So, the first of the holiday's are now behind us. Turkey day. Thanksgiving. Whatever you call it. I call it " Holy crap that's a lot of food" day.
I survived. Did you?
But now I have a 2nd Thanksgiving feast coming up tomorrow. My family postponed our family meal due to my brother having to go out of town for the Arkansas vs LSU game (I don't want to go into that fiasco but GO HOGS) for work. So now I have to survive another meal. This time at my families house. Which is a lot more laid back to me, then when I was at my friends for her families Thanksgiving. Which was wonderful. Yummy food, and I got to spend time with her and her family.
I actually did rather well only consuming a total of around 900 calories ( which is damn good for Thanksgiving if i do say so myself)
Tomorrow ALSO ends week 2 in month 5. So big deal for me.
Next year at this time I want to be at my goal weight ( or very close to it) which is totally do-able the rate im going. I know I will hit some stopping points and have re-assess the situation ( more cardio, different foods etc)
But I have to say, being able to spend time with my friends and family trumped any food any day.
I am thankful for everyone that has been what I consider my extended family. Because my friends are just that. This year has been a LOT of downs, with very few highs, and without them it would have been a lot bleaker. A lot.
Everyone did their 30 days of Thankful things on facebook. I did not. I have not had a good track record of sticking with things like that. So I am going to share what I am thankful for. Its not 30 things. But its the most important.
1. I am thankful for my savior, the King of Kings, God Almighty. He's a forgiving and loving God. And without him in my life, there is NO WAY I would have made it through the past year, or past few weeks.
2. Family- I have seen how other families treat their children and am incredibly thankful that I have the mom and dad I have. I am also thankful for my lil brother even though we have had our own ups and downs. I now can call him a friend more than just a sibling. And for that, I am truly grateful. My grandma aka Memaw is one of my biggest supporters, fans, cheerleaders and one of my favorite people in the world. I am thankful that my family has stuck by me through thick and thin and forgiven my own mistakes and faults.
3. My extended family- my friends. Without them, I would have had a very dull year. Not to mention, very lonely time. I have a lot of good people in my life. That have checked on me and taken care of me when I was down. But i have to say a special thanks to a few very very important people- my neighbors- Tish, Julie, Sarah and Christie. I am TRULY thankful for these ladies. You never know who you are going to get as neighbors, and you can't pick them, and to be blessed with such wonderful ones makes my heart full.
4. My readers- without you , this blog would be nothing. If i can just reach one person and help them, then I have succeeded.
I have so many blessings, that sometimes I don't remember what the biggest ones are. The ones that count. Yes that new item is great, but to be thankful for it to me, is kinda silly in the big scheme of things. Yes I am grateful to have a nice home, nice things, etc. But when it comes down to it, I can live without chocolate, or fast food, or the next big "thing" but I cant possibly live without the things I mentioned.
God bless!!!
xoxo
Steph
Friday, November 29, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The Journey of one woman
I have had an AMAZING amount of response to my blog. I have had so many people comment , tell me in person, through messages and more of how proud they are of me. And it means the world to know I am making a big impact on the lives of others.
But I have no "secret power" I promise. There is no fast fix. I know, I have tried to do that.
Let me tell you a secret- I used to be the one that would sit and count calories and go "OK, so if I eat this much today, but burn this much, I can loose x amount of pounds this week" and it was something seriously off the wall like eating 1500 calories and then burning 3500 calories doing stuff like walking, working out etc. I had un-realistic goals and ideals. And it kept me from ever moving forward. Because I would NEVER do what I said I was going to do. And when I tried, it would wear me down. It would bum me out. And I gave up.
And I KNOW that some of you reading this ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. Stop trying to bail the water out that is rushing in faster then you can get it out. Get out of the damn boat with those holes and into another boat that is solid.
