Jiggle Weight Loss Challenge

I know I may lose some followers by doing this, but I am not going to participate in the weight loss challenge after all. I think it is a GREAT challenge and I look forward to seeing everyone's progress. However, I just feel like I am not doing this for the right reasons. I lost 3 pounds last week but all I did was stop drinking Diet Coke and drank only water. I did cheat and have about 3 Diet Cokes, but for the most part I drank about 3, 24oz bottles of water a day. So, I really feel like cutting out the DC was a good decision! It really cut out my desire to snack!!

But, back to why I am no longer participating - I do not have much more weight to lose. I am actually at the low end of the healthy range for my height and I feel like by participating and posting my weight would only discourage others. I will even go as far as to say I'm being shallow. I have ridiculous expectations - to weigh what I did before I got pregnant AND for my body to look the same. I am only about 4 lbs away from weighing the same, but my body looks no where near like what it did before I had Madi and it's not going to. I realize that now.

I wish all of you the best of luck and I know all of that sweat and soreness will pay off! I really hope no one looks down on me for this. I'm just being honest. I have some toning up to do but as far as losing weight goes I think I am happy with where I am.

Jiggle Weight Loss Challenge!

Today I'm linking up with Lindsey and Rachel for the first day of their Jiggle Weight Loss Challenge! I'm pretty excited, because I think this is just the motivation I need!!


 
I am not overweight or even at an unhealthy weight, but I am uncomfortable with my weight right now. For the first time ever I was actually looking at tankinis instead of bikinis. Talk about depressing! I had a baby almost 3 years ago; it's time to get back to my old weight!! 
 
My goal - To lose 9lbs by the end of this challenge - 8 weeks from today!
 
My fitness plan - I will be walking the dog every day with my family. I believe our usual walk is about 1.5 miles around the neighborhood. On the weekends we usually do this at least 2 times a day. I also plan to do work out videos and/or Dance Central. (Gotta make it fun sometimes!) I am not going to have a set time I will do these because my schedule is crazy and I won't stick with it if I have to do it at a certain time.
 
My diet plan - I am not a dieter. I will monitor my calorie intake and make sure I am burning what I need to in order to balance out. I am not going to say bye-bye to sweets and junk because hey, it's Easter and that's not reasonable! I am going to try to cook more meals at home and eat lunch at work. This will really cut back on the amount of calories and fat I'm eating a day. Also, I stopped drinking Diet Coke on Sunday and started drinking a lot more water. When I don't feel like water, I drink Crystal Light. I have really noticed my appetite changing for the better since I've stopped drinking Diet Coke.
 
I'm really excited about this and even more excited that my husband is doing it with me! He has been eating better ever since I posted that first post about wanting to lose weight and he's actually lost about 10lbs already!! It's so much easier when you have someone doing it with you.
 
Good luck to every one and I can't wait to see our progress so we can get into those bikinis this summer!!

Seeking Motivation

I am not happy with my weight.

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I know this is probably not a shocking revelation to the world, as the majority of women are not happy with their weight. But, ever since I had Madi my weight was no longer the main thing on my mind. I do not wish to be stick thin like I was before I had her, but I do want to be happy with how I look and I am not.

My problem is that I lack motivation. I feel like I have more trouble than most with self-control and motivation. SO, I am hoping that telling you all my plans will make me more motivated to actually achieve my goals and follow through with this for once.

First, I plan to stop drinking diet coke all together. GASP. For those of you who know me, or even just follow my blog, you know that I am A.D.D.I.C.T.E.D. to Diet Coke. I drink it alllll day long and freak out if I don't have any. The reason I am doing this is because I really think that the "myth" about Diet drinks making you more hungry is true. I am constantly starving and there is no reason for this! I don't think it will be that hard for me in the afternoons and evenings, but the mornings are going to be a real struggle. I cannot drink water in the mornings. Like, I will gag. Anybody have any suggestions on what I can drink to get going in the mornings?!

Secondly, I am going to attempt to work out at home in the mornings before work. This is going to be my biggest challenge. I HATE working out and I do not do well getting up early, but I know for a fact that I wouldn't do it in the evenings. After work I have dinner to worry about and bath time and stuff like that. Working out at night would just not even be reasonable for me. So, mornings it is. We have an exercise on demand channel so I plan to just use that or do Dance Central on Kinect when I'm not feeling the real workout routines.

Thirdly, I'm going to try and go back to the 1200 calories a day I was doing before I got pregnant. I used to be SO good at this and I could tell you the calories in every single thing. Now, I have no clue. I totally threw that out the window the minute I got pregnant (and obviously that was a good thing). This is a big deal for me too though because I cannot stand vegetables and my "diet" is very limited as far as what I will actually eat. I used to live off of lean cuisines, turkey sandwiches, jello, and baked cheetos, but now I am so so so sick of those things. I really have no idea what I'm going to eat. Ugh!

Well there it is. That's my plan.  I am starting Monday and I will let y'all know how I do. I don't have a set amount of weight I want to lose. Is that a bad idea?! I just want to tone up my stomach and lose the love handles and trim down my butt and thighs. I just want to feel comfortable in a bathing suit again!

Do y'all have any advice for me? I'm really nervous about this and really hope I can do it. I seriously have no clue if I can. :-/