SO FUNNY

I tweeted this video but it is so funny I just had to post it here too!!

Busy, busy today!! Doing pilates later, pushing my self imposed limitations!! And of course cardio!! I also have a TON of things to do around here, so I must post this and call it a blogging day!! I'll be back tomorrow with an update!!

Overcoming

Know your limits...but never stop trying to exceed them.

- Anonymous

"Many of us use our "limitations" as a stop sign for reaching our goals. While knowing our limits can safeguard us against injury and embarrassment, too often we use them as avoidance methods in our lives. What is holding you back from reaching your goals? How can you push beyond your comfort zone in a healthy way? Many dieters experience such limitations in on their weight loss journeys. Our bodies and minds are capable of overcoming much more than we could ever imagine if we just try. Today set new goals that may push you a little. Overcoming your personal hang-ups and fears may be one of the most rewarding choices you'll ever make!"

This little article is from Sparkpeople and was in my email box a few days ago. I am just now getting to it because, well I had a lot of email to go through. This article really got me thinking about excuses and how often times in my own life and I'm sure others that, two things here; 1. the limitations were self imposed, thinking I couldn't do something and 2. and that it was easier to use those limitations than to put in the hard work needed to lose weight. Don't get me wrong, we all have real limits, but for me I know that I sold myself short. I also used my fibromyalgia (which is no joke, believe me) to not work out the way I should. And even if I couldn't work out that day because of pain, the fibromyalgia did not force me to eat those ding-dongs and drink cherry pepsi. Just saying.

I remember when I wouldn't really use my exercise ball because I thought I couldn't do it. I thought I would fall, or be too heavy to THAT exercise or I'm not strong enough. I was constantly telling myself I couldn't, until one day I said, I'm going to try it out. If I fall, I fall, but I need to try. You know what happened? I did the whole workout without falling one time. I surprised even myself! I also said the same thing about doing the Plank. I believed I couldn't do it. Then one day I said, I should try just to see. Fully expecting to drop down in about 3 seconds, was I surprised when I held pose for about 21 seconds. I was shocked.

Now several months later I'm pushing myself more than ever than I have in a LONG time. We all know our limits, just make sure that those limits are not a mental block and are true limits.

I have a goal in mind and its going to require me to push myself. Push past the sore knee and ankle (but not to injury). Push past the tiredness of body and mind. Keep focused on the goal and do what I know I have to and what I can.

I am strong. I am capable. I am going to win this battle of flab. I will be fabulous. Fabulously healthy.

Victory is MINE!

I have been stuck at 320. I couldn't seem to get past that number. I would lose to that and then go back up. I was getting really frustrated!

Yesterday I weighed. I weighed four days before that. I had lost 4.5 pounds in 4 days.

Bigger news is the fact that I smashed through 320.

I will NEVER see that number again. EVER.

I have decided that I'm not going to make my goal to 299 by then end of July. I have only myself to blame, I wasted about 4 weeks not doing everything possible to lose weight. I am just a little disappointed, but I will not let this missed goal define this journey. Its a journey and I am sure that many missed goals will come along. So I will make a new goal for that 299!

My goal is to weigh 299 on August 20, 2010. I will commit to these things to reach my goal:

~~I will stay within my calorie goal everyday by eating healthy, nutrient dense food!
~~I will drink no less than 12 cups of water everyday!
~~I will do 60 minutes of cardio everyday! (minimum)
~~I will do my established yoga routine everyday!
~~I will do strength training, core, upper and lower on days assigned.
~~I will keep writing in my journal and stay positive.

The Day the Mini Doughnuts Won

I have been doing so well. Monitoring my calories and being well within my range everyday. I have been exercising daily and increasing my intensity everyday. I am back to drinking at least 10 cups of water everyday.

Then yesterday evening happened.

We went out to eat. The food I ate tasted good. And I didn't really eat a lot of it, but I left feeling like I had eaten a brick. I was full and miserable.

I stopped at the market to pick up some juice and milk for the family and I made the mistake of taking my four year old in with me. I lovingly refer to him as my Sparkplug and he wanted doughnuts. Powered and chocolate covered. Now, I don't buy these items very often. Maybe once a month, maybe even less than that. My kids love fruit and veg and, well, doughnuts. I thought about it and I said okay. No reason they shouldn't have a treat just because I am trying to get healthy and lose weight.

