Sunday Weigh-In 10/6



I got on the scale this morning and found that I had lost 7 pounds since last Sunday. I should have been ecstatic, encouraged, excited...something. But I was rather blasé about it. I've been hovering in the 140 to 150-something range for so long that I am slowly losing interest in this whole process. This is not good! In fact, it's down right dangerous. So I started going through some old photos...trying to remind myself of how bad I use to look and will surely look again if I'm not careful. 7 pounds is a big deal. I have to find the motivation to keep pushing myself until I reach my goal. I don't want to go back...God knows I don't. The holidays and winter months are fast approaching. Losing interest now will make it too easy for me to relapse and go back to looking like my former unhealthy self. I have to keep reciting the following scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.



The old me would have given up and accepted 150 pounds. But I have become new! I won't stop until I reach my goal of 135 pounds.

I can, I will, I must reach 135!

Previous Weight       Current Weight
157.6                        150.6

Goal Weight
135

Previous Bust            Current Bust
36 inches                  36 inches

Previous Waist         Current Waist
33 inches                  30 inches

Previous Hips           Current Hips
42 inches                  40 inches

Previous Forearm     Current Forearm
12 inches                  12 inches

Previous Wrist         Current Wrist
6 inches                    6 inches

Previous Thigh        Current Thigh
24 inches                 22 inches

Previous BMI       Current BMI
27.05                      25.85

Previous Body Fat %    Current Body Fat
42.12%                            40.68%


My goal for the upcoming week is to keep walking. The fact that I've started moving again has obviously helped. I plan on increasing the lengths of my walks and try to start jogging again.

Thanks for reading and have a better than blessed day!

Always,

Blaque
Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. ~ 3 John 1:2

Letting Go

There is a phrase that goes: "Quod me nutrit me destruit." 

Translation: "What nourishes me destroys me."  Meaning, that which motivates or drives a person can consume him or her from within.

This is an absolute truth when dealing with food addiction, but it’s also an important life lesson. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do in life is to let go of something that makes  us feel good in the short term. We get so consumed by instant gratification that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Holding on to something we think we need or want or love is easy. Being an adult and letting go for our own good and for the good of others…that takes courage and maturity.

If there is something that is consuming your time or energy or compromising your peace of mind…LET IT GO!

Life is short and precious. None of us are promised a next breath.  We shouldn’t allow anything…food, addiction, a person, a relationship that’s run its course, etc to destroy us from within. Don’t let what nourishes you, destroy you. Allow those things that truly nourish you, to exalt you. To strengthen you. To free you!

Thanks for reading today!

Always,

Blaque

p.s. My workout jar is still empty. More on that later!

Seasonal Blues

I feel you slipping away from me. Please don’t go! When I was younger, my family tried to keep us apart. But now, I embrace you. You’re so hot and I love the way you make me feel. Thanks for the awesome tan you gave me this summer, Mr. Sun. Let’s do it again next year, OK? Hurry back!

XOXO

Yolanda


Fall is definitely in the air. The weather is getting cooler and with that comes the promise of greyer days.

Already I feel myself coming down with a case of the Seasonal Blues. I love summer days, blue skies, and the warmth from the sun. When I was a child, there was a story in my family about me being "allergic" to the sun. That wasn't true of course. I have abnormal pigmentation on my right leg, thigh and buttock. Because of the loss of pigment, those areas could potentially burn very easily. Somehow that got translated into me being allergic to the sun, so I spent the better part of my childhood hiding out in the shade with a vampire-like complexion. It wasn't good.

As an adult, I love live for sunshine. I can't get enough of it. When I'm walking or jogging I enjoy taking in the scenery and marveling at the beauty that God made.

But as the winter months get closer my mood begins to worsen. Last winter I hibernated and gained almost 30 pounds. Not this year! I won't allow it.

Although it was a little chilly yesterday, I willed myself into jogging/walking 5 miles and it actually felt great! When I went through Boot Camp it was during the coldest months of the year: January and February. Cold weather certainly wasn't an excuse to stop training back then. So this winter I am going to TRY and stay active outdoors even in the colder climate (as long as it's not brutally so).

I've been having problems getting started with Level 3 of Ripped In 30. I've lost my motivation and I've been so focused on my runs that I haven't really been pushing myself with my night time workouts. Plus, these workout are getting tougher and in classic Yolanda Harris form, when things get tougher I bail!
This must stop!

