SCC Week Seven Update

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Seven Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

I feel like I am getting no where, but I am determined to keep moving along and attempting to move forward.  I did however have a NSV, My 14’s I wear most often are loose, and due to my body shape they fall off my rear when they are worn below my belly.  But due to the size of my belly right now they won’t stay on top of my tummy at all.  I really have needed to find a belt.  Last time I tried on my belts from my closet (which I have not been able to wear since having kids) I was disappointed that I couldn’t wear them.  Me and my stubbornness refused to go out and buy a larger size. 

Valentines I was going out on a date with the hubster and I decided to try on one of my belts.  I was able to wear it at the largest size.  It was a little tight, but it kept my pants in place while we were dancing.  I tried on a second belt and it fits even better!  So I am happy for this small step of progress!  It has helped lift my spirits a bit.

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

Eating this week was not so great.  I didn’t track as often as I should have and I ate way too many goodies.  Today I am back on track with logging my food. I did great on water.  I figure if it is one small thing I can do for myself, I can chug my water!

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

My moodiness is improving, and this morning I was able to go the gym while my husband stayed home with the kids.  It was nice to get in a solid work out with cardio and weights.

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check..

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check..

Week 7 Review

·                     How was the 7th week...?  Over all, week 7, was well… ho hum….  But I am slipping out of my slump, so that is good news.

·                     Did you remain sweets free...?  No!  I thought this weeks challenge was to eat with smaller plates and utincels??? I normally eat on small plates, I didn’t change this up, but could have ate on my kids plates.

·                     How were your workouts? The ones that I actually got in were great! Would have loved to work out more though!

·                     How was your water consumption?  Great

·                     What do you think of the mini challenges?   They are good to have. Thanks!

·                     What did you do for yourself that was fun? Dancing on Valentines Day with the hubs!!I

I finally got around to changing my profile picture!! Yeah for changing out my half- grin photo.  I hope you all have a great week.  I can already tell this week is going to be much better than the previous three!!!

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Six Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

Things are fitting about the same.  This week I have been a little bloated due to TOM, but I am hoping for a great loss next week.  I gained a pound this week and I am ready to shed it!!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

I had a few great days with eating, and some terrible days like today.  I was out of control!!!  Too much sugar, too many carbs, too out of control!!  But here is the good news, I actually tracked my whole terrible day (over 2000 calories!)  So I am back to the grindstone in the morning!  I did do great on my water though.  I think I may have even hit that goal 100%

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

I was having some real terrible emotional issues this week.  I was battling with myself to make good choices and exercise was one of them.  I made it to the gym twice, one really awesome work out and one really short work out due to my kids acting up in the childcare and me getting called back to take them out.  I think we are on the upswing with my kids, myself and my husband being sick.  My son finally cut a tooth we have been waiting on.  We only have one more to go and he will have most of his basic baby teeth.  Thank goodness because teething turns my sweet boy into a nightmare who doesn’t nap!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

I haven’t done any additional blogging this week.  I am hoping that will change too.  I just have been struggling and I haven’t really wanted to do much of anything.  I think I am doing better and I am keeping a very detailed “behavior log” This is where I am writing down every detail of my day.  In the first column I am writing my action: eating, sleeping, how my body is feeling, etc.  The second column is a comment on how I feel, or my reaction to what I ate, or just more details. 

I am looking for patterns in my eating behavior.  I have been really moody and emotional lately and I would like to see if I can find any patterns.  I guess I already know that sugar and lack of sleep contribute to my moodiness, I just would like to log it all on paper for a little while.  I am aiming for a week of detailed logging, then I will go from there.  Right now I am on day three.

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

I have read many of your blogs, and have commented on some.  I have cut back on commenting as well, but again I hope to get back in to that as well.

Week 7 Goals

• Are you keeping them the same...?  Yes, for today I will be keeping my goals the same.
• Are you switching it up? I will be soon, but I am working on getting things in order at home.
• What has become like a habit?  Water!!! Yeah for being hydrated.

MINI CHALLENGE.... Eat with smaller platers and/or utensils....

