What Healthy Will Look Like For Me

Guys, I'm having a really bad day. I woke up (once again for the bazillionth time) with a horrible headache. I missed my morning workout, had zero energy, and reached for carbs for breakfast for an energy boost (in the form of a chocolate chip muffin). Not a great start to my day. 

I've been eating low carb for the past month and the last three or four days have been really hard. I've been very, very tempted to go off plan. What am I saying? I have gone off plan. Today, waking up not feeling well, missing my workout, then eating what is a no-no for me just completely put me in a funk. I'm so tired of not feeling well, tired of the constant lack of energy, the incessant headaches. When my head hurts like it does now, I really, really just want to chug a 20 ounce Mountain Dew just to get a little relief. Right now, I'm itching so bad to go the a convenience store to get that Mt. Dew that I feel like a junkie wanting a hit. Ugh!!!! I don't like feeling like this, like a beverage or a food can control me. 

Right now, I'm putting my foot down. I'm not going to let this spiral out of control like I've done in the past (i.e. eating to make myself feel better, then feeling so much guilt that I ate something bad for me, then eating again to make myself feel better from the guilt that I just had for eating to feel good the first time, then guilt again.....you get the picture.)I'm going to combat this. I'm going to war on the offensive, not the defensive. 

Making a lifestyle change over the long haul means breaking habits and making new ones. It means stopping the cycle and facing things head on. So instead of going and getting that Mt. Dew and letting the rest of my day be ruined and my choices spiraling out of control, I'm simply making this list of reasons I want to get healthy, to lose the weight I need to be at optimum health. And then I'm going to go for a walk. 

What Being at a Healthy Weight Will Look Like For Me:

1. No longer being too large to ride a roller coaster.
2. Not having to worry about knocking things over with my rear end.
3. Having the energy to play and be active with my children. 
4. Not feeling like poo every day.
5. Not being self-conscious about "being in other people's space" all the time.
6. Being able to buy clothes from any store or brand that I wish.
7. No longer paying an exorbitant amount of money on over-priced, plus-sized clothing. (I call it fat people extortion.)
8. Being able to cross my legs easily.
9. Not being embarrassed to wear a swimsuit to the beach or pool.
10. Taking more trips to the beach since I'm no longer too embarrassed to wear a swimsuit.
11. Being in the best physical shape of my life. 
12. Not snoring anymore and therefore sleeping better.
13. Having energy to accomplish my goals. (daily and long-term)
14. Being a good example to my girls.
15. Not feeling the need to wear shapewear all. the. time.
16. Being proud of myself for reaching a goal.
17. Not cringing away from physical contact because I'm embarrassed of my body.
18. No longer having the mentally draining sparring matches with my body's stupid food cravings.
19. Regular sized towel. Enough said.
20. Being comfortable in my own skin. 

Are you on a weigh loss, get-healthy journey, too? What are the things you look forward to after accomplish your goal? What will healthy look like for you? Comment below!

5 Things to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight

Losing weight ain't no joke and it definitely isn't for the faint of heart. It's hard, it's tedious, and unfortunately, easy to derail with bad decisions. I've been contemplating the things that I try to avoid, the things that can influence me to make bad decisions when it comes to what I put in my mouth.(Note: Some of these may be a bit tongue in cheek.)

1. Those cute little signs that say "eat."

They're everywhere. In magazines, on Pinterest, blogs. I don't know why, but every time I've seen one of those "eat" signs or letters spelling it out, I've retracted from it like it was the bubonic plague. That's my gut-level reaction to them. I don't need a reminder to eat hanging in my kitchen. I just don't. I do quite well with that all on my own. Ya'll can keep your cute sign. I prefer not to hang subliminal messages on my kitchen wall.


2. The Food Network

Who doesn't like to watch The Food Network and find a new dish to try? Too bad that most of the dishes are hardly ones allowed on a diet. I just have to turn the channel. 

3. In particular, The Pioneer Woman

I love the Pioneer Woman. Love her! But, I can't watch her show without wanting to cook one of her dishes for supper. And they aren't diet approved, either. I don't know how she and her family aren't big as houses. I just have to turn the channel. It's torture to keep watching while dieting.

