Wordless Wednesday

I'm Ready!

I am really excited about the cooler temperatures and the Fall weather heading our way! I am looking forward to getting back outside and enjoying the fresh air while exercising. Today as I walked out the door to go outside for recess duty, I had this overwhelming relief feeing as I felt the cooler air. It was amazing! It made me want to get outside and go for a long walk to destress and clear my head. Are you excited about the cooler temperatures heading our way? I listed a few ideas below that might get you excited about going outside and moving! :)

-Walk (it doesn't have to be fast, go at your own pace)
-Run (take a run and clear your mind while taking in God's beauty)
-Take your family for a fun hike in the upstate
-Go apple-picking in the upstate (if you have any recommendations, please comment below because I am wanting to go one weekend soon!)
-Rake up leaves and spend time in your yard (not quite time but it is getting closer every day)
-Play in the leaves with someone (husband, kids, friends, etc.)
-Sign up for a 5K! (there are tons to sign up for on www.strictlyrunning.com)

Motivational Videos

Hey yall! I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! I just wanted to share a few videos tonight that I found that are motivating to me and I hope they will be motivating to you also! I hope these videos will encourage you to do something remarkable!

August 25

The Good: I cooked dinner tonight for the first time in a long time. I made yummy honey-lime quesadillas that my friend Shannon gave me. It was a delicious meal and it reminded me that cooking dinner does not have to be a long process. :) I also went to the grocery store today and stocked up on some great fresh produce and healthy foods.

The Bad: I did not get a workout in today. I am so exhausted from school this week. I hope to get several good workouts in this weekend when I am well rested! :)

The Ugly: I was stressed when I got out of school today so I came home and dived into some frozen yogurt. Not a good decision at all. I know my over-eating stems from stress. It would have been a much better choice to jump on the treadmill and get a good run in but I didn't make that decision today. I plan to make a better decision next time!

Wordless Wednesday

Encouragement

Wow! That is all I can say! I have been encouraged by so many people in the last 24 hours that I have been left speechless. I am so blessed to share my journey with you, the ups and downs, and everything in between. I appreciate all of the uplifting messages, encouraging words, testimonies, etc. that you have shared with me. I hope that I can be an encouragement to you on whatever journey you are on too!

I did much better today with staying on track. I still did not write down my food like I needed to but that will be something I hope to work on tomorrow. Just a few small steps at a time trying to get back to where I was. My mom and I did fix a yummy, healthy dinner tonight of tilapia, little red potatoes, and asparagus. It really makes me realize how good it feels to eat healthy again. The fast food, restaurant food is ok to have every once in a while but you really can tell a difference between food that is unhealthy for you and healthy foods. I continually have to remind myself of this.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful day, full of healthy choices and exercise! Thank you again for following my journey and being an encourager to me every step of the way!

Frustrated? Unmotivated? Failure? How These Words Go Together

Frustrated? Unmotivated? Failure? How do these words go together?

They fit my life right now. I have been through about a 2 1/2 month struggle with getting back on plan. Those of you who have tried to lose weight before, you can relate to this I am sure. It happens to everyone at some point. I promised that I would be real here because I truly started this blog to chart my journey through weightloss. It has turned into so much more and I count my blessings every day! Since I want to be honest with you, I am laying it out on the line in this blog post. I hope that this will help me clear my mind, get back on track, and maybe even help someone else that is stuck in this same situation. So...here it is...the truth but also some inspiration to climb back on and continue the ride of my life!

It all started when school ended in June. I started out great, excited to have so much free time on my hands to go to the gym, workout whenever, cook healthy meals, travel to farmer's markets, etc. I was doing such a great job and was so proud of myself that I had actually changed my lifestyle for good. Remember that saying your mom used to tell you, "don't count your chickens before they hatch?" Yeh, I did that. I honestly was so confident in myself because I had lost over 50 pounds that I thought, "yeh, I got this!" Then life happened and got in the way.

Around mid-summer I went to Hilton Head with my family and enjoyed some a-m-a-z-i-n-g meals BUT I also exercised every morning because I knew I was going to be eating horribly at night when we went out with various companies. If you remember, I wrote a blog post about staying on track even on vacation. Yep, at that point, I was still going strong! Once we got back home, it happened. Shawn started working a shift that was way out of our normal schedule, I started getting anxious about the summer ending and trying to get everything done I had on my "summer to-do list" before school started, and honestly, was FRUSTRATED because the scale had not moved at all in about a month. So, I started slowly getting back into old habits.

