I know, the titles are boring...feel free to suggest something a little more exciting!
Another day late on blogging, but I'm traveling for work this week and sometimes I just can't fit one more thing into my day. I got to my hotel room last night at midnight-not about to start then!
Work is crazy when we have Agency Expo weeks, a few different cities, a lot of agents and the same message over and over and over again...wait...that sounds like a complaint...Always good stuff, but lots of moving parts to setting up an agency meeting and working with hotel catering staff. Which brings me to a great point...(see, this was going somewhere)....
Did you all know...The hotel catering staff is happy to accommodate special orders for food for your guests (or yourself if you are the guest) attending a meeting? All you have to do is ASK! Why do you care? Well, you are reading my blog, either because you are part of Dr. Garcia's program, staff, stumbled upon it because you were bored and clicked that "next blog" button, or you are my friends and family who I shamelessly send an email to every week, encouraging you all to read this because it's about ME! LOL
Anyway...why do we care? Well, because typically our lunches for agents are comprised of chicken (mass amounts of people, chicken is relatively safe)and some sort of a STARCH (BAD!) and then some sort of a SAUCE (really BAD!) and maybe, maybe some veggies and we can't forget the decadent desserts. I've so far, attended two events in the past week...two special order lunches for Michelle to stay on program. Chicken (no real option there) and steamed/grilled veggies of my choice typically, with my ever so famous "Ceasar Salad w/ no dressing, no croutons & slices of lemon wedges" (I think my boyfriend could order my salad in his sleep he's heard it so much!) Y'all should try it, it's really tasty!!
I'm just super happy to say that really, there isn't anywhere that I've been in the last month that I've had to say "yeah, there's nothing here I can eat". I'm still eating out, I still very much live my normal week, whether it's eating lunch in my car on a drive from agency to agency, out to lunch with friends, out with an agent or whatever. The only time the choice started to become difficult was at a hockey game last week. I was desperately searching for something from a concession stand that I could eat...Thanks, Outback Steakhouse for providing me with Steak tips and mushrooms, and by the way...those fries you put in my basket, ya know, the item that there was the most of in my $9.50 supper...yeah, those...I didn't eat a single one of them...HAH!
So today, I want to really remind you all that in everything that we do, whether it is diet, health, job, family etc... we have choices. Our choices, of course, have consequences. As long as you are informed of your options and clearly understand the consequences, the choice is yours to make.
I've consciously made choices every day, several times a day, to stay on program, to do what I am doing because it's the right thing for me...and have really brought back my whole feeling of it doesn't matter what's on my plate as compared to yours. It's the exact same premise I used in "Round 1" of the program, and it works. However, it only works when you consciously make an effort to choose the path that you know to be the right one for you. I choose to stick directly to the program, some people may deviate and not "give up" things they feel they don't want to go without. I know what I'm doing works for me and I hope you are all making the decisions that work for you.
It doesn't bother me in the least to sit in a movie theater, holding a bag of popcorn and not eating any (I was sitting in the middle of the popcorn eaters!!) Don't get me wrong, I stuck my head in the bag and smelled and smelled and smelled that popcorn...but that was it. Smelling has no residual effect on the size of my ______ you can complete that sentence however you see fit!
So all of this crazy talk about choices and consequences and meetings and stuff, all good things, so it must have been a good week, right? Well....
To close out the first month, week # 4 produced a 4.4# loss for a total of 19.8 pounds for the month. I just looked back at Round 1-Week 4 completion and I was at 22.2...well, I have nothing to say on that. This time is different and maybe I should stop comparing where I was to where I am. The one thing that isn't in that post though is a few measurements. They now do waist measurements at the beginning of the program and then at each monthly interval. I lost 4.5" in my waist this month...My clothes are too big, kinda frumpy looking...but I have a closet full of things I can switch to, and gladly!!
So, things are going well. Choices are being made and I couldn't be happier with the progress. As for now, it's time for more water...more and more and more!
Thank you all for your support, encouragement, comments you leave here, emails you send. It's encouraging to me and it makes it so easy to write this every week!
Remember to make the best choice for you, every day, in whatever it is you do!!
Until next week....Happy Spring!!! (And for those of you still in snow and ice...uh, sorry....my pool is ready for visitors!!) xoxo
March 29, 2011
March 25, 2011
The Completion of Week 3
It has taken me all day to decide what I want to write on here tonight. I truly am not up to talking about my week and the result of the weigh in today. That being said, with me you get the good or the bad, it is what it is.
I'm incredibly disappointed in the result of today, yet I can't wrap my head around why. Usually you don't read the result until near the end of the post for the week, but I'm just going to spill it. This week I stayed the same. I know, I didn't gain, and actually lost body fat, but I'm incredibly annoyed by having "maintained" a weight I despise for another week. So, why did I stay the same...well, I think there are a few answers to that question. All of which I have spent the day beating myself up about.
First and foremost, I am not eating all of my "allowable" servings of food in a day. I track on the BalanceMD program everything I eat, and there are several days a week when I have servings left over as I'm crawling into bed.
Wow, it's taken me the entire week to get back to this...I started writing on Monday night and the days and nights have been crazy this week! So...where were we...
Not eating all of the food servings is not something under the guidelines of the program. It's important to eat everything allowable. I have a hard time with that when I'm not feeling hungry, but I suppose at least what I am eating is healthy stuff!
The other issue with the "stay the same" I believe, were the choices I made on Saturday night. We went to dinner with friends on the beach and I made the decision to have a drink. Then, another, then...anyway... I drank Margaritas, with salt...and mentioned to Todd that I was really, really going to need to drink A LOT of water on Sunday to offset this...well...Maybe I should have indulged in something different, maybe I should have had one or two drinks...but it was a choice I made with each round. It's clearly my own fault.
That being said, it's days later, and I've accepted the "stay the same" and have been giving my all this week to make sure I eat the right amounts of food, to drink the water and do what I need to do, other than exercise...but that's going to be in next week's (Monday night's) post. I wouldn't want to ruin all the fun for you now! LOL
Here's to remembering choices have consequences, some good...some bad...some relatively insignificant...but always a consequence.
Better weeks ahead!
I'm incredibly disappointed in the result of today, yet I can't wrap my head around why. Usually you don't read the result until near the end of the post for the week, but I'm just going to spill it. This week I stayed the same. I know, I didn't gain, and actually lost body fat, but I'm incredibly annoyed by having "maintained" a weight I despise for another week. So, why did I stay the same...well, I think there are a few answers to that question. All of which I have spent the day beating myself up about.
First and foremost, I am not eating all of my "allowable" servings of food in a day. I track on the BalanceMD program everything I eat, and there are several days a week when I have servings left over as I'm crawling into bed.
Wow, it's taken me the entire week to get back to this...I started writing on Monday night and the days and nights have been crazy this week! So...where were we...
Not eating all of the food servings is not something under the guidelines of the program. It's important to eat everything allowable. I have a hard time with that when I'm not feeling hungry, but I suppose at least what I am eating is healthy stuff!