4. Going to a party hungry

Yep. This is definitely a way to derail all of your hard work. For example, this past Sunday night after church, my Sunday school class watched the Superbowl together. And there was food. Lots and lots of food with lots and lots of carbs. Yes, I baked a batch of maple bacon cookies to take with no plans of eating any myself, but I also brought a veggie tray and hummus for healthier snacking. Anyway, I literally had anxiety about walking in and facing all of that food. There was pizza (I love pizza), various dips with chips and crackers, and tons of deserts. Ugh!!! I'm so glad I wasn't starving when I walked in because all of my self-control would've flown out the window. I was able to eat fruit, veggies, hummus, salad (many thanks the blessed soul who brought the salad), and a chicken dip without any of the crackers or chips. Not terrible for a Super Bowl party. I had one bite-size cookie for desert. (Literally one bite). 

5. Grocery shopping while hungry

Going shopping while hungry is a definite no-no. Your cart will go from looking like this....

....to this. For real. True story. When I know that I'll be shopping for a while, I always try to take a bottle of water and a diet-approved snack with me to keep from becoming ravenous. If not, my shopping cart reflects my body's longing for carbs. 


Do you have any other things you try to avoid while trying to eat healthy? I'm sure it's different for everyone. I'd love to hear from you! 

I Karate Chopped a Cake

Yes, I karate chopped a cake. Yes, it was completely cathartic and I'd recommend it to anyone. No, I didn't have a psychotic break.

I guess I should back up and explain myself. Recently, I bought a small cake for an occasion and we ended up not needing it and it just sat in the refrigerator. Actually, it was in our extra refrigerator that we use for stocking up and for larger items that I can't fit inside our kitchen fridge. I had cases of water in that refrigerator and every time I would open the door to get a bottle, the cake would mock me, taunt me even. I'm not sure why I didn't just throw it away then and there, but I didn't. Instead, I kept thinking, Stupid cake. I just want to punch you in the face! I know, I know. That's probably not a normal reaction, but it was my true reaction.

Once again, let me explain myself. Sweets are my weakness. Sweets and bread. Those are the two things that I absolutely do not need in large quantities in my body. Me and sweets, we just don't mesh well. We are natural enemies because once I meet a sweet, it never wants to leave me. It clings to my thighs and legs and arms with a vengeance and it takes an act of God to shake it. Some people are very carb tolerant, able to eat bread, potatoes, and cake without it negatively affecting their weight or health. And some people are carb keepers, where every carb that passes the lips goes straight to the hips. I am one of the latter.

Last week, I wrote about my one word for 2016: Overcome. I didn't get specific about what exactly it is that I need to overcome, but if you've been reading Cultivate Create for a while, you probably could guess I was talking about my battle with my weight. I'm not going to get into my long battle today, but I'll link my first post that I opened up about my weight HERE in case you haven't read it. At any rate, I'm ready to be an overcomer in this area of my life. It's something that is so much bigger than a number on the scale. It's not a vanity thing for me. It's not about simply wanting to fit into a swimsuit to wear to the beach. This is about regaining my life, my health! This struggle affects every area of my life from my relationship with God, my husband, friends and family to just my mental and emotional health. It is a mental, emotional, and spiritual battle that I fight every day. And in the past few months, I've had setbacks and I've gained weight back that I'd lost in the last couple of years. And I gained it back fast!

I am getting back on track and as of yesterday, I've lost twelve pounds of the weight I'd gained back. That's a good first step. I've been doing a low carb, high protein diet and it's working for me. I'm telling you, me and carbs just don't get along. But more on that later. Let's talk about karate chopping a cake.

That cake that was mocking me from inside of my refrigerator got what was coming to it. I'd had enough of being ruled by food. Had enough of the temptation and the mental battle. So, I decided to do something about it. It wasn't just to silence a taunting voice, it was visible picture that I could always remember. A physical act that could remind me that I can overcome. I removed that cake from my fridge, placed in on the table on my back patio and karate chopped it in its face! Take that, cake! Take that, carbs! You can't control me! I tell you what to do, not the other way around. Hi-ya!

Was chopping a cake conventional? Not in the least. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!

