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How to Optimize Your Weight Loss Journey with Mounjaro

by Deborah Cruz 2024/03/13

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

It’s week 8 for me on Mounjaro and, I know that I am not alone. Some of you have also embarked on this incredible journey to lose weight while taking Mounjaro too. First off, I want to give you a big virtual high-five for taking charge of your health like a boss! Seriously, it’s no small feat, and I’m here to cheer you on every step of the way. People think its the “cheater” way to lose weight but it’s not. Let’s think about it, being obese is a health issue in and of itself. If you’re obese and you’ve decided to try medicine to get healthy, I don’t see what the issue is. Just please make sure that you do it under the supervision of a doctor. Mounjaro is a serious drug with serious side effects.

As you all know, I am on week 8. Just took my 8th shot this morning. I am still at a very low dose but it is doing what its supposed to do for me…lower my glucose numbers, get that A1C down and begin the process of helping me get to where I need to be physically because perimenopause and stress were making it impossible. I’m not taking it JUST for weight lose but my doctor and I are hoping that’s one of my side effects.

Let me be really real with you right now, it is not easy and not everyone is going to start dropping weight, and it is not without risks. As of today, after 7 weeks on Mounjaro, I have still only lost 13 lbs. However, that’s not the whole story. Like I said, my numbers are freaking awesome and I feel great.

Speaking of feeling great, with diabetes comes inflammation, well, with my numbers being in the healthy range…this girl is walking up and down stairs without limping. I’m rocking more size 14’s these days than 16s and my clothes are all fitting better. Most importantly, I am feeling better in my own skin, which as you all know has never been easy for this recovering anorexic.

Not all wins are seen on the scale, remember that. Also, slow and steady is sometimes the only way you can finish the race. All that being said, I want to optimize my efforts to getting healthy. I can’t expect Mounjaro to do all the heavy lifting on my happy and healthy era, get fit girl era.

Now, let’s get real about how to make the most of this journey. I know it can feel overwhelming at times, but trust me, you’ve got this. We’re in it together, and I’ve got some insider tips to help you optimize your weight loss with Mounjaro. I did the research so you didn’t have to and I am putting in the work, I’ll keep you posted.

How Do I Maximize My Weight Loss in Mounjaro?

Okay, let’s talk strategy. Maximizing your weight loss with Mounjaro is all about finding that sweet spot between healthy eating, staying active, and staying on top of your medication game. It’s like a three-legged stool – you need all parts working together to keep you steady and strong.

Start by taking a good look at your diet. Focus on filling your plate with whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body from the inside out. Think colorful veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. And hey, if you need some inspiration, check out this awesome article for some tasty Mounjaro-friendly meal ideas.

How Long Does It Take to Lose 25 lbs on Mounjaro?

Ah, the million-dollar question! Look, I wish I had a crystal ball to give you a definite answer, but the truth is, it varies from person to person. Your journey is uniquely yours, and there’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some folks might drop those 25 pounds like it’s nobody’s business, while others might take a bit longer. And you know what? That’s totally okay. Progress is progress, no matter how slow or steady.

Why Am I Not Losing Weight on Mounjaro?

Ugh, hitting a weight loss plateau can be so frustrating, am I right? Especially, if like me, you started off slow. But before you start throwing your hands up in defeat, let’s troubleshoot a bit. There could be a bunch of reasons why the scale isn’t budging – maybe you’re not as active as you could be ( I know I haven’t been in this drunk weather), or perhaps you’ve been a bit lax with your meal planning ( guilty again… often I forget to eat). Or hey, it could be something totally out of left field, like stress ( check) or lack of sleep ( check check) messing with your metabolism. Bottom line? Don’t sweat it. We’ll figure it out together.

How Many Calories Should I Eat on Mounjaro?

Ah, the age-old calorie conundrum. Here’s the thing – I’m not a big fan of counting every single calorie that passes my lips, and I’m guessing you aren’t either. Instead of getting bogged down in the numbers game, focus on eating mindfully and listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues. And hey, if you want some extra guidance, chatting with a registered dietitian can be super helpful in crafting a meal plan that’s tailored just for you.

Additional Resources for Your Mounjaro Journey

Oh, before I forget, I stumbled upon some pretty awesome resources that I think you’ll dig:

Remember, friend, this journey is all about progress, not perfection. Take it one day at a time, celebrate the small victories, and don’t forget to be kind to yourself along the way. You’re doing amazing, and I’m so proud of you!

2024/03/13 0 comment

Weight Loss

Nutrisystem Weight Loss Update ~ Week 17

by Deborah Cruz 2011/03/06

written by Deborah Cruz

This week’s Nutrisystem official weight loss update is that I lost one of those pesky pounds that I had put back on last week. This brings my grand total to 17.5 pounds lost over the past 17 weeks. A healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week so I am right on target. I am very happy with my progress. Swim suit season is quickly approaching and it was nice to be able to go to the store and try on something NOT in the plus section. The weather is getting much nicer and I can’t wait to get outside and walk around the neighborhood with my girls. Both girls can ride their bikes now so maybe we could take a bike stroll in a few more weeks. There’s is just something about being outside that makes being active feel effortless.

Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689. Don’t forget right now, Nutrisytem is at the lowest price it has been since 2003! There is no better time than the present to get started on your journey. Bathing suit season is right around the corner!

DISCLOSURE: Nutrisystem is providing their program to me free of charge in exchange for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program and weekly updates. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

2011/03/06 1 comment

Weight Loss

One Mommy’s Journey to Learning to Love the Skin She’s In

by Deborah Cruz 2011/09/17

written by Deborah Cruz

Weight loss~ As I told many of you about a month ago, I have started training with a personal trainer because I want to finally take weight loss to the next level. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I’ve wanted to beat this weight loss demon into submission for a long time and I’ve tried just about everything under the sun to lose the weight. Sure things worked, but weight loss is not a destination, it’s a journey. Weight loss is the longest and hardest journey that you will probably ever endure in your lifetime. I know it is mine but finding comfort in my own skin will be absolutely worth it.

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Week 1

Weight Loss Journey week 1

I have been working out with my personal trainer/little brother Jose for 4 weeks now. We work out 3 days a week for about 2 hours. I do an hour on the recumbent bike ( burning a whopping 400-500 calories….can you say awesome!) and then he works me out for an additional hour with a mix of cardio, strength training and the weight machine. It is exhausting but I want that weight loss and the comfort it will bring in my own skin. Let’s be honest here, I was NOT in the best shape. I have barely worked out all summer. This little plan of his kicks my ass, no joke. But these are my options, stay overweight, unhappy and unhealthy or work my tail off (literally) for this weight loss. Yes, on my last physical I found out that my blood pressure was slightly elevated and cholesterol and sugar were both elevated. This is my body on little to no exercise and crappy food options. I made wrong food choices and got very lazy. That is it. I did this to myself. No one force fed me pizza and french fries. Nobody made me hit the drive-thru at Dairy Queen. I did it all and , now, I must work harder than I’ve ever worked in my entire life to get back into shape. I can tell you, it is much easier putting weight on than taking it off. I’ve also discovered this thing called a Bosu ball.I had never heard of it before but my brother swears by it and I know it surely kicks my ass. It’s basically one of those exercise balls cut in half and put on a stand, whatever it is..it works your abs in a ridiculous way. You will be sore but you will lose inches.

No more waiting on weight loss

Speaking of inches, ahem, I have lost 7 inches on my body. Of course, I have been building muscle so some spots have actually gained an inch ( I’m talking to you juicy bootie) but I did ask my trainer to focus on getting me a derriere, so I blame myself. I can feel my core is much stronger and I have more energy. I don’t feel as slovenly as I had been feeling and I can feel everything tightening up. I actually did jumping jacks the other day. JUMPING.JACKS!! I know, they sound harmless but let me tell you I haven’t done jumping jacks in YEARS! Have you? Who does that anymore? They are so 1977! When he told me to do them, I really wanted to sucker punch him…in the face. I immediately had a vision of a hidden camera and me doing jumping jacks on YOUTUBE.The humiliation. I mean I’m no Scarlett Johansson. I thought of all the different body parts that would be going in different directions in slow motion ( because everything humiliating happens in slow Mo, right?) But, I asked for this and I’ve committed myself to losing this weight like I’ve committed myself to my marriage. I am ALL in. So, you know what I did? I jumped and I jacked and I didn’t get a black eye and my loose stomach didn’t have to be lassoed in, even my bat wing arms stayed relatively in control. It felt good to do it. And when I was done,my little brother told me how awesome of a job I did and how proud he is of me. I bet Bob and Jillian don’t give hugs to their sweaty messes after a particularly brutal workout.

This week, I added to it the power of Weight Watchers. I’ve done Weight Watchers before and it seems to work really well for me. I think it’s the blend of being able to eat the foods I want, in moderation and within points, tracking every single bite, taste and sip that enters my pie-hole and the accountability. I’m not doing meetings this time because I am accountable to my trainer , my scale and you guys. But the online tools seem to be really keeping me on track with my food. This morning I stepped slowly onto my awesome new Eat Smart GoFit scale,which I will post about so you can all see for yourself how truly amazing this thing is, and there was a loss. After five days on the WW points system, I have lost…3.8 pounds. I’m thinking I should have started the points system from the start but I really needed to get in a routine with the working out. That is usually where my hiccup lies. I am pretty happy with these results. I am kicking weight loss ass, slowly…but surely. Here’s my 4 weeks of personal training photo.

