Slowing it Down

It's a new year! Thank God! Last year was very difficult! So far, things have calmed down for the most part in our lives and therefore the stress levels are coming down. With all that said, the Crohn's is able to calm down as well, which is much needed! With it acting up, I was kept from going to the gym often because of complications that arose. I'm doing much better now and I'm able to finally resume my weight loss journey once again. I had lost 38lbs and was basically in a holding pattern... until now. Phew! I still have 30lbs left until I reach my goal weight. When I can't hit the gym, I have exercises I have printed out and taped up on my closet door. 

If you are wondering what I've done for the weight loss progress, this is it....

Changed my diet:
I now make my sweet tea with 1 family size tea bag and only 1/3 cup of sugar.
  (Originally, I used to make it the southern way.... 2 family size tea bags and 1 1/3 cups of sugar! Yikes!) 

I researched the ingredients in the take out places I frequented ... I found out that just about everything that I loved had MSG or potassium sorbate in it, so it made it easier for me to cut out eating out as often as I did. On occasion, I do have a little bit of take out now and then. Panera Bread has a lot of yummy stuff I can have (basically everything!) but since they are rather pricey, it's a "once in a blue moon" treat. I usually get the half sandwich and cup of soup. (That's still around $12 or so!) In case you are wondering what happens when I have MSG or Potassium Sorbate, I get wicked abdominal cramps and can't stay out of the bathroom for up to 3 days. (Potassium sorbate tends to be found in most Sweet things, like in frostings, sweet flavorings chocolate syrup, muffins, bagels, ... also found in generic brand cream cheese, cottage cheese, etc.)

I stopped eating Junk foods and sweets and replaced it with low fiber/ low carb snacks. (that's a feat in itself,... trying to find low carb/ low fiber foods. Mostly everything that is low carb is High in fiber..... too much fiber and it acts like MSG to me) ... I found I can eat bananas, grapes, avocados, small amounts of dried pineapple, rice cakes, and I also make my own ice cream. (So easy! Mason jar filled half full with heavy whipping cream, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 2 table spoons of cocoa baking powder, a little bit of vanilla (optional),.... then shake until it's thick and then freeze!)


I had gotten a gym membership several months before I really started hitting it hard at the gym. I honestly didn't know how to go about losing the weight at the gym other than walking on the treadmill, which wasn't as fruitful cause I was pushing too  hard and making myself sick. (I was walking too fast for what I could handle at the time and using up all my spoons too fast)... so I talked to my best friend, who had been on a weight loss journey before me. (She's using the Keto diet) .... with changing my diet and working out at the gym, in 1 1/2 months, i lost 20lbs!! If you are wondering what I do at the gym, I started out small... doing 25 lbs on the machines. I have worked up to 30 or 35lbs on some and 60-70lbs on others. I was doing abs, arms, treadmill and legs all at one time, but it was kicking my butt and I was out of spoons before leaving the gym. I talked to other people and they said they do "arm day", "Leg day" and "Cardio day"... so I changed my routine a bit, and now I'm doing much better with it. Still making progress and not wearing myself out in one shot. 

I found out the other day that if I drink some "Breakfast Essentials" before my work out, I don't feel Near as fatigued as I normally do, so I'm adding that to my routine now. 

I found my motivation to start losing the weight after the scare of my husband being in the ER in May or June with a blood clot in his leg. I found Inspiration with Josh Brolin beefing up to be Cable in "Deadpool 2". I thought, "He's my brother's age,.... if he can do it, I can do it!"

I want to encourage anyone out there who thinks they Can't work out or lose weight.... 

YES YOU CAN! You just have to take one step at a time and progress will come!! Even if that means hitting the gym and starting out at 5 lb weights and doing only 10 reps. Keep at it, you will surprise yourself! Eventually, you will move it to 10 lb weights and 20 reps! 
Don't give up because it's hard, Keep going because you've gotten this far! <3 The work will be worth every second!