'Tis the Season

Seasons Greetings Blogworld,

It has been a crazy year full of ups and downs. So many surprises and losses came and went this year.  However, I am happy to have life and strength.  I am healthy and strong.  I have many people that love and care about me around me and that's alright!!  The world has been changing so much and so have I.   I am full of fire and ready to reignite that passion inside me that was only flickering throughout this last year!

It is time for me to se my goals in motion and watch my dreams come true.  I am prepared to go forward and be fruitful.  I am going to lose weight and get in shape and maybe even do a half marathon by the end of the upcoming year.  I  am not making these New Year's resolutions.  These are my choices that will begin to affect the rest of my life.  I will be ready because life is TOO SHORT and I can not be left behind.  I hoe to see all of you out there making improvements in your everyday choices that will create a ripple effect of greatness that will follow you the rest of your life!!!

Sincerely,

Robyn

Been So Long....I'm Missing My BLOGWORLD!!

Well,

I jumped ship and disappeared two months ago....hoping to return but losing my footing.  I have backslid and returned to bad eating habits : (...  I am not happy or proud about it...but I am here to begin to admit so that I can change for the better.  I have been watching The Biggest Loser and loving the transformation process.  I viewed the finale and felt something come over me.  I do NOT want to be sitting here in my house watching another season of The Biggest Loser wishing that I was changing my life one pound at a time.  I want to catch the next season of this show with pride.  I want to sit there and feel the happiness that grows from overcoming your issues and succeeding in life!!

Also, within this lapse of time I was encouraged again to be better when I witnessed my boyfriends' mother run a half marathon.  This time last year she claimed that she wanted to start competing in marathons and the bug bit her in the butt and she got the fever.  I am so inspired and I pray that I will be able to find myself running across a finish line with happiness in my heart...

So anyone ready to join me....ready to set a goal and watch it become a reality...

If so.....join me and we can inspire each other and soar higher.....

It's Been Too Long!!!

Sooooo....

I am very sorry that I have been gone for so long! I miss you blog world...So I have been eating whatever I want for the past week and a half and it has been glorious and bad because I have kinda pigged out and I definitely have not been working out like I should .....OOPS! I have feasted on pizza, burgers, and french fries. But I also had salads with grilled chicken and fish. A little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B...

But anyway, I am human and I kinda wanted to enjoy because this next phase will last for six weeks....there are a few differences though. I will go as long as possible on the vegan diet. Once I can not stand it anymore I will allow myself to eat what I want (without going overboard) on the weekend. Never fear for your main character...(oh, that's me!!)...I will truly try my hardest to stick to it the entire six weeks...

I will post new measurements and pics next Monday and it will begin again....may have grown a tad bit...unfortunately...but it is part of the journey....so I will enjoy my last few days....and then it's on like Donkey Kong!!!

See ya soon...

Robyn

Every Day is a Brand New Day....

So the day is Sunday and I am so close I can taste it....

And honestly I am looking forward to it but not as much as I was before... I am looking forward to it because I am ready to eat at a restaurant and be excited that there is something on the menu for me. Living a vegan lifestyle is very expensive!! However, I will embrace y week off and try to meditate on the decision I made and my continued effort to stand behind it in the coming months.

Truth is, I am afraid to go overboard and put back on half the inches that I took off which would be no good for me! All that hard work and sacrifice for nothing. In fact, last night I almost broke down and had pizza when my order got screwed up at Papa John's but I peeled the cheese and meat off and had my pizza with nothing....nothing on it and I lived. It was hard but I lived!

So only time will tell what will happen over the next week but I promise to keep you updated as always...

Love,

Robyn

It's Thursday....6 more days...ok, 7 including today!

Hey my loves,

This journey is actually getting more difficult as I reach the final lap... I just want to go to Chipotle and get a Fajita Burrito with chicken and all will be right with the world!!!  I miss going to a regular restaurant to eat...food!!!  

I have not been to exercise all week because I am going to sleep WAY too late.  So...yeah, I am just trying to focus on staying focused on this diet!  My boyfriend has really seriously helped me to resist the desire to eat the food I said I  would stay away from until the end... I love him!!

And this is going to get a little graphic but I was seriously hoping to get my colon cleansed at the end of this process.  However, I am not sure if I will be able to do it because of financial reasons.  Anyhoo, I am trying to clean my body up so that it can match my spirit and heart!  I am a force to be reckoned with and I planning on trying to be the next wonderful actress in the entertainment industry.  So please pray for me that I can keep this diet going.