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Week 4; This picture looks bigger because I am closer to the camera but what can I say..my photographer is 4! I work with what I got:)

I realize that it doesn’t look drastically different BUT I also realize that change takes time. I didn’t gain a shit ton of weight in a day and I won’t lose it in a day. The difference this time, from all the other times, I know that eventually I will feel comfortable in my own skin. If I continue putting in the effort at the gym, paying attention to what I put in my mouth, portion sizes and only eating when I am hungry and not when I am bored, nervous, stressed, angry or sad; the weight has to come off. It has to because if it doesn’t come off with Weight Watchers and kick ass personal training sessions, then there is something very wrong with my metabolism and I will be forced to trade it in for one that works. I was asked by a couple readers to keep you all posted so I will try to do an update post once a month with a photo. Maybe if I ever have the good sense to put my make up on before the photo is taken, I can remove that lovely big pink “KaPow” sign off of my face. Have any of you ever undertaken a weight loss journey? What did you do it? How did it work out? What keeps you motivated to get healthy? What is your favorite weight loss tool? Share your weight loss stories, we can be each others weight loss cheerleaders.

Weight Loss ~Learning to love the Skin I’m in

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2011/09/17 7 comments

Weight Loss

The Weight of the World is My Number on the Scale

by Deborah Cruz 2012/01/22

written by Deborah Cruz

Size 8, 12, and 14

I joined Weight Watchers on Friday the 13th~ I was inspired by my good friend, Lori of @mommyfriend. Her honesty and bravery have given me the strength to finally be honest with you about my biggest fear. My weight. I have been terrified of the the scale all of my adult life. More petrifying was that someone, anyone, would find out the number on the scale. Even though I may look overweight (as you can plainly see) I’ve become accustomed to pushing, pulling, nipping, tucking, spanxing and hiding the “fluff”. It’s amazing the power of a shaper these days. Those suckers must be made of of some super strength material from the planet Krypton. But when you remove the spanx, the fluff remains, no matter what angel you try to position yourself. Suck in, lay down, to the right, to the left; no matter what…it’s still there.

Weight is more than a Number on the Scale

I’ve done Weight Watchers once before. I lost 25 pounds, which sounds like a lot but I had a lot more to lose. Then life happened, as it always does, and we moved half way across the country. I missed my Weight Watchers group. I missed the support. I tried other meetings. I tried a couple different places. But it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t the same. My state of mind wasn’t the same. I was stressed and irritable. I turned to my old friend for comfort, and I gained the 25 pounds I had lost plus another 11. I was the heaviest I had ever been in my entire life and I felt miserable. I feel miserable.

I felt fat. I felt slovenly. I felt ugly. I felt out of control. I wanted to hide from the world. I started avoiding social situations out of fear of the audible gasp at the gain. Or worse, the disappointment in people’s eyes from gaining back what I had worked so hard to lose. I felt like a failure. I don’t do well with failure. I am the person who succeeds at whatever she sets her mind to so gaining this weight was a giant failure. A black mark on my very soul. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never stopped trying to lose weight, but it’s not been the priority lately ( back went out, severely sprained my ankle, and holidays). Complaining seems to have been a lot easier.

I spiraled deeper and deeper into my black hole. I felt as if I were smothering beneath the weight of the guilt, the sadness, the grief of not having more control over my health, my body, my life.

I am more than my weight

I have started this journey so many times that it makes my head spin to think about it. I feel like the little boy who cried wolf, but instead I’m the woman who cried diet. No one believes it anymore. Have you done this? Broad sweeping declarations , “Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life. I WILL LOSE THE WEIGHT!” The problem is, even I stopped believing it was possible. Then lately, people and inspiration have been put into my life to prove that it is possible.

I know some of you know exactly what I mean. Some of you don’t have to because you are naturally thin and to you I say, “I am so freaking jealous and I hope you never know the misery of having to lose weight.”

Last week, I joined Weight Watchers. Last week, I weighed myself, Friday the 13th, 2012, and I weighed 243 pounds. ( I will pause while you pick yourself back up off of the floor). No, I am not 8 foot tall. I am 5’7″. I am very overweight. I wear a size 18 pants. I am not telling you this because I am proud. In fact, not even my closest friends or sisters know my actual weight. I am sharing this with you because I REFUSE to be a slave of that number anymore. I will no longer hide in the shadows of life because of the number on the scale. It has never defined me but it has kept me from broadening my definition lately. No.MORE! In my first week I lost 5.8 pounds. I am very proud of that small accomplishment of losing that weight. And you should be too if you’re on your own weight loss journey. Another way to reduce the stress of losing weight, is to take weight loss supplements such as Biofit. But before you do, it’s important to do your research first. There’s plenty of Biofit reviews online that you can read to know if this supplement is suitable for you.

I’m telling you now because I am encouraging all of you to stop defining yourself by the fucking number on the scale. You are a bigger and better than that. Your value is not in the size of your pants. By telling you my number, I have taken away it’s power over me. It’s not a secret anymore. I AM changing that number. It might take me months, or even years, but I’m not stopping. I can’t. Not this time. This time it’s personal. I want to be healthy to be around to play with my children, dance at their weddings with the Big Guy and chase my children’s children around. I want to be able to dance my ass off on my 40th birthday this September in something cute and short; not the size of a toddler bed sheet.

