Water, Water, Everywhere...

The title of the blog is so true because water, life's elixir, is so easily available, yet I have always had the challenge of ensuring that I have enough of it in my system!!

I did well with my water intake goal this week and I lost 3 pounds (now at 209).  I decided to give myself a treat day and learned two big mistakes: 1) my choice of treats still had higher sodium and 2) I didn't drink as much water as I should have, which resulted in a major sodium hangover this morning!! LESSON LEARNED!!

With all of the access and water options, I really have no excuses as to why I am not sticking to my water intake goals, even for only one day.

Now a new week has started and I have developed new goals for Oct 18-25:

#3 Portion control!  I actually started this goal, but I need to stick to it.  I use portion control bowls, which has helped with the process.

#4 Light exercise two times this week!  Yesterday, I took a short, 15 minute stroll with the kids in the 'limousine'.  It was surprisingly easy to navigate; Jaida was sleeping and Jayson loved the view!!  Look forward to doing it more.  Hey, maybe even today!!

#babysteps  #27weeksremain  #sliminsevenmonths #selfcoaching 

Rediscovering Me

It's been a LONG time since I have blogged.  I have 2 kids now and many more pounds of weight chillin' on my bones.  Where I can still find beauty in being a full-figured woman, for me, I need to find better health.  Better health doesn't mean that I will be extremely thin because I don't want that anyway, but the high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure levels won't be normalized until I do something about the added weight and incorporated better eating habits and exercise in my routine.

Right now, being almost 5 weeks post-partum and post-surgery, I am unable to do too much physical activity so I have to work on the other side of weight loss, my eating habits.  In my other ventures of weight loss I have found that I have to do the following: eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water, and lift weights... and I detest doing ALL of them to some extent.  Exercise is actually the easiest for me to do as I love to walk/run/jog (entered my first 5K last year) and I love playing active video games like Dance Central.  But after I have put in a good sweat, I feel I can treat myself with a burger (smh).  Surely that is not the solution.

After having my daughter, I weighed at 247.  I was 243 when I had my son.  With the first pregnancy, I will 7 pounds from my pre-preggo weight within 4 months, getting under 200 pounds within 2 months. The weight isn't shedding as fast this time though, but I guess I had more 'food fun' than I thought.  I have lost the signature 35 pounds that can come with pregnancy, leaving me at 212 (lost 2 pounds this week).  Honestly, I have never been consistently over 200 pounds my entire life.  For me, I can feel the difference and know that I need to make a change to get back under 200.  It is difficult change my eating habits because, again, I love food, but I love my family more.  If I do it for anybody, other than myself, it is for them.

So what is my goal weight?  I have no idea.  I have a goal 'look' and I want to get into a certain dress by graduation in May.  So I have decided to be slim in seven months!  That is a lot of time to lose weight... in a healthier way.  I looked at pictures of me in the past and realized that to get too skinny makes my body look like a lollipop and of course my head was the biggest part.  Can't do that again!  I will just go on this journey, try to stay motivated, and be happy with any progress that occurs.  :-) Wish me luck!  These are my goals thus far:

(Oct 4-10) Week 1/Goal #1: Make a conscious effort to change my eating habits. - SUCCESS! It was initially difficult, but it got easier as the week went on. I lost 2 pounds :-) However, I honestly know that this goal will be a constant battle I will need to overcome. I really LOVE food. 

(Oct 11-17) Week 2/Goal #2: Drink at least 2L of water per day: 1L in the AM; 1L in the PM. I love food, but I detest 'plain' water; however, I know it is imperative that I drink it. (BLAH! but I need to get over it)

Will Never be 'Thin'...

... and I am not trying to be. :-)

Hey Jai-Nation Citizens!! Long time, no blog.. I know. These past 2.5 weeks have been SO busy with school starting (as a teacher and student) and working. I was tired... often. I wasn't as diligent with exercise between training days because I was SO tired. One thing about working out is that you have to get your rest. My trainer told me that I am not doing any good being tired and trying to workout. You need sleep to help your metabolic rate (for fat loss) and to be able to do the workouts!! For routines that are strenuous, I need the energy!

Not sure how much I have lost, but I have seen that my clothes fit way better. Mind you, when I first started working out, I was at the end of my size; like STRUGGLING in my clothes. I didn't look jacked up, but I would safety pin shirts in areas where they would gap if I didn't because I was testing those seams. From the outside, it wasn't noticeable, but everytime I sat down, my pants pressed into my belly and it was uncomfortable. Now I am confidently and comfortably in my clothes. I am wearing shirts and pants that I wore last year and that is promising. I will never be thin and honestly I am not trying to be 'thin', but I do want to shape up what I have.

