Slow & Steady......

Slow & Steady Wins the Race

Lose Slowly, Lose Permanently

Lose Quickly, Put it on Quickly

If you work harder for it, you’ll appreciate it more.

That’s what they say.  That’s what I prefer to believe.  

I am on a journey and it is one step (pound or inch) at a time.

Here are my results after 5 weeks.

Total Weight Loss   - 5.5 lbs

Inch loss                  -10 ¾ inches

That’s includes a total 2 ½ inches off my waist and 3 inches off my hips !!!!!!!

Am I disappointed that I am not dropping loads of pounds & inches by this time?

I am not.

If I am being realistic, my food changes are minimal.  I was far along the path of eating well already.  If I was at the beginning….just now eliminating sodas, fast food & things like donuts etc……the early changes would have shown larger results.

I am thrilled with my results and that every week the work I am doing is pushing me forward in the direction of my goal.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa



S T R E S S ! ! !

What a week!

With my husband unemployed, we (as if I did it-lol) decided to tackle a large home project. 

Re-plumbing the house we live in.

It was actually not too bad, until we got to the shower stall replacement.  Let’s just say it didn’t go exactly as planned and there were many, many trips back to Home Depot.

Usually, under stress I would eat!  

Well, I didn’t do that.  

I also didn’t do yoga, do callanetics or any daily practice.  

I didn’t weigh myself or measure.

Isn’t it interesting that the very things that would help me to deal with my stress –

------I found excuses to avoid.  

I did pay attention to my eating and used my Cinch products.

Well, that week is done.  (Construction is not complete.)

Time to Re-Start.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Next Steps

Yesterday I talked about how there is so much more than calories in/calories out to this process for me.

I know this is going to take work.

How can I make this easier?  For now, I am going to limit the variables for me.

Luckily, I have access to these awesome Cinch products.  I will be following the Cinch Inch Loss Program, while combining my work in the Just 10 LBS process.  

What exactly does that mean?

I am going to maintain my practice of yoga, callanetics, & walking. 

I am going to faithfully follow my Just 10 LBS book & workbook.

I am going to follow the Cinch Inch Loss program by using the Cinch products to replace 2 meals a day.  

I am going to diary that through the Cinch Wellness Website ( Included with the Free with the Cinch Sampler Pack available with a New Shaklee Membership), to easily track that I am eating adequate levels of nutrients.  I kow if I am not diligent, I fall short on my protein.

I am going to join the support group at http://www.just10diet.com/

The link to the Just 10 LBS book is on the right side of the page.  Feel free to follow the hyperlinks to the Cinch products.  I will be using Ultra Cinch (currently use 3 consectutive months on auto-ship and get the 4^th month FREE!)  New members will also get the Cinch Sampler Pack and 3 months FREE access to  cinchwellness.com.

Thanks for following my journey.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Belief

I just felt like I wanted to cry.

One of my dearest friends, whom I haven’t seen in a few weeks, immediately commented on my appearance when she saw me.  She said, "you look so good, I can see it in your face".  I know she has been following my blog and we talk regularly.

My reaction. -  “Are you making fun of me?”

Whoa…..Why would I think that?  

This is a person who always has my best interest at heart.  In a rational thought process…Of course, she wouldn’t be making fun of me on something so personal.  So, why was that my reaction?  Why did this raise so much emotion?  

I can see the difference.  

Why was it so hard for me to believe and trust others can too?  

There is a lot more to this journey than calories in/ calories out.

Today, I recommit to this process and to using my workbook.

Just 10 LBS Pledge
I TAKE THE JUST 10 PLEDGE, AND BEGIN THIS PROCESS OF CHANGE AND WORK RIGHT NOW. UNDERSTANDING THIS PROCESS IS LIKELY TO PROVE CHALLENGING, I WILL STICK WITH MY PLEDGE. I AM WORTH THIS WORK.

Onward,

Lisa

Day 30

It has arrived. 

January 21^st I started following this program.  It has had it’s challenges…still does.  I am aware of my stress eating.  Aware doesn’t always mean I am successful, in not eating under stress.  I am a work in progress.

In 30 days I have whittled down:

9 ½ inches,

2% Body Fat, &

4.5 Pounds.

My BMI has dropped from 27.2 to 26.5.  

Below 25 will have me out of the Overweight Range and into the Healthy Range.  

Do you want a quick analysis of your BMI?

Visit http://www.cinchplan.com/healthmatters4u/analysis/index

So where does that leave me?  I knew when I started this process, this was a journey – not a quick trip.  

I am a work in progress.

Tomorrow I will tell you how I am going to proceed.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Breathe....

The sun is shining.

The temperatures say “spring”.

It feels like it has been forever since I have gotten out for a walk.  With all the snow & winter temperatures we’ve had…It has been months!

So this afternoon I put on the windbreaker and headed out.  It felt so good to be out in the air.  So what if I had to scale ice patches & and wade through puddles on the sidewalks.  I loved every minute of it. 

Any stress I was feeling just lifted away.  

I can’t wait to make this a regular practice.  

Of course it’s February in New England.  I know it’s a tease…regardless of what the groundhog predicted at the beginning of the month.  