I saw an idea on the internet that I thought I would try out on myself. Every time I complete a DVD at night, whether it's Ripped In 30 or some other workout DVD, I will put one dollar in my workout jar. Some people stop at $100, but that would require me to go into the jar and count to see how much money is in it. I don't want to be tempted to "borrow" from what's supposed to motivation. So on December 18th, I will see how much is in the jar and treat myself to something nice!

Tell me, what do you do to stay motivated?  I'd love to know.

Take care and thanks for reading!

Always,

Blaque

Completed Level 2, Time To Weigh In

I finished Level 2 Day 6 of Ripped in 30. The fact that I managed to lose anything is a gift being that I'm smack dab in the middle of the hormonal poool most women take a dip in every 28 days. So I will take this .8 pound weight loss and be happy! Besides, I've lost almost 15 pounds since starting this DVD so I think I'm doing pretty good.

Anyway, here are the results:

Previous Weight       Current Weight
144.6                        143.8

Goal Weight
135

Starting Bust            Current Bust
36 inches                  36 inches

Starting Waist         Current Waist
30 inches                 29 inches

Starting Hips           Current Hips
40 inches                 40 inches

Starting Forearm     Current Forearm
12 1/2 inches           12 inches

Starting Wrist         Current Wrist
6 inches                   6 inches

Starting Thigh        Current Thigh
23 inches                22 1/2 inches

Starting BMI       Current BMI
24.82                    24.68

Starting Body Fat %    Current Body Fat %
39.44%                           39.28%

I've been in Triple-C mode for the last few days: Cranky, Cramping, and Cravings. So I took a break from the blog, working out, and pretty much everything that didn't involve laying in bed eating Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate Nature Valley Protein bars. But after completing Level 2 of Ripped, I've noticed slightly more definition in my arms and shoulders. My abs and lower body still need a lot of work, so I'm hoping to see a difference in those areas after Level 3. *crosses fingers for luck*

Being that I am having a few female "issues" right now, I didn't make it 3 days without processed food. Yesterday was a little better however. I only had one protein bar, 5 clementines, a rice cake with almond butter, a pink grapefruit, a handfull of grapes, and for dinner a veggie burger with an ear of corn.

It was a Morningstar Farms spicy black bean burger with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, veggie cheese and spicy brown mustard on a whole wheat bun. I probably could have done without the carbs, but man oh man was it tasty!

As far exercise, I still haven't managed to start Level 3 of Ripped. But I did walk 2.39 miles with Travis. Pushing a 90 pound child in a wheelchair for 2 miles is workout enough, trust me.

Before I went to bed, I also did a 15 minute workout DVD. It's called Personal Training with Jackie: Crunch-Free Xtreme Abs. This was a really good workout. It was short, but challenging. I might even add it to the end of my Ripped workout being that my core needs so much work...but we'll see what Level 3 brings before I commit to that.

Well, a new week is upon us. I don't know about you, but I'm closing the door to everything I may have done wrong with my diet and fitness routines and opening a window of new goals and opportunities. We've all been given another chance to do a little better than we did before. Let's take it!

Thanks for reading.

Always,

Blaque

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me

Everytime I go out for a walk or jog, I ask God to watch over me and keep me safe. And other times, like on yesterday's run, I have to recite Philippians 4:13 in my head to make it to the end. Yesterday's run was the most difficult so far. It was a 5 minute warm up walk followed by a 20 minute run. By the 20th minute, I'm sure it looked more like a crawl, but I was able to do it without stopping and I truly believe it's because I asked my higher power for strength. After the setbacks I've had with over eating and not losing much weight, I needed that little victory. Thank you, Jesus!

.

Level 2 Day 6 of Ripped In 30 went really well. The workout seemed to go by faster and was much less painful. I'm trying to decide if I will do a 7th day or take a rest day then move on to Level 3. I'm leaning towards one more workout day because I know I haven't lost that much weight (if any) this week. I could use another workout before my weigh in, But I will see how I feel about it tomorrow.

My diet yesterday was on point. I stuck to my no processed food goal. It went something like this:

1/2 cup field peas (yes, for breakfast) 110 calories

1 protein shake 240 calories

1 apple 95 calories

1 cup string beans 70 calories

1 nectarine 62 calories

muscle milk 170 calories

2 mini corn on the cob 180 calories

1 cup string beans 70 calories

Total for the day 997 Sweet!

At some point this weekend my weigh in and new pictures are coming. So stay tuned!

As always, thanks for reading.

Enjoy today,

Blaque