you need to WANT IT

"Nobody can want it for you, you have to want it for yourself."

This is so true .. I have discovered that you can't convince anybody to lead a healthy lifestyle or exercise. The bottom line is that person needs the inner motivation. I know from personal experience that inner motivation is the hardest thing to get. They say you can have the best nutritionist, personal trainer and doctor around but NOTHING will work if you don't WANT it for yourself. I think I finally got to the point in my life that I was sick of "being sick" as they say. Although I wasn't a heart attack waiting to happen I know I wasn't healthy. I had very LITTLE energy and I just felt "blah" (for lack of a better describing word).

I can't convince you all to exercise regularly and eat healthy but let me tell you when you do it .. the way you feel is incredible .. you'll feel like a whole new person!!!

So get out there and show the world that you WANT IT. When I finally wanted it for myself my life changed ... and yours can too!

GOAL!

They say a goal is best when it's written down .. so here it is for the whole world wide web world to see.

MY GOAL IS TO BE UNDER 200 POUNDS (198 pounds to be exact). This would mean losing another 15 pounds by the end of 2011. We'll see how it goes.
My mathematical side figured out that on AVERAGE I was down 5 pounds a month and well there's 3 months until Christmas so .. should be doable? We'll see!

slip up ...

Well everybody has them .. bad days .. bad weeks .. sometimes bad months. My personal experience included 2 VERY bad days.

I came fully prepared on Thursday with homemade chilli and vegetables to have instead of the pizza I know they were ordering for all the staff at the Open house. However when I got there .. the smell of pizza absolutely killed me ..I don't think it helped that I have been off dairy for 3 weeks ... pizza and chocolate are by far my greatest weaknesses!!! So ... there I was sitting in my classroom .. debating with myself. Then I decided all the staff is in the staff room I will go and just have ONE piece ... because a lifestyle change also means having the OCCASIONAL treat. Well .. unfortunately 1 piece turned into 2 pieces .. 2 pieces turned into 3 pieces .... you get the idea .. I had MORE than one piece and I had FAR too many pieces. The next day was followed by a trip to Timmies with my class and an iced cap made with chocolate milk and a SMILE cookie as I gave myself permission because the money went to the Acton food bank ... sound familiar? who's been there ?? trying to give yourself reasons for eating the way you do... that's what I did.

Lunch and dinner were fine but last night saw a trip to Demetres with ice cream sundae ... OYE! This was a very bad two days. I could sit here and dwell on it or I could do something about it.
I got my arse up this morning and gave it my all at the gym and plan to do the same tomorrow.

I think I'm sharing this because I want everybody to know that we've all been there .. a slip up that gets you feeling guilty..but the important thing is...when you get knocked down .. you get up again .. Chumbawamba anybody?

I was shocked when I weighed in today because I somehow still lost 2 pounds .. This was somewhat a relief but also made me think ... hmm I wonder how much I could have lost if I didn't have that pizza .. or that ice cream. With regular exercise and a balanced diet you'd be amazed what your body can do.

Tosca wrote something that really stuck with me ... if you have ONE bad meal don't let that be an excuse to throw out your eating for the rest of the day. Remember that!

40!!!!!!

So those last 5 pounds were tricky to lose due to the craziness that was back to school .. but I did it!

Since I joined the gym .. last January until today - Sun. Sept 18th I've lost 40 pounds. I feel fantastic and can't believe I ever let myself get to where I was. The introduction of regular exercise into my life and my incredible trainer Shawna have really changed my life. I look forward to going to the gym and miss it if I don't go. I never remember a time that my exercise routines were like that.

Although my last post was quite negative I reflected and realized I couldn't have gotten to where I was without the support I have in my life. The texts Saturday morning to say yep wake up let's go to step, Cathy for getting me addicted to the classes and always encouraging me (even from Mexico), my personal trainer for reminding me it's mind over matter and giving me endless encouragement but not being afraid to tell me like it is if I wasn't giving it 110%.  My boyfriend Nick for loving me unconditionally and cooking me the most delicious and healthy foods and of course my parents who always encourage me and cheer me on in anything I take on.

Thanks to those that helped me along the way. The journey is not over yet .. but I'm still excited and want to celebrate!!

I have not revealed my "weights" since starting this blog.. but today I feel motivated and comfortable in attaching a number to it all today. I'm doing it to motivate myself and so that all of you know whether you're 400 pounds, 250 pounds or 150 pounds ... if you want to get fit, develop muscle and lose weight .. it is possible!!

January 25th, 2011 -  starting weight 255 pounds                
 

April 23, 2011 - 238 pounds (17 pounds lost)

July 13, 2011 - 230 pounds (25 pounds lost)              

 September 18, 2011 (TODAY!)  - 215 pounds (40 pounds lost)              

And a quote to motivate and to think about .... well said by Biggest Loser trainer Jillian ...

"This is where it matters the most. This is where lives are made, in these moments when you can choose whether or not to say "I can't" or "I can." It is a choice that will either make or break you for life."
-Jillian

Go out and do it .. make a change .. because you CAN. The word CAN'T isn't in the dictionary (this was said to me while holding a plank by my personal trainer)...and I try everything possible to never use this word. So go get 'em....because now's the time and because you CAN.

healthy cooking

I think everybody's idea of "healthy cooking" is a different one. I think one of the biggest hurdles I've come across is that we have to rely on ourselves ... our own cooking and our own meal planning in order to be a success. This can be very frustrating!

I wish there was a magic pill that could encourage all the people in our lives to value a healthy lifestyle. It is difficult to see people you care about eating unhealthy or leading an inactive life. People don't realize how difficult it can be when they tempt you with unhealthy foods .. whether it is "let's go out for dinner tonight" or cooking food in oils and salts or serving high fat desserts.

I think I've just reached a point of frustration and thought my blog was the best place to express this. Moral of the story .. surround yourself with people that support you and your efforts because this is what will get you where you need to be.

The biggest loser winner said this at his talk. You need to be around positivity, healthy food and people that understand and support your lifestyle.

... and my thoughts for the day .... this change and shift in thinking is not an easy thing.. but in the end it's worth it.