What A 150-Pound Weight-Loss Looks Like

As you know I am on a constant struggle to stay active and healthy on a budget, which gets extremely hard. I like to keep my weight loss total at 100 just because I flaunt that line between pounds simply because the summer here in Charleston is hot and that allows less time during my lunch breaks to walk three miles, I burn, like wood on a fire, in the sun and my schedule has gotten extremely hectic.

I have told bits and pieces of my story multiple times on my blog but today I want to highlight someone else. I read this story via Fit Sugar and it is very inspirational! He highlights the importance of maintaining a successful lifestyle change and gives hope to all who struggle with their weight. Just from reading this article he has given me added hope even though my plateaus are too often now and I haven't seen huge drops in my weight in several months. I always like to live by this: "If you don't want to keep starting over, never stop. If you fall off routine just keep going because standing up after a complete fall is harder than standing up after a minor slip."

Please check out Tony Forte's fabulous story by clicking here.

Homemade Sunflower Butter

Does your diet consist of staples? I'm sure some of you eat a variety of items each day, but do you have something you eat more than five times a week? For me it is oatmeal. I eat oatmeal each day for breakfast and sometimes I make protein balls with it or I bake it into cookies, but all-in-all I eat oatmeal like it is going out of style. Alongside my oatmeal I like to mix in a couple tablespoons of sunflower butter, but when I am stretched for money I opt for the less healthy counterpart – peanut butter.

Recently I have been really stretched financially so I've used peanut butter, but I went to Trader Joe's this morning and grabbed a bag of roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds. Let me just add in that I went Whole Foods first and priced a 12-ounce bag of seeds for $3.99 but I figured they would be cheaper at Trader Joe's. They were definitely cheaper! For a 16-ounce bag it only cost me $1.99 and that was too great of a deal to pass up. 

I've been wanting to make my own sunflower butter for weeks and finally got around to purchasing the products and actually having the time. So, get ready for the easiest and healthiest option for sunflower butter! 

Ingredients: 

2 cups of roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds 

1 teaspoon of salt (optional)

1 blender

Directions:

1. Take two cups of roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds

2. Add to a blender and blend (scraping sides often)

3. Once a powder is created continue to blend until liquified
4. Once liquified add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of salt
5. Blend until smooth and liquid

Note: the heat from the blender blades will release the oils in the seeds and that will speed the liquifying process along.  I also used the whip feature at the end of the process just for texture.

Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 100 per tablespoon 

Tips from Dr. Oz

Things have been quite busy in my corner of the world so I have been very lackluster when it comes to posting. I have seen some great tips and tricks and I wanted to post one for my readers to enjoy!

I took this from Pop Sugar Fitness. Click here for the tips from Dr. Oz!

Friday Favorite: How I Lost 7 Pounds Fast

This week's Friday Favorite is the Military Diet. I posted about the diet yesterday and if you'd like to read the post click here.

I lost seven pounds in three days on this diet and I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking to lost water weight/weight fast. The third day is the hardest, but it was worth it. I am in a plateau state and this has helped me kick the plateau to the curb. Two days later and I still have all seven pounds off and hopefully will retain the seven pound loss over the weekend until I do a second week of this diet!

Military Diet: Lose Weight Fast

So you're looking to lose weight fast? Maybe to fit into a wedding gown, bridesmaids dress, swimsuit or even all of the above? I have you covered.

I read about this diet called the Military Diet several years ago and I saw it again over the weekend. I despise the word diet simply because all of my success has come from eating right and exercising on a regular basis. Diets aren't usually permanent nor are they healthy, but I did some research on this diet and decided I would try it.

1. It consisted of food that I would eat on a daily basis as is.
2. It had me eating roughly 1,000 calories a day and I only eat 1,586 a day so I figured I would go for it.
3. I have plateaued so hard you wouldn't believe and I found this as a good way to detox my body of the bad foods I put in it over the weekend. Who knows, since I will be doing this on a weekly basis until I feel the need to stop some of the pounds that I shed could stay off instead of being gained right back as in most diets.

My results were great and I will be doing this diet each week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays schedule permitting; otherwise, I will be doing it some three days of each week until I feel it isn't working or I simply don't want to do it anymore.

