This mantra has been on repeat in my head all day today.  Why? Because today started meal plan #2 from Coach Davies. 

Before I go into what Coach has in store for me this month let me just boast that today, FINALLY, I was able to break through my plateau.  I weighed myself this morning after not getting on the scale for a week, to find that I’m down to 125lbs. What a relief! 

I was somewhat concerned I would never see it budge ever again.  And although I am well aware that it’s not really about the scale at all, I do like to at least know what kind of a range I’m in right now.  Plus, today was the weigh out for my little bet I had going with my friend Craig.  I proudly exclaimed on Facebook that he owes me $20…

Yes Virginia, it IS possible to lose weight over the holidays:  9lbs down from Thanksgiving until today.  The only rule we set out from this bet was that I would not do any diet pills (as if) weight loss shakes or anything like that.  I promise I stood by these rules. 

I can also add that a FB friend of mine from high school,  ALSO took on the challenge of losing weight during the holidays and she lost 5lbs too!  So yes, it can happen. 

I tallied up the amount of cookies I had from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day and it totaled 20.  I can even remember exactly what I ate (is this normal?)

Thanksgiving: 2 Chocolate chip cookies

The Dessert Party on December 9th: Already posted about this but just to repeat: 1 triple layer cookie, a piece of angel food cake, a small bite of pumpkin pie (really don’t need to count this do I?) 1 of those sugary icing deliciousness cookies.

Christmas Day (for us was Sunday the 23rd): 6 chocolate balls, 3 buckeyes (This is Ohio ya know) 1 homemade cut out cookie.

Christmas Eve: 4 cookies at work of various types, 1 sugar cookie at dinner.

So for anyone who thinks I just avoided all sugar, you are sorely mistaken.  I definitely enjoyed my fill. 

I would say this may have been part of the reason I plateaued almost the whole month of December.   Maybe not, but I think it’s interesting that all of a sudden I lose 2lbs the second I stop eating the junk? Hmmmm…

As for my meal plans and getting back on track (although I didn’t really get off track, did I?) last month my Coach had me eating alot of egg whites, chicken, and flank steak.  This month, even MORE egg whites, asparagus, tilapia

or cod (yum!) and green beans,

among other things.  Besides the meal plan becoming more of a challenge, the workouts are much more intense as well.  Sprints, plyometrics, walking backwards on the treadmill and stairmaster (I have yet to master this. I am convinced I will fall and make myself look like an idiot.)

The mantra “My food is my fuel” came into my brain after reading a woman’s FB post recently.  Her name is Amy Jo Horvath and she’s a National Physique Committee competitor.  Here’s her FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoHorvathNpcFigureCompetitor

She’s also a mom and wife and is in full contest prep mode.  This means she basically has to find time to train and eat clean still be a full time mommy and wife.  I must say, at least on the surface of her FB page, she is on top of it! 

A few weeks ago she posted how she had to eat her prepared food in her car.  She ended the post with “Food is fuel!”  It stuck with me as I downed cold Cream of Rice and egg whites this morning, literally fork in right hand, driving with the left.  This wasn’t as difficult as it sounds (although I do not suggest doing it). 

The second meal of the day proved more challenging to stomach: Tuna, egg white and diced asparagus.  Perhaps it was the lack of flavor…perhaps just the sloppiness of trying to get tuna and asparagus on the fork…but it was by far the hardest part of my day.  (I know how silly that sounds considering the hardest part of the day for most people is probably way worse)

But THAT’s when the mantra kicked in.  And in the end I ate it all.  I didn’t puke, I didn’t feel sick…lo and behold I actually felt full and energetic. 

Wow, who would have thought?  Good food = good things. What a concept!

The only downside to this new meal plan?  It’s true what they say about asparagus. I will let the reader figure that one out.

Time to get sleep…because as awesome as food is, it’s equally important to rest and recover for the day that comes tomorrow.

-Michelle

Random tweet: I burned 97,611 calories in 2012.  But sadly, I didn’t log all my workouts. So it’s probably more. #random #exercise #workoutfreak