Speaking of which I was thinking about changing it up a little bit next month.  So I will be a pesco-vegetarian instead which means I will eat seafood.  I will still plan on sticking to whole wheat carbs.  I will also eat cheese but only on rare occasions.  VERY RARE OCCASIONS!  Or maybe i will just scrap all that and just be vegan again!  Hmmmm....I am open to ideas if you want to suggest!  

Gotta go now...tata!

Robyn   

Week 3...a day late..oops!

So I am almost at the end of this journey and honestly it is getting HARD!!  I want to eat something that I shouldn't so BAD!!  But as of today, I have EIGHT more days before the first phase of this diet is over!!!!  The measurements are similar to the first because I did not get that much exercise this week so there will be results but they will not be phenomenal!

Neck - 14"

Shoulders - 42 1/2"

Bust - 39"

Waist - 35 1/4"

R. Bicep - 12 3/4"

L. Bicep - 12 1/2"

Hips - 45 1/4"

R. Thigh - 29"

L. Thigh - 28 1/2"

R. Calf - 15 1/2"

L. Calf - 15 1/2"

The new calculations are in and surprisingly I still lost a few inches...yay!!!  I have lost 6" this past week and that brings my total inch loss overall to 17"!!!  This is amazing.... When my 8 days are up I really have to watch myself because I don't want to undo all this hard work!!

So all my readers and weight loss lovers.....

Thank u for everything!!

Nothing much going on...

Hello,

This has been an interesting week.  Full of surprises, proud moments, disappointments, and anxiety.  As much as I have enjoyed living in California I still want to just go back to the East Coast (Atlanta, to be specific!!) and enjoy my former luxuries.  It seemed like I had more money and more people to enjoy my time with.  But now I just have a lot of time, no money, not as many friends, and sadly not as much ambition... : (

But in the same breath I must realize that nothing in this life worth living for comes easy.  If I were in Atlanta right now I would be happy but I would wonder what it would be like to be in L.A. pursuing my acting career.  I love entertaining.... it is what I was born to do outside of being in love, loving others, and becoming a mother.  I am sure that there are plenty of other things that I have to look forward to discovering  in my lifetime... but the truth is I have not auditioned in months.  I have all these desires but I stand in my own way.  I want to be successful but having money to take care of the essentials is important too and right now I can't do that and it saddens me. I can barely make ends meet.  I know that I am blessed and that I have way more things to be happy for than to be upset about but it is a trying battle sometimes.  How do I pursue my goals if I can barely take care of myself?  When and how will I find my way?  

This diet has been a mini journey that I hope will take me on another journey... to something bigger and better.  But I wonder what are those bigger and better things ahead of me.... I guess only time will tell...

Until next time... keep striving for higher goals.  You will find your way and so will I

R

Just another day...

So,

I finally went to boot camp yesterday!!!  I was in good enough shape to make it through class without sneezing all over the place.  Unfortunately, I do not think this is a week that I will see a lot of progress because I may have hit a small plateau.  But don't count me out....I still have so much to give.   

We shall see what happens but today boot camp was cancelled so I am just relaxing until work starts... hopefully I will make some good money!!!  Because there are always bills, bills, and more bills!!!!

Anyhoo.... have a great day... Ciao!!

Here We Go... to Measurement Time!

I woke up feeling miserable.  My head is aching. My throat is sore. My nose is stuffy.  Which all equals BLAH!!  I just wanna stay in the bed all day but I can not do that.  This is coming up on 14 days and I am still hanging in there!   I know my measurements will not be as large as last week but I am looking forward to seeing what progress I made...

Neck - 14 1/2" 

Shoulders - 44 3/4"

Bust - 39 3/4"

Waist - 36"

R. Bicep - 12 3/4"

L. Bicep - 12 1/2"

Hips - 45 1/2"

R. Thigh - 29"

L. Thigh - 28 1/2"

R. Calf - 16"

L. Calf - 16 1/2"

SO that is the results... and for this week I lost 3 1/2 inches and overall I lost 11 inches!!  The journey is not over yet though so let's enjoy what is ahead!  Maybe I will drop a jean size by the end of the month!! 

Hope your day is wonderful...

Robyn

Another weekend bites the dust..

Well...