SCC Week Four

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Four Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

I did some measurements over the weekend to see how I have done over the month of January.  I lost an inch on my waist, belly and hips.  I was happy there was a decrease, I had a rough week and was a bit discouraged.  I have to look at the positive side of things and keep trekking along.  Over the month I lost a total of 5 lbs.  I am now finally to my pre-holiday weight.  So it took the month of January to work off the months of November and December!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  I made it 22 days with out candy, cookies and sweet baked goodies.  And I can honestly say I have not formed a new habit.  It is going to take more than 21 days for me.  Last week I was weak!!  Really weak, I folded and gave into cookie dough and candy.  I had a little bit nearly every day.

Giving up goodies cold turkey isn’t the best solution for me.  I think I do better if I allow myself to have goodies here and there and just make sure I track it to stay with in my allotted calories.

I was a bit disappointed that I haven’t lost more with my efforts.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

This week I got in 4 workouts.  They probably averaged 45 minutes, some were longer, some were shorter.  I had great aspirations to make it to the gym.  It didn’t happen.  Both my kids are sick.  Started with coughs, then came the fevers, ear infections and now they are slowly on the mend.  Still sick though, I was really hoping to make it to the gym today!!! I guess I will be doing an at home work out once again!

With my kids being sick, I have had a terrible time keeping up with my personal wants and goals.  I am also struggling to feel well and am fighting off the germies!  I look forward to not giving up and continuing to move forward!!! 

This week for my new exercise I created a playlist on youtube of a beginning zumba work out.  I hope you guys all checked it out!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check!

Week 5’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

No Caffeine!!

This won't be a problem for me.  I don’t drink coffee, tea or soda.  I guess I need to come up with a mini goal for me this week that will actually be a challenge. 

How about take my vitamins every day this week!!!

I hope you are all doing well!!  Keep your heads held high and February will be a great month.  I am looking forward to winter winding down and spring right around the corner.

Have a great week!!

30 Minute Beginning Zumba Workout

For those of you in the spring chick challenge who are looking for a new exercise to do this week and don't know what to do here is a play list I created on youtube for beginning zumba.  Most of the songs are instructed by tiffanyloveszumba.  Again, I am having trouble embedding things into blogger, so here is the link!

It is pretty low impact, runs for 30 minutes and I think is a nice intro to Zumba.  Let me know what you think.

What are  you trying out for your new exercise this week???

 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFB92E48586C0E4CA

SCC Week Three Update:

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Three Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

Yesterday I dug through my bins of clothing that I stashed away post pregnancy, due to not fitting any longer.  I am happy to say I found another pair of pants that fit me from my closet, they are size 13 and very loose.  12’s still are not even close to buttoning.  My determination will get me there!  And I am down another two pounds this week.

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal

(add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

I did well with tracking and water this week.  I really tried to stay near my calorie goal as well.  I did pretty good and it is nice to be able to feel good eating less.  I am trying to get in a lot of veggies and a little bit of fruit.  Fruit isn’t good for my blood sugar, so I try to keep it at a minimum.   I am still rocking my January goal of no sugary sweets, but today I feel weak, and I am battling wanting CANDY.  Arrrrgh!  Only another week and a couple days, until I will allow myself a couple treats.

This week I also tried to steer clear of white flour.  I did pretty good, except for two meals where I was out of the house and I completely forgot.  I am so focused when I am at home in my own kitchen, but it just skipped my brain, when I was out and about.  Even though I ate out twice I still was good on my daily calorie in take.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

I got in 5 great work outs (for the third week in a row!)  I am trying to push myself, and work smarter.  I am waiting for that day where I have lots of energy for all this healthy exercise and eating!  There are days like today where I am just exhausted and would love to stay in bed, but just isn’t going to happen with my two little ones, who need care.

I had my first session with my old/new trainer.  It was nice to have someone push me and get me moving again.  The morning of my session, I felt like I was coming down with the flu, my body was achy all over.  Not a workout sore, but a sick sore.  I debated all day if I should call and cancel.  I decided that I felt a little better by the afternoon and I should give it my best and go to the session.  I am glad I went, but I wonder if I am having a hard time with my energy due to fighting a bug, that just doesn’t want to leave. It is that or my body is going through a process of detox and getting rid of gunk!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check! Yesterday there was something wrong going on with Google Reader.  I could read your blog posts, but when I tried to click into your post to comment, I wasn’t able to even get the page to open up.  I was having trouble today as well, so hopefully it will resolve itself soon.

