90 Day Challenge

June 22, 2012 I began a 90 day challenge. A challenge to change my lifestyle. A challenge to focus on my health and wellness. I have 39 days left to go for this first 90 challenge and so far I have seen amazing results!

Down 15.1 pounds. 6 inches slimmer.

THAT is success. :)

I'm doing a 90 challenge, but really? Really this is a new life for me. I'm not just going to stop once I hit 90 days. I really reached a point where I was done. Done with my fluctuating weight. Done with starving myself for a few weeks while I "dieted" only to break down and binge, packing on every lost pound I worked so hard to lose.

Right now I'm doing a combination. It may be too complicated for some, but it works for me, and the proof is in the pudding! I am drinking two ViSalus shakes a day. Usually for breakfast and lunch, but sometimes I will have them for breakfast and dinner. For my 4 remaining snacks and meals I am doing Weight Watchers. The shakes I make have anywhere from 6-9 points. It varies based on what recipe I make.

I use MyFitnessPal, it's an app for my iPhone, to track everything I eat. It helps me watch my calorie intake, and also helps give me nutritional information to calculate my WW points.

This isn't a race for me. Some may scoff and say that 15.1 pounds in 51 days isn't that impressive. That only averages out to 2.1 pounds a week. For me it was more like, 4 lb's one week, 0 the following week, and 1 lb the next week. Sometimes even going up, then back down. It used to bother me. Now it doesn't. Because it doesn't matter if it takes 6 months. Or 9 months. Or two years even! I am going to get the weight off one pound at a time until I am healthy!

I've learned a lot about food recently. {Thanks to some awesome friends!} And in doing so I've learned how to eat right. I am NEVER hungry. My horrid cravings have ceased. And I'm learning that healthy eating can be absolutely DELICIOUS!

I am really careful to not deprive myself when I do have cravings. If I am craving something sweet I eat fruit, if I want chocolate I will have a chocolate ViSalus shake for one of my meals that day. The shakes really help with a lot of my dessert cravings. And sometimes I will have a slice of pizza or a few french fries. To me it's about moderation and portion control! For me personally it's not realistic for me to completely cut out "bad" foods. I've had to learn how to moderate and control and in doing so I've kept myself on track, and within my goals.

I am also learning to take "bad" things and make them healthy! By making swaps, and preparing foods differently, I've been able to enjoy amazing food and stay within my calorie and weight watchers points goals!

I learned the hard way in the past that when I try and completely cut things out of my diet I end up going crazy, I "cheat", binge and then throw my hands up in the air and say "#$% it I ruined my diet now!". Now I'm learning to moderate what I eat and it's kept that from happening. If I do mess up I don't sweat it. Tomorrow is a new day. There's no "starting over" because I don't give up! I move on!

Do I plan on drinking two ViSalus shakes a day for the rest of my life? No. Could I? YES! I could, and I would want to! They're really that good...But no, once I hit my goal I plan on continuing with the eating healthy meals and snacks and cutting out the shakes. My plan is once I hit my goal to go to just one shake a day, for breakfast, for a while. But then eventually cutting that out too. {Maybe, to be honest, I don't know, I could very well go on to have a ViSalus for breakfast every day for the rest of my life!}

My biggest struggle in all of this is working out. I HAVE to have someone to workout with and I really need to get past that and learn to go to the gym alone! I've got to step it up in that department and I'm sure when I do I will see even greater results!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with everyone the awesome change going on right now! If I can encourage anyone to make healthier changes that would be awesome! If you have any words of advice or encouragement please share!

PS If you're interested in learning more about ViSalus and starting your own 90 Day Challenge {CLICK HERE}!