How Water Changed My Life

Water changed my life...

Number 30 on my list was to drink nothing but water for 30 days.  This may seem simple to some but for me seemed impossible.  You see, I loved Diet Coke. Prior to completing number 30 I could drink more than 32 ounces of Diet Coke a day.  Healthy people, please don't comment how bad it is for me; I've read all the research and know how bad it it is.  When you love something and are addicted to it you don't care how bad it may be; you just have to have it.  To be completely honest, I loved Diet Coke so much that I still had one glass a day when I was pregnant with my boys.  I know many of you are silently judging me, but I'm just trying to give some perspective on how deep my Diet Coke addition was. I use words like loved and was, past tense words, because I no longer feel this way. I know all of the healthy people are now silently nodding their heads with small smiles on their faces.

The first two days I started drinking only water, I was in bed with headaches.  It was so miserable; I was so miserable.  My coworkers were so glad I began on a Saturday.  Since I'm being honest I can tell you that some of my closest coworkers were scared to see how I would be because they had seen me drink so much Diet Coke and other caffeinated beverages.  However, by the time Monday rolled around, my headaches were gone and I decided to spice up my water a little bit by putting fresh lemon, lime or fruit in it with a fruit infusing water bottle and you know what, I loved it.  Not only did I love the way it tasted, but I I loved the way it made me feel.

I never thought I would be one of those annoying people (sorry healthy people) who went on and on about the benefits of water or not drinking caffeine, but I experienced it first hand.  My energy levels were up.  It was easier to lose weight.  I could focus and concentrate more. I actually handled stress a lot better.  My PMS symptoms were a million times better (My husband may not agree with this one, but I know how I felt.).  Now it helped that I was also completing numbers 33 and 34 by exercising and eating better too, but drinking water changed my life.

Once again I can see the healthy people nodding their heads with a big, "I told you so."  However, I feel this post is more for the people who are in the same shoes I was before my journey.  Those who think it is impossible to change your unhealthy habits.  The same people who think that when people talk about how great they feel when they eat right and exercise are annoyed. Not because those people are annoying, but because they don't know how to change and break the bad habits.  They don't know where to start.  I'm here to tell you it's not impossible.  It is possible and can be enjoyable.

I felt so good drinking water that when the 30 days were up I still drank only water.  At least for a few more days.  Now, I drink other drinks once in a while, but I prefer water. When I don't drink enough water, I feel the difference.  I never thought I would ever write a post like this, a post a healthy person would write, but I am hoping to encourage those that don't know where to start.  Try drinking nothing but water; it really changed my life and I'm sure it can change your life, too.

Choices, Choices, Choices

It's been a week since I began numbers 33 (dropping two pants sizes) and 34 (working out at least three times a week for 90 days straight) and while it has been difficult, I've been very successful. I worked out four out of the seven days...what can I say, I'm an overachiever and I've lost four pounds. I really attribute my first successful week to all the amazing encouragement I received from so many. Encouragement that I will need moving forward.

The first few days weren't so bad. It was kind of like my kids' first days of preschool. Different and fun until days two and three when you start to cry because you realize this is an every day thing. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are easy because I only have to worry about me. Dinner is a whole different story. I have four other people to worry about feeding. My husband will eat anything and actually prefers when I cook healthy...strange but true. My daughter will take a little of the healthy food and then snack later. My middle son loves food. He will try new things but doesn't like any vegetables except salad so that makes it difficult and my youngest only eats breaded chicken, macaroni and cheese, pasta, rice, meatballs in red sauce and my meatloaf. If I had the time and energy to make myself something different I would but instead I've just been slowly changing things like making brown rice instead of white rice and using ground turkey more instead of red meat. With these changes came three great moments.

The first was when my family decided to get Subway for dinner because we were at work late andmy  middle son had a soccer game. While I stood in line thinking about the Parmesan herb bread I normally get toasted with meatballs and provolone, I decided I didn't want that and walked out deciding to find a better choice at home. This was HUGE for me. The next moment came on Saturday when we had spent the morning at the soccer field, the afternoon visiting with family from out of town and then had an hour and half at home before meeting up with family again. Guess what I did while I was home? I worked out. This is unheard of. I usually need hours just to prepare myself to want to change into workout clothes, let alone take the only time I could have relaxing to work out. The third came later that night when I was at my brother's house and he offered me dessert. For those of you that know me dessert is my weakness especially ice cream. He had bought ice cream sandwiches and M&M cookie ice cream sandwiches. The only thing better than ice cream is when you add a baked good and candy to it but I had watermelon and pineapple instead. Yes, you read that correctly. I chose fruit instead of ice cream. Gold star for me.

I know it's only going to get tougher because I looked at the calendar and there are so many after school and evening activities coming up the next few weeks. On top of that I'm beginning to feel like PMS is right around the corner. That's why I wanted the Snickers when I went grocery shopping today (I walked right by it) and I feel fatter today despite losing four pounds. Hormones suck. It's also hard to get through my workouts because I'm sore and my knees and joints sound like someone is popping bubble wrap but I am determined to work through it because I'm doing this for me. So if you see me eyeing up chips or ice cream, make sure you give me the mom look. I know I'll hate it and appreciate it at the same time.

Shedding Some Baggage

So I am a little more than a month into my journey and something unexpected has occurred. People, good friends; family; people I haven't talked to in years and acquaintances, have all encouraged me and seem to be encouraged by my journey. It's really cool. My friend Jen bought me a tomato plant to begin my garden. Some friends from work want to learn to make jewelry with me. Close friends want to go zip lining, snorkeling and more. Today a reading specialist that I only know in passing offered to take MMA classes (which I'm considering doing instead of the dance lessons) with me. It's kind of amazing how this journey is bringing people together. 

Speaking of coming together, my sister-in-law invited me to go backstage in July for a New Kids on the Block concert. It's a middle school dream come true. While I was screaming like a middle school girl that I would finally get to meet Donnie Whalberg to my husband, two emotions swept through me. The first was excitement, because I instantly thought I might be able to check some items off my list but then when I though of the photo opportunity, I became depressed. Meeting Donnie is a moment worth capturing in a photograph and that's what depressed me...me in a photograph. I have gained so much weight and am not so pleased with myself. My husband joked with me and told me to lose the weight creating a funny saying, Do it for Donnie. While that was cute, I just didn't feel motivated. I realized I don't want to lose weight for Donnie, my husband or anyone else. I want to lose weight for myself.

So today I began numbers 33 and 34 on my list. I'm hoping to drop two pants sizes and work out at least three times a week for 90 days straight. I began today eating healthier. It wasn't horrible. I also worked out. That was horrible. First, let me say one of the biggest hurdles, besides time and energy, to working out is changing your clothes. I kept thinking, I'm going to change out of work clothes to work out for 30 mins then shower and put pajamas on. That's a lot of laundry for someone who has limited time to begin with. But I did it and I felt accomplished. I also had an epiphany in the shower after my workout. I realized I am an emotional stress eater and the reason why I am unhappy when I look in the mirror is because I see all the negative emotions and stress piled up on me. I don't want to carry that around. I want to shed all of those negative things, so when I look in the mirror I see me. So I'm posting my before picture, which takes a lot of guts to do, hoping that soon I will be happy to post the next one.

Wish me luck!