Getting Thin In 2010: Stress and Relaxation

Last week I told you that I would be sharing about the biggest obstacle I face when trying to lose weight. So here it is, as promised. S-T-R-E-S-S.

What stresses you out? For me, it's just life in general. I don't know if it's my personality type, my circumstances, or if it's just normal...but life is stressful. And you know what? I don't think that will ever change. There will always be another bill to be paid, a job to wake up to in the morning, a car transmission that goes out, a messy house, a pile of laundry, sickness and death to face, depression to beat, and much more.

I'm pretty sure the only thing we can do about that is to change our attitudes and outlooks on life, and effectively handle stress.

So how does this affect my weight loss? It just does - in many ways. The stress of life is more than enough for me to handle by itself. I can't pile on one more thing to worry about - losing weight. Weight loss requires attention, dedication, and a positive attitude. I tend to lose my focus and motivation when I'm stressed out about life, and that just leads to a really negative attitude. This is one of the biggest reasons I tend to just give up on losing weight. It's up, down, up, down, up, down. The cycle never ends. I'm sure you've experienced this as well, if you've ever had to battle with weight loss.

So what to do? RELAX. Simple enough to say, not so easy to actually DO. Relaxation is not something to be taken lightly. It's something all of us need as human beings. It helps us recharge and refocus. It gives us that escape from day-to-day life that we need, so that we're ready to face reality again with a positive attitude!

How do you relax? I think it differs from person to person. Some people enjoy staying at home, watching a movie, reading a good book, cooking, or doing crafts. Others might enjoy going out on a date with their husband, having a family day out, going to the park, or chatting with a loved one over coffee. You might even find exercise to be your favorite way to "relax" and get away from it all.

For me, it's 6 things. God, quality time with my husband, being in the middle of nature, reading, playing or listening to music, and cooking. Those are the 6 things that make me the most happy in life. They help me relax. They are my escape. They put things in perspective for me.

This past weekend, my husband and I spent almost the entire 2 days together...and it wasn't me on the computer and him on the guitar, while we ignored each other for the most part. It was quality time together. We spent almost an entire day out in the middle of nature, which is our favorite thing to do together.

And you know what? I didn't dread Monday morning nearly as much as I usually do. I feel good. I'm not overwhelmed by life like I usually am. And as a result, I'm not being tempted to give up on my weight loss journey.

Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health, anyways...

Progress To My Goal: 6 pounds lost, 24% of the 25 pounds I'd like to lose. I only lost 1 pound last week, but I'm happy about it. Oh - and I'm on Day 6 of 30 Day Shred! Feeling great!

What About You: What causes you stress and how do you deal with it? Do you think relaxation is important in your weight loss journey?

*Photo Credit: Ken on Flickr

Getting Thin In 2010: Back On The Road To Success!

Well...it's been 3 weeks since I decided to get serious again about this weight loss goal. I've been praying about it, eating less, and (starting today) moving more!

By eating less and praying about it, I finally got the scale to budge. You know I've been up and down with this since February (wow, I really didn't think it had been that long). As of my weekly weigh-in today, though, I'm back down to almost the lowest I've been since I started trying to Get Thin In 2010! I have lost exactly 5 pounds.

Progress To My Goal: 5 pounds lost, 20% of the 25 pounds I'd like to lose.

Today I started back on Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. WOW - I am out of shape! I'm excited to start feeling good about myself again, even if I just get a little toned and don't lose as many pounds as I'm hoping to.

You know...there are bad days, and there are good days. Life happens, eating out with friends is a reality, and eating cake at a birthday party is enjoyable.

I'm just trying to stay positive, not give up, and put the "bad days" behind me. On the days that I mess up, I try to start over the next day and forget about it, rather than giving up and blowing it completely. My progress has been like molasses. I used to be able to lose weight in no time at all. My life is different now, though, and I have to try to push through, despite my present circumstances...

I'll try to update you again next Monday when I weigh-in again! Also, I think I will talk about the number one factor that inhibits my weight loss. Until then...

What About You: How is your weight loss coming? Are you meeting your goals? Share below!

Getting Thin In 2010 -- My New Plan + Jillian Michaels Workout DVD Giveaway!

You've seen me determined to lose weight, you've seen me struggle, and you've seen me fail miserably. Now you get to see me start over again, because I'm not giving up!

Bottom line? I made excuses, I stopped working out, and I started eating more. Now it's time to get back on track. I can do this (and so can you, for those of you who have been following along)!

