Disappointment

That is about the only word that can sum up the feeling I have toward myself. I swore that when I moved back to New Orleans, I would keep up with the healthy lifestyle, diet, cooking, exercise, etc. I have been back since June and I've done a piss poor job of all of the above. I probably would have went a little while longer before noticing had it not been for Christmas. Christmas is the time of year when everyone gets together to shove their faces, my family is no different. In between amazing lunches and dinners I noticed my weight gain. All of my clothes that used to be loose on me are now tight and looking like they would explode within any second. I could not be more disappointed and disgusted with myself. I worked so hard to drop the weight that I did and had such a clear goal in mind of how much more I wanted to lose. At some point it stopped being about a number and started being about becoming healthy for myself, no one else's opinion mattered to me anymore. Now, I have blown all of that away within less than a year.

I'm forcing myself to get back on track. I'm trying a little more radical methods than before to get the ball rolling again and hopefully after the pounds start coming off again, I'll be able to stick with it. I'll make sure to keep you guys posted on any good recipes I find, fun outings or cool new exercises I may discover.

When All Logic Fails, Resort to Name Calling...?

**Disclaimer-- I wrote this blog quite a while back, while searching for a clip of this incident. I gave up after a while, thought to myself "hmm let's give it some time, I'm sure they will have a clip of her calling this man an 'ass'. Time passed by and honestly, I forgot, then I looked again, only to give up quickly so that I don't spend half my day googling "meme roth calls man ass"**

While organizing things around the house last night and listening to Fox News (yes, yes, I said it, now all of my readers can either love me more or decide they hate me for no reason, other than that I tend to be more sane than the left wing nut jobs), and interesting topic was being discussed: childhood obesity. Not just childhood obesity, but the fact that there are laws being passed making it illegal for fast food restaurants to offer toys with their meals. Now, usually, I probably couldn't care one way or the other. First, we don't have children, so I'd only be standing ground off of an assumption viewpoint. Secondly, when we do have kids, a toy will not be the selling point of whether my child gets fast food or not. Because I, as a mother, will tell them yes or no. Because I'm the boss & that's the way it goes (what, you know you mother's out there say the same thing, momma's the boss always, that's how it was in my home growing up).

Anyways, the point that the government is now going to be controlling silly things (okay let me not downplay childhood obesity since it is growing, no pun intended, like wild fire) kind of bothers me. What will they start controlling next? Honestly, if we are going to get this aggressive about stopping childhood obesity, they may want to make it a law that each child will have to ride their bike to school, as opposed to riding the bus.

Either way, no matter how you feel about it, each side had valid points that made me nod my head to in agreement. But it seems that the advocate of the "no toys with food" law ran out of valid points and/or arguments and resorted to name calling on public television. Now, it was not a horrible display of vulgar language. {{"[guys name] don't be an ass"}}Hey, I call people asses all the time, but not on public television and not because they simply disagree with my logic/views/morals/etc.

Anyways, by the end of the segment I was giggling a little and shaking my head saying "Meme Roth, maybe you're the ass."

Slim

(photo from Photobucket)

So as many of you know I have been trying to lose weight. I had recently been on a roller coaster, losing ten pounds then gaining it right back. A little over a week ago I decided, enough is enough. I have to get all this extra weight off and for good. Maybe I won't be a buck ten but at least I will be a healthy weight AND be in great shape. That is all I really want.

So I hit the gym everyday. I did weights to slim and shape my arms, legs, back and tummy. I did at least 40 minutes of cardio a day. I sized down my portions and was actually able to make the switch over to diet sodas and cut even the diet sodas down to the bare minimum. Added fresh fruits and veggies into every meal (some meals being just fresh fruits and veggies) And BOY, can I see results. I am two pounds away from being minus twenty pounds and it feels amazing. I know some of you are probably thinking "20 pounds in a little over a week isn't healthy" BUT I think it is fine since probably most of it was water weight. I'm not doing anything dramatic/unhealthy.

Anyways, I thought I'd share some of my motivation with you guys since I know some of you have the same goals as me.

Also, here are my recent favorites that have made their way to the top of my work out playlist, enjoy!!

