How am I doing??

To keep with the open and honest theme of 2017...not great, not bad, but not great. I need to set the stage to make any of this make sense...okay, here it is. In 2016 my fitness level looked liked this:

 For this same time period 2017:

Looks great right?? In theory it is. To be honest, I am ecstatic with the increased level and all, but I got hit with a major reality check when I stepped on the scale and did my measurements....both have gone up!!! But how??? I will tell you how....I did not watch my eating...I mean I tracked it all for the most part, but what good is tracking it if you don't watch what you are eating...

I do know the gain could have been horrible if I had not had this level of activity, so what is next??? I will tell you, I start eating better.

My plan for the next 21 days is to use my containers, the portion control, the shake mixes and blender bottle and ninja bullet...all of the fun toys my husband has bought me trying to be supportive.

                                                                                                                    This month was eye opening...I mean I have walked almost 200 miles and almost 100 of those were active miles meaning I had an elevated heart rate enough for my fitbit to say hey this is not just everyday walking. How can I count that as falling down, easy nothing changed for the better on the scale or the tape measure. Yes, my clothes are fitting a bit better and there is an increased energy, but not enough to say this is not a set back.

 So, today I tracked and while yes I wanted two pieces of toast and I wanted both sausage patties and cheese in my eggs...I did something different. I had only one piece of toast, only one sausage patty, and no cheese...I did add juice for a serving of fruit and I also added cottage cheese for more protein. It was a decent brunch. I also want to use my fancy LibbiendCo no soda stickers so I am pushing to see if I can quite soda, again. As I was looking for images for today's blog, I stumbled on this.....

 In all seriousness...I gave up mountain dew and reese cups almost TWO years ago!!! I can do this! I set out to graduate with no less than a 3.5 GPA, I currently hold a 3.83. I had quite smoking for awhile and am working on quitting again...a major loss can make you pick back up a few habits here and there. My biggest must change right now, I need to get back to my morning time. My journaling and my quite time. I let a lot slip with the move and as I am now just over 30 days since our move in date....it is time to put me back on the front burner.

I am picking my hard...losing weight. I know I know I have said this before and I always start out the year on this high...well I seen somewhere that 2015 was a practice year, 2016 was a warm up (considering I did lose 26 pounds, I would say it was), and 2017 is game time....and that it is. I am running out of next years if I want to be a healthy weight and in state of maintaining by my 40th birthday.

This time, I refuse to quite, to alter the plan, to make it easier for me to succeed. I want the weight off...I am going to have to find a plan and stick to it. Let me be clear, there is a way to modify for your health and a way to modify to make it easier. The easier way is what I will not modify for. In fact there is one area of my life that I refuse to alter, my coffee. So that will be the only gray area. If I want ice cream...I better have frozen yogurt or halo top (which btw, THAT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!) If I want a soda, better find a fizzy water. If I want a late night snack, I need to refill my water glass!!! I want this too much to throw in the towel!

So staring today...day 1 of 21, no soda and no late night eating...just for today. Tomorrow we will try it again. It is time for this spoiled Momma to go back to the basics, get back to what was working in the beginning of 2015 when I started this journey and it was UNCOMFORTABLE...time to get to the place again.

 Time for me to fully embrace this transition year and live the life I want...working, raising a daughter, finishing school, and being in the best shape of my adult life!!! Till next time readers! Till next time!