Fresh Start

 Introduction-

For those of you that don't know, I am currently enrolled at a community college studying Human Services, in pursuit of my Addiction Studies Certificate.  That in and of itself is a story on its own, but not for the immediate post at hand.  However, for the certificate one of my elective classes is "Self Esteem Strategies".  This class is where the idea spurred for starting afresh my "food journey" blog.  In class we are working on goal setting, with the aim of using visualization as one of the techniques to implement in attaining our goals.  I found it interesting and encouraging to learn that visualization is a technique also supported by science, according to one of the speakers of a Ted Talk You Tube video.  However, I myself have not looked at the research to determine how valid or reliable it is. Nevertheless, I am still able to create a goal, and work towards it.

Goal- 

So my goal is to lose 40 pounds safely within a 6 month time frame.  I want a great body!

Reward-

For every ten pounds lost, I have decided to reward myself.  I plan to get a new haircut (oh I may as well add highlights in there too, since I am starting to see more grays).  After 20 pounds lost, I will treat myself to a manicure.  After 30 pounds lost I will treat myself to a pedicure.  Finally when I have lost the 40 pounds I plan to treat myself to a professional muscle massage from the local Korean day spa. If during covid that is not an option, I will still do some kind of celebrating for my accomplishment.  It might be a new outfit, or 5 new outfits.  Anyways the rewards are set.

Every Sunday or once a week I will blog about my fresh start.  I will "discuss" with you the reader about how its going with my food intake.  Right now I am in the planning and preparation stage.  I have allotted some time of a week or two for both the menu planning and the grocery shopping for ingredients to make delicious low calorie low carb foods that I am likely to enjoy.  Lemons are on my mental list, for they are excellent to squeeze into a warm glass of water in the morning to aid digestion when I first wake up.  I say warm water only because its so cold in the mornings.  But cool water is fine if that's your preference I suppose.  

Action Plan-

• I will buy a dozen lemons within one week by Friday 3/12/21.
• I will create a weekly menu plan by same time frame Friday 3/12/21.
• I will go grocery shopping by ASAP Sunday 3/14/21.
• I will count calories, carbs, etc.  I will find the food diary and record it OR just buy a new food journal on or before Sunday 3/21/21.
• I will commit to a daily physical activity, such as strength training resistance, aerobic exercise such as zumba/dance, yoga/pilates, and.or walking neighborhood for 30 minutes daily by Saturday 3/6/21.  (I missed the deadline for starting my exercises yesterday, so my next best way to handle it is to start tomorrow on Monday 3/8/21 with walking at the minimum.)
• I will drink 8 glasses of H2O daily starting Saturday 3/6/21.  (Again I did not meet my quota nor deadline to start yesterday.  Fortunately, tomorrow Monday is a new day for me to start afresh on this aspect of my overall goal.)
• I will create and compile easy veggie recipes of the foods and flavors I like within a 2 weeks time so by 3/19/21.
• I will "blog" my journal ASAP with one or more weekly entries every Sunday starting on 3/7/21.  Yaye!  I did it!  I almost forgot then suddenly I remembered this goal.  So I also added it into my day planner now so to remind me what I've set myself to do each week.  I am planning to commit to blog (writing) each week for the next 6 months duration of "losing 40 pounds safely".  If a weekly blog turns out to be "too much" then I am free to adjust accordingly, and vice versa.  This is just my initial starting point.
• I will find one person to "join me" in weight loss.  I will "offer" to help him or her to lose weight also.  In other words, I am looking for a "study buddy" who will be my weight loss partner in crime.  I am looking for someone who will be my accountability partner and or someone I can teach or coach in weight loss.  The buddy system is such a great tool.  Why do something alone when doing it together is so much more fun and rewarding for all involved?  Yes, if you or someone you know wants to join me in this process feel free to come along!

To be continued-

I am so excited to be starting afresh on this goal.  I lost almost 60 pounds in 2011 and kept it off for 2 years before slowly regaining.  I am using both what has worked in the past before as well as a few new techniques.  I really hope someone will join me.  Last time I lost a large amount of weight my friend was the leader.  She taught me how to do it.  This time I am leading myself and I would be super blessed to help another person along the way also.  So if you are wanting to lose 5 pounds or 50 , I'm not a doctor but I can encourage coach and teach you about what I am doing.  Until next week, be safe and be well.  Always take good care of yourself.  Love yourself.  Accept yourself.  God is so for you and wants to bless you.  How can I say that?  Because that is the nature and character of my God.  Thanks for reading my blog.  God bless you always.

