Life Lately.

I don't have a whole lot to stay, but felt like blogging. So here's a random post :)

• All I can think about is LONDON! Seriously, I have spent hours researching and planning and learning. With only 3.5 days there, I really want to have our stay planned out perfectly so we can maximize our time. There's so much to do and see! I've also been trying to figure out where to stay without breaking the bank. There's an awesome site called airbnb where you stay in someone's apartment. It sounds kind of weird, but it's awesome. You have the place to yourself and it's a really cheap way to travel. We used it last time we were in Vancouver, Canada.
  
  

  

  This is one of my favorite places so far, but it's a little pricey for our budget (via)

  And guess what? Landon's mom Suzette and her husband Jason are coming on the cruise and to England with us! We seriously can't wait and it will make the cruise even more fun, which I didn't think was possible. Ahhh! We couldn't be happier that they are coming! It's going to be the best.

• We spent a night at the beach for my bosses' 4th of July party at their beach house. I brought my camera, but only took 2 pictures. It was actually really nice to not worry about it, but of course now I regret it. Oh well. We had a great time and it's always really fun to stay at a hotel. We brought our folding bikes and did a 12.5 mile bike ride along the beach and through the woods. It was beautiful and our legs were definitely feeling it after. I also came up with the term "hicycling" which is when you take your bike on some rough trails and there's a lot of uphills. I'm not a big fan of hicycling. Nope, not at all.

I didn't take this picture, but this is what the trail looks like :) (via)

• So I reached my goal weight a few weeks ago and lost 17 pounds! I honestly didn't know if I would be able to do it when I started 3 months ago. I proved to myself that I do have willpower, which is pretty awesome. It's definitely not easy and it really is a complete lifestyle change. People ask me what I'm doing and it's really not anything fancy. I eat around 1500 calories a day and workout 5-6 times a week. Also, I eat a small bowl of ice-cream almost every night. I'm living proof that you can eat sweets every day and still lose weight! ;) So now I'm officially at my college weight, but I actually want to lose another 7 pounds. That will put me smack dab in the middle of where I should be for my height and body frame. So I figure that's a pretty good place to be. I've  moved on from Jillian Michaels (I got so sick of her voice) and I've been doing workouts from a husband and wife team called "Fitness Blender." They have a youtube channel and have over 500 videos. I do a different video every day and switch between HIIT cardio & strength training. I feel really happy and healthy, and that's what's important. It's really not about being "skinny" although it is nice to fit into clothes I haven't worn in years :) Oh, and I can do a REAL push-up now. I've never, ever been able to do that! 3 months ago I could hardly even do a girl push-up!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  I won't tell you the before and after numbers, but look at that chart! I can't believe it.

  
  
• I have a big case of the "what-ifs." We leave for our big sailing trip to Newport on Friday and I'm starting to feel a little bit panicky. Have you seen Tarzan? Well, we are watching it right now on Netflix and I feel exactly like the elephant. (Side note: I love elephants. So much.)
  
  
  
  
  We have spent months prepping our boat, we have been sailing every week for 18 months, we have studied charts, tides, and wind, and we are completely ready. But I just don't feel ready. I feel kind of scared. I have this fear that Landon is going to fall off the boat in the middle of the ocean and I'm not going to be able to get him back. One time his hat fell off the boat and I was at the wheel. Guess what? It sunk. I couldn't get it in time. So now I'm having nightmares where I'm trying to get the hat that fell off, but it's not a hat anymore... it's my Landon. I'm going to puke. Bah! I'm trying to do that thing I like to do, where I trick my brain into thinking I'm excited instead of scared, but so far I'm leaning way towards scared. I guess I have a few days to work on my attitude.
  
  
  
  
  
  P.S. I made Landon look up the sea temperatures and the ocean is actually relatively warm right now.  Humans can last 2-7 hours before going unconscious in the current conditions, and Landon is a great swimmer. So my fears really are irrational.  I can definitely get him back on the boat within 2 hours if he falls off. I think he's going to be okay :)
• Okay, but how romantic is it going to be to literally sail off into the sunset? Who actually DOES that? It's going to be crazy to be all alone in the ocean miles and miles away from civilization and any other humans for that matter. I'm not sure what we are going to do all day, but it sure will be nice to spend over a week together with nothing to do but hang out.

via

• And last, but not least...life is really good. Like really, really good. I feel so happy and content where I am right now. I love being a wife. I love being a nanny. I love being a puppy-mama. I'm excited for the future (future=having kids), but totally and completely living happily in the present. It actually took me awhile to reach this place. But I'll tell you what... it feels good, real good :)
  
  
  
  
  
  That's all folks! I won't be blogging for at least another week and a half, but be ready for some awesome tales from our adventures at SEA! :) 

10 Weeks & 11 Pounds.

Well I can't believe it, but it has been 10 weeks since I changed my eating and fitness habits. I am happy to say that it really has become a habit and something that I just do. Working out has become just another part of my daily routine. On my rest day I feel so lazy and have to fight the urge to throw on my running shoes and go for a quick jog. It's funny that a few months ago I was saying things like, "I hate working out!! I like junk food WAY too much to eat healthy!" I'm SO happy I found something that works for me. That really is the key to making changes that are going to stick. Do what works for YOU.

