Project 2014

I have lost my writing mojo.

I find myself not having a whole lot to say. Whenever I sit in front of my laptop I find myself coming up blank. The reason behind my writer's block is because I haven't really been working out like I should be (if at all). How can you write in a fitness blog if you aren't working on being fit yourself? Well, it's nearly impossible! I truly believe that I gain clarity of mind when I exercise my body.

Another reason that I've sort of ignored my blog is because I've been preoccupied with a few career related goals. Instead of running on my treadmill at night I have been studying for an exam that I REALLY wanted to pass. I did pass and as a result, I think things will only get better from here on out.

Thus, the storm has passed and I am now ready to rebuild and regain my mojo. It just so coincides with the new year, which is rapidly approaching. It seems as good a time as any to set new goals and milestones for myself.

My first goal is to stop using Splenda. This will be REALLY HARD for me to accomplish. For the past 7+ years I've been adding Splenda to EVERYTHING! Everything from my morning coffee to fresh strawberries! Luckily, I've already started trying to ditch the Splenda. I bought a box of Stevia packets and for the past three weeks I've been using it in my coffee. What I've found is that I don't get as many migraines. I still get them, but just not as many. I'm not sure if it's the Splenda-free coffee or if it's just a matter of coincidence. Either way, I'm sticking to Stevia.

My next goal is to stop using Coffeemate creamer. It is made completely out of chemicals. Before, I didn't really care about the chemicals in my creamer, but as I'm getting more informed I've found that it's just better to get as close to natural as possible. Thus, I'm going to start using low-fat milk instead of creamer.

Yet another goal is to stop drinking Diet Coke. This is going to be SOOOOOOO HARD for me. There is nothing like a cold Diet Coke with dinner. It is just so refreshing! Yet again, this is another "food" in my diet that is made out of chemicals. In the past, I have tried to leave the Diet Coke behind but it has proven to be a very hard vice to get rid of. I plan to just set my mind to the idea that Diet Coke is OFF LIMITS for me. I always accomplish what ever I set my mind to, so it'll happen.

So what the hell am I going to drink in 2014???

Plain ole H²O. It'll be boring to the taste buds, but best for my body. My ultimate goal is to only drink water, black coffee, milk and almond milk by mid-2014. 

Let's see if I can do it!

(What do you know!?!? I wrote a post almost effortlessly just now. Maybe I'm not as mentally blocked after all!)

Mid-Week Update

So here is the latest update on my last post:

In regards to my diet...

• Drink more water. --YES!
• Eat less sodium. --YES!
• Eat less sugars (baked goods, candy, crackers etc.) --YES!
• Cook dinner everyday. --YES, Sort of. I ate leftovers last night instead of cooking the meatballs. 
• Not eat after dinner. --YES!
• Eat more protein. --YES!
• Eat more vegetables in the form of Nutribullet Shakes. --Not yet!
• Eat more yogurt (I dropped yogurt out of my diet for some reason.) --YES!

In regards to exercise...

• An hour of cardio at least 4 times a week.--So far I'm on schedule!
• Stretching before cardio. --Not really.
• Body Pump twice a week. --So far I'm on schedule!
• Stretching after Body Pump.--YES!

--NO DIET COKE AT ALL THIS WEEK!!!!!!

Talking about dinner, this weeks meal plan looks like this:

Monday - Spinach Stuffed Chicken with Vegetables --YES! Made this! Recipe coming soon!

Tuesday - Southwest Meatballs --These will be made on Thursday!

Wednesday - Salmon Patties --On the schedule for Friday

Thursday - Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Lean Turkey Marinara Sauce--YES! Making this tonight...time crunch today.

Friday - Stir-Fry with Brown Rice --YES, scheduled for Saturday.

Saturday - Leftovers --Probably on Sunday

Sunday - Whole Wheat Veggie Lasagna --YES, preparing this on Sunday and baking it on Monday.

WORKOUTS:

Monday - 3 Miles & Les Mills Hardcore Abs --YES!

Tuesday - Les Mills Pump & Burn --YES! On today's schedule

Wednesday - 3 Mile Run/Walk & Les Mills Flow (Stretching) -- Moving to Thursday

Thursday - Les Mills Pump Challenge & Hardcore Abs --Moving to Friday along with Stretching.

Friday - Les Mills Flow (Stretching) --YES!

Saturday - Pump & Burn --YES!

Sunday - Rest --YES!

As you can see, I'm having/going to have a really good week!

Kickin' It Up A Notch!

My brother and I have decided to sign up for this year's Turkey Trot 5K. If you remember last year I ran this race as well and it just so happened that it was my first race ever. In preparation for this year's race I will be starting tomorrow with the treadmill runs again. I am really excited about starting training since I haven't really had any motivation to run or workout at all. I hope that this race, once again,awakens my power within.

Reboot and Refocus

I haven't been to this blog in a looooong while. I walked away for awhile because I just didn't feel like blogging about my life and my struggles. It was too depressing and I would sit in front of a blank screen and stare. The fact that I couldn't write was the thing that was getting the best of me. I can ALWAYS write. It's something that comes naturally to me and to not be able to was just pissing me off. So on an impulse, I shut down the blog until today.

In the meantime, I kept at my goal. Yes, I have lost 26lbs. and have 14lbs. to go. I'm over the midway hump and I'm finding that I really need to focus and write down exactly what I want to accomplish. Let me explain, yesterday was my Stepson's birthday and to celebrate the day we went to City Walk. As my husband was driving us there, I was staring out my window thinking about my health, my fitness and what really drives me in life. I was mainly thinking of what I want to do with myself. I think I have proven that I still have enough willpower and self-discipline to lose weight. Now I just need to fine tune and hone in on a legitimate goal with a timeline. Otherwise, I'm just going to be losing weight until I hit a certain number and I think I've evolved past the "I just want to be skinny" mentality.

My original goal was to shed 40lbs. by my birthday and seeing as my birthday is right around the corner, I'm not sure that I'm going to make it. I actually don't want to make it. Losing that much weight in such little time will not keep it off. I'd rather go slow and steady and NEVER get fat again!

Anyways, instead of rambling on and on, I'm going to just write it out here.

This is my Reboot & Refocus goals:

1. Lose the remaining 14lbs. I originally set out to lose by the end of the 2012. (This is a pound/week goal.)
2. Continue working out 6-7 times a week. --Totally doable!
3. Begin weight lifting 2x a week. (Mondays & Thursdays)
4. Continue running on days I do not lift.
5. Continue eating right, but maybe increase my calories to 1400-1600 a day. Eating 1200 calories a day has become boring. I eat the same foods at the same time everyday. (A trait that will make me an excellent figure competitor I'm sure.)
6. To stick to all of the above.
7. To re-evaluate my goals again at the end of the year.

***ULTIMATE GOAL***

To compete in a figure competition.