Dark Horse

Here is my new favorite quick workout! I am obsessed with this song and this is such a fun workout! I did it 3 times in a row today. FUN!

Needing to dig deep

I had an interesting conversation last night with some family members regarding Weight Watchers and other weight loss programs. Weight Watchers has been the only thing that has ever really worked for me and I am not much of a supporter of other weight loss programs. Although, I do support the fact that different things work for different people. The most important thing regarding weight loss is eating better and moving your body. Last night, my eyes were opened to something that I NEVER realized, something that Weight Watchers is not doing for me. 

As a Weight Watcher, I am able to eat when I am hungry no matter how many points I have left for the day due to the fact that most fruits and veggies are zero points. That is one of my favorite things about WW. However, THIS DOES NOT FIX MY PROBLEM. I am a good healthy eater, most of the time. But, I have now realized that my addiction is food. I like to eat and I like to eat all day long. Whether I am eating healthy foods or not, I want to eat all the time. This is an issue that is deeper than WW. It is not often that I feel totally fulfilled after eating and I know this is more of a psychological issue that I need to deal with. Luckily, I have the support of my WW friends to discuss and talk through all of this with. Trust me, I am not bringing down WW nor leaving the program. I just totally had that "AH HA!" moment when making this realization.

Yesterday, I told my sister in law that my goal this week was to get "sweat time" in everyday this week. I am adding a new goal this week to be aware of when I am eating and why I am eating. 

I was never deprived of food, I never had to eat every single crumb, I never had any pressure with food. So, why do I struggle with it? How can I dig deep enough into myself to determine what the cause of my obesity is? Honestly, I snicker to myself when people say "oh, I eat when I am sad" or "I eat when I am stressed". I say that I snicker because when I think about myself....I eat because I LOVE FOOD. I love the taste, I love the smell, I love the texture, I love the way it makes me feel. Until a binge is over, then I feel disgust, sadness, depression.

Weight gain and loss is not just about food and control. It is about you and me. It is our deepest and darkest friend and enemy.

I challenge you to think about why you struggle and how you can take small steps to a better and more healthy life.

Anyway, I am off for a walk! Check in with me on "MapMyRun" to make sure I am out there :)

I've been debating for a long time whether or not to start my blog back up. There seems to be so many health and fitness blogs out there now so I am not sure that there will be interest in reading mine. Honestly, I am still not sure if this is what I need or not. At the end of August, I will be starting back full time in school and work so I may not be able to blog anyway so I guess we can just see how it goes.

Anyway, It's been a while since I have posted and it sure has been a ride. I've continually been in Weight Watchers since a month after the birth of my son, Mason. I gained about 35 pounds during my pregnancy (which was a very hard and emotional struggle for me since my I found out the weekend that I hit "Onehundredsville" I also found out I was pregnant!) and almost 2 years later, I still have 17 pounds to lose until pre-pregnancy. That means that in the last 2 years of Weight Watchers, I have lost 10 pounds. RIDICULOUS. But, I am not willing to give up my membership. I need it.

It seems like a day in my life consists of waking up, looking in the mirror, feeling fat, and then eating because I feel fat. Make sense? Hell no. But it is just how I work. It is a cycle I deal with daily and I am pretty sure I am just sick of it. I decided this morning that I am done. I am done feeling sorry for myself. 

I am beautiful.

I am kind.

I am sexy.

I am a good mom and wife.

I owe it to myself to make changes and get healthy again. 

Please join me in my fight to get back at it...for real. I appreciate your love and support so much, it is what will keep me going.

LET'S DO THIS!

This is where I started...(256 pounds)

This is where I was... (199.6 pounds) 

This is where I am today...(217 pounds)

My plan today is to get 15 minutes of "sweat time". I know 15 minutes isn't much, but it is better than nothing. Here goes nothing! Wait...let me rephrase that...Here goes EVERYTHING!

