Nutrition Novice

Soo...  What have I been eating??  I've been eating more food than I have in a long time!!!  Believe it or not by increasing my food intake I actually lost weight!!  Trust me I was skeptical too! 

My first 30 days I did not do any exercising other than my normal walks to the bus stop and the stairs at my jobs. I wanted to focus solely on nutrition since that was the most important part of my process.  I  needed to fuel my body.  Just like your car, your body can't run on fumes.  I realized I had to change my mindset regarding food.  Instead of indulging in food, I had to look at food as fuel.  Unlike my car, I needed to refuel my body 5-6 times a day.  Initially, I thought there was no way I could eat that much food in one!   Instead of thinking no way it had to be I have to find a way.  Here is a great link from webmd about the benefits of eating 5 to 6 smaller meals per day http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-6-meals-day-weight-loss  Now, you another reason to use webmd other than finding out your have some rare medical condition after sneezing.  :-)

As someone who works in a job that doesn't give official lunches I knew I wouldn't be going on to lunch.  Also, I wanted to try to save money-so no vending machine raids.  Lucky, for me though most of the items in our vending machines are "healthy".  So, what could I do to help me go from one meal a day to 5 to 6 small meals.  I knew it would be best for me was preparing all my meals in advance.  This of course takes planning!  Since, I don't readily have access to a car.  I make my menus for 2 weeks.  What kept me success was portion control!  Actually reading the correct portion size.  Also, by keeping track of my portion sizes it aided me in keeping track of my calories.  I count calories... somewhat.  My new friends at Glad and Ziplock helped me.  Glad has new ToGo-Snack and ToGo-Lunch which are the perfect portions.  I loaded up my snack cups with celery and carrots and included is a "dip" cup which holds 2 tablespoons.  2 tablespoons is generally the portion side for condiments such as salad dressings and hummus which were my staples. For dinner I used the Ziplock Divided Rectangle.  Again, this was the perfect portions also.  The smallest cube was for approximately 1/3 cup of starch, the next size was for 4-6oz of protein, and the largest was for 1 cup of vegetables.

The next part of this will sound very boring to some.  It's a sample menu.  Every day I had the same for week.  Initially I was supposed to have different dinners and alternate lunch, breakfast, and snacks between two options.  However, I found it easy to just have the same things all week long.  From start to finish I would be finished with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for my entire work week in 2 hours.  Again, you have to think about the food as your fuel.  However, I found I did not bore of my meals in general.  Having a salad every day for lunch became boring after 3 weeks, so I switched to sandwiches.  When I made this change I cut out toast at breakfast. 

Sample Menu
6a- Baked Egg Omelet, Turkey Sausage, Wheat Toast w/Strawberry Jam, Banana, 8oz O.J.
10a- Celery, Carrots, and Hummus
12p - Salad w/ Homemade Vinaigrette, Almonds, Fruit Salad
2p-100 calorie Fibre One Bar
6p-Salsa Chicken, Oven Roast Broccoli, Brown Rice

The best advantage of taking the time to make your meals ahead of time is always knowing what you're putting in your body and not making bad last minute food decisions.  Your body is your temple make sure your outside reflects your insides and vice versa.  Yes, you only live once but make sure it's a long and healthy life!  Stay tuned to the next post about my first 60 days of progress.

60 days of Silence!

There's so much to say!  I tried to make mini notes about what I would write about on this post.  However, I've decided to break it down into several different post.  This first post is going to be my reflections over the last 60 days.  People have been asking if I've updated, when am I going to update.  Here you go!

My first 30 days, I decided not to write or even talk about what changes I've made.  They say that 30 days of doing the same thing becomes a habit.  So, in order to make these changes stick I took 60 days!  I feel its easy to get caught up in the praise and accolades of your "success".  I've seen many people start a blog/goal with certain expectations and the minute they start to get some recognition it quickly changes to all about that person.  The intention of my blog is to share about my fitness and nutrition lifestyle, in hopes that it will keep me motivated and help others. 

As I've said before my blog is about a healthier lifestyle.  Its not about the numbers on the scale-as a matter of fact, I don't even own a scale.  The new lifestyle is about keeping up with my nieces and nephews and being healthy!  This new lifestyle is also about not getting too winded when trying to put on a dress that is a "smidge" too small. :-)  But... am I hoping the numbers go down on the scale?  Yes!  I'm not comfortable with the numbers I see on the scale.  They shocked the crap out of me. 

Its hard to believe but some days I could go all day without eating.  I was very ignorant to the fact that starving your body isn't going to help me lose weight.  We've all heard the comment 'it wouldnt hurt them to skip a few meals'.  Umm actually yes it does.  I thought it was perfectly normal to only eat one meal a day.  Little did I know!  Even with that, who would have thought that 2 or 3 spoonfuls of pasta was bad???  I'm from the clean you plate culture.  However, through my research I've learned it's ok not to eat that full plate of pasta from Cheesecake Factory.

So, what did I learn in my first 60 days?  Boat loads!!  Check out my next post when I discuss my nutrition "plan".   You know a plan is just a guideline, right?

It just got real...

In 36 hours I am starting my Get Healthy and Fit Lifestyle.  Am I nervous?  I would be lying if I said no.  However, I'm not nervous that I can't do it.  I'm more nervous that I will give up on myself.  Wow did I really just type and publish that.  Fear is a "booga bear" as my Bishop would call it.  But how can a woman who moved 2000+ miles with $800, a crazy dream, 2 part time jobs that fell through and no job prospects be afraid of getting healthy and fit.  That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard and I'm still trying to convince myself. 

