Motivation

This morning I decided it would be a good time to step on the scale and see where my starting weight will be for this journey, needless to say it ruined my morning and was higher than I expected!! I guess I will have to use it as motivation to make better food choices and really continue to push my workouts more. Really put a damper on the fact that someone had complimented me saying how my face looked skinnier yesterday. I know I shouldn't let it get me down because it's just a number, but I just want to curl up in a ball and cry. I have SO far to go. I am going to try and focus on twenty pound goals to slowly break it down and make it seem more achievable. A number will not define me (or at least I keep saying this in my head). I just truly want to feel better, and after seeing my weight, I fully understand why my workouts have seemed way harder than they used to be. Because I've gained a lot of the weight I lost back. Well, even though it's May long this next weekend I am going to attempt to not eat like complete shit all weekend. I am going to prepare by bringing veggies and fruit to snack on. I'm also bringing my workout gear in hopes that I can get some walks in while I'm out there! I am excited to get in some nice relaxation time and time away from the city!! I have been working for far too many days in a row and cannot wait for some time doing absolutely nothing! And the best part is that I also took off the Tuesday, so I'll have all day to relax, do laundry, workout, and grocery shop. Should be good!

I've started a goal for myself, to walk 160 KM in 5 weeks. I'm already 10 KM down and have 31 days left to get the remaining 150 KM done. That's an average of 4.83 KM a day, wish me luck on that one! Hopefully I can bang out a couple nice long walks this weekend while I'm off. I've also been trying to walk on my lunch hours so hopefully that helps out a bit. I will definitely need to be doing some long distance walks to really get that goal achieved!!! And possibly do some second workouts in a day. Perhaps I can bust out a long walk on the treadmill easier than outside, especially since my calves have been bugging me so much!!

I'm thinking that the more I walk to easier it will get and the farther I can go. And that it also pushes me to eat better because I'm spending all this energy trying to improve my physical health so why put a cheeseburger in my mouth afterwards? I'm also trying to drink my Isagenix shakes more than I have been in the past to really boost my vitamin intake and have lower calorie meals. I really need to get back into the cleanse days as well to really boost weight loss and before you know it I will start to see results and hopefully clothing won't be as tight. I just want to get back to where I was two years ago, but in a healthier way of doing it. This time my hair won't fall out and this time it will be a lasting life change. 

People say that it takes three weeks to build a habit, well I am two weeks into it and feeling the momentum and motivation building. I just hope that I can stick to it until I see some results because that will become my motivation to continue. I want my clothing to start fitting better and I want to feel comfortable wearing whatever without having to wear a scarf to cover my "rolls". Oh the things us overweight people do to try and camouflage how uncomfortable we are in our own skin!!

As I am writing this blog post I have realized that this is day 13 straight of working out :) GO ME! Perhaps this is the beginning of the rest of my life (cliche I know!). 

Ciao for now, I must do another walk later to possibly do 10KM today!

Eden xoxo

A Challenge For Myself.....EEEEKKK!!!!!

Well I've got some SERIOUS news!!! I am checking something off of my bucket list this coming fall........I will be running my first 5 kilometer event!!!!!!! It's called The Neon Run and it's September 13, 2014 in wonderful Edmonton, Alberta :) I am super excited, but also super nervous. I know with four months to prepare I should be laughing, but I've never been a runner, mainly because I've been overweight all of my adult life. A girlfriend of mine sent me the link on Facebook and asked if I wanted to do it. Well I have to say, at first I got a huge knot in my stomach and then I calculated how far away it was and took the leap of faith and registered. Quite exhilarating if you ask me. I've had "Run a 5K" on my bucket list for awhile and wasn't sure it would ever be checked off. I always see friends on Facebook running all these fun events like Color Me Rad and Mud Hero and truly thought I'd never be that person. So here I am, challenging myself completely. I just hope that I can be successful and run the whole thing. It definitely makes me nervous that I'll be a complete failure in front of all my friends, but I also know that they're super supportive and will help push me along no matter what my pace is. Thankfully I've already started working out again and have done 10 consecutive days of cardio. What I truly need to figure out is why my calves get so tight when I'm walking. Maybe it's my shoes, maybe it's the way I walk, who knows but I definitely used to be able to walk WAY faster so I need to figure it out and solve the problem so I can get into training for this run! 

Wish me luck!!!

Working out is going to be my new therapist!!!!

