Weight Loss Update #3 -- Down 5.6 lbs!

Small Clothing Haul | Sunday Dresses from Ross

 

Pursuing a Path with a Dead End

Life is crazy. I am sure you will agree. It is good and fulfilling and sometimes it can make you want to jump off a bridge. I am not ready to jump just yet. I still have some fight left within me, lol.

Anyway, I have been struggling with a decision lately.  This situation I am not at liberty to discuss right now, but when I can, I will.  This situation has been ongoing for the past two years and I have put a lot of effort into making this thing happen. Every opportunity that presented itself, I’ve jumped on it. Each time I have been told no. Even in times where I was so confident and so sure that it would be a yes, it has been a no. I am not a quitter and I do not take no for answer if it is something I really want and something I feel does not go against the will of God. I know if I keep trying to pursue something that God does not want for me, I will fail. Or I may even succeed but with terrible consequences. I don’t want that.

But let me ask you, and I know a lot of people who read my blog never comment, but I am asking for a comment on this post if you are reading this. You can leave it as anonymous if you would like. How can I be certain that all these “NOs” that I am getting in regard to this thing I am pursuing is not God trying to show me this is not the path for me. I have not heard Him speak to my heart about not pursuing this thing but am I too caught it in what I want that I have missed what He is telling me? I would love to hear your thoughts…

This Battle is Not Over

So this week I have been an absolute bum when it comes to working out and watching what I eat. I have not worked out for 8 whole days! I can definitely tell. I feel sluggish and my body feels heavy. My pants even feel tight. You are probably thinking that I am exaggerating but I am not. If I don’t workout for a few days, I immediately feel the difference. I just have not been in the mood. It takes a lot of energy to constantly watch what you are putting in your mouth and to make yourself workout especially if you are not feeling up to it.

In the last weight loss update vlog I posted, I had just gotten back from vacation and was motivated to start the new year off right and to lose the extra weight. That was on January 7^th  and that day I weighed in at 164.4. Today (not quite two weeks later), I weighed in at 168lbs. And this is NOT with clothes or shoes on! How? Why? I almost want to cry. Almost. I cannot cry though because I know it is my fault. Skipping the gym. Eating late. Eating what I want. Last night I ate two slices of Papa John’s pizza and about four cheese sticks at 9:30pm, just to climb into the bed and sleep at 10pm. So what do you think that pizza and breadsticks did? The food sat in my stomach and most likely got turned into fat because I was not burning any major calories in my sleep.

I am upset, disappointed, angry, sad, frustrated, and I almost feel defeated. I cannot maintain my weight without true WORK. Have you seen that tooth whitening commercial that says,  “If you are not whitening, you are yellowing.” If I am not working out/eating right, I am gaining. What happened to staying the same? It would not be so disappointing if two weeks later I weighed in at the exact same weight. Okay, I did not lose but at least I did not gain…..ya know? If you are reading this, please pray for me. Pray that I may have the strength to overcome temptation….the temptation to eat whatever my heart desires and temptation to skip my workouts due to pure laziness. Pray that the devil will not plant the seed of defeat in my mind, and if he does, pray that I will not believe it. This battle is not over.

Hopefully, the next weight loss vlog I post will be bringing good news. God Bless. Talk to you all again soon!

MAC Blush Collection

My Lasik Experience | One Year Post Surgery

Almost There!

I started my very last class towards completing an MBA last week. I should be excited. Well, I am excited but my motivation level is zero. I just cannot bring myself to do schoolwork in a timely fashion. I wait until a couple of hours before it is due to start working on it (I take classes online). I will have about ten minutes to spare before I hit the submit button to turn in my assignment. The thing about online classes is that you never know when you may have technical difficulties. So by waiting until the last minute to submit my assignments, I am really setting myself up to fail if the website is not working, or my internet connection is not working. I am just ready to be done with it all. Have you ever felt like that about something?

I should be sprinting to the finish line but instead I am crawling, lol.

MAC Blush Haul

Get Ready With Me | Hair and Face

Make-up Look 1 | Cute and Casual

Hello Everyone!

Check out my first make-up look I recorded. I realized that recording yourself putting on make-up is a lot harder than it looks, lol. I think it turned out okay and will be doing more looks in the future. Thanks for watching!

One of my Favorite Quotes Ever!

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they may lead.” ~Louisa May Alcott

Detox Postponed

So here I am, living in the 7th largest city in the U.S. by population, yet it is difficult to get my hands on natural foods grocery store. I have to drive half way across town, which is no short drive I must add. Then you add in traffic and more than likely I will regret making the trip.

So after work, with a dead cell phone and no access to navigation, I tried to go find the new Whole Foods store that they opened fairly close to where I work. I looked at the directions on the internet before setting off and they were easy enough to follow. But yet, I never found the store. Hmmmm....I would be lost without navigation. I was lost.

