Hey everyone! I'm sorry I've been MIA for a while, it's been a busy few weeks.
This post will be updating you on my progress, or rather, my plateau. Yes, I hit one. I haven't lost, nor gained any weight in the past few weeks. I really wanted to avoid this for as long as possible, but that's just not how things worked out.
I attribute it to being in Kitchener for a week and not being as strict on myself as I was in terms of both eating habits and working out. I just spent my time enjoying visiting my family and friends.
With that said, I was discouraged, but I have not given up! Not even close. I'm actually more motivated now than ever. This week I've gotten back on track and took my weekly workouts to a whole new level! I ache all over and it's awesome. I have another incentive to get a certain amount of weight off by a certain date. I don't want to announce what that is just yet, but exciting times ahead folks!
Overcoming plateaus can be very difficult. Personally, that's when I used to give up. It's very discouraging especially when you know you're working hard. They're normal, though, and they are going to happen no matter what. The important thing to remember is why you started and that you don't want to go back to the way you were. Simple changes can and will move you past those plateaus. Whether it's cutting something out of your diet, or taking your workouts up a notch, you can and you will move past it if you keep on the journey!
All of this really boils down to how you want to spend your life. I've truly had to learn how to consistently take a step back from my immediate desires and look at the entire picture. The picture I've painted so far (when it comes to my personal self only) has not been one that I admire. I am so flawed and that's okay, but I want more. I look at myself in the mirror and I don't feel like the girl who's staring back at me. It's like I'm trapped inside a body that was never meant to be pushed to the limits I have pushed it. I am unable to do so many beautiful things because of the way that I look. I'm scared to even try. Is a box of cookies really worth that feeling of hopelessness? No, it isn't. There is no french fry, chocolate bar or tub of ice cream that feels as good as healthy does. I know this because I've been both. I can honestly tell you that if you make a constant effort to pull yourself away from your temptation for a moment and think about why you wanted to change in the first place, you'll almost always be able to walk away with ease.
Of course there are times when you'll fall, just like any other journey to better oneself, there are tons of twists and turns and it is impossible to know what the next obstacle will be. Keep on the right path though, whatever that might be.
There are so many changes I'm in the process of making in my own life, not just physically. I can't wait to share them all with you guys. I hope you all have a blessed weekend.
Ps. I have taken some workouts videos/progress photos and I will be posting those next time, I just have to upload them. I'm also going to record a longer video and just talk to you about my story and how things are going. You all have no idea how much I appreciate all of the support you've given me! If you are on your own journey, I'd love to hear all about it and give you support as well!
Follow me on Istagram for more of my journey! My username is: @jenn_fallingforfitness
Friday, February 27, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Making Healthier Choices at Restaurants
Good day lovely people!
I am still here, still committed, still moving forward.
Life has been so difficult lately, so overwhelming and I have a lot of tough decisions I need to make. I am still here though. Still on my weight loss/ healthy lifestyle/ becoming fit journey!
My topic this week, thanks to Debbie Quick (check out her beauty youtube channel and blog, cosmetics counsel, you won't regret it!) is how to make healthier choices when out for an event or family outing. This weekend, for example I had a surprise party to go to for Rob's cousin at a restaurant, and the next day was Debbie's birthday and we went out to celebrate.
Being at a party or a restaurant with all your favourite foods paraded in front of you when you're trying to overcome an addiction can honestly be compared to dragging a drunk to a bar, putting whisky in front of him/her and telling that person not to drink it. Unfortunately, it's impossible to avoid going out with friends or family and expecting to not have to deal with temptations. Not if you want to have a life, anyway.
Here is what I have found helpful for me this past weekend. At the surprise party, there was a delicious, prepaid meal already planned and tons of desserts to choose from. How could you not dig in, am I right? I have gone the past two weeks without a cheat meal and had planned to go another week, however, things change. For me, I feel it's best not to place unrealistic expectations on myself. They always set me up for failure. I set little goals for myself, but when I feel something needs to be adjusted to meet my overall needs, I allow it without putting myself down. With that said, I thought Saturday was a perfect time to indulge. I enjoyed a drink, ate the delicious meal prepared and even enjoyed a few treats. It was marvelous haha.
However, if you're someone who frequently finds yourself at restaurants, going out with friends and spend most of your days around temptations, you'll need a strategy.
