Video blog take 2!!!

Ok going to see if this works!! (fingers crossed)!





Valinda

A healthy state of mind

So as you are all aware I have struggled with my fat this week, moreso I think than at any other time so far in this journey. All I can say is Fat is tough!

It is Soooooo badass! It is a dirty fighter!! I feel like I've gone 100 rounds with Mike Tyson (ok maybe not) but man I feel like the bad end of a mexican dinner gone wrong (if you catch my drift lmao OMG I'm so funny) but I digress;

I ate really bad this week, I went out more than I should have, ate too many carbs, not enought fiber and so on an so forth. I did however stay on track with my exercise and that really is an important elemant, I didn't lose anything this week but i didn't gain so that's ok.

I find myself sometimes thinking about food a lot when I am super board, I am one of those people that always has to have something on my plate so when I don't eating is the first thing I think about. I used to turn to snacks for entertainment, sometimes I didn't even know I was eating that's how much of a habit it became. Habits are bad for the most part I think they make you do things without making a concious decision to do them. I have to think about everything that goes into my body so to do something by habit is not good.

Breaking habits is tough, I have never been good at it. I am a habitual person, I like to do things time and time again lol. Habits are a double edged sword because having a healthy habit in exercising is good but having a habit of eating chips everytime you sit down to watch a movie is not a good habit.

I think that we can over come but we have to be able to tell the good habits from the bad ones I hope that my blog helps with that a little. I am enjoying sharing my journey with you and I hope you are enjoying the ride!

Till later!

Valinda

Off the beaten path

Today was another beautiful day! I am going to take a little side track from the purpose of this blog on this post. I am feeling very emotional about some things that are going on in my life and the lives of those close to me.

I want to reach out and hug each and everyone of you! I want to hold you and tell you that it will all be ok, but I know that when times are tough it is so hard to see the light and the lesson of our trials and tribulations. But there is light.

I have been through some dark days in my 33 years of existence, I lived a "rough" life and there were years for me without light. I had no hope of ever being better, I had no hope period.

I was a completely different person, I hated people I never hugged anyone it was a very uncomfortable moment for me when someone would hug me in fact it made me angry.

Inside though I was someone different, I was sad and broken and I wanted someone to help me, I didn't want to be the person I was I wanted to change to have a chance at a happy life but I did not see a way out and honestly I didn't think anyone cared enough about me to even give a crap anyway.

But someone did care, in fact a lot of someones cared and with them I learned how to function as a real person, not a bad ass, not the tough girl but I learned who the real Valinda was and I like her much better. I would be no where without these people. I would have probably ended up in jail. That's the honest truth.

I want to let the people in my life know that I am grateful for them everyday, that I love and care about them. They are my heart. I know you are going through a tough patch but that is all it is I will be your light if you allow me to be let me hold you and guide you as you have done for me so many times.

I love you.

Valinda

Not Ignoring my blog!

Sorry guys!

I have been trying to post a video on here from my new laptop and apparently it makes the files entirely too big so I have been working on that. Hopefully tomorrow my wonderful husband will have a new program for me to use so that I can change the settings on the webcam. I want you guys to see my personality!!!

So I will get it up and working I just don't know when but it will happen.

I did a good workout today and was watching food network ( I know right!) I love their Challenge shows though and today it was wedding cakes, some of the work these people do on a cake is just utterly amazing to me. This one lady did friggin sugar nuts and berries and I could not tell they weren't the real thing! Amazing I say!

So that really didn't have anything to do with anything but I do enjoy watching a good cake show!! Probably because I love cake! But again besides the point.

So I think that I can honestly say that I am struggling this week, I am hungry and tired. I have stayed on track but boy I don't want to! Every bone in my body wants to be bad! But I have not! I will not give in! FAT WILL NOT WIN!

I have had such a long week already but I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow and I think that he will be very surprised to see me! I am actually excited about getting on the scale! For the first time in a long time she will not have to go to the 200 mark! I am not at my goal weight far from it but I am confident that I will be there and I am sure my Dr. will be glad to see my progress! I'll let you know what he has to say!

Well this post will be short like I said I am tired! Keep up the fight my soldiers!!! We will beat the fat!

Valinda

Ad and Scam overload!

Ok so this is a rant, I am so sick of seeing advertisements for getting high school skinny, lose weight fast, magic cookie diet Acai berry I can go on and on and on. I see these everyday and I know you do too, you can miss it especially if you are a person like me who so desperately wants to lose weight.

I don't know about you but I know that I sure feel like crap after I see all the fantastic "results". I have tried it all! I have followed these diets to the "T" and I did have some success but none of the fad dieting is sustainable, you can NOT live that way! You just can't I don't care what celebrity supports what diet FAD DIETS DON'T WORK! Life style changes are what work, period. That's all, the end.

You can not be perfect all the time, human beings can not be perfect so to be on a regimented diet where one little mistake can throw the whole diet out of wack! Not only will it be a set back but it will be a huge motivational killer!!!! The feeling of defeat will kill your motivation faster than anything "well screw it I messed it up might as well eat!" I have said this myself on many occasions which is why I find myself in my current situation.

Remember everything we do everyday changes our bodies. Don't expect to lose weight like you did when you were 16 if your 30 and have children, you won't so don't let yourself get upset about it. It's ok we will just have to find another way that works for us but it will not come in a pill, or a magic elixir not a pair of sneakers and not with a cookie, just not going to happen at least not for the long haul.

The only thing you can do that will work is to eat healthy, cut your calories watch your portions and get up and move. You will lose weight, build muscle and shape up. Not only that but you will feel so good, no jitters no withdrawals nothing just health, feeling good inside and out!

