April, New gym to start the month of right!

I recently became very frustrated with my workout routine. I tried making adjustments but it was time for a change. I needed more variety, more things to try and motivate me. After talking to lots of people, stopping in at various gyms throughout the valley I was getting even more frustrated. Going into many clubs I felt as if I was buying a car, being pressured to sign that contract, and if I didn't do it immediately my deal was lost! My cell phone still rings of gyms trying to get me to come in. I never realized finding a place to workout could be so difficult! This was part of my break in March, I needed something new, a new place to go to help re-motivate me. My old gym served its purpose but I had outgrown it. I'm not that self-concious girl I once was, and I needed more.

So as I go to my hairdresser simply last week she is estatic to see me since its been several months and she can't believe how much I have changed! During our conversation of how, and what I'm doing to change my life we got on the subject of gyms. She told me about her gym, Gold's Gym, alot of us have heard of it but I always got the impression it was a "body-building, men only gym". Wow was I wrong! I love it! It has all I wanted, even free tanning! Yes being a pale Irish girl I still love to tan :) So I'll never be dark but hey at least I'm not so ghostly! It has a sauna, spin room (can't wait to try it), many different cardio classes, even a room seperate for women to use weights if we feel uncomfortable. So I get all I wanted for less then what I was paying before :) Im so excited to start, I have my first personal training appointment on Tuesday night, so I'll feel you in on how that goes! I love the atmosphere, its not a "trendy" or a "fad" gym, that attracts everyone for a few months till they give up, everyone in there is because they want to be.

Heres a few pics because I'm so excited lol :) Thats my actual gym too! Not just some random pics of one of there many gyms hehe. Funny to be proud of a gym!

Its good to be back, and thanks for keeping up on me and helping me stay motivated!

March, what happened to it?

March, St Patricks Day, and loosing track of my goals. During this month I rarely paid attention to what I ate, I didn't even write in my journals. I think I mentally and physically needed a break. My job was hectic, I barely felt I had any time to myself. The month is over and I have started my planning for April. My break is over!

I am still currently at 184lbs, no weight loss but hey at least I didn't gain! I had become frustrated and bored with my gym so I did alot of searching to find a new one. I went to the gym only several times this month.

Im glad its over, Im glad I took the break but I can't let myself slip. It was one month and thats all I get :)

St Patricks Day was fun :) Went out had a few drinks, as thats my favorite holiday hehe being Irish and all.

Time to move onto April and forget about March!

April, new goals coming soon! What happened to March??!?

Im sorry I haven't been keeping up, mostly for myself. It really helps me coming here and writing. I have new goals for the month of April I'll be starting and setting up here, need my motivation again! So look back soon, and thank you all for keeping up on me!

Where have I been!!?!

Hi All :) Sorry I have been away for a week and not been able to keep you all up to date! Work and the gym take up so much time these days, I had to take some time to myself. So I'm back, refreshed and ready to get back to writing.. but right now I'm heading to the gym! Its 45 mins of cardio tonight..

I'll write soon on how my week has been and whats new, thanks for keeping up on me, it really does help keep me motivated!

~ Steph ~

February Final Weight :)

So its the last Thursday of February and I lost a total of 8.5lbs this month! I weighed in yesterday morning at 184.5. I achieved my weight goal this month of 8lbs, one month closer to final goal! Sometimes I'm in shock that I'm actually 40lbs away.. what will I do then!? Set new ones :) March is around the corner and soon another 8lbs will be gone..crossing my fingers for more, but I'll settle for a lower body fat% :)

Have a great Friday night, its time for me to celebrate!

One year Celebration!!!

YAY!!!!! Time to celebrate!! One year of being single and changing my life!!

114lbs lost, lots of soul searching, my inner beauty now matches my outside beauty :)

Courage and Persistence

Over the last few days I have chosen to not follow my new way of life. Why did I decide it was ok to not go the gym? Or eat those chips? I have always been an emotional person therefore an emotional eater. I had a few things happen over the last days causing me stress and frustration, so instead of going to the gym to blow off that steam I turned to food. Now this is a habit I use to do regularly and not even realize it. When I quit smoking I never craved the nicotine, it was the habit I had to break, the lighting up while driving, or right after eating. After time I lost the feeling of that habit as I changed the things I would do during those times. Now this is along the same thing, I didn't eat those chips because I wanted them. I ate them because it was a habit for me, to turn my emotional feelings towards food. I will choose to go the gym when I'm stressed rather then reaching for food. It will take time for our new choices to rid the old habit and become the new one. I've read many different opinions on the time it takes our brains to forget the old paths, but as long as we continue daily it will change. During our journeys we will loose our direction and slip into the old path. This applies to every goal we are trying achieve whether its paying off your car or going to the gym. If we realize this in beginning it will make it all that much easier to recover from the set back. How many times have you slipped and said "Oh well I'll eat the rest of these Oreo's since I already had one". The best things we can do is prepare for those slips and commit ourselves to not giving up on our goals. Self-forgiveness will keep us from punishing ourselves by eating the rest of that bag of Oreo's. So for 2 days I slipped and I forgive myself, as tomorrow I can make a different choice. I will remember what my true happiness is, what my goal is, and what I have accomplished thus far. So if you have also slipped of your journey whatever it may be, forgive yourself and start tomorrow. Avoid negative thoughts, you are not a failure. Look at what you have accomplished already and admire yourself for starting again.