So, today I needed I finally made time for my TB testing. Surprise, surprise I had to get on the freaking scale!!!!  Now generally I don't mind getting on the scale, it has to be done.  But, I never look at the number because the number on the scale doesn't define me.  Today, I looked...  In addition to the number being higher than I want, my blood pressure was elevated 129/86.  This is definitely not normal for me.  But, this is even more proof that increased weight is increased blood pressure for me.  With that statistics it's even more evident I have to make lifestyle changes.  The next thing is taking the "dreaded" before pictures. 

I've been researching extensively on the internet exercises and foods that speed up the metabolism and "increase" weight loss.  For several years, I've been watching what I eat--consisting of lots of vegetables, chicken, seafood, and turkey with the occasional Rib Eye.  In my research though, I've found "setting and forgetting it" doesn't work well with vegetables.  What that means is when you cook your vegetables there should be a crunch still left too them not soft.  Think about how your future abs will feel, like steel!!!  Well not steel but firm.  To assist in seasoning veggies, I LOVE my oil sprayer.  It helps control how much oil you use.  And my other favorite ingredient is celery salt.  It is ground celery seeds and salt.  So, in addition of giving some of the flavor of salt it has a hint of something else.

Now to the good stuff, because I've moved I'm one broke chick.  So, I've researched a ton of exercises I can do from home without any assistance of any exercise equipment. Theses exercises are body weight exercises; which uses the body's own weight for resistance.  Many of the exercises I will start out doing will focus on my core.  When asked, what is my weakest muscle group I thought it was my arms.  That is because I'm ignorant to muscle groups and anything that has to do with the body.  I was told by my unofficial office personal trainer who is a 20 year military veteran.  Can I deviate for a minute?  He has lost his mind if he thinks I can do half the exercises he shows me.  With that being said I saw a Facebook post that said "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't you!"  This new lifestyle is all about changing me from the inside out .  The nervousness from the beginning of this post has morphed into an anxious excitement challenge that I can't wait to conquer. 

If you want to know any of the meals or work outs I'll be doing let me know.  :-)

Transparent

Weight is always a touchy subject.  It's like you can't talk about it unless you're fat too.  I can't tell you how tired I am of hearing 'You have such a pretty face'!  Then I think my face got too fat so it became 'You have such pretty eyes'.  After joining many fat acceptance and full figured groups, I've become more aware of the harmful things people say. This type of behavior comes from both sides of the fence, harmful words knows no size. 

Many of my friends have never said anything about my weight.  If they have it hasn't been to my face.  But, I remember one instance when a friend tagged me in a photo as the "friend who would die first" in a zombie attack or something of that nature.  I will never admit that it hurt but I definitely felt smaller.  First of all, if there was a chance of a zombie attack I would not be on the same continent.  Secondly, I would prepare accordingly pack plenty of heat.  I'm sure he didn't think it would affect me but that was years ago and I still remember it.  More recently, he was quoted as saying "Life is like a box of chocolates"... "It doesn't last as long for fat people".  Many of my friend will know who it was after that.  We would like think to 'Sticks and Stone' but words do hurt and even if we don't admit it at the very least they affect us.

I strive to be very deliberate in everything do to not offend or hurt anyone's feelings but to encourage them to be better.  I find myself often getting lost in other people's lives and neglecting my own.  For me it's time I stop putting others before myself and making sure I'm 100%.  With that being said, I am saying publicly that I am trying to lose 100 pounds by January.  I am already aware that it is an insane goal from a woman who has never been on a diet other than Low Carb.  I'm not going to start a certain diet or do anything extreme.  I want to put myself on an exercise and nutrition regimen.  By the time I'm 30, I want to be healthier and happier.  Suggestions on what helped you get over the plateau, exercises and music you enjoyed, and anything positive are welcomed.

I think often we all have roles in life we play.  For a very long time I played the sometimes overbearing and funny fat friend.  While my friends may not see me that way, that's how I felt.  I believe that's because I put that costume on.  I have wonderful friends, many of whom, I've known for over 20 years.   But because of my own insecurities, I've never really said what I really said what I really thought or done what I've wanted to do. We're not going to have an Oprah AHA moment because I've always known this.  But, it's not being taken completely out of my comfort zone that I'm ok with admitting it.

I can't believe I just typed all that.  But I want to end on a high/positive note and tell you about my amazing friend from San Francisco.  My wonderful friend Naomi has inspired me tremendously!  She is amazingly beautiful inside and out even with her potty mouth.  Most times she says what I'm thinking.  She is eclectic and eccentric and recently reached a weight loss goal and she looks stunning!!!  She has documented very candidly her success and failures with weight loss.  She continues to inspire and encourage me with her words.  I want to say congratulations Nay on your achievement and Thanks!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know more of me. 


Live Outside the Box 
A. Jai

In the beginning... I was corny

I'm always saying I should start a blog.  I love fashion and styling.  So, I could talk about that.  I'm passionate about certain topics.  That would bring great diversity and a spark to my blog. I want to start a weight loss challenge for myself and this will hold me accountable.  That's really personal.  I have a big issue with failing publicly.  So, I don't do anything that would allow me fail on a "grand" scale. Eek, maybe I should rethink this blog thing and keep fashion.  But,  I'm not I just moved clear across the country to chase my dream of doing something BIG!  I can't wimp out on my blog.

I always question who would want to listen to me talk.  Then I "casually" made a comment about starting a blog and 8 of my wonder 364 "friends" said they would read it  so here is my first post.  I hope to talk about dating or lack thereof, life, my faith, FASHION, my new weight loss challenge to myself and this new adventure of living my life unscripted and without regrets.

I hope you enjoy getting to know me, the person I've been hiding.

Live Outside the Box 
A. Jai