1 Year ago Today

My last two posts were very specific about my first duathlon and half marathon but what else is happening?

Well today is my 1 year anniversary of deciding to really change my life.  The start of my journey I was 221 lbs and decided to try a diet plan that my best friend had been very success full with.  Also I wanted to be able to run a mile non-stop.  I was 23 years old and couldn't run a mile.  I was in a size 18 jeans.  I wasn't happy with my body even though I had "accepted" it.

Today, I am 57 lbs down.  I have earned $227.52 through dietbets.  I have completed a duathlon and a half marathon.  Most importantly, I have learned so much about food, health, and fitness.  I still have a lot to learn but here are some things that I think have really changed helped me on my journey to fit and fab.

• Vegetables!  Eat your vegetables.  I know I don't always do this but I try to fit them or even sneak them in whenever I can.  This is something I learned quickly when starting out on Medifast.  Trying to get all my greens in was hard.  But get creative or look up some great recipes or mix things up!    

• These is always a healthier version of your favorite dish it just takes some effort.  I have found healthier alternatives for cheesy breadsticks, pizza, spaghetti, chick-fil-a, and so much more!  The internet is full of great information and recipes!

• The outdoors is the best gym there is.  I enjoy running, biking, walking and all these things can be done with out a gym membership!  I will say that I am lucky to live in warm and sunny south Texas which helps a lot.  :D

• Get out of your comfort zone!  This is an easy one...not.  Step out, try something new.  I don't mean the newest diet crazy.  I mean try a new recipe, a new fruit, vegetable, a new sport or activity.  Check Groupon.  Is there a deal for a fitness class near you?  Try it out!  That's how I found out about rowing and they were a very welcoming community!

• Motivation.  This can be very difficult.  There are times where I keep stepping on the scale and I don't see what I wanna see.  This can bring my whole mood down.  I try to stay motivated with blogs and podcasts regularly.  My favorite podcasts are Tips of the Scale and Half Size Me.  They have inspirational stories of people that have faced great challenges to reach their goals. They also have professionals on to talk about fitness, nutrition, and lots of other information.  Are you you into something specific like running, triathlons, Paleo, or crossfit?  There are podcast that are specific to all sorts of stuff!  I like the Everyday Runners podcast.  This podcast makes me say if they can do it why can't I?  Also I have started listening to Tri Swim Coach as I start thinking about training for my first Triathlon.  There are so many podcasts out there!  Not all of them are specific to you but there is always something to learn!

That is just a few of the things that I've learned and have really helped me throughout this year.  If you have any questions feel free to email me at Gretchen.ward14@gmail.com!  

Here is to another year of firsts and personal records and new adventures!  Oh and a wedding dress! ;)

57 lbs down, Duathlon and Half Marathon Finisher

Thank you for reading and following me on my journey to get fit and fab! 

I see scale movement!

So I haven't posted in awhile because I didn't think I had any good news since the scale wasn't really moving.  It wasn't going up or down.  I've been slacking on controlling my portion sizes and making good food decisions.  On the bright side I haven't gained...I am hoping this mean that maintaining when I reach my goal will mean being comfortable and not worrying all the time that I'm gaining.  That is still 40 lbs away though and I want to enjoy my journey there.

I have another confession.  I skipped a long training run. :\ I was supposed to do 9 miles last weekend but decided not to do it.  My fiance was home all weekend which is rare occurrence with his schedule and I decided to enjoy the whole weekend with him.  Good news is I was already a week ahead on my training schedule so as long as I don't skip any more I will be ready to go for my half next month!
Next confession,  I lost a dietbet.  I'm not happy with myself for not trying harder but I just wasn't into it like I have been lately.  4% in a month is starting to get harder and harder to achieve.  I am still doing my 6 month transformation dietbet and am hoping to reach the goal of weighting 165.6 which is 8% from where I started this dietbet.  I have lost 13.2lbs since July 15th.  That is about 4.5 lbs a month which isn't bad!  I have been feeling bad about not losing weight fast enough but when I stand back and look at the long term I am impressed with myself.  I'm still on the journey.

Meltdown Challenge is still going as well!  I almost forgot that it was a weightloss challenge with all the great information that it has be sharing.  I have to lose 6% in 6 weeks.  Right now there is only 20 days left and I still have 5.12 lbs to lose. eek!  I believe that I am making the changes and decision to reach that goal though but the next couples weeks will REALLY test me.

