3 week update || Weight loss || Reaching Goals

It's been 3 weeks since my husband and I have started better eating habits and working out.
We've had our "yo-yo" moments with the weight, thanksgiving of course threw us off. But, we hopped back on and are continuing to work hard to lose some weight.

As of today I have lost 10lbs! I know I can do better before the end of December and since this month isn't really a big foodie month (lets hope not) for our family, it shouldn't be an issue. My goal in my previous post was to lose 7lb before the new year and I have achieved that. My new goal is to KEEP it off and let's see if I can get 10 more lbs down the drain!

Along side our running, which is about 3/4 times weekly, 30 min sessions, I have started a daily 7min working out routine via the Pacer App and depending on our my week has gone I will do a full body work out.

I've taken a picture nearly every run after a mile.

The sunset we see on the trail <3

We have been better about staying on top of our diets and calorie counting. I have been using some products to help curb my appetite and get my metabolism back on track (more on that later).

I plan on doing vlogmas this year with my youtube channel, so look forward to seeing those posted on here as well! (Channel name LynnModest, linked on my blog)

Just gonna add Day 2 of my little garlic plant sprouted (the day AFTER I planted!)

Weekly Goals!

I spoke a bit last week about what my 3 basic goals were from now until the end of the year.
Link here. Now, let's talk about weekly goals. Not goals we make new every week, but simple goals we want to achieve every week. The same goals to keep us in track on our weight loss journey. These are goals we can make easy to start and build up more through out as the weeks go along and we get stronger.

You need to start off with your main focus.What is my main focus? My main focus is to lose weight. So I know I want to lose at least 1lb per week and to do that I must have roughly 500 less calories in my diet a day. So that leads me to controlling my intake and pushing my daily activity levels.

The way I keep track of my caloric intake is through a website (or phone app) that you can log what foods you eat, what nutrients are in that food, and how much you are eating. I, personally, use MyFitnessPal . I find that out of all the other websites this one gives you a upper hand by being a very popular and well used website. You will find more foods that have been verified in nutrition and caloric values. I log my food every day to keep track of the amount I am eating to stay under my calorie goal. This helps me keep that extra 500 calories off my plate (pun intended). You can also track your calories burned through your workouts, steps taken through your phone or fitbit tracker, and weight tracker.

I have to keep in mine one of my 3 basic goals. Keep it simple, I can push myself later. I want to be able to achieve my goal relatively easy at first, always being able to challenge myself later. I feel like I am the type of person to get discouraged easily if I start off with a rough goal and can't attain that goal on a regular basis. It's just who I am.

For example; My husband and I started a week ago running/jogging on a trail behind our neighborhood. It's one mile long. We started our jog only able to finish half with being out of breath. Now, a simple week later we are able to finish that mile with roughly two 30 second breaks of brisk walks for a break. Coming back we cool down while walking, then finish the last 1/4 of our mile running to the finish line. We slowly, every day we run, make our last mile more running rather than walking.

So, ultimately my weekly goal is to push my caloric intake down by 500 calories. Whether that be through restricting my diet, pushing my work outs, or both. I want to be able to push myself with my work outs, running, and over all healthier eating habits.

Three Basic Goals For The Holidays!

As we plan for the hectic-ness of the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, we tend to sweep any form of "diet" or weight watching under the rug. Then we remake the same resolution "need to lose weight" on our bucket list of things to accomplish in the new year.

My husband and I have set out our new goal of weight loss and a healthier life style at the most difficult time of the year, it seems. So, the most important thing I think we can do is clearly define our goals and a path to achieve them.

So what are our goals for the end of the year?

My husband I cannot speak for. But, mine? Just not fail. Don't give up and beat myself up if I have a off day.

I have to see what is feasible. How much weight can I lose in two months? (less than now!). Typically my healthier self could shed a good 2lbs with in the week. Currently, I'd say I'd be lucky if I lost .5lb a week. My goal is to do 1lb weekly, adding to 7lbs through out the year. If I really wanted to push myself  I could go for 10. Shooting high used to be my thing, back in the day.

I don't want to set a goal too high, even though pushing myself is generally a good thing. So, I suppose 5-7lbs during this stressful (I work in retail after all), busy, and food filled time is a well enough goal.

