I stepped on the scale and then I stepped back off. I picked up the scale and examined it—to make sure it wasn’t broken or anything of that nature. I turned if off and then I turned it back on again (it was one of those new digital ones…fancy). Then, I stepped back on and back off again. This scale sucks! Yep, that’s exactly what I thought as it sunk in that I was at my heaviest weight ever–approximately 48 lbs overweight for my height (5’2”). However, I haven’t been 120lbs. since the 3rd grade. Nor am I seeking to lose 48lbs. I’ve never been skinny and have always been considered “thick” in my culture, which…funny enough, is a good thing. But, the extra weight has me feeling a little sluggish and unfit.
So, since stepping on the scale (exactly two weeks ago), I decided to commence on this fitness journey…to “live the fit life” or at least try to by attempting to exercise and eat right. My goal is to lose 23lbs and tone up. I’ve been taking a boxing class and I joined the gym. I have been working out (30 minutes on the treadmill…walk first 5 minutes at 3.2…jog next 15 minutes at 4.8/5.0…set incline to 7 and speed to 3.8 for 5 minutes…incline back to 0 and walk 3.8 the remaining 5 minutes) and 15 minutes on the Elliptical.
Diet wise, I’ve made small changes by substituting healthier food choices over those I regularly eat and crave:
1) Frozen Yogurt (low fat, no sugar) in lieu of Ice Cream
2) Whole Grain/Wheat bread in lieu of White Bread
3) Fish in lieu of Ground Beef/Pork
4) Diet Soda in lieu Regular Soda
And possibly the hardest substitute I’ve made…
5) Spilt Tea (sweet & unsweet) in lieu of 100% Sweet Tea
I was raised in the South, Kentucky to be more specific, and the one staple in a “Southern” refrigerator is a large pitcher of sweet tea (spring, summer, winter, fall)…right next to the Zip-Lock bag of deer meat. And it’s not “good” sweet tea if it doesn’t taste like syrup! I really, really did try to drink a cup of unsweet tea and couldn’t bear it. It’s spilt tea for now!
Also, just to mention, from what I’ve read nutritionists and fitness gurus all agree that cutting added/refined sugar out of your diet can result in weight loss and prevent weight gain. Here’s an article you can check out for a little bit of inspiration. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/how-cutting-out-refined-sugar-changed-one-womans-life
With all of the above…drum roll please…exercising regularly over the last two weeks in addition to the small changes I made in my diet….I’ve lost 4lbs!
Let’s hope I don’t gain it all back tomorrow…Thanksgiving Day! I know…I know…terrible time to all of a sudden decide to make such a huge lifestyle change. Guess we’ll see how I do…next weigh-in is in two weeks, but I’ll be blogging in between time.
Best-
Brown Belle Fitness
Brown Belle Fitness 