Last Challenge, New Challenge

I ended the 90 challenge with a 25 lb weight loss. I am thrilled with that! It was not what I was hoping for but was still a success nonetheless. Time to focus on the next challenge. Only 8 weeks to meet my goal of 15 more lbs off this body of mine. This time I am going to shake it up a bit. I am not going to weigh myself until the very end. . . Christmas Eve morning. Yikes!! This is going to be an important part of working on my mind, my body, and the spiritual side of me. Deep breath. . . . Here goes nothing!

I just needed a reminder of where I was and where I am . . .

New Challenge

I did not weigh this past Wednesday because our final weigh in for the 90 day challenge is this Monday. I will post my total loss for the challenge then.

The new challenge also starts Monday. It is an 8 week challenge. (Much more doable I think.) The final weigh in will be December 24th. If you would like to be a part of this challenge just email me your current weight and your goal weight for this challenge. My email address is sandy@sandysjourney.com.

This challenge will live up to the title "challenge". This one takes us through Halloween, Thanksgiving and ALL the holiday parties. My suggestion would be to set a goal that is not too ambitious. For instance, my goal for this next challenge is to lose 15 lbs. I think I still may be a little ambitious, but that's me. Even if your goal is to maintain through the season, it could be nice to have this accountability to make that happen. Really think about it and make sure you do not set yourself up for feelings of failure. These challenges are not meant to cause shame and condemnation, but excitement and a little fun while doing something as mundane as losing weight. Shame and condemnation are destructive and do not help the process. When you begin a program or challenge make sure you are ready to commit so you can see success. Success is the GREATEST motivator while failure or the feelings of failure will send you on a downward spiral. Of course, I do not want to talk you out of joining us, but I do want you to be ready to commit! If you think this will be a little too much during the holiday season give yourself some grace. We are not super people, although I know we think we should be. LOL!

While weight loss is the purpose of the challenge, I do not want it to be the only focus this time. I want to focus on our Body, Mind and Spiritual health. Weight loss is part of the road to health, but not all of it. We need to consider our environment, the types of food we're eating, the exercise we're putting in, the quality time we spend feasting from the Word of God, hearing His truth about us. Learning to hold negative thoughts captive and make them accountable to the Word of God.

This is going to be one of the toughest challenges because of the season, but also the most fulfilling. I look forward to hearing from you on Monday.

 

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

A few weeks ago I challenged everyone to try a new healthy recipe and to share it with all of us. Better late than never, here is the recipe I tried. It is from www.sparkpeople.com. It was good, but next time I will pound the pork chop until it's about a half inch thick and marinate it for 24 hours. Then I think it will be fabulous!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

1/4 + 1/8 cup honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 pork loin chops, boneless, trimmed of excess fat, 4 oz each           

Directions

In a shallow dish, whisk together honey, soy sauce and garlic.
Coat chops in mixture.
Reserve left over honey mixture for basting.
Place chops on greased grill over med high heat, close lid and cook. basting 2 times.

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LINJEN.

Weigh Day!!

Well, I am sitting in the same place as last week. That is better than being bigger than last week. :) Only 1 1/2 more weeks until this challenge is finished. I am thrilled with my results and am excited to keep moving forward.

The place I am sitting in is a nasty place for me. My body likes it and wants to get comfortable and then my mind starts believing this is it; this is as far as I am going to go. Consequently, I have to fight both battles, which is exhausting. I know how to fight through it now so I am pushing forward.

I was cleaning up my computer area the other day and found this magnet again. I put it on my refrigerator so I see it all the time now. It is SO true.



Hot Yoga

I visited my brother and his family this past weekend in Puyallup, WA. As we settled into visiting, after the children were in bed, my sister-in-law, Amanda, asked if I wanted to join her for Hot Yoga the next morning. I had a little bit of panic run through me. I said I would try new things this year and this would definitely be new. I agreed and then she began telling me what I needed to do to prepare for it. She told me I needed to begin hydrating and she wanted to make sure I had appropriate clothing. My eyes got bigger and bigger as she talked more about this Hot Yoga stuff.

The next morning we made our way to the Yoga studio. It was a cold and rainy day. As we approached the studio a man dressed in nothing but soaking wet shorts and carrying a towel came out to stand in the cool air. I was a little stunned by this because I did not think the building looked big enough for a pool and it was too cold to be standing outside like that. Amanda giggled and explained he just came out of a hot yoga class. I still couldn't figure out why his shorts were so wet.