Bring it, 2012!

January 2009

January 2012

Happy New Year everyone! One of my goals for this year is to keep blogging! I have decided NOT to make any weight loss or fitness goals this year as "resolutions". I have done that so many times and have not been successful. I plan on sticking to my plan and to keep doing what I am doing in 2012!

Many of you have emailed, called, and texting asking what I have been doing to stay successful. I have decided to dedicate this post to YOU!

I started my weight loss journey (for the 50th time) on March 16, 2010 at 256.2 pounds. I had been on and off Weight Watchers since I was 15. This time was different. I had my Mom there with me and I was feeling really determined. I was tired of seeing pictures of myself and hating them. I was tired of only posting "head shots" on Facebook. The first month started off great and I was loosing quickly. But, like every other time, it got harder. This time I was not going to give up. I continued to go to my Tuesday night meetings and started to develop relationships with the people there. I met Meg first, then Emily, and Shelby. Emily, Shelby, and I are all around the same age struggling with the same thing. Our weight. We instantly became friends and all 4 of us are still seeing eachother every Tuesday night at WW! We text, call, and email daily and really lean on eachother for support. That is what I truly believe is the #1 reason I have stayed on plan and have been successful this time around. If you have a support group to stick with you, it is that much eaiser. Plus, there is always a bit of friendly competition.

The first 25 pounds was the suckiest. I thought it was such a huge accomplishment but no one really seemed to notice. There was so much extra weight on me, it was hard to tell. That is about when I started to plautou. I was really staying on plan Monday-Thursday but Friday-Sunday I was cheating...big time. That was the 2nd BIG realization I had to make in order to keep loosing. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon. It is something that clutters my mind (in a good way) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no such thing as a cheat day (although you CAN splurge and enjoy-in proportion).

Tracking is 100000% a must. If you bite it, write it! If you nibble it, scribble it! If you lick it, Bic it! It is amazing how all of those little "bites" add up calorie wise. Alcohol sucks. Well, it sucks to TRACK. It is high points. But, that is what I try and save my flex points for on the weekends.

You cannot let a + on the scale discourage you. It isnt worth it. There are so many things that can effect your weight weekly. Sodium, bloating, that "time of the month", ect. A + every once in a while can be motivating, it means you have to get your ass back into gear the next week!

At this point in my journey, excersize is KEY! My body loves that I am moving more. It craves activity. How cool is that! Zumba is amazing, fun, and just awesome. I do Zumba 2 times a week at the gym and my HRM tells me I burn about 600 calories each session. All it is is a dance party! It is SO much fun and the time flies by. Also, I have my friend Stacey there with me every week to keep me motivited. Thanks, Stac! On the other 4 days (I try and get to the gym 6 times a week) I do either the Precore, Elleptical, or treadmill. My gaol each day is to do 50 minutes although some days it is more like 30 :) As long as I get there! 

I eat what I want. In proportion. I have also made lots of small changes to my diet such as using ground turkey instead of beef and buying "light" versions of things. Fruit and Veggies are "free" in points so those are good fillers anytime.

I am currently 61.2 pounds sexier and weigh 195 pounds. The 200's are in the past and I plan on NEVER seeing that number on the scale again!

That is all I have for you for now. I just finished a 40 minute workout and now the couch and Lifetime TV are calling my name.

Thank you all for your love, support, and encouragment. It is a HUGE part of my success. If I can do it, YOU can do it. Seriously.

Ill end on this note...

If you KINDA do it, it KINDA works. If you REALLY do it, it REALLY works.

Welcome to Onehundredsville!

I have officially hit my FIRST BIG weight loss goal! I have dreamed of this day for a long time.

I have wondered what it felt like.

I have wondered what it looked like.

I have wondered if I could really do it.

I DID IT! I have officially left the 200's behind.

I have reached a loss of 56.6 pounds which puts me right at 199.6 pounds!