1. Rihanna- Hard

2. Lady Gaga- Monster

3. Lady Gaga- Telephone

4. Black Eye Peas- Bebot

5. Do the Ricky Bobby- B Hamp

6. Faster Kill Pussy Cat- Paul Oakenfold (ft. B. Murphy)

7. System of a Down- BYOB

8. Britney Spears- 3

An Endless Battle

I have always had weight issues...if it wasn't one extreme it was the other. I was a little chubby growing up and it seemed like the second I entered high school I had shot up in height and thinned out in width. One of my good friends at the time used to give me a hard time always asking if I had an eating disorder. It used to piss me off because I couldn't understand why she would even think that. Going into college I was still pretty thin, but over the years I added weight on slowly but surely. And now, as if by overnight, I realize how much I have put on by comparing pictures. I also realized that I did have an eating disorder in high school and just didn't realize it. I wouldn't eat unless I was hungry, which would leave me going without food sometimes for days. When I was hungry I would binge (never throwing up mind you!) then go another day or two or three without eating again simply because I wasn't hungry. Well, you may think it worked since I managed to stay skinny that whole time, but obviously not. I set myself up for a lifetime of bad eating habits.

Anyways, I feel like I am at the end of my struggle. I feel as though I have hit rock bottom. Most people would look at me and think I am just a little thick, which they are probably right. But when I look at myself in pictures or in the mirror I get sick to my stomach. The person I am looking at is not me, but myself in a fat suit. It is so utterly disturbing. Anyways, I have been making some drastic lifestyle changes and I am hoping they produce an end result that I am happy with and that I can continue with the rest of my life. I'll make sure to keep you guys posted on this front.

Work It Girl!

Okay, so as many of my original followers know, I am on a mission of completing a "life list" or "bucket list," if you will. (If you have no clue what I'm talking about, click here)

Anywho, one of my main goals is to not only drop a lot of weight and get tone, but basically change my lifestyle when it comes to consumption. I have recently realized that within the past few years I've become a little "thicker" for lack of a better term. I've been saying I'll exercise, this and that, and usually do, but I never made an attempt to make an overall change with my life.

So, I purchased a personal trainer at my gym (I originally had hubby helping only to call it quits after a week when I began seeing Marine like muscles, not fitting for a girl and another guy at the gym who liked to assist but not really what I was looking for). I decided on a girl figuring she would be a little more understanding to the female form. I also figured I would be more comfortable with a female & man was I right! She kicked my butt in an hour's time but not only did I feel like I got a great work out, I feel like she helped me in the areas that I needed it the most. She helped me set specific goals and helped with timelines of when I should see results.

For the first time in my life, I feel like I may be moving in the right direction. I have given up soft drinks all together and have actually decided to stop drinking coffee. I don't really want to put unnecessary things in my body any more. They are really pointless. I think my new motto will be "if it doesn't help my body, it's not going in my mouth." Hopefully this will work out for the best, so far so good. I was able to lose 10 pounds before meeting with my personal trainer, now I feel like I can do anything! Also, it helps to have motivating people like this around to read about similar struggles and gym adventures. ((Shout out to Tami G, a cute Kentucky blogger, keep up the great work girl!))

I am anxious and hopeful to see results. Who knows, if I see a great improvement, maybe I'll get as brave as Tami and post some before and after pictures? We will see!

Fit as a Fiddle??

Recently, I have been on a quest to change my life, completely and totally. I started with the main issue, moving the heck away from New Orleans. Being away from the negative surroundings and people have majorly improved my attitude and health in general. I have been working on strengthening relationships, maintaining some, & completely ending others. Some are still in the decision process.

Anyways, I started cutting back and ultimately eliminating my soda intake. Yes, you heard me correctly, Ms. Coca Cola Junkie has cut herself off from the soda world. Also, another big change, and probably way more important than anything else in this blog, I have stopped drinking. Now, don't get me wrong, I think I may have had a mixed drink or two in the past month or so, but I'm not binge drinking/drinking every day like I was in New Orleans. I've learned that not only does my body not need that, but it cannot handle it. I think for a while there I was on the verge of becoming an alcoholic, then I scared myself in the other direction. ((my fellow partiers- don't worry, I will still drink for special occasions/while at a club/bar, just not on a daily basis like before))

The point of this whole blog is, I just recently joined 24 hour fitness & am in love with it so far. It is insane how cheap it is to join as a month to month member. I did some serious research and price comparison and it ended up being the only gym that could compete with my schedule and, believe it or not, was the cheapest. I'm still in shock. I got a personal trainer package to start me off in the right direction. Also, all of their classes are FREE! They have so many classes that I can take after work, kickboxing, yoga, hip hop, pretty much one of everything.

Anyways, I was super excited to pass this information along if anyone is interested in joining a gym, I've done the research for you, 24 hour fitness is the best option out there!