Kicking *kitten* In Our Twenties - April Challenge!!

What up y'all!! :drinker:

OK well selfish post today because I've got a lot on my plate...

This weekend rocked. Quit my job - which felt terrible for the 5 mins I was talking with my boss and then felt INCREDIBLE for the rest of the day! :bigsmile: I am so happy that there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Lots of uncertainty because I don't currently have a job waiting for me once I finish (May 1st) but I will have saved up enough to comfortably get me through the summer months and I am hoping that somehow I'll be able to get some shifts back with my old boss. He's talking a big game about having work for me, but I really am not going to be counting on it... Totally unreliable.

Eating was so-so this weekend. I made tons of healthy choices but I think I ate a bit too much yesterday and definitely did not get all my water in. I stressed some about protein being too low, but otherwise I did alright. I know trusting myself is a learning curve and that it will take time. Keep trying to remind myself all day long when I'm not logging how well I'm doing, how far I've come, and to stop counting everything in my head. Eating healthy is second nature to me know - I just need to wrap my head around not having to double and triple check my choices with the food database :noway:

Exercise and fitness is a constant frustration. I had yet another serious talk with Tyler about it last night because I definitely feel out of control on that front. I *need* to run or workout to feel good about where I am physically and in my body. I feel so "fat" (dreaded word, I know, but very accurate right now) and really just awful about how my body looks now that I've stopped running and going to the gym every day. My goal when I started training hard last fall was to look and feel healthy and fit and I just really can't help feeling disappointed with how much I've regressed in that regard these past 2 months. I was feeling on top of the world training for my 1/2 - I felt like an athlete and like I was really doing amazing things with my body - and all of those positive feelings of self-worth have totally vanished now. It's disheartening to feel like way about myself. Running had such an amazing impact on my self-image and right now I think I am missing that more than anything... I know I need to find a way to feel good about myself, regardless, but I just recognize how much easier it is when I feel like I am putting in the work and really pushing myself, physically.

That's about it!! We did a ton of grocery shopping and have loads of amazing fresh produce in the fridge now, so dinner tonight should be interesting. Huge chicken and veg stir fry with fresh basil we purchased at the market is on the menu :bigsmile: What have you folks got on the menu for this week? I am dying to know what everyone's eating!

Have a great Monday folks

Meag - So I'm not sure I know why you can't run or be in the gym anymore. I gather some kind of foot injury?

Yep! Mystery foot injury that has kept me basically on my *kitten* for the last 2 months and counting... Apart from working at the bar on my feet 18 hours every weekend, I can't do a whole lot in terms of workouts. The Dr thinks it may be some kind of nerve damage, but it's definitely not pain I should be just "pushing through". Thanks for asking :ohwell:

Monday is over with now and boy was it a busy one! I had a great day though and even got to spend some quality time with my mom - Yes, I'm a total mama's girl! :blushing: It's true. We're like two peas in a pod when we actually find time to spend together. We went shopping for clothes and ended up finding a few really good deals. All stuff I legitimately needed (in teeny tiny sizes) now that the weather is getting a bit warmer, so I felt OK about spending a little on it. I haven't bought anything in a while for myself so it was a nice treat :happy:

Was planning a chicken + veg stir fry for dinner but when the time came no one really felt like making a big deal of dinner and we just wanted to get out of the house, so I whipped up an omelet instead and called it a day. Love breakfast for dinner, anyway! So good! I had tons of fresh veggies to toss in (red onion, pepper, jalapeno, asparagus, spinach, grape tomatoes...), some egg whites, 1 large egg, and noooooch! It was friggen awesome. And I had it with a tasty corn tortilla to bump up the cals a bit. Usually don't like having carbs with dinner but I'm trying to find balance.

Drank altogether way too much coffee today but that's par for the course, I guess. Not sure how detrimental that is to my health, really... Anyone have any insight on that? I usually drink about 5 or 6 cups of coffee a day. I know that sounds insane but honestly between my sleep and work schedule and my addiction to coffee it just sort of "happens". I'm sure it's mostly habit than anything else but I definitely craaaave coffee. All the time. Thoughts?

Went for a walk/jog today for about 30 mins and it felt good. I was absolutely craving a run and the weather was phenomenal. Not advised but I just did it anyway. My foot is doing OK, considering. In addition I also spent about 2 hours cleaning the carpets with a steam cleaner which was probably a decent workout as well. That damn thing needs to be modified to hold more water... I can't believe how many effing times I had to disassemble the whole thing to change the reservoir. Who buys a house with carpeting, anyway? Join the 21st century, Mom and Dad! haha All in all a good day though and felt very productive. I'm getting up bright and early tomorrow to get a whole bunch of job searching accomplished and spend some more time outside. Hopefully I'll also find time for a swim or some other workout. Definitely needing a good dose of regular exercise these days...

Spellbinder - Great to have you back and definitely hope to be seeing more of you soon. I am trying to commit to posting more often, myself, but I totally empathize with life getting in the way. It can be very hard to prioritize this thread, even when it's something that you really want to do for you. Good luck making it fit and congrats on finding balance with your eating and exercise amidst a busy schedule!

