Clock Has Hopefully Been Reset

Hi Guys!  M.I.A much?  I have really good reasons for not posting: working A LOT, exercising, trying to get my head together, blah blah blah.  I really do feel like a broken record sometimes.  Okay, so let's get to it.  I did not weigh in last Tuesday but I did go to the meeting and it did help....very much.  The whole week has been very busy with work, social and family obligations and gym time.  So I didn't have too much time to spend thinking about my frustrations with weight. 

Then Saturday hit and my body decided that it didn't want to work for me anymore.  I guess that I exhausted myself with physical stress as well as emotional stress.  My appetite disappeared and I slept more than I have in a really long time.  I am feeling better now, not quite myself yet but I hope that having a day off today, which included a pedicure and facial, will help.  It's back to the grind tomorrow.  Two packed work days, a bday dinner, a friends musical and then an Oscar party on Sunday.  Please send me your good vibes and strength to keep on track this weekend.  I really don't want to derail myself....especially since I am down 5.2 lbs this week!!!!!!!!!  I almost tooted when they told me how much I was down on Tuesday!  That's only .8 (point eight) away from 30 pounds lost.  It has taken for freakin' ever. 

I started WW the end of May last year.  So in about three months it will be a year that I have been on the program.  I am struggling with feeling very frustrated with my progress.  I, of course, pictured myself at least 50-75lbs down around this time.  Don't get me wrong, I am proud of what I have accomplished but I also know that I wasn't as focused and diligent about my weight loss as I could have been.  In fact I sometimes feel that I have been a little lazy about it BUT then I remember how hard and long it takes to break bad life habits and create healthy new ones.  Are my mood swings as confusing for you as they are for me?

Okay, before I sign off I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all again for your amazing support, kind words and helpful suggestions.  I may not update often, or comment but I do read all of them and they mean so very much.  So big ole hugs and sloppy kisses to you!  :D

Struggling

Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.   - George A. Sheehan

 

Hey there.  How's everyone doing?  For those of you on Weight Watchers, how is the new Pointplus system treating you?

 

Me, I'm struggling a bit but not because of the new system.  No, my struggling has been going on long before the launch on November 29th.  I was up .8 (point eight) on Tuesday while everybody and their mother (at my meeting) was down in weight and super excited about the new program.  I felt awful.  So I went home, did a lot of thinking and crying, some internet research and watched a little Firefly (Nathan Fillion is the perfect medication for the blues.)  I have pretty much decided to join a gym.  The YMCA to be precise but I am gonna be frugal and wait to see if they offer a new year deal.  So during the waiting period before then and to get me through the holidays I am going to pick up my walking, maybe take a jazzercise class or two and TRACK MY DAILY POINTS INTAKE LIKE A DANG CHAMPION!

 

So far I am kicking tushy on the tracking part.  I am being really diligent since I have FOUR (!) social engagements this week that are centered around food and wine.  Wine was my downfall last week what with three Christmas parties. I don't want it to continue to throw me off course.  So I shall eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to stave of hunger on the days I know I wont be able to control whats available for food.

Wish me luck because I am wishing it for you too.  :))  My smiley face has a double chin....for now.  ;))

Radio Silence

Hello Friends!  I don't even know where to begin. The past three weeks have been insane.  Here is a bullet point synopsis of what has been going on:

• Wedding on 10/15/10
• Left for Colorado on 10/18/10 (my trip will get it's own post)
• Finally made it back home from Colorado at 3:30am on 10/26/10, then went to work later that day
• Halloween festivities (and those darn sneak cocktails!) resulting in a 1.2lb gain at my next weigh in.  :(
• Monday 11/1/10 my roommate tells me he is moving his girlfriend and her kids in on Friday 11/05/10 (when I asked him to give me this week and next week to move my things out grrrrrrrr....)
• Worked all week, packed all week, got a storage unit and u-haul
• Saturday morning/early afternoon went wedding dress and maid of honor dress shopping with one of my besties.
• Saturday afternoon/evening moved from one house to the other
• Sunday finished unloading the u-haul, took things to storage and then unpacked my whole life.
• Monday I cleaned, worked and (praise!) got a massage
• Working everyday this week including Sunday.

Needless to say I am pretty pooped and very emotional.  I have been feeling so many different things and all at the same time.  Arrrgggghhhh!  I have my weigh in tonight and am pretty sure I gained.  There was some emotional eating involved this weekend. 

