Healthier Every Day

It’s my first time participating! I’m really looking forward to your questions! Ask away!

This week my recommendation goes to: operationtransformation!

In recent weeks, she has been ON FIRE! Working out consistently, eating well and regularly, losing pounds and inches, writing funny and inspiring posts - I love this woman!

She is, like me, very positive and upbeat & that is exactly what I love about her! ;D

xxx,
M

As of today, I’ll no longer be posting my “What I ate Yesterday” posts. I will continue to count calories on my own and will post the total. I just need to change it up. (For the record, I ate 1354 yesterday.) I’m going to start taking pictures of my lunch and dinner (if they are interesting looking) and see how that goes. Maybe even throw in a recipe here and there if people are interested. :)

Also, I *finally* got my new camera battery in the mail! YAY! So yesterday I went ahead and took my “before” pictures in just my skivvies, front, back, side, side. I thought I’d post them… until I saw them!

HOLY MOLY PEOPLE! To those of you that have taken and posted your progress or starting pictures: you all are BRAVE! I’m kind of completely terrified of posting them! They certainly don’t look as good as I want them too but at the same time they don’t look as bad as I originally thought right after the pictures were taken last night.

These are the FIRST pictures in a series of pictures that are only going to get better and better over time, right? So technically, these should be the worst pictures of my body I ever take. *fingers crossed*.

Instead of focusing on the cellulite and all that I see as “negative” when I look at these pictures - I’m going to focus on the good things I see when I look at them. This is an exercise for me - I have GOT to eliminate (once and for all) negative self-talk when I look at my naked body. This is going to get me walking in that direction.

• My calves are strong and lean.
• I have a great and supple rack.
• My bootie is big (though not as round or firm as I want it to be). Stop it, M.
• My hair is long and shiny! Weeeee!

Okay, that’s pretty much all I have for now. I’m really back and forth about posting them. I want you all to see them so I have proof of my improvement… but I’m soooo scared of putting my mostly naked body out there for the world to see… especially if someday I’m going to be non-anon.

I’m thinking that maybe tonight I’ll go home and put on skin tight clothes and post those as progress pictures instead?  What do you all think?

Inspired by runeatrepeat!

Today and on all Mondays, I’m going to post one fun thing about my day, myself, or just something fun in general that I’m looking forward to. Mondays can totally suck. Focusing on one fun thing about your day can make it suck less. Get it? Let’s begin.

Today, my fun thing is: I’m starting a new second job! I’m super excited! For those of you that don’t know, I work two jobs (gotta pay my bills, no matter how bad the economy gets, right?). I was approached two Fridays ago with a job offer (I wasn’t even looking! Heeeyyyo!) that would pay me a LOT more per hour. 33% more per hour. PLUS additional hours per week.

Basically, they were throwing money at me.  So, because I’m a smart cookie and I like stakkin hundos - I accepted! And I start today! :D

YAY!

What’s your Funday Monday item?

I haven’t done my measurements in a month. Here’s where I started.

And now?

• Bicep: 10 inches (+ 1/4 inch - of which I am PROUD!)
• Calf: 14 3/4 (this is a starting measurement)
• Mid-Thigh: 19 inches (-3/4 inch)
• Upper Thigh: 23 inches (this is a starting measurement)
• Around tummy at belly button: 30 inches (-1 inch)
• Waist: 29.5 inches (this is a starting measurement)
• Across hipbones: 37.5 inches (this is a starting measurement)
• Across widest part of hips: 40 inches (-1 inch)
• Across lower hips, under tooshie: 39 1/4 inches (this is a starting measurement)
• Bust: 37.5 inches (-1.5 inch)
• Weight: 137 lbs (-3.2 lbs)
• Height: 5 feet 2.5 inches

That’s a total loss of: -4 inches

I’m feeling pretty stinking GREAT right now, I gotta tell ya. ;)

I know getting out there and working out in public places where people can see your body can be super intimidating. Sometimes, the thought of other people’s judgment is almost too much to bear. I used to think things like “Who wants to see my jiggling fat bouncing around all graphic and nasty looking?” or “I’m not fit enough to work out in public” (which, for the record, doesn’t even make sense).

But you know what? That changed for me when I started thinking about the people I looked at when I am working out outdoors.