This week's routine is a body shaper indeed, but it is difficult. I was proud of myself on Friday evening. I had to do 3 sets of circuit training. I got to set 2 and was exhausted. My trainer was nice enough to offer to modify my exercises so I could get through the 3rd set; I kindly declined. I made it through and it was invigorating!! :-) Also, my stylist told me Friday that she could see the definition in my arms. That made me smile :-). It does take time to get to your goals. I had more fat than muscle and it takes time to build muscle. Right now, they are battling and I am determined that muscle will win!! I look forward to reaching my goals over the next 7 weeks until the trip. I will be going from 3 days a week to 2 days a week with my trainer so I need to get mentally prepared to be more independent.

I will let you know the progress. :-)

Until next post, *DEUCES* Jai-Nation citizens!!

It's Still a Loss...

Oh, it's Friday and I am EXHAUSTED. I am at work and I just feel 'weird'. Weigh in was today and I finally lost 1.25 pounds. Our goal is to lose 1.5-2 pounds per week. Okay, I am working on that, BUT at least it's a loss. I only lost fractions of inches in various areas, but again, it's still a loss, so there is still progress. Now back to this 'exhausted' thing... I worked HARD this morning. Those circuit trials were increased from 2 to 3 sets AND I had to do each of the ten exercises- 15 times, instead of the previous 10. You do the match and you tell me how you think I should feel. I don't like to lack energy, I am too bubbly for that. Most people would say, "Janice, you need to lay low anyway; something finally calmed you down." You may think that, but it's MY energy... and it's still a loss :-) THAT, I want back!

Oh and more good news, I can see some definition happening. Muscle is gradually peeping through the fat cells!! I was flexing today! LOL... well the attempt was made!

That's all for today.

Until next post, *Deuces* Jai-Nation citizens!

Jessica Who?

Hey everyone,

Another week gone by. This one was difficult with my eating habits. I had a terrible graving for fried shrimp and tastykakes. Had them both and they were good. That was my treat meal. My trainer called it my cheat meal. I can't be cheating if I have permission :-) Anyway, I paid for it today. He increased my reps for my circuit trials. It killed, but I was grateful; he allowed me a few short cuts but still pushed me.

Wednesday, he eased me into it, but today was full implementation!! After I finished, I felt good. I am feeling a little muscle ache here and there, but its cool. I am seeing changes in my face and neck and my belly.

I weighed in today. Again, I weigh the same, but I lost more inches from my belly, my arms, my thighs, my calves and finally from my hips!! It would come sooner or later. :-) What was interesting was that I added an inch in my chest! Whoa, Nelly! I know it will take me forever to get to 'Jessica Alba', but I will gladly take 'Jessica Rabbit' in the meantime. Vaaaa-Voooommmm! and as Martin would say, "Plakow, pladow!!" :-)

Until next time, Jai-nation citizens... *Deuces*!!

The Tail of the Tape

Well today I gained 3 pounds!! Yes, gained, but the trainer said this was normal: 1) because I am getting lean muscle and 2) mother nature is visiting (TMI, yes, but important). However the tail of the tape revealed:

2 inches lost from my waist
1 inch from my thighs
1 inch from my arms
none from my hips (I always lose there last, but Jay said that things are 'firming'- he'd know :-) )
1/2 inch from my calf (even though my skinny calf can't afford to lose anything

I am doing circuit training Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, he has me on a treadmill routine totaling 19 minutes, but I add an extra 5 on the end.

My trainer has allowed me to enjoy my birthday, but I still kept it relatively sensible. So I am back on my grind with 12 weeks until the trip. I am excited with the progress after only training for 2, almost 3 weeks :-)

That's what I have for now. Until next post, *Deuces* Jai-Nation citizens!

Diet for the week!

Well, I am implementing the diet my Personal Trainer suggested this week. It seems bland to me, but I guess its for the best. Here's what I will have:

Breakfast: grapefruit and egg whites
Snack: 1 oz of nuts
Lunch: 1/2 chicken breast, 1/2 cup brown rice, and green beans
Snack: small salad with mixed greens, craisins, and raspberry vinaigrette
Dinner: 1 hebrew national hot dog on a wheat bun with a salad
... and 1.5- 2 liters of water per day.

My 'treat' will be peanut butter and jelly on double fiber bread.

We will see what happens. I am 'so thrilled'. Can't you tell? I mean, it doesn't seem all that bad, but definitely a change for me.

Well I better go... 5am workout awaits.

Until next post, *Deuce* Jai-Nation Citizens!