On the plus side I have gone to the grocery store and stocked up on low point healthy foods.  I may even be able to squeeze in a couple of walks so I can lose the weight I have put on the past couple of weeks.  I have some thinking to do and new routines to get used to but I know I will make it through and be an even better person for it.

Embarrassed

I weigh in on Tuesdays, which has it's plus and minuses.  If I have a social weekend it usually shows up on the scale.  Well, last weekend I had a VERY social weekend and it showed.  Up 3.4 lbs.... again.  What is up with 3.4?  That's the second time I have gained exactly that much weight in the past three weigh ins.  Needless to say I am embarrassed and a little ashamed after coming off such a great loss the week before.  I'm feeling pretty down on myself about it but I haven't been able to dwell too much since work is so busy right now.  However, I do have another very social weekend coming up.  A bachelorette / bachelor party up in D.C.  We are talking the works:  limo, cocktails, strip club and I am sure plenty of opportunities to eat. 

I'm nervous. I can't help it.  I just keep thinking that if I can just get through to November 1st then I can really focus before the holidays.  Here is a rundown of all the things I have to do (on top of working two jobs) that are potential land mines:

• Our German visitors are here until the 7th and there are at least three food related functions that I will be attending with them
• I have a wedding to go to on the 15th
• I will be in Colorado for a week at the end of October
• Halloween
• Then the beginning of  November I move.

GAAAAAHHHHH! 

Whew!  I really needed to get that out. 

M'kay, I'm off to take some deep breaths and a Valium.

P.S  I love you guys.  Thanks for listening/reading.  :)

I Swear I Haven't Forgotten

As soon as I have a moment to catch my breath I will pay the blog award forward.  Suffice it to say that the past week and this week (so far have blown.)  I am up 2lbs thanks to all the bday/True Blood socializing I did last weekend.  I am bummed.  I had a food pity party for myself yesterday and feel super gross today but I started fresh this morning and have been eating really clean and healthy.  I have a bridal shower to attend this weekend which does involve swimming but it also involves cocktails and cocktail foods.  Let's hope I have the strength to resist too much temptation.

So, how are you?  :)

I Actually Made It To The Gym Today

I know! Shocking right? ;) I just felt so awful not making it to the gym yesterday that I was bound and determined to get there today. I almost missed tonight's Strive class due to some complications at work but I took a breath, said a payer and was on my way. It felt so good to test my muscle strength today. I mean I use my muscles everyday and sometimes more than others depending on how many deep tissue massage I have booked. But this exercise in strength was just for me... and no one else. :)

My post workout bliss was almost ruined by a voicemail I got from a co-worker basically telling me that a mistake that she made today is going to make my work day tomorrow a big ol' steaming pile of poo. I am trying not to be mad but this particular co-worker seems to constantly mess things up for everyone but herself. So in my euphoric endorphined post workout state I stood up for myself, tried to figure out a solution and am trying (very hard I might add) to intend an easier time of it tomorrow. I figure I can either condemn the day to ruin before it has started or try and be positive and hope for the best. Mostly I just hope if it does get sticky that I can hold my temper in check and not stress. So on that note I have sent out a Facebook notice to my friends indicating that a evening out is definitely in order for tomorrow... maybe even a little dancing? :)

Any fun plans this weekend?

What's New Magoo?

This week has been very difficult for me. I have had a sinus infection since Sunday which has completely sucked all of my energy and stamina right out of the room. My nutrition has been sub par with a few really healthy days thrown in. I have done no exercise this week due to the pressure in my head and my inability to breath properly. Work has been difficult needless to say. Who wants a massage by a flemmy, snotty, hacky massage therapist? Stand in line kids, no pushing. :)

So I have had a lot of time to think this week. Yes, even while I was busy shoving my mouth full of potato chips and french onion dip, gobbling my way through and entire tub of Breyers mint chip ice cream and ultimately hating myself for it the entire time. But did it stop me? NO. And that's what makes it so sickening. I am a 33 year old woman, I should know better. I should live better. So in my downtrodden state I stumbled upon this young woman's journey: Kassandra and this post.

Kassandra gets it. She lives it. And her faith is extraordinary. I look up to this young woman the same way I look up to many of you, yes you out there in bloggerland. :) So I guess what I am trying to say is, thank you. Thank you for being there when I need encouragement, a shoulder to cry on or a partner in crime. Because of all of your journeys, stumbles and start agains, I have the courage to get back on track and forgive myself, learn what I need to from this lesson and focus on the now.

Have a great weekend!

