My Lifestyle...

For the past 2 days I have been fasting.  I AM a spiritual, religious person and fasting, for me, is a way to get closer to God and be provided with clarity. Boom!

I was feeling like I had lost control and sight of my goals. I had been eating poorly and not giving my ALL to the exercises I do outside of walking.   I didn't want to continue a cycle of stating again EVERY single Monday or Tuesday or Saturday.  I needed to clear my mind, detox and find the strength that I know I have. 

I haven’t fasted in years and even when I made the decision to do it I was second guessing myself.  Then I remembered I used to fast all the time. I could go from 3 days to 7 depending on what I needed.  I knew I could do it, but I have been having so much self doubt that I was scared I wouldn't make it.  I originally planned to just go 24 hours then I woke up the next day feeling good about me so I decided to go another 24 hours.  I went 48 hours without failing.  

During he first 24 hours I wanted to eat the leftovers but I knew that will prove nothing. I was having the cravings and though I didn't give into temptation I wanted to feel stronger AGAINST them in that moment and future moment.

This morning I feel powerful! I feel like I can overcome and accomplish ANYTHING!!!

I overcame my cravings.

I pushed past the temptations.

I rediscovered the mental discipline that had been kidnapped by negativity and self doubt.

I love food…but it’s fuel

I have to discover ways to get the flavors I seek, but in healthier options.

I love Mexican food…Its to DIE for, but I can’t have those tortillas and chips and cheese (I stopped eating sour cream YEARS ago)

I love I talian…but I don’t want the pasta and creamy sauces.

I love cake and brownies and cookies ESPECIALLY when my daughter (the Sweets Boss )makes them… but I don’t wanna be fat as hell anymore and well one cookie is a dam meal,  so, um yeh no.

Discipline and Consistency are key

I have come up with a menu that I will eat every day, all day til I’m goal weight.

Breakfast – Egg Muffins filled with Spinach

Lunch – Turkey Muffin (will post recipe this weekend) w/ Broccoli

Dinner – Shrimp or Salmon w/ Spinach, Mushroom, Pepper mixture

Snacks – Almonds or cucumber slices (I don’t do well with lots of fruit or yogurt)

Sweet cravings – Water of a little The Bees Knees

I no longer use the term work out.  I hate work and the word work just makes me nauseous.

I have an EXERCISE routine that includes both Cardio AND Strength training

I’m working on a rewards system

And No cheat days maybe a cheat meal or snack but within a calorie range.

This is not a challenge. This is not a diet.

It’s a lifestyle.

I know that I am capable and that I have the discipline to be stronger than that coconut cream cake in the fridge…lol

I am so thankful and full of Gratitude that He loves me.

I am better than all the negative thoughts that have been counterproductive to my goal.

I’m free.

Happy hump day y’all!   Joining my favorite blog hop with Liz @Fitness Blondie!!!

D.

Fitversary FRIDAY!!!!!!...

I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. I'm just merely going to pat myself on the back for a job well done!

IT'S MY FITVERSARY!! (Awsomeness that it falls on Friday!)

I have gone 1 year with regular exercise and developing healthy eating habits!!!!
1 year setting goal and reaching most of them.
1 year working hard on this belly and this bootay!
 

I won't say that I didn't have a piece of cake or a donut or even a box of girl scout cookies, because I absolutely did.

I fell off the wagon, but not long

I got discouraged. I still do.

I have loads of self doubt but I push through it and work harder.

I loose confidence and sometimes I'm not as consistent as I should be, but then I wake up.

 

270 vs 223!

Things I have learned this year.

1. Thou shalt not covet.
• I spent  a lot of time in the beginning of my journey wondering why I didn't look like this person or why couldn't look like the next.  I was loosing my confidence and I was self loathing because  I didn't believe I could do what some one was doing. NOT anymore.  I now have a fuuuuuull understanding that everyone's journey is COMPLETELY different and that my path will not be the same.  I have to Love D and continued to work hard.
2. Time Limit?
• I thought that I had to "Lose 100lbs in a year". I thought that I had to hurry up and get the weight off to accomplish a certain milestone. NOPE! The end game here, is to be healthy and fit.  As I continue learning and leading a healthy lifestyle,  the weight will come off.  I have been a full-figured beauty all my life...I'm not rushing the process.
3. I CAN DO IT!
• I spent A LOT of time sabotaging myself. "what am I thinking?" "I'm never going to loose this weight" Thinking and believing that I didn't deserve to be healthier. Not to mention that every time I would miss 1 workout or have a brownie I would almost give up.  Instagram helped me  a lot.  Every motivational post seemed to speak to me. Telling me not to stop, to keep pushing, a setback is not the end of the world.  The biggest one Mental Discipline, battling my own NEGATIVE thoughts and dispelling them.  Learned to believe I can accomplish my goals and that I am 100% worth it!
4. Eat This And In that order!
• Food WAS a MAJOR obstacle.  I knew Protein/Veggie/Carb,  but SNACK!! WTF man! Eat 5-6 small meals as opposed to 3 big normal sized meals, say huh say what!? After months of failed food decisions I figured out what worked for me. I know what fills me up, what bloats me, what is BORING and what to avoid!  I know there is more to learn but I'm happy with my results so far!