Tara - Thanks! I am trying to "relax" a little about food. It's definitely harder than I am likely letting on and I do stress about my food constantly, and feel very guilty about treating myself with higher carb, higher sugar foods, but I know that I just have to learn to cope with it. It's easier to force myself out of my comfort zone sometimes than to feel totally miserable not getting to enjoy all the delicious and awesome things that are around me. I still feel like I deny myself a LOT of bread-y carbs (but eat tons of fruit and veg which usually puts me near my carb limit anyway for the day) and I always turn down baked goods of any kind, which can be difficult for those around me, but I am trying to find SOME balance. Thanks for the vote of confidence though - I appreciate it! :happy:

BTW - You are totally going to KILL your weigh-in, but if you do have an "off" week you should just chalk it up to your body's natural flux. I'm posted in the past (in response to Gonks) about my own fluxes on my way down to my GW and how crazy my Wis were as I lost more and more weight. It seemed like every second or third week I would gain, but steadily my weight was decreasing over time. The closer you get to your GW, the more flux you are bound to see. It's just the nature of the beast. Do not allow yourself to get discouraged or to second guess your methods. Calorie counting, working out, and being accountable to yourself WORKS. Just stick with it! And keep track of your progress over the long term. It's hard sometimes to see the forest for the tress but you have to know that one gain or bad week, over so many awesome losses, is just a drop in the bucket and it's all part of your journey toward your goal of leading a long, healthy life with your son. So try not to stress it - if possible! You're doing awesome!

Alexis - Brussel sprouts roasted in the oven are my favourite too! OMG! Try tossing them with a little olive oil and lemon juice (and S&P if you like) before roasting. Soooo yummy! I do the same with asparagus as well and it's amazing. Yum yum yum!

Shannon - Congrats on your C25K progress! You must be really proud :bigsmile: Sounds like you have the exercise bit down pat. Don't fret too much about one bad Saturday though. We all have those days - especially while socializing. Just pick up where you left off and keep kickin' *kitten*!

Melissa - Your runs, as always, sound awesome! And yes - running in shorts and a tank is the best feeling EVER. I ran today in 20C weather and was sweating buckets when I finished and it felt innnnnnnnnnncredible! So looking forward to the summer months. Bring on the sun! :bigsmile: Your food plan also sounds super yummy. Do you try to avoid carbs with dinner as well? Looks like apart from pancakes most of your meals at centered around lean protein and veggies - as mine are as well - but I tend to eat a salad in addition to my veggies to avoid being famished 1 hour later. I find that meat + 1 veggie is just not nearly enough food. Just curious

OK I better get ready to get to bed! I'm going to read a little more I think... Been really trying to get back into reading. With the warmer months coming I am definitely hoping to pick it back up. I miss it so much! With running taking up so much time and being exhausted once I hit my bed finally at night, it has definitely taken a back burner priority-wise. I'll leave you with my tentative meal plan for tomorrow....

Meal 1 - Oats/oat bran/chia with strawberries, cinnamon and greek yogurt
Meal 2 - Raw carrots and zukes
Meal 3 - 1 egg + 2 whites omelet w/ grilled pork tenderloin, veg and nooch
Meal 4 - Fruit of my choice - grapes/plum something like that
Meal 5 - Chicken + Veg Stir fry w/ fresh basil + garden salad
Meal 6 - Night time snack. Possibly a protein brownie.

Tara - Wishing you luck but I know you don't need it! You work super hard, you always have a plan, and you have incredible determination and will power. I know you're going to kick *kitten*. Even if the scale doesn't agree tomorrow, it will in the very near future. You are getting so close to your goals, it's just a matter of time before you're in the maintenance club with Melissa and I :bigsmile:

Speaking of which... Sooo many of you ladies are SO close to your GWs! It seems like only yesterday we were just getting this thing started up and had such lofty goals and long-term plans. I can't believe how quickly those 6-7 months have FLOWN by and what incredible progress so many of us have made (I've lost 22lbs since joining MFP! :noway:). I just wanted to point out how freaking proud I am of you ladies :drinker: To those who have stuck it out with this thread for months and made such amazing changes in their life, you should truly be proud of yourself and the commitment you've made and kept to living healthier, more active lives.

And for those who are new to the thread, consider this a fair warning - Progress is very real around these parts so get ready to kick *kitten* and reach your goals! This kind of success is contagious, folks! :laugh:

Aly - I've said it already on your profile but CONGRATS! I know how thrilled you must be :bigsmile: And I am happy to hear you had such a wonderful trip. How was the race!?! I want to know all about it! Deets, woman! And good luck on your WI. I know you have struggled a lot with the scale in the past so don't get discouraged if you see a gain. Your skinny jeans still fit, after all, so how much harm could have been done? Just get back on the wagon and kick some serious *kitten*!

Spell - Do it! Chinese food is sooo yummy Also, send me/post your fave home-cooked recipe. I am always dying to make authentic Indian food (and you always have awesome Indian dishes in your diary) but I never know what to make.... Indian cuisine was a staple in my diet before losing weight and I want to try to find ways to incorporate it now, but am very weary of the fat content and all the carbs. I know that so much can be done with all the amazing spice mixtures.... I just need to harness those flavour profiles and use them to my advantage. Any suggestions would be amazing! Thanks! :happy:

Blondie - Welcome! :flowerforyou: This group is truly amazing. Hope you find the motivation and support that you're looking for!

AFM - Today rocked. I really made the best of it. Despite some major troubles and frustrations this afternoon, I really pushed my limits at the gym and got an awesome workout, and I ate well and drank lots of water. Had some wicked good meals, and although I didn't stick with my meal plan as posted yesterday, time wise, I ate all of those foods at some point or another, plus a whole bunch else. Was under my cals, under my carbs, well under sodium and had tons of great protein, healthy fat, and loads of fruit + veggies. Great day!

I am starting a new weight-lifting routine that I have yet to plan out, exactly. But once I get all the specifics pinned down I'll post my schedule. Today I did abs, back, triceps and some cardio (plus pushups for good measure). Felt awesome. Next up is Thurs abs, chest and biceps plus cardio. For tomorrow - YOGA! Wooot!

OK I am exhausted and need to get to bed asap. Hope y'all had an amazing day - See you tomorrow!