Measurements

I said I would get measurements and pictures up by Monday, but yesterday, I ended up getting really busy and went off to a mall with one of my best friends to shop for a few hours.

Today (as in seconds ago), I took measurements of myself. NOTICE: My measurements, or WHAT I measure, might be different than what you measure; that's ok. I've read 50 different articles that tell you to measure 50 different things. It all depends on what you want to see and where you want to see results. I chose the waist, hips ('cause they don't lie), thigh, and upper arm. These are areas I would like to see whittled down. Here are my *FIRST* measurements!

Waist: 63.5

Hips: 68.5

Thigh: 33.5

Upper arm: 20

I don't know if these numbers (exception being the waist) are high because, other than my waist, I have never measured myself! This is a new concept for me, but I think this will be a great motivator. No one wants to see numbers go UP.

Check out tomorrow's post when I have an update on my weight.

New Goal Sunday

Time for new goals:

Drink 3 frozen mochas a week (I was back up to 7...yikes!)

Give up 1 fast food meal a week--down to 1 a week
--I think I mentioned this a week ago...I said it would be a 2-part goal, 1 week for recording how many times I eat out at fast food restaurants, and 1 week for actually DOING the goal. This is week 2. I counted the avg. number of times I go out for fast food, and it was 2-3 times a week. That is not much for me. I'm sure I've stated this earlier, but I used to be a McDonald's fan. I would eat there whenever I could. Burger King was also one of my choice restaurants. However, I have cut those two completely out of my life. I haven't been to one in YEARS. The ONLY exception is if I'm craving it extremely badly and NEED it. Then and only then will I give in and get a small fry or pop.

I still could do better though. Mom is making more meals at home because she has more time, Dad is on a 2 week "vacation" from work (his building shuts down for 2 weeks every summer) and Bro is...well, still working, but since Mom usually makes the meals, it doesn't really matter.

This week, I'm really going to strive to eat up the food we have at home. If I feel the need to go out, I would like to choose a somewhat healthier place to go: Subway, Jimmy John's...sub places are the best for me because I can get exactly what I want and can see it being made. I don't know why, but I love that.

Sidenote: Have not gone out for fast-food yet this week; had 1 frozen mocha already

I will be back tomorrow with measurements and pictures--finally!

Weigh-in Wednesday: The good, the bad,....

So, if you can't tell, I've fallen off the bandwagon...just a little. Actually, a lot. I just got back into going to the gym last week after not going for probably a good month, my eating habits are terrible, etc, etc....

Today, I got to the gym for the first time this week (weeks are Sunday-Saturday for me), and weighed myself. Good news and bad news:

Bad news: I gained 4.8 lbs from the last time I weighed myself a month (or possibly more?) ago.

Good news: I have put on what *looks* like a significant amount of weight. My pants are tight, shirts don't fit, and my stomach is getting visibly bigger. However, I only gained 5.4 lbs, and not the 15 I thought I gained.

Here's the details:

Starting weight: 412

Previous weight: 406.2

Current weight: 411

Change: -4.8

Goal weight: 126

Total weight loss percentage: .35%

Not 1% yet, but I'm getting there! Any percentage of weight LOST is a good thing.

Motivational Monday

Good day today! Had an interview at Marion City Schools, explored Marion and Bucyrus on the way home, tried a new jelly--Apple Jelly--from an apple butter and jelly factory, and just had fun! Some pictures of Marion and Bucyrus are on my twitter feed.

Who doesn't need a little motivation on Mondays? Have a great week!

~Be the kind of person that you want to meet.~

Also, check out my Goodreads profile, linked from the tab "other social media" (look above)!

It's that time of week again...

...time for new goals. I've fallen off the bandwagon lately, but I would like to hop back on, please. When do I not fall off the bandwagon? I feel like I constantly am falling. But, I always try to pick myself up again. This time, I did need a little help from Mother, who is trying to push me more and more each day. 

Here are my new goals:

Nutrition: Give up 1 fast food meal a week

     -- what is "fast food"? Anything eaten out... "anything? what's left to eat? you can't constantly eat at home, you." Correct. What's left? Subway, Jimmy John's...places similar to these that do not include a large portion of the menu fried in grease.

Fitness: Exercise for 10 minutes each day

     -- for this goal, I searched online for ideas for 10 minutes of exercise, and found 8 ways to incorporate small doses of exercise into my days; I'll be using those and updating you on what I did later in the week

Motivation: Get 8 hours of sleep

     -- Because who doesn't want more sleep?!

You might be thinking: "Hey, you, I've seen these before? Why do them again?" Because I need to, that's why!

Wish me luck, as this week, I am going to really push myself!

Uh...I'm not really THAT person. But I am THAT person.

Lately, I've been thinking about just how much my "weigh" of losing weight changes (pun intended). I have always been a person who embraces change. Change can be a good thing. The only proof I need is to look at my life. After high school, I needed a change, so I took a risk. First, I cut off 8-9 inches of my hair, dyed it to the complete opposite color, and then, I left. I went 5 hours away to a city I barely knew, walked into a school where I knew no one, and took a chance at a new life. Fast forward 5 years later, and I could not have been happier with my decision. I made life-long friends, I honed a craft that I love and keep falling more in love with, and I changed...for the better. I feel more confident, mature, optimistic, and happier than I ever felt before I left for college. I can honestly say I am a different person, and I love it.

Change can be a great thing. Look at my mom's gardening decisions lately (some pushed, possibly, by her wonderful children.... :) ). After 3 (or so) years of pushing, Mom FINALLY let me have a patch of her *sacred* rose garden for my mini herb garden! Yay! I just planted a fresh, living basil plant (I have the tendency to somehow kill basil...this plant is Basil III) and an oregano plant. I'm seeing margherita pizzas in the future. Brother also got in on the planting, making a little patch across from the herbs for his...hot chilis. I can't believe he planted those, and I'm not sure if I'll ever eat one, but Brother is into Creole/Cajun cooking, so I am sure those will fit perfectly into his recipes.

See? Change is good. Well....not all change.

One thing I will never change: my eating. Now hear me out: I'm not saying this in a bad way. I am merely saying that you will NEVER see me on a "diet". I used to be a yo-yo dieter-- ya know, "I'll cut this out. It's 'no that' week, etc..."But now? No way. I am not a dieter, and I never will be.

I might change up HOW I set goals, or what kinds of goals I set. I might change up how I measure myself. Or I might even change up my whole weight-loss ideal, but that is not a bad thing. In my mind, I call it...progress. I am growing and maturing each day, and I am so excited to see where my life takes me.