Round 2 is over!

I did it! I finished the 21 Day Fix for the 2nd time! I made the decision to commit to clean eating, exercising for 30 minutes everyday, and to have a positive mental attitude for 21 days while I took control of my life. Here are my results :D

I am down an additional 6 pounds! That is huge for me! This means that I am down a total of 11 lbs. since starting the 21 Day Fix, and a grand total of 15 lbs. from my highest weight ever. I actually lost 4 lbs. in the 5 days that I was waiting for the 21 day fix to come in the mail, ha! I was eating clean(er) than before, cutting out about 1/2 of my after-the-kids-go-to-bed snacks, and increasing my water intake. I also added Shakeology into my diet at that time. Go figure! Proof that diet is more beneficial for weight loss than exercise.

I lost a total of 2 inches after this round. 1/2 inch in my chest, 1/2 inch in my waist, and 1 inch in my hips. I am down a grand total of 11.5 inches since my first measurements were taken on the first day of Round 1. 

Today I woke up and did my Cardio Fix. One reason I did it is because it is one of my favorite workouts (I am a cardio junkie) and the other reason is because I have made a choice to change my lifestyle now. I am not going to stop eating well and working out just because those 21 days are over! I might not tally my containers today, and I do know that we are planning on going out for ice cream later :D But I fully intend to keep my results, and in order to do that I have to keep at it every day. 

I have a few ideas that I keep in my head, and they help me to keep my perspective of this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. One rule for me is to not call them "cheats" but to call them "treats." I have no problem enjoying a treat every once in a while. A treat is something special and typically (for me anyways) something delicious. It is not a ritual or a habit or a regular meal. Having ice cream on occasion is a treat for me. I'll admit, I went through a phase of my life where I used to have ice cream almost every night! But now I view it as a treat. I do NOT view it as a cheat. That gives my delicious bowl of ice cream a negative connotation, like it is something I should not be doing. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a bowl of ice cream!! I refuse to call it a cheat and make myself feel bad about enjoying it. I will call it a treat and remind myself that I don't need too much in order to enjoy it, and I definitely do not need to have it on a regular basis. 

Another thing I like to ask myself, especially when we are eating at a restaurant (and I learned this from my Beachbody coach Vanessa) is "Am I eating this food for Fuel or for Celebration?" Just like you regularly put gasoline into your car, you eat regular meals to fuel your body. It is what gets you through the day, regulates your energy levels, your blood sugar, etc. A celebration, however, is more of a social event that is often centered around food, and is rarely centered around clean choices of food. That is ok! We don't typically have celebrations on a regular basis. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a meal that you wouldn't typically have made for yourself at home. There is nothing wrong with occasionally ordering that not-so-clean meal at a restaurant IF you are not eating to fuel yourself and if it is not a regular choice. If I go out to eat with my family on a Wednesday night because we don't feel like cooking or doing the dishes, I will absolutely look on the menu for the cleanest items or the things that are most like what I would typically choose to fuel my body. But if I am going to a restaurant to celebrate my 9th wedding anniversary with my husband (which is coming up next month!!) then you'd better believe I am having a glass of wine, something creamy and delicious (in a reasonable portion size!) and the chocolate mud pie or raspberry cheesecake for dessert :D 

Now everyone is different. Some people cannot just have a treat once and call it good. Sometimes you are at a point in your Journey where it is not worth the risk. One bowl of ice cream might set you up for failure. That is ok too. Everyone has a different Journey, and if yours includes saying no to ice cream indefinitely (or soda or cheetos or whatever) then good for you for recognizing your abilities and your needs! I personally have not touched soda for the last 6 weeks because that one can cause me to slip up too easily. You do whatever works best for you- attack whatever challenges are the most difficult for you, and I promise you will see results. 

I will leave you with some pics of me after my Cardio Fix, and also some pics of me my beautiful children enjoying breakfast this morning. 

Sweaty Selfie- ready to go take a shower!!

 After my shower, drinking my Shakeology before breakfast

My sweet baby girl, eating her breakfast of strawberries, eggs and toast

My sweet baby boy, eating his breakfast of the same thing, plus oatmeal (which he used to HATE, and now he asks for it every single morning!)

My breakfast this morning. On my plate I have 1 red, 1 yellow, and 1/2 purple. I also have my Shakeology blended with coffee and 1/2 banana (my favorite way to drink it!!) 

This is typical for me after Cardio days- I was so excited to drink my Shake after my intense workout, and I ended up being way too full after having both together. Tomorrow I will remind myself to either eat breakfast later or save my Shake for later!!