Once More, With Feeling

Howdy! How is everyone out there in blogger land? Things around here are definitely much brighter. I wish I could report that things were much lighter as well. Maybe next time. :) As you can see I took A LOT of time to think about some things, process others and tried to come to a better understanding of my situation. I had amazing support from friends and family and most surprisingly perfect strangers. I have to say, you ladies and gents out there in cyber space are super duper awesome. Thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful encouragement. It really helped to lift my spirits. :)

I hope to come up with some sort of get back on track plan. It helps that the weather has finally started to warm up so that has given me the push to get back to being active. Walks outside, classes at the gym and hopefully pretty soon some hikes in the woods. I am doing some research on anti-inflammatory diets. They are supposed to be really helpful for massage therapists. And since business is picking up (yay!) I have noticed swelling in my hands and arms. Maybe it could help on two counts.

So here's to starting over ONCE AGAIN and maybe, just maybe some success.

Not Sure What's Up

I feel so blah. I have been sleeping horribly. My hormones are all out of whack I have no drive what so ever to exercise, in fact I haven't been to the gym since last Wednesday. The only thing that I have been doing rather well on is the eating (except for Adrienne and her damn chocolate cakes!). I have been trying to eat more intuitively and having smaller portions of lots of different flavors to help satisfy my pallet. Plus my stomach hasn't been right for several weeks now which more than likely has something to do with it. Other than that I have been sucking at everything. I am not sure if I am a little depressed due to the Dr.'s office job not working out. I did kinda put all of my eggs in that one basket. Not to mention that work has been crazy slow for the past two weeks and the only people calling me for appointments at my office are gift certificate holders, so no new money coming in.

I hope to break out of this funk soon. I think it would help if we started to get warmer weather then maybe I would feel more motivated. Or maybe I just need an attitude adjustment. ;P

Back To The Drawing Board

Howdy. Gosh, where to begin...
Okay, I'll just jump right in, shall I? Monday was my first day at the Dr.'s office. The night before I barely slept because of the fear that I would over sleep and miss my first day (silly). So needless to say I was running on adrenaline that morning. I get to the office and unbeknownst to me I have a half hour massage scheduled right at 9am (when my shift starts). Cool, massage I can do. No biggie. The office manager is apologizing profusely about not calling me to let me know on Friday so that I could come in earlier and get my bearings. Again, no big deal. So the rest of the day I have about 4 massages, sweet huh? I have time to fill out paper work, eat my lunch, get the lay of the office and try to get to know my new coworkers.

Long story short, through a few pointed questions and some random overheard comments I discovered something truly crappy, that I was completely mislead as to what my monetary compensation would be. I was told at the beginning that I would be getting a salary based on a 40 hour work week with a half hour paid lunch and half hour paid administrative time. NOT SO! Come to find out I would only be paid when a massage was booked and only $16 for a one hour deep tissue and $8 for a half hour session. WTF!! Market prices are $85 and $45. Had I known that I would never have taken the job in the first place. That amount of money is almost third world. My work is worth far more than that. I am good at what I do and I can't believe that this Dr. thinks that amount of money is okay.

At the end of my shift on Monday I asked to speak to the office manager. I told her my concerns and how I felt misled and she completely understood. Since there was no room for improvement in compensation I said thanks but no thanks and have since moved on. I am back at the spa and feeling really welcomed and appreciated. I took Tuesday off to process some emotions. I felt really sad and pathetic and a little stupid and the more I explained it to my friends and family the more stupid I felt. Yesterday I just felt angry and wanted to hit something. Today I am feeling a little better.

I managed to keep my eating just so-so and I did make it to the gym on Wednesday and have plans to go to two classes on Sunday. I have to come up with a new schedule now since I am back to a on call work. On a positive note I did join the three free months of Weight Watchers on line that I won courtesy of Token Fat Girl. I am still playing around with it and will let you know how it goes and if I have any questions that you all could help me with.

Here's to another bump in the road. :)

Day 6 Food Journal

Breakfast:
2 poached eggs
2 slices of Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1.5 c sliced strawberries
1 medium banana
hot lemon water

Lunch:
1 Quaker Oats choc. chunk granola bar
PB & J on Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1 c 1% milk

Dinner:
This next big is rated R for Ridiculous!
Famous Dave's 1/2 rack of baby back ribs with brisket, potato wedges, mac n cheese, corn muffin and two glasses of sweat tea.

Total Calories:
Waaaaayyyy over what it should be but I am not sure exactly since there is no caloric info available for what I had.

