New member and insight wanted on lifestyle change

[gympamela]

Hello, name is Pamela, and I just signed up for this board. I have yet to find a 'home' forum for weight loss/diet/exercise so I am hoping that this may be it.
Wow, this is kind of long-winded

I recently moved with bf to WA, where I know no one and am far from family and friends. Depression and weight spiraled out of control, and I am now HEAVIER than I was 3 years ago walking out of the hospital after giving birth. Not cool.

I decided that it was time to revamp life and the life of family by changing everything that we were doing that was detrimental to our health. We were totally sedentary- 12 year old on XBox hours every day, TV always on, eating in front of the TV, eating out all the time, making fatty, greasy foods. Binging on everything basically.

I threw everything out of frig and cupboards and started over from scratch. I still let the kids have SOME processed foods, but mostly they eat like me now- veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and a treat a couple of times a week in the form of Taco Bell for 12 year old, and fries for 3 year old. They have easy quick foods for during the day when we are working, but the chips and candy are gone. XBox is limited to a couple of hours a few nights a week, and the TV is set up to record shows I like and is usually only on to entertain 3 year old while I cook or clean. We started getting out more, going to the park, the lake, and going to the barn to ride horse.

Anyway, sorry for the book. I look forward to having people to help keep me accountable so I dont fall off the wagon.

[gympamela]

meal plan is simple and easy, but varies with what I cook.
I try to get to the gym at 5am or 530 so I can get it done and over with before I have the chance to make excuses. I usually weight train for 20 minutes and do 30 mins of cardio. But, like today, I have to go after work, so meals will be a little different.

meal 1 is ALWAYS either a protein shake and raw almonds, or a protein shake and a kashi TLC granola bar.
meal 2 today is king salmon and green beans
meal 3 today is a protein shake before or after the gym
meal 4 today is 4pz chicken over greens w spray dressing at home

Tomorrow will be a little different, probably homey mustard chicken and big salad for lunch, and some more chicken, possibly a veggie stir fry for dinner.

Any input is welcome!

[Boss Man]

Hi there Pamela .

Firstly I will politely decline the apology, because I would feel rude accepting unnecessary apologies from a Lady.

I'd have the first meal before the Gym, so you've got some fuel to work with.

I'd also incorporate another meal in there, so you can have a 2.5-3 hour meal spacing, otherwise with 4 meals you're potentially going to have

A: too long a gaps between meals.

B: a rather large gap between two meals.

C: A rather large gap between the last meal and bed, which might cause you to want to
aimlessly snack in the evening.

That meal could include things like Turkey, Chicken, Ham etc with differing Carb sources, but basically I feel whatever you choose you'll make a good choice .

I want to say that I think you should be proud of yourself for everything you've done. You've rekindled an understanding of what you're truly worth and what the example to your offspring is worth.

You have made solid attempts to change and are willing to document it .

Yes it won't be easy and sometimes you'll slip-up, but it's about learning from it and getting back on track quickly.

However as long as you continue to keep believing in yourself, you'll be fine and don't forget that weight loss has many internal benefits you can't see, so if you have one or two weeks when you feel like your weight loss isn't quite right, take time to remember the bigger picture and don't get too disheartened, becasue I'm sure you will always have a reason to be proud of yourself.

If you need anything else, don't hesistate to ask us and please feel free to offer an occasional word or two to others, because any little thing you say, even one word can mean so much to another person.

Oh and please do keep us updated, becasue the more you tell us, the more we can be here for you .

GOOD LUCK to you Pamela. I really hope this works out for you, because you seem like a really lovely Lady and your family deserves to have an inspirational and physically well female figure in their lives.

I'm sure you can do this and WELL DONE for your efforts so far .

[gympamela]

WOW great welcome! Thank you.

The reason that I usually dont eat before the gym is honestly just time- I am running out the door to get there!! LOL but I will start grabbing a RTD shake on way, thank you for reminding me how important fuel is!!
I usually go to bed super early, which is why only 4 meals the last few days. But now with the shake before the gym it will be 5.

Today I got butt kicked for 40 minutes by trainer (the gym I joined offers 2 free training sessions when you join, and also 1 free session every month!!) and got to work and had shake and kashi bar. lunch is going to be a huge salad, 4oz chicken, and some real bacon bits with spray dressing. I will have another shake and some almonds mid afternoon, then I have to go grocery shopping on way home to get stuff to cook for dinner and the rest of the week. Its looking like honey mustard chicken and veggies or turkey feta meatloaf tonight and friday!
This weekend will be the biggest challenge for me. We will be in downtown seattle hanging out with family, and I dont want to binge on junk. Hopefully I can stick to guns!!! Tomorrow is gym at 6am, weights and cardio, then work and hanging with niece and her bf. Wish me luck, and thanks for the super welcome!!

[Boss Man]

Keep believing in yourself, becasue if you do that's half the battle won.

You CAN be in control and continue to make progress happen and having these weekends away, doesn't mean you have to unprepared and become liable to slip-up, because as you elude to you CAN stick to your guns, it's just a case of how hard.

Keep pushing and good luck .