I couldn't get my video to upload here, so I'm sharing on my Facebook page. 

The Results: Purium 10 Day Transformation Challenge

I am so late getting this posted. The past week and a half have been uber busy and last week, I could not get my video to upload to Youtube. I finally got it to upload today. (It literally took about seven hours to upload a ten minute video. I gotta figure that junk out.)

Anyway, including this last video diary entry, I have three videos about my experience with Purium. If you haven't checked them out, be sure to do so. ( And subscribe to my channel while you're there. Thanks in advance!) My videos go a little more in-depth that what I will in this blog post.

Overall, I am very pleased with Purium and the weight and inches I lost in just ten days. I also felt amazing once I got past the first couple of days (which are rough because of detoxing and caffeine withdrawals).

I lost 6.8lbs and 7 and a quarter inches overall in just ten days!

For those of you who are looking for something for weight loss past the ten days of the initial challenge or don't want to do the challenge and want to just order some individual products, here are the other meal options available as explained in this video. (I ordered the chocolate whole food meal and the pre-meal capsules).

Like I said, I am very pleased with Purium and am continuing on with the weight loss phase post-challenge. lf you'd like more information and about Purium and what products they have available click HERE (This is my referral link.) If you are a first time customer, you can get $50 off by entering code: AmandaHendeson  I'm not going to be actively trying to sell Purium, I just wanted to pass along the $50 savings in case anyone wanted to try Purium. It's great to be able to recommend something that actually works.

Have any of you tried Purium before? I'd love to hear about your experience with it! Leave a comment below!

Purium 10 Day Transformation: Video Blogs

Last Monday, I started a challenge called the Purium 10 Day Transformation. I hadn't been sleeping well for months, my weight loss was at a standstill, and I just haven't felt well in general. I decided to try Purium to cleanse my body, jump start my weight loss again, and hopefully to feel better.

This was the day before I started the challenge. I was weighed in, measured, and had before photos taken by my friend, and our fearless fitness leader. Rachel. (She teaches all of the classes at my gym...Zumba, Body Pump and PiYo.)

Today is my day 9 of the challenge and I feel great! I'm sleeping better and have more energy and I have lost weight. I've documented this challenge thus far and you can see those vlogs over on my Youtube channel.

View these entries:
The Purium 10 Day Transformation Challenge: Days 1, 2, 3
The Purium 10 Day Transformation Challenge: Days 4-7

I've tried to give an honest opinion of the products, process, and how I've felt in these videos. I'm not one to jump on every weight loss bandwagon, but I felt that it was a much needed thing for me at the time. Also, the fact the shake is non-GMO and organic helped me decide it was a safe and healthy thing to try.

I'm not trying to sell a product and this isn't a sponsored post. Just my journey, experience, and opinion of Purium. I've always been really open with you guys about my weight loss journey, and this is part of it.

I get weighed in and measured tomorrow, so I will post the end results by the end of the week! I'm so excited!

Healthy Recipe Review

 I'm not going to lie. I ate horribly from about Thanksgiving all way through New Year's.  We honestly had Christmas get-together's and parties every single weekend all month. Then, my husband's crazy work schedule got in the way of me being able to go to classes at night at the gym, so I didn't work out. At all. I could've walked in our neighborhood. I could've gone to gym while the kids were in school. But I didn't. I just didn't. And I have paid for it. I've gained weight over the holidays and I feel awful. Correction. Did feel awful. 

I'm getting back into the swing of things, eating healthy and getting some workouts in. I'm already five pounds down since last week! Yay!  But it was probably just water weight. (I am doing a detox cleanse and I'm sure that has helped. More about that in a minute.)

//Via Instagram//

My hubby bought me a Samsung Gear Fit for Christmas so I can keep up with calories burned and my daily steps with the pedometer. I really like having it. Before, I was just guessing how many calories I burned during a workout. Now, I have a much more accurate reading.  Also, I got some new kicks for my birthday! I am all set!

Saturday afternoon, I decided that I would go ahead and cook a few meals and pre-package them so that I would be prepared to eat healthy this week and would have no excuses to not choose wisely. 

