Weight-loss Wednesday!

Hello, loves!

Let's dive right into this weight loss stuff! You probably think I'm a little bit crazy for wanting to start losing weight right before Thanksgiving but I am not going to drastically change my eating habits. At least not yet. I am going to approach this weight-loss journey differently than my previous attempts. For now, no food is off limits. I'm focusing on moderation. I do plan on giving my eating habits a makeover. 

 A few years ago, I did the Atkins diet. NO CARBS. Like at all. I stuck with it for almost 3 months and lost 26 pounds in that time. The only thing I changed was taking out the carbs. I didn't exercise. While that was totally awesome, Thanksgiving was coming up and I wanted to eat all those delicious carbs! Long story short, the 26 pounds came back and brought along some friends. Was I really never going to eat another carb again in my life?! Ugh, and the constipation sucked! Sorry, TMI! 

So that was a complete fail.

Clicking the pic will take you to my Fitness and Health Pinterest board. There are more pins, now! :)

This time I've done my research. Turns out our bodies need carbs! Too many and too little carbs make you fat!

I recently saw Chris Powell, known best for the transformations on Extreme Makeover: Weight-loss edition, on The Dr. Oz Show (I ♥ Dr. Oz!) and he blew my mind! (Chris is a cutie, ain't he?) Focus, Bren!
Chris Powell has a book on carb cycling titled "Choose to Lose", which I am currently reading. I had never heard of this. Remember me and Dr. Atkins? >:/
I've read several books and articles, I mean there is SO MUCH info out there and all agree that eating 5-6 meals a day speeds up your metabolism. So, I can eat a lot, they can be carbs AND I can lose weight? Sign me up! 
For my makeover, I am using the Mediterranean food pyramid as my guide.

As I said, I have read several books and I'm grabbing a few things here and a few things there. I'm not doing anyone's complete plan. I believe God has led me to these different resources and now I have to do my part and put them to work.  I've pinned the books to my board in case you want to check them out. I apologize if I just threw all this random information at you. I promise to organize it better next time.

For now, I am drinking 8oz of water before every meal. I got that from Bob Harper in The Skinny Rules. I am also using these cute little plates I found at Dollar General. If a meal has pasta, it goes in the fruit compartment. I'm heading to San Antonio on Friday and won't be back until the 26th. You better believe I am taking at least one plate with me! I know I will make good (and delicious) food choices. No, I am not going to bust out my plate at restaurants, or will I?

Friends, losing weight is hard. My failed attempts are proof that it's hard. But this time I've got Jesus and the Holy Spirit as my running partners! If you want to make changes, please know that I will be praying for you. If there is something specific you want me to pray for, (doesn't have to be weight-loss related) shoot me an email. Let's do this together! :)

Time to lace up those Nikes!