An eternal W.I.P. - that's me!

W.I.P. - a Work In Progress. That's me to a "t". I'll never claim to be any sort of expert at ANYTHING...parenting, Posh, diet, exercise. So much of everything I do in life is just instinct. Maybe I've figured out how MY body responds to certain things, but that doesn't necessarily mean that what works for me will work for you.

But I hope it does!!

I have received SO MANY messages in the past few weeks from people I've inspired...people who have started their OWN plan, and are seeing great results. This thrills me beyond measure. I cannot even put into words how happy it makes me to get messages like this from friends....

And this....

Today's Food:

Breakfast - cottage cheese & 6 green olives
Lunch - 2 stalks celery with peanut butter & an apple
Dinner - Hibachi Chicken & veggies from Hibachi Express

Water, unsweetened iced tea with lemon, Diet Pepsi

Exercise: 3 miles on treadmill at brisk to very brisk pace (1 mile running). 5 miles total.
 walking.

Some extra goodness resulting from losing weight....

1.  I was able to sit comfortably in a seat on the plane to/from Italy and not feel like I was a sardine, squished between the hand rests. AND I was able to see my seatbelt!!! Straight, visible shot down ;-).

2.  No more plantar fasciitis! It's just - GONE.

3.  No more "feet going numb" during my walks (that was weird, painful, and annoying!).

4.  Shopping for clothes is FUN! (<--on that note, I would suggest waiting until you hit like a 10% goal - at least 10% of your body weight gone - before you take that first shopping excursion. That was a surreal moment for me. I hadn't really felt like my clothes were fitting all that different or that my loss was noticeable. In fact, I wasn't even sure what sizes to try on. I could not BELIEVE my eyes when I put on clothes that fit! Nor could I believe I was comfortably in a size 12 - and close to a size 10 - having been a 16). Now, I find myself wearing dresses (& jewelry) a LOT now. My kids ask why I'm getting dressed up each time we go out and I'm like "I just FEEL good in this!".

5. Hugs feel better. I'm not as self-conscious about my waistline and Josie seems to be getting a kick out of how much easier it is to get her arms around my waist :-).

6. Compliments. Someone much younger than I was kayaking down the river yesterday (we didn't know him) and he pulled up along side my kayak and said, "You got it GOIN' ON!".

TOTD:

(For those of you looking for a low-carb/calorie "adult beverage", might I suggest some citrus vodka and a kiwi-strawberry Sparkling Ice? On lots of ice. I really found it refreshing!)

Yesterday, we spent 6 hours kayaking on the Chestatee River. I wore a 2 piece bikini. Damn straight I did. And I felt great! Strong, energetic, happy. It was a GREAT day with friends! I LOVE THIS LIFE! And, yep, the compliment of having it "going on"? Said to me while I was in that bikini. Incredible!

Sugar is EVIL!

It's difficult to get out of the "low calorie/lowfat" mindset, but one thing my NP emphasized from the beginning was "NO LOWFAT DRESSINGS" (etc). Sugar is bad. Fat is not.

Check out this article I saw on FB today:

14 Health Foods Worse Than Donuts

Check-in 6/23/16

Breakfast - had to improvise since my kids ate all the eggs and all the bananas. So I had celery with peanut butter, a cheese stick and grapes.

Lunch was grilled Chick-Fil-A nuggets and a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

And, well, this is embarrassing, but my kids have me completely whipped since I got back from Italy. Dinner was a small banana split Blizzard with no chocolate. True story.

Snack - an apple

Exercise:

Plus 45 minutes weight training.

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!  Nighty night!

Meals & Exercise - My Journey!

I've taken photos of many of my meals (and exercise) since February and since a common question I hear is "What are you eating?", here are some photos. Keep in mind, I'm a pretty bland/picky eater, and if I find something I like, I tend to stick with it (especially if it's working)...

Exercise has become a true family affair. I do a lot on my own, but I also try to engage the family when they're home and on weekends. We hike, we kayak, we go to the gym together, we walk. Jake & Josie will play soccer while the rest of us walk the track, etc. We just basically try and MOVE constantly. Delaney is the most "into" it of all the kids - and it shows.

Smoothie ingredients

Veggie Pasta & Lean Meat Sauce (that's only 1/2 cup of cooked pasta & 1/4 cup sauce, believe it or not)

Chicken cooked in pressure cooker with a Tastefully Simple Bourbon Bayou Glaze and Broccoli.

Smoothie!

Lunch

Lunch

Fajitas

My fajitas have no shell, but do have sour cream :-)

Matcha Tea

Guilty Pleasure

Lunch

Chicken & peas

Lunch

Matcha!

My favorite walking trail!

What a buy on these turkey breasts!

My kids' favorite - chicken salad. I eat on bed of mixed greens - no bread.

Matcha again!

Lunch!

A restaurant meal. These are the BOMB at Wild Wing Cafe. Cajun flavored. I typically eat 2 and then I take home the leftovers. I ask for celery instead of fries, and allow myself the ranch (which is DELISH!).

Dinner...there's a burger under that tomato/lettuce. 93% lean.

Typical breakfast when Thad's cooking for me.

Not sure why the grumpy face. I love to walk!

Discovered a fun hiking trail!

Another type of chicken salad.

Go Pro'd Up!

A gift to me from Cassi Shannon. I still dream about the yumminess. LOL!

Working those thigh muscles.

Treadmill. Not my fave.

Like a boss (x2)

Recommend highly!

Go to lunch.

Chick-Fil-A meal! One I actually LIKE! Put those nuggets ON the salad and it beats any other chicken salad they make. I get the balsamic vinaigrette.

Told you I was boring.

My chicken salad (there's even mayo on it).

Endomondo is my favorite app...though it's not perfect. I started at around a 17 min mile and now average low 14s/high 13s.