The other issue with the "stay the same" I believe, were the choices I made on Saturday night. We went to dinner with friends on the beach and I made the decision to have a drink. Then, another, then...anyway... I drank Margaritas, with salt...and mentioned to Todd that I was really, really going to need to drink A LOT of water on Sunday to offset this...well...Maybe I should have indulged in something different, maybe I should have had one or two drinks...but it was a choice I made with each round. It's clearly my own fault.
That being said, it's days later, and I've accepted the "stay the same" and have been giving my all this week to make sure I eat the right amounts of food, to drink the water and do what I need to do, other than exercise...but that's going to be in next week's (Monday night's) post. I wouldn't want to ruin all the fun for you now! LOL
Here's to remembering choices have consequences, some good...some bad...some relatively insignificant...but always a consequence.
Better weeks ahead!
March 14, 2011
The Completion of Week 2
I hope you all had a great week! Today ended week # 2 of the restart and I honestly couldn't ask for things to be going better in every aspect of my life right now.
As you know from last week's post, at the end of the week last week, phase 2 of the program started and the addition of 'healthy' carbs were introduced in the form of fruits and vegetables. There couldn't be a better time for fruit and vegetables to be a big part of my menu plan every day. It's peak strawberry season here in Florida and they have been wonderful! I love the availability of all of the fresh fruits & vegetables we have access too, makes it easy to plan meals for sure!
While things are going well, there were a few little challenges over the last week. I was on the phone with a couple of people through the week this week who don't understand when I say that this really has been easy. I know I just said there were a few little challenges, but 99% of the time, the program is easy. I honestly don't even have a desire to do something that's not on the program. The challenges come in where it is occasionally (one day this past week) incredibly difficult to drink all of the water. The other challenge is in finishing all of the protein servings allowable/recommended in a particular day. I wrote a bit about this last week but it seemed to be a bit of a challenge every day this week. I know I need to eat a larger breakfast and that would help that a lot, but it's difficult to get up early and cook breakfast for myself!
As far as sticking to the program and not having a desire to deviate, for whatever reason, it honestly doesn't phase me a bit. Yesterday I spent the day at the Strawberry Festival with Todd & Elise and wandered through the entire day with bottles of water, stops at the restroom (endless!) and when we stopped for Elise to have Strawberry Shortcake it didn't even look appealing to me. It's got to be the meds! :)
Speaking of the medication, that's something I am doing better with this time around as well. I seem to remember last time on the program I frequently forgot to take the meds, and when I remembered, it wasn't always on time! This time, Todd has a reminder alarm set to remind me when it's 4:00, just an odd time of my day for me to stop and take meds, but a text...I seem to always be able to read and respond to, so that has worked great...Thanks, Todd! The appetite suppressant medication honestly makes the hunger 'feeling' really non-existent. I can't remember a time so far since the restart that I could say I was "hungry". It was close yesterday, we had a late supper, but even at that, it was fine. They really do curb cravings.
The other medication is Calcium Pyruvate. For those of you who might not be familiar with what exactly that is, I found a pretty informative article and have copy pasted some of it here:
Calcium pyruvate is a nutritional supplement that combines naturally occurring pyruvic acid with calcium. While pyruvate is produced in the body and aids in the conversion of sugar and starches into energy, calcium pyruvate can help enhance the metabolism and speed up the creation of energy. Along with helping people feel more energized, using the supplement can also aid in weight loss when used in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise.
Because calcium pyruvate helps in burning fat to create more fuel for the body to use, the supplement helps to reduce fat that is retained in the body. Thus, the supplement can minimize the amount of excess fat that is stored around the abdomen and other parts of the body. The additional energy that is generated helps the body to function more efficiently and comes in handy when exercising as part of an overall health improvement regimen. In an indirect manner, this also means that calcium pyruvate aids in mental as well as physical health, since emotional issues often have a physical origin.
Combining pyruvate with calcium creates supplements that will not interfere with any body function, nor will using calcium pyruvate cause the body to produce less pyruvate in the system. Instead, the supplements will enhance the effectiveness of the pyruvate already present in the body and increase the ability to maintain energy for the day and prevent the accumulation of extra pounds. However, calcium pyruvate should not be viewed as a way to eat and drink anything and still lose weight. The product works best when used along with eating lean meats, plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, choosing complex carbohydrates over simple carbs, and getting at least thirty minutes of exercise each day.
As far as the exercise routine goes, after Week 1 I was able to start back with my exercise routine. Dr. Garcia's office did, however, recommend that most of the exercise be cario and not much on the weight lifting type things since muscle weighs more than fat and that can throw off the goal at this point in the program. I've modified my schedule to add a couple more cardio classes to take place of the weight training classes that I had started previously. Now I have between three & four classes a week that are predominately cardio based and it seems to be working out well.
So, as a recap, food program is going great. I just need to find a way to have a larger breakfast and get all of the servings in during a day. The medication is working how it's supposed to, especially when I take it on time and the exercise program has been adjusted and working well. Things are good....(and you've been waiting, I know...) SO good, that today's weigh in showed a 5.8 pound loss during week 2 and a total over the two weeks of.... 15.4 pounds. It's really hard to complain about that!!
On we go to Week 3...no expected challenges or anything particular that sticks out as a stumbling block at this point. One day at a time, one glass of water at a time, keeps the program moving in the right direction!
To end tonight, a quote that shows the progress, even during a 'restart', by C.S. Lewis
“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
And finally, a thank you to those of you who live through this every day with me, listening to me talk about what I ate, what I can have, what I can't, encouraging me to move forward...your support means so much to me, as do each of you! Thank you, again!
As you know from last week's post, at the end of the week last week, phase 2 of the program started and the addition of 'healthy' carbs were introduced in the form of fruits and vegetables. There couldn't be a better time for fruit and vegetables to be a big part of my menu plan every day. It's peak strawberry season here in Florida and they have been wonderful! I love the availability of all of the fresh fruits & vegetables we have access too, makes it easy to plan meals for sure!
While things are going well, there were a few little challenges over the last week. I was on the phone with a couple of people through the week this week who don't understand when I say that this really has been easy. I know I just said there were a few little challenges, but 99% of the time, the program is easy. I honestly don't even have a desire to do something that's not on the program. The challenges come in where it is occasionally (one day this past week) incredibly difficult to drink all of the water. The other challenge is in finishing all of the protein servings allowable/recommended in a particular day. I wrote a bit about this last week but it seemed to be a bit of a challenge every day this week. I know I need to eat a larger breakfast and that would help that a lot, but it's difficult to get up early and cook breakfast for myself!
