This time change is bring me down! I can't wake up on time and I can't go to sleep on time either! It's making me hungry too! I have some major cravings for unhealthy food. Luckily, it hasn't been too hard to keep up the healthy eating. The hard part is eating the correct portions! It's been like the for about 3 days and I've gained 3 lbs in the last week! It's very frustrating! I started my training for the 5K in July and that's been going pretty well... Like a fish on dry land more like! ;) I'm trying to get back into my rhythm, if you know what I mean. The pace, the breathing... At least I have more daylight when I get home from work now. I can go to the park and run and not feel like I'm being stalked. haha.

Grant & I are looking into finding a new local gym. The one I went to was great in terms of equipment & staff but the people and hours weren't so great. I'd have to work out by myself because Grant can't get home in time to work out... and he's not really supportive unless he has a similar goal. He helps a lot in the kitchen with the food prep and portions when we go out to eat. But in regards to exercise... not so much help there. But I can't force him to workout or eat healthy. I've tried and it just brings me down more.

The Iodine Protocol is going pretty well. I did gain 3 lbs in the past week but I'm not sure if that's due to the hunger/bad sleeping habits or if it's due to the iodine therapy. No telling right now. I do have a bit more energy and I can tell I still have detox symptoms (minor headaches, itchy skin, bad acne, mild nausea in the morning/night, etc) but I'm not as cold as I used to be, my skin is not blue white... more like a off white now (color returning - not flush or tan). Overall, I feel happier and less depressed than I used to. I feel like I can do a million things... I'm just still too tired right now. I feel more alert to what's going on but I still wear down fast.

My hair is really thick now and shinier than it used to be. I also switched some of my hair products to more natural ingredients. I use Ulta Sulfate free shampoo/conditioner (big difference there even though not organic or anything), 2chic leave in conditioner/split end remedy + 1/2 pump of treseme split end remedy. The combination stinks but once your hair is dry, you can't smell it. I've switched my deodorant from clinical strength to Crystal (all natural). Since I'm adopted, I don't know if I have a history of breast cancer or not but I decided to switch regardless. Just one less product made with harsh chemicals going into my body. Now if I can only find something to help clear up my skin!!!

I haven't posted near enough in the past week. I'm going to start taking screenshots of my 5K training stuff and posting them after my workouts. I recently bought an iPhone so I can do that now!!! I also have a pushup trainer app (created by the C25K guys) that I'm going to be using for upperbody workouts until I can get in a gym (along with kettlebells).

Goal for this week: GET BACK TO 225!!!

Motivation: 5K & PC Beach!

I have decided to start training for my first 5K!!! I haven't ran in years but I am determined to start back. I found out my church is hosting a 5K in July for their youth group mission trip to Nicaragua. I thought it would be interesting to see how this goes since I've never participated in a 5K before. I'm not in it to place or anything... I just want to accomplish something great that I've never tried before. I just bought new running shoes since my old Under Armor ones are killing me and downloaded the Nike+ & C25K apps for my iPhone. I think it will be interesting to see how this goes. My first run will be this evening... 30 minutes! I'm nervous!

On to a different subject... I've held steady at 225 for almost 2 weeks now. :/ I'm not too happy but at least I'm not gaining it all back. I'm back on my eating schedule and working out again. I've got my Iodine lined out too. I need to find different ways to boost my weight loss so I can keep losing. I think training for the 5K will help boost it again. My biggest fear about this is hurting myself. I have a healed knee injury from high school that always seems to flair up at the most inopportune time.

Anyways... I just wanted to share my little bit of excitement. Happy Monday to all!

A bit of motivation:

Just to let you all know... these are super embarrassing for me to post. I am SO excited that I can see a little change in my body from looking at these pics. But, nevertheless, still embarrassing. I'm a very modest person and do not have a lot of self-confidence so this takes a lot of courage for me to post these. These pics were at various stages of my weight-loss journey. The first pic was taken around January 1st 2013 and at the beginning of the 30-day detox. The last pic was from February 23rd 2013. I listed the weight in each photo. I know the difference isn't very noticeable but it's a difference that I've worked hard for. So, below are the pics:

Some very interesting things happened this weekend. I just wanted to share them and speculate as to why they happened.