I know it;s hard, but I'm doing it and so can you!!!!!

Till later!

Valinda

Renaissance Festival!

We are going to the Renaissance Festival tomorrow! I look forward to this every year it is so much fun!

It's also a hidden workout! It is hours and hours of walking! Fun and Fit this is my kind of exercise!

Everyone runs around like in midevil times there are tuns of stuff to see and do I just enjoy it!

So do this kids and it gives them a day to run around out in Arizona before it gets too hot!!

I probably won't stick to my diet tomorrow but that's ok it will be a lot of fun and it will even out with all the walking i will be doing. This is why I am losing the weight right! To have fun with my family and that's what I am doing tomorrow.

The funny thing is though that on days that I think I am going to go off my diet I end up doing really well so we will see.

Have fun tomorrow fellow friends! I will update tomorrow on our day!

Valinda

It's so hard!

Working out is so hard sometimes, I am so busy! My kids need dinner and showers and homework needs to be done.




I also have so much to do when I get home. I make wedding invitations and have been busy with that and I can only do it from home. I leave my house at 6am and if I am lucky I get home by 7pm. Bed time is 9pm. How in the world can I possibly find a minute to workout?!!??!?!



I can’t do it!!



Then I smack myself upside the head and snap myself back to realilty. I don’t have time, I just don’t there aren’t enough hours in the day.



But I have to workout. Period. The end. This is not an option. I consider working out like breathing if I don’t do it I die. Simple, I think we can all understand that right?!



It has to be that way, at least for me because as you can see above I am a master winer and I can make the best excuses! I mean I am really good at convincing myself not to do something!



That’s what got me into this mess to begin with. I always made an excuse why I would do better tomorrow, why I couldn’t do it right now but I would for sure do it later.



When is later? I asked myself that because I put stuff off till later years ago and I still haven’t done them! Well I have made it a fact for me that NOW is Later.



I am living life now, because it’s too short not to. I remember being 15 yesterday and now I am 33 (WTF when did THAT happen?) eh hum.



I was not living a full life before April of last year, I let a lot of people have control of myself, my life and my emotions.



I am the kind of person that takes pleasure in doing for other people even if it hurts me, emotionally, financially you name it. Then when I am alone I eat.



When I was younger I never let anyone mess with me. No one hurt my feelings because I didn’t get close enough to them. I was angry all the time and as my husband can attest to I can still get a little crazy angry and when I am stay out of my way because I will probably roll over you like a steam roller and I hit below the belt. I know how to affect people emotionally call it a gift (only it isn’t)



I think somewhere in there my anger and sadness and lonliness turned into hunger, I don’t know when that happened exactly but it did.



Growing up we never ate right. My mom cooked home made meals that were delicious but I don’t know if they were balanced exactly. We ate a lot of pasta and potatoes and such, but I was active so I didn’t really gain anything at that point.



I still love Carbohydrates, they are my weakness but I have learned how to eat them and how to incorporate them in my diet.



I guess where I am going with this post is that no matter what your background is this is an attainable goal. We have to put the past behind us and live in the now. Because the now is what matters the before is over and done with but what we do now affects later and later I want to be a healthier version on me. I can accomplish this and I promise you can too.



Till later! Yours Forever,



Valinda

Smart Phones

How many of my blog friends have a Smart Phone ie. Iphone, My touch, HTC or Goole phones?  If you have a Smart Phone go into your apps and look up nutrition and see how many FREE apps there are to help you on your weight loss journey!  There are BMI caculators, calorie counters, receipe apps. 

There are apps for diabetics as well that help you keep track of your blood sugar!

There are exercise apps and apps that teach you how to control your blood pressure and cholestrol! 

I just got a Smart Phone and I have downloaded a bunch of apps to use and I am so friggin excited!  As I try them out I'll post about them and let you know which ones are the most useful and which ones aren't so great.

This is just another tool in your arsenol to FIGHT YOUR FAT!

Let me know if you find any you like!

Valinda

Great Tips!

I found this great article and I wanted to share it!  This is what I have been doing all along but this is a quick reference guide!  It holds true everything I believe about weight loss!  Happy reading!

Diet and Weight Loss Tips


Weight Loss Information and Tips for Getting Started

Calories per Hour offers the following tips to help you lose weight to look better, feel better, and live a healthier life. These tips are short and sweet and are intended as a starting point or quick reference for individuals seeking to lose weight by using the resources offered on Calories per Hour. Read the related tutorial topics to learn more about the topics discussed in these weight loss tips



1.How Did I Get Here?

Do you simply need help learning how to eat better? Probably. But if you eat poorly as a result of emotional, mental, or spiritual problems, they may have to be addressed before you can make any real progress with weight loss.



Even people who don't feel they have an eating disorder often turn to food for comfort. To learn to eat well and exercise regularly, you may also have to learn to handle the problems life throws at you without turning away from healthy eating and exercise.



Be particularly careful about all-or-nothing thinking. A common tendency when failing to stay on a diet is to abandon it altogether. Instead, try to learn from your mistakes and do better in the future.



Related Tutorial Topic: Eating Disorders





2.Are You Ready to Diet? Again?

Diets entice us with promises of quick weight loss. But focusing on quick weight loss can lead to unhealthy eating and only short term success.



While most diets produce quick weight loss at the outset, they often cause your metabolism to slow. The result is that you have to eat less and less to keep losing weight. You quickly become discouraged, give up, and start eating like you used to. But now, with a slower metabolism, you regain all the weight you lost, and more.



