Now, I have a dream of doing them together! No refined sugar with 4 days a week of exercising. Starting December 31st 2018-June 2018. I decided to do 6 months just because I like refined sugar and don't plan on veering away from it forever. I do these things to challenge myself and also to do what many people can't do.
3/17/19
I have to say, going off of sweets and exercising has gotten my butt and hips quite small. Which to me means that the sugar I was eating was being stored away for later! I decided to prolong the sweets/sugar until August because I feel so good! January was rough because I was eating my cravings in salty foods like potato chips and crackers, so I went off of those mid month. I did not lose any weight in January from the scale, but I could see a difference in my body. February I lost 2 lbs, which is fine with me because it was a 1/2 pound a week and I didn't feel deprived. Ive been working out with Destiny twice a week where we try to do a fairly difficult workout, and the I have been swimming 45 minutes once or twice a week. Ive seen changes in my hips and butt like I said, my legs have gotten thinner (from loss of muscle but also fat) and a difference in my arms. The last thing to go seems to be my tire, but its only been 2 1/2 months of "combining the greats" so I am ok with the results!
5/26/19
I swam an hour last week! Ive never done that but I thought I would give it a shot because I am trying to get more cardio in and since I can't run anymore (at least consistently because of my knee-trying to save it) I need to find a new exercise to get my cardio in. Ive veered toward swimming, pilates, yoga, tabata, HIIT, walking, and some weight training (mostly resistance with my body). I think these groups are easier on my body but help get me strong but not large like it did when I was doing weight training last year. I just had a junk day where I ate whatever I wanted that I haven't been eating since December and it was ok, but I definitely prefer the healthier lifestyle. My drive to workout has increased since school has gotten out, so I hope to lean out this summer!
10/27/19
Well look at this, I haven't written in almost exactly 5 months! Ok, so working out since August has been great! I have been attending workout classes 3 days a week (HIIT, Cardio dance or hip hop or rarely zumba, body pump) and they have been really great. I decided about 2 months ago to stop eating refined carbohydrates for dinner and I saw a little difference, not much though. Then, I started to eat less chips, then I decided to eat only refined carbohydrates for one meal for the majority of the week and I will tell you, it has worked! I think I may have an more of an intolerance to gluten than I thought, like maybe it was causing inflammation in my body and somehow causing me to keep weight on. But, I also just eat 3 meals a day and try to eat 3 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit every day as well. I am not counting calories but I do predict I am eating at a deficit of 1400-1600. I discovered if I cut out my cereal in the mornings and just had my pb&j I have been eating all semester then that would help cut calories. I will say I have been hungry, but if I just ignore it it will go away. Which is not something I was hoping to do, but I guess to be at a deficit that can be a part, a big part. I don't have the energy or time to eat every 2 hours or 3 hours and I also enjoy being hungry to eat a meal so eating consistently is not for me. But I am finally trying to eat well and exercise consistently and I am succeeding! It is so hard to combine the two, it has taken me so long. I am meeting up with some friends in Dec and the last time I saw them I did not feel comfortable in my own skin, I think I looked so bloated and large. So, it is motivation but I think I am keeping it up until I get comfortable in my own skin again. I haven't had that since the beginning of my marriage and that will be 3 years in February!
12/27/19
I will say, the holidays have a way of effing up everything you've done if you are not careful. I think I put on a couple of pounds since the beginning of our trip, but I did not allow myself to totally screw it up. I also have been unable to workout this week at the gym (which I prefer to do to not hate my living space) because of my cut right index finger, so that has been annoying. But before our trip, I was proud of what I had accomplished-eating mostly well and exercising consistently. Now that i got both down, it's time to up the ante next year! I did drop weight, scale and inches. I am borderline 6/8 size pants, my legs are smaller, my arms are slightly smaller, before vacation my love handles were smaller. So, I say as hard as it was to learn and teach myself to eat right AND workout at the same time, I call this year a success!
***update 8/9/2020
I have FINALLY been able to combine these 2!! Exercise and eating right! I have been eating right (80/20 rule) and exercising 5 days a week (1 hour) for almost 6 months now . I think trying and failing and trying again is key in this. I just kept going and working harder and now I feel like I am seeing the results I have always wanted to! Anyway, so moral of the story-DONT' EVER GIVE UP!!! You will get there eventually if you want to!!