Fast forward to the end of July, my family spent a week at Edisto and during that time I did not exercise at all. My excuse---wait for it---"I'm on vacation and I deserve this." Ok, good try but NO! No matter if I am on vacation or not, I still need to exercise to keep my body healthy and feeling good. I took the easy way out and made an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, drank a few alcoholic beverages, and sat on my fanny. I kept telling myself, I am getting back on the program when I get home, I will get back next week, etc. etc. etc. Did it happen? No. It is called----unmotivated. Unmotivated to continue, unmotivated to eat right, unmotivated to cook healthy meals, unmotivated to go to the gym, unmotivated to count my calories, unmotivated to write down what I am eating, 100% unmotivated to continue.

I did have one good thing come out of this time which was coming across Isagenix which I have blogged about several times recently. I absolutely LOVE the chocolate shakes and they are so good for me. They keep me feeling balanced, energized, and clear-minded. Not only do they do all of those things but they are simple and easy. I can make one quickly in the morning on the way to work and I make one for lunch at school. They keep me full and help me keep my calories in check. The problem I am having is dinner. Shawn and I have gotten back into the "out-to-eat" mode lately and it is killing me! I have decided that I have to go "cold-turkey" again to get out of the habit. There are some nights that I am so tired from these first few weeks of school that I cannot imagine cooking dinner but instead of grabbing something convenient, I need to think of some quick, easy, and healthy dinners that I have made in the past. I have to get back to planning my meals.

I am also ashamed to tell you that I honestly feel like a failure. Now, after 2 1/2 months of seeing nothing on the scale has made me ask myself several times, "can I do it?" "Is this the end?" "Can I loose any more weight?" Of course all of these are not true but I am back in the old mind frame that I was in months ago. I have to snap out of it. I am truly thankful that I started this blog in December because it shows me "proof" that I CAN do it! I CAN continue on my journey. I WILL lose the weight. I WILL life a healthy lifestyle. I just have to continue to pump those positive messages into my head until it "clicks" again. I don't want to feel like a failure but I do. I think we all do at some point but we shouldn't. No one is a failure, you can always bounce back and most of the time you bounce back stronger than before. That is my hope!

So, starting fresh again...these are my goals for the next week. I am going to take it little by little until I build myself back up to where I was.
-Exercise at least 20 minutes a day. (Going to walk RIGHT AFTER I finish this post, PROMISE!) :)
-Write down my meals (luckily my shakes stay the same so I just need to concentrate on my snacks and dinner)
-Create a meal plan for the week
-Post on my blog daily (it keeps me in-check)
-Re-read one of my weightloss motivational books
-Treat myself to a few new music downloads to motivate me to walk/run
-Weight myself every morning (I know many people recommend not doing this but it helps me so I do it, I like to see the numbers daily to keep me in-check)

I want to share with you this quote I found,
"Your journey has molded you for a greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." –Asha Tyson

This quote is so powerful to me. I honestly believe that this journey is just the beginning of an incredible life and every situation that I have encountered has brought me to this point for whatever reason. I have seen success and I have experienced failure but I wouldn't change it for the world. It is going to make me a stronger and better person than before and that is something that I am looking forward to as I jump back on this ride!

Thank you for hanging on with me! I hope that those of you who have or who are "stuck" in this situation with me will break free from it with me. Remember to change one small thing a day and they will end up adding into a BIG thing eventually. I need to get back to concentrating on myself because I am my own BEST INVESTMENT. I only have one body, one life and I need to do everything I can do make the best of it! Thank you for being my cheerleaders in this long but life-changing journey! I couldn't do it without all of you!!

Awesome Groupon today!!

You might want to check out the awesome Groupon today. For only $11 you get a huge box of fresh veggies and fruits! You cannot get that much produce at the grocery store for that price! Check it out and try it out!

Want More Energy? Yes!!

Wow! I am already exhausted after day 2 of being back in the swing of things at school. It is truly amazing what we as teachers do before our students walk through our doors. I usually pull a string of 12 hour days along with standing on my feet the WHOLE time. Before school started, I ordered an awesome product from Isagenix called, Want More Energy? It has a crystal-light substance but tastes way better and is SO good for you! It is full of electrolytes, B vitamins, and ionic trace minerals. This stuff has been a lifesaver during the last 2 days!


Benefits:
Natural energy boost from premium B vitamins and minerals
Improved physical and mental endurance*
Pinpoint focus and clarity*
Replace nutrients lost during exercise or stress

Bottom Line: This stuff is SO good, makes you feel better, gives you extra energy in a natural way, and is a quick and easy, on-the-go option to add to your water. Good stuff!

