Jillian's #1 tip!

"Be brave and be patient. Have faith in yourself; trust in the significance of your life and the purpose of your passion. You are strong enough to sit in the space between spaces and allow divine inspiration to shed some light. When you put positive energy and productive effort into the world it will come back to you. Occasionally in ways you might not immediately understand and on a time frame you didn’t expect. Look. Listen. Learn. Stay open. Your destiny is awaiting you."
— Jillian Michaels (Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life)

How could I NEVER do this before?!? I have never watched my calories. *gulp* When I started to eliminate inflammation foods from my diet, and tried to find the right path for my health, calories were SO HARD for me to come about, because I was cutting everything out that I knew under the sun, so it really wasn't a concern. I was rapidly getting health and dropping weight, so I never thought of it. I was feeling better and that's what mattered... I never really even looked at the calorie content, because i got settled with where I was at. I was searching yesterday for some Jillian tips on weight loss and control over your weight, and saw her # 1 is CALORIE COUNTING!!!! *GASP*. So I thought I would track my foods for the day and see where I was. I determine through some research that I should be somewhere in the 2,000ish calorie range. Here is what I found:

2 cups of Starbucks Decaf Via using only 1/3 of packets twice: 2/3 packets & sugar-free creamer 100ish

2 Apple Cinnamon Vans Waffles with 1ish TBS of butter each (189 + butter say 250)

2 glasses of water

1 small bowl of Kix & Skim milk

½ cupish cottage cheese (90 calories)

1 small Gatorade (80 calories)

GF bagel with Turkey, Mayo, 2 slices of Jack Cheese & lettuce with Smart Puffs

      (Turkey slices = 45 calories, cheese 110ish, bagel 310 calories, and Smart Puffs 75ish) =’s 540 calories

Handful of Mini Crispy Rice Snack (Kettle Corn) 60

1 banana (105) and scoop of cottage cheese (90)(LOWFAT)

2 Glutino crackers 120 calories

Fish dinner with brown rice & green beans (guessing here) 400ish

2 Hornsbee Hard Ciders (320)

100 (decaf)

250 (Faffles)

0 Water

110 (kix) + 80 (milk)

90 (Cottage Cheese)

80 (Gatorade)

540 (Sammie & Fessy puffs)

60 (rice snacks)

90 (COTTAGE CHEESE) +  105 (Banana)

120 (crackers)

400 (ish) Fish dinner

320 (drinks)

2,255 calories!!!

OMFG! How could I not even know this?!? While the amount of calories isn't the largest concern, I was losing track of what I was eating. I should be making smarter choices with what I eat. With Gluten-Free food, you have to read the labels so it seems. Sometimes because it is GF, makers tend to add things like sugar & flavorings, and the calories can be between 180-300 for each serving. I need to make sure I am not eating Faffles every day, and instead eating oatmeal and a banana. I need to make smart choices. I am going to track my food for the next week (per Jillian's advice) and see where I land. Even making a smart choice in the each meal, can add to shaving off a few extra pounds and getting rid of the bloat!!! And so I take advice from one of the best workout gurus I now and respect!!

Also today is weigh in day at the gym Curious where I land. Also Pilate's day. I am mildly ready for an ass kicking since Miss P just got back from a boot camp!!! We shall see!

I remember that day I realized I was fat...

"Sometimes people will hear you and be able to change their behavior, but often their behavior has more to do with their own need for approval than with your need for support. No matter what their response, you need to be firm and hold your ground. At the end of the day, your health is your responsibility."  -Jillian Michaels-

As I am watching Biggest Loser Couples on Hula tv right now (Love my some Jillian, as she is my workout girl & I need some background noise. I feel like with working 12+ hours, I have heard all the music.. No joke. I am sick of music), its invokes tears on my face and reminding me of how hard you have to work to fight the weight loss. It's also an important reminder of how much family is an influence on our every days life and when we are children, our parents need to instill exercise and healthy eating in us. It's their responsibility as a parent. But that's a whole different subject. Back to the day I realized I was fat.

I was wearing khakis in a size 14, probably needing a size 16, but I refused to shop at the "big girl" store and I wouldn't acknowledge my weight gain. I didn't see myself as heavy, but the scale and the size didn't lie. I am sorry, but a size 16 is not healthy. I don't care what America says, it is not heavy nor desirable to be heavy. I mean, what is it now, like 60% of our society is obese. Come on.. But not here to preach that. I remember being in the gym, I had just "worked out" at the gym, but I wouldn't call it working out. I think I casually read a book and walked maybe at a speed of 3.0,maybe. I steppe don the scale and it read 180. WHAT?!!? How did I go from an active and healthy 20 something year old girl in California to gaining 50 lbs?!? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!? I didn't want to accept it. Even when my boyfriend (now husband) tried to break up with me because I was fat, I didn't get it. When my friends would hang out with me and make comments, it didn't matter because I didn't see it. Now Ilook back at the photos of myself from than,  my family, friends and hubbie all can't believe what a difference it has been. Now this wasn't easy by any means. I still have days when I am out at a bar, and my friends are mowing on tots and chicken wings and to be quite honest I get incredibly jealous sometimes. Incredibly. I say WHY ME?!? Why do I have to watch my weight? Why do I have to work so hard?!? Point is who fucking cares. All wasn't there when god made my body, all I can do is control it. Point is, it's under our control.

Anyways, I remember having tears strolling down my face, and thinking "OMFG I AM FAT!!!". My once petite and small size 4 had turned into whole nother person. I was unhappy, I was miserable and quite frankly my life was spinning out of control. I remember telling myself to ALWAYS hold onto this feeling, because it will always remind me of why I work so hard. Flash forward 4 years, and 52lbs (pre busy season ;) working on that...) and people look at me now and can't believe I use to weight all most 180. They don't believe me. I assure them, that this is something I wont lie about. I have completely changed m life around, found activities I love to do and enjoy them dearly. Sure watching what I eat is tough, but I am healthier than I have ever been and happier than I have ever been and at 31 years old when college students tell me "You have the hottest 31 year old body I have ever seen!" it gives me that little boost I need, and a reminder of when you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside. Here's to a happier and healthier me :-)