I am in the middle of my journey and very happy with what I have been doing and sooooo looking forward to what the future holds. 

A year from now I would like to be reporting that I'm a runner. (tuh!)

A year from now I would love to have touched someone's heart and have INSPIRED the hell out of them.

A year from now I'm going to be even stronger than I am now, happier than I am now and healthier than I am now.

 

Yeet!!

 

 PS: CHECK MY NEW BLOG DESIGN!!!!!!!! Hubby Jack is the awesomest!!! Thank you!!!

D.

 

 

Salutations...

Welp! It has been 2weeks.  Oops.  I had my birthday and got L-A-Z-Y!  I  JACKED my goal to write 31 days straight.  It wasn’t hard however it became and chore and I don’t want this to become a chore.   So, even though I missed these last 9 or 10 days I’m going to give a recap of everything I can remember since my birthday and a wrap up of January goals.

 1/22

Thanks Brother!

Thanks Mother!

I was my birthday! I turned the big 38! I own it! I’m so thankful to be at this age and I wouldn’t go back for SH!T!! I’m beautiful and on the road to a healthier, sexier me! BOOM!  I got some AWESOME birthday gifts.  A Polar watch!!! I will now know without confusion how many calories I’m NOT burning…lol I also got T25! *stands on soapbox* I am so excited about both of these and how they will be used together to further my health goals and weigh loss victory!!

 

 

 

1/23

Went to work hung over. HA!
It was rough…ROUGH! …and that’s pretty much all I remember about that day.

1/24-1/27

Not much happened … I got a mani/pedi & sushi with one girl friend and had DRINKS and chips and dip with another.  Weighed in on the 26^th to find I had gained .4ozs.  Bummer. L  I drank some water and went back to sleep.  HA!

Even though I was on vacation from my job I still had my good ol meal prep food…I only over did it with the drinking.  I’m not a fruity drink kinda gal but I am a vodka kinda drinking gal and BOOOOOOOOOY did I have plenty vodka.

It was also Meal Prep Monday! I am enjoying meal prepping!! I love having my food ready and available.  It has also afforded me the ability to EAT MORE VEGGIES!!  Like, I’m having 3-4 veggies per meal. It’s truly awesome. 

1/28

HA! Atlanta SHUT DOWN!

Was an awesome winter weather day in Atlanta! It was walking dead around here! The snow hit so quick that the Metro Atlanta area was in shock! It was pretty and pretty bad. People abandoning their cars, People walking miles to their homes, children and teachers trapped at schools and my favorite the ignant (and yes I meant IGNANT) ass’s that were loading cars on stolen tow truck and STEALING THEM! Ugh! So after finally getting home safely with the kiddies, I worked out enjoyed my prepped meal and slept like a baby in the womb. “NO WORK OR SCHOOL TOMORROW!”, said Metro Atliens!

1/29

 

My front yard after the snow.

Awakened to a beautiful Winter wonderland outside and cold as the North Pole on Christmas Eve.  My son went outside, threw 1 snowball and came back.  Jack Frost nipped at his butt.   I finally put my Polar watch to some use.  I did two workouts.  AM was some Leslie and late afternoon I tried this SWEAT workout that I downloaded a couple weeks ago.  It was created by this really inspirational chick Dawn Archer.  She has a story to tell.  It’s a cute Zumba inspired workout that really makes one SWEAT! I liked it! Drip! Drip!

 

 

 

1/30 – 1/31

Half days of work no school and having to feed my rug rats 2 extra meals while they were out of school… I continued Exercising and eating right.  January ended. Ho hum! Even now as I write I can really remember those last couple days.  It ended good! 

At the start of the new month I weighed in and revisited the goals that I wrote and shared with you guys. I accomplished more than half the goals I set out to. 

What didn’t happen:

Couch to 5K  HMMM I started it a couple time in the beginning of the month but my hate for treadmills took over 99.8% of the time.  It was sooooooo boring even with the playlist and programs I downloaded. BLAH!!  So I’m going to put this off until the spring when I can go outside and enjoy nature and not get frostbite. I’m ok with my status on this goal. Grade: D- I burned a few calories with the starts…lol

Too Inspired Walking Challenge Welp I just forgot to update the group on my workouts….lol  So I completed the challenge just didn’t follow through Grade: C- on that one.