I will probably be buying stock in this product after the end of the next 2 weeks! :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend was full of fun times with my family. We travelled to Abbeville to spend some time with my grandfather and mom's side of the family. I drank my Isagenix shake in the mornings for breakfast but I did not watch my calories when I was out with my family or today. I am definitely going to do better tomorrow and I am really looking forward to getting back into a routine again so I can plan my workout days, meals, etc.


For even more exciting news, remember I told you Shawn was interested in the Isagenix shakes? Well, not only is he interested, he is completely sold on them! He has been drinking one every morning along with me and we both have experienced so much good from them already! Not only are we both dropping some weight that we put on this summer, we are also feeling a lot better, have more energy, and our appetites have been suppressed. It is such a great feeling to know that my husband not only supports what I do but also joins in with me! It makes it SO much easier! We are so excited about starting the 30 day cleanse next month, we are honestly beside ourselves! We have seen such a difference already by using the Healthy Lifestyle pak that we can't wait to see what the 30 day cleanse will do for us!


Also, I wanted to share one more thing with you that I found recently at the grocery store....Alexia Sweet Potato Fries...Oh MY! These things are out-of-control delicious AND they are an awesome substitute for regular french fries if you ever crave them like I do. Shawn and I were thankful that we counted out our proportions before we cooked them because if not, the whole bag would have been gone. These things are pretty much....the best thing ever! One thing I certainly have learned through the last 8 months of my lifestyle change is that you have to find foods that replace your old ones. You have to find foods that you enjoy but are healthier choices for you. I have found this to be key to my success because I don't feel "deprived" from anything.

Check them out in the freezer section next time you are grocery shopping. :)

Favorite New Find

My favorite new find....Amy's Frozen Pizzas. These are organic pizzas and are absolutely delicious!! Check them out next time you are grocery shopping, I promise you won't be sorry! :) PS-They are on sale 2/$11 at Publix through August 19!

Isagenix Healthy Lifestyle-Day 5

I switched up my routine today because Shawn got off work this morning and wanted to go grab breakfast together. Since he is working nights, anytime he calls me to do something, I'm there! We don't have the same time together like we used to but we know this won't last forever. Since I went to breakfast this morning with him, I drank my IsaLean Shake for lunch. Once again, i doubted the shake..thinking it wouldn't fill me up...and it did! I definitely think I could do the 2 a day shakes but that will come later. PS-Shawn is TOTALLY into the IsaLean shakes with me which makes it even better! He enjoys the vanilla shakes and puts spices in them to change it up a little. Today he added cinnamon and nutmeg and it was quite tasty!

In other news....I have not been working out like I should be. I was doing so well on the C25K plan earlier in July and then hit vacation and I quit. So...I will be starting that program again from Day 1! I am hoping that when I get back on a regular schedule next week with school that I will be able to form my workout plan around it. I definitely know that I need a structured time and a schedule to keep me on track (definitely something I learned about myself this summer). Even though I don't feel like exercising, I KNOW I should be because of all of the amazing benefits it gives me and I ALWAYS feel better after I did it. There has not been one time that I finished a workout and wished I hadn't done it. NEVER! I just need to find that motivation again! I am doing much better with my eating this week getting back on track so hopefully I can add on my exercise again next week.

Tonight I am going to leave you with some motivational quotes I found on Pinterest. :) Enjoy!

Isagenix Healthy Lifestyle-Day 4

Wow! Today was an AWESOME day! Feeling better than I have in several months! Plus, so far, since Monday, I have lost 5 pounds! 5 POUNDS in 4 days! Holy moly! I know some of it is coming from getting back on eating healthier but some of it is definitely from the Isagenix products I am using. I did try something different with my shake today to bulk it up a little. Instead of mixing it this morning with 8 oz of water, I mixed it with my organic milk instead. Wow, what a difference it made! I absolutely LOVE the chocolate shake flavor! It is so good and so filling!

I decided to give everyone a little more information on the Isagenix shakes. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Since I am already passionate about these shakes, I am now a seller of them. If you are interested in trying them out, please look at my website and check them out for yourself. You can go on my website and shop for the products. You can become a preferred customer and get them at whole sale prices which is the best way to get a great deal on them. The prices are much cheaper than what they show on the website.

