Beast Mode

I have recently incorporated the term 'beast mode' into my daily conversations. The term is rather new to me, yet it seems like the perfect way to describe my recent time at the gym. I have gathered that it has 3 main definitions: 1) When a person can possess animal like qualities and instincts that allows them to act superhuman 2) A hyped, energetic state of mind that allows a person to work harder than they normally might. 3) An intoxicated state of mind that causes a person to act out in an obnoxious, yet frightening manner.

When talking about my time at the gym, I am mainly going to be using the second definition. And maybe a little bit of the first definition too. For the last 4 weeks or more, I have hit a plateau in my weight loss. Fortunately I am not gaining any weight, but I am not losing anything either. As a way to jump start my body into loosing some more pounds, I decided to start going to the gym for 2-hour sessions. Or as I fondly refer to it; going beast mode. I try to do this at least 2-3 times a week, while still maintaining a 5-6 day a week gym schedule. When I am at the gym for 2 hour sessions, I am typically attending two classes; one hour cardio class, and one hour weight lifting/toning type class.

Attending classes makes the time go by much faster, but I must caution, the first few days after going beast mode, you will be sore. Very sore. After my first two hour session I could barely sit down. I had to hoover over chairs and just sort of fall into them. Anyone who has just begun working out again, or has had an intense work out, knows exactly what I am talking about. I still haven't lost any more weight, but it's a rather new gym regimen, so I will keep you updated as the weeks go by. And hopefully as the pounds melt off!

Limits

I have now learned why weight loss is considered to be a journey and not a sprint. It sure does not come easy, and if you are doing it the healthy way, it sure does not come fast. Since beginning my journey, I have lost 20 pounds. I wish I could feel more triumphant about a 20 pound weight loss, but currently I am feeling defeated. I have been working out killing myself at the gym and dieting for about 21 weeks, yet I have only lost 20 pounds. People have assured me that a slow weight loss is a good sign, as it means that it will probably be permanent. Weight that melts off quickly can creep back on just as quickly.

Due to the fact that I have been feeling so defeated lately, my dieting has slipped. I have been binging off and on for about two weeks. I have good days, but I also have days where I swear my stomach is a bottom-less pit and I could literally eat everything in my fridge. And freezer. And pantry. But I have started this week feeling rejuvenated and renewed and I am ready to kick some more ass in the diet department.

The aha moment that I had over the weekend in fact has to do with my diet. As I was eating and drinking my weight on St. Patty's day, I realized that nothing that I eat is off limits. Some people will never eat fast food. Some people only eat sweets once a week, or once a month even! I, however have a very little amount of food that is off limits. I am not one to believe in giving up foods completely or depriving myself, as I am a lover of food (which is what got me to such a high weight in the first place). I have found that I will never be able to completely give up any sort of food group. I have tried giving up sugar and failed. I have tried giving up carbs and failed. And when I started eating the food that I had previously deprived myself from, I began eating it with a vengeance.

With adopting a new healthy eating lifestyle, I had decided that I would never deprive myself, but only indulge in moderation. Going along with moderation I have decided to set limits for myself. Just because a cookie is free does not mean that I need to eat it. If I order a sandwich and it comes with french fries, I do not have to eat the whole plate. And if I do eat a whole plate of french fries, I probably should not have tater tots at dinner time.

My whole journey has been made up of baby steps but today when offered a free doughnut, I declined. That's progress, right?

First Post!

Hi, my name is Nadine and much like the rest of America, I am chasing after weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. For as long as I can remember I have been overweight, out of shape and a self-proclaimed hater of dieting and exercise. I have tried many crash diets and have failed at almost all of them. The only diet that I have ever started and stuck with was my decision to become a vegetarian. Although, I use the term diet very loosely, as I did not cut out meat as a way to lose weight, rather it was a lifestyle choice that I made 6 years ago. And with becoming a vegetarian, I did not drop any weight; in fact I slowly began to gain weight.

I have spent most of my life thinking that someday I would adopt a healthier lifestyle. Someday I would begin working out. Someday, someday….but which day? When would that day come, the day that I would decide to get in shape? Well that day started on October 31^st, 2011. I was looking at photos that had recently been taken and I didn’t even recognize the girl that I was starring at. Was that really me? Was I really that overweight? I guess I always pictured myself as just having a little extra weight to lose, but the girl in this picture was obese. I looked at myself in the mirror and it finally hit me; I needed to change my lifestyle or I was going to end up with a lifetime of health problems. I had finally experienced what I refer to as- that aha moment!

In reading about weight loss success stories, many people talk about having this moment when they know they have no other choice than to shape up their unhealthy eating habits. That moment when everything that you have been ignoring, finally just clicks. This is what I have started referring to as that aha moment! After experiencing my aha moment, my roommate and I joined the YWCA and ever since I have been going to the gym on a regular basis. In addition I have finally begun eating healthy and counting calories. I decided that starting a blog might be a helpful resource in getting feedback from others and connecting with people who are in the same place I am or those who have already lost weight. I plan to share all of my challenges, triumphs and every little aha moment that I experience on my weight loss journey!