Today's problem: waiting too long to eat dinner. So long in fact that your blood sugar drops and you become a desperate animal searching for the nearest food to quiet the grumble in your belly. Bad choices do get made if you wait too long in between meals, especially if you didn't eat enough earlier in the day to fuel a day of furniture shopping. Ahh well, we live and we learn. Sometimes the same lesson over and over and over again. To a healthier tomorrow!

Starting The New Year With A Bang!

With much optimism and love in my heart I went to sleep last night with visions of strength, courage and excitement of what the upcoming year will bring. When I woke up this morning I had a rockin' cold. Super. That's okay, it actually made me laugh a little. Whenever you make an intention about your life and happiness the universe will find a way to test you to make sure you really want what you say you want. So I say, "Bring It Universe. I ain't scurrd!"

So I have taken this morning off from my spa job to try to nurture and take care of my body. I am eating whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water, juice and health teas. Hopefully I can kick it quickly so that I can continue to work through the busy gift certificate redeeming season. This sister needs the cash-o-la!

Psssttt, I forgot to say that I am starting the new year at 320.5lbs. I am so excited to watch that number continue to plummet. :)

Soooo Tired.....

but I wanted to post my Turkey Trot time. This was my first ever marathon run/walk and I was totally smitten. Everyone was in such great spirits before, during and after and I really felt like I accomplished something awesome!

My official time for walking the 5k was: 55:23. Which beat my training time by almost 10 minutes! I guess it was the adrenaline and the people cheering us on. My mom and I finished together by running the last few feet and singing the Chariots of Fire theme song out loud. It ruled! Patherine was there cheering us on in her lovely blue Hello Kitty hat. Bless her!

I hope that more people will join us next year. It was loads of fun.

Must go now..... so sleepy.

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well tomorrow is the big day. They day that most of us who are dieting fear. A day of eating, couching, TV watching and eating some more. Sure, I will be doing some of that but I will also be participating in the Fredericksburg YMCA Turkey Trot! 5K's worth of butt kickin' good times.

I feel really good about where I am in my training. I have been doing over 4 miles on the Elliptical and 5K on the treadmill with some weight training and cardio classes thrown in. It will feel so good to be doing something active on the big day. I will more than likely post this weekend about my experience, which I know will be a good one, hopefully with some pics too.

I hope that all of you American readers have a safe and wonderful Turkey Day. And for those of you across the pond have an excellent day as well.... maybe sneak in a slice of pecan or pumpkin pie to toast to us Yankee's over here. ;)

Whew!

Hellllooooooo! Where the heck have I been? Not lounging on the beach in the south of France or sipping sangria in Spain.... I'm here in exciting Fredvegas. It may not be exciting but my life has at least been busy. The Turkey Trot is exactly a week from today and I am super psyched about it. I have been steadily training, except for a few days earlier this week when Auntie Flow was being a major butt munch but that aside I am doing well. I really enjoy having short term goals to strive for. After the Turkey Trot is the cruise and then after that..... I don't know but I must find something! :)

I am applying my previous goals to my daily routine and so far it seems to be working rather well. I am definitely getting more sleep now which has changed my mood dramatically. I am recording my calories and exercise on Sparkpeople. The only problem I had with it at first was when I plugged in my weight and how much I wanted to lose by a certain date it had me on a caloric intake of 1500 to 1700 daily. Well, I had a very difficult time keeping it less than 1800 and that was eating lots of fruits, veggies, lean protein and complex carbs. I spoke with my personal trainer friend and she about had a heart attack at how little they were recommending. With my height and activity level she suggested that I eat between 1800 on normal days and 2000 on active days. So that is what I am striving for. We will have to see how it goes.

The not eating after 7pm has proven to be a little more challenging than I would have liked. Sometimes I just don't get off from work and the gym until after 8pm and I don't want to mess up my metabolism by skipping dinner especially after a workout so when that happens I try to stick to light meals like salads and soups but I still notice a difference in that I don't sleep as well if I eat later. Especially since I am hitting the sack before 12am. I just went to the grocery store two days ago and spent over $100 buying nutritious foods so that I have plenty of wonderful options. Plus I have done some meal planning that will hopefully help curb my bad food choices and also keep some extra money in my pocket. :)

Still searching for an artistic outlet. I am looking on line and in the paper to see if something sticks out. I love photography but don't have a decent camera. I love to bake but that would kind of defeat the purpose of this blog. I would love to hear any suggestions of what I could do that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. My friends and I have a few plans to visit some of the amazing art galleries DC has to offer and I am sure I will find some inspiration there. I have been feeling a pull towards pottery but seem to be having difficulties locating a class in the winter time. Ahh, well.... no biggie. :)

I hope that everyone is doing well and that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Yes I Can!

