Personal Boot Camp: Weeks 5 & 6: New Orleans and 2nd Measurements!!

Personal Boot Camp: Weeks 5 & 6: New Orleans and 2nd Measurements!!: Well....in case you missed me last week (and I know that you did!!) we had a trip to Louisiana to see family and for business, so I ski...

Weeks 5 & 6: New Orleans and 2nd Measurements!!

Well....in case you missed me last week (and I know that you did!!) we had a trip to Louisiana to see family and for business, so I skipped the blog last week.  Trying to stay on a healthy eating plan in the south is TOUGH!!!  If you have ever traveled to New Orleans then you know exactly what I am talking about!!  So the measurement/weigh in this week was a scary ordeal!

If I could have used this guy to weigh in then I would have had it made!

Truth is....I did gain back two of the pounds I had already lost, however, I also LOST almost two inches!!  I could tell that my jeans fit a little better even though we ate things like Po Boys, Gumbo, King Cake, Jambalaya, Bread Pudding, Boudin balls, Crawfish, Italian Cookies, Muffuletta, and the wonderfully amazing Beignets!!! Pictures to follow.....

Blackened fish po boy with sweet potato fries....mmmmm!!

Cafe Du Monde is famous for Beignets and coffee au lait....OH MY!!!

Bread Pudding is served warm and so yummy!!!

Do you ever get to a point where you just start asking yourself questions about your body??  Seriously....maybe my body has become adjusted to and attached to the extra love handles and muffin top and is refusing to let them go??  Or maybe my thighs like having an extra layer of protection on my femur bone!  It could happen!!  Or perhaps my chin gets lonely and likes having a buddy? Something to consider for sure.....

The baby from the Kings Cake during Mardi Gras parade....those cakes are yummy!!

One of the many floats at the Shreveport, LA Mardi Gras parade.....we did not go to the BIG one in NOLA.

What I am trying to suggest here is this:  maybe you do need to listen to your body more and if you have been dieting and exercising and working your butt off (just figuratively) and you still haven't gotten back to the size that your head THINKS you should be wearing...then maybe it is time to readjust your mind.  Get that idea of being back to your "pre-kids" size, or your "college days" size, or your "best shape of my life" size, or your "model" size, or whatever size your head is telling you to be and listen to your body!!  And then go shopping!!  Get clothes that enhance the size that you are NOW.  And as the over-played Frozen song says.....LET IT GO!!

Raw Oysters

Crawfish!

Grilled Oysters

So in the theory of the song....I had raw oysters (just one) and grilled oysters (enjoyed them more) and crawfish (thanks to my brother-in-law giving me lessons on how to peel them and making a yummy dipping sauce).  Also, we had to try and make some Italian cookies that my husband remembers eating as a child....

Nice little cookies that paired well with coffee.  Kind of like biscotti, but very tasty.  There are lots of Italian family recipes in my husband's background! Another reason that trying to stick to an eating program is difficult down there!!

The famous Muffuletta from Central Grocery in NOLA.
I have to admit that this was one of my favorites from NOLA....it is a Muffuletta....a meat, cheese and olive relish combo on soft, wonderful Italian bread with olive oil drizzled on that is AMAZING!  (Are you seeing why I gained a couple of pounds back??)

My only saving grace to the trip....the amount of walking that we did for sight-seeing, because it is easier than trying to drive in the French Quarter.  One day I walked over ten miles!  So despite the calories that I consumed, I felt that we did enough exercise to counteract SOME of it!!

We walked around the Garden District and Uptown after riding the streetcars for a while.  There is just SO MUCH to see there!! What also made me laugh was the idea that you could wander around with cocktails.  A big change from any state I have ever lived in!

Getting in my veggies for the day....the tasty way!! What?  I'm on vacation!!

Monroe and Halo out for a walk in Bossier City....beads even on the fire hydrant!
I also walked my two dogs several times a day while we were in Bossier City.  That part of my lifestyle plan kept going....I did TONS of walking.  According to my FITBIT, last week I had 127,293 steps!!  That's an average of 17,000 a day, which equals over seven miles.  I did take a break from my 30 Day challenges that week, and I could tell the difference.  

I was tempted to get one of these dolls for myself.  I thought maybe I could like cut out the belly part and trim down the thighs...maybe put some tape over my mouth so I wouldn't be hungry.  Isn't that how these are supposed to work??  Just kidding....I didn't bring one back. (Maybe I can order one online?) Well...that's it for this week (and last week).  I am back on track and still determined to get healthy!!!  Let's do it!!