My results: 
Day 1: Lost 4 pounds 
Day 2: Lost 2 pounds 
Day 3: Lost 1 pound

Have a look at the diet here. You can view the Military Diet packet I put together in case you decide to try it for yourself. The packet is really worth a look.

The Military Diet packet contains:
1. A detailed chart of what to eat each day
2. A detailed shopping list of all your supplies
3. A photo guide of my progress
4. Additional comments and suggestions from me.
5. A notes section where you can write your own suggestions, substitutes, etc.

To download or view the packet click here.

Challenge Accepted: Can You Guess?

I have accepted a challenge for the next three days. Do you think you know what it is? If so comment below!

Hint: It has to do with weight loss. 

What Being A Fat Girl Is Like

One of the main points I like to cover in my blog is my Plus Size lifestyle. Cosmo published a piece called What Being A Fat Girl Is Really Like and Claire from Chattermonkey suggested plus size bloggers get involved and answer these questions also. 

Here are the questions and my answers to them. Enjoy!   

1. How do you feel when other women around you complain about feeling/being fat?

To each their own, but I try not to use such words. I do mention how I feel fat after overeating, but that is simply because I overate. I haven't been around someone in a really long time that has said, "I look fat," and thank goodness for that. If you look fat then do something about it and stop trying to make me make you feel better about your insecurities, especially if you're not legitimately overweight. Be comfortable with yourself whether it be small or large. 

2. How has your body image changed since high school? College?

In high school I was a quiet, reserved and shy teenager who wore blue jeans that didn't flatter my body, t-shirts that showed no shape and not until my senior year did I start wearing shapely dresses. I never wore heels and wore my hair up a lot. I didn't put much into my looks and felt the same. I didn't feel a lot for my body image. I didn't think highly of myself nor did I think negatively about myself. I was definitely heavier then than I am now. 

3. Have you tried dieting? What happened?

I have dieted before, but in January 2012 I stopped the dieting and started my lifestyle change. The difference is that when you diet you restrict yourself. My lifestyle change allows me to eat what I want in moderation all while exercising and being a lot more active than I used to be. I splurge on weekends and stay strict during the day. By being more active and counting calories and eating what I want in moderation I have lost right at 100 pounds! 

4. Do you think in your case your weight is partly or entirely genetic?

I believe a good bit of it has to do with genetics. The majority of both sides of my family are overweight. With years of unhealthy decisions is hard to reverse, but I am trying to be healthier. I believe I will always be plus size and I am perfectly fine with that. I believe my curves are very feminine and make me feel that way. I would rather be healthy and curvy than healthy and not curvy. I have even been told that I look great in the clothes I wear because I actually have the curves to fill them out. This made me happy and I have definitely embraced that. 

5. Do you consider yourself healthy? Have there been instances where people assumed you were unhealthy?

I am healthier. I am not as healthy as I would like. I do average 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week and I eat 1,590 calories a day without exercise and right at 1,900 with exercise. The thing that counts against me is my love of chocolate and Chinese food. 

6. Are your parents both supportive of you at the weight you’re at? Have they always been?

Actually, they are. I am 100 pounds lighter than I was two years ago and they're ecstatic about that because all they want for me is to live a healthy and happy life. 

7. How do you think retailers can improve clothes for plus-size people?

Not place plus size sections in the corner and limit the section to a laughable five or six racks. I literally went shopping the other day and went into JC Penney because they do have a plus size selection but it took me 20+ minutes to find the plus size section. Once I found it (upstairs with the children's section, house goods and lingerie) not downstairs with all other apparel except children's. They find it best to put the only apparel (plus size) besides kids on the second floor. I was so frustrated because I have usually had good experiences with JC Penney and this was just disappointing. Another situation I encountered was Forever 21. I remember seeing promotions with the rolling out of their plus size selections. 

I went to a Forever 21 in a large mall in downtown Atlanta, and after walking the store for about 10 minutes I finally found the plus size racks (I say racks because there were only about 5 racks) in the corner right in front of the dressing room. Why must stores find it best to hide the plus size selections in a corner at the back of the store or on the second level where there aren't any other clothes for adults? If someone can answer this question for me please elaborate below.

