Comparison

During the month of December and the first of January is when I have a chance to slow down and reflect. I often compare myself to others. I know that we are each on our own journey.. but I still compare (I am human)

Yesterday I made a TikTok (@akbusybee) of how much I have changed since last January.

These two pictures were taken 1 year apart.. same clothes and everything! The pic on the left was from November 6th, 2020 and the one on the right was November 6th, 2019.

I started in July at 217.8 and I am currently at 197.9 just shy of 20 pounds. I need to take measurements, but I notice in how I feel, how I move, how I look.

I have written before that I started this journey again because I work in a public school as a librarian.. and I need to be as healthy as I can be.  I have hung around this 20 pound mark for about 2 months.  There has been SO much stress that we have all had to handle, but after putting that video together yesterday I reminded myself that I can control how much I work out, what I eat, and how I take care of myself.   

Here is what I have done:

-I joined Weight Watchers (I did a good 3 months of it.. and then got off track of tracking.. but still kept it in mind.. I am back on tracking right now though!)

-I walked a WHOLE lot.. and this is one of my goals for the new year (more info to come) I even purchased a used treadmill from a friend

-I occasionally did virtual Camp Gladiator 

-I did several YesFit challenges

-meal prepped breakfast and lunches

-taking my vitamins daily (vitamin c, multi-vitamin, airborne gummies with elderberry, zinc, d3.. and at night a melatonin and magnesium)

-began seeing a counselor

As I said before, I got way off this last month.. living through a pandemic is stressful.. and there is a ton going on in my house that causes stress.

A new year is coming up.. and I am excited to continue on this journey.

I haven't completely decided on my goals for this year, but here is where I am starting:

-Goal weight of 185

-walk 365 miles

I know that 2021 will probably not be any easier, but I sure can't wait to check off 2020! I also post much more of this crazy journey over at @healthyakbusybee on Instagram

Month 3!

 I am beginning month three of this journey to a healthier lifestyle. I had BIG goals for August.. and then reality set in of trying to juggle school during a pandemic! Out of my 5 goals for August, I only hit 2!  I also did have my first gain during this month, but it was less than a pound.

Although I wasn't as active as I would have liked.. I did get SUPER close to that 5 pound mark for this month.  I am also noticing a difference in how active I am, how hungry I am, and how I am feeling overall.  

Looking at pictures from July 2nd to now.. what a change!! I also did change my CG to be completely virtual. I love Camp Gladiator, but with everything going on right now (and my budget) moving to virtual was a better option for me.  Looking at these pictures also makes me realize that I need to get that CG in so I can start toning my upper body!  I also LOVED trying Yes.Fit for this last month.  It was a nice little motivation for the month, and I should be getting my first medal in soon! I just started the We Go Together Like Bees and Honey. I also do a weekly challenge with my friend through Samsung Health!

I am down 13.8 pounds. One of the main reasons that I love Weight Watchers- is because I am not giving up anything eating wise.. I am just WAY more aware of what I am eating, how much I am eating, and how often. 

You can follow my journey over at @healthyakbusybee on Instagram where I post my different meal prep ideas and just overall going through this journey.

I have more attainable goals this month to coincide with my daily life. 

At the end of this month I will be making my Dr. appointment (maybe the first of October) I can't wait to compare blood work and weight comparison.

Going to work on a Successful September!

Welcome to August

After my doctors appointment in June.. I knew it was time for me to make a change. Realizing that I am about to head into school.. it was even more important for me to do all that I can to be as healthy as I can. I joined Weight Watchers July 2nd.. and it was the BEST decision ever! I am on the Weight Watchers Blue Plan.  I have done myfitness pal and other apps where I enter in my calories and what I am eating, but there is something about the Weight Watchers app and community that has made it awesome! I also love the community that I have found on Instagram.  You can follow my journey there at healthyakbusybee

This month I set some goals for myself.. and I crushed them!!

My goals were 

-Lose 5 pounds (I actually lost 9.8 pounds!)

-Be active at least 30 minutes every day- I did this and more!!

-Fill in daily heart on Samsung Health- Did it!! There were some days I didn't want to roll out of bed.. but I did.  