I don’t know what’s lit this fire under my ass and compelled me to be so freaking honest with you, maybe it’s the new sassy hair cut or maybe I am simply tired of trying to hide my weight from the world. I am more than just a number on a scale. I am all kinds of awesome but I do want to change the packaging. I want to be as proud of the packaging as I am of the gift inside. I hope my honesty inspires you to free yourself from the weight of your world and face your fears; whether it be a number on the scale, an unrealized dream or anything that brings down the happiness quotient in your life. What is the greatest weight in your life? Will you join me in freeing yourself from the weight in your world?

Weight, you have no power over me

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2012/01/22 43 comments

Weight Loss

Nutrisystem Update, week 8~Hooray You: New You Revolution

by Deborah Cruz 2010/12/30

written by Deborah Cruz

HOORAY YOU! THE NUTRISYSTEM “NEW YOU REVOLUTION” BRINGS FRESH FROZEN FOOD TO ALL

Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI), the number one home delivery weight loss company, announced today that it is revamping its programs by incorporating its highest scoring, best tasting fresh frozen gourmet foods into all of its weight loss plans at the lowest price in the Company’s history. Part of Nutrisystem’s “Hooray You! New You Revolution” initiative is to empower and celebrate the success of its members, and with these significant changes it will make Nutrisystem® weight loss programs more accessible to a wider audience than ever before. The new Nutrisystem 28-day program will now include one-third frozen foods and two-thirds of pantry foods. Additionally, the program previously cost $399 per month and it will now cost $299, including an additional free week of pantry foods, a gourmet money back guarantee and free shipping. The New Nutrisystem® Select® Plan, available only in the Continental U.S., can be purchased by calling the Nutrisystem hotline 1-800-891-3215 or logging onto www.nutrisystem.com.

“The launch of this program is a groundbreaking accomplishment for our team. Nutrisystem has now found a way to do what no other weight loss company had been able to do – and that is to provide home delivery of fresh-frozen foods at the lowest price in the category,” said Joe Redling, Chairman and CEO of Nutrisystem. “We spent the better part of the last year conducting extensive category research and, of course, listening to our own customers. The message we heard was clear and simple – they want great tasting, high quality foods at a low price with no gimmicks and no complicated plans. Through this system wide revamp I’m truly pleased that we’ll now be providing just that.”

Added Redling, “This winter season, many weight loss companies are launching new programs. We applaud those who are working hard in the fight to combat the national obesity epidemic but warn consumers to be wary of the newest fads and magic pill solutions. At Nutrisystem, our program is backed by the science of the low Glycemic Index and at a low price. We believe the solution to a healthier lifestyle can be just that simple.”

The New Nutrisystem Select

“Nutrisystem Select” offers gourmet, fresh frozen cuisine to every customer, delivered right to their doorstep. As part of the revamp of its food programs, Nutrisystem is adding new items to its menu including: Garden Vegetable Omelet, Margherita Pizza, Roasted Vegetable Pizza, Asian Style Beef, Roasted Turkey Medallions, and Orange Crème Bar.

The New Nutrisystem Select program includes:

· Free 24 hour, seven days a week phone access to nutrition support and counseling from the Nutrisystem team of registered dieticians as well as weight loss counselors

· Free membership and access to online tools, tips and community support on Nutrisystem.com

· Savings of hundreds of dollars compared to other weight loss programs

· <
/span>New – Gourmet Guarantee – money back if not completely satisfied

· New – First seven days free

· New – Transition plans to help keep you on track after reaching your goal weight

· Available for Women, Men, Silver and people with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight via Nutrisystem D

· Nutrisystem is delivered right to the customer’s door, and free shipping is included with Auto Delivery – there’s never any center visits or calorie or carb counting required

“As the nation continues to spiral into an ever-worsening cycle of obesity, we’re taking action now that will make our weight loss programs more accessible to more Americans than ever before. When crafting this new program, we recognized that the barriers to dieting and the reasons why people fail often comes down to a matter of cost, convenience and eating foods that taste good,” said Dr. Bruce Daggy, Vice President of Research and Development of Nutrisystem. “Feedback from our members has always given the highest food ratings to our frozen foods, but cost has been a barrier. One of the most important aspects of our programs that will continue is our adherence to a balanced diet based on the low Glycemic Index. We recognize that weight loss and health is not just about counting calories. Our focus remains to support a sensible and sustainable approach to eating.”

To order the new Nutrisystem, visit www.Nutrisystem.com or call 1-800-891-3215.