Another goal I would like to set is to not drink alcohol nearly as much. I have turned into a glass-of-wine-a-day kind of gal. (Ok, so maybe a bottle of wine in a night and wait a day then another!)
So, cutting down all that booze should help cut out the majority of my sugars. Alcohol makes you feel sluggish, bloated, and helps pack the pounds anyways. So, lets limit that to social occasions (When I see my in laws, mom and I can go through a bottle of wine.)

Goals for the next two months should be feasible and direct. I have set myself a simple three goals for now until the end of December: 1. Stay focus, don't beat myself up
                                                    2. 7lbs for the rest of the year.
                                                    3. Reduce my alcohol intake dramatically.

Yesterday we started. Cody did nearly two miles at a running/jogging pace while I followed by walking. Honestly, I know doing this more will make me less tired but I was exhausted from work and my stupid sports bra wasn't making me feel any better. I had horrible cramping below my right ribs (because of said bra). So I was done for the day. Cody followed up with a minor work out.

Today, my day off, I worked around the house with my fitbit on and I did a small work out ending with some yoga burning 200cals. Breakfast was a omlet with mushrooms, tomato, and onions. Lunch was a tomato, grilled cheese sandwich. I also munched on some pita chips.

I got distracted by working in the garage. I am currently working on two projects (which I'll post later) and headed back in to do my work out. Today, Cody and I will do a two mile walk to end the day.

I left all my work out gear in Georgia (which means its allllll gone. Sad. I know.) But, I do plan on investing in some new gear. We are blessed that this new house has a HUGE shop in the backyard. The shop is separated into two rooms and the second room is going to be our gym. Eventually I will get some bigger gear but for now a stereo, mat, mirror, and some weights shall do.

I didn't weigh in first thing this morning and it's only midday currently. So, dinner is unknown and so is my final calorie count burned.

3 years later...

November 9, 2017

It's been a while. Too long. I have sinced moved from my home town in Georgia to the city in Florida. I have a full time (and then some) job as a bakery manager. I am now married (for a year and half), own a house (at the age of 23!!), two cars, two beautiful kitties (Anna & Elsa!) and weigh 155lbs.

When I moved to Florida I was at 130lbs. Have since stopped working out due to living on the 3rd floor apartment for two years taking my occasional walk around the complex or to and from work.

Now, that has stopped. My anxiety is crippling but we will get into that another day.

So here I am. 155lb and 23 years old. My husband and I have decided to make this work together. We want to lose the weight. We want to be healthier again. Back to where we once were.

This is me now. Nothing to be ashamed of, I've always been "big". But, I want to be healthier and join my husband in this journey. So, I hope to be posting more blogs and the occasional vlog into my steps to becoming fit again! 

Mangos, Their Peels, and Allergic Reactions!

I had no idea what I was about the do the other day. I bought some mangos, one of ripe so I was all in for it. I dove right in and ate it all up through out the day. I ate it right off the peel. I even ate off the pit! I had no idea that the "Chapped" feeling on my lips would get worse through out the next two days. I thought it was the weather changing and it wasn't. I woke up today with swollen, red, itchy, lips with little bumps on it. Knowing this isn't the herpes complex, I knew exactly what it was: Allergic reaction. I did some research and eventually discovered that Mango's peeling, leaves, and tree itself has the same type of oil (urushiol) as poison ivy and poison oak. This being the chemical that causes an allergic reaction!

Usually the hands are not bothered because you wash them, rub off the oil, and its tougher skin. But, with people who are extra sensitive to poison ivy and poison oak (like myself, my mom and I are HORRIBLY allergic) it can cause irritation on the neck, face, arms, etc anywhere you touch and even worse reactions to more sensitive skin (like my lips, which are in a lot of pain right now...)

The good news: If you have this issue, most likely you can still eat the mango fruit itself! Just have someone peel the fruit for you or where gloves while handling the fruit and wash your hands after.

I also learned that some people who have issues with latex (I don't but thought maybe some of you might need to know) may also react to mangos, kiwis, bananas and avocados.

Simple and fair warning: Be careful what you are eating. I had NO clue about this.

Let's Make a Change, Shall We?