December Dump...

Welcome December!!!

Love the month because it's one month closer to my BIRTHDAY! However, I’m not a fan of Christmas….I am all about the Reason for the season, but all those other things…nah

Why?

• I hate shopping
• I loathe spending money on anything that is not a necessity
• Ungrateful folks. (my spoil kiddies...lol)

I love Thanksgiving. All the same food and family without the hassle of gift giving!

So keep the annoyance and aggravation down, that Christmas Holidays bring I decided to combat it with a fitness exercise challenge.

Before I get into that

Let me first document my December Goals:

The Holiday are a lazy, grazing time…Its times like this that I’m glad my boss is a scrooge ( not holiday food, treats or fun in office).  It’s very easy to fall off the wagon between Thanksgiving and New Years…sheesh lawd yes it is…

NOT THIS YEAR!!

With that being said,  I decided I needed a little challenge. Just to keep me going during the season of food and shoveling shit in mouth.  Last year in one of my group on MyFitnessPal, we did a challenge called December 24 Challenge. The purpose was to get moving for at least 24 exercise minutes in the month.

I LOVE IT!

It has not only challenged me physically but it has challenged me to schedule my workouts and get my time together. 

Another wonderful thing about it!  I have an opponent, an adversary, a challenger.  HAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh).

What’s a challenge without a little friendly competition and a TROPHY!! Yup a TROPHY!! Bragging rights and a Victory dance!!!

I have been exercise crazy!!!!

Day 1, December 1^st I was on the treadmill for 1 hour 50 mins…. TF!!!??

I hate the treadmill but *singing* “baby, it’s cold outside’ and I know I can get the walking in if I just get on the dreaded treadmill.

I have been getting up at 5am (every other day) to get at least 30mins in then an hour or more in the evening.

Nothing like a trophy to get my ass motivated…LMAO!!

So here is a little photo dump of how  Week 1 (Dec 1-5) went. The weekend...hmmmm I really wanted to exercise and I'm mad that I missed valuable minutes but my niece and nephew were in town and i just wanted to play with them.

Dec 1

Dec 2

Dec 2

 I couldn't get a pic of Dec 3rd, I don't know how to find them in the Polar watch...lol

Dec 4

Dec 5

 Dec 5th I had a Date with my Sister for her birthday and my bff, so I figured instead of no minutes I would at least do a few. * shrug *

Big Sis in middle...XOXO

Feeling great and motivated by this challenge has put me in the mood to do T25 Alpha again.

I love T25.  Doing it made me feel Strong.  I lost mega inches and was powerful as hell.  It definitely built my exercise confidence.

So I decided to start that on the first day of Winter, which I believe is the 21^st or 22^nd…so soon…sheesh. I'm determined, however, to not let the Holidays jack with my goals.

I want to build endurance and kill FAT!!!!

thank you so much for reading my post today.

I'm and working really hard to schedule more writing time...

Pray for me!

Merry Hump Day!

and Happy Blog Hop and Link Up 

Diatta's Workout Wednesday

D.     

Pop That, Pop That Friday...

It has really been an amazing week. Yes, really.

Last week I posted about how I needed to come up with a fitness routine that could withstand weather and emotions. (laughing at myself for being emotional, I’m a thug) Sunday evening I laid in my bed with a cute little notebook and really great writing gel pen and brainstormed.

Brainstorming steps

1.      Tap the notebook with the pen while humming the Game of Thrones intro music.

2.      Roll on my back and do leg lifts. (oh the burn)

3.       Look for some cute colored Post It flags, so it will be easier to turn the page. (no luck)

4.      Scroll through my Instagram feed, liking and commenting

5.      Pinterest EUREKA!!

I am not a Pinterest fanatic…for me it’s an “interesting” way to pass the time when I’m in the ladies room. It’s my go-to when I need some, Search: fitness motivation quotes. 

I knew kinda already what I wanted my routine to consist of  and kinda how I wanted it to look.  It was  all a matter of seeing what was or would be most effective and putting it all down on paper.  My search was daily fitness exercise routines.  Tabata this, HIIT that…mmhhm cute, but I want something I can stick to not be scared of…lol. I like HIIT workouts though.  I used to do a session in the mornings until the Holidays hit….boooooo.

Moving forward

After scrolling through and reading lots upon lots of Pins I had many, many ideas. And quite a bit of inspiration.

Once I was done brainstorming, I began to write.

I did one for everyday of the week. 
Each daily routine has 2 options

AM  and PM…duh

Cardio and Strength

Strength is what it is.  The only option there is to change around the order in which the moves get done. Side Note: Building and toning muscle is very important when murdering fat. Muscle burns more calories even when you’re standing still AND if you don’t do any strength, you risk losing muscle (FOREVER) along with the fat.

Ok so…

Cardio has 2-4 options in the AM and the PM.

A.M. is always going to be an at home routine.  (No way am I leaving the house before sunrise Monday thru Friday…tuh) Leslie Sansone or SWEAT.

Leslie is THE Walk at Home queen. She walks and walks and walks and walks and I love it.  She gets my heart rate up and I always wake up sore. I have a pretty good library of her DVD’s (thinking DVD SWAP…hmmm) old, old and new.  She is usually my go-to in the Winter months.

