Plateau . .

I'm not crying but I am getting frustrated. I track my weight daily.  I put it in my fitbit app (which syncs to myfitnesspal I think?).  But I write it down also.  Call me old school.  

I ended the cleanse at 181.6.  I did it 181.2.  Keep in mind 181 is 30 lbs down.  I'be been hovering within a few lbs for too long!  184 was my highest, not sure what happened there.  That might have been when I pigged out on McD's and all kinds of other crap.  But all in all I've been consistent on the scale and it's frustrating!!!!

It's beautiful up here on this plateau, but seriously I'm done hanging out.  I like how I look, but I have goals.  Staying here is not part of the plan.  I've been eating really well the last 2 days. . . trying to bust through by being perfectly perfect!   It's definitely the biggest challenge I've had so far this year.  I'm determined to stay the course and get off the plateau.  I'm being patient. . . . 

Memorial Day Weekend cheats. . .

I'm still on this plateau of 182-183.  I need to hit 181 to get to 30 pounds. I never imagined I'd still be playing yo-yo with the scale at this point.  I really really wanted to hit that goal before yesterday when we went to a Cardinals baseball game.  I had that planned as my cheat "meal" and I decided I was doing it no matter what the scale said.  Since I'm kind of a cardio junkie I ran every day Thurs - Mon hoping to make some progress. I also really wanted to get some miles on my legs.  On Sunday morning I got in 5 miles and I can't tell you how long it's been since I've done that route.  My legs were beat and I knew I wasn't in shape enough to run it.  I walked twice for a total of 1 mile, so I was happy with that.  I really want to get to a point where I do 5 miles once a week consistently.

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So what did I eat at the ballgame?  I did not eat clean, that's for sure.

My husband and I shared nachos with pulled pork BBQ sauce, cheese, salsa and toppings.

I had two Shock Top beers.

I had one mudslide.  My cousin was drinking them and I had forgotten my love of the mudslide.  So I got one.  Funny how they put a lid on it.  It almost looks like chocolate milk for a kid.  I said I got mine in a sippy cup! :)

The game went to 11 innings and we won!  Whoop!  We got home much later than expected.  Then I topped off the day by having an oreo McFlurry from McD's.  Yes I really cheated. I prefer to just cheat one meal and not most of the day like this.  But at the same time I kind of needed to get this out of my system.  I'm ready for a good week and hopefully to get to my goal of 181 by the weekend.  Then it's on to to the 170's!  I think I'm going to take measurements and some updated pics on Sat.

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Speaking of pics. . .

I downloaded a new app on my phone so that I can make collages for instagram :) 

I know any before and after is legit, but I haven't been as heavy as I was in 2008-2009 since then. . . I have gone up and down.  I really want to get together some before and after from my Advocare journey.  However, I do think there is value in these photos.  I don't even identify with the 2009 version of me.  In the full body shot. . . gosh I knew I was big. . . I've seen that photo before. . . I just didn't realize how chunky my legs were.  I remember those pants. . . I loved them.  I was sad when they were too big on me, which is silly.  But it's hard to find pants in long lengths that I love.  I loved those pants!   But I never want to fit into them again.  I hope I gave them away, but I need to go through some clothes again and just purge. 

From my perspective these photos motivate me and keep me dedicated.  But I hope they motivate others too.  Sometimes it just takes the right photo to encourage people.  For me I've seen many before and afters, but then one clicks.  I'm like if she can do it I can do it.  I've seen some crazy before and afters - where the after is like bikini competition ready.  That is likely not realistic for me.  That is not my goal and I know that I don't have that kind of dedication.  I'm just the average girl looking to be more confident and hopefully have a better time shopping for clothes.  Though I've started to wonder if that's ever really easy as a woman?  I'm not sure it is, no matter the size you wear!

Hope you all had a good holiday weekend.  Summer is here and while I'm more active in the summer, I'm also in positions to eat more food.  So summer is always a challenge. I'm determined to make this one the healthiest summer yet!

Stuck

I ended my 10 day cleanse at 181.6.  Today I weigh 182.2.  I've been bouncing around with my lowest being 181.2 and my highest being 182.6.  Ugh!  I don't know why I'm stuck other than the 181-183 is an old weight point.  My eating has been pretty on track.  I've been running.  I'm trying to be patient and push through this without really screwing up. 

We went to the ballgame on Sat. I didn't have a beer.  I had a smoked turkey leg and shared some fries with my husband.  No soda.  No sugar.  I brought some fruit with me.  I was so good.  I ran 4 miles that morning. . . and still no loss. 

Here's my big huge turkey leg.  I couldn't even eat it all. 

I finally got over the three mile hump and *ran* 4 miles.  In the rain.  I got rained on all weekend - on both morning runs and during an hour and a half rain delay at the game.  I'm over the rain. 

My pace was much better than I expected! :)  I want to get to where I am doing a 5 mile run regularly on the weekends.  I don't know if I'm stuck at the 3 mile mark due to fitness or if it's just mental. 

We are going to the game on Memorial Day.  I *really* want to hit 30 lbs lost (181.0) before then cause I want a beer and I am not eating another turkey leg.  It was good.  But it was *so* big I kept imagining what kind of turkey that came from. . . and those thoughts can make me be vegetarian really easily.   So I tried not to think of that and just eat.  :)

I'm trying to figure out what I can do to get to the 170's.  I'm hoping it'll just take time cause I want to keep losing and have a balance in my eating.  And I know that when I allow myself other foods that I just maintain and I don't lose.   I'm going to push through this week and hopefully hit 181.0 or even see the 170's before Monday.  Fingers crossed!