NSV Sunday

In light of it being a new year, I have decided to resurrect NSV Sundays. I want to focus not only on the weight loss, but also on changes I am noticing in me, my life, and yours too! So feel free to comment or link your own NSV post in the comments.

So, tonight's NSV is all about new starts. I started this journey almost a year ago. January 8, 2013 was the day I started tracking on My Fitness Pal. January 27, 2013 is the day I ordered my supplements. Something changed in me last year. Someone believed in me (actually several someones) and gave me HOPE for the first time in a long time. Last year was full of NSV's, but this was the most important one.

Tomorrow I begin a new start of sorts. The past 3 weeks have had children home, a houseful of sickies (including me) and the holidays. I am thankful that I only am up 5 pounds from my lowest. That is manageable. Forty pounds gone in a year may not sound like much to you or others, but it symbolizes more than just a number on the scale. For the first time in 15 years, I can shop in the misses' section, I can purchase "foundational" items off the rack and not have to try them on. I can keep up with my kids. I have HOPE.

Tomorrow, I get back on the wagon. I know I am carb resistant. I know that wheat and I do not agree. I am continuing with my supplements, and transitioning to a more paleo approach to eating. I am excited and a bit scared at the same time. I think this is the boost I need to get back at it. I am excited to see where it takes me. Please pray for me, and know I pray for you.

So, what NSV's do you have? I am looking forward to see what 2014 is going to bring.

January, 2014

Wow! I cannot believe it is 2014. So much happened last year, and so much has changed. I am ready for 2014 like I have not been ready for a new year before. I thought I would start with my word for 2014:

Trust. It is something I struggle with, and something I need to work on this year. Oh, how hard it is to let go and let God, yet, I know during this season in my life, I have to!

No resolutions this year, but I do have goals:

• Get up early enough to get morning prayer done before the kids are up (this is something I have not had success with yet, but I need the kids back in school before I can).
• Get back on track with my eating plan. I am still taking my supplements because I feel good when I take them, and they fill in nutritional gaps that EVERYONE has (if you think you don't, I can promise you do). I was doing great, but then we had influenza in the house. I was sick for 10 days with a cough I couldn't shake. I didn't really care what I ate. The result is I was up 4-5 pounds. Today is a good day so far, and this weekend we will clean out all of the treats. I will be good to go! Onederland is close, and I would like to hit it before my 1 year anniversary with the company. 50 pounds gone when that happens!!! Spueeeeeeeee!
• Get back on track with regular exercise. I always get off track as the frigid cold makes me not want to get out. Excuses no more! I will do this!
• Grow my business. I am participating in a 90 day challenge to do just that. It is going to be hard, but I think so worth it! The company has the best compensation plan from what I have seen, so I am going to be working on that with gazelle-like intensity!

In order for all of these things to happen, it starts with my word, TRUST. I need to believe and trust in myself and my mentors, and above all, I need to trust in HIM.

Day 1 Wrap-up!

Day 1 is almost in the books! I had a very rough start. Woke up with what I think was a sinus headache (mine can be as bad as a migraine), but I pushed forward with the plan!

I tend to swap my protein and shakes on shake days. I just do better when I start out with food. So I had 2 eggs for breakfast. YUM! For my other protein, I had greens and tuna. Again, YUM!

My shake mid-morning was good. I have to say that I have tried lots of different ones, and none compares to the one from the plan I follow. Seriously-it has 10 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of carbs. It is very hard to find that anywhere and have it taste good. For 2 of my shakes today I added chocolate PB2. Tasted just like a Reese cup!!! YUM!

Onto water...this has always been a struggle to me. The guidelines are either half your body weight in ounces of water or a gallon. I opted for half my weight...I had hit 105 ounces by 2 PM. This is huge for me. I actually am drinking more right now.

As of right now, there are 1317 people participating...WOW! It is unbelievable to me that we have formed such a community. I love the support and friendship I have gained because of this system. In fact, today, when I was struggling with my headache, someone recommended our super fruit juice. I am completely out right now. (Just an FYI, this juice is taken at a capful a day and is full of all the good fruits that have tons of antioxidants) Someone that I just met today offered to send me her extra bottle...FREE OF CHARGE. Talk about kindness and generosity. I am definitely going to be paying it forward sometime soon.

