Day by Day..by day..by day..

SO most of you know I put myself up to a challenge of saying NO to pop/soda/coke for my 21 Day break a Habit Challenge.., and as I sit here sipping my Diet Coke - HAHA , JUST KIDDING!
It has been a CHALLENGE!!! I seriously think I sike myself out, and worry about how hard its going to be.., and I've had a few slip ups, but over all I have MADE IT! Giving up something that has become a comfort to you for years and years.., that extra 'sugar' boost of energy to help you get thru that day., it can be VERY hard to give up.
But my pants are already feeling looser, my water intake is up so I'm more hydrated then normal - and I can tell a difference just in the mere 2 weeks I've been doing this.
I didn't weigh myself this week - I made a promise to myself that I will only do that every 2 weeks so I don't get discouraged, and I keep my goals more realistic. So no weigh in today ladies!
I kept busy this weekend, and I didn't keep a close eye on what I was eating - I indulged.., a bit. I had ribs, corn on the cob, salad, pasta salad, some potato chips.., a few cookies and peanut butter brownies, but I kept moving.., I walked, I ran I worked out, I worked in the yard, I helped the kids with things and over all I feel pretty good. I might not of taken a few steps forward, but I didn't take a few steps back either, and that's what is important!!!

My goals for this week:
   - Keep off the pop!
  - Drink 90 oz of water per day!
  - Organize my laundry baskets that I'm pretty sure threw up all over my bedroom
 - Continue eating meals at HOME and not eating out
 -Get as much cardio work out in as possible - walking, working in the yard, playing with the kids..,
  make the cardio FUN!

Staying motivated

It's been 1 week since I decided I was going to break my 'pop' habit (again) and quite the 'coke' once and for all..,and let me tell you something, it's not been easy. I don't know if it's all in my head me telling myself I'm NOT allowed to have something , or if it's really how addicted I've become to it AGAIN. All I know is 2 days I 'cheated' in some fashion and I'm not proud of it. I mean it's ONE thing I am trying to conquer, just ONE thing and it's proven to be a challenge.
BUT I do know it's paid off. I have watched what I ate (but not strictly) and I've worked out (again, not strictly) and I'm DOWN in the SCALE.

It's been a few weeks since I weighed myself, but last post I was at 240.5, now I'm at 234.7!! Down 5.8 lbs, which isn't a huge amount but considering I am very happy with it. 

I've decided that I will weigh & measure myself every 2 weeks and I have a goal of losing 35 lbs by the end of the summer. I can't remember the last time I was under 200 (probably about 8 yrs ago or so), and THAT is my goal right now.

It's very hard to stay motivated sometimes; It's easy to give up, or think your never going to get there and eat that ice cream, or snack on those chips when you feel the benefit of it RIGHT NOW, it's hard to resist it and choice an apple instead and wait and wait to see the results..,

But I've printed this and put this on my frig and pantry..., 

a bit extreme maybe, but it's TRUE.., you can't  continue to eat unhealthy foods, (AND DRINKS) and expect results. You have to CHANGE YOUR THINKING AND YOUR HABITS

So I am also going to start posting pictures every 2 weeks just to keep myself in check. Instead of saying I don't have anyone to take my picture, lol, I am using the mirror at work so they aren't the best but it's a picture.

Goals for this week:
-Drink 84 oz of water per day

- STAY AWAY FROM POP. PERIOD.

-Eat 3 meals and 2 HEALTHY snacks

- Walk at least 4 miles a day

21 Day Break a Habit Challenge

So I have this problem - When I decide I am going to do something, I go all out, like 110%. I'm like an extremist in every form, except the form that KEEPS AT IT. When I decide to go on a 'diet' I empty my house of everything unhealthy, and fill the frig up with healthy foods, I buy the vitamins, the supplements, the books, the videos. But the problem is, after a few weeks when I'm tired of it, and I just can't live up to the perfection I give up. Instead of slowly taking it one step at a time, I throw myself in Biggest Loser style. Problem is, I'm not on a ranch with nutritionalist , personal trainers, and an open schedule.  I'm a full-time working Mama with 3 kids, a house and a dog and a husband who is only home 2x a month. So instead of jumping in head first, I've decided to put one leg at a time..,

So a few of my friends and I have decided we are going to do some 21 day challenges for the rest of the year, to break these 'bad habits'  one at a time, so we can stick with it. The first challenge is POP (i.e, soda,coke, whatever you call it). When I first started my new lifestyle change Jan. 10th, I gave up POP in it's entirety cold turkey; I lost 16 lbs in the first 2 weeks, and I attribute the bulk of that to giving up the pop. But I got a virus, drank some sprite to calm my belly, and have been sucked back in by this horrid beast {which is more addicting  then anything I've ever tried to give up} AGAIN. And slowly but surely I've skipped a work out here and there, grabbed Mickey D's instead of something else, and gained nearly 10 lbs back that I had lost.
So I'm trying this approach - slow and steady wins the race.  I am going to break one habit at a time, until they are all broken; I don't know how long it's going to take, but I'm going to do it. I need to do it for ME and for my kids - It's not OK just to walk around life half participating in it. 

I am not weighing in today, since last week I used to to start the weening of my first bad habit, so I will weigh in next Monday. I am determined that in these 21 days I WILL break this habit, and you can follow me here to track my progress:  http://21habit.com/goals/show 

This post is sponsored by Dole and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”

Mamavation Monday - May 7th

So I was a bit off this weekend with my weight loss journey. I won an awesome trip to a B&B in Virginia Inn at Mount Vernon - it was SOO relaxing and QUIET. My husband as many of you know, is a Over the Road Truck Driver; which means he is only home about every 2 weeks or so (if were lucky) so a few days away together ALONE without the kids is a miracle in itself. We really enjoyed the QUIET (we didn't even have a T.V. imagine that! Nor cell service -though I was able to check in a bit thru the wifi service they provided). We ate at local establishments, took hikes in the mountains (warning: chiggers are EVERYWHERE in Virginia or so it seems where we were! Some even came home with us!), we went to the movies TWICE, and we just enjoyed each others company. It was great to not stress or worry about things and just be us.
We enjoyed the peace and quiet and the wonderful ORGANIC non processed food. Now this is one thing I am very jealous about (which is obviously not the lack of cell service) is that this little town in Virginia has that most Ohio towns don't - tons and TONS of farmer's markets. I mean every where I looked there were signs to come buy their fresh fruits, veggies and MEAT! Free range chickens, non processed sausage and bacon. I mean it was FANTABULOUS! 
This has actually motivated me to search out the few Farmer's Markets that we DO have near my town and hit them up this weekend. I think that my kids will enjoy helping and   I know I would much rather support our local farming community versus the big stores.






















This post is sponsored by Dole and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”at the bottom of your post."