My goal is to lose 25 pounds and/or one pant size. My plan is simple, and it comes down to 3 things:

1. Pray about it. Nothing is too small for God. He sees that this is making me extremely unhappy, bitter towards others, and a miserable person on both the inside and out. I think that losing weight is one step in the right direction towards living a happier life. Plus, my body is a temple of God, and I feel that it is an act of worship to respect my body by eating healthy and exercising. I want to take care of the healthy body God has blessed me with. On this new plan, I am making God the center of my weight loss efforts.

2. Eat less. Control portion sizes. Get my daily nutritional servings in each day. Splurge when I need to so that I don't give in to monstrous cravings that make me blow my diet and give up. I have been following Weight Watchers since I was in high school, and it has always worked for me. I love their plan, and it's what I follow. I do it on my own at home without paying for the meetings. I like it because it's not a diet - it's a lifestyle change.

3. Move more. Many of you know that I love Zumba. Well, I'm changing it up a bit for a couple of reasons. First of all, we are most likely going to be moving into a new place within a few months, so I don't want to be depending on something that might not be available at the new place we live. Right now, Zumba is down the road. I can walk there. It might not be as accessible and convenient once we move. So I want something that I can stick with, no matter what changes life brings. Also, money is pretty tight. Seeing as we made the decision to raise our grocery budget and we ended up NOT switching to Metro PCS (long story), we really can't afford the extra expense of Zumba each month. I sure am going to miss it, though...

So how am I going to move more? Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred workout DVD. I did it a while back, and I really liked it. So I think I am going to give it a go again. When I did it before, I was a little frustrated because I did not see the scale move. However, I did lose 2 inches in all my body measurements after doing it! Plus, I felt great. I was toned, in shape, and had lots of energy at all times. I also like it because it's only 20 minutes. I can fit it into my daily routine, no problem. Finally, I can do it at home. Very convenient.

So here's to praying about it, eating less, and moving more! To kick off my new plan, I've decided to do a giveaway! I am giving away 2 copies of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD. As much as I really don't like Jillian Michaels (especially with some of her shady endorsements and weight-loss products recently), I must say I love this DVD. I've seen it work for many people. My friend at work has lost almost FOUR pant sizes from doing this workout for about a year now. She looks amazing! Don't get discouraged about what the scale says, though. The scale says she hasn't lost much, but I would say four pant sizes is an incredible accomplishment!!!

So do you want to give the 30 Day Shred a try? If so, here's how to enter the giveaway:

1. Comment on this post with a weight loss or healthy lifestyle goal of yours.

2. Subscribe to this blog by e-mail or in a reader. Leave a comment on this post telling me that you are a subscriber.

3. Become a fan on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post telling me that you are a fan.

4. Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post telling me that you are a follower.

5. Grab my button or add me to your blogroll. Leave a comment with a link to your blog where the button or blogroll is located.

You have up to 5 different ways to enter, so everybody has 5 chances to win a workout DVD! If you are already a subscriber, Facebook fan, Twitter follower, or have me on your blogroll...just say so in your comments!

This giveaway will end next Sunday night, March 28th, at 10 pm EST. At that time I will choose two winners at random! Good luck!

Getting Thin In 2010 -- How I Failed

*Confession time* (I've been dreading this...)

I haven't been on my weight loss plan for about 2 weeks now.

You see...

First it was my stupid cough that kept me from working out, so I got discouraged,

Then it was my birthday week, so I had to splurge a little,

After that, my aunt came in town and we've been having a blast baking cookies and cupcakes.

And now?

Now I'm discouraged.
Depressed.
So frustrated.
Stressed out.

How does something external like our weight and body appearance affect us in such HUGE ways???

I was feeling so good, so pumped, so excited, so ready to move forward with my goals. It was changing my entire outlook on life and making me happy.

Enough excuses. I have to get back on this thing. I haven't gained all of my weight back, but I'm definitely very uncomfortable again. I dread picking out my work outfit every day.

I know that what is on the outside doesn't really matter. God looks at the heart, and we make this life beautiful by who we are on the inside...

But sometimes it's nice to feel good about ourselves -- inside and out.

Don't give up on me. I'm starting back on it Sunday, and I'm more ready than ever. This is going to be an extremely long journey, but I'm so glad you're here to be a part of it with me.

What About You: How is your weight loss coming?

Getting Thin In 2010 -- SLOW But Sure Progress

So yeah...It's definitely been THREE weeks since I last updated you on my weight-loss progress. Sorry about that. The deals just roll in so fast that the personal stories get pushed to the back-burner. I am learning from my poll that personal stories can be just as important and inspirational as bringing you all the hot deals can be. And is it really going to hurt if we miss ONE deal every now and then??? I don't think so. In fact, I think it's important that we take a break from chasing the deals every so often, and talk about other things...