SWEAT is a Zumba like routine with lots of twerkin’. Twerking is a form of cardio.  It also works the legs, glutes and abs, when done right….lol SWEAT is the creation of Dawn Archer…she is an Instagram sensation…she lost a ton of weight and spreads the love across the country teaching SWEAT an taking folks to the grocery store…lol. She really is a “started from the bottom now we here” kinda gal.  She is really sweet, from what I can tell. 

P.M. includes several cardio routines but first is my Trail Walk  and a serious strength routine.

There is one for every day. They are appointments that I have made with myself.  Not scary, but definitely work. And yes not really any days off.  I’m a walker and walking everyday is nothing.  A mile is powerful!

The weekends are the hardest for me.  I had to come up with options to ensure that I do work on the weekend. 

Option 1 is my trail walk that I would normally do but if I was out the night before or not at home it would be difficult

Option 2 is the get up move and DO SOMETHING option. It kinda looks like a HIIT J.  After a few rounds of it I should be good and sweaty. Maybe even have a nice calorie burn

Option 3 is treadmill time…ugh  I HATE the treadmill. BUT I will do it it I have to maybe even in addition to.

I’m pretty stoked about the routine I have come up with.  This week I have followed it to a tee.  I’m sore, I’m tired and I’m wishing I’d taken my measurements…HA!  Looking forward to telling you all how my weekend goes good and bad.

Last nights exercise...SwagSwap shirt!! Thanks Kassie Boo!

What are your thoughts about my plan? Anything I should add?

Wonderful link up  Friday with   Fitness Friday, Five Things Friday,  Friday Five,  Friday Favorites yeah!!!

D.

Friday Rant...yup...

Perhaps my cycle is coming...I D K I don't keep track but I feel wack today.

one.

Unmotivated

Uninspired

Feeling lazy

Hate missing an exercise session

Mother is killing me with calories

Wanting it like the air I breathe

two.

Feeling like I need to erase all the things I have in my head, delete all the IG pages that post pics of models and start over.

I’m starting to make excuses for why I didn’t do this or that. Making excuses for why I can’t.

I need to regroup.

I’m starting to feel like a failure.  I have been at the same weight since December.

I have lost some inches and that’s great but I want the fat to go to.

However all is not lost.

I’m still in the game.

I haven’t gained the weight back

I haven’t given up and gone the easy route.

three.

I just want a routine that can stand the test of rain, hail, tornado warning, snow, holidays, brother visit, and vacation.

I need a foolproof routine that I have no choice but to do. 

And the OCD person in me needs the perfect calendar or wall hanging for it to go on.

four.

The lazy fat girl that’s still inside me just wants to eat burritos, brownies and bacon all day while washing it down with a bottle of Coca Cola. However I’m tired of being plus sized and eating Chipotle burritos EVERYDAY won’t help

 

five.

I loathe being weak.  I loathe other people seeing me being weak. 

BUT

That’s what my blog is for.  It I can’t be real what’s the point.

The journey is not easy. It’s not supposed to be.

In order for the results to matter it has to be difficult. It has to be hard.

The journey makes the results so much more worth it.

conclusion.

Writing this out has actually helped me to feel better, more hopeful.

Down with negative.

Going to spend the weekend WRITING out (on paper) my routine.  It will include strength training, alternate exercises and j.i.c rain routines.

I have clarity.

Linking up with  Fitness Friday, Five Things Friday,  Friday Five,  Friday Favorites 

D.

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.

What a hump it is...

The weekend was not great as far as movement is concerned. I got my miles in on Friday, which is GREAT because I usually miss that good Friday workout. I got in 2.5 miles.
Then my brother and his babies came to town. The family was here to celebrate my son and my brother's birthdays!!!! YEAH!!!
The brother is my mom's favorite sooooo she cooks. 
Saturday she prepared a good ol' SOUL food dinner.  not southern... SOUL.
I ate the veggies because this gal does not like chicken...ew...not a chicken fan...I only eat it when I HAVE to...which is hardly EVER!!! Oh and I had a small piece of Chocolate Ganache cake. :)
anywho...
Saturday exercise...nah...well wait..nope no exercise.
Sunday Family went out to a Hibachi restaurant!! YEAH
Probably the worse thing about that meal was the Garlic Butter...the bad thing was the white rice.

Monday my baby turned 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am officially the parent if 2 teenagers!!! OMG!
It's painful.
A little depressing.
Sad.
I wanna cry.
BLAH!
WE had breakfast lunch and dinner and play tons of video games for tickets.
Good times!
No exercise...unless you count me walking around Dave & Busters for 3 hours bouncing from game to game :)

Yesterday I was back at it!! Hit the trail got in 5+ miles!!!
As always it was a great walk and I ran a little. It was nice.
I one day want to run 3.1 miles...HA!

Therapy Session:


She's crying cuz I'm fat.

I'm tired.  I'm disappointed in myself.  I have worked so hard and all i wanna do in give stop and not care anymore.  It's so much easier to eat a pizza and lay in bed than it is to be disappointed by the scale not moving and the measuring tape being the same.  I am not in a plateau.  I am in that " You can't work out a bad diet" place... I not eating good. 

