Nutrition Mission- Wrapping UP!

Nutrition Mission- Wrapping UP!

I've learned that-
I love water
I love being healthy
I love running on the daily
I still love Diet Coke
I still love snack time
I love having dinner with friends and eating huge meals pretty frequently

I've made changes to my diet
I do not count calories
Life is short
I plan to enjoy it
My personality is better when I am not judging myself for what i'm eating.

My goals have been met
I am drinking less soda and eating less junk than I was when I started the challenge

I lost 6 lbs- became an unhappy person
I gained 4 back...became a happier person! :)

So...here's the wrap-up

1 week left.

So, basically, I have been a totally different person over the last 20-some days. Some have said I lost my "sparkle".

I haven't been nearly as upbeat, or even happy/hyper as I usually am!

I have noticed myself being SO hard on myself if I even had 1 chip! I felt so guilty about it.

Real Talk: That just isn't me! That is not the way I want to live. I don't judge others, and I certainly don't want to judge myself over what I am eating/drinking. I love my life, and I realize that as I get older my metabolism WILL slow down, so I will be conscious and eat healthier most of the time. The other times, I will eat what I want- because I can- and be a happier person. 

At the end of the 2nd week, I lost 6 pounds, but I also lost a lot of my happiness too. I was feeling so down about not running every day, eating healthy and counting calories. It just isn't a lifestyle I want for myself. I have never struggled with weight, and that was not the purpose of the mission for me. Somehow, I found myself achieving the goals I had set, but I still felt like it wasn't good enough...well it is. I am very proud of all of the anchors, and at the end of the day I think we have all proven that we can achieve the fitness goals we have in mind- but still enjoy life. 

Our coaches have all been amazing. My coach is very fitness oriented, and eats a very strict diet. That totally works for her, and some of what works for her has worked for me. Personally, I just choose not to be so strict with the diet...because I really enjoy the occasional rice krispy treat and a diet coke!

Bottom line- I truly do not have an issue with my weight, and I didn't do this challenge to lose a single pound...I did it to cut out junk and soda. 

That happened, so #MissionAccomplished!

Over the last 3 weeks, I have incorporated 2 diet cokes a day (as opposed to 5) and 1 snack of my choice.

My life can't and won't be based on counting calories- it takes up too much time, and frankly I could be hit by a bus tomorrow so I am going to enjoy every second and eat what I want within reason.

If this mission has done anything, it has helped me eat healthier- but I also learned that I don't have to be perfect with it.

Full disclosure- I gained 4 pounds in the past 2 days, because I allowed a "cheat day" and I have never felt better! I'd gain 10 just to have my personality back. Life is too short to be upset because I went 1 calorie OVER my limit. 

SO excited to say I have cut out the junk, but I am still loving eating what I want, when I want. New choices have been incorporated, but I don't want to focus my life around the foods I am supposed to be eating. 

I am all about being healthier and happier! 

If you're joining us in the mission- make sure you are BOTH of those things :)

Enjoy it!

YIKES!

Well, yesterday I was down for the count with food poisoning, sooo I was feeling pretty terrible- but pretty sure I dropped a pound or 2!

HAHA!

This morning, i'm impersonating a hiker in Colorado and having a Fiji Water with a Granola Bar. 

YUM!

Actually, eww, gross. Still though, it's healthy...so it's all good!

The Nutrition Mission is going great- it's another week of getting healthy!

Let's do this! :)

That would be me...after hearing I can't have 5+ Diet Cokes at 1 time anymore. 

Like, WHAT?

Here's why...

So, okay yesterday I was having a Diet Coke (or 2 to be exact) during my Morning Show, and everything was fine...until about an hour after.

I had noticed that I wasn't having any episodes of dizziness once the #NutritionMission started, and I cut soft drinks out, so it didn't occur to me that Diet Coke might be causing problems.

(Let's be honest- Cutting out DC was a hard pill to swallow. Diet Coke & Chard are like 2 of my favorite things.)

Yesterday: 

I was going to pick up my friend and go shopping right after work, but when I got in the car, a dizzy spell immediately set in. My drive home is like 2 minutes, and by the time I parked, I literally thought I was going to pass out. 

