Feeling Better Already

Though we've only been at it for a few days, I'm already feeling the effects of eating healthy. Fast food is so easy that we tend to use it often. I've been feeling badly about getting it for a while now but when we're busy it is my go to dinner. I realize that fast food will not help me lose weight so I'm avoiding it at all costs. Tony made a bunch of grilled chicken on Monday so we could make quick prepacked lunches. I struggle with staying on track but having quick easy food on hand keeps the fast food at bay. If you eat fast food you know it tends to make you feel sick and I am no exception. I hate how fast food and heavy foods make me feel after I eat them. I have to continue to remind myself how much I hate the sick stomach and sluggish feel I get from those foods. Just a few days of eating right and I feel like I have more energy. The benefits are really worth it. 

I know that healthy foods are more expensive sometimes but if you think about it you might really be saving money by eating right. There are four of us and when we eat fast food it costs us on average $20 or more and sit down restaurant meals are considerably more. If you eat like that a few times a week like we have it starts to add up. If you take that and purchase healthy foods to prepare at home you can save money.

Part of this year is also about feeding my kids better. We've had a bad habit of feeding them unhealthy quick foods. It's time for change. Cutting out fast food is just the first step. Yesterday I was eating a salad for lunch and my oldest son came in and asked for some. He actually likes salad so it wasn't a big surprise but it still felt good to know that my good choices are rubbing off on him. Instead of his usual crackers or cheese for a snack he had salad. Our youngest saw his big brother eating salad and asked for his own. Now we're all making better choices!

Tonight I start my spinning again and I still feel sore from my Zumba workout on Monday.  Working out is my favorite part of getting healthy. I know a lot of people don't enjoy working out but I can honestly say that I do. Sometimes it is hard to get to the workout but I love it once I'm there. I won't say that I enjoy all types of workouts. We've joined a gym that offers fitness classes and it seems I really need those classes. One of the instructors mentioned that we tend to do more in those classes than we would on our own and I have to agree. I find myself trying harder and doing that one more repetition that at home I probably wouldn't do. I also met my best friend at the gym and we do our best to keep each other on track. Knowing that she will be there makes me want to go too. Though we aren't competitive about our weight loss we are  there as a support system for each other. We're more accountable about our workouts and weight lost than if we were doing it alone.  

A healthy lifestyle requires work but it really is worth it. It may take some time to see results in the areas you want most to change but the changes will come. Focus on the changes you see and feel at first and you will quickly see changes in other areas as well.

Getting Started

Today we are getting started on our 2012 weight loss journey. My husband and I are going to work together to get healthy this year. We started all of this in May 2010. We both got to our lowest adult weights by November 2010.  In fact Tony had lost more than 100 lbs while I had lost more than 60.  We fell off the wagon after that, though neither of us has reached our previous weight again. This year is about no more excuses! Tony has started with his old trainer again and I will be starting my fitness classes tonight. Our kids received bicycles from Santa so they too will be getting more exercise. I am so excited about what is to come!
This blog is about being accountable for what I want to achieve. I'll be working out at classes and on my own most days. Here is my schedule.
Monday-Zumba
Tuesday and Wednesday-at home activities or running at the gym
Thursday-Cycling and Pilates
Friday-Cycling
Saturday-at home activities or running at the gym
Sunday-Bodyflow class
I'll be trying to update regularly on progress. My goal is to lose 40-50 lbs from my current weight. I gained just over 20 lbs from my lowest weight so I feel confident that I can do this and maybe more. Tony is hoping to lose about 50 lbs from his current weight. He was closer to his goal than I was to mine so we are working with fairly realistic goals. We have two boys that need lots of physical activity and healthy food to eat too.  The boys aren't always excited about healthy dinners. We'll be trying to eat healthier meals as a family as well as working out. Follow to see how we do.