Focus instead on improving your health, and you will become slim and healthy.



Related Tutorial Topic: Selecting a Diet Plan





3.Take Control of What You Eat

There are few things that we have complete control over, but what we put in our mouths is one of them. We don't have to lose control in a restaurant or a friend's home, and we don't have to eat everything that's put in front of us.



Consider this: We love fat because it carries flavor, and restaurants aren't as interested in whether we'll be around in 30 years as whether we'll be back next week. And what about our friends?





4.Eat Frequently, and Eat Slowly

It is important to understand what happens when you skip a meal or go on a crash diet. When you skip a meal your metabolism slows to conserve your energy. And when you lose weight too quickly for a few days, your body thinks it is threatened with starvation and goes into survival mode. It fights to conserve your fat stores, and any weight loss comes mostly from water and muscle.



Never skip a meal, especially breakfast, and eat healthy snacks between meals. Eating frequently prevents hunger pangs and the binges that follow, provides consistent energy, and may be the single most effective way to maintain metabolism efficiency.



Eating slowly gives our bodies time to tell us they are full before we've eaten more than we need.



Related Tutorial Topic: Raise Your Metabolism and Burn More Calories





5.Eat More Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains

People who eat healthy, mostly unprocessed foods, including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and limited amounts of lean animal protein, often find that they can eat as much as they want without gaining weight. If they are switching from a diet containing lots of processed foods, they find that they can eat more yet consume fewer calories -- and they lose weight.



Historically, the Chinese ate mostly rice and vegetables with a little lean meat for protein and flavor, nothing like the American Chinese restaurant dishes of deep fried sweet and sour pork. A step back to more natural foods would improve our health and waistlines.



Related Tutorial Topic: Why Healthy Food Makes You Slim





6.Eat More Fiber

Fiber makes us feel full sooner and stays in our stomach longer than other substances we eat, slowing down our rate of digestion and keeping us feeling full longer. Due to its greater fiber content, a single serving of whole grain bread can be more filling than two servings of white bread. Fiber also moves fat through our digestive system faster so that less of it is absorbed.



Refined grains like white rice and those used to make white bread and sugary breakfast cereals have had most of their fiber and nutrients stripped away. They turn into blood sugar (glucose) so fast that, like sugar itself, they can cause a spike in our insulin level. This tells our body that plenty of energy is readily available and that it should stop burning fat and start storing it.



Eating foods with plenty of fiber will help keep our blood sugar at a more consistent level.



Related Tutorial Topic: How Fiber Helps You Lose Weight





7.Cut Down on Sugar

Be careful about sugar in coffee and soda pop. It can add up quickly, and these drinks aren't filling.



Watch for "hidden" sugar in processed foods like bread, ketchup, salad dressing, canned fruit, applesauce, peanut butter, and soups. And be careful with "fat-free" products. Sugar is often used to replace the flavor that is lost when the fat is removed. Fat-free does not mean calorie-free.



The greater concern with the insulin spike (above) is not that it tells our body to start storing fat. Whatever we eat and don't burn up eventually gets turned into fat anyway.



The greater concern is that the insulin spike is followed by a drop in insulin level that leaves us feeling tired and hungry and wanting to eat more. The unfortunate result of this scenario is that it makes us want to eat something else with a high sugar content. When we do, we start the cycle all over again.



Regulating your blood sugar level is the most effective way to maintain your fat-burning capacity.



Related Tutorial Topic: How Blood Sugar Levels Affect Weight Loss





8.Too Much of a Bad Thing

Foods like cheese stand out as among the most fat-laden, with a great number of calories coming from fat. But as important as it is to select the healthiest foods, it is also important to consider how they are prepared.



Fried foods, especially deep-fried, contain a great amount of fat. While chicken and fish are usually leaner than beef or pork, they can contain more fat when they are fried. Look at how the number of grams of fat in a chicken breast changes depending on how it is cooked:





Cooking Method Fat

Meat Only, Roasted 3.1

Meat Only, Fried 4.1

Meat and Skin, Batter Fried 18.5



"Fried food? All I eat is salad and I still can't lose weight!"



Be careful with salad dressings, mayonnaise, and other condiments that are high in fat content. They greatly increase the calorie count and can negate the healthy aspects of a meal. Replace mayonnaise-based condiments with fat-free alternatives like fat-free yogurt, mustard, ketchup and barbecue sauce.



And remember, a gram of fat contains more than twice as many calories as a gram of protein or carbohydrate.



Related Tutorial Topic: Calories in Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates





9.Too Little of a Good Thing

But don't try to eliminate fat altogether, as dietary fat is necessary to maintain a healthy body. It is a vital component for building body tissue and cells, and it aids in the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Many people eat too much of the bad fats, but also eat too little of the good fats required for optimal health.



Related Tutorial Topic: Good Fats and Bad Fats





10.Exercise Regularly

People who exercise regularly not only lose weight faster, they are more successful at keeping it off. Exercise makes it possible to create a calorie deficit and lose weight without starving your body and slowing your metabolism.



At home, at the gym, or playing sports, participate in both aerobic and strength building activities on a regular basis. Not only does the exercise itself burn calories, but your body will continue to burn calories at a higher rate even after you're done exercising.



If walking is all you can do, then walk because it's great for you. But muscle burns more calories than fat, so put on a little muscle if you can and you will burn more calories just sitting there... looking good.



But don't sit too long. The human body is good at adapting. If you dig ditches without gloves, you will develop calluses to protect your hands. If you sit too long, you will develop extra padding to keep you comfortable!



