Update - January 11, 2018

I honestly have no excuse that I can come with to say why I haven't posted on this blog in nearly a year. There is no excuse that can be given, except that I got lazy with keeping up with it. The past year hasn't been as bad since my father passed away in November 2016. I've honestly had a pretty good 2017. I finally got a part-time job in the middle of September working for a local newspaper and I even got one at the end of November working for an online company. And whats great is that with the hours, I am able to keep up with both jobs.
I tried Etsy for a bit but I have found that I just don't have the drive to keep being creative with it, so I think I'm going to close my Etsy shop and just focus on my two main jobs right now. Well, those two and still being the primary caregiver for my grandfather and mentally handicapped uncle.
And with all that going on, I will fully admit that my weight-loss took a backseat pretty much for the rest of last year since the last post was made on this blog. And I feel so bad that it did.
So since I am becoming financially stable, which means less stress on my mind; I want to try and start updating this blog more regularly now. I want to lose weight and show myself that I can do it. I don't feel like I need to prove anything to anyone else because in all honesty, the older that I have gotten (I'm 30 for those that are wondering) the less I care about what people think of me. Everyone has their own opinion, so let them have it. Don't focus on the negative in life, focus only on the positive.
The blogs are going to start out pretty simple. Tomorrow I'm going to post my weight (not the heaviest I've ever been; but not where I want to be right now), what I've been doing so far this year to try and help myself, and a question that I want to ask to see if anyone can help me figure it out. This year I am going to focus more on myself, since I have less stress on me.
See you guys Friday! 

Update - Jan. 27, 2017

Hello all!

Sorry for no update last week, I had planned on it but I was so disappointed in myself on a few things that I just couldn't find it in my to post an update. But since the beginning of this week, I have noticed that I'm doing a few things different now than I was last week.

For instance, unlike last week I am keeping up with writing down what I have to eat everyday as well as keeping up with my water intake. Still not drinking a full 8 a day but I'm averaging about 4 to 6; which is a vast improvement than my previous attempts. I keep track of my meals and my water intake via my Happy Planner, where I dedicated a space for fitness and health every day.

I also noticed that when I went out earlier this week and I ate out with a friend, that I didn't overeat nor did I order a big order; which was surprising to me because I love eating out. I also noticed that I couldn't finish all of the food I had ordered, despite it being a much smaller portion than what I used to get. I have noticed lately that I cannot eat as much as I used to or else I'll start feeling sick to my stomach. I have had to adjust my portion sizes a bit but that really hasn't been a problem.

I think the reason being that I am starting to eat less is because I have been taking vitamins. I take them once a day and they are a multi-vitamin, biotin for my hair, skin & nails, a vitamin C pill and GNC Women's Metabolism and Energy Vitamin. The last vitamin I think is having the biggest impact on me. I take it 30 minutes after I have eaten breakfast and it helps me control my eating habits throughout the day.

However, I have noticed that during the night I still get cravings. Why, I'm really not sure because I think I eat plenty during the day and for dinner; so I shouldn't be snacking at all hours of the night. I think it has something to do with me being an insomniac and thus I find myself staying up well into the wee-hours of the mornings most days. So perhaps it has something to do with or maybe I just get bored at night when everyone else has gone to sleep. I'm not really sure. I think that if it continues to be an issue where I am noticing more weight-gain than weight-loss, then I will speak to someone about it to see if anything can be done.

Speaking of weight, I was able to weigh myself this past Monday and let's just say the results left me not happy at all. True that I do weigh less than I have at my heaviest, which was 426; but still the fact that I weigh 395.6 at 29 years old is a bit of a shocker. I have struggled with my weight my whole life and I know that I will battle it until my last breathe but I refuse to let it hold me back any longer. I'm turning 30 in September and I want to be able to say that I started defeating my weight problem before I hit it.

Like I said, I have already made a few changes to my life that I can see are working out but this week I have made a few more and so far they seem to be working. One change is that, whenever my grandfather wants coffee or something from the kitchen; instead of getting my uncle to get it for him, he tells me to. Now this isn't much of exercise but considering that I am getting up and walking about every 2 hours or so, it is a vast improvement than just sitting down all day and doing nothing. I have also found ways to occupy my mind instead of waiting until I can eat again. I usually do this by writing in a journal or just walking outside to take the trash out. It's really simple and easy how I can distract myself.

Recently I have opened an Etsy shop where I sell planners and planner accessories. Now I'm expanding my little shop to include homemade journals and necklaces. I quickly noticed that if I keep my hands and mind busy, food is the last thing on my mind.

Another change I made is that I stopped following food media accounts or "food porn" if you will. I unfollowed all of them on my Instagram and Twitter; leaving the ones on Facebook since I only follow the one and I don't visit Facebook but once or twice a day. My reasoning for this was, if I can't see it then I won't want to eat it. And so far, it has worked with easing my cravings sweets and such. Though to be honest I've never really been a sweets' fan as there are only a few candy bars that I enjoy; and I only indulge in them once in a while so that is a plus for me.

Well I think that's it for this update, I plan on doing another next Friday so keep an eye out. And if any advice can be given then I greatly appreciate any that can be given.

Until Next Time!