Sigh. Idk. Sigh.

.2 loss this week. 

I honestly have no clue what's up with my body. Every morning I wake up feeling like I'm  retaining so much water. So obviously the scale is going to be up... But I've tried everything this week. No cardio. No working out. No sweating. More water. Less water. More rest. Nothing is helping. 

Every night my feet and now my knees ache, feel tight and tired and my hands feel tight, and I am exhausted. I'm starting to get freaked out... 

I have a doctors apt but it's not until Oct 21. So, I thought "I need to go on Whole 30 again and see if it's my diet". Except whole 30 is no dairy and I know I'm ok with dairy, so after much consideration starting tomorrow I'm going to do the 21 Day Primal Challenge by Mark Sisson. It's basically whole 30 but with some dairy included. And it's only 21 days ;-) this isn't to lose weight per se but I am hoping that, but to hopefully help this issue my body is having. I've read it could be gout, rheumatoid arthritis (scary!), fibromyalgia, heart issues, gah you know hopefully I am still alive to see the dr! Jk ho you know Google. But seriously, hoping cutting sugar and processed foods and corn helps (already eat wheat and legume free). I'll keep you all posted. Goodnight xo 

Throw Back Thursday

Five years ago today I finished my 2nd Triathlon. 

I have this app called "Shoebox" (best app ever!!) it shows you what you were doing on this day x amount of years ago. When I saw this I wondered how much I weighed there. So I went back to my old blog posts and I was exactly 200 lbs here! Only 14 lbs  heavier than I was last weigh in. This is also the time I started having major stomach pain (now I know due to wheat and too much sugar). 

 I've had two more boys since 

Then. Back then I was doing strictly cardio and now I do lots of weights. Here is me today 

I have mixed emotions when I see old photos of myself. Embarrassment. Shock. Like I didn't think of myself as big as I use to be. Also endearment because I have fond memories of this 6 year journey. I've learned and grown so much.

Monday I did Body Combat (kick boxing) and heavy weights.

The next day my hands and feet were puffy (retaining water) (again), this has been happening for a month or so. I was getting really concerned, still kinda am. I have been drinking 90 ounces a day. So Tuesday-today I did little to no cardio, just yoga and weights. Also I sat in the sauna those three days and the swelling has gotten better and I feel like I released that water (puffiness was only at night and I'm the morning). If it keeps happening I'll see my doctor. 

Weigh in tomorrow so I'll be back hopefully with good results :) 

Down another pound! 😀

Yippee! 186 today! Almost down 10 lbs from that crazy 10 lbs weight gain in July. Fewee. Then only 5 more pounds until I reach 181 which will be my lowest weight in like 3 years. Goals! (I was 182 earlier this year but honestly I'm way less fluffy then I was at that point!) 

And here I was upset all week because the scale wasting moving. I *seriously* need to stop weighing everyday!!! Anyways... After doing more research I am feeling great about IF!!! I did make some more changes pretty much right away after my first post a week and a half ago. I decided to not do Keto. I know you guys I KNOW im all over the place. I just started sticking with flexible dieting (I'm super flexible lol...I am focusing on reaching protein goal and staying under my calories. I've been right around 1600-1800 calories depending on how hard I work out). AND doing IF and bam. Results are coming. I can see my shoulders and quads are coming along nicely :) yay! Ditching body pump was a good move for me. Even though I do miss it!! This was today. Still have a super long way to go but I'll take what I can get! Happy Friday! 

Down 4 Lbs!

Happy to weigh in yesterday and be at 187.8! Yay! Then I was so good yesterday and totally expected another loss today even if small but nothing. But seriously I HAVE to stop weighing every day. Some days weight won't come off some days they will. I notice that when I have a tough workout like yesterday (kickboxing and weights) I won't lose. I think it's water retention even though I drank 90 oz yesterday. When my muscles are sore I am a little puffy. Hope that's normal 😁 

This morning I am going to the gym just to walk on the treadmill and do Yoga. So hard for me not to do an intense work out but I've been reading doing those everyday is not effective. I LOVE kickboxing so I choose to do it. I am also gonna try Zumba on Friday 😁💃🏼

After reading Staci's (Skinny on Staci..sorry I can't link I am on my phone!) post last week on intermitted fasting I decided to add it to my routine. I did this the month before I got married and lost 16 lbs. 

so far so good. I think it helps and I feel better letting my body have 14 hours to digest foods and rest! IF is when you don't eat for 14 hours straight and eat in a 10 hour window. So I am going to do 4:30pm-6:30am fast a couple days and days we eat together as a family and Davey doesn't have school 8pm-10am.

