The Start Date is almost upon me!!!

Ok - so here it is! I am fatty and I am going to do something about it. I am a rather tall woman who has managed to carry my weight all over but there has many challenges in the last few years that have sent my weight spiralling out of control and I want to take back control.  Three years ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and fibroids the size of my fist.  Having such a fear of doctors, I opted to get the full hysterectomy first and then work up to getting my throat sliced.  I was so afraid of the rumours that doctors won't perform surgery because I smoked - I quit.  Imagine that to kick start my weight gain - instant menopause, no thyroid and quit smoking!  The muffin top was almost instant or so it seemed - because those huge fibroids filled that area out...good lord nothing worse then underwear that rolls down LOL.  After all was said and done, a new array of challenges arose.  I have struggled with this constant vibrating in my legs, sometimes awful swelling in my feet that would hurt so bad it felt I like stones for feet.  There was this constant pain up in between my shoulder blades - all this and more turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis complied with fibromyalgia/chronic pain syndrome/lupus!  In a nutshell I had bad days where I just friggen hurt so bad that I don’t move.  So now add that to the weight gain challenge - immobility and compile that with my love of food - cooking and eating! Man this is suicide at its slowest! 

I have been making a conscious effort to deal with my other life challenges one item at a time.  I am now at a stage where there are no other issues that I can use as an excuse to put this off any longer.   This is it! The time has come.  I have felt the desire to do this for a while – I faithfully watch biggest loser the season of no excuses!  With bag of chips in hand, I laugh and cry for those contestants because I understand them – I am one of them! As the bag of chips empties and the show comes to an end – the last words they utter, “….and the next time you see me America, I will……” Man!!!! they have direction, they have a plan, they have a goal.  They have done it in a fashion that America will be holding them accountable come finale night.  So I have given my direction, my plan and my goals A LOT of consideration and I, too, am going to put it out there so others can hold me accountable.

My first step was to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and work with them instead of setting myself up for failure:

1)     When I am in a rush, I hit up the drive thru fast food joints and proceed to make bad food choices.  To counter that I have started preparing meals or side dishes that are a much healthier choice and sensible calories.  I am in control of the amount salts and other ingredients.  They are then packaged in appropriate portion sizes. An example of this I have made my own Egg McMuffin and have about 5 portions individually wrapped in the freezer.  When I am on the go I pop one in the microwave for 1min.   In doing that I have avoided the temptation of having the fried hashbrown and a coke to wash it down and it was only 300 calories!

2)     I struggle with a healthy calorie intake.  If I make a plan, much alike a to-do list then maybe I will be more likely to stick to it because it’s like a commitment on paper.    Breakfast is ok. Its lunch, dinner and snacking.  So my plan is to do the Body by Vi shake for lunch.  I am sure everyone has an opinion about incorporating it and how it should be used but hear me out.  On any given day of the week I can hit up the King for lunch for 1200 calorie take out of a burger fry and a coke.  If I make the conscious effort to substitute that for a Visalus shake that starts at 90 calories and add to that what I want say flavoured yogurt and fresh fruit I will still be under the 500 calorie mark for lunch – healthier choices.  The nutrients alone will be much better on my brain than the King.  I choose to do the Visalus shakes because when I left the gym the protein shake stand didn’t open until 9am. The protein shakes are helpful in helping the body recover.  I was going to invest in my own protein shakes until I watched how friends were enjoying the Visalus shakes and getting results.  I liked that they are delivered to my door for the same price as driving across town.  Convenient eh! And I know I can’t stay on the shakes for life – but as anyone who works out knows you can’t do the same workout routine you have to switch it up.  I figure when that plateaus I’ll try something different. 

3)     Creating a routine that I can follow through on.  I found that working out first thing in the morning is most effective for me – and according to Dr.OZ it’s the best time to workout LOL.  I experience the least amount of pain in the am if I have had a full night’s sleep (which I think I have finally mastered). I have tried the whole “I’ll go to Zumba at 5:30pm”.  That time rolls around I am spent or some sort of excuse will follow like interruptions to my routines.  My only solution to that was if something or someone needs my services then it needs to be planned out.  This provides me opportunity to make adjustments.  If not, then I need to put myself first and other situations need to wait.  That’s the hardest part, being ok with putting myself first. 

4)      Creating a supportive environment.  So I have pitched any clothing that it too big.  I have emptied cupboards of really bad food choices.  I portioned many foods into appropriate sizes.  I don’t have a steady work out buddy and I am ok with that.  I don’t want to use the crutch of I had no one to go with to stand in my way.  But your reading this saying I could use a workout buddy then by all means come along!

5)      Inspired by my daughter in law, I am gonna to use Myfitnesspal to monitor my progress.  It’s a handy tool because I have access to it on my phone, my ipad and comp! 

So that’s the basics.  I am starting tomorrow!  As I was typing away this blog, the Purolator guy dropped off my shakes!  Join in my journey whether you just want to read about it, chime in with your two cents or you want to join me in the gym or for a shake then do it because IN A YEAR FROM NOW YOUR GONNA WISH YOU STARTED WITH ME! xoxo