When do you say enough is enough?

Well we are headed into April, Spring is here and some of you are still saying to me that you are going to get started! What are you waiting for? If I've said it once I've said it a million times..."Let today be the day you start on the new healthy you!" Why not? I know it's hard! Yeah, I never said it wasn't but it's soooo worth it. Find a program that works for you. It may take a little trial and error but in the end when you find that perfect fit you will sail toward your goals! Make a list of what you want to accomplish and include personal goals. Your weight may also be holding you back at work, in your love life and other areas. Weight, self-esteem, and overall health can hold you back from a world just waiting for you to explore. So I don't if any of you watch Ruby on the STYLE network but I love this reality show because Ruby keeps it real. She is struggling with her weight loss but continues to work past obstacles. This woman was 719 pounds now she is 318. She has a ways to go but look at how far she has come and extending her life in the process. She is eager to get under 300 pounds because she hasn't been less than 300 pounds since she was 15 years old. On last nights episode her therapist suggested she change or eliminate 5 things out of her life that may be holding her back from meeting her weight loss goals. Some of the things she eliminated was diet soda, changing her exercise workout, getting rid of a huge chair that was like a love-seat that she had when she was 700+ pounds and getting a new smaller chair, putting mirrors around her house at waist level where she would sit or walk by so she was always reminded of what she needed to work on! So I thought, what do I want to change? First I had to think of what my real goal is and since it isn't to lose weight I really want to tone and strengthen. I want a killer body this summer! This is week 5 for me for exercise restriction so I am planning hard because next Monday April 6th, I am going to be training as if I'm headed for the Olympics. So the first thing I'm going to do is plan. Lack of planning is a disaster waiting to happen when it comes to weight loss or getting fit because there are so many things that can throw you off track. Also I am going to eliminate negative energy and self-doubt. You gotta believe in you, if you don't who will? Next I want to explore some new forms of exercise. I have also been watching Kirstie Alley's Big life and her trainer was showing her some serious moves! I have to try them as well as I think I'm going to take up running! Let me tell you I hate to run, but I feel so great after it. I love every other form of exercise I don't know why the running thing doesn't work for me but I'm going to make it work. OKAY who's in? What changes are you going to make to achieve your goals?

What to do when you can't do!

So I had a surgery 3 weeks ago and not being able to workout is totally driving me bonkers. I thought I would enjoy this time to just heal and recuperate but I am as antsy as ever. Fortunately I have been able to go to the gym and walk the treadmill but it is really such a tease. I want to feel the burn! 3 more weeks before I get the all clear to go hard again. It's gonna be like I'm training for the Olympics! I can't wait! So what can you do when exercising is restricted? Well the best thing of course would be to follow doctors orders. I was told walking would be good for me so that is what I have been doing. But I can't do any heavy lifting so I have been lifting 2 pound dumbbells which feels like nothing but it actually does help keep you tone in downtime. Make sure you know your limits and if you feel pain or distress in any way stop! When I first started walking again I could barely do 30 minutes and boy was I was sore but I am gaining some stamina I'm up to an hour and I have quickened my pace, still cautious not to over do it. Also when you can't do much physical activity keep your mind busy. Meditate and ponder. The worse thing you could do is get bored and start eating mindlessly. Be sure to be especially cautious of portions and your food intake. Especially if your workouts are restricted because you don't want to add any extra weight. Spring is next Saturday! You know what that means, time to put away the bulky sweaters and the true signs of what you have been doing all winter will be reflected in the short sleeve and thinner clothing! Are you ready?

In Your Own Time

Sometimes we can talk until we are blue in the face trying to encourage others to get healthy and fit! I have learned to shut my mouth! The truth is no one is going to take the steps they need for themselves until they are ready. The best we can do is offer support and words of encouragement and hope it's enough to steer them in the right direction. This blog is without a doubt a release for me regarding my struggles with maintaining my overall healthy lifestyle. Since I have been successful in doing so it must be working! Keep the comments coming! Invite friends to be followers and stick with your program. Remember you are getting thin in 2010!!!

Feeling Good!