If an African American male can run a history making campaign for presidency and WIN, then I should be able to get a handle on this healthy lifestyle change I am trying to implement. I have had set back after set back, all of which are self induced btw and yet I am still here and I still refuse to give up.

I got on the scale last night at the gym before my Bodyjam class and was rather disheartened to see 321.2. That is a 6 pound gain over the past two months. While I stared down at the number being reflected back to me I made a promise to myself, I will not take this to heart. I have been having stop and start female issues for about 3 weeks now and that may have something to do with it. The day before I weighed I walked 5K as training for the Turkey Trot. Plus, I can see on my body where I have lost some inches. Heck, since I have been doing weight lifting classes it could be a muscle gain but a fat loss. I just don't know.

I do know that my eating patterns are my downfall. I will have three really great days and then a few social engagements later and I am right back where I started. So I think I am just going to have to suck it up and try the calorie tracking and food journaling on Spark People. If there is one thing that President Elect Obama has shown me it's that you can't ever give up and as my friend Adrienne says, "You gotta have a dream to make a dream come true." My dream is to be the best Olivia I can be and right now I am pretty good but I know that a better me is just around the corner. :)

I work best on a schedule but with my line of work I need to work around the clients availability. But I still control the quality of my life. I have been thinking about goals that I can work on to help keep me on a schedule and here are some of them:

• go to bed by 11:30 every night
• get up by 8am every morning ( Sundays are freebies)
• when working, exercise in the evenings
• when off, exercise in the mornings
• pack lunches and dinners (eating out is for social occasions)
• do not eat meals after 7pm (only post workout snacks)
• log calories and food journal before bed
• find and artistic outlet to replace emotional eating

I am sure I will come up with many more things to cover but one day at a time. This weekend is full of clients, laundry and the Green Festival on Sunday which I am super excited about! I look forward to the inspiration that I will find there. :)

Hello Campers!

You know, when I started this blog I had grand ideas about what I would do on it, the challenges I would face and the many, many, many posts I would write. Somehow the frequency in which I post has gone from several times a week to barely one every two weeks. I am going to try to rectify that starting now. Can't make any promises with the holidays coming up and the cruise looming ever closer but I will make a massive effort. So without further ado I give you an update on my life. :)

For starters I have been really sick the past 4 0r 5 days. It's that darn cold that everyone seems to be passing around to each other and I believe I got mine from my roommate. Thanks roomie! ;) So needless to say I haven't worked out since my boot camp session and am now just finally able to breath. The boot camp was pretty awesome. It was hard..... but awesome and I felt really good afterwards. I would love to do it again but will have to wait to see how the money situation goes. I do belong to a gym which I pay a pretty substantial amount for and can't really justify spending grocery money on another workout program when I can do something similar at the gym. Even though I really like working out with my homegirl, April. I guess we will just have to continue with the trades instead. :)

Well, this is my weigh in week. I am a little nervous since I haven't been able to work out in a while but I feel as if my food portions have been way better since I have been sick. The only way to know where I am is to get on that scale. SO I AM GOING TO DO IT! It has been really nice concentrating on my workouts and portions instead of "weight loss". It has taken the crazy, obsessive nature of weight loss out the equation. I am still getting compliments from people saying that I am "melting", especially on my back and bootie. So that is really nice to hear. And sometimes, on really good days, I can see it too.

I have been taking a fantastic daily vitamin that I got from the Vitamin Shoppe. It rocks the house! It's easier for your body to absorb since it comes from whole foods so you don't pee it all out just what your body doesn't use. So I credit that a lot to the fact that I am not eating as much in the portion way. My body is getting good nutrients from this vitamin so I don't crave as much either. It's awesome.

I have to step up my training for the Turkey Trot. The sickness has definitely put me behind schedule so this week it's about getting back on my workout track, eating health restoring foods and generally getting my health back in balance to survive the coming holiday season.

Oh, and this weeks healthy habit challenge is to get more fiber into your diet. I still plan on doing a liver detox but need to wait until this cold is completely out of my system since detoxing can sometimes cause you to get sick in the beginning stages. Once I am on that I will be eating a predominately vegetarian diet so that will ensure that I am getting plenty of fiber but until then up the fiber road I go!

Be extraordinary!

