The Beginning

Have you ever been there? Where you let yourself go. You stopped focusing on yourself. You let everything/everyone else become more important that you.

Well that was me for most of 2017.

Let me start from the beginning. In Summer 2016 I decided to begin my weight loss journey. Almost two months into the journey, I found out I was pregnant. Surprise!!! I was in for the ride of my life. I was in a new relationship and my biggest blessing was on the way. Due to some complications early on in my pregnancy I had to slow my journey. I made sure to watch what I ate. I only gained 7 to 9 pounds while pregnant and I lost 19 pounds after my baby girl was born and from breastfeeding. Awesome right!! That is until the end of May 2017. My baby girl was born two months early the beginning of 2017. Side note: My blog page Lovin MyLeena will detail more about my journey with my baby girl.

Okay back to the story. So, I was already dealing with a lot of stress and recovering from my C-section. Summer 2017, my mental state was really affected. My relationship with my daughter’s father went sour. I was so down and stress eating. I didn’t admit that until this year. I lost focus on my goals, but had to push my emotions out of the way because I had a daughter who needed me. I remained hiding that I was hurting inside until I decided in April 2018 that enough was enough. I had to reclaim my spiritual, mental and physical self.

I joined Planet Fitness that April. Shout out to Planet Fitness, I love my gym!!! I weighed myself…250 pounds y’all!! That’s the heaviest I have ever been in my life!! WTH!! I was so uncomfortable with myself, been for a while, and still am. I don’t even like taking pictures of myself anymore. There was a time I was so photogenic and I was always posing for a picture.

I was excited to start the journey, but let me tell you the struggle has definitely been real staying motivated, but I am determined to reach my healthy lifestyle goals. So what am I working on? First, it’s a mental thing…I have to keep my mind right. I had to let go of what was not best for me. No matter how much it hurt. Yes, depression hit again after I started going to the gym, but my heart and mind are on the mend.

Second, I am working on my physical. I am watching what I eat, exercising, and resting when needed. Trying not to let what I cannot control get the best of me.

Third, getting my financial self together. I don’t even want to think about finances, but babies are expensive on top of education costs as well as other living expenses, but I’m determined to do what I have to do to be financially fit for my baby girl.

Last, but not least in fact it’s number one, spiritual self. I am growing in my spiritual journey. Increasing my time spent with the creator and making sure I only allow positive energy to flow in and through me.

As I work on me, I will posts updates on my progress and I hope that I will help inspire others going through the same thing.

Let me catch you all up on my journey so far…

April 2018-This month was amazing! Of course it was my first month, so motivation was on point. My starting weight again was 250 pounds, by the end of April I lost 1.2 lbs. Not much, but I was glad to see that. Out of my 21 scheduled workouts, I completed 14, which is 67%. Not a good percentage, but over 50% completed.

May 2018-This month was a little bit of a struggle. My goals for this month were to lose at least 5 lbs. Not a lot, but I aimed low so I could hopefully be surprised at the end. I wanted to complete at least 80% of my workouts. I planned to eliminate soda and beef. I was going to work on portions, and eat cheese, sweets, and other carbs in moderation. I needed to increase my water intake. Did any of that happen?!? Yeah no!! I did not weigh myself because I did not work hard like I should have. Out of my 22 scheduled workouts, I only completed 13. That’s 59%. It was still more than 50%, but not at my target percentage. 🙁

June 2018-What can I say about this month? Not a dang thang! Well, I can say something, but I’m just going to throw this entire month out of the way. My excuses to not go to the gym were plenty. Now, granted I did have other things going on the days planned for the gym, but I should have gone anyway. Again, did not weigh myself. Out of my 22 planned exercises (you ready for this?!?), I completed 4!!! Yes 4!! I need put myself in the corner. That was only 18%. I did make sure I got 2000 steps daily at least 4 to 5 days out of the week. I need to get it together if I really want to see change. Hopefully July will be a better month!!!

Goals for July:

1) Make it to the gym without excuses.
2) Limit soda to 1 per week
3) Increase water intake
4) Complete at least 80% of my workouts

Positive thoughts you all!! I can do this!! You can too if you are on the same journey!!!

Until next post…Be Positive. Be Blessed. Be a Blessing.