Related Tutorial Topic: Why Exercise Is Important for Weight Loss





11.Take It Easy

Unless you are excited to be following a very specific diet and exercise plan, do not try and change too much too fast. If you have been eating poorly and not exercising, both your body and your mind will have a lot of adjusting to do.



All the sugar and fat were actually quite enjoyable, and sitting on the couch didn't feel too bad, either. If you try and change everything too quickly the odds are greater that you will feel bad, get discouraged, and give up. So be patient.



A time will come when a healthy snack will taste as good as the junk food you felt bad about eating, and you will look forward to your regular exercise.





12.Begin Now

You can achieve your goals, but it won't likely happen as a result of the next fad diet. Or the one after that.

Excited!

Hi guys! Sorry it’s been a few days blogger took down my blog for some reason, I think it was because I changed my Google account but I just got it back last night. I’ll try not to do that again!

So I have to share with you all! I went shopping for some work clothes this weekend because all of my suites fall off of me now.



Anyway I have been afraid to try anything on because I was afraid of being disappointed, I didn’t want to get my hopes up that I went down in size even though my clothes are big (don’t ask me the logic behind this because I don’t know, it doesn’t make sense to me either!) but I have a big meeting tomorrow and I wanted to look nice so off to the store I went. The first suit I tried was an 18 (my before size) it was of course big but now so big that I thought hey this is so big!



So then I got nervous, do I try a 16? Do I attempt it? What happens if I try it and it’s too small? How will I feel? It could ruin my whole day do I risk it or remain in my 18’s??? Such a conundrum!



I decided to go for it. If I am not a 16 then I won’t tell anyone! It will be my dirty little secret! No one will know muahahahahahaha (so not true if you know me at all you know I leave my life open like a book and secrets are not my style) but that’s what it took for me to grab the 16 so I said it and I believed it! (only I didn’t)



In the dressing room getting ready to put the pants on, one leg in (whew) not too tight! Second leg in (whew) still ok, pull the pants over the butt (cringe, squint eyes don’t watch) hey not so bad. Pull pants together to button, suck in with all my might close eyes pray to Jesus, please let me just get these buttoned. Finally I button them, open one eye, open the other eye, look in the mirror, too big!



What!!!! Yes they were too big! I think I had an out of body experience at this point. I floated above myself and was like are you kidding! This can not be me! Only it was! It was me! I went and grabbed a 14! Fit like a glove, love it no muffin top!



So while I am not at my ideal weight I am making progress and honestly I never thought I would see a size 14 in my closet again.



It goes to show as I have said all along, if I can do it anyone can! I am nothing special just a fluffy girl trying to get less fluffy and for once in my life I am seeing results! Share your successes with me! Comment!!! I want to highlight you and your successes too!

We can motivate each other with our successes!

Valinda

Shape Ups part 2

Ok I wore my Shape Ups alllllll day today and they were awesome, I definatly felt it and my legs are super tired tonight.  I am really tired in general actually.  They are comfortable and were not hard to wear at all so i give these shoes an A+!

In other news I was out today looking for a new washing machine.  I did find one I liked and they are delevering it tomorrow!  I will get me work out tomorrow just doing the 4000 lbs of laundry I have to do.

I had a conversation with my bff today and she is feeling discouraged because her weight is not coming off as fast as she thought it would and she is kind of in a rut.  She is doing really well and her exercising routine is great but she is still not seeing the results she wants.  I told her to not let this get to her so much!  There are so many positives to what she has accomplished!  She has lost 10lbs!  She is MOVING! She is eating better!  All of these things are just as important as getting the weight off as long as you stay on track the weight will come off it just comes off faster in some people.

If you really feel like you have plateau'd take a look as your lifestyle.  Is there something that you could cut out?  Is there something you could be doing better?  There will always be room for improvement so if you feel stuck change things around.

You are going to fit as you exercise that you are going to need to add to your routine.  You are going to have to exercise longer and hard to burn those calories because your becoming more fit and you body will require more work!  This is a great thing!  This means you are doing it right!  So when you can add 5 or 10 min to your workout or add heavier weights, a thicker band or more situps!

You will find that your body will start to crave the workout and your energy lever will sky rocket!

I can see a difference in my bff and I am very proud of her!!!  She is on the right track and we all get discouraged but that's why we need to be here for eachother!  To help pick up your friends when they are down.  I get down too and I need you all to help pick me up too!

Love to you all!  Talk to you soon!

Valinda

Sketchers Shape Ups

Yes, I finally broke down and bought a pair of these shoes.  I have been wanting to try them for awhile and I found them at the Sketchers store for a good price so I got them.

I have only tried them on but tomorrow I am going to do some extensive shopping for a washing machine so I am hoping to have a full report for you all tomorrow!

As I have said 100 times there is not a magic pill or diet that will make the pounds just fall off with no effort and these shoes are no exception, they may add a little toning to your butt, legs and abs but they are not a workout.  You still need to get up and move everyday and by that I mean more that putting on your sneakers every morning.

I think the shoes in themselves will be a good reminder of the path I am on though.  Everytime I take a step I will remember just why I am doing what I am doing.  I am getting healthy for my family.

Also I broke down and bought a new pair of pants in a smaller size than I have worn in a long time but logically since all of my other pants fall down this was the next size to try.  They fit like a glove which means that I have officially lost 4 pant sizes.  I am amazed even as I stare at that sentence because I just never thought that it would be possible to say that.  WOW

Hard work does payoff but you need to be patient, that is a skill I am slowly learning.