As far as sticking to the program and not having a desire to deviate, for whatever reason, it honestly doesn't phase me a bit. Yesterday I spent the day at the Strawberry Festival with Todd & Elise and wandered through the entire day with bottles of water, stops at the restroom (endless!) and when we stopped for Elise to have Strawberry Shortcake it didn't even look appealing to me. It's got to be the meds! :)
Speaking of the medication, that's something I am doing better with this time around as well. I seem to remember last time on the program I frequently forgot to take the meds, and when I remembered, it wasn't always on time! This time, Todd has a reminder alarm set to remind me when it's 4:00, just an odd time of my day for me to stop and take meds, but a text...I seem to always be able to read and respond to, so that has worked great...Thanks, Todd! The appetite suppressant medication honestly makes the hunger 'feeling' really non-existent. I can't remember a time so far since the restart that I could say I was "hungry". It was close yesterday, we had a late supper, but even at that, it was fine. They really do curb cravings.
The other medication is Calcium Pyruvate. For those of you who might not be familiar with what exactly that is, I found a pretty informative article and have copy pasted some of it here:
Calcium pyruvate is a nutritional supplement that combines naturally occurring pyruvic acid with calcium. While pyruvate is produced in the body and aids in the conversion of sugar and starches into energy, calcium pyruvate can help enhance the metabolism and speed up the creation of energy. Along with helping people feel more energized, using the supplement can also aid in weight loss when used in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise.
Because calcium pyruvate helps in burning fat to create more fuel for the body to use, the supplement helps to reduce fat that is retained in the body. Thus, the supplement can minimize the amount of excess fat that is stored around the abdomen and other parts of the body. The additional energy that is generated helps the body to function more efficiently and comes in handy when exercising as part of an overall health improvement regimen. In an indirect manner, this also means that calcium pyruvate aids in mental as well as physical health, since emotional issues often have a physical origin.
Combining pyruvate with calcium creates supplements that will not interfere with any body function, nor will using calcium pyruvate cause the body to produce less pyruvate in the system. Instead, the supplements will enhance the effectiveness of the pyruvate already present in the body and increase the ability to maintain energy for the day and prevent the accumulation of extra pounds. However, calcium pyruvate should not be viewed as a way to eat and drink anything and still lose weight. The product works best when used along with eating lean meats, plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, choosing complex carbohydrates over simple carbs, and getting at least thirty minutes of exercise each day.
As far as the exercise routine goes, after Week 1 I was able to start back with my exercise routine. Dr. Garcia's office did, however, recommend that most of the exercise be cario and not much on the weight lifting type things since muscle weighs more than fat and that can throw off the goal at this point in the program. I've modified my schedule to add a couple more cardio classes to take place of the weight training classes that I had started previously. Now I have between three & four classes a week that are predominately cardio based and it seems to be working out well.
So, as a recap, food program is going great. I just need to find a way to have a larger breakfast and get all of the servings in during a day. The medication is working how it's supposed to, especially when I take it on time and the exercise program has been adjusted and working well. Things are good....(and you've been waiting, I know...) SO good, that today's weigh in showed a 5.8 pound loss during week 2 and a total over the two weeks of.... 15.4 pounds. It's really hard to complain about that!!
On we go to Week 3...no expected challenges or anything particular that sticks out as a stumbling block at this point. One day at a time, one glass of water at a time, keeps the program moving in the right direction!
To end tonight, a quote that shows the progress, even during a 'restart', by C.S. Lewis
“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
And finally, a thank you to those of you who live through this every day with me, listening to me talk about what I ate, what I can have, what I can't, encouraging me to move forward...your support means so much to me, as do each of you! Thank you, again!
March 7, 2011
Completion of Week 1-
Once again, I am writing to you all about the completion of the first week of the Garcia program. I certainly hope that this is the last time you ever see a Week 1 post from me! Things are different in my life now, so I'm confident that it will be the last "Week 1" you'll see :)
Just like the first time around, this week was fairly easy to stick to the protein only. Rather boring the first few days, but it's over quickly and then you move on to much more normal meals. The water was something I know is a great thing, but I hadn't really missed all that. Some days it was definitely a struggle to finish it all. I work in sales and when I'm in and out of the car all day it makes it a little tough to focus on drinking all that water. That being said, there wasn't a day that I didn't get through it all, and then some, when you add coffee or maybe a glass of water at a restaurant.
As far as the water is concerned, the two people who are around me the most deserve a big thanks this week. My boyfriend and my best friend both challenged themselves to one day of drinking a gallon of water to experience what I was going through. Needless to say, they understand my need to always be looking for a bathroom now!
There wasn't anything I really struggled with on the program this week, I stayed on track, even through some work stresses and am keeping my end goal in mind. For the most part I remembered to take all of the medication on time, even through a busy week and an incredibly busy weekend landscaping the front of my house. I'd say the only thing at times that might have been a little difficult was actually finishing the 16oz of protein each day. Sometimes I was forcing myself to eat even if I wasn't overly hungry, that's something that I'm not overly fond of, but not sure how to get around it. Breakfast might be a little of a struggle during the week, since most of the protein things need to be cooked. I'm not necessarily a morning person...even though I get up, I'm lazy in the mornings and cooking isn't necessarily something that works into my "get ready for work" routine. Weekends is completely different.
I know, you've been reading and reading and wondering is she ever going to tell us how she did for goodness sake? Well, here you have it. I lost 9.6 pounds this week. I followed along all week with my own scale and a new part of the program this time is an online tracker for everything, so it's easy to track weight, water, food, etc...
I was thrilled with the loss, as you can imagine and with the ease of transitioning back into the program. It's been easy to do with the support I have from my friends and family.
So on to week two, and looking forward to seeing the results little by little.
Just like the first time around, this week was fairly easy to stick to the protein only. Rather boring the first few days, but it's over quickly and then you move on to much more normal meals. The water was something I know is a great thing, but I hadn't really missed all that. Some days it was definitely a struggle to finish it all. I work in sales and when I'm in and out of the car all day it makes it a little tough to focus on drinking all that water. That being said, there wasn't a day that I didn't get through it all, and then some, when you add coffee or maybe a glass of water at a restaurant.
As far as the water is concerned, the two people who are around me the most deserve a big thanks this week. My boyfriend and my best friend both challenged themselves to one day of drinking a gallon of water to experience what I was going through. Needless to say, they understand my need to always be looking for a bathroom now!
There wasn't anything I really struggled with on the program this week, I stayed on track, even through some work stresses and am keeping my end goal in mind. For the most part I remembered to take all of the medication on time, even through a busy week and an incredibly busy weekend landscaping the front of my house. I'd say the only thing at times that might have been a little difficult was actually finishing the 16oz of protein each day. Sometimes I was forcing myself to eat even if I wasn't overly hungry, that's something that I'm not overly fond of, but not sure how to get around it. Breakfast might be a little of a struggle during the week, since most of the protein things need to be cooked. I'm not necessarily a morning person...even though I get up, I'm lazy in the mornings and cooking isn't necessarily something that works into my "get ready for work" routine. Weekends is completely different.
