Let's Get Tipsy

With any weight loss journey, there are always little tips and tricks along the way that can aid in your progress. Today I'm going to share with you some of the ones I personally use and that have helped provide me with results. I tried not to state the obvious, that so many people and places constantly regurgitate at the world, so here we go.

• Read The Label - Read them all, see what you are putting into your body, see the calories, see the trans fat, see the serving size. Make your self aware of what you put in your mouth.

• Look Up The Calories - Eating out? No problem, most restaurants, especially chain ones, have the nutritional information on the website or in store. Never be scared to ask!

• Count Calories - Keep track of how many calories you do eat, try to stay around a certain amount. What ever works for you. I stay between 1200 and 1500 calories a day.

• Forget Pop - I don't know about you but I like food, so I would much rather eat my calories then drink them. Plus pop is bad for you, especially diet ones. Try to drink alot of water, you will fill fuller and its good for your skin and body. If plain water is to boring try the calorie free water enhancers in the drink mix isle, or my personal favorite, UnSweet tea!

• Get Moving - Excersise is everything, now I don't mean you have to spend hours at the gym each day, unless you want to, but to aid to any weight loss adventure or healthy lifestyle, try to incorperate atleast 30 minutes of activity to your day. It can be walking the dog, biking around town, a workout dvd, playing wii sports, or even just dancing around while you clean. I like to do ab workouts while I watch tv at night.

• Take Pictures / Record Measurements - Keep track so you can see your progress! Take a begining picture and then in a couple weeks, take another, in the same clothes. Take a before, during and after shot. Also record your measurements in inches and your actual weight with each picture. Its such great motivation to see how much your body really does change!!

• Set Goals, Short And Long Term - Set yourself a goal of how much you want to lose over all. Like in 6 months, a year or 2 years, whatever! But also set short term goals along the way. Like how much you want to lose each month. Or even how many sit ups you can do, or how fast you run a certain course.

• Limit Eating Out - Fast food is the fastest way to rack up unwanted calories and grease with out even knowing it. They don't pay attention to portion sizes or which ingrediant is better for you so what seems like a healthy option is really a calorie monster in disguise.

• Eat Sitting Down - You digest better when you are sitting down, vs standing up. You are also less likely to overeat if you avoid TV while eating as well. Eat slowly and drink water during your meal, you will find it easier to tell when your full this way.

• Eat Breakfast EVERYDAY - When you skip breakfast to "save calories" you are really actually hindering your progress. Your body will go into starvation mode and feed off of its muscles aswell as stored fats and your metabolism will slow WAY down to reserve energy! There are PLENTY of healthy options out there for breakfast that are filling and will jump start your metabolism!! I like to have whole wheat/ light Ego Waffles with Light Maple Syrup. I can have two waffles with syrup for 170 calories!!!

• Give Into Cravings - It is totally okay to eat sweets or 'crap food', every now and then. But the key is moderation and proportion. If you don't give into your cravings every now and then you are more likely to binge later.

• Don't Reward Yourself With Food - You are not a dog. After a walk or a workout, don't reward yourself with a treat. You can have a treat of course but don't make it a reward and take into consideration if that 'treat' is going to undo all of your hard work you just put it.

• Swap - Start saving calories but swapping out for the low fat, low carb, low sodium, sugar free and light versions of foods. Try 1% or Skim Milk vs Whole or 2%. Little changes here and there can really add up in the long run.

• Sleep - Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep. The more sleep you get, the more energy you will have to be active the next day, and it gives your body plenty of time to do the things it does at night, like digestion.

• Take Hot Baths - Take hot baths, with epson salt if possible. The epson salt will relax sore muscles and help draw toxins out of your body. The hot or even just warm water will help with relaxation and to draw out toxins also.

• Eat Yogurt or Take Probiotics - Either eat a yogurt with live cultures or take a daily probiotic, this will aid in proper digestion and will reduce belly buldge and bloat.

• Don't Drink Your Calories - Like I said about pop same goes for all sugary drinks and adult beverages. I would much rather eat my calories then to not knowingly consume half of them by throwing back a few drinksw. Try to limit your intakes or make swaps for lower calorie alternatives.

