Tuesday, July 8, 2014

1 year on Paleo

It's kind of insane how much I have changed my life in the course of a year. I've committed to working out consistently and most importantly, I've found a way of eating that has helped me loose over 100+ lbs. I had already lost 40 lbs by working out a little and eating somewhat clean. I was about 289 lbs and about a size 26 when I jumped onto the paleo ship.

Looking back, I was super nervous about starting paleo.. I thought it was just another fad diet, but about 3 weeks into, I realized it was wrong and this time was going to be different. I started craving the natural taste of the whole foods I was eating and slowly loosing interest in all the crappy food I use to eat. You know the awesomely amazing fatty food everyone enjoys, but then after you've eaten it.... You start to feel sluggish and not so hot.

The more I embraced paleo, the easier it was to commit to the life style and leave my old life style behind. I am not going to lie though, there were times where it was hard to say no and turn things down, but instead of giving in, my new thought process was do I really want to walk on the treadmill for 30 extra minutes to burn off that slice of pizza?... No! :)

The best decision I made was to start my new life style by just saying no to everything I use to say yes to. Just take a small bite.... No! Just have a cheat meal... No! You can work it off tomorrow... No! It definitely takes a lot of desire and will power to be able to say no to everything, but I knew with every decision to say no, it was a positive step in the right direction.

Currently I'm floating in the 180's, doing things I never thought I would have ever been able to do, and I am a lot more happier with the way my life in every aspect these days. I've learned a lot during the duration of a year, and I know I am still learning each and every day. I will always be a work in progress especially when it comes time for me to maintain. So not looking forward to that.

I'm happy to have been able to find something that has worked so well for me. For those of you who struggle with weight, please do not get discouraged! Just keep trying out different types of eating plans until you find one that works for you. Once you get a food routine down, adding exercise to mix will be a fraction of your weight loss success. Remember its 80% diet and 20% working out.

You need to fuel your body with the right types of foods to maximize how your body can perform. Thinking of food as fuel and not just as food can also be another part of helping you succeed. The better quality foods you put into you body, will be a determining factor of how you can take your body to limits you never thought possible.

One thing I thought I would never ever do was participate in a marathon. I was in the 2013 Turkey Trot and the 2014 Warrior Dash which even though I wasn't at my lightest or healthiest, I managed to come through and finish all the way. Running has become a routine that I now welcome with open arms. :) Another tip I can give you is find something active you like to do and just do it. Whether it's bowling, tennis, hiking, just get up and move. 15 minutes of movement is better than zero. Trust me, it does get easier.

If you are looking into changing your life style, and not sure where to start, you can always reach out to me! Either on here, on kik, twitter or instagram; which my username for all of the is ohitzlilia. I know how hard it can be to take that step, and if you need a little support to get you there, I'd be more than happy to!

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Whole 30 Challenge

So, for the past two months I have been struggling with my weight in the 180's and it has been mentally exhausting. I know I am not suppose to let the number on the scale define my success, but it's hard sometimes to let that go.

I know I've come a long way and that is what I should focus on, but there are still goals I want to meet, and lately they seem to get further and further away from me. So, I decided to look into doing a Whole 30. What is it you ask? Simple, it's basically -p paleo but just a little more strict.... No sugars whatsoever, so.. goodbye coconut sugar, maple syrup and honey... At least for the next 30 days.



So, I'm starting fresh and hoping that this Whole 30 challenge will help me reset my system and get me out of this rut I've been in. In case you'd like to know more info on Whole 30 here are the rules: http://whole30.com/downloads/official-whole30-program-rules.pdf

Also, here is grocery list of things that are Whole 30 approved: http://whole30.com/downloads/whole30-shopping-list.pdf

I am starting the Whole 30 at 189.6 lbs and I did measure as well. I will not get on the scale (this is going to be hard) or measure myself until I've completed the 30 days. Hopefully I will get some terrific results from doing this. I have read a lot of good reviews about it online.

If you want to join me in the challenge, by all means do so! We can be each others support systems! You can follow my Whole 30 journey on my Instagram! I'll be documenting my food and workouts. :)