I hope you all have a beautiful night.

Valinda

MCKMAMA

Is having a GIVEAWAY!!!  Check it out!!!!  http://www.mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/, she is an awesome blogger and was an inspiration for me to start a blog!!!!

Self Esteem

I found myself talking today to someone about self esteem. It got me to thinking. I believe most women have issues with this, not a shocking revelation really but what was eye opening to me was that I have self esteem issues.



I never thought that I did. I have always accepted who I am at this moment I am pretty happy, outgoing I like to have a good time and laugh and hangout with good friends.



But in this conversation I had today I said something that I didn’t even realize I felt this way until I said it and since this blog is about honesty I thought I would share it with you.

While I was talking today to this person we were talking about weight and issues and toning your body and being healthy as opposed to being skinny and I said this in response to a statement she made “I know how you feel. My husband is a good looking guy and I don’t like for his friends and co-workers to see me because I am embarrassed of what they will think of me.” “Most of his friends have cute wife’s and I don’t put myself in that category”

WHAT! What the heck just came out of my mouth! But as I reflected on this I realized that I spoke the truth. I am at times embarrassed of my weight and I don’t like to be seen.

Wow, I didn’t like that thought one bit but it’s true. I realize I still have a lot of changing to do. I also realize that I will always have a lot of changing to do. We are living breathing eating (lol) vessles and things will always change for us. Our weight, or financial situations, our family everything in life is a variable and therefore subject to change.

Isn’t that GREAT! That means that we are never stuck doing or being any one thing! We can be so many things! We make the choices that direct the changes in our life’s. We call the shots, make the rules, rule our destiny’s! WE! US!! YOU!! ME!!!! So we don’t have to be stuck doing the same old things that we have always done! We can change and we are changing! I am, you are all of us, so lets make it a change for the better shall we?

Until later!

Valinda

Challange Results!

The results are in!  It was a fantastic!  It was motivating!  It was the best challange I have had in a looooog time!

So who won?!?!?!

Was it Valinda the Bruiser Evans??

Or

Was is Jennifer the Punisher Evans??

Well . . . . . .

IT WAS A TIE!

That's right!  We both lost 8.5 lbs in 30 days and we were both at a 5% loss in total body weight!

How awesome is that!  Jen was super motivated and is so happy with her progress!  I am super duper proud of her!!!

Here she is starting weight 201lbs new weight 192.5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!  Great Job!!!!

Isn't her hair cute!

And here's me!  Starting weight 193.5 new weight 185.00!!!!!!

Now heres a warning, this picture of me is not pretty, or cute like Jen's up there.  I am exposing myself a little more (don't get dirty!) I am doing this for myself as I can see myself better on this blog than in real life.  I have already said I will need surgery to correct a lot of my body issues but I am not ashamed of myself, this is me as I am now.  I carry the scars or carring and bringing into this world two beautiful children and I do not regret a single moment.  So without further adu'

Please don't click for the close up!!  lol

Here is my scale as of 7:00pm this evening.

OMG, I have the same nail polish on my toes that I had on a month ago!!!  For heavens sake!

So as the challange was a tie Jen and I are oing shopping and we are going to buy each other an outfit!  How fun is that!!!  We will even have some family bonding time which is the most important!

So Jen what do you say?  Wanna do it again?

Muahahahahahaahahaha!!!!

Valinda

Tired

I am tired!  I workwd 12 hours today.  I did not work out tonight.  I just didn't have it in me tonight but it's ok.  I will need to make it up but being too tired is not good for you either and since I am doing intense workouts now I just couldn't do it.  But I feel a little dissappointed in myself but sometimes I guess it's just going to be that way.

This is not going to discourage me I am more motivated than that!  Give me some credit!  LOL!  This is going to be a short post as I said I am tired!  Have a good and healthy nite!

Valinda

P90X Review

OMG!  That's all I can say, that was one intense workout.  I hurt all over and I don't want to think about what I will feel like tomorrow!  It was so good though, I mean really, really good!  I can see how this workout pushes your body to the extreme.  I did most of the workout but took breaks during some of the reps which is ok per the program because you need to work your way towards being able to do 30 - 50 reps.  I kept it at a solid 30 for most of them although I will have to admit that there were some that I couldn't even do at all but he said as long as you try that counts so try I did!

What was really cool about this workout was that they showed you different levels of the exercise at the same time.  So there were 3 people on the video, one was like a "begginer" one was "intermediate" and one was "advanced".  This was a good way to show different ways to do the same exercise without hurting yourself and working with your fitness level.

Now being a fluffy person some of the streaches were hard and there was a lot of up and down exercises but I pushed through it and it really wasn't that bad, just do what you can as Tony says (he's the instructor and the developer of this program) today was the core work out tomorrow will be cardio.

The basis of his program is what Tony calls muscle confusion, so what that means is if you do the same workout tape or routine every day your muscles get used to the work out hence they don't work so hard and you lose the benefit of the workout so Tony has developed this 7 day a week program so that your muscles never do the same things.  Hence you never have the chance to get used to the workout, just as you start to become comfortable he changes the routine.

Is this a kick butt workout?  Hell YES!  Is it hard?  Oh god YES!  Will it benefit me?  Only time will tell, it's hard and they are 1 hour workouts so there has to be a real dedication to it in order to get it to work, if your mind and heart aren't into it there will be no benefit as you will not be working as hard as you need to see the results you want.

I think this will really help me tone up and it has a lot of promise for me, even though I am fluffy I used to be a dancer and my muscles take longer to get a workout then someone who has never done a sport or a consistant work out.  I needed something that got my body to a level that I was burning the max amout of calories and I think this might be it, again only time will tell.

