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!

Weighed in today... 225!!! It feels great to get out of that rut! I'm home safe and sound and focusing on my food intake and workouts. I splurged on food this week (bad MaddyGrace) but I'm losing and back on track.

I increased my Iodine to two drops. No noticeable side effects but I did wake up with a killer headache this morning. Could be dehydration or sinuses though. I feel great and happy.

I did a quick workout this morning... 15 mins on the elliptical and 50 sit-ups. I'm dying to get back into a gym to do some real squats and assisted pull-ups. I know I won't be able to squat 200 for a while but I think I can squat around 100 pretty easily. Cardio and body weight exercises are great right now. I just miss feeling the strength at the end of my session. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with that feeling.

I got some new clothes last night at Dicks Sporting Goods and Victorias Secret Pink. I can fit back into a large at VS! That made my night. Grant asked me to try on an old swimsuit to see how it fit and I had to loosen it but it wasn't as bad as I expected. It's definitely motivation for my trip because I don't want to buy a new one for a one time wear. I would post a pic but I'm really embarrassed right now. I'm holding it for transformation pics though. ;)

Something new I'm adding to my routine.... Walking. At work, we have a walking program to help employees monitor their weight and get them moving more instead of sitting all day, every day. I joined the program. My first check in is March 23? With 54 miles. So, on top of workouts and my healthy lifestyle, I will be counting my daily steps. Work itself is becoming stressful as I work my way up the knowledge chain, so I am also focusing on staying as stress free as possible. Going to Lafayette this week so prayers and encouragement are welcomed.

Goal for the next week... 223!!! A little laugh today for my motivation:

So... in my previous post, I mentioned the detox is over. I now wish it wasn't. I haven't budged a pound since! I haven't worked out either though. I do feel more bloated and heavy than I did when I was detoxing. I started the Iodine Protocol a week and a half ago. I felt a major difference in my energy and body the first 3 days. Then I made some adjustments because I had some mild detox symptoms and now... nothing. :( At all... No energy, no detox symptoms, nothing at all. I would rather have the energy and and overall great feeling and happiness plus the mild detox symptoms than nothing at all. By mild detox symptoms, I mean I had a metallic taste in my mouth, a mild headache, and I felt kind of hot like I had completed a mile run. Nothing major that caused me concern.

I just really want my energy back. When I started the Iodine, I was taking 1 drop of Iodoral + 1/2 tsp celtic sea salt (in 8 oz water) + supplements. I'm thinking that I need to up my dose to 2 drops of Iodoral in order to get the good feeling back. Once I reach 25 drops, I can start taking it in a pill form (which I heard gives you a bigger boost of energy because of the way it's metabolized). That gets me all excited!

Back to the weight loss... I haven't lost any weight since the detox ended. I haven't changed my habits much (I haven't been able to eat small meals 5x a day due to work) but I haven't added new habits either. I will admit that I ate some bad food recently (CHEESECAKE!) but I'm getting back on my wagon and chugging along. I am sitting in my hotel writing this and reminiscing on my sorry attempt for a workout this morning which consisted of 80 jumping jacks, 50 crunches, 10 pushups, and 30 squats. Very sad workout. I remember when that was a breeze, too! I miss being at home where I can prepare my own meals and know exactly where the food came from and what's in it. I miss the taste of fresh salad and cranberries. I miss my husband making me some grilled chicken and shrimp for my salads. I miss my bed... where I could get a full night's sleep.

My goal for the rest of this week... make the trip home safely, snuggle with my husband and four-legged baby, fix wonderful, fresh food, and WORK OUT! And more importantly, adjust my Iodine dosage. :) Here's a little motivation for this week:

It seems like forever since my last post. I've been super busy that's for sure. Between project management training and being sick, all of my time has been consumed! I'm loving my Sambuccus syrup... It's all natural and made from Elderberries. It helps cut your cold/flu time in half! And it tastes wonderful! Luckily, it's not the flu... It's just a sinus cold. I just have to stay on top of it so I do not get bronchitis.

On the bright side... the detox is officially over!!! I have lost a total of 14lbs while detoxing. I believe my new lifestyle is something I can continue with great ease. I find myself craving blueberry green tea, boiled eggs, salads, grilled chicken, and nuts/berries. I do have chocolate cravings (who doesn't?) but I have some wonderful dark chocolate covered almonds that are divine and a great snack without the guilt.

My goal for February is to lose 7lbs. That will put me under 220lbs. My adjustment to make this happen: Continuing to eat great and adding exercise. At least 30 mins a day of cardio plus some weight training. I no longer have a gym membership so I will use body weight exercises and kettlebells. Once those become easier, I will probably start working out at a gym again. I do miss squats, dead lifts, and bench presses. And rowing!!! But I'm really hoping to buy a house with a gym by then. I will continue to eat wholesome foods. I can tell that food makes a difference. And timing too. I noticed that eating smaller meals more often helps control the hunger and speed up my metabolism.

I also started the iodine therapy on Sunday. Talking about weird! I had a burst of energy that I haven't felt in a long time. Not jittery like an energy drink but happy energy, like a good run or chocolate. I also got very hot for about an hour after I took my first dose. Same thing happened today. I'm still energetic but I got really hot. Not like a hot flash. It wasn't miserable and I didn't feel like I was on fire from the inside out. I just felt really warm like a hot sunny day laying out by the pool. It made me sweat for a few minutes but it went away almost as quick as it came. Kind of like I was nervous and stressed? It's been almost 4 hours since I took the iodine and supplements and I still have energy but my hands are cold (nothing new!) and I'm starving! It's been forever since I've had a legit hunger for food. I can't wait to go home and fix up a ceasar cranberry salad.

I will admit, I've been naughty. I finished my detox and to celebrate, I took my husband and his family to a Tech basketball game. Grant and I were shopping before his family got to town and we passed a local bakery and I just had to stop. They had king cake cupcakes and brownies and EVERYTHING wonderful you can imagine. I asked Grant to split a king cake cupcake with me. It was delicious! I also had a very horrible loaded potato soup at Newk's this weekend (I was sick!!!). That's my favorite soup but it is LOADED with calories and fat that is not needed. But it was very delicious. Now, back on track for February 2013!!!

Motivation:

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.