Week 2 Goals

February Goals Week 2 I have achieved so far :) I'm down 1.5 lbs ! Didn't quite get 2lbs but thats ok I'm still happy!

4lbs this month 1.5lbs this week
1 book finished, The Alchemist it was pretty good.
Spa Day scheduled with my sister.
Changed my workout.
Started to up calorie intake.
Made it through Valentines :)
Didn't eat all kinds of chocolate candies from Valentines!

Onto week 3!!

February Week 1 Weight Goal Achieved!!

I did it!! I finally got into the 180's!! 187.5 is the official number as of yesterday. I'm actually down 5.5lbs since last week but a few lbs of that was water, so in reality 2.5lbs lost!! I'm in shock, but it feels so good to have accomplished this goal. Next Thursday is another weigh in day, lets see how well I can do this week!

Excuses Excuses

I have added pictures of my progress! The slide show starts right before the year I gained close to 100lbs. Why did I gain almost 100lbs in 1 year? I was unhappy, depressed, quit smoking, complacent in a relationship, not enough time to exercise.. I can give many "excuses" but there is no right answer other then I simply choose not to change my lifestyle. I didn't even take the time to do girly things like doing our hair every morning to help us feel good about ourselves. I would leave for work with no makeup and wet hair! I had quit taking care of myself in all ways, physically and emotionally. I had a very small closet of clothes and didn't even care to go shopping! I had lost who I was. I have pretty much always been overweight. Even in high school I needed to loose about 40lbs and I thought that was bad! Since then I have been on every diet you can possibly imagine. From Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, starving myself, Atkins, every diet pill you can buy at Wal-mart I have tried it! Obviously none of them worked. I never did find that miracle pill that would cure all my problems. I have tried to loose weight because I was interested in some guy, thought I was ugly, to wear that swiminsuit on vacation, to get married.. every reason to loose weight except for the one that really mattered, loose weight to be healthy, happy, and feel better about myself. Now I agree we all need a little motivation to keep us going and maybe that new swimsuit I want to wear in a few months could do just that :) but until I understood why I wanted to change my life that scale was going to keep going up.

Februrary, Love Me First

It's February 1st and the stores are flooded with chocolates and candies. Can you walk by and resist the urge to buy a bag? I am a single women and honestly, right now I hate Valentines Day! This month I have set a few extra goals for myself simply because this month will be hard for me mentally. I do not want to get into the emotional fall of feeling sorry for myself that I am alone on Valentines. I have decided it is "Love Me First" month. I have my weight goal of 2lbs a week, finish the 2 books I'm reading, pamper myself with spa treatments, bubble baths, and relaxing weekends. All of us on our weight loss and spiritual journeys must learn to love ourselves. This will help us in all goals we are trying to achieve. If we love ourselves enough why would we reach for that bag of chocolates when we know it is not part of our new healthy lifestyle? Valentines is just a public day to show people you love them, if you are single like me show your family and friends! Take this month to love yourself and take care of you. Do you have something you have always wanted to do just for you but have never taken the time? This is the month to do it! I have decided to write myself a love letter describing all the things I love about me. Remember our journey through weight loss is also a time for us to look within ourselves. As we loose weight our thoughts, desires, and fears will all began to change. Lets start it, I'm ready!

"Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world" - Lucille Ball

Creating the Blog :)

Today I have decided to create this blog and use this as my public journal to share my adventure through weight loss and searching for the me I know exists! It feels great to know that I have something positive in my life to share with others, and maybe possibly be an inspiration! A little about me, I began my "change of life" as it is not a diet on January of 06. Due to some dramatic events in my life I realized when I looked into a mirror one day "Who is this person?". I started eating healthy, exercising and spent alot of time thinking and growing within myself. I have always been overweight and like so many of us been on every diet possible, even the crazy ones! (I know your shaking your heads, we have all done them hoping for some miracle change) This time around it was different, I had changed my view on myself and what I wanted from life. Its amazing how our thoughts control much of our actions, even if we are not aware of it. For once I was happy, happy with me even if I was still overweight! It has been a little over 1 year and I am now 110lbs lighter and under 200lbs! I am not done with my journey yet, and it will probably never be over! I still have another 45lbs to go and with each pound I loose I begin my search for me all over again.