2010/12/30 6 comments

Weight Loss

Nutrisystem Update: Week 9 ~Back to my Pre Pregnancy Weight

by Deborah Cruz 2011/01/05

written by Deborah Cruz

This morning marked the completion of my 9th week on Nutrisystem. I stepped on the scale and found that I had lost another pound. This brings my total weight loss to 14 pounds. More importantly, it puts me back to my pre- pregnancy weight. You know, the weight I was 6 years ago before I became pregnant with my first baby. That is AMAZING. More importantly, it is an amazing feeling. Sure,I have visited this weight in the past…as a fluke, when I caught a stomach bug or worked really hard for a few months just to kiss the tip of that weight. But not today, when I saw the number on the scale, I didn’t feel like I had to jump of the scale before it changed its mind. I felt like I earned it and I was just stopping by on my journey to say hi.

Nutrisystem has given me a confidence on this journey of weight loss. I know when I’m eating the food that it’s all figured out for me. I simply follow the plan, and eat some of my favorite foods.Nutrisystem French toast for breakfast,with frozen strawberries is absolutely scrumptious. Add to it a glass of ice cold fat-free milk or a piping hot cup of coffee and voila, breakfast is served. It tastes great and its good for you. How long have I been waiting for those two concepts to meet? It seems like forever. I wasn’t even sure it was possible. But it is and it is wonderful.

I told you in my last update that Nutrisystem has a really great campaign starting for 2011;Hooray You!NEW YOU Revolution . If you have ever considered trying Nutrisystem out, NOW IS THE TIME. They are running a $100 off the regular $399 cost of the program.The program is only $299 and in addition to that they are including the new Nutrisystem Select frozen foods at no additional charge.PLUS, Oh yes, there is more, they are including a free extra 7 days of shelf stable pantry food. I know many of you have been asking what the cost was and so here you have it,wrapped up tight in a nice pretty package..delivered to your door. It doesn’t get any better than this! So, I hope you can take advantage of this great deal. I can’t even describe in words, how amazing it feels to have hit my pre-pregnancy weight once again. I feel six years younger:)

If you have any questions about the program and how its been working for me or about how the food tastes, feel free to ask away. You know I always tell you the truth. If you need more assistance, all your answers can be found at www.Nutrisystem.com Aren’t you ready to start the revolution to the new you?

2011/01/05 4 comments

Weight Loss

The Embarrassing Side Effect of Losing Weight that No one Tells You About

by Deborah Cruz 2019/07/31

written by Deborah Cruz

Today was an amazing day. 12 weeks after being diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, I am 30.1 pounds down. I have lost an average of 2.5 pounds a week, every week since May 6^th. I was ecstatic when I stepped on the scale and saw the number. Just 19 pounds from being in the 100’s again. Yes! However, for all of my joy and happiness with losing that weight, there was one thing I did not anticipate…my body is changing. Surprise, no one told me how to avoid loose skin when you lose weight fast and so all the changes are not to my liking.

I know, of course if you lose weight, your body will change. I’ve been pregnant before, I know the human body can do all kinds of things you never expected; stretching, giving and returning to (close to) its previous shape. I thought I was doing so well and then I saw the picture I took of myself at the pool the other day.

No, I am not going to diminish all the hard work I’ve done. I started out at just nearly 250 on May 6^th. Since then, I’ve been carb counting, walking every day for 60-80 minutes and generally living a healthier and more aware lifestyle. I’m not perfect but with portion control, dedication to eating healthier and being aware of my carb intake, I’ve been moving the scale and bringing all my numbers down to where they are supposed to be.

It’s a choice every single morning to get up and just do it. I’m choosing me and my health. I’ve been full steam ahead, laser-focused on the goal of health. As long as the numbers are going down and the clothes are getting bigger, life is fabulous but I NEVER expected what I saw in that picture. I give you…the thighgina.

Loose skin from weight loss = Thighgina

There I was standing proudly in my weight loss, in my bikini because I believe every single body is a bikini body, and there it was just standing there, blending in like a skeevy creeper, my brand spanking new FUPA meets a walrus vagina meets the sagging skin on my shrinking thighs. It was not fabulous or spectacular. When I saw it, I was mortified.

For the past 3 months, all summer, I’ve been walking around daydreaming of the day when I could shop in the regular size section and everything fits and nothing is tight or makes me look like I’m a sausage. That’s not me being mean, that’s me telling it like it is for me at 250 lbs. I was not even thinking about sagging skin or thighginas. But, that thighgina has been thinking about me. Just waiting until I hit that 30-pound mark to poke out his (yes, he’s a dude because a lady would not do that to another lady) sinister little head and say hello, at.the.pool.

READ ALSO: The Burden of Being Fat

But I refuse to let the thighgina win. Nope. Not today, thighgina. I’m going to persevere because where there is a will there is a way and I will rid you from my life. Oh yes, I will. So I’m on the hunt for all the best exercises for toning your inner thighs because thighgina will not stand. No, I am not in pursuit of a thigh gap. Been there, done that. Have the diagnosis to prove it. I firmly believe that thick thighs save lives…and iPhones from the toilet. But, thick thighs are not a thighgina. Folks, a thighgina is not pretty.