-15 CG check-ins- okay.. I only got 9 check ins.. but that doesn't mean that I failed.  

Things I also learned about myself this month:

-When I put my mind to things.. I can get it done

-I enjoy walking.. and it helps my brain!

-I enjoy meal prepping and taking the thinking out of breakfast and lunches

-I am beginning to learn to do other things than stress eat

Of course I have August Goals!

I also joined one of the Yes.Fit challenge

I am pretty pleased with my side by side from July 2nd and August 2nd.  I know throughout this whole process I will gain and lose pounds.  What I loved most about weight watchers is that I don't have to change what I am eating.. but how I am eating. 

Here's to August.. crushing goals and getting more healthy along the way!

Trying to Grow

Hello Fabulous Friends... or those that follow these sporadic "healthy" posts.  Here we are almost 5 months in to this super weird crazy time.  My main blog I shared about my word of the year (you can find it here) Many people choose their word of the year in January with the new year, but me being in education- my years are June-June.

A little background on me:
-I just turned 40!
-I am a middle school librarian
-I am married to a classically trained Executive Chef
-We have one dog (an Australian shepherd named Jax)
-I am super involved in the community- I run Destination ImagiNation teams, I have a Girl Scout troop, I run lots of different clubs at school (all of these things are on hold right now..except Girl Scouts- we meet virtually!)
-I do Camp Gladiator
-I love social media- (I am on TikTok, Twitter, and have 3 different Instagram accounts- my health journey is here @healthyakbusybee
-I love a good glass of wine!
-I LOVE fast food (especially McDonald's!)
I post WAY more on Instagram about all that I am doing to try to grow and get more physically healthy.

At the end of June I went in for my well woman visit.  Everything is fine, but she did say that my triglycerides and cholesterol were a little high.  I also know that I am overweight and not getting any younger.  Although I have known these for awhile.. this is the first time my doctor has told me she wants to see me again in 3 months for some updated bloodwork to see where those levels are.  That was the kick in the butt that I needed to GROW!

I joined Weight Watchers again (I did Weight Watchers probably 18 years ago and was super successful.. I am not for sure why I stopped)  Made some goals for myself.. and have been posting on social media for accountability!

So far I am down 4.8 pounds. I weigh in on Mondays.. and other than that I have stayed off the scale.  I am currently working from home, but I am still doing weekly meal preps for breakfast and lunch.  I have enjoyed walking (and have listened to so many audiobooks.. and my new favorite podcast Crime Junkies!)

Growing isn't easy or fast.. and I know that this will not be easy or fast either.  I hope to instill some better healthy habits in this growing. I don't know how often I post here.. but hopefully I will start sharing some of my favorite recipes that I am learned.. and some of my positives and failures (because we are real people.. right? 

Whatever journey you are on, I hope that it finds you well! I can't wait to Grow this year both mentally and physicall!

Week 1

Hello Fabulous Friends!
Happy Sunday!! I am almost through my first week of actually paying attention to what I eat and adding in work out!  As many of you know I started Camp Gladiator back in March and have been going off and on.  That InBody test I did for CG Fit was SUPER eye opening!

This week I feel I was pretty successful.
I made it to CG three times this week.  I started off the week strong with Never Miss a Monday.  Our AMPED Crew has a chat group and Facebook group that is full of motivation.

I have started adding extra protein in my coffee in the morning.  I know I still need to add more, but it is a good start.

Couple of other things I did this week:
-Even if I had a meal that was not very helpful, I made sure to still log it and portion control!
-I had some REALLY tough days this last week...like REALLY tough.  I still enjoyed my ice cream and wine.. but just made sure it stayed in my calorie budget
-I LOGGED everything at MyFitness Pal
-I also shared on my private @healthyakbusybee Instagram account
After looking at my full week I know that I need to work on upping the protein, how much carbs and fat I am eating.. and also I really need to work on lowering that sodium!

This week for breakfast I am trying this new recipe called Cottage Cheese and Egg Muffins with ham.  I did change up the recipe and added spinach instead of the green onion.

