Getting into the habit

One of the most difficult things about my weight loss journey was/is trying to make exercise a permanent part of my regimen and life. Being busy isn't an excuse at all because if something is REALLY important to someone, they WILL make time for it. I have come to the realization that...I'M LAZY!!! I have yet to find a workout that is efficient that I look forward to doing. I'm at the point in my journey where simply dieting isn't gonna get me to my goals so no matter how much I dread it, I gotta get my ass up and get moving!

I've settled on working out at home for the time being due to work and school. I recently decided against that because I wasn't motivated to workout once I got home. After realizing I'm not that good with coming up with an efficient strength training routine, I decided that it's best I stick with DVD's until I have more time on my hands. Knowing me, I'll go and knock out some cardio then stand there starring at the machines trying to figure out which one to do first at how many reps  and so on...

So for now, I've settled on alternating these two workouts 4x a week. There's a suggested 6 week program for maximum results where you do the workout 4-5x a week moving up between levels 1, 2 & 3 as you progress. I've completed level 1 of both so far and found that the cardio workout is a lot tougher than the sculpting workout which I found to be weird. I barely struggled with the workout at all and I didn't feel any soreness after. I will try adding heavier weights to see if there's a difference. If not, I'll just supplement with a few apps I have on my phone I guess. I want to be on each level concurrently or else I'd just advance to get a better workout. The cardio workout had me panting, sweating, biting my lip and rolling my eyes at Bill Harper's ass from beginning to end. I definitely feel the soreness, my glutes are on FIRE! The workouts are only 30 minutes long; 5min warm up, 20min workout and 5min cool down, which is perfect for me with my time constraints...and laziness lol

Thinspiration Thursday

The title says it all...on thursdays I will post pics or quotes that inspire me and hopefully, they will inspire you too, ENJOY!

I'm actually shaped like this...underneath lol. small boobies, wide hips, thick thighs...

Most of these are just "regular girls" who aren't wearing anything special in particular but I'm moreso inspired by their shape and the way their clothes fit them. I always say your body is your best accessory as the most basic of outfits could be seen as hot/sexy/stunning on a girl who's in shape.

The following is the status from a page I am following on Facebook called "Black women losing weight" It's very motivational so if you're on facebook and haven't done so already, you should "like" it.

Black Women Losing Weight

Today's Inspiration: Dose of Truth
There is no quick fix for weight loss.
There is no magic plan that works for everyone.
NO ONE is going to hold your hand and lose the weight for you.
You will have to eat right.
...

You will have to educate yourself about food choices and nutrition.
You will have to move more and exercise even if it's just walking in place.
It will take time to lose the weight because it took time to gain the weight.
Yes, it is hard.
Yes, we all have bad days, we all slip up and give up from time to time.

Weight loss is possible, but it's not easy. You have to commit for the long haul. If you're not willing to do what is hard, to challenge yourself...you don't have a weight problem as much as you have an attitude/commitment problem. Do it for YOU!!! You are worth the challenge.

P.S. I'm not sure when I will update my progress. The scale puts too much pressure on me and I tend to get discouraged if the numbers don't reflect my hard work and quite frankly I'm tired of that digital b!tc# (excuse my french) ruining my day! One reason I want to consult the scale is to see if the samples I bought of a detox pill works so I can let you guys know in case you need a jumpstart to your journeys as well or need to push past a plateu. Anywho, time will tell as I start them saturday. My diet has been on point so far, tomorrow through sunday is carb up and I can add some flax buns, sweet potato, brown rice or berries to my diet.

Introducing: Transformation Tuesdays

When I first got my Instagram, I found that I was more diligent in posting when I had themed days. I had "WTF Wednesdays" where I posted pics that when you viewed them you couldn't help but ask "WTF???"; "Thinspiration Thursdays" where I posted before and afters, healthy dishes and inspirational quotes; Lastly, I had "Fashion Fridays" where I posted all things fashion related that I thought were HOT. If you're interested in seeing any of that, follow me on Instagram @bitchy_bella

This pic is without a doubt one of my most favorite before & afters for obvious reasons. My own holds a special place in my heart even though it's a before and DURING because it shows me where I started and how far I have come. This one is just as close to me as it shows me ANYTHING is possible and that with hard work and determination, even I can acheieve the body of my dreams. In her after, one could assume that she's been in shape her entire life and that she's a great athlete and that she had to be born with a great foundation (small frame/naturally thin) to look that way but NO! She knew what she wanted and she worked her ASS off (literally) to get it. I want this! I wish I knew who she was or if she has a blog because I would literally STALK it. *sigh* My time will come...

Like Lightening...

I completely forgot that I wanted to post this so excuse the fact that I have 2 post in one day. Not that there's a limit or anything lol IJS.

I was shopping online and peeped something that took my breath away...

 These lightening/semi tie-dye pants GAVE ME LIFE!!! And it wasn't JUST the pants, it was the shoes...

Which were actually what I was looking for as the site doesn't show how the shoe looks on a person its just pictured by itself unless you're looking at pants or dresses...Anywho, it wasn't JUST the pants or the shoes either it was...