Here's what I cooked this weekend:

//Via He and She Eat Clean//

This was the first time I had ever cooked the zesty chicken. It is marinaded in Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's) with a couple other ingredients, and it is a little too vinegar-y for me. It isn't bad, it's just a little tangy.  I used this chicken to fix six grab-n-go meals for myself. By the way, a couple of the recipes I am talking about today comes from He and She Eat Clean. I highly suggest checking our their site. They have wonderful healthy recipes!

//Via 100 Days of Real Food//

Now, this crock-pot whole chicken is one of my favorite clean meals to make!  It is so yummy and easy. It's also something that my hubby and kiddos readily eat. I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up (Clueless quote there) and highly suggest trying it!

//Via Chelsea's Messy Apron//

These flourless and gluten free apple almond muffins were really good. They weren't very sweet, which I guess is the point, but I still liked them. They are good for breakfast with coffee and even as a mid-afternoon snack. Next time I make these, I am adding a bit more apples and just a little Stevia. The best part about these muffins?  They were guilt-free! I'm talking zero guilt. I ate them and enjoyed them and knew I wasn't cheating even though it kind of felt like I was. 

//Via Jennie O//

These Mexican turkey sausage frittatas are so good and another go-to breakfast for me. It's flavorful, healthy, and only 100 calories per frittata. They are great to make ahead; make a large batch and package them in pairs. Pull out throughout the week for a quick breakfast or high-protein snack. 

My pre-made meals and snacks:

These are all the meals I made up using the Zesty chicken. (The bottom right is just extra chicken I used to make whole wheat wraps.)

I packaged half cups of strawberries and blueberries. (These were on sale this week at Winn-Dixie, which surprised me since they aren't in season. I snatched them up.)  This has been good for my girls, too. They can easily grab something healthy. 

//Via Instagram//

One of the snacks I have eaten over the last few days is half of an apple with one tablespoon of new Reese's spreads.  I have a huge sweet tooth and sometimes, if I feel totally deprived, I completely blow my healthy eating by grabbing a brownie or something equally as fattening. I like the Reese's spreads because it has the same amount of calories as peanut butter and I can eat just enough to get the sweetness I crave without totally going off track. (And it is so good! I mean, seriously yummy!) I've also added a tablespoon into my chocolate protein shake with a half a banana for a sweet afternoon snack. (I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.)

//Recipe via He and She Eat Clean//

Okay, now for the detox drink. This is Jillian Micheal's recipe. I'm not really a huge fan of teas or weird drinks, but this one isn't bad at all. It kind of tastes a bit like lemon water. (It has lemon juice in it.) The recipe calls for dandelion root tea. I couldn't find any around here, so I used Yogi DeTox Tea (found at Winn-Dixie). I had read other reviews of the tea where they used DeTox instead of dandelion root, so I was cool with swapping that out. I am on day four. It hasn't been bad at all, and I believe it is helping flush out toxins. Only three more days to go on it!

You can find all of these recipes and lots more on my Healthful Pinterest Board. Follow me on Pinterest! I am always on the lookout for healthy meals and pin to this board often.  (Also, I'd love to connect with you and cheer you on your own weight-loss, get-healthy journey or your next DIY. It makes my day to hear from you guys!  Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, and Twitter. Also, don't miss a Cultivate Create post!  Join this site on the right sidebar, sign up to get our posts emailed to you, or follow along on Bloglovin!

So, how are you doing now that January is here? Are you eating healthy? Still have the winter blahs?  Killing it in the gym? Finding it hard to find motivation? 

Do you have some favorite clean, healthy recipes that you'd like to share? Leave it in the comments!

Get Fit Friday: 100 Mile Challenge

//VIA Color Vibe//

The above statement is my motto, my creed. A friend posted it on Facebook a few days ago and it immediately struck a chord with me. I often feel like I am battling myself, that I am fighting against two versions of me. I guess I am; the old me and the me I am becoming. Sometimes the old me rears her ugly head and she wins. She is ruthless. She is cunning. She knows exactly how to manipulate the new me into her way of thinking. It is a constant battle. BUT.....she may have won a few of those battles, but she will not win the war. 

