McFatty Monday

I almost didn't do a McFatty Monday post today because lately, I haven't been doing too well. 

The truth is... I'm an emotional eater. 

I eat when I'm happy, sad, stressed, tired, bored. It's sad, really. And the things that I crave the most? Ice cream, cookies, chocolate, hamburgers (particularly Big Macs), and all other sweet or fatty foods. Clearly, this is a problem.

I've been making more of an effort this past week. I went to my new gym and took Zumba last Monday and loved it! Unfortunately, it was a bit much for my back right now and I had to leave a little early due to the tightness and discomfort I was feeling, but it inspired me to go to the store to get more healthy things to eat!

I have a major issue with breakfast. There are few things that are healthy that really fill me up. I've tried cereal, english muffins with peanut butter, and peanut butter toast. Eggs just don't do it for me and more often than not I find myself driving through the McDonalds drive-thru ordering a bagel, egg, and cheese sandwich and a yogurt parfait. It's an issue.

This past week I decided to try something different. I bought some protein powder, non-fat frozen yogurt, and the Tropicana 50 juice to make a protein smoothie for breakfast. This worked a couple of times last week and really filled me up! I didn't even get hungry until lunch, but today was a different story. I got really stressed at work and was starving all morning. It sucked.

Even though last week wasn't perfect, I feel like I'm still making strides. Tonight I said no to just sitting on the couch with my back aching and yes to going to the gym to work out in the heated therapy pool. And you know what? I feel awesome. I also said no to the ice cream in the freezer and yes to a cut up cucumber and a little bit of dressing as a post work-out snack.

I feel like the big difference is that I'm trying. I may only make it to the gym once a week, but that's once a week more than I've gone in months and for the last three weeks I've been consistent. Sometimes it's about taking baby steps to get you where you want to be and I'm ok with that. You know what they say...

Slow and steady wins the race!

McFatty Monday

Let's see where we're at today...

I'm up by just over a pound from last week. This should come as no shock seeing as last week we had 3 snow days in a row giving me a 5 day weekend! Yes, I loved every minute of it, but I took advantage of it and ate too many things I shouldn't have.

Let's recap, shall we?

• Oreos. I tend to polish them off pretty quickly. It's an issue.
• Phil and I celebrated his news of a permanent job with steak, twice baked potatoes (with broccoli), and shrimp.
• Lots of soda. Not enough water.
• Friday night's dinner was laughable at best...corn dogs and shrimp. Enough said.
• Saturday we ordered pizza and wings for lunch.
• Sunday was a big mac combo. Once the pastor mentioned a big mac at the beginning of the service, I knew I was done for.

This week was horrible food-wise and I didn't get to the gym. Nope, not once. I am attempting to make this week better and try not to eat any fast food in the process. I was hoping to get to the gym today, but my back is really on the fritz since I did laundry and my wrist has been hurting all day.

I am starting to think that maybe changing my gym membership to include the pool might be worth it. I just bought a brace for my knee and with all of the back issues I've been having, it's starting to sound more appealing.

I am hoping to get things back on track and in order. I have just over three weeks until the wedding and I need to make sure that I can still fit into my dress since it's already been altered!

McFatty Monday

It's been a while since I've done a McFatty Monday post so I thought it might be nice to have an update.

I haven't done much in the way of exercising/dieting for months, so I didn't really have much to write about. The holidays did me in and just the fact that it's freezing outside does not make me want to eat right and go to the gym. I just want to stay inside, sleep, and eat.

After months of not going, we signed me up for the gym that's 5 minutes away from my new apartment and I finally went to the gym last week! Granted, it was only one time, but it felt good to get back into the gym and work out. I'm hoping to be able to make it a regular practice again.

Yesterday, Phil and I went to the mall and we walked so much. We ended up having to take a break because my knee started acting up, but I was still being more active. My goal is to take it all in stride and really try to enjoy this journey instead of dreading it. That's the only way to make it healthy and last.

