Going Back to Your Roots – in Finances and Health

I need to lose weight.  It is something I have been struggling with for a while now, but seeing as I’m kind of an all-or-nothing type of person, I have to reach my breaking point before I will make the changes required to lose weight.

 How do I know this?  I have done it before.  As a freshman in high school, I weighed as much as I weigh now.  One day, I saw a picture of myself, with all of my lumps and bumps, and decided I was going to change.

And I did.  

Over the course of a year, I lost 50 pounds the right way, by exercising and eating right.  I even kept if off for 3 years.  But then, freshman year of college, there was a buffet in the dorms, and I got married, so the freshman and newlywed 15 turned into 40.  Add in the fact that over the last 4 years and a pregnancy, my weight is back to where I started  freshman year of high school  I can’t blame the pregnancy.  I actually weigh less now than before I got pregnant.  I can only blame myself.

So, I’m going back to my roots.  How?

What first started my health and fitness journey was Pilates.  My gym teacher in 8th grade forced us to do them, but I found that I loved the control Pilates gave me over my muscles and body.  The fact that I became more toned-up everywhere was also a perk!  So, my mom bought me a Pilates DVD (that I still have to this day) and I started doing it every night.  It got to the point where I had the routine memorized, so I would just do it in my room without the DVD.  Pilates gave me control of my muscles, and the rhythmic breathing allowed me to calm my mind.

Of course, I started loving the results I was getting and the way my body looked, so I started watching what I was putting into my body.  I was very lucky in that at home we had access to tons of great healthy, organic foods.  My mom had a garden, we raised chickens, and had organic milk, so all I had to do was take advantage of it all!  I kept a food diary and watched my calorie intake.  In doing so, I learned that I could get more volume per calorie eating healthy things than junk food, so the switch to eating better was natural if I wanted the scale to go down and still feel full.

Then, I wanted to exercise more.  I kept up with the Pilates, but I started running just a bit.  I would walk a few blocks out to a country road with no houses or people to judge me, and I would run as much as I could and then walk until I wasn’t going to pass out.  I did this 3 days a week, until I was able to run 3 miles at a time, 3 times per week.  I guess I have to add, too , that at the time I was waitressing on roller blades for 6 hours shifts, 5 times per week, so that certainly helped too!

When it was all said and one, I got down to 130 pounds on my 5’4” frame, from 180 pounds!  I was thrilled with the results!

But that’s all gone now, and I’m back where I started

Action Plan:

• Pilates: See below.  This is how I lost the weight the first time.
• Keeping a Brutally Honest Food Diary:  I am finally in the mindset to be honest with myself, so once I’ve kept an honest food diary for a week, then I will start looking for places to trim calories
• Not eating out:  McDonald’s BBQ bacon burgers are my weakness right now.  They’re so ridiculously good!  But, they’re not good for my waistline or my wallet.  The only exception is Sunday mornings, when we’re in a rush to get to church, we’re going to go through the drive-thru.  It’s unavoidable.
• Drinking Water: I have committed to drink a gallon of water every day.  My diet and exercise regimen could be wrecked, but regardless I will drink a gallon of water every single day.  It makes me feel so energetic, clears up my skin, and makes me feel less hungry!
• Allow easy days: Sundays are cheat days.  I can exercise if I feel like it, but if not, it’s ok.  I can have McDonald’s in the morning.  Mostly I can relax.
• Clean Eating:  I do most of my shopping at Aldi (you can read about that here, here, and here) and I really like their prices, so I’m going to continue to shop there.  I am however, going to pay attention to what I buy.  I am going to buy organic whenever possible, and buy food that are as minimally processed as well! ( eMeals.com has a great clean eating meal plan if you need some help! Get 15% Off Your Order at eMeals.com with Bonus Comfort Foods Brochure! Use code Dinner15)

Going Back to Your Financial Roots

The same principle I am applying to my health goes for finances and financial goals.  In the beginning it is easy to make drastic changes.  You can quickly see what are wants and what are needs in your budget.  You have a mindset that allows you to cut down to the bare bones, and you love the changes you see in your bank account and spending habits.  Maybe you can keep the change up for years – likeI did with my weight loss – but then something happens.  Maybe it’s time, or a life event, but you fall off the wagon.  Small expenses start to add up and you realize you’re overextended again.  It can be hard, after such a long time of success to refocus on your goals and make progress again.

If you have an all-or-nothing personality like I do, then this is especially hard because you have to let it get to the point of drowning before you can see that you need to make a change and are able to get your mindset together enough to make those changes.

Our budget is still a point of contention.  We are trying desperately to pay down our personal loan by the end of November, because we want things to ease up for Christmas, and right now everything extra we have is going to pay that off.  Once that is done I will actually be able to breathe!

But we’re constantly refocusing, trying not to let our finances get like my weight is.

Have you ever had to “go back to your roots” to reenergize, refocus, and hit some goals?

*This post may contain affiliate links

Think Pink Sunday, Sunday Showcase, Happiness Is Handmade,Nifty Thrifty Sunday,That DIY Party, It’s Party Time, Sunday Showcase, Around Tuit, Mix It Up Monday, Creative Mondays, Bloggers Brag ,Made By You Monday ,Monday Pin It Party ,Motivate Me Monday ,Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop ,Monday Funday, Marvelous Monday ,Titus Tuesday ,Tuesdays at our home ,Tell Me About It Tuesday ,Tip Me Tuesday ,Tuesdays With A Twist ,The Inspiration Board ,Tutorial Tuesday ,Create Link Inspire ,Making a Home ,Something Fabulous Wednesday ,The Mommy Club ,Wow Me Wednesday ,Wake Up Wednesday, Adorned From Above Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday ,Your Whims Wednesday ,The Project Stash ,Whimsy Wednesday ,We Did It Wednesday ,Wednesday Round Up ,Wine’d Down Wednesday ,Inspire Me Wednesday ,Whatever Goes Wednesday ,Something Fabulous Wednesday ,Wow Me Wednesday ,The Pin Junkie ,What To Do Weekends, Inspiration Gallery, Artsy Corner, Inspire Us Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, That’s Fresh Friday, KitchenFun and Crafty, Friday Frenzy, Inspire Me Please, Craft Frenzy Friday, Anything Goes, Pin Me Linky Party, Pin Worthy Projects, Friday Favorites, Best of The Weekend, Link Party Palooza, Friday Flash, Flaunt It Friday, Family Fun Friday, Frugal Friday, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Saturday Show and TellS, aturday Spotlight, Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Saturday Sparks, Saturday Sharefest, Serenity Saturday, Show and Tell Saturday, Get Schooled Saturday, Dare to Share Saturday, Skip The Housework Saturday, Silver Penny Saturday, A Little Bird Told Me

You May Also Like:

Money Talk: What Do You Do When A Family Member Wants You To Take Over Their Finances? Feed Your Family on $300 a Month – The Healthy Way! Part 1 Feed Your Family on $300 a Month – The Healthy Way! Part 2 5 Things I Won’t Sacrifice to Get Out of Debt August & September Goals August & September Budget Update July and August Budget Update! Feed Your Family on $300 a Month – Part 3 My Everyday and Ordinary Credit Card Rewards Victory The Importance of Budgeting for Fun Money