Today I weighted in at 166.8.  I have 6 days to shed the last 1.2 lbs so I am kicking it into gear!  I am back to doing more medifast meals to keep my calorie count low but still full with plenty of protein and low carb.  I found that my portions were starting to get out of control again and needed to remind myself what I really need to sustain myself.  This is a battle that I think I'll be fighting for the rest of my life but I am happy I am aware of it.

So some positive things!  My fiance and I bought bikes!  I love it!  We have biked to dinner and biked to the movies!  I have even started biking to work!  Today is my third day!  I am not biking everyday because by the time I bike home I don't feel like working out and I still have a half marathon that I'm training for!  I'm trying to do three days a week and I am enjoying burning the extra 500 calories a day just commuting!  I will say that riding home is harder since it is usually warmer and I am riding into the wind!

Yesterday I didn't bike to work so I decided to go for a long run since I slacked enjoyed this weekend.  I decided to try a way different route and ran towards the bay and found out its only 3 miles from my apartment!  How amazing is that?  I am so thankful and lucky to live in a place like this!  I definitely believe that the weather is what helps me keep moving!  I love sunny south Texas!  Here is a selfie I took when I reached as far as I could go north with out swimming!  This definitely wasn't one of my strongest runs and I could tell I haven't run for a couple of days but I still enjoyed the run.

Okay, like I said earlier the next couple of weeks are going to be a challenge.  Next week, I am taking the week off because my family is visiting!  My youngest brother and sister and flying for their very first time to come see their big sister!  I am so excited to share my new home with them!  I know they are happy to defrost from the Indiana weather! :P  Wish me luck as my routine changes and I try to navigate staying on plan!  Staying active and everything in moderation is the key!  I'll be repeating that over and over again in my head!

Back to the Basics

Okay, I had a bad week.  I'm not sure what happened but I pretty much broke down.  Emotionally not a good week.  But I am ready to move on.  So here we are back to the basics.

I am up back into the 170s but barely so that's good.  I hate going backwards though!  Feels like the work was for nothing when I go backwards but just have to start over and keep going.

Back to the basics, what does that mean?  I am not exactly sure but here is my plan.
1. Water- 80 oz a day
2. Exercise- everyday can be big or small just have to move!
3. Plan meals!  Unplanned=bad decisions
4. Understanding my thoughts

The last one is what I have been struggling with for the last week.  I started a new kind of weight loss challenge last week and it has daily readings and webinars and all kinds of great stuff to support weight loss!  Not only the eating part but the emotional part.  I want to share with you what I am going to be focusing this week.  "Thoughts come first then emotions which then drive our actions which leads us to our results"  My thoughts control my emotions not my the other way around.  I need to be more aware of what my thoughts are and why they make me feel the way that I do.  I'll have to get back to you on this...

I am still training for my half marathon and I have officially registered!  So now I am committed!  I did 8 miles this week but not very fast.  The heat was back on and I am looking forward to the cool weather!  Only 6 miles to do this weekend so that will be a piece of cake! (probably not the best choice of words) The hard part isn't the long runs any more its sticking to my training plan during the week.  I now dread short runs more than long runs.  Hoping that waking up early this week and getting them over with in the cooler mornings will help but that means getting my butt out of bed....wish me luck.

6 month dietbet:  I squeaked by to win round 2 which was a goal of 6% and I won $25.16!  Next goal is 8 % and currently I am up from the 6% goal so I have work to do!  Speaking of work to do, I am in another dietbet and I have 9 days to lose 6 lbs...ugh oh.  Yeah I have been slacking!  Well I am kicking it into gear!  I don't know if 6 lbs is do able but I am going to try!  I hate to lose!  Started out this weekend by doing some meal planning for the week!  I am set this week with cooked chicken breasts, egg salad, spaghetti squash with broccoli and cheese, and pumpkin bread pudding!

So like I said early, I started a new challenge called the Meltdown challenge called Thin it to win it-Team Rex and I am on a team with my old medifast coach.  I love this challenge so far!  Not only do I have to lose 6%  in 6 weeks but I have to earn so many participation points as well.  The points are easy to earn and I am actually learning some great stuff!  I listened to the healthy webinar this morning and it brought up some great questions.  What do you want?  What is your goal?  Why do you want it?  Why now?  Do you want to feel better or stop feeling bad?  What matters most?  These are all questions we have to ask ourselves to find our motivation.  Our motivation is what keeps up on track.  What is your motivation?  I am still learning what my true motivation is.  At first it was to fit into that wedding dress and look great in pictures but now I want to improve my quality of life.  Not that my quality of life is poor now but it could be better!  I want to be able to do anything I want to do.  I want to do a handstand, a cartwheel, a pull up, bow pose.  What is your motivation?