McFatty Monday

It's Monday again, time to look at the scale and re-evaluate last week's weight loss efforts. In my case, they were pretty much non-existent. A week ago, I played four softball games in a two day period. My legs hurt, my stomach was sore, and my back was bad. I don't normally have too many back issues, but when it decides to hurt, it really does something to me and there is no sitting, standing, walking, or laying without some kind of pain. The pain was so intense that it was shooting down my leg and radiating from my lower back. It sucked.

Last week, the heating pad, painkillers, and a hot bath were my bff's. It was torture. So, I think it's safe to assume that the gym was not happening and the fact that I needed to go grocery shopping, but was physically unable to, meant that my diet consisted of a lot of take-out/fast food. Not so great.

The good news is that I only managed to gain one pound! I tried really hard to make sure to portion my fatty food-intake and tried to drink more water. Also, Phil and I went grocery shopping today so I have good food to eat at home and I will not be eating out this week!

My back is still very tempermental, but at least I can seem to sit and lay down without too much pain. Standing is still not-so-great, but as long as I make sure to limit my time, I'm fine. My goal for this week is to do some "light cardio" a few times this week and to start small....even if it's only for 10 minutes, that's something. I really just want to check on my back and see how it does with the cardio. I have a training session on Wednesday and will gauge how I feel at that point.

Overall, I'm happy with where the numbers came in this week and with better food and a better back, this week will definitely be better than last week!

McFatty Monday

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to not care about what others think? I struggle with this almost on a daily basis. Sure, there are things that I really don't care what others think, but there are a few that really get to me. My weight is one of them.

I get it, I know that I'm heavy and quite frankly, it's hard to lose weight! There. I said it. Ok, now, let's just be supportive and not comment on every little thing that I eat that might not be the "best choice." I've lost 4 pounds since August and I worked my butt off last week compared to the past few months. I worked out for an hour with my new trainer and played four softball games where I was actually trying to run the bases. Seriously, I was on base so much that by the end of the first night, my butt was sore.

I've been really trying to watch my portions, not overeat, and choose better foods as an overall thing. I don't want to start a "diet" that I can't stick with for the rest of my life. I strongly believe that it's ok for me to have a piece of pie, or a cookie, or some ice cream without ruining my weight loss, it just has to be in moderation.

I struggle so much with the comments that other people say to me. The reality is that my self-worth does not come from what they think, but from the Lord. I no longer need to feel like I'm not good enough or that if I eat something or don't go to the gym that I'm worthless. The weight loss is happening and I need to focus on the positives so it will continue.

I've lost 4 pounds since August and I think that's fantastic! I have an appointment with my trainer this week and I'm going to work my butt off while I'm there even though my shins are sore and my legs still hurt. I will make good decisions and will start thinking positively of myself. And you know what, I'm happy with that!

McFatty Monday

This weekend I learned something valuable. I learned that if you continuously eat fatty food, it will catch up with you. Let's do a little recap of what went wrong, shall we?

Friday:
Lunch- Wendy's #1 combo. Yep, a cheeseburger and fries complete with soda.
Dinner- Hot Dog. Just plain in a bun. In my defense, I thought I had a softball game and needed something quick.
Late at night- McDonald's #1 combo. I was starving and we were running around getting things ready for a friend's party the next day. Not the best choice, but it was good (at the time).

Saturday:
Breakfast- Raspberry pop-tarts and ice cream. I don't want to even go there....
Lunch- Charley's Philly Cheesesteak sandwich
Dinner- Taco Bell

As you could imagine, Saturday, right after lunch, I was sick. It was awful. I don't usually do that much fatty food in such a small amount of time and let me tell you, I paid for it. I did, however, redeem myself yesterday to get back on track after the weekend mishap.

Sunday
Breakfast- Protein bar and water
Lunch- Subway roasted chicken breast sandwhich
Dinner- french toast

My snacking was ok, not too great and I did have one left-over from Taco Bell on Sunday, but with talking to Phil, I've learned why I binge on food. Most days, I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with little snacking in between. This is why I am constantly feeling like I am starving and shove food into my mouth without thinking about what I'm putting in my body.

As a result, Phil and I made it a point to go to the grocery store yesterday and shop for snack, lunch, and breakfast items that I can have during the week. We also came up with a menu for dinners this week. I haven't cooked in so long because his mom cooks every night and invites me over. This week, his parents are in Virginia, so I offered to cook for Phil and his brother this week!