Now that I've started this post on a bit of a schizophrenic note, let me just warn you. It's gonna be one of "those" posts where you will see kind of how my mind works. So, last night as I was preparing for this post while watching The Biggest Loser, I started trying to think of ways to keep myself motivated. I immediately thought that if I could have some way of visually tracking progress, that it would help. 

I decided to make a chart with one hundred boxes that represent miles. As I walk (or run) miles, I get to cross the box off. When I reach the one hundred mile mark, I will treat myself. I'm not sure what that treat will be yet. I need to decide so that I have something to look forward to. I thought about a mani/pedi, a facial, new clothes.  I don't know. What do you think would be a good motivating reward? 

If you want to join me on the 100 Mile Challenge, print your own copy and track your progress. As you complete it, upload a photo to my Facebook page and share! I want to celebrate with you! For personal use only. You can download the file HERE.

As I was making up my little printable chart, I kept singing in my head, "And I would walk a hundred miles, and I would walk a hundred more..." I know the song technically says five hundred, but, nonetheless, that was what was stuck in my head.  So here it is for you to get  stuck in your head enjoy. You're welcome.

Then, Rob Schneider's voice kept ringing out in the back of my head, "You can do it!" Thanks, Rob, for perpetually giving me that little bit of encouragement in the back of my head ever since I saw Waterboy.  (In a Cajun accent. Over and over again.) 

Anyway, Cajun Man and I both say, "You can do it!"  If you decide to take the 100 Mile Challenge, please let me know. I would love to know that I have someone hustling along, too. Next week, I will update you on how many miles I got to cross off. Have a wonderful weekend!

Get Fit Friday

I am so glad that it's Friday!  I always look forward to the weekend. And now, I will have another reason to anticipate it because I am starting a new series, Get Fit Fridays! When I started my journey to get healthy at the end of last October, I always shared my progress on Wednesdays (Weigh-in Wednesdays.) I had become a little lax in sharing and now that I am co-hosting What You Wish Wednesdays, I decided I needed to change the day I share about it.  I really hope that I can encourage you, but I really need this for me. I need the accountability. 

I'm not going to hide the fact from you guys that I have been struggling the past couple of months. I haven't stopped exercising or trying, but eating healthy has become difficult and an all-out battle. I shared with you all before that I struggled with post-partum depression after both of my children were born, especially after Ashlyn, and it took a long time to come out of it.  I haven't had to take any medication for it for a few years now, but I still go through times when it creeps back up on me and threatens to pull me back under.  The last couple of months, it has been one of those time periods.  And when I am battling that, my first go-to is food.  When the darkness threatens to cloud my vision, my first instinct is to grab a brownie. (Darn those Little Debbie's.) 

I feel exactly like this:

15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

Glow Zumba last month! So much fun! 

What I need to do to feel better is the absolute hardest for me to do when I am in this "funk." I need to eat clean and make myself exercise every single day. My brain is telling me to sleep, sit around, eat lots of carbs in excess, and succumb to it, to sink down in the mire.   My spirit says fight! I've said this before; This is not all about a number on a scale. This is not about me wanting to be as skinny as a model or anything like that. This is my life! This is my livelihood, my health, my relationships, my walk with God! This is as much a spiritual battle as it is physical. 

Last night, I sat in my living room after my girls went to bed and watched The Biggest Loser, bawling my eyes out as I heard each contestant's story. I love that show. Really. It inspires me to see these people break through the barriers that have held them in place for so long. I love seeing when a contestant goes from doubting themselves with no self-confidence to realizing they can do it. I love seeing the flicker of determination and perseverance light up their eyes. I can identify with every one of them.

Before I started my weight loss/get fit journey. 

Since I stared this journey, I have kind of felt like those contestants, too. I have gone from doubting myself, my confidence waning, to being sure I can do it and more sure of who I am, that flicker firing up in my eyes.  A spark of determination. But, the last couple of months have shaken me a little bit. I don't want to ever go back to where I was. I don't want to lose that spark. And I still have a really long way to go. 

This picture was taken just a couple weeks ago. About 3 or 4 sizes smaller than when I started. (depending on what I am wearing and brand of clothing.)