Baby Steps

Guten Tag!
I hope all of you out in blog land are kicking butt and taking names! :) I thought it would be a good time to update since it is the start of another week in Lyn's Habit A Week Challenge. This week it's eat a veggie or for those of us who already eat veggies it's about fitting at least one more per meal in there. I am actually really excited about this week's challenge. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love winter squashes, the holidays, the colors and the crisp touch to the air. In fact I find that I become more active in the colder months since it is usually hotter than seven hells here in ole Virginny during the summer months. I wont lie that I also enjoy lots of juicy and warming red wines this time of year. I have recently fallen in love with an Australian Shiraz that I have been trying to portion out discriminately but some nights are not as disciplined as others.

I have started my training for the Turkey Trot but I know I definitely need to up the intensity or I will be hurting on Thanksgiving Day! I am still doing my classes at the gym but am trying to train before that. Like today I went to a beautiful local park to walk what I hoped would be two miles but since the gnats were down right lynching me I had to stop at one. :( It's cool, treadmill here I come!

I am really excited about this weekend. It's the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival! I am a very, very lucky girl for getting to see men in kilts on 3 different weekends in the last two months. *sigh* Plus I am getting a gorgeous desk for my massage office on Sunday. I can't wait to have my office reflect my business ethics and beliefs. I feel I will come across more professional if I have an actual place for clients to sit and fill out paperwork. :)

I feel as if I am in the most positive mind frame I have been in since starting this blog. I have been doing a lot of hard work in the mental department. Trying to get things to click and change up there so that those same changes will be reflected in my healthy and fit body. Next week will be my weigh in week. Since going to once a month I have been focusing more on having fun and doing fun activities to lose weight instead of the actual numbers. I have to be honest that I am starting to see small changes in my body here and there but my biggest change has been my attitude. Tomorrow my BFF and I are doing a boot camp style workout with our trainer friend. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous but I am also really excited because I want to see just what I am made of. :D

Until next time..... Be Happy!

As Time Goes By.....

HELLO!!!
Good lord where did the week go?! Business has picked up thank goodness and so has my social life. I went to an amazing wedding on Sunday and had all sorts of get togethers 3 days prior. My eating has been going so so but with this weekends celebration I did partake of waaaay too much vino. But my oh my was it delicious! I love going to weddings. It is always a joyous and fun occasion, at least the ones I have been to. :)

Last Thursday I went to a supplement seminar at the Vitamin Shoppe hosted by Dave Formen The Herbal Pharmacist. It was fascinating! He talked about his four pillars of health: diet, exercise, spirituality and supplementation. He definitely subscribes to some of the same beliefs that I hold on whole foods and spirituality. On and off for the past several weeks I have been waking up between 3 and 4am, usually hot and uncomfortable. Well guess what? According to Chinese Medical Theory that is your liver. It is where your body stores the energy of stress and it means that I need to do a liver detox. In fact I have decided to do a fall detox anyway. Something gentle that lasts about 4 weeks and that I can still eat and exercise on. I will just have to stick more to a vegetarian diet to make sure I am getting plenty of fiber.

I started training for the Turkey Trot yesterday. I had a fantastic workout! I plan on walking again tonight and then taking a Strive class at the gym. This fits in perfectly with Lyn's week two challenge! Which is to move more, well ladies I am definitely moving more! :)

Well, I am off to clean and organize and meet up with my homegirl Adrienne for some sushi. YUM!

Hope you are all having a magnificent week!

Much Needed Time To Think

Hello All! First I would like to say a very heart felt THANK YOU to everyone for their incredible support. Your faith and kind words keep me from being too hard on myself. So again, thank you.

I also want to put out there that I never gave up. :) Even though I felt really frustrated, disgusted and angry, I never gave up. I had some much needed time to think and re-evaluate how I was approaching my weight loss. So here are some changes I and others have come up with:

1. I will only weigh myself once a month. My dear friend April, who is an amazing personal trainer, suggested this and I think I will follow it.
2. I am researching someone to talk to about my issues, a professional. My dearest and bestest friend Elisa suggested that maybe I should try to fix my food blocks upstairs before I start blaming my body.
3. For the time being I will suspend recording what I eat on here. It stresses me more than anything else because I fear the judgement.
4. I have decided to participate in Lyn's Healthy Habit a Week Challenge.
5. I will focus more, for the time being, on my workouts than being on a "diet."

The first week of Lyn's Challenge is to drink more water. That is something I can definitely do. :) So there you have it. One baby step at a time.