I have gotten through another weekend unscathed!!  I did not cheat and...I enjoyed myself.  Over the weekend I gave Domino's try...Just imagine..thin crust, tomato sauce, garlic, and spinach  There was not much to it... but it was good!  This diet is so limited but it is forcing me to find ways to enjoy myself...

So, I've been thinking, if this diet keeps going well... I may extend it!!!!  Although, I must confess, I will need at least a week to fulfill that void.  No worries, I will not go too crazy!!  Just a few little indulgences.  Then I will begin a new adventure and extend the diet to THANKSGIVING!!!  Trying to get to my dream size (whispering...8)!  Thanks for reading and for your support...

PEACE... 

I Cheated...

So today I cheated....(sigh)...I will get into the few details in a bit.

I have been so excited about working out along with eating great!  It has been such an exhilarating journey thus far!!  Today I could not work out because my leg was not cooperating.  I decided it was better to miss a day rather than possibly injure myself and not be able to work out at all.  I slept in for a few more hours and then got ready for a great day.  I had to go to work (booo!) instead of going to the beach with my co-workers but I was ready to make some money so I just tried to look on the upside and prepare for the day ahead.  

Suddenly I get a call from my co-worker asking if I was going and I told her I had to check with the manager to see if they would need me or not.  To be honest, I did not mind working so I was prepared to hear that I needed to come in.  So a couple hours of later it was time to go to work.  It was HOT!!   I mean H-O-T..HOT!  And when I walked into work I found out that...you guessed it....I could go home because I probably would not be needed...(BOOOO!)  So after that lovely detail...I decided it was time to go to the beach!!!!  So I went home and promptly changed into a bathing suit and got gas to get back on the road and head to the shore.

Now let me give a disclaimer by saying: I had only eaten oatmeal in the morning (well actually half of it) and a protein bar at 12:30..not much at all, right??!!  So about 2:30 I finally found myself at the beach...the sun was shining, the water looked beautiful, and my stomach was grumbling! : (  There was this big red box looking at me... staring me down.... I couldn't ignore it ...it whispered "Robyn...Robyn"... so I gave in and had some Cheez-its... only about a handful!  I cheated!  I was so hungry and they looked so yummy so I savored a little flavor.  It was wrong but I will not punish myself for it.  I have moved on and went back to a soy sandwich for dinner.  So bloggers, I hope that you can forgive me... because I forgave myself.  

May you be blessed,

Robyn

Early in the Morning...

Just got back from boot camp (yay!) and I am exhausted!  It was a great and challenging workout.  It was the kind of workout where you sweat a lot...but you don't care because you know it is a reward for you working so hard!!

Yesterday, I was hungry just about every 3-4 hours which I know is good for you but it is also very annoying and distracting.  But I ate continuously and it was pretty fantastic to satisfy the hunger! Today I do not know if it will be quite the same but I will be home chillin' and relaxing!!  So world, have a great day at work.  

Talk to you soon,

Robyn 

Tuesday, Tuesday...lalalala

Hello world,

Today I woke up at 4:15 am and decided I would get ready for my workout that starts at 5am.  It was great and I felt like I had a lot more energy!  The sweat made me feel empowered.  I was working SO HARD!!  I don"t why i get lazy sometimes because I really enjoy the way it makes me feel.

I am also going to try to focus on perhaps making sure that I eat more often so that metabolism keeps rolling  and revving up all day!!  Other than that all is well!  I hope all is well with you out there...

About to get ready for work....have a great day....I'll be blogging later!!

Alright... it's measurement time!!

I just realized I forgot about the neck and shoulders so I am adding them....

And the new measurements are (again can I have the drum roll....):

Neck - 15 1/2"

Shoulders - 45 1/4"

Bust - 39 1/2"

Waist - 36 1/2"

R. Bicep - 13"

L. Bicep - 12 1/2"

Hips - 46 1/2"

R. Thigh - 29"

L. Thigh - 28 1/2"

R. Calf - 16 1/2"

L. Calf - 16 1/2"

So based on those numbers... with just change of diet and no exercise I lost... 7 1/2 inches overall.....woo hoo....that is great!!  I hope that someone out there is encouraged to join the journey.

Honestly, since I began this diet it has been challenging but also so rewarding because I have more energy, I breathe better, I feel better, and I know when I start working out tomorrow it will only increase the results!!  I still try not to get too ahead of myself because the body is a tricky thing that takes time, patience, and hard work to fine tune unless you just have incredible genes!!

