2013 Goals

This year I turn 40...Wow!  Where has my life gone?  I remember thinking 40 was old!!  Now I think 80 is old.  40 is just a number though, right?  I'm really not sad about turning 40.  I'm just disappointed in myself because I had so many goals for myself to do before I turned 40.

My birthday is in 35 weeks and I promised myself that by the time I turn 40 that I would be more healthy.  Have I told you that I'm a procrastinator?  As I said before I have so many goals and now I only have 35 weeks to complete them!  The most important goal has to do with my weight.  I want to be more healthy and I know to do that I need to lose at least 50 pounds.  I don't want to have drastic weight loss surgery or take pills to decrease my appetite.  I want to do this the right way.

I've set a goal.  35 weeks, 50 pounds, That's about 1.5 pounds a week, right?  I made this decision last Wednesday.  I am going to eat more healthy and exercise as much as possible.  I'm not a freak about exercising.  I actually have to make myself do it.  It's just so much easier to sit on the couch and watch reruns of NCIS!  However, I've done it.  I've went to the gym 3 times and then went to a Zumba class last Thursday night.  Yes, I participated!  It was a lot of fun.  I didn't make a complete fool of myself either.  I plan on going every Thursday night and I'm making my daughter go with me.

I got on the scales this morning and closed my eyes!  I almost didn't want to read the number.  I was so afraid I would have gained weight or something crazy!  That's just my luck.  Try to lose weight and start gaining instead, but no the number was lower!  I am very proud to say that this week I've lost 2.6 pounds!!

You don't know how excited this makes me.  I also feel better.  I don't feel like taking a nap every day.  Now it's just every other day. hahaha  I am also able to sleep better at night, and all jokes aside I really do feel better during the day.  I am still having a problem with my shoulder/back area but I hope the more I exercise that it will go away.  It's like a pinched nerve or something.  It just hurts all the time.  I really think it's the way I lay at night.  The good thing is when I do exercise it seems to pull the kink out a little.  Like I said hopefully the more I exercise it will eventually just go away!

My word for the year is PERSEVERANCE!  I will be using this word a lot in my blog during 2013.  For today I'm persevering to be a healthier me!

~Blessings
Krista

Coffee

The 1st step in overcoming an addiction is admitting that you are an addict, right?  I think that's what the AA program says.  Anyways, to get to the point I am addicted to coffee!  I drink a minimum of 2 cups a day but most of the time more than that.  A few years ago I went to a nutritionist who helped me with my diet because of my toxin levels at that point I was drinking a pot of coffee a day!  I completely weaned myself from all coffee, caffeine, and food from a can.  Within 6 months I was eating all natural foods; fresh or frozen vegetables, fresh meats, etc.  Basically good for you foods.

I have slowly added coffee back into my diet.  I didn't think I was addicted like I was before because I'm certainly not up to my pot a day intake.  However this week I started a challenge with some friends of mine.  We are eating healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.  Of course, we are only drinking water!  We have milk in our smoothies but basically water. I thought my biggest hurdle was going to be the food.  Our caloric intake per day is between 1300 & 1500 calories and we have to exercise for 30 minutes a day, but not so!

Today is only the second day and I am dying with a headache!  It's not the food I'm having a problem with.  As a matter of fact, I am full!  Can you believe it?  No, I am having coffee withdrawals.  My Keurig is sitting on my counter taunting me!  It's saying "You can have just one cup." "One cup surely won't hurt you." "Come on just do it."  I don't even drink sugar or cream in my coffee so what would it hurt?

My head is pounding and you may say no it's the food but I know what a caffeine withdrawal headache feels like.  It's definitely a headache derived from having no coffee for 2 days.  My last cup was on Sunday afternoon!  My wonderful or should I say normally wonderful husband is running away from me in fear that I might bite his head off.  I realize that anything that has you so addicted that you get a headache or are hateful when you do without it is not good for you!

So, I need your prayers.  I don't want anything to have that much of a hold over my life.  You may say, 'Geez, Krista it's just coffee. Get over it.;'  But really, I don't believe anything should have that much control over my life.  This diet thing we are doing is only for 10 days, but I am going to attempt to cut my coffee back to only casually drinking.  Not a daily I have to have it kind of thing forever.

There are so many good things can come out of this.  1st and foremost that coffee won't have control of me. 2nd - it will surely save us tons of money.  Those Keurig cups are so expensive!  3rd I will be more healthy.  So, as your drinking your cup of coffee remember me sitting here with shaking hands, and a roaring headache and say a little prayer for me!

~Blessings
Krista

Reflections, Dieting, and Work

As I am sitting here on a break at work, eating my Activia Prune Yogurt, I am thinking about how much I miss being at home. My kids went back to school yesterday, they were out for over 2 weeks for the Holidays, and they were so excited to tell me about all their new classes. However, where was I? I was at work until 5:30. When I did finally arrive home at 6:15, traffic was horrible and it took me 45 minutes to go 15 miles, I had to turn around and leave again for a church business meeting that started at 7. I miss being with my kids, I miss having supper ready at 7. You may say, Why can't you have supper ready by 7 if you get home around 6? Well, maybe I will be able to once I figure out how to prioritize! Yes, I don't do well with schedule changes. It seems like just when I get used to a schedule in my life...it changes!

On a brighter note! I love my paycheck... Our bills are being paid with ease, and when my kids told me all the "class dues" that they have for the new classes, I didn't feel my heart quiver, and my stomach didn't start hurting! In this economy with many people without jobs, God has been good to me! I know I'll get used to this schedule, and I will be able to prioritize things so that the time I am at home will be smoother.

Another reason my menu plan is so hard is that Charlie & I started a diet on Monday. We both need to lose weight and eat more healthy. For 6 months we have eaten very unhealthy. I love to cook, and I have made all kinds of things since I wasn't working. Fried okra, fried chicken, french fries, fried green tomatoes, Do you get the picture? In the fall of 2006 I joined LA Weight Loss. I didn't use their bars, shakes, etc. I wanted to learn how to eat healthy with things I could buy at the grocery store, and a plan that I could work with for the rest of my life. On LAWL they teach you that you should eat proteins, vegetables, fruits, dairy, starches, & fats everyday just in the right portions. Portion control is my biggest weakness when it comes to food. Today I might not eat any vegetables, and then tomorrow I might only eat vegetables. Charlie is the same way because I cook for the entire family. In a nutshell, I am making my entire family unhealthy. The difference this time is that Charlie & I are both committed to this! We are going to the store together. We are planning our meals together. So far it is fun! Charlie hates being told what he can & can't eat so it is a little harder I think for him, but maybe he is just acting that way so it will be easier for me. You never know with Charlie. He is a character... The first two days your food is very limited. You eat only green vegetables & baked chicken, you drink lots & lots of water, and you drink this special blended juice. This is to flush out your system, and "jumpstart" your weight loss. This morning being the 3rd day we weighed in... I have lost 5lbs, and Charlie has lost about 10lbs. I don't know his exactly because he wouldn't tell me where he started. He is worse about keeping his weight a secret than I am.

Well, my break is over... I hope to talk to you all again soon.