As I look at the two photos above, I see two different people. The first is the person I used to be. She is no longer. The second is the person I am currently, with more confidence, healthier, stronger. But, I hope that the person that I am today will be gone shortly, too. I hope to continue becoming the person God wants me to be, to continue to weed out the old to make room for the new. 

Will I ever get to a point when I don't struggle with depression or eating? I don't know the answer to that question. I am reminded through this that I am not immune and that I have to keep my guard up. I have to focus. But focus has been really hard to come by the last couple of months. 

The crazy thing about muddling through depression is that it is a vicious cycle. It is so hard to break. When I am struggling like this, the last thing I want to do are the very things that will naturally make me feel better......eating healthy and exercising. The first things I want to do are the very things that make me feel worse.....eating unhealthy and not getting enough exercise. Then when you succumb to eating unhealthy things and you skip that exercise session, it makes you feel worse. Then you want another brownie. (Seriously, Little Debbie's, ease up on me.)

So, today I am choosing to do the opposite of what I feel like doing. I will exercise today. I will eat healthy today instead of vegging out on the couch watching Clueless and eating potato chips.  That's all I can commit to right now. Today. Tomorrow, I will have the same choice to make. I hope I will make the right one. 

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Linking up to: What You Wish Wednesday

Weigh-In Wednesday

#20

(Okay, so the fonts and spacing are all weird in this post for some reason and I can't figure out how to fix it. Sorry in advance.)

It's been a while since I have actually checked in about how my progress is going.  Honestly, I waver between wanting to post each week because of the accountability that it gives me and not wanting to post because sometimes it feels a little self-centered and redundant. I know that a lot of people lose weight all the time.  And many are doing a better job than I am. I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out and still battling habits that I formed in my early years. Most days, I am right on track and eat the foods that I am supposed to. But some days, I really struggle. It's easier for me to pick up a boxed pizza rather than prepare baked chicken, broccoli, and fruit. It is second nature to me to grab a pre-packaged brownie and it's much harder for me to choose a healthy snack like almonds. Even after a few months, I still feel like I am reconditioning my brain to make healthy choices. This summer, with the kids being home, it has been even more difficult for a routine of working out and making healthy food choices since we have been on the go a lot more. But, I am not giving up.  

Recently, I tried Shakeology for the first time. It's a meal replacement shake with lots of nutrients and vitamins. I only ordered a sample pack to see if I would like it. So far, I have had the strawberry and the chocolate. I like the chocolate the best.  Not sure if I will order more, but giving it a go for now.

I really enjoy working out, but the nutrition side of things is hard for me.  I have been really frustrated in the previous weeks because my weight loss went from steady to hardly anything with me not changing my eating habits. For example, here is what a day's worth of meals typically looks like for me.

Breakfast: Two eggs, scrambled. Two pieces of turkey bacon, 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese (I put on eggs), and 1/2 cup blueberries. water with lemon and coffee with 1 tbsp creamer and one packet of stevia,

Lunch: grilled chicken tenderloin, 1/2 baked sweet potato with cinnamon honey butter, and a salad.

Snack: Chocolate Shakeology made with 1 tbsp of peanut butter and one cup of unsweetened coconut milk.

Dinner: Same as lunch but with broccoli instead of salad.

If I need another snack: 1/2 apple with 1 tbsp of almond butter or packet of almonds

I have been really frustrated not seeing the scale move down even when I am eating healthy. (Granted, I have been a little more lax in the last month, but not completely going wayward at all.) So yesterday, I talked with a nutritionist who is going to take a week to watch my food entries on My Fitness Pal and come up with a plan for me and see what I have possibly been doing wrong. (I am Amandore on MFP if you want to add me and we can cheer each other on!) Last night, when I got finished logging in all of my calories and fitness for the day, I checked my weekly summary of my food intake. I honestly don't remember the last time I did that. But what I saw kind of astonished me. It breaks down your food entries for the week into a pie chart and separates carbs, fats, and proteins. I thought that protein would've been my largest percentage but it wasn't. I was really surprised to see the breakdown as 53% fats, 19% protein, and 28% carbs. I really was shocked! (Now this is still all within my calorie limits.)I had no idea that the breakdown of what I have been eating mostly fats! That may be my problem right there. A couple of websites I looked at suggests:

• 45% to 65% of calories eaten should come from carbohydrates.
• 20% to 35% of calories eaten should come from fat.
• 10% to 35% of calories eaten should come from protein. (from SparkPeople)

Obviously, I need to work on getting the right combinations 

of foods from now on. I will be a lot more mindful of that. I 

just wish I had looked at my stats earlier so that I could've 

corrected the problem before now. 