So with that being said, how is your weight loss coming? I hope good. Here is what's been going on with me. As of my most recent weigh-in on Sunday morning, I have officially lost 5.5 pounds. Yep, that's all. But you want to know what? I'm happy about it, especially considering my setbacks.

What are those setbacks (because we all have them when trying to lose weight)? Oh, mostly the usual "excuses" -- not enough time, being too busy, stressing out, being on a budget, depression, emotional eating, etc. To avoid boring you, I won't get into all of those. But the major setback that I have had is being sick. I came down with a minor cold about 3 weeks ago. It was not a big deal at first, but then it turned into horrible sinus pain, and then quickly transferred to my lungs/chest. I can not quit coughing!! It's so annoying (as pretty much anybody who comes in regular contact with me from day to day could tell you, I'm sure).

Seeing as I am coughing nonstop and sometimes having troubles breathing, I had to stop doing Zumba for the past couple weeks. I tried going one time...not fun. So I decided to do the smart thing and make sure my cough is completely gone before I go back. I don't want to try to work out and have a relapse or make it worse.

It's killing me, though! I had gotten used to working out on a regular basis, and I was feeling great! Now I feel lazy and sluggish, plus I feel like my metabolism has halted to a complete stop. So that's the basic story of my life lately as far as weight loss goes. I'm still watching what I eat, choosing healthy foods, and monitoring my portions. The weight loss has definitely slowed since I stopped working out, but the good news is that I'm still losing! I've lost 2 pounds since my last update.

I've pretty much accepted the fact that I'm not going to hit my goal weight before May, but that's okay. I'm not giving up. As long as I am continually making progress, no matter how slow, that's what matters to me. I hit a major milestone on Sunday. I don't want to talk numbers openly on this blog, but I finally got below a number that I have not seen on the scale in a very long time. Needless to say, I was running around the house like a little girl, giggling and going on and on about it to my husband, with the biggest smile ever on my face...

What About You: How are you doing? Share your progress below! Let's continue to support each other as we press on towards our weight loss goals together.

Getting Thin In 2010 -- Pushing Through & Not Giving Up!

Let me just go ahead and say it...I failed last week. I have been putting this post off all week, because I didn't want to face my failure in front of all of you. I weighed in on Sunday, and the scale read the exact same number as the previous Sunday.

I was pretty depressed. I've been eating low-calorie, healthy foods. I've been going to Zumba (a really high-energy workout) 4 times a week, and walking on my off-days. I thought for sure I would have dropped weight again last week.

So what did I do? I grabbed a bag of Doritos and (hanging head in shame) stuffed my face. Weight loss confession time -- I'm an emotional eater. I was so upset about not losing weight, and felt like all my hard work was for nothing. I got really down, and basically in my head "gave up." I thought to myself, "What's the point? I might as well just eat what I want tonight. It's obviously not working..." So I ate the bag of Doritos (with a Diet Coke, which makes it oh-so-much-better for you. HA!)

After Sunday, I took on the mentality of "Well, I've already blown it with the Doritos, so I might as well just forget about it." I stopped counting calories for 2 or 3 days. I still worked out every day, but I know I was eating way over the limit I had set for myself.

Yesterday I sort of snapped out of it. All it took was getting on the scale, and barely being able to button my pants for work in the morning. I told myself I was going to get back on track and not give up.

See, here's the thing. Like I told you previously, I've been watching my weight since high school. I could always lose weight so easily. I simply cut back calories, stuck to my Weight Watchers plan, and exercised a little...and the weight dropped off in a heartbeat. After I graduated college, however, my lifestyle completely changed. I went from high-energy, high-stress, constantly in motion, working a job and going to school, walking across campus every day...to sitting all day long at a desk job. Since that point in time, I have had a really hard time getting the weight off.

Over the past 2 years, I have been off and on and off and on with this weight loss thing. The story I told you above, where I get down on myself, stuff my face, give up, and say who cares? That has happened multiple times.

And you know what? It's not going to happen this time! I'm determined, I'm motivated, and I'm going to push through it. Even when the scale isn't reflecting my progress, even when I blow it on my calorie-counting, even when I get lazy and miss a few days of working out, even when I want to give up, even when I'm sick of it all...I am just going to learn how to keep going.

So I messed up last week. Big deal. It's behind me, and now I can start over and keep going. Hey, at least I didn't GAIN weight and maintained what I had already lost!

Progress To My Goal: Still at 3.5 pounds lost, 14% of the 25 pounds I'd like to lose before May.

