Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Incredible Shrinking Bree

I've talked about weight a few times on this blog.  It's something I have struggled with my entire life.  I have always had to work at keeping it in a healthy range.  I made a choice at the end of last year that I needed to make 2011 the year of Bree.  The time to work not only my physical self, but my emotional and mental self too.  And I've done it.  I've really focused on what I need to do for myself since January.

The biggest part of this has been the physical part.  I started in January with a Biggest Loser challenge.  It was 12 weeks long.  The first week I lost 6 pounds.  Which as exciting as that was just really showed me how truly crappy I was eating and how I wasn't moving at all!  It was a great way to start this off.  It really helped me get focused.  I began tracking all my food and exercise on MyFitnessPal (aka BEST website ever).  I also started with Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.  When I started it I thought I might die.  It was so hard.  But by the end of that 30 days I was flying through the workouts, doing double workout days and ENJOYING it.  I lost 20 pounds in 12 weeks which brought me right through the month of March.

I lost an additional 6 pounds in April.  I was working out (30 Day Slimdown which uses Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones-Yes, I'm a bit in love with her.) and still watching what I was eating.  I had all my MFP friends cheering me on and two of my best girlfriends working at it with me.  The support from my friends and family has been absolutely amazing.  I couldn't have even got started without them.  Especially Becky and Shari.  They kept me accountable and kept me going.

I don't know what has actually made it stick this time other than I was just really, really tired of me.  I was tired of being tired.  Tired of being uncomfortable in my own skin.  I hated the way I looked, hated the clothes I wore (and there were very, very few) and I never, ever looked in the mirror if I could avoid it.  I just felt like a big blog of yuck and I knew that I had to make a change.  I also knew that I wanted to keep up with the Boy and that kid has more energy than a barrel of monkeys.  I couldn't keep up with him in the state that I was.  I had to make a change.  So I did.

This hasn't been an easy journey but honestly it hasn't been as hard as I thought.  And I don't know if that is because I just haven't given myself any other options then to just do it or what.  Or maybe I was really ready for it.  But everyday I wake up and plan my day from the workout on.  And everything I eat is accounted for. And I feel good.  I feel GREAT.

I went to a family wedding 2 weeks ago.  Most of the family hadn't seen me since the beginning of March.  That weekend I felt like a rockstar.  Everyone had something sweet and encouraging to say.  I think nearly every single person said when they saw me, "You look amazing!"  I was flying high.  And I FELT amazing.  It was the first time since January that I took some pictures and just stepped back from them and really saw what I had done.

I still have a ways to go.  My journey isn't over.  But this is a lifestyle for me now.  I can't imagine being any other way.  Food is fuel and while I enjoy it I don't ever want to use it as a crutch again.  And moving my body and stretching it is a must.  I want to stay strong and youthful as long as I can and this is the way to do it!


I have some really embarrassing photos I'm taking along the way that I'm not quite ready to share with you but here is just a sneak peak of what 28 lighter looks like from the waist up (Forgive the crappy phone photos!)  Hello SINGLE chin!



Monday, May 9, 2011

101 in 1001 Update!

Back in January I wrote my 101 in 1001 list.  I even added it as a page so you guys can keep tabs on how I am doing.  Not so great so far.  BUT  I'm about to jump on a couple of these things so we are going to get moving!

So far I have completed:
-Don't eat out for two weeks.
-Complete the Biggest Loser Program (Lost 20 pounds in 12 weeks!  I'm going to tell you guys all about my journey I'm on soon!)
-Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 3 weeks. (I actually drink 10 glasses a day now!)
-No fast food for 2 months. (I'm actually in the midst of another challenge right now that is no fast food for a month!)


What I'm currently working on:
-Make 5 homemade gifts and send them to friends (Three down, two to go!  And I have finally figured out what they are going to be!)
-Make 50 new recipes (20 out of 50 so far.  This is actually really easy for me because I love to cook and I love to try new recipes).
-Attend church 3 times a week (My hubby works every Sunday so this has been a hard one.  But I think we have finally figured it out.  Since his work is 5 minutes from my parents church he actually meets me there on his lunch hour!)
-Workout 6 days a week for one month (This one has been hard because I'll get to that 4th week and then I will have to go out of town or something!  But I'm starting Insanity [SO SCARED!] today so that is a 60 day program for 6 days a week and I WILL DO IT.)
-Create my ideal body within 12 months (I want to change this to HEALTH instead of body.  Now that I'm on this journey I find that while I DO care about the way my body looks I'm much more concerned with my health.  Which has vastly improved.)
-Blog everyday for a month (Day 7!)
-Leave Jackson overnight 3 times (HARD.  One, because I miss him and two, this requires us to spend money we don't really have.  Must work on this one harder though.)
-Have dinner once a month with family (I want to change this one too.  I want it to be have family OVER for dinner once a month.  We are pretty good about having dinner with our families but not so good about inviting people over.)
-Buy flowers once a month for my house (I love this one.  Fresh flowers are such a day brightener.)


So I haven't TOUCHED my Photography, The Boy, Life Necessities, Giving, Pampered Chef, or Organization categories.  My goal is to get at least one going in each area by the end of June.  I would like to complete at least one goal a month, but I'm going to have to be more diligent about it if I want to do that.  Which goals do you think I should start working on next?  How are your goals for this year going?

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Selfish

The last month I have been more selfish than I have probably ever been in my life.  I spent time daily focusing just on me.  Sometimes for up to two hours at a time.  Housework has suffered.  Laundry isn't folded.  The kitchen is just surface clean.  But honestly, I could care less.

I've spent the last 30 days starting the change of a lifetime.  NOT a diet.  A lifestyle.  I work out 6 days a week.  I'm aware of every single thing that goes in my mouth.  I got rid of all the junk in our house.  I wasn't really cooking "bad" food, but it's a whole lot better now.

Here's the thing I have discovered about this whole process though.  It really is ALL about me.  I love my boys with everything that's in me, but this isn't for them.  And I'm not going to let them distract me from this.  The boy stays in his jammies longer so mommy can finish her workout.  I'm not always home to greet my hubby because I'm working out.  One part of me feels guilty about that, the other does not and I'm going with the latter.  Which is even more selfish.  But this one thing.  This one part of my life I have to keep for me.  Because at the end of this journey, when I get where I want to be we will all be better.  And taking this time for myself and being this selfish will make me better mom and a better wife.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

101 in 1001

I've never been the type of person to write New Year's resolutions.  I just didn't see the point.  Over the last couple of years I have become more and more interested in the idea of a Bucket List but I've never followed through on it.  But a few days ago I stumbled across this post on Emily's blog and was immediately intrigued. Then Jenna at That Wife wrote her list and I was hooked.  I'm a few days late but I'm doing this!  So here we go!  I've created a page at the top so you can follow along!

Bree's 101 in 1001

If you want join up and do it check out the links above.  They have some great ideas!