• You Don't NEED a Gym - if you have access to a gym then great! But don't think that that is a mandatory thing to have to lose weight. Their are plenty of at home excersises or dvd's that you can use as well. I personally have lost over 40lbs and have not stepped into a gym once.

I hope these will help some of you on your journey towards a better lifestyle. Just remember little changes are important just like big things.

If you have any great tips, please share!

- J

Good Morning Ha-Ha-Haters

For some reason, no matter what you are doing or how well you are doing it there will ALWAYS be haters.

Lame sauce.

I was out for my run, in the pouring rain I might add. Thats real dedication. Yeah I'm patting myself on the back, "so what, wanna fight about it?"

And the song Good Morning By Chamillionaire on and the part that goes : 

" All the haters hate that, 'cause they hate to see you be successful"

And for some reason tonight it just stuck in my head  and got me thinking..

When I first began my weight loss journey, I was very strict on myself. I didn't eat anything that was remotely bad, until I knew I had retrained myself to watch and control portions. I am too that point now of course. But on the hubby's birthday at the beginning of February one of my sister-in-laws was here and we had just gotten back from a heavy supper and they were sitting down to cheesecake that the hub's mom had made him. No big deal, but me, I didn't want any, and most importantly I didn't NEED any. I could see the oil pooling on top, too many calories for me. But they asked if I wanted any, I said no thanks, and the hub announced that I was dieting. The sister-in-law retorted snotty like "ugh why can't you just be happy with yourself".

On the inside I just snapped, I was so utterly pissed, but I kept to myself.

First of all, why at all does it concern her what I do with my life and for that means my body. Next, I am happy with myself, I am happy with the self that has gotten off her lazy ass and made changes in her life to better herself. I am happy with the self that runs in any and all weather conditions. I am happy with the self that eats veggies and fruits instead of greasy fries and candy bars. I am happy with the self that on that day was down over 15 pounds. I am happy with myself. I am beyond proud of myself for doing what people doubted me in, I am proud that I'm being successful on my journey to better myself and become a runner. I am proud of the self that held her tongue in that moment and didn't dish out the verbally lashing that was being scripted in my head.

Don't judge someone because they are making a lifestyle change to better themselves. You have no clue what drives them to do what they are doing. Offer words of encouragement to build up people not words to tear them down.

The only thing I can think of as to why she said that remark is that she's jealous of my decision to better myself and the fact that I was being successful.

It still to this day irks me. And that song brought back the memories, but as I ran and the music played these words buzzed out of my earbuds :

"And I admit it, I'm really 'bout to show you how I doIf you know you a hater, this dedicated to youYou hatin' my last move, I'm way on my next moveSee they hate to see you to be successful

I wanna show all of my haters love, this song's for youIf you acted like me, and I was in your shoes I'd probably hate on me too."
And suddenly I didn't care any more, because I'm successful and I'm just going to brush of the negativity and disrespect. I'm going to keep doing me.
Do what your doing regardless of who supports you or tries to bring you down. They will never change but you've already gotten up off the couch and put the effort in to the movement, so GOOD JOB, I AM PROUD OF YOU. I SUPPORT YOU. I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS, I KNOW YOU WILL DO THIS. SO GO, GO OUT THERE AND BE SUCCESSFUL. GIVE ALL THE HATERS THE FINGER AND YOU ROCK YOUR LIFE.I AM HERE FOR YOU WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS. I'm here for you because I have haters, but I'm going to let them be my motivators.
I'm gonna show all of my haters love, this posts for you.So I wave to you likeGood Morning Ha-Ha Haters.Good Morning

-J

Fabulous Forty

A large T-shirt that was the right size,now just hangs off of me---a hoodie that was a little snug also just hangs off me as well.

The photo in the tie dye was Friday the 3rd and it was the day that I hit my 40 lbs GONE weight mark!

Rounds of applause and cheers

Im in awe, like for real people, Never would I have thought that I would actually lose the weight I wanted and let alone be this successful  I mean come on 40lbs in 4 months? 123 days? Im so utterly proud of my self and the changes I've seen in my body and the changes I know are yet to come.

I'm one of those girls who has always been a little bigger, an average size girl, not the skinny twig that wears a size 0.

 For real how is zero a size?

Thats not a measurement, its a lack there of.

What ev's.

