Gone and for good!

I did it! 15 pounds released into the wild and gone forever. I WISH I would of remembered to take 60 days pictures but I forgot. I will do them this weekend. I am also going to hold off on my massive plan of attack until after this week is over. I know this is a lifestyle change and I must roll with the punches and understand that things will come up, there is no perfect time or schedule. But I can wait till after the final softball game to dig in and go strong. I know that there will be more running around. More games, more events and get togethers but I want to start fresh and make the most of it. I want the most free time as I can gather up to get myself into a healthy habit. The more that I do it over and over, day after day, the more likely I am to keep up with doing it. And the more I play in my head that it is a game that I have to win, the chances for me doing this long term increase. I already have decided that once I get to where I want to be, I will not be using a whole lot of ISA products. Not because I don't love them, I do but because it is a huge expense. I know, if you sign up X amount of people you earn things for free but I don't want to exploit someone's health as a way to make money or earn things for free. And this is HARD WORK. It really is. You have to be motivated every single day. You have to stay on top of things and plan ahead every single day. And you have to give yourself a break if you fail to have a perfect day, which happens a lot. Cause that is normal. Give yourself a break. There is no race to win, no one to impress. You are doing this for you. Take all of the time you need. Start and start over again and again if you need to. But, never give up on you.

Still alive and still working it!

Hello! I do realize that this Blog is more for my personal record on this journey so that is why I paused for a bit. I am on a 19 day streak since wrecking my 50 day one. I am also 60 days into using ISA-which I still love! My little 60 scale hop showed me at 15 pounds lost, officially I won't record a weight till Saturday. But 15 is super in my book! I also joined a group of FB friends-we all actually met when we did Weight Watchers-WAAAAAAAYYYYYY back in the day. Like 7 years ago maybe. Anyhow this little challenge has a $20 buy in and runs for 12 weeks. The winner is the one who loses the highest % of weight. Not pounds.

With that "game" in front of me that I actually want to have success with-the other 3 times I have bailed and gave up-I decided to buckle down with ISA. I have a game plan that I am starting off on Saturday. I need to order more ISA supplies for a cleanse and actually do the cleanse. I need to not use the weather as a excuse for working out. I am on a good streak with how my life is now and I want to move forward and continue this lifestyle change. This challenge is just what I need to keep me going for the next 12 weeks.

So Saturday's are my WI day and the week starts fresh for me. I tend to live dangerous on the weekends. I still workout-either a walk or a long bike ride, but I don't really have a ISA shake cause I eat whatever the family is having. Just smaller portions. However I am now going to cleanse every day with a full cleanse on Sunday's. The ISA cleanse for life you can use daily or do a full cleanse day. From what I have read, it is best to take the cleanse in the morning before breakfast and then mid afternoon. Right now I am having 100 cal oatmeal I found at Costco called Oatfit. I love it. It's quick, delicious, filling and good for you. http://www.betteroats.com/brand/oat-fit/ So that has become my breakfast. Lunch at work involves a shake-1 scoop vanilla and 1 chocolate. I mix it with a full 16 oz of water. Some times I have fruit on the side with it and some times yogurt. Normally I would go home and get prepped for a workout. Lately(last 6 days) I have been L A Z Y. Using the weather as a excuse, meeting with friends, too busy with the kids. I am just thankful that I haven't gained any weight. Why is that...cause I am still eating clean and healthy.

So my M-F will go CFL before I leave the house, oatmeal around 9:30 along with my accelerator, shake & fruit or yogurt for lunch, CFL & accelerator around 1, snack if needed about 2:30. Water, water, water throughout the day. Once I am home it's time to change, except for Friday's. Since I work till 6 I will have a shake at about 5 and then change into my workout clothes so I can hit the trail before I got home.  But normally I am going to change and get a walk in. Once I am done and back home it will be time for another snack or light meal. Some nights it's a smoothie with ISA and fresh fruit or PB. Sometimes it's a lettuce wrap with some type of protein. Sometimes it's yogurt. Sometimes it's a nice big salad. Depends on what I am hungry for. More water and a ISA flush(keep you regular) before bed. Pretty simple and flexible. I can easily switch things up if I need be.