Never Miss a Monday

Sausage muffins with coffee and extra protien

Cottage Cheese and Egg Muffin Bites

These next two weeks are going to be just a little bit crazy.. and there is going to be some traveling involved.  It is also my birthday next Monday.. and cookie season starts on Friday!  Trying to get these habits in place so I can continue to be successful. Let's get week 2!

Almost 40

I turn 40 this month.  I don't make resolutions.. I make goals and write down my dreams in lists. 

As I have listed in many of my blogs over the years.. I am very comfortable in my own skin.  However, I know that if I want to continue to do all the crazy fun things I do.. I need to be healthier.
I began Camp Gladiator last year and have been going off and on not consistently... but when I do go I love EVERY minute of it!

About 7 years ago I was on the health journey.. and not going to lie... I ended up looking GREAT! I am a person as soon as I set my mind to it.. I usually can accomplish it.  But I have used my life as a reason to not put my mind to my health and what I am doing.

Yesterday I got tested for CG Fit using a body composition test. I weigh 217.5 pounds with a body fat percentage of 45.3.  The printout that we were given gave us SO much more information.  After this body composition test we then had a chance to talk with a trainer where he not only broke down all the information from the InBody test, but also gave us some realistic goals and ways to really make a difference in what you are eating. 

So, this month in order to win that free shirt.. I have to check in 12 times (which is only 3 times a week), have an InBody test (done) do the Fit Test- which is later this week, and complete an OutBody test (at the end of the month)

Did I mention that this month is also my Birthday month so I get all those freebie foods... which is also in my budget of really cheap?

I don't ever expect to be this size again.. but who knows.  I will be sharing more on my Private Instagram account over at healthyakbusybee

Things I plan to do
-logging what I eat and realizing portion sizes- even if it isn't the healthiest!
-Not depriving myself- who wants to be around me if I am cranky.. I don't want to be around me if I am cranky.  I am a fast food aholic! If I do get fast food.. it will be kids meals
-Getting my rear to CG! Goal is 3 times a week.. but I am sort of in this competition with the rest of my AMPEd Crew.. and we can get a least 5 points a week for working out!
-Eat before 8pm.. if it can be before 7.. even better!
-sharing what I eat (hence the Instagram account)
-cutting down on the sodas

I know we are all on different journeys.  After the Fit Test yesterday our Trainer Big U said I should have the goal of lowering my Percent Body Fat by 2%.. So that would be from 45.3 percent to 44.394 (still super high.. but I love that he gave a goal that was realistic!)

I am also logging in My Fitness Pal with the goal of
Non workout days eating- 1842 calories
Workout days eating- 2149 calories
That is also
-40% protein
-30% carbs
-30% fat

So, here's to a New Year.. I am pretty happy with me :)

Timehop

I LOVE my daily Timehop.  I don't always share the photos, but it is such a great reminder of all the things that have happened that day.  Now, I will be real honest, I have a terrible memory.. so Timehop is perfect!

However, Timehop has been reminding me lately how much weight I had lost about 4 years ago.  

July 2013

March 2013

Now, before I go any farther... I have gained weight.  I have always been a larger girl.  I remember looking at these photos and remembering how I lost the weight.  My husband was going through a VERY tough time in 2013 and I was cancelling items that we didn't need/could afford anymore.  One of those was the gym.  I told the gym my story of why I was cancelling.. and you know what they did.. they gave me 3 months free!  That was the push that I needed.  I realized that the gym was a place that I could go to get away from everything and have time for myself.  It was FANTASTIC! During that time I also wrote down everything that I ate.  I still had fast food (because.. I LOVE fast food) but I had the kids meals.  This past week, I took all the staff photos for the upcoming year.  I am very comfortable in my skin, but I was very uncomfortable in pictures.

 

Y'all those aren't skinny jeans!  I weighed myself this morning and I am at 222.6 and I am 37 years old.  I have a #40by40 list that I want to get done.. and if I am this large, I don't know how much I wil be able to do.

So, today.. I am making my lunches for the week (this will curb the need to leave campus for an unhealthy lunch)  I will also be wearing my fitbit.
My goal for the rest of August and September is get myself to the gym at least 2 times a week.  I need to make time for myself and take care of myself.

So, here's to having timehops that consistently remind me that if I put my mind to it.. I can accomplish anything!