Lemme tell y'all some things about....EXERCISING!

I have developed a TRUE love of exercising. I don't love all exercise...But there are some I truly LIKE to do. Some that I don't have to drag my rear outta bed and force myself to go to. Bootcamp, spinning and Zumba. These are my favorite. (Note: Bootcamp ROCKS. HURTS SOO GOOD!)

So here are some things about exercising that I LOVE! First, the endorphin rush. For real. It is awesome. When I am done working out, I feel like a million bucks! Second, MUSCLES! That's right. I got 'em. (Don't gag..They aren't big and bulky...It is actually hard for women to get that kinda muscle..) They are there though. I have these amazing things that at one point I was SURE were airbrushed onto models...ABS! That's right. An ordinary mom of 3 has abs. they aren't QUITE a 6 pack, but there is some mad definition! Then there is the fact that I can do a rather intense, kick-butt work out (Think: elliptical, 8-10 intensity for 5 miles or 47 minutes) and not feel like I am going to die. I sweat. My heart rate gets up. I definitely feel worked out. But I don't feel like I might die. I can also do my bootcamp, which is light resistance, and still move the next morning. It burns. It hurts while I am doing it, and sometimes, especially when I up my weight, I am a bit sore. However, it is no longer the "I can't move because I feel like I was hit by a train" sore.
On top of all of this, I have noticed I am more confident, and have far less anxiety. I have the "I can do that" attitude more often than I used to.
I am so thankful that I have a body that is strong. That I am physically strong as well as spiritually strong. I am thankful for a husband who is super supportive, and does all he can to make it possible for me to get to my workouts. I am just thankful.

P.S. If you are thinking you can't workout. That it is too hard..Here are a couple of secrets: First, it is only hard for a little bit. Maybe a month. Which kinda seems like a long time for something to be hard....But put into perspective, a month of your entire life is a short amount of time. Before long, 'hard' becomes 'a good workout'! Also, find what you like. I have tried so many things...I hate running. Can't even pretend I like it. I can do it. But I do NOT like it. So, I don't do it.

Plateau, plateau, plateau! (Weight loss/fitness)

Haha! I have gotten HORRIBLE at updating this part of the blog. I haven't, however, gotten horrible at actually STICKING to working out and Weight Watchers. (Although, this wasn't my best weekend..STINKIN' movie theater popcorn!) I still hit the gym 5 mornings a week, and Zumba 2 nights a week. I haven't gotten back into my strength routine, which I am disappointed about, but I am starting tonight!
I have plateaued. Which is frustrating. I still have about 10 pounds until I reach my goal. I know the last 10 are always the hardest...But COME ON! The scale hasn't budged in about 2 weeks. But I can feel that THIS is the week! **I hope**!
I am trying to get the weight gone by July when wego back to Idaho to go through the Temple. (There will be lotsa photos, and I don't wanna look awful for them!)
So...Wish me LUCK! This is my week! Gonna work hard and eat right.

Just so you know that I am tellin' the truth about my weight loss! LOL!

I stole the "before" from my friends blog. She took this pic at Thanksgiving.

The other was right after I got to Idaho.

The "before" was my weightloss motivation, so really, I should say,

THANK YOU "A". Also, Thank you to my sweet husband

who is soo supportive and has let me spend tons of money to hit

the gym and Zumba while I am in Idaho!

Did not abandon my weight loss/fitness

Ok, so, I haven't given up on the weightloss thing. Truly. But on vacation, it is hard to get a good "weigh in"! I have stuck to Weight Watchers, and have gmanaged to workout five times a week every week! Woody surprised me this Saturday by showing up here, and he was shocked at my loss in just the week and a half or so that I have been here. His exact words, "Where did your hips go?!" I told him I shimmied them off at Zumba! ;) I heart Zumba. I am a total addict! I am even thinking of getting my instructors license and teaching it! (There is an instructors course coming to Minot in June, and that really isn't too far away from where I live!) Another huge feat: I was thrift store shopping, and found a really super cute pair of jeans that are a 27/33. I tried them on, and they fit. I didn't know what "normal" size that translated to, so I researched a little....Guess what?! SIZE 5! OH YEA!

"A new day" (Weightloss week 9..1/2)

Ok, I promise I didn't abandon my weight loss/fitness part of this blog. I am still DILIGENTLY hitting the gym and following Weight Watchers. But I wanted to wait to blog until I officially "weighed in" this week! And that was this morning.