Well, that's it for Day 1.  I hope if you are a part of the Turkey Trot that you have had an awesome day. If you aren't, what are you waiting for???

Day 1

And away we go!!!! Off to a great start this morning! I weighed and did my measurements. Now, I am having some water. I am at 24 ounces so far which is VERY good for me for this point in the day.

Weight wise, I am starting out 2.4 pounds above my lowest low. I am OK with that. For the first time, I am at a great point in my cycle to be doing one of these. I am pretty excited!!! We shall see what today will bring.

Make it an awesome day!

Turkey Trot to Take It Off!!!

Tomorrow is the day!!! Rewind on the 8 day challenge! I am ready! I feel strong!!! And most of all, I feel prepared!!!

I love doing this in groups. Last year, the Turkey Trot had 78 people and they lost 541 pounds. That is 7 pounds a person! In 8 days!

I am very excited. We have over 1200 people who have signed up. I just think about all of the lives changed. All of the people who are facing the holidays for the first time with the tools to not gain weight through the holidays...including myself. I am hoping to get closer to Onderland. I love that Thanksgiving Day will be a "cheat day", and I love that I have the tools to move on afterward.

I am not worried about the frustration I felt in the last 8 day challenge when I threw in the towel. I have accountability. I also had the opportunity to talk to our product developer about some tweaking I can do to help me make it through. So, here we go! I hope you will check back, and I hope you will leave a comment of encouragement. Thank you for following this journey with me.

Day 7 Where I am at...

It is day 7, and I think this picture kind of says it all. This was not the best week to try the new plan. Work has been really busy/stressful. Soccer season is in playoffs. I know-excuses, excuses. Let me be clear though, I am not throwing in the towel on weight loss. I am just not following the plan as it is laid out.

It started yesterday, day 6, a shake day. We had soccer right in the middle of the day. For personal reasons, I did not want to take my shake up to the fields. So, I skipped it (mistake 1). Then, by the time we came home, it was 3:00. Should have been time for a protein snack. DH had a headache and went to lie down, and I was so cold from being outside, that I decided to do the same. Missed the snack, and it was dinner time. I chose to forego the shake and have chicken and spinach for dinner. I was not prepared for the rest of the night.

For those of you who follow me from my previous blogs, you know I have issues with anxiety and depression. I kind of spiraled last night. I was depressed and the thought of doing days 7 and 8 had me in a real funk. DH kind of had me convinced to finish it out, but knowing that AF would soon be starting and that fact would most likely stall any success I had the last couple of days, I felt like I just couldn't do it.

I felt better this morning, and started out right. Then, we had the same issue. Soccer. On day 7, I was supposed to have lean protein and either brown rice, quinoa or steel cut oats. We went to church and the grocery store. There was no time to cook before heading up to soccer. I threw together a salad of lettuce, chicken and some balsamic. It was really all I had time for. My schedule was sabotaging me.

On the positive side, I have continued to make healthy choices, and in the end, I guess that is what matters most. I have decided not to do a shake day tomorrow because, well, I need a break from shakes. Don't get me wrong, I love our company's shakes, I just need to chew...LOL!

So, that's it. It was a real challenge, and I will try again, just not at this point in my cycle. Total loss for the 6 days? 5.1 pounds. I am now at -42 pounds (and counting). Thanks for sticking with me. The support means a lot!!!

Day 4

It is day 4! Another shake day, but honestly, I am kind of glad. I think it balances out the amount of food you eat on day 3. I started this post this morning excited for day 4. It has been a bit harder than I anticipated. I am a bit hungry, but drinking my water and making it through.

As of this morning, I was down another .4-this is the first time I have lost on a day 4! I have lost 5 pounds so far. I know I am not supposed to weight, but I am seeing how this plan works.

Thanks for following me this week! :D