Back to Life... Back to Reality

It's been a minute or two hasn't it?!  Well, we hit "busy season" at work, so I have spent the last couple of weeks focusing on work.  It was rough, I may or may not have had a break down or two, BUT I survived.

Back to the gym on Monday, back to getting in my steps, back to eating the right things and drinking plenty of water!  Back on track to do things right for ME!

As I mentioned in a previous post, my life is all about fresh starts.  To keep myself from getting overwhelmed, I have to start each day fresh and brand new.  I have to remind myself that each day is a new opportunity to do things right.  A new chance to do things RIGHT, rather than feel like I have screwed everything up.

As most of you know, I am taking part in an experiment with Dr. Robin Ellsworth and trying out her new Infrared Sauna Bed. 

First Treatment - 01/06/2017
Weight -  272
Arm - 15 inches
Thigh - 26 inches
Waist - 51 inches

For 6 weeks, I spent 1 hour a week in the sauna bed.  What I noticed right away is how GREAT I felt!  It was like laying in a giant heating pad.  I didn't mind pushing hard in the gym, because I knew on Friday I was going in for a treatment.  My skin also felt softer, and started to clear up!  I also noticed I was sleeping better AND felt relaxed going in to my weekends.

Since I was zipped into a heating pad sleeping bag for 60 minutes, I was forced to lay still and quiet my mind.  It forced me to relax.  It forced me into a nap.  I say forced like my arm was twisted - it sure wasn't!  It was worth every minute!

Week 6 was my last week.  The plan is to take 6 weeks off to compare how I feel, and then go again for another 6 weeks.

Last Treatment - 02/10/2017
Weight - 263
Arm - 14.75 inches
Thigh - 25 inches
Waist - 49 inches

Three weeks into our 6 weeks off, and I can tell you... I miss my sauna bed treatments.  I am not sleeping as well, and I miss my Friday evening nap.  Truthfully, if the Infrared Sauna Bed did nothing else for me, it helped my stress levels. 

I can't wait for the next 3 weeks so I can start the treatments again. 

Thank you so much, Dr. Robin, for allowing me to take part in this experiment with you.  I certainly hope that the results are BETTER than you expect, and hope to see further results in 3 weeks.

If you are interested in more information on the Infrared Sauna Bed or the many other treatments offered by Ellsworth Chiropractic & Med Spa, give the office a call - 618-451-8830. 

Tell them the "Fat Kid" sent ya!

Here's to New Beginnings!!!

Non-Scale Victories!!

Heyo!  How are you, dear reader?  I hope you are eating success for breakfast (with skim milk!)!!

In one of my videos, I talked about not being a number on the scale - because that is true... we are ALL so much more than what the scale says.  The hardest part of weight loss, for me, is when that scale refuses to budge... for any number of reasons.  This Wednesday, I was back up to 270, but Mother Nature played a stupid role in that part (Sisters of the world, raise your hand in unity!!)  So, I know that I will kill it next week!

I talk to my Sensei nearly every single day - about my journey, about what I am eating, what I am NOT eating... He is wonderful to let me blow up his phone nearly every day with good or bad reports, even silly questions!

One thing he CONSTANTLY reminds me is that it's not just about the number on the scale.  Case and point... I spent nearly 3 minutes fighting a Judo match.  That may not sound like much to some people, but it's like constant burst of energy.  My heart was pounding, my lungs were screaming, my mind was racing, and I was trying NOT to get thrown (which I didn't!)  This is a Non-Scale Victory!!

Here are some examples of Non-Scale Victories from myself:

I lasted my match

I bear crawled across my gym - TWICE!!

I RAN ON THE TREADMILL LAST NIGHT FOR ALMOST A FULL 30 SECONDS!!

The last one sound silly, but I can barely walk a straight line on a treadmill... so going faster than walking, to me, is pretty good!

Non-Scale Victories can also include lifting a heavier weight (if weight lifting is your thing) Climbed stairs without stopping.  Grabbed a water at the gas station instead of soda, without even thinking about it.  

There are many things along the way that show your improvement, that will not show up on your scale.  Are you losing inches?  Is it becoming easier to choose healthy over junk?  Are you FEELING better?

The scale is important, but it is not the end all be all of your journey.

So you didn't lose any numbers this week, but where else have you improved??

Weigh In Wednesday!

269.4!!!! Can you believe it!!??

Got my steps in today... 6184 to be exact, and I haven't started getting ready for bed yet!

I sure hope this is motivating you as much as this is motivating me.  It's really helping me stay focused and on task.

How are you feeling?  Are you enjoying this? Are you hating this?  Please like and subscribe to my channel, and join us on FACEBOOK!!

Did you weigh in today???

Hi... my name is Shanna... and I am an ADDICT!

Kind of a harsh title, but it shares a little bit of truth that I don't normally like to talk about.

I am addicted to food.  I want to eat all of the time!  When I am sad, give me a Big Mac.  When I am happy, give me some pizza.  When I am feeling my depression or anxiety creep in... give me everything in the fridge!  

There isn't too many food items I would turn down - except mushrooms.  Allergic and don't feel like dying... so no mushrooms.

I am sitting here right now, pounding my water, because I KNOW that I don't need chips.  I ate my breakfast, I drank my vanilla ice cream snack... I don't need chips!  I don't need anything else until lunch!  It's a struggle.  And I know I am not alone.

I want to say something, and I want you - lovely reader - to listen (or read) to me very carefully.  Addiction is no joke.  Addiction of any kind - food, drugs, alcohol, exercise, gambling, WHATEVER!  I was addicted to alcohol... I would drink to make everything stop.  And I would drink heavily.  So please PLEASE don't think that I am making light of addiction.  I am not.

I have seen first hand what drug addiction can do to a family - both to the user, and the family they have left behind.  Now that I am sober, I realize what my drinking had done to my friends, family, and even potential jobs!  

I have an addictive personality.  If I get involved with something, I jump head first into it.  I want to read about, study it, watch movies/documentaries about it... you name it.  I have to know everything.  And I have noticed this tendency in my training aspect too.  I have watched my judo competition video 102397875480977978 times, looking at my game and where I need to improve.  

Food addiction is a very serious thing... and out of all the things you can be addicted to, I feel it's the hardest to get over.  You can go to rehab to get away from drugs or alcohol... but you still need food to live.  

I have taken steps to stay accountable.  For instance, I am in constant contact with my Sensei, my nutritionist, and even our facebook group.  I know how it feels to have to face the music for stuffing my face at McDonald's... It helps to keep my sugar levels steady - when they dip, I notice my depression and anxiety run wild!  

There are so many things I used to hide, because I felt ashamed of them.  My food addiction being one... I can't keep quiet anymore.  That doesn't help me, and it won't help someone else.  So, here I am... taking the steps to admit:

My name is Shanna... and I am an Addict.

I will always struggle with food.  It fills my stomach, and it fills voids.  BUT with the house full of good, healthy things, at least I will be filling up on fruits and vegetables.

Anything you want to share?!

#LosingtheFatKid

**Watch for a weigh in Wednesday video tomorrow!  I have been forgetting my camera to make videos for you all... FAIL!  Any suggestions for content??**