I know, you've been reading and reading and wondering is she ever going to tell us how she did for goodness sake? Well, here you have it. I lost 9.6 pounds this week. I followed along all week with my own scale and a new part of the program this time is an online tracker for everything, so it's easy to track weight, water, food, etc...
I was thrilled with the loss, as you can imagine and with the ease of transitioning back into the program. It's been easy to do with the support I have from my friends and family.
So on to week two, and looking forward to seeing the results little by little.
February 28, 2011
I Never Wanted To Be "That" Person
....But, I Am....
Yes, that is right...for those of you who have been reading all along, welcome back. It's the new edition of The Journey, Round 2. Although as I logged on to this site to post for the first time in a LONG time, I realize I said I was starting back a year ago...not sure exactly what happened to that!!
Over the past couple of weeks I have given some serious thought to restarting the Garcia program. It took a couple of weeks to admit that I needed to. Then a week or so of playing phone tag to figure out if I could arrange something to fit in my budget. I was surprised to find out through a couple of sources that the office is still using my prior promotion information on their website and in mailings...ahh, those were the days! :)
In speaking with the office we made an arrangement and low and behold...the program officially restarts tomorrow...I've gone to the restart appointment, I have the medication, I got the injection, I donated my Girl Scout Cookies back to the troop without so much as picking them up...the food & gallon of water portion begins at 6:30 when I get up.
Needless to say the fact that I have to even restart makes me sad, but it certainly is not the fault of anyone but myself and my choices. Kind of funny since I just took a class at work on accountability...hmmm, ironic?
I had a great conversation with Dr. Armstrong this afternoon. As he "welcomed me back" I could not help but laugh because "I never wanted to be that person". He reminded me of a few important lessons
1. Surprise, Surprise...I'm human :)
2. At some point in our lives we all fall off the wagon.
It's not the issue of falling off, it's what you do once
you realize you fell off. Do you do something to get
back on or do you wallow in the dirt and feel sorry for
yourself because of it?
Two great points, even though I'm incredibly frustrated with myself. Let's just say February has not been the month that I wanted it to be from start to finish! However I know the rest of 2011 is going to be spectacular!
So, what happened? Well, quite honestly, I thought and as I write that, that was the issue. I thought, I didn't act. I thought I could handle maintenance by myself. I know what to do and what not to do, I know what to eat and what not to eat, I know how much of it to eat and I know I need to exercise. So, you ask, what happened? Knowing and doing are sometimes two different things. This thing we call "life" got in the way and it was easy to get off track. I will say, my exercise routine has never been more on track, but I think ...no, I know...I used that in my head as a thought of, well..I can eat that because I'm going to the gym. It doesn't necessarily work that way for my metabolism I suppose.
So, now what? Well, restart is tomorrow, and the first few days are the worst. Pure protein, no carbs, no fruit, no vegetables, but a lot of protein and A LOT of water. One day at a time, shoot, sometimes even one meal at a time, controlling the decisions I make will let me reach my goal, again. After that, the accountability of maintenance is not an option for me. The maintenance is necessary. I learned that the hard way!
My mom asked me tonight when I told her about the restart what my "goal" was. At this point, I don't have a "number" goal. I know where I was comfortable...it's definitely not where I am now. When I get there, or get close, I think I'll know. Last time I got a lot of push back on having lost what some people thought was "too much". I don't think at this point I want to go quite that far, but again, as it gets closer, I think I'll figure it out. In the meantime....I'm going to work every day to be a better me.
I have an absolutely INCREDIBLE support system in my family, boyfriend and friends and I know with their help and the support and guidance of the staff at Garcia Weight Loss, I will reach and continue to maintain my goal. In the meantime, look for a new blog post weekly as I'll be keeping this updated. It helps me to track what I'm doing on a weekly basis and how "life" affects my journey.
To those of you who play an active, daily role in my life...thank you. Without your love and support I would never be able to do this. Each of you mean so much to me and I thank you for everything that you do for me, each and every day.
"Thinking well is wise; planning well, wiser; doing well, wisest and best of all."
- Persian Proverb
Yes, that is right...for those of you who have been reading all along, welcome back. It's the new edition of The Journey, Round 2. Although as I logged on to this site to post for the first time in a LONG time, I realize I said I was starting back a year ago...not sure exactly what happened to that!!
Over the past couple of weeks I have given some serious thought to restarting the Garcia program. It took a couple of weeks to admit that I needed to. Then a week or so of playing phone tag to figure out if I could arrange something to fit in my budget. I was surprised to find out through a couple of sources that the office is still using my prior promotion information on their website and in mailings...ahh, those were the days! :)
In speaking with the office we made an arrangement and low and behold...the program officially restarts tomorrow...I've gone to the restart appointment, I have the medication, I got the injection, I donated my Girl Scout Cookies back to the troop without so much as picking them up...the food & gallon of water portion begins at 6:30 when I get up.
Needless to say the fact that I have to even restart makes me sad, but it certainly is not the fault of anyone but myself and my choices. Kind of funny since I just took a class at work on accountability...hmmm, ironic?
I had a great conversation with Dr. Armstrong this afternoon. As he "welcomed me back" I could not help but laugh because "I never wanted to be that person". He reminded me of a few important lessons
1. Surprise, Surprise...I'm human :)
2. At some point in our lives we all fall off the wagon.
It's not the issue of falling off, it's what you do once
you realize you fell off. Do you do something to get
back on or do you wallow in the dirt and feel sorry for
yourself because of it?
Two great points, even though I'm incredibly frustrated with myself. Let's just say February has not been the month that I wanted it to be from start to finish! However I know the rest of 2011 is going to be spectacular!
So, what happened? Well, quite honestly, I thought and as I write that, that was the issue. I thought, I didn't act. I thought I could handle maintenance by myself. I know what to do and what not to do, I know what to eat and what not to eat, I know how much of it to eat and I know I need to exercise. So, you ask, what happened? Knowing and doing are sometimes two different things. This thing we call "life" got in the way and it was easy to get off track. I will say, my exercise routine has never been more on track, but I think ...no, I know...I used that in my head as a thought of, well..I can eat that because I'm going to the gym. It doesn't necessarily work that way for my metabolism I suppose.
So, now what? Well, restart is tomorrow, and the first few days are the worst. Pure protein, no carbs, no fruit, no vegetables, but a lot of protein and A LOT of water. One day at a time, shoot, sometimes even one meal at a time, controlling the decisions I make will let me reach my goal, again. After that, the accountability of maintenance is not an option for me. The maintenance is necessary. I learned that the hard way!
My mom asked me tonight when I told her about the restart what my "goal" was. At this point, I don't have a "number" goal. I know where I was comfortable...it's definitely not where I am now. When I get there, or get close, I think I'll know. Last time I got a lot of push back on having lost what some people thought was "too much". I don't think at this point I want to go quite that far, but again, as it gets closer, I think I'll figure it out. In the meantime....I'm going to work every day to be a better me.
