Why should we track our progress?

Why should I track my weight, measurements, and do progress photos of my weight loss/fitness journey?  Not all of us have the same fitness goals but no matter what our goal I have learned just how important it is to track our progress using different methods.

When I tracked my progress on past diets that I had tried to lose weight I often found myself discouraged and this would make me want to give up because I wasn't seeing any changes or at least the one's I wanted to see.  It seemed that as soon as I finished these that my weight would go right back up as well.  This is where I decided to make a lifestyle change back in 2012.  I started the Jamie Eason LiveFit Trainer and started tracking more then just my weight.  I took before pictures which I hated to look at but it drove me to keep pushing myself.  I also took measurements as well as logged my weight.  Although instead of focusing SO MUCH on the scale I started to focus more on measurements and progress photos.

I took my measurements and progress photos every week and it amazed me how I could actually see the changes on my body long before it showed on the scale or the measurements.  I am now a firm believer in taking before and progress photos.  Just focusing on one only gives a small glimpse of your journey whereas taking all three gives you different areas to look at and by taking pictures your actually getting to see the change.  Seeing these changes, I feel, gives me the confidence and the drive to keep going and pushing myself because I can see the progress being made.  I can actually see parts of my body changing and getting smaller with how I am eating.

This is why I am doing it this time, now that my back injury is healed (thanks to my oldest praying and claiming healing in Jesus name!), and pushing myself to become fit and healthy not only for myself but my two amazing little girls!

I encourage you to track your progress in these ways, no matter what boat your in, so that you can see how your improving in different ways.  It really gives you a more clear picture of how your body is changing with your new lifestyle change!

Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day!

As some of you may know I started the Jamie Eason plan on April 19th and am 3 days in.  This morning I did not feel like having a breakfast protein shake and do not want to start disliking them due to having them every morning.  So today I decided to do something different and make an egg scramble. 

Ingredients:

4 Egg Whites

1/2 of a Bell Pepper

1 C. of Spinach

1 T. Coconut Oil

Place 1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil into pan and place on medium heat.  Cube the Bell Pepper up and chop up the Spinach.  When the pan is hot drop the Bell Peppers in and cook for a little while then add the Spinach.  

Separate the Egg Whites from the yolks, stir and then add to the Bell Pepper and Spinach.  Cook to desired consistency (just make sure eggs are cooked through!).

I had 1 slice of Bacon and 1 slice of Ezekiel toast with a little Sugar-Free Strawberry Jam to go with it and 1 serving of my favorite Kombucha!  YUMMY DELICIOUSNESS!!!

Major Balancing Act

Who knew that balancing three college classes, trying to get fit and healthy, homeschooling one child and keeping the other entertained could be so tiring!!  It was so crazy and tough last quarter that I severely slacked on trying to eat healthy.  After that my workouts became non-existent and eating healthy went out the window.  Now that spring quarter has started I am a lot more excited because I only have 3 classes this quarter and the stress level has dropped dramatically for me...YAY!!



Now with spring quarter going I am three days into the Jamie Eason LiveFit Trainer and can't wait to see progress pictures.  I do allow myself a dessert once a week but the food plan has me eating a lot of healthy foods which keep me full.  So much that I have to force myself to eat as much of my snacks as possible, and same with lunch and dinner.  It's a chore to try and eat all the healthy yumminess! But I took some pictures so I could see the changes as I go and have something else to go off of besides the scale and measurements.  With school I started having really REALLY late nights as well, which means I have had to work on getting my body back on a good and normal schedule, although my vacation to California last week seems to have put me back on a normal schedule.

I would like to start waking up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the mornings to try and get my workouts in before the girls are up.  Although I have not been able to get up quite that early yet.  I am determined to slowly work my way to getting up that early and then doing my workouts in the morning instead of at night.

I started the Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer and am 3 days in now.  I cannot wait to get my 24-day Challenge from Advocare tomorrow to start that as well!  Super excited for the changes ahead and this time I took measurements as well as starting pictures to share along with the progress photo's I will be taking.

Here is to starting (yes again I know) my journey to a new me and to actually pushing myself to make time for myself because I am worth it!