So far I've lost eleven pounds and 11 inches! I know that might not seem like much, but I am short so eleven pounds is a bigger deal. I honestly don't think anyone can see a difference, but I definitely can. And I FEEL so much better! I have so much more energy and rarely take naps anymore (I used to have one almost every day!) I rarely get headaches anymore (I also used to have one almost every day!) I just feel happier and healthier. My resting heart rate has gone down significantly! It is so nice to know that what I am doing is not only making changes on the outside, but changes on the inside for my health! My resting used to be around 85 and now it is 64! My poor heart was working way too hard.

I can see the difference in my face too.

It has been so easy for me to stick to my 1300-1500 daily calorie plan that I'm actually worried it will be hard to eat more calories once I'm down to my goal weight! I snack on fruits and veggies during the day, instead of empty carbs and I eat a big bowl of broccoli every night before dinner. Other than that, I eat pretty "normal" food. I've definitely tried to cut down on processed foods (Mac and Cheese once every other week instead of three times a week, no more white rice, etc.), I've cut way back on my sweets, added more protein, and learned the power of portion control. I don't have any restrictions (like no treats), because there's no way I would be able to keep that up and I'm trying to establish a life change. This is not just a "diet"--I hate that word!

I just can't live without ice cream...It's all about portion sizes!

A typical dinner--brown rice (such a hard transition from yummy white), broccoli, and tilapia (I eat fish now! What?!)

I've started to include running into my workouts. I've never been a fast runner, but I've always liked it. I used to run every day until I really hurt my hip. For years it hurt to even walk long distances and I had to do physical therapy. So, I'm trying to take it easy and only run every other day, and for short distances (2-3 miles). But, on Saturday I was really dumb and I ran really fast (8:35 mile!) for 3 miles and now I have shin splints. So I'll be taking a break from running for a little while and hopefully be able to start again in a few weeks. I really need to learn my lesson... my body just doesn't handle running well so I have to take it EASY.

this was the day I broke my ten minute mile average. I do interval training, so jog for a few minutes and then sprint for 30 seconds. It has really helped me to get faster.

In between my running days, I'm still doing Jillian Michaels workouts. I don't look toned or have those 6-pack abs she promised, but I can tell that I've built more muscle. Not much, but I feel stronger. But maybe it's all in my head because I've challenged Landon to an arm wrestle and I still lose just as fast :)

I thought I would've lost more weight at this point, and sometimes it is frustrating when the number on the scale doesn't budge for a week or two, but I have to remember that it's not all about the number. My pants are getting so loose that I can easily pull them down without unbuttoning them (time to go shopping!) and shirts that used to be tight on me are starting to get loose. So changes are happening and I just need to be patient :)

this before and after will have to do... my real "before" picture is in my sports bra

I still have about 6 pounds to go until I reach my pre-marriage weight, but I don't think I'm going to stop there. I guess we will see. All I know is that I'm really motivated to be at healthy weight before I get pregnant. So when that does happen, I will be able to keep working out (you can't start working out once you get pregnant, but you CAN continue to workout if you're already exercising before) and I will already be in the habit of eating healthy for me and for the baby.

But don't get too excited, because it's not happening yet...but I'm a planner and I like to be prepared ;) 

Changes.

I am not a fan of "dieting." It just doesn't work for me. Last year I went on a pretty strict diet and exercising plan and lost about 9 pounds. Once I reached my goal weight, I stopped dieting and exercising and quickly gained it all back (and some!) I knew I would need to start being healthy again, but every week I would think to myself, "oh this might be the last time I get to eat (insert incredibly unhealthy food here)" and then I would basically binge on it because I would be "dieting" soon. And then the diet never happened, but my mentality remained the same. "Well... I might start dieting next week, so I better just eat this huge bowl of ice cream because it could be my last for awhile..."

Via: someecards.com

So I've decided to make adjustments that are going to actually LAST and work for me. Here's a breakdown of some of the adjustments I'm making.

Food:

Okay this one is HARD for me because I LOVE to eat. So much. Some of my weaknesses are--Alfredo and breadsticks, ice cream, popcorn, natural Cheetos (so much better than the yucky orange ones), chocolate, French fries, white bread, Mac and cheese, pizza, and cookie dough (to name a few). Mmm mmm! I'm salivating just thinking about all the deliciousness...

So guess what? I can still eat ALL of that stuff. I do not have a list of "restricted" food items. Honestly, if you were to tell me I could only eat 4 sweets a month I think I would pass out and die. That's how much I love and need sweets. So instead of saying "absolutely not!" to my dear friends aka junk food, I am saying "just a little bit!" Oh, that sounds SO much better. 