I have an absolutely INCREDIBLE support system in my family, boyfriend and friends and I know with their help and the support and guidance of the staff at Garcia Weight Loss, I will reach and continue to maintain my goal. In the meantime, look for a new blog post weekly as I'll be keeping this updated. It helps me to track what I'm doing on a weekly basis and how "life" affects my journey.
To those of you who play an active, daily role in my life...thank you. Without your love and support I would never be able to do this. Each of you mean so much to me and I thank you for everything that you do for me, each and every day.
"Thinking well is wise; planning well, wiser; doing well, wisest and best of all."
- Persian Proverb
February 7, 2010
It's been a long time!
Well, I just signed on to here to start blogging more for myself. I was going to start a new, private blog to just write some things out and I saw that I hadn't been on here to blog since August!
Guess it's time to fill you all in on where I am. TOMORROW I am re-starting the Easy Diet program. Maintenance has gone okay but at Christmas I stopped caring about what I was doing (what a difference from last Christmas) and have started to gain. I'm done with that and I am going back tomorrow with no holds barred. I've grocery shopped, I'm ready!
I will say as many times as I said I wasn't going to be that girl...it is definitely a choice you have to make with every single meal and every single snack and I'm back to it. I'll be at the gym in the morning. I'll be eating nothing but protein for the next few days to go into ketosis and I'll be back to where I was in no-time.
Dr. Garcia's office contacted me about being part of a DVD that they are doing. It had been a while since I'd heard from Michael and his timing couldn't have been better. It's like he knows he's my little guardian angel and he reached out and I said, ok, silly...you know better. Enough is enough! Thanks, Michael, I know you're reading this! :)
So, I'll keep you all posted, but I am going back on program! Keep me in your thoughts!!
Guess it's time to fill you all in on where I am. TOMORROW I am re-starting the Easy Diet program. Maintenance has gone okay but at Christmas I stopped caring about what I was doing (what a difference from last Christmas) and have started to gain. I'm done with that and I am going back tomorrow with no holds barred. I've grocery shopped, I'm ready!
I will say as many times as I said I wasn't going to be that girl...it is definitely a choice you have to make with every single meal and every single snack and I'm back to it. I'll be at the gym in the morning. I'll be eating nothing but protein for the next few days to go into ketosis and I'll be back to where I was in no-time.
Dr. Garcia's office contacted me about being part of a DVD that they are doing. It had been a while since I'd heard from Michael and his timing couldn't have been better. It's like he knows he's my little guardian angel and he reached out and I said, ok, silly...you know better. Enough is enough! Thanks, Michael, I know you're reading this! :)
So, I'll keep you all posted, but I am going back on program! Keep me in your thoughts!!
August 25, 2009
Can You Put A Price On A Weight Loss Program?
Just before starting Dr. Garcia's program, I, of course, inquired about the cost of the program. I was able to find out in a phone call that there was a price for the initial visit, which included blood work, EKG, weight, body fat measurements, the injections, first month of the Calcium, weekly supply of medication, etc...the works. I also found out that after that, there was a weekly visit fee which included weigh in, assessment and the injection and appetite suppressants. Let me just say, it's not inexpensive, dollar wise.
When I told my parents about the program, after I started it, I brought the booklet that I received during my first visit. I suggested to my father that maybe he should skip the first page. The first page outlined the costs of the program. Well, being a dad...he didn't skip that page. He went right to it. He looked at me and said, you do realize that it's really more than just the weekly costs, right? I agreed with him.
Some of you might be wondering now, so, are there hidden costs that I don't know about? Well, not 'hidden' so much. Things I didn't really think about until he mentioned it...even though I told him "I know". One of those things were the fact that frankly it costs more money to eat healthy. Essentially, and I think I've said this before, I shop the perimiter of the grocery store. For the most part, even on maintenance, I don't eat pre-packaged foods. I shop the meat, seafood, produce and dairy departments. Sadly, it's much more expensive to eat healthy.
Upon deciding to write about the true costs of a program, I did a little research. What I found is that there is a mixture of people who say that eating healthy does not cost more because you buy less of more expensive food. I guess I understand that to a point. Between drinking the water, eating fruits and vegetables, I eat less than I did when I wasn't doing all that. However, the food I buy is definitely more expensive. I guess the jury is still out. I'd love your opinions, please share a comment.
One big issue I had during the process was clothing. I didn't really think I'd drop as many sizes as I did. I bought what I thought was a 'goal' pair of jeans, in the beginning of the journey. I wore them twice, then they were too big. I went through a lot of clothes, quickly. It didn't dawn on me until it was almost too late, that consignment shopping might have been the better way to go. I do, now, however, take the clothes that no longer fit (and there was a TON of them) to the consignment store to re-sell. It's a great way to make some extra cash on things that are virtually brand new. It seemed I had a small window of opportunity for most articles of clothing and some I missed all together and brought to the consignment store with tags still attached. That's annoying!!
All of that being said, the benefits are priceless. The increase in my self-esteem, my outlook on life, my need for less medication, the pure joy of living my life in a healthier, happier environment....there's no way you can put a price on the feeling of being in better control of your life.
“He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.”
When I told my parents about the program, after I started it, I brought the booklet that I received during my first visit. I suggested to my father that maybe he should skip the first page. The first page outlined the costs of the program. Well, being a dad...he didn't skip that page. He went right to it. He looked at me and said, you do realize that it's really more than just the weekly costs, right? I agreed with him.
Some of you might be wondering now, so, are there hidden costs that I don't know about? Well, not 'hidden' so much. Things I didn't really think about until he mentioned it...even though I told him "I know". One of those things were the fact that frankly it costs more money to eat healthy. Essentially, and I think I've said this before, I shop the perimiter of the grocery store. For the most part, even on maintenance, I don't eat pre-packaged foods. I shop the meat, seafood, produce and dairy departments. Sadly, it's much more expensive to eat healthy.
Upon deciding to write about the true costs of a program, I did a little research. What I found is that there is a mixture of people who say that eating healthy does not cost more because you buy less of more expensive food. I guess I understand that to a point. Between drinking the water, eating fruits and vegetables, I eat less than I did when I wasn't doing all that. However, the food I buy is definitely more expensive. I guess the jury is still out. I'd love your opinions, please share a comment.
One big issue I had during the process was clothing. I didn't really think I'd drop as many sizes as I did. I bought what I thought was a 'goal' pair of jeans, in the beginning of the journey. I wore them twice, then they were too big. I went through a lot of clothes, quickly. It didn't dawn on me until it was almost too late, that consignment shopping might have been the better way to go. I do, now, however, take the clothes that no longer fit (and there was a TON of them) to the consignment store to re-sell. It's a great way to make some extra cash on things that are virtually brand new. It seemed I had a small window of opportunity for most articles of clothing and some I missed all together and brought to the consignment store with tags still attached. That's annoying!!