I was like OH MAN- it's another hypoglycemic episode! I hadn't eaten much...but I had consumed a looooot of sugar due to the DC's.

I called my friend to say we would shop like an hour later...I can't make good decisions on sweaters when i'm halfway to passing out!

Overall:

If this #NutritionMission has been good for anything, it has shown me that Diet Coke is a contributing factor to the occasional dizziness, and 1 is much better than 2 at a time!

That's what was causing the problem all along. I remember having like 5 a day, but I never realized what it was doing. 

#NoBueno

Now, I am having more water than i've ever had. I still loathe it, but hey, its healthy!

It looks like i've reached a happy medium with the DC/Chard/Water consumption!

 A tricky part for me is that my hypoglycemia is brought on by stress. Yesterday was STRESSFUL! I knew it was probably going to happen, but i'm glad it did, because now I know what triggers it.

No more than 1 DC a day for this girl...water it is!

Good News: The shopping trip was fabulous!

Spanx WHAAAAT?

Oh my Gawd. I've hit a new low.

Ya know, you think you're on task with the Nutrition Mission. My wrist bones are more defined, (cheek bones, not so much!) but no...my booTAY is not going anywhere. 

My friggin' Spanx ripped this morning!

Like, HOW does this happen? I've been eating Greek Yogurt like it's my every day bag of Chips A'Hoy cookies, drinking water like it's the Diet Coke, and mainly STILL running every day.

It's the squats. It has to be the squats. 

UGH, Nutrition Mission, ya killin' me. 

Also- I need to make a confession. If anybody reading this is a man of the cloth, and you wanna weigh in (and tell me what i'm doing isn't considered a mortal sin) that would be fabulous!

I am currently having a Diet Coke and a small SMALL Rice Krispy Treat.

(Mel, put the keys down, please don't get in the car and come kill me. I have a seriously good reason.)

So, i'm hypoglycemic, and I need to eat multiple times a day. Unfortunatly, today I was ill prepared and forgot to pack snacks.

If i'm dizzy, and there are no other options, I have to hit the vending machine!

I am so dizzy at work today, because all I had for breakfast was a Greek Yogurt with Blueberries. 

About 10 minutes ago, I seriously was like OMG i'm going down. I needed a snack. The vending machines were limited, so I did what I had to do.

This might happen to you, too, so I want to be completely real about my journey. Some days, you will be unprepared. I was this morning- and ya know what, it's just okay.

At least- Sweet Dana Turtle told me it was!

(Happy National Hug Day, BTW!)

:)

I am so mad at myself right now- but I had to eat something. I am going to be more proactive and pack healthy snacks at night. :(

WOO HOO- Happy Wednesday, y'all!

A Look Back At My Life Before Nutrition Mission...

Ya know, before the Nutrition Mission found me- I guess you could say I was all over the place with my unhealthy (but delicious) life choices. 

Let's not lie...I really enjoyed my time getting crazy by the Vending Machine. 

I think my entire 401k is invested in that machine...so there goes my beach house, and the pink Vespa that was going to drive me there one day.

(...hope those bajillion snickers bars were worth it!)

For those of you addicted to snacking- look at me and ask yourself- is it really worth spending $$$$ every day on chocolate bar after chocolate bar?

(it really kind of is...so you do you.)

HOWEVER- switching from 5 Diet Cokes a day to just 1- or even none- and doing all water has truly made me feel lighter than a feather. 

I feel like a new person!

Also- cutting out the vending machine snacks, as well as fast food has made a vast difference in my life.

I'm really proud of the #GDC Anchor Team for doing this. It truly is life changing. 

Will I do it forever? I don't know. 

For now though, it's working well!

Y'all, it's time to take a look back- into a time when I was wrapped up in snacking, living a wild life of time spent at the vending machines, Ben & Jerry's, and not a care in the world about weight gain or poor health due to over snacking on chips! #sorryIwasntsorry

Let's begin with a question I think we've all asked ourselves...

What would I do for a Klondike Bar?