Remember please to ALWAYS check with your Dr. before changing your workout routine or diet,  as I have mentioned before this is so important to your overall health and performance!  Your Dr. is your best guide to a better you!  Don't try to go from 0 - 100 in a week you will fail and feel miserable and possibly hurt yourself in the process.

Slow and steady wins the race!  Remember we didn't get heavy in a day or a week so why do we think we should lose it that fast!?!?!?!?!  You can't don't set yourself up to fail, set yourself up to be a success!  I know you can!!  I know I can!!  And together we can do it!!


Valinda

P90x

I am going to start this workout routine tomorrow.  I am not sure if I am ready for it to be honest, this is an intense workout that requires 7 days a week.  The work outs are about an hour long and they are intense.  I am excited about starting this I have been feeling like I need more in my workouts because even though I am losing weight I am not really toning anything up so if you are fluffy like me you know that saggy skin can be a big problem.  Add to that the fact that I have had two c-sections and well you can let your imagination fill in the rest :0).

I know that somewhere down the road  I will need to have surgery to tuck and lift everything and put it back where it belongs but I want to have all the weight off before I even think about that. 

Working out has always been the catch 22 for me, I like to work out but like everyone I start out great but then as time progresses I lose my motivation.  That was one of the reasons that I started this blog, so that I would be held accountible to myself.  I need all of the help I can get!  I know enough about myself to know that I can do this but also know that I can't do it alone!  No one can I don't think, now that is just my opinion but I always do better when I have someone to talk to about my progress.  o get high fived and woo hooed when I lose a pound, that is important to me.

Well I am off to make dinner I'll post more in a bit ;)

Valinda

Dreamfields Pasta

So I had this post all written in my head, I was going to say wonderful things about this pasta in fact I told my sister in law Jen about it just yesterday.

Then I went online to see if I could find some statictics on it an was surprised to find a lot of discussion boards speaking about this product and it's claims.

May I introduce you to Dreamfields pasta:

I have been using this pasta for a couple of months because per the claims on the box, even though this product has the same amount of carbs as regular pasta only 5 grams of it is digestable.  What this means is that if you are carb counting 1 serving of this pasta is only 1/3 of a carb choice unlike regular pasta whinch is the same serving size but counts as 3 carb choices.  It is really good pasta!

Now when I read the claims against this product it was mostly from diabetics who must closely monitor their carbohydrate intake.  If this products claims are true then a diabetic could have pasta again, usually something reserved for a treat or a cheat.

As I am essentially living on a "diabetic" diet I thought that raving on and on about this product would be irresponsible.  If you google Dreanfields pasta you will find a lot of debate on the validity of the products claims.  Some diabetics rave about it while others are skeptical or have had a bad experiance. 

Now the human body is not something that anyone fully understands and our body's react differently so I could see how some love it and some don't.

Now that I have laid that out there I want to give my opinion on this pasta.

1. It has a great taste
2. I have had no weight gain since switching to this product, even though I am eating "3" portions of this product.
3. I can feel the sugar changes in my body and this pasta does not trigger that for me at all even though regular pasta will cause me to crash or be really hungry shortly after I eat finish dinner.

I like this product and will continue to use it, but it is my intention here to give you information good and bad and I want you all to make informed choices for yourselfs and your lifestyles.

Here are some pictures of the box:

I'm sorry some of these are blurry but if you click them they will enlarge and you should be able to read them.  There are the claims on the box, so far no one has challanged the claims in court or to the FDA but I will be keeping a close eye on this subject and will let you know when new information is available good or bad.

Next, I went to Fresh and easy today and picked up pasta sauce to go with my pasta.  Fresh and Easy's brand of sauce is all natural and has the lowest carb count per serving of any sauce I have seen out there.  Some of the big chain brands have 15g or more per serving.

I also buy this pancake mix, it is whole wheat remember no more bleached flours, white is bad!

This is the cereal I eat, I'll be honest it did take some getting used to it is a little bland but now I crave it! And it has tons of fiber!  Fiber is good!

This is the coffee I buy there and I love it!

I eat lots of these!  1 serving of raw nuts a day can reduce health risks by 10%!

And lastly this was my total.  I think I did very good for what I got.  Fresh and Easy is affordable.

I hope this post was helpful, I want to make a place where you can come and get all the information you need to be healthy in one place.  I know how hard it is to stay on track especially if you have to keep reasearching this and that.

Have a good nite every, stay strong!  Stay healthy!

Valinda

Sitting Indian Style ( I know not politically correct sorry!)

So, when I was in kindergarden we used to sit indian style in a circle and play all sorts of games, it was so fun and I never once thought anything about it.

When I was in ballet we would also sit indian style and do our streches and chit chat about whatever little girls talk about.

When I was in High School I would sit indian style and talk to my friends at lunch, eat and do homework.

When I turned 30, I realized I could no longer sit indian style.  If I could manage to contort my body into the correct position or something close to it it couldn't hold it for long before my butt and feet would start to get numb then it was a struggle to get myself out of the position and up, no small task.

Siting the that position never crossed my mind until the day I couldn't do it, I was depressed.

But was it enough to get me to change my ways?  Nope.  I wasn't THAT heavy, no way I must just be getting old.

It was around this time that I also noticed that I couldn't cross my legs at the knees any more my thighs just would not allow it, the ankle cross was the best I could do.

This from someone who danced Pointe Ballet, and could hold a split position for hours, more depression.