When I think about how easy it was for me to add all this extra fat to my body it baffles me.  It will take twice as much work and time to get all of this stuff off...but I am up for the challenge....and you know what, I think I will skip on those pancakes and just have an organic waffle with sugar free syrup and some strawberries instead.  Taking it one day at a time and changing myself so that the outside will match the inside!!

Talk to you real soon.....

Robyn

It's Labor Day and I have to work...

So bloggers and readers,
All over the world people will be relaxing and cooking out today! Congrats to all of them because I will not be joining them. Nope, I will be working hard so pray I make lotsa moola today!!

Missed my workout today but I knew I wouldn't get up cause I was in lazy mode. Today I have an offer to partake in delicious fluffy pancakes. I know I shouldn't but I am seriously debating it!! I know it would be bad but I vow to eat right for the remainder of the day!!

I will be posting measurements after this so it can be done every monday instead. Wish me luck!!

Goodbye all....for now!!

New week of adventures coming soon....

Sorry fellow readers,

It has been a couple days since I have posted ANYTHING....shame on me!

I have been doing pretty good sticking to the diet and I am preparing to go back to my bootcamp workouts on Monday (unless we are missing class due to the holidays)!  

This weekend, I found out that at my job, even as a vegan, I can have pizza..thin crust though and my choices are extremely limited but they are still available to me...YES!!

I also encountered the difficult struggle of (E.W.V.) Eating While Vegan.  So, it was a Friday night...I had picked up my soy grilled fish sandwich and my boyfriend got pizza!!  We rented some movies and came home looking forward to a BLOCKBUSTER night.  But when we started eating...my mouth started watering as I smelled the warm cheese coming from his pizza box.  I really tried to look at my food with happiness and satisfaction but the temptation had already begun.  I looked at his pizza and I begged him for a piece...I gave him big puppy dog eyes...I mean it was only ONE piece.  But he closed his box and said, "Nope"!  So I looked back to my soy fish sandwich with not nearly as much delight as I had days before. And honestly it tasted great. It was delicious.  I was able to stick to my diet and not feel guilty about letting myself down.  But we all know that oily cheesy slice of pizza would have been delicious!  

Although I was happy and somewhat disappointed my boyfriend stopped me from making a bad choice...I was inspired.  The next day I went to ZPizza and created a pizza made with organic wheat flour, organic tomato sauce, and soy cheese!!  It may not have been as delicious as his pizza but it satisfied my craving and I stayed on track...

And now a new week begins with new triumphs and new food temptations....wish me luck...and be inspired to change.  Join me...

Much Love...

Hello fellow bloggers and readers,

Today was a good day. Upon waking from wonderful sleep I soon grubbed on some strawberries....delish!!!  Then after a few hours ( and before leaving for work) I made a smoothie that had soy milk, protein, frozen strawberries, and oatmeal.  It fulfilled its purpose!! 

So I got to work and decided to eat before my shift began so that I would not worry about getting hungry.  So I had a grilled vegetable salad that contains all kinds of yummy veggies and instead of using dressing I put fresh cracked pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar on it.  It was warm and scrumptious.  I LOVED IT!! That kept me going through work and then I picked up grub from Lotus Vegan!!!!!

So another day almost done and I am feeling good.  Just wait until I start working out next week...i will be on a roll!!

Hope my clip inspires you and remember... please BELIEVE!!

Moving On...

Good morning people,

Today is a new day and I am more than prepared to face this diet head on!  I think I am beginning to get a hang of this.  Well, I may be cheating just a little since I used to be a vegetarian about 2 years ago!  But honey, it never is easy to transition so I am still looking forward to the adventures of this month....

The picture at the top is of my delicious vegan cookie that I had yesterday with soy milk!  Seriously, Lotus Vegan saved me yesterday!  I may go back today... Actually, I found a grocery store that sells soy fish!!!  So I will be able to cook that for myself anytime...awww yea!!

So, I am going to work today and I am praying that I will be able to hold myself together long enough to get a large delicious salad... because even though I can have pasta I do not want to eat too many carbohydrates cause that may somewhat defeat my purpose!

Also, next week on Tuesday I will take another picture and chart my measurements again so that we can check if I made significant progress!  If so, who knows, I may extend this diet and perhaps make it my new lifestyle!  

Gotta go babies....talk to you soon

Robyn Flowe

So lunch was...