Starting Afresh

Recently I was in a small group, and one of the members shared one of his goals.  After hearing his goal, I became motivated to make my own new goal. 

In 2011 I lost 50 pounds, kept it off for 2 years, and slowly gained it all back.  After hearing my friend's goal, and after looking at my "muffin top" in the mirror (with disgust), I decided that I would once again lose some weight.  I will be healthier.  I will be lighter.  My inner organs will have more room to function properly.  I will look nicer outwardly; I will have a slimmer physique.

Of course, I want to do this safely.  So, I have decided I will lose 50 pounds in 5 months.  That is an average of 10 pounds a month, or 2-3 pounds a week.  I think this is a safe level for me, as well as an achievable goal.

My eating plan consists of a variety of approaches.  I will menu plan in advance, then make a list and go buy the ingredients needed for my meals.  I will include exercise at least 3 times a week, with a goal of fine-tweaking the exercise plan to include more.  I will drink plenty of water, and take some supplements such as a mulit-vitamin, omega 3s, and a calcium one.

I am also a  Zumba instructor, so it would be nice if I modeled what I preach, that is, a healthy lifestyle.  So, I am making a renewed effort towards my physical fitness goals. 

I know if I do what I set out to do, and stick to my plan, I can lose 50 pounds in 5 months!

A Personal Inventory

     Today I was craving pasta!  So, where can I get delicious pasta?  None other than the Corner Bakery of course!!  So, today I headed over to my local corner, which in this case, happens to be in Huntington Beach, and ordered the pasta combo.  I ordered the CAFE sized pasta combo, which is a smaller portion of pasta that comes with a side salad.  I ordered the Caesar salad, and also asked for chicken meat so I could get a protein in there as well!!  After enjoying my delicious meal, I relaxed with a good book in hand, "The Daniel Plan", and began reading chapters one and two.  Upon finishing chapter 2, the author challenges, requests, and/or encourages the reader to take a personal inventory of where they're at TODAY.  Where am I at today with what Pastor Rick Warren calls the 5 Essentials from his book, The Daniel Plan?  Here is what I came up with for myself.


1.  Faith Essential

• Generally, I see my life as in God's hands, especially through prayer...
• I haven't attended church on a regular basis for nearly 3 years...
• I feel a little bit hurt by God because  He didn't give me a full-time, 40 hour a week job for nearly the past 5 years...
• Need to trust God through this time of testing/trial

2.  Food Essential

• I've maintained a weight of 166-168 lbs. for at least past 2-3 months...
• Have had previous success in weight loss...dropped from 200 lbs. to 140 lbs. in 2011
• Want to drop 20-30 lbs. more!
• Currently, my downfalls are coffee, cream, sugar, sweets, breads/white flour, and fried foods...

3.  Fitness Essential

• I've been teaching Zumba 3 times or more a week
• I should keep utilizing a food and fitness journal
• I need to add 3 days into my routine of resistance training
• And, chart or record my progress

4.  Focus Essential

• I desire to help others lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle
• Will read the book "The Daniel Plan" by Rick Warren
• Will listen to the "Nutrition Made Clear" University level course on CD by Professor Roberta H. Anding
• I'm getting my "Healthy Plate" license through Zumba
• Getting reading to jumpstart my career goals:  ESL, credential, certificate and MA in TESOL etc.  (refocusing on life purpose)
• Also, restart and keep blog going (monicas food  diary, this one!  LOL)

5.  Friends Essential

• Possibly, Liz, at my new school worksite, will become my new/next fitness buddy!
• There's many people to help out there...
• Do not have a healthy buddy...
• Have Jane for a buddy, but have not connected with her in a while

June 4, 2015, begins my "Day 1" of The Daniel Plan" (40 days to a  healthier life).  Heck, I'll be happy with 21!!

Food Related

I started a new position this week, and it has affected my eating routine. So, I am adjusting right now. I have a super early morning twice a week, which means cooking an egg with veggies, eating and cleaning up in time to leave, not to mention taking the time it takes for getting ready in the morning proves to be difficult. So, I have been taking 10 minutes in the morning to hard boil 2 eggs, cut up an orange and pack a yogurt for my breakfast, and have found myself grazing as time permits. So, I have to figure out how to better eat on these 2 particular days.

