Yesterday was Officer BF's nephew's wedding. I didn't feel 100% confident or particularly beautiful in the red dress I wore. It clung to my body, with its thin fabric, and although it didn't rest on my belly, when the fabric grazed my skin I could see cellulite. Eye opener! Thaaaaat's gotta GO!
Before going to the reception, I changed to a skirt and form-fitting (yet flattering) teal sweater, and felt a lot less self-conscious about my appearance. I danced more than I would have, had I not changed attire, even if it were mostly on the sidelines...I wanted to dance in the middle of the dance floor more, but recognizing less than a tenth of those in attendance made me shy.
I miss going to the bar / club (I rarely drink) with my sister and her friends...moreso, I miss being with MY friends...I just want someone to cut loose with. I just want a social atmosphere to dance. Makes me look forward to next September when Perky gets married, its going to be such a blast to see them!
On Facebook I just read a Buzzfeed article (http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/shape-up-tips), and the tip on #4 really resonated with me..."You don’t have to be good at it, you just have to do it." Another good tip is making sure you workout for a minimum of 30 minutes or 3-miles EVERY day. I have a terrible habit of falling off of the fitness wagon if I give myself a break...one day off becomes 2 days, then easily becomes weeks and months. I'm always going to struggle with keeping weight off, its in my genetics, and I can't fight that...but maybe if I can get ahead of it, and set realistic goals, then I can keep them..? Its a lot to ask. It shouldn't be, but it is. I'm the person that doesn't continue a journal day after day. I'm the one that starts counting calories for 3-7 days and usually puts it off 'til its a forgotten memory (or worse, I remember and STILL put it off..). This cycle won't get any easier, unless I work harder!
Someday, I certainly hope he wants to marry me...and there's NO WAY that I want to look or feel like THIS! I want to be confident, sexy, and happy in my skin in those pictures I will cherish forever. I don't want to look back on them and resent fat arms, a wide middle, or damned double chins! I also don't want to reach my goal, then look back on those pictures and pine for when I was a fox, the way I envy my 16 yr old self!
I want to be happy and proud of my self for the rest of my years. I can't keep putting things off. I can't continue this struggle. I MUST make a difference:
1) I've already started eating better (no fast food, all home made) for the last 3 weeks.
2) I've already quit eating the store bought pizzas that my boyfriend still buys, and don't often eat carbs (pastas, white breads, white rice).
3) I drink tons of water. I have cut out about 85% or more of sugary drinks. I will stop using artificial sweeteners as well.
4) 2 days ago I loaded a pedometer to help me on the goal of taking 10,000 steps per day.
5) I almost never eat ANYTHING 4 hours before bedtime. Most websites recommend "nothing past 7pm", however, working Graveshifts (on my second job of the day), isn't an option for me since I wake up each day around 2pm-ish. I quit eating / drinking anything beyond WATER after 3am.
6) I will do Zumba or some kind of cardio for a minimum of 30 minutes, daily, especially if I don't get 10,000 steps for that day.
7) I am looking in to the reviews for a wearable fitness device, like Jawbone Up24 or the FitBit instead of the pedometer which counts steps, sleep patterns, calorie counter, weight tracker. The Works!).
8) I'm getting back in to the swing of starting the day with a smoothie or just a piece of fruit for breakfast (AND always eating breakfast).
9) I will start packing nutritious snacks, and portioning out all snacks into bags according to serving size, so they are grab-and-go.
10) Must purge the fridge and cupboards of all junk food. No more self-inflicted obstacles or distractions!
So I already do 1-5. Introducing 6-10 is a great goal for myself! Now, I'm going to get up off my butt, step away from the computer, turn on some great YouTube Zumba videos (which is how I lost weight last time I made progress), and get to it! No time like the present!
