Day 3

Day 3 was a little easier because I went on a grocery trip to get the things I didn't think I would need when starting The Challenge (eggs, extra water, more fruits, more veggies, salt free seasonings, etc). And, combined with my grocery trip from Sunday, we have saved more than $60 this week alone on our grocery budget.

The toughest parts of the days have been the fiber drinks, late afternoon snack (which for me is usually cheese or crackers, but obviously that's a no-no on this) because you can't have fruits after lunch, and the dinners (because no fruits means no avocados, no tomato --OMG, they are in EVERYTHING!, no mushrooms, just meat and veggies with no salt....BLECH!). And for some reason, the workout yesterday was hard on me (even though it's just 25 min on the elliptical).

But we made it through, and got some awesome benefits:

1. Combined, he and I have lost approximately 20lbs.
2. And, despite the gallon+ of water I am drinking each day, the swelling I have had in my ankles and feet has virtually disappeared. This is huge for me! I haven't had swollen ankles at some point (if not the entire day) since I was pregnant with Landri! That's almost 3 years!!!!!!
3. (WARNING: Possible TMI alert) Since middle school, I have had near-debilitating cramps and flooding during that time of the month -- so bad that I had to take birth control to bring the pain to "normal" standards. Since I had a tubal ligation, my doctor gave me a Rx last year that would alleviate it in place of birth control, but I refused to take it because the side effects for obese women are severe (including stroke and other cardiopulmonary problems). So, when that time of the month comes for me now, it is so painful I have to take 800mg of ibuprofen about 4x/day. I wish I was kidding. Well yesterday that time came and totally took me by surprise because I HAD ZERO PAIN or flooding. Now, I have no idea if this is because of the supplements I'm taking, the food and water I've been consuming, or losing 10lbs, but I am LOVING THIS!

And here's what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Advocare Meal Replacement Shakes - Chocolate (From Label) - Meal Replacement Shake Chocolate, 1 pouch	220	24	3	24	80	12
Advocare - Omegaplex, 2 softgels	20	0	2	0	0	0
Generic - Advocare Slam - Strawberry Blast, 2 fl oz (60mL)	10	0	0	0	0	0
Advocare - Fiber Drink (Citrus), 1 pouch	70	17	0	0	10	6
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 3 each	9	0	0	2	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	329	41	5	26	90	18
Lunch
Walmart - Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast*, 8 oz	220	0	3	52	150	0
Organics - Raw Spinach, 8 oz	56	0	0	0	0	0
Orange - Large Navel Orange, 0.75 raw	64	24	0	2	2	11
Chiquita - Red Seedless Grapes, 1 cup (151g)	104	27	0	1	3	23
Avocados - Raw, 0.5 cup, cubes	120	6	11	2	5	0
Fresh - Pico De Gallo, 1.5 tbsp (28g)	4	1	0	0	105	1
Add Food Quick Tools	568	58	14	57	265	35
Dinner
Spinach - Raw, 1 cup	7	1	0	1	24	0
Walmart - Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast*, 8 oz	220	0	3	52	150	0
Carrots - Baby Carrots-Raw, 1 cup	70	16	0	2	0	0
Heb - Organics Italian Salad Dressing, 1 T	50	0	0	0	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	347	17	3	55	174	0
Snacks
Roundys - Almonds (Raw), 1/4 cup	210	5	18	8	0	1
Born Free - Cage Free Hard Boiled Peeled Eggs, 1 egg (44g)	60	0	4	6	60	0
Advocare - Herbal Cleanse Caplets, 3 Caplets	0	0	0	0	0	0
Advocare - Spark - Fruit Punch, 1 pouch or scoup	45	11	0	0	0	0
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 9 each	27	0	0	7	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	342	16	22	21	60	1
Totals	1,586	132	44	159	589	54
Your Daily Goal	2,080	260	69	104	2,300	78
Remaining	494	128	25	-55	1,711	24
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar

Day Two

Day 2....Day 2 was.....ROUGH. Oh my gosh. I am out of school for summer, so I'm home all day around food I'm not allowed to have (because my kids eat them). And I want some freaking CHEESE, okay????

My cravings are out-of-control-insane. I want cheese. I want mushrooms (which you can't have until Day 11). I want sweet tea.

BUT, I won't give up.

And, yesterday while I searched for ways Jay could work out at home (we don't have money to buy him equipment or a gym membership), I came back to the Arthur video.




I have seen it probably 3 or 4 times and I cry. Every single time. Only, this time I vowed I would finally force Jay to watch it and the other DDP Yoga stories. And just like I thought, when it was over he was like "Wow, that was a cool story." Then I made him watch the other one on the DDP website -- the one where Arthur tells his story as his present day self -- and, less than a minute in, Jay is crying and tells me to go get his wallet.

I am not even kidding right now.

He sat there and, for 90 straight minutes, did nothing but research DDP Yoga online. I just sat beside him at my computer (which is next to his) in amazement. Then he told me which one he was ordering (and got express shipping!) and how we needed to go buy yoga mats before it gets delivered.