But I have tried fad diet, shakes, wraps and those workout dvd's with matching diets and blah blah blah. Nothing ever stuck, nothing was working for me. Like no joke I started Insanity 3 times and never could make it past the seventh day. It wasn't that I couldn't do the exercise, I was capable of it but for some reason I couldn't get my heart and soul in to it.

I felt like a failure. 

I did.

I cried, a lot.

I was so miserable and upset with myself, I had never been this big in my life and I couldn't believe I had let all this extra weight sneak up on me. I was disgusted with the way I looked and that nothing I tried gave me the results I wanted instantly. 

Yeah I lost 5lbs here or there but it always found its way back, because I kept giving up.

Then all of a sudden, one day I was talking to my mom and she said to me "You didn't put it on overnight, it's not gonna go away overnight" and of course I've always knew that, but then hearing it at that point it my life just changed everything. 

And then I set out, I set out to make a plan, to make changes, to not let myself fail.

New years was upon me and I decided that this year, this effing year was going to be my year. Nothing, and I meant nothing, heaven nor hell, come drought or high waters, I was damned determined to be successful this time.

So I started researching and scanning the internet and pinterest, of course, for tips on weight loss, recipes, programs, and blogs of others who had or were making a similar journey.

And through all that I stumbled up a 5k race called The Color Run, and damn I thought that looks like a freaking good time.

So I decided that my new years goal this year was to run a 5k and not only run one but to make a change in my lifestyle to live a healthier life and better myself.

Thats exactly what I'm doing.

I watch what I eat, I count calories, and I read every damn food label.

I work out, not a few times a week, every damn day.

I cut out all the crap in my house, for real I grabbed a trash bag and went through cabinets and the fridge and threw away anything that could hinder my progress. I researched clean eating and good foods for my body, I opened my mind to trying new foods and replacing the shit I was eating that was making me miserable and let my body thrive on the good stuff.

The way I see crap food is like the mean popular girl in high school, you want it so so bad and for brief moments you feel good among them but no matter what at the end of the day, they make you feel like shit.

Why this time is different, Im not a 100% sure of.

I just made the decision to work my heart out, to make this one count, to make this year the best one yet.

 And I had motivation, the hubby, never commented on my weight or anything, he loved me, every last miserably disgusting pound of me. But every time I told him I wanted to start this fad diet or that fad diet or so on, he started being less supportive, because he knew just as well as I did that I wasn't going to stick with it. That that product in a week would be in the grave yard of supplements and fads in the junk cabinet. 

And that struck a nerve.

I wanted to be successful, and I thought I'll try this healthy eating, and Couch to 5k program and I'm going to prove him wrong, but most importantly, I was going to prove me wrong.

So it began, and I made it through the first week, the first month, half way, two months, and then I had completed the 5k program,

WHAT?

I had lost 20lbs at this point and Couldn't of been more proud.

So I decided hell I'll do the program again, and I did, and I lost 14 more pounds.

Through out this journey, probably four weeks into this year, four weeks into my journey, I knew then that this was going to be the time when things worked out. This weight loss adventure clicked.

I had found the right path and for once I was equipped with all the right tools.

The hub?

He was so freaking proud and after the fist week of working out, he told me that, he supported me 1,010%, he encouraged me, he cheered me on, he made me feel so freaking good. 

Then I began to see the changes, I saw that I was capable, that I can and will do this, it may be a long journey. But Its my journey and I'm going to make the most out of it.

Yes sometimes I have bad days, yes I eat junk on occasion, but I do it in moderation, I watch the portions, I do trade offs with myself.

I'll tell myself, yeah you can have that ice cream sandwhich (skinny cow, of course) but why don't you do a little extra on abs tonight.

That works for me.

Thats the big hitter right there, 

it works for ME

its MY journey

I'M losing weight for MYSELF.

I stopped doing every last thing that others were doing. I stopped following their plans to a T and began doing things that worked for ME.

Don't let the time it takes to achieve the goal stop you from going after it, the time will pass anyways, and in a year are you going to look back and say I wish I would of started then or are you going to say Damn, look how far I've come.

How great it is to feel proud of yourself on your journey.

- J

Post Workout Protein Packed Snack

Through out my weight loss and work out journey I have learned how important it is to feed your body the right stuff at the right time!