Geez, practically anything- until we started this Nutrition Mission. It's really killin' my vibe. I really miss my Klondikes. Especially the Heath Bar Klondikes...ugh, I can't even think about it without mild depression kicking in. I guess somebody could slip a zoloft in my Kale...maybe it would make it taste better?

It's okay, guys. Don't worry about me- I've replaced my daily Klondike intake with a daily spoonful of lentils and kale chips instead. 

It's fine. 

No, really, it's almost fine.

Oh, here's me just over a year ago celebrating our web producers birthday!

I'm a little forgetful, so when I heard it was her birthday- I did the right thing. I went to the vending machine, and bought her a huge Almond Joy. 

Too bad she never saw it, because I ate it on the way up to her desk.

...stealing from co-workers for my chocolate fix. Tisk Tisk.

"My blood sugar was feeling a little low" I needed them more than she did.

Was I sorry? No. 

Am I sorry now? I plead the 5th.

Only if you're my trainer would you roll your eyes, and maybe quit...(if you do, take the scale with you- and tell me where you hid all my Cracker Jacks and Almond Joys!)

Oh, quick shot here of me reading about festive southern snacks I can buy! 

(Thanks to my favorite magazine- Garden & Gun!)

Here's another pressing question one might ask...

Who loves a good Lilly Pulitzer Animal Cracker?

THIS GIRL!

Nutrition Mission or not, this snack is more of a fashion DO for me...so I have to eat them. NBD, it's not like it's a lifetime supply of gushers or something- just a cute box filled with cracker giraffes, hippos, and llamas for my delicious enjoyment!

Sorry i'm not sorry, but these little babies will ALWAYS be in my pantry! Cuties! 

Conclusion- 

Nutrition Mission has helped me make better snack choices. 

Here's what I have subbed out-

Lays Potato Chips- Apple with Natural Peanut Butter. 

Snickers Bars- Kind Bars

Diet Coke/Mtn Dew- Water

Chardonnay- Chardonnay

I'm so thankful to have this challenge, and to be able to strive for a healthier life style.

Remember- if you're joining me in this journey, I want to hear from YOU!

I want to know if it's been tough for you, or if it's easy peasy.

I also want to tell you that you do not have to be perfect. 

You will slip. 

In fact, i'm sitting here right now drinking half a diet coke...but i've had 2 waters already. 

I have allowed myself a soda every 3 days, because of headaches from cutting off caffeine all together. 

I've learned that -

Kale Chips make me want to vom
An apple a day REALLY DOES keep the doctor away
Water really does encourage healthier skin and weight loss

...and we've got weeks to go! I can only imagine how much more I will learn throughout the process. :)

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Oh, and hopefully at the end of this mission- my Snow Angel will look like it was made by a small child.

Right now- it's lookin' a little offensive! (Thanks to the 4 layers I wear out of the house in this cold weather. #ParkaSeason)

Minor Update/PSA

Ok y'all. I confess. I can't cook.

For lunch, I tried...I mean I TRIED to make a simple stuffed portobello mushroom in the oven.

(yes, it was pre-made. All I had to do was heat it up)

The fire alarm went off 3 times, the mushroom was ruined.

THEN- I tried to make a spinach salad with pre-made chicken. 

It was disgusting.

After that- I was running late for a meeting so I was going to eat some Kale Chips. 

They made me literally want to vom.

Ugh x 1,000

#icanteven

Tomorrow will be better!

(because i'll be eating what someone else cooks.)

I'm not going to even sugarcoat this plan. It's hard. I will feel a lot better once we get into next week, and I am more in the groove with making everything. 

Disney Classic Heavyweights!

Heavyweights

Yeah, don't mistake it.
That's the trailer for the Disney Classic "Heavyweights".

Not only is it one of my favorite movies, but now I get what they went through. 

Ugh- this Nutrition Mission is tough. I've been busted by the in-studio "spy" for trying to buy Doritos, had Diet Cokes taken right out of my hand, and I have nowhere to hide any candy because everyone is keeping me accountable.

This, in the end, will be a good thing!

Tony Perkis is still my hero

"Lunch is cancelled due to lack of hustle, deal with it."