The Importance of Settings Goals+ My Weight Loss Journal

On August 21, 2011 I had a melt down. 

I did pretty much nothing that day. I sat on the computer, ate junk food & cried. 

I have always struggled with my weight & it was always really hard for me to stick to a certain diet or routine.  That Sunday night I was looking online at a bunch of weight loss photos, motivational posters, eating plans & exercise routines. I weighed myself & realized that this lifestyle had to stop. Why would I want to keep living like this so unhappy with myself? I slept a lot, ate whatever I wanted & practically never exercised. I never had any energy & found myself sick a lot. Thinking about dieting made me so upset because I just love food. I love different textures & the way my house smells when I'm baking. 

I knew not only would I look better, but i would FEEL so much better if I could just change the way I looked at these aspects of my life. It's really crazy how completely my feelings about weight loss flipped that night. I have always wanted to lose weight, but could never get it in my head that I actually can lose weight. It was just a matter of if I really wanted it or not. If you really want something then who are you to tell yourself you can't? 

Now, when I am driving home & have the split second thought to stop at Little Caesars & get Bret & I a pizza, in that same second I change my mind. I tell myself NO. It's like I'm already skinny. Like I think 'Ashlie, if you eat that, you will be fat again!' Skinny, fat, these are both words that can sometimes offend people. You must be brutally honest with yourself if you are going to make the impact & change. Sometimes you have to hurt your own feelings to realize  that something is wrong.

On August 21, 2011 I made the change. 

I found an old little sketch book I had bought, but never used & decided to start a recording of this journey. 

-In the inside cover I put motivational quotes, my start date & weight. 

-The next page has my favorite foods & how many sugars, carbs, etc are in all of them. [pizza, cookies, chocolate, chicken express, bread, orange juice & dr.pepper]

-The next page has my new Go-to foods & how many sugars, carbs, etc. are in each. [strawberries, tuna, chicken, almonds, jello & water]

-Next page: My basic daily routine [wakeup, makeup/hair, computer, eat, computer, sometimes work, eat, computer, eat, pup play time, computer, eat, sleep]

-Next page: My New Routine[wake up, walk @ park, home, shower, makeup, hair, breakfast, leave for work(if no work then I paint or do something creative), lunch, clean, run errands, meditate, visit family/friends, dinner, journal, computer, sleep]

-Next page: My self image goals & what i'll do to achieve said goals

-Next page: Set Rewards for Weightloss achievement

-Next 2 pages: Before photos

-Next page: Photo of my dream body & motivational quotes

-Next 2 pages I journaled my feelings & wrote down everything I ate that day. 

Then every page after that I write down what I eat everyday, exercise, & anything else I want to record. Circles at the top are how many 16.9oz bottles of water I drink.

And in the back cover there is an encouraging letter from my husband. :D

This book is really helping me keep track of everything. I really recommend making a journal such as this for your journey. Plus, when I reach my goal weight I can look back on this & share it with other people that want to know exactly what I did to lose the weight. 

Setting goals was something I knew I had to do when I made this book. The goals go from 5 lbs lost all the way to 100 lbs lost. I may not need to lose 100, I'll just have to see how I feel when I get there. 

It is really important to set short term & long term goals when starting something like this. At the beginning of each new week I make a list of goals for the next week. [ Walk 3 extra miles, Drink 1 more bottle of water everyday, walk with someone else for a day, lose 2 lbs, etc] 

If you don't make small goals you will overwhelm yourself & thus end up giving up. Don't set the bar too high. Yes you should have an ultimate goal weight, but don't bum yourself out if it doesn't happen over night. It took you more than a week to put the weight on, it will take more than a week to get it off. 

When you set your goals include things you reallly reallly want. On mine I included a new camera lens, opening my etsy store, new shoes, girls nights, & a trip to see my best friend in Kansas. Don't let yourself have these things until you reach that goal. Start small. Work hard. You will reach your goal. Take it one day at a time. Find a substitute for your weakness foods. I found an alternative to pizza, chocolate, soda & several other things. With some hard work it can be done. 

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I CAN DO THIS.

-Ashlie.

What I eat for Breakfast

I eat A LOT for breakfast. I usually work up a pretty good appetite after my morning walk/jog. :D

3 eggs with 2 slices American Cheese cooked in.

