Slip Slidin' Away...

OOPS!  I did it.

Last week, I went on a three day bender....with sugar...my kryptonite.

But the positive thing, was that I snapped out of it in time so that I didn't do any MAJOR damage.  The worst thing was that I physically felt like a big bag of shit.

The most important thing we all need to realize is that we are human, and we will slip up from time to time.  Everybody does...and if they say they don't...they are LYING!

I've gotten back into eating super clean, and I feel good.  Other than my sleep schedule being a tad screwed up, I'm doing great.  Last week I really tried hard to put my sleep therapist's advice into reality.  Out of the 6 days so far since seeing her, I have done what I've been told for four of them.  We also discussed the fact that my body is still trying to adjust to having no Seroquel - yes believe it or not, that bad boy can stay in your system for up to a year!  So if I don't sleep from time to time...no biggie.

Brian has been helping me out a lot with my lunches that I take to work.  Here is an awesome salad he made me the other day.  It's got quinoa, cous cous, chick peas and veggies in it.  I couldn't even get through half of it because it was so filling!

I've also been incorporating sweet potatoes into my diet.  And...have been wheat free for...drumroll please...FOUR DAYS!  Yeah I know - it's not very long...but for me, it's eternity!  I don't feel much of a difference yet, but I'm sure I will be reaping the benefits pretty soon!

I also had a great week fitness-wise.  When I started my workout on Thursday evening last week, I walked by a bin that was sitting over by the spin bikes...I looked in the bin and lo and behold this is what I found!!

For those of you that don't know what this is, it's a TRX.  It's used for full body weight suspension training.  It's amazing what you can do with one of these babies.  I hadn't used a TRX in about 7 months, so I was definitely excited to pull it out and set it up and get working out on it.  I spent a good 30-40 minutes, re-acquainting myself with it.  I showed it to Jeanette two days later and she quite liked it too.  I am defintely going to add this into my workout program!

So...for the next week...my three goals are:

1.  Continue eating clean.

2.  Don't stress about the sleep issue

3.  Check out this new yoga studio in Lake Bonavista.  It's a Iyengar Yoga Studio - my therapist recommended it.  My joints sure could use it!

96...

Yup!  The title is correct!  As of this past Friday, I am down 96 lbs!  I'm so close to 100lbs down that I can taste it.  I'm so freakin excited, that every time I think about it, I just smile from ear to ear.  I've been working really hard - on both my nutrition and my exercise so it all makes sense.

I wish I could just round it up...lol  But then that would be cheating right?  ;-P

On a different subject - those of you who do not know - we lost a member of our pet family last week.  My beautiful leo gecko passed away peacefully last Wednesday morning.  I had her for 10 years and she was such a neat pet.  I will miss her greatly - I still find myself feeling a bit sad when I come home and see her empty tank.  It's always hard to let a pet go...but I keep telling myself - that nothing lives forever...and that she is at peace. 

I saw my therapist yesterday.  She invited a "Sleep Psychologist" to my session.  She had a lot of great ideas about ways that I can help deal with my chronic insomnia issues.  One of them was trying to not fall asleep in front of the TV - and to just head up to bed as soon as I feel tired.  Well I did just that last night and it worked!  I slept right through to Brian's alarm.  We also had a chance to talk about my sleep medications - which I am very proud to say I'm only on ONE now...NO MORE SEROQUEL!!  As of the 20th of this month, I will have been off it for a full 30 days.  I still take the Trazadone, but was told that it's okay. 

I've also been making large changes with my nutrition - I've been really cutting back hard on the wheat in my diet and have been noticing the benefits of that.  I've been looking into the Paleo Diet and the Primal Diet - both of which intrigue me.  I have been leaning a little more towards the Primal as it allows certain types of dairy - i.e. cheese, natural yogurt etc.  While I don't eat a heck of a lot of cheese, I do eat my share of yogurt.  There are so many things to think about - whatever I do decide to do, I will make sure I do it slowly!

I'm feeling stronger and more in control of my life...and I LOVE it!

I Used To Be...Now I Am...And I WIll Be!

I USED TO BE just a person that would try the gym out once in January when all of the other "resolutioners" would attend.
NOW I AM a regular gym goer - I go at least 5-6 times a week.
AND I WILL continue with this regular routine and continue to motivate people by example.

I USED TO BE a quiet introvert, who stayed home as much as I could...
NOW I AM an extrovert most times who is like a social butterfly upon leaving her cocoon.
AND I WILL BE a strong, forthright individual, whom is not afraid to face the world.

I USED TO BE a tired, depressed girl who would flop on the couch when I got home from work, and watch TV and stuff my face.
NOW I AM a girl who never sits still.
AND I WILL BE a girl who will be able to balance BOTH work (fitness) and play into my life.

I USED TO BE a girl who ate garbage and my cupboards prooved it.
NOW I AM proud to have nutritious, wholesome foods in my house.
AND I WILL BE able to continue to make the same good food choices and feel good about it.

I USED TO BE an agreeable sort and never disagree with anyone...
NOW I AM a person who stands up for what I believe is right for me and for the good of others.
AND I WILL BE one to continue to do so.

I USED TO BE invisible....
Now I AM very visible.
AND I WILL BE visible and comfortable in my new body.

I USED TO BE a person who walked hunched and never made eye contact...
NOW I AM an individual who walks with confidence, head up, shoulders back and eye contact with a smile.
AND I WILL BE one who continues to do so.

I USED TO BE a person others scorned or ridiculed...
NOW I AM someone that others respect.
AND WILL BE someone others admire.

I USED TO BE an object of pity...
NOW I AM that no more.
AND I WILL BE never again.

I USED TO BE someone who would buy clothes to hide my body behind...
NOW I AM someone who doesn't mind shopping for new clothes for myself.
AND WILL BE someone who buys clothes that actually fit.

I USED TO BE classified as morbidly obese...
NOW I AM just obese.
AND I WILL BE a normal healthy weight and BMI.

I USED TO BE a size 32
NOW I AM a size 18-20
AND I WILL BE a size 16 very soon.

I USED TO BE 360 lbs.
NOW I AM  lbs. 269 lbs
AND I WILL BE 170 lbs.

I USED TO BE someone with a blood pressure of 160/100
NOW I AM someone with a blood pressure of 120/68
AND I WILL BE someone continuing to be successful at keeping my blood pressure down.

I USED TO BE a person who never stopped eating...
NOW I AM a person who stops before she is full.
AND I WILL BE a person who only eats for fuel not pleasure.

I USED TO BE someone I hated.
NOW I AM becoming someone I like.
AND I WILL BE someone whom I love.

I USED TO BE someone who only dreamed of reaching for her goals...
NOW I AM someone who has achieved her goals and created new ones.
AND I WILL BE someone who reaches the stars to become one herself.

WHO DID YOU USE TO BE? WHO ARE YOU NOW? AND WHO WILL YOU BE?
Thank you for your inspiration Angela!  You continue to inspire me EVERY DAY!