Last week, when I did my monthly Shaklee 180 video, I decided that in order to break through that plateau I’ve been experiencing, I’d start reporting to you weekly! Let me tell you, I can’t believe a week has already gone by! I have been known to say “time goes by quicker, the more kids you have” and I’m starting to believe that wholeheartedly! But, that just means I need to make the most of my time even more!
Now, let’s talk about how I did this week…..
How I Ate
I began logging my food again. That was eye opening. I had heard about the calorie creep when you stop logging your calories, but I didn’t realize how much I was allowing mine to creep up! I was beginning to snack too much. I’m slowly getting that under control again and choosing more fruits and vegetables and less carbs.
My favorite Shaklee 180 smoothie is as follows:
- 1.5 cups of almond milk – 45 calories
- 1 cup of fresh or frozen spinach – 10 calories
- 2 scoops of Shaklee Chocolate (or vanilla) powder – 170 calories
- 1 T unsweetened cocoa – 10 calories
- 1 small banana (approximately) 90 calories
- 1 cup of frozen strawberries – 45 calories
Total Calories: 370 delicious calories. I really love this one because I’m still able to get my chocolate fix in, helping to suppress my cravings a little!
What Got Me Moving?
My husband. 🙂 Ha. He’s gotten some evil looks this week while we were bike riding! He’s good at pushing me. I’m not always so gracious about being pushed. I guess my subconscious self wants him to baby me and tell me it’s OK not to work so hard. We have been bike riding as a family a lot late and while it was all my idea, he likes to encourage myself to push a little harder. Something I definitely need, but don’t agree that I need it until after the ride is over. 🙂 I’m definitely a wimp when it comes to pushing myself!
When we’re not bike riding, we’re walking and I also try to get my T-tapp video in several times a week. I think this past week, I’ve walked 3 times, biked twice and did my T-tapp video once. So…I’m definitely improving in the exercise department!
Let Me Tell You About My Struggles
I have 2 main struggles. I still adore soda, specifically Dr. Pepper or Pepsi. I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I feel like I’m not living if I don’t get it. Sounds sick I know. There is no replacement for it. Not Diet soda, not kombucha, not seltzer water and juice. Nothing. Nada. So, I just do without it as much as I can stand and then I excitedly schedule some into my day (by allowing for the calories). I sometimes feel I’d do better if I weren’t doing that, but this is a slow learning process.
My 2nd struggle. Sometimes I feel like the progress is too slow. Like if it’s going to take this long, then why bother? I’ve lost 21 pounds and counting and I can hardly tell it when I look in the mirror. You know what I discovered? It’s a lot more noticeable in the picture! I hadn’t been taking before and after pictures very faithfully, but I did get one in this month and I will post it below. I do get frustrated because I’m still in the same size. I remember this the last time I successfully lost weight. I think I can be in the same size for 40 pounds. It’s crazy! I see other people in the Shaklee 180™ blogger program with me, losing the same amount and their clothes are falling off. I’m excited for them, but I’d sure love that to happen to me!
Let Me Tell You About my Successes
- I do have something to be excited about! For starters, a pair of jean shorts that were too tight last year, fit me this year! That was exciting!
- I can see a definite improvement in my before and after pictures. At the beginning of the program, I was too embarrassed to show you the side view because of how large my tummy was. Now that it’s shrinking, I’m thrilled to show the results so far. Plus, I’m starting to not care what people think. I hope that’s a good thing. LOL
A week prior to starting the program, someone had asked me when my baby was due. It makes sense. I do have 6 kids, so why wouldn’t she be pregnant, especially if she looks it? I assured the kind older man with a pot belly that I was not pregnant. (I don’t sound bitter do I?) 🙂 In his defense, even I thought that I looked pregnant when I looked in the mirror that morning. I told him that and told him that I was about to start on this awesome new weight loss program. He apologized profusely, said something about how he needs to lose weight, too and I’m honestly not holding a grudge, because it was true. I did look it and still sometimes do. But that’s why I’m working on it, right? Here’s my before and after pictures from March and June. I’m not seeing a big difference in the front view, but I’m seeing a big one on the side view.
How Did I Do on My Goals?
- Write down my food – Getting better, still not at 100% yet
- Hire a trainer – Not yet and I may wait since I seem to be doing OK in the exercise department.
- Exercise more often – Yes ma’am
My Goals for Next Week Are:
- Continue logging my food and tracking calories on a daily basis.
- Find some easy and yet different snacks I can get excited about.
- Exercise 5x next week. I’m saying 5 because I will be going out of town for 2 days.
What about you? Are you working on improving your health by exercising more and eating healthier? I’d love to hear how you’re doing!*
**I’m working on putting together a weekly Get Healthy link up (again) for any of you who are interested in linking your blog posts and results! Coming soon…..
This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating in the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. My opinions are my own. I am also a Shaklee Independent Distributor. People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2
pounds per week.