As we stepped into a very warm lobby I noticed a class had just let out and women were sitting all over the lobby area. They were equally as wet as the gentleman I had just seen outside and it was all becoming clear. The instructor greeted us from the front desk with a big toothy grin. Her pig tails were dripping as she talked to the women in the room about the class that had just finished. Everyone sitting around the room was acting as if they had just had a near death experience. Their breathing was heavy, their faces were pale and not one of them looked well. At this point I was getting concerned about what I agreed to. Amanda reminded me that if I felt like I needed to leave the room during the class I could. She also reminded me if I left the room I couldn't come back in so she recommended I just rest on the mat and then rejoin the class. All of a sudden I heard a commotion coming from the hallway. I glanced over and saw a woman kneeling on the floor with her head in the large black garbage can. What I heard was not good. YUCK!!

I approached the reception desk to give the instructor my forms and she jokingly asked me if I was still going to try the class out after seeing that. I told her she could take the money, I had my running shoes on and was leaving. Hahahaha! Truthfully the woman throwing up did not freak me out as much as the people sitting around the room looking like death warmed over. YIKES!

The Hot Yoga room was hot, but not quite like I was expecting. I thought, "I just might be able to do this." The class began and I worked really hard on trying to hold the poses. About half way through the class I began getting concerned because I still wasn't sweating the way I thought I should be and the way others were. I thought, "Maybe I don't sweat like other people. Maybe I should see a doctor about this." All of a sudden, the flood gates were opened and the sweat started rolling off of me like Niagara Falls. Before I knew it my clothing looked like I had taken a dip in a hot tub. I definitely had to take some breaks on the mat. What did not feel as hot as I thought it was going to earlier now felt like it was suffocating me. Allowing myself short breaks really helped. I began getting a migraine toward the end of the class so I left about 3 minutes before the end. I was concerned I would not be able to function the rest of the day because of it. The instructor told me she had the same thing happen the first time she did Hot Yoga. She explained the first few times might effect me like that, but soon I would feel amazing every time I finished. I did feel weird the rest of the day, but it was nothing I could not handle. It felt so good to know quite a few toxins were released that day.

I really enjoyed the class. I can see all the benefits and would love to do it a few times a week. I still cannot get over how much I sweat. It was CRAZY!! Thank you Amanda for introducing me to Hot Yoga!!!

Weigh Day!!

I have never been so excited to report a 1 lb. weight gain in my life. LOL! After my hard, emotional weekend and my birthday weekend I was convinced I had put on at least 10 lbs. You would think after nearly 2 ½ years on this journey the theme of my birthday weekend would not be food, but it was. I was treated to fabulous, fattening food all weekend. Next year I will be a little more proactive on planning something a little more active than eating. LOL!

I’m sure you can imagine my weigh in on Wednesday. My stomach was in knots. I approached the scale with great hesitation, staring it down like I was in a showdown. I slowly put one foot on the scale and then the other. My eyes were closed and I was holding my breath. I had to face the number no matter what it said. I had to be honest with myself. When I finally found the strength to look down I saw the number and nearly wept. Only 1 lb. gain! That’s doable. I can come back from that quickly. I let out a huge sigh of relief and laughed.  I cannot believe the drama around stepping on a scale. When you think about it, it really is ridiculous.

This weekend I’m going to Washington to visit my brother and his family. I’m not concerned because my mind is back in a good place. I should have a loss next Wednesday.

We only have 2 ½ more weeks on this challenge. I cannot believe it has been nearly 90 days since we started. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?!?!

I am starting another Weight Loss Challenge on October 29^th. That is also the date of our last weigh in. If you would like to join us just weigh on October 29^th and email me your starting number. The challenge will be 8 weeks long making our last weigh in December 24^th; perfect timing, right?!?! As other members of this challenge will attest, being part of a challenge is more motivating than just trying to do it on your own. I am considering meeting once a week with the challenge participants through this 8 week challenge. If you are out of the area and would like to join us please do not hesitate. We can face time or Skype you into the meetings. I am looking for feedback on this so please let me know what you think of meeting together once a week for 8 weeks.

One Of The Coolest Things Yet

I received a call from one of the Associate Producers at the Dr. Oz show. I know, how cool is that?!?! I answered the phone amidst noise and talking children thinking it was another one of the Election Poll calls. I had a frustrated tone when I answered, "Hello?" She introduced herself and the girls and I stopped and stared at the phone. She and I went on to have a conversation about my weight loss. They were looking for people who have lost significant amounts of weight and have done something they have never done before, wore something they were longing to wear, or were able to do something they used to do before the weight, etc. I talked her through everything I have done so far and she already has people who have done those things. It would have been so cool to be on the Dr. Oz show, but it did not work out this time. Maybe I will have the opportunity again. It was so cool though!!

 

Weigh Day

It was weigh day yesterday and I did not weigh. I hit an emotional bottom this past weekend and went straight to the food. I knew this week would not be a good weigh in and I was afraid of what it might do to me emotionally so I stayed away from the scale. I am working hard toward the goal and will definitely weigh in next Wednesday. We only have 3 1/2 weeks left on this challenge and I want to end it as strong as I can.