Weight Loss Tips for Success

     Here are some tips I came up with for my first two weeks of pre contest dieting. I eat clean year round so I do not have a ton of weight to drop but this will work for anyone with any goal in mind when it comes to losing weight. Some may seem obsessive or silly but if you want to succeed at anything in life you have to make it a top priority or you will fall flat on your face. Remember to keep your head up high and be proud of your accomplishments and learn from your mistakes. This short time in the beginning is all about refocusing yourself and taking it slow.

     Some of these points may seem a bit silly or "beginner" but I  like to incorporate them and take it slow in the beginning of every diet simply to ease myself back on the wagon and take it slow. My goal after completing these first two weeks will be to break bad habits and gain healthy ones to carry on through my diet journey. I am not a registered dietician so do not take everything I say as the holy grail. Ultimately, you know what works for your body and what does not. If you are not completely sure of something then go see a doctor. Make sure all is well and you have the "go ahead" to begin a diet and workout regimen. I am open to suggestions if you have any to give and would really appreciate constructive criticism if you ever see an opportunity to give some. Also, ask questions! I like to be challenged and research new topics.

     I will be taking my first progress picture tomorrow and posting it along with more details about my plan. I have been on my pre-contest diet now for 7 days and so far it has been pretty simple and easy to follow. I feel great and "cleaner" inside. My energy levels are starting to increase and I am able to sleep better. I like to make it as easy and uncomplicated as possible so I am more likely to stick with it and succeed.

     Here are some general tips I follow:

·         The focus of these first two weeks will be to “detox” your body. It is going to be hard because you will be craving everything under the sun. Your body will be confused, shocked, and really annoyed with you but keep going and remind yourself “this too shall pass”. Nothing amazing comes easy and you will feel amazing after the next 14 days. Your cravings will be significantly reduced and your energy levels will increase. ONLY if you stick with it though.

·          Take this day by day and keep your goal in mind no matter what. If you get off track…..forget about it and move on.  Do not let anything stop you from reaching your goal. Do not make any excuses for yourself. Find the time and the energy and stick with this. It will pay off.

·         Some people think it is obsessive to weigh yourself every day but I think it is a great way to keep yourself on track and remind yourself of your goal. As long as you realize you will not drop 5 pounds over night, I recommend you weigh yourself every morning and write it down in your journal. This way, you can also see what type of foods and workouts affect your body in a negative or positive way. If you just started to lift weights, give yourself about 5 pounds to fluctuate due to the excess water you may carry due to muscle inflammation.

·         Write down your goal, take a picture of yourself weekly. Again, the purpose of this is to remind yourself of your goal and then you will later look back and view your progress to keep you on track.

·         Get an accountability partner to weigh yourself in front of every week. It may seem weird or unnecessary, but knowing you will have to do this in front of someone who also cares about your progress will make you think twice before drinking a beer or munching on those crackers. I use my husband for this and it really keeps me in check during the week.

·         Eat every 2.5-3 hours. Pack a cooler if you will be out of the house for any extended time and make your food easily accessible so you will be less likely to munch on whatever is there.

·         Take 10 minutes every day or every night to plan out exactly what you are going to eat each day. This is the only way I have been able to stick with a diet. Some people call it obsessive but if you want to change something bad enough…..being obsessed with changing is the only way to break old habits.

·         Stay away from alcohol, sweets, and simple carbs…….eating these will spike up your blood sugar and cause you to crave more. Your body does not know what to do with these sugars, so it will store everything and still want more because it needs to be nourished. Ever eat and never get full? This could be why.

·         Drink a glass of water every hour. People get hunger pangs often because they are dehydrated.

 

·         If you drink a glass of water and are still hungry….eat some veggies to hold you over until your next meal.

·         Keep your goal in mind and go for it with everything you have!

Shopping list to help you get started.

