The Challenge Is Set!

This year, I was feeling pretty determined that I was not going to be one of those people that makes a New Years resolution to loose all this weight, join a gym, spend a bunch of money on work out clothes, shoes, healthy food, and whatever else they do to get themselves psyched!

Then my husband opened his mouth.

Now, one thing you need to know, is that my husband is a good looking guy! Like, "WHAA?! Dang girl, Imma have to call you back!" Kind of hot. He's a complete baby faced guy, super tall, kind, hard working, gentle, sweet guy...and he works out. Always has! And he's got a great bod. ;)  He is also in school to become a Physiotherapist, so he's learning a lot about the body and nutrition and stuff. Being healthy and fit has always been a priority to him, and he enjoys working out and learning how the body works!

So, you wanna know what he said?

First of all, you need to know some things about me.  I've never been the skinniest person in the world. Not that I've always been fat, I've just never been the skinny one! Although, I wish I could go back to the size I was when I thought I was fat but really wasn't! haha

Anyways, after a cool dating/engagement story, hubby and I got married, and 7 months later found out we were expecting our little girl! We we thrilled!! However, shortly after becoming pregnant, my nose started getting all stuffed up. Everyone told me it was a common pregnancy symptom...but it just got worse. And it didn't go away after my baby was born! In fact--it still isn't gone! Anyway--what does that have to do with my weight? Well... a lot, in my opinion!  You know when you have a cold how miserable you are? Not being able to breathe really zaps the energy out of you! Now imagine being sick like that day after day after day. And have a baby that isn't a good sleeper on top of that.  So, you're constantly miserable from lack of sleep, as well as having to constantly be blowing your nose, and not being able to talk properly... and let me just say, There's a reason they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture! It makes you go crazy.

And so, healthy eating habits and working out? Not high on my priority list. I was just trying to focus my energy on reaching the next tissue and trying to blow my nose quietly enough that I didn't wake my sleeping baby or husband--and maybe catch a few winks myself if I was lucky!

And so.. I got fatter and fatter! Especially around my stomach. I got the beer belly without drinking any of the beer! So I have a couple of reason as to why I want to do this...

1. My husbands' challenge (given without even knowing it)

2. I'm a little tired of people asking me when I'm due (at church or even in the line at Wal Mart!)

and then I'm stuck trying to decide if I should just make up a pretend due date, or tell them I'm not pregnant, just fat, and make us all feel uncomfortable. And yes, there was once I wanted to tell someone I had had a miscarriage just because I wanted them to feel rotten for asking me! There. That gives you an of idea about the sort of person I am. :) 

                                   ***As a general rule, it is not polite to ask any woman when they are due unless you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are in fact pregnant! I'm surprised I have to tell people this--especially women!***

3. If I do become pregnant again, it is going to feel like a very long pregnancy!!

4. I just want to be healthier for my family and for myself! I want to feel comfortable in my own skin (and especially in my clothes!)

Are you ready to know what my husband said that sparked all of this?

It started the other week when we went to our first Zumba class with Wanda Roy

So after that class, he told me that you can't get fit by only changing your activity level to dancing once or twice a week.
(**He would also like me to add that he said that to lose weight you also have to be eating correctly. So, basically, Increase your activity level but also eat better if you want to lose weight**)

What I heard when he said that: "You can't get fit by dancing."
(If there are any men reading this, I know... Women be crazy.)

Another thing you need to know about me--I'm very competitive with my hubby. 

Now, while I agree with him that the gym is still good, it isn't an option for me. We don't have the money for a gym membership, and I don't have my own car, and I have a daughter to worry about. It's just not an option for our stage of life right now. 

And so... I gave myself The Challenge!

Step 1: Make a blog where I have to be accountable. I will post my measurements (not my lbs, because I'm not concerned about that number as much as I am my waist size! I don't even own a scale!) and I'll post my weekly meal plans (forcing me better plan my meals)

Step 2: Work out every day! Except Sunday. The rules:

-must be something *I* consider to be fun. No boring push ups, crunches or weights. Bleh. Also, running is something I won't be doing. I just don't understand running... for those of you that like it, good on ya! I just can't wrap my head around it! Basically, if you see me running, you probably should be too.. there's probably zombies behind me. 

-can do Zumba or any other kind of dance work out. Pilates/yoga is allowed. Walking and biking will be acceptable once the weather stops sucking! (one day I will live in Arizona and everything will be better... :) )
Also, as soon as I can save up enough money to buy a pole, I will be doing Pole dancing again! I did it before I got married, and it was AWESOME! I had fantastic arms, and it was just a lot of fun! That's my idea of a good work out :)

Step 3: Change how I eat.

No point doing all that working out if I'm just filling the tank back up with junk!

I'll be starting out using the Flat Belly Diet plan--I had started it before I got pregnant and was starting to notice changes, so I'm going to give it another try. I've also been reading "YOU on a diet" (Dr. Oz) and will use some of the stuff in there, as well as the "Natropatic Diet" which worked really well for my parents, each losing 45+ lbs in just one summer of doing it!

There's lots of diet plans and stuff out there, so I'm just going to start with these and see how it goes. 

The whole point of doing this is to start enjoying life more! And so, this doesn't mean I will be cutting out all sugar from my diet. Or carbs. Yeah, I'm allergic to gluten, so I have to watch how much bread I'm eating anyway. But I'm not going to stress out when I want a treat! My goal is to get to the point where I WANT that apple instead of that bowl of ice cream.  I believe my body wants to be healthy, and so by doing my part, it will naturally get to where it should be. There's a lot of reprogramming that needs to happen in this body and mind of mine! It has taken a while to get to this point, so I need to give myself time to get out of this rut I'm in. And that means not killing myself in the beginning!

I'm excited and nervous about this journey, especially since I'm making it all public! :)

If you've read to the end of this, Thank you for your support! I will really need it as I get this going!!

Next Post: Measurements, pictures, first meal plan!