I'm pretty, but No wann be here

Don't wanna be here again.

Last week I had waaaaay too much bread and rationalized it by saying "oh well your eating it before 2".  Bread bloats me and i know thins and I stillllllllll had a sammich everyday last week.
I even had my meal prepped lunches and still went out and spent MONEY!!!!!
I feel like I have lost control and no slogan or motivational pic is going to help me with that.
The break throu kinda happened today or laaaaaate last night.
I started as 273 POUNDS!! That's almost 300lbs.
I can stand be almost 200 but not 300.
I don't want to go back there. I will not go back there.
I was miserable.  Physically incapable and OBESE!!!!
I refuse to go back to that.
I refuse to not have these great climaxes...lol
Must keep going...
Must keep fighting myself to save myself.



I need an accountability partner and a challenge that is interesting. Yup!

Linking up with my favorite, Liz @ Fitness Blondie, Hump Day Blog Hop!!! ( I need a pic for this)


D.

Hump yourself!!...

Yup! EVERY time.

Let me tell you a little something about MY self image.

It sucked when I realized that I was a chunky monkey and NEEDED to loose some weight.
It sucked when I looked in the mirror and looked 9 months pregnant when my baby will be 13 next week.
It sucked when the one I love would wrap their arm around my belly and could only make it half way.
AND
It sucked when, last Easter, I have to buy a 3X, XXXL, TRIPLE X, shirt to wear and it WAS NOT flattering.

The community I'm from, in the Atl (black), loves a plump, full-bodied, thick thighed, big boodied, cushioned, something to hold on to kinda woman.
It's not the healthiest but it's loved. HA!

Even with all the things that suck, in my head I'm already a size 10/12 :)
and after a good week of cardio and strength training I'm an 8 :)
It has been like this since I was in my 20's * shrug *

I LOVE me! (especially my boobs and my booty) HA!

Some days I lose confidence and have some self doubt, but EYE am in love with me.  I would date me and sometimes I do.  I enjoy my own company and I even Hi-5 myself sometimes...lol
It's so important to love yourself. Inside and out.

Please don't mistake this as me being arrogant, cocky, or conceited because no no no.
I love me but when someone else tells me I am pretty or have a great smile or that they love me...shy, modest,  embarrasment kicks in. 
I can think it allllll day, but no one else should be able to see it o__0

Why I feel that way?  I O E N O

As I continue on my journey, now when I look in the mirror I don't look 9 months preganant anymore.  I see strength. 
I'm now buying 1X (which is different than an XL) and I'm looking forward to being able to buy a Large
I'm not it that need-to-loose-weight place, I'm LOSING the weight.

I'm D and this is my self-image...lol

In other news:
I hit the trail again yesterday and  yes, again is was FRICKING AWESOME!
I got in a good 5.36 miles, good towards my #100milesin6 Challenge.
I am loving it!

It almost feels too good to be true, but I think Spring is really here.... shhhh... I dont' want to jinx it.
Its so hard to have that get up and go in the winter. 
Want to sleep, eat and hibernate. 
We MADE IT! * Drake voice *

5.36 miles. Need to get these brow done...humph

It's also one of my favorite days, I get to link up with Liz@ Fitness Blondie and Hump Day Blog Hop!

D.   

Battle in the Garden...

So, Eve's curse has invaded my body this week.
It's soooooo hard to just not lay down and go to sleep all week and DO NOTHING!
Alas, I have not, I will not.  I have miles to walk and fat to burn.
ON TOP OF THAT!
Can you say cravings!
I had a delicious Blueberry Donut today, yesterday and Monday.

Devil Donut

I ain't even mad about it. *shrug*
I am a good girl. I eat 4-5 servings of veggies EVERYDAY! I only have carbs before 2pm and  I meal prep (not this week though)
I enjoyed my donuts.  They may have mucked up calorie count for the day/week, but so what!

The other thing I'm have been enjoying, over the last couple weeks, are link ups.
It's a great opportunity to read blogs I would never have come across and make blog friends!!
I absolutely love Liz @Fitness Blondie! She is gorgeous, funny and has some great stuff on her blog.
She does a Hump Day Blog Hop that I like.  From fitness to pumps, the link ups are great!

Adding to my schedule:
I started a Literature class last week.
African American Literature to be a exact.  It's the last class before I finish with my Associates in Business. YIPPIE!
LOTS OF READING! It's an online class so that means LOTS more writing than I would have to do if I was in a classroom. 
Discussion question after discussion question and comment on your classmates discussion.
I have a HARD time commenting on some of my illiterate classmates posts...ugh...1 typo and I exiting. BLAH! I'm not a grammar expert but I FRICKING PROOFREAD before I post in a LITERATURE class...ugh.

Any who, I'm going to finish out the week with walking.
3-4 miles tonight
the same tomorrow and Friday
The weekend I'm heading to Bama (RollTide!) To celebrate my brothers birthday.  He has a cute little home gym so I'm going to f#ck it up...lol

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.

 

 

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.



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.