Counting Mini Successes

So, I have been working really hard to live a healthy life! In the past, I have given up when I have not seen progress on the scale. I am always frustrated and discouraged when I work my behind off and don't see any results. This time, I am determined to count mini success. So as of today, this is my list of mini successes:

1. I have increased the amount of weight I can lift.
2. I don't have to unbutton my pants while sitting.
3. I can do at least 5 burpees.
4. I resisted eating a slice of pizza.
5. I am drinking at least 3 bottles of water each day.

For me, this means a whole lot more than the number I see on the scale. I am fed up with giving up!!!! If I continue on this path, everything will fall into place but I am celebrating each little success towards a healthier life.

I Don't Want to Lose Weight

I came to the realization today that I don't want to lose weight. You may be thinking "Wait a minute...isn't this a weight loss blog?!" The answer is yes and no! I have been on several diets in the past. I have had some success and some failures. When I think about my most successful journey, my focus was on improving my life and not dropping the pounds. This time is no different! I have embarked upon this journey as a necessity to improvement of life! My mom would have been 50 this year if she hadn't passed away in 2009. She was 45 at her untimely death and her mother, my grandmother was also 45! The odds are not in my favor! If I want to have a long, prosperous life, I need to  make a change. While I may be fit for my weight, I am still in the danger zone and I am not satisfied with what I see on the outside. For this, I don't want to lose weight. I want to get healthy. I want to gain confidence. I want to be happy. And with that, my journey will continue...

A Little Update

It has been a long time since I blogged so I am checking in! The most important thing when trying to start living a healthy lifestyle is to understand that it is a lifestyle change. Many people begin the journey with the sole purpose of losing weight; however, losing weight should be the end result, not the reason for the journey. Like most people, I stress over the number on the scale! If the scale isn't going in the right direction, I get frustrated and am ready to throw in the towel. Because of this, I continuously fall off the wagon and never am able to drop the pounds.

One of the hardest things for me has been trying to eat clean! I have always been a stress eater and for the past few years, I have had my share of stress-related events! I have been logging my food for the past few weeks and notice that some days I am eating within my calorie range and other days I am not. What can I say, I LOVE food. However, I must say that I am eating alright and have been altering my favorite foods to make them a little healthier.

This time around, I feel more determined than ever. I am not stressing over the scale and I am not giving up. So far, I have done most of what I feel needs to be done to get down to a healthy weight. My clothes are fitting and some inches are dropping so I figure I am going in the right direction. I have been working out about 4-5 times each week! I haven't worked out to my full potential yet but I just got a new pair of sneakers so my feet don't hurt when I push myself (yeah...another excuse).

So, what's holding you back? What's impeding your progress?

New Personal Best

So, I did 65 push-ups last night!!! Who knew I had it in me? Yes, they were modified push-ups this time but I can still feel myself getting stronger each day and it feels great!

Ouch!

So, on Tuesday I did more strength training and felt pretty good. I can feel myself getting stronger and I am definitely doing better with my eating. I also ran a little bit with a 2% incline...can you believe that? With that said, the scale hasn't gone down since the first week. This happens every time I commit myself...I get frustrated and give up. Luckily, my hubby is taking the journey with me and has been very supportive. I am still working towards a healthier me and now I am a Team Beachbody Coach...more on that later.

Below is my workout from Tuesday:

Monday...Beginning a 21 Day Challenge

So, I am starting a 21-day challenge and am dedicating a little bit more to becoming health and fit! Today was Zumba with my ladies. After Zumba, we did a strength training workout. I downloaded the Multi Reps app for my Kindle Fire and used it to keep up with the basic workout. I a still using my Chameleon Filofax, but the app keeps up with the reps and sets. Because I don't have a lot of space in my boxes on my tracker, I can keep specifics on the app.

My Full Workout:

Zumba (45 minutes)

45 Pushups 

108 Crunches 

51 Squats 

25 Chest Presses 

25 Bicep Curls 

Week 1 Progress - Heading in the Right Direction

I am totally stoked about the success during week 1. I am down 4 pounds and 5 inches total!!! I really think that the tracking has been key this week as I have started in the right direction. Why does tracking work? It holds you accountable. When I keep track, I am more conscientious of what is going in my body and it motivates me to work out when I eat terribly. This journey is even more special because my hubby is doing this with me. He has lost 8 pounds so far and I am so proud of him!!! Even though I am still struggling with my eating, I am still doing much better. Below are a few pics from my food tracker:

Check back frequently as I continue to share bits and pieces of My Life in Blog.