I have been pushing for 5 miles lately which is nice when I walk. I also downloaded 2 new apps on my phone. One of them is a 7 min workout and the other is just a circuit of workouts from Daily Workout Apps. You can do 10, 20 or 30 min depending on the time you have. I am also lucky enough to have a Bowflex at home and a supportive husband who is going to teach me how to use it. With those 3 items at my disposal as strength and toning workouts I should be set in all aspects of getting through this challenge.

I don't have a exact goal but I know that I want to lose 15 more pounds in 60 days. That will be 30 down in 120 days. I can and will do all that I can to make it happen.

One wonderful thing that I have discovered...my legs don't rub and chafe when I wear a skirt. :)

Losing track of time

I think that since all of this is a routine and just part of my every day life, I am loosing track of the days. Not that time is flying by or anything, not any faster than normal. But that I am focused less on the time/days. It doesn't really matter any more how many days I have been using ISA. It doesn't matter how many days I have been logging into MFP. All that does matter is I keep doing it every day. Cause it is working for me. Today I peaked a bit at the scale...I am almost at 15 lost. Wow! I am just going to keep doing what I do. Using ISA during my day, walking 4+ miles 6 times a week and watching my portions. I am still having my 1 cup of coffee every morning. I am shaking a meal or two during the day. I found some 100 calorie instant oatmeal with flax in it. It was at Costco and it's so filling. So instead of a shake I go with oatmeal and then a snack about a hour after that. Lunch the. Is a small meal or a shake. And dinner is almost always a smoothie. Which is just a shake blended with frozen or fresh fruit. Mostly I choose to do a shake or smoothie at night cause of the time I get around to eating it.  By the time I am back from my walk and out of the shower it's 8 or after.  Since I don't want to have a big meal sitting in my stomach when I go to bed, the smoothie is the best option. And that plan is what is working. My clothes are getting looser and I can see my momma muffin top getting smaller. So there are changes even if the scale isn't moving as fast as I want it to. So I have learned to forgot how much time it's taking to get where I want to be. I am having a wonderful time learning about me and making little changes to change my life. A diet is short term. A lifestyle change is forever.

Frustrations and defeat

So during the 4th of July weekend I was all set to log into MFP for the 50th day in a row. A huge accomplishment for me. Well guess what...today I am on a 4 day streak. I was so pissed at myself. So frustrated and annoyed. To top it off, last night was the 1st night I worked out since biking on Friday. So things are very slow going if I look at the scale. Inches I think are coming off cause I don't feel so tight in my own clothes anymore. But I am stuck back at a 10 pound loss so far on this journey. I do know that it was a fun but processed weekend. Food, sweets, drinks and no workouts added up. But I only missed 1 day of being accountable and tracking my food. I am back at it. Jumped back into a walk last night which felt great. Tracked everything and felt wonderful going to bed last night. I prepped my lunch for today, prepped peaches for smoothies for dinner this week. I am all set to attack these 5 pounds and clear them out.

I did feel a day of being defeated. And wondering if all of this planning and tracking was really worth it. The change doesn't happen on the outside unless we change how we feel about it on the inside.

Independance Day!

Happy 4th of July! Today my plan/goal was to bike from my house, to the starting point of the trail that I actually get on when I work Friday's. I knew that we only had 2 miles to go at the point we were turning around. So what is a extra 4 miles....well it's a lot! Hahah. But we did it. I am so glad that we made it home. And I am so proud of myself for setting the goal and doing it. We-oldest daughter and I-biked 11.45 miles which is the most I have ever done. Go me!

Fun and random stats, today is the 49th day IN A ROW that I have logged my foods and exercise into MFP. It is also the12th day with the 2nd phase of ISA. This is slightly different and less strict this time around. I am also getting ready to follow a ISA challenge with cleansing starting on Monday. I am going to attempt it that is.

Right now I am going to keep mindful of my calories going in. I am going to enjoy the Holiday with my family and workout when I can. But I am not going to loose sleep over anything that doesn't go as planned. Monday is a new day and will hold a new plan.

9 days Stage 2

I think I like the sound of stages instead of part. Oh or phases, like a construction project. Nah, stage is better.

You know it really is the same old with me. Got up and took my CFL this morning. Prepped my lunch(reminder that I need to log it) and I measured out my shake powder. I am not bored with the program or my walking. I actually enjoy the simple routine. It's easy for me to follow and plan for.

However some times you have to throw caution to the wind and just have a night of drinks, chips, salsa and a great friend who listens to you.

And so it goes. Here's to tomorrow.