Today is a somewhat nice day outside so I ventured out for my daily exercise intake! I walked 3.72 kilometers on my lunch hour and I'm feeling pretty good about it. Although lately when I am walking outdoors my calf muscles get SOOO tight it's almost unbearable. I've managed to work through it but it's definitely hindering my ability to walk farther and faster. Hopefully the more I walk and work out the easier it'll be on my calves. I'm hoping it's just because it's my first week back at it and that my muscles are just shocked! I am feeling pretty awesome about working out 8 days in a row now. It definitely helps me focus on eating cleaner too because I'm more aware of what it takes to burn those calories off. I've also found I'm pushing myself more than I would have before. If my calves hurt like this before I would have just quit and went back home but instead I stretch it out and keep going because I know I'll be happier with myself if I've completed what I set out to do in the first place. I most definitely plan on completing my goal of walking to my mom's house on the Southwest side of Edmonton from my home in Downtown Edmonton this summer. Last year, without any training, I decided to attempt it. I made it about 12 kilometers before I had to call it quits thanks to multiple blisters and my legs just not able to move anymore. I think it was just another 4 kilometers to go to make it completely to her house but I was done. It was also getting dark so perhaps I should try it on a full day off. I know, I come up with some crazy ideas! I've always wanted to bike to Stony Plain as well, that will definitely take some training as it's about 37 kilometers from my house to Stony Plain. The easiest part will be the highway as it's mostly flat and there aren't any lights or traffic to cross. I am thinking I will hopefully do that before my 28th birthday, which is September 21st of this year. Wish me luck! LOL I think setting fitness goals will keep me in check and keep me working towards something. I'm also finding that even though I usually work out alone, that I feel more accomplished with my day and less lonely. I mean, I have a room mate, that is my best friend, but she's NEVER home so I basically live alone still. Either way, I am feeling happier that I've made my health and fitness a priority in my life and that I am putting myself ahead of everyone around me. I've wasted so many years constantly worrying that everyone else was okay that I've never taken the time to just be me and make myself happy before everyone else. I'm sure people won't like it, but it's how it's going to be from now on! 

Time for my healthy afternoon snack of fruit and Greek yogurt.....mmmmmmmm :)

Have a happy Wednesday everyone!

Is there a reset button for life????

I often find myself wanting a complete re-set in life, I just need to figure out how to do it! I've been up and down with my health journey and boy issues and I just want to go back to a happier time when I felt great and looked great! Life was just so much better! I was a tonne happier and I NEED to get back to that point. I need to be happy again. Any suggestions anyone?

So far I've been pouring myself into workouts and trying to eat better this past week. I am hoping that I will start to really feel better, and in turn, start to look better again. It's hard to find gym time since I always seem to be working but I've been utilizing my gym pass at the YMCA again, as well as taking advantage of living so close to the beautiful River Valley walking trails and stairs in good ol' Edmonton. I'm finding my groove and hoping to find my happiness again! One can hope right?

On the boy front, not too much going on. Just chatting here and there with guys. I have yet to find someone amazing worth my time so until then I will just continue being awesome! Someone will recognize everything I have to offer. I refuse to settle.

I've bought myself a new ride......a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. It's absolutely beautiful and I just love it! Spoiled myself to say the least! I have wanted this vehicle for sooooo long, and I've finally made my dream a reality. I have paid off all of my furniture for the house so now I have to focus on paying other stuff off and saving for an all inclusive destination vacation finally!

Well, here's hoping that I can continue to keep my mind fresh by blogging more, sorry for dropping the ball people! Let me know what you want to hear about and I'll write it, no topics off the table! I'm an open book <3

Ciao now <3<3<3

Eden

Doing Great!

Well it's day three and I'm feeling great! Weighed myself this morning and I'm down 2.8 lbs since Monday (WOOHOO). Yes, I did a little happy dance this morning :) I can't wait to start feeling better all together. I've found that adding fruit to the shakes definitely helps improve the flavour. And I am also starting to not mind the actual flavours either. As everyone on the Internet said, they take some getting used to. I am definitely going to experiment with different mixtures and recipes to keep it interesting. Unfortunately this entry is a short and sweet one since I worked 13.5 hours and I am simply exhausted! I will update more tomorrow readers!!

XOXO

Eden

Feeling Good!!!

Well, crazy thing! The shakes are starting to taste better! I simply added a frozen banana to the chocolate Isagenix protein powder and it improved the taste drastically! Now I am feeling as though I can pull this off! I also took my first shot of Ionix Supreme and it wasn't terrible. I just need to get creative I am thinking with the shakes. Adding different things to change up the flavors. Although it would be nice to have a Magic Bullet everywhere I went! LOL I might actually purchase one to leave at my full time job to help with the Monday to Friday lunch shakes! For lunch I am going to try adding the orange energy flavor crystals to my vanilla shake because many have said it makes it taste more like an Orange Julius when you do that, guess we'll have to see on that one. I do feel pretty rested, which is a bonus. A lot of people who are on the Isagenix program have said they get better sleep and therefore wake up earlier and enjoy their mornings more, this would be a miracle for me because if you know me at all you know that I am THE WORST morning person around. Pretty much could give the Grouch off of Sesame Street a run for his money! LOL I know, I should be used to mornings by the ripe age of 27 and having to work a 8-4 job for many of my adult years, but I just can't get on that "I'm so happy and bubbly in the mornings" train! It would be nice if I was so that I could utilize that time for workouts, so again, I am HOPING that this makes me a better morning person and get better sleep :)

