Monthly Archives: February 2016

A New Choice

Posted in Honesty, Motivation, Random, Uncategorized by

Life is all about choices. We make so many choices all the time. Even when we decide not to make a choice, we’re making a choice. It’s a vicious cycle. Denis Waitley once said “There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” Please don’t ask me who Denis Waitley is, because honestly, I have no idea, I just like the quote!

One of my least favorite sayings is “It is what it is,” but honestly there’s not much more truth in this dumb little saying. For years I accepted that my life just is what it is; that I was always going to be “fat,” that I’d never be happy, that the only thing I could do was complain. I’ve done more complaining and fat shaming than moving. I honestly think that if I sat down to add up all the hours I’ve spent complaining, I’ve most likely spent at least half my life spewing toxic garbage. This is a lot of wasted time and an awful lot of garbage. It’s time to take out the garbage and take some responsibility.

So here I stand, well sit because typing standing up isn’t fun, trust me I’ve tried it, starting another chapter in my life. A chapter full of determination and responsibility. If you know me I’m sure you’re saying “Sure Lizz, we’ve heard this before.” And you’re right, you have. At least once a year I have these little spurts of motivation, little bright ideas that I lazily try to carry out for a week or two. So you’re asking yourself “so what makes this one different?”

Well to be quite honest, I don’t know. I can’t say that the little light bulb of flickering motivation above my head won’t fade. But I can say that this time it feels different, very different and even if that light bulb burns out, I’ll just replace it with a new one, same brand, of course, but higher wattage.

I’m going to write as often as I can, about whatever floats my little boat of change. It’s obviously going to be laced with quotes and clichés and hopefully some inspiration. As I write I will laugh, and cry, and may even fall asleep, but I don’t expect you to, that is unless you want to. I’ll admit my reasons for this blog are predominately selfish. I want to document my journey, my trials and tribulations, my thoughts and whatever is rattling around inside my head.

Feel free to keep reading, it’s your choice.

Dear Starbucks

Posted in Confession, Honesty, Shakeology by

Dear Starbucks…

I don’t know how to say this, you’ve been great,  really you have… It’s just, well… um… oh man okay, how do I sugar coat this? I’m a lousy poker player. I’m so not Gaga, you can totally read my poker face.  I really need to come clean… There’s someone else!  I know, I know. I’m a two timing hussy, I get it, but please let me explain… It’s not you, it’s me… no… wait… scratch that, it’s so you!  That’s right, you heard me.  We are never ever ever getting back together.

I found a new love. I know you’re asking yourself who I could possibly love more than you.  Like I said, you’ve been great and all, but you’re just not the one. I’m leaving you for someone way better.  I’ve fallen in love with Café Latte by Shakeology and I’m not ashamed to shout it from the rooftops!

Why? Well, why not? I’m just tired of you.  I’m tired of always having to go to you; you have never once come to me. I’m constantly waiting for you; there are always other people ahead of me.  You’re so unhealthy for me; all the empty calories, the accessories you need just to pretend to be good for me. Not to mention, you can’t even get my name right! I’m sorry, it’s over.

With Café Latte, I never have to leave my house. It shows up right on my door and is even polite enough to ring the doorbell.  When I wake up in the morning, I know they’ll still be there.  Any time I want I can have it. I don’t have to worry about deciding if I want Venti or Grande, 2 shots or 3; my biggest decision is do I want it in a shaker or a glass.  Café Latte is all natural, I get all the vitamins and minerals I need and I get all the energy I need without the caffeine crash.  How’s that for performance?

Oh did I mention that Café Latte is helping me save money? We’re saving money for a tropical vacation! Now that I’m spending less than 4 dollars a day, instead of the 7 dollars I would have to give you every day.  And, oh yeah, I’ve already lost 20 pounds drinking my Shakeology, I don’t think you have ever done that for me. So Starbucks, it was nice knowing you.

Kisses!

