Pushing Through It.....

The last two days have sucked.  Hard.  I must be getting my monthly unwanted visitor soon.  I can... like most women.... always tell.  I've not wanted to cook at all.  Nothing but greasy sounds good and I have been craving my DR. PEPPER something fierce. And then of course wanting something oozing with sugar which ususally means chocolate.  Why is it that time of the month reaks havoc on our bodies????  And I will fully admit I have crashed and burned on the foodie part. 
But.... I have been telling myself over and over again.......

Always in the past.... before this renewed and committed "Fit by Forty" goal of mine.... I have NEVER kept my exercise routine intact when I've crashed and burned.  EVER. When I've sucked rocks on my diet then I've always quit working out too.  So I've been telling myself that is the one thing that no matter what is going on I HAVE to give my body EVERY day except Sunday.  At least an hour of rigorous exercise.  And so far..... it's only been 7 days straight.... but THAT is HUGE for me.  I am PUSHING THROUGH IT!!!  Some mornings I absolutely HATE it.  I am dragging most days from getting up so early.  I think I've been fighting myself so hard over this that I haven't allowed myself to just relax and enjoy the process.  How is that possible when my body is screaming nasty words at me right?  Well... this morning.... I would say about 3/4 of the way through my run.... I noticed these......

 

How in the world have I not noticed them in 7 days??  And there's NO WAY they just popped up overnight.  It was like they were the light or sunshine at the end of the tunnel saying "Keep going!  You're almost there!"  Awesome.  Just Awesome.  As I was processing all these thoughts in my head after seeing them... I realized that the message today is something I need to make apply in A LOT of areas in my life.  We are dealing with some hard things that I won't get into but I need to figure out how to "Push through it!"  

The Nasty Truth.....

I can't even believe I am posting this.  Seriously.  I want to cry right now.  I don't know which is making me feel like vomiting more.... these numbers or that I am actually sharing this with the world.  Time to do something about it.
 Today. Tomorrow. Every day after that. 
 

 

Weigh in day....Week One

Would you seriously just look at that???

I'm down almost 4 pounds in a week!  I'm gonna call this 3 1/2 pounds for the record because we are dirt poor right now and I couldn't afford to buy one of those fancy schmancy digital scales that give you an exact number.  LOL 

I've been focusing on the words "conscious" & "aware" this week.  Since I've been trying HARDEST at establishing a regular exercise routine...I haven't hit the meal planning like I really need to yet.  But I have been trying to stay conscious and aware of what I'm putting in my mouth.  This will make a huge difference for me long term since I haven't been paying attention for the last hmmmm.... four years? I feel A LOT different this time around with my weightloss goals.  I think it was finally just time and I am ready to say good-bye forever to each little pound I can shave off!

That being said.... hasta la vista 3.5 pounds! 

Healthy Recipe Alert!

I ran across a recipe online last week.  I wish it was on pinterest or I could have just shared that link.  Heaven knows my photos never do things justice.  Anyway.... this sounded yummy and relatively healthy for it being a Mexican Food dish.  I was all in and Shane loved it too. My sister was over last night and tried it also and loved it.  Super quick and easy. Of course, I already had pressure cooked jars of chicken in my pantry from living with my Grandma for 4 months so the worst part was done. If you know of anyone who cans chicken and can show you how..... I STRONGLY recommend it. Having meats already prepared is a sure-fire way to avoid fast food options.  I can't even explain to you how nice it is to NOT have to cook chicken as I need it.  This meal was literally done in 30mins flat.  No joke. 

 



Chicken and Pinto Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

1 16oz jar medium picante sauce (mild or spicy)

6 corn tortillas cut into fourths

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

1 15oz can reduced sodium pinto beans, rinsed & drained

3/4 cup reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Spread about 1/2 cup of the picante sauce in bottom of a 2-quart baking dish

Arrange 6 of the tortilla pieces on top

Sprinkle half the shredded chicken on top, followed by half of the pinto beans

Spoon a half cup of sauce on top, followed by another 6 tortilla pieces

Sprinkle remaining chicken and beans, followed by a half cup of sauce

Top with remaining tortilla pieces, followed by sauceand top with cheese

Cover with foil and bake for 15 mins. until cheese is melted in the center.

Serves 4

Nutritional Information:

Calories 269, Calories from Fat 45, Total Fat 5g (sat 1.8g), Cholesterol 47mg, Sodium 760mg, Carbohydrate 27.1g, Fiber 6.2g, Protein 28.8g



Let's cheer for each other!