After my workouts I try to eat within 1-2 hours, I usually come in in at the hour or hour and a half mark, and I always try to fuel up on good proteins. Its usually cottage cheese, string cheese or lunch meat. I always try to find new ways to spice it up and thus my newest fave, Turkey Rolls.

You'll need spray butter (0 calories), A pack of lunch meat, I use the 

90 calorie packs, and three Light, Reduced Fat Cheese Sticks.

First lay out the meat, three slices overlapping and place a cheese stick on one side. Roll the cheese stick up in the meat, burrito style, folding in your ends as well.

Heat skillet medium heat, spray lightly with spray butter. Place your rolls in heated up skillet, spray tops with spray butter. Let cook for a few minutes, then flip. Continue to flip/roll them around the skillet till each side is lightly browned.

Viloa!

Mhmmmmm.

Yummmmmy

For real melty cheese in turkey :D

Happy Happy Happy.

Enjoy!

-J

Motivated and Dedicated

Ever since I began my personal weight loss journey in January of 2013, and have been getting great results, I am constantly asked, what I'm doing, what I eat, and most importantly, how I stay motivated.

Now I'll give you a brief run down of my progress.

January 1, 2013 - Began.

February 22, 2013 - 20lbs lost

March 27, 2013 - 30lbs lost

April 26, 2013 - 36lbs lost

May 1, 2013 - total of 38lbs lost since start day.

November 2012 ------------------ April 2013

Slow and steady, always losing never gaining.

Now as for motivation.

I weigh my self every morning, mainly to remind myself how far I have already come and that I am capable of going as far as I choose. I celebrate every single ounce or pound I lose because that shows progress. I never let only losing 2 ounces hinder my attitude, I take it in stride.

I keep the lock screen on my Iphone as a picture or a motivational quote, so every time I check my phone or it goes off, thats the first thing I see. 

I post every last bit of my journey to Facebook and I'm lucky enough to have a great support line of friends and family who comment or like my pictures or statuses and that support and encouragement feels AMAZZZING!

I treat myself, every time I meat a mini goal, I go buy new tights or head bands or even go out for frozen yogurt! I like it cause I feel I earned a new whatever by hard work.

I push myself to workout no matter how bad I feel, no matter how small the workout it is, I tell myself that its better than nothing and I will feel better knowing I did it vs regret not doing it.

I take pictures and compare them side by side to old pictures to show myself my progress and that I am perfectly capable of achieving my goal.

I try on old clothes, and there is no better feeling then when pants or a shirt are so loose they are just hanging off you and you are swimming in the fabric. Take a picture too, remind your self of that feeling.

I keep pictures of workouts on my phone to do when I'm at a standstill at work or out of town for in my down time.

I walk the dog instead of just chaining her outside.

I enter any biggest loser or whatever contests my gym or groups are holding, I love me some competition!

I talk openly about my journey and what I'm doing.

I feel accountable now, after always posting to facebook, I now have quite a few people who have told me that I inspire them and well I can't let them down and most importantly I can't let myself down!!

I want to help anyone who asks me to, Im more then happy to share my knowledge or what I'm doing to anyone who asks, and i will support and encourage you in any way possible.

I stare at myself in the mirror every morning and tell myself one thing that I like about my changing body.

Hold yourself accountable for your progress, no matter what the time is going to pass anyways so why not do something to better yourself daily! You have the power to change your thoughts, think positive and happy and you will feel better about anything!

If you would like support, encouragement or help getting started on your journey, feel free to message me or email me and I will help you in any way I possibly can!!!

Good luck!

- J

How I Eat Healthy Away From Home

With Summer just around the corner, more and more of us are traveling!

 Yay for road trips! I feel bad for my travel partner because I'm like a baby in a car, I fall asleep with in minutes of riding along. 

But any-who,

  It can be hard to make healthy decisions when your away from home and your normal and no one wants to blow all their hard work on accident. 

Especially during bikini season.

So here are some things I due to help myself when I'm traveling to keep myself on track.

When Im at hotels, who can resist a free breakfast, mhmmmmmm.

Well unfortunately there is a bu-coo amount of calorie loaded sweets and treats.

wah!

BUT

Almost every single hotel I have ever stayed at ( I've stayed at hotels from Texas to North Dakota and from Tennessee to California and Hawaii) the breakfast bar usually has great options. My personal favorites are usually yogurts, granola bars, fruit, skim milk, toast, eggs (all types) and cereal! 