One thing that is kind of weird about the Isagenix program is that you don't really read too many independent reviews on it, especially not negative ones. So I'm not sure if they somehow police that themselves or if people just legitimately have great results from this product. Either way, I will be documenting my progress and what my feelings are in regards to using this system. From someone that has used the Dr Bernstein program this feels a lot more free and not as strict. It also contains  A LOT more vitamins, which should help in not making my hair weak and creating breakage this time around! I won't be so worried if I decide to have only one shake on days that I will be out and about or if I decide to only have two shakes in my day. Either way it'll be a good way to assist in having healthy meals and shrinking my stomach so I can't eat as much. Also, it will simply make me more aware of what I am putting into my mouth. I am going to try and stay under 1500 calories in a day because I am hoping for quick results this first month to really get my "fire" going under my ass. I want to start feeling better and becoming happier. Actually, I have already chosen to look at the positives more in life each day to improve my mood and make my outlook better. I know I have a lot to work on, but who doesn't?

Well this blonde chatterbox should probably get some work done!

Ciao for now, I'll update more later <3

xoxo

Eden

Day One

Well day one of my new regime is done and I have to say it wasn't amazing, but I did it. Not to say I did it perfectly but I did better than I expected just going from eating not so good to eating super clean. The shakes were not all that tasty, but I am going to try some other options tomorrow to help flavour them. It will help when I can add a couple frozen berries or something I think. Hopefully I grow to like them so I can truly succeed in this health journey I've started! It's just so hard for me to find the time to cook healthy meals all the time. Especially when there are all these temptations around me all the time. I cannot wait for it to get nicer out so I can walk to work and also walk at lunch time when I'm not working my second job! The river valley is such a great place to walk through, gives you a great break from life to just enjoy nature and check out for a little bit. Makes you feel as though you are out camping somewhere and not right in the middle of the downtown core, and to think I now live seconds away from all that! How lucky am I? I am SO glad that I chose to purchase my condo downtown! Tomorrow is a new day, and I will take it by storm! I can, AND WILL accomplish these health goals I have set for myself. Last year I attempted to walk what seemed like it should have been 13 kilometres to my mothers house from my place but what I didn't take into account was that I would be walking through paths and that it would end up being way farther. Unfortunately I started to get some serious blood blisters and had to give up and call for a ride, but hey, I made it 12 kilometres without really doing that much walking before that. So I think that it's not completely unreasonable that I can, and will make it to my moms house this next summer. And maybe even be able to walk back!!! I think that is an interesting goal to aim for. I want to push myself and truly reach goals I never thought I would. I want to be able to run for 5 kilometres without stopping, I want to be able to climb stairs without being out of breath. I just want to be in WAY better shape! I'm too young to be lazy. I'm too young to just sit indoors and be unhappy with myself. I want to get out and enjoy life. I want to be someone I can be proud, and this my friends, is the year I've decided to do it! I am the only one that can do this for myself and I can't wait to give myself the best gift ever. Pure happiness inside and out!

Ciao for now, I need my beauty sleep!

xoxo

Eden

Time to declutter my life and hit the reset button :) Welcoming 2014 with open arms!

The New Year is upon us and I have spent a lot of time reflecting on how the past year has gone. To say I've let myself down would be the understatement of the century. I let my healthy lifestyle and weight loss go down the tube, let a guy completely crush me, gave up on a lot of goals for myself, and lost one of the most of important people in my life. That's not to say that I didn't accomplish a lot of things all while going through those trying times. I purchased my first home and got it all set up just the way I like, furnished it and paid off a bunch of that debt already, started to realize that some things just aren't worth it, and also got my feet back on the ground after being knocked down. I am stronger than I ever thought and have truly learned that the only person who is looking out for you........is you! Imagine that right?? Well 2014 is going to be a year where I put myself first and stop constantly worrying about everyone around me. That doesn't mean I will change who I am completely, I will always be a person who worries about how others feel and how my actions affect others. I just mean that I will worry more about putting my own feelings first. I want to be legitimately happy inside and out, and if people aren't supportive or on board to get me to that place you will be removed from my life. Doesn't matter who you are!!! This may seem harsh or cold but I'm so over people who pretend and are fake, this includes some immediate family.

What's new you ask? Well I am starting a new healthy regime called Isagenix. It's basically vitamin enriched protein shakes that replace two meals in a day with some other stuff you take throughout the day. I am pretty excited to be starting on a new path of healthy living for myself. This time its all about making me happy inside and out and not pleasing anyone else. I am just hoping I can find that drive that I had when I did the Dr Bernstein program. I want and NEED to get back to a happy place for my own sanity! Wish me luck!!!

I also plan on doing more selfless, random, acts of kindness this year. I want to make a difference in other peoples lives that really need it. I want to help those that need help and ask for it. I've started by buying coffee and a bagel for a homeless man outside of Tim Hortons when I went through the drive through. Simple things like that just make my day!!!! Perhaps I will pay for a random persons groceries or something like that. I want to be someone I am proud of being. I want to be someone that finds the positive in every situation. I just want to be an overall happier person in 2014! As many say, life is what you make of it.

Well, this beauty needs her beauty sleep! Until next time <3