1. I got numerous headaches and lightheaded...
• I think this happened because I was not eating and drinking enough. I noticed these things happened late in the day (mid-afternoon - evening). They seems to get a little better after I drank some water and ate some food. The main thing I noticed is that these things only happen during the weekend. I am not as focused on the timing of my eating as I am during the week. That is something that I need to learn from. NOTE: I am not intentionally trying to skip meals nor do I have an eating disorder. I just do not have an appetite and sometimes I do not have time or forget to eat. It happens.
2. I woke up feeling horrible and sickly...
• I think this happened because I stayed up until 1AM and got up at 8AM. It's a 7 hour difference but I really do need more sleep. Especially since I was extremely active this weekend. I'm pretty used to having to stay up late on the weekends due to work but this weekend was not and I guess that's why it affected me differently. I need to focus on my sleeping schedule and make sure I get adequate rest throughout the day.
3. I had terrible breath odor...
• I had been using my husband's toothpaste since I ran out of mine. He uses Crest with Scope or something. My mouth felt clean when I brushed my teeth but within minutes, it was gross again! I think it has something to do with the detox. My mouth felt nasty, smelled nasty, and even my pearly white teeth looked nasty! I switched back to my Crest 3D white and my teeth feel cleaner but I still feel like my breath is nasty. I really do think the detox has something to do with that though.
4. Bad body odor???
• For a while on the detox, I had really bad body odor. Growing up, I was a heavy sweater. My mom and sister didn't sweat at all. I've used heavy duty antiperspirant since I was 16. It was great!!! Now, still using the same things that worked for sooo long, my pits began to stink and kinda hurt! I, naturally, began to freak out. WHY were they stinky??? And could I be developing some kind of cancer? The first think I thought of... Does this mean I can't use my beloved deodorant anymore??? Well, I got a sample from the local health food store. It's one of those anti-body odor crystals. Yeah right... rubbing a crystal under your arms will get rid of and prevent body odor??? Well, so far it's true! I've been using it for almost a week and I haven't had any odor. I haven't noticed any wetness but it is January so I'm sure it will start showing up in March or April. I'll try to find a natural alternative to antiperspirant. 
5. Weight gain/loss...
• I have weighed myself almost everyday this past week. My weight went down and then went up 2LBS overnight! And then went back down the next day!!! It's been crazy! The only things I can think would cause this would be the fact that I did not stick to my eating schedule on Friday, then I ate a Subway sandwich at 2:30PM, then ate dinner at Grant's parents house at 7PM (homemade taco soup over white rice), drank some coffee and stayed up until 1AM. I mainly think it was the Subway sandwich (Honey Oat bread). I'm beginning to wonder what effects coffee has on me as well. Naturally, I still eat my dark chocolate covered almonds too but in moderate doses. ;)

So... Today, my dad asked me a few questions. He first asked me about my weight loss and how much I've lost. I told him that I have lost 12lbs since December and I'm am choosing whole, clean foods. He said he noticed that I lost some weight since my face was thinner. (YAY!!!) He also asked me if I was working out and I replied "No... I'm detoxing and working out could be bad. Haha!" He agreed to say the least. ;) It felt great to get a positive compliment from my dad. I told him my current goal is to be under 200lbs by June (which sounds more reasonable than my goal of being under 160lbs by the end of the year). He was excited to hear that my portion sizes have decreased dramatically and that my snacking is controllable. The fatigue is never ending but I feel lighter and healthier than before. I'm focusing on my food and sleeping patterns. Moving my sleeping patterns to earlier bedtime/earlier wake up is really hard to do. I really want to get to the point where I can wake up at 6AM and workout without sleeping through 3 alarms. I really want to have energy to clean my house in a reasonable amount of time and still be able to cook a hearty meal every day. I want to be able to do something crafty/artsy and be able to spend more than an hour on it every night. All of that being said... here's a bit of motivation for the rest of this week (or until something else pops up in my mind).

This week has been super crazy. I've had ups and downs worse than a roller coaster! Of course, I wouldn't change it for a thing. But... the biggest news... I'm am 229lbs! That was my goal for this week. It's been very strenuous to keep my weight there, even with the detox going on. I feel bad since I ate a "Hello Dolly" for dessert today (but it was my Mom's birthday!) I am assuming (never a good thing) that it's due to stress that I haven't lost more weight. I feel like I'm losing focus on my goals and being sidetracked by my very exciting hobby... Photography! (Check out Nightingale's Lullaby Photography). Anyways.. back to motivation for this new week... MUFFIN TOP-LESS!!! Savannah is a wonderful and fit woman who is a great motivation for me. She is super adorable and comfortable with herself. She has different ways to give motivation through her sites and always has positive things to say. She doesn't do "healthy diet foods"... just "healthy whole foods". So... a great big thanks to her for giving me great motivation for this week!

Detox Day 4: So far so good. Just some headaches but those were expected. Clean eating is actually really tasty if you know what to prepare and how to prepare it. So far, my favorite meals are organic whole wheat pasta and chicken cranberry salad. Those are very yummy. And of course, anything with hummus is great too. I noticed that I really do not have an appetite and I do not eat nearly as much as I used to. My portions are smaller and I still can't finish them! Working out is a chore though. Between the headaches and fatigue, it's hard to get up and run or workout with kettlebells. But I do!

Workout: Speaking of kettlebells, I LOVE working out with kettlebells. I get gym workout worthy routines at home! That makes the whole "working out at home" thing easier!. I need to find a DVD or YouTube video with some kettlebell routines that are different. I'm looking to expand my fitness movement knowledge with this.

Book: I'm still reading the Jillian Michael's book mentioned in one of my past posts. It's a good read for anyone who's truly interested in finding out why they're not losing weight after working out like a mad person. It's hard to focus on but I'm determined.