I am definitely looking forward to having a set plan for food this week. I feel no need to go out and buy junk food because I am prepared and have everything I need to stay on track. I am still hungry this morning, but I'm snacking like crazy and drinking water to try to hold off until lunch. It will take time for my body to adjust, but for now, I'm making good choices and focusing on that.

McFatty Monday

This past week has been crazy for me. It seemed to be one thing after another with school, open house, having a friend up for the weekend, going to a lunch-thing for a "pre-wedding lunch" with a friend, and Phil's birthday party. Yes, it was crazy and hectic and I'm definitely feeling it right about now.

I honestly can't remember how I did last week, but it wasn't great. I've been struggling with feeling like I'm starving all the time. No, really, it's pretty much constant, unless I stuff my face with fatty foods, then I just feel fatty. It's really a win-win situation, right?

At work I try really hard to at least do snacking and lunch right. I have tomato "soup at hand" cups in my desk drawer and bring a protein bar to eat. Let me tell you, this does nothing for me! Seriously, I might as well not even eat. Take today, for example: I had a soup at hand and protein bar at 1:30pm. At 3:30pm I'm starving and have some fruit and veggie pizza (not the "traditional" type pizza). It's now 4:16pm and I'm still starving.

This seems to be a daily thing for me. No matter what I eat lately, nothing really fills me up. I can drink water and it does nothing, except maybe upset my stomach.

The one good thing is that I've managed to maintain my weight from last week! I've been keeping portions in mind and trying to not eat unless I need to whether I'm hungry or not. Either way, I am still hoping to go grocery shopping soon and cook so that I have good food to take to work with me every day.

What do you do when you're starving and nothing seems to work?

McFatty Monday--Making Plans

Blair is the original creator of McFatty Mondays. Each week she posts something inspirational to share from her own personal weight loss journey. This week she talked about making a plan for weight loss and you know what...I'm a little embarrassed to say I hadn't thought of that before. It's so simple, I love to plan every other area of my life so why not my weight loss?

Planning my weight loss isn't just about saying how many times I'm going to work out each week, it goes a lot farther than that. Planning weight loss means taking time to sit down and plan my meals. I need to plan what to make, when to make it, and remember to take it with me. I also need to come up with a back-up plan for when I get hungry unexpectedly.

This seems pretty easy, but when you are "on the go" so much it's hard to get on a schedule that will actually work. For example, today I was at work from 7:30am-2pm then at the staff meeting from 3:15pm-4pm. I had forgotten to bring my lunch and was starving because my breakfast didn't fill me up as much as expected.

Things like this happen all the time. I need to start setting aside some time to make dishes and get them ready to grab and go for days like today. I love cooking, but haven't been doing as much lately. It's been easier to go through a drive-thru on my way to the next thing instead of taking a few extra minutes in the mornings (or the night before) to pack a lunch.

It's about time I've planned my weight loss. It might be difficult in the beginning, but it's worth it.

McFatty Monday....er, Tuesday?

As we all know by now, I've been majorly slacking in the weight loss department. I did make it to the gym last week to get my butt kicked by my trainer, but that was it. This week looks like it might work out the same way. I see my trainer today, but I'm not sure about going to the gym another time this week.

I am hoping to get into a routine where I go to the gym straight after work. I work part-time and can literally SEE the gym from the window of my classroom. There really is no excuse right now other than I don't want to.

I feel like this is a never ending cycle. At some point I need to step up and start a new cycle where I don't let things get in the way. It should be about my health, not just pounds lost. It's easier to sit here and reflect upon it rather than to get up and do it.

I need to stop wanting to make others proud of me and to do it all for myself. The wedding date should not be a day of reckoning, but a day to rejoice in how far I've come and to know that it doesn't just end there. This committment has to be life-long. It has to be there when we have kids, not just so that I won't be the "fat" mom, but to show our kids the right way to do things. Exercise can be fun and if I make it a habit now, it will be easier in the long run.

I'm going to try to work out 3 times this week. It will be hard to get back into the swing of things, but I need to. I need to get back to the place where it felt good to work out.

Is anyone with me?