So here we are in the second month of 2010! I'm feeling good. I am still on target with my goals but of course I need more motivation! The weather has been a total bummer. Snow just keeps falling out of the sky and I just wish I had a penny for every flake, I'd be a billionaire but nontheless I will press forward, dreaming of the day to peel off all of these layers of clothes for Spring and Summer so I know I gotta keep it right and keep it tight. This is the time when we give up on oursleves because the days are short and cold and we're bundled up but that pizza you had today will still be there when those layers come off if you don't do something about it today! Say to yourself that you feel goos and I know you want to look good to match that feeling so get moving...March 20th is the first day of SPRING!

Happy Birthday!

Feeling good today as I celebrate my 38th birthday! Feeling fit and feeling healthy is there any other way to be? The best part is I finally got to get rid of the fat faced girl that has been haunting me on my driver's license since 2005. It expired this year and I took a new picture with a new weight! I can't tell you how happy I was skipping out of the MVA last week it was wonderful. Especially because I remember going to my car and crying five years ago after I saw that horrible fat-faced picture I took in 2005. I think what made it so bad was because the one I took in 2000 looked like a photo shoot and I just assumed when I took one in '05 it would be the same. Little did I realize the weight I had gained during that time would show so much I would have at least prepared myself. There was no preparation for the truth staring me in the face. Nonetheless I lived with that photo for 5 long years and happy to seen it banished for eternity!

What is it with 10 pounds?

Well I want to lose 10 pounds! Mainly because it gives me a comfort zone. I usually fluctuate 5 pounds up or 5 pounds down from my original goal weight but I figure if I lost 10 pounds that would give me the wiggle room where I won't freak out over the scale. The scale can be a scary thing as I am sure you know. I don't know why I'm obsessed with the numbers. These 10 pounds are probably going to be the hardest! I think because I'm telling myself it's just 10 pounds so I have to make it monumental and go with it with the same gusto I did for my original weight loss! I love maintaining and I feel great but as I've blogged about before we are our own worst critics. So I have a really close friend who lost a lot of weight around the same time I did. As we talked today she said she has gained about 10 pounds and it was really dragging her down. We are both struggling to get back into our size 4's!!! So we are going to encourage each other. I could really get it off in 2 weeks but I want it to be slow so it will stay off. I'm thinking 6 weeks!!! So she was headed to the grocery store and I mentioned a few must haves for her list and reminded her to eat plenty of naturally fiberous foods like fresh fruits & veggies. She invited me to HOT YOGA. I thought "Wow, what's that?" It's basically a yoga class done in a really hot room. Loosens you up and gets you sweating! Well since I don't sweat I'm eager to see if it works! I am down! I love to try any new type of exercise! Would anyone care to join me on the ten pound challenge? Even if you have to lose more you can always lose 10 pounds at a time right! I'm still on a mission for my bikini ready stomach, been crunching and doing ab exercising like crazy and I can slowly see a change.

So as I'm sitting here typing and watching the Food Network, looking at these women's backsides busting out their pants and the rolls on their arms as they prepare their slow cooked spare ribs, pasta salad and tiramisu I am reminded why I blog, why portion control is sooooo important and why I exercise regularly!!!! Whew thanks Neely's! Wow!

Good Things Do Come in Small Packages

So I thought to myself "I need a goal for 2010." Well last year it was to wear a bikini which I did, however I didn't feel too confident but still was happy nonetheless, I think stretch marks across my stomach from having babies were more of a woe to me than the small pouch left behind from having them. Well nothing works for the stretch marks I can attest to this but damn this pouch to hell!!!! So I am cruising Victoria's Secret on-line the other day looking for yet another fabulous bikini. I think I'll purchase a new one every year. So I found a really cute solid black string bikini! Bingo had my name all over it. Well it arrived today! As I swallowed hard opening the package I prepared myself mentally for tears when I tried it on. I ordered a medium to make sure hips and boobs were covered enough that I wouldn't get arrested. I told myself that if it's too small or looks crazy just send it back and it's no big deal. Well I don't know if it was the lighting in my bedroom or maybe it's time for an eye exam but it looked good!!! Not great but overall I was ecstatic and even more excited about getting this stomach of mine as tight as possible by the summer. Score one for Alethea! Whoppie! Now the big question is who is going to join me on this bikini challenge? I hope I have some takers. A certain blog follower called me today and said she was getting back on track I hope she joins me in this challenge. We shall see!

Find some motivation! The new season of the Biggest Loser starts tonight on NBC @ 8pm, subscribe to Shape & or Fitness Magazine. I love Women's Health magazine as well. Surround yourself with positive people and set your goals small. If you make it through one day you have been successful!