All of that being said, the benefits are priceless. The increase in my self-esteem, my outlook on life, my need for less medication, the pure joy of living my life in a healthier, happier environment....there's no way you can put a price on the feeling of being in better control of your life.
“He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.”
August 17, 2009
Almost A Month!
I just realized it's been almost a month since I posted anything to this blog! Life has been absolutely fantastic on the maintenance program. I've been going to the gym regularly although I had a week and 1/2 away due to being on vacation and working out of town. Leave it to me, to pick the one hotel in St. Lucie West that did not have a fitness center on the property. I won't stay there again! Great hotel, but no gym was a bit difficult for me.
I did, however, meet a girl while I was on my trip who is trying to convince me to run a 1/2 marathon. Now, let me start by saying, we were discussing Tampa, and she said, oh...I'm coming there in February! My first reply-we should hook up and go out and have a cocktail! It's what I say to everyone. Those that know me, know that. We were discussing my program and the amazement in Lisa of listening to part of my story. She then told me the reason she was coming was to run the Gasparilla Distance Classic 1/2 marathon and wanted me to run it with her.
For those of you who have known me 'forever'...you know I ran cross-country in high school. That was at least a billion, ok...23 years...ago, since graduation. I haven't really run since. I've started running a bit at the gym, on the treadmill. I really have NO CLUE how to train for a 1/2 marathon. Nor can I really imagine running 13.1 miles for no reason, but the challenge keeps pulling me to look at the website, read up on training and realizing that I only have 6 months if this is something I truly want to do.
The more I contemplate, the more I'm interested in trying it. That being said, I'm fearful of failure. What if I try it and I can't finish? What if I start with something smaller, like the 5K or the 15K? What if...here's a thought...what if I start with a 5K and build from there?! I don't know. It's been A LOT of years since I've had a regular running routine. I think I'd almost need a running coach of some sort to put me on the right track for training like that. Ahhhh, decisions, decisions. This new lifestyle brings all kinds of options to the table, for sure.
Maintenance, as I said before, is fantastic. I typically stay between two pounds under/over goal and I'm good with that. I've added more carbohydrates into my diet, but still not doing anything 'fried'. I'm mostly making smart choices. I had a date last night and we went to dinner. I had a turkey burger on a whole-grain bun and the salad bar. No fries, even though they sat right on the plate. I've found some really great bread-type alternatives at the grocery store and have finally found some breakfast things that are working for me.
The Zone Diet website is a great resource for dining out and recommending what to order to stay in the Zone at chain restaurants. There's also great links to some of the books, such as The Top 100 Zone Foods or A Week In The Zone. These really help keep me on track as well.
It's been almost two weeks since I've been to the office for a weigh in. I missed last week, due to being out of town but will go in the morning and just make sure things are good! I can't wait to go tomorrow. You get so used to doing something every week and it's tough to miss it. I'm looking forward to getting more involved with the office and their community efforts on this program. I have stopped the volunteer thing I was doing at church and really looking for another place to volunteer. I miss very much doing some type of community service, so I've offered up my assistance and my desire to do something surrounding healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. I just missed a back to school event the office did centered around healthy eating unfortunately. I was looking forward to that event and my experience with Junior League and Kids In The Kitchen, but alas, work travel got in the mix and I was away when the event took place. There are a couple of other things coming up and hopefully they'll be able to use my assistance on those. I need to do something! :)
All in all, things are going great. There are no struggles at this point, again, still just making conscious decisions every day to do the right thing. So far, so good!! Speaking of all good....I just went out to You Tube for the first time in a few weeks and saw that my video has 452 hits...that's just crazy! I received an email today from a client who was sent an email from the weight loss office, she's a former patient and on their email listing I suppose. She emailed ME and asked if I knew I was on the cover of their website! I didn't know, but I love that people are benefiting from my story. I found out after sending an email to the operations director tonight that they showed my testimonial to a lot of people at the back to school event and there's a very positive response to my story. I'm so glad that it might motivate even one person to change their lifestyle.
In closing, I'll leave you all with a promise to blog more frequently and....
A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.(Spanish Proverb)
I did, however, meet a girl while I was on my trip who is trying to convince me to run a 1/2 marathon. Now, let me start by saying, we were discussing Tampa, and she said, oh...I'm coming there in February! My first reply-we should hook up and go out and have a cocktail! It's what I say to everyone. Those that know me, know that. We were discussing my program and the amazement in Lisa of listening to part of my story. She then told me the reason she was coming was to run the Gasparilla Distance Classic 1/2 marathon and wanted me to run it with her.
For those of you who have known me 'forever'...you know I ran cross-country in high school. That was at least a billion, ok...23 years...ago, since graduation. I haven't really run since. I've started running a bit at the gym, on the treadmill. I really have NO CLUE how to train for a 1/2 marathon. Nor can I really imagine running 13.1 miles for no reason, but the challenge keeps pulling me to look at the website, read up on training and realizing that I only have 6 months if this is something I truly want to do.
The more I contemplate, the more I'm interested in trying it. That being said, I'm fearful of failure. What if I try it and I can't finish? What if I start with something smaller, like the 5K or the 15K? What if...here's a thought...what if I start with a 5K and build from there?! I don't know. It's been A LOT of years since I've had a regular running routine. I think I'd almost need a running coach of some sort to put me on the right track for training like that. Ahhhh, decisions, decisions. This new lifestyle brings all kinds of options to the table, for sure.
Maintenance, as I said before, is fantastic. I typically stay between two pounds under/over goal and I'm good with that. I've added more carbohydrates into my diet, but still not doing anything 'fried'. I'm mostly making smart choices. I had a date last night and we went to dinner. I had a turkey burger on a whole-grain bun and the salad bar. No fries, even though they sat right on the plate. I've found some really great bread-type alternatives at the grocery store and have finally found some breakfast things that are working for me.
The Zone Diet website is a great resource for dining out and recommending what to order to stay in the Zone at chain restaurants. There's also great links to some of the books, such as The Top 100 Zone Foods or A Week In The Zone. These really help keep me on track as well.
It's been almost two weeks since I've been to the office for a weigh in. I missed last week, due to being out of town but will go in the morning and just make sure things are good! I can't wait to go tomorrow. You get so used to doing something every week and it's tough to miss it. I'm looking forward to getting more involved with the office and their community efforts on this program. I have stopped the volunteer thing I was doing at church and really looking for another place to volunteer. I miss very much doing some type of community service, so I've offered up my assistance and my desire to do something surrounding healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. I just missed a back to school event the office did centered around healthy eating unfortunately. I was looking forward to that event and my experience with Junior League and Kids In The Kitchen, but alas, work travel got in the mix and I was away when the event took place. There are a couple of other things coming up and hopefully they'll be able to use my assistance on those. I need to do something! :)
All in all, things are going great. There are no struggles at this point, again, still just making conscious decisions every day to do the right thing. So far, so good!! Speaking of all good....I just went out to You Tube for the first time in a few weeks and saw that my video has 452 hits...that's just crazy! I received an email today from a client who was sent an email from the weight loss office, she's a former patient and on their email listing I suppose. She emailed ME and asked if I knew I was on the cover of their website! I didn't know, but I love that people are benefiting from my story. I found out after sending an email to the operations director tonight that they showed my testimonial to a lot of people at the back to school event and there's a very positive response to my story. I'm so glad that it might motivate even one person to change their lifestyle.
