Set Goals

{Terrible Trampoline Selfies}

Reach for the stars!

For my 60 Day Workout Challenge I set some goals.  Quite a few goals, actually.  And I'm so glad I set so many.  First, because they are motivating.  But second, because when the numbers on the scale stick, it helps to have other goals to track progress with, and it feels good to be accomplishing different things you set out to do.

I've learned in the last sixty days that it's important to celebrate those non-scale victories!  Like this weekend, I was able to jump on the trampoline with the boys & it made them so happy, they thanked God for it during bedtime prayers.  That makes for one happy mama!

Take Pictures

Success Snapshot 8:

TAKE PICTURES!!!

A few people have said my face looks slimmer (which is so nice!) and I definitely feel better, but pictures are a really concrete way to see your progress.

In the picture on the left I was two months postpartum, about 205lbs and exhausted. In the picture on the right I was three months postpartum, about 185lbs and full of energy. It's amazing what a month of exercise and good nutrition can do! You can see the light is back in my eyes. 

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The following are progress pictures from my weight loss.  

They are from the halfway point in my 60 Day challenge.

Before       //       After

Before       //       After

Before       //       After

I am really glad I took these pictures.  When I was taking my "Befores" it was a cruel dose of reality as I saw that giant belly, empty of baby, slumping over my yoga pants... but it motivated me to stick with my workout & eating plans.  And while I'm not yet where I want to be, I'm definitely better than before, and I'm counting that as a win!

Take Measurements

 Success Snapshot 7:

Take Measurements!

When the scale is not going down, 

knowing you're losing inches can keep you going.

I've lost more than eight inches around my middle! 

I love knowing that my body is changing for the better.

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Keep a Food Diary

Success Snapshot 6:

KEEP A FOOD DIARY

Everyday since my journey began I have written down my weight, workout, water intake and food consumption.  I also wrote down any emotions or revelations I had that day in regards to my eating.  It's been good personal accountability and has been great for looking back at how far I've come.

{A typical day for me}

When I started I was pretty in love with my little blank rainbow journal and the beautiful pens my friend Kori sent me when I was still in Alaska.  But YOU GUYS! Then, then (!) I found this journal at Target (when I was shopping with all four of my kids and they were maybe shooting rubberbands at each other on the next aisle over...) and I fell in love. I want everyone to have it.

"No goal was met without a little sweat!"

How adorable is this little gem?

I love everything it stands for!  And the best part? It only cost $14.99 to stay inspired everyday for 120 days!

I took pictures of the inside so you could really catch the magic:

See?!? It's a two page spread that has room for gratitude keeping, goal setting, body loving & food journaling. Plus it has a daily quote to inspire you!!!  I am so pumped for this 60 day challenge to end, and our next Friends (the tv show) themed 21 Day Challenge to start so I can switch to my new Fit Journal! (link is for something similar on Amazon since Target doesn't carry the item online)

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My food journal is also where I keep track of non-scale victories (NSV) and write down my goals.  It's really important to write those down and to celebrate each NSV you reach because that will propel you forward.  For me fitting into my 14's again, and putting my wedding ring back on were huge NSV's that made me feel incredible.

And when it comes to eating right and changing bad eating habits (especially for us emotional eaters) reflection is key!  So run to Target & pick up your new Fit Journal.  And if you're at all curious about  joining our next challenge, which starts Monday June 13th, please let me know!

My email: rcunningham18@hotmail.com

Drink All The Water!

Success Snapshot 5:
Drink Enough Water

The goal is to drink half your weight in water everyday.  For example, I started out weighing 200lbs, so I drank 100 ounces of water everyday.  Now that I'm down to 180lbs, my goal is to drink 90oz.  Some days I miss the mark, but each day I intend to fill my water bottle at least three times.  I find it helps with overeating since it fills my tummy a bit before I eat.

This is one simple change that everyone can make as a step toward a healthier you!!!

Eat Healthier

I will be honest.  The part that scared me most about signing up for the 60 day workout challenge wasn't the workouts.  It was the eating.  I love food.  I love to eat.  I love to reward myself with food and I hate to deprive myself of food.  