Words cannot even express how happy and proud I was of him right then.

Now, back to me ;) hehehe........I worked out again yesterday. Yay! And, despite going to bed with my stomach growling, I woke up this morning with a huge smile on my face.

The first number on my scale this morning was not a 3.

9 POUNDS DOWN!

I will not give up!

Here is my eating log for Day 2:

Breakfast	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 3 each	9	0	0	2	0	0
Advocare - Fiber Drink (Citrus), 1 pouch	70	17	0	0	10	6
Generic - Advocare Slam - Strawberry Blast, 2 fl oz (60mL)	10	0	0	0	0	0
Advocare - Omegaplex, 2 softgels	20	0	2	0	0	0
Advocare Meal Replacement Shakes - Chocolate (From Label) - Meal Replacement Shake Chocolate, 1 pouch	220	24	3	24	80	12
Add Food Quick Tools	329	41	5	26	90	18
Lunch
Motts - Sliced Red Apples, 1 bag	30	7	0	0	0	5
Pineapple - Fresh, Organic, 1 cup	82	22	0	1	2	16
Starkist - Chunk Light Tuna (In Water) (Single Serve Pouch), 2.6 oz (74gr)	70	0	1	17	300	0
Fresh - Pico De Gallo, 2 tbsp (28g)	5	1	0	0	140	1
Add Food Quick Tools	187	30	1	18	442	22
Dinner
Walmart - Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast*, 10 oz	275	0	4	65	188	0
Spinach - Raw, 1 cup	7	1	0	1	24	0
Oil - Olive, 0.13 tablespoon	15	0	2	0	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	297	1	6	66	212	0
Snacks
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 3 each	9	0	0	2	0	0
Carrots - Baby Carrots-Raw, 1 cup	70	16	0	2	0	0
Roundys - Almonds (Raw), 1/2 cup	420	10	36	16	0	1
Advocare - Spark - Fruit Punch, 2 pouch or scoup	90	22	0	0	0	0
Generic - Advocare Slam - Strawberry Blast, 2 fl oz (60mL)	10	0	0	0	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	599	48	36	20	0	1
Totals	1,412	120	48	130	744	41
Your Daily Goal	2,617	327	87	131	2,300	98
Remaining	1,205	207	39	1	1,556	57
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 537 extra calories from exercise today

Day One

I have to admit, I actually lost sleep because I was so nervous about starting this challenge. What if I can't do it? What if I try and don't lose but a few pounds? What if I try and fail because it's too hard and I'm too undisciplined?

But my partner in crime was a rock today. He got up early and worked out! And then, during the day, when there were sincere chances for him to cheat he said "Absolutely not!" So, if he wasn't, neither was I!

Then, for the first time in well over 2 years, I stepped into the gym and completed a workout.

I was so scared that, even though I knew how apprehensive I was, my hands were literally shaking as I got on the elliptical. I felt like everyone in the place knew I hadn't properly exercised in years because of how obese I am and was snickering at the girl in leggings and her husband's 3x shirt which still hugged her rolls. I just knew they were laughing at me because it took me almost 5 minutes just to figure out how to plug in my iPod, put my keys away, and figure out the machine. I have a freaking BACHELOR'S DEGREE in Kinesiology....meaning I basically went to college to become something in physical fitness.

And yet, I was terrified of being in the gym.

But, I got through Day 1. I did a 20 minute manual program at level 1 for 5 minutes, level 5 for 5 minutes, and then level 2 for 10 minutes. Then it did a cooldown with me for another 5 min. My heartrate averaged 150 almost the entire time :( Not good....But, when that time was up, I stepped off that elliptical and felt something I absolutely did not have when I walked in: PRIDE. This six foot tall girl, felt about 10 feet tall as I walked outta there with my head held high.




I did it!

Hardest parts of the day: Finishing the fiber drink (nasty) and going to the gym. Also, remembering when to take pills, but that's an easy fix. I did the hardest parts though and I can keep doing them!

Breakfast	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Advocare - Fiber Drink (Citrus), 1 pouch	70	17	0	0	10	6
Advocare Meal Replacement Shakes - Chocolate (From Label) - Meal Replacement Shake Chocolate, 1 pouch	220	24	3	24	80	12
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 3 each	9	0	0	2	0	0
Advocare - Omegaplex, 2 softgels	20	0	2	0	0	0
Advacare - Spark Energy Drink Mandarin Orange, 8 oz	45	11	0	0	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	364	52	5	26	90	18
Lunch
Franklin - Portabello Mushroom Burger, 1 patty	100	10	2	14	290	3
Fresh - Pico De Gallo, 2 tbsp (28g)	5	1	0	0	140	1
Generic - Wholly Guacamole, 2 tbsp.	60	3	5	1	90	0
Motts - Sliced Red Apples, 1 bag	30	7	0	0	0	5
Add Food Quick Tools	195	21	7	15	520	9
Dinner
Baked - Tilapia, 12 oz	420	0	6	84	192	0
Carrots - Baby, raw, 2 large	11	2	0	0	23	1
Add Food Quick Tools	431	2	6	84	215	1
Snacks
Roundys - Almonds (Raw), 1/2 cup	420	10	36	16	0	1
Advocare - Spark - Fruit Punch, 2 pouch or scoup	90	22	0	0	0	0
Advocare Catalyst - Catalyst, 6 each	18	0	0	5	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools	528	32	36	21	0	1
Totals	1,518	107	54	146	825	29
Your Daily Goal	2,604	326	86	130	2,300	98
Remaining	1,086	219	32	-16	1,475	69
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar

Two Reasons NOT to Change My Diet and Exercise

Taking the steps (and following through) to lose weight has been all but impossible for me in the last 3 years, so I decided to sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of losing weight and getting fit versus keeping the lifestyle I have now.

Pros

1. Not trembling as I wait for blood tests to come back to tell me it's finally happened: I've gotten so fat, that my cholesterol levels are shot and I have Type II Diabetes, and I will be on medication for the rest of my life.
2. Being able to wear my wedding ring again.
3. Walking into my favorite clothing stores and not walking out crying because I couldn't fit into even the biggest sizes they had.
4. Being able to ride rides with the kids at amusement parks.
5. Being able to not FAKE being buckled up in a flight.
6. Being able to sit in a chair or bench without fearing it will break.
7. Having a neck again.
8.Wearing a short hair cut without looking like a cartoon garden hose that's about to pop out of the top.
9. Wearing tank tops and shorts in the summer.
10. Not wanting to die of embarrassment when I put on my whale size swimsuit to take the kids to the pool.
11. Not sweating with fear every time I go to the doctor, and have to get weighed.
12. Not feeling a million eyes on me any time I order food at a restaurant, wondering what they think of the 300lb girl who just ordered a burger or fried chicken and a sugary soda.
13. No longer being embarrassed that the only tire on my car that leaks air is the one under where I sit. In two separate cars I've owned.
14. No longer seeing judgmental eyes when people clean my car and see how compressed my leather seat cushion is.
15. Being able to fit into workout clothes again.
16. Being able to fit into 3/4 of the clothes in my closet again.
17. Shoes will fit again. Cute shoes. Think: Heels.
18. Not being ashamed to have family photos taken.
19. Not being ashamed to have ANY photos taken.
20. Not getting winded at school or on a photo shoot.
21. Being able to run again.
22. Being an example to my kids.
23. Being happy, not depressed when I look in the mirror.
24. Having more energy.
25. No longer worrying that someone might see me shopping for clothes....in the PLUS size section or walking into Lane Bryant or other stores for oversize people.
26. Fitting into the stadium seats at the Rangers' games, movies, etc. without being in severe hip pain by the end.  
27. Not being afraid for us to travel to Fenway or Wrigley, etc. since their stadiums' seating are notoriously narrow.
28. Not being extremely uncomfortable (or avoiding altogether) anyplace where I might have to sit next to someone and subject them to having to sit next to a morbidly obese person who takes up half their space.
29. Not smelling awful 90% of the time because of sweat.
30. Not having to tell my husband that if he buys me a necklace, make sure to get the extra long chain because otherwise it will look like a choker and I will look like an idiot.
31. Wearing bracelets again.
32. Not wondering whether my students are taking photos of me looking huge (all the time) and posting it on hateful social media sites.
33. Being able to wear a messenger bag or backpack without it looking extremely small or awkward because it doesn't lay flat like a thin person's.
34. Knowing that another year has passed on my birthday where I finally did something about my weight and health problems.
35. Not having my husband be embarrassed to introduce me to his co-workers. (NOTE: Jay says it's not true but, though that may be the case, I still feel like I embarrass him.
36. Not having my kids be embarrassed for their friends to know I'm their mom. <--Hasn't happened yet, but I'm guessing it will very soon.
37. Getting my hormone levels under control. Meaning clearer skin!
38. No longer having plantar fasciaitis because of my morbid obesity.
39. Not waking up with hip pain because I'm so heavy.
40. Not being embarrassed to have a pedicure because of my fat toes and ankles, and have them asked if I want the pregnant woman pedi to help with my circulation. Yeah.
41. Not being afraid to ever have any kind of accident where someone might have to carry me. OMG.

Cons

1. I will have cravings to eat my favorite foods and I will have to say no.
2. I will have to work out at night instead of relaxing, or in the morning (at 4am) instead of sleeping until 5:30am.

PROS = 41
CONS = 2

Not much of a debate, huh? My quality of life will be ridiculously better.

It's Go Time!

Sad Fact #1: I started a blog like this A YEAR AGO. July 19th, 2013.

Sad Fact #2: I weighed 302lbs then. I weigh 308.6lbs now.

Sad Fact #3: I've had a gym membership since April 2013, and have used it 0 times.



Sometimes, it takes seeing those sad facts all together to get through that this canNOT continue. And it will not. Because in 16 hours, my husband and I will start the Advocare 24-Day Challenge.