No Zero Days

I can change.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Week Two.

I hope you read of my wonderful week I posted about recently. I think I’m still excited about everything I have accomplished, however, it’s still only been one week. Luckily, the excitement is pushing me towards a second week of victory. I just finished meal prepping for the remainder of my week here at home. However, my concern lies in the fact that I am traveling for work this week and will be in Halifax Thursday and Friday. I am currently unsure of my plan of attack. On the money front: I have been extremely diligent and in control of my spending. I have no idea where this self-control has come from but I am embracing it fully. I’m currently planning a Christmas budget and that has never happened before. Trust me.

[nozerodays-blog1]

I'm Sorry.

It has been several weeks since I wrote on this blog. Talk about no zero days. Ha! Apparently I'm great at that.

The truth: it hasn't been great up until last Thursday. I was really struggling with life. A lot of fast food. A lot of wasted money. A lot of napping.

Then, Thursday happened. I assume it was an accumulation of the previous events. I had just read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover for the second time (the first time during college and I was unable to see how I could start the Debt Free mindset and be successful in my program.) I knew this was a journey I wanted to start, but was I ready?

I had been talking to a friend from overseas about weight loss. I don't know why, but eventually when that person arrives here I have always wanted to make sure that I was in good shape to share a proper Canadian winter with him.

I had a conversation with Jenn about what my life would be like if I had gotten everything I wanted years ago. The truth? I love my job. I love that I have a career. It sucked - but things really worked out for me. For who I am meant to be. I had an epiphany about where I am in life.

Then, Thursday arrived. I was supposed to be heading straight to my parents place for the long weekend. My brother was in town with me and I wasn't feeling well - the usual autumn cold. My apartment was messy.

My brother mentioned something about moving in and how he wouldn't be okay with living like "this". Whatever that was.

I think I was a mess.

My brother left. Band practice.

I started cleaning. I don't know why. I cleaned every room but my bedroom.

I made a budget. I had just gotten paid.

I packed up my things for going to visit the parents for the long weekend.

I went to bed.

Things were different.

I was home for the weekend. I planned recipes for the week.

Sunday; I came back home.

This week has been incredible. Talk about no zero days.

I have eaten every meal I prepared.

I have bought zero outside food.

I have stuck to my budget.

I was productive.

I have lost 7 pounds.

I have an emergency fund of $412.82.

I am READY. I am going to kick life in the butt. I have no idea what happened, and I don't care.

NO ZERO DAYS.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Exercise @ Work?

Today was a long, fun, tough day.

Seriously. 

I love the Halifax library. However, today was the first time I walked there. It was uphill. Fine. I was walking with a Deaf individual - signing/conversing. Fine-ish. Walking 4 flights of stairs inside the library. I'm done. Of course, to get home I did it all in reverse.

Actually, every time I really get a workout - like this - I feel so great immediately following. Then I'm sore and that feeling of accomplishment disappears.

I'm writing this to remind myself that it's worth the pain.

It is worth it -- you will be glad you did.

No zero days.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Business.

"Are you here on business or pleasure?"

"Business."

Guys, how cool am I? I love my job. I love that I have a career and I am working in the field that I have been educated in. My job is hard, and my job is rewarding. I am happy.

This week I am in Halifax for work. I lived here for 4 long years. I loved it. Then, I needed to go. Things happened. It was time. Oh, and God clearly had a plan.

Food wise. This week will be mediocre. I think it's good to accept that, now. My breakfast and lunch are provided - and are decently healthy. (A huge salad bar with lemon poppy seed dressing - heck, yes!) However, supper I am on my own and I want to catch up with friends! I need to make healthy decisions - it's about the socializing, and fueling my body.

I have decided to add "Self-care" as a priority for my professional development plan. If I'm not healthy and active - no one benefits. It's not only about me.

No zero days.

[nozerodays-blog1]

One week later.

I was healthy this week - 90% of the time. Sure, I didn’t fully commit, and that needs work. However, I did finish my all of my planned meals. That was impressive. I also ate ice cream and girl guide cookies - but, I ate healthy meals.

I need to be better at keeping you in the loop - or writing consistently. I think I will try for that, this week. I am headed to Halifax on work from Tuesday - Friday. I am almost nervous. I don’t know why, but my life has drastically changed since I have taken this job. I feel almost, peaceful. I hope this visit doesn’t have adverse affects on my “progress”.

Oh yeah, I lost 3 more pounds this week. Thank you - 8 million steps at work. :)

Total progress: 18.2 lbs!

[nozerodays-blog1]

Meal planning works. Today, I actually bought groceries, prepped, cooked and packed them up for lunches. This week: more loss, better health!

[nozerodays-blog1]

Success.

It's September 30th, and just like that - 15.2 lbs off! First #celebration! No turning back. No zero days!

[nozerodays-blog1]

MONEY.

What is my deal? I have a problem with money. I am just not great at managing it. I try to say, "I'm trying", but let's be realistic: I am me. I am not good at self-control, remember. Hence, like everything else, I cannot control my spending habits.

It's frustrating. For me. For my parents (who have helped me through my last 3 years of college when I am out...). For me, when my parents get on my back. It's a never ending cycle of frustration, and I'm the root.

Then, do you know how it ends? I eat. I spend more money.

I don't understand why this cycle exists. At some point in life, when everyone learns how to say 'no', I didn't. What I do understand: I need to stop this cycle.