I sat down one day and said "OK I am going to do this. And I am going to do it the right way. " And I started using myfitnesspal to see where I was and what I needed to do to get there. It gave me at my weight, the number of calories I needed to take in to loose weight. It told me 1870 calories and I about crapped myself. Holy smokes! I have to eat that much and I will still loose weight. I was freaking out. But I did it. Some days early on I would be way over because I didnt realize what I was eating till I started adding everything up. Id have almost all my calories gone by mid afternoon. It took a lot of adjustment , trial and error, screaming, fit throwing, yelling, cursing, and other things to figure out how to adjust. And I have- slowly.
A lot of you ask what "diet" I am on- im not on any DIET. I hate that word. I use it sometimes to explain to people b/c they do not get "Healthy lifestyle change" they think im eating nuts and foliage or something crap. Yeah no. I am not a rabbit. And Id prefer not to use the bathroom 1500 times in a day.
So here's what I do plain and simple- I watch what I eat. I consume more protein, less carbs, more veggies and less crap. I use a shake called Isagenix for my breakfasts most days, and sometimes my lunch. I have tried a multitude of many things that never worked. This has for me. Its 24 grams of protein and uses water so I dont consume extra calories with milk. I also use their Isaflush and Natural Accelerator. I dont use them every day. Maybe 3 times a week. I also have used their vitamins for women and they have helped so much with my aches and pains associated with being overweight and not as active as I should be. I also should take them every day but I dont ( b/c i am the worlds most forgetful person) but they have helped.
I live off of about 50 bucks a month in groceries because I am broke. so i choose wisely what i get. I try to get eggs for snacks, i do eat pasta, but i cut the amount down and fill up on veggies. I eat a lot of veggies and fruits. Im a cheeseaholic so cheese is a big part of my diet. I eat in moderation. I have had pizza. I have had burgers. But i learn how to fix them to be more healthy. I have had candy too. Again- moderation. I cook for myself. I bake for myself. I dont depend on alot of pre packaged stuff ( but yes i still use them b/c they are cheap and i am broke)
And its hard. Im in month 5 now ( first week in month 5) and i still crave fast food. I still salivate when i see someone post some awesome recipes on facebook. I get envious of those that post they just went to so and so and had a huge burger, fries and a shake. But I know that its not for me right now. That in the future, when I have met my goal, and when I know how to eat better and make the right choices , Ill be able to go out and get something and not worry about it .... ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.
Im here for anyone. I know the struggles. I know the self image problems. The crying. The heartache of being so big you cant fit into anything you want. Of going to the amusement park and having the person tell you you are too big the seat wont accomodate you. Its HUMILIATING. So trust me, I know. But im here to tell you- you are amazing. You will overcome anything you put your mind to it. Ill help anyone any way i can. Im not a nutrition expert. I dont go to they gym ( at all) and im certainly not perfect, but I can listen. I can talk. I can be there for you.
xoxo
Stephanie
But I have no "secret power" I promise. There is no fast fix. I know, I have tried to do that.
Let me tell you a secret- I used to be the one that would sit and count calories and go "OK, so if I eat this much today, but burn this much, I can loose x amount of pounds this week" and it was something seriously off the wall like eating 1500 calories and then burning 3500 calories doing stuff like walking, working out etc. I had un-realistic goals and ideals. And it kept me from ever moving forward. Because I would NEVER do what I said I was going to do. And when I tried, it would wear me down. It would bum me out. And I gave up.
And I KNOW that some of you reading this ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. Stop trying to bail the water out that is rushing in faster then you can get it out. Get out of the damn boat with those holes and into another boat that is solid.
I sat down one day and said "OK I am going to do this. And I am going to do it the right way. " And I started using myfitnesspal to see where I was and what I needed to do to get there. It gave me at my weight, the number of calories I needed to take in to loose weight. It told me 1870 calories and I about crapped myself. Holy smokes! I have to eat that much and I will still loose weight. I was freaking out. But I did it. Some days early on I would be way over because I didnt realize what I was eating till I started adding everything up. Id have almost all my calories gone by mid afternoon. It took a lot of adjustment , trial and error, screaming, fit throwing, yelling, cursing, and other things to figure out how to adjust. And I have- slowly.