If you have any inner thigh exercises that you do to tone and have worked for you, please share them with me. I’m trying to tone all of my body as I go. I’m going the slow and steady route. I still have to lose 89 pounds to get to my optimal BMI weight of 130 pounds, or so they tell me. Today, I’m headed back to the pool and I’m taking my thighgina with me. I hope he enjoys it.

Have you ever lost or gained a significant amount of weight? How did you mentally and physically adjust to all the changes your body went through?

What are your tips for how to avoid loose skin when you lose weight fast?

2019/07/31 1 comment

Health

Maggie Goes On A Diet~The Consequence

by Deborah Cruz 2011/09/05

written by Deborah Cruz

Last week, I wrote an article about the Kramer book Maggie Goes On a Diet. It’s an open wound sort of topic for me with my sensitivity about this subject but mostly I am bothered by the probability of the damage that will be caused by the message in Maggie Goes on A Diet. The premise of Maggie Goes on A Diet is basically that a young girl, Maggie, age 14, looks in the mirror and decides that she does not like what she sees in the mirror. Maggie then decides to do something about her weight problem and Maggie goes on a diet. This should be an empowering message, right? I am fully aware that we, as a nation, are in the midst of an epidemic of obesity of epic proportions. I see it everywhere I look, even in my own mirror.

My issue is that this book goes on to say that by Maggie “going on a diet” ( a word that I feel should NEVER be uttered in the presence of a child for the sheer fact of the completely negative connotation associated with it) all of her dreams come true. Not only does she lose weight, she becomes beautiful, popular and the star of the soccer team. In a nutshell, according to this book all of life’s dilemmas can be solved by merely not being fat. What a dangerous message this sends. How easily can Kramer’s message be parlayed into self-loathing, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, anorexia, bulimia and a slew of other extreme unsatisfied, not quite measuring up disorders? Since the book is written for the 4-8-year-old, how many ways do you think this message can become twisted in their little brains? Hmmm? Let me count the ways….

Maggie Goes On A Diet and the whole world is Perfect

If you lose weight you will be prettier
If you lose weight more girls will like you
If you lose weight boys will like you
If you lose weight you will be popular
If you lose weight you can wear nice clothes
If you lose weight everyone will love you
If you lose weight your parents will love you more
If you lose weight you can be anything you want to be
If you lose weight you can have anything you want to have
If you lose weight..everything WILL be PERFECT
If you lose weight, YOU will be irresistible
If you lose weight you will never be alone
If you lose weight, you will always belong
If the number on the scale is high, your life will be unhappy
If you have a little extra weight, you are not worthy of happiness
If you don’t look like everyone else, you are not good enough
If you are not perfect, you are worthless

And then I received a comment on the original post from a 17-year-old female reader and I know I am right. Here is her comment.

I’m a 17-year-old girl and to be honest, I see nothing wrong with this book. if my parents had given me this book…yeah, I would have been a little upset, but I would know they were just trying to stubbly help me. Everybody is beautiful in their own way, but who doesn’t want to be healthy? I mean it when I say that I am the happiest I’ve ever been because I eat right and exercise daily. This book’s message may just as well be a small step to help you onto your pursuit of happiness * 17-year-old reader*

Do you see what is happening? She is already programmed and defensive. She’s been affected by this sort of mentality. She would have been happy, though upset a little if her parents had given her Maggie Goes on A Diet. Her last sentence is the most troubling, equating Maggie Goes On A Diet’s message with helping one begin their own pursuit of happiness. If this message stands to reason, what is to stop girls from starving themselves or purging? By this message, it would be completely logical to restrict the food, amp up the exercise and be all that you can be. Maggie Goes On A Diet promises a mythical utopia at the end of a weight loss journey to children who still believe in unicorns… 4-8-year-olds. Diets are not for kids. Parents are for kids. Parents need to teach healthy eating habits and model an active lifestyle. You can’t be a good parent and feed your kids crap all the time and leave them in front of a television set. I know it’s easy to give in and feed Bobby nuggets three times a day because you know he will eat THAT. I know it’s easy to give in to that tantrum and just say “Sure go ahead watch another episode of Sponge Bob or play for hours on end on the Wii, PlayStation or DS. We’ve all been there. I’m not making judgments. I speak from past experience. The operative word being past. It’s easier to pop something processed in the microwave or keep the kids entertained with technology so you can get some stuff done. Believe me, I’ve been there. I’ve done it. But the ratio needs to be 5% coping out lazy parenting to 95% making the unpopular choices, the choices that will give our children a higher quality of life in the long run. I, for one, will not be responsible for my girls contributing to the childhood obesity statistic or will I let them spend all of their time with their derrieres planted firmly in front of the tele or the computer. I will not be the reason that they develop poor self-esteem or body image issues.