SIDE NOTE: I did end up going to the doctor yesterday.  I have a high threshold for pain, therefore, my sinus crud got out of control.  By the time I went in, it had taken hold of my head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, lymph nodes, etc.   When she offered to give me a steroid shot along with antibiotics....I jumped at it!!  I have had one before and you start to feel better in a few hours.  I am not advocating taking lots of medicines or putting steroids in your system, but this was a drastic situation!  You all need to remind me that when my eyes start getting puffy and my nose starts to resemble a pig snout....I need to get to the doctor PRONTO!!  Feeling MUCH better in 12 hours!!!

Personal Boot Camp: Four Weeks: Plateau Time

Personal Boot Camp: Four Weeks: Plateau Time: Utah beauty..... Remember that plateau I was preparing myself for? Yeah....it happened a little earlier than I planned!  Did my weigh-...

Four Weeks: Plateau Time

Utah beauty.....

Remember that plateau I was preparing myself for? Yeah....it happened a little earlier than I planned!  Did my weigh-in/measuring on Tuesday of this week and I must say that even though I didn't actually lose weight, I DID lose inches....and that is as important to me!  I will admit....at first I was SO disappointed in myself and mentally beating myself up for every little cheat that I had allowed myself during the last two weeks.  I finally decided to cut myself some slack since we did eat out three times during this last week for my husband's work.  I actually made better food choices when we did, so sometimes you just have to look at the positive---don't focus on the negative---and MOVE ON!!!

This is Monroe trying to convince me that I need to focus on looking forward and ignore the negative side of this situation, and to not worry about weight!!  I am not sure that he is the one to listen to....we call him "husky" as he is built like a tank!!  I don't really want to be husky any longer though, so I must keep working!!  If anything...this little plateau week has made me even MORE determined!!

So....we do our daily walking still (weather permitting).  The dogs love to get out and sniff and explore, and it is a good excuse to get me out and moving!  Thanks Halo and Monroe for keeping me motivated to move!

I am NOT a political person whatsoever....but while walking we saw this and I thought Halo was going to do something on this sign.  She just sniffed and walked away....not sure if that is a prediction of the Republican nominations or not?!! (And PLEASE don't make crazy comments because I am NOT in ANY WAY supporting or dismissing any of the candidates!!  If anything, I may just write Tatonka Monroe's name in for President this year!!)

After our walks....Halo usually plops down in their bed.  They have a brand new big bed and this is their old one, but she still likes it best.  I guess it is the smell.  We are ALL creatures of habit....huh??  And I need to break some of my bad habits!  Still. Working. On. That. Slowing. Down. While. I. Eat. Situation.  Habits are so easy to pick up but extremely hard to break.....very similar to the situation of getting out of shape and getting back into shape.....easy vs. difficult.  I sometimes snack too late at night too.  What is your worst eating habit??

One of my favorite snacks....apple slices with peanut butter.  I actually could live on peanut butter...if I was stranded on a deserted island, I would want a big supply of peanut butter!!  I have been trying to eat more fruit too, as I think that is the food group that I ignore the most and I find that I don't get the suggested daily servings.  

This little troll doll (blast from the past) was a gift from a friend for Christmas.  She is actually wearing rollerblades (in-line skates, whatever you want to call them depending on your age!)....which reminded me that I bought a pair of them at a garage sale a few years back. 

Rollerblades or In-Line Skates??? 

It is great exercise and I may need to dust them off and try them as a different workout!!  I should probably make sure that my insurance is up-to-date first!! Recently a new rollerskating arena opened up near our house too....hmmm....I think I will try that out!! Reminds me of the good old days of the Glasco, Kansas rollerskating rink!!  

Remember I said that a big part of getting healthy includes your inner self as well??  That would be the soul.  I truly do believe that it IS a vital part of being completely healthy.  Even though you are fit on the outside, if your soul is rotting away.....you still won't be fully complete and at peace.  Work on all areas of yourself.

Saw this piece of art hanging on the wall while I was giving blood last week.  It made me think (or UN-think??)....occasionally I realize that maybe, perhaps, possibly---that I think TOO much about the weight/health deal.  You know how when you stopping dwelling on a problem that it sometimes will work itself out??  I want to be healthy while still enjoying life and all that it has to offer.  Life is a balancing act, as we all know---and just when we get things "balanced", a curve-ball comes at us---forcing us to RE-balance our lives.  So, back to my spinning plates here....re-finding that balance.  How are YOUR plates spinning?? 

***Side note: My original weigh-in was on Tuesday of this week and I did another one this morning since I wasn't feeling as bloated....a difference of almost four pounds!  I am attributing it to water retention or constipation...or both!!  The hazard of weighing yourself each day....FLUCTUATIONS!!! Now back to those plates......