Pesky Pounds Challenge - Update 1(ish)

That sounds about right.

Hey there friends and welcome to the first update of Seek to be Merry's Pesky Pounds Challenge. As a reminder, over the next several weeks, I am going to share tips for weight loss, factoids to encourage healthier living and recipes focused on cutting out the naughty stuff while also disclosing how much weight I've lost since the week prior (and I'm calling all STBM readers to turn this into a community event and do the same in the comments section below!).

Full disclosure: It's actually been two weeks since I issued this challenge so I'm a whole week overdue to share my weight loss number. Between travelling, snow storms, the Olympics and Valentine's day, a Pesky Pounds post slipped my mind... What did not get forgotten however was my weigh-in and after 2 whole weeks of effort I have lost (drum roll please....) NOTHING. Zero pounds. Now keep in mind, I haven't gained so much as an ounce either (which is somewhat praiseworthy given the weekend eat-a-thons I've been participating in) but considering I'm 1 week from a half marathon and I have been "trying", I thought for sure I'd be doing better. So what can we do now..?

Keep at it!!! My experience in the past two weeks has taught me that I'm going to have to do more than maintain my status quo if I want to lose weight. Even if I'm "good" 80% of the time, I need to say no when indulgences arise because that 20% is a doozy (2am box of mac cheese anyone?!) How much have you lost these past two weeks? Have you learned anything in the process?

And speaking of learning...

* Do you know about Hungry Girl!? Hungry Girl is one of my most favorite resources for healthy recipes and one of the few daily emails I don't mind filling my inbox. 

* Listen to or read this interesting post on 2-day mini fasts and how they can aid with weight loss. Would you ever consider it?

* THIS is a very dedicated trainer (he gained weight to better empathize with clients!)

* In pop culture weight loss news, this season's Biggest Loser winner (I don't watch, but the news was hard to miss, even making the cover or my Us Weekly this week) lost over 150 pounds during the competition and at the reveal looked "too thin" according to many. Read THIS and decide for yourself if she went too far.

* Lastly, the key to a good workout is often a great soundtrack. Click HERE for 12 Pandora stations sure to get your heart pumping!

Healthy Habit of the Month VI.

We GOT this!

This post is the sixth installment of SeektobeMerry's "Healthy Habit of the Month" series. Sourced from my bff's at Weight Watchers, online articles and my own efforts to keep fit and trim, throughout 2013, I will attempt to integrate one new healthy habit into my life each month. Join me!

Well here we are... the halfway point in our 12 month healthy habit journey! To recap what we've done so far: 

- Month 1: Adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal

- Month 2: Schedule a workout
- Month 3: Find an accountability buddy

- Month 4: Keep track (of your movement)

- Month 5: Challenge yourself

How are you all doing? I must confess, since this is a place of honesty and health-loving support, that I'm in a bit of a healthy habit funk. Though I generally feel more in shape, toned and active, the number on the scale is a constant reminder that no squat challenge or side of broccoli can undo weekend pizza binges and a love for sugary cocktails. I'm not proud of where I'm at, because while implementing these habits is certainly about well being and long term health, vanity - feeling good about how we look - is a factor as well. So what can we do to reinvigorate our quest...!?

Healthy Habit of the Month #6: Have 1 perfect week.
This month I am challenging myself (and you!) to have 1 perfectly "on plan" week, whatever "on plan" means to you. The way I see it, we all know what to do when it comes to what we put in our mouth and how often to exercise, it's sticking to it that's the problem. So instead of a big, long term goal, let's try for 7, consecutive perfect-as-possible days. We'll make time to workout and vow not to cheat at all when it comes to eating right, for just 1 week... we can all do anything for just 1 week right!? And at the end of that first week, hopefully we'll feel motivated to keep going. Hopefully we'll see that making the healthier decision isn't so terrible and that the end result, feeling good, will turn that 1 week into a new normal where "cheating" is the exception. Hopefully!!

So Juicy.

They should be paying me for this!

You know that moment sometime late-winter when you realize you've been eating so deliciously and drinking so merrily (while wearing bulky clothes and hiding on your couch from the cold) that things have gotten a bit out of control? Well over the weekend I had "that moment" so I said to myself, "Meri put down the waffle fries" and yesterday I began a juice cleanse. For 3 days I consume nothing but freshly pressed, delivered, juice concoctions, drinking 1 juice approximately every 2 hours in addition to lots of water and herbal tea.  Given that this is my 3rd cleanse, I know I can expect to drop a few lbs, de-bloat and genuinely feel “cleaner”. In the past my skin has looked brighter, my energy levels increased and most importantly, I have a renewed focus on healthier living (I need to step away from the mac cheese and kick my own butt a few times a year!)

I get incredibly mixed feedback when I tell people about my cleanse. Some see tremendous health benefits and believe in the power of juicing (I have a co-worker juice buddy right now!) while others think I am bat sh*t crazy. I’m probably somewhere in between :) I can’t speak to the health of it other than confirmation that I am getting a good number of calories and 1,000% of my daily fruits and veggies (pineapple, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, lemons, apples to name a few) but anything that has me cutting out caffeine, alcohol, sugar and salt for 3 days can’t be bad. The truth is, I'm never going to be one of those "naturally healthy" people. I need to focus on what I consume and occasionally reset my habits due to overindulgence. How do you snap out of a foodie-free-for-all? Do you have a healthy tool for getting yourself back on track? Share!!!