Tuesday, March 27, 2012

I fell

Well peeps. I fell off the wagon. I did. And I'm not going to lie...I enjoyed it. But it's time to get back on. I can't afford to waste another day not caring what I eat. I stepped on the scale this morning and I have gained a few pounds back.

I gasped when I saw it.

I don't want to be any where close to where I was before...and this morning I felt like if I continued falling off of my hayride then I would be there in no time.

Not good.

So, after getting ready for the day I went downstairs and started doing what I did back in July when I started this journey {again}.

I made a 32 oz. Green Smoothie.

My body loves all the fruits and veggies from this smoothie, and I love the taste. It reacts really well to this and sheds those pounds off like crazy.

I have to keep reminding myself that sugar is not good for me. "white" things are not good for me. I have to keep reminding myself why I'm doing this. Why am I needing to get healthier? Why Shannon?, why?, why? why?? Yes, I know why.

Back on the wagon I go.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Today's to do...


Yeah baby!!! Now I just need to work out and I'll be good! :)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Body Talk: By C.Jane

I read this blog post by C. Jane yesterday and it lit a spark inside of me, a good one. I have never really listened to my body, ever. I've hurt my body in so many ways over the past 20 or so years.

I've done diet after diet

I've starved it.

I put extra weigh onto it by over eating; emotional eating; closet eating.

I let it become lazy, and made a habit of that laziness.

Although I feel like I'm finally getting a hold of things...I still don't listen to my body...and I need to.

Thank you C. Jane for putting this into such beautiful words, and for helping lite that spark.

Thank you {body} for sticking it out with me, and enduring all the crap I've put you through. You've been so good to me keeping me pretty healthy.

It's time to listen to what you have to say. :)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Stevia

If you follow me on Instagram you know I am a HUGE Vanilla Stevia fan. Here's the thing though...I don't love just any Vanilla liquid Stevia...oh no! It has to be this brand of Stevia, NuNaturals.

I have tried other brands and they all have a funny aftertaste and they just don't taste natural...but this brand does. Hence the name, 'NuNATURALS'. Duh!

Oh! how I love it! You can find it at Good Earth Health Food Store, and I'm sure at any other Health Food Store.



If you're trying to get off of Diet Coke, Coke or any other kind of sugar or aspartame filled soda then here's what I suggest you should do...

1. Go buy a pack of Perrier Sparkling Water (small individual bottles you can take with you).
2. Buy some NuNaturals Vanilla Liquid Stevia (Alcohol free). It's about $15.
3. Drop some Stevia into your sparkling water (as much or as little as you need, depending on your sweetness level - I use 2 droppers 1/2 full)
4. Drink and enjoy!

This is how great it is. Yesterday at work my dear friend Violeta was craving some coke. She has been off coke since January 1st of this year. She'd had too much sleep the night before and was feeling groggy. She wanted a Coke...bad. She begged me to go with her to get one and I said no, but instead said that I would take her to my house to get some sparkling water and Stevia.

She was skeptical and didn't think it would help her. Her first taste she was hooked. "It tastes like real soda!" she said. "why yes, Violeta, it sure does", I replied (ok not quite in that way...but you get the point). I gave her extra bottles filled with Stevia to take back with her to work for when she had those moments where she needed a little "pick me up".

And that's why you should try this stuff.

Also, if you want a good lemonade...get some organic lemon juice, a lot of water, and some Vanilla Stevia. Holy YUM! It's like real, yummy lemonade without all that white sugar.

I'm telling you, this stuff will change your LIFE, man! At least it did mine.

I really don't think you'll be disappointed...nope...you won't.

Now go buy some and tell me what you think. Do it...NOW!

Friday, February 10, 2012

running - thoughts

If you're following me on facebook you'll know that I've been doing the C25K (couch to 5k) running program.

I wanted to write my feelings about it so that if I ever stop running (heaven forbid)  I can come back here and remember why I did it.

Do you ever have those dreams where you are running and running and you don't feel tired? It's almost a euphoric feeling; that you can keep going forever and not stop. I remember one dream in particular I was running on top of a mountain of red rocks, and it was all flat, but I could see everything below. It had a St. George feel to it. I remember running fast and feeling amazing! Little crevasses would creep up and I'd jump over them as if they were nothing, flying through the air and landing back on the rocks in full speed.

I remember waking up from this dream wanting so badly to make all of that a reality. I wanted to run.

