Sunday Sweats: Ch-ch-ch-changes

At the end of November 2018, I made several changes which have definitely had an impact on my overall health. Looking in the mirror, I haven't noticed much change. But when I look at these photos, I can see the improvement.

There are only six weeks between these photos. Obviously, the lighting and makeup are different. But there's more too. My face now looks thinner. My eyes seem bigger. I also think my skin looks clearer.

So what contributed to these changes?

Well, it was a combination of things.

1 :: I started tracking food.
I used to do this religiously when I was on Weight Watchers and even after when I simply wanted to count how many calories I was eating. I got away from it though, not liking the restrictions. I recently decided it was time to start watching my food again. Now, I'm not really cutting anything out. I'm simply tracking to make sure my diet is balanced. I'm currently using MyFitnessPal and I like it, but I'm open to other suggestions if anyone has them.

2 :: I started taking a daily multivitamin.
I know, I know. This is like Adulting 101, but I've never claimed to be a good adult. In fact, I'd probably say I'm a terrible one. When it comes to eating, I think I do OK, but I'm probably not getting all the vitamins I need. That's why I chose to do a daily multi. And I found a great deal on some at Costco, so I jumped on it.

3 :: I quit a job I didn't even realize was toxic until I left it.
As much as I love craft beer and enjoyed my beertender job, I am now realizing it wasn't healthy for me. Since leaving that job, I drink far less beer. I wasn't really drinking that much before (maybe 2-3 a week), but now I have less than one a week. The job was also pretty harmful to my mental and emotional health. I carried so much stress and anxiety while I was working there, and I didn't even realize it until after I was gone. I left the job for other reasons, but I'm very grateful it's helped my health.

4 :: I started drinking smart coffee.
I am someone who really doesn't like supplements or health fads. When two of my friends started using and selling Elevate products and subsequently bragging about their results, I was skeptical. So I waited. I waited to see if they would quit after a few months. I waited to see if it went away. I waited to see if they were able to sustain their results. I also researched the product, wanting to know what exactly was in it and if there was anything harmful. I looked for negative reviews online (because if someone hates something, they will not resist the urge to tell the world about it). I couldn't find anything negative. So I asked for a sample, because I'm very picky about how my coffee tastes. I tried two doses and liked it. Eventually, I bought a whole canister and signed up for the smart ship to save money and lock in the old (lower) price. I drink the smart coffee Monday through Friday (and enjoy regular coffee on the weekends), and I actually really enjoy the smart coffee. I don't know how much it's had to do with my weight-loss, but it has definitely helped me with my focus, my moods, and my energy. I love it.

\\\///

Last week's workouts
Sunday: Off
Monday: Xtreme Cardio Stations
Tuesday: Xtreme Total Body Strength
Wednesday: Xtreme Cardio EMOM
Thursday: Xtreme 3-Line Stations (I went twice)
Friday: Xtreme Partner Cardio
Saturday: Off

Victory of the week:  
Wednesday's workout was really tough. In 10 minutes, we did 50 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 150 squats. We did them in one-minute rounds of 5, 10, and 15, respectively, and there was very little rest involved. But I felt strong through the whole segment.