In closing, I'll leave you all with a promise to blog more frequently and....
A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.(Spanish Proverb)
July 21, 2009
Garcia Weight Loss Promotional Video
OH MY GOSH!! I know, I know...it takes two weeks to post a blog then you get two posts in two days! Crazy!
I have not had the best of weeks. I've had some issues that I'd rather not discuss on my blog, it's, as some people might say not a diet journey but a life journey, but some parts of life just don't deserve the credit of showing up on here. Suffice it to say, I've ended some of the negativity in my life, and while that should ultimately be a good thing...it's difficult to dissolve a relationship that's been so close for 15 years. Enough of that, on to better things!
Today, however, I had weigh in--my last appointment in the transition to maintenance phase of the program and now I just go for a weekly injection and monthly maintenance appointment. As I blogged about yesterday, I've also been working out like crazy. Keeping in mind that muscle weighs more than fat...here it comes....I gained. At least I gained in maintenance and I know exactly why. I gained a pound, but I also lost 1% body fat in the past week. I think I'll take it. There's definitely a difference in the toning that even I can see! Two days this week I've been shopping and I wear a size small in shirts and either a 2 or 4 in Misses pants, or a 3 or 5 in Juniors....I'll buy that ALL DAY LONG!
Anyway, that's not all that happened today. After the weigh-in and being "okay" with the gain, I received an email from Michael at Dr. Garcia's office that the link to my video was on YouTube and ran out to watch it as soon as I got home from the mall.
I was absolutely thrilled with the video. It's really hard to see myself transition from the person in the photos in the beginning to the person in the end of that video. Funny enough, yesterday I posted about people expressing more of an 'interest' in me now than maybe prior to the program, remember? Well, today, I was talking to my work counterpart in Orlando who said, because, sometimes Kyle is my voice of reason....ya know, if you were happy with your look before you wouldn't have done what you did. So, does that make you superficial, too? Alrighty then...guess he has a point. So, that will be the end of that topic of discussion!
Here is the link to the YouTube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghV_YBG1aeU
You'll probably have to copy/paste it into your browser, I couldn't get Blogger to show it as a link....sorry!
I'd love for you to take the time to watch it if you're so inclined. As well, if you do watch it, please rate the video for Dr. Garcia's office. Michael did an amazing job putting it all together. I so look forward to the work that I'll be doing with them on this and on any initiative they can use my help in.
They are doing a Back to School event that will incorporate healthy eating for kids and I've offered to be a part of that. Those of you who are reading this that are my Junior League of Greater New Haven friends...think Kids In The Kitchen! LOVE IT! From a girl who loves to cook, loves kids and wants to now help them focus on eating healthy so they never have to do all this, it's going to turn into my new passion! I'm so excited tonight and in such a good mood I can hardly stand myself!
In closing, I challenge each of you to find your passion...and learn to live it!
“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Mitch Albom
And since there was no quote in the last post, we'll end with this:
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
I have not had the best of weeks. I've had some issues that I'd rather not discuss on my blog, it's, as some people might say not a diet journey but a life journey, but some parts of life just don't deserve the credit of showing up on here. Suffice it to say, I've ended some of the negativity in my life, and while that should ultimately be a good thing...it's difficult to dissolve a relationship that's been so close for 15 years. Enough of that, on to better things!
Today, however, I had weigh in--my last appointment in the transition to maintenance phase of the program and now I just go for a weekly injection and monthly maintenance appointment. As I blogged about yesterday, I've also been working out like crazy. Keeping in mind that muscle weighs more than fat...here it comes....I gained. At least I gained in maintenance and I know exactly why. I gained a pound, but I also lost 1% body fat in the past week. I think I'll take it. There's definitely a difference in the toning that even I can see! Two days this week I've been shopping and I wear a size small in shirts and either a 2 or 4 in Misses pants, or a 3 or 5 in Juniors....I'll buy that ALL DAY LONG!
Anyway, that's not all that happened today. After the weigh-in and being "okay" with the gain, I received an email from Michael at Dr. Garcia's office that the link to my video was on YouTube and ran out to watch it as soon as I got home from the mall.
I was absolutely thrilled with the video. It's really hard to see myself transition from the person in the photos in the beginning to the person in the end of that video. Funny enough, yesterday I posted about people expressing more of an 'interest' in me now than maybe prior to the program, remember? Well, today, I was talking to my work counterpart in Orlando who said, because, sometimes Kyle is my voice of reason....ya know, if you were happy with your look before you wouldn't have done what you did. So, does that make you superficial, too? Alrighty then...guess he has a point. So, that will be the end of that topic of discussion!
Here is the link to the YouTube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghV_YBG1aeU
You'll probably have to copy/paste it into your browser, I couldn't get Blogger to show it as a link....sorry!
I'd love for you to take the time to watch it if you're so inclined. As well, if you do watch it, please rate the video for Dr. Garcia's office. Michael did an amazing job putting it all together. I so look forward to the work that I'll be doing with them on this and on any initiative they can use my help in.
They are doing a Back to School event that will incorporate healthy eating for kids and I've offered to be a part of that. Those of you who are reading this that are my Junior League of Greater New Haven friends...think Kids In The Kitchen! LOVE IT! From a girl who loves to cook, loves kids and wants to now help them focus on eating healthy so they never have to do all this, it's going to turn into my new passion! I'm so excited tonight and in such a good mood I can hardly stand myself!
In closing, I challenge each of you to find your passion...and learn to live it!
“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Mitch Albom
And since there was no quote in the last post, we'll end with this:
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
July 8, 2009
True Intentions
Gosh--I started this blog post a week or so ago and never really was able to stop long enough to write it and post. It's been a crazy few weeks for me. Well, actually, it's been a crazy two and 1/2 months with work and still to a point getting settled into the new house.
Work is different in that as part of the Florida leadership team, most of my time is spent working in the office (yes, home) managing the business that my team of reps is out promoting. Since May we've had revisions to programs and the leadership team has also been out promoting with our reps. That means instead of being in the office all day, handling the management of things that the reps find as well as special projects...we on the leadership team are out in the field, all day. That creates specific work for us, while our other work is not getting done. So, 10 minutes into that, you're behind! Try that for 5 weeks....OH MY GOSH! I've been catching up on work at night and we've had conferences and conventions on some weekends. It's just been very busy. Busy in a good way, but very busy. Anyway, enough about work, this blog is not at all about my job or any of that.