Before we get to that, let me tell you. I feel so good. My energy is so high. I can feel that confidence thing returning. (Please don't yell at me for associating weight loss with confidence. Lets be real..If we hate how we look, the confidence IS NOT THERE!!) I am getting strong. I am building endurance. (I can do 15 miles on the upright bike and 5 miles on the elliptical. Both with some resistance!) I love those 2 things. I hate hate hate running, however! I tried it this week, and can NOT stand it!

So, on my Weight Watchers tracker, I plugged in last time that I lost a pound. (Since I had weighed Saturday and was down a pound, weighed Monday and was up 2..I figured that once things got "moving", I really had lost a pound...So..As of this week, I am down another 3 pounds! YES 3 POUNDS from that Saturday weight!! Soo excited.

I am a bit nervous about sticking to it the next few weeks though, because I am headed back to Idaho. Me going to Idaho is like a recovering alcoholic walking into a bar..I am not EVEN kidding. I have a plan though. Please, help me stay accountable!!

What I do..

I know you are probably sick of hearing about my weight loss junk. Oh well. If you are, skip this blog! (Pretty simple!) I want to put down somewhere all I am doing to lose this weight I have packed on. (I wonder if it is possible that where you LIVE makes you gain weight? I was up to the highest I have ever been except for during pregnancy!) To date, I have lost 16 pounds. I started Weight Watchers January 3rd and going to the gym January 8th. So in about 2 months I have hit and surpassed my 10% goal on Weight Watchers. I am going to list some of the changes I have made.
1. Soda. I have kicked the habit, hopefully, permanently! I hate soda. But I love soda. I hate how terrible it is for me, but that sweet fizz is just sooo yummy. I haven't had one since New Years Eve. Even when we go out to eat. And the truth is, so far, I am not tempted. (Even when Woody brought home 5 Mountain Dews!)
2. Water. I drink SOO much water. I love water.
3. Weight Watchers. I can't tell you all of the things I love about Weight Watchers. I never really realized how MUCH I overate until I saw how much my body really needs. I rarely feel hungry. I get to eat out with my family. I can eat whatever I want, in moderation. *Again: NURSING FRIENDLY!*
4. I have discovered I love oatmeal. I always thought I hated oatmeal, but really, I hated instant oatmeal! Give me the other stuff, and it is pretty dang tasty, especially with a TBSP of peanut butter and half a banana!
5. Fast Food. Hi. I'm Nancy, and I am a fast food addict! NO KIDDING. I LOVE Taco Bell,(Thank goodness there is not one close!) Wendy's and Taco Johns. I have been in "recovery" for this addiction all year. (HEHE! Love saying all year, so much cooler than 2 months!) My family has also abstained! Even on grocery trips to Williston.
6. Switching slowly to whole grains. I am still learning nutrition stuff, so I am still switching, but it is a work in progress!
7. Fruits and veggies. I am sure to have some at every meal. (Clementines are my fave!)
8. Eating several times a day. I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks. (I used to do a third after dinner, but discovered this left me wanting to vomit at my morning workouts!)
9. Speaking of the gym: I am there every weekday morning, getting my cardio in. Which is good. But I feel even better about my weight routine. I reallllly like doing my resistance. I feel so strong, which is super cool. (Also, weights are the key to weight loss! It will make you burn calories much more efficiently!)
10. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." (Ben Franklin) Most nights I am OUT by 9:30, at the latest. And nowadays 'sleeping in' means sleeping until 7!
11. Pictures. I took some pictures before I started losing weight, and take them every 2 weeks, and WOW! What a great motivator! It shows me results even when the scale doesn't!
12. I don't deny myself ANYTHING, as long as I track it, and keep it within reason. (Sunday night, I had Skittles and sour gummy worms.
13. Plan. Seriously, I couldn't do it without planning. I always have a 2 week menu, and track all of my food at the start of my day. Then I know what to prepare for! (Now, on the occasion that we spontaneously go out to eat, I just figure it out!) Also, I strongly recommend a meal plan, even if you aren't trying to lose weight! It saves us so much money, and makes grocery shopping soo much easier!

These are the changes I have made, and they seem to be working very well. Also, I feel good knowing my family isn't eating McDonald's!! I hope that this time next year, I will still be doing these things, and be 15 (more) pounds lighter!