Week One Done---Boot Camper Checking In!

Here I am....done with the first week of my own boot camp....still alive and kicking!! I actually didn't consider it that bad and guess what??  I'm still going strong (and feeling stronger)!!  I had a moment when I laughed as I compared my journey to the movie "The Hunger Games" (seemed appropriate!), and if you are familiar with the movie then you know that the lead character is Katniss Everdeen, and I decided I am her chubby cousin Fatniss Flabberdeen!!  Anyway....here are some updates from the past week.

Water intake is a MUST!

I did follow all of my goals set up last time.  The water intake (goal #1) doesn't seem to be an issue for me as I have always been a water guzzler.  It also gives me a little more exercise in the middle of the night, since I have to get up at least once for a bathroom run with all that I am taking in (gotta come out sometime)!! I thirst for water during the day.

Good advice for me!!

Goal #2 was and still is, the one I have the most trouble with....eating slower and chewing more.  Ugh!!  After 54 years of that habit, I guess it is going to take me a lot longer than one week to fix it.  There are times when I am conscientious, slow down and chew my food thoroughly....and then other times I finish eating and think WHOA---where did my food go??  I'm still working on it.....chew, chew, chew, chew. S-L-O-W D-O-W-N!!!!  Maybe I need to get one of the sand timers from a game set and have it by me when I eat?  I guess I could try it!

It's worth a try!

Biking is great exercise!

The active minutes (goal #3) have not been a problem this week either.  I set my goal on FITBIT for 45 active minutes to make sure that I got the recommended 30-60 minutes.  According to the records from last week, I averaged 85 active minutes per day....almost double of what my goal was.  Score!!

30 Day Challenges that I found on Pinterest

The next goal (#4) was to mix up the workouts so that my body doesn't get used to the same thing (and so I don't get bored).  I did well with that for the most part.  It did get kind of cold and wet outside, making me find inside workouts.  I used two 30 Day Challenges that I found on Pinterest for ABS, Guns and Buns.  I also downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my phone and did it in the house (not my favorite place but hey....).  I realized that I didn't follow it right since I was only to run three days a week---I did the first two weeks already!  Oops....I may need to check out the Couch to 10K app instead. 

Bundling up for a walk outside---my husband called me the Una-bomber!

 Another thing that kept me moving is the fact that we have dogs that need to get out for a walk.  I try to get outside with them when it is dry (even if it is cold).  It is a great motivation for walking when you have a dog(s)----I'm not telling everyone to go out and get a dog, but it is a good excuse to keep moving! When those eyes stare up at you begging for a walk....it's hard to refuse!

These two like going for a daily walk to the lake.

Goal #5 was staying positive....and when you get exercise and eat better, then you feel better and it isn't hard to stay positive!  I seem to forget how much I enjoy those wonderful, amazing things called ENDORPHINS!  I have been eating healthier and making better food choices.  Not that I have totally eliminated all bad stuff (desserts, fried foods, etc)......I did have a couple of yummy brownies!  The difference is that I only had TWO---not four, five, six or....a whole pan!!  I let myself have some chips too...but not half of a bag, just a hand full!!  I also found some healthy recipes to try out, two of them are shown below.  The Dijon Sauce is amazing on chicken as well as the cabbage! Better choices!

Low-calorie, low-carb Unstuffed Cabbage was very tasty!

Cabbage with Dijon sauce and it was amazing!

I do believe that I missed adding a goal last week that I definitely believe in, so I will add it this week.  In my opinion, not only should we be working on our outside appearance, we also need to constantly be at work on our inner selves. I am not going to tell anyone else how that works for them, but for me it is my spirituality. So....

Goal #6---Reading God's Word and Prayer:  I will read the Bible and keep my prayer life strong each day.  I will make sure to take time to pay attention to all of God's beauty and blessings each day, practicing being grateful.

Big bag that doesn't cost a lot!

Another thing that I did this week is to help my colon a little by having a cleanse.  Due to my hypothyroid issues, my body struggles in certain areas....so I need to be aware of this and help it out.  I take one 0.137 mg of Levothyroxine each day, as prescribed by my doctor, but there are still many different side effects of hypothyroidism----one of which is constipation.  So, once in awhile I do an Epsom Salt cleanse (which I found online).  You may think this is a personal  discussion....but let's be real---once you have given birth to kids---you don't have any modesty left at that point.  So anyway....if you do the cleanse (which is 2 teaspoons of Epsom Salt in 8 ounces of warm water with lemon) make sure that you are near the bathroom facilities.....IF you know what I mean!!  It will get things MOVING....IF you know what I mean!!!  Do it on a weekend or when you know you will be home!  But it DOES help with the bloated feeling that I can get at times, because we do carry from 5-25 pounds from what isn't moving on through our body (and you KNOW what I mean)!! **Side note here:  if you really want to learn WAY MORE than you have ever known (or wanted to know) about feces and your colon, just Google it.  You can also see disgusting photos of Mucoid Plaque if you search...but I wouldn't suggest it.  

My little notebook that I use for a journal!

The last thing that I would suggest to you is that you journal on this journey!  I have always been a journal type person (even have some from high school) and it does help you to see your progress.  It also helps you to see what you are eating and how much you are eating.  You may be very surprised when you take the time to write it all down!  Plus you can see what is working and what isn't. So.....how did YOU do this past week???  See you next week when the first measurements come into play!! Will all of this work pay off?  We shall see.....