Weight-Loss Thoughts..

Today is the Day!!  Below is an outline of the thoughts I will follow this week to get this weight-loss journey started!! 

London, Part 6

**Start at the beginning: Part 1 London, England

The next day I saw the great Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye. For this post I am just going to show some of the pictures that I took while I was there. On the days that I was doing all the sight seeing I did not interact much with the locals. On occasion when I did get lost, the locals were always awesome about helping me out and pointing me in the right direction.

I seemed to stumble upon most of the sights that I found. Saint Paul's Cathedral was gorgeous.

This is actually art that I was allowed to take a picture of in the Tate Modern.

Big Ben and The London Eye in the background.

 Westminster Abbey

My absolute favorite Buckingham Palace. I got to see the changing of the guard, so I got there at the perfect time to see it.


Continue to London: Part 7

London, Part 5

**Start at the beginning: Part 1 London, England

Due to the drastic change in time, I only slept about 4 hours. I got up and went outside and was able to smell the cool night air and just contemplate how far I had traveled. I was in England and so excited and couldn't wait for the morning when I could go explore.

I started out early that morning at about 9 a.m. I was told I should give everyone time to get to work before getting on the tube. The first thing I did was try to follow the map to no avail. Everything is spread out more than I expected. I do believe I walked a country mile. As I was walking I came across Tower Bridge. I just kind of stumbled across it and it was a beautiful sight.

I walked around so much that day and saw so many historical sights and it was amazing. That day I also walked across the Millennium Bridge and at different intervals of the bridge there were people cooking peanuts. The smell of the peanuts, the warm sunshine and the music you could hear while walking down to the Tate Modern Museum was electric. I can close my eyes and immediately I am taken back to that amazing day in London and I swear I left a part of my heart there.

To Be Continued.......................London: Part 6

Tuesday Morning Weigh-In

Good Morning, Everyone!

Well no weight-loss this morning, but NO gain either!! :) I figured with the way last week went and my friend visiting for the month (my cycle) that there wouldn't be no loss.  However, I was expecting a gain and that wasn't the case; so, I am happy about that!

My schedule recently changed and I have an extra hour in the mornings to work with; therefore, I am hoping to make the most of it and exercise a few days a week (at the very least).

I few months ago I purchased The Firm's burn, sculpt, and tone DVD with resistance cord at the Thrift Sore for only $4.99; and I think it's about time to give it a try!!

I have the The Firm VHS tapes with the Fanny Lifter; and I loved those, but when the VCR went out I never purchased another.  I hope that the new DVD is as easy to do but still works!!

Wish Me Luck!!


Have a Great Day!!! :)

Balance

I went out and bought me an elliptical. I got on it last night for 15 minutes and I slept like a baby last night! I could definitely feel the burn. I am so out of shape but that is okay because I am taking it one day at a time and I know I can do this.

Last week I was so emotional and I felt like everything was erratic. I am still dealing with feelings of grief and anger over the loss of my marriage. Even though we aren't divorced yet, sometimes I still struggle with my feelings because they are all over the place. I feel happy most days, but then there are those moments when the memories creep in and I remember how it used to be.

As you can tell I am in a strange place in my life right now. And all the feelings I am having about the loss of my marriage play into the whole weight loss thing for me. I am trying to find the right balance.

JoAnne

What to eat?

I am a few days into this weight loss journey, in which I am really trying. I am struggling with the "what to eat portion" of this journey. I have noticed that most quick foods that I can grab running out the door in the morning are processed or they are starchy. I don't know about you but I do believe I could live off potatoes!

I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow and stock up on healthy foods. I have searched the internet and come away with a 30 day meal plan that has options and has food on it that I actually eat. It also gives the recipe and how to prepare it as well. I am going to try to start implementing it today for lunch. An example is I can actually have a black bean burrito for lunch, which is really good because I love black beans. I need to find a recipe for a black bean burger if possible.

I did workout last night. I am hanging in tight with the Pilates door knob exerciser. My thighs and tummy are feeling the burn. I can also feel it in my arms, the bicep part. I have been looking at getting an elliptical soon, but I am still walking when I can and taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator.

Until tomorrow..........................
JoAnne

Acknowledgment is the First Step!

For a while now I have been avoiding her...

