The End of the Challenge

(Torture every time I was at the store)

Our NO JUNK FOOD January challenge is finally OVER!!!!! I have to say that it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.There was a handful of nights when all I wanted was to go veg on stuff in the candy drawer or chips in the pantry but I never gave in! Another huge accomplishment is I haven't eaten at McDonalds in over a month. I don't think that has ever happened. I mean it when I say I am a junk food/fast food junky!!!! I was even tempted to stay up until midnight last night just so I could eat some candy because I was so excited. But it would have been quite pathetic so I didn't. I forgot this morning that I could even eat candy. Brad e-mailed me to see how much candy I had eaten and I hadn't had any yet! I still haven't eaten any. Don't worry though I will get my fill the rest of the day. I was about to work out when I remembered I could eat candy. I figured I would start after my work out.

Brad joked and gave me crap all month and was telling people this is something I MADE him do. But if you know Brad, you know that no one can MAKE him do anything he doesn't want to. He did finally admit though that he was glad to do it. The total weight loss for the month was Brad: 5 pounds and me:3 pounds. Not a ton but at least it was something! That 5 pounds was enough motivation for Brad to keep going with the challenge. He has decided to keep going with it and not eat any candy or junk food still. I will however NOT be continuing. I just can't do that to myself!!!!

I had to admit that I did horrible at working out during this challenge. I did once or twice a week but that was about it. Small steps I guess! Brad works out every morning. I wish I had the discipline he does to wake up early and work out before work. I like to use Cooper waking up in the middle of the night still (teething sucks!!!!) for an excuse. But lets be honest I just am not a morning person and getting out of bed is a challenge regardless of how long I slept, interrupted or not. We used to do 100 push-ups every night while we were watching tv. I decided I am going to start doing that again. It isn't much but at least I will feel like I am doing something everyday. Besides my arms need some serious toneage (yeah I made that word up I think) before short sleeve weather rolls around.

Brad had mentioned maybe doing this no junk food/candy challenge every other month. I will have to see how I feel when March rolls around. Another idea was just having one day a week where we eat the junk food and candy. Who knows what I will end up deciding. I just love my candy and junk food and know that I am not ready to give it all up for good! I am really proud of myself that I did go a month. It is quite the accomplishment for me!

Bring on February and all of its delicious Valentines goodness!!!!!

Motivation and a Challenge

So I finally got the motivation I needed to start working out and eating healthier. When I was nursing (until Cooper turned one) I hardly ever worked out and I ate whatever I wanted. I was one of those people that nursing helps you lose all of your body weight. I was VERY lucky! I actually was smaller after having Cooper then I was when I got pregnant. But I got so comfortable eating however and whatever I wanted and not working out that when I stopped nursing I started gaining weight. Let me be honest when I say I eat like a little kid or a teenage boy. I love anything junk food, candy, fast food, etc. Since I stopped nursing I have gained about 8 pounds. I know that probably doesn't seem like a lot to some people. But to me it is a ton. When I gain weight I gain it in my face :( A couple of weeks ago it just hit me! I was looking at pictures from even just August and realized how much thinner by face looked then. My clothes have started fitting tighter and I just hate it. I actually wanted to lose weight and get more fit from the weight I was at when I stopped nursing. I need to be more toned....in my arms and legs especially! I want to get at my ideal weight/fit before I get pregnant again. My face got so chubby when I was pregnant with Cooper and I already feel as if it's chubby now. So I need to get going or who knows what it would look like with the next baby. In high school I was swimming/working out twice a day on upwards of like 4 hours. I was in fantastic shape. Of course I didn't see it then :) But since high school I have not had a regular workout routine at all. I am HORRIBLE when it comes to working out. I get lazy and caught up and just never get into a routine that lasts. I ALWAYS can think of a better excuse then to workout. I don't know why though because every time after I am done working out I feel amazing and so energized. I try to workout when Cooper is napping but it is like do I workout or shower or do chores around the house while I can???

I keep complaining to Brad about me gaining weight and the way I am feeling. So I decided to do something about it. I decided I was going to go without junk food for all of January. Brad being the supportive husband he is decided to do it with me. If I were to see Brad eating something I would want it and give in. I have no self control apparently when it comes to food! I came across this No Junk Food Challenge on a blog and thought it would be perfect. I am not one for dieting. Remember this that I tried doing with Brad back in July. Well Brad did awesome but I lasted a whole 2 days. I was starving and all I craved was stuff that I couldn't have! So I am taking a different approach. Here is what we are doing:

No chocolate
No candy
No biscuits or cookies
No cakes, donuts or muffins
No pastries
No white bread
No chips
No fast food
No nutella, peanut butter or other naughty spreads
No ice cream

The challenge was originally for 21 days but we are going to do it for the month. I really am hoping I can stick to this and complete it. I feel like I never can stick to anything when it comes to working out or eating better. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that not eating these foods for a month is going to make me lose all the weight. It is just the jump start I need to get motivated. I am also working out this month. So hopefully both combined will get me headed in the right direction.

It has been one week since we started the challenge. Things are going great! I have really been fine without all the things above. I haven't really craved anything or thought I was dying if I couldn't have something like I did with the 17 day diet. I have had to turn down things in some situations- chips and a Capri Sun at mutual on Wednesday, candy at a friends house, and I haven't gone to McDonalds in over a week that is good work! I noticed how much of Cooper's snacks I was eating too. I would always much on his fruit snacks, fig neutons, gold fish crackers, marshmallows, etc. Really every time I feed him and don't eat it I realize how many munchy things I was eating thru out the day. Even if it was just one or two things of his it has really made a difference. I only worked out twice last week but I am so going to do better this week! I'm so excited that this is going better than I had expected!