A lot of you ask what "diet" I am on- im not on any DIET. I hate that word. I use it sometimes to explain to people b/c they do not get "Healthy lifestyle change" they think im eating nuts and foliage or something crap. Yeah no. I am not a rabbit. And Id prefer not to use the bathroom 1500 times in a day.
So here's what I do plain and simple- I watch what I eat. I consume more protein, less carbs, more veggies and less crap. I use a shake called Isagenix for my breakfasts most days, and sometimes my lunch. I have tried a multitude of many things that never worked. This has for me. Its 24 grams of protein and uses water so I dont consume extra calories with milk. I also use their Isaflush and Natural Accelerator. I dont use them every day. Maybe 3 times a week. I also have used their vitamins for women and they have helped so much with my aches and pains associated with being overweight and not as active as I should be. I also should take them every day but I dont ( b/c i am the worlds most forgetful person) but they have helped.
I live off of about 50 bucks a month in groceries because I am broke. so i choose wisely what i get. I try to get eggs for snacks, i do eat pasta, but i cut the amount down and fill up on veggies. I eat a lot of veggies and fruits. Im a cheeseaholic so cheese is a big part of my diet. I eat in moderation. I have had pizza. I have had burgers. But i learn how to fix them to be more healthy. I have had candy too. Again- moderation. I cook for myself. I bake for myself. I dont depend on alot of pre packaged stuff ( but yes i still use them b/c they are cheap and i am broke)
And its hard. Im in month 5 now ( first week in month 5) and i still crave fast food. I still salivate when i see someone post some awesome recipes on facebook. I get envious of those that post they just went to so and so and had a huge burger, fries and a shake. But I know that its not for me right now. That in the future, when I have met my goal, and when I know how to eat better and make the right choices , Ill be able to go out and get something and not worry about it .... ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.
Im here for anyone. I know the struggles. I know the self image problems. The crying. The heartache of being so big you cant fit into anything you want. Of going to the amusement park and having the person tell you you are too big the seat wont accomodate you. Its HUMILIATING. So trust me, I know. But im here to tell you- you are amazing. You will overcome anything you put your mind to it. Ill help anyone any way i can. Im not a nutrition expert. I dont go to they gym ( at all) and im certainly not perfect, but I can listen. I can talk. I can be there for you.
xoxo
Stephanie
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Start of Month 5
This is going to be short and sweet. I am starting month 5 today. 11/17/2013. I have not weighed myself because I am waiting to the end of the month to do so. I have had a very rough past week, and the best part of it? I did NOT give in and pig out, eat fast food, comfort eat. And trust me, that is a BIG HONKING DEAL for me.
So here's a picture of me at my heaviest and then a picture of me today before i left for church
So here's a picture of me at my heaviest and then a picture of me today before i left for church
GOD IS GOOD!
xoxo Stephanie
Monday, November 11, 2013
{Almost} The end of month 4! Pictures of Progress
 | |||
| This picture is from the beginning of Month 4. |
 | |
| This picture is in the last week of month 4. Things are starting to shift around, I am down almost 41 lbs total. |
Im hoping the next month goes super well!!!
I'm Diving In
After a heart wrenching weekend, full of pain, heartache, and so many other things, I really started to question everything around me. My faith, my self worth, my usefulness.
And I know I am not alone out there. I have struggled with self-worth for a very long time. Obstacles will be put in my path, and I feel like I should just throw in the towel and give up. That I can't do this. It's too hard. No one would fault me for giving up , after all, I am facing a giant monster and I am just a human. It is hard for me to put this out there, and admit this, but I am imperfect and have made mistakes.
