First off these views are solely my own and I take all responsibly for what is said.
In my last post, I talked about my journey to start taking back my life and living better. The thing that has helped me the most has been MyFitnessPal. A great friend told me about the website and I have now logged in for 140 days in a row! Rock on!
It is a calorie tracker and overall amazing tool!! You can keep track of all you eat and see nutritional info for everything. The site helps you determine your calorie deficit, the amount of calories you can consume to lose weight. You pick if you need to gain, maintain, or lose weight. It is safe in that if you are under 1200 calories for the day it pops up with a warning and the site does not let you pick to drop more than two pounds per week. You can track exercise. You can connect with others and see inspiring stories. I enjoy seeing others who have lost over 100 pounds and their before and after pictures. It is completely free, which is incredible. There is an app for smart phones. I love my app. It has been what has helped me the most. I am able to scan my foods and it remembers the foods I eat the most. You can create recipes, set the serving size, and see how many calories it would be.
Overall, if you are looking to track your food intake or maybe even lose some weight, I would recommend MyFitnessPal to anyone and everyone.
love
anc
I got this.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Honesty Time
*deep breath*
My story so far.
I have always been the big girl for as long as I can remember. I was very active in sports from a young age and played varsity golf during my high school days. However I towered over everyone and was always large. In the sixth grade I remember being a large t-shirt and sixteen jean. I thinned out a bit in middle and high school. Size fourteen jean and medium t-shirt (that fit snug) is the smallest size I ever remember wearing.
I went off to college as a size sixteen pants and medium to large shirt. I maintained this size for the most part. I got pregnant and the morning I was to deliver I was quite large even for a pregnant lady. My weight was around two sixty. I lost a lot of weight, thirty pounds, by the time I left the hospital (due to an almost ten pound baby boy and twenty pounds of water weight). The smallest post little man I can remember is two thirties. Depression kicked in and I shot up on the scale and sizes. My highest was a tight 2x shirt and tight twenty-four jeans. I tipped the scales at my highest weight of two eighty-seven.
This is were my journey takes a new turn, one for the better. There are a few distinct events that I recall that helped me to see enough is enough and I am going to kill myself if I keep this up. One is while watching the biggest loser. The show is such a motivation... however I realized that many of the contestants on the show actually weighed less than I did. I was horrified. I never saw myself as THAT big.
Although I felt big in high school, I never really grasped how large I was at this stage in my life. I am still struggling with that. I will be folding my clothes and think, "Wow these pants are big." But when they go on they fit. Not a fun feeling.
Next, was seeing my dad lose weight. It is hard to explain and I do not mean to be mean towards him in any way with this however it was just one of my wake-up calls. He got down to the two eighties I believe, and was continuing to drop the pounds. He has always been a big guy and to know I was almost to the point of weighing more than him upset me.
Another reason it finally sunk in that I needed a change was my clothes were getting too tight. I owned one pair of jeans and they were really on their last leg -- no pun intended :-) I refused to go up a size and buy size twenty-six jeans.
My finally straw, the one that pushed me to fix myself for myself, actually has to do with little man. He was four months shy of three years old and I could not sit on the floor with my own son. My feet would start to tingle; my back would hurt horribly; I would actually start to get a headache. Enough was enough. If I want to be there for him and for my own life I would have to start changing the way I was living.
I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and not be completely out of breath. Heck, I would even like to be able to run them! I want to chase my son around the park and not be the fat mom who cannot run. I want to make it to my thirtieth birthday (which is still over five years away) and be able to look hot.
I am finally starting to recognize myself when I look in the mirror. Tomorrow morning I will have my weekly weigh-in. This week has been a great one getting myself back on track from the holidays. I am expecting a few pounds lost this week and should be on target to hit my first goal in the next week or two. I'll share more when it happens.
I got this.
Will there be set backs? Duh. Will I stop? Not a chance. Will I stumble? You betcha. Will I get back up? Hell yeah.
love
anc
I got this.
My story so far.
I have always been the big girl for as long as I can remember. I was very active in sports from a young age and played varsity golf during my high school days. However I towered over everyone and was always large. In the sixth grade I remember being a large t-shirt and sixteen jean. I thinned out a bit in middle and high school. Size fourteen jean and medium t-shirt (that fit snug) is the smallest size I ever remember wearing.
I went off to college as a size sixteen pants and medium to large shirt. I maintained this size for the most part. I got pregnant and the morning I was to deliver I was quite large even for a pregnant lady. My weight was around two sixty. I lost a lot of weight, thirty pounds, by the time I left the hospital (due to an almost ten pound baby boy and twenty pounds of water weight). The smallest post little man I can remember is two thirties. Depression kicked in and I shot up on the scale and sizes. My highest was a tight 2x shirt and tight twenty-four jeans. I tipped the scales at my highest weight of two eighty-seven.
