I made chicken to take to work this week. I dunno but the taste of the chicken is a little off. I know its not spoiled but I think I need to start buying halal meat from now on. I ate the chicken but I really dont like how it tastes. Maybe I didnt clean it properly but I shouldnt have to clean the meat so harshly. If its gonna be all that then I just need to buy halal.

Im doing great on the no dairy thing. My almond milk tastes great and its good in my oatmeal. Yesterday I ate so much but I guess it wasnt really that much because by the time I left for work I was hungry. I had oatmeal with almond milk and creamed honey for breakfast, a handul of raw almonds and cranberries for a midmorning snack, stewed chicken with lentils and okra for lunch, lentils and flaxseed chips as a mid afternoon snack and hummus and flaxseed chips right before I left work. I was eatin good! When I got home I played Just Dance 2 and the Michael Jackson dance game for about an hour. Then I ate baked bbq chicken, lentils and broccoli for dinner. I did mess up a lil cause around 2am I found myself in the kitchen eating tortilla chips and cheese sauce but I'm not gonna beat myself up about it. I feel good today. My body is a little sore from the dancing but I feel really good.

this might be TMI but I think the beans are starting to do a number on me. Number 2. I went like 4 times yesterday. Its healthy to go right after your meals but I didnt think it would be that soon! I did take some psyllium husk on tuesday evening so that must be it. Plus I'm drinking 2 liters of water a day. The best part is nothing seems forced and I dont feel overwhelmed with changes. I feel confident in being able to stick to my guns. I'm not obsessing over food and I feel free to focus on other areas of my life guilt free.

I was talking to my roommate a few nights ago and I told her that while I know I'm supposed to be appreciating the journey I wish I would be at my destination already. I'm wearing this skirt today from H&M. Its a size 14. You should see how ridiculous I look in this skirt. Its pulled up over my belly button and I keep shifting it around because its so tight. The damn lining is barely fitting around my thighs and behind.

I'm looking forward to my clothes fitting better. Hopefully by my september checkpoint I'll be feeling a difference.

My name is Nikki. I'm a 24 year old from Brooklyn, I'm 5'7" and I weigh 245 pounds. In October I turn 25 and I want to embrace a new healthier lifestyle. I've been overweight since HS and I never made any real attempts at weight loss until 3 years ago. Between January 2008 and March 2008 I lost a total of 30 pounds.


May 2008 || 210 lbs


June 2010 || 245 lbs

At 210 I was my lowest weight as an adult. I lost the weight by juicing regularly and running 3-4 miles 5-6 days a week. It was hard but I stuck with it but once summer hit I lost my motivation. I've since gained all the weight back and some. This time I want to shed the weight for good.

I've done a lot of reading and research. One of the first books I read was 'Heal Thyself' by Queen Afua. It opened my eyes about what it truly means to be healthy. Another book I read was "The Truth About Beauty" by Kat James. I was amazed by how she broke down the science of being healthy and how it extends into all areas of our lives. The last book I read was "The 4 Day Diet" by Dr. Ian Smith. My aunt put me on to this book after she lost 50 pounds last year and kept it off. Dr. Ian's book is about making permanent lifestyle changes using clean foods and a diet that allows variety and flexibility.

After meditating on what I need to do next I've figured out what I need to reach my goal:

-planning. I have to plan my meals and workouts a week in advance. If I know exactly what I'm going to eat, at what times and when I'll be going to the gym I can shop, cook and pack my gym clothes accordingly.

-support. Having a support system is essential to staying on track. There will be days when I don't feel like going to the gym or when I want to eat something unhealthy. I need people to help me stay focused on my goal and offer words of encouragement when I need it. I also need to support my friends who are also on the path of health and change. Offering support to others keeps the positivity going.

-goals. I need to set realistic goals for myself and goals that arent necessarily weight related. Keep the goals visible and review them frequently.

Why do I want to lose weight?

I've really come into myself as a young woman. I finally learned to accept my body and I love myself. It took me a long time to be comfortable with my body but now that I am I want to push myself. I never really gave my weight loss a chance. If I lost 30 pounds in 3 months then imagine what I could do in 6-12-24 months. I've always admired atheletes and I've wished I could be more athletic. Theres only one way to become athletic - become an athlete! I want to be a life long athlete. Someone who trains and works out because it feels good and because it improves my quality of life.

I started a business 2 years ago and it has grown to the point where I am physically exhuasted. When I was working out in 2008 I felt totally different. I had more energy, more stamina, clearer thinking and sharper focus. Lately I've been moody, irritable, depressed and sluggish. I don't like it. If I want to take my business to the next level I need to take care of myself first.

There are more reasons but I'll list them as I blog.