The weigh (I'll do that a lot...substitute way for weigh and wait for weight. I'm a thinspo blog so I can do that) they fit her was AMAZING!. I felt inspired just by looking at it lol it made me aspire to look that way in a pair of jeans: SKINNY  yet  CURVY 

I seriously thought about buying a pair for motivation but having bought many clothes for that purpose that I have yet to wear cause even 3 years later I'm STILL not at goal (insert sad/hurt/upset/crying smiley here), I decided against it because apparently that tactic doesn't work for me and I'm just wasting money smh.

So for now, I have these pics and I'm sure when I reach my goal, there will be PLENTY pants among other things that I will fall in love with and actually look how I want to while wearing them so until then....

XO----Bella

Grateful

I will refrain from gloating about having my electricity back and a full tank of gas because I know how angry it made me to see that people were getting their power and I was still in the dark. With that said, I'll keep it short and sweet. Now that things are semi normal for me, I have resumed my "healthy" eating. Today-Thursday I will eat low carb and Friday-Sunday I will add about 50-60 grams in the form of complex carbs. On friday I plan to visit my school gym for the 1st time in AGES. I haven't worked out at home since august so it's been a while and I'm excited to get back to it. My monthly is here so I won't be weighing in for a while. It's also preventing me from using my detox pills that I have a two week supply of just to help me get back on track and break into ONEderland.

That's all for now my belles, TTYL

Besos, Bella

Test of strength...

Many of you may have heard by now about the terrible storm that plagued the East coast...I was disraut these last couple of days. Not having power for will do that to you; especially when the loss turns from hours to days. I'm currently at work enjoying the power being provided by backup generator; filling my stomach with the food they provided; making sure my phone stays at 100% for the journey home and beyond and using the wifi to stay abreast of the situation. Oh, I also got to take a nice hot shower and wash my hair before I started my shift. Guess there are some perks to having a job that will be up and running no matter what.

Anywho, I was doing GREAT on my journey. Well, not 100% as I have yet begun to implement exercise in my regimen but great in the sense that I stayed strong in the face of temptaion and I made it a week+ on journey and my willpower stayed strong and I stayed focus. I have been without electricity since Monday night and my first time cheating on my diet was last night. I had some donuts after driving around and serching for...ANYTHING, that would make the state my city was left in seem less despairing. I found nothing; No open gas stations, restaurants...all street lights were out. Even Walmart was closed....WALMART so of course that means the end of the world right? Lol.

On a more serious note, I'm REALLY hoping the power is restored much sooner rather than later for obvious reasons but mostly because I fear the longer I'm off track the harder it will be to get back on course. *sigh*

My friends, family and I need a miracle guys so if you're reading this, please pray for us!

P.S. I really hope I'm not undoing all of my progress. I will continue to limit junk food and stay away from carbs for as long as possible.

Stay safe my Belles,

xoxo-----Bella

Hello there...it's ME again

So apparently, many of you guys may have long since forgotten about me and my barely there ways lol but hey, life called and things got HECTIC. I won't bother to go into details, it's irrelevant anyways. Well, to you guys at least. I'll just get into what you guys are actually here for, my weight loss journey; which, as of late, you could call my "Trying-to-get-back-on-track-and-find-a-plan-I-can-stick-to-bouncing-up-and-down-the-scales journey" lol. My life is CRAZY right now (I believe I said that already) which is why I decided this blog would be more like a journal instead. Just a place I could come to and vent or share my excitement so that once I FINALLY reach my goal, I won't forget all that I went through to get there. It's nice to have someone rooting for you so I hope I haven't lost you guys but even if I did I have to realize I'm doing this for ME. Should I inspire someone, GREAT but I won't complete this journey by trying to be a false icon to others and beating myself up when I feel I don't live up to their expectations. I mean no offense to anyone so please don't take it that way. I love the encouragement you guys give me, it does help to keep me going. The downside is I really shy away from my blog with the "ugly" so I don't disappoint anyone but that's when I need encouragement the most. *sigh* rant over.

Just a quick re-cap for those of you who are still interested in knowing and also for the record:

I started my journey 1/16/2010 at a ridiculous 290lbs
I did the induction phase of Atkins and lost about 50 pounds in 4 months
The warm weather rolled around and having accomplished what I did I allowed myself to slack a little
I was able to maintain until I tried getting back on track in september
I don't remember how long it took but eventually I got to 219 which was 71 pounds DOWN
I maintained between 220-225 for a few months
I tried the HCG diet in April 2011 for my trip to Miami in May.
I started around 233 I believe but some of that was water weight
I did it for a month, I stopped a few days short cause I just couldn't take it anymore! I went from 233-203 which was my lowest weight EVER. I wanted ONEderland SO BAD but being that I went on vacation a week later, I never saw it.
I gained while on vacation (duh, doesn't everybody?)
And again, I continued to bounce around the 2-teens and 2-twenties
Thankfully, I never saw 230 on the scale again.
Which brings me to now...

I've been in a rut since late August. Not exercising, eating whatever I wanted and not giving a damn.
But that 228.8 I seen on the scale was just what I needed to get my ass in gear!
I've been doing ok, I'm closer to 225-222 at this time and I plan to stay away from the scale for a few weeks cause it is definately my kryptonite.

I've said enough, I'm signing off. In short, I've started this journey wanting to lose 140. I've lost the first half and I am FINALLY ready to take on the next.

XO------Bella