Write EVERYday. EH well sorry.  I felt really bad about this.  I want to write everyday but I want to exercise and spend time with my loved ones too.  So, going forward I’m only going to write twice a week, minimum.  I want to write everyday but I know that is unrealistic and rather than disappoint myself and all 1 of my followers, 2 or more times a week should get it done! Grade: D+ because I did make it to the last week.

 

That pretty much sums up January.

On the 1^st I weighed in and the total pounds lost for the month of January is/were/ are (hell IDK!)  8.8lbs !!!!!  I also lost 1 inch around my waist. BOOM!  My goal was 10lbs but I am thrilled with 8.8! HELL who wouldn’t be!  I credit the meal prep and focus.  You HAVE to eat right. No if, ands or buts about it.  What you eat and when to eat is so important. Without the meal prep I would have been all over the place and that could have been +8.8lbs.  I’m happy and I’m proud. I started the year on the right track!

 D.   

Follow me in Instagram @fatPHATgirl

 

 

It's a Celebration...

 38 years ago the heavens moved and the mold was broken... An angel was born! MEEEEEEEE!!!!
It's my BIRTHDAY!!! I love my birthday!! I have been waiting a year for this to happen! My birthday last year kinda sucked.  I didn't do anything. I didn't even have sex nor was I sex offered. HA!  Which is not my usual! I enjoy fun and having a good time...don't know or remember why it reeked... OH WELL! New Year, New Birthday!!

This year I have taken it upon meself to invite a few friends and associates out for a night of fuckery... Karaoke!!! Hip-Hop Karaoke to be exact! I'm so looking forward to it. I have never done Karaoke before. The Evite is sent out to the invitees states "Singing is REQUIRED!" HAHAHAHA! This should be fun!  I have gotten some  "I'm not singing." texts and have promptly responded with "Please don't come." HA! I crack myself up, but I'm so serious...party poopers suck! WHY come to a karaoke bar and not KARAOKE!!!

Even Google knows it my BIRHTDAY!! 

Im going to have a wonderful evening.  However, I won't mess up toooo bad.  There will be no cake and ice cream only vodka and tequilla.  :)  I won't over do it but I will enjoy my birthday evening after spending the day at work, working.

Have a FABULOUS evening all!

 

 

 

 

Just D.



Yummers!...

Oh I meal prepped my ass off last night! I cook two delicious meals and It didn't take me all night!!

Early in the day is what I have read is a better time and my chosen time to eat most of my carbs. For instance,  if I choose to eat a Granny Smith Apple or a Banana, I use Breakfast or AM Snack. Lunch is where I have my carbs, if I have any at all.  Dinner  I prefer to only eat a protein and a veggie. Nothing heavy that I have to carry to be with me or on my hips.  I may have a spoon on peanut butter just to satisfy any craving that is not taken care of by drinking a big cup of water.  I believe that my snacks keep my from feeling like I'm starving to death! Lawd knows no one wants that!!

With that being said let me tell you about my prep.  I have no problem eating the same thing daily.  I got goals.  I also have had to change my relationship with food.  Its fuel...a car doesn't care if you go to Chevron or BP everyday. Food is fuel, keeps us filled with energy to walk, talk, breath and exercise. So, I have nooooooo issues with lack of variety. Boom!
However... lol...after finding these recipes I had to try them!

For lunch: Spinach & Black Bean Enchiladas
Boy when I tell you these suckers are DELICIOUS!!!! I varied the recipe and I didn't make my own sauce. I found one of this recipes on thegardengrazer.com
 My variation Recipe:
Spinach
1 can Black Beans
1cup Mushrooms
1/2cup dices onions
2 whole Jalapenos (I like things spicy!)
3 Garlic Cloves (chopped, minced, diced...whatever)
1-1/2cup Low Fat shredded cheese
1 can Enchilada Sauce
Whole wheat tortillas 130cal each

Spices I used:
Cayenne
Garlic Powder
I prepared it the same way
Sauteed the veggies
mix with beans and cheese
roll, poor sauce bake
375 degrees 30mins

Turned out beautifully and tastes DEVINE!!!

For Dinner : Turkey & Sweet Potato Muffins
OMG! I did not expect this combination to be good at all. I don't remember the blog I found it on and I definitely changed the recipe a lot! One site I saw it on was http://thegetinshapeworkoutplan.com

My variation recipe:
1lbs Ground Turkey
1 medium Sweet Potato (boiled, diced and smashed)
1cup Mushrooms
1/2 cup Onions
2 Garlic Cloves (chopped, minced, diced...whatever)
Spices:
Garlic Powder
Cayenne
Italian Seasoning

I didn't have any eggs and it didn't really matter because they can out BEAUTIFUL!! I didn't taste the potato at all.  They are extremely moist and flavorful!! I have meals for the next 7 day!! No weekend muck ups!!
I paired these dishes with Broccoli Florets and Zucchini!
I could not wait to have lunch today!!