The next day, we went to a buffet and I felt the itch, yet again. I decided what was best for me is to go straight to the salad bar first. I filled most of my plate with salad and veggies with little room for anything else. I then proceeded to add a little rice with veggies, and then added a very small portion of what I really wanted. I put one BBQ chicken tender on my plate and a few strips of bacon to garnish my salad. I enjoyed two lunch sized plates of food and used that method both times. I also always opt for water as opposed to pop or juice. Bam. I enjoyed a very small portion of what I wanted, enough to take the edge off and still managed to walk away without shame and a belly full of salad.
Obviously when you go to most restaurants, there's a menu filled with options to choose from. I don't know about you, but I am far more likely to indulge in the cheaper, yummier looking burger and fries, than I am to pay more for a salad that I don't really want. I don't know what it is about ordering salad at a restaurant for me, but it also makes the outing less exciting haha. Pretty bad when you find food to be a key ingredient in how excited you are to go out for an evening. What I have found most helpful is, again, only going out when I know I'm due for a cheat meal. However, that isn't possible all the time. Some weeks are more eventful than others. I have found that choosing a restaurant that you know has a lot more healthy, delicious options makes things easier. I also suggest making sure you are not starving before you go out. You're far more likely to choose something that makes your mouth water (and add inches to your waist) than you are to pick a healthier option. It helps to eat a banana or drink two large glasses of water before you leave.
In terms of going out, ultimately it comes down to how much you're willing to put into your health. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Obviously some weeks are better than others, but I encourage you to try a few of these tricks and see if they work for you. If you have any tricks of your own, I'd love to hear them! Leave them in the comments below.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and you'll be hearing back from me soon with a few at home workout videos.
Stay strong, live long.
I am still here, still committed, still moving forward.
Life has been so difficult lately, so overwhelming and I have a lot of tough decisions I need to make. I am still here though. Still on my weight loss/ healthy lifestyle/ becoming fit journey!
My topic this week, thanks to Debbie Quick (check out her beauty youtube channel and blog, cosmetics counsel, you won't regret it!) is how to make healthier choices when out for an event or family outing. This weekend, for example I had a surprise party to go to for Rob's cousin at a restaurant, and the next day was Debbie's birthday and we went out to celebrate.
Being at a party or a restaurant with all your favourite foods paraded in front of you when you're trying to overcome an addiction can honestly be compared to dragging a drunk to a bar, putting whisky in front of him/her and telling that person not to drink it. Unfortunately, it's impossible to avoid going out with friends or family and expecting to not have to deal with temptations. Not if you want to have a life, anyway.
Here is what I have found helpful for me this past weekend. At the surprise party, there was a delicious, prepaid meal already planned and tons of desserts to choose from. How could you not dig in, am I right? I have gone the past two weeks without a cheat meal and had planned to go another week, however, things change. For me, I feel it's best not to place unrealistic expectations on myself. They always set me up for failure. I set little goals for myself, but when I feel something needs to be adjusted to meet my overall needs, I allow it without putting myself down. With that said, I thought Saturday was a perfect time to indulge. I enjoyed a drink, ate the delicious meal prepared and even enjoyed a few treats. It was marvelous haha.
However, if you're someone who frequently finds yourself at restaurants, going out with friends and spend most of your days around temptations, you'll need a strategy.
The next day, we went to a buffet and I felt the itch, yet again. I decided what was best for me is to go straight to the salad bar first. I filled most of my plate with salad and veggies with little room for anything else. I then proceeded to add a little rice with veggies, and then added a very small portion of what I really wanted. I put one BBQ chicken tender on my plate and a few strips of bacon to garnish my salad. I enjoyed two lunch sized plates of food and used that method both times. I also always opt for water as opposed to pop or juice. Bam. I enjoyed a very small portion of what I wanted, enough to take the edge off and still managed to walk away without shame and a belly full of salad.
Obviously when you go to most restaurants, there's a menu filled with options to choose from. I don't know about you, but I am far more likely to indulge in the cheaper, yummier looking burger and fries, than I am to pay more for a salad that I don't really want. I don't know what it is about ordering salad at a restaurant for me, but it also makes the outing less exciting haha. Pretty bad when you find food to be a key ingredient in how excited you are to go out for an evening. What I have found most helpful is, again, only going out when I know I'm due for a cheat meal. However, that isn't possible all the time. Some weeks are more eventful than others. I have found that choosing a restaurant that you know has a lot more healthy, delicious options makes things easier. I also suggest making sure you are not starving before you go out. You're far more likely to choose something that makes your mouth water (and add inches to your waist) than you are to pick a healthier option. It helps to eat a banana or drink two large glasses of water before you leave.