Just want I needed to hear this morning: Inspiration (Youtube)

4 Month update!

This is month 4 on Medifast!  Ive had some ups and downs and so far the ups are out weighing the downs!  I feel better, more confident, and stronger!  Also I won my second Dietbet!

I completed the Weight Loss Bootcamp that was hosted by the sisterhood of the shrinking jeans.  I love their blog!  I won back the $25 that I put in to start and won a little under $10 dollars also!  With my winnings I have already started Weight Loss Bootcamp II!

Dietbet really keeps me going!  What is more motivating than losing money?!  I recommend it to keep you motivated and moving!

I have have walked/ran over 70,000 steps this week! I think I am going to have to bump up my daily steps goal if I keep this up!

I took my measurement yesterday! Here are the results!

Upper arms -  1.7'' down
Chest- 1.4'' down
Waist- 4.6'' down
Hips- 2.5'' down
Thighs- 2.9'' down
Total- 13.1'' down since November 9th!

Also I am down 22 lbs since then!

I can feel it in my clothes too!  My plan is when I get down to 180 to treat myself to some new clothes and maybe even fit into some old jeans!!!

Couch to 5k update- I can run 25 min straight 3 workouts in a row!  Next workout is 30 min!  I have only made it to 1.93 miles but i am hoping that the next workout will push me over to 2 miles!  It really is all just a mind game.  There are points when I am telling myself that I can't make it and I just have to flip the switch and Yes I Can!  Believe me,  If I can do it so can you!

Thank you for reading!

Day 1 to Fit & Fab!

Hello my people!

Thank you for joining me in my journey to get fit and fabulous!

This is going to be my journal through my diet and transformation.  I started this journey about 2 months ago with my first order of Medifast.  My best friend had talking me into it after he had had great success with it.  When he told me he was 30 lbs down in just a couple months, I was immediately jealous and craved the same for myself!  So after a little research, I decided I could do it and ordered my first box of meals.

I am doing the Medifast 5 &1 meal plan.  I eat 5 Medifast meals a day and 1 Lean (protein) and Green (low carb vegetables) meal.

This plan works for me because I love to cook and this diet allows me to do so while creating better eating habits.

I have never been a skinny person but I'm ready to get to a more healthy weight!

My maximum weight that I know of is 225 lbs.  After two months of my new diet, I am currently at 206.8 lbs.  My ultimate goal is 125 lbs.   I still have a long way to go but I'm keeping my spirits off with smaller goals.

Some of the smaller goals that I have started are Dietbets!  I love it! I have only completed one but it was thrilling to win after losing a little over 8 lbs in a month!  I am currently doing Weight Loss Bootcamp dietbet. I have to lose 8.3 lbs by Jan 29th.  I'll try to update how my diet bet is going!  I love that I was able to use my winnings to start a new diet bet! 

http://www.dietbetter.com/games/29970

Okay so here is my update for the day!

This morning was rough.  Now that everyone is back from the holidays at work, they all brought in food to share this morning!  I had a piece of chocolate fudge and a slice of blueberry bread for breakfast....definitely not on the Medifast plan!  Thats okay though because I stuck to the plan for the rest of the day.  For my one cooked meal I had mashed cauliflower and slow cooked buffalo chicken!  I love this website for all my medifast lean and grean meals!

http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/

Along with my weight goals, I am hoping to be able to run a 5k in the near future.  I have been using the C25k app from Active.  I love that it gradually works you up to running for the full time!  I am on week 5 day 3.  I normally like to run outside but tonight it was freezing out so I decided to try the treadmill.  I felt good running but my mileage was much less than normal.  I don't know if the treadmill slows me down or that my GPS is 1/2 mile inaccurate...either way a year ago I would have been huffing and puffing after running for 5 min straight.  I never thought I could be a runner but after starting the Couch to 5k I think I can be one!

That concludes my first post!   Thank you for reading!  And check back for updates!  My plan is to update weekly at the least but we will see how it goes...

Lets get Fit & Fabulous!