McFatty Monday

Last week was tough for weight loss. I didn't lose any weight, but I also didn't gain any. I was more focused on spending time with my friends than on what I should and should not eat. I did well with not over-eating while going out so much so I still count it as a victory.

My trainer was out last week and is unavailable this week with my new schedule. I am planning on going to a couple of classes at the bare minimum or doing some low impact cardio. My shins have been killing me for the past couple of weeks so I can't run or jump right now. Walking even hurts!

I'm happy to report that my soda intake was lower this week! I'm trying to focus on small things and keeping portion size in mind. I don't feel bad if I have a cookie, I just make sure to not eat 12 cookies!

We'll see how this week goes. Today started the "Pre-Professional Week" at school and teaching starts on Monday. I made an alterations appointment for my wedding gown so I need to soon kick it into high gear! So many things are changing, but I'm determined to overcome any stress that comes my way and to make smart, healthy decisions.

What do you do when you get stressed?

McFatty Monday

I'm down 1 pound from last week which puts me up by 2 pounds from where I was before. It's coming off and I'm thankful for that!

In other news, gym shopping has been an adventure! I've been to the YMCA, Curves, and the Family Fitness Center. I had no desire to look into the one that used to be Powerhouse gym because the last time I was there, it was dark, dingy, and was a little creepy to go to by myself. Phil isn't looking to get a new membership just yet so that didn't seem like an option.

I wrote about the Y last week, but the quick overview was that it smells when you walk in. I'm learning that there are certain smells I just can not handle and pool water mixed with sweat and funk is not one of them. I was also looking for more of a "gym" feel and being there made me feel weird. The prices were expensive for an "individual" and since Phil and I don't live together, they would not allow us to be on the same membership. Ironic, though, because if we were living together before marriage, they would give us the discounted rate and YMCA stands for the Young Men's CHRISTIAN Association. And....that's all I have to say about that.

Curves was the last place I checked out. I had heard about and read some reviews that made me apprehensive to join there, but I wanted to check it out anyways and get a "feel" for the place. Let me tell you one thing, the music there drove me crazy! I told Mom that if I had to listen to that while working out, it would make me want to shoot myself *not literally, but seriously, it was that bad*. On top of that, they were a little taken aback that I would want to work out for more than 25 minutes and that the machines wouldn't let me start until my heart rate was in their "target range." First of all, I work out now for more than 25 minutes and hope to continue to lengthen my work outs. Secondly, my heart rate when I work out is way higher than the "target rate" and I feel fine. It's just how my body works and if it's not going to let me start the machine or count it towards my progress if I start anyways, then what's the point? Oh, and it smelled funny.

The Family Fitness Center is a place I heard about while playing in the softball tournament yesterday. The catcher from another team gave me the information and said that's where she works out and she loves it! I checked it out today and wasn't expecting much. It's in an old armory building and I'd never heard of the gym there. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with their facility. They have a decent amount of equipment and they even have classes that are offered. They are incredibly affordable (especially for the going rate for gyms in this area) and I can even bring my trainer there to train me and it will only cost $5 for the day! They really had a lot to offer.

It looks like I'm going to be able to continue working out and I think we've found the place. I've done well today with my diet and will keep pressing on this week to see some good results next week!

McFatty Mondays

What I'm learning....

I'm learning that playing softball on Sundays and just being more active in general is NOT cutting it!
I'm learning that no matter what other people think I should/should not be eating, it is still MY choice!
I'm learning that it's ok to have something you want every now and then...it's all about proportions.
I'm learning that even though I am getting "tighter" in my mid-section, that's not good enough. I want to be more fit all over!
I'm learning that no matter what, it comes down to what is best for me and what I want.
I'm learning that the results I do/do not get are a result of the effort I put in each and every day.

These past weeks have been a struggle for me. I'm doing well at maintaining, but I'm letting way too many things change how I feel and operate. It's about me and my goals right now and I need to do what is best for me no matter what other people tell me I can and can't do. At the end of the day, it's my body and I know what I need to do to change it.

Here's to making good decisions this week and seeing weight loss next week!