As far as how the maintenance portion of the program is going....tomorrow is my last regular "transition to maintenance" visit. Things throughout maintenance are going very well. I've managed to stay under goal and usually float somewhere within a pound under when I'm there to weigh in. I'm starting to really add foods back in on my own now as well. Last weekend I added...are you ready for this? BREAD! I ate from Subway on my way out of town last weekend for work. I ate a 'wrap' for lunch one of the days, and toast at breakfast and still managed to be under goal.
I know I mentioned last time I posted that I had joined the gym and it had been a week. That I was attending a class or two a week and it was going well. I've managed to work my way up to at least three visits a week. Most of them classes. There's a great water aerobics class. You laugh, thinking, how difficult is that?! Well, let me tell you, the class was great, but I didn't really think there was too much I was getting out of it. The next day told me otherwise. It's amazing the muscles you work out in the water, not realizing you're doing so. Besides that, how much better can it get than a cardio and toning class for an hour where you don't sweat!? A nice relaxing 10 minutes in the sauna afterwards to dry off and, viola, you're good to go! They have that class three days a week at my gym, I usually make one or two of them. As well, there is a kick-boxing cardio class on Monday's that I love. Usually on Monday's I have the need to punch on a punching bag for a little while, so that's always fun! This past week, in an effort to calm down some drama in my life and some emotions I was trying to escape from, I also took a Pilate's class. It was really different but I enjoyed it. There is definitely an opportunity to be there and take a class six days a week if I could find the time to fit them all in!
This particular blog post is entitled True Intentions and it's because of a little battle I am having within myself. As I've mentioned before, the whole 'dating' thing is rather new to me. It's odd though, how I find that there are guys in my life that seem to have taken a different look at me today than they did a year ago. I don't want to call anyone out, mention any names or anything like that...but just frustrating that someone I might have been friends with or acquaintances prior to all the changes I've made physically, seem to have a renewed interest in what else might be available to them with me. I mean, I guess there has to be some sort of physical attraction in order to want to move forward...but it's just a struggle I have with what might be perception that I am a different person than I was when I was heavier. That being said, there's people that I am meeting today, that didn't know me prior to all of this and I guess it isn't much different. I don't know...maybe you just don't know someones true intentions ever, anyway. I don't even know if this makes sense as I type it.
Anyway, not only has it taken me a week or so to write this blog, it's also taken me all day to finish and post it. It's been a drama-filled weekend and tonight tops off the end of the weekend with the news that one of my oldest friends has lost her father to his battle with cancer tonight. I'll be leaving town this week, either Tuesday or Wednesday to head up to Deltona and be with her and her family. Lynne and her family have been in my life for 20+ years, her girls are like daughters to me, and there is no place else I'd rather be right now than with her in her time of need. As soon as the arrangements are made, I'll be on my way to help.
This week, there should be a video listed on the Garcia website, I believe. It's part of the testimonial program. It's an audio clip of question and answers as well as a photo slide show of before and after pics. I'm not thrilled about the before pics, but obviously, that's why the program came in to play! I wish, but not, there was a way to re-do those before pictures!
In closing tonight, I just ask for prayers for Lynne and her family in their time of grief. Lynne, when you read this, know that I love all of you and I'll see you soon.
Work is different in that as part of the Florida leadership team, most of my time is spent working in the office (yes, home) managing the business that my team of reps is out promoting. Since May we've had revisions to programs and the leadership team has also been out promoting with our reps. That means instead of being in the office all day, handling the management of things that the reps find as well as special projects...we on the leadership team are out in the field, all day. That creates specific work for us, while our other work is not getting done. So, 10 minutes into that, you're behind! Try that for 5 weeks....OH MY GOSH! I've been catching up on work at night and we've had conferences and conventions on some weekends. It's just been very busy. Busy in a good way, but very busy. Anyway, enough about work, this blog is not at all about my job or any of that.
As far as how the maintenance portion of the program is going....tomorrow is my last regular "transition to maintenance" visit. Things throughout maintenance are going very well. I've managed to stay under goal and usually float somewhere within a pound under when I'm there to weigh in. I'm starting to really add foods back in on my own now as well. Last weekend I added...are you ready for this? BREAD! I ate from Subway on my way out of town last weekend for work. I ate a 'wrap' for lunch one of the days, and toast at breakfast and still managed to be under goal.
I know I mentioned last time I posted that I had joined the gym and it had been a week. That I was attending a class or two a week and it was going well. I've managed to work my way up to at least three visits a week. Most of them classes. There's a great water aerobics class. You laugh, thinking, how difficult is that?! Well, let me tell you, the class was great, but I didn't really think there was too much I was getting out of it. The next day told me otherwise. It's amazing the muscles you work out in the water, not realizing you're doing so. Besides that, how much better can it get than a cardio and toning class for an hour where you don't sweat!? A nice relaxing 10 minutes in the sauna afterwards to dry off and, viola, you're good to go! They have that class three days a week at my gym, I usually make one or two of them. As well, there is a kick-boxing cardio class on Monday's that I love. Usually on Monday's I have the need to punch on a punching bag for a little while, so that's always fun! This past week, in an effort to calm down some drama in my life and some emotions I was trying to escape from, I also took a Pilate's class. It was really different but I enjoyed it. There is definitely an opportunity to be there and take a class six days a week if I could find the time to fit them all in!
This particular blog post is entitled True Intentions and it's because of a little battle I am having within myself. As I've mentioned before, the whole 'dating' thing is rather new to me. It's odd though, how I find that there are guys in my life that seem to have taken a different look at me today than they did a year ago. I don't want to call anyone out, mention any names or anything like that...but just frustrating that someone I might have been friends with or acquaintances prior to all the changes I've made physically, seem to have a renewed interest in what else might be available to them with me. I mean, I guess there has to be some sort of physical attraction in order to want to move forward...but it's just a struggle I have with what might be perception that I am a different person than I was when I was heavier. That being said, there's people that I am meeting today, that didn't know me prior to all of this and I guess it isn't much different. I don't know...maybe you just don't know someones true intentions ever, anyway. I don't even know if this makes sense as I type it.
Anyway, not only has it taken me a week or so to write this blog, it's also taken me all day to finish and post it. It's been a drama-filled weekend and tonight tops off the end of the weekend with the news that one of my oldest friends has lost her father to his battle with cancer tonight. I'll be leaving town this week, either Tuesday or Wednesday to head up to Deltona and be with her and her family. Lynne and her family have been in my life for 20+ years, her girls are like daughters to me, and there is no place else I'd rather be right now than with her in her time of need. As soon as the arrangements are made, I'll be on my way to help.
This week, there should be a video listed on the Garcia website, I believe. It's part of the testimonial program. It's an audio clip of question and answers as well as a photo slide show of before and after pics. I'm not thrilled about the before pics, but obviously, that's why the program came in to play! I wish, but not, there was a way to re-do those before pictures!
In closing tonight, I just ask for prayers for Lynne and her family in their time of grief. Lynne, when you read this, know that I love all of you and I'll see you soon.
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