This is were my journey takes a new turn, one for the better. There are a few distinct events that I recall that helped me to see enough is enough and I am going to kill myself if I keep this up. One is while watching the biggest loser. The show is such a motivation... however I realized that many of the contestants on the show actually weighed less than I did. I was horrified. I never saw myself as THAT big.
Although I felt big in high school, I never really grasped how large I was at this stage in my life. I am still struggling with that. I will be folding my clothes and think, "Wow these pants are big." But when they go on they fit. Not a fun feeling.
Next, was seeing my dad lose weight. It is hard to explain and I do not mean to be mean towards him in any way with this however it was just one of my wake-up calls. He got down to the two eighties I believe, and was continuing to drop the pounds. He has always been a big guy and to know I was almost to the point of weighing more than him upset me.
Another reason it finally sunk in that I needed a change was my clothes were getting too tight. I owned one pair of jeans and they were really on their last leg -- no pun intended :-) I refused to go up a size and buy size twenty-six jeans.
My finally straw, the one that pushed me to fix myself for myself, actually has to do with little man. He was four months shy of three years old and I could not sit on the floor with my own son. My feet would start to tingle; my back would hurt horribly; I would actually start to get a headache. Enough was enough. If I want to be there for him and for my own life I would have to start changing the way I was living.
I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and not be completely out of breath. Heck, I would even like to be able to run them! I want to chase my son around the park and not be the fat mom who cannot run. I want to make it to my thirtieth birthday (which is still over five years away) and be able to look hot.
I am finally starting to recognize myself when I look in the mirror. Tomorrow morning I will have my weekly weigh-in. This week has been a great one getting myself back on track from the holidays. I am expecting a few pounds lost this week and should be on target to hit my first goal in the next week or two. I'll share more when it happens.
I got this.
Will there be set backs? Duh. Will I stop? Not a chance. Will I stumble? You betcha. Will I get back up? Hell yeah.
love
anc
I got this.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Chicken Taco Soup
I have made this dish a few times now and it is a good one. The sodium content is really high due to the salsa but it has a nice kick. Also high in sodium is the taco seasoning packet. I am sure you could use your own spices to make this good without the sodium...however I am just learning how to substitute things while cooking. And yes I consider crockpot cooking to be real cooking! It is better than simply grabbing a frozen meal and makes me feel accomplished for having planned!
Ingredients:
- 16oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can baked beans
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can kernel corn ~ no salt added
- 42 oz salsa ~ I get the picante sauce one jar mild and one medium heat.
- 1 package taco seasoning
I rinse the corn and black beans.
Place chicken in crockpot.
Mix everything else together.
Pour over chicken.
Cook on LOW heat for 6-8 hours.
Shred chicken and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
The great finished product!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Fruit and Yogurt
I enjoy eating yogurt. However eating all the extra junk that comes in the fun flavored kinds is not so enjoyable. I decided to take a try at making my own flavors. It was amazing! I tried grapes and strawberries. The berries definitely make a better overall flavor but I am super happy with the results. All you need is some plain yogurt and your favorite fruits!
Grapes and Yogurt~
Grapes and Yogurt~
Get grapes
Cut grapes in half
Get plain yogurt
Add grapes to yogurt and mix! Yum!
Strawberries and Yogurt~
Get strawberries
Cut up strawberries
Get plain yogurt
Add strawberries to yogurt and mix! Yum!
I've found, especially with the strawberries if you let the mix sit in the fridge a while the yogurt is not so overpowering. It gives everything a chance to blend.
This is just a way I'm looking at living life a little healthier :-)
I got this!
Love
anc
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Pictures
My very dear friend Sara took these pictures of little man and me. Also are a few of my little sister. I made a photo book for my parents of these pictures. Here is a rather large sample of my favorites!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Resolutions
This year will be great. School has taken a change for the better. I now only have four semesters left, or two years, instead of seven semesters, which was three and a half years. I found a program that fits my life as a mom better and childcare is pretty much taken care of! Life is good!
Now don't get me wrong, saying "life is good" does not mean its all flowers and perfect stuff. Life is still messy. I, however, choose to go at with with God on my side and know that even though this life may be a total roller coaster, I am loved by Him and know where I am going.
This is something I've had to work through a lot the past few months; finding my place in this messed up world, still living for Christ, and trying to make a difference.
So as I said, I am not doing any resolutions this year. Keep up the good work and love God through all of it is my goal and purpose.
love
anc
Friday, December 30, 2011
Catch up
Big things that have happened since my last post:
- Thanksgiving
- Little man turned 3
- Finals
- Christmas
But the thing I'm most excited about is I am still at thirty pounds down! YAY!!!