McFatty Monday

I took last week off because of the holiday, but did manage to lose 1 pound! This week I'm on vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina so there is no scale around for the moment. I'm really happy about that because something about the heat, humidity, and long hours in a car make me want salty and sweet snacks...a lot.

As you can imagine, this week is pretty hard for me eating-wise. It's also difficult because there are a lot of comments being made to "remind" me that the weight will not come off for the wedding if my diet continues. You know what that makes me want to do? Sleep and eat more junk food.

I feel that there are times where it's ok to have an ice cream or have a little junk food, but it needs to be kept in moderation. It seems that people around me who love me are trying to be helpful by making these comments, but are really being hurtful. I feel that I'm not allowed to eat anything unhealthy because once I do, someone makes a comment (and no, Phil is definitely not saying these things!).

The other thing that was hard for me was working the new job. I was in training for two weeks, but the job was basically a tele-stalking recruiting position for the Red Cross and was incredibly stressful. There are rules to adhere by and no matter how much someone begged for you to take them off, there was nothing you could do about it. Not the job for me.

My job has ended (I'm sure I'll write about that soon enough) and feel that I will have more time to get things together and work out more consistently once again! I miss working out and how great it felt, so it will definitely be more of a priority until the new job starts!

McFatty Monday

I am happy to report that this last week, I've lost another 2 pounds! My trainer was able to do my "measurements" and I have lost 2 inches off of my waist (stomach)! In addition to the weight loss, my clothes have been fitting better. I fit comfortably into a pair of slacks that were too small just a couple of months ago and a new blouse that I had bought when it was a little tight in the middle, fit way better too!
Unfortunately, I didn't go to the gym as much as I had planned to do, but I really watched my diet and it still paid off well! They say that losing weight is 70% diet so I guess that's really true! It feels really good to be able to focus and put a lot of energy into making sure that I am eating better foods.


This week I need to work out more just to be consistent and to burn more calories in addition to eating well.

My new work schedule was changed for training to the earlier shift so I think it will be more do-able.

McFatty Monday

This past week flew by...well except for Friday, but that's for a whole different post. I did a fantastic job watching what I ate and even stuck to my "wedding diet"! I didn't make it to 5 days working out, but I did do 3 days...not good enough, but it's a work in progress.

Nevertheless, I managed to lose 6 pounds this past week! Holy cow, that's a lot! It was so surprising that I weighed myself twice to double check. That's the most I've lost in sooo long. I think it's because now that we're engaged, the stress of "when is it going to happen" is gone and I can focus on losing weight without the added stress.

Since starting to work out on a more regular basis, stairs are easier, my knees don't hurt, there's less back pain, and I don't huff and puff doing normal things! I've even noticed that I can handle the heat and humidity a little bit better this year than last!

This week we're going to try again for 5 days of working out and continuing with the diet plan. I don't expect to lose that much each week, but it was a great kick-off to my weight loss journey!

McFatty Monday

This past week was a whirlwind! There was a lot of work and not a lot of working out :( I managed to do decently, but not great with my diet. I'm not upset at all because overall I was pretty happy and active even if it wasn't at the gym.

This being said I've pretty much maintained this week! I'm happy I didn't really gain so it's not too terrible and it's a good thing.

But, I have a new found sense of motivation and I know this motivation will stick because...

I'm getting married!!!

I am motivated to not have to buy a plus-sized dress and to be healthy on our wedding day.We haven't set a date yet, but we're thinking January or February of next year so that doesn't leave too much time for getting my weight in check, but with eating well and working out I should be healthier by then.

This week I WILL:

1. Drink more water!!! Last week was ok with water, but I need to step it up starting now.
2. Work out 5 days this week. This means by actually working out, not just being active.
3. Eating regularly and healthfully! We bought some egg beaters, low-fat cottage cheese, and grilled chicken patties for me to have quick, healthy meals.

I need to make sure that I lose weight the healthy way without starving or over-doing it. I do not expect to be at my "goal weight" by then, but there can be a significant difference in how I look and feel by then.

McFatty Monday!

