.” I googled BMR Calculator and found mine out that way, and now I know the amount of calories I should be eating in a day.

Next you take a test in the book to find out your Metabolic Type. If you’ve studied different diets or even tried them yourself, you’ll find MANY, MANY kinds. Each diet program is different and gets different results for different people. Atkins works great for the hubs, he’s lost oodles of weight following it. Me? Not a chance! I hate red meat, I feel lethargic after eating steak, my heart races when I eat a lot of bacon….hmmmm why is that?

Well when you read Jillian’s book you’ll discover that “everyone has a specific ratio of carbs-to-proteins-to-fats that are best for the way their body metabolizes the food we eat. We are just as unique inside as we are outside!” She’s broken them down into three categories: Slow, Balanced and Fast Oxodizers (Believe me, you must read the book!!!)

Now that I know what Metabolic type I am, I have a better understanding of my body, it helps so much when we understand the uniqueness of who we are and we feel certain ways after eating certain foods. And in her book she gives you what you should and shouldn’t eat in order to burn the most calories and have the most energy for your specific type.

She actually gives you a daily menu, along with a daily exercise routine. (although I will probably just stick to the 30 Day Shred). It’s a 30 Day book (I take it Jillian likes the number 30, haha) and she promises if you stick with it, it will help you loose those last 20 pounds you’ve been dying to loose. So I’m excited. I lost 10 pounds when I first began my challenge in June, so I’m VERY excited to keep the momentum going and loose another 10 – 20!

I will be posting recipes and what’s working (or not). I would love any suggestions and encouragement, loosing weight and staying healthy is a mental and emotional descion. But I know I must do this for myself, this is the only life I’m given and the only body I’ll have on earth. I want to be able to function and live life to it’s fullest…..which requires me to take care of my body!!

So my 30 day challenge is just about up. I am so glad I gave myself this time to purge, regroup and refocus on those things that make me happy and give me energy.

I’m working out again.
I’m praying and reading my Bible more.
I have organized a few areas of frustration in my home.
I’m eating healthier overall.

I am a happier person as a result, and our home is a more peaceful, happier place.

There are a few other areas I still want to continue working on: organizing bills and mail, there’s a few boxes I still need to go through from when we moved last year, I know there are more items around the house that can be purged, but it’s a process, and I’m okay with that!

I will begin another 30 Days of blogging as I go through a book that my mother-in-law gave me: Jillian Michaels – Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest You.

This plan begins this Thursday! I’m excited to keep the momentum going, becoming healthier in all areas is so motivating. I have added an area to subscribe to this blog if you’d like to get my posts in your inbox, at the top right hand corner, just enter your email and our posts will be sent straight to you! I know for me it’s easier to get an email to read and keep me updated rather than visit different sites every day.

Happy Monday Y’all!