I like to have a piece of toast with peanut butter and banana on it paired with some eggs and a glass of skim milk and I always grab a granola bar or an apple to take with me that day for a great snack (and its free)!

Now outside of the hotels at restaurants, fast food joints and all types of eateries I use these little cheats:

 -grilled chicken over beef or breaded chicken

-dressing on the side

-minus the bun or bread

-veggies as sides vs mac and cheese or fries

- sweet potato fries vs reg fries

-turkey bacon vs real bacon

- water or tea with lemon vs soda

- half orders

- appetizer sampler in place of meal and an appetizer

- thin crust vs pan or regular

- drink a glass of water before each meal

- salad options vs sandwich

- turkey burger/veggie burger vs beef patties

- frozen yogurt vs ice cream

- try to avoid anything "fried"

Now I'm not saying you can't eat any of those things but these are just little swaps to help save some calories and still get to enjoy the meal.

Also anytime we go anywhere to eat besides home, I make sure that the hubby and I go somewhere,  mall, park, store, ANYWHERE and walk around for about 30 minutes. And I also never let us eat supper at the hotel we always eat, walk around then return to the hotel so we aren't just sitting around in a food coma.

How do you beat the food travel blues?

-J 

Straight From The Stylists Mouth

Im a hair stylist, as I have said before and today, I'm going to share with you some basic but important hair care tips!

Leggo.

* When your coming wet/tangly hair, spray in your detangler/leave-in-conditioner  on your ends first and the up to the back of your head -never in the front or on top of your head. Then using a wide tooth comb began brushing through your locks starting at the ends are slowly working up to your scalp! Make sense? when you start at your roots and work down you rip out chunks of hair and you going smooth, tangle, tangle, tangle. But when you began at your ends your going, tangle, smooth, smooth, smooth.

* Deep Condition you hair at least twice a month. No you don't need any special conditioner. Regular condition will do the trick. Now what you need to do for optimal results is,  shampoo hair as normal with warm water, squeeze out excess water, apply a generous amount of conditioner all over your hair, put hair in a shower cap or wrap with saran wrap, let it set for 20-30 minutes, now rinse with COOL water. Yes cool water.

Tada!

* Rinse your hair, always, with cool water. When you use warm water to shampoo your hair the heat opens the cuticle of your hair and then you put on the conditioner and the moisture gets into your hair strand and then the cool water seals the cuticle shut, locking in the moisture. Also by rinsing in cool water it helps your color last longer!

* Make sure when you use heat tools to use any form of product that says Heat Protectant or Thermal Guard. Heat can be incredibly damaging to your hair if not used properly.

* When using product in your hair, always apply to the underneath/back of your head first. Why? 80% of your hair is in the back, 20% in the bangs/fringe front part. So when you have product on your hands you should be applying the 80% of the product to the back and then the least amount to the 20%. This will keep your hair from looking greasy.

* Try to avoid ponytails when your hair is wet. If you put your hair up while wet, it will dry in the position, bent, and will end with your hair having more brake off and split ends.

* Do not wash hair daily. Every time you wash your hair, you strip it of its natural oils, so your body thinks its not making enough nutrients so it begins to over produce, resulting in greasy, oily hair. I recommend to wash every other day or every third day. And That applies to your hair, wash yo' self daily fools.

* Invest in good hair products, $3 sauve and $13 salon brands do not do the same thing. Why? The cheap stuff has been diluted and cut with water to make the product produce a bigger batch, meaning they can sell more bottles and well water didn't cost them anything, so they are making money off of selling you watered down product. Salon Brands are typically concentrated, which is why it takes less of the product to get the same effect. You wouldn't buy a nice car and then put some back alley insurance on it? So why spend $60 or more on your hair to only put cheap insurance on it??

* Change up your hair products. Believe it or not your hair adapts to the products you use on it, which is why they stop providing the fantastic results that it used to! I have two sets of Shampoo and Conditioner and I go back and forth between the two and even intermix them! Same with my hairspray, I go back and forth between Bed Head's Hard Headed and Kenra.

Any questions or thoughts on hair care, please feel free to ask!

Treat your hair with love and it will repay you by looking awesome!

- J