Every time I see someone who has a beautiful, fit and toned body, I admire it. I aspire to be like that and use it as motivation.

Every time I see someone who is slightly overweight or drastically overweight working out I feel nothing but PRIDE for them. I am proud that they got out there and are working out. I’m proud are taking the difficult steps toward being healthier. I’m proud that they had the courage to put their body, in whatever condition it is in, out there for everyone to see. I’m proud that they found their inner strength. I’m proud because they are actually DOING it (not trying - DOING) when so many other people are just sitting at home being couch potatoes or finding excuses to avoid working out.

Often, if I’m hiking or walking near them, I’ll give them a “Great job!” or “Keep up the great work” or “The peak is just over that hill”. You know, just some simple words of encouragement to help keep them going because we all know it can be TOUGH out there! You never know, a stranger’s kindness and encouragement might just help that person believe in themselves a little more than they already do.

xxx,
M

I’m so sorry but I had to go on an unfollowing spree. :( I hate doing that because I love seeing everyone’s updates on my dash but the problem is that I feel spread too thin. I love being able to provide quality support and encouragement to everyone on my dash. For me, that’s what being a part of this community is all about.

So, I apologize if I unfollowed you. In case you were wondering, I kept following people who:

• are Fitblrs. If you aren’t a Fitblr, I stopped following you. Sorry about that and I hope you understand that I use this for my motivation to continue my own fitness journey. No distractions. Total focus and commitment.
• Fitblrs who interact with me on a regular basis by providing support and encouragement & who I interact back with to provide same. This is essential to me and the main reason I am succeeding. If you want to get me to follow you, jump right in and start sending me encouraging words on a regular basis. I’m very responsive to that.
• Fitblrs who are getting fit or losing weight the healthy way, through healthy food consumption and regular exercise. I’m not saying that I won’t ever follow people who splurge. I believe in splurging, just as I believe in moderation and overall balance. However, I won’t follow people who regularly eat almost nothing all day but then eat pizza for dinner and still stay within their daily caloric goals. You might be fooling yourself if you think this is “healthy” but you aren’t fooling me.
• Fitblrs who are overall positive people. I know we all fall down but it’s important to me to follow people who pick themselves right back up because that’s what I do & that’s what I want to be reminded of: that we can all pick ourselves right back up.

Okay, that’s it. To all my followers: I think the world of you and couldn’t have gotten anywhere without yours support. I apologize again - and I really REALLY don’t mean to cause hurt feelings, so if I do - I apologize for that as well and just ask for your understanding.

xxx,
M

Today’s hike was incredible. I had so much energy that I was actually doing split lunges with B as we went along the trail. I whipped out 3 sets of 20, nice and slow ones, then jogged the trail to catch up with everyone, in case you were wondering. ;D

Running the trail felt amazing every time I had to catch up. I don’t normally run trails, I briskly walk them, but today was different. I was soooo energized; I felt sooooo strong; I was walking so fast;  and I didn’t feel tired when everyone else started getting pooped. E made a comment about my seemingly boundless energy: that I was the “most conditioned one of all of us”. NSV!

During the hike I was talking to J about how much I liked hiking hard to the top of the hills. How really pushing myself to get up there quickly and be out of breath feels great. He jokingly said “You love the pain, huh?” I glanced at him and wasn’t sure what to say. Did I like the pain? It wasn’t hurting… really„. But I was pushing hard in order to feel pain. Then he said “I find that the pain of accomplishment is worth it but the pain of regret isn’t.”

That is so true. Sure it hurts sometimes to push myself super hard but the reality is that I’m hooked on the feeling of accomplishment. I’m hooked on the feeling I get when I tell people I hiked 11 miles in a casual day hike and they look at me like I’m a little out of my mind.  I’m hooked on the pride I feel when I look down at my thighs and see some definition starting to show. I’m hooked on the INCREDIBLE feeling when Chippy compliments me by putting his hand, palm down, on my belly and says “Your tummy used to go out to where the top of my hand is, Buba [his pet name for me]. I can really see a difference. You look great, honey, keep up the good work!” and then smooches me.

Yep. Pretty much 100% hooked on that feeling.

 It was a GREAT day!

Pictures to come later in the week. Hang in there for em! Lots of amazing mushrooms, flowers, and epic views of the ocean, local islands and snow capped mountains. :D