For the health of it!!!

tiggerhammon

Hey everyone! I have been a member of MFP for a few years and, honestly, when I actually took it seriously and logged all my food and exercise, it is has been the most successful tool that I have ever had with weight loss. I was doing very well until I got pregnant and had my baby. Then, I honestly just lost my motivation.

Today, I went and signed up for a weight loss challenge at a local gym here in beautiful St. George, Utah. I am hoping it will be the ignition I need to light the fire under me again. Honestly, I do believe that has already done the trick there cause I am actually really excited about this.

Now, the fuel ... to keep this fire going, (I know myself well ) I know what helps me most and that is where anyone that wants to, comes in. I would absolutely love and welcome all comments of support, motivation and advice.

On that note - the advice - here is my desire for input as of now ... What are good meals and snack ideas that are low calorie but filling?

Game plan: only "tricks up my sleeve" I have at this moment is to (1) honestly, thoroughly and faithfully track every single thing I eat and stay in my caloric limitations, (2) exercise regularly and creativity - by creatively I mean that I have no intentions of doing any sort of routine of "100 crunches and 50 squats daily" stuff. I will do some form of exercise every single day. Every day will be different. Some slow days of just walking or hulahooping in front of the TV, some moderate days - hiking trips are already on the calendar - and I signed up for a 1.5 hour water aerobics class. Then, I have a couple days scheduled with my cousin this month who is a fitness guru and workoutaholic to help me with a couple intense workouts. It is only 30 days and I think that I will be fine with no true complete rest days but will do days of only a walk or something. (3) I am using doTERRAs essential oil called Slim&Sassy. It is supposed to be metabolic support and help to curb appetite. I have honestly never tried it before and will be starting with it today only in hopes that it will be helpful. I am feeling good about it though cause I have loved every essential oil I have used for every other purpose, haha. Also, see no way in which it can hurt, so what the heck.

I will not use any quick method stuff like "water stripping" or "72 hour fast" crap. I intend for this to help put me back on the road I need to be on towards a healthy body and I mean to do it for my health. That is my drive. Many others I heard talking signing up for this challenge said things like "just for fun" and even "I am doing it for the money." Win or lose - I intend to win in the end. I am in it "for the health of it" and I WILL achieve that goal no matter what.

Lastly, I REALLY hate sharing this information but I need to,for the sake of asking for the support,I must divulge the facts:
My starting weight: 217lbs
No other stats will be measured in this challenge, so that is all.

Thank you in advance and, again, I appreciate any words of encouragement and any advice!

tiggerhammon

Day 2 Weighin: up 0.4lbs

I have taken before pictures but haven't found time to sit at my computer at home and upload them yet.

First day all I did was went for a walk, but it was about 2 miles up/down a pretty steep hill.
Second day, I went to the gym and did 20 minutes on elliptical, a yoga class and about 30 minutes of swimming.

LivLovLrn

My first recommendation is to not weigh yourself every day, in fact, don't weigh yourself at all for a few weeks, then step on the scale maybe once a week. If you "chain" yourself to that scale your just asking for frustration.

I think your plan for exercise EVERY day is fairly good, though I would give yourself one day a week for rest. If you don't need it for sanity your body does need it. It is actually good to do different things; shake the body up a bit.

Your plan to log every single thing you eat is also a very good plan. We often don't realize how much we are consuming and tell ourselves this little bit won't make a difference but when you add all the little bits up it ends up being a lot. For snacks you might try fresh fruit or veggies with hummus.

I was at 217 myself when I started this so we are together in that aspect. It sounds like you are really on the right track! Good luck with it all Feel free to friend request me if you are so inclined

tiggerhammon

Thank you LivLovLrn...
I will get me some hummus tomorrow and I plan to weigh every few days throughout the challenge this month. I want to somewhat know where I am at, without obsessing. I added you as well.

Day 3: not a lot of exercise but made great diet choices. I had to spend about 6 hours in the car this day, for work. Normally, I would bring snacks, drink soda and eat fast food for lunch on work travel days. (I have eaten a whole canister of nuts in under 2 hours in the car- I always snack on crap in the car.) But, I did not. I ate a few sticks of celery in the car is all. Then, I did order food but I got a 380 calorie chicken salad and waited til dinner before eating anything else. It was surprisingly very hard but I felt great doing knowing I did not give in. Exercise was just hulahooping, with a weighted hoop, for 45 minutes while watching TV

Day 4: I overate today - not drastically, and actually still at a defecit, but I just couldn't resist my sister's cooking, lol. I kicked butt on exercise though. I have a cousin that is a fitness trainer and I met with him this morning. I was feeling shaky when I walked out of there, great workout. Coolest thing I learned today is how to properly do squats with the bar -I did 8x3 with 5lbs+45lb bar. I will be meeting with him again tomorrow morning and learning how to do the bench press properly.

tiggerhammon

Today is Day 8 - I didn't check in the last few days but I have been busy. Working mostly but I have been working out every single day and I have been under calorie limit every day.
Today's weighin - down 8.5lbs

MermaidAmanda10

Awesome!!!!

StrongAndHealthyMommy

Did you succeed on your challenge? How did the oil work out for you?