Changes I have Made to Lose Weight & Live Healthier

I don’t really love the term or idea of “losing weight” but that’s ultimately what it came down to for me. I’ve never owned a scale and have never really cared about “the number” but one day I hopped on and holy crap I was in shock!

It was the heaviest I had ever weighed. Ever. I’ve been pregnant, carrying another life inside me and still.. this weight.. two years after my second baby… was my heaviest.

That number stung.

As much as I don’t like to admit it, it got me down. Now here’s the thing, I had been feeling bloated, tired, run down, unmotivated, insecure, losing confidence.. the list goes on… so I knew I needed to make a change and so I made the choice to commit to exercsing again.

I still wouldn’t have normally weighed myself but I had agreed to try out a program from a local personal trainer and that was the first step of getting started. Take before photos, then weigh and measure ourselves.

So there I was, staring down at 156.8lbs and thinking how did I let this happen? I knew that I wasn’t feeling great about myself, I knew that I was less motivated then normal, I knew that when I took my clothes off and looked in the mirror I didn’t want to look at that body.

It was a bigger problem then I believed it to be, and I am only starting to realize that as I start to come out of it. 

I start to feel better.

It isn’t just one change that I made to get on track with this healthier lifestyle. It’s a number of choices, that I remake every single day. Some days I do awesome, some days I fail at quite a few, but everyday I wake up and remind myself that it’s a new day and I can reach my goals.

So many of you have been asking what I am doing. I am so happy to share, but I also want to make it important and clear that yes losing weight is great — but it’s not everything.

I’ve lost 6.4 lbs since I’ve started, just over a month ago. I am so so proud of that, but I think that the inches I have lost say so much more then the weight. Weight is just a number, and depending on your build, height, muscle mass and so many other things it’s not something that should haunt you.

The most important thing is how you feel on the inside. Are the changes to a healthier lifestyle giving you a better sleep? A more productive day? A clearer vision of your goals? 

Lifestyle Changes I Have Made

• Started exercising again. I hadn’t been active for a long time and it was time for a change. Last Spring I went out of my comfort zone and joined a women’s soccer team. It was the best decision. I didn’t realize how much I missed playing a sport, connecting with women and letting my brain rest. this fall we play 2 times a week, a practice and a game and it is ultimately the easiest exercise ever, because I LOVE IT!
• Home workout program – When I first took my weight and photos it was for my first week working with Lisa Pineda, an online health coach. She connected with me via Instagram DM and we chatted about working together to reach some goals. I’ve been loving that each week she creates a new routine for me and helps me focus on the areas, both inside and out, that I need assistance with to reach my goals.
• Watching what I eat. I haven’t changed a whole lot about what I eat, but I have monitored my portion sizes. For someone who wasn’t working out during the day or doing much of any exercise I should not have been eating the amount at meals times as I was, let’s just say I eat the same amount or more than my husband. 
• Adding a meal replacement smoothie in for breakfast. Eating breakfast wasn’t high on my list, as I always feel rushed and my attention is on getting the kids ready in the morning. I’ve made this a priority in the mornings and find it helps my day off to the right start. I’ve been making the same smoothie recipe (Vegan Berry & Greens Smoothie) and adding in Herbalife meal replacement powder, which my mom sells — DM me for questions on this OR view the Herbalife products online here — USE PROMO CODE ” CODI ” for 20% off and free shipping with orders over $100.
• Taking Vitamins. Something that I was lacking for a really long time. These are also through the Herbalife product line and I have taken them (on and off) since I was in highschool. I know that my body responds well and knew that I needed to start being more consistent with taking them. One vitamin that I take from the line helps block cravings and I really do find that it makes a difference throughout my day from snacking on literally everything. (Names of the Herbalife vitamins I am taking: Multivitamin Mineral Support, Total Control (good for controlling cravings) and Cell Activator)
• Reduce Alcohol Consumption. I wouldn’t say that I was drinking a lot, but I was having 1-2 drinks a day, just casually in the evening, with dinner, while working, etc. Purely because I love the taste! But you know what, it was adding to me feeling super bloated and making me feel much less motivated in the evening to get work done. Since starting I told myself that I would have drinks 1 day a week and have kept to that pretty well. 

That’s it you guys. Really small changes, being more active and eating better. I wouldn’t say that I have followed a perfect program. I still have treats, I miss workout days and guess what — I don’t beat myself up about it. 

I know that I am continually making choices to that are helping lead me to a healthier lifestyle. Working my way towards my goals but I have grace with myself, feel how my body is feeling and give it rest + a glass of wine if needed.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was going to share all of this, the personal posts are always the hardest. Afraid of judgement or just saying something wrong. If you are feeling like you want to make some changes to improve you, your health, your body, do it! Make those goals, track your progress and get support where you need to to hold you accountable.