30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 8

A month ago today I started a new medication.  I know it was a month ago today because it was the exact same day that I weighed in and announced to all of you that I had lost 42 pounds!  One of the most common side effects of that medication is weight gain.  The nurse that visited my house and taught me about the medication told me that it's very common for patients to gain 5-10 pounds in the first WEEK of being on the medication, and then up to 5 pounds a month thereafter!  This terrifies me, because as you know I've worked pretty hard to take off over 40 pounds and the last thing I want to do it pile it all right back on because of some stupid medicine.  I decided right then and there that I was determined NOT to join that statistic!

Today, then, I am thankful for LeanGreenMama.  In case you haven't been around long, 5 months ago I set out on a journey with LeanGreenMama.  I promised to stick to her 6 week bootcamp for...well, 6 weeks, and tell my readers how well it did (or didn't) work.  The plan worked SO well that I've stuck with it for 5 months now!

I'm thankful for LeanGreenMama this month, especially, because I have not gained the 5-15 pounds that the nurse told me was almost inevitable!  Hooray!  I gained 3 pounds that first week.  It scared me.  I got even more strict about my eating.  I fought those pounds.  I lost 5 pounds!  And then I gained 4 pounds.  As you can see, it's been a bit of a yo-yo month.  Normally I would be terribly frustrated about this, because as you all know women don't like the yo-yo-ing.  But friends?  I am so very thankful to LeanGreenMama for showing me how to eat for life, rather than leading me into another diet.  Because of your encouragement and support, I've been able to essential maintain my 40 pound loss (yes, I'm currently sitting at 40 pounds down) rather than gaining as anticipated!  I'm working on finding some ways to amp up my exercise, so that I can begin, once again, losing and reach my goals!

Dear Lord, thank you for modern medicine.  Thank you for the benefits, which far outweigh the risks!  Thank you for companies and individuals who are will to give of themselves, their time, and their efforts, in order to help others succeed at goals.  Thank you for putting Jennifer from LeanGreenMama in my path at exactly the time I needed her, even though I didn't know yet how vital her role would become.  Thank you, thank you, for always providing!

My journey to becoming a LeanGreenMama!

Someday I'm going to be a LeanGreenMama.  Someday.  For now, though?  This:

Pretty, huh?  Or not!  These snaps were actually taken a few weeks ago.  Some of you have seen them before.  We're using these as the "before" pictures.  

Before I found LeanGreenMama.

Before I got serious about my eating.

Before I started on a new life adventure, a journey to create a healthy lifestyle.

Before.

And now?  Now, it's week 2.  I weighed in at 186.0 yesterday morning.  Hey, that's about 5 pounds in the last 3 weeks, folks!  Five pounds since I found Jennifer and LeanGreenMama.  That's 1.6 pounds down from last week when I officially started the program.  That's progress!

I'm loving the program.  Jennifer is dedicated to helping her clients change their lives.  She's not there to teach you a great diet secret.  She's not there to give you a quick fix.  She's there to change your life!  And so, each week of the Six Week Bootcamp challenge, she proposes a new challenge.  Last week?  Eat ONE healthy meal each day.  ONE!  I don't know about you, but I though one healthy meal a day was easy!  This week?  This week she's challenged us to eat TWO healthy meals a day.  Just two meals.  And get moving.  Just a little.  A little more than normal.  A little harder than normal.  Push just a little.

Today I had a smoothie for breakfast.  Strawberries, blackberries, pineapple, mango, banana, spinach and (eek!) just a little bit of broccoli.  The broccoli somehow didn't make it into my lunch bag, so I just threw it into the blender.  I didn't taste it, but my body appreciated it.  For lunch, I had a couple handfuls of grapes, about 10 baby carrots, and a bunch of broccoli.  Yay!  Two healthy meals!  And then, dinner time.  Salmon patties.  Usually we make homemade macaroni and cheese.  Tonight I grilled potatoes, onions, green peppers, and green beans!  See how I healthified my dinner?!?  Go me!

Thank you, Jennifer, for allowing me to participate in your 6 Week Weight Loss Bootcamp!  What an amazing program.  Thank you, thank you, for your weekly videos and downloads!  I've printed everything and created a binder.  I'm working on reading through.  I'm working on watching the videos.  I'm trying my hardest to make changes.  I've tried to diet so many times before, but your lifestyle changing program seems to be a perfect fit for my (imperfect) self!

I'm looking forward to sharing with all of you readers my progress over the next 5 weeks (and beyond)!  I can't wait to see where this journey takes me!