1-2 sausages (regular, no honey maple or anything like that)

1 slice wheat bread[today I had an extra sweet tooth, so I put some spray butter & cinnamon+half a packet of Truvia on top]

5 strawberries, sliced with half packet of Truvia

1 small glass of Diet Cranberry juice  [only 2 grams of sugar/8oz]

1 Bottle water

After breakfast I'm usually pretty good to go & won't get hungry until lunch. If I do get hungry between Breakfast & Lunch I will eat a cheddar cheese stick or a small handful of almonds. :)

-Ashlie.

Addiction

How do you know when you are addicted to food?  

I heard this on the morning news program a few months back.  

If you see a donut:  

A-you say I can eat it but I will have to work it off  

B-no thanks, not worth it, or 

C-no thanks cause you don't want anyone to see you eat it, but you think about it all day long , it drives you nuts, and you can't rest until you eat at least one......

C is when you are addicted.  

I am addicted to food.  

Not sweets in particular, just food.  I love how it makes me feel good, satisfied, etc.  It has totally taken control of my life.  I do good on a diet for 2 weeks and then I just lose it.  And to make matters worse, I not only gain what I just lost, but an extra 10 pounds or more.  It is a no win situation for me.  

I did lose a significant amount of weight in 97.  I was exercising daily.  I looked good and then I had Aric....lol...I know that if I am going to get this weight off, I am not only going to have to exercise, but I am going to have to deal with my addiction.  

Luckily, there is a wonderful 12 step Christian program available.  I have been working with this program and have found the hope that I need.  My hubby is going to go with me to the next meeting , so he can understand what I am going through and learn how to be "supportive".  Just for your info, the steps I have been working on are:

1-admit that I am powerless to overcome my addiction and that my life has become unmanageable.

    Holy cow, how this is true.  My day is ruled by "what is there to eat" or "what can I bake"

2-Come to believe that the power of God can restore me to complete spiritual health.

    Hurry up already......lol....I know that I will get there.  This program has given me the hope.

3-Turn my will and my life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son , Jesus Christ.

    I have turned it all over to Them. 

Those are the steps I have done and now I am working on.

4-Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of myself.  

    This one is taking more time, more emotion, more self-awareness.  This one is getting to me. 

If you or someone you know would like to join me in this 12 step program, let me know.  I would love to have you come with me.   Any addictions, not just food.....

I have been walking and feel better overall, except for the soreness....lol..  Today I start 50 pushups a day.  Hey, if Martha Stewart can do it, so can I......

-Hollie

Inspiration

It's amazing to me how much I have been inspired by Ashlie.  She is looking good, feeling good.  She is just the kick in the pants that I need to get my hiney in gear.  I had her make me a list of what she eats on a daily basis.  I am more of a "tell me what to do " type.  So Monday I will start what she does as far as the eating goes.  I am still walking and enjoying the results of that.  My stomache finally doesn't stick out farther than my boobs....lol   And that is saying alot......Thanks Ash for keeping me going....

Oh, by the way , I am down 4 pounds......yeah.....

-Hollie

When was the last time you actually watched the sun come up?

I have gotten really addicted to walking/jogging in the mornings. Some days I go by myself and it is just really calming.  I stretch out, walk, jog & sweat out all those little things in life that annoy/frustrate me. :)

Every morning I get to watch the sun come up. I think that's something that we take for granted these days. It is such a beautiful, wondrous thing to see. One day this week the sky was filled with the fluffiest clouds that looked like pink cotton candy. :)

Every morning I get to see the same smiling faces up at the local park. I love seeing so many people up there just as early as I am walking their butts off! So many different shapes, sizes & cultures are up there.  It's nice to look down & around the trails & know that all these  people are there because they want to be. Yes, I said want. All these people are so excited to greet you the first time they walk pass you in the morning. Some walk, some jog, some sprint. Some super fast, others take it really slow. I love seeing older couples walking together & observing all that is around them. So many different sounds, smells, and things to see. I would much rather walk outside than inside on a treadmill. A few days ago I even saw a little fox!

There is something to be said for being out in nature, smelling the fresh air & walking with the wind in your hair.  It's one of life's little pleasures & I strongly encourage all of you to wake up tomorrow & watch the sun. Clear your mind & just be there. Taking small moments like this out of your crazy lifestyle is sure to be therapeutic & you will feel much, much better about your day. 

-Ashlie.