Healthy ME :)

Yo Yo Yo!! 

I hope everyone is doing great, Its Monday and I wanted to kick this week off with an update on my current weight loss mission. Those of you clicked up with my FaceBook Page , Twitter and Instagram know that I have recently been striving to reach my weight loss goals. I've been going strong for two weeks now, and I couldn't be any prouder. Its been a task for me to eat healthy six times a day, and control my portions. For those of you who know me, you know I heart FOOD. It's so hard to keep it all under control, especially because I love to cook.  

This time around I'm really determined to count my calories and control my portions. 

Two weeks ago I topped the scale at 163lbs my highest weight in my life. I stand 5 5' and I've always weighed between 135-140lbs. Before & after having kids, my pants size remained a size 9, but somewhere between August 2011 and present time  my weight has led me here. It definitely creeps up on you! I swear I didn't see this coming, since my pants size have remained the same. 

My current goal now is to get back to my normal weight. I'm currently striving to reach my weight goal, which is 140lbs. Once I get there, I'm going to strive for 130lbs.  I did not want to start off with an unrealistic goal, and then throw it out the window. These days I'm taking it pretty slow, day by day. I try not to think about it too much. The one thing that has always discouraged me in the past is my patience to see results. I am so impatient, I give up because I don't see  results as quick as I want to. Then I had this whole mentality to where "I can eat what I want, and then work it off" as you can see, that is NOT workin for me. I'm trying different approaches this time, aiming to live a more healthy lifestyle and keeping this weight off for good.

The toughest part about moving forward is the motivation to start, so instead of scheduling a time to start, one day I said "I'm gonna do this shit starting today!". On Wed, April 11'th I began counting all of my calories and logging all of my food. I have had some opportunities to "Cheat", but I can proudly say that I've only had the urge to do so once or twice. I have to pat myself on the back, because I haven't consumed any alcohol, and I LOVE BEER. I don't appreciate the effect that Beer has done for my gut over time though, so I have cut back. I have also kept it strictly WATER, no coffee, sodas or juice.

Here are a few other things I have done in order to help encourage myself....

Pre-Pack Your Lunch :)

I've made it a point to pre-pack a healthy lunch every day.

My lunches usually include a Veggie and a Fruit, healthy snacks like Rice Cakes & Lots of H2O.

Mainly Low Calorie and Healthy stuff. Its saved me a crap load of money and has taught me to eat small portions and healthy stuff through out the day, instead of going to McDonald's or the vending machine to grab a candy bar.

Keep a Journal :)

In order to keep me motivated and encouraged I write in my Journal. 

I like to jot down my thoughts and ambitions, where I want to be and the things I do in order to reach my goals. As a Mom, things are so hectic, I find it so therapeutic to write not only about my weight loss goals, but just about life in general. Writing is very essential to my soul, its something I do, even ten years outta high school lol. 

Inside these pages, I also like to post motivational quotes, for those days that I feel like I want to give up. In the end, it my choice, do I want to succeed or do I want to fail?

Download a Fitness App

In order to help aid me with my weight loss, I also count my calories through this app on my phone.

MyFitnessPal is a great app to have on hand, it allows you to log every meal that you consume, and also has a wide variety of Calorie information on any type of food. It also lets you input the excercise that you have completed during your day, so that you can track your weight loss progress over a period of time.

Surround Yourself with Positive & Encouraging Individuals 

Its always great to surround myself with other Women who are taking the plunge into a healthy and fit lifestyle. Who wants to be surrounded by negative downers at a time when your goin for the gold? I find encouragement and motivation seeing others strive for the same things that I too strive for. Each of our situations are special and unique..In any aspect we are all Women aiming for a Healthy and Happy lifestyle.

Here are a few of my favorite fitness blogs and inspirational weight loss buddies :)

Check them OUT!

Makeup By Lacy

JRose

DGS Beauty

Beauty and The Brute

MakeupbyMommaGeeFanPage

COACHJULEZ

Makeup Artistry By LJ

Shine or Set

Create a Pinboard on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great place to find daily motivation. Its filled with so many success stories, before and afters, even healthy food and recipes. I have found so much motivation just browsing through all the great exercise tips and fitness ideas that float around there. It has deff inspired me to keep going and to never give up. 

I came across this amazing Pin on Pinterest. This is the most inpiring story I've ever seen!

Check out her inpiring story on her blog Shine or Set

Inpirational stories like these are what give me hope!

Photo Property of ShineOrSet.Com

Do you have a Pinterest acct?

Find me under "Wifezilla Hekela"

Good Fitness Reads :)

Im not one for the hottest gossip in hollywood, or keepin up with the Kardashians.

I do however LOVE to read about stuff that will actually benefit me and my well being. I've always been an avid magazine reader. As a teenager I would rush to the grocery store to pick up YM and Seventeen. These days I read dorky magazines like TIME, Family Circle, Women's Health, Cosmo and Fitness. Next time you're in the grocery store or pharmacy, grab some good reads! They are filled with so much info and tips to stay fit.

Vitamins, Take Them!

I always make it a point to take my vitamins, mainly for the fact that I have such a busy life with work, family and life in general. I need my immunity as well as my energy. Last week I stopped in to my local GNC and picked up these Vita Packs, they are filled with Multi Vitamins to help aid me with my weightloss as well as my energy.

FIND TIME!

I'm always so busy and have really put all of my exercising and gym trips on the back burner. Its no wonder that I am where I am at this very moment. I know what I've always known and that is to "Always MAKE time". If I don't make time to work out, its never going to happen, so as each day passes I find the time to squeeze in whatever I can. On my lunch hours I've been walking a Mile everyday, it doesn't seem like much, but its way better than nothing, I know if I keep it up, it will slowly show me results. I also make an effort to get some running & cardio in after my work shift. I don't get there everyday like I hoped I would, BUT the fact is that I am trying and making an effort. 

The weekends arent as time constricted as my week days, so I'm always trying to squeeze in a workout. The last few weekends I have incorporated my children in my workouts. I run with my son at our local track, or around our local lake. Even at home I aim to teach my girl's some Martial Arts and some group exercises in our living room. Improvise! Gotta Improvise! aha

All of these steps in conjunction with eating right, and throwing some exercise in will do me some good, I just have to be patient and not give up. I have been on the weight loss train many times and proved successful with NO EXERCISE. I know this time around will be proven more effective because I'm pulling all of my resources together now :) 

Its now or never...

Do or Die...

ahaha

What are some of the things you do to help keep you motivated?

Thoughts and Ideas?