It feels like I have worked my ass off. My body feels stronger, healthier, and tighter. It feels sexier, womanly, and self-confident.

It looks like I have worked hard. It looks like I have finally had some self motivation. It looks like I finally love my body and who I am.

At my weigh in, the lady that weighed me asked me a simple question. She asked me why I kept going with my journey and what motivated me to keep going. I thought it was a simple question but I found myself stuck with no answer. It took me a minute to answer her question.Well, my support group really motivates me. I would not be here without them. They have been there through all the blood, sweat, and tears. My body motivates me. When I get myself to the gym, my body tells me that I CAN do it. I CAN keep going. My husband motivates me. He is right there by my side cheering me on. And last, my future motivates me. I will (someday) have a healither pregnancy, a more active life with my family, and a long life with my husband and family.

If you ever think that you can't do it, YOU CAN. Trust me, I NEVER thought that I could do it. But, I am living proof that I (or you) CAN! If I can do it, anyone can do it.

Clearly this is not a race.

Hi Everyone!

Life has been SO crazy the past few months. Work, traveling, exercise, family...all is well but I have sure been busy.

I am writing today for myself. I have had a tough 2 weeks where I have felt like I have just given up. I had been working so hard, feeling so good, but when life got busy it seems like I almost forgot that I am a "weight watcher". It truly reminds me that this is NOT a race, this is a LIFE LONG journey. With our recent trip to Kentucky I was unable to attend my last meeting and I know I will be missing next week because of a work Christmas party. I sometimes slump into "f**k it mode" when I know I wont be seeing my girls on Tuesday nights. BUT, I will be going Tuesday morning instead and hopefully seeing my Shelby on another night to just hang out and chat! Emily, are you in too?!

Anyway, I am rambling and my post will most likely be all over the place tonight. At least I am here!

I can't tell you enough how important a support group is. Not a "support group" but a group of people who support you no matter what direction you are going in. I have that group and I want to thank them daily for always being there for me. Mom, Emily, Shelby, and Meg...you are amazing and I owe so much of my success to you. Every time I feel like quitting, giving up, and saying "F**k it", you are there to lift my spirits and put my ass right back into gear!

Another thing that keeps me going is looking back at "Old Serina". The girl that didn't care to be healthy and the girl that thought everyone loved me for "who I was". Although, I know each and everyone of them DID in fact love me for who I was. That was why I just didn't seem to care about my weight and health. Now, I love me. Then, I did not.

Here is a look at the "Old Serina" and also the "New Serina"!

January 2009

November 2011

Hope you are all doing well and staying motivated through the holidays. I am hoping to find some fun recipes to share with you! AND keep MOVING! I am learning that exercise is key in a healthy lifestyle!

Just keep tracking, Just keep tracking...

I told you all that my goal for the week was to TRACK, TRACK, TRACK. Day 1: Success!

Here is what my tracker looks like today:

Breakfast=Smoothie
1 cup yogurt: 3 points
1 Scoop protein powder: 3 points
Frozen strawberries and peaches: 0 points

Lunch=Salad
Veggies (lettuce, cuces, tomato, onion): 0 points
2 TBSP croutons: 1 point
2 TBSP light ceaser dressing: 1 point
20 baked chedder crackers: 4 points
20 grapes: 0 points

Dinner=Chipolte
Burrito Wrap: 8 points
Veggies: 4 points (according to website)
Sour Cream: 3 points (I tracked what the website said but when i was there i asked for 1/2 the amount)
Guac: 4 points (I tracked what the website said but when i was there i asked for 1/2 the amount)
Rice: 3 points

20 baked cheddar crackers: 4 points
3 Glasses of wine: 9 points

Total Points Used: 47
Daily Points: 34
Flex Points Used: 13

So, I went over my allowed points by 13. BUT, that is what my extra 49 flex points are for! Plus I had an awesome workout. Ill take today as a SUCCESS!