Progress!!!

Woo Hoo! I was hoping to do better and I did! Hooray! EVERY area was an improvement! Somehow, saying no to 2nds and finding a better choice for a snack made a big difference! I have not been out walking/running since my last post that says I did - so this is all from smarter choices. Now, just think where I could be if I got off of my back side!!!! Here's the new info: 191.6 lbs, all measurements dropped at least 1": bust - 40, waist - 35, hip - 48, thigh - 26 1/2, calf - 15 3/4, and my arm is 12! So - measurements are encouraging, but my weight is still not back to even what it was when I realized I had to take action. But...that is what August is for!! :)

Food, Glorious Food!

Well, I have been pretty busy with a new work schedule, weekend company and just trying to get all those summertime chores done. Needless to say, I have dropped off on my running. (As if it got to that just yet!) HOWEVER, there are some things I still can control no matter how busy I am. Food is one of them. And it is a big one! I feel good about things despite losing the exercise time. I am working hard to not waste time around the house and I am trying to make the calories count! The only real struggle I have is my coffee. It is really more like cream and sugar with some coffee in it. Scary really. I'm pretty sure it is just a habit mixed with a sugar addiction...but I can't break it! The other is Saturdays. I work next to a fabulous chinese restaurant! I love their food! My sense of entitlement keeps kicking in when I decide what to eat for lunch. I know I can break this one, but I need to get my self-discipline in gear! Looking forward to a new weigh-in, measure-in this weekend. I think it is time to see where I'm at...and where I need to be headed!

Accountability

So thankful to have an accountability partner!! Admittedly, last night we had more walk than run time in, but we had a lot to catch up on! Also, I feel good about it because we walk faster than most people do. (about a speed 3 on the treadmill) Not sure how far we went because we go all through the neighborhood but we were gone close to an hour. I am stiff today, but better than before. The balls on my left foot seem tender. Although as I mess with them right now they are better than when I first got up. It doesn't help just to have Sarah to go do this with, but also during our outings we can push each other to make it just a little further. I think we had some distances that were further than our last time - which surprised me. It was much cooler and it was at night. The last time was still early enough for warmth. Hopefully, we are able to do this enough to create a habit! Katie talked about hating running but loving the way she felt after a good run enough to keep doing it. I was a little worried about that, but strangely, I think I am liking it more than not. I feel like it is already working on those inches, but I want to remain realistic! Rob seems to think it is! More than that right now, I feel I have more energy overall. That is worth it on it's own!

So far...

Well, I was going to call Sarah yesterday to join me but I knew I was short on time...While Rob made burgers on the grill I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill. The central air was on, but I still managed to work up a good sweat! I did a warm up, then a full run, then up hill rapid walk - all to the very inspiring Steven Curtis Chapman! It was nice to wash my face, feel my legs tighter and although a bit winded, feel more energetic - and then have a burger and an ice cold beer! I was not as sore this morning as I was the morning after the first outing! Maybe I need to work harder? It felt like a good work out to me though! We'll see what tomorrow brings! Sarah, are you free???

Motivating...or Crippling

Well, you can see from the change in numbers from when I started all of this to when I am starting now in July that things were not improving! They were getting worse! I had lost all motivation. I was emotionally eating and had relatively no accountability. So, I got my friend Sarah on board with me to do the training Katie laid out for me. Last night we did our version of the schedule. Walk a lot/run a little. We were good for each other and learned a lot already. Sports bra is a must! How do you do this without a water bottle? And if you bring one, how do you carry it?? We also realized we like doing the running part best when nobody can see us! We were gone about an hour overall. When I got home, I felt really good. I had energy and did not feel too sore. However, while lying in bed in the middle of the night, my knees felt like I had fallen on the pavement and skinned them up. More of that burning sensation than throbbing pain. Strange. I am stiff this morning, in my knees and my lower back. Not surprised. Bounce around this much weight on your bones, and they would be aching and stiff too! I am not defeated. I am just more motivated seeing how very much I need to lose this weight.