So because I could not make it to Whole Foods, I was not able to pick up some of the necessary ingredients to complete the detox that I wanted to start tomorrow morning. I could drive half way across town tomorrow on my day off and go to the other Whole Foods that I know of but to be honest, I don't want to. That, coupled with the fact that I have two appointments in the morning at 10am and 11:45am so this detox with have to wait. I really was looking forward to doing it to but I only want to do it if I can do it during three days that I am off of work. So a normal two day weekend will not work. When I decide to do it, and have all the needed ingredients, I will let you all know.

Dr. Oz Three Day Detox Cleanse

I have never done a detox or cleanse before but my sister told me about the Dr. Oz Three Day Detox Cleanse. She completed the cleanse and lost a few pounds in the process. I am excited to give this detox plan a try and see how it works for me. I am off of work this Friday so Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be perfect to complete this 3-day cleanse.

If I manage to get all the needed ingredients before Friday and complete the detox, I will vlog each of the three days to share my experience.

Dr. Oz’s website states about the plan: “Eliminate harmful toxins, restore your system, and reset your body with this detox cleanse from Dr. Oz. All you need is 3 days, a blender and $16 a day!”

I have linked the plan below for anyone who is interested.

Dr. Oz Three Day Detox Cleanse

Weight Loss Update #2 (164.4 lbs, up 5.2 lbs)

2013 -- Being Exceptional at the Ordinary Things

My vacation the week of New Year’s ended with a long drive back to Texas from Michigan starting Saturday and ending Sunday morning. While on vacation, I was not really interested in sorting through all my New Year’s goals. I just wanted to relax and enjoy being away from home and off of work. So Sunday, I decided it was a good time to write down my goals for 2013.  I know some will not agree with me but I think this is extremely important. Not just at the start of a new year, but at the start of a new job, or new year in school, or anything you may be starting.

I think in order to be accountable for what you want in life for yourself (actions, behaviors, accomplishments), you have to have a plan. And what is a plan if it is not written down. Can you really follow a plan in your head? Can you look back to see which goals were met and which ones were not if the plan is in your head? I personally do not think so. Write it down! Review it regularly! Pray over it! Revisit it! At the end of the year, mark off the things you've accomplished and feel good about your progress.

So Sunday, I bought a little small journal from the grocery store to use as my book of goals. As I mentioned before, my motto for 2013 is to be exceptional at the ordinary things. So I wrote down all my goals, big and small ones…anything that I wanted to start doing or start doing better, or even stop doing. My plan is to read over my goals at least once a week so that I stay on track.

One of my friends mentioned that New Year’s resolutions can seem trivial and the only thing that is important is doing what GOD wants every single day. I have to agree and disagree. I agree because it is absolutely true that our main concern should be pleasing God, doing his will in our lives everyday. But I also disagree because the goals you set for yourself should be in line with pleasing God. For example, one of my goals was to read with my children every night before bed. I think my children will be blessed by this. I think this is something that will make me a better mother, and thus something that will be pleasing to God. So what do you all think about that? Is it okay to have a goal of finishing your degree or learning to play guitar or something like that, or are those things trivial compared to what is really important?

I just wanted to throw that out as something to think about. For me personally, I am all about setting goals for myself at the beginning of the year. Some may call them New Year's resolutions, it is all the same. I have prayed over them. I have asked God to show me if there is anything that I am currently doing or anything I would like to do that is not what He would have me to do. 2013 is all about becoming a better Ebonee. It’s that simple. Take care and talk to you all again soon.

Face of the Day - Soft and Natural

I am going to start doing face of the day posts for those of you who love makeup as much as I do. Maybe you can get some ideas for looks to recreate :)

1. Brows: NYX Lip Liner in Expresso (yes, I sometimes use lip liner as eyeliner/brow pencil)

2. Crease color: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Hustle

3. Lid color: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Toasted

4. Lashes: Maybelline Great Lash (mascara in pink and green tube)

5. Cheeks: MAC Sweet as Cocoa (blush)

6. Lips: NYX Lip Liner in Expresso, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan, NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Beige

On my face: Revlon Colorstay Makeup in Cappuccino (foundation) and MAC mineralize skinfinish in Deep Dark (powder)

Happy New Year!

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I wish nothing but the best for you in 2013. Let us have the right attitude going into the new year and face adversity with prayer and a positive mind. Anything you want for yourself is possible. Don't let fear cripple you. Have a blessed year!

I am vacationing right now. I'm about to hit up this hotel gym because whether I am on vacation or not, I am trying to keep my workouts a priority. This will be the year for me to get to my ideal weight and STAY there, lol. That is one of my goals for this year.

Talk to you all again very soon.

LOVE,
Ebonee