Yesterday, after dinner, I noticed that I still felt a mild hunger in my stomach. But, I had already eaten my dinner. It was about a half cup of cooked rice, some cabbage, and some fish and cucumber kimchi, plus a cup of non fat milk. So, really, with all that food in me, I shouldn't have been hungry. But, I was. So, I drank about a cup of water, and that helped. Then, I ate some fruit, about a cup worth of canteloupe that I had cut up in the fridge, and ate that along with a cup of Job's tears Korean hot tea! After that I was definately satisfied, if not full!!

But, prior to my new eating regimen, I might have just gone for an extra dose of rice, or fried fish, or more milk, or something like that!! I would have thought nothing of taking 2nds, because I felt the hunger in my stomach. But, this time, I chose to drink water and fill up on fruit instead.

I really like what I have achieved the past 8 months. I don't want to stop now. It is sustainable, because what I've chosen to do is make a lifestyle change, per se, not go on a temporary diet until I reach my goal. With change, there are always little hurdles to jump over, little hurdles, sometimes seemingly big hurdles, but, nevertheless, they are hurdles that can be overcome.

So, these are my thoughts for today. If you're reading this, thanks for letting me share. I mean, thanks for reading this. I wish you all the best on your own journey to health and wellness also.

Tuesday's Morning Breakfast

Just a quick note about today's morning breakfast. Alarm went off around 6 AM, but felt groggy and not wanting to get up. Waited until about 6:45 to get up for a morning walk. Wanted to put something in my stomach before then. So, I grabbed about a quarter cup of trail mix before going out on the morning walk.

The morning walk was cool. I loved it. Wore a new outfit I got last night from Jill. The pinkish-purple suit up, with nice decor on it. Walked around neigborhoodd about 50 minutes. Came back and made a proper breakfast of the following: 1 orange, 1 cup of non fat milk, one scrambled egg with sauteed onion and garlic in butter, and a side of cucumber kimchi, and about a half cup or a third cup of cooked mixed grain rice, and a cup of hot green tea. Am definately filled up with good nutrition. Balanced. From variety of food groups.

Drank a lot of water before and after the morning walk. Also, took a multi vitamin and fish oil supplement. Am off to a good start so far.

It's just one meal at a time. And, one day at a time. I sound like a recovering addict. LoL

But, in some ways, its true. Have so much to prepare today for new class. Such a blessing to be teaching. God is stretching me "just enough". Not too much that I get exasperated. But, also not too little that I don't feel a need to rely on Him.

Spent some time this morning in extended prayer. Was reminded about something Nackwon told me Sunday night. She reminded me about life being about God, and our relationship with Jesus.

Then, I am reading a friend's blog, Jo. She's the friend I met in Korea and stayed with her and we hung out together often. Now she's back in UK, and I'm intrigued by her blog. It is memories of that season of Korea.

Hungry now for lunch. Next meaL? Uh, maybe fish, and rice and kimchi? I must think I'm korean or something!! Until next time...

Monday, August 29, 2011

What a crazy eating day. A very unusual one. Grazing. Trail mix in the morning, like 6:15 AM. An orange around 8:30 AM plus a hard boiled egg. Another hard boiled egg around 11:30 AM. Yogurt @ 12 or 12:30. Then rice, sausage, and cucumber kimchi around 12:30 or 1. Protein shake in the afternoon after a 30 minute elliptical machine workout. Dinner around 6:30 PM: a sandwich from Subway, on the honey wheat bread, all veggies, mustard no mayo, no oil no vinegar. Was planning on cooking dinner at home but took an extended nap instead. So, I opted for convenience from Subway instead since I had run out of time before FPU meeting started. As it was, I was 10 minutes late.

Ate a cookie at FPU meeting tonight. Homemade and so delicious. Wanted another one, but I refrained.

Later in the evening talking with one of the ladies about weight and diet. One of the ladies said she had lost 30 pounds last year but put it back on this year. She said I am inspiring her to lose the weight again. I feel determined not to put it back on.

I weighed myself at gym today: still around 140. I'm not all about the number, but I do hope the number to go down! Not just for physical appearance sake, but, am also thinking about the added health benefits involved in lowering one's weight and eating healthily. Is it possible for me to avoid diabetes from changing my diet?

I received some nice hand-me-downs tonight from Jill. So excited. I want to do the happy dance!! Sandals to go with this cute dress. Some casual and nice clothes for work. God knew what I needed and chose Jill to be that human vessel to provide for me. So thankful!! Fashion show for the girls!! LoL

30 minutes working out and 60 minutes rotating between the jacuzzi and sauna and steam room. I wonder if anything is wrong with this picture?

Final note-A few weeks back someone mentioned how it seems I've developed some self control in an area of my life (eating and physical). But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.