Sometimes things seems much easier than they actually are - like running. Who knew it wouldn't be like my dream?! I thought I could do it, no problem. But you see there's something about running...you have to practice. You can't just wake up and decide to run for miles and miles and miles and not be tired, unless you have superhuman powers. But if you're like me, overweight, and have never ran more than a few minutes at a time, then you have to practice. You have to build up to it.

Everytime I'd dream about running I'd go outside and run. But I'd stop after a few minutes because I couldn't breathe, and that ended that dream. "I don't know how people do it", I'd say over and over. It still boggles my mind when I hear about people running a marathon or half marathon...or even a 5k.

I always told myself that when I lose weight I'll start running. Because, I mean, it's got to be easier the lighter you are, right?

47 lbs down and I started running. January 9th was my first week and first day of doing C25K. Now, I had done this program before...but I quit about 3 weeks into it...just when it started to get hard. Something I typically do in any situation.

This time I have a battle buddy with me and a determination like I've never had before. I will complete this program, and I will run a 5k. I have to...because I signed up for the Pink Series 5k in Pleasant Grove, in April.

Week 1 - Jog 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds, alternate for 20 minutes. Wow, I felt amazing! I did it and loved it!

Week 2 - Jog 90 seconds, walk 2 minutes, alternate for 20 minutes. Again, I felt awesome!!

Week 3 - Jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes, do two repetitions. Ok, I did it...I jogged for 3 minutes. It was hard but I did it.

Week 4 - Jog for 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, jog 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes, and repeat. Whoa! Ok, this is getting to be a little much. The first time I jogged those 5 minutes I wanted to die. I felt like I was going to throw up, my shoulder hurt, my calves hurt, and I wanted to stop. In fact the first day of this week doing the workout I think I jogged for 3 minutes on the last where I was supposed to jog 5 minutes. I didn't push myself as hard as I could have...but I did what I could. I have to be proud of that.

Week 5 - this week. Day one was yesterday. It consisted of Jogging 5 minutes, walking 3 minutes, jog for 5, walk for 3, jog for 5. Here was my thought process the whole time. "Ok, here I go I can do this!..."ok...good job shannon you're jogging and you're feeling good"...."ok, almost done with the first 5 minutes - doing good." Then I walk and try to catch my breath. My chest felt heavy like I wasn't getting enough air. *Note to self, don't wear a sports bra underneath your compression tank that already has a built in bra*. 3 minutes of walking done, time to run 5 minutes again. I was tired. "ok so maybe I just walk the last 5 minutes that I'm supposed to jog - I don't think I can do this"...."oh man, half way mark through second 5 minute jog....I can do this!"..."maybe I'll just jog 3 minutes of the last set instead of walking it". 3 minute walk comes up. I need water, bad. My mouth is dry, my foot is hurting from my dang bone spur. My left shoe feels like there's a crack on the bottom and I can feel it everytime I step. 3 minutes are almost up, some co-workers come and get on the treadmill next to mine...I can't quit now! Last 5 minute jog coming up and I'm not quitting. Here we go, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - jog. "You've got this Shannon, just focus on the music you're listening to, and not the pain, take your mind off the jogging". 3 minutes left and I'm ready to quit...but I didn't. "keep going, shannon, you can do it!".

Guess what? I did it! I finished that workout and it felt good! What an accomplishment for me! It may be silly to other runners but 5 minutes for me was hard. And I just did something hard. Yay!

Today's workout is even harder. I've been scared of this one and tomorrows work out since I looked at the program. 8 minutes jogging, 5 minute walk, 8 minute jog.

I am nervous...I really am. But, I can do it!

I have this quote at my desk that I look at everyday, especially on days I really don't want to work out. It's my mantra.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Quotes

I found these today on Pinterest and love them! I think this is exactly how I am trying to living my life.

LOVE THIS ONE!

I think I'd rather pay the farmer.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Before and...during

Here is a before and during shot. I can't say the second picture there is an "after" shot because my journey isn't over. I'm not yet where I want to be but boy...this helps me want to keep going, and it makes me realize how far I have come.

I'm happy.

And since I'm feeling happy I'm going to post something that I have always been embarrassed about, but now I feel empowered.

At the beginning this journey, in July 2011, I tipped the scale at 316 lbs. 50 +% body fat.

Today I weigh 269 and am down to 31.8% body fat.

Total loss so far... 47lbs. Big difference.

Best of all...my blood sugar is normal and I'm not on my Diabetes meds anymore. Hallelujah!

My goal is to be at 25% body fat, and I'd like to be at 195 lbs. which is perfect for me, being 6ft tall and all.

Do-able right? Totally!!