D.         

Progress...

I rested this weekend. I did nothing. Well I do squats.  I love the 30 Day Squat Challenge.  I do it monthly.  I have heard that challenges like these are effective for building muscle. That one is only learning to lots of squats in a row and they aren't effective. WELLLLL, when I do this challenge I do sets/rep.  50 squats I do 5 sets of 10, 100 squats I do 4 sets of 25 or 10 sets of 10. It just really depends on how I feel. I break a good sweat, my thighs and bum are extremely sore and I wish I had before and after pictures.  I already a and ba donk ka donk ! Now its donkier...lol!!  nothing could make me stray.HA!

My birthday is this week. I'm looking forward to it.  Well I love birthdays.  Its the only day that just about you. It's a celebration of YOU!  Needless to say I'm excited and no matter my age I will still love it love it...it wasn't just any other day when my mom was in labor so why should I treat it that way!

In other news: Yesterday was WEIGH-IN DAY!!!!
To review.  Last week I planned my menu and I meal prepped for the week. Fantastic! It the one thing I didn't have to think about nor was it going to be an excuse as to why I didn't get my GOOD workout in OR spend  Meal prep was a success! Grab pop in microwave and eat.  I didn't have a reason to not workout. It was also easy to make sure I got in 4 or 5 servings of veggies a day...NO EXCUSES!!!
So to the big news....  I woke up, emptied my bladder, washed my hands and got naked.
I lost 4.8lbs!!
This makes me happy! Glad to see that the work I'm putting in is producing results! BOOM! I don't expect this to happen weekly, no, no, no. I don't ever expect it but when it happens WOOSH!!

D.        

 

Duh...

A few months ago I found myself scrolling through my Instagram, looking at before and after photos, transformation photos and status posts. I was thinking things like  "why am I not loosing faster?"  "we weigh the same, why don't I look like her?" "Maybe I should try this Herballife stuff" HA! ... I would also unfollow folks that I was tired of seeing...petty I know.

 I even found myself a little jealous that my partner got to goal weight  and I was still struggling  to get to mine.

 

A couple weeks after that started (divine intervention) I started coming across inspirational quotes and posts that talk about, not comparing  my journey to someone else's.  When I thought about it, it hurt me more to have those negative thoughts and negative feelings. It messed with my confidence not believing that I was working hard enough or that I would never be where that person is.  I started looking in the mirror and speaking ugly to myself (out loud, like a crazy). 

It took a little while, but I had to believe in ME. Believe in my ability.  Believe in what I was working to accomplish. I had to believe that what I was doing was working for me. I had to understand that, that's someone else's journey is not mine. We don't have the same metabolism or DNA. We don't eat the same food or have the same workouts.  Hell, didn't start on the same day! That's why I 'm taking it One Pound at a Time, One Day at a Time.

What works for me and my mind and my weight loss is patience and self love. I love how my waist is coming through and how my booty has a better curve.  I love how my clothes are getting to big!  That's how I know I'm doing right by me.  I LOVE ME SOME ME!! I have plenty of time to loose this weight.  I have had it all my life. Boom!

Lots of inspiration...

Blog I'm Liking Today
http://primaljourney.blogspot.com

Have a Fabulous Weekend!

D.          

Gratitude...

T25 Core Speed Day 2!!! Did it again last night! It was pretty awesome!  I was able to follow along and keep up better.  The sweat was REAL folks!
I really pushed myself.  A lot of the moves that require jumping, thrusting, criss-crossing and I allowed my body to do all of them.  I felt strong after and proud of myself.  I did it and I didn't give up! It's an awesome feeling!
Today I'm sore and its that gooood sore.
That, gives me a sense of accomplishment kinda sore.

 In other new...

This morning I found out just how favored I am.  The kiddies and I.  We were traveling our normal route to school and work this morning. Drove over an ice and lost control of my car. It's a 2 lane, winding road. My kiddies were holding on to the seats and door arms and I was screaming while turning the car in the opposite direction of the spin.  The car swerved from side to side then spun around in a circle. While continuing to move u the street. I was thinking "please don't go in a ditch", "please don't hit that mailbox","please don't go into that house". 
Needless to say I was scared as heezy!!
By Grace, we landed on the side of the road in a utility driveway!!! Jesus DEFINITELY took the wheel.  No cars were coming. No school buses. I put the car in drive.  I sat there shaking and close to tears. The kids were alright.  I could hear them taking deep breaths. After a minute or two I put the car in drive and pulled out and got my kiddies to school on time.
I just thank Him!

Count your blessings! I'm counting mine!

D.