Go Green get Fit- my 17 week challenge!

This is how I have been feeling lately. :-(

Now it is time to make this blog a little bit more personal. Don't get me wrong I have tons of blog posts coming up still on a variety of fun topics. Some of which to look forward to are homemade children crafts, raw food diet, under wire bra controversy, upcycling, my allergy curing salt lamp, frugal living, and much much more! But I have come across a fact about myself that I was aware of, but, I just didn't know the extent of the problem until today! One of the reasons I have become so interested in eating healthier, greener living and exercise was because I have always been on the chubbier side. Sure this is a common thing here in America, but when you have thick frizzy red hair on top of that, kids are not afraid to make it known that you are different. It may have been 15 years ago since I have been tormented by someone for my looks but I am pretty sure it is the culprit to why I have a demeaning self esteem today.

Enough about that, what got me thinking deeper into my constant need to lose more weight or become healthier was as innocent as looking over my Facebook page. I started this by looking at all the baby pictures of my oldest daughter, comparing her to her little sister and just remembering how crazy life was being a first time mother at the time. Well by doing this I noticed that I have one measly picture of her and I over the last 3 years and maybe one or two other pictures of me within that time frame as I am always dodging the camera. This to me is kind of sad, if I continue to live this way my children will not have any pictures of their mother to show their children and grandchildren and I want to be remembered, damn it! (excuse my language but come on Haley what is your problem?)

So, in order to overcome this I know what I have to do. I need to focus even harder on my weight loss goal not only for my happiness, but for my children and my career of being a nutritionist. I figured I would use my blog to keep me motivated and quite possibly help my followers stay motivated as well! I have a pretty hectic schedule for the next few months as I start school up again in a week full time, work 26 hours a week, continue to spend as much time with my babies and husband, on top of all the other tasks of being a mommy and wife. (which I am not taking the time to list all of those because that will be darn right depressing at the moment and I am running on an Adrenalin high after doing a half hour of yoga and about 30 minutes on the elliptical and id like to keep that high!)

Here are a few things I am going to do:

Cardio 4-5 times a week for at least 40 minutes

weight training and yoga 3 times a week

eating a healthy, organic diet

have one night a week where I treat myself to a glass of red wine, dark chocolate and a movie (come on every girl needs this once in a while!)

give up on caffeine (this will not happen overnight but I am going to really work on this)

drink a lot more water

Okay that sounds easy for the most part right...I am not so much worried about the eating part it is the caffeine void and the exercise that will bring me down. You would think that just replacing my morning coffee with a run would do the trick but I have tried that and it actually makes me crave it more. I think it is a mind over matter thing and am determined to kick the addiction! Once I take a day off it is even harder to pick myself back up. But I am going to make sure I am totally honest with you guys so feel free to comment if you see me slip up!

My goals: I am currently 159.4 pounds...thanks to my beautiful girls :-)

I want to be at least 150 by October 1st (which is in 5 weeks), 135 by Thanksgiving (8 weeks) and ultimate goal to be at 125 by my birthday which is Christmas day!!! (also another 5 weeks from Thanksgiving) Note: If I do not reach 125 but am comfortable with it I will take it! This just gives me an idea of what I am shooting for, I am a highly goal driven person and this actually makes it more fun!

Had to add this because my grandma, bless her heart, has been reminding me daily on our chats that, "An apple a day will do me just fine, it will keep you regular" as she reminds me!

A topic of interest to me right now is the Raw Foods "diet" I will talk about it more in the very near future but I have been reading a lot about it and am astounded by how youthful, healthy and SKINNY these people are that follow this way of eating. Briefly these people just eat raw foods, meaning that they do not cook anything and stick to all natural fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and more! I love it all but also love me a good home cooked meal so I don't think I could ever completely be a raw foody but I am willing to try anything once. I am completely jealous of these foodies complexion, the before and after pictures are absolutely jaw dropping on how much puffiness, weight, and more that these people have over come just by changing their diet to raw foods! I am going to challenge myself to dedicate one day a week to raw eating and see how it makes me feel. My husband would not have this if he knew but since I am very occupied with school and week there is a few days I won't see him during the week, which is upsetting but got to live the American dream right? I will just make sure I pick one of these days to be my raw day. Can't wait to see how it makes me feel! Let me know if you have tried it and what you thought, love to hear from my readers!

Well here we go, now that it is in writing I have no time to waste. today was a good start. I ate some amazing vegetable lasagna, some pickles, mixed fruit, steamed broccoli, smoked chicken on whole wheat bread with vegan mayo, fresh granola in soy milk and enjoyed some green tea! I also went for a walk, did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and practiced some yoga for 30 minutes! I'd say one successful day now on to what another 119 to go. I will try and post a current picture of me, even though again I dread cameras but it is only fair that I start working on that bad habit right now, today as well! wish me luck, this girl is in for a one heck of a sweat!