Lizz

Birthday Calories Don’t Exist

Posted in Honesty, Learning, Motivation, Weight loss by

I came back last night from a weekend away with my friends. A weekend that just happened to coincide with my birthday. A weekend, smack dab in the middle of a 21 day fix round.  Usually on these weekends we gourge ourselves with food and alcohol. Usually I come back a handful of pounds heavier and feeling badly about myself. Not. This. Time!

I prepared myself in advance. I meal prepped what I wanted to eat for the long weekend and brought my food with me. Having Celiac usually means I have to bring a ton of my own food with me anyways, so this wasn’t a shocker to my friends.

I made breakfast bags- I measured out a cup of spinach, a cup of mushrooms and onions, and a cup of peppers- to be sautéed and put over eggs.  I packed a lunch of an English muffin, turkey bacon, guac and deli turkey to be eaten with cut up fruits and veggies.  Dinners were gluten free pasta with veggies and mozzarella and burrito bowls of quinoa, beans, chicken, corn, peppers, and onions.  I had my Shakeology shake every day.  I did my almost best to snack healthy- apples and peanut butter (okay maybe too much peanut butter), yogurt, veggies, chips with salsa and guac.  I tried to drink my water, but we know how bad I am at that.

I got up Friday morning and worked out, thank goodness for my laptop and Beachbody on Demand, I got to Cize it up for a half hour. I also got to chase around a toddler a lot, so I got some running in, until I twisted my ankle.

I went into this with the best of intentions. I know they say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” although I didn’t follow it to hell, I did take a few detours.  I enjoyed my chips and guac, I enjoyed my apples and peanut butter, I enjoyed my cheese and crackers, and I enjoyed the peanut m&m’s that kept winding up in front of me. The night of my birthday I had made a shake with alcohol in it and had one double chocolate sea salt macaroon. My will isn’t the strongest, but it’s not the weakest.

There were many times I wanted to cave and eat all the cookies someone gave my for my bday or drink more than one alcoholic drink.  I wanted to bury my face in my jar of peanut butter long after the apples work gone or find more crackers to eat with the cheese that was still there, but I didn’t. I reminded myself of my goal and the strength I do have.   I reminded myself that you can still have fun without alcohol and food and I did just that, had fun.

I stepped on the scale today with no deal breaking expectations. I knew that whatever the scale said was what it was and I would just move forward.  I was up just over a pound. I danced, I celebrated!  I don’t care that it’s a gain, because had this been last year the scale would have been up more than that. I would have eaten everything I could get my hands on.

I know how far I’ve come.

Falling off the Wagon

Posted in Confession, Weight loss by

Confession: This. $hit. Is. Hard!

If it wasn’t hard, everyone would be doing it. Everyone would be skinny. Everyone would be healthy.

It’s February 1st and it’s a Monday.  That means it’s a new day, a new month, a new week… I was reminded of this by my best friend today and my response was “F@*k you Monday.”  That’s the kind of mood I’m in today.

I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen off the wagon, and climbed back on, and fallen off again. Actually, I’m pretty sure the wagon has left without me. Whenever I mention a wagon I immediately get drawn back to my late 80s/early 90s childhood and that game that Oregon Trail. I feel like I’m at the point where you have to forge the river and turn you wagon into a boat; someone always falls out the deeper the water is.

“Lizz has fallen off of the wagon and drowned”

I could use a couple life preservers right now.  I know I’m buoyant and come with my own flotation devices, but if someone could toss me a life preserver that would be great.  Yeah yeah, I should have been wearing my life jacket but orange is so not my color (hence why I have yet to be caught and thrown into jail).

In all seriousness, losing weight is not easy. Blogging about it is hard too… the date is actually February 14th and I’ve been trying to finish my first blog post for 13 days.

It’s Valentine’s Day, I’m currently sitting at home doing my version of “Netflix and Chill.” I’m drinking a nice ice cold Chocolate PB Banana Shakeology while binge watching Supernatural in fleece leggings because its currently 7 degrees out, yes 7!

I’m here because I need to be. I need to document my journey and hold myself accountable and share my triumphs and struggles.  So going forward, I’m back on the wagon!  It’s a slow wagon so if you want to follow me or walk beside me you totally can!

So let’s get this party started!