New Month, New Approach...

As mentioned in the explanation of this site - trying a new approach to getting healthy. I need accountability and this blog was a great way to do it. (I hope!) Katie says I should journal my journey to help me see the improving I will do that may not be noticeable if I don't have something to look back on. She advised me to be sure I did measurements as those will change first; so - I will be updating those today! It is easier to start things on a Monday, but since yesterday was the 4th of July and we had a great cook-out fun night...it was not a good "being good" start day for me! Today is supposed to be a cross-training day, but I am going to do my 20 minute walk/jog like I should have done yesterday. Will keep you posted on how that goes. Since walking around the house is creaky and painful - I can't imagine what is ahead!

The First Check In.....

Does that sound ominous?? It sure feels that way! After being sick with a cold all week and having about zero interest in adding exercise to this program, I was pretty sure I would see no real progress. I hopped on the scale yesterday morning and was excited that I lost 1 1/2 lbs!!! So, I did what every good dieter does - I treated myself! (oops..) It was only a Subway sub, but it was not a 6" and it was not before 7pm....So, this morning. Still 187. But, it is the inch loss program and for a week that I was far from diligent, I did lose one inch...on my calf!! Didn't anyone notice??? :) Anyway, I am feeling better now and my body better have enjoyed it's little vacation because it's game time! I'm Going To Do It!!

Trying to get me!!

Okay.....someone is trying to get me! I am losing steam today as I have a sneezy, drippy, sore throat thing going on!! I will not be shaken though! I may not be up to the treadmill, but I at least know I'm giving my body what it needs. I was impressed to read that while using cinch I do not want to be taking any additional vitamins. I get everything I need in this product, while still having the benefit of a weight loss supplement! OOPS! I should say "inch" loss! See, cinch has leucine in it to help keep the muscle (which weighs more than fat) but you lose inches!! (and weight ultimately! but not at the expense of your muscle mass). Off to baby my cold and drink a chocolate cinch!!! (oh...hope to have picture in tomorrow! no laughing!!)

The Beginning

Well, welcome to my motivation accountability blog! I am a notorious procrastinator. I am daring to take on my own worst enemy - myself! I am at the beginning of a new business venture with Shaklee products and have decided to invite others along on my journey. The part I would really like to highlight here is my own testing ground of Shaklee's "inch" loss support product called the CINCH program. I have officially taken all my weight and measurement information down and will share with you here and check in at least once a week with the update of where I am at. Of course, I will be relying on God, the support of my amazing husband, and the encouragement of my family and friends BUT - I also want to see if CINCH can make the difference in my success. I have tried to lose weight in the past and not really been successful. All of these other ingredients have been here before, so I figured I already had my "constant" in my experiment. Now, I will add the variable!

I began this program only yesterday but I am already pretty impressed. I was bad. I did not supplement two of my meals. I only did one. Why? Because I was not hungry enough at 2pm to have another meal or meal replacement of any kind. I had the CINCH vanilla shake for breakfast. (Have decided colder is better and when they say "Shake like you mean it" - they mean it! Much better if you shake it/stir it completely.) It was good. Not a McDonald's shake, but it was good. More importantly to me, it filled me up. I was pleasantly surprised that I stayed satisfied from 7am until 1pm. I actually was still not hungry, but our tradition is to get donuts after church. I did not get one, but feeling left out, I chose to have a CINCH snack bar. Seeing all of the chocolate on Kendra's donut, I decided to choose the "'chocolate decadence" for a treat. Again - pleasantly surprised! Tasted good! I even teased Rob that my donut was lasting longer than his!

Kept busy around the house, and before I knew it, it was time to have a tasty stir fry dinner that Rob made on the grill! Chicken and veggies with some rice. I realized I ate more than I needed to. I honestly could have stopped about half way through, so I guess that is where my own self-discipline needs to kick in. The cool part is - it seems there is only me to get out of the way. I think CINCH may be the help I needed, because it was something other than hunger making me clean my plate!.....Yep! I'm Going To Do It!