Healthy living updates…
Ahhh – it just wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t talk about the food I eat and the work outs I do…
This has been such a long and winding path for me. I am not going to go through it all with you – as I know that most of you have already read it (and heard me agonize over it) a bazillion times over. I will give a brief synopsis though, for any new readers I may have… If you really want an in-depth look, you can read the links in my siggy.
In March of 2012, I had just returned from our first girls Disney trip… I was miserable that entire trip – none of my clothes fit me, and I could barely walk the necessary steps needed to tackle the parks. I knew something needed to change, and I gave it my all for several months – eventually giving up and gaining back more than I had lost.
It wasn’t until Spring of 2013, right after I’d had my gallbladder removed, and my recovery was terrible. I knew this was solely due to my lethargic lifestyle, and my terrible diet. Once again, in my life, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired… and this time was different. I concentrated on one change at a time, working hard – though never over working myself… Slowing giving up things in my life that were bad for me, and eventually evolving into a Paleo (and occasionally dipping into Primal) lifestyle… It felt good. I felt good. Suddenly – all of my ailments, things I just assumed were due to age, were just gone. And my health was the best it had ever been – including when I was in my teens and 20’s! It was shocking! Also, in the fall of 2013, I started my Olympic weight lifting – which I still do to this day.
Last year… Life got the best of me. Everything I had worked so hard for just wasn’t as important as it once was. Suddenly, I found myself in the midst of a kitchen remodel… My oldest child was graduating and leaving home for 10 weeks abroad… My youngest child was starting her Senior year of high school… And many other things were going on – most of which are too personal to share here. What this resulted in is me taking a back seat to life… And even though I continued to “try” – the oomph wasn’t there… My heart wasn’t in it… And I was tired. And I felt like a failure – as all of the size I had lost came creeping back. Plain and simple, I was lost.
Finally – May 2017 – The mirror and I had a “come to Jesus moment”… Oh yah – we had it out. Like, it was brutal. And I won.
I told myself that I just needed to start over… I had to stop looking at how far I had come – which resulted in me looking at how far I had slid. Instead – I ignored the path I had once followed and just started from where I was. I committed to changing one thing at a time… No cheating myself… Again – I tend to be a perfectionist, an “all or nothing” type person – sometimes I am chomping so hard at the bitt, I just have to breathe and slow myself down – this is often harder than the actual task at hand. One thing at a time – not as slowly as I had done it before – but still, just one change every few days… And here I am, 3 months later –
very close to my smallest size. Had you asked me, 4 months ago, I never would have imagined that I could start this journey again. I had almost, almost given up. For any of you who know me – you know that this is not me. I don’t give up.
So, any of you who followed my journey before – you know that I never officially made it to my goal. I was very close – but just didn’t get there. This time… Well – as I said above, I don’t give up.
September 10, 2017
I thought I would do a quick little healthy living update...
I haven't changed my routine at all over the last month... I am still doing 30DS 2-3x weekly, I am still heavy lifting 2x weekly, and usually on my Target days - I throw in a WATP/Abs session, just because I get so many steps in while I am working there. I try to deliberately go for a walk at some point on the weekends, and I also take one day off on the weekend as a rest day - though my walks really wouldn't be considered heavy cardio at all - just an enjoyment thing.
Food - which is where I struggled all of last year - is still going very well. Labor Day weekend was a bit tough for me, as we spent it traveling around and staying at various places + camping. I didn't have a plan, as I normally do, and I did end up having 2 non-compliant meals over the course of that weekend... While they were non-compliant, I still did the best I could within those meals. I was a bit nervous coming back home and going back to my Paleo eating, as the last time something similar to this happened, it spiraled me out of control... So far, so good and I have resumed my 100% compliance without an issue.
I continue to go down in size, though my weight is VERY slow to come off these days - as it seems this is my pattern once I get to this bracket... It's just incredibly slow, which is sometimes very disheartening to me. I am trying hard not to focus on that and just continue to do what I know is best for me.
A couple of weeks ago, I went and had lunch with Josh at work - as it so happened - there was a large table of his co-workers sitting near us in the cafeteria... Last week, a few of them asked which of his daughters came to see him recently... Bahahaha... If that didn't give me an ego boost!
Now that some cooler temps have settled in, I've had to dig out my jeans... It was a nice surprise to try them all on, and they all fit comfortably. These are all jr. size 9/10 - and all last season, I was busting out of them - I honestly should have not worn them then, but I refused to buy new bigger sizes - and I am glad I persevered. I am a little worried that some may become too big for me, but for the moment, they are perfect. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
I am looking forward to wearing my fall wardrobe, which includes many colors of vests and lots of scarves... I purchased a black vest 2 years ago from Old Navy, and I loved it so much, that I purchased all of the other available colors last year... I love these vests because they aren't bulky under jackets in the winter time.
I also have a few new jackets I can wear this season, and during the coming winter... I am pretty excited about them actually... 2 of them were purchased 2 years ago, at the end of that season and I never had the opportunity to wear them while they fit... Now they fit.
I hate winter - I detest winter - and the only thing that makes it somewhat bearable is a cute and warm winter jacket.
Yet, I hate layering, because I cannot stand all of the bulk inside a jacket... Ahhhh... The woes of a cold climate.
Anyways... Just one picture - from yesterday...
D~
Luv ya!