Tomorrow when the temperature has fallen back 20-30 degrees to the typical February weather……I’ll be so thankful I took advantage of today.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Peanut Butter in my Chocolate ?

Yes ! 

This morning for breakfast I had a Chocolate Cinch Shake with a ½ tblsp of peanut butter, 8 oz. of soy milk & a handful of ice cubes.  YUMMY !!

I love how I can work with variety while having a quick, high quality, nutritious, protein filled breakfast every morning.

The Cinch Shakes come in Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry & Café Latte.  Personally, I stick with the Vanilla & Chocolate. 

If I want:

Strawberry -  I add some frozen strawberries to the vanilla.

Chocolate covered Strawberry – I add frozen strawberries to the chocolate.

Latte flavor – a ½ teaspoon instant coffee to either the vanilla or the chocolate.

EggNog  - add some nutmeg to the vanilla

There are an endless amount of options.  If you want to give them a try, visit http://healthmatters4u.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?main_cat=WeightManagement&sub_cat=CinchShakes

Choose 2 canisters of your choice, become a member at checkout for 15% savings and for a limited time, they’ll include another $100 worth of Cinch products.  

By the way, I have dropped another 1.5 lbs!  

Check back later in the week for measurements.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Looking like a Fool?

I don’t really watch American Idol…..

but we all heard about the guy singing “Pants on the Ground.”

Well, I didn’t want to be the subject of that song…..

I couldn’t wear my “good” jeans for a day of networking. 

They’ve gotten too loose!

I have found myself constantly pulling them up. 

These body changes sent me into my closet….you know what I mean…..for the other pants, the ones that must have shrunk, the ones you can’t button – much less be comfortable in – yet you keep just in case.

Yesterday, I wore pants I haven’t worn in years.  -Pants that I tried on “wistfully” after week 1 – to no avail.  Yesterday, they buttoned easily.  They looked great.  They felt comfortable.

The inch loss & retaining my lean muscle are making a difference.

As clothes become “too loose” and no longer fit, I’ll be making donations.  There is no need to keep them “just in case”.

 I can’t wait until shopping in my closet no longer works.   

Shopping Spree Anyone?

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Which Would You Rather?

Yesterday I reported that in 3 weeks I have reduced by 9 ¼ inches !

You might be wondering what the scale says. 

In 3 weeks I have lost 3 lbs.  How can that be?

Well, muscle weighs much more than fat.  

Fat takes up more room - more inches.

Which would you rather?

It is clear that by losing inches, I am losing fat.

I am retaining my muscle mass.

The Cinch Inch Loss Program explains it well.  Here’s a link to some great fun videos that will give you the science behind it all.

http://www.cinchplan.com/healthmatters4u/realscience/index

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Inch by Inch......

It’s time for an update on my results.

It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve started this process.

I have lost a Grand Total of 9 ¼ inches !!!!!!!

Wow!

I have included a picture example of where to take your major measurements. Feel free to suck it in when you measure your waist.  As Dr. Oz says – you can’t suck in fat!

The waist measurement is very important, some say more important than the number on the scale.

Studies I’ve read suggest that health risks begin to increase when a woman's waist reaches 31.5 inches and her risk jumps substantially once her waist expands to 35 inches or more. For men, risk starts to climb at 35 inches, but it becomes a bigger worry once their waists reach or exceed 40 inches.

I am excited to say my waist has gone from 32” to 30” in 3 weeks!

My hip measurement has gone from 42” to 39 1/4 “ in 3 weeks & I’ve lost a full inch off of each of my thighs!

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the scale.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

On A Diet ????

Greetings Everyone! 

I know there are quite a few of you out there following my blog.  I really appreciate it.

I appreciate those that posted their comments, those of you lurking anonymously, & those of you that I have seen over the past few days who have offered your encouragements, mentions of the differences you see, & your excitement to see what’s next.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an update on my results.

I had a busy day today with networking events where I publicly declared my intentions and invited more followers.  I love the accountability.

The other day my husband was helping a family friend – she treated him to a fast food lunch and wanted to bring some back for me.  Mike told her I was on a diet.  (Truthfully we don’t eat fast food meals and haven’t in many, many years.) 

I started thinking about those words “on a diet”.  To me that sounds like for a finite time.  I’m not “on a diet”.  I am making a lifestyle changes - for my entire life.

I am changing my relationship with food.      

I am changing my relationship with fitness.

Which brings me to what I am really doing…...

I am changing my relationship with ME!

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Forgive Me For I Have…..

Let’s talk about the Just 10 Commandments

I posted on Sunday.

Most of them are pretty clear cut –

Rules of the Game you might say. 

And most of them are fairly easy for me to follow – some I came to this process with,

and some that I’ve consciously

made the choice to follow.

Which ones are challenging for me? 

#3)   You will not snack larger than your fist. 

            In most instances this one is fine.  When I hit the wall and shatter this commandment is with popcorn.  I’ve changed my favorite snack from popped in oil, buttered & excessively salted to air-popped, lightly buttered, very lightly salted, and generously garlic powdered.  I still like a generous quantity of popcorn.  I am counting it among my calories and using it as an occasional snack.

