Life Changers.

Well it has been ages since I even thought about blogging. My modern obsessions have seemed to change various directions over 2011. For a while on this blog, my focus was weight loss, and achieving goals I never thought possible.

Well Ironically on Friday morning at 9am I found myself in the waiting room of the Medi Weight Loss clinc (with my tail slightly between my legs I might add).  Folks I maintained my weight for a year + but honestly managed to put quite a few pounds back on during the year of 2011.

During my medi appt. I met with one of the dieticians (insert whatever their official titles are) to go over what had happened and why I was back. After discussing the past few months and getting over all the EXCUSES I had of why I gained 20+ pounds back. She made a great point. IN a lot of our lives when great major life events / changes occur it throws us off track.

Well in hind sight I guess you can say getting engaged, planning for a wedding, and starting your own side business can be considered a major life change. I can't promise I am going to be an avid blogger. But I would like to hope in the next few months I am going to blog about my NEW modern obsessions. YES THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM.

Friends, family, strangers what have you, I plan to attempt to start blogging about juggling my full time job (which I love), my side business (which is a new Love), wedding planning (which completely overwhelms me and I will love when the day is here), and my journey to achieve a balanced life of eating right and excercising regularly aka losing the pounds I gained, and then maintaining.

Juggling all these things seems like there is this intense mountain in front of me, but I know with Derek by my side and taking one day at a time, this can be accomplished!

No this is not a new years resolution, but for some reason a new year does bring people new hopes. And for me, it helps me re-set, re-vise, and re-think.  We're not perfect that is for sure.  All I can hope if for a bright future, to stop making excuses and get it done. Fear of the unknown is what causes worry. Time to take the unknown head on once again.

the Right foot forward or is it the left?


Hello readers, well its been months since I have posted on this blog and its about dang time to update / start posting again! When I FINALLY hit my goal weight in the summer of 2010 a new problem seemed to arise. One thing many who struggle with their weight DON'T think about is what happens when you finally achieve your goal?? 


After about a month of transitioning into the "wellness" plan and maintaining my weight, I felt like I was in a limbo area. I created a new goal of running a half marathon which at the time was a GREAT goal. I happily crossed that finish line in November. However, I didn't realize what was really going on... For years I was always looked in the mirror and would say well one day I will be skinny.. or when I am skinny... Well ladies and gentleman I am here, what do I look in the mirror and say now??  Yes I am so thankful for where I am at and so happy with what I have achieved. I have so much more confidence than I could have ever imagined. I think every step in anyones' weight-loss journey has a difficult aspect to it and of course "maintaining" the weight is another challenge in itself. But if for years your mentality is to get skinny/get fit how do you stop this need and want, and be happy with maintaining.


 During the holidays I really fell off the bandwagon when it came to eating right and exercizing, almost in a self sabotaging way. Almost unconsciously gaining weight so I could have the goal of losing it again! I of course re-evaluated when jan. 1st 2011 came around and after those first few weeks in January did some serious self reflection. I think for every woman who finally achieves their weight - loss dream on the occasion they still see the old person they used to be or begin to obsess that they are going to back to how they were. So in my reflection I realized I am just as guilty as all average american women about STILL standing in front of the mirror and picking those last few areas that "could be better" apart. Recognizing the problem is the first step in releasing yourself from this re-occurring behavior right?? Its pretty insane how body image is ingrained in all of our minds to the point where it is second nature. 


Anywho, I have devised a plan to begin complete and full acceptance... Instead of being the "person who in the past year lost weight" or the "person who used to be overweight" embracing the idea that I am a "person who IS fit and healthy" .. creating a NEW story about who I AM not reliving an old story about who I WAS. Its almost the same idea for people who smoke and their mentality when they finally overcome the addiction and are smoke free. Instead of thinking of themselves as a person who used to smoke but thinking of themselves as someone who doesn't smoke. Does that make any sense??  


Its time to move and put whatever foot it is thats best forward. I have managed to maintain my weight, with a few extra pounds here and a few less pounds there, for almost a year. I have now enlisted the help of a personal trainer. Not for reasons to lose any more weight but to help me get in a great fitness routine. To help me create the story / journey of the now. The story that Carrie is a healthy fit person that can kick ass and take names!

Recommitting...

Well I am officially in the wellness phase. The past month I have managed to stay between 129-131 using the tools medi has given me. Slowly increasing my calorie intake and carbs. The largest wake up call was last week when I was asked to start separating dairy from my protein count. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!???? Dairy made up at least half of my protein count. Are you people insane. After leaving my appointment last week I was flipping out. I had to really rethink my habitual meal plan and start from scratch. I had to eat 700 calories of just straight meat/ real protein and ONLY 2 servings (80 cals) of dairy. WHAT???? Well, of course after re-evaluating things in my mind, Medi was doing something right again. By changing things up just a bit, I have and had to totally re-think about what is going in my mouth. I had to refocus and recommit to this new phase in my journey. Previously I had the acute/lose weight phase down pat, I had a routine and was at the point where I didn't need to think about what I was doing... and that my friends is where you can start getting into trouble. When you don't think! So with me having to redo my daily meal plan and actually write things down again, I feel like I have recommitted to what I am putting in my mouth and am re-focused. Its Great!!

In recommitting or refocusing if you will, as I was already committed but just need to hone in my mind... I decided to get back to a thing Derek and I had been doing the first few months I began the program. At the first week of each month we both would measure arms, legs, chest, waist, hips, and neck, AND take photos of us in our swim suits. My swim suit being a suit he bought me for my birthday last year that was WAY TO SMALL and he must of been on drugs to think I would fit in it. Well NOW I DO FIT IN IT. Actually the bottoms are even a little to big! Thats right! I reluctantly have decided to post the pics to inspire those reading this. Yes they are incredibly embarrassing and No I really don't want to show the world BUT it is a great accomplishment and all those on their own journey need to see what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it! So Here are the results:

               
                         January 1st 2009                    June 1st 2010

Arms:                       13"                                           10 1/4"
Neck:                      14.5"                                           13"
Thigh:                        23"                                          20 1/4"
Calve:                     14 1/2"                                          15"
Hips:                         43"                                          36 1/2"
Waist:                     36 1/2"                                        27"
Chest:                     41 1/4"                                        35"                                  

Food Spot Light:

If you know me I probably have already mentioned this to a few of you but every morning I have a Vega Vitamin Shake. You have to get used to the taste but now I actually look forward to this in the morning. It covers my daily vitamin (as I hate taking pills), it also includes omega 3's, fiber, protein, probiotics, and a few other things. It really is a great addition to my meals and is VERY filling!! You can find it at GNC or you can get it off amazon for like 20 dollars cheaper. There are three flavors and I usually do the Chocolate kind. SO delicious! I even have Derek eating it every morning with me! Here are a few Recipes. I count the calories toward my protein calories as it does have a decent amount of protein in it! 1/2 of one batch = 130 cal!