So lunch was... delicious!!  If there is anyone in the Los Angeles area that wants to try a vegan meal or attempt a vegan lifestyle.... go to Lotus Vegan!!  It is in North Hollywood and it is so scrumptious... please try it!

They also sold veegan cookies... and they were tasty!!  

So I am not sure what I will have for dinner but I hope it will be great.... 

Goodbye loves,

Robyn

Today is another day...

Good morning everyone,

I have a big announcement...I am off of work today (woo hoo)! 

Ok, maybe I am the only one extra excited about that...

Anyway, I have decided to modify this diet a bit.  I shop on a budget so I can not always afford organic everything.  Therefore I will also includes regular fruits, vegetables, and oils!  Did I also mention that I can not have fried food....boooo!!!   But to reach optimal cleansing and health I know it is for the best... 

Unfortunately, I have not worked out this week.  I need to take some time to get used to this diet and my sleeping pattern has been out of control...but I will be up and running hopefully at the end of this week, if not by next week!

I am excited because I have found a vegan restaurant that I hope will be delicious so after I eat this yummy meal, I will let you know how it goes and drop recommendations to people who live in the Los Angeles area. 

Buh-bye til next time...

In the beginning...

In the beginning...there was hunger!! LOL!!

Good evening bloggers,

So today was not incredibly tough but definitely a realization of what's to come. I had a jamba juice smoothie with berries, soy milk, berry juice, and soy protein. Not the tastiest but it served its purpose of sticking to my bones.
Then work began..(Sigh...don't worry, no cheating!) And my nose was filled with aromas of pasta, pizza, chicken, seafood...all tantalizing!!
I stood strong though and when it was finally my turn to eat I was light headed but ready to grub. So I had some spinach fettucine with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes. It was good...or maybe I was just hungry! LOL...either way, I made it!! I later had grapes just to get a little sugar...
And I lived...I actually survived! However, I am tired now so I must go...chat with ya later
Peace Out and Buenos Noches!!

My measurements... in the beginning!

Good morning world, 

So as this begins I believe I can only be truthful about this diet if I post a candid pic of myself so you know exactly what I look like!  It is not pretty or me in a nice outfit.  But it is simply the truth... and that is the only story I can tell...

And the measurements are (drum roll please...):

Bust - 40"

Waist - 38"

R. Bicep - 13 1/2"

L. Bicep - 13 1/2"

Hips - 47"

R. Thigh - 30 1/4"

L. Thigh - 30 1/2"

R. Calf - 16"

L. Calf - 16 1/4"

Wow...that is something to see.  My thighs are larger than most Hollywood actress' waist....that is crazy!  And in this industry size is everything. Though that is the case, I refuse to measure my worth based on others' standards.  So, I will do my best to get to a size that I am comfortable with.  Maybe I will never be a size 2, 4, or 6 but I will be a size that makes me proud of myself.

Just once in my life, I want to look at the full package and be satisfied....

Anyways,

I will check in later to let you know how I did on day one!

Robyn

The Rules of the Diet...

So, 

Before I go to sleep I must lay down the final ground rules for the diet:

• Organic fruits and vegetables
  
• Whole grains
  
• Organic oils
  
• Desserts made with raw sugar and unrefined ingredients
  
• Water, tea, and wine (sparingly)

So, I am going to go to sleep with dreams of a better body and wishing on a star that my strength will take me to my goal!!

Oh, by the way, the goal is to lose 20-40 pounds....wish me luck and good night!!!

So apparently...

So apparently,

I am in denial of this little diet.... because I announced that I was beginning in October when in fact I begin TOMORROW!!!  September 1st the diet begins...

So pigging out today will happen and that is just the way it's going to be!!

Soon to Start the Journey

Greetings World,

The name is Robyn Flowe and I am ready to share my journey.  I have been a young lady that has struggled with my weight continuously.  I was never a small size and that was okay.  However, I knew that I had to choose a side.  Either pleasantly plump or skinny string bean!!  

Well after reviewing the two options continuously I realized that I could not just check one box and cruise down the road of life in peace. So, I am beginning a quest.  During the month of October I will be on a strict diet that requires no meat, no dairy, no fried food, no processed food, and no added sugar or white flour.  There will only be water, veggies, fruit, and occasionally whole grains!!

I must admit I think this is a little crazy....especially paired with my 3-4 workouts a week while also working at a restaurant with very tasty carb-filled dishes!!! (can we say YUM!)

So, fellow bloggers and readers....follow and/or join my journey right here starting tomorrow!!