#8)   You will “turn your food over”.

            No, this isn’t some weird ritual where if you flip the food on your plate the calories fall out - Although that would have made this blog popular. ;)  Turn it over means to lay out your meals for others to see.  Tell your buddy - A way to hold yourself accountable.  Wow – I am not a great planner of meals.  I never had the weekly menu planned and hanging on the refrigerator.  I made dinner depending on what I felt like making.  Not a great strategy.  I’ve shared with you that I am using Cinch products for breakfast.  I am using Cinch products to plan ahead if I have a busy day – not going to be home for lunch or dinner.  I have my Cinch with me.  I am trying to be very conscious that I plan my dinners to be healthy, nourishing meals – just not in advance.  I have stocked by kitchen & freezer with body-honoring foods for meal making.  For now, that’s where I am.  Baby Steps Count Too.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

The "Just 10" Commandments

 It's Sunday !

It's SuperBowl Day!

I figured it was a good day to share
The "Just 10" Commandments.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,
Lisa


JUST 10: Commandments

1. You will not drink sugary soda
2. You will not eat past 8pm (or 3 hours before bedtime)
3. You will not snack larger than your fist
4. You will not drink your calories - skip juices & punch drinks
5. You will not skip meals, ever
6. You will move ten minutes a day
7. You will track your weight daily
8. You will "turn your food over"
9. You will "restart" your day at any time
10. You will take the JUST 10 Pledge

Making Progress

It’s been a couple days since I’ve added a blog update.  You might be wondering if I have let things fall apart.  On most plans, I would have by now….that’s been my history.  Well, fear not.  I’ve just been busy.

With all this busyness, here’s what I’ve learned.  I must have a protein filled body-honoring snack with me at all times.  I keep almonds in my car and Cinch Snack Bars in my purse like Brad recommends in Just 10 LBS.  They are all part of the Cinch Inch Loss Program. They come in chocolate, peanut butter & lemon cranberry.  Do I have a favorite?  I do.  It’s whichever one I am eating….  Lol…They are all Yummy!

I am making sure I am taking my Vitalizer every morning with my Cinch Shake or Cinch Meal Bar for breakfast.  This morning it was the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Meal Bar.  (20 grams of protein & decadent!) 

There has been an extension of the FREE Cinch Sample Pack offer.  Get started on Vitalizer as a new member, and you will receive over $100 in Cinch Products, including the Cinch Shake & Peanut Butter Snack Bars!

It’s been 2 weeks!  It’s time to share some results of my progress so far.  Ready.

Weight      – 3 lbs

Inches      - 5 ¼ inches  ( 2 ½ inches off my hips!)

I am really excited about those results.  Remember – muscle weights more than fat.

While I can see the scale, the inches lost will be what has me looking and feeling fabulous!

I think I am getting this “Golden Rule” !

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Do Unto……..

The Brad Lamm bBook, Just 10 LBS has a chapter called Appreciate Your Body.    I love this statement, “ When you like your body and consistently treat it with respect, you will lose weight—and never gain it back.”

It focuses on overcoming some body Hang-Ups by addressing 5 areas.  Three of them -Hang Up #2, #4 & #5 are the three that speak to me the most.  The workbook really helps to bring these to light.  It’s interesting that these are all about self talk, self infliction of negatives.  

Hmmmm.  That means the work is mine to do, and a lot of it is in my head. 

I think I’ll develop an affirmation to help keep the focus.

Today I am kind to myself.  I see the beauty in myself,  that I so easily see in others.  I revel in my physical distinctiveness.  I only speak positive statements about my body.

And I’ll sum it up with the Golden Rule. 

You know the one that says,

Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.”

With Brad’s reframing, here’s the Golden Rule. 

I will treat my body as I like to be treated:  luxuriously, with love and compassion, and with the same or better kindness I show to everyone else.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa

Challenges Lead to Successes!

Yesterday presented some challenges.

The day started great with another hour of Callanetics and a delicious Cinch Vanilla & Peanut Butter Shake for breakfast.  I was feeling great.

With my husband being out of work, we now eat lunch together.  It was after lunch – immediately after lunch- that the anxiety started.  You see after lunch my DH grabbed a bowl of animal crackers to eat….listening to the Crunch, Crunch, Crunch…..Ugh!  The thing is I don’t even care for animal crackers.  They are not a trigger food for me.  I didn’t want them.  But I couldn’t watch and listen to the mindless eating of them one after the other.  Crunch… crunch… crunch… - like Poe’s Telltale Heart.  Lol  I felt my anxiety level start to increase.  So I left.  I went downstairs to my office and did some work.

About an hour or so later, I went upstairs for a cup of tea and smelled the aroma of fragrant cinnamon - my DH was eating a bowl of oatmeal.  I know he wasn’t hungry.  He knew he wasn’t hungry.  He was eating out of boredom, like I’ve done so often.  I got my tea & called a friend.  I am glad to have tools like my list of non-food activities that enhance my life to rely on.  J

So, yesterday presented some challenges. 

More importantly it offered me an opportunity for successes.

I Am Worth This Work!

Onward,

Lisa