Week 4’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

*Find a new exercise!

SCC Week Two Update

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Two Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

Jeans are still feeling good.  Even with period bloat this week, they were not uncomfortable like they have been in weeks past.  I have lost a pound in the past week. Yeah!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

I am doing really well with tracking the first half of the day, then afternoon evening hits and I have a terrible time finishing my day.  My goal was to track 5 days and I didn’t track 5 compete days, but I am working at being better at this.  Today I completed my day and was only 1202 calories, so I was right on track with no exercise today!  I am doing good with water.  Some days a little low, some day a little more.

I am still steering clear of the baked goodies and sweets.  I have allowed myself to have some sugar free ice cream and sugar free pudding.  It is nothing like the real stuff.  I would much rather have a cookie, brownie or something baked.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session (more details to come)

I got in 5 workouts last week. And so we are on track there.  I was really sore, and really tired (due to TOM), but I kept on tracking.  I am looking forward to my first session with my old trainer on Tuesday.

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.  YES!!

Check!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do.  YES!!

Check!

I didn’t do so well at the mini challenge this week, I forgot about using my non-dominate hand to eat.  I did try it though and I learned I am pretty skilled with that hand too.  Bummer, I don’t know if it would slow me down!

Week 3’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

-No white flour this week.  I hope to make some whole wheat bread and other yummies (tortillas, maybe pitas).  I have got to re-train my brain and get off my husbands white bread!!

-Continue the no sweets.

Have an awesome week!!!

Size 12 Goal Pants...

Not the happiest looking picture of myself, but here are the size 12 pants I have chosen as goal pants to be able to fit into by March 19, the end of the Spring Chick Challenge.  As you can see I have many inches to loose around the middle.  Darn trouble spot!!!

Let’s Get Moving!

SCC Week One Update

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC)

Week One Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

I am currently wearing my size 14 jeans and I have to say, the holiday bloat is subsiding.  Hoorah!! They fit much better today than they did even a week ago!  Exciting!  I tried on my 12’s today and took a picture.  I have some serious work to do.  I am happy to be moving, to get them back on my body!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

I started out the week great at tracking, I choose not to the last couple of days.  My goal this week is to track at least 5 days.  I am doing great on the water.  I am also doing good at giving up sugary sweets.  I have had no baked goods or candy.  For me, it is a huge success.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session (more details to come)

I got in 5 workouts last week.  I went to the gym 4 times and got in a solid 45 minutes and made an attempt to workout at home while my kids were around and it was a feeble attempt to burn calories.  My kids were all over me.  Not the greatest workout, but I am moving along!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.  YES!!

I have got in a few blog posts and for me that is a big improvement.  Life gets the best of me sometimes and blogging gets put on the back burner.

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do.  YES!!

I have commented on several blogs.  I tried putting all of the challengers blogs on my sidebar, but I had technical difficulties and it never happened.  I got frustrated after my third attempt.  I have several other challengers in my google reader, and I will work on supporting my fellow challengers.

A great week one, let’s go ladies!! Keep it up!

Spring Chick Challenge Intro

I am in!  I have decided to join the spring chick challenge!  Here is my introduction and my focus points for the challenge.  I am pressed for time today so this will be brief.  I will give more details and pictures in future posts.

I am Amber (overcomingmysugaraddiction.blogspot.com) and I am a sugar lover (hence my blog name).  I am 33 years old and live in Boise, Idaho.  You can email me at (overcomingmysugaraddiction {at} gmail {dot} com)

Over the summer I did an online blogging challenge (Slimmer this Summer).  It was awesome for me to set specific goals and keep to a great plan.  I lost 12 pounds and felt great.  Since then I have been struggling with eating and getting consistent exercise.  In fact I know I have gained a bunch of weigh over the past week.  I have had a few holiday binges and it is time to get back into gear!  I am ready to see the scale and my pant size move the other direction!!

I may alter my goals a bit once I get more time to write a more details, but here is what I am committing to at this moment!

So here are the focus points for this challenge:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.  

§         My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session (more details to come)

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.  YES!!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do.  YES!!

I am ready to kick off this new year.  I am excited to get to know new bloggy friends and to keep moving!!