It's that time again and guess what...I lost a pound y'all! I have been sitting at the same spot for months and despite everything I tried the weight would just not come off to save my life. What did I do differently this past week? Well, that's the funny thing. I went to the gym once. I at coldstone's ice cream, a cheeseburger, taco bell (not the "healthy" stuff), had a soda, and ate dessert. Yep, did the bare minimum, did not stress, and the weight has started to come off!

I did manage to do a lot of running around and was still active, but not in the the way that I should be. Also, my water intake was good M-Th and was seriously slacking over the weekend. I fully intend to get back on track this week and have already been more active today! I'm still planning to go to the gym this week and work out in some way, just haven't set the plan yet. I've noticed that because of the exercise and moving around more, I am able to do so much more! I used to huff and puff playing softball and running the bases and now I don't get winded and there's no pain! It's definitely been a good thing to work out either way and I fully intend to keep it up.

I was also thinking that when I hit my 20 pound weight loss that there might be a giveaway! If anyone has any encouragement/suggestions just let me know and leave a comment!

McFatty Monday (Memorial Day)

First off on this Memorial Day, I want to take a second to thank everyone who has served in our Armed Forces. Your dedication and selflessness has given us freedom and for that I am so thankful to you all.

Since it is Monday, it's time to write about how well or not so well my weight loss efforts were this past week. With that said, here's the recap:

• Total workouts: 4! I saw my trainer on Monday (and she kicked my butt!), did half of a Zumba class then walking with Phil on Tuesday, walked for an hour on the treadmill Thursday, and Saturday walked 45 minutes on the treadmill at a little faster pace than Thursday!
• Eating-Wise: I did pretty well! I downloaded the app for Phil's IPod Touch that tracks my calories, fat, and carbs and found it incredibly helpful. There were many opportunities this weekend to get side-tracked, but I managed to stay on track almost the whole weekend (except for last night with pizza, but I made sure to limit myself).
• Water Intake: This week has been consistently good with water intake. I've been bringing a refillable water bottle with me and drinking mostly water for everything.

I feel good about this week and hope to continue next week at the same pace. Unfortunately I'm not home right now (or else I couldn't be writing this post as I have no internet) so the weigh-in will have to wait until another day. I am picky about which scale I use to weigh myself because all of the scales seem to have a different reading and fluctuate so if I stick with my scale, then I know it is consistent.

How have y'all been doing this past weekend with your "Get Fit/Lose Weight" endeavors?

McFatty Monday

Well, it's Monday again and that means it's time to talk about weight loss! The goal for this past week was to go to the gym/work out for 4 days. I did pretty well with 2 days in the gym and 1 day of walking at the nearby park that has an awesome walking path complete with hills and inclines. Saturday my friend and I went to the Nationals game so there was a decent amount of walking including stairs. Yes, I chose to take the stairs on a couple of occasions instead of the escalator.

There wasn't enough time to weigh myself today, but as of a few days ago the weight that was gained on vacation was gone! The major changes haven't been in weight loss, but rather in cardiovascular endurance. At first, working out at the gym was so incredibly hard. The elliptical would kill me within the first 5 minutes of exercise and I would literally leave breathless and crying. Now, working out for 30 minutes on the arch-trainer or elliptical is pretty easy and do-able.

My trainer seems to be impressed with how much we can do now when we work out and has therefore made my workouts MUCH harder than before. This is something that is both good and bad as I totally feel exhausted still from our workout this morning.

The goal for this week is to continue the working out and to make sure that I'm making better choices in my diet. Phil and I have a lot planned this weekend and it will involve eating out a lot so learning to make good decisions when we aren't able to eat at home is very important.

McFatty Monday

I'm back from California, so it's back to the grind...well, maybe tomorrow. I've been trying to catch up on unpacking everything so the gym is out of the question for today, but I am keeping a close eye on my eating.

The trip was great! We had a lot of fun and ate way too much good food! I managed to gain a little, but that could also be because of the lack of water we drank so I'm not too worried about it. We did a lot of walking around while we were out there so it's not like we were lazy slugs the whole time.

I'm looking forward to going to the gym tomorrow night with my gym buddy for Zumba and getting back to liking the gym and looking forward to it!

This week's goals will be:
1. Go to the gym 4 times
2. Eat better than last week--which, really shouldn't be that difficult

What are your goals for the week?