I am on the hunt for a perfect camera bag! I don't want to spend a fortune yet my current one that I love (Jo Totes) is too small. I ordered a full Frame camera finally EEEKKK! A Nikon D750 I saved and did NOT buy ON CREDIT🙌🏼 (that's huge for me!). So that w my five lenses and my now back up camera my beloved bag is too small.The  larger one I want from Jo Totes is sold out :( I'm so busy next month w shoots I'm so thankful but need a new bag ASAP. I have big dreams and prayers for 2016 as well. God answered specific prayers he really does! 

Which reminds me to PRAY for wisdom and strength to lose weight! Praying for a specific number on Friday for weigh in. Will keep you all posted xo 

Enough Already

Hey guys. If there's anyone that still reads! Heads up! Im gonna be blogging again on the regular (for reals) so go ahead and click the follow button :) 

I'm super frustrated. That's why I haven't blogged. Here's why: my weight has fluctuated up and down 5-10 pounds no matter WHAT I do. Wait really? Really... I'm consistently working my butt off in the gym. I'm stronger and FASTER than ever. Seriously though! 191.8 today?! Dang it! BUT YOU KNOW....

Here's over a year of my weight records. In June of 2014 I cut out gluten, I started whole 30, and I lost 25 pounds very quickly. Since then I got down to 182 and then couldn't lose an ounce. This summer we moved TWICE and I GAINED 10 pounds! GAH WHAT! I worked hard to lose 5 pounds now it goes up and down 2-4 pounds and won't budge. 

I haven't lost inches since April.. but I can see muscles in my shoulders, biceps and my quads getting bigger which I love :)

NO I don't believe I should stop lifting. Scientifically muscles will NOT push out your fat or make a women bulky we don't have enough testosterone... ect ect. What I need to do is seriously look back: beIng %100 honest which hurts to do lol because I can convince myself I'm doing well. HAVE I been on point with my diet/ eating this last year?? No. Not for any length of time that could hold lasting results that is. On and off I am consistent... w my off times becoming longer. What i'm doing is maintaining pretty well with the exception of July. 

I tried counting macros for a week in January and it was so much food so I stopped. I decided to do WW again but was too lazy to count points so I cancelled it. Then I finally found a small grove. I liked eating low carb. Less hassle for me, I prefer fats, I FEEL good on low carb. I called this "Flexible Dieting" because I was still counting my calories and trying to hit protein but eating lower carbs. I liked this. It fit my lifestyle. I would do well a few days then a few days mess it up. Or I'd do good a whole 7-10 days, drop some pounds then go off track for a week. 

I went back to low carb/"flexible dieting" a couple weeks ago and didn't see pounds dropping with in the first couple days (I know!) so I was convinced it wasn't working anymore. I've been wandering around aimlessly LOL trying to find what will work for me that I can do that I ENJOY. 

The truth is all of these would work if I just picked one and was CONSISTENT!! In a Flexible Dieting group I'm on someone mentioned they are doing Cyclical Keto Dieting. It's basically low carb all week (which I like) then one day if a carb refeed to restore your glycerin stores and fuel fat loss for the next week. Some people might think this is poop but I'm gonna give it a go. I can have treats the day I plan with out going off for several days. I just HAVE to be consistent. I could be at my goal already by now!!!! I'm gathering lots of low carb recipes and making a grocery list and I'm ACTUALLY gonna food prep. What! I know. This is probably key to success that I never do 😁 

Ps I've been doing Yoga, along w running (ran TWO miles straight at 11 minute miles!!!) and heavy lifting. Getting stronger and I love it. I want to lose at least 40 more pounds. Even 30 would be fantastic. So there is it. All my dirty weight laundry out in the open. Let's be consistent and do this! 👊🏼❤️