The holidays tend to be a bad time for most. Birthdays and the stress of finals can be bad for the scale as well. YET I am really doing this! I got this :-)
I know I did not make the best choices with all that was going on however I was able to keep off the weight. This feels amazing.
For Christmas I went up north to visit my family and although it was great being with them and so close to everyone, I am happy to be home. This next semester will be incredible since I'll have night class. I am back to working out on the elliptical and I'm working on cleaning the house big time! I already have seven bags of stuff that needs to go to the thrift store and have thrown away quite a bit.
Being home feels good because I can get back into my eating routine. Today I've already had 12 cups of water.
Life is good :-D
love
anc
Monday, November 21, 2011
Little Man Monday
To make up for the LMMs I've missed here is an extended edition :-) Enjoy!
Taken November 1, 2008
Just over 3 years ago
Taken November 29, 2008
Little Man at a few days old
Taken November 21, 2009
LM at one year old
Taken October 19, 2010
LM at almost two years old
Taken November 12, 2011
LM at almost 3 years old
Thursday, November 17, 2011
90 days
"You have logged in for 90 days in a row!"
This is what I saw when I logged my breakfast this morning :-D
Not going to lie, I'm proud of this. Have they all been good days? Nope not a chance but it is a slow change and I'm working on it.
My exercise has pretty much fallen to the wayside and I'm working to get back into the habit. Some of my neighbors and I got together to workout at the women's only area on campus. It was good working out with others and I enjoyed the fellowship however I do not think I'll be doing that equipment again. I believe I have planter fasciitis. I could barely walk all day Tuesday due to the pain I was in. Not fun is an understatement. It honestly felt like my heal was cracked and I would not like to experience that again if at all possible. I've had the pain before but never to that degree.
Last night I finally got back on my "friend". My 21 day habit forming did not happen however I will get up and try again! I hadn't been to work out on my friend in months but it was great to be back. I rocked it to the sound of 45 minutes and 270 calories later!
It is a daily battle not to eat all day or to sit around and not get my body moving. I'm working on leaning on the Lord for my needs because I know He will lead me through. He wants me to be at my best...even if that means tough times of working on my health and mind. His grace is sufficient in all things!
This is what I saw when I logged my breakfast this morning :-D
Not going to lie, I'm proud of this. Have they all been good days? Nope not a chance but it is a slow change and I'm working on it.
My exercise has pretty much fallen to the wayside and I'm working to get back into the habit. Some of my neighbors and I got together to workout at the women's only area on campus. It was good working out with others and I enjoyed the fellowship however I do not think I'll be doing that equipment again. I believe I have planter fasciitis. I could barely walk all day Tuesday due to the pain I was in. Not fun is an understatement. It honestly felt like my heal was cracked and I would not like to experience that again if at all possible. I've had the pain before but never to that degree.
Last night I finally got back on my "friend". My 21 day habit forming did not happen however I will get up and try again! I hadn't been to work out on my friend in months but it was great to be back. I rocked it to the sound of 45 minutes and 270 calories later!
It is a daily battle not to eat all day or to sit around and not get my body moving. I'm working on leaning on the Lord for my needs because I know He will lead me through. He wants me to be at my best...even if that means tough times of working on my health and mind. His grace is sufficient in all things!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Workout Program
I started doing C25K (Couch to 5k). So far I am really liking the workouts. It starts you out running for just one minute at a time and over the nine weeks it builds you up to running for thirty minutes. This is good for me since I've never been much of a runner but I decided I needed something to help get me moving!
I'm looking forward to running with little man when he gets back from his dad's. I like this because I could even do it while pushing the stroller if needed!!
I'm looking forward to running with little man when he gets back from his dad's. I like this because I could even do it while pushing the stroller if needed!!
Picture taken after Week 2 Day 2
Don't mind the pasty whiteness...
the flash went off and didn't feel like retaking
Friday, October 14, 2011
Counseling and Such
This blog will make very little sense to the outside reader; however I am writing it for me and using this more as a journal. Yeah the whole world can see it but that's okay.
Counseling is a powerful thing. My school offers it free to students and decided to take advantage of the offer.
It is amazing how someone with nothing invested in your life can look in from the outside and give an observation that is really very clear. Why don't we see that for ourselves?
Well I was challenged by my counselor Wednesday afternoon. She gets to hear lots about my life and background. I'm going mostly for career counseling, to help me figure out the direction I should head in. After taking over half the session to talk about one topic she stopped me and said, "You just talked about that for twenty-five minutes and got animated and excited. Why don't you do something with that?" Wow. I didn't realize how passionate I can be about this. I don't want to go into the details at the moment, maybe another time. I was then given the challenge.