I have too much debt, too much fat, too much frustration.

I have goals, The truth: I don't want this. I want financial freedom. I want fat freedom.

I want no zero days.

The first step: good, healthy meal planning = healthy eating + less spending on food.

Also, I'm going to work on a budget through everydollar.com. Cash, too.

I am headed home to visit my family for the weekend. Then? I am rocking this first week of hardcore meal planning. NO ZERO DAYS.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Boots.

I am a lover of Winter. Fall too, actually. Honestly, I love every season.

Here is the issue...every season but Summer has boots.

Wonderful brown boots to frolic in the leaves in Autumn.

Cozy winter boots with thick warm socks in the Winter.

Bright yellow boots for jumping puddles in the Spring.

The real problem is... boots + my legs = never.

Decidedly, this is the LAST September I will not have beautiful boots to keep me warm, and fashionable.

Welcome to my reality. Now, watch me change.

[nozerodays-blog1]

3 Days To Go.

Yes, I had set a goal for the end of September. Do you remember? I wanted 15 pounds off before October 1, 2016.

Guess what? I am only 1.6lbs from that goal. I am feeling: wonderful.

Yes, I am so far from being under 200 pounds, in that amazing "one-derland" but - this girl is 13.4lbs closer to it.

This is the last time I start. This is the time I succeed.

No zero days.

[nozerodays-blog1]

To my readers...

A. I have recently relocated to a new city and have yet to purchase internet. With that knowledge, please understand that no zero days doesn't fully apply to my writing habits. Perhaps, in the future.

B. With that being said... I have not had no zero days completely. Unfortunately, I am not amazing at self-control, as aforementioned.

C. I am still trying.

D. I'm not delusional. I know I only have 3 readers at the most. Still, this post is for you. ;)

E. I need to have visual motivators placed in my home... and I need to consumed by this. Maybe that is my problem? Please share ideas.

[nozerodays-blog1]

My Why?

I believe this is a post I have to write. Also, it is probably the last thing I ever want to put on paper. I like to believe that I want to lose weight for me, and honestly, I do want to be healthy. However - do you know why I want to be in shape/healthy? Tonight, I was sitting in church and there was so many young families sitting in front of me. Their children all dressed for church, the wives looking beautiful and the husbands dressed well. They were there... Happy, and worshipping God together. Doing life together. I don't want to do life alone. That's for real. That's my why.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Late Night Snacking.

This has always, ALWAYS been my struggle. Really, food is, but this time of day is always the hardest time to say, “no!”.

I can remember as a young girl I would sneak chips out of the cupboard and into my room (or my brothers) to snack.

I was always proud I never got caught…

Then teenager me received my license. Late night trips to fast food restaurants with friends never got old.

It was always just for fun, right?

College + Stress = The worst eating habits! Ridiculous all nighters and eating whatever I could find.

It didn’t matter that I ate constantly - it was helping me concentrate.

Now?

I have a LOT of time to cook at home. Sadly, I even enjoy cooking and eating good food.

But… then I’m driving home from church - and I want to eat “something good”… So, I stop at a drive-thru and pick up a sub. Why not?

What I must remember – even if the food isn’t the worst ever, although it is – once I eat, it’s time for sleep. That’s the problem.

It’s over. No food after supper. No - zero food after 6:30 PM.

That’s a rule.

[nozerodays-blog1]

I'm ready to WIN.

[nozerodays-blog1]

Out of shape.

How does a fat person know they’re out of shape? One could assume that I should have always felt that way. It’s not true.

For many years, I felt healthy. I know - I was fat - how is that possible? Like I said, I had always been fat. I was/am successful in most areas in my life. I have a great career and it was a lot of work to get there. I have a semi-thriving social life and group of people I can always count on. I have an apartment and I have a car. Truthfully – the one place I feel like I haven’t excelled at is love… (and to be honest my feeling is my weight is the main obstacle there.)

Now. I am noticing stairs more. Tiredness is showing up. I’m not as “in shape” as I was. Now, I'm getting concerned. Now, I have to make a change to be in shape. Of course, I want to be more in shape than I ever was. Truth: I want to be a runner. Is it possible? I guess you'll be the first to know. :)

[nozerodays-blog1]

Saying NO.

Maybe that's what I should have called this blog. I have the hardest time with self-control. AM: I start driving to work and realize I have 30 minutes until school starts. I'm hungry. I keep driving until I'm turning into Burger King for breakfast. I can hear my internal conversation. Wanna-be-healthy-me: "You don't need this." Fat-kid-me: "...but I will be so hungry!" Wanna-be-healthy-me: "Hunger is better than feeding yourself this." I'm proud, guys. I kept driving and came right back to work. Sure, I'm looking forward to lunch already - but I did it. I said: NO. I need more practice at that, it definitely doesn't happen enough.

[nozerodays-blog1]

#Goals.

I have an ideal weight in mind. It is far beyond imaginable at this point - the starting line. It would be the same as a person saying "hey, I want to run a marathon" and they haven't tried running 5k. The best way to do this is to make small, manageable time lines and set realistic expectations.

So, let's do that.

I had the number 50 in mind for Christmas. Then I decided - that is 4 months without a celebration, and I think I can do more than that.

Therefore, my current goal is:15 pounds down by the end of September.

It may seem crazy -  but I believe it is possible.

Now, we just have to see.