At the same time, in June of 2013, I began another journey, which has provided me with a sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction. This is the journey I have undertaken to shed those 20 extra pounds that I was left with after my last child was born 8 years ago. Now I won't kid myself, 20 lbs. is optimistic. Some years it was more than 20, but for the last couple of years, 20 lbs. has been the number I cannot budge that awful scale from.
I joined a health club 4 years ago, started watching carefully what I was eating, and was determined to take at least 10 of those pounds off. I took classes, worked with trainers, sweat harder than I ever have, but the most weight I could take off was maybe 5, maybe 7 pounds (if I skipped meals or ate very little for a few days). No matter how hard I tried, I could not get my weight to budge. Cutting calories did not work because I was hungry. Cutting carbs did not work because my sugar would crash, and then I would reach for things like chips, candy or cereal. In short, I could not find a balance. I tried to eat "right" but then there were meals out where I made the wrong choices, and there were family get togethers where I just succumbed to dessert. Then there was my two cups of coffee and three diet cokes a day. I realized that I needed help making the right choices because every time we consume food we make a choice, right?
I have never been a health food person or organic obsessed, but I decided that I needed to change my ways, and that's when I decided to consider nutritional cleansing. I started seeing pictures on Facebook like the one below of Allison Greenblatt Harris (who has a very inspirational story), and thought, I could do this. I need to do this.
Using a 30 day nutritional cleansing program, I was able to shed 15 pounds in 30 days, and after 2 months of using the program, I had lost those 20 pounds and kept them off. Most importantly, my daily eating habits were much better, and as a result, I feel great. I gave up diet coke, my cholesterol numbers were amazing, and I cut my coffee consumption (Some days, Starbucks still calls my name!).
I eat lots of vegetables, limit my carb intake on a daily basis, eat organic lean protein, drink plenty of water, and try not to cheat too much. I strive to work out 3 days a week. That does not always happen. And, I understand that everyone's experience with weight loss may be different.
The reason for my blog post on this topic can be summed up in two words: skinny jeans!!! After losing those 20 pounds, I was not only able to fit into my skinny jeans, but all the other jeans in my closet were too big! I needed all new jeans this past fall. YAY! After a full season of wearing my new skinny jeans, I wanted to report on my favorite brands/styles of denim from this past fall/winter season. They are:
1. Mother (the Looker from Nordstrom Anniversary Sale)
2. Paige (Peg Super Skinny from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th)
3. CJ by Cookie Johnson (the Joy legging from Nordstrom)
4. Sold (Soho Super Skinny from Saks Fifth Avenue Website on sale for $34)
5. Sinclair from All About Me (Buffalo Grove IL)
6. Tractr from Illusions by Jill (Lincolnshire, IL)
7. Flying Monkey from Illusions by Jill (Lincolnshire, IL) pictured below:
There are other brands that I love as well and have had good luck with, but for this past season, these were my go to's. For spring, I have my eye on a couple of other brands as well and will be blogging about those soon.
So if you are striving to fit into your skinny jeans or if you have a desire to fit into a new swimsuit by Spring Break, here is an incentive program that starts March 3 but must be entered by tomorrow:
The winner gets a $100 lululemon gift card. I have year to blog about lulu, but they have great workout wear. I am a big fan. In fact, I even made a pilgrimage to the original lululemon store when I was in Vancouver this past summer.
FYI, you won't be seeing any swimsuit posts by me no matter how many more pounds I shed. A cute swimsuit cover-up--now that you may see on this blog!!!
The journeys continue...
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