This gelatin is awesome! Only 5 calories and much cheaper than the main brand. It is usually 2/$5 at Publix and can be found where the Jello is. I do not know the name of the brand but it comes in a "pallet" like package of either 12 or 24. Love it!!

Mile Markers and Finish Lines

I ran my first half marathon yesterday. I finished tenth out of the 15 in my age group. I'll be honest.....I didn't really train for it. The farthest I ran before the race was 8 miles and that was almost a month ago. I just lost all motivation right before the race....not sure why. Crossing that finish line though made it all come back to me. Why am I here? Why am I healthy? Why do I strive to do better and better every day? I do it for myself and my family.

I did it for my father. It was his 53rd birthday and all he wanted was for his four children to be by his side every step of the way. We were.....he beat all of our asses too. The look on my dad's face when he passed me was priceless. I will forever cherish that memory. He is the best dad a girl could ever ask for.

It was for my wonderful husband who was waiting for me at the finish line arms open wide with pride in his eyes. Those baby blues gave me another wind that could have pushed me to run an entire marathon. I swear I get the craziest ideas in my head sometimes and he supports me every step of the way. We have come so far since I met him years ago. I love him so much and would do anything for him. He is my world.

Lastly, it was for myself.....when I passed mile marker 10 I felt like giving up. I had not planned on finishing this race. I really only entered it for my dad because it was his birthday wish. When that thought crept in my head, I pushed it away and kept on going. One step at a time....breathe in, breathe out.....keep on going. When I passed 12 I had to take a second look to make sure it was really happening! I had so much emotion take over me at that moment I almost started crying......instead, I pushed harder and let a tear or two out. They were victory tears :)

I learned so much from this day. I think we all will or have reached a point in our lives where we feel like we cannot keep going. We may feel like giving up, giving in......or just collapsing and letting the world around us take control. We all have that moment in life where we have to make a decision that will impact us greatly for better or for worse.  When you get to that "mile" in life you never thought you would hit, you can push harder and make it through or stop and cut yourself short. I plan on pushing myself even harder to see what God has in store for me. I plan on running this race we call life with the people who matter most. When I reach that finish line, I know it will be worth it.

I WON!

Dear world,
I got 1st place at the NPC Mid Florida championships for the bikini division. I am HOOKED at this sport. It was so rewarding to see all my hard work and dedication pay off. I really did not expect to win so when I did it was a pleasant surprise and I'll admit......I did tear up a little like a little baby :)
Muscles and my parents were there to see me get my trophy and I got to take pictures after pictures with the other competitors who placed first in their division. I did a video interview...whoohooo! Also, I met so many nice people that are likeminded and have the same work ethic and passion for fitness. Oddly enough, it's not all about looks like you think it would be at a fitness show....it's about the journey and all the hard work it took to get you there. Hearing everyone's stories of what they struggled with, mood swings, hours and hours pounding away at their muscles and nights craving anything but a protien shake made me feel like I was not so alone. I never knew what possessed people to put themselves through such a seemingly torturous route in life but now I know why....it gives you a purpose and a meaning. Having something to work hard for is essential in life. This is simply the goal they chose.
I had some cheesecake last night along with birthday cake and a sandwich.....I am still full! It was sooooooooooo good though. I never knew cheesecake and a sandwich could taste so amazing. hahaaha Back to the diet again today. My next show is in three weeks so not too much longer to go.It is in South Florida and if I do well I get to go to a National show and compete for a pro card. Basically, a pro card means you can make money, get sponsors and I won't have to pay money out of pocket to compete. Also, I will have someone other than myself to be accountable to which would be nice. Even if I don't do well I am going to keep at this sport it is so much fun and keeps me driven in my career and at life in general......it also keeps me in shape and healthy which is a huge plus! I'll post pictures later on when they are available online. Thanks so much to everyone who reads this blog. I really hope you are inspired and can shoot for the stars. Opportunities happen for a reason you should take advantage of every single one that comes your way.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday! Thanks again!
-Dee