To help me keep on track with portion control, I am tracking everything that I eat with My Fitness Pal and staying around 1400 calories. At the beginning of every day, I plan out what I will eat for all my meals and snacks. Of course, sometimes it changes, but I just like to have a general idea of what my day looks like. 

Some days I plan to eat really low calorie meals so I can save room for things like Butterfinger ice cream ;) I love using MFP because it is easy to add recipes (like a homemade pizza recipe) and scan labels to get all the nutrition information, not just the calories. Once you've used it for a couple weeks, all your "regulars" are on there and it's really fast and convenient to see how many calories you're eating, carbs, protein, sugar, vitamins, calcium, sodium, etc. I LOVE MFP!! (add me if you use it too!)

So on top of staying under calories I am: only drinking water (no soda, no juice), eating fruits and veggies every day and with every meal, eating more protein, and I am not eating fast food. So I'm not being restrictive at all, but still eating a LOT healthier than I was! 

But, I do have a huge problem of being a picky eater. There are only about six fruits and veggies I actually like so there isn't much variety going on. I tried to eat a yogurt the other day and almost puked. I bought some humus and got brave enough to open it today but I still can't get the courage to eat it. Smoothies of any kind make me gag, don't get me started on those yucky bananas and strawberries, and I really wish I liked beans, avocados, nuts, or even eggs (the worst!!!)  I have issues. So if anyone has suggestions on foods that might ease me into getting more brave, I would love to hear them! 

Exercise:

I've always loved jogging. I kind of did track in high school (never competed, just trained) and in college I was running up to six miles a day. Then I hurt my hip and realized that my joints suck and I'm basically a grandma so running isn't an option for me. So I pretty much just stopped exercising. I would occasionally do workout videos or go for a bike ride or little jog, but nothing regular. I told myself that I hated working out and wished that I liked to work out. 

But, I have had an attitude adjustment, and it all goes back to an experience I had six years ago. I am terrified of heights and have always said I would NEVER go sky diving. Ever! I went to Hawaii for spring break my freshman year and the group of friends I went with wanted to sky diving. I told them I would watch them from the ground, but somehow they were able to convince me to come with them. I made myself SICK with nerves the night before, but then I woke up in the morning and told myself over and over and over how EXCITED I was instead of thinking how scared I was. And guess what? It worked! You can see it in my face. I literally FAKED myself through it and pretended to be excited instead of scared until I actually FELT it. It's amazing what a positive attitude can do! It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had, and I almost missed out! 

So just like with my experience sky diving, I have convinced myself that I LIKE to work out, even though deep down my inner voice was originally thinking otherwise. But that's the funny thing about your brain, YOU can change it. So by giving myself pep talks and saying things like, "oh I LOVE the feeling I get from working out!" Instead of, "working out is MISERABLE!" I actually started to believe myself. And I am enjoying working out! I never thought I would say that. I honestly look forward to doing my workout every day. It is "me" time. I feel strong. I feel happy. I feel energized. I feel GOOD. 

I got a heart rate monitor at REI so that makes working out even more fun because I know if I need to push myself or if I just need to keep it up. It also tracks how many calories you're burning, which is great motivation for me. It feels like a reward for working out to see that number on my watch.

Last year, I only did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and occasionally went running too. This time, I switch things up EVERY day so I don't get bored and so my body doesn't get too comfortable. All the videos I do are Jillian Michaels--30 day shred, ripped in 30, biggest loser workout, 6 week 6 pack, burn fat boost metabolism, and killer buns and thighs. I do these 5-6 days a week and I like them because they incorporate cardio and strength training! Some days I go for a little run, some days Landon and I go on a bike ride, and then of course every day (rain or shine) we go on our nightly 45 minute walk. 

Motivation: 

What really started this adjustment is going to come as no surprise, but it has everything to do with preparing to be a mom. I want to be at a healthy weight when I get pregnant so I will (hopefully) have a healthy pregnancy. I want to already be eating healthy and working out so I can continue to do it when I'm pregnant. I want my kids to eat healthy and be active--and they learn by my example. I want to be in shape for them so I can play tag, go on hikes, go on bike rides, and play with them. I am taking the time NOW to make these habits while I actually have the time to focus on myself. 

I've only been at this for two and a half weeks, but I've already lost 4.5 pounds and a couple of inches. I've been taking pictures so I can track my progress and it's crazy how much I've already changed. Not to mention how much better I feel! 

Landon told me last night that he has noticed a difference in me. I don't think he can see a difference with the way I look, but with my mood and my energy. He told me I am a lot more chipper and happy. That's why I will continue to work out and eat healthy, even when I reach my goal weight. I am not stopping this time. This is how I want to feel for the rest of my life. These are habits that will help me to live a longer, happier life. Our bodies are a gift from our loving Heavenly Father, and it's time I start treating mine that way. 

Moral of the story--I CAN eat healthy, even though I love junk food and I CAN enjoy working out, even though I used to hate it. I also have stopped telling myself lies like, "I don't have willpower" because I do! And my brain is strong and powerful! I know it's cliche, but we really can do anything we set our minds to. We are so much stronger than we think!