I will, however, make sure that my girls are shown by example a healthy active lifestyle. I’ve started working with a personal trainer myself over the past 3 weeks and I’ve now noticed my girls emulating my working out.They take dance. They play outside. They ride bikes. The use their imagination. I buy and prepare healthy food. Do they get restaurant food? Sure, once a week we usually eat out. But I try to ensure that they are getting healthy, clean food that is balanced and nutritious. They have to try everything twice, they must eat all their fruits and vegetable but can leave carbs on the plate any time they feel they’ve had enough. Most importantly, my girls know they are better than good enough. They know that they are a sum of their parts; inside, outside, physical, mental and spiritual. Their worth is not determined by what they look like or the size of their clothes. I don’t compare them to other children or to one another. They are individuals and they are amazing…as is. They are healthy, happy, amazing and loved.Oh, how they are loved. This is what is important. I want them to feel the weight of unconditional self-love, pride and respect for themselves not magnify their flaws into full-blown insecurities and disorders. I want my girls to love themselves with the same unconditional and boundless love with which I love them. Maggie Goes on A Diet be Damned.

Maggie Goes On A Diet~Crushing Young Souls Beginning October 2011

2011/09/05 7 comments

Weight Loss

Nutrisystem, My Real Weight & Photos to Prove it

by Deborah Cruz 2013/06/04

written by Deborah Cruz

nutrisystem, weight loss, diet, health, healthy

Yep, I’m pretty excited in the morning! Never mind the hair, this is a woman on a mission.

Yesterday, something exciting happened in my life, I went back on the Nutrisystem program. I am about come clean and get really honest with you about my weight. GULP! As many of you know, I was the poster child for eating disorders for 8 years. You know what having eating disorders for that amount of time does to your body? It really messes up your metabolism. My body was essentially in starvation mode for those 8 years and when I finally began to eat like a normal person, my metabolism dug it’s heels in and said, “nu-Uh bitch, you’re not starving us again. We’re holding on to everything.” Which, I deserved. My poor body has been through hell. Well, then it snowballed out of control.

2013/06/04 10 comments

Tech Weight Loss

Getting Healthy is Nothing a Little Blood, Sweat App and Tears Can’t Fix

by Deborah Cruz 2019/01/03

written by Deborah Cruz

If you read my post yesterday, you know that I have had a change of perspective. A way of thinking shift. A come to Jesus meting with myself, if you will. And the truth hit me like a throat punch, getting healthy is nothing a little blood, Sweat app and tears can’t fix. Weight loss is an investment in your future.

I no longer believe in “try” only “do.” I’ve been telling the girls for years that we cannot control how people react to us or what we do, we can only control how we behave and what we put into the world and so now, I’m focusing on what I’m doing. I’m taking a more active role in my own life. Sounds stupid right? Shouldn’t I have been doing this all along? I should have but I’ve spent the past 13 years taking a more active role in my daughters lives, and lets be honest, before than 20 years putting my husband first.

READ ALSO: Bringing the Feisty Broad Back

I’ve made a conscious decision to look at the world more positively. In that spirit, I am choosing to see the good in other and in myself. I deserve to be happy and I have the power to make it happen. Only I can do this.

It’s pretty liberating because when you choose to be positive, it lightens your load and enables you to stop worrying and start focusing on the people and things that matter. I know that I want to make friends, family and myself a priority in my own life ( something that I have neglected for literally years). I met with some friends on New Years eve and it reminded me of something that I’d forgotten, friends fill up your soul. We need to make time for them. They are not an option.

Another thing I really want to focus on is better spending habits. I have a terrible habit of spending when I am stressed. I really do use retail therapy to make myself feel better ( at least until I get my credit card bills) and that has to stop. I want to learn to live within my means and that is not a bad thing. It’s nothing to be embarrassed or feel bad about.

I also want to waste less and live with more purpose and intention. Patience is a virtue that I am trying to embrace and minimalism is a way of life that I’d like to learn to live. For me, chaos in my home breeds chaos in my mind, in my heart and in my soul. I don’t want chaos. For once in my life, my manic mind is willfully choosing focus and less “stuff.”

READ ALSO: How to Conquer to Succeed

But the thing I want to really focus on this year is my health. Nope, I’m not talking about getting skinny. I’ve been there and I’ve done that. I did it the wrong way for many years and it backfired on me. Big Time. So if you know anyone thinking of doing it the wrong way, warn them, it doesn’t work in the long run. You end up one of two ways, either you stop abusing your body and your metabolism mutinies on you or you get to be a really tiny corpse.

For many years, getting healthy equated to being skinny but that’s not what I think anymore. I think healthy is my knees not popping, my ankle not hurting, not getting winded riding a bike too fast, not being diabetic, not having high cholesterol or high blood pressure. I just want to get back to normal and be able to buy my clothes off the rack and have them look great on me. I want to be able to go for long walks with my girls and talk about everything. I want to walk under the starts with my husband on a beach somewhere without it taking forever and leaving me exhausted. I don’t ever want to wear Spanx again. I want endorphin highs back in my life.

The problem is that even though I know how to be healthy, I don’t really. I’ve read the books but I can never translate it into a functioning part of my life. I’m not a fan of deprivation but I’m cool with moderation but I need to be conscious of portion sizes. Also, I love to work out but I never make time for it. I have to make time for it. And since I am embracing doing and not trying, I’m doing it. I will also make sure to set regular appointments with the doctor.