Motivation: Getting ready for the beach. All I can think about is swimsuits. I'm SO excited! I keep thinking about shorts and t-shirts. Flipflops and tank tops. It's enough to make a fat girl cry and the skinny girl inside her holler! I know I won't be "swimsuit ready" by then but I know I'll be close enough. It's my vacation and I'm going to earn it. Here are some pics that keep me motivated:

I recently purchased this book from Amazon.com. After receiving it in the mail two days ago, I have finally began to read it. Talking about information I need to read! I have a hormonal imbalance which is causing my weight issues. I have not seen an endocrinologist but after reading the first two chapters, I am beginning to think I should. I've had multiple tests conducted by a NP who specializes in hormones and allergies. She has hit a dead end. I am going to begin a 30 day detox on Monday (5 days from now) to flush all of the toxins out of my system. Once that is finished, I will begin an Iodine regimen to help my body "reboot" itself. I have been researching my problems for the past year and have decided that almost everything points to the iodine deficiency. We will see what happens!

As for the book... Jillian, I have high expectations! I am hoping to find information that will help me fix my wonky body and feel great again. I can't wait to have a better figure and clear skin! And energy!!! I get excited just thinking about it. Once I finish reading the book, I will post a review of what I think and any helpful points I got from it. But, if I deem it as useful, I would expect you to find your own copy. ;)

Holiday feasts are troublesome for me. So much food and desserts. I have a massive sweet tooth too! Fun times with the family and not enough time for fitness. Healthy lifestyles go on hold. Christmas festivities are worse than New Years because there are no resolutions attached to the indulgence. Time spent with family is more precious and wanted than time spent with the elliptical or running shoes. The motivation is only there when a belt is let out a notch or sweat pants are dragged out because the fat jeans are a little snug. Now that Christmas Eve/Day is over, it's time to get back on board. And I am not talking about a New Years Resolution either. I'm talking about a lifestyle change that doesn't come and go with your triumphs and failures. I will set a resolution this year. But I will not set my life upon it. It will be a goal of not how many pound I lose or what size I want to be, but a goal of what kind of life I want to have. The new lifestyle. The healthier choices. My resolution for 2013 is to find out what is wrong with me and fix it. I have gone through many different treatments in attempt to find and resolve my health issues. None have solved the problem, just merely stuck a band-aid on the symptoms. My resolution for 2013 is to get my weight under control and feel better about myself. My resolution for 2013 is to detox my body, adapt my food intake and exercise regimen to make my body better and stronger. Beginning in January, I will begin a 30 day detox. The purpose of this detox is to refresh my body in preparation for iodine therapy. I will post more about the symptoms, causes, theory, and treatment as the days go by.

This image is my motivation for the moment. Once I get into something and make a good habit, I'm pretty good at keeping it going without any major problems. My biggest struggle is the beginning. It takes me a long time to find what works... a routine, a plan, a lifestyle. I have to feel comfortable with it and not stressed by it. Start slow... build up strength and speed and endurance. If I start off to fast or heavy, I will hurt myself again. I have a history of knee pain since I was about 13 years old. I hurt my knee during a softball game and it hasn't been the same since. It really inhibits my activity sometimes. For instance, I cannot play racquetball or basketball with my husband or my dad. It hurts me to do lunges (but not squats??? Weird). I have good form when I work out but do to injuries and increased strain due to weight, it makes it hard to keep going on a good path. My husband bought me an elliptical trainer for this reason. It hurts to run on a standard treadmill or pavement and I love to run. I used to just run a mile whenever I pleased during high school and a portion of college. Now, I can barely make a half mile jog! But that's ok... I knew it would take a while to build my body back up to the level I was a year ago. I just have to try... and keep trying... until I get to where I need to be. As for my knee, I'll just have to keep going and focus on my diet to lose the weight until I can push harder.

I have to admit it... I've been slacking. I spent the weekend with my family. Saturday, I had a fun day with my in-laws. We ate big but I tried to choose wisely. Sunday was rough. I was sick (again) and was having a really bad day. Luckily, my mom cooked a very good meal. We didn't have "dessert" but there were some little goodies lying around. There were no workouts on these days. I was more active, yes, but no deliberate exercising took place. Yesterday was a pretty good day. I had a great breakfast which gave me a good healthy boost. I actually made lunch instead of throwing something in the oven/microwave. I made some tuna salad and deviled eggs. Not exactly super healthy but it's a lot better than lean pockets and breaded chicken! I feel bad because I ended the day with a half of a Cali burger from The Monago Fieldhouse (which is Ah-mazing!) and a red velvet brownie from the Great American Cookie Company. BAD MADDY!!! I succumbed to temptation. I can't take it back so I will have to come to terms with it and move on. I chose the picture above as my motivation because it's true. It takes time to see results. You see the results first but can get down when no one notices. Keep it up. You're family with compliment you first and you may not believe them. But just keep going. People will start to notice... And then, people you haven't seen in years will notice. And it will be grand!!! Keep it up, even if you are hindered by a bad meal or miss a workout. It takes 2 weeks to make a habit and 2 months to break it. So instead of breaking bad habits, focus on creating a new, healthier one. It's less depressing! ;)