Looking Forward and Setting New Goals

As I sit down to write this I can see how far I've come and yet the next part of this journey may prove to be even more challenging. I come to you today to share my success and my failures. On March 6, 2014 I started Isagenix. Around the same time I joined what's called the IsaBody Challenge. This is a 16 week challenge to inspire achieving your goals and a chance to win prizes. I completed this challenge as of last night. In four months, I lost 35 lbs and a total of 23 inches. I planned on adding exercise, but never did quite manage it. So, this release of weight was done without adding fitness.

I dutifully had my husband take my "after" pictures and naturally needed to compare them to the before pictures from March. I'm nervous to post these because there's so much of me in them, but I'm the queen of the over-share so why stop now?

Before and After Photos from March 2014 and June 2014

There you have it. My successes! I am quite proud of myself for sticking it out, but this next leg of the journey I want to make even more changes. Lately, I've done a lot of self-reflecting and I have more willpower and determination that I ever imagined. However, I can see where I really need to put in some serious effort to make lasting changes. My issues with food are far from over. I'm sure my weight loss would have been even more astounding had I managed to better deal with my emotional eating.

I started a new IsaBody Challenge last night. This time I am focusing more on energy and performance than weight loss. Obviously, my ultimate goal is still weight loss, but I need to change my overall focus. This challenge will run until October 18, 2014 and over the next four months I plan to work on my emotional eating as well as getting fit. I've already started a fitness class that I will be doing twice a week for 11 weeks (possibly longer). As for the emotional eating I will be working on awareness and finding new ways to work with my emotions. It took years to develop my emotional eating and it's going to take time to replace bad habits with good ones. I believe support, awareness, and creating a new reward system will be the keys to success in this next part of my journey.

The biggest help to achieving any goal is having a great support system! I'd love to hear about your weight loss journey or struggles with emotional eating. Feel free to contact me anytime! 

Writing Challenge Day 8

Today marks my 3rd day on Isagenix. No headache today! I'm doing fairly well without the coffee. I did pass out for 45 min this afternoon, but who doesn't enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon nap? It's only been three days, but I'm sticking to it surprisingly. The added incentive of not wanting to waste my money must be helping. That's not to say I'm not tempted all day long, because I am. The hardest moment today was while talking on the phone. I guess I'm a fridge scrounger while talking on the phone. I opened the fridge door several times during my phone call. Thankfully I was able to resist. I think evenings will continue to be a challenge until my body gets used to eating less.

I joined the IsaBody Challenge today. It's runs for 16 weeks so my end date will be June 28, 2014. I decided I'm not going to post my before pictures until there's some progress pictures to compare to. I will, however, admit that when I started Isagenix on March 6th I weighed 266.9 lbs. A little less than my heaviest which was at the 270 lbs mark the last time I weighed myself and it's been a while. Right now my goals are simple:

• Stick to the program for one month
• Gain some much needed energy
• Start working out in a couple of weeks
• Complete the 16 week challenge

As for any ultimate goals? I'm not ready to talk about those yet. I want to be able to say that this is working before I try to give myself some final goal that seems impossible.

Until tomorrow my faithful readers! This gal is headed to bed shortly.

Writing Challenge - Day 5

And I'm back.

So, this writing daily thing is a challenge for sure. A close friend of mine thought it would be too much. Well, guess what LLG? You were right! Ha! Look I admitted it for the world to see. That's not to say she isn't encouraging. Quite the opposite. She's the one who keeps telling me to get off my butt and just write....anything.

So, I'm gonna keep trying. I think it's good practice to get me back in the writing habit. Plus, achieving goals boosts confidence. And I'm totally human and completely imperfect so if I forgot one day I'll try my best to make up for it.

See, writing really helps. This morning was just the pits! And now I feel worlds better. I'm still sick and at work, but I'm in a better place emotionally.

Here's hoping you all have a better than an hour ago day!

Goal Completed!

Good evening. It's been a few days since my last post and I'm happy to say that I did workout. I've been so tired the last few days I just didn't get a chance to write. Of course, now that I'm finally ready to post I have SO much to share with you. 

Thursday's workout: 

Reverse Lunge: 5 sets of 40 lbs x 5 reps

Push-up: 5 sets x 5 reps

NOTE: I was able to complete all of the sets doing REAL push-ups, not the knee push-ups! This is a HUGE accomplishment for me!!!!!

Inverted Row: 5 sets of 5 reps

Side Plank: 1 set x 16 seconds/side

1 set x 20 seconds/side

1 set x 15 seconds/side

NOTE: I had a hard time with side planks this time...for some reason it's easy on my left arm and really hard on my right arm. 

Tonight's workout:

Barbell Squat: 5 sets of 55 lbs x 5 reps

Weighted Bench Dips: 5 sets of 5 reps

Bent-over Barbell Row: 5 sets of 55 lbs x 5 reps

Do you know what this means? I HAVE COMPLETED PHASE 1! I've worked out 3 days per week for 4 weeks! I'm so proud of myself for sticking to it! I've even inspired my husband to start working out again this week. 

Here is my progress after 4 weeks. I gained a pound, but I'm not worried. I've built a lot of muscle.  There isn't a drastic change in my body but there are a lot of subtle changes I've never seen before. 

Next week I'll start another program and focus more on my nutrition. It's after midnight and I'm extremely tired. I think I had more to say but it's hiding behind my eyelids. 

Have a great Sunday!