I can't wait to take my measurements on Day 8! I am going to take them on Day 8, Day 15, Day 22, and Day 30. :)

IsaLean Shakes contain 23 grams of high-quality undenatured whey and casein protein from New Zealand that exceed USDA organic standards. Available in Natural Creamy Chocolate and Natural Creamy Vanilla, our shakes are also low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol and have added enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to maximize the absorption of key nutrients. Best of all, at only 240 calories, 6 grams of fat and less than $3.50 a meal, an IsaLean Shake is the perfect, well-balanced meal, no matter your lifestyle.

Packed with premium nutrition that includes a balanced ratio of high-quality protein, healthy fats and energy-boosting carbohydrates, IsaLean Shakes supports weight loss and an increase in lean body mass.

Other facts about the IsaLean Shake:
-Clinically shown to support healthy weight loss and weight management.
-High quality whey and casein proteins to maintain or gain muscle.
-Low lactose for easy digestion, without bloating.
-Promotes healthy bones with macro-minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium.
-Contains zinc for energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
-Low sodium and cholesterol to promote heart health.


Overall, this shake is pretty much, hands down, amazing. I feel so good every morning putting all of these awesome vitamins and minerals in my body and knowing that this shake not only helps me with my weight loss but it is also helping me build a strong, healthy body. Also, the shake replaces my breakfast which is going to save me a lot of time in the mornings when school starts back next week! :) Just an added bonus. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Day 2

I had another good but tough day getting back on the program. This morning I started off with my Isagenix shake in the vanilla flavor. It wasn't bad but I am definitely a chocolate girl through and through. :) I also took the Natural Accelerator pill to help boost my metabolism throughout the day.

Again, I was hungry between meals so I need to find a fix for that. I know I need to be eating a small, healthy snack in between meals, I just need to do better about doing it. In my head, I keep telling myself that if I don't eat the snacks in between then I will have extra calories for later. But, I am getting so hungry in between that it is causing me to feel bad and overeat when I do eat a meal. I went to Publix tonight and got lots of healthy snacks to help fill in those difficult times.

My energy level definitely was up this morning and started to go down around 3:00. That is usually my "exhaustion" time anyway because that is when I get done with school on my regular schedule. I need to find a "pick-me-up" during this time. Isagenix offers a product called Want More Energy? that I might need to look in to. :)

How is everyone else doing? I have found that it is so helpful to write down how I am feeling throughout this journey. It gives me a great record of how I feel and what I am doing each day. I would highly recommend it! :)

Isagenix Healthy Lifestyle Day 1

Today was my first day back on my weightloss plan and it was also my first day starting the Isagenix Healthy Lifestyle system. I will be honest, today was a very tough day. Mostly because I have been "off" my weightloss plan for about 2 months now. I haven't been counting calories, exercising daily, watching my sugar and salt intake, etc. I felt like it was a complete detox for me today which is great because my body needs it. It has been absolutely amazing to see how much I have learned about my body the last 7 months. I now "listen" to my body and watch for signals. As I have eaten unhealthier foods the last 2 months, I have noticed a change in my energy level (it is down), my stomach is constantly upset because I am not eating healthy foods, and my metabolism has slowed down. As hard as today was, I am thankful that I am starting back.

Not only did I start to detox my system today, I also started my Isagenix system today which I shared a little about yesterday. I started this morning with a Isashake in the chocolate flavor.

It will take place of my breakfast for the next month. I am actually excited about it because it will save me time and money for when school starts back in a few weeks. I was a little hesitant at first because I thought to myself, there is no way that this shake will fill me up but I was completely wrong! It filled me up and was delicious! I also took a natural accelerator pill that Isagenix sells that gives you extra energy and revs up your metabolism. Along with the shake, I took 2 ozs of the Cleanse for Life juice and the Ionix Supreme juice. Both of these go along with the cleansing part of the system and give your body the extra nutrients it needs.

My absolute favorite part of the system was the DELICIOUS IsaDelights Plus dark chocolate infused with green tea bites. These are AMAZING! I ate one this afternoon and it helped suppress my appetite until dinner time. YUMMMMM!!


Overall, I was impressed with the day even though it was a difficult one. It was a little challenging to me to start my day off with a shake instead of my usual egg beaters and greek yogurt but I think it was because I was apprehensive about it filling me up. I am looking forward to using this product in the next 30 days. The other great thing about it was that my husband decided to start it with me! He started with the vanilla shake this morning and it filled him up too which says A LOT because he has a big appetite! I was excited to see that he is going to get his health priorities in line with me. :)