This was DAY ONE! The first day of getting healthy!

And this was over the weekend.  I have a long way to go, but I am so glad I took the first step!  Sorry about the blurry picture...cell phone pic. (with my workout buddy, Bethany)

Last night walking/running the track and running up stairs. It was a beautiful evening!

I had great workouts the last couple of days! Zumba on
Monday night was awesome! I'm not sure how many squats
we did in those routines, but it was a lot! And last night, I
walked/ran two miles and ran up and down the stairs at the
stadium. (Well, I ran up the stairs, but gingerly came back
down the stairs. I still cringe thinking about a little mishap at
my graduation where I fell down those very stairs, twisting
my ankle. I still have problems with that same ankle. But that
is another story for another time.) Then, I headed to the gym
for a few minutes on the eliptical.

Guys, I'm not giving up. Just trying to figure things out and
keep going. I'm not sure if I will post each Wednesday like I
was at the beginning of this journey, or just update you guys
less often. But keep me in your prayers and you will
definitely be in mine!

You can see my weight loss journey from the beginning here!

Weigh-In Wednesday

#19

Just checking in with you guys today briefly!  Since last week, I hit the gym everyday, including an awesome Boot Camp class, until this weekend.  I haven't been back in the gym yet. Between the holiday weekend, and trying to get home projects done (trying to get my foyer floors done, but it is taking longer than expected!), I haven't made it back to the gym or even walked around the neighborhood. But, I did drop a pound since last Wednesday!  Yes!  I'm going to have to get creative this week in order to get any semblance of a workout in since it is recital week for my girls.  Each afternoon and night the rest of the week is booked up so I will have to make sure I workout in the mornings or it's not happening. 

Sorry so brief today, but duty calls!  I'm keeping on keeping on!  Thirty-nine pounds lost total.  I'll take that. 

The Struggle is Real

So, I completely missed checking in with you at the beginning of the month about the getting healthy/weight loss thing!  But, here I am, still plugging along. While I have no new weight loss to report, still holding where I was, I am hanging in there. The last month was crazy busy!  Both of my girls played ball in different age divisions, so it was a bit harder for me to make my favorite classes at the gym, and eating healthy was more difficult because of us being on the go so much. For a month and a half while ball season was in full swing, I was hit or miss for Zumba and Boot Camp because of our crazy schedule. Then, about three weeks ago at Zumba, I hurt my ankle. So, for a week all I did was squats and push-ups because my ankle hurt so bad. Then the two weeks after that, all I added was walking. My ankle is better, but it still smarts sometimes if I step on it a certain way.  I didn't sprain it, but I think it is a tendon issue. (I am so tired of hurting myself trying to get this weight off. But, I guess that comes with getting older.) 

Post Zumba! You can't really tell, but I was drenched! Such a great workout and I enjoy all the great gals who attend that class!

 I went shopping for clothes for the first time since I started losing my weight and the last time I checked in about my progress.  I was able to go down another size in pants and my shirts were a smaller size.  (When I started I was a 24, and I currently can wear a 20. And in dresses, I was able to fit in an 18.)  That encouraged me A LOT since the scale hasn't budged. But, since I am going to be losing more weight, I didn't want to invest in a lot of clothes. I bought what would hold me over for now and will buy a little more when I go down another size.  I still wear some things that are a little too big, trying to keep from spending a lot on something that I won't be able to wear long. So, if you see me around and I am wearing the same thing you saw me in last time, you know why.  

Monday, I started over on Phase 1 of the Maker's Diet. I prepped my snacks ahead of time so that it would be easier for me to make healthy choices.  Snacks are pineapple, peaches, almonds, P3 protein snack packs, and fruit salad. 