SO what did I do to feel better?  I ate!  and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate well you get the picture.

So that was that, the weight was here and it was happy where it was too!  I fed it everything it wanted!  Ice Cream? Sure!  Pasta?  My favorite!

So my fat was happy and I fed it to make myself think I was happy and we were all happy!  Just me and my fat!

Until I wasn't anymore, until it got hard to get in and out of booths at resturants, or I got winded climing one flight of stairs, till the day my kids asked me to play with them outside and I only lasted 5 minutes.

Then I was not happy, I was mad!  Mad at my fat and mad at myself and what was the first thing that I wanted to do?   You got it EAT!

But this day I didn't I took a walk instead and I replayed my doctors words in my head " you don't have to have diabetes, to can reverse this but you need to lose weight you are too heavy" I listened to those words and found strength in them.

I can beat this!  I don't have to have diabetes!

I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT!

The rest lead me to this place, as of today I am 52lbs lighter than when the dr. spoke to me less than a year ago.  I have not popped any pills, or starved myself or done any fad diet.  It is my hard work and dedication that keep me going the thought of leaving my kids because I have may have a  heart attack is what motivates me.

I am stronger, and I am weak and I am human but above all I am determined to beat my fat!!!!!!!!!!

By the way I have written this whole post in the following position:

It's not pretty but its a start!

Love to you all!

Valinda

10 Great Exercise Tips!

Here are some great tips I found!  These work no matter what your exercise level is.  Start easy and work your way up.  You will soon notice that you don't get as winded as fast, that you have a better attitude that your skin looks better!  All of these improvements are the effect of exercise, it does so much more than just help you stay fit and healthy.  Our bodies where meant to move so when we don't move them we start to degenerate lol!!!  Think hanging skin, pimples, greasy or too dry hair.  We look healthier when we are moving I call it the exercise glow!  It's so important to not only watch what you eat but to also get up and get moving!

1. Be Consistent

Chase Squires is the first to admit that he's no fitness expert. But he is a guy who used to weigh 205 pounds, more than was healthy for his 5'4" frame. "In my vacation pictures in 2002, I looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man at the beach," says the 42-year-old Colorado resident. Squires decided enough was enough, cut out fatty food, and started walking on a treadmill. The pounds came off and soon he was running marathons -- not fast, but in the race. He ran his first 50-mile race in October 2003, and completed his first 100-miler a year later. Since then, he's completed several 100-mile, 50-mile, and 50k races.

His secret? "I'm not fast, but I'm consistent," says Squires, who says consistency is his best tip for maintaining a successful fitness regimen.

"It all started with 20 minutes on a treadmill," he says. "The difference between my success and others who have struggled is that I did it every single day. No exercise program in the world works if you don't do it consistently."


2. Follow an Effective Exercise Routine

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently surveyed 1,000 ACE-certified personal trainers about the best techniques to get fit. Their top three suggestions

Strength training. Even 20 minutes a day twice a week will help tone the entire body.

Interval training. "In its most basic form, interval training might involve walking for two minutes, running for two, and alternating this pattern throughout the duration of a workout," says Cedric Bryant, PhD, FACSM, chief science officer for ACE. "It is an extremely time-efficient and productive way to exercise."

Increased cardio/aerobic exercise. Bryant suggests accumulating 60 minutes or more a day of low- to moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, running, or dancing.

3. Set Realistic Goals

"Don't strive for perfection or an improbable goal that can't be met," says Kara Thompson, spokesperson for the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). "Focus instead on increasing healthy behaviors."

In other words, don't worry if you can't run a 5K just yet. Make it a habit to walk 15 minutes a day, and add time, distance, and intensity from there.


4. Use the Buddy System

Find a friend or relative whom you like and trust who also wants to establish a healthier lifestyle, suggests Thompson. "Encourage one another. Exercise together. Use this as an opportunity to enjoy one another's company and to strengthen the relationship."

5. Make Your Plan Fit Your Life


Too busy to get to the gym? Tennis star Martina Navratilova, health and fitness ambassador for the AARP, knows a thing or two about being busy and staying fit.



Make your plan fit your life, she advises in an article on the AARP web site. "You don't need fancy exercise gear and gyms to get fit."


If you've got floor space, try simple floor exercises to target areas such as the hips and buttocks, legs and thighs, and chest and arms (like push-ups, squats, and lunges). Aim for 10-12 repetitions of each exercise, adding more reps and intensity as you build strength.


6. Be Happy

Be sure to pick an activity you actually enjoy doing, suggests Los Angeles celebrity trainer Sebastien Lagree.

"If you hate weights, don't go to the gym. You can lose weight and get in shape with any type of training or activity," he says.

And choose something that is convenient. Rock climbing may be a great workout, but if you live in a city, it's not something you'll be doing every day.


7. Watch the Clock

Your body clock, that is. Try to work out at the time you have the most energy, suggests Jason Theodosakis, MD, assistant professor and exercise physiologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. If you're a morning person, schedule your fitness activities early in the day; if you perk up as the day goes along, plan your activities in the afternoon or evening.


"Working out while you have the most energy will yield the best results," says Theodosakis.

8. Call In the Pros

Especially if you're first getting started, Theodosakis suggests having a professional assessment to determine what types of exercise you need most.


"For some people, attention to flexibility, or balance and agility, may be more important than resistance training or aerobics," he says. "By getting a professional assessment, you can determine your weakest links and focus on them. This will improve your overall fitness balance."