In terms of going out, ultimately it comes down to how much you're willing to put into your health. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Obviously some weeks are better than others, but I encourage you to try a few of these tricks and see if they work for you. If you have any tricks of your own, I'd love to hear them! Leave them in the comments below.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and you'll be hearing back from me soon with a few at home workout videos.
Stay strong, live long.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Month One= DONE!
Tomorrow marks one month since I started my journey and boy, what a month it has been.
This month has pushed me to my limits, in more ways than one. It has been so stressful (not in terms of my new lifestyle), I am so grateful it is over! I have lost 18.9 pounds. I am proud. I know I have a long way to go, but I learned from the first time I did this that I have to celebrate all of my accomplishments and failures as I go. I hope I've been able to help and motivate others this past month and even more as I continue! I truly believe that you can wake up one day and just be ready to take this on. To take anything on. You won't do it until you are ready and I cannot stress that enough. Don't put pressure on yourself because I promise that you'll get there. I never thought I would either, I felt broken and like I had no respect for my own life. Surely if I wanted it, that would be enough. It wasn't. I had to go through seasons in my life, things had to happen, my mind set had to shift, things needed to change, prayers had to be lifted up.
Then, it happened. January 2nd I woke up and I thought to myself, "I'm ready now. I'm finally ready." and I knew, without a doubt, there was no stopping me now. I know I'm only a month into it and I still fight the temptations every single day, but I still know I'm moving forward and I refuse to go back to my old life. I want to get to a place where I don't listen to people say "You have such a pretty face" and think to myself that if only I wasn't fat maybe they'd just say I was pretty instead of singling out one small part of me. I want to be healthy, strong, to motivate others to be all they were meant to be. I know there are so many people who can't look at themselves in a mirror, who come home from school every day in tears, who don't think they're worth a second glance, who question their own existence. I know because I was one of them. It breaks me, No one, big or small, nerdy or shy, poor or rich, deserves to feel for one moment that they are nothing. No better than the dirt off someone's shoe. I cannot and I will not stand by with the access to technology and people that I have, that most everyone has, and allow people to go unnoticed. I'm telling you now if I can make my life better and accomplish my goals, SO CAN YOU. If you think you have no one, you have me. I am behind anyone and everyone to make this movement towards a happier and HEALTHIER life. Don't give up, friends. Life is beautiful.
January 2015, you have been a challenge to say the least. Bring it on, February. I am ready for you. I will not give up. I will create the happiness and the body that I deserve, you can count on that.
This month has pushed me to my limits, in more ways than one. It has been so stressful (not in terms of my new lifestyle), I am so grateful it is over! I have lost 18.9 pounds. I am proud. I know I have a long way to go, but I learned from the first time I did this that I have to celebrate all of my accomplishments and failures as I go. I hope I've been able to help and motivate others this past month and even more as I continue! I truly believe that you can wake up one day and just be ready to take this on. To take anything on. You won't do it until you are ready and I cannot stress that enough. Don't put pressure on yourself because I promise that you'll get there. I never thought I would either, I felt broken and like I had no respect for my own life. Surely if I wanted it, that would be enough. It wasn't. I had to go through seasons in my life, things had to happen, my mind set had to shift, things needed to change, prayers had to be lifted up.
Then, it happened. January 2nd I woke up and I thought to myself, "I'm ready now. I'm finally ready." and I knew, without a doubt, there was no stopping me now. I know I'm only a month into it and I still fight the temptations every single day, but I still know I'm moving forward and I refuse to go back to my old life. I want to get to a place where I don't listen to people say "You have such a pretty face" and think to myself that if only I wasn't fat maybe they'd just say I was pretty instead of singling out one small part of me. I want to be healthy, strong, to motivate others to be all they were meant to be. I know there are so many people who can't look at themselves in a mirror, who come home from school every day in tears, who don't think they're worth a second glance, who question their own existence. I know because I was one of them. It breaks me, No one, big or small, nerdy or shy, poor or rich, deserves to feel for one moment that they are nothing. No better than the dirt off someone's shoe. I cannot and I will not stand by with the access to technology and people that I have, that most everyone has, and allow people to go unnoticed. I'm telling you now if I can make my life better and accomplish my goals, SO CAN YOU. If you think you have no one, you have me. I am behind anyone and everyone to make this movement towards a happier and HEALTHIER life. Don't give up, friends. Life is beautiful.
January 2015, you have been a challenge to say the least. Bring it on, February. I am ready for you. I will not give up. I will create the happiness and the body that I deserve, you can count on that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)