Changes

April has been a little crazy for me! Maybe even a lot crazy!! I've been making a few changes in my life; changing careers/jobs, deciding how to continue my weight loss journey w/out the funds I currently have, re-organizing my priorities and HITTING THE 20 LBS LOSS mark! Plus lots more is always going on in the Thompson household! :) 

First: You heard/read me right, I hit the 20 lbs lost mark!! The picture I'm putting up is from my one month date of April 9th.  But I hit 20lbs and under 170 on April 20th.  I stuck with TSFL for the most part.  I hit a few bumps here and there, and took 3 days off intentionally to enjoy some time with my friends.  It was definitely hard work at times, but the payoff makes it all well worth it!

Now don't worry, I'm not stopping there! I'm still going with TSFL.  I have 3 weeks of my MM's all separated into daily bags, pretty sure towards the end I have some days w/2 pancakes, 2 brownies and a bar! haha!!  But those 3 weeks will be the end of my TSFL journey.  Main reason being that I will no longer be able to afford it.  :/  The prices went up and my paycheck is going down.

As I briefly mentioned, I am changing my job.  For many reasons, but the big one is I am ready to be home.  If you don't know, for the last 1 1/2 I have worked 120 miles from home 3+ days a week.  Meaning: I am gone from Saturday afternoon until at least Tuesday morning every week.  On top of being gone, I work graveyard.  So unlike all of you lucky souls, I am AWAKE during night and sleeping away soundly during the day (on days that I work).  Which may work for some, (those of you I applaud), but for me I am ready to join the world of the living.  No more night owl, vampire, nocturnal hours for this girl!  Now, I am going from my awesome career with great pay and benefits, back to serving; with awesome customers, great tips and a more active lifestyle.  But mainly, I get to sleep in my own bed, with my very own handsome man, EVERY night.  

I will be changing my weight loss journey also.  Through another blog, I have discovered the Tone It Up program!  It is basically eating 5 clean, portion controlled, meals that are designed to be eaten at certain times of the day and to work out for certain times and at certain times.  If you know me, I don't work out.  I never have.  But, I do want to start and start it correctly.  After looking into the program for a week or so, I have made the plunge.  Bought the whole damn program: workouts, recipes, food plans and so on!  I must say, I am super excited!! Will fill you in more as I learn more! :) 

Unfortunately I can't stick with TSFL through the transition and maintenance,  but I think that TIU (Tone It UP) is going to be a good way to transition from MM to whole foods.  It still has the same basic set up as TSFL, but with food food.  :)  Chris is, of course, fully behind this change.  Which trust me, if you are going to make any lifestyle change, make sure you have a great support system!! It is the biggest key!!

He's so cute!!! <3

Since I am still doing TSFL, I might as well give you some recipes and pictures of what I did for this week.  :)  Yesterday evening our kitchen became ground zero!!  Chris kept walking in and directly back out shaking his head.  What?! I had to prep for 4 days! I've been sticking to pretty simple L&G's lately, and I was so sick of them! It was definitely time to shake it up a bit.

Ps, that picture is only half of my counter, all behind me was a close mirror image!! ;) 

With me this week I have Cauliflower Pizza with bell peppers.  It's the first time I've pre-made it to re-heat.  I know it won't as crunchy, but I'm hoping it's at least edible.  Any place I saw said that you should re-heat them in the oven.  Well, I do not have an oven at work.  Gotta make it work, I guess.  I also made a Chicken Enchilada Bake, and asparagus to go with.  (A co-worker of Chris' cut some fresh out of an orchard, and oh goodness!!! Delish!!!)  I made the most amazing Greek Turkey Burgers, with broccoli.  Lastly Mexican Cheesy Dish with salad.    :) I also had been dying to try a "cheesecake" recipe, it was... different.  Kind of more like a souffle ... Still not sure how I felt about...

I will post the recipes tomorrow, or maybe even tonight, but in a different post.

There, now you are all caught up! Busy, busy, busy!! :) I hope you are all having an amazing April!  Get outside, enjoy the beautiful tulips that are EVERYWHERE! :) and Thanks, to all of you who are reading this and keeping me accountable!! <3

Ps.  It was in the stars for all my changes!!

Non Scale Victories!!

This has been an exciting week! For many reasons but mainly: I finally tried on my jeans that I have been dreading putting on, and guess what?! THEY FIT! With a little room to spare!! Phew!! I was so relieved/excited.  I even did a happy dance.  If you are a girl, or guy, who has struggled with weight gain you know what it starts to feel like when your favorite jeans just keep getting tighter and tighter?! It is the worst feeling ever.  Especially if you are like me and are a "jeans and tshirt" kinda girl.  

TSFL & Medifast both have NSV's, Non Scale Victories.  This was my first big one. :) It made my whole day that much better! I was putting off trying my jeans on.  What if they were still super tight? What if I had gained weight?! Right?! Well, I knew that I was on the right track when I put them on and they fit! I've noticed that fatty weight that keeps just melting off of me if definitely coming off of places that I hadn't even thought would ever be small again.  My thighs are shrinking, my waist, my face! I'm just so surprised by the transformation that is happening! Thank you TSFL! You are giving me back my confidence, my love for life!!! <3

My other NSV of this week is, I went out to a local Pub last night and drank... WATER! Even though all I wanted was a big fat Costco size glass of wine last night. ;)  We all have those cravings; whether it be wine, cheesecake or a burger.  We all have days where that is all we want, and all we can think about! Well, that was my yesterday.  With both wine and cheesecake.  :/ (EEK!!) But I stuck to my guns.  I got dressed up as though I was going to go hit the town! (Ps, I live in Small Town USA, We currently have 1 bar open past 10pm).  I think just getting dressed pretty, makeup done, hair done, cute clothes, helped me so much.  

I have stuck to my plan completely for 10 days now.  If you've been reading along with me, that's the longest I've gone w/o cheating.  And I am in NO hurry to begin cheating! I am going to stick with this! Soon those jeans will be falling off of me, and I can not wait!!  

I am learning with my L&G to keep it simple, stupid! There is no point in making a whole separate meal just for me.  Especially when Chris & Sydney are so easy to cook for.  (Unless they want pizza, or something I really can't eat).  For example, dinner tonight is: pork chops marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, some steak seasoning and oregano.  Along with roasted asparagus (LOVE) and zucchini!! Sydney gets to have rice and a roll with hers! Super sonic easy right?! :) 

Speaking of dinner, I'd better get off the computer and get to cooking!!! Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather!! <3