Where have you been? What is going on?!

So... where to start... well, I have been around.  You know that saying:  "when you feel like you are at the end of your rope, tie knot and hold on" I have felt like I have been spiraling to the end of my rope for the last couple months.  

Honestly, I have been overly stressed at work.  It's our busy season, and it's finally starting to wrap up.  I am incredibly blessed to have the job that I have, so I don't want to sound like I am complaining about work - which I am not.  I don't think that saying that I am stressed is complaining, just stating a fact.  The beginning of the year is extremely overwhelming for all of us.  The hours caused me to have to miss gym time, and it has cost me quite a bit.

Again, not complaining... stating a fact.  I had to work, nothing wrong with that.

I had to miss a competition, because even though my coach invited me and was confident I would do well, I was not confident in myself.  Not one little bit... I was afraid that I wasn't ready. I was afraid my cardio would be crap, and I wouldn't last the entire fight.

Let's not even get started on my eating... needless to say, I have NOT been on track.  However, Brandon and I decided to try the Ketogenic diet... Today was day 1 - not entirely bad, but different.  The first day is usually the easiest for me, so let me check back in with you in a few days.

My hormones... have been a little messed up.  I attribute that to lack of exercise, horrible diet, and everything in between unfortunately.  It doesn't help that I am on round 2 of progesterone... Hopefully this will help us get pregnant.  My hormones make me feel crazy right now.  One minute, I am fine.  The next minute, I want to scream and cry.  It has caused me to lose motivation, and basically feel like I have given up on myself.

I am slowly finding my way back to me.  It's an extremely slow process, but I am doing my best.

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???