Shocker. Not really. Everyone always say's "Oh I know I am not perfect" but it never comes with the complete understanding, acceptance, that you really are not. That you are going to fall, numerous times, and not want to get back up. You are going to sit down and cry and wonder "WHY ME!" what did I do to deserve all this pain, this hurt, this incredible obstacle that has been moved into my path.
I have those days. I had one this weekend when something happened in my life that turned it upside down. I have been struggling for a long time with many things- weight, finances, self worth and other things. And I have had obstacle after obstacle put in my path. I have fallen many times, but have picked myself back up and fought my way to the top of one hill, only to find 10 more in the path. I have kept going. I have cried many nights, days, hours. I have called myself worthless. Useless. Unloved. Undeserving. I have been there people. I am here to tell you that you are NOT these things.
It took everything in my power to pick myself up off the floor after this last blow. I was angry, mad, hurt, and just wanted to die. Being honest here, because I know somewhere out there someone will read this and relate. And I want you to know YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THOSE THOUGHTS. It took some very good friends, many of them, being there for me and picking me up (literally) and loving me through the grief and pain to realize that I am worth more than those ugly thoughts.
I am diving into my life. I am choosing to continue forward, putting my faith in God. Putting my hope in the fact that he knows what mountains i have yet to climb and he's going to be my anchor. Its hard. Harder then anything I have EVER done in my life. But God will provide for me. He has brought me to it, and he will see me through it.
I say all this to say that i have one week left in month four. And Im diving into this week with all I have. I hope if you have an obstacle you are fighting, a demon in your life , if its food, death, illness, anything that you know someone is out there thinking about you. His name is God. And you have a lowly human loving and thinking of you too- me.
If you have never listened to the song "I Am" by Nicole Nordeman i strongly encourage you to. It brings me such peace.
God bless !
Stephanie
And I know I am not alone out there. I have struggled with self-worth for a very long time. Obstacles will be put in my path, and I feel like I should just throw in the towel and give up. That I can't do this. It's too hard. No one would fault me for giving up , after all, I am facing a giant monster and I am just a human. It is hard for me to put this out there, and admit this, but I am imperfect and have made mistakes.
Shocker. Not really. Everyone always say's "Oh I know I am not perfect" but it never comes with the complete understanding, acceptance, that you really are not. That you are going to fall, numerous times, and not want to get back up. You are going to sit down and cry and wonder "WHY ME!" what did I do to deserve all this pain, this hurt, this incredible obstacle that has been moved into my path.
I have those days. I had one this weekend when something happened in my life that turned it upside down. I have been struggling for a long time with many things- weight, finances, self worth and other things. And I have had obstacle after obstacle put in my path. I have fallen many times, but have picked myself back up and fought my way to the top of one hill, only to find 10 more in the path. I have kept going. I have cried many nights, days, hours. I have called myself worthless. Useless. Unloved. Undeserving. I have been there people. I am here to tell you that you are NOT these things.
It took everything in my power to pick myself up off the floor after this last blow. I was angry, mad, hurt, and just wanted to die. Being honest here, because I know somewhere out there someone will read this and relate. And I want you to know YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THOSE THOUGHTS. It took some very good friends, many of them, being there for me and picking me up (literally) and loving me through the grief and pain to realize that I am worth more than those ugly thoughts.
I am diving into my life. I am choosing to continue forward, putting my faith in God. Putting my hope in the fact that he knows what mountains i have yet to climb and he's going to be my anchor. Its hard. Harder then anything I have EVER done in my life. But God will provide for me. He has brought me to it, and he will see me through it.
I say all this to say that i have one week left in month four. And Im diving into this week with all I have. I hope if you have an obstacle you are fighting, a demon in your life , if its food, death, illness, anything that you know someone is out there thinking about you. His name is God. And you have a lowly human loving and thinking of you too- me.
If you have never listened to the song "I Am" by Nicole Nordeman i strongly encourage you to. It brings me such peace.
God bless !
Stephanie
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