I was scared to death. BUT I did it! I actually did it! Granted I could hear my heart beat in my ears and was shaking but I accomplished my challenge.
On a completely unrelated note, I have been staying up really late this week. I don't know what has come over me. I can't seem to get myself to bed before one. Even when I need to be up early I still go to bed late and then stay up the next night. Craziness.
So far I've logged in to My Fitness Pal 55 days in a row. I'm pleased with myself. I am down 26 with my first goal being minus 35. Why 35 you ask...that is how much little man weighs and I want to be able to say "I am minus my son!" :-D
This week and last has not been the greatest diet wise. I bought chocolate, which I shouldn't have even done but we all make mistakes. I've been over almost everyday and am learning not to beat myself up so much but learn from it and try to make better choices next time.
School has been going well. This week is mid-term week and I had a few tests but nothing bad. This semester is proving to be quite easy. I spoke to my counselor about this and she said maybe there is a reason for that. At first I felt really bad and guilty that I wasn't really having to study or work hard but it is freeing up time in other areas for things like my challenge.
There is a season for everything.
Counseling is a powerful thing. My school offers it free to students and decided to take advantage of the offer.
It is amazing how someone with nothing invested in your life can look in from the outside and give an observation that is really very clear. Why don't we see that for ourselves?
Well I was challenged by my counselor Wednesday afternoon. She gets to hear lots about my life and background. I'm going mostly for career counseling, to help me figure out the direction I should head in. After taking over half the session to talk about one topic she stopped me and said, "You just talked about that for twenty-five minutes and got animated and excited. Why don't you do something with that?" Wow. I didn't realize how passionate I can be about this. I don't want to go into the details at the moment, maybe another time. I was then given the challenge.
I was scared to death. BUT I did it! I actually did it! Granted I could hear my heart beat in my ears and was shaking but I accomplished my challenge.
On a completely unrelated note, I have been staying up really late this week. I don't know what has come over me. I can't seem to get myself to bed before one. Even when I need to be up early I still go to bed late and then stay up the next night. Craziness.
So far I've logged in to My Fitness Pal 55 days in a row. I'm pleased with myself. I am down 26 with my first goal being minus 35. Why 35 you ask...that is how much little man weighs and I want to be able to say "I am minus my son!" :-D
This week and last has not been the greatest diet wise. I bought chocolate, which I shouldn't have even done but we all make mistakes. I've been over almost everyday and am learning not to beat myself up so much but learn from it and try to make better choices next time.
School has been going well. This week is mid-term week and I had a few tests but nothing bad. This semester is proving to be quite easy. I spoke to my counselor about this and she said maybe there is a reason for that. At first I felt really bad and guilty that I wasn't really having to study or work hard but it is freeing up time in other areas for things like my challenge.
There is a season for everything.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
love
anc
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Goals
I know the importance of goals but I hadn't really set any for my weight loss besides the main goal weight. Well I finally did!
Take a look!
SW = 287 lbs
GW = 175 lbs
1.5 lbs lost per week
Mini Goals: (developed 10/9/11)
Goal 1: -35lbs (aka the weight my son is) = 252 lbs
Complete by 11/19/11
Goal 2: -60 lbs = 227 lbs
Complete by 3/10/12
Goal 3: -88 lbs = 199!!! "ONE"derland!
Complete by 7/14/12
Goal 4: -100 lbs = 187 lbs
Complete by 9/8/12
Goal 5 -112 lbs = GOAL WEIGHT of 175lbs
Complete by 11/3/12
So if I did all my counting right I should be under 200 by July! Sweet beans!
I set myself up to have 1.5 lbs gone per week. I want to do this for good and in a healthy way.
Take a look!
SW = 287 lbs
GW = 175 lbs
1.5 lbs lost per week
Mini Goals: (developed 10/9/11)
Goal 1: -35lbs (aka the weight my son is) = 252 lbs
Complete by 11/19/11
Goal 2: -60 lbs = 227 lbs
Complete by 3/10/12
Goal 3: -88 lbs = 199!!! "ONE"derland!
Complete by 7/14/12
Goal 4: -100 lbs = 187 lbs
Complete by 9/8/12
Goal 5 -112 lbs = GOAL WEIGHT of 175lbs
Complete by 11/3/12
So if I did all my counting right I should be under 200 by July! Sweet beans!
I set myself up to have 1.5 lbs gone per week. I want to do this for good and in a healthy way.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Little Man Monday
Yes I am in the picture to but his face is too cute not to post for the LMM! Plus I look pretty silly too!
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