I have to be honest and tell you that this past week was the most challenging week of this whole journey. I have never worked as hard as I did this week and to lose a 1/2 pound was discouraging. It was a small victory. I spent 5 days at the gym and worked myself very hard after work in the evenings and over the weekend. I have logged each and every piece of food that I have eaten and drank a ton of water. I am trying to do everything by the book and it has been a one of the hardest things to do. Being stuck in this plateau is keeping me on edge. It feels like my metabolism is running slower than molasses on some days and faster at other times. It is very frustrating. Sarah said to me that that your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same. I know that my desire to change is greater and I need to continue to work my butt off (literally) and not quit ever in this journey. The number one reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they have gotten. I will not lose this battle.

Short on time for working out?

Detroit, Michigan, July, 18, 2012--

Adios' Week 11!!!!!

Are you a coffee drinker? I am sure you have read or heard about the good & bad when it comes to coffee and caffeine. Here are 7 pros & cons of drinking coffee. Do you enjoy a cup or two in the mornings? Or, are you drinking a pot of coffee throughout the day? In my opinion, you can drink coffee – and enjoy it. Just stick to less than 3 cups a day and try drinking it only in the morning hours, so it doesn’t interrupt your sleep at night. Be careful of add-on flavors (sugar high!) and other high calorie or high fat creamers. I like the taste of coffee but I drink mine really weak. I know, this is not for everyone (my husband likes a dark, rich coffee) but I add half hot water to my mug and fill the rest with coffee. So, I have the taste of coffee without all the caffeine or acid. Give it a try! Or, you can switch to green tea or black tea if you are limiting caffeine (both have caffeine but less than a regular cup of coffee).

Do you ever feel like your energy is being zapped from you? You start yawning at 3:00pm? You are tired at 7:30pm? Here are some of my favorite simple & quick tips for more energy. When you’re yawning or getting sleepy, you may simply need more OXYGEN to your brain! Or you may need to have a healthy snack to raise your blood sugar. Follow some of these tips for an instant energy boost:

It’s 4^th of July week and I know many of us have picnics and parties at home or a park. You can enjoy the holiday but stay safe with these helpful tips! I’ll be parade-watching, BBQing and playing some corn hole and kickball. Hope you all have a fun & healthy 4^th of July!