The fruit salad is so yummy! I call it my tropical fruit salad. It is fresh pineapple, mango, kiwi, and blueberries. So delicious!

Once again this month, I signed up for the Spartan Challenge.  This month is a group challenge and Sara and Lori are my workout buddies. While we don't get to walk together or workout together everyday, it has encouraged me knowing they are there!  I have enjoyed our walks together in our neighborhood. 

Guys, I am hanging in there. But the struggle is real! Last night a friend posted a pic on her Facebook page that was her family's snack (ice cream), and her snack (cantaloupe) side by side.  She is determined!  I felt her struggle/frustration. I cooked pizza last night for my family, one of my favorite foods, and I ate baked chicken, salad, and fruit.  Those leftover pieces of pizza that sat in my refrigerator last night mocked me!  You know you want to eat me!  Pizza is delicious!  I will taste so good! It won't hurt if you just eat one piece. Come and get me out of this fridge!  No, pizza. You lie! Not tonight. 

Starting next Wednesday, I am resuming Weigh-In Wednesdays.  It really helps me to have accountability that it gives me.  It's not glamorous, it's hard work, and a struggle, but I think checking in with you really helps motivate me!  So, until next week, keep it up!

Weigh-In Wednesday

#17

It's been a month since my last weigh-in with you guys.  Let me tell you, it has been a hard month.  Probably the hardest since I started my weight loss journey at the end of October. I hit a plateau.  That frustrated me beyond what I can tell you!  It was so disheartening to be eating right and working out and not see the scale budge.  Mentally, that was hard for me. I think it kind of psyched me out a bit and I started doubting myself.  But, I kept pushing through.  Just kept swimming. (I think that is my motto. Thanks, Dori.) 

Another thing that has been particularly hard this month is trying not to compare my weight loss journey to someone else's.  I would see Jane Doe lost x amount of weight in x amount of time and I would beat myself up about my slow progress. But, I'm not Jane Doe. I'm Amanda Henderson. I am unique and my body is unique and I'm not going to lose weight in the same way someone else does. I will lose it like I do. 

Opp gals at the Zumbathon

Since last weigh-in, I participated in a Zumbathon that was raising money for Cancer Freeze, a local charity.  It was a two hour event, and it was so much fun!  We got a great workout in and it was all for a good cause. I was able to stay for an hour and forty-five minutes of the event.  I loved every dark, smokey, disco light, music-so-loud-it-rattles-your-bones minute of it. 

During Boot Camp, we did our second fit test and I was so happy that I improved on both my push-ups and sit-ups.  I love being able to track my progress, strength-wise.  (Just a shout out to our trainer, Rachel!  She does a great job pushing and motivating us.  I really appreciate what she does!)

I also participated in the Spartan 30 in 30 Challenge.  The challenge was to do 30 squats a day for 30 days.  I did do most of the days. I was sick one night and missed and last week when we were on vacation I missed a couple of days. But other than that, I got them done. I know a lot of you participated as well. Did you make it through?  This month's challenge is 30 push-ups a day for 30 days. I signed up for that and I hope you will, too. We can do it!

So, Monday night, I weighed after Zumba for the first time in a couple of weeks. And to my surprise, I had lost six more pounds!  I might have jumped up and down a little. I might have done a happy dance right there in front of everyone like I was thirteen years old.  I was just so darn happy.  I worked SO hard for those six pounds. It gave me the boost that I needed so badly. (I was measured again as well this morning and I've lost inches, too!)

I don't know if you remember, but back on this post I mentioned that one of my goals for 2014 is to run at least five 5ks.  I haven't done any yet.  My knees gave me fits for a while, but now they are healed and my first ever 5k is next weekend.  I'm joining a team (some family members) and we are running the Dirty Girl Mud Run 5k in Atlanta, Georgia.  I can't wait.  I'll also be participating in my second 5k this month as well. This really is the year of possibilities!

This being healthy/weight-loss thing is hard.  But it is so worth it. It takes perseverance and dedication and hard work and discipline.  But those things yield better health and a better outlook and elation and a feeling of accomplishment.  I don't know how long  it will take me to reach my goal weight, but I do know that I won't quit until I do.