Let me encourage you to not give up. You can do it! If you mess up one day (or week), put it behind you and get right back on track. It will be worth it in the long run! Just keep your goal in mind, think about what you want to accomplish, and picture yourself so much happier when you reach your goal!

What About You: Those of you who committed to join me in this weight-loss journey...How is your progress? Share below in the comments about your failures, successes, words of encouragement for others, or whatever you feel like saying! Accountability is everything!

Feel free to jump on board with us at any time!

Weight Loss Accountability Partners - Thank You!

Just wanted to say a great big thank you to all of you who have decided to join me on this journey to Getting Thin In 2010! I'm very excited to have so many of you doing this right along side with me. It's a great encouragement.

I look forward to posting about my ups and downs every week. I hope you will keep track of your progress, and post about it in the comments, too!

It was interesting to see that many of you are using some of the same methods that I am for losing weight (Zumba, Walking, Weight Watchers, etc.) I can't wait to talk about it in my next installment of Getting Thin in 2010 next week.

I do have to say one thing. Everybody is different. We all have different and unique body types, metabolisms, sizes, and weights that we are comfortable at. With that being said, everybody's goals will be very different. Some of you mentioned that I don't need to lose weight (and I appreciate the compliments!), but for me at this point in my life...I am at the heaviest I have ever been, and it is not a healthy weight according to statistics of what I should weigh at my age and height. I am very miserable and depressed, and I need to do this to be healthy and happy again. In addition, going down the frugal money-saving avenue...I must do this for our wallet's sake! I literally can not fit into almost my entire wardrobe. If I don't do something, I will have to go out and buy all new clothing - something that we can not afford to do right now.

So with that being said, let's all encourage each other in our goals and get pumped up! If you haven't joined yet, feel free to go to the Introduction post and tell us you're joining in. You can join in at any time throughout the next couple of months. =) I am so thankful to have this awesome support group.

What About You: Are you going to join us in our individual goals to get thin in '10? I hope so!

Getting Thin In 2010 -- My Weight Loss Goals

So I know this is a blog dedicated to getting the deals, freebies, saving money, and couponing...

But I also like to include other aspects of life -- like recipes, cooking, fun, crafts, thoughts on life, friendship, love, simplicity, etc.

I have to say that many great things have come from this blog, one of which is accountability. I am more accountable with my grocery spending and budgeting than I ever was before I started this blog. There is just something about having to put yourself out there for everybody else to see. It's easy for me to put back that one item that will make me go over my weekly grocery budget, because I don't want to have to admit to you that I failed. (Although it does still happen, as you will see this Saturday!).

I find that when I challenge myself, and write about it on here, it seems to actually get done! So, with that said...let me introduce you to my newest weekly series: Getting Thin In 2010!

To put a really long story short...I am very unhappy with my weight. Since high school, I have always had to watch my weight really carefully. For the most part, I've always kept it in check by dieting and exercising. Now, however, it is to the point that it is affecting other parts of my life. I am miserable, can not fit into my clothes, unhappy, stressed out, depressed, feel unhealthy, and have bitter attitudes towards people who are in shape.

Let me be completely honest. I have gained 25 pounds since getting married in May 2008. OUCH! (That was really difficult to say on here!) It just kind of slowly crept up on me. I remember trying on my wedding dress and telling my mom, "I can't believe I haven't lost more weight for this wedding. I am so uncomfortable with this weight." And my mom told me, "Honey...you just wait. One day you're going to wish you could be this weight again." I chuckled and said, "YEAH RIGHT!"

Mothers are (most of the time) right...and she was. I would do anything just to be what I was when I got married 2 years ago, and that was a pretty "heavy" weight for me.

(Okay, get to the point, Meagan)...

Here is my goal: Lose 25 pounds and/or 1 pant size by May 2010.

I started this 2 weeks ago, so it is a total of about 15 weeks. I figured that was a healthy weight loss rate of about 1 - 2 pounds a week.

Next week, I will update you on how I plan to lose this weight. Notice I did say 25 pounds OR 1 pant size. This is because I'm not focusing on the scale as much. I'm doing a lot of working out, so I might not lose the weight, but lose inches instead. That's why the pant size would be just as great. I simply want to be healthy and in shape!

And just for the record, as of this past Sunday, I have lost 3.5 pounds, so I am already 14% the way there! (Hey, it's something, and at least the scale is continually going down!)

I thank you for the accountability, encouragement, and support you always give me. =)

What About You: Do you have any weight loss goals for 2010? I would love to have you join in this journey with me! The more people who are participating, the more support there is! Comment below on your goals or progress for 2010. =]

Psssttt: I will be doing a giveaway within the next week or two that has something to do with weight loss. =) Be looking for it!