I don't want to hurt her feelings by telling her how off track she has allowed herself to get in almost every aspect of her life.  But she needs to know:

• How she has allowed herself to fall back into that dark hole by letting the stress take over.. I hate it when she allows it to run her life when its out of her control.  Or is it?
• How she has allowed old eating habits to creep in and take over again.
• How she can't focus on what lies ahead or the things that are here in the moment.
• How un-engaged of a wife and mother she has been lately.
• How she has lost her vision of what the future holds.
• and How much disappointment has entered in my thoughts of her lately!

Can I tell her these things!?  How will she react?

I have been avoiding her because I know she knows all of this, but once I bring it up there will be so much more to acknowledge; but I know I need to say it, and hear it too!

I've been avoiding seeing her looking back at me; acknowledging that I have let myself drift off the road I want to be on!

Her, the girl in the mirror,  needs to be told to stop barring herself in the stress of the things she is unable to change.  Set new goals and achieve them. And make the most out each day she is given.


... I think I'll have that talk tonight!

                                           ~ *Acknowledgment is the First Step!

This and That

Today is January 18, 2015. I really messed up yesterday. I do believe I ate everything in sight, but I still managed to exercise yesterday. So, no pounds lost and no pounds gained. My friend Ginny has talked me into doing this blog. I really need to be held accountable for the stupid decisions I make when it comes to eating and exercising. What worked for me in my twenties is not going to work for me at age 40.

In my twenties I could eat Doritos and drink mountain dew for breakfast. If I wanted to lose a five pounds quickly I wouldn't eat after 6pm and I would drink a couple of beers. I can't do that anymore. My body has changed as well as my metabolism. My priorities have changed also. I am at a point in my life where I have no excuses to lose weight. I have a ton of free time on my hands now that I am single, so I can go walking and I can cook the things I need to so I can eat better. My plan is to keep doing the pilates door knob exerciser and walking right now. I want to buy an elliptical at tax time so that while it is cold outside I can hop on that and get a good work out.

A big step for me is I know I need to list my weight. I am not quite ready to share that just yet.....gotta build up the nerve.

JoAnne

JoAnne's Journey

Okay. So today is January 16, 2015 and I have recently started my weight loss journey. Well, that's not exactly true...I really started it back in June 2014 when the sky fell in. My marriage of eight years (been together 11) exploded into a million pieces and I felt like the world caved in. I actually couldn't eat because the thought of my "wasband" with another woman made me physically sick. I lost thirty pounds in about a month and a half and wasn't even trying, it was just the trauma of all my relationship drama that got me headed in this direction.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday I gained eight pounds of the weight back so I decided I need to nip this in the bud. What I am actually doing is Pilates with a door knob exerciser that acts as resistance and I have been walking with Leslie Samsone DVDs. I also began drinking water again and trying to lay off the starches. This is a huge undertaking for me because of course I want to be healthy but I am going to have to get back out in the dating world again and I want to look amazing. Since I have lost some weight I have been getting compliments and it feels good to get that kind of positive feedback.

~JoAnne

Let's Get Started!

It's time to STOP talking and GET started living a healthier life!! 

I have No real plan going in... So, I am going to start by changing a few things each week until I get where I feel I need to be!

Getting my mind set is the number #1 priority right now, because If that isn't set.. I will never succeed!

This isn't a diet, it is about getting healthy!  I don't want to be on a ton of medication for health problems that I could have prevented, or so insecure about my body that I live in sweats or don't want to leave home!  That just isn't the way to live!

So.. I have a few thoughts that I know I will put into place next week (tomorrow) in my journey to a healthier, happier, more confident.. New ME!

(Hope you will use these in your journey & share your own with me as well)

 

Thought #1:

  "It's not about the number on the scale, it is about how I feel!"

I will weigh once a week; same day & time (when possible).  Getting on the scale daily will only be a discouragement that I do not need! 

Thought #2 

"Add Water!"

Water is such a benefit to our body; and it will help boost our energy levels..
               Why not include it to our daily lives!

Thought #3

 "Walking increased blood flow to our heart and is a great exercise to start out with!"

I plan to add at least 30 minutes a few times a week of walking to my daily routine.

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*Join me on the journey to a New Me; and have a happier and healthier you!  

                 

      ..... Please, Share your own tips, thoughts, success, and goals  below!  I'd love to hear them and help motivate and support you along the way!