8. Do you think plus-size women are judged differently than plus-sized men are? How?

Plus size = plus size regardless of sex. I do believe, however, that men are more visual; therefore, women are judged more-so on their appearance as opposed to men, but not too much because women are very judgmental. Women judge men and they also judge other women! Humans tend to be judgmental in general so I believe we are all judged but differently I am sure. 

9. Do you think there’s an assumption made/stereotype that exists about plus-size people? How would you respond to it?

Most definitely; plus size individuals tend to be seen as lazy. They are also seen as not caring about their body, lack of self-esteem, etc. My boyfriend said it best when he asked a more petite woman why she worked out and she said she worked out because she wanted to look good because she wants to find a good man. I work out because I want myself to be healthier not so that I can get a man. By the way, I haven't said how much of an awesome man my boyfriend is. He is so intelligent and loves everything about me. He finds my curves sexy and loves how active I am although I am plus size. Just because someone is plus size doesn't mean they don't work out or they don't exercise. I've been working out and exercising for two years and I am still plus size. I am happy about that fact and I am a lot healthier than I was before. I see very small/petite individuals downing sodas and Cheetos only to wash it down with cookies. I don't do that and I am still larger but chances are I am healthier. Moral: don't judge a book by its cover! 

10. Do you think there’s ever a right way or time to express concern about someone’s weight?

There is never a "right" way to tell someone you're concerned about their weight. If it is in good spirits it will be easier on the messenger but if it is in bad spirits, good luck! If someone's weight means that much to you then maybe you should reevaluate yourself. Unless the person is flaunting along early demise because of their weight then it might not be your place to express your concerns. I can speak from personal experience. I've had a man tell me I would not be able to fight the men off with a stick if I lost weight and that never phased me. You know why? Because I was happy with myself. Until that person decides they want to change they won't change. 

11. What are the worst things people have said to you about your body?

See previous comment. I have only really had one person who said multiple things to me and that was an old man who literally had dementia. 

12. How did you respond?

I just agreed and said I was happy with myself. I took his remarks with a grain of salt unless I was in a bad mood and then it became an issue but I never just flipped my top on him. He wasn't worth it. 

13. What have people said (or do you wish they’d say) that would compliment your body or appearance?

I get compliments about my style and my eyes from respectable people. There are other comments I get but those aren't respectable enough to post on this blog.  

14. Do you find yourself hanging out with women who are closer to your size?

Actually no; all of my friends are smaller than me. I do follow plus size bloggers and seek them out here because that's one of my focus areas and I love to study about it. 

15. How has your weight affected your sex life, if at all?

It hasn't. 

16. When you’ve been single, has your weight affected your dating life?

I didn't actually start dating until I got to college (which is where I became more comfy within myself to start dating). I wasn't ready to put myself out there when I didn't even fully know myself. 

17. Do you feel weird if the guy you’re with only dates larger women?

If they only dated larger women it does make me reconsider if they were with me or if they were with my body. BUT I don't have to worry about that because I have the most amazing Brown Bear who loves me so very much now! He is the best boyfriend ever!  

18. Do you feel weird if he’s only dated slimmer women before you?

No; same as previous answer. If he had only dated slimmer women then why was he with me? Was it because of me or my body. The main point of the last two answers was to determine if he was with me or my body. 

Hope you enjoyed! 

Plus Size Fitness

When the weather turned crisp and the days got shorter I slacked off on my fitness routine. I went from jogging and walking four - six miles a day, five days a week for a total of between 20-30 miles a week to a maximum of 12 per week. My weight has maintained, but my weightloss has been at a plateau. 

The candy corn, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas meals and Valentine's candy got the best of me this year. Now that all those holidays are behind me I am back and better than ever! Really, I logged my best lunch-time record today! I jog (mostly walk) at during my hour-long lunch break and the most miles I ever logged was 3.4/5. Today I busted that wide open; I started this year's routine with a bang. I kept up my pace and within 12 minutes of walking I had already logged a mile. I thought that surely my GPS was messed up or something was wrong, but sure enough I kept my pace and logged another mile 24 minutes in. My typical mile is 17 minutes, but I shaved right at five minutes from each mile today. 

Thanks to the wonderful Southern sun and some good music I felt like my old self again. I can't wait to see the pounds start melting off again. 

Thankful for the 73° Charleston weather to make myself feel normal again. 

Colonial Lake and The Battery never felt so good as it did today.