Ten pounds down, many more to go!

Well, I know that it has been 2 weeks since my last post.  The truth be told I have actually suffered from writer's block.  The good thing is that I am down 10 pounds since I started this.  I am very excited even though I know I have much more to go.  I am not looking at what I am doing as a diet but a lifestyle change.  I have really improved the way we eat at my house.  I am very lucky not to be doing this alone.  My husband is also working to lower the numbers on the scale.  We have been eating well without a ton of fat and calories.  The thing that I am really excited about is the food still tastes good.  We are eating more protein with fruits and vegetables than carbs.  When I talk about protein, I mean lean.  I remember when the Atkins diet became popular and some people I know thought you could live off of greasy burgers and bacon.  In a perfect world, sure, but in this one that will send you to a cardiac unit! 

As I said earlier, this is a lifestyle change for me and my family.  I want us eating healthier.  So far this hasn't been to much of a struggle.  We are not just eating salads!  We have made it a priority to plan shopping trips before or after meals, not during.  We make sure we come home to eat.  Before, we would have made poor choices by eating out.  I am very proud of us so far. 

I have also been doing a lot of reading and reflecting of my life.  I truly believe God gave us our bodies as our temporary housing here on earth.  The Bible tells us that our bodies are temples.  For the past ten years, I haven't been taking care of mine.  Now that I am over 30, I can really feel the damage I have done to mine. 

I think I have the nutrition part of my transformation in check.  Now, I must bgin the exercise.  I am not thrilled about it.  I know it will be painful but the weight I have but on will come off faster with exercise.  I know some of you out there may think I am doing this a bit slow.  That may be but I am looking at a long term change.  Sure I want be in shape for swimsuit season but I also want to get to the point where I am maintaining this body.  I want to loose the weight for good and keep it off by sticking to this lifestyle.  I know I will get to a point were I can enjoy some of my favorite home cooking, in moderation.  But that time is not now. Well, I think I am going to call it a day.  I have two boys who need to think about going to bed.
Monday morning will be here soon enough!!

Until next Monday, hope you have a blessed week!

A Curve in My First Week!!

Well, my first week didn't go exactly as planned.  I woke up Monday morning with a stomach bug so I was definitely not feeling like exercising!!  On the positive side, I didn't want to eat anything either!!  I was feeling lousy for the better part of the week, so things did not go the way I wanted them to.  Oh well, that is life. 

I did manage to loose 3 pounds without a lot of effort.  Thank you stomach bug.  On another note, my kitchen is stocked full of fruits, veggies, and lean meats.  I have said goodbye to bad snacks and hello to healthy ones.  Tomorrow, I will be making homemade hummus for the first time.  I fell in love with it over New Year's weekend when we went to a Middle Eastern restaurant.  It was delicious!  I will be using this as a healthy veggie dip.

My big challenge in these first few weeks will be giving up liquid weight gain.  Yes, everyone, I am addicted to Coke.  I can do without the caffeine but I think what I am really addicted to is the carbonation.  I do not like diet products.  The artificial sweeteners give me a migraine and I really hate the after taste.  I did some research on alternatives for carbonated drinks.  I think I am going to pick up some club soda and sweeten it with a little fruit juice.  I know I can't live off of this but it will give me a little pick-me-up when I need one.

I know this is a short post but I don't have much to report!!  Until next time, God's blessings on your week!

'Twas the night before...

This is my first official try in the blogging world.  This will be a work in process, so please bear with me.  I wanted to write this blog to give myself some accountability.  You see, I have some big curves in my life.  I have had to go through curves before but these curves are going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and some big life changes to get through.  The curves I am talking about are the ones presently residing on my five foot ten frame. 
I don't mind being curvaceous, actually my husband prefers it.  Lately, the curves have gotten out of control!  This blog will serve as my "weigh in" so to speak.  I thought blogging about a problem that many people in this country have would be very cathartic for me.  I don't care if anyone reads it.  Don't get me wrong,  followers will be great but I am doing this for my health.    You see,  I weigh the most I have ever weighed in my life.  This is a new thing to me.  I was very fortunate,  I did not struggle with my weight as a child.  I was able to eat anything without regret.  I was very active and had a high metabolism.  But the last ten years of my life have been up and down, on the scale I mean.  This is were my curves will begin. 

Tomorrow, I will be getting up, sending the kids off to school, and then going into the workout room.  I have to confess, exercise and I don't get along.  I am not one of those people who get "high" from working out.  But I am tired of my size and tired of , well, being tired so I must change my lifestyle.  This is going to be a struggle and it is going to be painful!  I am looking forward to seeing myself shrink and not being in shock when I see myself in a photo!

Until the next post, wish me good luck on my first day of the  new Dana!