9. Get Inspired

"Fitness is a state of mind," says fitness professional and life coach Allan Fine of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. One of Fine's tricks to get and stay motivated is to read blogs or web sites that show him how others have been successful. "Who inspires you?" he asks.


10. Be Patient

Finally, remember that even if you follow all these tips, there will be ups and downs, setbacks and victories, advises Navratilova. Just be patient, and don't give up, she says on the AARP web site: "Hang in there, and you'll see solid results

These tips work for everyone!  They really do!!  Take them to heart and start dancing!
 
Valinda

Some cool articles I found

Although national guidelines recommend three daily servings of whole grains to prevent type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and excess weight gain, survey data shows that few adolescents and young adults follow them.
Researchers found that young people consume less than one serving of whole gains per day, based on the results from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), involving 1,686 young adults and 792 adolescents. The survey estimated daily whole-grain servings according to the reported frequency of consuming one slice of dark bread; kasha, couscous, or bulgur; one small bag of popcorn; one bowl of hot breakfast cereal; and one bag of cold breakfast cereal.
Home availability of whole grains was the only socio-environmental factor involved in increased consumption. Personal factors included a preference for the taste of whole-grain breads, as well as confidence that one could change or maintain eating patterns.
The researchers report their findings in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Create Your Plate

•Create Your Plate is a fast and easy way to choose and eat the foods you want.


•First focus on your portion sizes. Then make healthier food choices.

•6 simple steps to get started.

•Apply a similar method at breakfast.



Often, when people are diagnosed with diabetes, they don't know where to begin. One way is to change the amount of food you are already eating. Focus on filling your plate with non-starchy vegetables and having smaller portions of starchy foods and meats. Creating your plate is an easy way to get started with managing blood glucose levels.



You don't need any special tools or have to do any counting. It's simple and effective—draw an imaginary line on your plate, select your foods, and enjoy your meal! You may have heard of this as the "Plate Method." Once you’ve changed your portion sizes, you can work on making healthier food choices from each food group.



Six Easy Steps to Create Your Plate

It's simple and effective for both managing diabetes and losing weight. Creating your plate let's you still choose the foods you want, but changes the portion sizes so you are getting larger portions of non-starchy vegetables and a smaller portion of starchy foods. When you are ready, you can try new foods within each food category.

Try these 6 simple steps to get started:


1.Using your dinner plate, put a line down the middle of the plate.

2.Then on one side, cut it again so you will have 3 sections on your plate.

3.Fill the largest section with non-starchy vegetables such as:

a.spinach, carrots, lettuce, greens, cabbage, bok choy

b.green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes,

c.vegetable juice, salsa, onion, cucumber, beets, okra,

d.mushrooms, peppers, turnip

4.Now in one of the small sections, put starchy foods such as:

a.whole grain breads, such as whole wheat or rye

b.whole grain, high-fiber cereal

c.cooked cereal such as oatmeal, grits, hominy, or cream of wheat

d.rice, pasta, dal, tortillas

e.cooked beans and peas, such as pinto beans or black-eyed peas

f.potatoes, green peas, corn, lima beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash

g.low-fat crackers and snack chips, pretzels, and fat-free popcorn

5.And then on the other small section, put your meat or meat substitutes such as:

a.chicken or turkey without the skin

b.fish such as tuna, salmon, cod, or catfish

c.other seafood such as shrimp, clams, oysters, crab, or mussels

d.lean cuts of beef and pork such as sirloin or pork loin

e.tofu, eggs, low-fat cheese



6.Add an 8 oz glass of non-fat or low-fat milk. If you don’t drink milk, you can add another small serving of carb such as a 6 oz. container of light yogurt or a small roll.

a.And a piece of fruit or a 1/2 cup fruit salad and you have your meal planned. Examples are fresh, frozen, or canned in juice or frozen in light syrup or fresh fruit.

Breakfast

Your plate will look different at breakfast but the idea is the same. If you use a plate or bowl for breakfast, keep your portions small. Use half your plate for starchy foods. You can ad fruit in the small part and a meat or meat substitute in the other.

Updated Pics

Hi there!

It's been awhile since I posted updated pics so here they are!

This is me tonight, hoovering at the 187-188 lb mark, I haven't lost in 2 weeks.  I am frustrated but dealing ;):

And of course the side view

I do see a difference do you??  Not much but if you check out this post you may see one too!

I am back on the wagon as of today after 3 weeks of failing miserably.  But that's what it's all about right, falling and getting back up!  In fact that's pretty good exercise!

A new look!

I am experimenting with a new blog look what do you think?  I am a girlie girl at heart!  My family and I went up to Munds Park, AZ to play in the snow this weekend so needless to say this was not a good weekend either but the exercise of sleding and walking up and down the hills was at least good exercise!

I had a really good time with my family so it was all worth having to work a little bit harder this week!

What did you all do this weekend?

I think my sister in law Jen is in the lead for winning the challange and I am so proud of her!  It will be an honor to buy her a new outfit!

I came home sick however so it'll be a short post tonight but lets explore some healthy stuff!

Weight Control Tips:
Avoid fad diets.  Eat 3 sensible meals daily with adequate fruits and vegetables

Limit portion size.  Limit fats and hight-fat foods, sugar, soda and alcohol

Exercise Daily:

Get active and exercise everyday

Include muscle strenghening exercises, you'll lose more fat and keeps it off, you'll also look and feel better!

Reshape eating behaviors:

Be aware of eating habits and behaviors that lead to over eating.

Also focus on social and emotional situations that lead you to snack compulsively.

Well I had to take so NyQuil so I am floating onto never never land!

Have a good nite!

Valinda