Okay so..... I've had MANY private emails and Facebook messages from friends and family and a few people I don't even know totally encouraging me on this new journey of mine!  My heart is bursting at the seams with gratitude.  Really.  This whole process is actually pretty terrifying to me.  I don't do well with failure.  Maybe that's why I have never really TRIED hard at this to begin with.  I don't know.  But the past is the past and I am excited about the future.  One that includes BIG goals and small little daily changes that will eventually make a HUGE difference.  I've heard from many of you including those who are participating in Heidi's 60-Day Challenge that you are on the same journey and are happy to see me doing it too so we can cheer each other on!  That makes me HAPPY!  I am hoping.... for those who are willing... that you will email me or Facebook me or even comment here and leave a link to your own blog where I can check in on you and CHEER for you in your efforts to a healthier you also!  I will add your link here on my blog in the sidebar to the right----> .  If you have NO DESIRE to go public with your journey and will just enjoy cheering me on then you can choose to be a "Follower" down on the right side and keep up with me that way!  Thanks again for the good luck wishes!  I will need it! :)

Yuck One and Yuck Two

So I went for my morning walk and decided to snap a few self-portraits while I was out.  (and yes it WAS dark and dreary outside that's not ONLY the photo editing) I figure that if I don't post a few of the yucky BEFORE photos along the way.... that I won't really appreciate how much progress I've made when I get to the point where I'm no longer labeling my photos "Yuck One & Yuck Two".  LOL  You know that whacked out thinking that got you fat in the first place?  "I'm not THAT big.... just getting pudgy" as you refuse to look in a mirror too long or even step on a scale?  Well that was me.  And then seriously... a few years later.... I'm going "Who is that person in my mirror?" and "Where did all my cute clothes go?" Posting photos will help me SEE that I am making results and not just FEELING them. Sorry if your eyes are feeling violated today. HA HA!

Well... weigh-in day is going to be on Sundays.  So I will be back with those results.  Hopefully some positive numbers.  I am also trying a new recipe tonight I found that's pretty low-calorie so I will try and snap some photos to post with the recipe and tell you if it was tasty or not. 

♥Ciao for now

OWL Be There For You....

Okay... so ya'll are gonna laugh at me for this post.  My heart has been really full of gratitude this morning for a husband who loves me in spite of myself.  Skinny or fat. For children I know love me "Squishy" or firm.  I've also been super overwhelmed with the amount of support shown to me through my friends and family via Facebook and here on this blog too. 

 

When I was out this morning after dropping Bailee off at her 630 A-Hour class I tried a new spot for walking/jogging (faster walking/ LOL) on my way home.  It's a park that seems like it was designed specifically for that purpose so I thought I would try it out.  It was interesting to see several signs along the trail about how there are Burrowing Owls in this park and Please do not disturb their habitat.  Pretty cool I thought but seriously doubted I would actually get to see any.  I thought owls were nocturnal creatures?  Well.... Check this out.......

 

I know the quality of the photos stink but when I saw this little guy along the trail I had to zoom in pretty far in order to get the picture.  He kept flying further away from me the closer I got.  But how cool is that?  And then..... to add to my total cheese factor here.  For WHATEVER reason.... after seeing this dang owl this morning.... I've had this old Bon Jovi song stuck in my head.  Only I keep saying.... "OWL be there for you".  I know. I warned you. Total cheese!  Anyway, thanks for supporting me on this journey.  And I hope you're day is a "Hoot".   Hee hee....

Here goes.....

So.  Here I am. I've been 39yrs old since May 14th.  I've also been getting heavier and heavier over the last 4+ yrs.  That unfortunately translates to self-loathing and disgust for myself too.  I could sit here and whine about all the reasons I feel like I've gained weight and use all the obstacles life has thrown my way as yet another excuse but the bottom line is I LET MYSELF GO.  But just like it took me several years to get way overweight.... it's also going to take time to get back to where I want to.  I DO HOWEVER have a lofty goal to be FIT BY 40.  And that time is coming quickly. 

When I saw that my cousin (close family friend) Heidi was putting together a 60 Day weightloss challenge I knew it was just the motivator I needed to kickstart my journey to where I really want to be physically.  So.  I'm going to be letting it all hang out here.  Quite literally. Getting real with myself and hopefully inspiring a few others along the way that are struggling with the same things I am.  The offical start date was this Monday, the 20th.  I will let the following photo speak for itself.  You have NO IDEA how hard this is for me to post this.  Or maybe you do?  I'd love to have a few cheerleaders shouting out some positive feedback. THAT would be all kinds of awesome! I process enough negative thoughts about myself for 20 people so negativity is not allowed here.  And I'm speaking to myself mostly.  LOL  Anyhoo..... here goes the dreaded photo.  Will check in again soon.