But by making my goal simply "better than before", I was able to slowly change my eating habits and am now eating MUCH better than before.  I stick to serving sizes, never tell myself "no" about eating something, and remind myself constantly that this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. So I've had a slice of pizza or a piece of cake.  But I haven't had three slices of pizza or an entire cake.  And that, my friends, is progress!

For those interested, on the typical day I eat:

• A Shakeology shake for breakfast with 3/4 cup of almond milk, 12 ice cubes, 4 strawberries, a banana, a handful of spinach and a few blueberries, mixed in my in-laws' amazing Vitamix
• A huge sandwich for lunch with cheese, lunchmeat, lettuce, tomato, mustard & light mayo, as well as an apple or pickle and sometimes Sun Chips.
• Wheat Thins & Cream cheese or Beef Jerky for snack
• A healthy family dinner, like lasagna, tacos or chicken & rice.
• And finally I tend to give myself a Skinny Cow frozen dessert after the boys are in bed because the "eating once the kids are in bed" habit has been hard to break.

Drink Shakeology

Success Snapshot 3: Drink Shakeology

For my weight loss journey drinking Shakeology everyday has been key.  If you've been watching my journey the last two months and wondered what my big secret is, Shakeology is it.  It helped me kick my coffee and soda habits, as well as stop eating candy like it was going out of style.  It is absolutely the reason I was able to drop 20 pounds since April.

For those wondering, Shakeology is a nutrient dense meal replacement that is the same as eating FIVE plates of salad.  It's a super fast, easy, on-the-go meal that I can whip up in less than two minutes.  The best part is it keeps me full and that's kept me on track as opposed to other diet plans where I would get hungry and eat ALL THE FOOD.  

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Move!

Success Snapshot 2: Move!

If you want to be healthier and feel healthier, move your body!  Workout, walk, play with your kids.  Whatever makes you feel good and gets your body off the couch.

I find that long workouts don't work for me right now in this stage of life. I don't wake up before my kids, and I hate working out before bedtime, so I do a quick 15 minute walking workout (with Leslie Sansone, the walking queen) every weekday while my kids eat breakfast.  It's the perfect mom workout.  

In addition to my daily workout at home, I try to get in one long walk each week at the Columbia River waterfront, which is my favorite walk of all time.  There's so much to see and I often take my twins with me on their scooters.  They love it, too.

I also received a FitBit Alta for Mother's Day which helps me track my steps & time spent working out each day.  I rarely hit 10,000 steps (the daily goal) but I walk more than I would if I didn't have it.

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Love Yourself

 As I count down the final ten days of the Summer Slimdown Challenge, I am going to be sharing on Instagram & Facebook (and here on the blog) ten Success Snapshots.  They are the ten things that lead to my success in losing twenty pounds in 8 weeks & feeling a whole heck of a lot better about myself.

Today's Success Snapshot is Love Yourself. 

Know that you have value & are beautiful at every weight & shape. I've been joyful at 215lbs. and I've been miserable at 156lbs. The number doesn't matter-- it's how you feel about yourself that matters. 

"You are altogether beautiful, my love. 

There is no flaw in you." 

-Song of Solomon 4:7

 Since starting this journey toward a healthier, trimmer me, I have found that making myself a priority, taking time to eat right and work out, has made me a happier mama as well as a happier wife.  When I take care of me, and love myself where I am, everyone around me benefits.

 Another aspect of my journey has been body acceptance.  No matter how much weight I lose, I will have stretch marks from three pregnancies, multiple c-section scars and a very funny looking belly button thanks to my laparoscopic gallbladder removal.  But after suffering those miscarriages two years ago, I appreciate my body more than ever for the beautiful, healthy babies it's provided and the strong, healthy pregnancies it did sustain.

So wherever you are starting, love yourself.  Love your body for its ability to hear your loved ones say "I love you" and to walk you out into nature.  Love your body for waking you up in the morning and giving you the gift of another day.

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