READ ALSO: The Burden of Being a Fat Woman

My fellow blogger and someone who inspires me every day, Ana-Marie Klizs of Bluebird Kisses, has had her own weight loss journey to get healthy and she has done it all with adjusting her diet to a healthier version and by using the SWEAT App. I’ve been laid up for about 8 weeks from the surgery that I had in November and I was just released from the physical restrictions yesterday so I’ve been waiting for that day to get active again. Following along on Ana’s blog and Instagram has kept me inspired. She is an amazing human being and if you’re not already following her, you should be. She lit a fire in my soul and gave me the confidence to know I could do it. So, I’m doing it with the help of SWEAT app.

For now, I am starting off with walking ( per doctors orders) and in a couple of weeks I want to start a more organized workout program. The SWEAT app is at the top of my list so I wanted to share the app with you all in case you are looking for a way to start.

Train Your Way
SWEAT recognizes that women want flexibility, variety and support when working towards health and fitness goals.
We understand that your goals are personal and always evolving so we put the choice in your hands! Offering flexibility and variety through multiple styles of training, SWEAT connects you with the best female personal trainers in the world. Choose the trainer and training style that fits you and your lifestyle! Whether you take your first step with yoga, post-pregnancy workouts, weight training, power-training or high-intensity workouts, SWEAT is right here to support you. We are always adding new workouts and exciting features to ensure you find your fit!
Join the SWEAT Community and set off on your fitness journey!
Start Your Fitness Journey At Home
With various options, there is something for everyone.They offer BBG (Bikini Body Guide), BBG Stronger, PWR ( weight Training), Post-Pregnancy, BAM (Yoga), Fierce (varied workouts) and Build (Power building).
Kayla Itsines – Bikini Body Guide (BBG)
Changing the way women around the world exercise, Kayla Itsines’ 28-minute BBG workoutscan be done at home with or without equipment. (Perfect for me!)
Start your fitness journey with Kayla and feel your body become stronger each week as you progress. With each workout, Kayla helps to encourage and educate you to take charge of your health and fitness. Use the planner to schedule your workouts for the week, including your HIIT and LISS sessions, resistance, rest and recovery.
The high-intensity BBG workouts are designed to build your strength, fitness and bikini body confidence!
Track your progress and plan your workouts!
SWEAT encourages you to get stronger week by week! You progress gradually, increasing the intensity in each workout. When you’re ready to take on fresh challenges and step up your workouts, SWEAT has you covered.
Weekly meal plans and shopping lists!
Plan your meals for the week with ease using SWEAT! All our recipes have been designed to help you achieve your health and fitness goals while enjoying delicious and convenient meals. Select meal plans to suit your dietary preference and find hundreds of recipes to match. Food shopping is a breeze with the automated lists, so you’ll always have something healthy to eat!
Journey With Like-Minded Women
We know how important it is to feel supported throughout your fitness journey.
The SWEAT forum is the perfect place to connect with women who are focused on their health and fitness. It’s a place where you can share your experiences and aspirations, as well as encourage and motivate each other.
We’ve long understood how important it is to feel supported in your workout program. Through your connections with like-minded women around the world, together you can build confidence, power, balance, performance and courage to reach your fitness goals.
To connect, motivate and share experiences with other women, join the community for FREE today.

Full disclosure: I’ve tried many other fitness programs with limited success. But I don’t think it was them…it was me. I need a program that allows me to eat real food and exercise when I can without involving a lot of expensive equipment or health club fees. I need guidance and fellowship. I need support.

I’ve done all of it. I’ve been anorexic and bulimic. I’ve worked out 3 hours a day. I’ve had a personal trainer. I ran ( I don’t like it). I’ve done Weight Watchers. I’ve done Nutrisystem. I’ve had the Beachbody channel. I’ve done Zumba. I’ve done Cize (my favorite) and several other Beach Body workouts. I’ve juiced (not for the manic prone). I’ve tried all the tech. I’ve even tried Medical weight loss programs but meds are not the way for me. They cause their own issues. They’ve all worked but none of them got me to the finish line. Well, anorexia did (if the finish line is being 103 lbs at 5’7.5″) but it almost got me to the ultimate finish line so we’re never going down that road again.

This is where I am today. Enthusiastic and out of shape. I’m hoping the SWEAT app is the beginning of a new way of life. Not a diet. I never want to diet again. I want to learn to be healthy. So, I’m going to start a new Instagram page if you want to follow along with my progress and I will be posting updates, recipes, tips and inspiration to get us all through this on Wednesdays. If you’re still here ( after this very long post) I hope you’ll stop by on Wednesdays for some encouragement and to share your own journey with me.

Have you tried the SWEAT app? What are your thoughts?

Getting Healthy is Nothing a Little Blood, SWEAT and Tears Can’t Fix

2019/01/03 2 comments

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