Powered doughnuts have no hold on me whatsoever. I could care less. I should have just bought those. Chocolate doughnuts on the other hand, well, they call my name from the bag. They may even call my name from the grocery store and I live to far away to hear it. I resisted, until this afternoon.

Then all was lost. I found myself having downed 9 miniature doughnuts, which for mini doughnuts pack a wallop in the calorie department. I am so mad! At me! Just call me Joy Self-sabotage!!

So between last night and today, I feel awful. Yes, I feel guilty, but more importantly I FEEL awful, physically. I am tired. My stomach is arguing with me about my choices and my head is pounding. I was feeling so good. My fibro flare was all but out. My arthritis pain was 80% better. I didn't feel like I was walking around in a fog anymore. I didn't enjoy that meal last night. Yes as the food was passing my tongue I did, but afterward I just felt YUCKY! Then now, as I type this, I could just lay my head down and nap!

So now that I've properly kicked myself in the back-side I will pick myself up and I will go work out. I will work these doughnuts off. Watermelon for dinner!

Big WOO HOO Moments!!

Last night we had a Bible study at a local pizzeria. I only had one piece of pizza~AND WAS FULL! And as I went to pay for our meal, there were these huge delicious looking brownines. I admit, I wanted one. Just because I am committed to losing weight doesn't mean a brownie doesn't sound good. Anyway, I was up at the counter several time throughout the evening. The old Joy would have brought her gigantic purse up there, bought one, hid it in the purse and then ate it when everyone else went to bed. I didn't buy the brownie. I walked out of there with my head held high and proud of the fact that I didn't over-indulge in the pizza and that I DID NOT buy that HUGE brownie!

Well, I weighed today and I have to admit, I was hoping for a bigger number on the scale. I did lose 3 pounds this week, but I was feeling confident that it was 4 or 5. So then I decided to do measurements. I hadn't measured in almost a month. No reason too, when you know you are failing in the loss department.

I am so HAPPY and proud!!

Over various body regions I have shed 12.75 inches!!! I was totally thrilled!!! I mean I've really struggled in the last month and its really only been the last 11 days that I have really been completely committed to both the exercising and the nutrition!! I was exercising but not eating completely great and at times my exercise was lacking in intensity! So to see this loss has really given me the motivation to keep going. Sometimes the numbers on the scale aren't adequately showing the whole truth of the matter!!

Even better than all that. . . food doesn't taste the same to me. Food that I used to love, pizza, tator tots, cheddar bites, etc (all fast food) doesn't even taste good to me. I am loving the veg and fruit and would rather have that!!

So it's been a good week and I am excited to see the number continue to drop!

My Triumphant Return to Blogging

I've been on a hiatus. Not from dieting but from blogging. Not that the dieting thing has been going to well. But it is now.

This week I had an emotional break through. I was ready to give up. The mountain of weight I have to conquer just looked TOO big. I can't seem to break past 320. I get there and then lose my way. I was chugging at least one 44 oz Coke Zero per day and junk kept creeping into my diet. Then I sat down with my Hubs and we talked. I saw how he was feeling for the first time. I am blessed with a good man, who loves me despite my size but is concerned he's going to lose me. Even though some of the things he said was harsh, I needed to hear it. It was the kick in the pants I have been needing.

See I increased my intensity a couple of weeks ago, but I still wasn't as consistent as I needed to be. So when I did workout it was intense, but once or twice a week isn't enough. Especially when you are still eating outside of your calorie range and drinking soda (despite it's zeroness, it's terrible for you). I wasn't hardly drinking water and my body felt HORRIBLE. I honestly thought I was beginning my downhill decent to death. Truly. I'm not just being dramatic. I figured my unhealthy ways were finally going to get me.

I am feeling better now. Just in the last couple of days. I am pushing past the pain (fibromyalgia and arthritis) and I am looking to my future.

These are my current goals:

~~To break 300 by August 1st (this one is lofty, I set it about a month ago and then got off the beaten course. I'm still going for it though).

~~August 22 is a big day for us and I want to be wearing a new outfit, 3 sizes smaller than I am today.

~~Drink 10 cups of water a day.

~~Exercise 6 days per week.

~~Burn at least 600 calories per day.

~~Stay within calorie range everyday.

I am rewarding myself with that new outfit. I will make that goal.